Pyroverse: Collision Course

is a story set in the Pyroverse and is considered the "beginning of the end" of Arc 1 by its creator, Pyrostar. It is largely a crossover event, detailing how characters from various periods in Pyroverse canon arrive together for their first major confrontation.
==Recommended Reading==
A list of stories and games that the author advises you to read before checking out this story. Thank you!
*The Iliad Files
*Heroforce: Heart of Iron
*Crestseeker
*Vessa
*Boundless
*Quetz's Adventure
==Transcript==
===Chapter 1: 『Star』===
A fixed luminous point in the night sky; a famous or exceptionally talented person.~
The story begins in a starry expanse that seems to be set on the edge of a galaxy. Off in the distance, a bright light can be seen, which resembles the galaxy's core; in the other direction, the stars grow sparser, and a twilight purple shines in the air before giving way to the cold, lifeless black of deep space. Everything is silent... before a strange rainbow-colored light sprouts in the air, opening up into a hexagon-shaped portal and spewing a figure onto the sparkling ground.
The figure gets to their feet, revealing themselves in greater detail- a decently muscular woman in strange blue and black clothing, a shock of white hair, and piercing blue eyes that dart around her surroundings. Bynde rubbed her head gingerly, trying to discern where she had ended up and attempting to assuage the migraine that whatever this magical form of travel had given her. The heroine had already gone through enough, but after managing to save her sister from the evil of Dark Lord Noske, she had received some sort of spiritual message from an odd stone, telling her that her help was needed in "what could be the greatest conflict the universe had ever faced."
But what was so dire that it needed someone like her?
Bynde's entire train of thought was interrupted when another rainbow-colored flash of light appeared nearby, splitting open into another hexagon-shaped portal. Another figure fell out of the hole in time and space, crashing to the floor with a jingle of what sounded like tinkling metal. Bynde looked over the new arrival; it was a young girl in strange clothing, bandages wrapped around her arms and a sparkling stone in her deep red hair. She didn't seem to be taking the trip anywhere as well as Bynde had, shivering in fear and breathing heavily.
She reminded Bynde of Tai, her little sister. With the instincts that had flared up after the adventure she had just gone on to save her, Bynde immediately ran over to the new girl and held her upright, trying to support her back and help get her breathing regulated. Quickly, she struggled into consciousness, gazing around and looking directly up at Bynde. Though she still seemed dazed and tired, the innocent smile she gave reassured the Lumina that she was alright.
Bynde was disappointed she couldn't ask this girl who she was or why they had both wound up in this location- being born mute would do that. To her shock, however, the other girl didn't seem to be able to talk either, only miming simple hand gestures and making chirping noises to communicate. When Bynde didn't talk back, she seemed visibly worried, grabbing her hand and chirping more frantically. Bynde simply chuckled and scuffed the child's hair the way Marnetta did with her, which seemed to reassure her.
Thinking of Marnetta made Bynde wonder how everyone else was doing. Logos, Laiman, Mack... Atra... Tai, most of all. For all she knew, she could have been gone for years by now. Magic was a fickle beast.
???: Oh, don't worry, you two! You've both been gone only a minute or so!
The mysterious voice rang out from what seemed like nowhere, filling the pair with dread. Bynde instinctively drew the ivory blade she had obtained in her travels- the legendary Seeker's Blade- while her young companion pulled out a strange round weapon attached to her arm bandages, which she began swinging around in an intimidating manner. Suddenly, without a sound, a strange-looking woman in purple garb stepped out, arms spread wide as if to invite the pair to a party of some kind.
???: Don't worry, don't worry, you can put your weapons away. I'm one of the good guys! In fact, I'm the one who asked for your help!
Bynde slid her blade back into her sheath; the child was a little more hesitant, seemingly being reminded of something as she looked at the woman standing before them. Nevertheless, she too obliged, and their host calmed down in turn. She seemed to look at the two of them, eager for them to say something... They just simply looked at each other until the hint got across.
Nyxiel: Well... This is awkward. Never would have expected that the Herostones would've picked up not just one, but two people who can't talk. Alright, I'll go first. My name's Nyxiel, daughter of the Great Yokai King Inversim, member of the Iliad Organization, slayer of evil, and the one in charge of picking out the heroes that are supposed to save all existence from certain destruction. Think of me as... your guide on reality's road! Now, as for you two...
Nyxiel's right eye flashed purple for a split second as Bynde felt a strange chill up her spine. It was if her whole essence had been invaded, if only for a moment.
Nyxiel: Ooooh, we've got a lot to unpack here. So, you're Bynde, a constantly reincarnating heroine who pops up whenever evil arises. You literally just got done slaying a living embodiment of sorrow and corruption- not bad for someone who until a few weeks ago was living practically alone on some forsaken moon farm. You've got unwavering love and dedication to your friends, which I guess counts as heroism in its own right.
Bynde was shocked to learn that all of this information had been so quickly snatched up by this mysterious individual, but a look to the side revealed that their young friend was glancing up at her, eyes wide as if she was looking at a lifetime idol. Bynde simply blushed and smiled, not knowing how to handle this feeling.
Nyxiel: Now, as for the little one here, your name is... Vessa!
The girl nodded happily, eager for Nyxiel to continue. Her optimism was infectious.
Nyxiel: Now, there's none of this reincarnation or prophecy stuff with you, but you came from about the same place as Bynde here. Granted, you came from a trash dump, but considering Bynde came from the moon boonies, I'm gonna call that about equal.
Bynde glared at Nyxiel disapprovingly, but the woman simply chuckled it off and kept going.
Nyxiel: A friend of yours became deathly ill, so you set off on a journey to get her cured. You even beat up a bunch of dragons along the way! That's impressive for someone so young! You've got determination, kid! That's another big mark of heroism right there!
Now it was Bynde's turn to be shocked. Vessa was a seasoned warrior? She almost had to assume Nyxiel was lying, but now Vessa had turned to her, hands on her hips as she puffed her chest out to try to look tough. It was almost too silly to take seriously, but somehow Bynde got the sense that behind that cute visage was a true warrior... which made the resemblance to Tai even weirder.
Nyxiel: Okay, introductions over, it's game time. I just got done shipping someone off into some side dimension in order to clear Phase 1 of the plan we've been working on behind the scenes to save the universe, and now I need heroes as brave, valiant, and powerful as you two to help me with the rest. Full disclosure here. We're killing a goddess by the end of this. Of course, I checked the splinter timelines. One of you is no stranger to killing gods already.
This statement seemed to be aimed at Bynde, but she had no idea what that meant. Splinter timelines? Killing what god? Did she mean Noske? Still, though, Bynde sensed that Nyxiel was telling the truth- and if she had to help kill a goddess, so be it. If it meant protecting her friends, she'd do it.
Both Bynde and Vessa nodded to confirm Nyxiel's hopes. They were in. She promptly jumped for joy, seemingly ecstatic to have backup along for the ride.
Nyxiel: Yes!!! Alright, so here's the deal. First off, we're going to need to head over to a friend of mine. I'm willing to bet he's going to need some backup to help pull off his part of the next phase...
----
Raune was silent as she sat in the room she had been trapped in for what felt like a week. The decor suggested she was sitting in the lap of luxury; gold and silver-plated patterns adorned the walls, delicately glowing orbs floated in the air while casting a pale blue light, and a luxurious bed sat crammed next to the wall. All of this would be wonderful if she were not currently shackled to the wall, held in place by cuffs she couldn't manage to pick open.
The security camera in the corner of the room darted back and forth, as it had been ever since she was thrown in this gilded cage by the deplorable San-Sokeh. All of her allies from the battle on Coronite had been taken by the Terran government for what they claimed were "war crimes", and presumably had been either whisked off to prison or sentenced to death by now. But not her. The Cataloger, one of many individuals in a race who rarely made an appearance in person, had felt it necessary to show up simply to aid in the arrest of her friends. When he saw her, however, the crusty old creature saw fit to take her for himself. Perhaps he saw some amusement in taking the crown regent of the Lillius and breaking her down into some sort of subservient drone. Who knew?
Raune curled up against the wall, trying to steel her will and focus on trying to devise an escape route. She knew it was hopeless, but she needed something to hold onto. San-Sokeh had told her her entire race was bred to be little more than livestock to the Catalogers, and she desperately wanted to prove him wrong. The Lillius were strong... She was strong. If she could escape from this prison, she could reveal the truth about everything, and perhaps bring justice to her lost allies... no. Her friends.
She turned to the security camera. It clearly followed some set pattern scanning across the room, so if she worked to break the cuffs when she was outside its line of sight, she'd avoid detection. Better yet, if she still had her staff, she could simply tear her way out of the room with vines and perhaps bring this entire palace down with it. That priceless artifact had been shattered by her captor, however... A priceless heirloom, reduced to little more than splinters.
Raune heaved a teary sigh, releasing her pent-up grief once more. Suddenly, she heard what seemed to be a faint thumping behind the wall somewhere. She looked around, confused and concerned as to what the source of the noise was; out of the blue, a long, thin object burst from the ceiling, smashing directly through the security camera and destroying it entirely. She couldn't believe it... It looked like her staff. Sleeker, yes, less ornate, but still distinctly her healing staff!
???: Finally! Took ya long enough, pretty boy!
???: Quiet down! We have to pull off an extraction. There's no time to argue over my inability to decipher architecture infinitely past my prime.
Those voices... Could it be?!
A simple series of beeps echoed from the hole in the rafters as three figures crashed into her room. It was them- Lucius, Gargan, and Retron! They had come to rescue her!
Raune: Everyone! You all came for me!
Gargan: Hey, we couldn't just leave you behind! You're part of our little club now! We look after each other here!
Lucius stepped forward, a blade of plasma flickering between his two outstretched fingers. In a single quick slash, the chains connecting Raune to the wall had melted clean through, granting her the first taste of freedom she had felt in a week. It was a simple matter to detach the cuffs after getting both arms free.
Part of the little club... They had remembered her. They had infiltrated what could be one of the most dangerous places in the Solus System in order to save her. She had never gotten this feeling from anybody else before, not even her own mother. It was just a shame Fera didn't seem to have returned either. Just where was she? Her train of thought was interrupted as Retron, a happy expression on his face, handed her the brand new staff they had used as a battering ram.
Lucius: Okay, let's move. The guards will be on their way any second now.
Gargan: Yeah, having to smash through like three whole floors to find this room will definitely set security off. By the way, I absolutely do not want to know why he put you in this nice pad. Something seems horribly off here.
Raune: No time for that! I'm just... so thankful you guys actually risked your lives for my sake... So where are we headed?
Lucius: Our ticket back to our base of operations is waiting in the back entrance of the palace here. We'll undoubtedly have to face security on the way there. Are you in good enough shape to handle that?
Raune twirled her staff as it flickered to life with a familiar green glow.
Raune: I'm a healer! It's my job to keep everyone in shape!
Lucius's face flickered with a hint of a smile. Was that a smirk or genuine relief to see her doing alright?
Lucius: Alright, then. Everyone, follow my lead! We're out of this gaudy mess.
----
Reunited with her friends, Raune ran as quickly as she possibly could. Having her staff back filled her with energy, restoring all of the pain she had suffered in her confinement, emotional and physical. As soon as they found the back entrance, she'd be out of this awful place for good!
Gargan: Y'know, I'm wondering why that creepy chick can't just pick us up from where we are now. Like, didn't she warp you directly out, Lucius? Why'd you have to go and break us out yourself?
Lucius: That woman works in mysterious ways. She probably assumed it would be better for Raune to see us in person before we made our escape, but I can't seem to tell why we couldn't just warp our way inside in the first place.
Raune: You people are going to have to fill me in on whoever this woman is when we get out of here.
Suddenly, the sound of wood thudding echoed through the halls as a nearby door burst down. Multiple armed guards burst out, rifles primed and ready to fire. These didn't seem to be any privately hired guards- these were Terran military forces, the same blue-garbed troops that had shown up to arrest them on Coronite. Was there some sort of conspiracy going on? Raune had no time to ponder this further, as they began opening fire on the group.
Retron pulled up a hardlight barrier for cover as Gargan began switching on various parts of his mechanical arm- wait, wasn't that arm destroyed in their fight against Corona? Looking closer, Raune noticed that it seemed to be a new model, made from the same pale, sleek wood-like material her new staff was made of. Who was supplying them with new weaponry? Was it the mysterious woman they were talking about earlier.
A flashing grenade lobbed over Retron's barrier, fired out of the new and improved mechanical arm, and landed square in front of the squadron of armed officers. A brave soul at the front tried kicking it away, sending it back towards the barrier; as if by instinct, Raune pushed forward with her staff, and a vine emerged from the ground in order to smack it back. The bomb detonated in midair, the force and pressure knocking most of the soldiers back for a split second. The opening was enough; Retron opened up a hole in the barrier as Lucius began hovering in the air, firing a searing hot beam of plasma straight towards the battalion. Another explosion rocked the halls as their adversaries were blown away, leaving ample opportunity to rush forward.
It had only been a short time ago, but somehow working together with these people felt like what most would call "old times". It felt good to be back with them.
Gargan: Alright, we got more company inbound!
Another battalion of soldiers had emerged from the door behind them, and they were accompanied by a pair of drones emerging from the wall, equipped with heavy-duty turrets. Now being fired on from behind, Lucius turned around and somehow managed to parry some of the incoming shots with his plasma slashes, the bolts ricocheting away from the rest of the retreating party. He rushed forward with impressive speed, kicking off a frontline soldier's chest into the air and throwing an explosive ball of plasma downward. The soldiers were thrown every which way as the Coronid landed on top of one of the drones, doing his best to disorient it and drive it around.
Gargan pulled the launch lever on his arm once more, dislodging his hand and firing it off as an extended grappling hook towards the remaining drone; Retron performed a similar feat, summoning a hardlight chain and wrapping it around Lucius's prey. The two drones were promptly slammed together, creating an impressive explosion as Lucius leapt away and ran back towards the party. Clearly, everyone else had been training hard since they last saw each other.
Giving everyone a burst of healing energy for encouragement, Raune motioned towards a dimly lit servant's passage that had been revealed when the wall had been bashed down, offering a quick and easy route to the back entrance. They were almost home free!
And then the giant mech showed up, crashing through yet another wall.
Lucius: Ngggh! What sort of-
Gargan: Intel didn't say anything about this one!
The metal behemoth certainly looked strange, having a large chunky body supported by a pair of thick support legs and having an entire armada's worth of weaponry folding out of its back. The whole thing was painted in such a way as to make it resemble some form of one-eyed beast, likely for intimidation factor. As if all those guns weren't intimidating enough.
Lucius slid under the mech as it began firing on the group, causing everyone to scatter. He kicked upwards, launching himself at the machine's underside, but the attack didn't have enough force to launch it upwards. Unsatisfied, he summoned his plasma blades once again, hacking away at the thick armor of the leg. Retron went for an aerial approach instead, boosting upwards by summoning a pillar below him and launching into the air. He drove his sword directly into the metallic hull, only for it to barely make any sort of dent. The multitude of guns on the back turned to face him, only for Raune to yank him out of danger with her staff.
Gargan fired at the behemoth's artillery, hoping to disarm it with rapid-fire shredding bullets. A few guns were chipped off, but the mech swiftly took notice, launching an intense missile barrage at the Vulkonian as he dodged out of the way. Raune, holding Retron in one hand, flicked her staff outward as more vines wrapped around the feet of the beast, holding him in place as Lucius fired beams at the exposed joints in order to deal more damage. While it seemed to be slightly more effective, it still wasn't gathering the robot's attention.
Gargan: C'mon, you piece of shrahk! Over here!
A mighty explosion rocketed against the side of the mech, but to no avail. A shimmering barrier rippled around the exterior; a force field had protected it from the explosive force. Another swarm of missiles rushed towards Gargan, walls collapsing as he dodged it. Clearly the Cataloger didn't care how much he needed to destroy in order to stop them at this point. In a split second, the mech's leg snapped free of her vines, bashing against Lucius and knocking him against the wall.
Raune: Lucius! Hang on!
The mech began looming down on her and Retron, laser sights primed and ready to fire. Suddenly, out of nowhere, something banged into the red eye marking on the front of the mech, piercing through the force field. The mech was stunned, as if it was trying to compute what exactly had hit it. It was... an arrow? Who used arrows in the 8000s?
Raune and Retron turned around to look at the arrow's origin. Behind them, standing on a pile of rubble, was a Terran-looking girl in a strange outfit wielding a bow. Raune had absolutely no idea who she was or where she had come from, but she was happy to have any form of backup at that moment... And then what appeared to be a child popped out behind her. Now it was just getting ridiculous.
The two waved at the group, the younger individual rushing over to Lucius in order to help him out as the older bow-wielder ran up to Raune's position, firing even more arrows into the marking on the front. It was as if she thought it was some sort of weakspot...
Raune: Aim for the joints! It'll be more exposed there!
Though their new ally didn't respond verbally, her aim quickly shifted, striking the mech right in the exposed parts that Lucius had opened up. The mech, not prepared to handle puncturing weaponry, began sparking and tumbling, its balance shot as its remaining weaponry began firing in random directions. Lucius having been pulled to safety, the young girl threw out some kind of string-like weapon, wrapping around the mech's legs as she struggled to pull it down. Seeing an opportunity, Raune and Retron threw out their respective lines, working together in order to finally topple the machine.
As if on cue, Gargan leapt up to the top of the fallen machine, his mechanical arm entering a whirring drill-like mode as he punched clean through the forcefield-less metal. In a grunt of exasperation, he tore out a clean chunk of circuitry, tossing it on the ground as he threw the dazed Lucius over his shoulder. Retron beeped happily as he ran for the exit.
Gargan: Mech's done for! Let's split!
Raune: What about these two? I don't even know how a child got here in the first place!
Gargan: Bring 'em with! We can't afford to slow down anymore.
Stepping around the rubble, everyone in the group rushed towards the exit, nary a trace of resistance in the short time they had remaining. Gargan used a shoulder bash to break down the door, and surely enough, the purple portal that the mysterious savior Nyxiel was known for spawned in the middle of the air. Gargan rushed in with Lucius, Retron following soon after, and the young girl in yellow following behind them.
Raune and her new ally were the last in the portal, with the Lillius taking one last look at her confinement before leaving. However, to her surprise, San-Sokeh himself was standing in the doorway, the tiredness of the Cataloger's eyes betraying an inner rage at her escape. The bow woman fired another shot at him, seemingly also sensing his sinister nature... But in what seemed like lightspeed, he snatched the arrow out of thin air, snapping it in two. Raune grabbed her friend and rushed through the portal, San-Sokeh rushing after her at incredible speed. A spike of adrenaline pushed her further as the portal began closing, giving her one last burst of energy...
The portal snapped shut as their pursuer got his hand through, severing it off in a spray of blue blood.
San-Sokeh grasped his arm in pain as his prize escaped to who knew where, his severed hand only increasing his rage tenfold. However, he slowly returned to his sense, resuming his calm countenance; a Cataloger like him had an image he needed to keep up, after all. Using his good hand, he pulled out his communicator, contacting his old friend in the Terran government.
San-Sokeh: Gangue? Yes, I believe I've found those escaped convicts of yours... They took the Lillius regent. No, no, I can't track them down, they vanished into some sort of arcane wormhole. I know not of where they gained mastery of such a skill, but it is clear that they will need to be dealt with before long... Understood. I'll inform the rest of our allies.
He hung up the communicator. These insolent brats would need to be taught a lesson.
----
Everyone arrived inside what seemed to be the interior of some sort of residence; if the large windows were any indication, they were currently high above the city, with an architectural style nobody present seemed to recognize. Gargan laid Lucius on a nearby couch to recover while everyone else explored their new surroundings, the little girl proceeding to hop up and down on another nearby couch.
Raune: What is this place?
Nyxiel: The Iliad Organization's penthouse suite. Don't worry, they won't mind a few houseguests.
Raune yelped as a woman in purple had seemingly snuck up behind her within an instant, backing off the second she noticed her. Presumably this was the person who had been helping out her friends in their escape attempts. She was... certainly something.
Gargan: Hey, lady, if you can teleport us across the universe in the blink of an eye, what's the big deal about having us infiltrate that palace ourselves? Are you messin' with us?
Nyxiel: Gargan, even my powers have limits. Sure, under normal circumstances, I could just whisk you all through time and space, out of confinement and into my warm, welcoming embrace. But prisons and execution chambers aren't "blessed" with the almighty power of Tiera like the home of a devout like a Cataloger. Those guys are the worst.
Raune: I know full well, but... Why exactly have you brought us all here? And who are these two?
The older woman had stored her bow somewhere as she was chasing after the child, who was running around the room with frankly incredibly parkour skills.
Nyxiel: Long story short, princess, it's because reality's about to be screwed up big time. Welcome to 2153 RB, my friends!
Gargan: Hold up. You're not saying you brought us almost six thousand years in the past, are you?! I thought you were crazy before, but-
Nyxiel: I can teleport you clean across the universe! How is time travel any harder to believe than that?
Raune: But even in our time, time travel hadn't been invented yet! How did you manage to take us through such a long period of time?
???: Don't tell them, Nyx. Time manipulation is confusing stuff. I know.
A nearby door opened as a dark-skinned man walked into the living room. He seemed normal at first glance wearing simple yellow clothes and carrying a bag of some kind of dried meat, but his eyes shone with a strange ferocity, and odd crack-like patterns on his face flickered and warped, clouding his face in distortion as Raune looked at him. Nyxiel's demeanor visibly perked up.
Nyxiel: Hey babe! How're things holding up here?
The odd man's gloomy expression gave way to a charming, friendly smile upon seeing Nyxiel.
???: Doing fine. Everyone's been out on SYNDERS hunting duty. Late night hours. I see you finally got everyone ready for Phase 2, though.
Nyxiel: Everyone, meet Möbius! I met him one day, cursed to wander the timestream for eternity and keep reliving the same few years over and over. That sort of thing... gets to a person eventually. You start trying some not-so-good life choices out when you have no repercussions for your actions.
Möbius: Yes, I'm not proud of some of the things I've done. Or would have done. Thankfully, Nyxiel managed to break both me and a friend of mine out of the curse we suffered from, and we've been travelling together ever since. It's taken a lot of time and therapy to get over my past actions, but I've never felt better than when Nyx here is around.
Nyxiel: You big sweetie... Anyways, Möbius here helped me learn not only how to see through all the splintered timelines that everyone's various choices have gone through, but also how to travel through it! That's how I got your helpers Bynde and Vessa over there... I sent out tracking stones that detected qualities of true heroes and started throwing them back and forth into different timelines. Out popped your new friends!
Everything hit Gargan and Raune like a truck. Retron was too preoccupied with trying to help Bynde catch Vessa.
Gargan: So if you have time travel powers, what's to stop you from just popping into the past and capping someone important in the head? Why do you need us?
Möbius: That's the problem. Time itself is converging and collapsing. There's this... dark void where there wasn't one before, as if something from the future is hurtling into the past and eating away at the very concept of probability itself. Nyxiel heading off to the future to save you and bring you back here is the last hurrah we're ever gonna get in regards to time travel.
Raune: So... we're stuck in the past?!
Nyxiel: I'm sorry, it's out of our hands. Besides, Möbius couldn't just travel through time on his own, either. He could only rewind it to major events in his life. But hey! Now you won't be immediately shot on sight when you return to your own time, right?
Nyxiel smiled and posed like she made an joke and was waiting for a reaction. Nobody was laughing.
Raune: If it is our fate to remain here... so be it. I would rather stay here than sit on my throne at home, unable to stop what may be the greatest cataclysm in our universe's history!
Gargan: ...What the kerrh. It's not like Retron and I had anything to go back to anyways. Still, though, what is it you need us so badly for?
Nyxiel: See, you four are some of the only people in history who have managed to slay what's known as a Fairy. Fairies are agents of divine retribution, carefully crafted to destroy entire races on their own. That's no small feat! Which is why we think you can help us take down actual divinity.
Möbius: In this time, a fated battle is meant to occur between a group of heroes and a cruel empress who usurped the throne of a strong nation, armed with powerful servants. People will die, but ultimately good will triumph. Or at least... that's how things are supposed to go down.
Nyxiel: That something Möbius talked about? It's converging on this date. We have reason to suspect the entity controlling the fairies is aiming to arrive to this battle in order to cause something, shutting down our time travel channels in the process. Not even the Iliad Organization's resident time cop can do anything about it anymore.
Gargan: So you want us.
The mood turned somber almost instantly.
Möbius: We need you. Please.
Raune: This is a lot to take in... But we'll do it. Maybe this will even let us go home after all.
Nyxiel: That's the spirit! Now, you guys go rest up. You've been through a lot. Especially you, Raune.
Raune didn't even stop to ask where to sleep; she curled up on the nearest bed-like construct she could find, nodding off nearly instantly. Gargan opened the nearest fridge to see if there was any alcohol in it, pulling out a few glasses of a pinkish substance and calling Retron over. By the couch, Bynde had finished calming Vessa down enough to get her to sleep, and had focused her attention on restoring Lucius's wounds with a warm glow emerging from her hand. Seeing the Lumina, Nyxiel turned to Möbius, whispering.
Nyxiel: Babe... please don't tell Bynde about not being able to go back. I don't think her heart could take it.
Möbius: I understand, but shouldn't she know about-
Nyxiel: If there's a chance this all ends well, it's a moot point. Telling her now will only serve to discourage her. You saw what happened to her in that alternate timeline.
Möbius nodded. Even he was horrified by what Bynde turned out to be capable of in timelines where her sister was seemingly lost for good. To be separated not by mere space, but by entire dimensions... It would be a tragic fate, to be certain.
----
Saipha Notozawa was not a forgiving man. He was the owner of one of the greatest technological development firms on the planet, constantly in demand for on-site examinations, and trusted so few of his employees that he alone had to design the bulk of his little pet projects. So when a business partner couldn't even manage to call him on time, he understandably got a little ticked off.
Saipha: Toronova, you're late. Explain yourself.
The hologram communicator flickered to life, with the visage of one Mikhail Toronova appearing on his sleek wooden desk. Saipha clicked in a button on his chair, pulling down all the windows and shuttering them with steel. No sense in giving anybody a chance to listen in. The Cesser man started twitching nervously, seemingly intimidated by Saipha. Also understandable. As powerful of a man as Toronova was, he was even more powerful.
Toronova: A-Ah, Notozawa-chan! Forgive my poor timing!
Saipha: Cut the honorifics, Toronova. I know you haven't studied a lick of Shianese in your life. Now, why did you need to contact me?
Toronova: It's word from the Duchess, sir. She's progressing to the final stages of SYNDERS's plan for the Synergium Z. She's requesting some more financial aide to help the final preparations go smoothly.
Ah, the Duchess. Katarina Omegance, current ruler of the arctic country of Cesserx. She was a determined one, that woman. Gained unimaginable power through exposure to the then-unknown substance Synergium Z, created a secret society to experiment on it, then declared war on the world... Only to be dethroned and forced into hiding. And now, after years of scheming and experimentation, she had managed to secretly retake the position that was once hers. If there was anybody Saipha had any respect for, it was her. The two had been business partners for a while, and it seemed as though her goal for creating what she saw as "an ideal world" would soon come to fruition.
Toronova: She needs approximately three million in funds-
Saipha: Already done.
Toronova: ...And she's requested the aid of your daughter.
Aysu? Whatever could she want with her?... It was of no consequence. Saipha had been preparing her for this moment for her entire life.
Saipha: I'll call her down. Let the Duchess know she has what she wants.
Toronova bowed sheepishly as Saipha rolled his eyes. The transmission over and money transferred, he opened up the windows and sent out a call for his daughter to meet him in his office.
Within a minute, Aysu had arrived. Her posture straight and intimidating, clothes pressed and clean, the very model of prestige and warrior training... The perfect successor to someone like him. The golden device built into her eye glinted in the sunlight as she got down on one knee in front of her father, the performance-enhancing computer installed within a true testament to how far he would go to improve her skills.
Aysu: Father.
Saipha: Aysu, you've been off training in that little Boundless tournament you like so much for long enough. I think it's time you finally proved your worth.
Aysu: With all due respect, Father, I-
Saipha simply raised his hand and Aysu went quiet. She could feel her breath catch as, in what was often the case when she was around her father, a jolt of primal fear ran through her body. Her father continued with his demand.
Saipha: In two hours, I'm sending you off to the capital of Cesser. There, you will be tasked with supplying backup to the SYNDERS organization; travel to the palace. They will know who you are from your reputation. You are to obey their orders to the letter. Am I understood?
Aysu: ...Yes, Father.
Saipha: Good. Put that sword of yours to good use. You have an image to uphold.
Saipha waved his daughter out of the room. That was her cue to leave. Getting up off the ground, Aysu went off to her own apartment that had been cordoned off for her in this massive apartment building. Not to pack. To vent.
Her room wasn't much, just a bed, a desk, and a closet. And, of course, the scabbard holding Lunarista, the specialized blade that her father had forged for her. Instead of reaching for the blade, however, she grabbed a nearby hairbrush on the desk and rolling up her sleeve, brushing down the length of her forearm. The sensation was one of the many ways Aysu had developed of letting off steam and getting any sort of positive stimulation in her life.
Since she was a little girl, Aysu had been under strict tutelage by her father and trained to become one of the strongest warriors on the planet. The lengths he had gone through in order to achieve this goal had been... traumatic. Her entire skeleton replaced with a mechanically-enhanced one to improve her strength, a computer placed in her brain to enhance her reaction time, and Lunarista to achieve a level of raw skill few had ever reached before. In spite of that, he was the one who held all the power here, as he would often reiterate to her when she was younger. More fearful. Easier to manipulate.
Aysu put the brush down, thinking she had regained her senses; in spite of that, her hand was still trembling when she reached for her blade. She knew who SYNDERS were. What they had done in the past. She would have to follow their orders, and most likely battle against the Iliad Organization who had been pursuing and fighting them for the six months since Cevress Matilda's death. This is why she had spent so much time in the Boundless tournaments, even with the founder stuck in prison... She wasn't scared of her father. It was just her, her blade, and rivals with strength she personally considered on par with her. She had her own will, not her father's...
With one tense grasp, she grabbed the sword, standing with a fearless visage as she began packing for her trip to the arctic. She couldn't do anything now but follow orders. After all, she was his little star performer.
===Chapter 2: 『Assembly』===
A group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose; the action of fitting together the component parts of an object.~
Osuna: C'mon, RoJo, we've got to get out of here!
Osuna's anxiety was at an all-time high. They had managed to pinpoint the location of the last wartime vault containing the valuable supply of Synergium Z... The unearthly material that the sinister organization SYNDERS had been seeking for unknown purposes. Sure enough, they had trapped agents of the organization there in the vault- Palaso and Hask, the pair of ruffians who they had captured once before at Chiqutl central hall. After six months of failed capture attempts, all of which had resulted in their foes making off with the stolen material, spirits were high after finally catching them red-handed.
In one fell swoop, however, the lackeys managed to turn the tables, escaping their bonds and firing upon the group of Iliad agents sent to defend the vault with shards of metal. And by that, she meant her, Stark, and RoJo, the latter of whom absorbed most of the projectiles and was now bleeding profusely. To make matters worse, Palaso then set the vault on fire as they ran off. Osuna hated fire with every fiber of her being, but she needed to push past that so they could manage to actually escape.
RoJo: No... we can still catch them...
Osuna: And we will! But now is not the time to-
In a burst of incredible strength, RoJo burst out of Osuna's arms and started running back into the fire, a look of grim ferocity on his face as he tried to find at least one way to catch the SYNDERS agents. To his shock, he soon found himself floating in the air, courtesy of Stark quickly shambling through the hallway. Though she didn't have it as bad as RoJo, her leg had a huge gash in it, torn open by Hask's metal projectiles.
Stark: Sorry, big guy, but this is a losing battle. Let's get out of here before we end up losing you too.
His resistance tired out, RoJo accepted that they needed to leave ASAP. The group slowly managed to make their way to the door, their muscular leader shoulder-bashing away the wood that had covered it up. Osuna ran out as fast as she could, coughing and hacking up smoke and trying to clear her windpipe. She had made it out with only a few cuts and burns, but the harrowing experience of being caught in a burning building for the second time in her life was too much to bear.
She stayed collapsed on the ground as Stark helped RoJo over to nearby emergency services, hoping to get him patched up as fast as possible. Osuna, on the other hand, tried to clear her head as much as possible in an attempt to calm down. It wasn't helping. All she could think of was the fact that she and her allies had failed in stopping SYNDERS from obtaining all of the Synergium Z known to mankind- not a single pebble was spared. They didn't even know what they were planning on using it for!
???: Are you alright? Come on, Osuna, let's head home.
Osuna looked up to see fellow agents Hayate and Phorine standing above her. Seems like they had arrived to pick her up.
Osuna: You know, if you had *cough* come with us, then maybe they wouldn't have gotten away.
Phorine: It's awful, but we can't do anything with it now. We need to head home and regroup!
Hayate: She's right. Besides, home has its own fair share of issues right now.
Issues? Did something bad happen to the team's apartment?
Phorine: They're not issues! They're nice people!
Hayate: Nyxiel stopped by and dropped off like six people. None of us know who they are or where they came from, some of them are injured, two of them can't talk, and all she's told us is that they're "important" without any reason why. It's like her freeloader boyfriend all over again.
Osuna sighed. Nyxiel was a strange woman- she knew nothing about her when she joined the organization, and six months later, she still knew basically nothing. All she did was periodically jump out of some portal in the apartment, occasionally dropping someone off like her partner Möbius, and leave after spouting some nonsensical talk of destiny and saving the universe. It was as if she was trying to be deliberately vague. Sure, the organization trusted her, but it sometimes felt as though she was hiding something as well.
Osuna: ...Alright. Take me home, guys. Stark should stay here with RoJo for now.
----
It was a few hours until Osuna and her friends arrived back at the apartment, emotionally and physically exhausted. Surely enough, a large group of people were scattered around the apartment, seemingly having been there for some time. Half of them looked like they came from another planet, looking definitively inhuman... but she had been living with an alien chef and a snake woman for months now. That alone wasn't enough to phase her. What was was the fact that there was a little girl in here, looking over someone who looked shockingly like an older Hayate resting on the couch. Another woman in weird blue clothes was washing a weird glowing sword in the sink. It was like something out of a fever dream.
Osuna: And you're saying Nyxiel dumped all these people off?
Raune: Oh! You must be the Iliad Organization that Nyxiel mentioned!
A green lady in a pink outfit walked up to Osuna before making a quick bow. At least this one seemed nice.
Raune: Greetings, my name is Raune, regent of the Lillius people. It is an honor to be able to meet your group in person. I hope we will be able to work well together in the coming days!
Osuna: Er- Welcome, Raune. Please, call me Osuna.
Phorine: Man, I can't believe we have two offworld leaders here! That's awesome!
Raune: Oh? And what planet are you from?
Phorine: Hehe! I'm queen Phosphorine Aquarius of the Aquarid people! Just call me Phorine though! It's shorter and I like it more.
Raune figured it wise not to tell her that in her time, the Aquarid had been long extinct. She simply smiled and looked for the third person who had entered the room, only to find him missing. Quickly looking around the room, she saw him looking at Lucius, who was finally stirring from his sleep.
Hayate: Spill the beans, who are you?
Lucius: ...Well, I can tell you I'm not an alternate dimension version of you.
Hayate: Oh thank goodness. You can never tell with that lady.
Gargan: Hey, Lucius, you're up! Need a rundown on-
Lucius: No, no, I heard everything. Years in cryostasis speaking with an eldritch horror makes you a good sleep-listener. Anyways, thank you for welcoming us into your home, Ms. Osuna and company.
Osuna: I... Well, I wasn't told in advance about that-
Nyxiel: Oh, you guys are back! Welcome home!
Osuna looked over and saw Nyxiel stepping out of the kitchen with a half-empty bowl of cheesy noodles, her excessively ornate robes hung back to give her a more casual look. She looked back in the kitchen to see Möbius sleeping on the table, a blanket drooped over his back. This woman had left the team after the initial battle with the monster Mosaic, and now all of a sudden she had dropped back into the organization's life, strutting in like she owned the place. It was kind of obnoxious, honestly.
Nyxiel: So, how goes the vault hunting?
Osuna: *sigh* Awful. We almost caught them, but the SYNDERS goons ran off with the entire deposit. It feels horrible to not have been able to prevent even a single piece from being stolen.
Lucius seemed concerned, sitting up on the couch and turning to Osuna.
Lucius: What exactly is this... Synergium Z? Is it a mineral you have on this planet?
Hayate: Sort of. People found it in the arctic in the middle of some impact crater from ancient times. It's this color-changing rainbow stuff that allegedly can give people superhuman powers...
Osuna: If it doesn't mutate them into a hideous monster, that is.
A faint memory was stirring in the recesses of Lucius's mind... A rainbow-colored mineral. Suddenly, he was back on Coronite, when his kind had begun their first experiments on Corona. Her blood, a glowing orange substance, was hazardous to contact... Then, when it hardened, it had transformed into some sort of glowing rainbow crystal. Then, everyone who wound up touching the substance directly had mutated, dying shortly after.
Lucius: I think I know exactly what this substance might be.
Osuna: Oh? You're certain?
Lucius: Positive. Tell me, have you ever had something that looked like your kind but with huge wings arrive on the planet? This is incredibly important.
Phorine: Well, there was Mosaic, but she was way more recent than the discovery of this stuff apparently. I don't know human history enough to-
Nyxiel: Two other times. Once in ancient history, where a fairy managed to detonate and wipe the world of all life, though mankind was preserved through the use of a golem who was capable of storing souls within itself. The second time, it was sealed away by a group of bird things off in the Crypta Archipelago, only to be slain years later by another of their kind.
The room went silent.
Osuna: What are you even talking about?
Nyxiel: You know exactly what Mosaic is. Why is it suddenly a shock to hear that others like have have come to your planet before?
Lucius: If that's true, then I know exactly what this Synergium Z is. It's blood... Fairy blood. Hardened and crystallized, presumably preserved by the fact it was in your arctic regions. This is bad.
Nyxiel clapped sarcastically at him.
Nyxiel: Bravo! Finally, someone gets what exactly is wrong with this stuff!
Raune: If this is anything like Corona... Wait, why exactly would someone want the blood of a creature like that?
Gargan: Simple. Kid said it gives people superpowers. Who wouldn't want that?
Osuna: Okay, okay, hold up guys. Even if we know what this contraband is capable of, we still don't know why SYNDERS needs so much of it, or what they're planning to do with it.
Nyxiel swallowed a mouthful of noodles. She seemed like she was about to blow everyone's minds, or at least attempt to. She was kind of a cocky woman.
Nyxiel: Now, I can't claim to know all of human history, but this seems like an easy solution. Who was the first person to ever use Synergium Z?
Osuna: That's middle school history, Nyx. Cevress Katarina, a mad dictator in Cesserx who used the material to form a superpowered army and wage war against the rest of the world. She went into hiding and all the material was stored away in countries the world over so it couldn't be used again.
Nyxiel: And what was the name of that group?
Osuna: SYNERGY... Oh no.
An old wartime organization with the same home country and superpowered agents as the one they were facing now? SYNDERS was literally a reformed version of this inhuman agency and it had gone right under everyone's noses this entire time. How could she be so stupid?
Gargan: And you're saying this new version of whatever-it-is is just operating under their country's noses? You'd think that after the first time, other countries would keep check!
Phorine: I guess that's what they were trying to do by hiding all the Synergium at least.
Nyxiel: Oh, they did. But you also have to remember what I arrived to mention six months ago...
Nyxiel snapped her fingers and turned on the TV, showcasing a live news broadcast from Cesserx. The current Cevress, adorned in her fashionable fluffy gown, stood before an adoring public, a bright smile on her face.
Nyxiel: The last leader getting assassinated would be the key to the universe's destruction? You don't remember all that jazz?
Raune: Ms. Nyxiel, I'm beginning to think you did not explain anything that's going on at all. Who exactly is this woman?
Osuna: I can't believe it... It was right under our noses this entire time...
Phorine: Osuna, are you okay?
Osuna pulled out her phone, calling up every other active member of the organization. They finally had one of the biggest leads in the SYNDERS case- perhaps enough to crack it for good.
Osuna: Everyone? I have news... The leader behind SYNDERS is none other than the current ruler of Cesserx.
----
Aysu had arrived in the snowy airport of the Cesserx capital at 9:00PM sharp, just like her father had told her new employer. She stepped out of the plane, one hand on her blade; the plane staff offered her a coat for protection, but she simply walked away- she didn't feel temperature very well.
The city streets were covered in a fine powdery coating of snow, muffling much of the sound from the citizens walking out in the streets at night. It was so quiet and safe that parents were letting their kids play in the streets, with barely any cars in the entire province. There was an air of cheer and hospitality everywhere, a smile on the face of almost everyone Aysu passed.
She knew firsthand that underneath all this faith and happiness, Cesserx was nothing more than a wretched fountain of lies and darkness.
Within minutes, she arrived at the palace in the north of town, a monolithic structure decorated in the red and white of the nation's flag. Pasted over the front gate were propaganda posters for the six-month ruler of the nation-
Cevress Catherine OmenCreating a Better World for Everyone
The people ate it up. That's what good publicity got you.
The guards stationed at the gate, seemingly knowing her by reputation, opened up for Aysu without a single word. Waiting for her was Toronova, the shockingly young-looking man who was business partners with her father; when he saw her, he broke into an eerie-looking grin.
Toronova: Ah, Ms. Notozawa, how pleasant of you to join us.
Aysu: The pleasure is all mine, sir. She gagged a little just saying that to a clear scumbag like him.
Toronova: Follow me. Your compatriots are waiting.
Aysu followed him inside the palace. The interior was warmly lit and felt homey, but there was still a chill up her spine as she looked around. It felt sterile, distant. It was as if someone had set up a comfortable shell inside the building, but hadn't touched anything in months- the only people she saw were the occasional maid or butler silently roaming through the halls. After a few minutes winding through the empty halls, filled with doors that had been locked shut, Toronova lead her to an elevator in a back room, pulling out an ornately-marked cardkey and swiping it down a hidden seam instead of clicking in a button. The elevator went down as the two stood silently in the cabin.
Toronova: I must say, I am honored your father was willing to hand you over as a bargaining chip. I myself cannot say I have seen your talents, but many of my... colleagues are fans of your work in the Boundless tournament. They claim you are an impeccable swordswoman!
Aysu: I am here because I was told to. You do not have to stroke my ego.
Aysu gripped her blade tighter as Toronova backed off, chuckling a little to try to ease the tension.
Toronova:I can't please anyone around here... Oh, look! We've arrived.
The elevator had let out in what appeared to be a combination of a fancy lounge and an aircraft launch bay, an extravagant balcony decked with dark red and black carpet, multiple comfortable-looking couches, and TVs with various machines hooked up to them. Over the edge of the balcony, however, was a massive pit, with rainbow-colored sparkles glinting in the air on occasion as a spotlight shone down from above. It smelled like a fusion between extravagant perfume and alcohol... not what she expected from a group like this.
Toronova: Welcome to your new home until our mission is complete. Feel free to talk with the other agents until you are needed.
Aysu walked away from Toronova, eager to get out of his clutches. She walked over to three individuals sitting around a wooden table, laughing and drinking tall glasses of sahall. It looked like they were celebrating some sort of victory, though she dared not guess what it was.
Palaso: Don't complain, you did great! We're home free now, honey!
Hask: I guess so, but I'm a little disappointed we didn't get to rub it in those Iliad idiot's faces more than we managed to. It feels like a tradition by now.
Palaso: C'mon, you're really worried about those bozos? We won! We proved we were better than them at every single turn! Doesn't that make you at least a little happy?
Hask: ...Y'know what? Screw Iliad! Now's the time to take a load off!
Palaso: That's the spirit! Show me a little of that cold hard warrior you keep calling yourself.
The man and woman began snuggling like a pair of heavily armed lovebirds, while a third woman in a jumpsuit and heavy machinery simply sat arms crossed, wistfully staring up at the spotlight like she had something important on her mind. The pink-haired lady stopped her playful tussling with her presumed partner in order to talk to her.
Palaso: Itoki? There something on your mind?
Itoki was silent, ignoring her comrade to continue her though process.
Hask: Probably that Meadows girl. Don't worry, Itoki, you'll get the chance to talk things out once everything here is done.
Palaso: Yeah! It's not like she'll be able to say no when we're sitting pretty and you manage to- Oh! Oh my gosh! Is that?!
The pink-haired woman got up and ran up to Aysu. Somehow, she didn't seem anywhere near as threatening as Toronova. She was just sort of... hyperactive, almost?
Palaso: You're Aysu Notozawa, aren't you?! The Boundless fighter!
Aysu: Correct. I was informed you-
Palaso: AAAAAAH this is awesome! Hask and I watch your stuff all the time!
Hask: It's true! We're excited to have you onboard the SYNDERS train... even if it's gonna be for like one assignment.
Palaso: Okay, we need to introduce you to everyone. *clears throat* Hi! My name's Dalia. Dalia Palaso. The strapping lad over there is Elton Hask, and our silent friend is one Itoki Takana.
Itoki raised a gauntlet-covered hand in a wave to acknowledge Aysu's presence. Aysu did the same before Dalia went back to her alcohol-laced bout of laughter and ecstasy.
Palaso: Man, this is awesome! We get to beat the crap out of Iliad for the last time and I meet one of my television idols! Can this day get any better?
Hask: Meet me in the guest room in five.
Palaso: Gladly~
The two walked off, eyeing each other playfully and leaving Aysu alone with Itoki, who barely seemed like she was in the same room as her. Why was the atmosphere like this? It seemed like these people were preparing for a party, not... doing what she had overheard from her father that they were doing.
Aysu: ...Why do they act like I'm some kind of star? I'm only here because-
???: Because you're powerful, my dear.
Aysu flinched. Someone had snuck up behind her- a near impossibility. She was about to question who was there when a gloved hand ran its way across her shoulder. It was then when she walked into view; a tall, blonde, beautiful woman in a venom-green dress. It was her. The face of the nation of Cesserx, showing her true colors. Katarina Omegance.
Katarina: Power comes in many forms. One of these is raw talent and strength, the kind of power you can work towards. You're a powerful warrior with impeccable skills, showcasing the might of that blade of yours on international television every other week. The crowds love you because you entertain them. You're a celebrity, an icon, perhaps even a legend. This is why my friends adore you so.
The Cevress talked over to the balcony, gazing over the vast pit as the spotlight grew slowly brighter. Aysu had never felt awe in this way before... She felt uneasy looking at Katarina, but there was something about her that was absolutely captivating.
No, she told herself. She wouldn't let herself get suckered in by this villain.
Katarina: Power can also come from influence. Not everyone can become powerful through training, but with enough talking and letting the people know that deep down, in your heart, you sincerely mean the best for them, you can win them over. You can win their hearts and minds, and they'll support you unconditionally... as long as you don't betray that trust. This is why the people of Cesserx adore me.
She outstretched her hand as it flickered with blue light. Radiation. The power that Katarina had referred to as a blessing, leading her down the path of the devout and righteous she claimed to follow. Funny how the essence of decay could so easily be spun into a gift from the heavens.
Katarina: And then there's superhuman power. A kind of power that only a few chosen individuals can wield. That does not set them apart from the rest, no... Only gives them a trait that those without it may very well make up for. But it is power nonetheless. This is how I made my friends in SYNDERS... They came to me in need, and I had the power to help turn their lives around.
Katarina turned away from the balcony to face Aysu. Those piercing eyes had an air of both kindness and sinister ambition. She clearly thought what she was doing was a good thing, that she was in the right. That made her all the more dangerous.
Katarina: Back in my first reign, SYNERGY was a military project. Stone-faced, regimented, lacking any sort of familial bond. I sent hundreds of good soldiers off to their deaths, some in combat, others to failed experimentation with Synergium Z. It was a disgrace, and for what? To have my power stripped as I went into hiding. But no more.
She began stepping forward. For once, Aysu didn't instinctively clench her blade. She felt she would be dead the moment she tried. Nothing to do to stand still and feign comfort.
Katarina: With SYNDERS, I used my power to help those who came seeking aid and shelter. I gave them capabilities beyond anything they could imagine, and that is what makes them loyal to me. Not might. Kindness. I made their world better in a way only I, with my blessings, can. Now... Do you understand why they idolize you so?
Aysu: ...My strength, Cevress Katarina.
Katarina simply chuckled to herself. She sounded like a mom laughing at a bad joke that her child had made.
Katarina: No, dear! Not strength. It's your role in things they enjoy, the way you present yourself as a tool for the amusement of others. They love you because you do things that make them feel happy. In that sense, you're almost like me... Almost. There's not quite enough ambition there, I'm afraid.
Tool... Ambition...
Keep it together, Aysu.
Katarina: This is why I want to share my gifts with the world. I want to bring about a utopia for all- one only I can bring about.
She stared down into the pit again. Aysu looked down alongside her- it was full of Synergium Z crystals, in the process of being melted down by a massive heating tank. As the rainbow-colored substance slowly churned into a glowing orange sludge, it dawned on her how much of the mineral was there. 50 tons? 60? The scope of what the Cevress was planning finally dawned on her as she felt that gloved hand slide across her shoulder again. She couldn't move- that would be defying her father's orders.
She had the witch right in her sights, and couldn't bring herself to do anything.
Katarina: Aysu, daughter of the fabled Saipha Notozawa... Will you join me in the final hours of the old world as I bring about a new age of prosperity.
Katarina hadn't mentioned one kind of power: willpower. Something Aysu was sorely lacking in at the moment. She was stonefaced and emotionless, not even bothering to turn to the person clawing at her heart.
Aysu: I am at your command, ma'am. Simply say the word.
Katarina smiled- another mix of kindness and dark ambition.
Katarina: Please, don't be so formal. We're family now.
----
Everyone sat around the table as Osuna recapped everything that had gone on so far. This was one of the biggest gatherings the Iliad Organization had seen in a while; she had sent the call out to basically everyone she could. Some people had left the organization long ago to search for more fulfilling or less risky jobs- as to be expected, not everyone on record actually showed up to answer the call. She supposed some people just didn't have it in them anymore.
On the plus side, some people actually did come all the way to Chiqutl in order to meet up, some flying from halfway around the world in order to be here. And the new friends that Nyxiel had brought in certainly helped make the room feel a little less small... Oh, who was she kidding. The situation was too grave for anybody to take matters lightly. The pasami they had ordered was sitting on the table, slowly getting colder. It took a kind-sounding voice of reason in order to get the conversation rolling.
Dotaka: ...Well, I suppose this is just like old times, right? Everyone coming together in order to face a common foe, one so powerful only our unified might can halt it?
From what she had heard, the golem Dotaka was like the mother of the team back when it was founded. She had moved on to her homeland in Shiansu in order to take care of the monastery she was first forged in, but she had come all this way in order to help her friends. It was touching, especially since someone of her bulk couldn't just get on a plane.
Gargan: I don't know anything about any "old times", lady, but are you absolutely sure you're up for handling this? You seem kinda soft.
Dotaka: *gasp* Oh my... I didn't know you were letting even more ruffians here now.
Bubba: Ey, I resent that!
Bubba was normally quite the jolly, hearty fellow, but now the big red glutton had an angry scowl across his face. Gone were the quips and awful jokes, in was the knife being thrown back and forth constantly between his two meaty hands. As someone whose own planet was destroyed by a being like Mosaic, he took the discussion of something related to it incredibly seriously.
Raune: Everyone, calm down. We shouldn't be infighting while there's a bigger threat to be concerned with.
Leica: The plant lady's right! This is our chance to stop one of the biggest disasters in history from happening! We can't lose sight of that goal!
Leica Minolta, allegedly, was a time cop who had been pulled from the future during Mosaic's invasion. In hindsight, the fact that the supposed origin of the monster was powerful enough to blockade the effects of time travel made sense considering that. Leica had been working with Iliad constantly since that date, but her amount of visits with the government of various nations concerning what she called her "time machine" had made it clear she would rather be in her own time than with them.
Stark: You're a time traveler? How did you not let us know this was happening before?! I mean, I know that never goes well in any piece of media ever, but a little "Oh, hi, the world might end in a few months" might have been nice!
Leica: Do you think I could have predicted this beforehand?! I'm from a timeline where this went differently!
Hayate: If I've learned one thing from listening to Nyxiel and her freeloader friend for the past few months, it's that timelines are the most fickle and unpredictable piles of horsecrap in the entire realm of metaphysics.
Bynde, who had just been standing by and watching, looked concerned again. Had she had some other sort of timeline shenanigans happen to her? Who knew... It was a shame she and Vessa were basically mute.
Bubba: Hey! If that woman's been messin' around with the fabric of time an' space, why ain't she tried stoppin it yet?! Maybe if she weren't too busy bein' vague an' prophety, we could actually know the whole deal about what's happenin'!
Dotaka: Look, Osuna, I hate to tell you this, but people have more important ways to help out the world than risking their lives in a fruitless venture led by nothing but a stray statement from a woman who quite frankly refuses to answer any question asked of her. What if we just don't feel comfortable with Iliad work anymore?
Osuna: Dotaka... Guys...
Lucius: Everyone, please, look past this all for just one second and realize what we're dealing with. A world leader is planning on utilizing a vast amount of a hazardous, alien substance in order to presumably conquer your world.
Osuna: He's right. Look, everyone, you've made it awfully clear that some of you would rather not work for the Iliad Organization anymore. Flambert went on to pursue his firefighting dreams. People like the Drifter and Samaina are up and missing. Sochiro Pogo finished physical therapy in order to remove the power that he saw as a curse. And Queen Hildegard has been too busy with her duties as a political figure in order to attend any kind of meeting. I get that.
She slammed her hands on the table in a burst of rage, something people rarely saw out of the docile Osuna.
Osuna: But our world is on the line! Maybe more than our world! I would have thought that some of you would be willing to put your lives on the line for this!
???: She's right.
Everyone looked shocked as a disheveled man walked out of the back room. He wasn't wearing anything but a ragged purple bathrobe and sweatpants, his pale body marked by a hideous-looking scar that looked like a brand had been seared into his flesh. His hair was stark white, and his face looked like he had stayed up countless nights working on something. This was Dr. Eisengrad Lox, famed inventor of the photonic rotodrive and member of the Iliad Organization... a man who had been trying to get his teaching degree for months now.
The only sound anybody made was a small beep from Retron- everyone else was either staggered by how zombie-like the man looked or the fact he had actually shown his face at all.
Lox: I am a coward, I admit. My entire life story has been success after success, but the second something goes the way I don't want it to, I wash my hands of the whole thing and try to start a new career somewhere else. But that's not how life's meant to go. I didn't ask for any of what happened to me after I got my powers.
The emaciated doctor hunched over in on the table, trying to include himself in the discussion.
Lox: I didn't ask to lose my job. I didn't ask for a monster from beyond the stars to come to our world. And I certainly didn't ask for something even worse to come hurtling through time and space in order to ruin our world. But this is just something I have to deal with, isn't it?
Stark: Lox, you've been out of action for months, hiding out in that side room while the rest of us have been trying to stop these monsters from getting away with-
Lox: You don't think that hurts me inside?! Like I said, I'm a coward, but I'm willing to buck up and fix that cowardice. I, for one, am going to get on the nearest flight to Cesserx and get ready to kick some behind.
The doctor pulled a paper bag over his head, the symbol of shame he had used to hide his face while he was an active Iliad agent. Now, he donned it as a comic book character would his heroic spandex-laden outfit, the sense of justice clashing with the fact he looked like a homeless man.
Lox: This is what Iliad was founded for! We can't turn back now!
Lucius: I will be the first to admit, I have very little clue about how the inner workings of your alliance function. But I think this man is correct. Your world needs everyone it can get. There's no time for any further arguments.
Silence fell over the gathering once again. It seemed pretty clear to everyone what the right choice was- any debate had been silenced. It took Vessa climbing the table and making a heroic pose in order to motivate people into finally speaking.
Dotaka: I suppose you're right. What sort of person would I be if I made helping people such a major part of my identity and then refused to aide you in this mission?
Hayate: You guys all absolutely sure? This could be a death sentence.
Bubba: No, screw it! What are we standing around for! We gotta go right now! I got booty ta kick!!
Gargan: Ey, I'm likin' this guy already! C'mere pal!
Gargan and Bubba started celebrating like the two were old drinking buddies, riling up for the coming fight with laughter and hollering while Retron performed little squats to try to join in. Bynde giggled to herself and started wrestling with the two, looking like she was having a surprising amount of fun in the process. Osuna looked across the table, eyes laying on Stark; her serious face turned into her signature sharp-toothed grin.
Stark: Well, they're right. No sense arguing. We're going on a trip, everyone! Grab your coats!
Osuna: RoJo, are you alright with-
RoJo had gauze strapped all across his chest, the last remnant of his injuries in the last battle. Despite the fact he was in clear pain, he just tipped his hat down and smiled.
RoJo: A hero needs to do what a hero needs to do. We're all going for a preliminary search.
Raune: Are we allowed to join in this venture as well? It's a personal mission for us, but if we're merely going to impede on your efforts-
RoJo: No way! The more the merrier! Besides, we've been facing them for months. They have absolutely no clue about you six- you're the perfect weapon.
Lucius: That settles it then. Time to go see what this Katarina is planning.
As the team started making plans and chatting around the table, Nyxiel stood around the corner, glancing at them from the shadows. A serene smile crept across her face as waves of nostalgia hit her; this felt like old times. She didn't care that people thought she was creepy or vague, or that trust in her wasn't exactly the highest. She knew she was doing the right thing, and if she could push people down that path, so be it.
That might be all they needed to push other people down that path, too.
----
Far away from the city lights in Chiqutl, the moon shone down on a small tropical island, a cool wind whistling through the grass and trees. Curled inside a shoddily-crafted nest on top of a large tree was a harpy, one of the fabled bird-human fusions so often spoken of in myth and legend. They were very real- and this one was sleeping soundly, bits and pieces of carved wood strewn across the nest in the shape of half-finished masks.
Slowly, a faint purple glow emerged over her nest, forming into what looked like a tiny stormcloud with a purple sun poking out of the top... albeit a sun with what appeared to be Nyxiel's horns. The woman would be lying if she said working on her own plan behind the Iliad Organization's back didn't feel kind of wrong, but if she was going to stop Tiera, she would need literally everyone she could get. This was a war she needed to fight on two fronts.
Nyxiel: Quetzarin, fabled hero of the Crypta Archipelago, I bid you-
Quetz: Quiet! I'm trying to sleep!
Without even opening her eyes, the harpy threw one of the prototype masks at Nyxiel's astral projection, where it simply phased through. She sighed and tried contacting her again.
Nyxiel: Quetzarin, you are the harpy hero of legend, are you not?
The harpy yawned and stretched her wings, showing off her bright and beautiful plumage. Like all harpies, Quetz's exterior beauty hid an awkwardness that came from both their relatively low intelligence and dexterity in comparison to humans. She was even more awkward than the average harpy, which made the fact she had somehow managed to kill another fairy even more impressive. She knew that recruiting this birdbrain would be a great boon to her plans.
Quetz: Legend? Are people actually talking about me? I just beat up a hunter guy and a giant space snake.
Nyxiel: Are you not the Compassbearer your tribe speaks of? A mighty warrior who guided your people to their new home here in the Archipelago following a great disaster?
Quetz: Nope! That's my mom!
Nyxiel: Your- Look, it doesn't matter. You managed to do what nobody else could and defeat Naga, correct?
Quetz looked like she was starting to get confused.
Quetz: What's this all about? Are you evil or something?
Nyxiel: Wh-No! Why would you even think that?
Quetz: Because you're all purple and glowy and have big horns.
Nyxiel felt really self-conscious now, but that wasn't about to stop her from pursuing this. She needed Quetz on her side.
Nxyiel: Look, I need you. The world is in danger and you're one of the only people on Earth that has a chance of stopping it.
Quetz: Are you sure? I'm just a normal harpy. I beat up a big scary thing years ago and my mom's been helping me make masks ever since. I don't do much at all, really.
Nyxiel: Quetzarin, please. I'm begging you.
Quetz thought to herself for a moment, before her expression turned to a sweet, innocent smile.
Quetz: Okay! I'll do my best! So, what is it that's so important to you?
Nyxiel: ...Have you ever broken someone out of prison before?
Quetz: What's a prison?
Nyxiel begged her father for forgiveness. This would be a lot to put up with.
===Chapter 3: 『Broken』===
Having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order; having given up all hope, despairing.~
Aysu had taken to wandering the halls of the palace she was confined to. She claimed it was to perform a sort of patrol route, but she really just wanted to be alone with her thoughts. Ever since she had come here, it was though she was constantly being pestered by other people. Palaso had a fangirlish devotion to her and wanted to "hang out", which Aysu wasn't used to with anyone outside the Boundless competitors. Toronova was constantly wanting to talk business and complimented her to an incredibly creepy degree, as if he felt that would curry him any favor with her father. And the Duchess, Katarina, was an entirely different beast, constantly prying into her personal life like she knew everything about her. That woman was absolutely terrifying.
The only comfort she managed to get was in wandering these empty halls, letting her mind go blank and release the stress it was building up. Maybe she should let her head run empty more often. It would fit the tool her father wanted her to be.
She stopped in front of an unassuming door deep in the basement sublevels. This part of the palace seemed like a residential area, or perhaps a hotel of sorts; Aysu had assumed it was a servant's quarters. The door was unmarked, but an amber glow leaked from the cracks like a beautiful sunset was falling inside. Hesitant, she gingerly opened the door, peeking inside as she heard a small gasp.
The room's interior was nothing like what she expected. Rows upon rows of wooden troughs lined the floor, all filled with high-quality soil and verdant flowering plants, climbing up metal sticks embedded in the dirt. The walls were gigantic computer screens, showcasing the image of a beautiful sunset on a beach, the specific location of which she couldn't discern. And sitting upright on the bed shoved away in the corner was a pale, emaciated-looking woman who had a look of intense fear behind her eyes.
???: O-Oh! I didn't expect the others to have brought in a new face! Please, everything is alright-
Aysu looked at the woman closer. Jutting out of her hair were long wires, all connected to a small device on the ceiling. It looked like it was designed to travel along rails as she moved throughout the room, but it couldn't leave it, What had they done to this woman?
???: If anything's wrong, don't hesitate to-
Aysu: No, no, nothing is wrong. I was just curious as to what was going on in this room. Who are you, exactly?
Lexi: M-My name is Lexi, miss. Lexi LaZulia. Or Relay, as some of the other agents call me.
Aysu sat down next to Lexi on her bed. It looked like she needed emotional support; from the way she flinched as she walked towards her, it seemed like a lot of it was in order.
Aysu: I've been here for multiple days and nobody's mentioned you at all. You're an agent of SYNDERS?
Lexi: Sort of. I suppose you could call me their communications officer. They use me in order to... to transmit messages covertly.
Aysu: Covertly? How can you-
Aysu stopped mid-sentence as Lexi pointed to the wires embedded in her head, smiling with a tearful look in her eyes. She had no idea how much this woman had gone through or what they had done to her, but she knew it was awful. What else could she expect from these people?
Lexi: It's not all bad. They give me plenty of free space. They give me all the gardening tools I ask them for. I get plenty of bed rest. It's just a call now and again, that's all it is.
Aysu: Why do you work for these people? Clearly you aren't being treated well here.
Lexi: I could ask the same of you. Why did you come to SYNDERS?
Aysu wished she could give a good answer other than "My father made me come here".
Lexi: I came because I was desperate. My child was born on the brink of death... No limbs, heart issues, digestive issues. I couldn't afford any traditional medical help, and so I came to SYNDERS. They managed to do what no other doctor could or would- save my daughter. And all it took was some of that rainbow material they seem to want to much.
Lexi looked into her palm. SYNDERS had suckered her in too, it seemed. They were like two peas in a pod.
Lexi: During the experiments I volunteered for, I manifested powers of my own- impulse transmission. At first they said they wanted to continue exploring its effects and would increase the pay amount, but then they kept extending it, over and over, until I basically became part of the group. People don't often come in, but they do their best to take care of me... But if I could get any one request, it would be to see how my daughter has grown up. I hope she turned out to be a fine young lady.
Aysu: ...If I may ask, what was her name?
Lexi: Why, Beryl. After the gemstone. I thought it sounded like a nice, beautiful name.
Lexi smiled as something snapped inside Aysu's head. Beryl- she had met the woman. Beryl LaZulia, renowned singer and a competitor in the Boundless tournament. The supposed exposure to Synergium Z that Lexi had mentioned would also explain one of Beryl's defining features... her crystalline limbs. This woman, trapped in the basement of a palace in the icy north of the world, was the mother of someone she knew personally?!
Aysu: ...I know what happened with your daughter.
Lexi: Oh, please, miss, don't try to make me feel better about-
Aysu: I'm serious. Look, quickly.
Aysu pulled out her phone, which Lexi seemed to be confused by. After all this time, it seemed like SYNDERS hadn't clued her in on how technology was advancing, or even what the internet was like... Not a single way to access it was in the room. It was as simple as looking up Beryl's name online- multiple videos popped up of the beautiful singer live in concert. Lexi was amazed as Aysu put the first video on, becoming captivated by her operatic tones.
Lexi watched the video, smiling and slowly letting tears of joy streak down her face. All of her fear and anxiety melted away as, at long last, the mother had proof that her child was alright.
Aysu had made up her mind. If she couldn't stand against her father's wishes directly, she would do so indirectly. She slowly rose to her feet as Lexi kept watching.
Aysu: You miss her, don't you?
Lexi: *sniff* I- I'm so happy... Thank you, miss. I c-can't thank you enough.
Aysu: Don't thank me yet.
In a split second, Aysu grabbed the hilt of Lunarista, dashing towards the door and chopping down the security camera she had noticed in a single slice. Planting her feet on the wall, she leapt off, delicately lunging over the room and slicing the wires attached to Lexi's scalp. Another two slashes were all it took to bash through the monitors lining the walls, which fell apart into a large gaping hole. Lexi was visibly shaken and startled, her expression changing to confusion as Aysu sheathed her sword.
Lexi: W-What are you-
Aysu put her hand on the woman's shoulder, helping her off the bed and onto her feet.
Aysu: You've done enough for these people. Go see Beryl again. Now go on, get out of here.
Lexi began crying into Aysu's chest. Feeling it was the only thing she could do, she patted the woman on the back- it felt strangely warm and pleasant to have an interaction like this with someone.
Lexi: Thank you so much! I can't believe someone like you has come after all these years!
Aysu: There's no time. Please, just hurry as fast as you can out of the premises. You will likely be able to catch a vehicle to the airport and escape once you get that far.
Lexi nodded, giving her one final hug goodbye as she ran off into the hole that Aysu had sliced open. Just to make certain, Aysu locked the door as she exited the room, hopefully giving her an extra chance of nobody taking notice. An intercom jingle echoed through the halls, making Aysu tense up.
Toronova: All agents of SYNDERS, please report to the outdoor courtyard. Our Duchess is about to make her grand entrance back into the world.
Looks like her days of messing with SYNDERS were over now. It was back on duty. Aysu could only hope her father never caught wind of this.
----
The scene changes to a monochrome courtroom, indicating some sort of flashback sequence. A stern-looking judge looks over the room, with a beautiful woman in a lab coat cuffed to a desk in front of her.
Judge: The jury has officially found the defendant guilty of medical malpractice and manslaughter. Any final words?
Woman: No, your honor. I accept any punishment that may befit my crimes.
Judge: Very well, then. Dr. Malphea Kiurala, the court hereby sentences you to 15 years in prison. It is a shame a mind as bright as yours must be kept away.
Malphea: In my pursuit of science, I brought death to someone I loved dearly. My only shame is that I could not do more to save her.
Malphea's flashback faded away as a stray bolt of lightning snapped her awake. The trial that had changed her life felt like it was only yesterday, but it had been just over six months since the incident. She sighed, looking down at the bright red prisoner's garb that she had been wearing as a badge of shame ever since.
She had spent her entire life in the pursuit of making the world a better place. She had sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into Hextermina Labs in order to research medicine that could end the world's diseases, find methods to repair a slowly dying ecosystem, and funded archaeological digs to find the secrets of the planet's forebearers. She even funded the Boundless tournament in order to find the best, brightest, and strongest individuals on the planet... All in the vain hope that they could lead her to something that would aid the whole world.
And yet, she couldn't save the woman she cared about most.
Ridley Evans was her roommate in college. A bright, free-spirited scholar who majored in business. Malphea was so attached to her that she spent almost all her free time with her, giving her an important directorial role in the labs and even planning to propose to her. All that went downhill after Ridley contracted a rare disease- a blood-based sickness that sapped her of much of her strength. Malphea had constructed what she believed would be a solution, but it only wound up making her life worse, causing her immense pain. In an act of fear, Malphea wound up putting her on ice until she could think of a way to help truly heal her.
It didn't work. Malphea's intellect, far surpassing humanity's, could not do anything to help Ridley. For all intents and purposes, her friend was dead. And once the government started looking into her more after the last Boundless tournament, where she had shown off her gifts to the world, it was only a matter of time before the truth came to light. She was tried for negligence of a patient, and she accepted the sentence eagerly. It was her fault Ridley had died.
Malphea reached under her long blond hair and stroked one of the small red horns that grew out of her head. The sign she had always been above the rest of the world, the motivator for her to improve people's lives and bring humanity to a new age of peace and prosperity... Now she felt them to be nothing more than a hollow reminder of the promise she failed to keep.
Katarina: Later tonight, I will be holding a speech in central square concerning our nation's new program to help change the world for the better. I hope you'll all be watching! *giggles*
Malphea turned up to the cell's TV. That Cesserian leader was on again, talking about how she was gonna improve the world. Fool. You didn't make the world better through giving speeches or political statements, or by fighting people off with a squadron of super-powered monkeys at your beck and call. You did it by talking to the common people, easing their pain and making their lives better.
She leaned her head back against the wall as the guard slipped her dinner in. Peas, a microwaved burger, and some milk. Not exactly the best dinner, but if she couldn't do the job a doctor should, she didn't deserve the best.
----
Katarina: Does everything look good?
Toronova:(over communicator) Yes, my liege. The piping system is all hooked up and ready to activate on your command.
Katarina: Excellent. Dalia, how's my makeup?
Palaso: It looks great, ma'm! I'd say you're ready to get out there and have the speech of a lifetime!
Aysu was standing guard next to Katarina while she put on her fanciest garb, putting on the charming cheery face that she used to address the public. She almost looked like a completely different person- that smile was much more sincere than the knowledgeable smirks she had been giving the members of SYNDERS.
Katarina: Thanks, darling... Ms. Notozawa, you are to keep watch over proceedings. No moves unless ordered to. Understood?
Aysu: ...Yes, ma'am.
Katarina: *chuckles* Alright, then! Everyone, it's been a blessing to work with you all as part of this little family, but now our plans are soon to come to fruition- the hard part is over!
Everyone cheered, some even lifting glasses of alcohol to toast to the occasion. Aysu was as stalwart as ever, hoping that Lexi was able to escape from the palace unnoticed. There was no time to think about that now, however, as Katarina got up out of her seat and began walking towards the palace's front door. The two guards stationed at the door opened it up, revealing the cheering crowd that had gathered on the stage that had been set up for her.
The setting sun cast a strange red glow over the horde of people excitedly shouting at Katarina, who was smiling and waving to everyone as she walked onstage. Aysu glanced over the crowd; everyone was wearing the red and white colors that Katarina was, and many were waving the flag of their country in a show of patriotic fervor. These people truly believed in their leader... She shuddered to think what would happen if Katarina's plan began in earnest.
Announcer: People of the nation of Cesserx, it is my honor to proudly present your cevress, Catherine Omen! Please, give her a warm welcome!
Reaching center stage, Katarina outstretched her palm in order to quiet everyone down. She cleared her throat and began her speech.
Katarina: Hello, people of Cesserx! I cannot truly state how wonderful your reception to me has been for these past six months. After the unfortunate passing of dear Cevress Matilda, I am honored you have been willing to accept me and welcome me into your hearts with the grace and gratitude you have!
The audience roared with applause. Katarina just kept smiling.
Katarina: Now, I cannot simply pay back your gratitude with empty words, can I? My advisers and I have been working behind the scenes, drafting up new ways that we believe the nation of Cesserx can help guide the world into a better, brighter future! And it all starts with you!
The crowd gasped in confusion as Katarina sat back in the throne behind her, leaning to one side and resting her head on her fist. Her smile was becoming less cheaply friendly, betraying her true intentions bit by bit.
Katarina: Years ago, our nation was at the pinnacle of evolution, guided by a leader who believed that through brute strength and warfare, she would be able to bring the world under her foot and make it a better place for her. She was a fool, but after her loss, she learned a few things. She realized that you didn't make the world a better place by crushing people, but by lifting them up.
As if on cue, Aysu saw Toronova, standing next to the throne, hit a button on his watch while nobody was looking. Deep in the bowels of the palace, the glowing vat of melted Synergium Z began the filtration process, being siphoned up through tubes and carried around the town's pipe network. Within seconds, people began to notice a faint orange mist emanating from nearly everything connected to the system- sinks, sewer grates, the hot water pipes running underneath the roads to clean off all the snow.
This was Katarina's plan. Using her ill-gotten Synergium to make a new legion of superpowered warriors... with her own people as the test subjects.
Katarina: I believe every single one of you has the potential to be something greater, to be one of the many beacons that I feel can lead our world into the utopia that I know it can be! Through my intervention, we have found a means by which all of you can change the world- you have become more powerful than you may have ever imagined!
The crowd began to notice the mist welling up underneath their feet, shuffling with unease as some began to cough- a clear sign of exposure. Katarina, the guards, Toronova, and Aysu were all protected by a transparent filter that had been set up over the castle and surrounding area; the innocent townspeople, on the other hand, were fully exposed to the substance. Aysu couldn't believe she was made to be an accomplice to this awful display.
Katarina: So hear my plea, people of Cesserx! Join me, your leader- Katarina Omegance- and help me press onward to bring about a new dawn under my rule. Join the family!
Katarina expected to hear an outcry of support as people began manifesting their powers. This would be the appropriate amount of exposure to the concentrated, gaseous form of Synergium Z- she had been experimenting with the substance for years. She heard no such sound, only dazed confusion- and one man who began to yell in shock.
Off in the distance, a middle-aged man dropped his homemade poster and began clutching his arm in pain. Everyone around him gasped and began to back away in horror as what seemed to be rainbow-colored crystals started emerging from his skin. His breathing became heavier and more guttural as more people began grabbing themselves, indicating people were in pain.
Everyone on stage was shocked. This wasn't what Katarina intended at all. She had planned everything out perfectly, so why was the side effect she hadn't seen in years bursting forth- the mutations?
Katarina: Toronova, what's going on? I thought we had this all planned out!!
Toronova: W-We did, your majesty! All the dosage and filtration calculations went through perfectly! Nothing should have gone wrong!
Katarina: Well, shut it down! We need to stop this before-
The group looked on in horror as the first people in the crowd burst in a rainbow light, their altered bodies being revealed. What were once human had become strange, ebony-skinned beasts with dirty-looking white armor growing out of their skin, shards of what appeared to be Synergium Z growing out of them. Screeching in pain, some of the creatures began running in various directions, others running right at Katarina. They felt betrayed, and needed to take that newfound feral aggression out on someone- luckily, the barricade prevented them from getting any closer.
Toronova: Your majesty, please! Hurry back inside the palace!
Katarina: But I... I...
Aysu grabbed the hilt of Lunarista as the throng of monsters began converging on the stage, crawling over each other to get a shot at Katarina. She couldn't tell whether or not they were enraged or desperately scared- either way, she needed to put them out of their misery.
Toronova: Notozawa! Leave them!
Aysu: But they-
Toronova: They're monsters! Not worth the hassle of dealing with! You are to come inside at once, or I will inform your father of this transgression!
Aysu stood still for a second, looking at was once a crowd of innocent bystanders, before sheathing her blade and dashing through the air, landing on her feet perfectly as she began running for the palace door. Behind her, she could hear the woeful wails of the people behind her, and the disturbing sound of moist cracking as the shells of some began to mutate further.
What had she done?
----
Osuna: Alright everyone, move out.
The group stepped out one of Nyxiel's portals into the cold city streets of the Cesser capital. Ideally, they would have been able to teleport right inside the palace where they believed Katarina would be holed up, but apparently the palace was blessed like how San-Sokeh's place had been, preventing direct entry. With this limitation in mind, it was decided that splitting up would be the best idea; Osuna would lead the Iliad Organization on a frontal assault, while Lucius and the others would attack from the rear and infiltrate the palace. After all, she and her allies had months of experience battling with and losing to SYNDERS, so sending in the new troops could be an effective surprise tactic.
RoJo: It's quiet out.
Phorine: Too quiet?
Osuna: Exactly. Wasn't there supposed to be some kind of conference out here? Where is everyone? All I hear is some shuffling here and there.
Stark: Relax. I'll just check around real quick and- GAH!
Stark grabbed her head for a second, stumbling around before righting herself. Something was wrong.
Phorine: Stark! Are you alright?
Stark: ...I don't know what just happened. I tried doing a sweep of the area to see what people were thinking, but all I picked up besides us were... primal emotions. Fear, rage. Something terrible has happened here.
Lox: That's why we're here, is it not? Come, let us venture forth.
Osuna: Right. Everyone, be on your guard.
The group continued walking through the silent town, only a few moans and wails echoing through the deserted streets and alleyways. Everyone grew visibly tense, and Osuna eventually summoned one of her blades preemptively in order to defend herself. Someone- or something- was clearly out there. Eventually, they came across something unspeakable in the shadows on the side of a house, desperately clawing at a window trying to get in.
The scraps of clothing on it indicated it was once a man, but that no longer matched the monochromatic, insectoid visage it now bore. It was on all fours, but clearly humanoid, and the way it looked at the group betrayed signs of clear intelligence. When it looked at them, everyone got concerned, but it soon ran up to them, a look in their glowing eyes of grief and what seemed to be gratitude.
Hayate: So, uh... Anybody wanna tell me what on Earth this thing is?
Osuna: No clue, but clearly they're scared. They seem to know who we are, too.
Osuna got down on her knees and outstretched her hand; the mysterious entity curled its face up in it, seemingly thankful to have a reassuring, calming touch. It was then that the group noticed the rainbow-colored materials jutting out of its body.
RoJo: Synergium Z. Clearly SYNDERS is responsible for this.
Lox: You mean you haven't seen these creatures beforehand?
Stark: No, these things are new. And judging by the mind scan earlier, clearly sentient. I think- I think this used to be a person.
Phorine: Is this what they're trying to do?! Poor person, it'll be alright!
Phorine hugged the creature softly, trying to make it feel better. It seemed stunned, but gently raised its free arm and joined in the hug as well, resulting in a heartbreaking sight for everyone. There was no doubt in anyone's mind- this would be the world's fate if Katarina got what she wanted.
RoJo: We better get going. We have no idea of what happened here, nor the extent of the damage.
Hayate: Totally. We better-
A hideous screech came from somewhere to the east as the creature they had befriended suddenly scurried off in a fearful panic. Everyone grabbed their weapons and ran towards the source of the noise, encountering a gigantic, bulky version of the creature smashing everything in sight in a fit of rage. The crystals growing out of its back were even more massive, and it had begun growing vestigial arms below its bulkier, massive ones.
Lox: Coming back to work was a mistake.
The beast took notice of them out of the corner of its eye, turning its aggression in their direction as it plucked a lamppost out of the ground and began swinging it around as a weapon.
Osuna: Hey, you're the one who said you needed to finally come out and face the world, right? We can handle this!
Osuna summoned a pair of broadswords behind her as everyone scattered in different directions, hoping to disorient the monster and prevent it from catching them together. Hayate leapt up to the rooftops on a burst of wind, skating along the ice-slicked railings in an attempt to reach the beast's eye level. Stark simply began floating upwards, levitating stone from the brick road bellow them and hurling it at their opponent en masse. It swiped these projectiles away with its limbs, throwing the lamppost at her in an easily dodged attack.
Phorine ran as quickly as she could at the monster's feet, her little fins crackling with electricity as she aimed to pierce its hide. Unfortunately, she found both its shell and skin to be too tough and thick to break through, and she found herself thrown back by its foot. Osuna performed a running lunge to catch her, throwing her swords forward in the process and striking the beast in its side. The swords became lodged in the skin, and a flying leap from Hayate managed to sink one in even further as a spray of glowing orange blood emerged from its body.
Enraged, the beast threw its massive hand down at Osuna and Phorine, only to have it lifted up through Stark's telekinesis. RoJo, who had simply been on the evasive before, rushed in and performed an uppercut attack, his knuckles glowing red as he rose up with the force of a geyser. As the beast threw its head back in rage, a strangely glowing purple chain emerged from out of nowhere and wrapped itself around the beast's neck. Osuna looked to see Dr. Lox's body glowing with an unearthly power as a multitude of chains emerged from his hands, the power that had supposedly been granted to him in a freak encounter with a demon. With the might of these otherworldly bonds, Lox managed to pull the beast down to the ground, where Osuna primed another massive broadsword and aimed it directly at his chest. She looked at her allies for approval.
Phorine: Don't! These are people!
Stark: Are we absolutely certain of that anymore?! Look at them!
Phorine: But-
RoJo: We can't afford to waste any more time. Keep them chained down here. We need to get into the palace as quickly as possible. Clearly there's more at stake here than we realized.
Osuna nodded, phasing the giant sword out of existence as she paused to look at their captured prey. Now that it was in a place it couldn't hurt them from, it just made her feel... sad.
As if they had any more reason to want to take down Katarina.
----
Lucius had managed to get the rest of the group inside the palace. It was relatively easy, all things considered... Gargan just smashed a couple of heads together and that was that. As the group got increasingly farther into the building's depths, however, it was increasingly important that nobody made any sound. Not that that stopped Vessa, of course. The child was too curious for her own good, so much so that Gargan was now carrying her in his arms as she pouted intently.
Raune: We're all good to go, right, Lucius?
Lucius: Perhaps, I'm not sensing anybody at the moment. Bynde, scout ahead, and stay quiet.
The silent woman nodded, dashing into the shadows and drawing her bow again as she lept from cover to cover. Everyone kept slowly advancing through the marble halls before coming across what looked like a ballroom, where three individuals were stood conversing. Lucius gave the signal for everyone to back down, hoping to overhear their conversation.
Toronova: Your highness, I promise, everything went according to plan during the setup! Nothing should have gone wrong!
Katarina: *sobbing* M-My people... They put their faith in me and I ruined them. I can't bear to show my face again! Toronova, everything is ruined!
Toronova: What transpired out there was not your fault! Nobody is perfect, it was an honest-
Katarina: But that's the point, isn't it, you imbecile?!
The woman's hand began glowing blue with radioactive energy as she held it dangerously close to his face. He backed off, scared out of his mind. Lucius thought it best not to interfere just yet.
Katarina: I need to be perfect! I am the only one who can bring perfection to this world! I am not allowed to make these kinds of horrible mistakes!!
Katarina's hand flickered out as she brought her hands to her face, continuing to loudly cry as she collapsed to the crowd. What exactly had happened? Wasn't this woman the person who was supposed to be the leader?
Aysu stood steadfast as always. Inside, she was incredibly conflicted- she was part of one of the worst tragedies she had ever seen, but her orders prevented her from doing anything at all. If her father heard she had disobeyed orders, that would be the end of it... but still...
Katarina: *sniff* I'm going to my room. Toronova, nobody is to enter without my approval. Understood?
Toronova: I... Yes, your majesty.
The woman walked into a nearby doorway. The second she left, the diminutive man turned to the girl standing beside him, glaring at her. She looked down at him, pose and expression barely changing.
Toronova: You know, I was told by your father you obeyed orders without question. Did he, by chance, sell me the services of a defective product?
Aysu: No, sir.
Toronova: Good. I saw that stunt out there, missy. Don't you dare do any thinking for yourself without my say-so. You know what people do with defective products- they get replaced. Now, I have an assignment for y-
Lucius: I think that's quite enough. Bynde!
Bynde, who had somehow gotten herself up in the rafters without anyone noticing, jumped down from her perch and fired multiple arrows at the two individuals; the girl managed to slice every single one of them down before they even hit came close. With the signal given, everyone emerged from their hiding spots, pulling out their weaponry.
Gargan: Surprise!
Toronova: Aghjidffh... Who are you people?!?
Lucius: Not Iliad, but we're with them. We've been lead to believe that defeating your organization is key to saving the universe. And that's a matter we take very, very seriously.
Raune: That's right! Come with us now and we won't need to solve things violently!
Toronova: Oh, of all the- Notozawa! Prove your worth! Dispose of these worthless intruders for me!
Aysu: At once, sir. Saving the universe? What was this all about?
Lucius could barely blink before the girl rushed at him with lightning speed, sword drawn in the blink of an eye. Raune and Gargan fired their grappling tools to throw her off, but she simply dodged them as if they weren't even there. She went in for an overhead swing, seemingly aiming to chop him in half, but he managed to catch the blade between his fingers at the last second. The pressure was intense; while he couldn't hold this blow forever, he had the opportunity to slip to the side and summon a plasma blade of his own. In an instant, she parried that too, retaliating almost instantly with a flurry of slashes.
Gargan began firing upon her almost immediately with a hail of machine gun bullets, but she simply began swinging her blade at what seemed like hypersonic speed, deflecting every single shot. Bynde leapt into the fray with that glowing sword of hers, performing a jump strike. The two blades clashed with a force that threw everyone back, and Bynde received a swift kick to the gut for her attempted attack. Vessa threw her yo-yo in an attempt to grab the blade out of her hand, but it was simply deflected in the same stroke that bounced one of Lucius's blasts away. This girl... was she unstoppable?
Aysu's head was burning with all the calculations her mental computer was putting her through. Silhouettes of her adversaries were darting back and forth as the predictions for where she would strike next came from, and her body began to feel warm as her powered endoskeleton moved her around at speeds she had never maintained for this long. Fighting foes like this in these numbers was truly taxing her, but she couldn't show a single sign of weakness. Not in front of Toronova.
A missile flew by her, emanating a frosty white smoke as it traveled threw the air. In a flash, she grabbed it straight out of the air, spinning around and hurling it at the strange green woman located in the back. An odd-looking entity jumped in front of her, blocking the icy impact with a shield it managed to throw up at the last second. Aysu noticed her own hand had been frosted over with a thick layer of ice; with just a twitch, the layer shattered, and she clenched her fist as energy channeled into Lunarista. In one wide sweep, a massive beam of energy shot towards the shield, cleaving it in two.
The man in the green clothing began throwing more and more energy spikes at her, which she had no issue blocking at all. The big red-colored man seemed to get angry as she continued to evade his strikes, rushing towards her like a freight train. Fool. Moments before impact, pretending all her attention was focused on the green man and the sword-wielding woman, she backflipped over his charge, striking him in the back with a well-placed kick. The power behind the attack was overwhelming- he flew back and smashed his allies into the wall.
The next person to run up to her were the green woman and the odd, blocky-looking person, who was now wielding a pair of absurdly large swords. Such weapons would only slow him down; with the swings of his attacks so incredibly slow, it was child's play to leap over his strike and hit him on the head with the pommel of her sword. Grabbing his helmet by the horns, she threw him into the woman, knocking them both down. And now for the next contender-
Standing before her was a small child, running at her with scared determination.
Suddenly, she had a flashback to her youth. Running at her father with the same look on her face, that same determination, desperate to prove she could best him... She had gotten slammed into the dirt every single time. Any time she showed that desire to be better than him, he crushed her dreams... and her body. And now, she had to do the same to someone else.
Her breath faltered. She couldn't do it.
As the girl feebly pounded on her legs, she realized just how worn down her body had become during this battle. Her mechanical bones felt like they were on fire from overuse, and the computer covering her eye began to sear as if it were about to explode. Its calculations seemed to be going haywire, becoming more and more erratic. In that moment, Aysu finally realized she was literally breaking herself down for her father.
Aysu: I...
Toronova: That's quite enough.
A burst of orange light flooded the room, emerging from Toronova's eyes. This was his power: the ability to stimulate the fight-or-flight response of living beings and manipulate their mental state. Everyone around the room, even the girl in front of them, began convulsing with pain as the man began overloading their brains. Aysu was being kept safe by her enhancements, but to Lucius, it felt like reliving the pain of those years with Corona all over again.
Toronova: You've had your fun with these worms, Notozawa. Now, finish them off.
Aysu remained silent, glancing down at Lucius, who was slowly crawling towards them. His body was flickering with plasma energy as he attempted one last attack, but it was to no avail; Toronova crushed his shoe into the man's hand, making him let out a violent, primal scream as the businessman leaned over him.
Toronova: Heheh... This is what happens when you side with scum like Iliad, friends. You are squashed like the insects you are!
Aysu's computer was going even more haywire as her emotional state became more and more conflicted. Her fist clenched, and all the blood in her body seemed to be reaching a boiling point. This man... these people... were monsters. People like Hask, Palaso, and Lexi had been suckered in by the promises of heartless monsters like Toronova, only serving to enable these heinous actions.
Toronova: Now, Notozawa, do your job and unleash sweet death upon these fools! No, wait, save this one! The Duchess will certainly be interested in him! Haha ha HA HAHA HAHAHA!!! Oh, your father will be so, so proud!
Her father enabled these monsters to go unchecked. That was final.
Aysu: Toronova...
Toronova: WHAT?! DON'T SPEAK OUT OF-
In a split second, everything reached a boiling point. Aysu's body began darkening, glowing with a crimson red hue before appearing to crack like glass. Lucius had only seen this once before... with Fera...
Aysu burst from the shell that surrounded her, the obedience drilled into her by her father broken in one fell swoop. Her appearance seemed to change- her clothing had been swapped out for a pitch-black variant, her hair taking on a red tone and appearing to transform into scarlet flames on the tip. As if in a show of defiance, the computer covering her eye burst into pieces, the exposed eye now flickering with a flame matching Aysu's newfound rage and defiance. Lunarista itself had transformed, now a mechanized apparatus that felt both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time.
Her resolve... her drive... had overpowered her fear of her father.
Toronova: Wh-What is this?
In a single, silent slash, Aysu cut clean through Toronova's eyes.
----
Toronova: W-Wha... No... No no no NO NO NO!
With the effects of Toronova's power deactivated, everyone managed to get to their feet, some grunting from exhaustion. Lucius grabbed his hand as he looked over Aysu's new form, flickering with the same radiance he had seen with Fera's Ultimate Form, as he had dubbed it. Just what exactly was this?
Lucius: Who are-
Aysu: Aysu. Just Aysu. If you're looking for Katarina, follow me. I know precisely where she is. We can kill her and end all this now.
Gargan: Now she's speaking my language! I'm with her!
Lucius could see her body trembling and letting off steam. It could just be from the flames surrounding her, but he could tell that her body was in rough shape, likely from the battle beforehand. Even in this powered-up state, she wouldn't last long. Off in the corner, the newly-eyeless Toronova had managed to crawl his way over to the wall, pulling on a switch next to the door. An alarm began to blare as he laughed maniacally.
Toronova: HAHAHAHA! Nowhere to run now, IMBECILES! The bulk of our forces will arrive to smite you-
As if to kick the man while he was down, Vessa threw a nearby vase at Toronova's head, knocking him unconscious. Aysu began slowly walking towards the door Katarina had entered, her power clearly wearing on her body. Lucius walked up, putting his hand on her shoulder. The power nearly began to burn his skin.
Lucius: This is a fight we can't win right now. Come with us!
Aysu: No... I can't let these injustices go unpunished.
Lucius: And they won't. But we are all in no state to fight, and there's going to be a horde of guards coming through that door in a second. Or worse. We can take you somewhere we can recuperate.
Raune was in the process of healing everyone up as Retron summoned a large pair of rectangles, laying them across the door in an X pattern to barricade it. Bynde pulled out a strange-looking orb of swirling green mist, which she hurled at a nearby window and blasted the wall down in a burst of violent winds. Looked like they had an escape route at least. Aysu still resisted Lucius's pull, desperate to head after the mastermind behind everything.
Lucius: Aysu, please. You can fix whatever mistakes it is you're worried about, but there are better times and places to take out your aggression.
He felt her body's trembling slow down, before her body finally flashed with red light and returned to its normal state. The bulky device located over her eye was gone, leaving only a few scars over a perfectly normal eye. Those eyes were still shaking, though... She was clearly overwhelmed and exhausted.
Aysu: I... I understand. Lead the way.
Just then, Lucius heard a voice speaking in his head. It sounded angry.
Stark: What in blazes was that explosion? I thought you guys were trying to be stealthy!
Gargan: Out of my head, witch!
Stark: No.
Lucius: Stark, we need to get out of here. None of us are in fighting shape right now, and we've got a worn-down individual we need to take with us. There are hordes of guards supposedly coming our way.
There was a loud bang on the door.
Lucius: Correction. They're here.
Stark: I'll tell crazy girl to start up the portal. Besides, there have been... complications out here. I think we know what SYNDERS is trying to do.
Raune: Guys, we need to get out of here!
Gargan shot one of his ice missiles over his shoulder, straight at the door. It quickly became coated in a thick layer of frost, and the shaking from guards pounding on the door became notably weaker.
Gargan: That oughta buy us some time. Let's go everyone!
The group ran out the hole blasted in the side of the building, with Lucius and Aysu heading up the rear. They circled around the front of the palace, hearing faint scurrying around them but not wanting to look back in order to check. They shortly came across the Iliad agents running into one of Nyxiel's portals, and jumped in without a second though. Aysu glanced back at the palace for a second, a jolt of fear running through her heart thinking what her father would say...
She didn't care anymore. She followed Lucius into the portal without hesitation.
Back in the palace, the door was finally smashed open in a flurry of grey metallic crystals. Arriving on the scene were Hask and Palaso, accompanied by a cluster of armed guards. Everyone was shocked to witness the scene; a massive hole had been blown open in the wall, and next to the door lay Toronova, his face a bloody mess. Aysu was... gone?
Palaso: (distraught) Someone, get this man to the medical ward! You two, head out that hole and look for footprints!
The guards did as she said, one hurling the small businessman over his shoulder and running off to the medbay. Palaso took a few steps forward, dazed and confused. How could this have happened? This was supposed to be a momentous occasion- the start of a new life. And now they had been attacked by someone she idolized.
Kneeling down on the ballroom floor, Palaso started crying gently. Hask sat down next to her, holding her tightly in his arms.
Hask: Palaso, it's alright. We'll get them.
Palaso: Honey... Are we in over our heads? Maybe all of this was a bad idea...
Hask: Joining SYNDERS brought us together, didn't it? It must've been fate that we joined. Everything will work out one way or another, I know it.
Palaso: You believe in something like fate? You got fired from the military and spent years as a drunken boxer with no income.
Hask: I like to think that was fate too.
Palaso: You big lug~... Wait! Where's the Duchess?
Katarina emerged from the door she had entered beforehand, snapped out of her self-pity by the alarm Toronova had set off. Still in her fancy dress, she ran towards the two, concerned for their wellbeing.
Katarina: You two! What has happened here?
Hask: We don't know, but we think that new girl slit Tyrant in the eyes and bailed.
B-Bailed? That shouldn't have... No, no, not more mistakes. Everything was falling apart in front of her. Her people, her security, her agents... One by one, all her pieces came tumbling down, all thanks to her own mistakes. Her perfect world was slipping further and further away with each passing moment.
Katarina: Everyone, you are dismissed from duty for today. I need... I need time alone.
----
Gangue: So, not only did all of these war criminals escape, but you're saying the Lillius princess did as well? The one you wanted so badly as a servant?!
San-Sokeh: Yes, Gangue. They are all gone, and no resource at my disposal has been able to track them down.
Gangue: Son of a-! He threw his glass on the ground, shattering into a million tiny pieces. Today had not been a very good day.
As if the escape of a multitude of war criminals wasn't enough, there was no sign of that traitor, Ms. Bolstar, who had singlehandedly stopped his plans to let the Terran people ascend to power amongst the other races in the Solus System. To make matters worse, intel had leaked about the battalion of Terran troopers he had dispatched to the planet Coronite to get around the Hero conflict he had created, and there had been a horde of protesters from nearly every species around at his building's doorstep for days now. Even his own people were turning against him now!
Gangue: Is it so wrong to want to be on top of the world, my friend? I would have thought these ingrates would want the same, but no! The second someone tries to bring us up to our rightful place as rulers of the stars, they're dragged down by the rest of this soft, pathetic excuse of a species!
San-Sokeh: Yes, yes, you are truly an shining example of a true human-
In that instant, a flash of light flooded San-Sokeh's mind as a gentle, whispering voice began running through his head. Was this... the voice his kind had been waiting for all this time?
The voice of the Mother... Tiera. She had chosen him as the executor of her will.
Gangue: See, you've got it! Humans were destined to be great, to expand our influence to the farthest reaches of the universe! We weren't meant to be confined to equality with these dirty creatures from the depths!
San-Sokeh: Gangue, you follow the teachings of Tierism, correct?
Gangue turned around, face red from ranting and binge-drinking. He looked confused.
Gangue: San-Sokeh, what is this about now? Are you about to lecture me or something?! I don't wanna hear it!
San-Sokeh: Nothing of the sort, my friend. I just thought I'd let you know that if you're so intent on acting like you're human...
In a split second, the Cataloger darted across the room and in front of Gangue, shocking the Terran as he tried to struggle away. He could barely let out a scream before the being he thought was his friend and ally thrust his arm straight into Gangue's chest, flashing like a bolt of lightning as he crushed his heart from within.
San-Sokeh: That Tiera herself has chosen me to bring about the end of you and all the ancestors you hold so dear.
The commander's life slipped away as he passed into the afterlife, his plans and ambitions crumbling away to dust in the wind as San-Sokeh pulled his hand out of the man's body. A sense of overwhelming pride washed over him as he held his arms to his side, staring out the window into the night sky. The voice of Tiera echoed in his mind again, praising him and giving him his next commandment.
San-Sokeh: Yes, my Mother. Whatever you wish will be yours.
A howling noise sprouted from behind San-Sokeh as what seemed to be a miniature wormhole emerged in the room. The whispers grew even louder as he stared at it... This was divine intervention, no doubt. Tiera was truly with him.
He walked into the portal, newfound purpose in his multiple hearts. He would usher in a new age for all life in existence, bringing joy and prosperity across the universe for the glory of his Holy Mother. And all it would take was one jump into the past.
===Chapter 4: 『Breakout』===
A forcible escape, especially from prison; a viral outbreak; suddenly and extremely popular or successful.~
The prison was one of the strangest locations Quetz had ever seen. She was used to Sana Tomas and its cute little stone houses, with streets laid in beautiful ceramic tiles. This fortress, however, was made from dark grey metal, with menacing fences wrapped all around it. What looked like large lanterns dangled from the entry gate, and humans in dark clothing walked around the outside, large weapons in hand.
Quetz: What's so important that they have to keep locked up in here?
Nyxiel: A lot of people, very dangerous ones. We're only here for one person, though. Her name is Malphea Kiurala.
Quetz: Is she dangerous too?
Nyxiel: Yes, but she's also a good woman. She perhaps holds the key to saving the planet.
Quetz: Well, if she's a good person, why'd she get put away in here?
The bird was wearing on her patience.
Nyxiel: Quetzarin, sometimes good people do bad things. This is one of those times. Sometimes it's a mistake, or a lapse in judgement, but people can have good hearts and still cause awful events to happen. Now, enough existentialism, we have to-
Nyxiel's train of thought was interrupted by a few grunts coming from the front of the prison. Both her projection and Quetz turned to look, noticing a figure fist-fighting one of the guards. Another guard came up behind them and was swiftly taken out by a roundhouse kick; with both guards dispatched, they pulled what seemed to be a can of spray paint out of their pocket and began spraying away on the wall. Who was this new vandal?
Quetz: I'm gonna check her out!
Nyxiel: No! We have to stay covert-
Quetz had already taken off from her perch, landing on a metal railing right above the vandal's head; the newcomer backed off, started by such a large creature landing above them. Quetz got a good look at her; her face was obscured by the cool-looking purple hoodie she had thrown over it, as well as what appeared to be a strange rippling smog. Aside from that, she looked like any normal old human.
Hooded Girl: Gah!
Quetz: Hi there! What'cha doin here so late at night?
Hooded Girl: It's just a harpy... Look, can you get out of here? I need to see someone in here. Badly. It's a matter of life or death.
Quetz: Oh really? Same here, actually!
Nyxiel: Quetz, don't jeopardize the mission! We have no clue who this girl is!
The girl seemingly couldn't see or hear Nyxiel's avatar, only Quetz. She squinted at the harpy, trying to judge just what she was up to.
Hooded Girl: ...What on earth would a harpy want out of a prison? Are you just trying to butter me up to get food?
Quetz: No, no, I'm serious! There's someone inside here who I need to get out to help save everyone's lives! Her name's Mal... Malf... Uh-
Nyxiel: You birdbrain.
The girl gasped as the shroud of darkness fell away from her face, flopping to the side in the form of what looked like long, gooey strands of hair. Or was that just toxic sludge? Her face was shockingly pretty, but she had a gas mask on, so Quetz couldn't tell if she was scared of showing her full face or if she was hiding something. Maybe she just needed it to breath underneath that goop mask.
Hooded Girl: Malphea? Malphea Kiurala?
Quetz: Yep yep! How do you know her?
Hooded Girl: Look, I can't believe I'm talking to a bird girl who just coincidentally happens to know her name, but we have no time to waste. You're looking for Malphea? So am I.
Quetz: Great! This'll be a breeze!
Someone else was looking for Malphea? Just who was this girl? It would at least help to have someone more competent than Quetzarin doing the heavy lifting for her.
Hooded Girl: We don't have a lot of time, though. Like I said, this is a matter of life or death. Someone is coming to kill Malphea. Tonight.
What?! No, that- that couldn't be true!
Quetz: Well, we really don't have much time then! Let's go!
Hooded Girl: Agreed. One sec.
The girl continues spraying onto the wall, which just wound up looking like a circular arrow around a splotch of purple paint. To both Quetz's and Nyxiel's amazement, however, the girl stepped right into the graffiti patch, popping right out the other side of the wall.
Quetz: WOAH! That was awesome!
Hooded Girl: Keep it down. I'm gonna check out the main cells. You, cause interference any way you possibly can.
Nyxiel: Quetz, don't take orders from her. We have our own plan-
Quetz saluted while giggling, flapping up into the air and soaring over the prison compound with mischief on her mind. The mystery girl began slinking through the shadows, following the harpy's positioning. Nyxiel simply fumed to herself for a second; why was this rescue attempt going so haywire? She took a breath and calmed down... This was no time to get riled up. The fate of the universe was riding on this.
Nyxiel's avatar floated off after Quetz. Unbeknownst to all three of them, however, the prison was also being gazed upon by something else, a hunched-over figure covered in a tattered shroud that flapped around in the night wind. Staring intently at the complex and the harpy flying overhead, the figure let out a raspy breath, its one red eye fixated on the prize it so desperately craved.
Blood. Justice. Revenge.
----
Osuna: *pant* Well, everyone, sorry we couldn't do more at the palace.
Lucius: No, no, friends, you've done quite enough. This excursion was worthwhile... We breached the enemy's defenses and hurt their forces significantly.
Everyone had come back to the Iliad Organization's apartment- it was starting to slowly get more and more crowded. First the people Nyxiel kept bringing in, and now the new... hostage? Apparently the girl had come willingly, but she hadn't talked to anyone since arriving, just standing in the corner fiddling with her sword. Maybe after all this, they should consider moving to a bigger place.
RoJo: Report in, friends. What happened in there?
Raune: We didn't manage to cause any damage to their plans by any means, but we managed to defeat one of their officers. By that, I mean our new friend Aysu here did. Some... wretched little man who had some sort of psychic powers.
Stark: You managed to off Toronova? Ha! I owe you one! I've been waiting for that runt to get what was coming to him for six months now!
Gargan: Well, he ain't offed per se, but his eyes were cut clean through. You guys won't have any trouble with him any time soon.
Osuna: Having him out of the picture is reassuring, but did you manage to find anything out about whatever it is SYNDERS is planning? Any files or the like?
Lucius: No, but we overheard a conversation with what seems to be their leader. It seems that there was some mistake in pulling off whatever plan they had, even though all of their calculations seemed to be in order. Nobody managed to hear the whole thing, I'm afraid.
RoJo: Mistake... Do you think that has anything to do with-
Aysu: Yes.
For the first time since she had arrived in the apartment, Aysu began to speak. Her voice was stern and serious, demanding everyone's attention. Osuna could feel the power behind that voice alone.
Aysu: As far as I've been able to learn during the time I was with SYNDERS, Cevress Katarina's plan is- was to use mass amounts of molten Synergium Z and infuse the people of her nation of it, granting them superhuman capabilities in order to forge an army capable of world domination.
The room fell silent. Even Vessa and Phorine, who had been sitting alone in the corner talking to calm down, were drawn to the gravitas of Aysu's statement.
Raune: That's... That's horrible!
Hayate: And believe me, worse happened. Remember, based on what you learned, Katarina sees the plan as a failure. You wanna know why?
Stark: We found the town deserted. Nothing was there except horribly mutated husks with barely a flicker of humanity left in their bodies. We thought that that was her plan all along, but the fact it wasn't makes it even worse.
Aysu: I blame myself. I should have done something to stop all this before it started.
Bynde put her hand on Aysu's shoulder to try comforting her; Aysu barely flinched, simply glancing to the side.
Dotaka: Good heavens, child, don't worry. These were stressful circumstances! Anyone I know would have been crushed by the weight of these actions.
Bubba: She's right, kid. You did everything you could given what was goin' on.
Gargan: Shame you guys couldn't have come with us. Maybe we could've beaten everyone with a little extra backup.
Lox: And risk losing all of our agents in an assault? No, its best we didn't send everyone. That way, people could send a rescue attempt if things went sour.
Gargan: The fate of the entire universe is on the line and you're worried about rescue attempts?! Look at how many people are here! We could have ended this then and there!
Bubba: Partner, as much as I totally agree with you, he's right. This is a whole government we're talking about fighting- brute force ain't gonna cut it.
Hayate: Wait, hold up! That broadcast was televised, right? Is the secret out? Phorine, TV on!
The Aquarid hastily fumbled with the TV remote, switching to the news channel. A female newscaster stood in front of an image taken of a hideous, otherworldly creature, matching what the group had seen outside the palace.
Newscaster: Airy Atkins here with more live coverage of the Cesserx incident. A group of researchers has determined the bulk of the population in a 50 mile radius surrounding the capital has vanished, and in their wake, a horde of... I can't even tell what these creatures are... remain. All subjects have fled upon visual contact, and no live specimen has been obtained yet. Nobody's sure of what's going on, but a chemical analysis of the air seems to have located trace amounts of Synergium Z, molecularly dated to earlier tonight. It seems that the culprit behind the rash of wartime vault thefts has been tracked down- a Cesser who perhaps aims to rekindle old war efforts. In the aftermath of this event, Cevress Catherine Omen has gone into hiding, and other world leaders weigh in on the action they should take.
The camera switched to what looked like a political conference, taking place in a crowded hall with all eyes focused on a lineup of bored-looking men and women in fancy suits and dresses. Two individuals stood out to the Iliad agents- one was a pale, slender man in a business suit and what looked like a mask obscuring his upper face, the other being a young-looking woman in barbaric-looking blue fur armor.
Phorine: Hey, it's Hildegard! And Belladonna's dad!
Osuna: Hemlock Nightshade, huh? He actually appeared for a conference? That's unlike him.
Raune: Must mean this is important to him, then.
The man, addressed as Hemlock Nightshade, cleared his throat and began to speak to the crowd.
Hemlock: My friends, I ask of you to lend me your ears. The government of Cesserx has been shown to have a disregard for human life in the past, aiming to conquer the world with no regard for the safety or wellbeing of its citizens. The events that have taken place show the same callous feelings as the nation's leaders did over a hundred years ago... But I ask of you, if I may, to not blame the people of this nation for these events.
The crowd began murmuring as they discussed the situation. The camera panned over the crowd, landing on a woman in a deep purple dress, her face obscured by a veil. Next to her, a young girl in a similarly fancy dress and mask smiled and waived daintily at the camera, her hand being pulled down by what seemed to be her mother. Phorine grew excited and smiled upon seeing her, and began telling Vessa all about this girl. Everyone else kept watching.
Hemlock: The people of Cesserx have suffered enough. Look at what researchers are now theorizing to be the mutated, disfigured remnants of a once-normal town. We need to take action, but we need not go to war with Cesserx... We need only find the root cause of this disturbance and, if necessary, remove the infection from power.
Queen Hildegard lept up to the mic, her voice filled with much more energy than Hemlock.
Hildegard: Yeah! Look here, people, we didn't survive the attack by Mosaic just to fall to some creep holed up in the arctic! I promise the people of Earth that I and my allies in the Iliad Organization will do our best to protect you all, and avenge the people affected by this incident if we can. Now, who's with me?!
To the shock of all the leaders behind her, the crowd started cheering chanting for action to be done. RoJo simply chuckled.
RoJo: She's as spirited as ever. Glad to have backup on this.
Lucius: Is the woman a friend of yours?
Hayate: Yeah! She's a member of Iliad too! Or, well, used to be. Being a queen takes a lot of time out of your schedule.
Osuna: Did you hear them though? Katarina's done for! The world's rallying its forces to fight against her!
Gargan: Heck yeah! We won!
Dotaka: Not just yet, you haven't! This woman is still out there, plotting who knows what dastardly deeds! I shudder to think what could happen.
Lucius: Dotaka is right. There's still no telling what this woman is capable of. My friends, if you'd be willing to fight alongside us again, perhaps we can secure a bright future for all of us once and for all.
Osuna: If it's alright with everyone else, I accept. Your assistance in dealing with the end of SYNDERS will be much appreciated.
Hayate: Hey, Aysu, you wanna join in too?
Aysu was lost in thought again, almost like she was sleeping. She snapped awake when she felt Vessa pulling on her leg again, that charming childish smile making the swordswoman crack one of her own.
Aysu: Not only am I willing to join you in your venture... I have a plan. I've seen the stash of Synergium Z she has prepared, and it's all still down there. If we can manage to get it away from her, it'll all be over.
----
It was all over.
Katarina, distraught over the night's events, had retired to her room. First she harmed the civilians she aimed to empower and protect, then one of her trusted advisers had been horribly disfigured, and worst of all, the world had now turned against her. Laying in bed in her nightwear, she clutched her pillow as she watched what the world had to say about her.
Disregard for human life... Avenging the citizens... Infection...
Everything she had worked so hard to achieve had spiraled out of control in a matter of a single day. Soon, the world would band together against her, and without the army she had set up in SYNERGY back in the war, she would not be able to fend against them. Her dream of a utopia was vanishing. Distraught, she looked up to the sky, hands folded in prayer to whatever god was guiding her through life.
Katarina: Please, if you're out there, give me a sign. I desperately need to know if I'm doing the right thing.
San-Sokeh: I can assure you that you are not to blame for what has happened today.
Katarina yelped, turning behind her and falling away as she noticed a figure shrouded in shadow peering out from the wall. She didn't let out a cry for help, simply lighting up her hand in a splash of radioactive light. The figure moved forward, arms to the side in a show of peaceful intent; even though he looked like a freakish crab beast, something about him seemed relaxing.
Katarina: W-Who are you? How did you get in here?
San-Sokeh: My name is of no importance. What is important is my goal. Katarina Omegance, I have been sent from on high to speak with you personally.
From on high? Was this being some sort of divine messenger? Had... Had her prayers been answered?
San-Sokeh: What you witnessed today with your experiment on the townspeople is not the fault of science. You are correct in assuming your calculations were precise.
Katarina: I shouldn't have been experimenting on them in the first place. They were my people, my flock to protect. What kind of shepherd intentionally poisons her flock to see if they become stronger?
San-Sokeh: You see, now, you referring to them as a flock is precisely why your plans failed. While your science was correct, the flaw in your plan extends to the metaphysical. Tell me... Are you aware of the concept of Drive?
Katarina shook her head no.
San-Sokeh: Drive is the essence of life in this universe. Drive represents motivation, creativity, fighting spirit, the will to lead... and the will to make a difference. Your people were devoted to you utterly, but that means they lacked Drive. They had no will of their own, simply accepting what they were told and following your orders.
Katarina: What does all this philosophy have to do with the Synergium Z?
San-Sokeh: Do you mean the feyblood?
Katarina: F-Feyblood?
San-Sokeh: The mineral you have been experimenting with in your search for power is not of the material world. It is the ichor of the gods- the life essence of the divine.
She had been dealing far beyond her comprehension. This was getting to be far too much for Katarina to handle, yet somehow she knew... This was a sign she had been chosen for a greater purpose than she had realized beforehand.
San-Sokeh: Feyblood melds and works with the essence of Drive in... interesting ways. If you have enough power and determination, you may manifest supernatural abilities when exposed to it. Any desire, if it is strong enough, can push you over the boundary. But if you lack Drive-
Katarina: It backfires. That explains the mutations. I can't...
San-Sokeh: Precisely. You and your little friends have enough Drive to achieve your goals that you managed to obtain power, but your test subjects lacked it and paid the price.
Katarina: So why tell me all this?! Does whatever god you serve want me to suffer even more?
San-Sokeh: No, not suffer. I am simply here to inform you of something. You, Katarina, Omegance, possess the greatest levels of Drive in existence.
Katarina: Are you joking?
San-Sokeh: I do not joke. Your desire to change the world is overpowering, all-consuming. You will not let anyone stand in the way of your goals, not even reality itself. Your drive is enough to pierce the heavens themselves!
Katarina: What are you insinuating? That I'm some sort of goddess? I cannot even deal with the emotional trauma this night has given me!
San-Sokeh: Take the feyblood. All of it.
All of it? That massive dose they had left over? That would kill anyone! And yet-
San-Sokeh: Your spirit is powerful enough to consume all of its power. By divine decree, it is your inheritance. The world will become yours, able to be reshaped to whatever it is you desire. Katarina... Will you ascend to godhood?
Her mind was running wild. A messenger of the gods had descended in order to grant her a message, telling her that she was the only one powerful enough to ascend past humanity's shackles and lead Earth to enlightenment herself. She thought of her friends in SYNDERS who had gotten her this far, who believed enough in her goal that they had managed to attain power like her in the process. It was for them that she decided- she had to do this.
Closing her eyes and putting her hands in the prayer position again, her heart filled with gratitude and excitement.
Katarina: I will. Thank you for this blessing, o messenger from on high. I swear to you, I will change this world for the better! A utopia for all mankind!
She opened her eyes to see the messenger completely gone. Excited, she slipped on a white robe and ran from her bedroom, impatient to relay the message to the rest of SYNDERS. As she left, San-Sokeh decloaked in the corner, cracking a rare, sinister smile.
The Mother's plans were coming to fruition.
----
While the rest of Iliad was celebrating with their new friends, psyching themselves up for what could be the end of SYNDERS for good, Möbius found himself standing outside the room where Nyxiel has been holing herself up for the whole day. She had told him to stay outside and not distract her, meaning she was taking the job of mission control, but even now she was alone and quiet, as if she was working on something else. He felt the need to check on her, stepping away from the party and into her room.
He found her cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed as the markings on her face glowed a vibrant purple. Her hands flickered with magic as she contorted them into various positions, and her expression seemed like one of frustration as she squinted, making angry faces.
Nyxiel: No, no you stupid... Ugh.
Möbius: Are you alright in here? You're taxing yourself with all this astral projection and portal stuff.
Nyxiel sighed and broke whatever connection she had established, the glow cooling down as she turned to Möbius with an exhausted look.
Nyxiel: Moby, I thought I told you that this was important.
Möbius: I know, but you need to pace yourself. You're doing good stuff, but too much of anything is bound to be the end of you. If anybody knows what crossing time and space is like, it's me.
Nyxiel: The fate of the entire universe is at stake. I can't afford to stop pushing forward, even for a second. I have too many irons in the fire to stop and relax for even a second.
Möbius: All the irons?
Nyxiel: All of them.
Möbius sat down on the bed next to Nyxiel, putting his hand on her leg and patting it gently. She leaned up against him and closed her eyes again.
Nyxiel: I'm so tired, but I can't stop. I have more Herostones floating through the cosmos trying to locate backup, I need to break the doctor out of her prison, and I need to make sure that the last resort plan is prepared. We're in too much danger for me to just calm down.
Möbius: But what happens to all of us when you pass out from exhaustion? Or worse? What would your dad think?
Nyxiel: As chill as my dad is, I think it's more important to focus on what he's told me we need to do than anything personal. If we fail here-
Möbius: We won't. You see how prepared the team is. They won't admit that they trust you, but I know they have your back. That's what this little family's about. And that family cares about your wellbeing, Nyx.
Nyxiel: *giggles* You sure know how to change a girl's mind, Moby.
Möbius: Hey, I've had an infinite number of timelines worth of practice. I'm just glad it could be put to use on someone as kind and thoughtful as you.
The pair were interrupted by a swift knock on the door.
Nyxiel: Come in! Might as well get the whole gang in here now.
The door opened to reveal Leica, who peeked in before coming into the room, closing the door behind her. She looked like she had a lot on her mind.
Leica: I'm sorry to intrude on... whatever it is you two were doing.
Möbius: No worries. What's on your mind?
Leica: Well, it's just... I checked in with the Orenian government. My time machine- the one they've been saying was under repair since the Mosaic incident- they said it's out of commission.
Nyxiel: What? You mean that old egg-shaped thing?
Leica sat down on the bed, looking like she was about to cry. Möbius put his hand on her shoulder and started rubbing on it to try massaging her stress away.
Leica: Yep... The tools they have just aren't capable of fixing it, and now they've told me there was a fuel leak. Humankind doesn't have the resources to refuel it yet. I'm stuck here for good.
'Nyxiel: Leica, honey, I'm sorry. I'm sure there's another way though! Moby and I can take you back when all this is-
Leica: That's what I came to ask you about, actually. It's just that, with this weird anomaly you two keep bringing up that's eating away every timeline it can... Is it even possible anymore?
Nobody had a response to that. Dejected, Leica pulled out her futuristic phone, scrolling through the gallery. Past all the shots she had taken in the current time, both alone and with Iliad, she arrived at a picture with her and a woman with brilliant red hair.
Nyxiel: Who's this? You never told me about-
Leica: My wife?
Nyxiel: Y-You're married?! I've known you for almost a year and never once did you say you were hitched!
Leica smiled while holding up her hand, revealing a small diamond ring on her finger.
Leica: Her name's Nike. I met her on a routine timeline sweep with the rest of my squadron. She was in some dreary, dying post-apocalyptic world, ragged and worn down. I couldn't have just left her there, so we took her back to my time. We lived together for a few years, and then she popped the question. I just... couldn't say no.
Möbius: I can tell you miss her bad.
Leica: Yeah... A single tear rolled down her face.
Nyxiel: Listen, honey, I know that things seem bleak with all this fate of the universe stuff, but I promise you, you'll see Nike again. Maybe not until all this is over, but I can promise it'll happen. Trust me.
Leica smiled and hugged Nyxiel softly, with the latter looking flustered and not sure how to respond. Möbius chuckled to himself.
Leica: Thank you so, so much. I owe you one for this.
Nyxiel: No worries! Just do me a solid and tell everyone else that I'm not a rabid dog or anything. They can come talk to me! I'm open!
Leica: *laughs* Got it!
Leica left the room, her mood restored after Nyxiel's promise of a return trip to her beloved Nike. The two remaining in the room turned back towards each other.
Möbius: You certainly made her night.
Nyxiel: That's just what I do, Moby. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bird and some punk teenager to check in on.
----
Malphea heard the sounds of scuttling boots on the ground, snapping her out of yet another recollection of the past. The guards were mobilizing for something... An intruder? Her answer came when the overhead lights of the prison were disabled, being replaced by the low-power red emergency lights. The other prisoners began murmuring to themselves, rattling their bars as Malphea herself rose to her feet. Something seemed off.
Suddenly, a smacking down from the wall behind her startled her. Malphea turned around, witnessing a majestic flurry of colors flailing around outside the reinforced cell window- a harpy? What was a harpy doing here? The mythical being perched on the windowsill, waving hello with the flap of a wing.
Quetz: Hiya! You're Malphea, right?
Malphea: How do you know my name? What is a harpy even doing here?
Quetz: I 'unno. There's this voice in my head that told me I needed to get you out!
Was she losing her mind? Were the months in this prison really doing a number on her? The sound of guards barking just outside her cell snapped her to senses.
Guard: We've spotted the intruder! Don't let her- GGH!
The guard's body fell into view for a split second before being knocking away as a girl in a purple hoodie ran into view, her back to Malphea. As the girl kicked away at another pair of guards approaching her position, she turned to Malphea's cell and pulled the release lever, the harpy on the outside cheering excitedly.
Hooded Girl: ...I've been waiting a long time for this.
Malphea was scared out of her mind. Was this person here to kill her? All of her regrets began resurfacing as the intruder lunged towards her at high speeds-
And gave her a hug.
Hooded Girl: I missed you, mom.
M-Mom? Malphea's mind ran wild as she suddenly flashed back to a few years ago, when she was experimenting in creating an artificial child. But the prototypes never resulted in anything more than a steaming pile of horrid, genetically malformed sludge... Except one. One managed to develop a fetal form, but only for a brief moment.
Malphea: Are... Are you Kiur-0 A5?
The girl pulled up her hood, revealing hair that seemed to be made of the same toxic purple substance that the bygone experiments had produced. She pressed in on the sides of the gas mask she was wearing, dislodging it with a quiet hiss. Underneath the mask... her skin was still purple, strands of mass connecting her jaws as if it wasn't fully done yet.
Sarin: Please, call me Sarin. It's better than just a bunch of numbers.
Malphea: What are you doing alive? I thought I failed to create you-
Sarin: That's not important right now. What's important is that you need to get out of here pronto. Your life is in danger!
Malphea: No, I deserve this. I ruined so many people's lives that I-
Sarin slapped her mother, snapping her out of her daze.
Sarin: You are Malphea Kiurala! You jump to aid when the world is suffering! And, as far as I know, the world's in for a lot more suffering if we don't get you out of here!
Quetz: She's right! That's why I was told to help you break out of prison! The world's in danger!
Malphea: I- This is all so sudden...
Suddenly, Quetz heard a strange humming behind her. Turning around, she saw the glare of something sinister and predatory, a shining eye in the darkness staring directly into her. Shocked, her instincts kicked in, and she flew away from the windowsill in a panic. Almost immediately, a massive concussive force blasted the wall, smashing it down within moments. Malphea and Sarin were both knocked backwards, but managed to get to their feet while coughing.
Malphea: *cough* What was that?
Sarin: Crap, she's here! Mom, we have to run, now!
Malphea: Who's here?!
As if on cue, the figure lunged from the darkness into the cell, exposing her form to everyone present. The antagonistic figure was hunched over as if she were in pain, her body obscured in both a tattered cloak and a mane of unruly red hair. Her body was wrapped in a tight bodysuit, pierced with a wide range of piping that seemed to be circulating... blood. Her entire right arm had been obscured in some sort of massive cannon, and her face was sealed behind some form of metallic mask, behind which a single red eye could be seen.
???: You... Finally...
Quetz divebombed at the intruder, clawing at her hair and trying to drag her away from the two humans. She was swatted away, bashed at by the incredibly bulky cannon before being chased away with two more powerful blasts. It was then that Malphea saw what exactly she was firing- what appeared to be blood infused with some form of red energy.
Sarin: Get out of here! Run before this psychopath catches up to you!
Sarin threw herself on the assailant, thrusting an acid-coated finger directly into the exposed eyesocket. The enemy hissed, hurling her off her back and grabbing Sarin by the neck. Malphea watched in horror as the monster pierced her nails into Sarin's carotid artery; the girl screamed as some blood seemed to be drained into her attacker's arm, only to stop when she realized the liquid was a grotesque purple tone.
???: No, not this. You aren't worth my time.
Malphea: Get away from her, you freak!
For the first time in ages, Malphea's powers flared up. Literally. A blast of flame flew through the air, crashing against the assailant's body and causing her to let go of Sarin. Unfortunately, that just lead her attention towards Malphea herself. A second blast of fire was swiftly dodged, and the geneticist soon found herself in the same position as her newfound daughter, nails in neck.
Malphea: *breathing heavily* Wh-Who...
???: Every moment has lead up to this. Every memory I have is of you, the woman who imprisoned me for who knows how long. The woman who turned me into this. Every waking moment, I have been waiting to see you suffer.
Blood began pumping from Malphea's body into her assailant's, whose piping began glowing a radiant scarlet.
Sarin: You idiot! Malphea wanted to save your life!
???: No! She ruined it!
Oh no. No, no, no no no. It was Ridley. Malphea had thought she died in cryostasis, but something even worse had happened; she had lost her memories. The illness had only worsened her condition, and now she was some kind of vampiric monster.
Ridley: You are what made me the monster I am today, Malphea Kiurala. Every bone in my body is telling me you need to pay for your actions.
Malphea: R-Ridley...
The woman's eye flared open in a burst of shock. Recollection, perhaps?
Ridley: So you know my name, then?! What else have you taken from me?!
Malphea: I didn't- I just wanted to help you-
Ridley: You destroyed me!
Malphea: Ridley Evans, I put you on ice because I thought I had no hope of curing the illness you were afflicted by. I thought you died. I thought I had lost the best friend I ever had through my own incompetence and arrogance! You do not get to call me a monster!
Ridley: I- What are you saying?!
Out of nowhere, Malphea leaned in, wrapping her arms around the blood-coated form of her long-lost best friend. Ridley seemed stunned and confused, as if blanks in her memory were filling in.
Malphea: Please, I know you're still in there. I'm not your... enemy...
Ridley: I... I...
Ridley detached her talons from Malphea's neck. From the moment the scientist had spoken her full name, dormant memories had begun flooding to the surface. The pair sat there, silently, until Ridley wrapped her arms around her friend for the first time in years.
And then Ridley thrust her palm up from below, piercing directly into Malphea's chest as she gasped for breath.
Ridley: LIAR!!!
Sarin: MOM!
Sarin thrust her arm forward, spraying out a flurry of acid as she reattached her gas mask. Ridley simply shrugged off the burning sensation, firing another blast of bloody energy out at Sarin. The girl took the full brunt of the impact, but Quetz suddenly swooped back into the cell, clawing into Ridley's back and dragging the psychopath away from the doctor. With a sickening snapping sound, Ridley's talons dislodged from Malphea's chest.
Quetz: Get out of here, you big jerk!
Ridley: *guttural shriek*
Quetz let go of Ridley, blasting her with waves of wind magic to keep her at bay. Suddenly, a purplish void ripped open in the cell as Quetz's floating thundercloud companion reappeared. Nyxiel had just finished her talk with Möbius and was returning to the harpy and company, only to find that they had found Malphea along with some other woman- and completely obliterated the cell.
Nyxiel: I leave you alone for two minutes and mass destruction. This is why I need to pay attention to people more!
Quetz: Hi there, head voice! We found Malphea!
Malphea: Oh please, a wormhole? Sarin, do you know what's going on?
Sarin: No! I have no clue what this is! This wasn't part of the plan!
Quetz: Well, we gotta go anyways! Let's jump in!
With a shuttle loop, Quetz careened directly into the portal that had appeared, with Sarin blasting another spray of acid into Ridley's eyes. As the woman scratched away at her mask-covered face in clear agony, Sarin rushed to grab her injured mother, pulling her into the gate.
Ridley: NO! I'M NOT LETTING YOU ESCAPE! NOT NOW!!!
Ridley lunged into the portal, her feral strength propelling her with immense force before it closed up. Before the guards finally came back into the room, the portal had vanished, the four long gone.
===Chapter 5: 『Devise』===
Plan or invent by careful thought; a clause in a will leaving something to someone.~
After a night of celebration, almost everyone in the Iliad apartment had grown exhausted, sleeping on anything they could find as dawn slowly appeared on the horizon. There were people sleeping on the couches, on the counters, on the tables; Gargan had even collapsed on the stairs, holding Retron in his arms like a stuffed animal. The only person still awake was Bynde, sitting against the wall lost in thought. Vessa, the child who had grown attached to her, was sleeping nearby, using Bynde's leg as a pillow.
Everything that had happened over the past few days felt like a surreal blur to Bynde. She had been whisked away from her new home and friends to a completely foreign landscape, where she was surrounded by strange and unfamiliar people and thrown into a conflict to save the world. Again. Just a few months ago, she was sitting in her home on the moon with her sister, and now she was some destined hero exceedingly far from everything she had ever known.
She tapped her earring, the water inside rippling around. The Kingsbead had been a gift to her by her good friend Logos, a means of contacting him from no matter how far apart they were. There hadn't been any response since she came to this new place, however. She was well and truly alone.
Bynde thought back to something Nyxiel had told her when she first met her... Something about timelines. That had been brought up an exceptional amount as of late, what with all the talk of time travel and some mystery threat coming from the far-flung future. She pulled out her sword to look it over- the mythical Seeker's Blade, a sleek ivory sword inscribed with beautiful runic designs. This blade had been passed down from generation to generation of her precursors, all heroes who had held the title of hero that she did.
Bynde began concentrating on the sword, harnessing the limited control over the flow of time that her Shard of the Seeker granted her. Splintered, fracturing visions began dancing through her head; the differences were marginal at first, with Bynde simply interacting with her friends in different ways and making different decisions. The visions soon became more drastic, however, with Bynde being branded with something on her back and donning some form of shadowy silver armor, with what looked like Kathia, the servant of her rival Noske, hanging close to her body. She even caught a glimpse of her piercing through Logos's heart with some sort of horrifying red blade, glowing veins melding with the metal. She had no clue what any of these visions meant, but she knew what these depicted. Alternate timelines.
Osuna: Bynde, are you alright?
Bynde snapped out of her trance and was brought back to the world of the living by Osuna's voice. She looked around, seeing the pink-haired woman wrapping a blanket around her and Vessa while sitting next to them.
Osuna: I have no idea if you're doing something to power up that sword or not, but you look distressed. Is there anything I can do?
Bynde just looked at her with a sad expression, unable to convey her feelings through voice like everyone else.
Osuna: Hey, is it alright if I can see that sword? It looks absolutely gorgeous.
Bynde put the sword back in its sheath. She didn't want to be rude to Osuna, but she had no idea what could happen if someone other than her got ahold of the Seeker's Blade. It was more than a sword- it was a tool of the gods.
Osuna: Oh, sorry. I understand if it's something important. I'm just a little bit of a sword fan myself, you see.
Osuna took the glove off her right hand, revealing that part of it was mechanical and embedded with strange crystals. With a single flick, a ghostly apparition of a massive blade appeared in the air, suspended over Osuna's finger. It was awe-inspiring, yet also sort of scary- all this power at her friend's fingertips. With another flick, the blade vanished in a burst of blue flame.
Osuna: I've studied all kinds of things throughout the years. Swords, languages, cuisine, even dabbled in searching up the paranormal. But I've never seen anything like you people. You're all so amazing- you come from cultures and places I can't even begin to think of. Nyxiel tells me you came from a farm on the moon? And you have some kind of godly powers? That's amazing. Meanwhile, what am I? A girl who got hurt in a fire and got a weird prosthetic that lets me make swords. Not even anything useful half the time. Just swords.
Osuna gazed wistfully at the mechanical part of her hand, clicking the fingers together.
Osuna: I was unlucky enough to become a hero. I studied for years to be a paranormal investigator, and I wound up sitting in an office for years doing a desk job until a freak accident sent me here. Sometimes I wonder if fit in with everyone else here... Everyone else is a hero who helped save the world in some way or another. I'm nothing compared to that, but they still consider me a proud member of Iliad.
The woman turned around to face Bynde.
Osuna: But I think you guys are proof that everyone's special. Everyone has a place to fit on this team, even if they're different from everyone else. Bynde? You're living proof to me that I belong here... and I'm proof you guys do too. You're a part of Iliad.
Bynde looked down at her leg... Vessa had curled up in the blanket, sleeping even more peacefully with a smile on her face. Bynde smiled back, her unease with the situation melting away. It was like making friends in Kalidia all over again.
Osuna: So even though you don't trust me with that sword, I hope you can trust me as a friend, Bynde. I'm here for you. Things may be scary, and you may have trouble expressing that, but there's nothing to fear. We've got you.
The two shook hands as Bynde drifted off to sleep, cuddling with Vessa even more than she was before. Osuna got up and started making herself a bit of breakfast, feeling both proud to be almost done with the most important mission of her career and to be surrounded with the wonderful people she was. Yet, at the same time, she couldn't help but feel nervous about something. She had no clue what it was, but there was some sensation deep in her heart that simply felt... off.
----
Toronova: Your brat is the most horrid woman I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with!
Saipha: Finally cutting the crap and getting straight to the point, are we? Refreshing.
Saipha was not amused by Toronova's intrusion on his private affairs once again. It had been mere days since the last call, and things had become very busy in an incredibly short timespan. Governments the world over were putting in orders for weaponry and assets that his company was struggling to put together on time, and he had been losing sleep over the stress of it all. They hadn't even told him what they needed all this for, just that it was urgent. And now, another business partner had thrown an angry call on top of the ever-growing pile of annoyances, though even Saipha was intrigued by Toronova's new blindfold.
Saipha: So, tell me, are you calling in for a faulty goods complaint?
Toronova: Faulty? I lost my vision, Notozawa! My eyes are in an irreparable state! I may never see a speck of light again, and if I do, I will not be able to use my abilities! I'm a shadow of my former self, all because of your "product"!
Aysu failing to protect a client? That was unlike her.
Saipha: Toronova, I assure you, if Aysu failed to live up to your standards, she will be forcibly reprimanded. It is not like her to let someone like you come to harm.
Toronova: Who do you think did this to me, Notozawa?! We had cornered our targets, pinned them helpless to the ground, and all of a sudden she comes in and slashes clean through my eyes! I should sue you for this, you son of a-
Saipha's eyes widened. Aysu had acted on her own and attacked one of his clients? W-What had happened? Years of training, conditioning, gone in a single instant of rebellion.
He regained his composure after the initial shock, turning back to face his blindfolded compatriot. Aysu was a product of his own creation. Even the greatest geniuses made mistakes... Just like that Kiurala woman. His daughter as she was now would be a liability to his reputation, but that was alright... A product could always be recalled and fixed by the owner.
Saipha: I guarantee you that I will remedy your issue. Your purchase is defective. I am willing to repair it and send it back to you. It'll cost you, though.
Toronova: You think I want that monster back?! She ruined me! Besides, any use we would have had for for her is long past. Our plans have failed, Saipha. They're coming for us.
Saipha: Who is this they?
Toronova: EVERYONE! The world's turned against our organization in the blink of an eye! Everything is falling down and collapsing around us! And you know what?! After your daughter's screw-up, I'm pinning charges on you, too! That'll teach you for setting this monster loose on me! HahahAHAHAHA-
The madman's laughter was interrupted by a door slamming open.
Palaso: Hey, chuckles, get out of medical ward. The Duchess wants to speak to everyone.
Toronova: I'm BLIND, you imbecile!
Palaso: That's what I'm here for. C'mon, follow me.
The transmission cut off. Saipha sighed, sinking into his chair and resting his forehead in his hands. Everything was spiraling out of control so fast... At least he knew what all these orders were for. They were going against SYNDERS, weren't they?
Saipha opened a drawer, pulling out a dusty old picture frame. Inside the frame were three people: a younger version in himself in a dapper white suit, his wife Minato, passed away three short years ago, and Aysu, only about 4 years old. Back when the company had first pushed for weapons development. When Saipha was convinced he needed to train his daughter for her own protection, he figured Minato would object. But she never did. Even when they started getting into her body's modification, she never said a negative word, just saying that they would need a strong heiress one day.
And now, Aysu had turned rogue, running off to who knew where and turning her back on her family. Was he perhaps too harsh on her? No. A child was their family's property, and Aysu's very body was a weapon that belonged to him. She was his tool to shape as he desired, and this insubordination was out of line.
Saipha pulled back the cuff of his suit sleeve as he put the picture away, revealing the strange, faint symbols that had been burnt into his flesh years ago. This was part of the job when it came to working with SYNDERS- learning their secrets gave him ample opportunity to gain some power of his own. Knowing what the organization was planning to do to the world, he believed the best approach would be to just sit back and let them do what they could, avoid association...
And then teach his daughter a lesson in obedience.
----
Palaso: Y-you're not serious, are you?
Katarina: Deadly serious. This could perhaps be the one chance we have to finally accomplish the goal we have sought for so long.
Katarina had gathered everyone around the table where they had discussed their plans for years now. While the cevress was simply picking away at breakfast as the sun rose in the sky, everyone else seemed shocked and horrified at the proposal she had brought to everyone's attention.
Hask: You do realize what it is you're saying, right? We're not letting you jump into a vat of molten metal on live television.
Katarina: My public image has suffered enough over the past day. I went from a beloved monarch to the woman who caused immense harm to her people on worldwide broadcast, one who now has the entire world gunning for her. If I wind up ending my own life through this experiment, so be it. But if there is even a slight chance that I can attain the power I seek through absorbing all of the feyblood into my system-
Palaso: You don't think that's going to have any kind of side effect?! Look at what happened when we used a little bit of that vat on the people outside!
Katarina: I-
Hask: I second that. I'm sorry, but you are far too important to be throwing yourself away like this. Who's gonna carry out your whole plan of making the world better if you die?
The group went silent for a second, everyone looking around at each other. It was then that Toronova cleared his throat. The man was a wreck, his body pale and drained as his stance grew noticeably shakier and less stable. The clearest change was the white blindfold draped over his eyes, stained with a few flecks of dried blood. He was just a depressing sight to behold.
Toronova: Your majesty, I promise that I have the utmost faith in you and your ability to succeed. You are the most powerful, most ambitious being I have met throughout my time on this Earth, and I can assure you that you should have no doubts about taking on this task-
Palaso: Don't butter her up! Do you even care about what might happen to her?!
Toronova: I know she's come too far to surrender now! There's too much riding on her success! Why would you have any doubt in the might of your leader?!
Palaso: She's a person! She's not some kind of goddess!
Toronova: She deserves your loyalty regardless, you wretch! Who else scooped you from the gutter and gave you a chance to make your dreams a reality?
Itoki: Stop it.
For once, the mysterious and silent Itoki Hana had spoken. Everyone but Katarina turned towards her, the jumpsuit-clad woman somberly looking at her allies as the hiss of liquid nitrogen escaped her suit.
Itoki: I haven't said anything in the time I've know you because I've never had a reason to. Now, though? I think I need to come out and say it.
Palaso: Itoki?
Itoki: Katarina, we've been following you for years. We'll always be grateful for the second chances that SYNDERS has provided us. And that's why we care so much about you. I think it's best that you make this decision on your own, but please, think about us before you go all in on this. That's all I have to say. I hope it's convinced you.
The group went silent as Toronova scowled to himself. Katarina put down her fork and stood up from the table.
Katarina: ...That settles it, then. Within five hours, I will be sending a broadcast to the world at large. During this message, ...I'll expose myself to the entire container of feyblood. Come what may, that'll be the end of it. You are all free to leave if you so desire. I will not force you to witness the events to come.
Hask: That's bullcrap and you know it. We're not turning our backs on you.
Palaso: Hask is right. We're sticking with you to the end. Who cares if military guys show up or something? We can beat 'em.
Katarina smiled softly, her breath catching as the show of loyalty caught her by surprise. She expected at least somebody to bail on her, but the fact they all wanted to keep helping her out, even in this bleak state...
Katarina: Itoki, go take Toronova to speak with Ms. LaZulia. We're sending out one last broadcast. Every screen on the planet.
Itoki: Yes, your majesty.
The woman slung Toronova over her back, not bothering to lead him down the hallway with his vision impaired. He grunted and pouted as she walked off down the hall, looking for the location where their communications officer was held. Katarina's smiled faded slightly as she turned to both Palaso and Hask.
Katarina: And as for you two... You have your own assignment.
Hask: What now?
Katarina got up from her seat, walking to the balcony overlooking the vat of molten feyblood. The orange flow felt more and more sinister the longer she stared at it, but she knew its power would be the one thing that could make her dreams a reality.
Katarina: You're right in saying there are risks in undergoing this plan. I have faith that things will turn out well, but there is a chance that they'll go horribly wrong. That's why I must ask this of you...
She turned to the two agents, her expression somber and serious.
Katarina: If at any point I go out of control... If I end up like my people did... You have my permission to kill me.
Palaso: *shocked* Are- are you sure?
Katarina simply closed her eyes, nodding. Palaso and Hask looked at each other, wondering if they should go along with this. Even if it came down to it, would they be able to kill someone that meant this much to them?
Hask: ...Alright. If it truly does come to something that awful, we'll do what we can.
The trio shared a tender embrace before hearing the sound of footsteps running back into the room. Something was urgent.
Itoki: Something's wrong! LaZulia's not in... what's left of her room!
Katarina: You mean she's gone? What could have happened?
----
Lexi wandered the snowy streets of the capital, having escaped from the palace with relative ease. Even now, however, things seemed tense. The cold bit at her skin, only being protected by her thin robes, and her bare feet stung on contact with the icy ground. To make matters worse, it seemed as though nobody was around, despite light starting to shine throughout the town.
Lexi didn't dare call for anyone. She didn't want to risk attracting unwanted attention.
Suddenly, she heard a scuttling noise down a nearby alleyway. Worried about the source, she turned down it to witness something... unspeakable. It was some sort of monstrous humanoid, trying its best to scurry away from her as though it was the one who was scared. She audibly gasped, but her fear melted as she saw how startled and fearful it was. Gently whispering, she approached the entity with both hands raised.
Lexi: Shhhhh... It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you...
Though clearly distraught, the beast let her approach, relaxing its stance as she drew near. Not knowing what else to do, she took its strange, armored hand in her own.
Lexi: T-That's it... There we go.
The entity was calmed down, looking over her with curious eyes and plucking at the wires in her skull. She wondered what exactly the creature was... Then she began looking around. The streets and alleyways were full of them, most trying to hide themselves in shame while others held smaller, child-like versions of themselves close to them. All of them were dirty and grime-coated, as if they had tried scratching the white armor off of their bodies. These were humans, weren't they?
Lexi snapped her fingers near a pile of broken wood on the ground, creating a spark of electricity. In moments, she had a little fire going, which her otherworldly-looking friend took notice of and sat next to, holding their hands out to catch the heat alongside her. She began petting it on the back; she could feel its heartbeat under the armor and thick skin, the pulse slowing as she soothed it.
Lexi: I don't know what's going on, but things will be alright. Someone will come, and you'll find a cure.
She looked up to the sky, praying she was right.
----
Quetz tumbled out of the purple portal, yelping as she smashed into the tiled floor of the strange warehouse she had been dumped into. Flying through one of these was clearly not as easy as going through air. Soon after, she was followed by Malphea and Sarin, both panting heavily as the latter tried to patch up the former's wounds.
Sarin: Mom, you're okay, right? I got the bleeding.
Malphea: Nothing a few bandages and some bed rest won't fix... Now, where exactly are we?
Quetz: I 'unno! Anywhere's better than with that crazy red lady, though!
As if on cue, Ridley leapt through the portal, crashing to the ground in front of Malphea as her talons scraped across the ground, shrieking like a banshee. Her single exposed eye was glowing even brighter as she glared at the scientist, with both Sarin and Quetz swooping in front of her as a line of defense.
Sarin: Go! Now!
Ridley: I'm not letting you out of my sights! Not when you're so close to getting your just punishment!
Ridley leapt at the group again, piping glowing with red energy- only to be caught in midair by some form of dark projectile, which shocked her with what appeared to be black lightning. She yelled in pain as the energy surrounded her and held her limbs together, eventually tightening into some sort of binding around her body. As much as she struggled, firing her arm cannon every which way, she couldn't manage to break her new confines.
Ridley: Ggghhh... Hrrrrgh... What on Earth is- Malphea! What is this?!
Nyxiel: I'm afraid that's a question that should be directed to me, madam.
Out of the shadows stepped a pair of individuals, a woman in purple clothing and a man in black and yellow. Malphea recognized one of them- Nyxiel, one of the members of the Iliad Organzation. Were they the ones attempting to break her out of prison this whole time?
Möbius: This one the one we're after, Nyx?
Nyxiel: Yeah, Dr. Malphea's the one we need. I have no clue who Ms. Murdermask is, though.
Ridley: The doctor owes me her death! Let me go so I can-
Nyxiel: Not a chance. We need her to save the world.
Malphea: Alright, Nyxiel and whoever your friend is. Can you fill me in on what exactly is so special about me? I've been stabbed, shot at, and thrown through a portal all because I'm apparently so important in regards to what's going on. Please, I need to know...
With a snap of her fingers, a light pulse of magic left Nyxiel's body, flooding into Malphea's. She felt a wave of comfort pass through her system as her wounds healed, blood flowing back into her system as her exhaustion faded away. She also began to feel a slight tingle up near her skull... She instinctively touched her horns, Nyxiel looking on in anticipation.
Nyxiel: I know why you have those, Mal. Why you're so different from all your peers.
Malphea: What in the world are you talking about, woman? These are a genetic thing. I'm the brink of humanity's evolution, and the horns are-
Nyxiel: You sure it's evolution? Because the truth is, there's something a bit more special about you than you might think...
Nyxiel tapped the horns on her own head, curved purple objects sprouting a good half foot out of her head. Malphea gasped as she came to the realization she had never thought of before...
Malphea: You- You're like me.
Sarin: Mom, what's going on? I don't know who these people are-
Nyxiel: Yep! All your powers are genetic, alright! Even though we're like a thousand years apart... same dad! I guess that makes us sisters!
Malphea:' Sisters?! Same father? You're saying we're related? Do you even realize how insane that is to drop on someone who's been looking for the purpose behind her existence for decades on end?
Quetz interrupted the conversation by raising her wing inquisitively.
Quetz: I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Why exactly did you need me to break her out of prison? Did you really just want to see your sister again? And why me?
Nyxiel: Well, we really do need her medical expertise for something. Something incredibly crucial. But see, the truth is... You were just the most powerful individual in the area at the time. Had I known that Punk Rock over here would be able to break her mom out just fine, I would have called her up instead.
Quetz: That's not fair! What about all that stuff about beating up Naga and being the Compassbearer or whatever?
Nyxiel: Hey, it got you motivated, didn't it?
Quetz simply began pouting childishly in response.
Möbius: Nyxiel, please, don't tease the girl. Everyone here has been through enough for one lifetime.
Sarin: He's right. Enough kidding around. Why exactly is Mom so important? What medical expertise?
Nyxiel: Alright, alright... Truth is, the world is at risk, and our backup plan needs to be handled by someone gifted. Someone talented. Someone with only your credentials. Malphea, your powers are what you think make you special, but that's far from the only thing. It's your compassion, your medical skills, and your drive to change the world that make you special, too, and it's those qualities that I need more than anything to protect your world. Will you help me with this task...
Nyxiel expected Malphea to take a second to answer. She was surprised when it was near-instantaneous.
Malphea: Of course! I've spent my whole life trying to give back to mankind! What kind of person would I be if I stopped now?
Sarin: If she's going with you, I'm going too. I lost her once, and I'm not going through the trouble of breaking into prison twice.
Quetz: I'm gonna help too!
Nyxiel: ...You absolutely sure?
Quetz: You owe me one after calling me a birdbrain so many times! Besides, I did beat some giant space snake! If we're dealing with another one, that's right up my alley!
Nyxiel: I suppose you have a point. Well, we could always use more help. Welcome aboard, Quetzarin.
Sarin: What about Ridley? We're not gonna just leave her here, right?
The group turned to Ridley, who was still struggling to break free of her bonds. She hissed at them, showing no intent of giving up her fight. To everyone's surprise, Malphea walked right up to her, bending down in front of the woman so eager to slaughter her.
Malphea: If we're doing medical stuff, then I'm taking her. This could be my chance to make amends. Ridley, I'm gonna fix you.
Ridley: I don't want your help, witch doctor.
Quetz: But you need it, don't you?
Ridley simply let out a low growl. All of a sudden, Möbius winced in pain behind the group, the cracks on his body flaring up with increased intensity. Everyone took notice, especially Nyxiel.
Nyxiel: Moby! What's wrong?
Möbius: Nyx, you're lucky we picked up the doc when we did. It's coming.
Quetz: What's coming? The person she needs to fix?
Möbius: No. The thing that's going to end the world.
Möbius held out his hand, which let out a soft yellow glow before what looked like a spindly yellow tree grew from his palm, splintering out in various directions from a brightly glowing central point. To most, it was clear this was some sort of branching timeline, detailing all the possible choices that resulted in unique outcomes. However, something was clearly wrong; all the branches were being sucked back into the center, as if being crushed together by some unknown force. A force that was rapidly converging on the glowing center.
Möbius: The entity that's been hurtling through time and space, devouring timelines and blocking off our time travel attempts... It'll be here in about three hours.
===Chapter 6: 『Collision』===
An instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another; an instance of conflict between opposing ideas, interests, or factions.~
2:59.89
Things were bustling again in the Iliad apartment. For what seemed like the first time in forever, people were up bright and early, chatting away with each other about the events surrounding the worlds they came from and what they planned to do after everything involving Katarina and SYNDERS was taken care of.
Bubba: Ey, sunshine, why's it you never talk?
Vessa, who was in the process of scarfing down a bowl of cereal, simply chimed back to the Divilant in a strange, chirpy voice, using her hands and gesturing wildly.
Bubba: That doesn't really help anythin' but I appreciate the effort.
Lox: Honestly, I have to thank you all for letting me get out of the house just this once. It feels so refreshing to finally use my powers once again.
Phorine: Does that mean you'll be sticking around after all this is over?
Lox: Heavens no! I'll be leaving for my new career as a teacher as soon as the degree gets in. It's fun, but these old bones aren't made for superhero work anymore.
Hayate: Captain Vanhaus could do it.
Lox: Vanhaus was a charlatan who used stage props and trickery as weaponry! That old coot did none of the heavy lifting.
Hayate: I dunno, dude was killer with that cane of his. Shame he went into retirement.
Gargan: Suppose human bones'll do that to ya. How do you guys lose members, anyways? Aren't you the big protectors of this planet?
RoJo: People find their callings elsewhere. Or go MIA. You can't expect a team to stay whole forever, even if you're all dedicated to the same ideals.
Gargan looked under his arm, where Retron poked his head in and looked at the people around the table. Giving a cheerful beeping sound, he ran off to the nearby balcony, looking outside to find a large pool of water. Retron rushed through the glass door, followed by Vessa, with Gargan rushing after the two.
Gargan: Hey! Idiot! I know you like how swimming feels but it's not healthy for you!
Stark, who had been simply watching the conversation unfold, chuckled to herself.
Hayate: What's so funny?
Stark: Nothing, really. I just sorta like how much conversation's going on. Remember when it was always like this? When we had just teamed up? I know we just met all these people, but I'd genuinely be down with letting them stay here.
Hayate: You sure? This isn't like you to be so open.
Stark: They're definitely trustworthy, they get along well with everyone here, they can clearly fight... I dunno! I think we should-
Lucius: Going to have to decline, sorry.
Lucius walked by the table, snatching up an apple and biting into it as he looked out the window. The weird expression on his face made it clear he had never tasted the fruit before.
Phorine: Awwww, why not?
Lucius: Well, I can't speak for Bynde or Vessa. I barely know them. But our little team has a mission of our own to deal with once we get back to our time. I know that the fate of the universe is at stake right now, but once that's done, I think it's best that Gargan, Raune, and Retron come with me back to our origin point.
Stark: You sure you speak for everyone, bud? You seem too much like the lone wolf type to really care about anyone.
Lucius: Oh, trust me, I used to be a lone wolf. Being frozen for centuries in cryogenic sleep will undoubtedly give you a distrust of people. But this lone wolf found a pack, and I'm not willing to rest until everyone in said pack is safe.
Bubba: Chill with the cheesy lines, mate. I get ya. Thanks fer considerin'.
RoJo: Fair enough. I suppose we couldn't fully expect you to focus your efforts solely on us.
Lucius: Were it any other time frame, I would have considered bringing it up to everyone else, but I think we're meant for other things for the time being.
Lucius looked around the apartment. Gargan emerged from outdoors, sopping wet as he held a glitchy-looking Retron in his haunds. Vessa ran around the Vulkanian's ankles excitedly, as a tired Raune held conversation with Leica as the pair descended the staircase. Osuna was currently having a talk with Bynde about a pair of batteries she had nicked from the temperature control on the wall, the latter seemingly unclear as to what their purpose was.
Stark did have a point. Things certainly seemed more fun under these conditions than back where they came from. Maybe-
Suddenly, a strange static buzz began emitting from every screen in the apartment. The television monitor, everybody's phones, even the holographic billboards in the city that could be seen from out the window began glitching out, flickering with blue light. Something was clearly going awry.
Lucius: I don't suppose you know anything about that?
----
Katarina: Are the cameras prepared? Are we connected?
Katarina had set up a wide array of speakers and cameras in the SYNDERS base, looking over the railing that overlooked the feyblood vat. She stood next to the rail, staring right into their setup as her agents scrambled to ensure everything was functioning properly. She had dropped the dress used for her public appearances... No need for that facade anymore.
Palaso: All cameras are rolling, and the broadcast system is hooked up. It'd be much easier if we could find LaZulia, but old-fashioned hacking should do the trick.
Hask: Boss... are you absolutely certain about this? This is your last chance to back down.
Katarina: I am not backing down. One way or another, this will all be over.
Everyone grew silent as Itoki flipped a switch, turning the lineup of lights and cameras on. She was now being broadcast to every screen on the planet; all who saw her message would see what was about to unfold.
----
The image of everyone's current archenemy, Cevress Katarina Omegance, flickered onto the television screen. Her location was unknown, but the industrial steel walls didn't give anybody in the Iliad Organization any good feelings. Nor the civilians watching the broadcast on the screen, for that matter.
Stark: Welp, guess we know who's behind this.
Gargan: Playing her final card, huh? Looks like things are gonna wrap up quick.
Lucius: But what purpose does he have in publicizing her evil? One would assume that with the world on her tail, she'd be in hiding.
RoJo: ...Not if she has nothing to hide anymore.
----
Katarina: People of Earth, my name is Katarina Omegance. Former ruler of the nation of Cesserx. Twice. You may have heard of me in the history books as a ruthless dictator who lead a superhuman army in search of world domination. Yes, I have no pride in this past. I was a fool who cared not for her people or that of the rest of the planet. I sought only to conquer and control because I believed it was divine right.
Katarina walked down the railing, Palaso tracking her movements with the camera.
Katarina: I went into hiding, letting others take the punishment for my military exercise. It was during this time that I realized I was not meant to take control through force... Rather, I had the potential to bring peace to the world through kindness and empowerment of the common people, overhauling the social bonds that have caused corruption and decay to set in. I believed that I was going down the right path... until this path lead me to the events that occurred in my nation's capital last night. I brought unimaginable pain and suffering to a people I swore to protect.
While Katarina spoke, a pair of faintly-glowing orange eyes peered from the shadows. San-Sokeh watched the procession unfold, eagerly awaiting what he had been told would occur.
Katarina: Everything turned against me in that moment... The world united against me in a show of disapproval, and my plans to bring utopia to this world crumbled away, dashing what hopes and dreams I had. I feel ashamed for my actions, guided by what I thought was divine intervention but was, in truth, only vanity and arrogance. This is why I send my message to you all today.
Katarina began a walk back to where she had begun her speech. Palaso, Hask, and Itoki looked on with concern on their faces; Toronova simply remained blank-faced.
Katarina: I am here to face the judgement of the divine. After the events that have transpired, I no longer have a will to live... and my will to bring about utopia is waning. It is here that I will put my faith to the test, to see if the god that has guided me this far is willing to keep me on this path. It is this choice that determines whether I may save you, or spare you of my influence.
Katarina took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She flexed her hands to ease her stress, releasing them as she looked back into the camera.
Katarina: It is from the bottom of my heart that I declare this the end...
In one swift motion, Katarina stretched her arms out to her sides and fell backwards over the banister, descending into the vat of feyblood far, far below. Palaso tried running forward, extending her hand in a futile attempt to reach her, but Hask held her back. In the Iliad apartment, everyone was shocked, Bynde covering Vessa's eyes in an attempt to shield her from the gruesome act of what seemed like suicide.
All was silent for a brief moment... then bolts of energy began emerging from the pit, shifting between all colors of the rainbow. The bolts came with increased frequency until a massive explosion emerged from the pit, the glowing orange feyblood splashing hundreds of feet upward as Katarina's body emerged. Something was different, however... Watching the broadcast, Lucius noticed that she was once again surrounded in the same black, glassy substance that had enveloped Aysu and Fera before their transformations. Something horrid was about to occur.
The feyblood, instead of splashing on the ground, began floating in midair as if the environment had lost gravity. Slowly, Katarina's body stretched its arms, and drop by drop, the liquid was slowly siphoned into her. Every last molecule of divine blood was siphoned up as the body began to visible crack, glowing a bright vibrant blue before finally bursting open with a violent shattering. It was Katarina, but the front of her green dress had been torn open, exposing her chest and waist... which had retained the glassy structure, filled with blue flame as her skeletal structure shone through. Her arms flickered with nuclear flame, her powers amplified to an absurd degree. Katarina's head rolled forward as a strange circular sigil formed from crystal behind her head, forming a tight ring before unfurling into a pair of large wings, glowing with the same nuclear energy.
Katarina, fully transformed into whatever she had become, let out a smile before glaring directly into the camera, eyes shining with immense power.
Katarina: ...The end of my doubts. Come, world, and accept your new queen!
----
The broadcast cut off. Lucius banged his fist on the table.
Lucius: That woman is going to get everyone on this planet killed, isn't she?!
Nyxiel and Möbius ran out from the side room, clearly frightened and concerned. Lucius assumed that they too had witnessed Katarina's broadcast.
Nyxiel: Guys, this is code red level 9 warning type crap right now! That fate of the universe stuff? We gotta deal with it ASAP!
Gargan: You mean we gotta take down the queen for real this time?
Bubba: What, afraid ya can't handle it?
Gargan: Buddy, we took down a fairy demon thing. We're not scared of some girl who took a dip in some radioactive goo.
Stark: The big guy's right! We've faced worse with Mosaic. Everyone here's proven their weight in gold by this point. We can take her!
Nyxiel: Do you guys understand the gravity of this situation?
RoJo: Yes, we do. That's why we're moving out ASAP. Lucius, everyone... Would you do us the honor of joining us in combat one final time?
Lucius reached out, shaking RoJo's hand firmly. Everyone else gathered around the two, showing their support and dedication. With a union this strong... how could they lose?
Lucius: It would be an honor, Ronin.
----
The agents of SYNDERS were all gathered around Katarina, shining with a remarkable brilliance that felt both eerie and welcoming at the same time... It was almost like an embrace from a parent, drawing in her children in for a hug.
Hask: B-Boss? Are you... alright?
Katarina: Oh, I'm more than alright! I've never felt so wonderful in my life!
Palaso: Is this gonna become one of those power high things? You're not gonna go mad and try destroying the planet, are you?
Katarina: Heavens, no! It's not the power that's making me feel like this... It's the fact that this truly is my destiny after all. Katarina Omegance, chosen by divine blessing and aided by the bravest, most loyal comrades I could have asked for... have been given the ability to change this world for the better!
Palaso: You really think that highly of us still? Look at you! You're like some kind of goddess or something!
Katarina: That doesn't make you any less important to me as friends. Besides, what kind of goddess doesn't care for or protect her believers? SYNDERS is more than a task force, it's a family. And I don't want that bond to break, even now. Not when we're so close to finally bringing about a perfect world once and for all.
Hask walked up to Katarina, throwing his arm around her in a show of compassion. Palaso soon joined in, hugging the two of them, and soon even Itoki got in on the action with a cautious pat. Katarina's warm glow grew even brighter.
Hask: Well, we're right beside you too. You're the one who got us to this point, took care of us. We've got your back.
Palaso: He's right! Glowing god form or not, you're still our boss!
Katarina: My friends... I can't thank you enough.
Toronova: *clears throat* Well, it's a shame that I can't truly tell what's going on, but I have some important news from the guards. Apparently, there's a whole fleet of armed military troopers at our doorstep. I feel like any festivities should wait until after this is dealt with.
Katarina let herself out of the embrace of her allies, her body glowing with increased ferocity as her wings shifted, becoming sharper and more threatening. Her eyes shone with increased ferocity as she glared upwards, where the enemy forces would be heading from.
Katarina: Oh, they will be dealt with, my friend. Nothing stands in our way now!
Katarina dashed through the air, flying through the hallways as she was followed by Palaso, Hask, and Itoki. Toronova, though hindered by the speed at which his cane enabled him to walk, came shortly after, guided by an unknown feeling in his gut. The room was empty, devoid of sound or life... and then a shimmer appeared in the air as the silent observer stepped forth, revealing his form.
San-Sokeh couldn't be more pleased. Everything was going according to plan- the woman had taken his words to heart, filling up with the Drive-amplifying power of the feyblood she had already done the hard work of collecting for him. It was now a matter of hours before the task he had been charged with completing would reach fruition. He closed his eyes, holding his remaining hand over his chest.
San-Sokeh: Oh, great Tiera, Mother to all who exist... Your servant has done what you have asked of them. We asked that you grant us a blessing of your infinite power and kindness, to aide those who have worked to enact your will thus far.
The Cataloger expected the faint whispers to echo through his mind once more. However, the voice grew ever louder, reaching a beautiful, melodious tone that resonated with every fiber of his being.
???: 
A sharp feeling surged through San-Sokeh's other arm, culminating in what seemed to be a flash of light at the end of his severed wrist. He turned down to watch what exactly was happening; in mere moments, a perfect replica of his hand appeared, forged of a beautiful silvery metal. The ornate prosthetic shone with a pale blue light- the sign of another blessing from the Mother. San-Sokeh simply closed his eyes again, bringing his newly repaired hand to his chest alongside the normal one.
San-Sokeh: Your will shall be done.
2:19.53
----
Sarin: So what are we supposed to do? Just sit here in this stupid warehouse until you get back?
Nyxiel: Look, I'm sorry, but you people are too important to lose in combat. You're gonna stay in hiding until we can assure that-
Malphea: You just mean me, don't you? You've already said you need me around for whatever plan you have, and you don't seem to care about either Ridley or the harpy.
Quetz: Yeah! If you're going off to fight something, we wanna come too!
Nyxiel: I don't think you understand. The fate of the world could depend entirely on Malphea if all this goes wrong, and I'm not risking that by letting any of you go off to Cesserx to fight against Katarina.
Ridley: *grunting* You let me out of these bonds, I'll slaughter anyone you want. Trust me.
Sarin: Fat chance. We all know you're just gonna run off again the moment we set you loose.
Nyxiel closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. These people were getting frustrating to deal with.
Nyxiel: Nobody here is joining that battle! Understood?!
Quetz: You sure you don't need all the help you can get? I mean, if this fight is as important as you keep saying it is...
Ridley: Is this one of those situations where you think nobody's expendable? If the world's at stake, let people defend it!
Quetz: Yeah! We live here, too!
Nyxiel: *sigh* Guys, I...
Malphea stepped forward, placing her hand on Nyxiel's shoulder.
Malphea: Listen, I understand that you want to keep me safe. You've been searching for me for who knows how long. But I am joining the fight against this fate you're so adamant about stopping.
Nyxiel: Mal...
Malphea: I made it my life's goal to help the world. What kind of person would I be if I didn't pursue that goal... and what kind of sister would I be if I didn't help my family?
Malphea smiled as she hugged Nyxiel. Neither of the two had felt this kind of familial bond before... It felt nice to have someone like them out in the vast universe. As the hug opened up, Nyxiel turned her eyes away from the group, her expression changed to that of fear and uncertainty.
Nyxiel: Look, I... I just don't want to lose you. Or any of these people, for that matter. They served my purpose of getting you out of prison, but they don't deserve to get drafted into some battle for the fate of all life in the universe. They should be able to go peacefully.
Sarin: Look, the bird's right. This is our world, too. We're the ones who deserve a say in its fate. We're coming along with her.
Ridley: I don't have anything else out there for me... I have nothing anymore. All I am is a husk of what I once was, desperate for their next kill. So send me in for that.
Quetz: I wanna join in too! People are in danger, and I know I can help them! I've done it before! Please, just give us a chance, miss!
Nyxiel remained silent, before shifting her expression to her usual sultry smile. Everyone could tell that behind those eyes, however, she was still scared and concerned. She held her arms out in a wild gesture to the cosmos, throwing open another one of her purple portals.
Nyxiel: What the heck! Maybe we'll win so quickly that the future won't come to pass. Maybe we'll all die before then! Who knows?! But if you're all willing to risk your lives... who am I to say no?!
Malphea: Nyxiel...
Nyxiel: Hey! Don't be worried, sis! You're the one who keeps saying the world needs you. And boy, does it sure need you right now!
----
1:45.71
The team stepped out of the portal back into the central courtyard of the capital city, where RoJo and his team had fought against the gigantic mutant before. This time, there wasn't a single soul in sight... Everything had gone eerily quiet.
Raune: I don't like the feel of this place. It feels... dead.
Stark: All those feral mutants are throwing off my telepathy, too. There's a lot of interference going on around here.
Osuna: We're going in blind, then?
Leica: *gasp* Not entirely...
The time cop pointed forward, her line of sight filled with the bodies of hundreds of soldiers. Their gear and uniforms showed that they all hailed from different nations, but all of them were without a pulse, some charred by a bluish fire while others had been pierced by shards of ice or metal. There must have been at least two hundred men and women here, all bleeding out on the icy cobblestone.
Raune: Oh my... All these people...
Lucius: Trained soldiers, their lives snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Something is clearly wrong here.
Gargan primed his mechanical arm, aiming it every which way in the hope of spotting at least some sort of target that he could lay into. Everyone else was on edge as well, Osuna summoning a bevy of blades as Bynde drew her own bow. Phorine seemed to be cautiously looking behind everyone, a fin on Vessa's shoulder as the group spread out through the courtyard.
Hayate: How'd they even beat this many people so quickly? SYNDERS are chumps.
Osuna: Chumps with whatever Katarina's become on their side. There's no telling what exactly she's capable of now.
Katarina: Do I hear someone calling for me? How wonderful!
Startled, the group looked overhead, staring at the castle in front of them. The bright red and white banners had been torn down, either through sustained gunfire or some sort of slashing, leaving only a dreary, pale facade. The brunt of their attention was focused on the top of the castle, where Katarina stood, arms wrapped around a flagpole. Her body was shining with a fearsome radiance, massive glassy wings stretched out across the sky.
Osuna: Katarina Omegance. We meet face to face at long last.
Katarina: I must admit, I have been eagerly awaiting the day we would finally meet. I hope you understand why I couldn't just show my face to you until now.
RoJo: So you hid behind your lackeys for this long, and now that the proxy war's over and the world is at your doorstep, you turn violent? Your back's against the wall, and you have no other option but to show your true nature to the world... Is that it?
Hayate: Look, enough small talk. You've really overstepped your boundaries here, lady. And we're the people they call in to deal with these sorts of problems.
Lucius: Katarina. I myself am not fully aware of what it is you've done, but what I do know is that you're capable of far, far worse things than you imagine. For the good of this world, my compatriots have no choice but to defeat you.
Katarina: You don't think I know what's best for this world? I'm the only one with the grace, the intelligence, the power to save humankind from the fate it's doomed to fall into! I'm just as much a hero to mankind as you are!
Raune: You're a sadistic, psychopathic monster.
A bolt of neon energy blasted down an alleyway, nearly striking Raune in the shoulder. She turned to face the bolt's origin as Palaso walked out of the shadows, blowing the technicolor smoke from her fingers. Hask approached from the opposite direction, body covered in crystal, and a chilling smoke emerged behind the group as Itoki appeared, icy crystals forming on all her equipment. The team turned in all directions in order to face their adversaries, while Lucius and Osuna glared directly at Katarina herself, her eyes glinting with madness.
Lucius: CHARGE!
----
1:36.14
The three agents of SYNDERS rushed in on the Iliad forces, powers amplified as they ran in for the killing blow. Projectiles of all kinds converged on the group, forcing them to scatter from their clustered formation. Each hero turned to face a foe, hoping that the element of numbers would be enough to let them take down these few threats. Osuna and Lucius found themselves blocked by Itoki, her equipment hissing with icy vapor.
Lucius: These goons aren't a threat. We need to get up there and stop Katarina herself.
Osuna: Agreed, but we gotta get past this girl first.
Itoki: ...
Lucius summoned a blade of plasma as Osuna called forth four phantom longswords, both prepared to duel with the muscular woman. Osuna's blades swung forwards in a cross formation, all converging for a frontal assault that Itoki caught in her hands. Lucius simply backflipped over her, slashing away at the piping on her back with repeated strikes. Vapor clouded the area as Itoki let go of her assailant's blades, shooting a quick burst of ice at her equipment to reseal it.
Osuna: Welp, there goes that weakness.
Itoki seemed like she was smirking underneath her hazmat mask. She fired another bolt of ice in Osuna's direction, only to be caught off guard by something wrapping around her leg. To everyone's surprise, Vessa had managed to get her yo-yo wrapped around Itoki's foot, and with one quick jerk, the agent toppled to the ground, landing on her stomach. Lucius went in for another plasma strike, only to have Itoki roll out of the way, nearly striking his hand with another blast of ice.
As a determined battlecry came from behind them, Bynde jumped into the fray, firing off a volley of arrows as Itoki got to her feet. While a good amount of the arrows missed, some shots grazed past her hazmat suit, tearing holes that began leaking more vapor. She didn't bother to stop and fix these, instead firing more ice at Bynde, who blocked it with that strange ivory sword of hers. Osuna lunged in with another multitude of blade attacks, striking her side with an exceptionally large-looking broadsword. Once again, the blade was caught after a few strikes, and Itoki threw Osuna back with excessive force. The ice was slowing her movements down, however, and she was left wide open for another overhead strike from Lucius. Throwing a multitude of plasma blasts down, she was forced to block the attack by holding her heavy gauntlets over her head. When Lucius landed, she quickly outstretched her arm for another blast...
And in one swift motion, Vessa threw her yo-yo again, wrapping around the piping and ventilation of Itoki's back machine and yanking it entirely off. The vapor began spewing with increased force as the woman no longer had any method of regulating her powers, all the holes on her suit beginning to frost over. The same began to occur with the holes on her gauntlet's fingertips, which sealed up entirely and exploded in a burst of frost. Seizing an opportunity, Lucius dashed forward, kicking her in the gut and flipping around in midair for a roundhouse attack. Staggering backwards, she grabbed her mask, ripping it off as the visor began to frost over from inside.
Itoki: *gasping* H-How...
Bynde rushed in with a shoulder charge, knocking Itoki over. Using her sword, she slashed open the hazmat suit without harming the cryomancer, revealing the horrifying sight of gashes across her body that were seemingly leaking liquid nitrogen. Without the suit to confine the vapor, thankfully, she wouldn't be freezing over any time soon, and a hilt bash to the head knocked her out completely, ceasing the vapor's production entirely.
Osuna: One down. Should we help everyone else with the other two?
Lucius: Not enough time. You heard Nyxiel. We need to take care of that woman before something tragic happens.
Osuna: *nods* Bynde! Vessa! You're with us!
Bynde nodded, rushing towards the palace at high speed and clambering over all the rubble in her path. Vessa jumped in the air, giving a childish salute before throwing her weapon upwards, grappling off towards the roof. Osuna and Lucius gave each other one last glance before running up the stairs themselves. It was time for Katarina to face them... and end this once and for all.
----
1:15.91
RoJo grunted as he pushed down with as much force as he could onto the shield Hask was holding in front of him. It was far heavier and denser than he expected, making his usual tactic of launching a flurry of blows ineffective. He had to put all the force he could into a singular, focused attack...
Hask: *grunting* Sod off!
Hask swept his leg underneath the shield, knocking RoJo onto his back. The agent of SYNDERS drew back his shield, shifting it into a spiked, crystalline sword as he swung it downward. Moments before blade hit flesh, a ghastly chain sped through the air, entangling itself between the jagged spikes of the weapon. Hask looked up to see Lox restraining his weapon as Hayate dashed towards him, his skates throwing up a flurry of ice directly in Hask's face. While Hask wiped his eyes, Lox held the chain intensely as Hayate ground his way down it, leaping up in the air as the doctor finally yanked the chain away, staggering Hask further. The teenage skater began spinning around in midair, his wind powers forming a small vortex around him; the supercharged kick struck Hask square in the face, knocking him back with the intense wind pressure.
Hayate: Feel like giving up yet, bozo?
Hask: Oh, I'm not even started, kid.
Dropping the sword entirely, Hask began firing crystals from his hands in shotgun formation, attempting to gun down the heroes. Shards flew through the air as Hayate dodged the volleys, kicking a few away in the process. RoJo rushed in front of the doctor, blocking some of the shards with crossed arms, but some of the projectiles managed to stick in his arm. As he yanked them out, Hask aimed another blast straight at his exposed chest. Suddenly, a bright blue flash went off...
To his shock, the shards simply hung in midair, floating as if gravity had stopped working. Leica rushed in, her stasis camera finally having some practical use after all this time; she began hurling the shards back at Hask, who had no chance but to go on the offensive again. It was then that he felt sharp objects being jabbed into his back as well. Turning around, he saw a bulky, devilish looking man with a wicked eye, holding a massive amount of kitchen knives between his fingers.
Bubba: Heads up, bub!
In a single swipe of his arms, about twenty knives were thrown his way. Between those and the shards being fired back at him, Hask had no option but to go full defensive mode, surrounding himself in a spiked barrier of crystal in order to catch his breath. Inside his shell, the agent sighed with relief as the sharp projectiles plinked off harmlessly. Outside, however, Hayate turned to RoJo and Lox with a mischievous smirk.
Hayate: Team Tech 37?
RoJo: Why did you ever name it that. We don't even have that many team attacks.
Lox threw his chain around both of his comrades, hurling them directly into the air. RoJo grabbed onto Hayate's legs as the two began spinning around, wind building up into another vortex surrounding them. Hayate jumped out of RoJo's grasp as the latter flipped around in midair, performing a heavy downwards kick that launched his ally toward's Hask's shield at incredible speeds. RoJo's knuckles began glowing with energy as he smashed into the barrier with the force of a meteor, shattering it into pieces and launching the agent backwards.
A flash of Leica's camera froze all the pieces of the barrier in the air, causing Hask to crash against it as Lox hurled Hayate forward for another high-powered kick, landing square in Hask's stomach. As Hayate backed off, the group stepped forward, all looking down at the man who had been beaten senseless by the group.
RoJo: *panting* Elton Hask, are you willing to come quietly?
Hask: *groaning* Are- Are you serious?!
Leica: We're always willing to let criminals atone for their crimes, Hask. We don't kill unless we need to.
Hask: You saps... You're the ones standing in the way of
Hask screamed in pain as some sort of electric shock ran through his system, startling everyone. As the man fell unconscious, his body flopped over to reveal a pale, emaciated woman in a thin, dirty robe, her hands crackling with electricity as she panted heavily. She looked up from Hask's body to the Iliad agents, acting startled and shielding her face.
Lexi: Please don't hurt me! I'm not with them!
Leica: Wait, who are you?
Lexi: Lexi LaZulia. I've been held captive at SYNDERS for a long time now. I broke out recently and have been trying to find help.
RoJo put his arm around the trembling woman, hoping to calm her down.
RoJo: Don't worry, Lexi. Once we're done here, we'll get you back to our place. We can get you to someone who can help you out from there, alright?
Lexi nodded, sniffling. She looked like she was tearing up, but whether the tears were from fright or happiness, none could tell.
Lexi: Th-Thank you...
Hayate: Well, this is all well and good, but right now there's the matter of the giant nuclear angel monster to take care of. Let's go!
----
1:03.46
Stark: Get down!
Stark grabbed Phorine in her telekinetic arms as she dashed backwards behind a building, dodging shots from Palaso as she walked down the street she had pursued the agents through. Those neon blasts were more powerful than she had given Palaso initial credit for; they had been blasting clean through solid brick and concrete left and right.
Palaso: Come on out, Iliad! I'm getting sick and tired of having to deal with all of you!
Gargan: Oh, come on, sweetheart! You've just barely met some of us!
The Vulkonian rolled out of cover, holding Retron in his arms as his tiny friend threw up a hardlight wall to act as cover. Though Palaso's shots chipped away at it fairly easily, it was enough of a distraction for Gargan to fire a couple missiles overhead, which homed in on Palaso's position. She flipped away from the ensuing explosions, firing a few potshots at the barrier before firing one directly behind her, sniping through multiple vines that Raune was summoning for a sneak attack.
Raune: We need to pin her down! She can't fight if she can't shoot!
Palaso: And I can't fight with you nagging constantly!
Putting both hands together, Palaso unleashed some form of massive charged blast aimed squarely in Raune's direction. The blue and pink projectile grew larger and larger in size until Raune had to shield her eyes... Only to hear a clinking sound and a large explosion off to her left. When she opened her eyes, Aysu was standing in front of her, sword drawn.
Palaso: You're with them now?! Come on! You were the coolest woman I'd ever seen, and now you're working with these narcs?
Aysu: Your group is planning to bring about the end of society as we know it. I cannot in good judgement let you all get your way. Not after what I had to witness!
Palaso carelessly fired another blast behind her, scaring Gargan and Retron back behind cover.
Palaso: C'mon, you can tell me. Did these guys make you do it?
Aysu: This choice is all my own.
Palaso: ...Well, it couldn't be helped.
Palaso rushed forward, firing rapid barrages from her smoking fingertips. Aysu dashed forward at higher speeds, deflecting each and every shot with a slash of her blade until she was in striking distance. Whamming Palaso on the head with the hilt of Lunarista, she followed up with a kick to the stomach, which sent her flying backwards at a high velocity. Not to be taken down so easily, Palaso let off a double barrage of charged shots, the force sending her upwards into the air. Aysu slashed through both energy balls, barely phased by the explosive force, and a grappling hook from Gargan's mechanical arm grabbed Palaso from the air and slammed her downwards.
Finally free from incoming fire, Stark and Phorine ran from their position, the latter charged up with electricity. Firing a barrage of bolts in Palaso's direction, Stark began hurling rubble that had been dislodged throughout the firefight in the SYNDERS agent's directions. Many of the stones were blasted through by Palaso's impeccable aiming, and the missiles that Gargan attempted to launch in her direction found themselves prematurely blasted through in the same way. Finding herself losing ground, she fired a blast at her feet, propelling herself backwards as she fired through the air down at her assailants; though many of the shots missed, it was still enough to hold the team's position back. Touching down, her fingers began glowing with energy as she charged up the biggest attack she had ever attempted.
Palaso: This has been fun, really, but you really should be leaving. Guess I'm going to have to-
Quetz: Look out below!!!
In a move that surprised everyone, what looked like a giant bird seemed to descend from the sky, clobbering Palaso right in the back of the neck and interrupting her charge. Looking to the air in an attempt to clip her new target's wings, she instead saw the heel of what looked like a sneaker descending downward towards her face at incredible speed. Out of the blue, some teenager in a hoodie had caught her by surprise, striking her face and tripping her with some kind of liquidy sweeping kick. She rolled back, firing at her new attackers, only to be met with the feeling of incredibly pressure on her back. She turned to see massive tearing in the back of her jacket, and some psychopathic woman with a huge cannon and a metallic mask glaring at her.
Palaso: How many friends do you have?! I should be honored you went all out to bring me in!
Sarin: I don't know any of who these people are, but I've been told you're the bad guys. That's all I need to know.
Stark: I ain't complaining? Fish girl!
Phorine: On it!
Phorine leapt up in the air, hurling a huge orb of electricity down at Palaso. She dodged the crackling ball of energy, sidestepping a pair of blasts from the cannon-wielding woman and a splash of what seemed to be acid from the teenager. She was running low on stamina... All these evasive maneuvers were taking it out of her.
Retron, forming an idea, materialized another hardlight construct- a small rock immediately behind her leg.
Startled, Palaso fell backwards, tripping over the rock and landing flat on her back. Attempting to get up, she found her wrists and ankles being bound by more hardlight constructs, and the cannon-wielding woman pounced atop her with her eyes gleaming menacingly. Palaso looked away in fear as she raised her talons-
Stark: Down, girl. We're not here to kill anyone.
Ridley hissed at Stark, but eventually backed down, crawling backwards on all fours like some sort of feral animal. It was then that a pair of figured emerged from behind a nearby building, calming walking forward as if nothing was going on.
Nyxiel: See, I told you you didn't need to be here. They solved everything!
Malphea: The fight's not over, Nyxiel. I'm still going to do what I can.
Stark: Really, Nyx? More new people? I know the fate of the world's at stake, but this is getting ridiculous. Next you're gonna be bringing in a dog off the street.
Nyxiel: Nothing wrong with more backup, Alyssa.
Raune: At least we have more allies. Thank you all for your service! Raune shouted from the back as she began healing people up.
Quetz: No problem! I'm just happy to do what I can to help!
Nyxiel: Okay, somebody tell me the situation. How're things going?
Aysu: As far as I am aware, all of Katarina's lackeys are taken care of. That just leaves the monarch herself to deal with. It will be difficult, but I'm certain we can handle it.
Malphea: That's reassuring... Perhaps we can end it here and now!
The group as a whole ran back towards the central courtyard, down the winding streets that lead to the glowing light atop the castle. Nyxiel, concerned, looked down in her palm, a sigil of Möbius's face appearing.
Nyxiel: How long now?
Möbius: Under an hour. This isn't looking good, Nyx.
Nyxiel sighed, closing the connection before running off. Earth was running out of time.
----
0:50.41
Lucius grunted as he leapt up the side of a building, pushing off the head of a stone statue. As he propelled through the air, the statue exploded, blown apart by one one the lasers that was showering from above. Katarina seemed determined to prevent the group from ever reaching her, as if she'd rather deal with them before even attempting to fight.
Lucius: Gah! Everyone else doing alright?
Osuna: All good on my end!
Osuna had summoned a large pair of rapiers, lodging them into the side of the wall and throwing herself upwards to gain height. She was having issues with the lasers as well, needing to take a much wider berth by swinging herself to the sides with perfect timing. Bynde seemed to have already made her way up to the top through means of some bizarre-looking golden wire, and Vessa was now grappling around the side of the building, simply doing her best to evade the beams. Katarina's shining light was growing harsher and harsher as they ascended further and further towards her.
Katarina: Do you really think you can defeat me as I am now?
Lucius: I mean, what's the harm in trying? We've handled worse than you!
Grabbing onto a nearby windowsill, Lucius hurled himself upward, throwing a piece of falling rubble at a beam that was about to strike him. The brick burst in a dust cloud, freeing up enough space for him to continue his upward dash. Finally reaching the rooftop, he witnessed his foe's true form, one of both unearthly beauty and discomforting ferocity. The woman smirked upon seeing him, her eyes glaring as a series of glowing blue dots appeared in the air around her; within a split second, the orbs opened fire on Lucius, launching a series of concentrated beams at his position. Seeing no other option, he sent a burst of plasma energy through his feet, propelling him downwards toward the roof directly into a tactical roll.
While Katarina's attention was focused on the Coronid, Vessa had successfully swung her way around behind her. Garnering an idea after her time spent fighting dragons, she realized that the massive wings Katarina had developed, while awe-inspiring, were also a pretty obvious weakpoint; throwing her yo-yo forward, she wrapped it around one of the wings, extending it outward. Vessa yelled to Bynde to signify the opening of this weakpoint, which also caught Katarina's attention.
Katarina: I assure you, little one, this is no place for you! Leave now or suffer!
Bynde put away the Holy Wire that had gotten her up to the rooftop, pulling out the Seeker's Blade as she rushed forward. This sword was powerful enough to slay the divine, as it had with Noske... There was no way this wouldn't do the trick. Dodging more beams from Katarina, the heat from the explosions stinging as she passed by them, she leapt up in the air and slashed clean through the wing, the appendage shattering as if she had cut through glass. Katarina recoiled, clearly hurt but still filled with energy, and Vessa began falling backwards, having tugged too hard on the wing. The child fell off the roof, her expression filled with fear, only to be picked up by Osuna as she swung upwards, landing back on the roof after throwing another flurry of blades in Katarina's direction. She simply blocked them with one of her remaining wings, the spectral weapons simply clinking off. It was clear to Lucius that conventional weaponry wouldn't work in this instance... Bynde's sword would be key.
The four heroes stood beside each other, staring down their enemy with intensity. She retaliated with a glare of her own, laughing haughtily at her foes.
Katarina: Why is it you stand in the way of progress? I only wish to make this world perfect!
Osuna: You deceive and destroy to achieve your ends. That's not a utopia. That's a dictatorship!
Lucius: I can tell you this, Katarina... Putting your faith in the divine can be dangerous. At best, it's just your psyche telling you what you think is right. At worst, you're being taken advantage of. Your quest is a fool's errand!
Bynde and Vessa prepared their weapons, standing alongside their newfound allies in their final showdown. Katarina's expression turned from a smile to rage, the first time she had shown this emotion in what felt like forever.
Katarina: Who are you to tell me I can't make the world I live in a better place! You don't think I care about humanity?!
Osuna: I think you care a little too much, ma'am. Now, if you'd come quietly-
With an intense shout, Katarina fired off another barrage of beams, forcing the team to scatter. Holding her arms together, her wings began shifting back into the halo-like ring form, though rendered incomplete by her broken wing. The ring began gathering energy, focusing and growing ever brighter before firing a massive laser at Osuna.
Lucius darted forward, catching the beam between his hands. He began groaning in pain as the nuclear energy scoured his hands, but that pain- that nervous stimulation- was exactly what he needed. His hands began flickering with green plasma energy, absorbing the force of Katarina's blow and transferring the energy to him.
Lucius: Get out from behind me!
Osuna did as requested, rolling off to the side and summoning a large broadsword in her hands. Bynde and Vessa circled behind Katarina, hoping to slice off another wing while she was distracted. Locked in a duel of beams, Lucius and Katarina stared each other down intently. For a split second, he thought he saw Katarina's face flicker into the mocking, hateful visage of Corona, though he assumed it was just the adrenaline rush and soon focused back on the battle. He felt the energy building up inside him, burning intently... And then...
Lucius: 
Lucius fired out all the energy he had stored, unleashing a massive beam of pure, concentrated plasma back at Katarina. The sheer intensity of the beam blew Katarina's halo apart back into wing form, staggering her. Seizing the opportunity, Bynde performed another downward strike, smashing clean through her two right wings. Katarina yelled in anguish as she turned her attention towards Bynde, having her hand as a serious of atom-like spirals began materializing in the air. In a split second, these entities burst into large explosions, knocking Bynde off the side of the building, only to be caught by Vessa and her trusty toy.
Osuna went on the offensive, running up to Katarina with her broadsword and aiming to strike at her more vulnerable, fleshy body. Her strike was blocked by the final wing, which Katarina swiped at her with to get her to back off. Lucius, still exhausted from the massive beam of energy, mustered up a bit of extra power and threw another orb of plasma at Katarina, the explosion knocking her a bit off guard. The enraged queen let out an intense roar, the shockwave blowing everyone further back, as she began summoning more lasers.
Katarina: I-I'm so close! I won't let you stop me now! Not when everything is so close to completion!
In that split second, Vessa leapt back up in the air, Bynde being held by the ankle by the yo-yo. The young girl spun around, Bynde holding her god-slaying sword tightly, and tossed her ally at high velocity toward's Katarina. After a swift roll upon landing, all it took was another upwards slash to shatter her foe's final wing. Katarina grew startled, her expression only growing more fearful as the remnants of the wing began to dim. The nuclear flame flickering around her died out, and she dropped to the ground, her levitation failing. Defenses lowered and surrounded by assailants on all sides, the dethroned queen began backing off, horrified for her life.
Katarina: D-Do it, then. End me. I've failed the task I've been trying for so long to achieve. I don't have anything else to live for.
The team standing in unison, Osuna began approaching Katarina, sword in her hand. She crouched over Katarina, the once-proud monarch now looking horrified about her eventual fate. The two locked eyes... and Osuna dematerialized her sword, pulling out a standard pair of handcuffs and wrapping them around Katarina's wrists.
Katarina: What?
Osuna: There are plenty of ways to make the world a better place, Katarina. You've shown that you have the potential to do great things, and even though you've done bad, that doesn't mean you can't be reformed.
Lucius: Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea?
Osuna: Iliad doesn't kill, but that aside, I think Katarina's heart is in the right place. Sure, she needs to be tried and probably jailed for her crimes, but I think what'd be best for her is some time to cool off, think about better ways to bring the utopia she wants. I think that ultimately, she really could do some good for the world. So, what do you say?
Katarina's expression turned to joy. They were really giving her a chance?
Katarina: I-I...
The moment was cut short as Katarina gave out a yelp of pain. Everyone was shocked; something had been stabbed clean through her heart.
----
0:19.77
Everything went silent as the group starred at Katarina's chest, which was now beginning to leak glowing orange blood. The object pierced through her didn't look like any normal blade, moreso resembling some kind of glowing blue insect than anything else. Confused and horrified, Osuna grabbed Katarina's shoulders.
Osuna: Oh my... G-Hold on! Stay with me, Katarina!
Katarina: Hhhhh... *coughing*
San-Sokeh: She's not going anywhere.
The weapon drew itself back through Katarina's body, causing her to slump over and crash to the ground. She was still breathing, but even with that strange orange blood flowing through her system, she needed medical attention fast. That wasn't on everyone's minds, however, as the culprit of the stabbing appeared in front of them; the Cataloger who only Lucius had encountered before, his once-severed hand now replaced by a metallic replica, dripping with Katarina's blood. While everyone else was backing down, weapons drawn once again, Lucius's face began shifting to a horrified expression.
Lucius: No. No! What are you doing here? You can't be-
In a split second, San-Sokeh had dashed forward to his position, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him off the ground. The metal hand singed his skin on contact, and he slowly felt the life being crushed out of him in the Cataloger's vice grip.
San-Sokeh: There are designs for this planet that few can even begin to comprehend the scale of. I am not here to let pitiful fools like you stand in the way of the divine!
Osuna: Leave him alone!
Osuna threw a barrage of blades directly at San-Sokeh at high speed, but the alien countered by hurling Lucius to the side, the armor on his arms causing the blades to clink off. As Lucius caught his breath, Vessa rushed into the fray, shouting and spinning her weapon around to intimidate her foe. She threw the yo-yo at him as it wrapped around his arm, only to have him yank it towards him and pull Vessa in towards him. Catching the child in his hand, he raised her up to attempt to smash her into the ground; a phantom sword to the side of the head stunned him, making him drop Vessa as she scrambled away.
Osuna rushed in, dual blades in hand, and slashed in a cross pattern in order to throw San-Sokeh off. To her surprise, he managed to catch both blades between his fingers, holding off her attack with what seemed like barely any effort.
Osuna: I don't know who you are, but if you're the one trying to facilitate the end of the world, then I'm sorry to say that *grunt* you're not welcome here.
San-Sokeh: I offer not the end, but a new beginning! I am a messenger of the goddess, here to bring about their will and create a new era of peace and prosperity throughout the universe!
Osuna: Oh, so you're just as delusional as the cevress, then? You should know that plenty of us have killed what you might call gods before.
San-Sokeh: Oh, you have absolutely no idea the level of power She possesses. After all, she is why I am here now... 6000 years in the past.
Bynde leapt up behind Osuna, bow drawn and primed with multiple arrows. In another split second, San-Sokeh let go of Osuna's swords, letting her continue the downwards swing as he dashed back to avoid the arrows. Catching one in midair, he threw it at Bynde, where it found itself lodged in her arm; screaming in pain, she stopped to pull it out, throwing the bloodied arrow on the ground. The two fighters faced the robed crustacean with weapons at the ready, each waiting for the other to make the first move... Only for Lucius to leap onto his back, thrusting a palm onto his face as it burned with plasma.
Lucius: You monster!
San-Sokeh: Get off of me, you heathen! You think I have any time to deal with you?!
Lucius: You know where Fera is, don't you?!
Bynde rushed in with her sword while Lucius was distracting him with his attack; unfortunately, the Cataloger managed to grab her sword and kick her in the stomach, sending her flying backwards. Aiming to get Lucius off his back, San-Sokeh leapt backwards, slamming his body onto the roof with incredible force. His shoulder injured in the impact, Lucius staggered back, only to have his opponent rush at him once again with a flurry of powerful jabs. It seemed like these punches were coming at almost the speed of light...
0:13.05
While everyone else was fighting, Vessa found herself making her way over to Katarina, aiming to ensure she was alright. The woman, having backed herself up against a nearby wall to stay upright, turned to the child as she continued to bleed out.
Katarina: You... You came back for me?
Vessa nodded, attempting to get herself underneath Katarina's arm in order to help her up. In spite of her small stature, she managed to get her hand wrapped around her waist, aiding her in standing up and hoping to walk her through a nearby door. Maybe, if they hurried, she could get her down to the healer lady, and everything would be alright. She gave a quick, reassuring smile to Katarina, who looked down and did the same. The mood was optimistic, though grim. Suddenly, the door opened wide, revealing a scary-looking man with a blindfold and black clothing. His face looked... strange.
Katarina: Thank goodness. Toronova, get the guards up here! I need medical attention, and there's a maniac up here that's currently being fended off by agents of-
Toronova: Not going to happen, your majesty.
Katarina: Wh- This is a direct order from your-
Toronova punted Vessa in the chest, knocking her away as she tried catching her breath. Shocked and disgusted, Katarina tried activating her powers, but her fire flickered away as she had to catch herself on the ground again, holding her chest as more feyblood flowed from it. Toronova stood over her position, simply smiling.
Toronova: I'm the second-in-command of this organization, Omegance. With you out of the way, I can take this little group for myself and pursue... other goals. All I have to do is claim that Iliad did you in, and they'll be none the wiser.
Katarina: You absolutely... *panting* horrible monster...
Toronova: Oh, it's nothing personal. Think of it as a buyout- taking an old, dying rival you once feared and sucking up their assets while you can.
Vessa ran back in, tackling the blind man and slapping him in the face. Toronova's expression turned into rage as he began swiping around at the air, unsure of exactly where his target was. Vessa grabbed Katarina's hand, dancing around the attacks as she tried to look for an opening.
0:08.52
Bynde fired another barrage of arrows in San-Sokeh's direction, only to have them smacked away as the creature darted in Osuna's direction. Though she managed to parry his first jab, he resorted to an underhanded followup and jabbed right into her side, piercing through her skin and causing intense pain. Osuna yelled as she recalled her sword, staggering backwards to try evading San-Sokeh's next attack; all the while, in the back of the fight, Lucius was gesturing furiously in his hands, hair fluttering as plasma energy crackled around him.
Lucius: -
San-Sokeh darted over in his direction, slapping him across the face before placing his hand over Lucius's mouth, picking him up and slamming him into the ground.
San-Sokeh: You dare speak utter foul, unholy speech in my presence?!
The Cataloger was hunched over, glaring intently into Lucius's eyes. Bynde, looking at the back of his head, realized there was a multilayered shell covering the whole of it... and she could see the glistening of what looked like moist internal organs inside. Thinking back to the fight where she had first encounter Lucius and company, she recalled the battle against the giant mechanical monster... Aim for the joints. Focusing her Shard's power so hard that it seemed like time had stopped around her, she drew one final arrow, letting it fly right between the protective shells and pierce into the soft, meaty flesh underneath.
San-Sokeh screamed in pain as he let go of Lucius, trying to reach behind him and grab the arrow out of his shell. His weakpoint exposed, however, Osuna called up a quintet of Florish throwing knives, forcing them forward in a swarm formation and lodging them up inside the open crack. Pierced from the soft underside, Osuna forced the layer of shell open with a sickening crunching sound, exposing the blue flesh underneath. Their foe yelled even more intensely, glaring at the two women. He darted back in, weaving in and out with more and more ferocious jabs. He was still a threat, but he was clearly becoming more and more agitated, losing his tactical edge and becoming more and more ferocious. He raised his claw for a slash at Osuna, only to have Bynde intercept and parry it, throwing his whole body off balance; seizing the opportunity, Lucius dashed forward, jamming two of his fingers into the soft exposed area.
San-Sokeh: You wretched...
Lucius: I am done dealing with you, Cataloger! You've hounded us through time and space, aiming to bring about the end of everything we care about! Now, you get the justice you deserve!
Lucius let loose a massive amount of plasma energy through his arm, sending it into San-Sokeh's body and throughout his entire nervous system. The final guttural shout indicated the intense amounts of pain he had gone through, only to feel a numbing sensation take over; Lucius had fried his nerves, leaving his entire body temporarily paralyzed. San-Sokeh collapsed to the ground, unable to move himself. Lucius turned to Bynde and Osuna... They had beaten the interloper he believed could be the cause of all of this.
----
0:03.00
Everyone had gathered back in the central square, Hask and Palaso in tow. With Itoki found laying on the ground, that meant they had managed to capture all the major agents of SYNDERS... except for Toronova. Perhaps he had simply gone into hiding after Aysu's attack earlier. Either way, people were in high spirits.
Stark: RoJo! What's the damage?
RoJo: One agent of SYNDERS down for the count, one hostage rescued. Some medical assistance would be nice, though. Plenty of profuse bleeding.
Raune: Hostage?
RoJo held up his arm to show Lexi hiding behind him. When the woman saw Aysu, she gasped, running up to the teenager excitedly.
Aysu: You managed to escape?
Lexi: Yes! Everything's going to be alright! I'm going to be able to see my daughter again! Thank you people so much for everything!
Lexi gave Aysu a big hug, which she accepted with a flustered expression as she patted the woman's shoulder. Nyxiel stepped from the back of the crowd, a cocky, confident look on her face.
Nyxiel: So that means we just have the queen left, then?
Lox: No, look! The light is all gone!
Everyone looked up to the palace roof, the powerful light radiating from Katarina's body nowhere to be seen. It was a sign that, somehow, the away team had managed to do the treacherous task of defeating her. It was all over.
Phorine: We did it, everyone! We won!
Gargan: Aw yeah! That's my pretty boy for ya! Told you we had this covered!
Malphea: Well, I suppose that wraps that up. Are celebrations in order, then? It will be nice to finally relax for once.
Nyxiel: I... suppose so!
Most of the group began cheering, though Ridley began acting like an animal sniffing the air. Something didn't seem right about all this... Suddenly, another call came in from Möbius via Nyxiel's palm rune. She accepted the call, only to hear his horrified voice on the other end.
Möbius: You stopped the Katarina woman, right?! Please tell me you managed that!
Nyxiel: Moby, what's wrong? Someone on our squad beat her. Is everything okay back at home base?
Möbius: No! It's a disaster!
The timeline rune that Möbius often displayed in his hand appeared in Nyxiel's. This time, however, it no longer resembled a tree... All it was was a straight line, glitching and shifting from yellow to blue at a rapid rate.
Möbius: Whatever happened, the cataclysm event wasn't stopped! That entity hurtling through time is almost here!
Nyxiel's emotional state crashed as her expression went from concern to abject horror. She dropped to the ground, unable to speak out of shock... All of her plans, all of her dreams of protecting the world she had grown to love... shattered.
Nyxiel: We... We're too late.
----
0:01.00
The group gathered around San-Sokeh as Lucius attempted to patch up Osuna's wound, Bynde holding up the Cataloger's body to keep him upright. She glanced around, worried for where Vessa could have gone. Where could she be? At any rate, it was time for an interrogation; Lucius walked up to their enemy, kicking him in the side with intense rage.
Lucius: Why are you here, Cataloger? How are you here?
San-Sokeh: Urghhh... My goddess brought me to this time using some of the last scraps of her power. I am but a messenger, sent to ensure everything was right for her arrival... Or perhaps a waiter would be a better term. Setting the table for her most glorious meal.
0:00.40
Osuna: What goddess?
Lucius: It's Tiera, isn't it? The thing the fairies seem to try to instill worship of into every species they encounter until they destroy them.
San-Sokeh: You are correct... Tiera, the Mother of All, the Giver of Form and Life, the Mistress of Creation. This universe has spiraled out of Her control, shaping itself against Her will... But with what I have enabled to occur here, on this world, she will be able to rectify these sins.
0:00.10
Lucius: What are you talking about? What are you trying to do?!
San-Sokeh: ...You're about to find out.
===Chapter 7: 『Tear』===
A drop of liquid secreted from a person's eye when they are filled with intense emotion; to pull or rip something apart or to pieces with great force.~
As if on cue, some sort of crack appeared in the sky. The noise from the fracturing was faint, subtle, and yet it shook through everybody's bodies as if an earthquake had run through the area. The roof was silent as the crack continued to expand, growing larger and larger as the sounds became louder and louder. On the ground, the situation was looking dire as the SYNDERS agents were waking up, demanding to be let out of custody.
Hask: *groan* What's going on? Let me go!
Stark: Oh boy, the clown brigade's waking up. Nyxiel, should we take these guys back before they have the chance to escape?
Nyxiel turned to the group, a manic expression on her face as her body tensed up. She looked like she was about to snap entirely, the months if not years of stress she had developed crashing upon her in one moment.
Nyxiel: We have more pressing matters to worry about!!!
Phorine: Nyxiel, is everything okay? You look scared...
RoJo: She's right. This isn't usually like y-
Nyxiel: Someone! Come up to the roof! We might only have one chance to end this before things are too far gone!
Back up on the rooftop, the crack began growing larger and larger, shockwaves beginning to emerge from it every time it expanded that pushed the combatants further and further away from it. It was like something on the other side was... trying to push through. Lucius grabbed San-Sokeh by the collar, lifting him up and glaring right in his face.
Lucius: What is this? Spit it out! The Cataloger simply began laughing, blood trickling down from the back of his head.
San-Sokeh: Why bother explaining any further? Your fate is sealed!
The crack pounded three more times, each slower than the last... then silence. Everyone had tensed up, Vessa standing in front of Katarina in an attempt to guard her from whatever was about to emerge from this anomaly... Then, in a splash of blue light, it burst open entirely, a mesmerizing blue portal opening in the sky. A beam of light shot down from the portal's depths, and where it touched the ground, a strange figure began to materialize. It looked like it was barely clinging on to its existence, consisting of a strange stickfigure-esque body comprised of pitch-black smoke; the tatters of a strange, faded shell wrapped around a few elements of the body, barely providing any protection. Its only distinct features were a mane of strange tendril-like hair, flopping down over its face... and a single blue eye that looked as if it was bleeding pure energy. It was like nothing any of them had ever seen before, and the mere sight of it filled Lucius with dread. The creature rose to its feet, examining its surroundings before looking at its own body.
???: 
A dark realization crept across Lucius's mind as he realized what exactly this being was. San-Sokeh was no mere fanatic... his goddess was real.
Tiera: 
Osuna: Hey, shrimp guy! Is this your so-called goddess? This decrepit old monster? You know Iliad has killed worse than this already, right?
Lucius: Osuna, now is not the time to-
Tiera: 
Tiera began staggering forward. Though her hunched posture and shambling gait called to mind one who had been tired out and drained of her energy, her mere footsteps were enough to distort the very ground she walked on. The level of power on display was staggering... Bynde, sensing a sneak attack opportunity, began slowly tiptoeing around towards the entity's back. She'd only have one chance to pull this off.
Tiera: 
Toronova seemed stunned, somehow mesmerized by Tiera's presence even through his blindness. Sensing an opportunity, Vessa tried to drag Katarina through the rooftop door, where she assumed she would be safe.
Tiera: 
She turned to glare directly at Lucius, her eyes piercing straight into his psyche. The decades of torment he had spent being psychically linked to the fairy Corona came flooding back all at once.
Tiera: 
Lucius: My only regret is that I couldn't have done it while I still had people to avenge.
Tiera: 
Osuna: Listen, lady. If you're really as high and mighty as you claim you are, why do you need servants to begin with? Why not just wipe out humanity with a snap of your fingers? If you can make life, what makes that so hard?
Osuna was doing her best to act as a distraction, playing up her best confident act... But the truth was, deep down, she was terrified. This was worse than meeting RoJo for the first time... Worse than the fire where she lost her hand... This was primal fear. Her only hope was that Bynde would be getting in position soon. The shadowy figure pointed directly at Osuna, sending a chill down her spine.
Tiera: 
Lucius: What about Fera? Corona claimed you wanted her as some sort of... host.
Tiera: 
Tiera's neck snapped to the side in a sudden motion, glaring right at Vessa and Katarina. The cevress gasped as everything fell into place... San-Sokeh pushed her to absorb the feyblood and enhance her power, claiming she held history's greatest level of Drive...
Tiera: 
A bolt of what seemed to be dark lightning crackled down Tiera's face, snapping her posture back in an unnatural position. Lucius and Osuna looked up to see Nyxiel descending from the sky, being followed by Gargan and Hayate riding in on a burst of wind. Everyone seemed terrified; even these reinforcements were no cause to celebrate. Seizing the opportunity, Bynde lunged forward, bringing down the Seeker's Blade in an attempt to slay the foul demon in a single attack. Tiera snapped her body upward to evade the blow, but the sword still managed to strike across her back, the blade causing her shadowy sinew to smoke and sizzle as Tiera grunted in pain. She could be harmed- but that was of little consequence as Bynde was thrown back by a huge pulse of force extended from Tiera's hand, pushing her backwards and causing her to lose balance. Nyxiel touched down, filtering a pure stream of the black electricity towards Tiera.
Nyxiel: Don't give her an inch! This is our last chance to end this!
Hayate: On it!
Gargan: No need to tell me twice!
As Hayate began skating around the edge of the roof to try building up speed, Gargan pulled Retron off of his back, throwing him up into the air. The diminutive warrior pulled out his sword, which grew to gigantic sizes through the use of hardlight energy; in one mighty swing, the blade crashed to the ground, only to be held up by Tiera through what seemed to be the use of only one finger. In a single flick, Retron was thrown off the building.
Not one to take an attack on his buddy lying down, Gargan rushed up to Tiera with a guttural roar of pure rage, his mechanical arm shifting and letting out massive amounts of steam as he charged up for an incredibly powerful punch. He managed to strike Tiera directly in the face, only to be met with a hollow clanging as if he had punched a wall... The goddess had no reaction before thrusting her arm into Gargan's chest, knocking him away with immense force. Even Nyxiel's lightning was having less and less of an effect, with Tiera simply standing there and absorbing the strikes as if nothing was wrong. Lucius rushed in with a plasma blade in hand, aiming for the exposed shadowy parts of Tiera's body in an attempt to slice her into pieces. To both of their shock, this actually seemed to disperse the miasma, thinning out what was left of her body; this didn't stop Tiera from simply smacking him away, the pain coursing through his chest like he had been shot at point-blank range with a shotgun.
Tiera: 
Lucius: *groaning* We've beaten beings stronger than you before. You won't- GAAAAAAAAH!
Tiera stepped on Lucius's chest, pushing him down to the ground as pain continued to surge through his broken, battered body. His vision began to go blurry, his eyes filling with blood from the intense pressure.
Tiera: 
Before Tiera could finish Lucius off, Hayate swooped in from the side, pulling off a kick flip and summoning an intense burst of wind that managed to garner the goddess's attention. Thrusting her palm forward again, she reversed the wind's flow, throwing Hayate off balance and causing him to fall to the ground. Nyxiel, giving up on the dark lightning attack, began warping around the roof, hurling a massive ball of black essence at Tiera; a mere sweep of the entity's arm bounced it back, causing it to explode in a cloud of darkness. All was pitch-black as Osuna leapt from the smokescreen, an octet of swords forming around her as a phalanx; in one mighty swing, all eight blades converged on Tiera, who caught them all in the palm of her hand, just as Osuna had planned. Forcing downward with all her might to keep her foe locked in her direction, she glanced at Bynde, who had grabbed her sword again and was charging in at high speeds. Just a little longer and-
Tiera shifted her weight, throwing Osuna right in the path of Bynde's attack. The blade went clean through her chest as she spurted out blood from her mouth, Bynde gasping in horror... Tiera responded with another blast of force, shoving the pair aside as they crashed against the wall. Nyxiel, increasingly desperate and manic, simply threw herself towards Tiera with an angered yell, and was promptly smacked aside with another simple gesture. With nobody left to stop her, she began slowly walking towards Katarina, the object of her desire within reach at long last. Lucius rose his hand to try to get up, only to be forced down on the ground again by San-Sokeh, who pressed his body into the ground with another debilitating jab. The Cataloger looked him dead in the eyes, a sinister expression creeping across his face.
San-Sokeh: You have failed. Now, witness the glory of the Mother's rebirth...
Lucius: I... can't... No...
Tiera walked up to Toronova, who immediately darted to the side to avoid Tiera's wrath; seemingly not considering him worth her time, she kept walking forward. Vessa tried rushing down the stairs with Katarina, only to have the two both be pulled back by some sort of vacuum effect. Vessa rose to her feet quickly, staring down Tiera without an ounce of fear in her heart. Launching herself at the scary lady who had taken down all her friends, her determination at an all-time peak, Vessa... found herself caught in her grasp instantly, hurled off to the side and crashing into another wall at high speeds. Katarina fell to the ground, finding herself backed into a corner as Tiera glared into her eyes. In an instant, she began crying, brought to her breaking point.
Katarina: All I wanted... was to make the world a better place... Is that so wrong?
Tiera: 
Tiera shoved her hand right through Katarina's glowing chest, her fingers wrapping around the cevress's heart. Katarina let out one last gasp as she felt the shadowy miasma seeping into her body, swirling around and piercing through her system. Her eyes closed as she began to lose consciousness...
Tiera: 
----
The lack of sound and movement from the rooftop were beginning to scare the agents on the ground; even though nothing within their line of sight was happening, something simply felt... disturbingly off. All there had been was a weird shockwave and a flash of light, and then nothing. Hask and Palaso were getting increasingly angry, trying to break away from their captors as hard as they could.
Palaso: Let us go! Something wrong is clearly happening up there!
Leica: We're not going up there! We haven't gotten word of what the situation there is, and if things go south, we need to be down here anyways to prep for evac!
Raune: Are you absolutely certain? Our friends could be in danger!
Hask: That's why we want to check it out too!
Stark: Look, you're clearly just going to run off again-
Palaso interrupted Stark by beginning to tear up. These didn't seem to be crocodile tears... These were the genuine article.
Palaso: Someone we care about could be in very real danger! She could be dying for all we know! Someone who brought us back from the brink of despair and gave us another chance at life! And now you so-called heroes are really going to tear us away from her when she needs us most?!
Everyone was silent for a moment, the impact of the SYNDERS agent's words settling upon them. Katarina was certainly a horrible person, but these two really did seem to care for her... Taking a risk, Stark nodded over to RoJo, speaking to him psychically in order to hide their conversation.
Stark: Are you absolutely certain we should listen to them?
RoJo: I say we take them.
Stark: You absolutely certain these clowns aren't going to try any funny business?
RoJo: They're genuinely concerned for a friend, and I have a sneaking suspicion things are about to go south regardless. I see no reason to not take them with us to inspect what's going on.
Stark: If you say so, Bossman.
Stark snapped the fingers on her floating arms, Hask and Palaso beginning to suddenly levitate from her psychic powers. The two seemed shocked, yet also a bit happy at the same time.
Stark: We're doing a routine sweep of the battlefield. You two are welcome to come with... You'll be able to meet with your "duchess" now that the away team has probably put her in cuffs too.
Hask: Th-Thank you, ma'am.
Palaso: *sniff* Well, so much for living the high life, then.
RoJo: You'll have each other... in prison.
Hask: Y'know, after all these years working together... I think that might be all we really need.
Palaso giggled and made a kissing motion towards her partner in crime; Stark rolled her eyes as Phorine made a noise like she saw a cute puppy in the distance. Suddenly, the sound of electrical crackling filled the air and a massive burst of light began shining from the top of the palace, consuming almost the entire sky in a blinding radiance. Beams of white and blue energy began streaking over the horizon, filling the entire team with dread- in spite of Nyxiel's attempted intervention, something truly had gone horribly wrong.
Stark snapped open Hask and Palaso's bonds, still levitating them by her side as she brought RoJo along with her as well. It seemed as though she was going to need to prepare for a fight. She turned to the rest of the team, who were all increasingly worried.
RoJo: We're going in to assist!
Lox: Are you absolutely sure you don't need our help?
RoJo: We don't know what the threat level is like currently- it'd be best for at least some of us to stay back and hold the line just in case one of those giant monsters comes back or something.
Phorine: Actually, why haven't we seen any of those? Do you think they were scared off?
Stark: Beats me, but if so... that just means we've got bigger fish to fry.
----
Lucius covered his eyes as the intense light from Tiera kept beaming from all directions, searing his vision as if he was staring directly into the sun. The wind whipping around as if it was being sucked into the epicenter of the light called to mind standing on the event horizon of a black hole, and the numbing of all his senses seemed to tie directly into that draining sensation. The only thing he could hear was the faint sounds of what sounded like a woman screaming... a noise that faded further and further until even that vanished.
At long last, the light faded, letting Lucius open his eyes once more. Having to readjust to the environment, his sight slowly transitioned from the intense, bloodstained blur to normal clarity. He couldn't begin to believe what he saw, however; both Tiera and Katarina had vanished entirely, being replaced with a tall, powerful-looking woman in pristine blue armor. Lines of energy coursed across her body like veins, and a flowing mane of glowing blue tentacles extended from the back of her head like some sort of predatory snare. She stood perfectly still, her body letting off a light smoke as she finally looked down at her hand, clenching her fist tightly.
Nyxiel: N-No...
San-Sokeh stepped off of Lucius's body, walking forward slowly with his arms outstretched. His eyes were widened, full of awe and excitement.
San-Sokeh: At last, you have awakened your full power, o Mother of All Creation... How are you feeling?
In a massive burst of energy, the entity stretched her arms to the side as she began to float off the ground. A set of massive wings burst from her back, beautiful things that looked as though they were made of pure energy. She turned around in the air to face not her apparent disciple, but Lucius, directly, revealing her visage directly. It was as if there were two faces staring down on him at once; one the face of Katarina, a sinister smile creeping across her expression, the other a pitch black void, no light shining through other than those piercing blue eyes.
It was glorious and unspeakable. Beautiful and petrifying. It was his... everyone's worst nightmare.
Tiera: 
----
A cry of anguish was let out as a bolt of neon energy streaked through the sky, clanking against Tiera's newly reforged body and plinking to the ground beside her. The goddess turned to her right, looking at her new assailants; Palaso and Hask had landed on the rooftop, Stark and RoJo behind them. The two agents of SYNDERS glared at the being standing before them, Hask drawing forth a sword of crystal as the two prepared for another battle.
Hask: What are you? Where's Katarina?!
Tiera: 
RoJo: Whatever you are, you attacked our friends. That's reason enough to take you down.
San-Sokeh: Try it, you wastes of oxygen! You have no hope of standing against the might of a-
The Cataloger found himself getting choked by some sort of force closing around his neck, a sign of Stark using her psychic abilities to attempt to strangle him. Enraged by what Tiera seemed to have done to their beloved leader, Hask rushed in with his blade, his significant other trailing right behind him. He swung his weapon to the side, hoping to blindside his target, but the blade merely shattered as Tiera rose her arm to block it; while the man was stunned, she grabbed his neck, blasting his system with some form of divine energy before tossing him away like everyone else who had come to face her thus far. Palaso stayed back, firing off more and more bolts of energy as she grew more angered and horrified.
Palaso: Don't come any closer! I'm not letting you off this roof!
Her shots simply bouncing off Tiera's armor, nothing could stop the entity's approach as she rose her arm over her shoulder, summoning a blade of light around her upper arm and preparing to slash Palaso in twain. She was only momentarily distracted by an impact to her face... RoJo had struck her directly in the face with all of his might, his fist glowing red with energy. He panted heavily as Tiera deteriorated her blade, showing no sign of flinching.
Tiera: 
RoJo: You're a threat to everyone here! It's the job of any self-respecting human being to try to defeat something like you!
Tiera: 
Tiera tensed her body, blasting everyone far away from her with a mighty shockwave. Even Stark was thrown off-balance, her psychic grasp on San-Sokeh breaking as she fell to the ground. The goddess spread her wings wide, the light casting a pale purple glow on the entire rooftop and she began hovering higher and higher.
Tiera: 
Palaso: Then why don't you?!
Tiera: 
Nobody moved or said anything... until the sound of footsteps across the roof began approaching Tiera. It was none other than Toronova, slowly making his way across the war-torn battleground as his case tapped against the concrete, his lack of sight not stopping him from being drawn to Tiera's presence.
Toronova: I-I swear complete and undying loyalty to you, my liege.
Hask: Toronova! You traitorous son of a-
Toronova: What's wrong with getting with the winning side? This is just how business works.
Tiera: 
A wave of energy passed over Toronova's body as she pressed her hand onto the crown of his head, his frosted black hair turning pure white as he shivered intensely. When she drew her hand away, the businessman pawed at his eyes, messing with his blindfold... The smile creeping across his face gave away that underneath, his sight had been restored. Another flick of the goddess's hand, and the same energy passed over San-Sokeh, siphoning the spilled blood back into his system as all of his wounds became healed. Noticing his recovery, he bowed to Tiera, who began looking over the fallen victims of her and her servants' conquest.
Behind Tiera, however, Osuna began struggling back into consciousness, realizing the power of the being that stood before her. Looking around, she saw Bynde's body, knocked out after having been smashed into the wall... and that ivory blade of hers within arm's reach. That weapon was the only thing that had been able to harm Tiera before... She reached out as she slowly stood up, grabbing the blade by the hilt. A strange sensation began trickling up her arm, but she barely paid any attention as she silently began walking up to Tiera's back.
Tiera: 
Lucius: N-No self-respecting mother would treat a child they cared about this way.
Tiera: 
Osuna raised the sword to strike, only to suddenly feel a burning sensation throughout her arm. She looked at the hand holding the blade, only to see it engulfed in some sort of black flame, dulling her senses. Her vision grew blurry, and as she began to see hallucinations of some white figure in front of her, her head began to throb even harder. She screamed in pain, hopelessly unprepared for what she had just gotten herself into.
Tiera, alerted to Osuna's presence, turned around, dragging her into her grasp as if by force. She slipped the Seeker's Blade out of the woman's hand, gazing upon the sword's majesty as her armor began to smoke and sizzle upon mere contact with the divine metal.
Tiera: 
Nyxiel, who had been watching everything from afar, unable to move out of fear, now lashed out in a fit of panic. Tiera had obtained her true power once again, taking over Katarina's body and Drive for her own, and they were about to lose the one weapon they had that was capable of hurting her. There was no way they would be able to win this fight... Retreat was the only option.
Tiera: 
Leica: Then how's about this!
In a brilliant flash, Leica's stasis camera activated from out of nowhere; it seemed the ground team had run up the stairs, ready for an attack. Both San-Sokeh and Toronova were caught in the blast, being frozen in stasis, but to everyone's surprise, Tiera began slowly moving in the frozen time, cracking through it and leaving behind afterimages.
Tiera: *chuckles* 
Lox: Holy mother of- What happened here?
Bubba: I dunno what, but people are hurt bad. Good thing we all decided ta' head up here and check things out!
Raune: So many people are bleeding out! I need to get in there and-
Nyxiel: It's too late, everyone.
Nyxiel slumped off the wall, inching slowly towards the rest of the group. They seemed confused as to why Nyxiel was demanding they stand down- they had the opportunity to do in what seemed to be Katarina at this very moment. Then, Raune realized that the Cataloger- her captor- was standing before them in the stasis bubble, and began backing down in fear.
Raune: W-Why is he here?! What's going on?
Nyxiel: Earth is doomed. We need to get out of here while we still can. I know a place we can crash for the time being until we-
Lox: You're not serious, are you? Nyxiel, you've been hyping this moment up for months, and now you're saying that we have no choice but to back down?! After all this time spent planning?
Nyxiel: I tried, okay? Is it not enough I spent weeks straight staying up in the middle of the night and making sure the stars aligned for everything to be possible? Is it not enough that the people I call friends stopped trusting me and talking behind my back? I failed. My plans were for nothing. And unless we hightail it out of here, nothing is exactly what we're going to be.
Malphea: Nyxiel...
The witch lifted both of her arms, thrusting them around in uncomfortable-looking positions as dark magic flowed across her body. Surrounded by crackling electricity, she clawed through the air, tearing open another portal; unlike her usual portals, this one was tinged with red, howling as if though it was the maw of some great beast.
Nyxiel: We're evacuating everyone. That is our top priority.
Malphea: Are you certain this is the right thing to do? We're leaving a dangerous monster to have its way with nothing to stop it! Nyxiel put her hand on her blood sister's shoulder.
Nyxiel: If we don't run, then there really won't be anything to stop it. Earth itself is no longer safe.
The crowd was somber for a moment- then the crashing sound continued. Tiera was slowly breaking out of stasis, trying to reach for the portal. It was like trying to outrun some kind of nightmare.
Tiera: 
Nyxiel: Screw you! You're not my real mom!
As if on cue, Lox extended his hand, firing out a barrage of chains that wrapped around the bodies of their unconscious allies before dragging them in. A sad, melancholy mood fell over the party as they had no choice but to enter the portal Nyxiel had opened; some, like Ridley, tried to fight Tiera head on while they still had the chance, but they were soon thrown back into the portal. Almost everyone had evacuated... until Osuna woke up, realizing that the Seeker's Blade was still on the ground. Breaking free of the chain, she stumbled forward, continuing to bleed out as Nyxiel tried catching her.
Nyxiel: Are you nuts?! We need to go!
Osuna: That sword... Only thing that can... hurt...
Nyxiel: We are not leaving without you, Osuna! And I'm not holding open this gate forever! She's about to break out of stasis! Osuna continued to stagger forward, her determination increasing as she picked up pace. The faint flicker of what seemed to be orange light- her Drive- began to manifest as she approached death.
Osuna: I'll stay behind... Get the sword and run... You can come back for me.
Nyxiel: We may never be able to find you again! How are you so certain this is going to work?!
Osuna turned to Nyxiel, her expression dead serious as she cracked into a tiny smile. Her eyes began to glaze over as she clearly began to lose energy... the blood loss was getting to her.
Osuna: Because I trust you.
Nyxiel didn't have time to say anything before Osuna pushed her into her own dark portal, sending her falling back through the endless abyss she had summoned. The last thing she saw her friend waving goodbye to her, a tender expression sending her off. Then, all was darkness.
Outside the portal, Osuna sighed in relief as the stasis finally broke around Tiera. The goddess glanced around before looking up to the sky, squinting intently. She clenched her fist in rage, smashing it against the wall.
Tiera: 
Osuna: Guess you're... not as strong as... you think!
Flaring up with the power of Drive, Osuna rushed in and grabbed the Seeker's Blade, barely paying any attention to the tingling sensation anymore. She leapt high into the air, summoning a phalanx of phantom blades around her as she dove right down towards Tiera's head. Her vision faded as everything went white...
----
Malphea: Three, two, one... Clear!
Raune: C'mon, Lucius! Hang in there!
Lucius slowly faded back into consciousness, his vision swirling with a strange nebulaic red pattern as he saw two figured hunched over him, one pounding something repeatedly onto his chest. A burst of energy traveled through his system as his whole body convulsed; between that and the healing stream that Raune was sending through his body, he was up gasping for air in no time.
Raune: Lucius! You're alright!
Malphea: Phew... Don't get eager giving him affection, Raune. His wounds may have been healed, but he's going to need some time to recover. Let him get bedrest. Besides, we've got plenty more people in need of healing. Sarin! How's it going?
Sarin: Alright, I guess! We've got the skater kid up and running again.
Malphea: Thank for helping with the defibrillation, sweetie. Raune, go take care of the big red gentleman. I'm... not used to operating on alien lifeforms yet.
Raune darted off away from Lucius- the Coronid's vision had cleared enough to realize where exactly he was. The strange starry clouds obscuring his sight weren't just part of his haziness, but an actual aspect of his new location; a strange, nebulous void, the sky dotted with floating islands and strange glitchy-looking blotches. He was currently situated in what seemed to be a fusion of a hot spring and a medical ward, with floating slabs of stone hovering over the water coated in strange, heated runes. He had never seen anywhere like this before... It was like some kind of dream.
Then reality snapped back in place.
Lucius: Where's... Nyxiel?
Malphea: Off having a bit of an emotional breakdown. Möbius is off helping her feel better, but having everything she seems to have worked for thus far ruined has taken basically all the wind out of her sails.
Lucius: Is everyone else...
Sarin: *pant* Either healing or healed up. Everyone seems pretty torn up, though. Even Ridley stopped trying to murder me in cold blood and is off sulking in some corner somewhere. Aysu's trashing the place out of grief, the camera girl is crying her poor little heart out, and the paper bag guy's rocking himself back and forth, spouting nervous nonsense.
Lucius: Wh... Where are we?
???: 
The booming voice came from out of nowhere as a surge of red flame appeared before him, violently spinning around as strange stone objects materialized from out of nowhere and began flying around it. Eventually, the pieces came together, wrapping around the flame and manifesting as some titanic demon-looking being. Lucius was startled by its appearance, but somehow, the flame inside it seemed warm and inviting, a far cry from the cold harshness of Tiera's light. What in blazes was this thing?
???: 
Lucius: Alright, I'm sorry, but am I still concussed? I have no idea what you might possibly be.
???: 
Lucius slowly nodded. The fiery fiend before him simply chuckled to himself.
???: 
Lucius: So the things she said... were true?
???: 
Malphea: Then what exactly are you? Nyxiel told me we were... We were...
???: 
The strange entity rose up in the air, spreading the strange streamer-like wings behind its back. The visage was equal parts awe-inspiring and welcoming, and simply looking upon him made Lucius feel just a bit better.
Inversim: 
Malphea: F-Father?! You're my dad?!
Inversim: 
Malphea was speechless, tearing up as she covered her mouth. It looked like a lot of emotions were running through her head all at once... But Lucius didn't have any time for that.
Lucius: What's happening back on Earth? What is Tiera doing?
Inversim: 
----
Somewhere on Earth, in a government facility, a map of the planet suddenly displays a massive shockwave travelling across the world, originating from Cesserx in the arctic; readings display unknown types of power as scientists scramble to analyze what exactly it is. Over a nearby control panel, Queen Hildegard herself makes a stern face as she slams her large axe into the ground, preparing for battle; her nearby advisers look concerned.
Inversim: 
----
Back in the Cesserx capital, some of the transformed civilians huddled together in hiding from the bright light that had blazed throughout the sky minutes before. Trembling in fear over all the recent events that had been happening, one member of the group suddenly noticed a different light shining in the distance, approaching them; curious, they crawled cautiously over to the alluring light, only to have Tiera's hand reach down and gently touch them on the forehead. The same subtle pulse of energy flowed over their body; their ivory shells became a pristine white, their posture corrected itself to humanoid form, and the Synergium Z crystals jutting from their back were dragged into their body. Tiera smiled at her new soldier... a being with the last remnants of its humanity purged from its system, loyally bowing to her as more of the transformed approached her.
Inversim: 
----
Shots of cities across the world are shown in rapid succession; Orenia, Chiqutl, Sicory, La'Neqa... In each and every one, innocent people begin to transform into the twisted mutant form of Tiera's servant, while others, seemingly unaffected, run for cover.
Inversim: 
----
Everyone was silent. This was a lot of heavy stuff to be taking in.
Inversim: 
Lucius: ...
Inversim: 
Lucius: We're going to beat her. No matter what it takes.
Malphea: Lucius? You're not suggesting-
Lucius: It's possible. It may be hard, harder than any foe conceivable in the entire universe... But we have to try. Even if I die in this search, I need to free reality from her grasp.
Inversim: 
Lucius: But we can. That's what Drive is, right? The strength, willpower, determination to crush anything in our way. We can become the final line of defense for all who exist, so long as we just stay determined and strike back with all our might.
Sarin: Look, motivating speech aside, guy, you're really suggesting we go up against an actual goddess? You hearing yourself? It's suicide.
Lucius: I spent years and years alone, trapped in a mental prison with a creature spawned from Tiera. It was the most horrible, nightmarish thing I have ever experienced. I am not letting anyone experience that again!
RoJo: He's right.
Splashing could be heard as seemingly everybody was coming together around them. The Iliad crew, the three SYNDERS agents, Gargan and Retron, even Aysu and Lexi. Lucius was surprised he was garnering this much support.
RoJo: Mosaic's invasion was one of the darkest moments in our world's history, yet Iliad came together from a bunch of ragtag bums across the planet and worked together to bring her down. Who's to say we can't do the same?
Aysu: My father forged me to be a weapon instead of being any kind of decent man. I know what it is like to live with unbearable cruelty... I will turn my blade on any who attempt to bring about the same.
Ridley: My existence has no meaning anymore... But I know that out there, there are people trying to make something of theirs. I fight not for myself, but them.
Palaso walked up to Lucius, putting her hand around his chin.
Palaso: We were told by Raune how much you missed Fera. You were talking about her in whatever coma dreams you were having before she woke you up. She's a friend, isn't she?
Lucius nodded.
Palaso: Well, that's what Katarina is to us. Hask, Itoki and I aren't letting this snotnosed, airheaded ditz do away with our friends anymore.
Quetz: I just know that the glowy lady's not as nice as she thinks she is. She needs to be taught a lesson!
Everyone standing together in unison with Lucius filled him with happiness. No, more than that... Motivation. They could do this. They had to.
Lucius: Are you really going to turn down all of us, Inversim? I know we can defeat Tiera. Just have faith in us.
Inversim: *sigh* 
Lucius: Oh, trust me. We will.
----
Osuna woke up in a daze, unsure of exactly where she was. Last she remembered, she had tried attacking Tiera with Bynde's sword... And then nothing. She couldn't remember what had happened afterwards. She certainly wasn't on the roof of Katarina's palace anymore... Now she was in some strange building that looked like it was made of blue and purple crystal, strange veins running underneath the transparent floor and around the walls, pumping some kind of energy. She had never seen anything like this place... Osuna tried to get up off the ground, but her chest flared up with pain. She looked down at her body... Still covered in gaping holes. It was a miracle she wasn't dead.
But then... Where was this?
Tiera: 
Osuna gasped as she heard Tiera's voice behind her. Turning around, she saw the goddess she thought she had struck down sitting on some sort of throne, the veins in the building continuing to pump energy into it as it gave off a subtle blue glow. San-Sokeh and Toronova stood at her sides, the latter wearing a strange new white outfit as he smiled eerily at Osuna... He still hadn't taken off his blindfold yet, for some reason. And spinning around Tiera's open-palmed hand was Bynde's blade, shimmering with energy. Upon seeing the blade, Osuna gained a burst of energy, trying to walk forward but stumbling in the process. Tiera simply laughed to herself.
San-Sokeh: Are you so certain this woman is worthy to stand before you? Why have you not smitten her yet?
Toronova: My liege, he's right. This wench has given me nothing but trouble in the past! I have plenty a bone to pick with-
Tiera: 
Tiera spun her finger around in the air, creating a flurry of blue energy and what seemed like black dust. The vortex crackled as what appeared to be a female form emerged inside it, the mass cohering into a figure in a burst of light. Where there was once nothing more than energy, there was now an eerie-looking girl in a sleek, silvery dress, massive crystalline wings emerging from her back. The girl looked down at her body, startled and looking like she was about to burst from happiness.
Tiera: 
Corona: Eeeeeeee! Thank you, Mother! I can't thank you enough for your endless, undying gratitude!
Osuna: Suck-up.
Toronova: WATCH YOUR TONGUE, WOMAN!
Tiera: 
Osuna: Oh, what now, you going to reward me? You're an absolute... monster.
Corona giggled as Tiera held forth the ivory blade, slicing her own wrist on it. From the wound leaked the same orange substance that Katarina had begun to bleed, and said substance began infusing itself into the blade's intricate runes and carvings.
Tiera: 
Osuna suddenly found herself floating off the ground, arms held to the sides as she was unable to move. Tiera stepped from her throne, walking forward with the corrupted blade in hand.
Tiera: 
Osuna: What is it you're... *grunt* ...trying to get at?
Tiera: 
In one swift motion, Tiera shoved the blade straight through her chest once again. It did more than merely hurt this time, however; the burning sensation that had passed through Osuna's arm when wielding the blade now radiated through her whole body, only made worse by the sensation of the feyblood entering her system. Her head began to spin as she began to hallucinate the white figures again, all standing around her and chanting the same words over and over again, starting softly yet beginning to echo throughout her entire mind.
Not worthy... Not worthy...
Osuna screamed in anguish as the combined toll of everything finally begin to break her. Tiera watched as the blade slowly began to shrink in length, the blade forming into a strange blossom-like shape as it began to cover her body. She had disposed of a weakness and one of her enemy's strongest warriors in one fell swoop.
Tiera: 
Toronova: Oh, yes, certainly.
Tiera: 
Toronova: Yes, my liege. I fully understand...
Toronova began cracking a subtle smile as Tiera teleported both him and Osuna away, sitting back down on her throne. Another sinister smile crept across her face... Her victory was inevitable.
San-Sokeh: It is wonderful to see you in fine form, oh great Mother. My people have told stories about you since time immemorial... I am proud to serve you in your rise to power.
Corona: I'm just hoping somebody needs to be taught a lesson again! I live for that...
Tiera: 
----
Bynde sat on the edge of one of the many floating island dotted around the endless, expansive void she had been carried into by her newfound allies. It seemed like everything that could have possibly gone wrong had done so; the evil she had been summoned in order to slay had managed to best them in battle, she had been dragged even further away from Tai and her friends, perhaps never to see them again, and she had somehow managed to lose the Seeker's Blade, her one remaining link to her own world. She was drained, distraught... She fidgeted with the Kingsbead one more time, hoping to get some kind of distant reception. Once again, nothing.
She sighed as she stared down into the abyss below. How long ago was it she was just sitting on Kalidia's moon, dreaming about what excitement the future could hold? She had gotten infinitely more than she had bargained for... First she turned out to be some kind of legendary hero, and now the entirety of the universe was at stake. Things were getting way too big for her to handle.
And what good was that "hero" status now? She had lost the blade given to her as a gift by the gods themselves- her gods, at any rate. She had failed to even come close to harming Tiera, let alone stopping her plans. She was back to just being a useless, normal girl. A girl who couldn't speak, had no idea about how the world outside her little farm worked, and was faced with odds far beyond her capabilities. It was a feeling all too familiar to her...
Osuna: But I think you guys are proof that everyone's special. Everyone has a place to fit on this team, even if they're different from everyone else. Bynde? You're living proof to me that I belong here... and I'm proof you guys do too. You're a part of Iliad.
Remembering Osuna's words to her, Bynde snapped back to reality. It wasn't the blade that made her a hero... She had obtained it because she proved herself one. A faint chirping behind her made Bynde turn around; it was Vessa, bandaged up even more than normal in order to cover up some of the wounds she had sustained during the battle. She looked tired, but still had the same cheerful smile on her face, and she was holding out what looked like a scrap of paper. Bynde took the paper from her hand, reading the crude scrawlings that the child had drawn across it.
Vessa's Note: Hi there! I know we've been introduced before, but neither of us can really seem to find the words to speak... So let's do it for real this time! My name is Vessa, and I used to live in this huge junkyard. Then, one of my greatest idols called me up to his castle and asked for my help in saving his daughter! Now I live with them! The truth is, what's going on now is a lot scarier than anything I've ever done before now. But I know we can do it! Everyone I've met here is so cool, and they all seem like some of the strongest, bravest people I've ever met. You're really cool too! You're strong and nice and pretty... You're like the big sister I always wanted! Thank you for being here to make things less scary. You're my hero, Ms. Bynde!
Bynde looked up from the letter with a teary smile, Vessa approaching her for another hug. Suddenly, things felt like they were back at home, as if she was with her little sister once again. Now Bynde had a goal in mind... Something to keep safe. She had to do this.
They would rise up victorious... or die trying.
===Epilogue: 『Breach』===
An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct; to make a gap in and break through something.~
Fera turned in her bed as she slept her dreamless sleep, the silent night surrounding her.
It had been a wild three months since that incident at the front of her apartment building, the one where she had met Lily. From that moment on, she wound up bumping into her more and more, learning more and more about the sweet blonde woman every single time. Soon enough... it turned to a date. The two wound up getting dinner at a cute little Italian place, spending the whole night talking with each other... it was like she had fallen from the stars right into her arms.
But that sent Fera into an entirely different train of thought- whenever Lily tried to ask about her life, everything came up blank. She could vaguely recall that she had some sort of military background, but that was it. Even when her new friend tried delving into specifics herself, almost nothing was coming to mind. It felt like something had taken her life away from her, her past...
So why was there some voice clinging to the back of her mind, telling her that everything was perfectly fine?
Fera's subconscious reaction to all of this was just to not think about it too hard. As if none of it mattered, and that she should just go along with everything. And that worried her more than the idea that she had actually lost any important memories.
Her heart was torn between searching for the truth of what was in her past and living the blissful life she was starting to make for herself with Lily... And her mind couldn't do the deciding for her.
???: Open up!
A loud banging noise echoed through Fera's apartment as a gruff voice yelled from the other side of her door. Tense and uncertain, she leapt out of bed, grabbing a random hardcover book lying on her couch as a means of self-defense. Quietly, she reached for the knob, turning it and opening sharply. Two large men in fancy suits were framed in the hallway light in front of her.
Fera: Can I help you two?
Suited Man: Ma'am, we've received word that you've been intruding on these premises for some time now. We've been asked to escort you out.
Fera: Intruding? This is my apartment!
Suited Man: Not according to records of the hotel security footage. You just showed up out of nowhere on the sidewalk and have been living in this building for the past three months, with seemingly no authority figure taking action. It falls to us to evict you.
Fera: I've been living here since I can remember! You can't kick me out over nothing!
Suited Man: At what point did you first begin living in this apartment?
...Fera couldn't answer. She couldn't remember. The more she wracked her brain, the more she realized that she couldn't actually remember anything before she met Lily. She stammered, trying to collect her thoughts as the men smiled.
Suited Man: You're coming with us.
One of the men reached for Fera's hand, trying to cuff her, but she lashed out by striking him directly on the wrist with the book she was holding. The other man reached for his gun to try to keep the situation from escalating, but Fera lashed out with a kick that knocked the weapon out of his hand, muscle memory of combat bringing her back to situations she couldn't even recall. Continuing her defense, she bashed the second assailant over the head with the book, dazing him momentarily... but not long enough to keep the first man from grabbing her.
Suited Man: That's it. We're placing you under our jurisdiction.
Fera screamed for help as she struggled to get out of the man's grasp, to which he retaliated by trying to bash her in the back of the neck. That strike, however, wound up crushing something else. A delicate piece of arcane construction from a world far beyond this mundane, average one.
The clicking noise from the strange implant lodged in Fera's spine was the last thing she heard before her body tensed up and light flooded the room. Her senses dulled and her mind went blank as Nyxiel's Drive Inhibitor finally released itself from her body...
----
To be continued in
==Cast==
Cast listed in order of appearance.
Bynde.png|Bynde
Vessa.png|Vessa
Nyxiel.png|Nyxiel
NeoRaune.png|Raune
Gargan.png|Gargan
NeoLucius.png|Lucius
NeoRetron.png|Retron
San-Sokeh.png|San-Sokeh
MobiusNew.png|Möbius
Toronova.png|Mikhail Toronova
Aysu.png|Aysu Notozawa
Osuna.png|Osuna Meadows
RoJo.png|RoJo
Stark.png|Alyssa Stark
Hayate.png|Hayate
Phorine.png|Phorine
Palaso.png|Dalia Palaso
Hask.png|Elton Hask
Itoki.png|Itoki Takana
QueenKatarina.png|Katarina Omegance
Dotaka.png|Dotaka
Bubba.png|Bubba
Leica.png|Leica Minolta
Dr. Lox.png|Dr. Eisengrad Lox
NeoQuetz.png|Quetz
LexiLZ.png|Lexi LaZulia
Beyrl.png|Beryl LaZulia (cameo)
Malphea.png|Malphea Kiurala
Sarin.png|Sarin
Belladonna.png|Belladonna Nightshade
Hildegard.png|Queen Hildegard
RidleyB.png|Ridley Evans
TieraNeo.png|Tiera
InversimNeo.png|Inversim
Corona.png|Corona
Fera4.png|Fera
Category:Pyro Enterprizes
Category:Pyroverse
Category:Stories
Category:Original Fan Fiction
Category:Fan Fiction