THIS VERSION HAVE BEEN REMASTERED! (I hope so)

Disclaimer!

I don't own final fantasy or any other franchise in this story the rightly belong to SQUARE ENIX

So spare me the court order

My OC's got a history that will clarify who and what he is (on my profile) , other than the fact that he's a martial artist.

Bold is for names of techniques/spells/limit break so on…. (They could be thoughts or shouted out like a retard)

Italics are for thoughts/dream sequence/voices (lol)

Bold and italics are references

Also each technique is probably going be from street fighter...or some anime/game so if you are wondering what it looks like (even though i describe it)then...meh Google it or something..._

Chapter 1 : The 1001st Champion

2012 summer, 12th of May.

Somewhere in south west Detroit, an ice cream truck stops in the neighborhood on a fairly hot Saturday afternoon. Shortly, after a several stops around the neighborhood a shadow casts itself upon the bored ice cream man as he parked his van, looking up it belonged to a short young man, who immediately ordered double scoop of strawberry ice cream.

His choice seemed to contradict his looks, but he didn't care. The man proceeded down the neighborhood lazily and halted to rub his left shoulder. "ouch…" he mumbled to himself and added "well shit…getting up after that kick was pretty impressive I'll give him that" The man grumbled to himself in a heavy voice.

Taking a turn which led to a walkway into a house. He stepped onto the porch, while fumbling for his keys and with a *click* the door opened. Heading directly into the kitchen and opening the freezer, the man from a little country called Armenia wasted no time. With ice cubes and a cloth bag in hand, he walked into the living room. Stopping momentarily to adjust a framed certificate on the wall, it was a high school graduation certificate; Name Jack Clayton, Birth date 1950, Class of 1968 and some typical graduation message.

The interior of Clay's house was nothing close to fancy, it was just…..simple and also clean and large for 25 year old bachelor (if you haven't read my OC's profile then don't ask why he is still 25 despite being born in 1950). Lying on the couch, Clay wrapped the cloth around the ice bag and gently placed it on his left shoulder. He took off his maroon colored shirt and threw it on a short table next to him when he figured it would get wet.

Clayton… or Clay debated for a second to whether or not to apply some Voltaren on his shoulder. Taking the ice off his shoulder and examining it he saw that the "Humerus" muscle and some upper bicep muscles were swollen. "Damn…..Maybe using Tetsuzanko (street fighter) was a bad idea" Clay said to himself with a sigh.

The Eurasian shifted himself into a more comfortable position as he reached for a TV remote and started flipping through the channels and by the time he found something which was not as ridiculous as "sweet sixteen" or "I used to be fat" he realized that the ice had melted and the swelling had decreased, he then accurately threw the bag at the nearest dustbin.

*Flash back to an hour ago*

Southern district of Detroit

The alley way next to the run down movie theater was indeed filled with all sorts of low life. Muggers, rapist and pedophiles you name it. Some choose to live this way, and some were just on the other end of bad luck and poor fate. Midst the smelly garbage and rats stood a middle aged Hispanic man, who was launching barrages of punches and kicks at Clay. The older fellow had pieces of broken glass all over his hair and back for some odd reason.

Clay mumbled to himself while ducking under a swift left hook "These days….. everyone's got no patience at all" But then again…. he too was like that not long ago.

The thug seemed to have gotten a good form, footwork and a small build. He traded power for speed, which was not a bad idea. The result is that each recovery from attacks were much shorter. Plus openings between them were rare. Judging from his flurry of punches Clay deduced that he's got a background in boxing, though a sloppy but fast south-paw. It also appears that the man's kicks were very sharp and snapped very quickly but with no clear form, Clay guessed "Karate maybe?" well either that or he damn well knew how to kick.

The attacker lacked the discipline needed to barely last a minute in a fight, which presented Clay a few opportunities to see through all his attack with his RyuSei Seikuken. Allowing Clay to dodge without any effort. He counter blocked causing each of man's strike to backfire. Using precise timing he defended using his elbow, making sure that it hits the knuckles every time a punch was thrown at him. Before the thug knew it, his fingers were fractured and swelling like a freshly baked pound cake. Clay then took a few small hops backward to asses the situation.

According to Clay the fight was supposedly over, his opponent was in no condition to go on but the man still persisted, so Clay decided to neutralize him before he could injure himself any further. Bending his knees slightly, Clay got ready for what seems to be a lunge. In a blur he closed the distance between them using a foot technique called "Kaihou!" (Street fighter)

Arriving below the man in a ducked position, he followed up with a kick "Senkyutai!"(Street fighter) A fast diagonal kick. Using his hands to push down towards the ground and thrusting his right leg diagonally to kick the opponent from his mid section, sending the man backward. Clay had to hold back some of his strength, but even with that the man lay motionless on the concrete floor. "ouch…sorry man, you had it coming" said Clay who was shrugging at the unconscious man.

Pulling out his cell phone, Clay walked out of the alley while calling the police to report a theft. The Eurasian always felt some sympathy for his "victims" but then again who was the victim in this scenario? It was definitely not Clay, or the owner of that little store that the Hispanic man just tried to rob, or was it the thief himself? He took a final glanced at the Hispanic man

He was no longer on the ground.

In a split second Clay spotted the man in the air charging at him with a kick, so with a single spinning motion Clay spun in an attempt to overpower the kick that was aimed at his face, countering it with a "Tetsuzanko!" (Street fighter)

A modified version of the typical shoulder charge, it hit his opponent on his shin/leg while he was kicking in midair. The impact was harsh as both parties were attacking, yet the man seemed unfazed by Clay's counter. After a short recovery he stepped forward, aiming a right straight at Clay, his hand reached so far that he could feel Clay's breath…but never touching him.

The man collapsed, eyes rolled backward...passed out from the shock.

Stepping through the broken glass, Clay grabbed a strawberry flavored chewing gum from the store in which the theft occurred, he flicked a one dollar bill onto the checkout counter where the owner was hiding under. Then vaulting himself back out onto the streets from the broken window he said without looking back "Keep the change.."

*flash back end*

"So that's the Iron Will….." mumbled clay "being able to fight even after losing consciousness"….he thought, the memory of the fight made Clay's thoughts wander aimlessly. Feeling a bit drowsy, Clay knew that he didn't even use that much energy. Plus he wasn't one for afternoon naps either, but before he knew it Clay uncontrollably slipped into a slumber.

*A place called Horizon*

"Cold, why is it so cold in the middle of summer?" Clay thought, shifting his body on the hard couch…."HARD COUCH?" the thought lingered in his mind for a moment, he then realized that he was laying on something hard, and definitely not his couch.

"How are you feeling ….Clay?" a woman's voice resonated inside his head. Clay's eyes opened in an instant, he found himself in a white room, no not a room he couldn't see any edge or end. Clay got up immediately fighting back the urge to panic, he walked in the general direction of….well, whatever this place is supposed to be.

The observed the ground he stood on, it was white and spanned as far as his eye can see. "Damn it! This is why you shouldn't have ice cream before bed" he mumbled to himself.

Closing his eyes Clay started thinking of Strawberry sundaes lots of strawberry sundaes, big ones. After all if this WAS a dream why waste it? But a few seconds later the results were disappointing.

"Ok so it's not a dream…..then what is this place?" he thought

"You are in the Horizon" the same voice from before resonated, this time not in his head but from behind him. Clay turned around to face nothing but whiteness "did you just read my thoughts?" he replied frantically to the cold air, while looking about for any signs of...anything.

He found this situation to be somewhat appalling "HEY...are we going do the whole I can't see the priest confession thing, because I'm going confess that I am confused to the level of epic shitness" proclaimed Clay who was not pleased with the situation one bit. He considered the possibility that he was kidnapped by some private security organization to test out their elite fighters again. (Yes this happened to him before as he is a well known martial artist...read his profile)

"Patience Clay isn't that what you always stood up for?" said the voice. Frowning, Clay couldn't help but pace about the area after hearing what the voice said. How did she know that about me? What the fuck is this place? His mind raced through hundreds of different possibilities…..but none of them could explain this.

Clay stood in the white Horizon with his arms crossed, looking quiet pissed. But as the air (or nothingness) started to materialize before Clay, ripples of green energy like floating water conjured in all direction directed to a single point. Trying to keep a straight face as he witnessed something in which some of us would call "summoning" in a more larger than life scale.

The voice was indeed a woman and a pretty one too, floating above the ground she had long, bright golden hair that reached past her shoulder, she was all lot taller than him and wore a yellow medieval armor resembling the Nord battle maiden "valkyrie", her spaulders extended from her back and has 2 spikes each pointing up and down, they seem larger than she can manage to carry and most notably her chest plate has a weird projection towards her head similar to a Chinese moon chakram, accompanied by a yellow and blue semi crown on her fore head.

The woman wielded a huge staff like spear very similar to the "dragon whiskers" on her right hand. On her left, she carries a silver and yellow round shield which once again seemed larger than she could carry, and to top it off a white cape hanging from her extended spaulders.

Noticing some small wings which projected out on several spots on her armor, Clay couldn't help but feel impressed by this strange melancholic beauty. He somehow seem to recognize her from somewhere but can't quiet ring it.

Clay felt…. dumb, almost star struck, his palms were sweaty and he was unable to utter a single word, was he so captivated by her beauty, immense power and presence, all resonating from a single...person.

Breaking the silence Clay asked "What... in the world are you?" slowly raising his hand near his chin while bending his knees a bit, getting into a evasive stance.

The women spoke "At ease…. human", on normal circumstances he wouldn't have complied, but this was different. Her presence seemed to calm him; there was an essence that surrounded her which made Clay feel comfortable… yet his human brain screamed of a different perspective, it felt like 2 poisons fighting over which can kill the host. Her "poison" won so he did as he was told.

His demeanor shifted to a more relaxed state. The woman spoke "My name is Minerva, some people call me a goddess, but I am not… I am but a being created to serve the will of the Life stream and Gaia. You have…"

Minerva was cut short by Clay "The life stream! What the hell is a life stream? and Gaia….what does Greek mythology have to do with this? These thing don't even exist in this universe" shooting back at Minerva with no hesitation.

Minerva didn't answer instead she asked "Then tell me…..which Universe are we in?" Opening his mouth to answer he thought for a moment but then decided to shut up. Clay replied "Fine…go ahead" while raising his hand in defeat. Minerva continued "You are here because I have summoned you; the ground you stand on is called the Horizon"

Minerva explained that the "Horizon" is a null field existing between the multi-universe a place created with no time, space, life or purpose but existing merely as a boundary between the rifts of universes

Clay had inquired further…"Ok I got that much, but what do you mean your champion? I mean what…." before he could continue his mind slowly flooded with memories, he remembered something.

Thinking hard he thought "This…can't be…no…is she THAT Minerva? Final fantasy it doesn't exist!" reminding himself of the game he played many years back after he recovered from his long coma. (Coma..yes a coma, if you haven't read his profile yet...do it nao!)

"No….no way man….you are Minerva the great summon?...you're shittin me right?" Clay stumbled back and landed on the ground not very convinced but still doubting himself, he was really sweating now "I'm either crazy or really high to be seeing Minerva" Clay mumbled to himself

*long pause*

*longer pause*

*a very long pause* and nothing happened

After a period of awkward silence Clay spoke "Yep, its real" Saying to himself and stood up giving his face a few slaps thinking "this is as real as it can get".

"Ok Minerva why have you summoned this lowly being" Clay spoke while remembering the ordeal a man name Zack faced as he fought Minerva.

He knew he was no match for her and…. and….this feeling is? Clay had never felt it in a long time, not since he fought the man from the Nadashinkage clan…fear. The situation went from normal to David versus Goliath, but it was never normal in the first place.

Minerva spoke "Your father was a very strong man; he was supposed to take your place. In order to serve me, to be my champion, to undo the Ouroboros, and set Gaia free of its never ending torment". Clay was silent ….absorbing in the information

"So my old man died before you could summon him right?" Clay asked. "Indeed" she answered. He continued "And I am to be his replacement in order to save Gaia" Minerva answered again "Yes"

Then Clay asked "What I don't get is why do you need help in the first place? Correct me if I'm wrong but …..Sephiroth gets defeated and Gaia calls on the life stream to save the planet and all is sort of*stuttering*… I mean yeah sure I wish Zack and Aerith were alive, but I don't get what seems to be TORMENTING" crossing his arms he also added "Also how was this made into a game, and how do you exist?!" giving himself a long sigh, Clay ended his rant with "Why...why me?"

Minerva answered "The planet Gaia and the life stream were never saved. Gaia was unable to stop the meteor even while using the life stream" Clay was surprised, never expecting such an outcome, quiet curious now, he asked "Then…..what really happened?"

She said "Gaia used every last bit of the life stream to turn back the cycle of its very being, and so basically turning back time for the people of Gaia but history is bound to repeat. So Gaia made some changes, like giving life to a different person. To be born in a different family so he/she in the future could be a soldier for Gaia, to be a better use to Gaia than in their previous life, hoping that the final outcome would be different"

Digging further he asked "Then how did the "game" end with the life stream defending the planet?!" Minerva then explained that the cycle had repeated itself for 1 millennium (1000 years) hence the planet is going through Ouroboros and that after every cycle, she (Minerva) was asked to summon a champion from another universe in order to help change the cycle. So far every one of them had failed. Preventing them from returning to their respective universe and obviously….. Die, but not without sending a warning back in many different forms. Fragments of their memory sent to the universe of each champion in existence, creating such things such as folk stories, legends and myths that we hear about all the time.

Hoping someday mankind and other races would manage to spread the story through accumulated fragments passed on from previous champions into chosen people on the universe (appearing as an idea or imagination but is actually memories of other champions).

A Gamble, that if lucky would be able to warn the potential champions of their upcoming peril, of course this is not without flaw as most stories on earth get mixed with the imagination of the human brain and thus producing a "happy ending". She also pointed out that Clay would be the 1001st champion if he were to accept. With that Minerva mentioned her last point "There are multiple universe in this plane of existence Clay, only some are fortunate or…unfortunate enough to travel between them" Minerva proclaimed with a hint of sadness in her voice…but Clay doubt it.

"As for your last question" spoke Minerva, floating closer to Clay she continued her speech "Champions aren't chosen by me because they are strong, it's because i'm attracted to beings that can bring about change...an existence that has the ability to change history" shaking her head Minerva then said "My powers are limited to that only, i cannot sense other human beings on earth that has the same fate distortion factor as you, though i did sense many in the past"

"Well I suppose it makes sense" Admitted Clay who was now fairly convinced that he wasn't going crazy, but wasn't really buying the multi universe story…nor did he believe that he was capable of changing anything.

"So how do I…well…you know…. help Gaia" said Clay half heatedly, still doubting himself of such a surreal thing..."multi-universe huh?" Clay pondered to himself as he stared into the white abyss.

Minerva gave a faint smile and took a step forward or should I say floated…. slowly raising her hand to touch his forehead. Somewhat glad that Clay had accepted, she spoke "First….I will bestow upon you a gift, consider this my aid to help you on your quest…I am powerless to change the flow of faith, for I am bound to Gaia…but you are not, you are an outsider"

Lowering herself to face Clay she continued "An amplification of your choice! I can increase your current potential but not grant you a new power, from which you will use to help the dying planet, but…" she paused "but what?" responded Clay who was still surprised from Minerva touching his forehead "But are you willing to accept this? I have seen a thousand fallen, corrupted, and broken champions before you" warned Minerva.

Taking a deep breath Clay assessed himself, clearly this was no game. Looking back he never was a heroic person to say the least and he knew he never will be. Everything he did was on impulse, yes there were times he had done things which were plausible, but this…this is bigger, the scale of the scenario and responsibility was very…intimidating.

Never the less the opportunity was appealing; he finally had a chance to fight for a cause, for every punch, every kick till the last muscle fiber that he used to strugle there was a certain emptiness in his heart….pure hollow. Sure there was power behind it...physically, but for what? "An attack with no true intent is a raging fire which cannot burn" were his father's words.

Ever since he woke up from his coma Clay looked for answers to the reason why his father kept him in stasis, was it because of this? Did he know that his own son was destined to be the next champion? Surely he was conflicted but he had nothing to lose after all, flying his cargo plane, living of a boring life in Detroit and fighting other martial artist that thought they stood a chance against the son of Infinite Fist (his father's title) It was not getting him anywhere in the world, sure he did consider MMA but he didn't like the media.

Half convinced but determined, Clay returned the smile and said "I'm in" she nodded and said "Concentrate and think of the aspect you wish to expand, remember you cannot create something you don't have!" and with a sudden jolt of what seems like lightning from her fingers, a glowing emblem appeared on Clay's fore head, Minerva then left him to think.

Clay pondered for quite a while, what would he want, and what power he would need to become strong, was it speed, muscles…no….none of those.

His mind was anchored to a single idea, and after confirming it in his head, the emblem glowed, red in color.

Clay stood still with eyes wide open and blood red, sweat poured from every pore of his body. His body felt like it was burning, his breath was so hot it scorched his own throat, feeling a certain form of energy coursing through his body, like a flood gate was opened.

Even with no shirt on his body was burning, his veins seemed to almost explode from his body. Clay held back the urge to scream from the pain, gritting his teeth his bones and muscles seemed to be flowing with a new life force that he craved for a long time, his pressure points were released.

After Clenching his fist and teeth tightly for what seems an eternity, the pain slowly subdued. A Large amount of steam was vaporizing from his body following with the tribal looking emblem slowly fading away but not completely.

Minerva spoke after witnessing the strange phenomenon even for herself "Strange…for someone to wish for excruciating pain to be bestowed upon them" The summon continued "Is this what you truly want Clay? Most champions ask for increased speed, stamina or heightened reflexes" With a chuckle Clay answered "Pain is just a little price to pay in martial arts" the Great summon didn't seem to understand "Then what was it that you wished for?" she asked.

Clay explained about acupuncture mentioning the "Ren", often called the sea of Ying. It's located on the front of the body, where there are many acupoints. It's an important part that must be unlocked in order to achieve martial arts greatness. After the Ren, the back also has acupoints called "Jiu" called sea of Yang holding the eight divine areas of martial artist. Not everyone knew of the technique to unlock it, for it was long lost…..

The amount of Ki surging through his body was immense and would require great effort to control, though he wasn't sure how, but he knew that his father was the one who was supposed unlock his acupuncture. His knowledge in the field was not great….but unlocking this hidden potential would mean he would be able to reach a new tier of dominance.

With that done, Minerva explained that in 24 earth hours she will re-summon him to the Horizon to be transported to Gaia, satisfied and ready Minerva sent him back. Waking up on the couch Clay quickly got up and ran to the bathroom and looked in the mirror just when the glowing tribal emblem was slowly fading away.

Chapter END!