Disclaimer: I don't own any.
Devil Survivor 2: Break Record
Chapter 1: New Invaders
…Through the sheer will power and resolve of champions who made a contract with the Devil himself, "God" was moved to recreate the world… or to be more precise, it was rewound to the time before all the chaos and strife begun. All people, with the exception of those who possess strong will, had their memories buried deep within their hearts. Those who retain the memories of those dark days… The premonition of the darkly prospering days of man coming to an end… This enlightened future shall spell the despair and the oblivion that await…
…From the current administrator of the worlds.
…Tokyo City…
…It's been a week ever since the supposed day when all the chaos begun, but with time being rewound, the day simply begun as a normal, simple day and the same can be said for the days that followed afterwards. And now it's a new Monday. The city is bustling with busy activities, even though people are just going on about their busy lives, the air of melancholy can be overwhelming…
…Classroom…
It's now afterschool, Hiro Kageyama is sitting at his seat that is near the window where one can see the entire view of Tokyo. Hiro is one the champions who made a contract with the "Devil" who provided humans the means to divorce from providence. This "Devil"… ah, Hiro still remembers him and mourns his fate. Alcor…
'It's been a week ever since that day. Daichi and Io did not remember anything… Maybe some of our friends don't remember anything too.' Hiro thought sadly. He sighed. 'Am I the only one who remember…?'
Slide.
Someone comes in with a smile. "Yo, HIro!" It's Daichi Shijima, Hiro's childhood friend and classmate, and he seems to be in a very good mood. …Too moody perhaps. "Hey, buddy, you got a time?"
"Don't I always?" He said smiling as it is the only usual response he would give to people.
"Haha, I knew you would. So anyway, what you got in mind for today? I was thinking of going to the arcade today. Then I'm gonna have to do something about my driver license."
'Oh right, he started doing a part-time job that involves delivery services.'
"My boss told me that I drive fast so I guess I will have a new schedule soon, sigh, I first thought that promotion was good but I didn't expected that the job would also become harder."
"Huh, congratulations for having a busy schedule then." Hiro joked.
"Hey, come on, don't make fun of me. Sigh, maybe I shouldn't have driven so fast. Now I don't get to hang out with Io so often now. Sigh, lucky you, you luck bastard. You and Io are so close that I feel I'm just in the way!"
"Well, yeah."
"Huh-!? Oh the humanity… My best friend just backstabbed me in the back! Gurgh, you bastard! I'm gonna get you!"
Daichi grabbed Hiro and begun to poke him in the head to which some of the girls in class thought to be cute.
…Later, at the food court near the station…
"Whew, there are a lot of people here today. Huh, must be because of the show that is on air today." Daichi said. "Here, this is my treat since you just helped me with my homework."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, well, I guess I also need to study, huh? I can't always rely on you."
"People can rely on one another. Though of course there is a difference in relying on someone and leaving it all to them."
"Yeah, I get you there." Hiro and Daichi eat at the table that is on the middle. "So anyway, I think I won't be seeing you for a while."
"Huh?" Hiro was taken by surprise there.
"Oh, sorry, that came out all of the sudden, right? You see, my folks and I will be living at Osaka for a while. It will only be for a month, so don't worry. And hey, we can still talk to each other on our phones, right?" Daichi is sounding cheerful even though he's having a hard time about it.
"But… why?"
"Uh, well… Remember about that promotion I told you? Well, our boss said that he'll be setting up shop at Osaka so we have to move there too. I wanted to complain about it but hey, I might lose my job and be penniless if I do that."
"…"
"H-Hey, come on, don't give me that depressing look, Hiro. You're making this more hard for me. Sigh, I wish it shouldn't have been this way too, you know. But I don't have a choice, If I don't go to Osaka, I'll be quitting my job."
"…" It's not like Hiro is complaining since he can get to Osaka easily except… Daichi won't be around here for a while huh. That means… "Then, you're going today?"
"Huh? Oh, no, that will be tomorrow. Sigh, that means I have to enroll in a school at Osaka too. Sigh, too many work on my list. Well, sorry about this, man, I know it's all of the sudden but I wanted to tell you as soon as I could."
"…"
"Oh, look at the time, sorry, I have to get home as soon as I can. Sigh, I got some packing to do."
"Well… okay."
…Kageyama Residence…
"…" Hiro goes home alone today. "…" 'Daichi will be leaving huh. … …' Daichi is almost like a brother for Hiro… No, he is a brother for him. The fact that he's going to live somewhere else… "Sigh, How did it turned out like this?"
"Oh my, what is the matter, Shining One? You seem to be upset about something." A voice said.
"Huh?" Taken completely by surprise, Hiro turned to the source of the voice… Alcor. "…Al… cor?"
Yup, the final and probably the most powerful Septentrion, Alcor, is standing beside a mailbox on the sidewalk. "Are you well, Shining One? You seem to be greatly disturbed."
"Alcor, is that you?"
"Hm? Do you confuse me for someone else? But I would—Ah, I see now. You recall my fate during the final day of Polaris's trials. Allow me to clarify."
"Didn't you… died?" The group had indeed defeated Alcor during the final day before time was rewound. "Why are you here?"
"…You find my presence to be troublesome?" Alcor seems to be a little heartbroken at Hiro's question.
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, why are you still… alive? Oh, wait, if time was reset to the time before all the disasters happened, that means us defeating you was…"
"Ah, you have grasped your answer without me clarifying. Impressive."
"Well, is that what is happening…?"
"I would say the answer to that is both yes, and at the same time, no. You had indeed removed all the obstacles in your path to seek an audience with Polaris, the Almighty one. I was the last one to be removed, but you thought of me… You thought I have shared the fate of my fellow Septentrions, who have now all but vanished from existence, but no, I did not shared their fates."
"You didn't… You're saying you never died?"
"That is correct. When your wish, which was for the world to be restored to its previous fate prior to the dark trials that followed, was granted, I came to be once more, and I have all but removed that which I have bestowed to man."
"…? Bestowed…? Oh, you mean… Nicaea?"
"That is correct. You have received my message, yes?"
"…That was you?"
"Yes, that was indeed my doing."
"I… see. Then, what are you doing here?"
"I simply came to see you."
"…" Hiro felt rather touched at that but… "I… see. Then…"
…Inside the house…
"…Hey, why don't you put your feet on the floor?" Hiro is doing some cooking.
Alcor is standing at the side. …Floating, in fact. "Hm? Oh, very well. But I'm afraid I cannot travel with my "feet" unlike you humans."
"…" Hiro is fascinated at that. "Okay, so… you can eat, right?"
"Eat? Ah, the process where one will satiate the hunger that one may feel should the day become dawn or—"
"Here." Hiro provided him with some eggs and rice.
…Later…
The tv is on. After explaining to Alcor about the things he's very curious about,(the stuff around the house and other stuff that are related) Hiro decided to come to the main topic. "So, you're going to tell me why you suddenly appeared before us? You could have appeared before us before then."
"True, but I see no purpose… or perhaps I should say I saw no great purpose in coming to visit all of you. I was proud that all you found a new path together and used your infinite potential to make your lives better than what it was. And as for my purpose here… Hm, perhaps I should speak in a more specific way."
"Hm, okay. Let's hear it."
"Very well then. Shining One, as you know, after you had proven yourselves to Polaris and had your wish granted as a result, the order of the universe was brought back to its previous state before the dark days happened and with the experiences that you have carried ever since, a new bright outcome was laid bare before you."
"Right. So, what's up?"
"I am uncertain myself, to tell the truth. The order of the universe seems to be… staggering, for the moment."
"…? Staggering? What do you mean?"
"Well, it seems Polaris has… has ceased to be."
"…? What? Ceased… As in… disappear?"
Alcor nodded. "That is correct. The Heavenly Throne doesn't have a King to sit on it as a result, and the next occupant to sit on it has not been sighted as well."
"What do you mean? The… uh… gods, right?"
"That is what you refer to them, yes."
"Right, so the gods have all… disappeared? What do you mean?"
"I mean that they are not within the place where you and your comrades challenged Polaris. That place is the "realm of the gods" as you put it in your tongue, but with all the occupants disappearing, the Heavenly Throne that rests there is empty. As a result, nothing is managing the worlds that exist."
"…O… kay…? So, what? Is there something… dangerous?"
"I have wondered about that. With the throne being empty as it is, it might cause an instability that will cause a rift in this world and the other…"
"The realm of the gods? Is that what you meant by "other"…? And what kind of instability are you referring to?"
"The order of the universe are declared and decided by the one who manages from the throne, with no current occupant to sit on it, it might eventually prove to be quite a disturbing thing."
"…What would happen? Is there something dangerous about it?"
"Yes. Demons and other invaders may find this to be the perfect opportunity to invade this world and make it their own."
"…What?"
"Yes. Demons look down on humans, and as such, they wish to enslave them. The demons you have used are a little different from the ones who reside in a world where the majority of its denizens are that of the demon race."
"…? Different?"
Alcor nodded. "In any case, trouble may arise in the horizon. That is why…"
Riiing, riiing, riiing.
"Huh?" Hiro's phone is ringing.
"I have decided to lend my technology again to those who have recollection of the events that transpired during those days of trials."
"…"
…It's Nicaea. Nicaea is back.
…Nicaea Message…
This is a sudden message, but please listen carefully. With sudden circumstances that have risen, Nicaea will now re-upload the services that were previously offered. We thank you for accepting us once again.
…Nicaea Message End…
"Huh…?" Hiro is in awe as he just stood there, looking at the message that has been sent. …And the demon-summoning app has been re-uploaded into his cell. "This is…"
"Ah, the fact that my technology is now once again usable, it could only mean that trouble may arise. I am sorry, Shining One, to impose this upon you. But it seems you and I have a common fate to bear and endure."
"…What's going on here? You're saying that something terrible will happen…? Like, new invaders… like the Septentrions will come and invade Japan…?"
"…That is correct."
"…"
"Now, I wish to impart some of my knowledge to you."
"Okay…"
Alcor nodded. "Shining One, I do not have much time to explain but please heed me."
"I'm listening…" Hiro sat down and listen.
"Yamato Hotsuin has something in store regarding the current circumstances."
"…? Yamato?"
"Yes, you might find the people you know to know nothing about him. His name, his past… and the fact that he has ever existed will be forgotten."
"…! Wh-What? Why?"
"Because he chose the fate that awaited him ever since he saw the coming of the new invaders and he has put on a gamble on behalf of his beliefs."
"Beliefs?"
"Yes. Whether his plan will succeed or not is the dependent factor."
"What did he planned?"
"That I do not know, unfortunately. I only know that the invaders will soon invade… starting "tonight" at "midnight". Be prepared." With that message, Alcor disappeared all of the sudden.
"…Huh?" Hiro is left bewildered there for the moment. Something is glowing on the seat where Alcor was sitting on. It's a mistletoe. Hiro came to check up on it. "This is…" He picked it up. "Mistletoe?"
End of Chapter 1