Prologue-Monday, Faint to Shadows
Date: Monday, Jan 10, 1280
Timezone: 22:00
Note: Brackets are footnotes.
"The Song Servers[1] are stable right now," one of the programmers spoke. Everyone was bustling to work on the server mainframes exception for the bureau chief who was standing next to Leo, lion guardian of World tarot. He has short hair in shade of purple, his eyes stares in dark blues; wearing a long black coat with dark red pants.
His eyes stares attentionally at the screen ahead. It was screening the firewall base from the server. He held out his hand towards Leo and petted the beast. The beast was pleased with the petting.
"Command to sending codes for Afezeria HARVESTASYA[2] format," the bureau chief said and everyone prompt with a hai and went to work. The message was insert in and the bureau chief walked away from the crowded room and went upstairs.
Upstairs a young male sits, feet dangling from the platform, looking out at the night sky. "Jragon, we are set, let's go," the chief said. Jragon turns his attention around looking with his gray eye in sorrow. "Ok," Jragon said as he gets up and walks off to the higher platforms.
Jragon wore a long black trench coat with long black trousers with knee high combat boots. His hair was long to shoulder length as pale as the white moon with faded shade of purple on tips and a long amount of fringe covering his left eye but thus wise have a long ponytail with a long white ribbon flowing around. Getting up he walked to the platform to the higher roof top, taking the elevation with Leo not far behind him while the chief walks back to the crowded room.
Just as he walks to the room, the room was now blaring in red with warning signs all over the screens. "What just happen?!" the chief yelled out at the crew below.
"Sir, an unknown breach has enter the security," one of the programmer stated as he shouted into the mic to announce the chief. "Secure all the interframe with firewalls, don't let them reach in," the chief said as he pulled out his phone and summon out Aquarius. Aquarius has purple shoulder length hair with a long black cape draping over his shoulders with a blank blue stare with his eyes.
"You called sir?" he said as he gave a slight bow and straightened up after his greeting. "Search for Jragon, I have a feeling the breacher is reaching for more than the Song Servers themselves," the chief stated flatly as he went back to look up the screen still blaring red with warning of hacker breaching.
"Yes sir," as Aquarius left with a black lightning jolt.
"Sir! The firewall is in secure but the force is stronger!" the other programmer shouted in the mic.
"Activate the Mirror firewall," the chief said. "But sir! That haven't been tested by Chesire at all, what are the chances of side effects?!" one of the programmers stated.
"Doesn't matter, if the breacher manage to get the info the song servers will not in reach, and I believe Chesire have done all he can on his work," the chief said.
"As you wish sir. Loading all Mirror firewall to block the breachers!" all the programmers loaded the Mirror firewalls as the logo and codes were sent in. On screen the firewall is slowly deteriorating slowly but was slow down by the firewalls.
Jragon's phone ringed as he continues up the platform, reaching his pocket he flips the phone cover over and saw the interface app he never seen before. Pressing on the app a message spread across the screen. 'You have received the death clip.' the message read and he pressed it and saw a small video clip of his brothers and sister above floor which he was reaching for, dead with blood seeping to the tiles. Jragon gagged at the video. Is this all a fake? But it look so real. And who sent this app to him?
The platform reached the destination as Jragon puts his phone away in his pocket and waited for the slide door to open for the room. As the door slide, his face was drained in colors. On the floor were his brothers and sister's body laying lifeless with blood pool forming around the carcass.
Across from their dead bodies was a man with a long black robe and blue eyes with light purple hair. "To think that Ratio would betrayed me all these years and now being able to hack into the system, who's the betrayer now?" the man said as he was still holding on a scythe with blood still dripping slowly from the tip.
Jragon took a step back and constantly pressed the button to go back down, however to his aval nothing happen. "Trying to escape? I hack to the system to send the platform to stop only at this top floor and no where else," the man said as he approach closer with his scythe still on hand.
Leo, who was with Jragon all this time, flashed his teeth and snarl at the man. The lion lean on his front paws and leaped at the man. The man easily blocked the lion and pushed him back. With his hands up and launched a gravitation arcane circle on the lion crushing Leo in process. The lion roared in pain and disappeared in black lightning jolt.
"Leo!" Jragon called out to the lion but it was late. The man walks closer, close to enclosing the spaces between him and Jragon. But however, a black lightning jolt appears between them and Aquarius reached into his cape and threw knives at the man to back away.
The man simply blocked the knives with a rotation of his scythe.
"My my, Aquarius, I knew that Ratio would have known I was here." the man was sly with his grin.
"Jragon I'll distract the intruder, run to the emergency exit as fast as possible." Aquarius whispered to Jragon as he brought out his duel blades. Aquarius launched himself at the man with blades slashing streaming sparks as his blades collides with the scythe's blade and handle.
Jragon sped right off to the emergency exit till his phone rang, He picked the phone and read the call receive, it was from his father.
"Jragon listen I need you to go to the other side of the tower but don't sing Afezeria HARVESTASYA, with Dharc already hacking the systems and already killed the guards with everyone else we will have to cast EXEC_HIBERNATION[3] to stop the hackers." the chief said.
"But if I do that it will destroy the motherboards and rewrite all memories and the songs can kill everyone!" Jragon said as he kept the phone in his grip tight.
"We have no other choice, the servers are collapsing and Aquarius is alright in rest mode after Dharc. I'm going after him and if I die just know there's the linkage you still have with the towers that will bring back your memories if don't recall." chief replied and the line went dead.
"Father? Father?!" he tried to get an answer but he look in disbelief and closed his phone running up the stairs.
As he hung up the phone, the chief turns around to come face to face with Dharc. "My so you think shutting down the servers will prevent me from having even the smallest talk with an old friend?" Dharc said as he placed his scythe to his side, "If you have not know, your crew is next." He brought out his own phone and pressed a button.
Ratio face went surprised and heard screams at the lower platform. Below the programmers are all shocked wave by the hack through the firewalls. The screens and keyboards all blown up in aftershock.
"Teh, so you manage to get my crew and my children? What is it that you really want?" Ratio said with small bead of sweat down his forehead, he knew he was in a bad situation already and doesn't want to see more.
"It's not the song towers that I do want rather... But something more powerful than it, which has linkage to them also." Dharc said we a wide grin.
"You're not going to take my son's powers, he's not even within your reach." Ratio said in disbelief that he wasn't aiming for the towers but his son. But he doesn't understand why he would know his son's power if he's going to attack the tower first.
"Oh you might be wondering why I'm attacking the tower at first? Silly of me. If I manage to hack to the system to attack the crew where else would I hack to attack next?"
"No...You wouldn't dare! You hacked the song tower system so when he cast EXEC_HIBINATION it wi-"
"Destroy the Song Servers and memories and gain me power from your child. Exactly." he said with as he still held out his phone, "Once he starts the cast I can press this phone app to send a power source surging the servers allowing me to take his power."
"Not that I won't stop you!" Ratio said as he brought his phone up and summoned Taurus. Taurus, an ox/calf, ran into Dharc smashing him to a wall. However after the hit his body disappeared in dark smoke.
"Nice try. But you could use a better aim." Dharc provoked Ratio as he was under his shadow behind him.
Jragon reached to the other side of the tower. He wasn't sure what to do, if he were to cast the song it might destroy the motherboards with his memories and others also. He lifts his phone up, wondering if he should call his father if he should continue. But his father's a chief so he would have to follow the order.
Reaching at the tip of the platform he send signal to the Song Servers with his mind. He would have to begin the Song Server, and hope it succeed.
"Looks like the show's about to start." Dharc said as he was holding the scythe which was now coated with more blood with the handle stabbing directly at Ratio's chest below his heart.
"..." he was losing his breathe every moment.
Was yea ra enne ar ciel[4]
Was yea ra crushue anw yehah dornpica, rhaplanca
Was yea ra crushue diasee rhaplanca dornpica,
fulual 1 dornpica art 1 walasye enne
"It's over Ratio." Dharc said as he pressed the button. An electric surge went through the tower's motherboard and towards the linkage.
Jragon, who was singing, felt an unknown attack force into his interframe. But as much as the electric surge was hurtful, he tried his best to ignore it and continue singing.
Hito no ai ni kakomare shukufuku no hi ga tomoru
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
Hitotsu no inochi umare atatakaku tsutsumareru
Was yea ra vit bautifal faura anw dornpica
Fu wo nigirishi shukumei sono sugata kagayakashi
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
"Teh, annoying brat. Trying to block my hacking into the power." Dharc said. As he was distracted, Ratio sends out one more demon left from his phone, Scorpio. The Scorpio threw it's tail on Dharc but however he dodged in time pulling the scythe with him.
Ratio grunted as the scythe slide out of his wounded chest and switch his phone to his Riflejato[5] and shot his sword against Dharc knocking him across the room before rushing to grab the handle of the sword pointing at Dharc's throat.
Fuku kaze nozomi kataru sukoyaka ni sodatetashi
Was yea ra grruw heetha
Was yea ra vit bautifal faura anw dornpica
en 2 dyyal nuih bexm
"Dharc stop this right now. I know I was damned sinned for not killing the Verse Crosses[6] before it was too late, but spare their lives. They aren't the enemies, you are!" Ratio said.
Mi wo tsutsumi kinukoromo atarashiki nioi kana
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
Mitsumeru sugata yagate ama no itama to narite
Was yea ra shen rol
"The sins were committed already. Your excuse isn't taking likely. We have no other choice but to get rid of all the others Verse Cross. Otherwise the world's balance will fall in chaos," Dharc said as he felt the blade pushed closer to his throat.
Was yea ra vit bautifal faura anw dornpica
en 3 dyyal nuih bexm
Yoki koe no kanadeshi wa kodamashiyo wo tsutsunde
Yoki koe hibiki kanadeshi wa tsutsunde
Kikoetekuruno wa mawata no you
Wakakusa no you
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
"Verse Crosses are not committed sins. I already have enough of your babbling, we're friends and you can only stick to that stupid old tradition that can lead to a world's end?" Ratio replied with terror in his eyes.
Yoi no sono ni nagameshi odayakana hi miokuru
Was yea ra yasra sheak
Yorokobi no kagayaki wo shikato idakeba
Was paks ra neia bautifal faura tes dornpica
en 4 dyyal nuih bexm
"We were friends till that promise to killing the rest of the Verse Cross was broken. You stated you will kill all of them and yet you kept the last remaining 7[7] with you, not to mention you are part of Verse Cross #16 since you mated with her!" Dharc shouted.
Youran no kuni wa kagayaki mashi
ieeya
Inishie no kototsutae shinji ikiteyuku koto
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
Itamu kokoro koraetsu omoi tsuyoku narinuru
Was yea ra murfanare
Was paks ra eta bautifal faura tes dornpica
en 5 dyyal nuih bexm
"Don't you dare talk about Saya! She risked her life to bring both my last 2 sons to this world!" Ratio said as he brought his rifle in his other hand to point at his head.
Mukuinado nozomazu ni mamorinuku kono shimei
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
"She's nothing but a sin. She only brought more sins to this world. You can't keep this up any longer to keep your son alive before the hibernation effect shuts down the motherboard and save him," Dharc said and he swing his scythe in a spin to knock the riflejato off his hands.
Muma wa toki wo kizamite kitaru han'ei no toki
Was yea ra prasrity
Was paks ra eta bautifal faura tes dornpica
en 6 dyyal nuih bexm
Nagaki yo no keifuku ga taenu koto wo negaite
"You've gone mad! My son keeping the song tower up if you interrupt him you will kill both of us!" Raito said as he backs away after his riflejato was knocked away.
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
Nami no youni sazameku mune no uchi no yokunen
Was yea ra irs dsier
Was paks ra eta bautifal faura tes dornpica
en 7 dyyal nuih bexm
"Sorry but there is no us in this," Dharc explained as he brought his scythe down and swing to the side hacking Raito's head off. The head flew to the side as blood spewed from the body and collapse with no support.
Yasurakana toki no naka yumeutsutsu wo yukikau
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
Yaiba wo togu yuuyami yasha no kokoro to narite
Yami no naka darehitoga fukisusabu kaze
Rrha wol ra eta meso faura anw dornpica
en 8 dyyal nuih bexm
"Alas poor Raito, I once knew you to be a good friend but betray from my back," he said as he walked pass the abandon body and head with a horror written over it.
Mimi ni todoku zawameki akuinka
eta meso...
Kokochiyoki ne no shirabe itsuka togire kieyuku
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
"Now to get rid of you and the world may live in peace," Dharc said as he was behind Jragon with his scythe ready to bring down to kill.
Koujin no chi ni narite ashiki koe ga kowakusu
Was i ga denera wart
"Die you ungrateful sin!" Dharc said and drops his scythe but was stopped by a wire line gripping on the handle, barely saving Jragon by a few inch of the scythe almost hitting him.
Rrha wol ra stel naja gettra faura anw dornpica
en 9 dyyal nuih bexm
"Don't you try to stop me you stupid cat[8]!" he said as he swung his scythe behind him hitting the wall, almost embedding the attacker.
Tokoyo wo negau kokoro tomatsuseshi sekienyo
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
"I won't let you stop the interruption of the song, you're the one that lost it. You've killed everyone already and you know very well they are not sinned. Just stop this now!" the stranger said as he throws his wire line and gripped Dharc's arm.
Toguro to naru hibiki wa yamiyo ni todoroku toki
Was i ga vonn hynne
Rrha wol ra stel naja gettra faura anw dornpica
en 10 dyyal nuih bexm
As the wire line was gripped on Dharc's arm, he pulled it and swung Dharc to the ground aside where Jragon is to shake him off the ledge.
Yakuchiseshi yoku no mure mujou no kanka majie
Was i ga crushue anw dornpica
As the wire line let go of his arm to drop him off, he gripped on the ledge and pull himself right up.
Momomeki no ranshinyo subete wo moyashi tsukuse
Rrha i ga guatrz gyas guatrz gyas
Rrha wol ra stelled gettra faura anw dornpica
en 100 dyyal nuih bexm
"Don't try to interfere with me stupid cat8!" Dharc said as he raised his hand and the scythe from the wall flew towards him. The stranger dodges as the scythe tries to hit him before reaching the receivers hand.
Chiyo ni isakaishi mono kara wo warite kiyomeyo
Was yea ra crushue anw dornpica
The stranger throws another wire line and tries to trip Dharc by snagging on his leg.
Senrei no ya irareshi tami wa koko ni tsutowan
Rrha i gagis guatrz gyas
"Enough Cheshire, stop playing with your games," Dharc said as he brought his scythe down and cut the wire to half.
Ma num ra slep faura, etealune na dauan
en 1000 dyyal nuih bexm
Rrha cyuie gaya na ieeya crushue anw dornpica, rhaplanca
Rrha num ra slepir etealune, na near na morto ciel
"This will end now!" as he threw the scythe's end and stabbed Chesire on the arm. Chesire screamed in pain as his arm was pierced, giving Dharc an opportunity to kick Chesire off his feet.
Samayoeru tamashiitachi
Rrha ki ra denera
Chesire was now in defeat of his enemy as he tries to hang on his life from being stabbed in the arm. He knew his life draws to a close.
Tenkei ni michibikarete
Rrha ki ra briyante, fayraa
"Still that cats are told to have 9 lives, guess you weren't one of the few lucky ones...Die now!" Dharc said as he brought his scythe down and killed Chesire with his guts flying to the side. Jragon's eyes drifted to the side and knew he has to finished what he could quickly.
Mayou koto nakare michi no saki koso ga risou no chi
'I know my life will come to a close but I must do this for the world... I hope this works," Jragon thought in his mind as he saw Dharc pushed the remaining body of Chesire off the ledge.
Nibiiro no tane to narinure
"It's over now!" Dharc said as he brought his scythe one more time. However to his dismay the song has ended and the Song Server went to sleep mode as it did the tower started to shook.
"I'm afraid that's it's over for you rather. If you don't escape now the tower will crumpled till it buries both you and me," Jragon said as he walks closer to the ledge which is opposite to where Chesire died.
"Not unless I kill you first!" he said but a ruble part was about to drop above them, and Dharc turn in grit teeth. "You better die in this ruble or I will hunt you down even in afterlife!" he shouted and and vanished in thin air.
The ruble smashed the platform off and with Jragon falling along. Jragon saw the ground drawing near to his death and whipped his phone out and pressed one of his app and seal himself in the memory card before the phone shuts down completely and buried underneath all the rubles from the top tower collapsing.
"Teh.. he better be dead or this world would be sinned even more," Dharc said from 2 miles away from the tower but still in view. "This better be the end..." he lastly said as he disappeared in thin air once again.
Thanks for reading the prologue to my story. I know it's pretty long as a prologue. The song was 15 mins long on video, so it would make writing long. Stay toon for the very first chapter!
1 Song Servers are towers that transmit sound waves sung by a Reyvateil. The Song Servers receives the feeling from the song and transmits the song as an Extract or Words. (It's concept might be a slight differ to Ar Tonelico's concept because of copyrighting so please don't bash about this.)
2 The song is in the CD soundtrack of Ar=Ciel Ar=Dor album. It's also named EXEC_HARVESTASYA/. Which most people recognize it more as.
3 This song was played in Ar Tonelico 2. It deletes all data inside the memory but also can kill the IPDs. In my story I'll place that as a source to shut down the Song Server and that interruption can kill the Reyvateil(Jragon).
4 The song is all in Hymmnos reconstruct to Romanji however due to Hymmnos having it's own written language the songs aren't translated to what Japanese would read. You can find the translation in wikia.
5 It's a combine weapon consisting a rifle gun and a ninjato. The ninjato is insert in the rifle like a sheath and when needed the rifle shot puts pressure allowing the sword to be shot out as a distraction or unsheath. Weapon idea is from RWBY Adam's weapon.
6 A race I place in my story. Later more information will be given however Dharc mentions them to be sinned.
7 The 7 being, Jragon, his brothers(2), sister, mother, and Aquarius(Even though he is a summon demon he still part human thus making him a Verse Cross), Cheshire, and lastly himself but of course Dharc didn't count him.
8 You can guess who it is, also yes he's part cat.
Credits: Song translation from Ar Tonelico Wikia, Riflejato from RWBY.