Author's Notes & Disclaimer:

The setting is after Ultradimension Neptunia V (Current English translation of the latest game's title in the Neptunia franchise), but takes elements from both Mk2's true ending and the conquest ending. (Ultradimension Neptunia V takes place years after the events of Mk2's true ending) Of course, the usual disclaimer: I do not own anything. Okay, I'm done talking now. Without further adieu, I give to you Ultradimension Neptunia Crimson Odyssey! I hope you enjoy the story.

Overture, Act I: The Great Ascension

[Main Gameindustri Goddess Era Year 20XX]

Once long ago, there once was a single goddess alone who ruled Gameindustri. She, Nepgear of Planeptune stood high and mighty above the rest. Today, unknown to anyone but I would be her final day. CLASH! BOOM! Nothing is as it should be. Somehow, we fell into an undesired future, a future acquired through the blood of many. Once the most innocent of them all, she stands a murderer, a sinner. How it all happened, even I am not sure. For in all of my infinite wisdom I had never imagined the Deity of Sin would manage to deceive us so tragically. How I wish I had ordered them to destroy that cursed blade the moment I laid eyes on it! It is too late. All I can do now is watch…until the very end.

The goddess in question writhed in pain as another blast of dark energy slammed against her body. She was helpless, but she attempted to fight off the pain. "I can't lose." She murmured. Tears rolled down her cheek, a savage impulse coursing through her body. Slowly, she rose to her feet. Her opponent only chuckled as the goddess recomposed herself. "Too many people have died for what we have now!" Nepgear screamed. She violently brandished gehaburn, the cursed sword at the heart of this tragedy. As she did so blades of magical energy flew towards her enemy, Arfoire the Deity of Sin. They made impact, but the damage was completely minimal.

Arfoire only grinned as thorn covered vines erupted from the ground and ensnared Nepgear, leaving her immobilized, and unable to move her sword. As the thorns began to pierce Nepgear's flesh, she wailed. She lurched for a moment, but regardless struggled in an attempt to free herself. Unfortunately, it only made her wounds worse. She cringed. 'This isn't good. I'm losing too much blood. NO! I can't lose! I WON'T!' Her body revived with even more vigor than before as she struggled against her bondages. It only proved to worsen her wounds once again. Finally, after moments of struggle she had managed to free gehaburn. What really confused the young goddess though was that Arfoire was laughing at her.

"Foolish girl," Arfoire began mockingly, "Your shares are nearly all mine. You have nothing! You killed your friends, your family. You stand here before me a sinner, no better than I." The deity said mockingly.

Nepgear continued her struggle, attempting to readjust her blade's angle in hopes of cutting herself free. Unfortunately, it only served to slit her wrists in multiple areas. She yelped but continued to struggle, growling in frustration. "That's not true!" Nepgear retorted. "I will defeat y-"

"It is over child!" Arfoire exclaimed. "Look at you struggling. Your desire to kill me is strong. You have become no better than a savage beast, only seeking your next prey." Arfoire spat.

Nepgear shook her head. For the first time in many long years, uncertainty and fear suddenly replaced her hardened, cold demeanor. Something else came with it though- rage. "What do you know? You don't know me!" Nepgear's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets when the gehaburn freed itself from her hand, and floated over into Arfoire's. "Wh-Why-"

"Why?" Arfoire repeated. "It's because this sword doesn't belong to you." Arfoire smiled at Nepgear's puzzled expression. "Surely you didn't think because you were 'forced' to kill your closest allies that this sword was your property. Perhaps, you felt entitled to it. Understandable, but incredibly naïve; you couldn't have been any more wrong."

Nepgear's eyes widened and her face paled as the mysterious man who told them the location of the cursed blade made his way into view. Arfoire stepped out of his way, and without a word, handed him the blade. He smiled wickedly at her. "It isn't wise to look for shortcuts. There's always a price."

Nepgear could take no more. She no longer had the strength to fight. All she could do was utter the only question that came to mind. "Just, who are you?" She asked.

The man grinned as his features began to change. Nepgear blanched in horror as the man slowly grew taller, horns erupted from his skull and he took the overall image of a demon appeared before her. She tried to think of a foe they had previously thought, but none came to mind. The only thing that registered was the sound of her screaming at the sight before her. Suddenly, an image appeared over the demon. It left her completely confused. "I-Impossible, what are you-"

"A little messenger from the Netherworld," It interjected. "Unlike Arfoire whom I had to piece back together after you almost destroyed her completely, I reside within the small amounts of evil that remained in this world. It is truly thanks to you however, that any of this was possible." It explained.

Nepgear cocked an eyebrow. "I don't understand-"

"It was your greed." It answered. "It was you who sought the legendary sword after you heard of its awesome powers. It was all because of your lust for power!" It roared.

Nepgear shook her head. "No, no that can't be true!" She yelled through her sobs. "I did what I needed to do to protect Gamindustri!" She cried. Nepgear flinched as the demon leveled gehaburn at her throat. The girl bravely stared it down. "I won't let you beat me this easily."

The demon laughed at her cruelly. "How sad, the great and powerful Nepgear reduced to a powerless, little girl. It's almost too pathetic to watch." The thunder roared, and a bolt of lightning caused the world to flash blinding white. She continued to look forward. Finally, she closed her eyes to prepare herself for the inevitable. 'Sis, Uni, everyone… I'm sorry. I'll see you all soon.' She thought to herself quietly. The image of her friends, her beloved companions was blissful release from this painful struggle.

The last sounds Nepgear would ever hear is the deafening roar of the thunder, her muffled screams, and the gehaburn piercing her flesh. SPLAT! At last the goddess once so revered fell backwards into a pool of her own blood, her body limp and pale.

The demon laughed, thinking it had won when a second light overtook them. Arfoire cursed. "It's Histoire!" She yelled. "We should have taken care of her beforehand!" She complained.

The demon only shook her head. "Nonsense, she can only do so much. Even if she were to revive the goddesses it would be meaningless!" She exclaimed. "For so long as I hold this blade, I am invincible!" She boasted.

"Right, and that's exactly why I am taking that from you!" IF said quickly as she swiped the blade from the demon's clutches and disappeared within a blue magic circle.

The demon's eyes widened in shock as she noted the sword's theft and roared in anger. "Curses! Damn you Histoire! But know THIS! No matter where you run, Gameindustri- no the world is OURS!" The demon laughed maniacally as the world around them seemed to disappear and fade away, as if nothing but a horrible nightmare.

"…Not if I have anything to save about it." Histoire's muttered to herself. Suddenly, Gameindustri began to break apart! The three nations of the continent divided, and soon they along with Leanbox ascended towards the heavens. The four lands, along with multiple different islands were officially skyward. And soon enough, a spiral galaxy-like portal appeared. Eventually, the floating continents disappeared through the portal and existed no longer within this land ravished by evil and destruction. What the fate was of the world left behind? To this day, only Histoire's great tome itself knows that answer.

From the confines of an unknown room within Celestia, Histoire began to recite a chant. "Their time taken premature may the fallen be revived. This world, tarnished by needless bloodshed, may it be reborn anew within a new sky!" Four lights: purple, blue, silver, and green surrounded her in a diamond formation. Her eyes narrowed at the gehaburn before she raised it over head. "And may this sword be purified by the heavens! Let it rest here as the key to this holy pact. May it be that it never slay innocent blood again!" As she ended the chant, a pedestal rose from the ground beneath her. Without another thought she impaled the pedestal with the sword, causing waves of white light to fly out of the pedestal. The blade began to change. Once black and maroon, the blade now stood white and gold.

It was silent for several moments. Finally, the only other being present spoke. "Quite a dramatic performance you had going on there. I knew you wouldn't let their sacrifices be in vain though." IF said to her.

Histoire smiled sadly. "Yes, but I regret ever allowing it to happen. I am glad that you had faith in me until the end… IF. You always were my most loyal agent."

IF smiled. "Damn straight. I just wish I had more time." Histoire noted the bleeding in IF's side. She had to fight her way through quite a number of monsters to get to where Nepgear's killer in the Graveyard. "I won't last much longer Histoire… I'll tell Compa and the rest of the gang that you give us your blessings. That alright?" She said quietly.

Histoire nodded. "Yes. Please do. You've done a wonderful job guild agent IF. You are honorably relieved of your duties for restful leave."

IF smiled. "Thanks… And goodbye." Histoire watched as IF finally went limp, shutting her eyes as she entered her eternal slumber. Histoire only shook her head when she noted IF's smile still bright and evident on her face.

Histoire turned back to gehaburn, eyeing the wretched blade with a hateful glare. "I don't even know what I was thinking programming something like you into the world." She admitted to it. "Hopefully, in this next world things will be better, for everyone." Remembering the sight of Nepgear's broken body, tears filled her eyes. "I want to start over again." With that, she used her magic to lift IF's body and took it with her out of the chamber, sealing the door tightly behind her. She had a lot to do, but at the very least, she had to give her most loyal agent and trusted companion a proper burial. After that, she'd have to have a long conversation with the oracles about what would happen to the current Gamindustri.

Author's Notes:

I am really not sure about how this turned out. I attempted to write everyone in character as much as possible, but felt the need to alter Gear's character a tad (if it showed) since I figured the years of solitude and guilt over what she had done would probably have done a number on her personality. I also know that there are a lot of things that I have yet to explain. A lot of that (the oracles, how they survived, the non goddess characters and their situations, how it happened, Histy's godly powers from the first game making their way into the Mk2 universe), is being covered in the next two chapters. I figured it'd be too much of an info dump to have it all in the first part of the prologue. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy the story and stick around to see what happens next!

Next Time - Overture, Act II: The Divine Summit