Chapter 20 is here! Let this mark the beginning of an arc. What arc is it. You're gonna have to figure it out. Chapter 2 of the rush. I have realised that I have been lazy with this so I'll be writing A LOT this weekend and that's a promise.
Sphe the Best: What part of UNREALISTIC do you not understand. This is Final Fantasy not Dragon Ball Z. You know what, every time you bring up this topic, I'll ignore or even delete your review.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the concepts and references I'm playing with.
Chapter 20: Trembling Earth
8:55pm
Location: Floor 14
{Final Fantasy Type 0: Horror of the Abyss}
The party stared at the silhouettes of floor 14. It was night so of course it would be dark. Though, this floor gave an eerie dark feeling, like a great tragedy took place. Game or not. Even the sky, didn't show stars, only black clouds that promised no light.
The only lights seen was the distant ones, radiating a blue aura. These weren't havens though. These were shards of something broken. Though none compared to the one that flew into the sky. A light that came from the horizon.
"So, where do we go from here?" Ronen asked.
"That's up to Lumino," Kizuna said.
"What, why me?" the raven asked.
"Well, you do seem to have unconsciously taken the reigns as the leader of our group. Leading us where to go. Giving us ideas and keeping our heads in the game," Raiden replied.
"I-" Lumino was interrupted as the earth suddenly shook. It was hard to keep their balance on the ash covered floor. Suddenly, Lumino was hit with a sudden headache. It wasn't much but it still hurt.
"You okay?" Tsukino asked as the tremors came to a halt.
"Y-yeah. Let's just find a place to sleep," Lumino answered still holding his head. The party started to decent the mountain they came from. No actual climbing, just a path. It being night, there was no doubt that daemons would be lurking around.
The tremors that appeared randomly would appear randomly and the swordsman would be hit with a headache. Currently, the ground shook as they took on Iron Giant. Lumino's charge was interrupted and he was hit back by the daemon.
The giant raised its sword to deliver the final blow as the raven found it difficult to recover. Ronen was just in time. He deflected each attack that came down from the giant and threw a fire spell to kill it. "You okay?" Ronen asked.
"Yeah. These headaches just seem to get worse and worse. The arms I got from the tombs drain me enough. I just can't go on like this," the swordsman replied clutching his head.
"The headache seem to be linked to the tremors," Kizuna deduced.
"Only thing is, why are they targeting Lumino?" Yami added.
"Let's figure that out when we reach town."
9:30pm
Location: Stonewall
The party had reached the main settlement that stood above the ground. The area was supported by pillars with bridges connecting the place. Reason being was that one of the radiating lights was located under those bridges. Meaning that Stonewall was built above a crater.
*sigh*…Kayaba…
Tsukino scrolled through the menu of the teleport gate in order to open it. Apparently, in order to open the gate, you had to name the boss that was fought. You were even given the option of destroying the gate. The gate was opened allowing players to teleport to the area.
"Now that that's done, let's see what we can figure out about these tremors," Raiden said. He had Lumino – who was tired, drowsy, dizzy and had a headache - supported on his shoulder. The raven was struggling to stay awake.
A few teleport sounds were made signalling new arrivals. "Oh my, it's you eight who cleared the dungeon," another voice said. All eight of them paled. He was the last one they wanted here.
Heathcliff.
"Is there something wrong here?" the silver haired leader asked looking at Lumino. The whole party kept quiet about the issue, not wanting anyone else to get involved.
"It's…nothing," Lumino answered. A ground shook again. The pillars allowed the people in Stonewall to go on without the quakes bothering them. Though this didn't stop the headaches. Lumino started clutching his head in pain.
"Headaches? Is that even possible?" one of Heathcliff's attendants asked.
"It is. It just depends how high your stress levels are," Heathcliff answered. The whole party sweatdropped. They somehow knew he was referring to himself. "Maybe he just had a long day. We should leave them alone but before we do so…"
Heathcliff started digging in his cloak. He suddenly produced an envelope. "Here you go. The contents will be far more useful to you," he said handing the envelope to Lumino. "Keep moving onward Maiestas." The swordsman's eyes widened at what Heathcliff just called him. Before he could reply, he was gone.
"Come on, let's go gather information about this place," Ronen said.
"Yeah."
9:35pm
Location: Gaian Gluttony
"Is there something you would like sir," one of the waitresses asked the party. They ordered the food they were going to eat. "So, what do you think that letter says?" Raiden asked.
"I'd like to open it when nobody's looking. Stonewall will become populated soon and I don't want to risk getting out this information. Whatever it is," Lumino replied. The waitress returned with their meals.
"Is that all you would like?" the NPC asked.
"Well, we'd like to ask a few things," Tsukino asked.
"This is all that I will be able to tell you." A window appeared in front of Tsukino.
[Stonewall]
[Dungeon]
[Titan]
[Meteor]
[Tremors]
[North Crater]
[Shards]
[Back]
Tsukino immediately pressed the 'Tremors' option.
"These tremors have been happening since the Archean caught the Meteor. We don't really know the reason but some prophets do suspect that he is calling someone."
The party got a lead. The white haired girl proceeded to press the 'Titan' option.
"The god of earth. He is known as the Archean. He is the one who caught the meteor before it hit earth. Some say that one can form a covenant with Titan and receive his blessing in a rite that the god has chosen."
Meteor.
"A disaster that fell from the sky many years ago. Parts of the meteor have fallen off and broken the land around us. The Archean caught the meteor before it hit the ground but created the North Crater. Some have said that there is something in the Meteor but nobody has returned. Either poisoned by the Meteor or slain by Titan."
North Crater
"The area where the Meteor fell. It is also the place Titan sleeps holding the meteor to this day. It can be located from the lights coming off the Meteor."
Shards
"Parts of the Meteor that have fallen in mid-flight and decimated the land. There is a shard located underneath Stonewall to power our town and keep the daemons away. I advise you don't touch the shard as doing so will result in a deadly virus."
Back
"Glad to be of service."
"You're not going to ask about the dungeon?" Scarlet asked.
"No. The guilds have it covered. Anyway, she said something about Titan calling someone. You think it's Lumino?"
"Maybe, but why though. What could Titan want with him?"
"Maybe it has something to do with what Heathcliff said. What was that word he said? Maistees?" Raiden said trying to remember.
"Maiestas. It's Latin. It means 'Majesty'," Lumino answered them. 'Then that means.' Lumino took the envelope and ripped it open to read the contents. He sighed.
"I thought you said you'd do that in private," Kizuna said.
"Don't need to." Lumino showed them the contents of the letter. As expected, nobody understood what it said. Only the raven did. The letter read:
Et as regem
Titan astra vocat,
Resspondendum est maiestas eius
Aut enim non cadere
9:45pm
Location: Stonewall Stop
{Final Fantasy XV: Listen Up}
"So, now that we're out of earshot, what does that letter say?" Raiden asked.
"It means 'Unto the King, Titan calls. His Majesty must answer, or he will fall.' " Lumino translated.
"That clears up everything. Titan is calling you and causing your headaches," Tsukino said.
"Yeah, and I think the only way to stop them are..."
"...to form a covenant with Titan," Yami said finishing Lumino's sentence.
"That may be but...are we really strong enough to...fight a god?" Raiden asked. The room went silent. Titan's power was unknown and none of them knew if - even together - they were strong enough to match it.
"No, we can't do this. Not now. Who knows if there are other tombs in Aincrad. I can deal with the headaches when I'm not close to Titan. We can come back and I'll form a covenant with him."
"Sorry, but I object. With those headaches, you won't be able to fight him when you're that close. I'll do the rite," Ronen said.
"Are you sure?"
"Nobody said that you have to do it. Also nobody said that I'll be alone when we face him."
"Okay then. We should get some rest now. We've had a long day."
{End of Soundtrack}
"Looks like Lilyn is way ahead of us," Scarlet said pointing to the mage who was pass out while sitting up.
"Lily, wake up," Scarlet shook the girl. She just kept sleeping.
"Hold on. Lily, do you remember what we just talked about?"
"Too tired to listen. Too tired to care," the girl said. Both Tsukino and Scarlet paled at the familiar phrase.
Lily switched with Aki
"Perfect. Someone's going to have to carry her," Tsukino said. Everyone turned to Kizuna.
"Why me?" the strategist asked. Everyone just sighed and left. Kizuna sighed and got ready to carry Aki. Yami, unlike the others, went to the door.
"Where are you going?" Tsukino asked.
"Just a quick walk around the town."
Yami managed to find herself at the market. 'In that alley.' Yami had sensed someone following her. She was currently inspecting a knife she just bought. "This seems good. Time to head back."
Suddenly she lost her grip on the dagger. It engulfed the area in smoke. 'What the? Where is she?'
The stalker's vision went black as a small point was held on his neck. Yami was holding a dagger to the trailer's neck.
"Move and I'll kill you. Summon weapons or use magic and I'll kill you. Make a sound and I'll kill you," Yami threatened.
"You will speak when spoken to. Got it?" The man didn't reply. Yami pushed the dagger closer to his neck. "Got it."
"Y-yes," the man stuttered.
"What's your name and who sent you?"
"M-my name is Jason and I was sent by my leader to scout you and your group." Yami knew Jason wasn't lying. He was too scared from being held at knife point. She looked at the icon next to his HP gauge.
"Your from the Night Foxes so your leader's name is Tsugasa."
"How did you...?"
"That doesn't matter. Listen, you will do two things. Leave the Night Foxes but before you do give Tsugasa a message for me."
"Trail me and my friends again, and I'll take more than his eye."
A little bit short. I apologise. I just couldn't think of more to add to this chapter so I'll leave it here.