I was asked if the Abyss and several other attacks and lore were inspired by Destiny and Dark Souls, so I'm going to answer that, just in case the ones that asked didn't see my replies. No, the Abyss in this story is not inspired or taken from anything. I developed its concept myself. Any similarities it has with other works of fiction are coincidental. The same goes for anything else in the story.
And another thing, Issei is NOT insane. The ending of the last chapter wasn't meant to be completely literal, in case there was some confusion. If anything, he's the most mentally resilient character, considering all he's been through and how he is able to retain his ability to act, even if it's terribly negative.
Chapter 38: The Herald's Advent
Sylderia had realized, in her frantic approaches, she had only pushed him even further away. She was so desperate to try and pull him out of his inner darkness that she had done it too hastily. Instead of slowly chipping away at his mask, she tried to bulldoze it. How could she have been so careless?
Issei's sudden rambling had scared Sylderia beyond belief. He never looked at her with such fear before. He looked panicked, even delirious. One look into his eyes and she saw agonized pain, which was unlike anything she'd seen him express before.
There were so many holes in information that regarded him. She had no idea what could trigger him so negatively.
She had to get back on finding his trail.
Suddenly, the door to her room received a knock, with Artemis entering the room.
"Yes?" Sylderia inquired.
"I wanted to talk with you." The goddess of the Moon closed the door behind her.
"Please, have a seat." Sylderia smiled, gesturing to a chair near her.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"If you don't mind my intrusion, how did you and Issei fall in love?" Artemis asked.
Sylderia merely sighed. How long ago was that? It had to have been in their Academy days.
"Well, a long time ago, I was sent to Atlantis by my parents to study there. I was 7 around then. I spent 9 years there, and it was there that I met Issei. He was about 8 when I first met him. We were both students there and were in the same class. You see, the Academy doubled as an educational facility as well as a place to raise warriors. People learned how to use magic and how to fight there. Anyways, at first, we never interacted extensively until a year had passed, when I noticed how solitary he was. Nobody talked to him and he was of few words. While others would hang out after class, he'd go home. Unfortunately, he didn't live in a dorm like others. He lived in a cottage near the Academy." Sylderia sadly noted.
"After several holidays, I saw that nobody ever visited him and he never left the country's borders. It was as if he had nothing to do with the outside world. I also learned of a rumor that a hill was haunted near the place where Issei lived. People said that a ghost haunted the hill. I avoided it at first, but I noticed that there wasn't a ghost there. It was Issei. He had spent many nights crying there from all of the sorrow and loneliness he felt. He used to watch everybody go home to their families and have a merry time with each other, yet, he had nothing. Others would go home to their friends and families while Issei would go home to an empty and dark house. It was heart-wrenching." Sylderi pursed her lips. It wasn't any different from what he was experiencing now.
Artemis imagined what it must've been like for him. Being an 8-year-old child without anyone to be there for him. Nobody to welcome him home with warm food on the table and smiles. Nobody to patch up his wounds when he got injured. Nobody to take care of him when he got sick. Nobody to comfort him when he was sad or scared. It was just too horrible. Why was fate so cruel and vicious to him?
"When I found out, I decided…he needed a friend. He needed something positive, since I could tell that he had nobody there for him. At first, he was rather cold and awkward, but soon enough, he warmed up. I learned that he could be fun and jovial, even if he was rather serious sometimes. After a series of events, I fell in love with him. He was so noble and strong, yet he never ventured to kill anyone and he was always ready to help others. He was always so willing to sacrifice for the people that he cared about." Sylderia chuckled, recalling their past experiences.
"Then the Revolution happened, and I noticed that he was trading off a lot of his ideals and principles in order to keep everyone safe. His behavior got darker and he was more willing to harm his opponents. He only reserved the death sentence as a total last resort." Her face soured, becoming sadder.
"But now…he was nowhere near as brutal as he is now." Sylderia contemplated.
"Last night…what happened?" Artemis asked.
"I ended up confronting him again and then he ran off. This time, he seemed so panicked and scared. I'd never seen him like that often. He was talking about 'truths' and that he knew some things that I didn't. He said that if others knew, they'd hate him and he deserved everything bad that was happening to him. At first, I thought he was just talking out of self-loathing, but it was pretty clear that he found out about something. It must've been scary beyond reckoning." Sylderia gripped her head, frustrated.
Artemis knew that he usually didn't lose his composure, at least, she never saw him lose it.
After hearing so many things, Artemis decided that she needed to share her cluster of stories with him too. Sylderia knew Issei best and was his official lover. She had more right than anyone to know.
"Sylderia, there's something you need to know." Artemis announced.
The Champion of Light looked puzzled at first, but Artemis guilty expression told her that she wasn't going to like what she was about to hear. The goddess of the Moon recounted her experiences with Issei, even their relationship, and how she renounced him.
True to her expectations, Sylderia looked crestfallen when she learned that Artemis had been having a very close relationship with Issei, even engaging in sex with him. It had been a sign of him moving on from her. She didn't blame him, because she was believed dead until recently. Regardless, she was willing to forgive Artemis. Everything had been out of her control, so she had no reason to tear her down.
"I forgive you. What happened wasn't exactly your fault. The only reason that you treated Issei the way you did, was because of your past traumas and Praegorn's machinations. However, I will warn you to stop judging all men based on the behavior of Orion. It is an ill-developed mindset and I won't tolerate any of it, anymore, especially towards Issei." Sylderia glared at her.
"I know. I won't do it anymore. Issei taught me to outgrow my naivety." Artemis hung her head in shame.
Sylderia's expression then softened.
"Now that that's over, we need to move on. Oh, and to establish rights and order, I took Issei's first time." She giggled, knowing that she had one point over Artemis.
"What?!" She was more surprised about that, than the sudden topic of first times.
"Yep. It was his reward after coming home alive from a giant battle." The Princess fondly recalled.
Artemis' face grew red as she tightened her fist.
"Are you trying to one-up me?"
"Maybe. I'm not very competitive." Sylderia laughed.
It was then, that the two women that were closest to Issei's heart, began to understand each other more. If they were going to work as a team, then interaction like this was…not necessary.
Issei had run off to one of his safe-houses, which was far away from other clusters of society. It was severely close to the Arctic, which made it perfect for him to stay in isolation. He had spent three days bolted within the confines of one of his emergency homes, mulling over his thoughts and trying to reform himself.
His mind was completely scattered to the point that he could gather little strength to focus. He had learned so many things and realized so many atrocities, atrocities that he had been involved with.
He struggled to retain his sense of reason but now…he had hit a new low. He hadn't been this broken since Sylderia died. The only other thing that had come close to losing her, was when he killed the Fortium with his own two hands. All of these truths, had inadvertently brought back memories of the past, despite his wish for the opposite.
He could remember what caused the giant battle as if it were yesterday. If anything, he could remember how it all began.
(Final Fantasy XIV- Heavensward OST: DragonSong. Play Song.)
Flashback
A 17-year-old Issei stood in a garden full of flowers that stretched as far as the eye could see. The sight would've been wondrous but upon a closer look, it wasn't a garden, no… it was a graveyard. The sea of flowers had been made from the countless bouquets that had been placed for the deceased soldiers that died in the Revolution.
Issei had built the graveyard with his own two hands, without the aid of magic. He had spent days creating places for all of his fallen comrades. It had been three days since the revolution had been won and since Sylderia had died. Many had to be buried and Atlantis was still being rebuilt. It was a continent unlike any other. Despite the massive amount of magitech on it, there was still a sufficient amount of nature to preserve balance.
Unfortunately, around 75% of Atlantis had been damaged to the extreme, forcing several to relocate to the remaining 35% of land that had been untouched.
Issei had talked with Zaylen about finding a new continent to migrate to in order to increase the chances of survival for the Atlanteans. He had already found the land that would become Mu, but it wasn't ready for full accommodation for the Atlanteans, yet. It was only partially terraformed for life.
If he were to be honest, he wasn't eager to do this. He had lived on Atlantis since he was 5 years old. All of his memories were here and it was here that he had met and fallen in love with Sylderia.
The wound in his heart was still fresh and bloody, in reflection of his constant grief over her loss.
Others had begun to worry about his mental state, noticing that he had effectively shut down much of his emotions. When he had returned from his talk with Ishvar and Prisna, he had been devoid of all happiness but he was still able to retain his sense of awareness.
Issei returned his mind to the current moment, looking down at the grave in front of him.
Sylderia Valna
Born: 583 B.C.
Date of Death: 566 B.C.
"Help those who cannot be helped."
Sylderia's age was actually close to Issei's, being only one year younger, though her amnesia had scrambled that memory.
Issei looked at the mound of dirt that had been blanketed over the empty grave. Because there was no body to recover, Atlantean tradition dictated that some of her belongings be placed inside the coffin, along with a memorial for her.
Her death had shaken everyone who knew her. Her parents were too lost in grief to come, thus only the Revolutionaries attended her funeral. Issei had been the closest to her, so he held the processions and thanked all who had come.
He took out of his pocket, a small blue box. Opening it, was a platinum ring with a giant diamond on top. Carved into it, were several sigils meant to protect the one that wore it. It had been his plan to propose to her when the war ended, but now, those hopes were dashed.
He considered leaving it there, but decided not to. Instead, he left a sapphire band that he had worn on his right wrist. It had been one half of a pair of bands that they had bought. Sylderia's white band couldn't be recovered, so he couldn't procure it. Thus, to symbolize their eternal love and his memories of her, he left behind his half of their treasured gifts to leave a piece of him with her.
He proceeded to leave gifts for his beloved comrades to take to the afterlife before leaving the graveyard.
(Final Fantasy XIV – Heavensward OST: DragonSong. End Song.)
He stopped walking when he saw Pirinya and one other Fortium. His name was Narthis. He had long brown hair and grey eyes. He had a well-built frame that was honed from years of combat and training, having been a fellow pupil of Arkiline. He wore a black suit and he had several bandages and patches across his head, due to the battle that just ended not long ago.
"I'm really sorry, Issei. We should've tried harder." Pirinya bowed in shame.
She wore a black jacket over a black shirt and long skirt in reflection of the funeral.
"No, it's my fault. I was the one that she saved. If I had been more careful, she'd still be here." Issei flatly responded.
"Stop beating yourself up about that. You did everything you could. You were the most injured and you fought the hardest. There's nothing for you to feel guilty about. It all happened as fate had ordained." Narthis put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Come on. Let's go home." Pirinya gently pushed him forward.
Issei looked as if he were threatening to shatter at that very moment. The giant ordeal was still fresh on his mind and it boded ill for him. He never had a stable life and relationships, being along since his arrival in Atlantis. The loss of Sylderia meant the loss of much of his composure and emotional stability.
They took him to his current home, which was a rather pleasant house. It had two floors, with a basement, two living rooms, one kitchen, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a large backyard. It had been the home that Sylderia and Issei had hoped to share for their future, having already lived there for four years.
He sat down as Pirinya made some hot tea to warm everybody up.
"What do you plan to do now?" Narthis asked.
"I don't know. I was so focused on removing the Emperor that I forgot to think about the future. My original plan is already gone, so I'm gonna have to figure something out now." Issei shrugged.
"Then, do you want to join us on our trip?" Pirinya asked.
"Trip?"
"Yep. We're planning on going on a cruise tour around the world. We've been cooped up on Atlantis for so long that we haven't had the chance to see what the outside world is like. So, we've been setting up the idea to get a ship and sail the world. Who knows, we might find a new home or realize that we belong here."
Issei mused on that idea. He had the innate desire to see the world, but he couldn't will himself to be far from Sylderia's resting place.
"I'm sorry, but I can't go. Not yet." Issei shook his head.
"That's okay. Still, we're leaving in seven days, so make sure to tell us before then." Pirinya gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder before leaving with Narthis.
Issei only gave a silent nod as the two left him in the darkness and silence of his, now empty, home. It was eerily quiet and desolate, bearing little-to-no signs of life, aside from the lights that would come on at night.
Around five days after this, Issei was approached by one of the Fortium generals that served in the Revolution. He had gray hair, looking to be in his mid-30's, brown eyes, and had a giant and muscular build. He was called Magnarian. He was accompanied by a few others, all of them wearing militaristic uniforms.
"Issei, may we come in?" He asked.
"Why are you all dressed like that?" Issei glanced around.
"Habit. We've spent so much time wearing this our uniforms that it just feels right." Phalan explained.
"Well, go on. Come in." Issei stepped to the side.
"R-Real nice place you got here." One of his soldiers remarked.
"Thanks. I'm not sure of how long I'll have it, though." Issei remarked.
"Why's that?" Someone asked.
"Don't know how long I'll be on Atlantis." Issei shrugged.
"Issei, we've come to talk to you about something very important." Magnarian turned around.
Issei saw that he was sweating, profusely. He looked around and noticed that the others were looking rather anxious. Odd, they had never behaved this way around him before.
"So, have a seat, while I make some tea." Issei gestured to the sofas in the Living Room.
"Do excuse us, but we're only going to be here for a few minutes. We just wanted to check up on you first. I know…how hard it's been for you." Magnarian paused, trying to form words.
Issei began filling a pot with water and grabbed some tea bags from the cupboard. He looked out of the corner of his eye and looked at one of the stainless steel knobs on the cupboard. One of Magnarian's subordinates had his hand on his gun, another had her sword hilt in her hands. Someone gulped a lump in their throat and they shifted around nervously.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Issei asked casually.
Magnarian sighed, looking slightly conflicted.
"We were wondering if you would join the new cause?"
"What new cause?" Issei flatly inquired.
"A new order."
Issei paused for a moment, already sensing the trouble that was coming. It was strange. Even after being emotionally broken, he could still prepare himself for a fight.
"What's the objective and morale?"
"We will expand Atlantis' influence and territory and in doing so, we will cleanse the world of the scum that fester on it." Magnarian explained, not mincing his words.
"And how would you do so? What're the 'scum'?"
"We will use force against all that oppose us. This world has grown rotten. Some of the Fortium went out into the world and they came back as corpses. Surely you've heard of this?"
"I have. The Fortium went to America and were murdered. Three dead and two in critical condition." Issei recounted the details.
"We can't let that pass. Even the other Atlanteans have been planning against us." Magnarian growled.
"I do see why, though. A couple of days ago, I found out that several cases of pillaging, murder, and drunk incidents happened. I remember that the golden rule for the Revolutionaries was to never pillage and plunder, correct?" Issei accused the others.
Magnarian grew silent.
"I may not be as active as before, but I'm not just sitting here doing nothing." Issei walked over with a tray of tea and cookies.
"So, tell me…what's your true objective? Imperial rule?" He asked.
"Revenge." Magnarian stood up.
"For what?"
"For our people. We've laid down our lives for those filthy rabbles and they repaid us with persecution and cruelty."
"I understand that, but what about the ones that didn't do anything? I count five innocent families out of the ones that you've victimized. We didn't band together to become replacements for the Empire's regiment." Issei stared Magnarian down.
"I had no control over that! I didn't know of it till recently."
"If that's the case, explain the news of a new force organizing amongst the Revolutionaries. Explain how a ton of members who weren't Fortium, were killed mysteriously. In comparison to the total number of people in our army, only 500 died along with Sylderia. What's funnier, is that there were no bodies. So, tell me…what do you know about that?" Issei calmly inquired.
"I'll mince my words no more. I came here to tell you that we are building a new order. We will expand our cause and teach the world the same kind of pain that it has caused us. All will pay tribute and suffer for our sacrifices. Any that oppose us will die and will kneel at our feet. What's more, we will obtain more power and rule over this world, like the Fortium that have long passed. You will either join us, or die." Magnarian declared.
It was pointless to lie, anyways.
Issei was astounded. To think that he had allowed himself to fight alongside such treacherous bastards. He had maintained a private connection to get whatever information he needed. He had learned that several cases of pillaging and tyranny had been taking place almost as soon as the Empire fell. The fact that the Fortium had mainly come out unscathed in the war had been a disconcerting piece of news. He had smelled a conspiracy ever since then. Not only that, but he had heard of rumors about an group of people calling themselves the 'Deities' of Atlantis.
Pirinya's invitation had also made sense now. Either she knew of this and wanted to leave before the second revolution came…or she was already a part of it.
"And what about the people of these times? Many of them have done nothing wrong to our kind." Issei inquired.
"They'll pay all the same. The world is rotten and its people are rotten. We will clear them away and create a utopia for our people. The humans, gods, and monsters of creation don't deserve this world. Everything's come on a silver platter for them. We, on the other hand, have endured hardship from all over the world. They persecuted us like rodents because of their jealousy. Why should we let them live?" Magnarian wondered.
"The people of this time haven't done anything to us. Why are you holding a grudge against people that haven't harmed you? It's genocidal totalitarianism to persecute the innocents who haven't harmed you." Issei fired back.
"Ha! You act as if they won't do it sooner or later. You're naïve, Issei. You don't know about the horrors of this world." Magnarian huffed.
"Oh, trust me. I know it very well. You all are the ones that don't understand." Issei countered.
"Then we have no more business." Magnarian growled as his companions looked at Issei.
Issei only sighed in exasperation. Even now, he couldn't catch a break.
"Well, then…I can tell that nobody wants to just leave." He remarked.
(Ip Man 2 OST: Battlefield. Play Song.)
Almost immediately, he was engaged in combat by five Fortium.
One threw a punch at him. Intercepting with both hands, Issei slid his right hand past his arm and landed a fist into his attacker's face. Pushing his left palm inward, he dislocated the elbow of the captive in his hold before kicking him in the right thigh before stomping downwards, forcing him to his knees.
The 1st assailant jumped upward with his knee, going for Issei's jaw.
Thrusting a palm to stop the attack while stepping backwards, he kicked forward, smashing his right foot into the 1st assailant's sternum, sending flying into another room, smashing his head into a wall.
Issei felt the rushing of wind behind him and ducked, narrowly missing the blade that had tried to decapitate him. Catching the blade with both hands on opposite hands, he pushed them together, snapping the blade before kicking his assailant in the chest, then stomach, and then the shin bone before delivering a quick slap to her face, knocking her back.
Jumping upwards, the 1st assailant, having recovered, dived at his feet while the 2nd assailant lunged at him with her broken sword. Using two if his fingers, he wrenched the shattered blade out of her hands before punching her in the right side while jabbing at her stomach in rapid succession, hitting no less than 35 times within 7 seconds. She cried out as Issei spun around her and delivered an elbow into her back, knocking her to the ground.
He snapped around, catching two fists that were about to collide with his rib cage. The 3rd and the 4th assailaint broke out of his hold, aiming kicks at him while hefting guns. The moment he stepped back, they fired at him. Backflipping, he dodged the blasts of plasma before gripping their guns and crushing them.
Spinning around, he kicked one in the side and another in the face with all of his might. One went down while the other tried to return a blow. Stopping the attack with mechanical precision with his right elbow, he extended his right arm and delivered a powerful knuckle into the fourth Fortium's face before dragging his arm backwards and smashing his own fist into the enemy's face.
Magnarian was alarmed that Issei had only disarmed his opponents while moving at extremely high speeds. In truth, his real objective was to assess Issei's threat level. Even with Sylderia's death, he was still able to fight so well. This wasn't going according to plan at all.
The former General of the Revolutionaries smashed through Issei's door, taking his subordinates with him.
(Ip Man 2 OST: Battlefield. End Song.)
While far from tiring him, the fight did require quite a bit of effort but he managed to fend the traitors off.
Issei realized that he had fought to overthrow tyranny, only to allow new tyrants to take the place of the old order. He had severely miscalculated everything.
He understood where Magnarian was coming from. He was enraged over the fact that the Atlanteans didn't appreciate the sacrifices that the Fortium had made for them. Since the Fortium's fall several millennia ago, history had basically forgotten about them. Even now, they were mistreated and seen as monsters.
Issei understood how they felt because he was a Fortium, as well. He knew that things had escalated to a new height and he needed to do something about it. Suddenly, he felt cold tingles travel up his spine. He turned around sharply, wondering what was causing the sensation. It was as if his brain was telling him that danger was all over the place, surrounding him.
The sky grew deep blue before everything else turned the same deep color. The air grew cold and time seemed to freeze. In front of him, mana from the atmosphere gathered, constituting itself into the Abyss' armored form.
Issei went into a defensive stance but remained unhostile. He looked at it with cautious curiosity, wondering what it was.
"You need not fear me, Hyoudou Issei. I am the Abyss, a primordial force of creation. I have stood time eternal since the start of existence. I come before you now with a mission and proposal." The Abyss folded its arms, waiting for Issei's response.
"What proof do you have?" Issei asked.
Suddenly, his vision changed. He felt as if someone had thrown him into a jolting roller coaster. Disoriented, Issei noticed that the environment had changed. He was floating in the darkness of Space, peering over the Earth.
"What?!" He looked around in disbelief.
"As you've noticed, I have brought us into Space. Do you still doubt me?" The Abyss asked.
"What deal and mission are you here for? Why me?" Issei asked.
"The mission I have brought to you, is to become the Grim Herald. It is a mantle that I have created. The Grim Herald will scour the world and destroy the ever-growing heads of corruption made by the hydra known as greed and malice. It is an eternal duty and it is rife with struggle and horrific experiences. You will be forced to kill and slaughter by the trillions. However, in doing so, you will have the power to save countless innocent lives and you can even afford to spare the lives of those that deserve to reform. I will give you power that outmatches that of deities and all that walk this Earth." The Abyss gave a brief explanation.
"Why me?" Issei asked again.
"Because your heart is powerful. Even if I give all this power to you, I know that you will not be corrupted by it. You grew up with nothing and had nothing. Even when you gained something and it was taken from you, you never lashed out at the world in general, only the wicked. You spirit is unbreakable and your flesh can withstand the trials that fate has ordained for you. You have proven that you have a soul that is more heroic than others and you never hesitate to sacrifice yourself for others. Only in your hands, can I trust this power to." The Abyss professed.
Issei thought that was too crazy to be true. There was no way this was all true. He suddenly thought about what had happened to Sylderia and what used to happen on Atlantis. The plundering and pillaging and gruesome behavior of the Empire. The cruelty of the nobles and the suffering of the lower class. If the Abyss was telling the truth, then he could have the power to stop that. Others wouldn't have to suffer like him and the innocents that had left the world prematurely. It had been one of the things that he'd always wanted.
"I know much has happened, but now is the most critical time. The Fortium have amassed the power that they need to conquer this world. I cannot allow them to destroy the world and reshape it according to their twisted schemes. The Light and Dark are complacent. They allow far too much to happen without so much as a single action in retaliation. I will not watch anymore." The Abyss declared.
"As you are still conflicted, judging by your emotions and thoughts, I will spare you some time to think. Should you accept, will me to manifest." The Abyss then slowly dissolved as Issei was warped back to Earth with the environment returning back to its real colors.
He was completely disoriented, but he needed to get moving. Time was critical.
Issei had gone to the Capital of Atlantis, Fortiheim, to declare the situation to the rest of the public. He had already alerted Zaylen about what was happening and had hastened the move to Mu.
He could already feel it in his bones that there was going to be a massive battle. He had come armed that day, ready with Tenzan strapped to his side. In those days, he had yet to learn how to warp and he lacked many powers that he had as the Grim Herald. However, he did have the ability to use telekinesis, though it was much weaker and required more effort to use.
Riding up a glass elevator, he started going up the tower he was in, hoping to broadcast the news as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, he had failed. Magnarian had beaten him to it.
A holographic screen appeared in the air, displaying Magnarian's face.
"My dear Fortium, today is the day that we make our move. We have been preparing for five long years and we are now ready to strike. The world is unaware of our existence and has assumed us to be dead. Those that do know, are dead and gone. Now, we will rise from this pitiful land and reclaim the world that belonged to our kind. The humans, beasts, and deities have forgotten about the sacrifices that we all made for them and now destroy this world like spoiled children that feel entitled to everything. No more, will that be the case. We are strong and now we are ready. Tomorrow, we will begin our crusade and make everything as it should be." Magnarian declared.
Issei slammed his fist against the railing as he was too late to expose the crimes that Magnarian had been hiding.
He immediately contacted Zaylen. He had to hurry or else the Fortium would begin killing anyone that wasn't one of them. The moment he picked up, Issei began yelling into his magic circle.
"Issei, did you see the broadcast?" Zaylen asked.
"Not time for that. Immediately begin evacuating every civilian to Mu. It no longer matters if the continent isn't ready. Magnarian has gone insane and is going to kill everyone that's not a Fortium. I need you to get the spell ready and transport everyone off Atlantis."
"That's crazy! It'-" Zaylen started.
"I don't give a damn! Just do it! Stop wasting time!" Issei cut him off, yelling.
"Got it! Okay!" Zaylen sputtered.
Issei then decided that he needed to contact Pirinya and Narthis, who were his closest comrades. During the Revolution and during their Academy days, he could trust them with anything. He just hoped that nothing had happened to them.
"Issei?! Please tell me you saw the broadcast!" Pirinya picked up.
"I did."
"We need to get out of here. What Magnarian's doing is crazy. Narthis and a few others are getting ready to leave the Citadel. Meet up with us outside the City."
"I'm still inside the Citadel. Where are you?" He asked.
"We're on the 60th floor. We're waiting for the elevator." Narthis transmitted himself into the signal.
"Alright. I'm on the elevator riding down. Wait for me."
"Hurry, Issei! Security's gaining on us." Pirinya beckoned.
"Just hang on." Issei requested.
His heart was pounding and he was completely sweaty and anxious. He wasn't sure if he could win against an entire army of Atlantean Warships, Sentinels, and Fortium soldiers. He needed help and he needed to stop Magnarian.
As soon as the elevator opened at the 60th floor, Pirinya and Narthis jetted inside, followed by a hail of plasma fire from soldiers. They dived in, deflecting blasts as Issei shielded them before turning on the elevator to go down.
"How many more are coming?" He asked.
"We got ten people coming. They're on the lower floors. We managed to rally anyone in the building that would listen to us, but we've only got a handful of people." Narthis panted.
"What's the lowest floor they're on? Tell them to converge there and we'll pick them up at one time." Issei planned.
"Got it." Pirinya relayed his orders.
Just as he planned, the few that were loyal to an honest cause were on Floor 58. Much to his surprise, there were twelve people.
"We got some friends left." Someone said as they jammed into the massive elevator.
"Good. We're going to make a break for it. At this point, we need to get to the power grid and shut down the reactor in the building. That'll make things easier for us to progress. It'll also slow down anyone that's planning to attack tonight." Issei said.
"Got it." Narthis nodded.
All of a sudden Issei's senses kicked in, feeling some sort of danger lunging towards him from behind. He twisted around, catching hold of someone's gun, twisting it out of the attacker's hand.
(Kill la Kill OST: Final Battle Theme. Play Song.)
Another lunged at him, trying to stab him with a magic spear. Narthis kicked Issei in the stomach as Pirinya punched him the face, knocking him back as two agents grabbed hold of his arms while another put him in a lock.
Another two put talismans on his wrists, causing them to burn as the talismans began to force his muscles to contract.
"Graahh!" Issei groaned in pain.
He felt as if two chained harpoons were dragging him backwards toward the wall. His arms became heavier and suddenly weighed tons.
Someone stabbed at him with a sword, radiating with mana. As soon as it dug into Issei's clothes, it failed to pierce him, bouncing off. Seizing this chance, he kicked someone who was lunging towards him, using all of his strength in the attack, causing a loud crack to echo from his attacker's right leg. With all his effort, he wrenched his left arm free and punched the person that was holding onto his arm in the face before rapidly elbowing him in the jaw, then punching him in the left side and kicking him in the right ankle.
Suddenly, his right arm was nailed into the elevator with a burning blade of mana.
"Pirinya?" Issei groaned, trying to contain his growls of pain.
"I'm sorry, Issei, but you're the biggest obstacle in our plans." She gave him a guilty look.
Someone tried to grab Issei, who was still trying to resist. In retaliation, Issei wrenched his right arm out of captivity, punching that person in the face so hard that he smashed into the elevator, leaving a bloody splat behind.
Raising both arms, he was kicked into the door by two others. He ducked, sweeping them off their feet as he punched both square in the face, their heads bounding as they fell unconscious. Someone jumped onto his back, but Issei merely lunged backward, forcing him to fall on Pirinya and Narthis.
Released from the attacker's grip, he delivered a flurry of punches and kicks into the next attacker's ribcage before grabbing their elbow and punching his arm inward before spinning around, kicking him into the door, denting it.
Issei couldn't use magic in such a tight space or it might hit him too. There was also the fact that he was hesitating to use Tenzan. As regretful as it was, he didn't want to kill anyone in here, even if they were betraying him.
He was snapped back into reality, dodging and ducking under two knives and a plasma rifle. He redirected someone's knife into the right shoulder of his comrade before delivering an uppercut that knocked someone into their before Issei grabbed the other person by the ankle and flailed him into the next attacker, knocking both of them out.
Three more assailants jumped at him but he decided to use lightning magic, creating an energy field that zapped and shattered the glass around him, shaking the elevator. While his attackers were stunned, he punched one of them in the stomach before instantly grabbing hold and throwing him into the ceiling. He took two of the others and slammed their heads together, cracking their skulls.
He then looked at Pirinya and Narthis.
"You treacherous bastards." Issei growled.
"We knew you'd never join. Open your eyes, Issei. What has Atlantis and this world ever done for you? Are you really okay with leaving it like this?" Narthis asked.
"Who's to say homicidal expansion is right?" Issei spat.
"Those filthy bastards take whatever the hell they want and they don't care! Someone needs to put them in their place. This world is better off without them! They ruined our lives and now they expect us to pay for the things that they've lost, even though they barely sacrificed anything!" Narthis roared back.
"Yes, the world is rotten, but we don't need to add to it. Killing off people who are different will do nothing for that reason. What's more, killing anyone who isn't with you is a vile act in itself. Why on Earth are you two doing this?" Issei demanded.
"Because we want the world to suffer for what it's done. We've lost family and friends to the world and we were driven here. If the world rejects us, then we will reject the world. The current species are nothing but parasites that feed on others. It's time for change." Pirinya snapped.
"I can't let you do that. Everyone has a right to live and to freedom. To take all that away from people in such a general way without discerning who deserves it or not, isn't right." Issei shook his head.
"We're just too different to understand each other anymore, Issei. There's no point in reasoning with each other anymore." Narthis rushed at him.
Issei grabbed him by the neck before punching him repeatedly in the stomach, causing Narthis to vomit blood. Bashing the STOP button on the elevator panel, he threw Narthis out the window, crashing violently onto a rooftop.
He was violently jerked to the side as Pirinya kneed him in the face, causing him to have a bloody nose. She whirled around, kicking him in the throat, causing him to stagger as she punched him the jaw.
Snapping, he grabbed her fist before elbowing her left shoulder, causing to crack loudly.
"Gyaah!" She screamed before he kneed her in the right side of her ribcage before he kicked her through the elevator doors, sending her flying down the hallway as the entrance was ripped open.
He activated the elevator, only this time, it began to fall, completely severed from the mana lines sustaining it. Suddenly, someone jumped into the elevator.
Issei turned around and blocked a punch from Narthis. Pushing his fist past Narthis' face, he bent his arm, snapping his former friend's shoulder joint before he repeatedly bashed the Fortium's face in before lifting him in the air and smashing him onto the floor.
He turned around to find that Pirinya had charged at him, kicking him back with both feet, nearly knocking him out of the elevator. He twisted around and blocked a punch from her, struggling to stop it, finding that she was beginning to transform.
She sent another punch, slamming him through an elevator's doors and into a lobby. Issei was severely outnumbered at this point, forcing him to jump back out, landing on top of the elevator. He punched his way in and came crashing down, his foot hammering down on Pirinya's head, literally stomping her into the floor.
"To think that I trusted all of you." Issei bitterly hissed.
Pressing the emergency STOP again, he grabbed the elevator doors of the level that he stopped at, and wrenched them open. He had to get on another elevator and make his escape. The situation had completely changed and he now needed to recuperate. He was truly alone in this fight.
(Kill la Kill OST: Final Battle Theme. End Song.)
He rushed through a hallway of black stone floors and white hallways that were glowing with blue lights.
The elevators dinged, forcing Issei to change direction, knowing that the bloody traitors were now chasing him.
(Asura's Wrath OST: Orphan Wolf Legend - Fang. Play Song.)
He dashed through another hallway like a bullet.
As much as he hated it, all of the elevators were now dispensing soldiers, ready to either capture or kill him. He could even hear their thundering footsteps now. He looked at himself and found that he was cut in several places and he had several aches from the bruises he got. The talismans that were used on him had also drained his mana significantly. At least he got rid of them.
"Stand down, General Issei! We will shoot." Someone warned.
"Surrender's not an option." Issei retorted.
He broke into a run, punching his way out of a glass window, freefalling through the air and toward the ground below.
The air pushed at him, howling in his ears like a ghost. He looked at his trajectory and found that he was aiming right for the hangar. Perfect.
Gathering his mana into his fist, he explosively punched through the ceiling into the building. Shattering it, he landed safely by using his mana to create a gust of air to soften his landing. Enhancing his physical capabilities with his energy, he went to the nearest vehicle, which was a jet fighter.
An engineer close by shouted at him.
"I've spotted the target. All units, converge on the hangar."
Issei grabbed an engine that was laying on the ground and threw it at him, knocking him out as it crashed into his torso.
Quickly turning it on, he made a mad dash for the runway ahead. Stomping on the thruster pedal, he tore out of the Hangar, breezing by everything. Unfortunately, he noticed a number of ships following him. Turning off every single limiter and activating ever thruster on the vehicle, he blasted forward, his jet booming loudly.
He looked up and noticed a jet hover past him before spinning around, aiming its missiles at him.
"Shit!" Issei cursed, popping open the jet's cockpit.
He jumped out of it and flipped onto the wing of the enemy jet. Drawing Tenzan, he cut off one wing with such ease that it was unbelievable. It was like a scissor cutting paper. He backflipped, onto the other wing and proceeded to cleave it off as well. At last, he jumped on top of the shield covering the cockpit.
He impaled it with his sword, damaging the control console, causing sparks to fly everywhere as the jet went haywire, firing missiles indiscriminately, shattering several parts of the Citadel. Hopping onto the nose of the jet, he jumped off, sailing into the air as the vehicle smashed into the road, breaking in half.
Rolling onto the road, he had gambled on the fact that someone would leave their vehicle around. He hopped into one and sped off.
(Asura's Wrath OST: Orphan Wolf Legend - Fang. End Song.)
While he was driving as far from the Capital as he could, he found a ship hovering over him. It veered around and opened its hangar door. Klauze walked out, extending her hand.
"Issei, grab on!" She called out.
"How do I know I can trust you?!" He retorted.
"Why would you ask that?! Hurry up and grab my hand so that we can get away from here!" She looked at him incredulously.
Issei remained silent, pondering his options.
"You can attack us if it satisfies you. Just get on!" Klauze beckoned, noticing the squad of ships closing in on them. She didn't care about what she said, she was desperate to get him on board.
Issei also noticed the ships. Finally relenting, he jumped on, leaping off the hood of his vehicle and catching Klauze's hand.
Without further ado, they took off, going full throttle.
He found Zaylen piloting the ship, looking quite nervous.
"What happened?" He inquired.
"The Fortium betrayed all of us. Did you evacuate everyone?" Issei panted.
"Not everyone. I used the spell you developed for emergencies but there were several that couldn't be brought back. I'm prepping the spell again, but in the meantime, several others and I were manually picking them up and dropping them of at Mu. I'm taking us there, now." Zaylen engaged the engine to teleport, shimmering into particles through a magic circle.
They stopped at a forest encampment that had been set up for the emergency move.
"So, why did the Fortium betray us?" Zaylen asked after they landed.
"It's because of the persecution that they've suffered. For the past few centuries, Fortium were persecuted by a few people, who discovered them. They've come to hate the world for what it's become and what it's done to them. They've also grown power-hungry. They're going to spread out and launch a global assault on everything. They want to turn the Earth into their new utopia to create a new order that they think will be 'free' of corruption and suffering. They'll start by wiping everyone out. Anyone who's against them will die." Issei recounted.
"Something that extreme?" Klauze bellowed.
"They're stuck on grudges from the past. They want revenge on the world for forgetting the sacrifice that the Fortium made." Issei groaned.
"Zaylen…you're gonna wanna look at this." Someone called over.
Several screams and explosions could be heard from surveillance cameras and video streams. Cries of help shrieked and gasps of horror echoed from within the video and from those watching the hologram.
Issei didn't even want to look. He could already sense the events that were coming. At this point, his mind was overloading. Sylderia's death, the betrayal of the Fortium, and the death of so many innocents…
Any more and he'd snap. Suddenly, he heard a baby wailing, with its mother trying her hardest to comfort it.
"Shhh. Shhh. Shhh. It'll be okay. It's going to be okay, sweetie. Even if Papa isn't here, Mama still is. Mama loves you very much." She sobbed. She tried her hardest to be soothing, but her attempt broke, along with her grieving exterior.
Issei realized that the child might grow up like him. Parentless and unloved. Even if the mother survived this ordeal, who's to say she'll survive the next? Who will protect these people? Who will shield them from the incoming wave of death and fire? Who would avenge the innocent that were victimized and slain by the people that he had come to view as friends and family, who were now enemies?
He couldn't bear the thought anymore. He had finally snapped again. A darkness was lit in his soul. The endless thirst for retribution and dark justice had been ignited in his soul. Three years of strife and death had finally taken its toll on him.
"How do we respond, Issei?" Someone asked.
"You're not scared of me? I'm a Fortium too." Issei asked.
"Why would we be? You're the one who's always been fighting for our sakes. We've known you since childhood. I know that if anyone has a good heart, it's you." The elderly woman chuckled.
Just before stepping off the deep end, he was reminded to keep the core of his being intact.
"I'll respond. Alone. I have a solution that'll work but I'm the only one that can do it." Issei noted.
Ignoring everyone who asked questions, Issei walked away.
(Final Fantasy XV OST: Somnus. Play Song.)
Ensuring that he was secluded, he called out to the Abyss, which manifested before him again, freezing time, but this time, he was brought into a swirling darkness, which churned with pure and raw power.
"Have you come to a decision?" It asked.
"Yes…I accept your deal."
"Understand this before you give the final agreement. Once you undertake the mantle of the Grim Herald, you will destroy and slaughter by countless numbers. You will be exposed to countless horrors and you will sacrifice many of your principles. Others will either hate you and others will fear you. There may be no love at all. Anger will make you strong, pain will make you unbreakable, and fear will become your strongest weapon. You will have to kill your heart or it will become your greatest nemesis. Can you withstand that? For eternity?" The Abyss clarified, trying to warn him of all the consequences.
"I've learned that others hate and fear me already. I can't others become like me. It's a painful life…to have nobody to love and care about you. The only one that stood by me at all times is gone. The people that were like family to me, were traitors. I don't have anything left to lose. Even if I decline, someone else would suffer this fate. Someone like me, should be able to withstand the horror. I've grown tired of others doing as they pleased. The Supernatural do not answer prayers and do as they please. Mortals are arrogant and self-entitled. I can't allow that anymore. If I must become retribution and vengeance, then so be it." Issei responded with all of the willpower that he had, impressing the Abyss.
"Very well. I shall give you the power to destroy the enemy and accomplish the deeds I have set for you. However, this matter takes precedence. Your first task…is to eradicate the Fortium that have been corrupted." The Abyss declared.
Issei…hesitated. This was tantamount to genocide on his part. There were currently 10,000 Fortium left. This meant putting their race on the verge of extinction. There were still several left behind, but most of the Fortium had comprised of the Revolutionaries.
Yet, his mind went back to the mother who had lost her husband and was left alone with their crying child. He thought about all of the people that had lost their homes and were now left in a new and foreign location. He thought about the cycle that the Fortium would repeat if they were left alone. Hate and vengeance would spawn again. He couldn't allow that.
"I accept your terms." Issei declared.
That one sentence began Issei's long years of agony, even if done willingly.
"Very well. Raise your right hand. I shall create a mark that will serve as proof of your position and it shall unleash all of your potential, added with my protection."
Issei lifted his right hand and suddenly, the power of the Abyss tore into his hand, stamping his flesh with the Herald's Vestige. The back of his had grew cold and hurt immensely. It was as if it were being flayed apart. He groaned and tried to contain his yells of pain. Before long, the pain ceased, leaving him in cold sweat and exhaustion.
He looked at the back of his right hand and saw the red mark that would forever curse him.
"Now, go forth. Be unleashed upon the tyranny of this world with my blessing." The Abyss ushered him.
Invoking his Fortium transformation, he covered himself in his iconic black armor, which was formerly cobalt blue. Now, it had become black and gained a more sinister form, his mana turned black and crimson and his aura changed in reflection of what he represented: vengeance and dark justice. Reflecting on his new form, he disengaged it, returning to his mortal form.
(Final Fantasy XV OST: Somnus. End Song.)
Issei was returned to his proper place in time, wearing his dark armor. He had never felt this way before. He had never felt this powerful in all his life. It was as if he could swallow the earth with its oceans, erupt volcanoes, crush mountains, and destroy stars. All of his senses felt like they were dialed up to a thousand. He could see and hear across vast distances. At first, he could barely handle it all, but he managed to control it and tune it out with rapid adjustment and extreme focus. That didn't mean it was easy, however.
He walked forward and suddenly, he was several yards away from where he stood. Did he just warp for the first time? If he were to be honest, he was freaked out? What was he now? Was he still a Fortium? Or was he more?
He then remembered that if he was going to master his powers, then he needed to do it quickly and it had to be while he headed towards Atlantis. As he traversed there, he found that he could run far faster than before, reaching a speed of Mach 7 from simple sprinting. Eventually, he picked up how to warp. It was so surreal. He had never even imagined himself to become this powerful. He wasn't really getting arrogant, but he found it hard to believe that he had this potential.
Soon enough, he arrived in Atlantis and activated the spell that would transport select targets away. Coordinating it with his [Solemn Vision], he managed to get every single civilian and innocent away from the battlefield. Another ability he discovered, was that his intuition and mental processing were like a supercomputer's. He could identify who was innocent how many there were in his visual range.
When that was said, he created a barrier to restrain the battlefield from expanding, sealing in the Fortium within a massive transparent dome of black and crimson energy. It was odd that light was still shining through as if nothing were obstructing it.
Magnarian looked around in alarm at what was happening whilst inside his ship. The barrier was familiar, looking similar to Issei's. The only thing that threw him off, was the color of it.
"What?!" He stood, baffled.
(Final Fantasy XIV OST: Answers. Play Song.)
Suddenly, Issei's image appeared in their projectors.
"Magnarian, let's talk." He tried to implore him.
"Make your peace, quickly."
"Please think this over. You don't need to do this." Issei softly spoke.
"Don't try to humble me or appeal to my better nature. We're past that. The world will pay for their ignorance. It was the sacrifice of our ancestors that they survived. After the Day of Destruction several eons ago, our people gave their lives to protect this world, yet what happened to us?! The people of the world cast us aside, usurped us, and claim themselves to be higher than all and each other! They have taken what we've given them and now see us as threats. I will have the blood of their descendants in exchange for the blood of our ancestors!"
"Don't you see what this will do?! If you do this, the world will rise against you. Its inhabitants will reject you and label all of you as tyrants. To kill blindly will only dig your graves. Not everyone is deserving of death. I beg of you, reconsider this. This doesn't need to happen. Not everyone in this time has done anything to any of you. Yes, some of them have wronged you, but not everyone. What their ancestors did, shouldn't reflect on them now. It's all in the past. Don't let history drag you into an endless cycle." Issei attempted to reason with anyone who would listen.
Unfortunately, nobody would listen.
"Issei, I truly appreciate what you've done for us, I really do. I also appreciate the fact that you're trying to keep us safe, even now. However, I now sever our ties. If you will not join us, then you will die for us. Just like how Sylderia died by our hands, so shall you." Magnarian snickered.
Issei froze.
"What was that?" He muttered.
"It was I, who delivered the death blow. Amidst the chaos of the final battle, I was able to easily mask my attack. She was a nuisance that would've hindered us, so I removed her. She would've kept us from recruiting you. Even if you refused, I'd hoped that her death would break you and make it far easier to pull you into our ranks. In the case that you didn't join, we'd have taken you captive and made you a servant. I'd originally hoped that you would join us. I'd hoped that you'd lead us under your banner again. However, I see now, that it was pointless. You're a problem that has to be dealt with. I haven't forgotten what you can do. I won't allow you to bring us down like you did the Empire. Farewell, Leader of the Revolutionaries. May you be the downfall that sparks our uprising." Magnarian laughed.
Issei stared into space. Did he hear that right? Was his mind and ears playing a sick trick on him? This whole time…Sylderia's killers were under his very nose? This entire time, he'd been played a fool. The love of his life, the light of his life, was made a pawn in their twisted scheme for petty revenge and domination. Domination?! Of all things, they shed blood for such a fleeting thing?!
The new revelation had ignited a dark part of him. The same darkness that initiated him into being the Grim Herald. Finally giving in to his inner dark side, Issei had solidified his resolve.
Erupting around him, was his black and crimson aura. It fired into the sky and covered everything in sight. A loud haunting howl of air filled everyone's ears as cold sweat fell down their faces as if they were taking an icy shower. They had never felt power like this before. Not once, had Issei ever shown this prowess, either.
The sky returned to normal upon Issei completing his transformation, being finished with the emotions of hate and rage. His crimson eyes leered at the armies in front of him. Upon the plateau that he stood, an army of Fortium charged forward. Circling around in the sky were armadas of Atlantean ships.
He looked down below and found that every single Fortium had taken on hideous shapes, having been mutated by their hate. They were the same forms that they took upon being returned to life by Praegorn.
Flying into the air, Issei extended his aura, covering everything behind him before forming a gigantic orb of black and crimson. Extending his arms, he unleashed the sphere, shattering it into smaller clusters that zoomed around like ominous comets. Unleashing the [Abyssal Torrent] for the first time, the homing blasts exploded, completely decimating the cities that were below. They were blown apart, leaving nothing but dust that was quickly blown away, leaving only a wasteland. Splashing geysers of flames shot into the sky, drowning Issei's enemies in the cremations that they had prepared for themselves.
He flew around the vicinity, trapping his treacherous comrades in a circle of destruction, preventing any escape. Just by moving by, gusts of wind tore away at the land below, tearing off part of the Earth's crust through violently strong winds.
Screams echoed below as death encompassed the continent.
Several beams and surges of magic and plasma along with ballistics and ranged weapons flew at him. Bringing his right arm over his left shoulder, he swiped at the air, reflecting the attacks backward with the [Abyssal Repulse], an amplified version of the [Solemn Repulse]. The attacks rained down upon their casters, blasting them apart and eviscerating them with fatal irony.
Issei opened his palm, unleashing a beam of mana that cracked apart the land, leaving deep crevasses within the Earth.
Despite his initial progress, he had rapidly grown more powerful and accustomed to his new abilities. The scariest thing about him, was that he could channel his rage and hate and forge it into a weapon, granting him even greater focus and prowess.
The Fortium lay helpless against the one they betrayed, realizing that their treachery had brought them to this. It was now to late, for their former leader was now the one to judge them all.
Issei looked up and found three Eldramonds, aimed right at him.
Testing his new limits, he reached out with his mind and used his telekinesis to crush all three simultaneously, turning them into giant rumples of metal. Swinging his fist down, the remains of the Atlantean superweapons smashed into the ground, violently exploding, consuming a number of Fortium.
Issei warped between their lines and flew in the air, slashing at one but killing several with one strike. He backflipped above a storm of earth and water, allowing it to crash into other Fortium as he warped out of the way.
Smashing his weapon into the ground after warping into another area, swords erupted from the ground, formed from his [Cosmic Arsenal]. Countless dozens were impaled by his ghostly weapons.
Several tried to counter him, but he would warp out of the way.
Many tried to flee but he extended both of his arms to the side, pulling them back in. Unleashing his aura, he created a shockwave that exploded violently, erupting as a dome that atomized all that it touched.
He warped into the sky and flew by all of the Warships that were poised for attack, blasting them apart with the [Abyssal Torrent], which locked onto them and blew them apart with a single shot while he swiped at the air, decimating other squads.
He blanketed the top of the barrier to the point that the sky couldn't even be seen. There were only shimmering orbs of Abyssal energy that were left for them to look at. Commanding them to drop, the blasts came down like meteorites, erupting like nukes.
He jumped into the air and used [Dawn Bringer], which was now changed into the [Night Bringer] and used it to obliterate the last of the Atlantean fleet.
He looked below and found that the only ones remaining were the 500 Fortium that he and Sylderia had personally known. That enraged him even more. They had supposedly died along with Sylderia in the final battle. It filled him with unparalleled and livid rage to know that they had betrayed her as well. And for what? A filthy ambition that would never bear fruit. An unfulfilling wish that was unworthy of anyone's time.
"Activate our seal!" Magnarian commanded, having escaped the destruction of the fleet.
Even now, he was cowardly, despite death being upon him.
The seal that they were about to use, was a last resort reserved only for threats that they couldn't destroy. By calling upon the souls of the dead Fortium, they could create a seal so strong that none could break it. The target would be left in a state of paralysis and timelessness, while weakening bit-by-bit.
A magic circle that contained rings of seals and runes began circulating underneath him, glowing bright green as it circled around him. Blades attached to chains shot out of each circle, along with pillars of mana stabbing into him. Another eruption of light fired from the seal, capturing Issei in a swirl of mana that shaped into a cube. The Cube remained attached to the circle, slowly dragging it into the seal.
"Yes! We can win! Set back we are, but with this, we can rebuild!" The deluded war monger made a victorious smile.
Suddenly, the entire continent literally rumbled. As if in fear, the land shook in terror of this new entity. The Cube began to crack as the chains shattered like glass. Red light peaked through the seal before it finally exploded, covering the sky in a disk of black darkness and crimson light and smoke.
The souls of the dead Fortium wailed as they were utterly dissipated by Issei's overwhelming might.
Radiating above them, was the Herald of Death, who was now about to pass final judgement.
"I had once hoped to live on with all of you. I had placed my faith in the fact that I had found a new family and future. I fought alongside you and shed countless tears and blood. Yet, here we stand, and I learn that it was all just a dream that'll never be. I was wrong to believe in you. If there was one thing I've now learned, it's to never be so naïve as to spare irredeemable vermin like you all. Treacherous snakes that only seek power and blindly attack all who anger you. Filthy neophytes. DISAPPEAR FROM MY SIGHT!" Issei decreed.
Having gathered his mana, which channeled into the air like an ocean in the sky, sourced from Tenzan, he unleashed his most powerful attack.
"[NIGHTFALL!]"
The attack would spread out like water, covering everything within a select area and could be controlled by Issei's will. It could dissolve everything it touched before compressing and exploding. Yet, Issei decided that he'd have mercy for one last time. For one brief moment, a thought came up in his mind.
He remembered Sylderia and a few words that she had shared with him before.
'Not everyone deserves total destruction. Even the families of the wicked would like to have their bodies to bury. To say farewell and be aware of their fate, brings an odd sort of comfort. Even if it's disturbing, I'd like to know what would have happened to a loved one.'
He also remembered what had happened to the mother and child who were on Mu. They didn't know what happened to the father of the family and could only assume his death, yet they would never truly know.
Thus, he stopped midway through the process of the attack. He 'reaped' their lives, but he did not destroy their bodies. He would allow them to be buried, even if they didn't deserve that right.
(Final Fantasy XIV OST: Answers. End Song.)
The ash cleared and all that he saw now, was a literal wasteland of a continent. The inferno and violent destruction that took place here, had eradicated all possible chances of life. Thankfully, with his newfound powers and assistance from the Abyss, he sent every single innocent and living creature that wasn't a member of the Atlantean Order, to Mu.
He peered down and found the 500 corpses of his former friends and landed on a plateau. Dispelling his armor was a mistake. Now, he felt the immense guilt settle in as the rage and wrath subsided. He trembled violently as his chest began to ache. Every single fiber of his being was in pain and it wasn't from the stress that he threw on himself. It was the trauma that he had inflicted upon his own mind.
Even if they had become enemies, the Fortium were still the only ones who had become closest to being family to him. Since the age of 5, he hadn't had anybody and it was only they, who had come close enough to bring some joy back into his life. Yet, with one cruel act, they took it all away again.
It honestly hurt, even if it didn't hurt as much as when Sylderia died, it still tortured him. He had just slain almost all of what remained of his people. He also understood their reasons. They acted out of outrage over their forgotten sacrifices and they were right about the world. Still, he couldn't allow them to do as they pleased. A blind crusade that would claim innocent lives wasn't something he could allow. It wasn't because of some ridiculous black and white morality, no, it was because it was just wrong to harm somebody who had done nothing wrong.
Issei struggled to withhold the pain but he could no longer digest it. Even if he had prevented a tragedy upon the world, he had still committed a tragedy in itself. He had slain the people that he had cared deeply about while avenging his love. It was so contradictive that Issei could barely process it all.
He gave one giant roar of agony and grief, echoing into the sky.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH" He roared in pain as burning tears fell down his face.
Flashback End
Those were but small tastes of his past, with much more having happened. Issei had reformed his resolve as he remembered why he became the Grim Herald. He reaffirmed what was at stake and what could happen if he didn't act. This was no time to wonder about his sanity and regret what he'd done. At the time, he hadn't learned how to destroy souls, which now proved to be a problem, as the Fortium had returned. However, it also gave him a chance at accomplishing a new goal.
He reminded himself that he had obtained this power for a reason. It was to right so many wrongs in the world. That meant that he could right his own wrongs as well.
What he found funny was that after every bout of emotional trauma, he would emerge stronger as he digested it.
It was time. He needed to continue forward and end this entire chaos that had destroyed so many lives. The truths he learned would now allow him to act without any more hesitations, for he now had more reason to fight harder.
Once again, that was a long chapter.
Originally, this was going to be its own arc, but I decided that I didn't want to spend an eternity to do that. Instead, I thought I'd tease you all with this. I might do something extensive about showing Issei's past, but it depends on my mood. I don't want to lose traction for the present, so I'll leave matters concerning the past as flashbacks.
However, if I have time or I'm willing to do it, I'll consider doing prequels, but that is not certain at all.