Chapter 7: Forneus' Experiment
Meanwhile, a little earlier, not very far from the destroyed village…
(Azura's perspective)
"Lady Azura, Kane is almost done resting. Has the staff been fixed yet?" Silas asks while tending to his horse. His steed, Kane, is a wild and strong one, but we pushed him a bit too far and ran out of energy. I tried singing, but it was too exhausted even with my performance. So, I decided we should rest under this tree on a path separate from the main one upon seeing dark clouds. Then I sent Kaze to investigate while Silas and I relaxed. It's been about ten minutes or so, and the fires have almost died down.
"That's great Silas. And no, it is only becoming even more erratic the more I try. Dragonstone's don't normally possess this behavior, so it must be an effect of her new form. We were so close as well!"
"Yeah, that thing she turned into back on the battlefield, I still can't believe it."
"Neither can I, yet it happened. But I'm going to find her and help any way I can!"
"Same goes for me too, Lady Azura. I have a promise to keep!" Silas exclaims.
Neigh
"Looks like Kane is raring to go!"
"Great work Silas. But we still need to know where we're going, or we will waste more energy."
A brief silence ensues as I am absorbed in my work on Corrin's stone. Blue waves of energy violently splash outwards like considerable waves in the ocean. She probably is in her new form she obtained through that belt. If so, my singing won't work against it, or be sufficient enough to work before she kills us. Unless...
"So, um..."
"Ah!," Silas' voice startles me. I fumble Corrin's staff, just managing to catch it. With a sigh of relief, I turn to Silas, "Why did you startle me like that?"
"I-I didn't mean to, Lady Azura!"
"Hmph!" I swiftly return to my work on Corrin's staff, while facing away from Silas.
After some more silence between us, I begin feeling sorry about the way I acted and decide to at least hear what he said. I finish up my preparations so that I can divert some attention to him while I continue to work further on the staff, as well as making sure my back is still facing away from him.
"Silas?"
"Yes, Lady Azura?
"You wanted to tell me something earlier. Please tell me?" I did it! I hope I can end this quickly. My face is so red with embarrassment Corrin would never stop teasing me about it.
"I was just wondering what Corrin is like now. And if she remembers me at all," Silas responds; his tone became melancholic as he spoke.
I remain silent implying that I'm allowing him to continue.
"It's been so long since I've seen her, and even then her memories were erased that day. I spent my whole life training to be a knight, so I may one day serve by her side. If only I hadn't taken her to that place that day!"
I chuckle, breaking Silas' negativity with confusion, "You said your name is Silas, am I correct?"
"Yes, milady."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Corrin's memories were restored upon her arrival in Hoshido. And honestly, I mean no offense but she talked about you so much it would drive me crazy! One time she had a panic attack over a dream where you met up again and wasn't wearing the "right look" as she phrased it."
Silas laughs. "That's amazing! Thank you so much Lady Azura! All my life, every choice I made, was all worth it."
"I'm glad you feel that way."
"Lady Azura, may I please ask you one more thing."
Will he leave me alone? I'll just answer his question, and go back to my business, "Alright, one more."
"What does Corrin mean to you?"
My thinking stops in a halt. I shudder at the thought, but I will tell him anyway. "More than you," I respond quietly.
"Well, just know, that if you are ever in danger or need of assistance, I'll help you in whatever way I can."
Corrin was right about Silas: his soul is pure, "Thank you, Silas."
"
"Lady Azura, I have returned and ready to report!" Kaze says as he arrives from the winds.
"Please share your findings," I command.
"As you wish. The smoke we saw billowing in the sky was indeed caused by fire. Specifically, a nearby village was overrun by Faceless not long ago. All buildings are rubble except for one, and the Faceless roam the empty streets. I could not stay for much longer, so I fled."
"How many Faceless were there?"
"Far more than a natural cluster. I don't even think I've seen that many in one place at once before. I counted at least 40 of them. It must be the work of a caster."
"How do you know for sure, Kaze?"
The ninja smiles, "Because I saw Lady Corrin alive standing before them."
Silas and I drop whatever we were doing, "Whaaaaat?!" we yell in unison.
"I'm afraid we cannot rejoice just yet. The enemy is unlike anything I ever knew in all my years as a ninja of the Isogashi Clan."
"I don't care about that! Corrin needs our help!"
Suddenly, I hear a plea for help from Corrin echoes through my head. She's terrified.
"I'm afraid I agree with Silas here, Kaze. She is in danger, and us three are the only support she has. Furthermore, since we know her location, we no longer need to worry about her staff."
"Understood, Lady Azura. I will guide you and Sir Silas to the village immediately."
Silas and I mount Kane as we follow Kaze to my sister at breakneck speed. I don't know what I'll do if she is dead or worse when we arrive.
(Corrin's perspective, present)
"Experiment?" I ask in confusion
"Yes. You are the first known person ever successfully to use the Tenkai Emblem and become a Tenkai. That's the name of the belt, by the way. I wish to gather data by having you fight some of my minions while transformed. Don't worry; none are human, so you don't have to worry about killing an inferior race.
So, he's racist too. At least I know that the experiment is him validating my fighting capability. I guess it's like Garon's trial, except I'm alone, fighting monsters as my opponents, and as a Tenkai. Then again, I can barely trust half the things that come out of his covered mouth.
"So, all I need to do is kill your minions, and you'll go away?"
"Pretty much. At least until the next test. Anyways, I need to make sure of something before we start: how much have you eaten since you last woke up, and how much did you eat before you first transformed?"
"Excuse me? What are you, my doctor?"
"Ah! I forget that human females are usually sensitive to this topic. I just wanted you to give you a bit more, pivotal, information about your Tenkai form."
My attention shifts immediately.
"Now I got your attention. Anyways, the Tenkai form is directly linked with your hunger."
"My hunger?"
"Tenkai require a lot more energy than most creatures, in other words, have a much larger appetite. If you are starving you will have no power at all and unable to fight, but if you are starving, it may cause you to go berserk and mindlessly seek any form of nourishment, mainly meat. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, right?"
My mind turns blank in shock, "When I... ate people?!"
Forneus nods. "I watched the whole thing from the sidelines, but that didn't give me sufficient data. Anyways, that's enough talking. Now then, let's begin the experiment."
The fires begin to dye out after running out of things to burn. The whole town is dead. The only thing remaining is the building where Nyx, Lilith, and Mozu are. My blood boils, and my heart races. I hate him, and I want to make him pay for all this! This is precisely what he wants, but I do not desire to oppose him. Only to make him feel the pain of those fallen to fulfill his selfish ambition.
I stand up, facing him with power flowing through me.
"If this was all an act to get me to transform and fight, then this was quite overkilled."
"I suppose I went a little overboard," Forneus replies. "Though, I wanted our first meeting to be rather special."
"Looking at you makes me sick. Now you'll pay for all the death, and destruction you caused."
He leaps back onto the podium and into his chair. I turn as jumps over; never breaking eye-contact. He seems pleased. Let me fix that for him.
I grab the handle, breathe, then turn the handle.
"ANANKOS!" the belt announces.
As my blood boils, and the belt's eyes flare red, I find myself in my head before the dragon, locked in its new cage.
"I need your power, so I'm gonna let you out for a bit. But you'd better behave yourself!" I berate. The cage doors open on their hinges. The dragon walks out, a collar and chain attaching it within the cage. It looks deep into my eyes despite lacking ones itself.
Then, I feel it — the rush. The primal instincts and desires rush through my body.
Only this time, instead of panicking, I welcome them.
"ANANKOS!" I yell.
"EVOLUTION!"
The vermillion flames explode around me, becomes a shower of water, as I become my other self. Though I am not cognitively aware, my mind races, rage boiling. There is no time for words only action!
My body stops thinking, and my emotions dissolve away. Only my raw, carnal desire remains.
I growl as I wait on my move. All my energy has migrated to focusing everything on the next impulse.
"Wonderful! A successful birth of a new Tenkai! Tenkai Anankos!" Forneus exclaims, hands in the air. "Now then," He snaps his fingers.
The first wave of prey charge. Normal Faceless. Tasteless.
All charge. I move swiftly from their line of sight, all crashing into the other. I sharpen my claws: Slice, Slash, Grind, GASH! Piles of flesh fall around me like rain onto the ground. They disintegrate.
What is Forneus doing? Stare.
"Well done. You defeated a small army of 30 Faceless in the blink of an eye. How wonderful. He meets my gaze, "However, I see the normal ones bore you. I feel you. Let's try end this warm up, shall we?" He flicks and turns some nobs on his weapon before loading what looks like a pod, and fires it into the air. Moments later it dissolves into purple smoke that surrounds me. Several, massive silhouettes form from inside the fog before walking out. More Faceless. No, they are large, muscles thick enough I can see the central veins, their skin covered in purple veins and red deathly light buns from behind their masks.
"These are my latest creations: the Risenless. They are far more powerful than the lot you faced so far."
Interesting. Do they taste better? No! Corrin! Stay in control! I furiously shake my head to break away from the influence and fight back for control. I manage to push a bit but am unable to regain control, and the influence returns.
The fog clears. I can see these new monsters. Ten in total. Who to eat first?
FOOM! Leap in the air, brandishing my claws with inner glee, use my wings to swoop down and slice one in two-what?
Turning around, purple blood spews from the gash, but it's barely unscathed.
A crushing grip befalls my leg, the one I cut violently slams me to the ground, cracking it.
SLAM, SLAM, SLAM! It smashes me into the ground again and again.
But it doesn't hurt much-like Hans' axe in my shoulder. Each impact only invigorates me more and more!
The beast continues as I receive a high from the thrill of battle, and realize that if my claws don't work, then this will!
With perfect timing, the Risenless's head is pierced fully by my leg. It falls as its dead grip loosens while dissolving to dust. Reverting, I reset it from a spear, and turn to face my nine other sources.
Six at the front, and two on each side. Who to choose first?
Two come at me from the left, a third from the center.
I turn the handle, "DRACONIC FANG!" Extending my spinning javelin arm, I burrow through the one in front as well as the one behind it, spin and slice! With two Faceless skewered, I slash at all sides, even behind me. That attack should dice all of them.
I turn to face Forneus, who's now behind me on ground level.
"Very Impressive!" he says, "But you should finish everything before speaking with me.
No way!
A violent SNAP reverberates throughout the area, loudly in my body from my arm, still dwarfed by the volume of my roar of pain.
Turning back, there is one left. It's holding my extended arm, the other half lying on the ground.
It slams me to the ground in an instant. I feel my bones rattle from the impact! This one isn't like the others. This must have been the real one Forneus summoned. The others were fakes!
It picks me up again, ready to throw-I can't let it do that!
As it puts me into motion, I turn my back and wait for the right moment!
"GURAAAH!" It roars as my sharpened wings formed from my cape impale its chest. Purple blood seeps through its wounds.
It roars again. Only more violently! I kick it so it loosens its grip, and pry myself away. Leaping back several feet, clutching my bleeding, broken hand. Even though it reverted, it's still broken.
No time to relax as a large shadow overlaps mine, and a menacing aura looks down upon me.
FOOSH!
I blast the looming Risenless with my water breath. What can generally cut stone, this monster is nearly unfazed by.
But that's what I wanted. I allow myself to fly on the pushback of the torrent, stab the ground with a spear, and to use the momentum, pivots, and flies at the monster delivering a devastating side-kick to its head!
I land, thinking I won-until it let out another roar! It's hurt, but not close to down! That was everything I had!
In fear, I watch as it slowly edges closer and closer: my anxiety building with every step.
I have to move. I HAVE TO MOVE!
Roaring, I shove my energy into my broken arm regenerating it-only for it to grow ten times its size.
With my giant claw, I uppercut the beast as it approaches-knocking it on its back.
As my hand turns back to normal, I notice the creature's helpless state. I need to finish this with one blow now, or I may not get another chance.
I pivot around and outstretch my arm, with the other bracing it. Once in the stance, I pull the lever, "DRACONIC ROAR!"
Roar?
Suddenly my claw arm starts growing and gathering huge amounts of power! I quickly take my other arm to brace it as more power and water builds within the claw.
The creature begins to stand up. MORE POWER!
Power fills the claw returning to its massive size from moments ago. Once it can hold no more, I roar, and fire.
A massive ball of compressed water flies at the monster, blowing it to a bloody pulp.
It disintegrates-no meal for me. Now then.
Forneus approaches me clapping his hands, "Wonderful. Absolutely amazing. You blew my expectations, and this data is invaluable!"
"Grrrrrr."
"Now hold on, a minute. We can fight don't worry, but aren't you a little hungry first?"
My consciousness splits at the sound of those words. There's no way he'd-
"You were tempted by my Risenless, but you didn't get a piece. Don't worry; I prepared something just in case this were to happen."
No, no, no!
He points to the rooftop were Mozu, Nyx, and Lilith is, "Those two on that roof over there should fill your belly. Afterward, we can fight to your heart's content!"
I feel the hunger, sensations, and desires of food, all pointing at Nyx and Mozu.
"DON'T DO IIIIIIIIIIIIT!"
But my body moves on its own. Salivating, my body leaps, flying to the rooftop in seconds. It knocks away Nyx and Lilith as if they were insects and crawls over Mozu's body on the floor. My jawline breaks open, once again revealing the sharp teeth.
STOOOOOOP!
Then I feel a hand grip, and pull me out of something. I'm in a room similar to the dragon's cell, only now there is a magic orb in the center the size of a table, and a ring of dark water. Does the hand belong to me? No. It may look like me, but their eyes are yellow with split pupils, the hair is spiky, the skin scaly, teeth sharp, this is the Dragon-me's human form.
I try to fight against its grip, but its too powerful and throws me into the dark waters. The force sends me downwards so fast I can't stop myself as the last rays of light I will ever see fade into the abyss. Soon after, I stop breathing.
I lost.
Without a shred of hope remaining, and somehow still conscious, I drift further into the dark abyss.
But right when I was about to fade into nothingness, a familiar lullaby graces my ears, "You are the oceans grey waves..."
To be continued in Part 2...
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