The land of the shadows, a strange wasteland devoid of life. A place where no trees growing with green healthy leaf, no flowers blooming beautifully, no birds soaring through the sky, no calming looking clouds painted to be seen above. This land offers nothing but the sound of dreadful wind traveling across this place.
Yet, someone is ruling this place. A ruined castle located on the coast of the isle, a bastion that holds histories and well-known legends. The Dunscaith Castle also called the fortress of shadows. Its where the land's ruler is living.
Her name is Scáthach, the queen of this land, a beautiful warrior that is capable of killing a god, a teacher that taught many warriors, an immortal that's been looking out on this place for centuries. This region, even though it is lacking with life, there are creatures living in this place. Similar to the land, these creatures are also bereft of life.
They are not exactly living. They're far away from what they were before. They've become a wraith, a manifestation of a person after they died. The role of this place is to collect the spirits of the dead so they could not roam around the world of the living, but unlike any land of the dead, this land of the shadows collect those powerful spirits that could turn into apparitions and harm the world more than anyone could imagine.
Scáthach didn't become a ruler to guide the lost souls, as a matter of fact, its the complete opposite of what a ruler should do. She was here to slay those wraiths, to make sure they will forever be in this land and won't do anything harmful outside this realm. That is her role for centuries now. But it all changes in just one, single day.
There should be no sign of life in this place except her. Yet, strangely she senses something different from a wraith. Compared to the cold life form of those specters, this one is warm, like its completely alive and it was near her. The queen's curiosity about it made her leave the castle to investigate, outside of her fortress, below the hill, she saw a body lying motionlessly on the black sandy shore.
Upon closer inspection, she identifies the body has a figure of a male, a young man, somewhere around his near twenties, he has raven-colored hair and wearing a black-colored tailcoat. Wary if the man is conscious or not, she uses a rune, a form of magecraft created during the ages of Gods, to check if the young man is awake.
Seeing there is no response, she walks closer and roll the man's body to see its face. To her surprise, the man is very good looking even when he's sleeping or has a messy looking hair. However, this isn't a good place to fall asleep, even though it's near her home, it is still dangerous because the wraiths are a limbless creature that is hungry to devour any form of life.
He's probably going to be eaten by now if the wraiths didn't sense her presence near. Still, she doesn't know how someone ended up here without her permission. Regardless, it will be much safer if she brings him inside the fortress and waits for him to wake up, letting out a sigh, the queen of the land of shadows carried the unconscious man toward her home.
After days of waiting, she saw the young man awake and walking down the stairs, the queen's crimson-colored pupils meet the young man gray colored eyes, both of them are surprised but at the same time cautious at one another. But to break the ice between them, Scáthach heard the young man introducing himself to her.
Ren Amamiya.
That was the young man's name. His name is very different from the common names she heard before, and his facial structure is different from her past students that all came from the same land. She could only assume that his from another country.
Seeing the man has manners and introduces himself before her. The queen speaks out her name, she then proceeds by asking him if he's okay, to her relief the young man replied that his feeling alright. Scáthach knew that Ren has a lot of questions in mind, they're both on the same page, she as well wants to know who he really is and what is he doing here.
To show her courtesy, she offered him to settle on a table, which he agreed without hesitation. Once they arrived at the castle dining area and seated on a chair. They began exchanging questions and answers at each other. Scáthach was the first one to ask, her question is 'Who are you, Ren Amamiya?'
She saw a glimpse of trouble look on his face. He's probably thinking about how he's going to answer her question. But the troubled expression didn't last long and quickly replaced by a more composed one, Ren opened his mouth and tell her his story. A story about a teenager that been labeled with wrong accusation and cast away by the society his living, but after receiving a mysterious power that can change a person heart by stealing their distorted desire, he and his companions made a group called 'The Phantom Thieves of Heart' and made their heist in order to change the corrupted heart.
He claimed himself as the leader of this group. Which made Scáthach speculate if his saying the truth or not. The ability to change someone's heart, its sounds preposterous and doesn't look very heroic because, for her point of view, it seems they're just controlling a person's heart and not changing it. Nevertheless, she asks him what reason it is for her to believe his story.
The young man replied by simply pointing at her. His reply astonishes her and the way he says it with confidence and a smile on his face, she realizes that this man even though it doesn't show on his face he is perceptive around him. His reply is 'I can tell that your not just a beautiful lady living inside this castle, I see this glowing crimson outline on you, that is enough for me to say that you're not ordinary. So I thought the story about myself will fit in.'.
He then proceeds in saying that it's his turn to ask questions. Scáthach agreed even though she's still wondering what he meant by glowing crimson outside, those this man has knowledge about magecraft? Or perhaps he possesses mystic eyes? Whatever ability that is, she already has speculation on her mind but needed more information before it becomes a conclusion.
Ren's first question is the most obvious one. 'Where I am?'. The queen decided not to hide anything about this place and explain what exactly is this place. Land for the dead, a place that traps the soul, whenever you look at it, this place she rules isn't a paradise. She expects him to become agitated after hearing about this strange land, but to her surprise, the young man is listening closely to her explanation, there is a bit shock on his face after she finished.
Even so, if his story is true, then this young man is been with many supernatural places besides this. He's probably accustomed to it by now and won't freak out like any other normal person. His second question, on the other hand, is more complex. 'Is he still alive?'.
That question of his is easy to answer but harder to explain. Like what her explanation about this place, only the dead could be in here, her authority as its ruler makes her special. Meanwhile, he, on the other hand, is not. From what she can tell, this young man is very much alive and away from dying, but he should not be here, not without her permission.
Yet, someway or somehow, he manages to slip through this realm gate and made it inside. She asks him about it, how did he manages to get into this land, but unfortunately he doesn't even know why he is here. Scáthach can tell the genuine sadness on him when he says that, it does look like he's telling the truth at her.
More speculation raises on her mind afterward, she asks him what is the last thing he remembers. Which he answers 'I remember a lot of things, events on my life, but I can't get the grasp its chronological order.'. He is far away from amnesiac, confuse is the better phrase to describe his situation.
Did something cause this to him? She thought for a while before deciding to leave it on the side for now. When he asked if she knows anything about what happened to him, she shakes her head to answer and said that she only saw him laying on the shore the other day.
Seeing the dejection on his eyes, Scáthach felt bad about his situation. Letting out a sigh, she called out his name and get his attention. What she about to say to him is just speculation right now, but there is some evidence that points to it.
"I think, maybe you're a servant stranded on this place."
Who knew that statement of her will be the beginning of everything, how their lives about to change.
"Again!" yelled the queen of the land of shadows as she tosses the training sword at the raven-haired teenager. Ren catches the sword before proceeding on another match with Scáthach. He doesn't know how many days have passed after they've met in this isle, he stops counting after learning that the shifting of day and night doesn't exist here.
It always the same dark cloudy skies, no matter how long he sleeps, this view won't ever change. He starting to miss the warm light coming from the sun and the cool breeze of the night, then again, he decided to stay on this place even though Scáthach can get him out of this place.
There is a world waiting outside of this realm according to her. Its a shock for him when he heard that it won't be different from the world they knew about. It won't be the same world, country, and city he lives in. This is why he understands why she worries about leading him outside, they both don't know what is waiting for them.
All the queen know is that the world outside is located inside the moon. A virtual world that is still growing, filled with fantasies and reality, a replica of both the past and the present of the planet Earth. Anything besides that little information is outside of her knowledge.
He was in disbelief at first, everything felt unreal, but the voice of his personas keep him away from breaking, the bonds he forges made his will to keep going stronger. Life is full of challenges, this one is a bit more might be harder than the last, but it didn't stop him from keep going. He knew something needed to be done.
There has to be a reason for all of this, perhaps a mastermind behind this, he needs to act against it. This became one of the reasons why he'd accepted being her apprentice, he needs to prepare while thinking all over it, and more importantly how to become a 'Servant'.
A terminology that has a different meaning from what he knew. Based on what Scáthach said about him, his probably a servant that is, unfortunately, went to this place. And from her term, a servant is a heroic spirit of the past that is summoned by magi. They are called upon to help these magi on a competition called 'The Holy Grail War', a battle between seven magi and seven heroic spirits for the prize of one wish.
But things are different now according to her, right now, there is no war happening, no magi competing, and not servants should be summoned. The war has ended, and after it comes to the new ages. She said that servants right now are getting summoned left and right, but not in this land. When he asked how sure she is about this.
She answered with. 'You should consider yourself lucky that you're a servant, this isn't a place for a normal human, you've probably won't be able to survive the test I'd given to you without that status.'. Her words, even though it's not harsh, it still manage to send mild shiver on his spine.
And that test she has given to him, it was way beyond cruelty and horror. A day after he accepted her offer, he found himself in an unfamiliar forest with a note saying 'Find me with just your skills and you'll pass.'. He remembers the time when a crowd of wraiths chases after him as he swims toward this isle. That was a scary experience that is going to hunt his dream.
But in the end, he passes, the reason why she wants him to find her is because of the tradition and to see if he deserve to learn under her. It was a relief at first, but things become even more hellish when they've begun his training. It is pale in comparison to Morgana's bodybuilding exercise or to the place called hell. When she learned about his persona, she becomes strangely interested and used him for lots of testing.
The moment she discovers about the persona version of herself, his training becomes unimaginably harder, two strict teachers watching over him and their name is Scáthach. If there is a word that surpasses hell, then this thing is the manifestation of it.
"Good job." Scáthach commended before lowering the sword she's using. Wiping the sweat on her forehead, she hasn't felt this kind of workout for a long time. That recommendation of that persona version of herself is really paying off. Why go on a normal routine when his body isn't the same as an ordinary human. Smiling to herself, she approaches the exhausted apprentice of her. "You're getting better on the use of swords. Just remember the difference between a knife and swords, and you'll do fine."
"Perhaps you will able to surpass me one day."
Ren took a deep breath and release it before facing his teacher. "I hope not, I'm still hoping to continue learning from a beautiful teacher." He said before laughing softly on his own statement.
The queen finds herself smiling and chuckling a little from his joke. "You and your witty reply. I'm going to miss those." She replies with a sad tone on her voice.
"You're going somewhere?"
Scáthach nodded before answering. "Yes, it seems I'm being called for a mission," she said. Similar to her apprentice, she is a servant, but unlike any ordinary servants, she is one among the top servants that are summoned on that world. She has tasks to fulfill, and the Moon Cell, a powerful artifact found in the moon needed her help after feeling a threat inside the virtual world it created.
"By who?"
The queen smiled softly after seeing his troubled face about her coming departure. "It's not a person per se, but it is requesting my assistance. Remember the world outside this place? Well, that world is in danger and needing my aid."
"I see…"
"But that doesn't mean you can slack off while I'm gone. You'll be going to continue your training here because you're going to summon my persona version to watch over you. If she hasn't reported anything when I returned, then you'll be going through your training as a mouse."
Ren felt his lionhearted level of guts disappear in an instance by just imagining that punishment. He doesn't know how, but Scáthach came up with this punishment of forcefully turning his body into a mouse by the use of runes. A very complicated rune that she and her persona version took days to properly make.
Scáthach even though she is extremely beautiful and kind, she can be cruel when it comes to training. She is exactly what the persona Scáthach is to him. A very strict teacher.
"Ren…when I came back. Can we fight each other without holding back?" The queen's request came up of surprise. But then again, his looking forward to it, he wants to see how strong he became. Surely, the new tricks on his sleeve will surprise even her.
"Of course!"
The female warrior felt genuinely happy that a gentle smile appears on her face. Ren was about to point it out and perhaps tease her a little, but a loud explosion stops him and ruins this moment.
"What was that?" Scáthach murmured to herself while staring at the skies that turning red like it was bleeding. The land below them begun to shake, the air become colder than before, and the sound of tides crashing through the shore can be heard. This isn't normal, this land should be acting this way, the queen knew that something out of her control is about to happen.
And she was right when a hole appeared on the crimson-colored skies that slowly become a distortion, and several figures came out of it that landed in front of them, she didn't need to use any runes to tell what they are, her intuition is already ringing inside her mind, sending warnings to her, this people are trouble.
They're all wearing the same white-colored robe, except for one. A woman standing gracefully in front of the group. She has two massive black and pink-lined curved horns extending from the sides of her head, a black hair with pink tips flows in twisting locks behind her and on her forehead lays three vertical dots. Her attire has become that of a revealing long white coat with belled sleeves and thigh-high pink boots. This woman no-, this demon is smiling at the queen and her apprentice, like a hungry predator that cornered its prey.
"Pardon our interruption." She said with a sweet-sounding voice, she then put her hand on her chest and took a slight bow. "My name is Kiara Sessyoin, you can just call me Kiara since my titles are very long and hard to say. But mind me asking, is this the land of that shadows?" The woman named Kiara ask politely at the two, but before anyone could answer, her attention immediately shifted strangely at the raven-haired teenager.
"Hmm, this feeling. Akechi-kun, is he the one you're talking about?"
A figure whose face is covered walk behind the demonic woman, he then removes the hood above his head, revealing a pleasant-looking boy. He has reddish-brown eyes and a shaggy neck-length brown hair with bangs. "Long time no see, Joker." He said before sending Ren a smirk on his face.
"Akechi…" Ren murmured in disbelief, he doesn't know how to react in this situation. If things are happening differently, he would be smiling knowing that his alive. But seeing him with this demonic-looking woman, and that ominous smirk on him. It reminds him of that time they fought at Shido's palace.
"Why the long face? Aren't you happy to see me?" He asks before laughing softly, Akechi then shakes his head before looking straight to Ren's eyes. "Well it doesn't matter, I'm not a fan of a heartwarming reunion anyway." He said before looking at the demonic woman beside him. "Yes, he is the one I'm talking about. Once you consume him, you'll be able to achieve the power that can match the Moon Cell."
"Is that so? You're really a great help Akechi-kun! So this is what it feels like to have a trusty partner." Kiara replied while staring lovingly at the man standing beside her.
Akechi nodded his head before speaking. "Well is it part of our deal, after all, I'll able to control and use this power of mine more effectively thanks to you." He said and shifted his attention to Ren. "Remember how I lost to you? It's not because you're much better or powerful than me. But because of the people supporting your back."
"Without them, you won't be able to defeat me or changes Shido's heart. I realize that was the thing I lack." Suddenly, Akechi started to chuckle, then turned into a laugh, before becoming a maniacally one for a short moment. "What would happen if the tables suddenly turned. What would happen if I have those same people backing me up against you, Joker? Do you think you can still win?" He said.
Seven hooded figures walk in front of Akechi. One by one they remove the cover on their faces and reveal the truth. "Everyone…" Ren let out of shock and pure disbelief. He can feel himself shaking from the emotion building up inside him, everyone is here, Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Futaba, Haru, all of his friends and members of the Phantom Thieves of Heart.
He wanted to smile from seeing them, he wanted to say hi to them, he wanted to do all those things that friends do. But a hand is stopping him from doing it, Scáthach is holding his wrist, and shake her head when he looks at her. Shifting his attention towards the phantom thieves, he saw their eyes, its different from what he remembers, their eyes are glowing with a bright color of gold. It's like he's looking on a shadow version of themselves.
"Meet the tricksters. They're a group of Pseudo-Servants that I personally pick to serve Kiara and slaves the gods and conquer this world."
Ren has having a hard time comprehending what Akechi had said. He doesn't know what a Pseudo-Servants is or the correlation of that terminology to his friends.
But…
If they're planning to use his friends for evil-doing, then they cross the line, he won't let it happened. Ren's mask appeared to his face and engulf with azure flames. Then a being behind him started to materialize through the flames. His gaze at Akechi didn't waver even though he's just smiling from seeing him getting consumed by anger.
"Ravage him, Arsene!" Joker shouted before the gentleman thief named Arsene summoned a pillar of black-colored flame below Akechi, the flame them rise up and consumed the man with its unforgiving curses. But it quickly extinguishes, when Akechi cut the flame with a black serrated sword on his hand. The thief notices something is different this time, similar to the other, Akechi's eyes are also glowing with radiant color of gold.
With a smirk on his face, Akechi looks at Joker with a condescending attitude. "Ah Joker, I can see the difference between you and I. You're still summoning your personas, meanwhile, I become one with my persona. I've become the God of Trickster, himself." He said before pointing the serrated sword at Arsene, who got surprised when he got cut in half by a clone of Akechi behind him.
Ren felt Arsene went back to the sea of the soul in agony. His body also felt like it's been cut, after all, he shares the same pain of a persona when it got attacked, not in terms of physical pain, but in both soul and mind. Regardless, this isn't the same Akechi he fought before. He'll able to beat Arsene without using a persona, which is impossible. Just how powerful did Akechi become?
"What can a mere thief do against a God? You should know better what the answer is, Joker." Akechi asks, but then become insulted when he started hearing the raven-haired thief laughing. "What the heck are you laughing at?!"
"What can a mere thief do against a God?" Joker repeated what Akechi said before giving him a smirk full of confidence. "That's cute, you weren't there when I started shooting bullets on a God's head." He said before pulling the arm of Akechi's clone that tried to backstab him. "Also, that wasn't the first time you tried to do it." He then forced his knee to the clone stomach and send it back to the original.
Akechi stared at his clone laying on the ground. "I hate that cocky attitude of yours." He said before tightening his grip on his serrated sword. "But killing you over and over again is something I can do all day." Akechi then dashed toward Joker and the two clashed in combat.
Scáthach is already anticipating for this to happen, so she immediately summoned two crimson spears on her hand and went straight to her target, Kiara. She has this feeling, that this woman will become catastrophic if left alone. "Hey miss, Kiara has nothing to do with this so leave her alone." She heard from the blond-man that appeared in front of her, she swiftly slide under the bludgeoning looking staff that swings at her.
Doing a handstand to get back to her feet, the queen felt something burning coming behind her. A humongous ball of flame that is destroying and leaving everything it passes to ash is coming straight at her, but thanks to quick thinking, she kneels to the ground and use a runic spell to shield her from the flame, a mud appeared from the run and cover her surroundings like a bubble.
She keeps casting the same rune and adds more layers of shield just to make sure it won't break and burn her alive. This flame is devastating, it's not just an ordinary fire, this heat and power, there is no doubt, its similar to the origin of the fire that only Gods born in flames could use.
Realization soon strikes the queen's head. Using her runes once again, she tried to get the grasp of this servant they're dealing with. And to her shock, the result is terrifying. "They're all divine beings…" She murmured to herself while still covered by her runic shield. They all look like they came from different places, so there is no way for these godly beings to work together. Especially with that demonic-looking woman.
As she's thinking deeply about this, her instinct kicked in and she made her way out of the shield before getting slash in half. "Are you all aware of what that woman really is?" She asks the young man with blue-colored hair, Scáthach can only imagine if she didn't act fast, not only she going to cut in half, but also frozen in ice.
"I am not obligated to answer your question. But I advise you to just let miss Kiara consume Ren Amamiya." The unnamed man answers politely before pulling out a spiral looking sword his use.
Scáthach smiled to herself, that weapon his carrying, it definitely belongs to a god, she can feel it's divinity radiating with cold harsh aura. She might be a god-slayer, but taking all these beings that are working as a group, that is asking too much. Regardless, she won't abandon her apprentice, especially if everything that is happening right now involves him. Without answering the polite god's request, she went into a fighting stance with her well-known weapon in hands.
When the two rivals break free from their clash, they look at each other with the same emotion they have back in that palace. One has a gaze of sadness for fighting a friend, while the other has hatred on his eyes, fueled with anger while staring at his opponent.
Two different individuals went on a different journey in life before competing at each other. Joker who become an exile after the false accusation befall upon him, but he found happiness around the little number of people who knew who he really is, not a man who'll be going to assault someone, but a man that is willing to help regardless of the circumstances, he uses his power for the good of the others and not for himself.
Meanwhile, Akechi who was accepted and loved by many, still found himself lonely even with the amount of recognition he receives. Everyone knew that he was kind, smart, charming, and most likely what everyone would like to be with.
But they didn't know, behind that smile of him is the lonesome feeling inside. And underneath that loneliness lies the boiling fury that his keeping since he was a child. The hunger for revenge for the man that abandoned him, the reason why he becomes an unwanted child. Whether it was a stroke of luck or an unknown god took pity of him that gives him the power to serve revenge on this man, he gladly took it and use it for his selfish goals.
Now they're facing each other once again. But things are different this time, the man that ruined their life doesn't involve anymore, it just them fighting for a different reason and cause.
"Tell me Akechi, why are we in this place? and what are you planning to do with my friends?" Joker asks with mixed confusion and anger on his tone. If it's about their rivalry, then his friends have nothing to do with it, they both can settle it with a fight, but he heard it from his mouth, they're planning to use everyone against him and to fulfill their wicked plans. He won't let that happen, not even if Akechi is standing on his way.
"Didn't that woman who's with you this whole time didn't explain anything?" Akechi replied before standing in a much-relaxed posture and resting the serrated sword on his side. "This place is just a part of a much bigger world, a world inside the moon, a virtual world it created to become a new home for humanity, a world that is completely different from ours."
"A new home for humanity? A world different from ours?"
Akechi smiled amusingly from seeing Joker's confused look. "To make it much easier to understand, we are in the different world, and the Earth in this place is on an essential crisis that slowly killing the planet due to the lack of resources to use." looking at Joker's face, Akechi can tell that his in disbelief from hearing all of this. Shaking his head, it would be a pity if he becomes downhearted from the revelation, a proper wake-up call should suffice to continue their fight.
"The reason why you're here is because of my request at Kiara. I was a candidate to become one of the pseudo-servants that the moon is about to create. But because we have the same power, I was able to take control of my mind, soul, and body against the heroic spirit that being fused in me, I was even able to use its power for my own will. Thanks to Kiara's guidance." Akechi said before showing several clones of himself appearing behind him.
"To show my gratitude to her, I started helping her to achieve her goals, I mean she took the time to get you and the phantom thieves data on our world to bring you all here. Unfortunately, someone intercepts during the time she retrieves yours, that is the reason why you're here. But it doesn't matter anymore, once I kill you and she consumed you, nothing is going to stop her anymore."
"Consume me? Just what kind of being is she?" Joker questioned while looking at Akechi's clone that is circling like flocks of hungry crows. He readied his other hand and place it near his waist where his gun is.
"I admit, even though we have the same ability to use multiple personas. Yours are much powerful than mine. I hate looking inferior to you, but I guess it was a blessing in disguise since it saved me from being absorbed. I told Kiara about you, about your ability to summon personas, I told her that if she consumed you, she'll achieve much greater power. Unfortunately, she cannot absorb you immediately, not when you're just raw data. You need to be formed first before she can do it. And look at you now, like a newly picked fruit, you're in a perfect condition for her to eat." He said before smiling at Joker. "The setback didn't matter anyway, she's still delighted to hear it. Also, she is something you cannot describe with words."
Akechi's clones then swing their serrated swords at him at once blocking all his way out. But Joker is ready for it, he pulled his gun and shoot one of his clones on the head before immediately summoning Arsene that swiftly cut all the clones in half and serving his revenge from earlier.
Joker looking at Akechi without the mask on his face while having the notorious gentleman thief behind his back. "I didn't know you can sink this low, not only you save your own skin, but also use my friends against me, you even going to lead another world in danger!" he said before a gust of strong wind has been felt coming from Arsene as he hold the chains that materialize on his palm bind on the persona.
Akechi's smile turns into a smirk after hearing his statement. "Does it matter? This isn't our world, and we're not the same person we are back in our home. Yes, we're standing here facing each other, but we're just data that been given with artificial shell of a body to use, we become a servant, a heroic spirit. We are nothing but a copy of our real selves. So really, it doesn't really matter." His smirk then disappeared when Arsene speaks to him.
"Yes a copy, but thou is still a copy of Ren Amamiya."
"Leader of the Phantom Thieves of Heart."
"Known as Joker."
"Known as the Trickster."
"He who will save the soul of humanity."
"Yes he might be a copy of Ren Amamiya, but I see no difference between them."
After Arsene said his announcement, a sound of metal breaking has been heard when Joker then pulled the chains that holding the persona. Arsene roared very monstrously as his body glowed brightly before exploding into pieces that soar to the sky and coated the world in blue.
"You killed your own persona. Congratulation-…!" Akechi didn't finish his snaky comment when he heard a thunderclap above him. He saw the crimson sky turning into black like there was a storm coming. He can feel his heart beating fast like something primordial is about to come out from the sky and descend to this place. "What the…." He murmured as his fear came true after seeing a massive being broke through the sky.
"I am thou, thou art I."
Its size could be compared to how tall a skyscraper is or maybe even beyond that. Regardless of what it was, the being is still covered with azure-colored flame.
"From the sea of soul, I have come."
The being said as he slowly descending, its shape is vaguely similar to a holy angel, but it still difficult to tell as its body is still getting materialize from the flame.
"Born from the halls of heaven."
"But free from the control of God."
Six pair of massive wings appeared on its back that is almost bigger than the figure they were attached to.
"I stole the liberty of freedom and give it to humanity."
"I bestow chaos and give it to humanity."
Its limbs hung at the side, but one of them is holding a long-barreled weapon. The weapon definitely matches the body.
"Let my name be known by both the sinners and saints."
"I am Satanael."
"I have come to protect the justice we believe in."
Below the tips of its feet, is where Ren is standing, whips of azure-flames are still twirling around, and the vague sounds of chains resounding the air. Akechi could not believe it, Ren can summon a grand being this powerful? This has to be a joke! There is no way he could be this powerful than him!
"I'm giving you a chance Akechi, let's stop this. That woman, I still don't know what she is, but I know we should be fighting against her and not each other!"
"Giving me a chance…?" Akechi murmured to himself, there must be something wrong with what he just heard from the raven-haired thief. That sympathy on his voice, it is making him angry. "Don't give me that crap you piece of shit!" He shouted before summoning numerous clones of his and charge toward Joker.
But to his surprise, all of his clones are defeated in an instance. "Are you done with your tantrum, child of man?" He heard from the grand being that Joker summoned. How did this being beat his clone without doing anything?! he didn't see its massive body moving, so how!?
When he stared at the archangel, he saw its eyes glow and in an instant he found himself laying on a crater with a battered body. Akechi doesn't know how, but he felt like his body slammed on the ground several times. He cannot even hear anything besides the buzzing sound on his head.
"Oh my…Are you alright, Akechi-kun?" came from the voice of a woman. Kiara appeared beside the young man, tending his beaten body. "Don't push yourself too hard." She said with genuine care before her hand phase through Akechi's stomach. The young man screamed in agony as Kiara's hand move around inside him.
"That's enough!" Joker yelled at the demonic woman, but Kiara didn't stop, instead, she just sent him a smile and continued whatever she's doing at Akechi's body. "Satanael!" He called out the demon lord, Satanael flicks his clawed finger toward Kiara and a sphere of demonic energy appeared and went straight at her.
However, it didn't hit the woman because something came out of the ground and block the sphere. A grotesques bulk of black skin cephalopod tentacles with eerie rings of red eyes on its suckers appeared on the ground. Joker doesn't know what that thing was, but those things are alive, and it's looking at him.
"There, it's all done!" He heard Kiara's voice as she plunged out her hand from Akechi's body. The brown-haired young man looks like he felt unconscious from screaming. "What have you done to him?" Joker asks while being wary at the grotesque creatures that the woman had summoned.
Kiara gently smiles similar to a mother does to her child while looking at the sleeping body of Akechi. "Akechi-kun is still not complete. He might have the god of trickster inside him, but he still cannot fully use his power. That mischievous god is really stubborn you know, so I punish him while fixing Akechi's spiritual circuits so he could use it properly. But regardless, that god will succumb soon, similar to how the others did."
She then shifted her attention to the raven-haired thief. "You've surprised me, your power exceeds my utmost expectation! In fact, I think you're the missing piece I needed to become complete. Hey, can I call you Ren-kun? Would you do me a favor? I believe Akechi-kun told you what I wanted right? So please? I reward you if you did." Kiara pleaded sweetly at the young man, her eyes are shining with hope, while showing a convincing smile, before placing her hand on one of her bosoms.
Joker doesn't understand why, but he cannot stop staring at the woman, he can feel his body is burning whenever the woman moves her hand around her own body. "Your words won't sway the trickster, femme fatale. I won't let him fall to someone like you. A beast who stinks with lust and pleasure." Satanael's word lifted the charm that the woman placed at Joker.
"O' great demon lord, your words sting my heart in pain," Kiara replied at the demon lord with a hurtful expression painted on her face. "I thought the two of us could become great friends, even a great 'partners'. After all, you and I are the evils of humanity."
"Do not compare me to your kind. You and I are different."
Kiara releases a sigh as she stared at the demon lord crimson eyes. "No fancy clothes or gorgeous transformation will ever change the outcome of you becoming Satan." She said before the phantom thieves appeared behind her, holding the queen of this land as a hostage.
"If you didn't bestow the gift of free will and chaos. Then the concept of evils of humanity will never exist." She said before looking at the woman that the tricksters are holding. There are signs of wounds and cut all over Scáthach's body, the woman did put up a fight, but she is no match against her and the six divine beings.
"Tell me Ren-kun, do you know what true salvation is?" She asks before placing her hand at the queen's face. "The answer is love. Yes, love, the true salvation that humanity needed is love. Love brings happiness, love can bring sadness, love brings joy, and love can bring sorrow, everything is possible when it comes to love. Love is a powerful thing in the world." She said before shifting her attention to Joker, with a smile on her face, she walks towards him.
"But finding love is hard, it doesn't have a body, nor it can be contained on a jar, love is a concept that is difficult to explain." She stated before stopping her track a few feet away from Joker. Kiara can feel the sharp demonic gaze coming from the grand being, but didn't mind as her attention is focused on this statement. "Thus, using the power of love to save humanity is almost impossible."
"If only I could bring the concept of love out of humanity, then they will be away from harm…" The woman shortly murmured before smiling in content as she's feeling her body burning with desire. "That is when I realize how can I bring out love from humanity. Byways of giving them pleasure, pleasure is a form of love, and one that shows the most love of all."
"Yes, that is the salvation that will save humanity." The tentacles she summoned earlier begun scream with eerie sound and move erratically, meanwhile, Kiara is smiling in ecstasy as she looks at Joker. "Help me save humanity Ren-kun. Help me bring the greatest amount of pleasure to humanity so I could save them from themselves! Let me devour you!"
The tentacles then fired off rays of beaming light coming from their eyes at Joker, but a thunderous hail of gunfire rain down upon where they stand and put lots of holes on their grotesque body. "Foolish woman, you're beyond salvation. You lose against your desire, your morals, and selfishness. Not even God could save you now." Satanael said after firing a spell called 'Riot Gun' at the pillar looking monster.
"I don't need it. Because I'm the one who's giving them all the salvation they needed." Kiara replied before giving Joker one last look and returned to where the tricksters are. "How much do you care about each other?" She asks while staring at Scáthach, the demonic woman then raises the queen chin and look to her closely. "If you don't want to join me, then I need to compensate for something in exchange."
A summoning circle appeared on the ground at where Kiara is standing, the woman then put one of her hand near to her mouth and begun murmuring silently, suddenly several arms have begun to spawn on the circle and surround the girl. "She should be enough for my nourishment." She said with a smile on her face, her finger then slide to her stomach that opened a bottomless hole.
"Ren, just go and leave me here! Don't let this woman get you!" The queen yelled in desperation at her apprentice.
Scáthach couldn't do anything as the divine beings behind her is holding her hands tightly. She shouldn't drop her guard against this woman earlier, she should have anticipated a possible attack from her, if she did then they won't be able to take her as a hostage. This isn't the death she's wanted, there is no honor in getting consumed by this woman. But perhaps her sacrifice should be enough for Ren to escape.
"No! I won't leave this place without you!" Joker replied while sounding determined. He's not going abandoned her, not when it is his fault why they're here.
"Listen to me, if this woman consumed you, then its all over…please just leave me here." She answered back. Kiara who's in front of her is smiling in amusement on their exchange.
"No, listen to me, Scáthach. I will not going to abandon you." Joker replied with conviction and much greater determination on his voice. He knows that there is something he can do in this situation, he just needs to find a way to do it.
'Hey, if you want to save that girl then follow my instruction without hesitation. On my signal run through the portal, that I'm going to summon behind you, and I'll get the woman. Get ready.'
He suddenly heard a voice inside his head. A voice that he doesn't recognize, but he doesn't question it, not now, whoever it was, he has a plan for their way out and giving his blind trust to him.
'Go!'
Kiara saw a shadow falling above her, jumping away before it crushed to her, she stared in shock at the figure in a white robe. "You…!" She remembers that attire, it was the mage that interrupts her when she retrieves Ren's data. "Sorry, but I'm going to spoil your plan again!" she heard from the mage who looks like a male that has a smug on his face.
The mage then disappeared alongside the queen as they submerge from the portal he created below him. "No!" Kiara yelled and turn around to see Joker about to enter the portal. "Come back here!" She said and tries to absorb the thief through the hole on her stomach.
Joker felt a strong force is pulling him toward Kiara and away from the portal. Not wanting to get absorbed by the demonic woman, he gathers all his remaining strength for this spell. "Satanael…Megidolaon…!" He yelled at the archangel.
Satanael laugh echoed across the land as he raises the long-barreled weapon in the sky. "May you fade away alongside this land, beast of calamity." He then pulled the trigger and fired a shining bullet soaring through heaven.
"What the…" was all Kiara muster to say as she watches a huge falling star descending to the land. When she looks at where the thief is, his nowhere to be seen, even the gigantic archangel disappear without any trace. She starting to feel the impending doom in the form of that star.
"No…No…! This isn't over!" She yelled while looking at the Armageddon descending. Making a quick hand gesture, she pointed her finger at it. "Sukhāvatī - Heaven's Hole…!" Kiara roared as the hole on her stomach accelerate the fall of the star and coming straight to her.
This woman in the act of desperation and to save herself, she tried to do the unthinkable. She tried to absorb the unstoppable force of a world-ending falling star. What comes after is a bright light that devour the entire land of the shadows.
Author's Note: A different take of my existing story (F/Ex: Another Link) Hopefully you all enjoy reading it! I'm also going to focus on this one for now and see where it can lead me (exciting!)
Anyway since there is only one chapter for now. I want to hear your feedback/review about this story, like any character you like to get introduce early, or plots in F/EX: Another Link you wanted to see here as well with different pacing, or thoughts, questions, ideas you have in mind are welcome!
I also in need of Beta Reader, anyone who is free and can lend a hand?
Well, that is all, support the story by following it or putting it on your favorites, and I'll see you all later! (I sound like a terrible youtuber making a outro back there lol)