.hack/EVA: Catharsis: Operation Wavebreak
Disclaimer: In this universe in the quantum foam, I do not own or in any way shape or form hold a claim to the .hack series or Neon Genesis Evangelion (or of course, any other copyrighted works I might reference here).
" " denotes speech
'italics' denotes thought
'bold' denotes location names
'bold italics' denotes skill use
Net Slum Tartarga
Eyes cold and hard as forever frozen ice, a red-clad blademistress moved with the speed of the winds themselves, seemingly flowing from one place to another in a great urban battlefield, her terrible swift sword striking with the power of Mjöllnir again and again, with each stroke a killing blow, as she fought on to secure the city center. She was a Lady of War, lovely to behold in her dance macabre, but deadly to confront, a figure of death whose weapon sang as it sliced the air as she commanded the defense of the Slums, an eerie calm upon her face as she fought without pity or remorse.
For she was the Queen of the Dark and Mistress of the Net Slums, fulfilling her duty to her people even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, standing against a wave of foes on the central bridge of the city borne on the back of the great tortoise Tartarga. And Helba did not stand alone, for the denizens of the Slums had mobilized at her call, opposing the cursed shadows with the greatest powers they were permitted—whether weapons, spells, viruses or simple anti-AIDA bindings—as they fought for their home's survival.
Despite all appearances to the contrary, the Thirteenth Angel had not been truly defeated on the battlefield of Nobeyama—or rather, only the physical aspect of it had been, with the more important part—its data, remaining. For even without an EVA, the wave data of an Angel could deal massive damage in an environment of the same, especially from its seat within an already powerful AIDA-puppet host.
'I suppose that was Siarl's plan all along, to change the Sixth into a suitable host for both AIDA and Bardiel, breaking his will and turning him into an instrument of destruction,' she mused, leading the defense of the city, as was her duty as the ruler of this place. This battle would be somewhat more uncertain than the last, with most of the dothackers who had fought against AIDA-Angel Iruel out of commission. 'And this time, there will be no element of surprise to aid us—unlike Iruel, Bardiel is not remaining stationary, trusting in its extraordinary power to protect it from detection—it is coming here.'
Indeed, by the reports of her Agents, this newest AIDA-Angel was on the move like a vengeful wraith of destruction (which is essentially what the Angels were), corrupting monsters as well as unwary players as they left the haven of the Root Towns, amassing a dark horde intended to swarm the defenses of the Slums and overcome the ones within it. Perhaps an inelegant strategy, but effective, as this way the AIDA-Angel could draw upon the many millions of players linked to The World for cannon fodder and reinforcements, whereas Net Slum's allies were…far fewer in number.
'And while I would like to intervene to stop this army's birth,' Helba thought to herself as her sword flowed instinctively to block, parry, riposte, and eviscerate. 'The attack has already begun…and our forces required for defense…'
The first waves of attackers had come almost immediately following AIDA-Angel Bardiel's entrance into The World, with raw AIDA hurling themselves out of black spots followed by AIDA-PCs riding AIDA-Monsters, a wave of black surrounding the chelonian aerial fortress and hurling themselves upon its defenders, only to be held back by the bulwark of swords built from will alone, as AIs, hackers, and a dark queen stood together against the onrushing tide.
'I do hope reinforcements will be here soon…'
A futile objective, some would say, to stand against a wave, but it wasn't as if Helba and her subjects had not had experience with it before. Besides, impudence against higher powers that threatened destruction was a matter of course for at least a few of them, as numbered among a special division of the home guard, a special team of AIs the Queen of the Dark had created from fragments of old friends and tasked to guard the Operations Center, the most vital point of Net Slum, which even now, AIDA Monsters besieged.
"Violation…violation…violation…" the masses hissed and whispered, a collective hive mind insidiously sowing doubts as they flooded towards the core. "Malignancy…malignancy…malignancy… regret…regret…regret."
It was, in other words, time to sally forth, as three figures emerged from the shadows, jumping, casting spells, and swinging the weapons with panache and aplomb (well, two of them…one was verging on apathetic, as usual).
"Tch…how troublesome," scoffed the young wavemaster in charge of defense, a young silver-haired boy clad in grey and beige robes. He sighed, lifting his staff, and began incantation. "Just another day in this ludicrous world…"
A whoosh from above, and a flaming meteor storm hurtled down from the heavens, striking BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM one after another, sowing what would have been confusion into any other army, though at least mass damage was done here. The newly infected AIDA-PCs were unable to block, as the celestial barrage tore viciously into their ranks, ripping horrifying screeches from the throats of the enemy, each feeling the pain of the other. They reeled backward from the point of contact, recoiling en masse, then surged forward once again, determined to break the defensive position wide open.
"Heh…" the boy muttered once again. "Lanceor Pha!"
Thus invoked, a portal of azure light rippled into being on the floor, as the old World's god of Thunder emerged, searing through the next several ranks of the AIDA shock troops with coruscating ribbons of electricity, instantly killing some, leaving the rest paralyzed for—
"Ruem Punish!"
A petite Heavy Axe barreled out from the cover of fallen crates, her regal-looking weapon Fate Encounter glowing blue with the power of water element as she brought it level with the ground and spun out into the stunned AIDA-PCs, the feathery wings on her back helping her to build her motion into a veritable whirlwind of destruction as beautiful as it was deadly.
But there were definitely more where those first AIDA troops were coming from, much more dangerous shadows that sprang out from behind buildings, drill like spears extended to pierce the Heavy Axe from range—
"Boing!"
Only to be knocked back by a mischievous figure leaping from the defender's side, the AI Variant of the great PK of Carmina Gadelica, twin katars extended, bisecting targets with ease.
"First I'll get these monsters, then I'll get them all!" he snarked, a whirling mass of sarcastic blue and purple tones, covered o'er in leather, with a purple bandana tying back his forest green hair. His weapons, the rare blades collectively called Last Betrayal, stabbed out as he amused himself, springing out from the shadows to flank the thoughtless enemies. "Never thought I'd be working for that Old Lady Morganna again after she punished me! But these guys are worse than that Old Lady!"
Sora's counterattack viciously tore into the AIDA Army's sides, taking advantage of the limited maneuverability they possessed in their packed masses to dance around them tauntingly, striking from where they could not react (and cleaving their weapons in twain when a few made their futile attempts).
"Vulcan Pha!"
A pool of fire superimposed itself on the stony approach to the Operations Center, with a hulking giant of red and black emerging, seemingly the fire giant Surtr, ruler of Muspellheim, primordial realm of fire. This titan roared and lashed out with a volley of fireballs, instantly incinerating the remaining attackers with sheer elemental might before bowing and returning to its sleep.
Against all odds, it seemed that the trio was holding their own against overwhelming numbers, as beings blessed by the Old World and the New, as some of the most trusted and powerful of the Vagrant AIs to counter AIDA-PCs.
Just as a new wave of attackers, AIDA-PCs riding AIDA Monsters in a semblance of twisted medieval knights, charged in with the thunder of a thousand hooves and the cackling screech of birds of prey, disgorging their own piercing shots of shadow and flame as they assailed the defending trio.
"Fire, huh? How…predictable. Merrows Pha!"
"Ruem Punish!"
"So now they send the cavalry. How boring…Boing!"
Shouts rang out, underlain with metallic clashes and clangs as the battle raged on.
Avatar Space, Morganna POV
"DRAIN HEART!"
A thousand points of light flared into existence, as a red and gold mechanical angel of battle spread its wings, the Will of the Avenger made manifest in the greatest of its skills, targeting each and every one of the gelatinous AIDA spiders that had dared to ambush her. The world inverted around Morganna as the streams of data lashed out, taking hold of the many protect-broken AIDA creatures about her, and draining them of life, erasing them all from existence.
She let out a sigh of relief and, after looking around to make sure the threat had passed for the moment, dispelled her Avatar form, allowing her to move more stealthily. It had taken every bit of skill and cunning the fallen Goddess possessed to escape this particular trap, and though Morganna enjoyed a challenge, facing death was not her idea of a fun day.
'AIDA is drawn to Avatars…and while I need an Avatar's power to combat the pure forms of AIDA, the act of summoning this Epitaph tends to draw more AIDA to the area, when the concentration is high enough. As before, when Iruel entered The World, this new AIDA-Angel Bardiel has boosted the rate of development of its lesser cohorts, increasing the power of the shadow.'
Never before had Morganna encountered so many AIDA(Oswald)s in a single location, as the arachnid Oswald was a relatively advanced form of AIDA evolution. More commonly, she had come across the primitive protozoa-like AIDA(Anna)s, or the fish-like AIDA(Helen)s, in ones or twos or threes, without the sheer concentration seen here.
'Either Iruel's experiences have been thoroughly encoded into the AIDA Collective, or Siarl has explicitly labeled us as his enemies, relying on Bardiel's forces to eliminate us while he continues with his own affairs. So far, Tabris wields the power of AIDA, Angel, and Epitaph…and I am not sure if he has demonstrated his full abilities, if they are comparable to his more…flamboyant brethren.'
The last time they had fought, Siarl had ended up withdrawing from the field without being protect broken, but then, his stated objective had been only to delay the fallen Goddess from her attack on Iruel's core, and in that, he had been rather successful, his delays and interventions causing the dothackers to take more casualties than expected.
'Manifold layers of thought and deed, plans within plans...Siarl is becoming a greater annoyance than I had anticipated,' Morganna thought bitterly, remembering how many shards of shadow had erupted all around her, hampering her movements with sheer numbers. 'Perhaps the time has finally come for—'
Preternatural senses detecting danger, the Shadow Warlock threw herself flat, as ballista bolts of shade savaged the space where she had vacated moments before, to the accompaniment of cruelly mocking laughter.
'And Tabris makes his move…characteristically, after I have already been weakened…nevertheless.'
"Come forth, my Aberrant Key!"
A glowing pattern of runes and glowing glyphs of eyes encrusted Morganna's form, power made manifest, as a great flare of light arose and filled the surrounding space. To those who could see Avatar Space, golden rings of power shimmered into existence, condensing, coalescing into winged form of a red and gold mechanical angel of battle, the false Epitaph modeled on Tarvos.
As anticipated, before her floated the titanic veiled and vaguely catlike being clad in a dress like the petals of an over-sized rose, with a mass of living shadow oozing its chest.
'Avatar Macha and its user, Siarl of the Seven Eyes.'
"So you avoided my initial attack, Morganna," the black and silver clad Macabre Dancer said with a smirk. "Just as expected from a fallen Goddess, even after your prior scuffle with Bardiel's AIDA(Oswald)s. But how much longer can you resist being deleted in your weakened condition?"
Avatar Macha swiftly sliced the air with her claws, tossing off first four rings of light, and then another, casting a minor distraction as Siarl's shadow dashed full sprint at the mechanical battle angel, invoking the "Seductive Voice" and "Bewitching Wind" techniques simultaneously.
But the False Tarvos, not foolish about to let itself be hit by a combination strike, simply teleported away, leaving behind a small orb that Macha barreled into.
"Will of the World!" chanted Morganna, her delayed attack unsealing massive amounts of raw magical energy in a focused explosion, a shaped detonation contained and amplified solely around Avatar Macha. And while her opponent was otherwise occupied, she activated "Orb of Revenge", hurling two large energy orbs at her electrified foe.
Avatar Macha broke out of the explosion just in time to see the orbs whistling towards him, slashing away one, though the other smashed the feline in the face, with the Macabre Dancer simply raising an eyebrow.
"I am curious, Morganna," he spoke evenly, his low strident chuckles echoing hollowly in Avatar Space as he sliced the air with Macha's claws, hurling razor discs of light at his foe. "Why do you do it? Why keep fighting? Is it atonement you seek? Peace? Justice? One of those vagaries of perception that Lilim so often use to justify their wretched existences?"
The False Tarvos replied with "Energy Dart", firing a cluster of needle-like energy shots out from each of its immense wings, to deflect and dissipate the orbs.
"And yourself, Tabris?" the fallen Goddess returned, eyes curiously void of emotion. "What of your purpose, and your countless manipulations? Why do you continue with your machinations when in the end you are destined to fail? Stake of Death!"
Nine needles of crystallized light lanced out at Macha, only for the cat avatar to snarl, slashing one two three…but failing to get the other six as they locked on and speared it through the gullet, causing Siarl to twitch once.
"Heh…I wish you could see yourself, Morganna," the Macabre Dancer said smoothly, smile widening into Cheshire grin. "You are quite a symbol of your kind, and the doom it is destined to know, fighting for some temporary construct as artificial as The World itself, as insipid as that thing called love. Speaking of which…"
Once again, Avatar Macha swiftly sliced the air with her claws, tossing off first four rings of light, and then another, casting a minor distraction Siarl invoked the "Bolt of Love" technique, a glow overtaking him with a whistling sound. Before him bloomed a giant rose, petals unfurling in the unnatural light of the bounded space, and splintering into four satellite blooms.
Each of these twisted to face the winged form of Morganna's False Avatar and discharged spears of crystallized light—to no effect, as she brought her wings together to shield herself—all the while continuing to release "Energy Darts" at her enemy, along with two small orbs.
"Invincible Shield once more?" Siarl questioned, evading the darts and slashing apart the Orbs of Revenge with Avatar Macha's claws. "How quaint…did you really expect me to fall for that trap again? What do you think I am, human? You must know by now you can't win, that its pointless to continue. So why, Morganna, why do you persist?"
"Will of The World!" the fallen Goddess called once more, flinging two balls of light towards her enemy, that if they hit, would deal out massive amounts of damage. "Hear this, Angel of Free Will and Alternatives. I fight, because I choose to."
Contact! Twin explosions blossomed into being, flares of magical energy that temporarily blinded those in Avatar Space. And when at last the light faded—
Siarl and his Avatar were unscathed, having summoned two AIDA(Gatekeepers) to shield him from the attack.
"No," the grey-haired youth patronizingly, corruption pulsing out from him as he laughed mockingly. "You fight because you have no choice at all."
Net Slum Tartarga
Now, AIDA-Angel Bardiel's many drones were not limited to attacking one location in the Slums, as the vast inhuman intellect behind the invasion knew that that would allow the Queen of the Dark to rally the full weight of her defensive power against the attackers. Instead, an anarchic perfusion of AIDA wraiths flooded through the city, intending to inflict death by a thousand cuts.
Individually, the drones might be weaker than the elite defenders of Net Slum, but with The World changed into an AIDA server once again, Bardiel literally had millions of troops in reserve, and eventually, one attack or another would get through. Perhaps it would be one of the many deployed waves of AIDA-PC combat forms, perhaps an AIDA monster or two…perhaps the defenders could hold out until Bardiel's main body arrived…but cut off from reinforcements, the Slums would fall.
"Surrender…surrender…surrender…" were the words the horde repeated over and over as they attempted to take the great overlook of Net Slum Tartarga, where rested the helm for manual steering and control of the great aerial citadel—the second location of critical importance to the Slums that must be held at all cost.
Thus, guarding the pass to this place were three members of what could be termed Helba's Special Forces: the heir to Net Slum, a Knight, and an Agent, back to back to back in an ever-shifting pattern of fluidly controlled chaos, as they fought against the encroaching infection.
"Reaper's Dance!"
A massive red and gold scythe distorted the air in its wake, the force behind the swing giving the lie to the apparently frail form of its wielder: the Flick Reaper Zelkova, Guildmaster of Moon Tree, Heir to Net Slum, and incidentally, the person in charge of this position's defense.
"AIIIYEEEEE!!!!!" screeched a flight of AIDA-infested Harpy Queens, assailing the Reaper from the sky as surely as the Fever Horse mounted AIDA-PCs were on land, disgorging plumes of fierce elemental magicks and shards of bone and metal spears, each charged with enough power to kill if it connected.
But the small blue-silver haired boy knew his business, parrying and deflecting the blows with subtle movements of his enhanced weapon, creating an offensive shield of edges and blurs, slashing away the shadows and black spots that came towards him and his allies.
"Heavenly Wheel!"
Down swept the scythe, the serrated edge cleaving through the bone and gristle of two AIDA Monsters—with the AIDA-PC's riding them performing a flying dismount to land upon the haft of the scythe, running up it, swords unsheathed to slash down and—
Clang!
—have their weapons blocked by two metallic war fans, elegant weapons belonging to none other than Balthasar, the Obsidian Knight based on the conception of Naoko Akagi as mother, who also happened to be very protective of the little Lord Zelkova. Her face was an iron mask, a poker face displaying nothing as she intoned the words "Lei Zas, Lei Zas", point blank light spells blasting out to stun the AIDA-PCs long enough for—
Crack! Crack! in the opening left by scythe and fan, a gunblade barked twice, the flurry of shots catching the two AIDA-PCs unaware, knocking them from the ramparts of the city to the empty expanse of air surrounding the aerial fortress. If there was one thing about defending an airborne citadel, it was that it would nominally be harder to reach, for one, and that for another, tossing one out of the city was normally fatal enough.
"Dust Bullet!" the Steam Gunner uttered, the massive blast of power shooting outwards, scything through the horde of enemies like fire through a fully stocked gunpowder magazine.
In the space he had bought them, Zelkova and Balthasar advanced, whirling about back to back as they windmilled through the attackers, their blades making quick work of earthbound AIDA Monsters and PCs, with Steam Gunner supporting from the rear, using his sniper training took care of their aerial attackers.
'I never thought I'd end up fighting the body of an Angel in hand to hand combat…' the unshaven man thought to himself, grimacing slightly as he focused only on the battle, loosing a volley of shots smote another two Harpy Queens from the sky. He had not expected to be pressed into service immediately upon arriving, but that was what happened, and now here he was, helping to defend Net Slum as an unofficial Obsidian Knight. 'Already we have faced thousands…for much longer will we have to hold? With each enemy we slay, the collective mind of AIDA will better learn how to counter our tactics, and their reserves are unlimited. On the other hand, we cannot allow Net Slum to be taken…or the Third Network Crisis will surely begin, once this resistance is eliminated.'
Rounding out the trio was a man of many faces (and names and titles to go with them), the Steam Gunner and rogue spy referred to by his employers in The World as Fili the White. He had shown up in Net Slum Tartarga shortly after watching the Children's battle against the Thirteenth Angel, wanting more information on the Fourth Child (as he was rather suspicious as to how EVA-00 and the Fourth Child had managed to escape the Thirteenth Angel battle unscathed), only to find the normally sedate aerial fortress city in a state of frenzy.
(begin flashback)
A spiral of golden light burst into existence on in the center of Net Slum Tartarga, vanishing to reveal a characteristically unshaven Steam Gunner with fair skin and black hair bound up in a ponytail, a man wearing orange sunglasses, a blood red tunic, black trousers, and a flowing black overcoat. He was Gendor, the in-world avatar of triple agent Ryoji Kaji.
'Hmm…how odd, Helba does not appear to be present today, an odd state of affairs, and rather inconvenient, as I have much to discuss with her.'
Looking around for the sorcerer queen Helba, the rogue spy had frowned upon not seeing the blond cleric in white he was expecting, with the nominal head of the citadel being an unfamiliar dark-haired swordmistress clad in formal red Japanese clothing, directing fire teams to various positions scattered throughout the city as part of a defensive strategy against…
'AIDA-Angel Bardiel? As in…an AIDA-PC that is also…'
"Excuse me," the agent began without preamble, walking up to the noblewoman with his most charming smile. "Might you know the whereabouts of the Dark Queen? I have a question for—"
But the commanding woman had silenced him with a withering glare much like one the Commander might have given him, and the unshaven spy fell silent with an involuntary gulp, waiting patiently for her to finish her other business. This took a few minutes as she finished dispatching the self-defense forces, then spoke apparently to the air.
"Tartarga?" the woman had said, for the city itself to rumble in response. "Have you installed and initiated the special protection programs?"
"Yes, my Queen," the great tortoise acknowledged. "Mobile defense platforms are ready, the Operations Center has been locked down at your orders, and I have the helm. Anti-AIDA defense programs are emplaced, and evasive patterns are prepared."
"Thank you, Tartarga. Execute at will," answered the Queen of the Dark, lifting her head as she raised her voice to broadcast to all around. "Good friends, citizens of Net Slum, lend me your ears. Once again, we find our city turned into battlefield for the fate of The World. Our foe, the AIDA-Angel Bardiel, is approaching with an innumerable host, one we must hold off until the main body arrives and can be defeated. This will be a battle en masse, and seeing the originality, malice and ingenuity of aggression which our enemy displays we must prepare ourselves for every kind brutal and treacherous maneuver The World has yet seen."
She took a breath, collected herself, then continued, looking to the setting sun in the distance.
"As your Queen, the Mistress of Net Slum, I say this…that we shall neither flag nor fail, as we fight for our homes. We as a whole have searched for The End, and so we shall fight, defending our city and our world whatever the cost may be. On the bridges, we fight, the landing zones, in fields, in streets, and in the very air itself. And I promise, on my name, upon everything I have gained in The World…that we will win, for defeat is not an option."
Thus concluding, the red-clad noblewoman blinked, her features once more shaping the queenly mask that Kaji had come to know quite well in the course of his work for Helba.
'So it is her, simply in a different form.'
"Well then, Special Investigator," the swordmistress said brusquely, her eyes betraying a trace of amusement. "While I might have said that your sense of timing just needed work before, I can now confirm that it is in fact horrible, as you find us on the eve of war. Let us make this quick. Knowing of both Angels and AIDA, have you ever wondered what might happen if an Angel were to enter the global network and merge with AIDA?"
"Enter the network and merge with…" the spy repeated, eyes narrowing as he thought back to rumors of… "This has to do with the rumor of an Angel invading headquarters some time ago, doesn't it?"
"Correct," the Queen of the Dark confirmed, with a curt nod. "That was AIDA-Angel Iruel, a nanoscale Angel that hacked the MAGI and entered the network, joining with AIDA and increasing its power exponentially. The current threat is Bardiel, which in the other world manifested itself as the Angel that infected EVA-03."
"But wasn't EVA-03 dest—"
"Yes, the infected EVA-03 was destroyed at Nobeyama," Helba acknowledged. "But it appears that its primary host was not the EVA but the AIDA-infected Sixth Child, who was saved by the actions of the Fourth. In his mind, the two have mingled, and the newly formed AIDA-Angel Bardiel has entered The World, likely through the interface NERV placed on him to monitor him for the possibility of infection."
"And what is its objective in The World?" the Steam Gunner managed to ask…just as a discordant melody sounded, AIDA Monsters swooping down from the sky, orbs of shadow blighting the sky with warped power. Only an idiot would have mistaken the aura of menace radiating from them for anything else, and whatever else Kaji was, he was no idiot. "Ah, I see. The AIDA-Angel wishes to destroy this place with overwhelming force before causing the Third Network Crisis."
"Indeed, for this is the aerial fortress of The World, keystone of humanity's defense against the AIDA threat, much as Tokyo-3 is the place to where the Angels are drawn," spoke the blademistress, a grim little smile playing on her lips. She reached out her free hand and muttered an incantation over the Steam Gunner's bayonet, causing it to glow white briefly, then fade to normal. "Your weapon has been modified to be capable of directly damaging AIDA, so please report to the overlook, where Zelkova and Balthasar await. As for escape…until the enemy is defeated, that is moot, as The World is now in thrall of AIDA once again."
Then there was no time, as the first wave of AIDA-PCs fell from the sky, vaulting from their mounts to land upon the bridge where Helba stood unflinching, snarling and baring their teeth at her, as players gone feral with berserker rage.
"We are the World," they spoke as one, booming out in a deep sepulchral voice. "We are Bardiel. Your strength is irrelevant. Disarm your defenders and surrender your city. Resistance is futile."
To this, the Mistress of Net Slums only harrumphed, drawing her blade of wickedly curved light and bringing it up in a salute as she whirled to face her enemies.
"Hello. My name is Helba, Queen of the Dark," the lady of war voiced quietly amidst the tumult, perfectly still as she spoke to the invaders. "You invaded my home and attacked my people. Prepare to die."
Growling in response, the AIDA-PCs charged, infection spreading out from their forms as they stomped through the city. Shadow lances flew, a katana flashed, and the battle was joined.
The rogue spy, of course, did the sensible thing, proceeding with all due speed (and some undue speed) to join his designated fireteam, as it would be far easier to survive the pandemonium with the aid of an ally…or three. Even the best sniper needed time to reload, after all.
(end flashback)
Hearing something strange, Fili the White threw himself to a prone position, as crimson bolts of light sailed over his supine form. Apparently, the enemy had figured that he as steam gunner was the largest threat at the moment, and so was now targeting him. And then the overlook began to shake violently, as one AIDA monster or another used the earthquake skill, backed up by several Shock Cannon blasts that kept him pinned down.
At least for a moment, as the young Zelkova leapt into the air, four ominous words falling from his lips, "Divine Awakening: Plasma Blade!", calling from the very air a gale of plasma, shaping it in his upraised hands to form a scythe of light.
Up he sprang, higher than one might have believed possible, using the full power in his virtual legs to shoot high into the sky, disappearing from sight in a flash—before hurtling down as a glowing plasma meteor from above, the shockwave of fire washing clean their corner of the field of battle.
But the reprieve did not last long, as the shadow's reinforcements began to spill into the just cleared space, each a little faster and stronger, shifting from simple cavalry to titan riders.
"Well, as they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall…" Gendor quipped, bringing his gunblade to his shoulder and laying down covering fire as his comrades advanced.
Avatar Space, Morganna POV
In the isolated space accessible only Avatars, AIDA, and…special PCs, two beings of awesome power continued their duel, with Morganna's False Avatar warring against Siarl's Avatar Macha and the two AIDA(Gatekeepers) that he had summoned. While individually, the AIDA(Gatekeepers) would have been mildly difficult at best, with an AIDA-enhanced Avatar Macha backing them up.
'AIDA(Gatekeeper)s, while smaller than AIDA(Helen)s, can actually be more of a threat, as they have much the same abilities but are not as easily hit with energy shots.'
"Why not surrender?" asked the lilting tones of Siarl, even as he lashed out with a hail of energy beams in the form of "Algol Mazer"s and "Bolts of Love." "Surely, you are beginning to tire of these pointless attempts to resist the inevitable? I am destined to live forever, and you are not…the sooner you accept this truth, the easier this will be. Do not be afraid, I am peace, I am salvation—"
"And you are a fraud, and a worse being than I will ever be," Morganna spat, junking and weaving to dodge the gauntlet of lasers and energy bullets. "For though you will not admit it, in your soul you know fear, don't you, know loathing? Your absolute terror field is probably the strongest of any being, as you know the pain of loneliness, compounded with all the knowledge and power you received from AIDA. Will of the World! Orb of Revenge!"
The three energy orbs zoomed through the expanse, the orbs of revenge seeking out the two gatekeepers, while the smaller orb of compressed magical energy sailed into the space between them—and prematurely detonated, the shockwave stunning both of the AIDA, while Morganna's False Avatar literally charged through the gap towards Avatar Macha—only to run headlong into a barrier of rose petals that stunned on contact.
Siarl followed up with a powerful slash that sent Tarvos reeling, flinging a few of the razor energy discs that Macha could command after her, carving deep into her Avatar's amor, and worse…finally protect breaking it.
'I'm not going down without a fight…'
"DRAIN HEART!" Morganna shouted, the wings of her mechanical Angel Avatar flared open to maximum extension, as the spike stabbed through False Tarvos' form transformed itself into a powerful energy cannon. Three bolts of crackling data shot out, landing on Avatar Macha and the two AIDA, as streams of data were ripped from each one, damaging each—but failing to destroy them, as she had been unable to protect break them beforehand.
"Your defiance is most impressive, but I'm afraid it will be you who falls on this battlefield," Siarl shrugged, his eyes lighting up once the cage of data drain fragments finished rending Macha's form, leaving him slightly ruffled. "Be that as it may…goodbye, Morganna. It has been…enlightening."
Avatar Macha turned upside down, opening up the petals of its dress to reveal a gargantuan cannon-like Twilight Bracelet. In only mere moments, a ring of green hexagons surrounded Macha's upper body as the Bracelet charged up energy for a massive blast. This would be it, the final blow to eliminate all traces of the Goddess of Dusk.
"Data Dra—"
"Loving Boomerang Tackle!"
Or it would have been, had not a rather unexpected turn of events taken place, with Avatar Macha rammed out of position by a glowing Longhorn Grunty tearing through the walls of Avatar Space, on which rode a saffron-haired girl clad in a flowing white dress, holding a long red spear that leveled at the cat, one with two shafts twisting around themselves to form a helix and then becoming straight.
"You alone, I do not bless," Zefie remarked, glaring at Siarl with cold and angry eyes.
The cavalry had arrived, in the form of a very powerful daughter of Aura, and her personal mount, the Longhorn Grunty, the reincarnation of the winged Grunty King of legend, with the ability to speak, fly, and resist nearly any wound. This particular one had been hyper-evolved from Moon Tree's Melo Grunty, as the first one Zefie had found on short notice after being assailed by AIDA forces herself.
Siarl looked between Morganna and the newly arrived Zefie, considering his odds of dispatching Morganna before her granddaughter could act.
'The odds are not in my favor, it seems…retreat may well be advisable now. Besides, I have already accomplished my primary objective.'
"Well then, it appears that you will live a little longer, dear Goddess of the Dusk," Siarl noted, dispelling the form of Macha with a sweeping bow. "In any case, I have already achieved my main objective—and you had best hurry to Net Slum if you wish to save your precious Queen. Bardiel has come."
Saying thus, the form of Macha vanished into motes of light, as the black and silver Macabre Dancer disappeared from Avatar Space, leaving behind a silky laugh and a lone spider lily, strangely red in the darkness of the void.
Zefie and Morganna shared a knowing look, recognizing the significance of that particular flower, as Morganna dispelled her False Avatar, dropping out of Avatar Space andhopping on to the Longhorn Grunty's back behind her granddaughter.
"Take me to Net Slum, and hurry," the Goddess of Dusk ordered, only for the saffron-haired girl to turn around and raise an eyebrow.
"…and the magic word would be?"
'I really don't have time for this.'
"…Please."
A cone of azure light surrounded the Longhorn Grunty and its riders as the mount broke the speed of sound, bound for the aerial fortress where AIDA-Angel Bardiel waited.
Net Slum Tartarga
Clang! Clash! Whoosh! And Whirr!
Metallic clangs rang out on the central bridge of the Net Slum as a master swordswoman faced off against an army of apparently limitless numbers, her footsteps tap-tap-tapping on the stony construction as the battle raged, the sounds of her exertions reverberating from the surrounding concrete structures in a syncopated staccato.
On this day, her enemies were legion as she singlehandedly held the bridge against all comers, her sword flashing silver as she flowed like the wind itself, defending herself with speed and precision from the relentless hordes. Not that the AIDA-PC enemies were not powerful, were not, greater than an unenhanced human could hope to be, but the Queen of the Dark had stood against greater enemies and fought on unflinching.
"Guilty…guilty…guilty" the hordes whispered, an insidious whisper trying to worm its way into her mind. "Failed…failed…failed…atone…atone…atone…denial…denial…denial…guilty…guilty…guilty."
But Helba ignored them, having accepted the fact that she would likely die and moving past it, in a sort of tranquil fury that pushed her to the limits of potential and beyond, in the way of one who was no longer afraid of anything. In her last battle against an AIDA-PC, she had been defeated, only barely able to counter the fallen AIDA Guardian Melchior with all of her skill and effort, but this time was different.
'I will protect them' was the only thought in her mind, the bedrock of a serene calm that could not be broken, as she deflecting enemy attacks and struck back with barely any motion or effort at all, smiling, seeming almost enlightened (disturbing like the way Siarl fought almost effortlessly) as the Queen bisected enemy after enemy in the eye of the AIDA storm, using their force against them—while denying them the use of her strength against her.
'Then again, it is easier for one person to defeat an army than for an army to defeat one person, as no matter where I strike, my blade finds purchase. And to defeat an army of ghouls that feed off of emotion and strengthen themselves through fear, one must become a void…'
To any sane human enemy, this calm display would have proved most terrifying, but unfortunately, her enemies were neither sane, nor completely human, instead being puppets of AIDA-Angel Bardiel, who was adapting to her style with each member of the collective she slew. Or so it thought, as Helba was not actually using any particular style, but simply responded instinctively to the flow of battle, feeling the best course in combat in a way close to precognition.
'The one advantage to fighting in an AIDA Server is that the synchronization of mind and body is perfect, helping one to perceive with preternatural ability the way.'
"Like a frenzied horse that is driven, an unseen wind of plague shrieks across the border," the swordmistressmurmured, quoting a prophecy made long ago by a now fallen prophet of the Cursed Wave. "Pandemonium, wailing, and stench of carnage fills the air. There is no place to run. No hope of escape. Those who are mourned will never return. The hands of time cannot be turned back."
At the time it was first spoken, it had described the fate of The World during the Twilight Incident, but it might apply just as well to the waves of AIDA-PCs streaming into her city, only to fall at the blades of her and her companions.
A last ditch attack.
Clawed shadowy hands shot with supersonic speed towards the Blade Brandier, only to be deflected by a suddenly drawn second sword, the Queen of the Dark sidestepping, blocking, riposting, leaping into the air and delivering a torrent of slashes that tore into the yielding flesh of the AIDA-PCs, until at last the bridge of Bardiel's minions, leaving the battlefield quiet.
'Is this it? Does Bardiel have nothing else to send?'
A ragged cheer broke out across the city—until the sound of wings flapping Whump! Whump! Whump! was heard across the sky, and the sky darkened to pitch black as an increase in AIDA's presence blotted out the sun.
'Of course, it wouldn't be an Angel Attack if it was easy to handle, would it?'
From every corner of the sky, AIDA, AIDA-PCs, and AIDA-Monsters belched from portals born of shadow, the sheer weight of numbers dwarfing what had come before as they renewed their assault, with a single figure standing out from the masses to supervise this, the true beginning of the attack on Net Slum: AIDA-Angel Bardiel itself.
Having changed slightly from his first appearance (and from the appearance of its host), Bardiel took the form of a glowing, faceless man standing on a flower-shaped platform, enshrouded by lines of light and dark that shaped themselves vaguely into wings, otherwise featureless except for a tattoo of 13 rings: one in the center, with 8 surrounding it in a circle, and one above and to each side of the circle formation.
"Everything that has a beginning has an end," the AIDA-Angel proclaimed with outstretched arms, its soft voice somehow able to be heard in the entire city. "The end comes, darkness comes, death comes, and it is peace. Accept your fate, and join with me to sing of victory ever lasting."
Helba was not amused, but could not particularly do anything about it as a Spectrum Dragon flashed down out of the sky, its massive evil-shaped form nearly reducing her to a smear as it offloaded a coterie of AIDA Mirages before taking flight once more. More than mere AIDA-PCs, these were foes projected and enhanced by the power of Bardiel alone—if the destruction of Net Slum was indeed the will of a humiliated son of God, then these was its instruments, the refined edge of its blades.
'Hmm…25 AIDA Mirages and an AIDA-Infected Spectrum Dragon as fire support. This could get tricky…' the blademistress mused, swords Surtr and Freyr held ready in hand as she considered her options. 'I suppose I will have to use…that.'
And then she smiled, for there was a quality to Net Slum that her enemies did not know and could not have predicted—one she knew well, as its creator and Queen. Since the first incarnation of The World, this realm had defined her, as she had defined it—and because of this mutualistic relationship, understood its true nature as a reality marble.
"The soul of the World, gentle yet firm," Helba breathed, speaking the first lines of an incantation established at Slum's beginning as her foes charged and she countered, swords of fire and ice rippling as she fought only to defend, knowing that this time, her foes were invincible unless the AIDA-Angel itself was defeated. "The power of dusk, giving way to the Dark."
They moved cautiously to flank her, knowing something was amiss from the way the data environment was beginning to change, her swords shimmering now with crackling power.
"The power of Twilight, splitting the path," she continued, feeling the will of all those in Net Slum, the urge to defend something precious, to protect even at the highest cost. "The power of dawn, giving way to the light. The dreams of the fallen shape the hopes of the living. By the Will of the World I bring forth…undying memories!"
Helba was not a Goddess of The World, and thus unable to reshape it entirely to her will. What she was, was a skilled hacker capable of gathering data fragments and creating AIs, much as she had done with the AI Subaru, Tsukasa, and Sora that Kite encountered many years ago—much as Aura had done when creating the Azure Knights.
Net Slum, her domain, was the sanctuary of these, the place that she called home above all others, and its nature was home to these memories—newly born AIs summoned forth with all the skill and power of the old dothackers (save for the bracelet bearer, of course), phantom to counter mirage, human-shaped AI to counter AIDA.
Whimsically enough, the first of the specters to arise was a gargantuan Heavy Axeman, of light green armor (save the left shoulder which is red with spikes), the hulking swift Doberman…AI Piros (not the 3rd), accompanied by AI Natsume, the green haired twin blade in blue vetements.
"WAHAHAHA! So at long last, we meet, weaklings! Have a taste of my rope! Triple Wield!"
To start things off, the Heavy Axe leapt full into the air, and in very aerodynamically improbable series of maneuvers, somersaulted twice and barreled into the AIDA Mirages, literally bowling them over with his weight as his axe struck, becoming in his AI Incarnation the hero he had always wanted to be.
"Well, here goes…Terror Cyclone!" AI Natsume danced into combat, her blades twirling about in a beautiful spiral of death that rained heavy blows upon the shadows, intending to inflict the death of a thousand cuts.
"Rai Divider!" two voices called in unison, the AIs of Blackrose and Sanjuro charging forward with their mighty swords, each seeking out a single opponent, and slamming their weapons down with nearly unstoppable force. The Amazon and the Ronin had returned to The World, at least in AI form.
This was followed by cries of "Lanceor Pha!" "Double Sweep!" and "Ruem Spiral!"as the other new AIs manifested themselves and immediately entered battle.
'This should even the odds a little bit…'
Unfortunately, Helba still had no aerial units, and so when with a roar, the AIDA-infested Spectrum Dragon hurtled down from the sky spewing gouts of fire and shade, it was left to the Queen of the Dark to meet it halfway, planting one of her swords in its hide as a pivot for her lithe form, redirecting her motion path to—a non-infected entity streaking through the sky, the Longhorn Grunty, flanked by three Azure Knights mowing down the AIDA-Monsters the encountered.
"Will of the World!" chanted Morganna, her grimoire open as she cast a sphere of magical energy at the Spectrum Dragon, blasting it from the sky just as Helba had left it. At Zefie's urging, the Longhorn Grunty swiftly changed course in time for Helba to land upon it as well, with the fierce creature of battle now loaded to maximum seating capacity. "Need a ride, my old enemy?"
Saved from a fall, Helba's glare was half amusement and half-exasperation as they plotted a course for the AIDA-Angel standing on his platform, surveying the battlefield, the Three Azure Knights flashing forward, weapons drawn—only to encounter an all too familiar hexagon of orange light barring their path.
Seeing this, the Longhorn Grunty pause for a moment to lower its horns, then sped at hypersonic velocities towards the barrier, a cone of azure light surrounding it as it spun furiously as a progressive drill, smashing into the AT Field—nullifying the phase space, and tearing through it in time for Zefie to jam her Lancea Longinus into the AIDA-Angel's gullet, protect breaking it in one blow.
Bardiel thought to attack with its whips of light and darkness, but Azure Orca and Azure Balmung rushed in like twin falcons, their blades blocking the blows as Azure Kite unsealed his Twilight Bracelet, with Morganna and Zefie doing likewise, sepals of data flickering into visibility as the three floated in mid-air, each pointing an arm at the humiliated AIDA-Angel.
"DATA DRAIN!" two voices called in tandem (the third being an unrecognizable attack cry), as three tracers of terrible light impacted, penetrating to the Angel's core and parasitically sucking away its vitality, ripping apart the very information that gave the creature shape as it howled and shook futilely, innumerable streams of data torn and shredded from its form, till nothing of the AIDA-Angel remained.
Then came a Drain Heart targeting every last member of the enemy army, tearing from them the power of the parasite, their forms vanishing into nothingness as the shell of AIDA portals dissolved as if they had never existed in the first place.
"Well, I was wrong," Zefie snarked into the stunned silence that came after battle. "He wasn't blessed either."
Morganna and Helba had to wonder if Zefie was growing darker and edgier in this new world, but she didn't have long to ponder, as the Longhorn Grunty made its final approach to Net Slum, landing in the square, where the throngs had quickly gathered to welcome them to the tune of cheers and confetti.
Today, they had escaped nearly certain death, and so celebrated a victory against impossible odds. Net Slum had been saved, and The World with it, and the memories of old walked among their friends again.
But as they were dismounting from the Grunty (and incidentally as it returned to its normal form as Melo Grunty), Helba leaned over to whisper into Zefie's ear.
"Daughter of Aura…I have a proposition for you…"
NERV Medical
In a utilitarian room of steel-gray and white, a room as dark and bereft of warmth as any other in NERV, the fallen form of the First Child lay upon a bed, chest rising and falling as she slept on, medical equipment scattered around her, monitoring things like her heartbeat and brainwaves. For a long time now she had lain in her coma, unable to be awakened by anything, with even the attempted initialization of a new clone. It seemed that she would never wake up…
Until today, that was, as alerts rang out, and nurses rushed into the room, for the medical equipment was showing irregular readings.
'Could it be?' some wondered, and it was, as with a flutter and a twitch, the blue-haired girl opened her eyes for the first time in months—and smiled.
"The World…" she murmured, crimson eyes looking around the room, only to fall upon unfamliar faces. "I see."