Chapter 10: The Watcher
"Brought in for a briefing for a mission..." Noct mumbles to himself as he walks out of the elevator, looking around the surroundings of the Organization's HQ. Taking a few steps to the right, he headed towards one of the briefing rooms used for explanation of more detailed missions.
The mission this time. He remembered what it was about with the gist of it. "Okay, basically, need to get to a world where a special form of weaponry resides... But again, be cautious because it's starting to shift and it's not going to be completely accurate..." he repeats to himself.
He continued onward onto the area where he was supposed to be at. Turning to the door beside him right now, he checked the labels and moved on ahead to the next door which he looked and nods to himself, opening the door and entering the room.
"Oh."
Inside the room were Hilda by the end of the table, a woman with purple hair by the right. Noct noted that he didn't see the white-haired Firion whom he normally saw by Hilda's side anywhere in the room. From the left, there was a large sea otter and a green-scaled serpent with a collar-like effect around her neck area.
He turned to the right, noticing the large shadow looming over him. "Oh hey, Al." He greets the Eidolon.
"Good morning." Al greeted back. "Seems you haven't met them yet." He looked at the woman beside him. "This is Maria, Firion's adopted sister." Then to those two at the other side of Hilda. "Those two are one of the higher-ups. Samuel Masamune, he is a teacher of the Ways of the Sword and taught most of the swordsmen who joined us along with Odin, and beside him is Sylvia Highfield, the head tactician."
"Oh." Noct turned back to the table to look at them. "Nice to meet you." He greets them.
"It's nice to meet you too." Maria responds with a nod.
"It is an honor." Sylvia bowed with a curt nod.
"Yeah, it is nice to meet you." Samuel responded with a hearty laugh. "I've heard the way you grabbed your sword and threw them to enemies. They don't seem to like getting penetrated by your sword, like breaking their inside."
...
...
...
...
...
...
"...What." Came Noct's blunt and very... very obviously repulsed tone.
"What?" Samuel repeated. "You haven't seem them on your first time?"
"What are you saying now?"
"Your sword's strength."
"...Just asking. This?" He called his shortsword and held it with a hand, presenting it to Samuel. The sea otter looked deep into it with narrowed eyes.
"...You're small." He analyzed.
"Hey." He couldn't help but feel himself lose some dignity as a man. He knew this towering sea otter was taller than him by one head but his words stung something else. Anyways, why was he baring his chest? "...So-"
Hilda cleared her throat to get their attention. "Could we get back as to why everyone here is gathered?" She speaks to them.
Everyone nodded and turned to her to listen. She sighed and got back to looking at the report in front of her. "So far, we've known that strange form of weaponry is detected over in this world." She explained. "We already have Shallost and... Makoto on field. They are already at one field, while the team gathered here will go through another route to the destination."
Shallost...That name was familiar. Noct thought of who was that person she meant before realizing that it was the surname of Erik. Erik Shallost, the man who helped him find his way here and meet Stella, Locke, and Vivi.
"Oh, that guy..." he mumbles, looking away. A pause and he asks. "Did you say... team, here?"
Hilda nodded. "Yes." She answers.
"..." Noct gazed over at the sea otter. "...I... I'm not complaining or anything, but..."
"If you have any concerns, speak before the mission begins." Hilda tells him.
"...Masamune makes me extremely uncomfortable and I'm not going anywhere near him."
...
...
...
...
"Noct..." Al began. "I completely agree."
"Honestly." Sylvia muttered.
"I can't even... refute against that..." Maria adds.
"..." Hilda looked like she wanted to speak in an instant of defense but is at a loss for words.
"What?" Samuel wondered. "Don't you feel protected with this strong body?"
"...Please..." Sylvia sneered. "Will you keep your mouth shut?"
"Huh?" Samuel turned to her. "Why's that? I can give them phrases to learn from."
"Not that." Sylvia groaned. "It would impact the morale of the team."
"...Please tell me he doesn't have us in his preference." Noct asks.
"...He's into women." Sylvia assured. "Though he likes samurai too."
"...Oh." He himself wasn't a samurai. He sighed in relief for this samurai won't be interested to him. However, his impressive build...He should stay away from him just in case.
"...Noct?" Hilda calls to him.
"...Yeah?"
"...You can come back to the table."
...He had been away from the table. Noct noticed himself. "...Sure." He went back to his seat.
"So, this terrain we have." Sylvia resumes the meeting. "It would rain soon so that meant it would be dangerous to take this route."
"Yes." Hilda nods while Sylvia read through a copy given to her.
"Okay, we should take this route." She declared. "A slope at this area could help us in ambushing the enemy."
"At this elevation..." Maria nods. "I should be able to have some good stationary spots with my bow."
"Oh, alright..." Noct nods from his seat.
"So for this, it could help with this." Sylvia read. "There would be traps here so remember this points." She pointed at the marked spots for the members around the table to memorize and nod attentively.
"Fine, so I'll be the frontal assault." Samuel plans.
"Indeed but someone had to protect Maria from ambushes if any Dulled specialized in ambushing pop up."
"I can handle that, right?" Noct affirms. Just as he said that, he felt wind blew around him. He wondered what it meant before he recognized something thrown at him. "Whoa!" He grabbed it, some plate. The winds disappeared.
"...His reaction time is good." Sylvia analyzed and nodded. "Then you shall be protecting Maria."
"...Oh." Noct looked back at the plate and placed it down.
That wind just now...Was it testing him? He looked around. That wind...Where did it come from?
But... there was no one else other than them...
Hilda nodded and looked at them. "Make all necessary preparations before you head out into the coordinates." She reminds them.
"Indeed." Sylvia agreed. "It will be rainy weather and potential thunders would be there. Nothing metallic that can conduct them."
"Got it." Noct nods slowly.
"Nothing that would conduct electricity, a lightning rod..." Maria nodded. She looked at the things with high conductivity. None of their weapons had higher conductivity than metal. She nodded and turned to Hilda. "I think we're all prepared. I'll check on my arrows and load them as well."
"My swords need some few strokes." Samuel added. "Better make sure they were handled nicely."
"..."
"..." Noct got out of his seat again.
"No worries." Sylvia assured.
Al sighs with his hands on his waist. "I am not suited for lightning damage but my body won't conduct electricity." Al explained. Right, despite the mechanical look, it wasn't made of metal elements.
It appears everyone here is ready for their group mission together which Hilda responds with a nod. "I wish the best for all here."
The group observed their surroundings as they paced onto deceased grounds devoid of plant life. They looked at the trees around them. Withered cracks, leafless branches... Noct looked at the weapon Sylvia told him to bring with. A basic combat knife, ill-advised to wield a sword. The distance of the trees around them were narrow.
Shorter range, meant he needed more distance, but the knife was pretty light and he was able to swing it faster than his own sword. In fact, he felt like he was already used to it already...
He was glad that he was away from Samuel, who took the front end of the formation. Away from him a good distance.
Well, for one, his set formation is around the middle so that their ranged member, Maria, could be kept under guard from back attacks.
Looking back at her, he notices that her attire while out on field was... baring to say. A purple halter top that bares her left side which her left breast is covered by a gold cup connected to silken cloth which her top is held together by the same silk around her collarbone. She wore lighter purple leggings with a diamond-like cutting by the sides of her legs, gold heel-like sandals with longer straps covering her soles. Pink bracers around her wrists and golden bands worn around her left arm. He could see a quiver hanging by the side from a belt with a pearl-like jewel.
He looked at Sylvia's position. The tactician's location to have a better view in all sides.
"Just a bit further here, right?" He asks.
"Yes, tread softly."
Responding with a nod, he did so, observing their surroundings. So far, nothing else in view for them... No enemy in sight... He looked back in front. Samuel at the direct front line and Al alongside him.
He realized Samuel took shorter katanas than he saw before and Al had to duck with the branches too close.
'See something ahead?' The human ponders to himself.
He looked at the ground while a droplet of water hit his shoulder. Rain? He felt a downpour come. He looked at the ground beneath him. They weren't getting moist because of the trees.
"Rain's pretty natural, huh..." Noct comments.
"Indeed." Sylvia agreed and looked over the side. "Some guards have taken some watch over there. We need to get to Shallost and Yuki. Pulse, would you?"
"Alright." Al nodded and sent out some light over a distance.
The guards turned to that flash and tried to follow it despite the slowed movement due to the terrain while the group went forward. Noct turned at this tactic of stealth. Due to their numbers, they wouldn't be able to defeat a large number of Dulled. Maria was keeping watch, looking around and discerning for any presences.
Noct took a bit of practice swings. He would had hit a trunk if he wielded a sword. "Hm, okay... okay." He nods to himself.
He went onward to see something in front of him. That place... Doesn't it feel oddly-
"...Huh?" He thought of that hooded figure stated.
"You'd have to get through the corner edges up through a raised level of land."
He walked over and examined the surroundings. What did they mean by that?
He looked around. There aren't any corner edges at all... Raised level of land...Why do riddles have to be so hard to understand? Should he actually be concerned with it? Then again-
...The map! He turned to Sylvia.
"Could I borrow the map for a while? Need it to check something." Noct requests.
"You want it?" Sylvia asked. "Sure." She took it out and gave it to him. He read it while making sure the rain won't drench it by using Al's large body as a cover. He tried to remember what that figure meant and then... "These spots..." He mutters, lifting his finger and placing them lightly. "Corner edges... raised level..." He started thinking again. "Wait... maybe it actually aligns somewhere..." He looks at the layout again with a nod.
"What about this spot?" He wonders.
"...That's..." Sylvia began before Al turned to see.
"That's where the part of Crusader's Demon part rests." Al finished.
"Crusader?" Noct asks.
"They're an Eidolon divided into three forms." Al answered. "They are as powerful as Bahamut of the Hallowed Moon."
"The Hallowed Moon..." he looked upwards. The moons... There were two of them?
He looked over, one was smaller than the other.
"The moon which is smaller is called the Hallowed Moon." Maria spoke. "It's mostly inhabited by strange, but considerably strong beings. But deep down inside, that is where the Eidolon, Bahamut resides."
"Indeed." Sylvia nodded.
"He had a hard, strong body too!" Samuel included, it caused Noct to distance away from.
"Crusader has three forms." Al explained. "The Demon, the Devil, and the Goddess."
"The Warring Triad?" Samuel wondered.
"Indeed, they looked similar to the Warring Triad, but different. Some thought they were the ones who created it."
"...So..."
"It seems the parts were sealed away." Al confirmed. "Back in Heavensfall."
"Oh, Heavensfall..." Noct mumbles. Maria looked at Al who had a sad expression despite the face that lacked any facial muscles. "It isn't your fault. Many of us would have wished we could have helped..." Maria consoles him.
"But...She was a great friend." Al told her. "She was among the few Eidolons who went and tried to protect the Crystallians but...We never saw her ever again, just these two pieces. Just when she was supposed to marry Bahamut the next day."
"Again, it's not your fault... We... All of us experienced all of these..." Maria spoke. "We can't blame anyone, especially ourselves..."
Al looked quietly and exhaled. "Right...I apologize for losing my cool." Al apologized.
"It's alright." Sylvia comforted. "You're always one who worry about your friends and race. It is natural to act like that but don't let the past bring you down. You may be powerful but that doesn't mean you are perfect. Each of us have our own limitations."
"I see..." Al nodded. "Then let's go there. Is there any safe paths to get there?"
"..." Noct had been studying the layout of the map while they spoke. The levels of land stated, hazards... "...How about... going from there?"
"Going there..." Sylvia read. "It would attract some attention and going there isn't part of the mission. I am not sure if it will help us in this mission."
"Honestly, I'm not so sure myself on this but..." Noct pauses for a while. He couldn't tell them... "...It's got a... suspicious vibe. That's what I think I'm feeling."
"Something suspicious?" Maria asks.
"Like I said, I think something's odd about that."
"Odd." Samuel wondered. "Like some enemy there?"
"Possibly... Is it just me or is this downpour stronger than it was before?"
The group nodded and Sylvia looked at the path before she directed them to a different path while she threw something at a distance. Again, Noct felt the wind currents change direction.
'It happened again...' he spoke silently. He turned to Al. "Al, did you feel...?"
"Hm?" Al wondered.
"Just now, that light gust..."
"Highfield's ability." Al answered. "It allows her to control the winds."
"Oh..." A long pause after he turned to look in front and promptly turned back to Al. "Wait, what?"
"She can manipulate the winds." Al added. "Look at Serperior."
Noct nodded and looked at his PokéDex. "...Oh." He found the entry. He looked over the moves she could use, Leaf Tornado and Leaf Storm. While she is a Grass-type, those moves use the winds to function. Which meant...He looked at the winds to find small traces of leaves around. However, they were small for him to find them unless one had a good eye.
"Oh..." He nods again.
The one she threw landed and made some noises. Some of the patrols were alerted and went to that spot. They waited and made their way to that path. Noct felt something with his heart. 'Huh?' It was like...He needed to go there. He should do it.
"..." He nods.
He followed the team to that destination.
"...We meet again, old friend." Al muttered. He looked at a statue before them which he looked with such bittersweet recollection.
They had arrived at the location with less troubles. It had definitely went off track, but the group of five are now staring at where one of the three who formed Crusader is sealed.
"The Demon." Sylvia studies.
"Hm...He has such a strong build. Or she?" Samuel ponders.
"This is the Demon that formed one part of Crusader..." Maria speaks quietly. Even ny speaking the name, there was an eerie feel to it.
As for Noct, he was staring at the still form quite silently. An Eidolon sealed down right here... He looked over as to why it was here. Why that figure directed him to this place. He looked down at the monument before it. Over there was an engraved plate. There appears to be inscriptions written on the plaque, appears quite... hm?
Wait... this... this language...
'... Reflection... of the clear mineral... running through veins... Take pride for this... trial undergone to reborn... only hopes...'
What? What is this?
"...I can't seem to read this." Sylvia looked. "Pulse, can you?"
"I could not, even in my long years I couldn't understand the ancient language of Crystallians." Al answered.
"Crystallians...So this is Crystallian writing."
"...I just wanted something to fight." Samuel groaned in disappointment.
'...Release your potential... and take the clear which prove... to fight.' Noct finishes reading the plaque to himself. Noct then reached and touched the plaque, wiping it. He thought that he might have misread it or something, but...
A shake.
"What was that?" Maria asks.
"...Crusader!?" Al exclaimed.
The others turn at the sudden shout. There was more trembling around as the sound of something crumbling begin to echo around the area. Something is being released...
The statue of Crusader's demon form... Cracks were spreading around it, joining with the many others forming around the stone surface.
This meant...
The cracks spread over the statue.
...That this part of the Eidolon...
Pieces began to fall down from an arm.
What's happening? Nobody knew but Noct felt something speak in his mind.
"Urk..." He touched the side of his head.
"Xer!?" Sylvia exclaimed when she noticed his pain.
"What happened?!" Maria turned to him. Noct held his head. Who was talking to him? This voice...it was... He looked up through the sudden migraine. The statue was crumbling. That voice. That cruel and menacing-sounding voice... It was...Crusader.
An arm violently twitched, breaking off the stone around it and revealing what is definitely skin-covered flesh from the hand. Al remembered that golden armor. The armor of the Crusader, the war between man, God, and the force of nature.
"Who... is that...?" Noct asks as the migraine lessens.
The voice could be heard inside his head.
"Zurvan the Demon. Nine years have passed since that very day..."
"What?" He looked at the Eidolon clad in gold armor.
"To think... that one is able to live up to this day... is it a blessing bestowed down upon Fidem?" Zurvan sounds musing.
"Wait, what are you talking about? What do you mean, 'one'?" He asks.
"Xer?" Sylvia looked at his hand.
"Huh?" He turned to look at her.
"Something's materializing over your hand."
Again, he looked. "What the...?" He could see some blue mist forming. They formed a weapon. A weapon that wasn't in its full form but a lesser form of it.
He looked puzzled, what was happening?
"Now prove... that you bear the strength to wield that."
Zurvan's sudden dialogue snapped Noct back towards him. "Wait, what?" As Zurvan readies a stance for combat, it was obvious for the answer. "Is this supposed to happen?" He asks.
"Crusader, what are you..." Al exclaimed with confusion. "What happened to you during Heavensfall!?"
Zurvan didn't answer Al's question, reaching to the side. Pale energy forms before a halberd forms and is held by that hand.
"Why must we do this?!" Maria questions as she prepares her bow.
"Oh, a fight!" Samuel took off his smaller blades and took out his actual weapons. "I gladly accept this!"
"A test?" Sylvia materialized a fan on her tail. "Is this what they wanted?"
"Please, I don't know what happened, yet I don't want to hurt you!" Al begged.
"I don't even know what's happening at all!" Noct exclaimed. "I'm just hearing which I'm pretty sure they are speaking to me!"
Zurvan twirled their spear around and swung it in front of them, unleashing a visible shockwave.
"!!!" Sylvia waved her fan and all of them were sent flying out of the way of the shockwave. Noct felt the sudden force and buckled down. It was like he was inside an invisible elevator but he looked to see that he was stepping on compressed wind with a wind barrier preventing himself from falling.
"Aerial battles?" Samuel smiled as he charged into the charging Zurvan. "Count me in!" They clashed weapons. "Hey, do you take me as one of the tester's assistant?" He questions the Eidolon.
Zurvan didn't give a verbal, but a physical response instead as it rotates the body of its' lance and sends it ahead. Samuel charged forward and swerved his head to the side to evade the thrust. Zurvan moved to the side to evade his step. Samuel swung his katana to the side to hit Zurvan's chest.
The blade hits against the armor with a loud clanging. The attack did work, yes, but it wasn't enough to make a proper cut.
Samuel formed water to his feet to evade the spear's end. He sneered at this at how his weapon couldn't make the cut.
'Armor's too tough.' He thought. 'Almost nothing cannot be cut by Kyouka Suigetsu's blade.'
He looked over as Zurvan charged in before a blast of concentrated winds charged at them. Zurvan...
spun it's lance, forming an momentarily strong barrier in front of it. It combined with the arrows that could be seen deflected while they hid in the winds.
"They're fast in reaction time." Sylvia analyzed when that tactic didn't work. Noct looked and knew that skill she fired sharply reduces her offensive parameters but he realized as to how the attack got stronger the second time she used it.
"They also saw through the arrows hidden through the wind..." Maria agrees.
They looked to see Zurvan charge in toward them. Sylvia concentrated the winds to evade their attacks. She charged a ball of natural energy and it impacted on Zurvan's armor, creating a smoke before them. She remained in her position as Zurvan parted from the smoke and did a spinning thrust in front of it. From the thrust, an beam of energy shot out while several more crescent blades followed after the beam.
Sylvia stayed her ground as she manipulated the winds to have Al swerve into the air for an overhead blow. The air below Sylvia parted and she fell to evade the attacks while the winds directed the attacks to another direction. Zurvan looked at Al and they rear their lance back and moved to parry against him.
They studied silently about the biomechanical Eidolon's behaviour. He was hesitating on using his full strength to attack them. He wavered when the opportunity to damage them was presented.
They twirled their weapon, easily making him hold air and slashed at him. The Eidolon's body was just scratched by the side before a knife appeared between them. "Hrah!" Noct appears from the knife and swung at Zurvan, easily staggering from the sudden recoil of the impact of the knife.
As he stumbled back, arrows fired. He watches them whizz by and now making their mark against Zurvan, exploded. Maria looked as the smoke cleared off, the damage was minimal...
"It's not effective..." Maria murmurs at the display of endurance.
"Even if at max boost, Leaf Tornado couldn't scratch them." Sylvia looked. "Kyouka Suigetsu is ineffective too."
"Need something to break it!" Samuel exclaimed.
"The knife didn't work..." Noct returned back to them. "And this weapon..." he looks at it and Zurvan. Zurvan was looking at him, the form of the weapon he was holding specifically...
Wait... do they want him to use it? But what even is it? He's not seeing any specific or particular shape...
The Eidolon had not attacked them at the moment, as if waiting for them to realize what to do. They eyed Noct, him only. The rest were ignored as if they only wanted to fight him only. Why did they want him only? Noct put the knife away and used the weapon's formless form to face them.
"Wait, everyone... I think they want me to fight with... this." He tells the team.
"Seriously!?" Samuel groaned.
"If that's the case, be careful." Sylvia nodded and let the wind down for Noct to go down to the ground to face Zurvan.
He breathed... a battle he has to face alone against an Eidolon. There was definitely pressure, tension, expectations... In the midst of this... there was always that feeling... that he had to fight and triumph...
Unknown to him, the same figure watched him from a distance away. They turned to a book, remembered what was in store for him. The Eidolon, Crusader...
He stood at a corner in a palace, watching as a man garbed in a robe as a status as king stood before three Eidolons. No, they were an entity in three bodies. The three were given orders to safekeeping essences of weapons passed to them... In the case of darkest times, they will be the guardians of weapons to test the strength of that certain race...
"My love..." one of them, the only woman, spoke. "I wonder when will I ever see you again."
"This is a duty passed onto us should the worst case scenario occur..." The identity known as Zurvan spoke.
"As our honor as Eidolon, your wish is on our command, for the hope of Fidem." The last spoke up.
The king nods at the Eidolons. "No matter what shall befall on us, I will put my faith in you, Crusader."
The Eidolons...Known to had shaken the heavens in myths. The Crusades, an event that rid of the "impure" off the face of the world. They were the ones who shall bring hope to those "impure" now. Were now to save them from falling deeper into despair. That event of this "Cleansing" had them do was forced to be done by Their Hands. This was their penance.
The figure watches silently, able to see how their futures have been set. They looked over as Noct faced Zurvan.
"Now... Show them... and me." They spoke to themselves.
Noct looked at Zurvan and at his weapon. He swung it and charged in to attack. Lances, their blade was only at the end. Having a long reach but the blade at that end gave it a lower wide cutting power. The shaft deal much blunt force but not as strong as the blade. He needed to take advantage of that common weakness of lances.
He moved to the side to strike around, where the long pole was located.
Zurvan spun and blocked the strike, swinging the blade down horizontally. Noct saw and he reacted with a flip to the side, kicking himself into the air over the swing.
He turned around to see Zurvan thrust their halberd forward, Noct flipped to evade it, grabbed the shaft to act as a pivot, and spun around the spear to stand on it. He anchored himself and gulped to throw his weapon. He warped in front of Zurvan and swung the formless weapon vertically.
Noct looked at the gauntlet Zurvan used to block the attack. It had a chip, much more damage... actual damage on the armor Zurvan had. This weapon... it's the only thing that will work against Zurvan.
They had been waiting to realize he had to use this. But what matters more is that he is able to use it.
The power he possessed. They had found the one who survived. They nodded and they jumped back first, weaving the air with a free hand. They held their halberd with both hands afterwards. Noct landed on the ground and faced his opponent.
Zurvan readied their halberd, their proper battle witness to the team.
Samuel was disappointed, Maria wanted to support with some healing magic but she knew Noct should do this alone, Sylvia had the same thought, and Al was quite relieved that he wouldn't hurt an old friend. The only thing they could do was watch.
Noct readies his weapon and looked around to see where he could make use of which areas against Zurvan. The gauntlet was partially destroyed, he could see some purplish skin there. However, he knew that Zurvan won't let him hit that spot again. Somewhere else...he turned to the other areas of the Eidolon. Many places he can get to... as long as he doesn't end up making any mistake; he guessed it would definitely be the worst.
He nodded and began analysing this Eidolon. They got the skill and the power but he felt they were holding back. Just there to test him. He nodded firmly and holding his weapon with both hands, he got his feet ready and threw his weapon, making it spin through the air first.
Zurvan deflected it. That was a mistake. Noct appeared on that spot and threw the weapon to their thigh.
They grunted as the weapon made a cut through the armor there. The weapon landed a few meters away and Noct warped at that part with a roll. He skidded to a halt to look at his advancing opponent. The spiritual weapon was in view of his vision. He was beginning to see a form outlining through the light blue. He looked back at Zurvan and spread his arms across the weapon, standing defensively.
Zurvan thrusts its halberd forward to close the gap more quickly. As it got closer, Noct gripped onto the "handle". The moment the tip rests against the "surface", Noct surprisingly slips through the advancing attack, he appeared surprised himself but quickly got a hold of himself and swung at Zurvan's torso.
Zurvan grunted at this. They rose their foot up to try and stomp Noct.
He quickly looks up and rolls to the side with a sideward slash that hit the ankle. Noct looked to see Zurvan buckled. He nodded, he had found the opening.
"Take this!" He shouts.
He threw the weapon again.
This time, as it spun through the air, it began to become opaque, appearing visible... revealing the form of a large greatsword. The greatsword reaches to Zurvan's side and Noct reappears, grabbing the handle. "Hrah!" He swung over with great force.
Zurvan watched and reached out a hand, granting the power to Noct of that weapon. They didn't brace for the impact about to hit them.
Noct's attack connected, slicing through the armor and cutting the flesh beneath it. Zurvan was sliced in half...Then they disappeared into specks of light. Al stared with shaking hands.
"C-Crusader...Wh-Where are you...?" He muttered before hearing Zurvan's voice.
"...It's... alright." Zurvan speaks.
"Huh!?" Al looked around but saw nothing. "What's happening? Your body..."
"My physical body is long gone since the day the Gods fell..." Zurvan tells Al. "My essence remains in this spot, my last purpose is to bequeath for any who still remain since then..."
"But...What about the promise?" He urged. "You told Bahamut you'll return her for their wedding!"
"I spoke of my condition... As for the others... I do not know what happened to them..."
"Please...Tell me that you'll come back." Al begged.
"...Should you find them... Please... tell them what has become of me."
"Crusader...Why would you choose to sacrifice yourself? You were redeemed by Bahamut when the Gods forced your path out of your own will. Even if we live long, we only live once.."
A short sigh. Zurvan wondered about their short-lived freedom. The way how the Goddess grew close to Bahamut. The way they fell in love. Then left to save the Crystallians but...
Al felt something touch his shoulder gently.
"...Even if it was short-lived... We were able to utilize our physical lives until the end..." Zurvan spoke. Al looked outward and felt a light punch to the chest. This old habit of theirs never left them. "Do not weigh yourself for my passing..." They told him.
"Crusader..." Al muttered with a nod. "...Alright."
If Al could see them, Zurvan would have given them a nod of approval. "...Take care of them all... Take care of him."
It took a while and then they were gone. Now into the afterlife... Al remained in silence as Samuel stared at him.
"You good?" He asked.
"...Yes, I'll be fine." Al assured. "But fo-"
Some rubble from the platform where Zurvan stood fell. Noct turned to see that rubble fall toward a hooded figure.
"Hey, you-"
The rubble phased through them while they were reading a book. Phased? How? That kind of magic wasn't possible. Phasing through things meant to defy logic and reality, which would be like destroying the physical body. Yet, this figure...
"Hm... As expected out of this..." They nodded to themselves. They lowered the book and looked over. "You done what you have to do today."
The rest of the team went down and faced them. "Who are you!?" Samuel demanded with weapons raised.
Maria used Libra on them and she gasped. "They... Libra isn't working!"
The figure looked at her than at Noct. The way they moved toward him...
"Those robes." Al commented. "They're mainly worn by Gods. Then, you are..."
"Many call me the Watcher of Fidem. Creator of All. The Seer. But... you may call me..." They pondered for a while. "...R."
Watcher...They realized what they just told them. R...This R...was...the creator. Maria was grateful that she couldn't scan them for if she were, she would have lost it.
"You... are the Watcher?" Noct asks to confirm.
"Yes." Came R's reply.
The Watcher opened the book they held again. "...Hm... Even every small detail... Using those type of weapons... Definitely put a strain in stamina."
"Wait, wha-urk!" Noct held his arm, when did that happen? He was just feeling good with minimal impact from Zurvan...
"Xer!" Sylvia exclaimed while winds surround him, all in an attempt to heal him.
"It's regular occurrence if he uses this type of weapons. Using them would wear him out even if he isn't attacked by anything." R states. They looked at the book again. "After all, they are only something... they can use."
"Something..." Sylvia wondered before she took note of why they empasized "they". After some moments, her eyes widened and looked back. "Don't tell me...Xer is a..."
"Crystallian." R finishes for her.
They were all agape. This confirmation, the group turned to Noct.
"What?" He looked at everyone. "I'm a what?"
"A...Crystallian..." Al looked down. "Crusader tried to protect your kind during Heavensfall."
"They..." Noct held one side of his head. "...I don't... I can't remember a thing..."
Samuel looked around. Wondering what he meant before narrowing his eyes. "...Someone's coming." Samuel told everyone.
Just as he said it, two flew down in front of them. They tensed, knowing that one was the fallen angel and the other was a human.
R turned and sighed. "As expected."
R jumped to evade the blow and landed beside Noct's group. Just as they did, two more arrived in their location. Maria took note of their state.
"Looks like we're late to the party." Erik quipped.
"Yeah..." Makoto sighs to himself.
"Shallost, Yuki." Al called out. "Where have you been?"
"Just a bit... busy." Makoto replies, swinging his sword lightly. "Leviathan was a pain... really."
"So you've survived." Lucifer commented. "Highly persistent for mortals to withstand Leviathan's might."
"Yeah, we did." He yawned for a while. "Siegfried did plenty of work... when Leviathan came down."
"You lot are too stubborn to die." Erik complained and eyed the one beside Lucifer. "Just who do you think you are?"
They looked at the rather aged human standing by the side of Lucifer. A white robe with a large collar and red trim, beneath that is a black robe lined with silver buttons that has a goldenrod trim at the bottom. Over a white dress shirt seen, he had light golden armor. Completing his attire are black boots, black fingerless gloves and silver forearm armor. The human had silver hair drawn back and blue eyes.
Those looks...What was he?
"You...You may look human but aren't." Erik commented. "Something else, a Niflian."
"Wise perception." The man answers.
Niflian? Noct stared at him. What did it mean? He wasn't able to answer before Al stepped in front of him to block an attack. This man's power...
"You...You're the one..." Al muttered with subdued rage. "The attire...the looks...You are the one who caused their extinction. They were an innocent race living their lives, yet you took those away."
The man held a handgun, Al just blocked a bullet aimed at Noct. It was like any normal handgun. But what it fired was... different... It felt like some form of concentrated pure energy...
"You, the Tactician who Ordered God's Death." Al began. "Iedolas."
The man breathes. "My identity precedes me, after all."
Al rushed in.
"Pulse, no!" Sylvia cried as Al went in and screamed out, "Steelcrusher!"
"...Leviathan, would you?" Iedolas suddenly says.
As Al brings his arm down, a large blue tendril shot and blocked the attack. But looking at the end... it was a rather a serpent without any eyes but having sharp snouts and three pairs of round gills around their neck.
He gasped in shock as he felt more tendrils wrap around his body. Despite his great strength, he couldn't break free. This was Leviathan, the Manifestation of Envy. They were as powerful as Eidolons. He was trapped while Iedolas loaded his gun. He aimed the gun at him.
"I extend that thanks." He complimented to the four tendrils before he pulled the trigger, sending a shot and hitting Al's chest.
The bullet exploded and Al was set free of the binds and flew down back to the group. They moved out of the way while the giant landed on his back with a loud crash. Everyone covered their eyes when the dust formed from where he landed. Noct looked back at Al and was shocked. That single attack knocked him out cold. His red glowing eyes were closed but he could see that he was still alive from his breathing.
"Al!" He shouts. He looked sharply back at Iedolas. "Why, you...!"
"He needs healing!" Sylvia called for Maria while Erik, Makoto, and Samuel joined Noct's side with their weapons ready.
"You have to be a pain again? How generous of you." Erik sarcastically quipped.
"Not again..." Makoto sighs.
R walked between them and faced the three adversaries. He looked at the book he held and sighed. They weren't supposed to fight here. Not now. Noct wasn't supposed to fight yet. Just then, he felt some portal opened in a distance. Oh, some sneaked out of command. He raised a hand as if to snap his fingers.
"Watcher." Lucifer muttered. "What are you doing?"
"Simply put... divine intervention." R replies. "This fight isn't meant to be right now."
"So, you'd not allow this fight. But you would allow the fall of the Crystallians, is that it?" Iedolas looked at him, marking his aim at the Watcher. "Allow them to fulfill that future for them?"
"I am only playing my part here."
He snapped his fingers and the party was covered in a bright light. The three covered their eyes and looked back. They were gone. Lucifer looked around and sneered.
"He's gone...I could never forgive him for what he did to me back then. How he defeated me when he was holding back."
Iedolas still remained having his gun point at where R used to be before he lowered his arm. His face had a scowl on it. "...So be it. Continue to allow their 'futures' to happen."
"Where am I?" A red dragon looked around the area. "They said that a team was sent here. I need to show them I am capable!"
He did a couple of squats vigorously. Despite his memory lost, he never lost any vigor. "Two weeks rehabilitation my butt! Time for Ry-"
A flash appeared before him, he yelped and accidentally stepped on his long tail. He let out another yelp in pain this time and tripped backward. His tail between his legs and hands behind him, he looked as the team appeared before him.
"Whoa-Whoa!" He exclaimed. "Who are you guys!?"
"What the?" Erik exclaimed while he uncovered his eyes. "Where is that guy? And isn't he that dragon Atad took in?"
"...Shoud be." Makoto replied. "Divine intervention, yeah..."
"...Disobeying orders and he isn't part of the Organization." Erik looked. "He may look athletic but his impatience..."
"...Yeah. Will be tough to manage a mission of precise patience."
"Whatever the case, we need to get Pulse some medical attention." Sylvia announced. "You."
"'You'?" The dragon gulped.
"Could you please help us carry him?" Sylvia pointed to the unconscious Al.
He looked down and understood the situation. He got closer, placed his arms below his collar and the back of his knees, and carried him bridal style. He looked a bit disappointed but he knew he needed help. He looked at her.
"Can I join the Organization now?" He asked hurriedly.
"It isn't mine to decide, we need to go now!" Sylvia commanded and looked at the rest. "Everyone, retreat!" They looked and while some looked like they wanted retribution, reluctantly complied.
"...Let's Goho-M." Makoto yawned. "...And get some sleep."
Everyone went in the portal back to Unita. While they did so, Noct couldn't help but wonder. He was...a Crystallian? The last one...
That R...The one who called himself the Watcher.
So many questions... answered and unanswered... Actually, nearly everything remains unanswered.
Right now, he had to retreat. He may get those answers next time.
"Your Majesty's still asleep." A hooded young man told the other hooded person beside him at the bottom of a staircase.
"It had been some years since he lost her. All he could do is to stay here and grieve." The other replied with a sad tone. "The promise he wanted to come. It never came. She left to save the Crystallians from death yet...She never came back."
"...Indeed."
The two looked at the stairs and on a platform at the end of the stairs. There... laid a neck-length golden haired man wearing some form of a dark eye mask with horn-like structures by the sides and from the middle to top. Dressed in a large dark robe with paler white sleeves and at the base of the robe, appear to be a pattern of scales like a form of underbelly for reptilians.
He remained asleep. Not bothering to wake up but at the ends of his closed eyes rests remains of tears left.