Unmei Force Solitary Legends: Young Spirits
Final Chapter: Verdict - Libertas
In Akademia's main gates…
Trey and Nine broke down the main gates in the frontal sector, as the rest of Class Zero rushed in, with Rem being carried in Gunter's arm in a bridal carry.
"We need help here! Rem Tokimiya has fallen deathly ill!" Deuce declared, before she then saw the state that the hallway was in, as the entire hallway looked like it was torn apart by something, with shattered windows, destroyed gate devices, and corpses everywhere. "Urgh!?"
"Dead bodies… But that can't be right.. The main gate is supposed to be protected…" Eight stated.
"That's because the protection here doesn't hold a candle compared to what we now have to face." Richard's voice was heard by the entire group, as they turned towards him, standing on the other end of the torn hallway. "...It's been a while. I take it that you noticed the change in atmosphere here?"
"Spade… What happened?" Seven asked Richard stoically.
"You have a lot to catch up upon. "Richard declared, before looking towards Rem. "...It seems that her condition has grown severe. Let me carry her. I will take her to Arecia for treatment."
Gunter then handed Rem to Richard, as he held her firmly, before turning around.
"Where should I start?" Richard stated, as he pushed the doors into the ruined fountain courtyard. "It did not take long for the new threat to come. A temple arose from the cimmerian seas, one that no scholar or sage could discern its nature."
As they proceeded, they noticed that there was a pair of creatures heading towards them, as they seemed to be metallic humanoid abominations, with porcelain faces on their chest, red ribbons sprouting from the top of their helmeted head, and eldritch two-bladed swords in their hands, as their footsteps clanged towards them.
The cadets immediately went into combat stance, before Richard incanted a silent spell, as wind magic immobilised the monsters, before Chen and Gunter took them out. Richard then extracted the phantoma from them, as the destroyed creatures faded into white particles of light.
"The Dominion has been gutted by an unknown force. Chancellor Khalia, Zhuyu and many major members of the Rubrum army have disappeared off the face of Orience." Richard continued. "Because of these creatures, which you have the dis-pleasure of meeting first-hand, for the first time, I assume from the looks on your face, many cadets and men tried to fight them. And they died like sheep to the slaughter. The creatures were at a level far above them. They can teleport around without any restraint. Their blades target your very phantoma, rendering no curative spell effective on any wound or death they inflict. And they cannot die unless their own phantoma is extracted, an irony in the fact they destroy others."
"...Then why aren't we contacted about all of this?" Ace asked calmly, fearing the answer.
"...Isn't it simple? Much like what happened with the assassination of Concordia's Queen… we have been forsaken once again." Richard answered back. "It turns out that in fear and paranoia, insiders have leaked the Code Crimson protocols, as well as the Exitium Protocol. Class Zero and Cardinal Suits share the flak from everyone in Rubrum. The only reason they did not distrust me, is because I have saved their lives without gratitude countless times before you returned. But the rest of you… they blame you for what occurred."
"What!?" Sice exclaimed in disbelief.
"Let's not dwell on this. Meet in the classroom. Fortunately for you, Kurasame still lives, but he's relegated himself to a support role to save as many cadets as he can." Richard declared.
They then entered Akademia, as Richard made use of the still-active teleportation portal in the centre of the hallway junction to take Rem to Sorcery where Arecia would be. At the same time, the entire group received messages through their comms.
"We're doomed! It's all over! It's Tempus Finis! Those Rursus will massacre every last one of us!" A panicked male cadet screamed through the comms.
Seven was about to say something, before Chen stopped her.
"Don't, we're hated enough as is." Chen shook her head.
The group immediately entered the classroom, as they decided to talk amongst themselves.
"They used to depend on us, all of them. Now they've turned against us." Ace sighed
"Hah, fine, just let them hate us!" Cater remarked, before Flora walked over, and bopped her on the head with her staff. "Ow! What was that for?"
"This hate is not going to solve matters. Pointing fingers at each other at a dire time like this is the worst kind of thing to do." Flora scolded Cater.
"All we did was carry out the campaigns Mother and the dominion brass gave us." Seven said.
"They just want some place to vent their anger." Eight stated firmly.
"Or perhaps this is simply our fate. As you know, those once hailed as heroes are doomed to be hunted as heathens." Trey stated.
"...Code Crimson… what is it?" Gunter asked the group.
"They're covert operations that are carried out with various results. Some are considered war-crimes." Queen stated. "But we did them to bring an end to this war the same. The Cardinal Suits were never to be participants for this, due to the nature of the operations being only given to trusted operatives. I guess, this makes it no different to your Exitium Protocol."
"Yeah… Nobody likes a destructive loose cannons, let alone an entire band of them." Chen bitterly stated.
"What the heck is going on!? It makes no sense!" Cinque exclaimed with horror.
"Let's calm down and assess the situation! The main problem is… um…" Queen started, before she fumbled on her own words, unsure on the matter. "I think we first need to… y'know… um…"
"You don't see THAT every day! Queen's panicking!" Jack joked.
"I'll have you know this is quite serious, Jack!" Deuce shouted back with an angry look on her face. "For the entire trip, Rem hasn't even woken up at all, and she doesn't look so good."
"Yeah… Rem really picked the worst time for her condition to go critical… The dominion is in disarray, we have no-one to rely on but ourselves… and what's more, that bastard Machina isn't here at all. In fact, we have never seen him since before the final battle in Ingram!" Chen stated.
"She tried to keep her own condition a secret from us, to ensure that we would complete our mission…" Flora remarked. "I should have realised earlier, when her movements were restrained and weak… and she lagged behind to avoid combat…"
"It's not your fault, Heart. She always lied to us whenever we brought up health issues." Seven said.
"Wha-? Seven, you could tell when Remski was lying?" Cinque asked back.
"Well, couldn't everybody?" Seven responded back.
"Pretty sure that some of us had the feeling, and Heart knew it without even asking her." Chen stated.
"Apparently, Rem's been sick for a long time. Mother said that current science can't cure her. And in this condition, her odds are even more slim." Eight noted.
"The doctors all said her phantoma is in such a weakened state, that at her current condition, she may never wake again… I only hope that there is some way to save her." Trey added.
"Alright, we mustn't dwell upon Rem… As long as Spade is with her, he'll find a way to help save her. For now, we return to the topic Queen suggested…" Gunter stated, to break the dreadful silence before it could be perpetuated. "We need to think about our next course of action… Spade mentioned that there was a temple that rose in tandem with the invasion of these… 'Rursan' creatures."
"That's right… Spade did mention that…" Ace remarked. "Could there be a connection between the Rursus and the temple…? After all, if we have the time to worry, we also have time to make plans for the future ahead. Let's get some information."
After a while, Arecia and Richard entered the room, as the latter was stone-faced, before they stopped right on the teaching pedestal.
"You're all here… Good." Richard stated. "...I want you to listen to your Mother, Class Zero. Listen to these words… for they are important for what is to come."
"Spade, what are you…" Queen was about to say.
"The seal has been broken, and the souls have been released." Arecia started.
"Mother? What happened?" Queen asked Arecia.
"Will you children be able to make it?" Arecia continued, ignoring Queen. "Will you darlings be able to make it beyond the void, in spite of the miniscule-no infinitesimal probability of success?"
"Mother, what are you talking-" Cater asked.
"LISTEN." Richard slammed his hands on the desk. "This is far more important than some mere lecture. Every word she says… is your key to the future."
"...I want you all to write the final page yourselves." Arecia declared. "None of you have ever chosen your own way of living - not once. Queen, you understand, don't you?"
"You mean the Akashic Records?" Queen answered back.
"Precisely, recorded in the pages are the Will of the Crystals- the cogs driving your destiny." Arecia respond back. "All you have done throughout your lives is dutifully carry out the orders you've been given as written in the records."
"That's…" Ace muttered.
"So I want you to choose your own endings. This is the final freedom I give you as humans." Arecia stated, lowering her pipe. "Yes, you are all human. Humans cannot choose how they are born. However, humans are the only ones who can choose how they live, and how they die. So choose, darlings, and inscribe the final page as you see fit. If you cannot… then look towards the Cardinal Suits… they will guide you on whatever path you choose."
Arecia then left, as Class Zero was stunned to silence, while Richard's group willfully remained silent.
"Boy, she was acting different." Jack remarked.
"It was like she made even less sense than normal. My brain hurts!" Nine exclaimed. "I mean, of course, we're human- right, hey?"
"You are." Gunter answered back, which calmed Nine down slightly. "That much I can tell."
"Mother told us to choose, but what exactly are we supposed to choose?" Seven stated.
"...I believe that I know the answer." Flora spoke softly, as Class Zero turned to her. "...We of the Cardinal Suits do."
"Really, then what is it?" Cater asked back.
"We will tell you soon, but first, we need to check on Kurasame first." Richard answered back. "He should be in the war room."
Class Zero was reluctant to do so, but considering the lack of other choices, they did so, following Richard out of the classroom, ascending the stairs to the war room, and entering it, as Kurasame was there, and Aria as well. Kurasame noticed their arrival, turning towards them.
"Spade… and Class Zero." Kurasame stated. "It seems that you have been notiied of the dire situation we find ourselves in."
"We heard most of it from Spade… the Chancellor is missing, Lord Zhuyu is gone as well… But if we still remember them, then they are still alive." King stated.
"And thus… as the highest ranked officer present, I am the commanding officer here. It does not help much." Kurasame answered back. "The Rursus are attacking Rubrum while we talk here. They are deadly enemies, who slaughtered unprepared cadets by the dozen. I assume you have heard this, but they destroy phantoma from the living, rendering them unable to be healed or revived."
"We have to do something fast…" Queen remarked with concern.
"Unfortunately, there is no clear objective for us to engage in. Throwing you out there in the battlefield will achieve nothing but your deaths, powerful and experienced you all may be." Kurasame answered back. "However, if you are looking for information instead… Marshal Cid Aulstyne was sighted heading towards the temple in the cimmerian sea."
"Cid…? What is he thinking?" Eight remarked.
"That is unknown for now. However, I suspect that this does not bode-" Kurasame remarked, before he then received a comms call. "This is Kurasame. What's your status?"
"The airship! We can't even get close to the temple! We'll be wiped out at this rate!" An intel officer declared, as there was the sound of heavy fighting on the other side. "N-no! Somebody help us! YEEAARRGGH!"
The call was suddenly cut off with the sound of cutting flesh. "Hey! What happened!? Respond, now!" Kurasame exclaimed, before he then tried the other comms channel, only to receive static. "...Tch, so the scouting team has been completely annihilated… I recommend that whatever you do… do not approach that temple carelessly."
"...That is right." Richard stated back. "The temple is not a place to be approached by any mere person. Tell me, Queen, what does this remind you of?"
"...'Only the chosen may enter that land'." Queen recited some sort of ancient phrase. "'The chosen will touch all creation, and obtain that which is truth.'"
"'It is reason outside of reason, the reason of Agito.'" Trey picked up the reciting. "'It is power, the authority of Agito. And the sage proclaims: In all things, there is meaning.'"
"'Make your choice, will you choose reason, or the power of kings?'" Flora continued. "'I will become Agito.'"
"'I will sound the knell to shake all the world…'" Ace remarked with hand under chin, deep in thought. "'When nine and nine meets nine, the depths of reason shall stir. When the seal of creation is broken, a voice like thunder shall sound, and thou shalt know-'"
"...'We have arrived'." Richard answered back. "...And from there, Tempus Finis has descended, to bring this world back into the endless cycle it once belonged to."
"What's that?" Cinque asked back.
"It's a passage from the Nameless Tome…" Flora stated, before Queen could speak.
"Are you saying Cid's going to be Agito?" Eight asked Flora.
"...It is likely. The events have occurred as spoken. I felt a crushing presence for a moment." Flora responded back. "...And I doubt that Spade would speak that it has led to Tempus Finis, if he believed that the events were not the prophecy of its descent upon Orience."
"If Cid were to become Agito…" Seven started.
"...Then Orience is doomed." Richard declared, as Class Zero and everyone in the war room turned to him. "...I have many things of importance to tell you. Meet me back in the class-room. Prepare yourselves, for what I have to tell… will shatter your view of the world."
Richard then left the war room, as Class Zero turned to the rest of Richard's group.
"...I would listen to Spade… he seems to have a dire truth to tell." Gunter told Class Zero solemnly.
Chen walked over to Aria, who looked back at her.
"Diamond… Do you think that this crap will end?" Aria asked Chen.
"Don't know… but this is the best we can do. A fucking disappointment I am… All this, and I can't do a damn thing to help." Chen bitterly chuckled.
"No, you've done a lot." Aria stated, before she then handed Chen the bag that she was carrying around. "Here, take this. It's filled with the best supplies that I can gather. If you're really going to that temple… then you'll need everything you have."
"Aria… thanks for the help." Chen stated, as she gratefully took the supply bag.
"I owe you for saving me back there. Now, when you meet the Rursus, pop them one for me!" Aria declared.
"Oh trust me, every blow I deal will be sponsored by you." Chen chuckled. "See you when the world gets back to normal once we become Agito."
The group then left the war-room, before heading down to the class-room, where Richard was awaiting, behind the teaching pedestal.
"...Diamond, Heart, Club. With me." Richard stated, as the members moved beside Richard, facing Class Zero. "...Queen, Since you know much about what is happening, are you aware of what that temple behind the peristylium is?"
"The land of Judgement, Pandaemonium…" Queen answered back. "Inside that temple resides a Judge, waiting to perform the Final Judgement, and determine whether Agito has been born into the world."
"That is right. And from there, the Rursus Reavers have been created, to eradicate the world, should Agito be not born into it at the time of Tempus Finis." Richard answered back.
"...There is hope though, although there is none written beyond the Final Judgement… If there is Agito, then the Rursus might potentially return the lives they have stolen…" Flora remarked. "All the purpose gathered within the prophecy, hints towards a new birth on the world, led by the new Agito."
"Wait, that's the last page Mother was talking about!" Cater exclaimed.
"Spot-on on that. So I guess it's obvious where we're going next." Chen responded back.
"So I ask this question… Is your choice the same as ours? What do you wish to do, now that there is a clear path?" Richard asked Class Zero. "Will you tread it, not knowing what may come, or will you shy away from it, and accept certain death?"
"But then, what does the Judge want to do? Why is he judging?" Cinque raised the question.
"A divine being's machinations are not easily discerned." Gunter grimly stated. "But from what I read on the history of this world… He potentially wishes to complete the Focus that the Crystals have entrusted him with, whether it be with the souls of the countless people, or by the will of Agito."
"Then what do you want us to do? Save the dominion, the world, from the Rursus?" Deuce asked Richard and his group.
"No way, we're just cadets! We can't-" Jack complained, before Richard smashed the pedestal hard with both fists, cracking it slightly, and getting Class Zero's attention.
"To hell with that." Richard declared with a glare in his eyes, and a heated tone. "Don't you dare say something like that, when you've done plenty, things that others cannot. I won't pry on what you have done as Code Crimson dictates… but I trained and guided you all to be far more than just mere cadets. You were the ones who fought and stood against Celestia of Concordia, even if it was briefly, you were the ones who crushed the Imperial Army at Ingram, securing us the victory. You have transcended from being a mere class of cadets. You are Class Zero, legends in your own rights."
"Even so, cadets or no, we never gone into battle without receiving orders before." Ace argued.
"That's what you think. You delude yourselves that you need to be handed a purpose by those above, to fight, to think, to act." Richard retorted back. "None of that. You had choices from the start of our arrival. You could have just distanced yourselves from us. You could have just simply worked alongside us as allies under a common cause. But you did choose, you chose to accept us as your close friends. We spent months living under the same roof, enjoying the same moments, and getting to know each other. You created that bond as much as we did. You never had to join us several times before, and yet you came with us, and grew as proper comrades. You have heard your Mother, Arecia, Ace. You have the right to choose how you live. You are all capable of choosing what you want from this world, and no better time than this! So tell me, Class Zero! Will you rise to the call for a new Agito and save the world? Will you prove that you have the right to claim to be above mere subordination!? Who will be the one holding the pen for the potentially final page in your legacies!? The Crystals!? The Judge!? Or will it be you all!?"
Class Zero fell to silence again, before Cater asked something. "If that Judge or whatever he's called, is calling the shots, we could go beat him up, right?" She suggested.
"That can work. But first, you must become Agito, for 'when one other than Agito stands before the Judge, his life will return to nothing.' Don't take this lightly: It may be possible for anyone to become Agito… as said in the prophecy, but there are many perilous trials ahead… And with Arecia gone… you all no longer have the power to shake off death. Once you fall, you will die forgotten." Richard declared. "But death never fazed us, even if we never had the same fail-safe you all had. Surely, you wouldn't be afraid now, with much more at stake."
"And so what if the Rursan can make their wounds stick? So long as we ensure they cannot bleed any of us out, they can do jack shit to us," Chen sneered. "Don't tell me the great Class Zero has cold feet now, this is just another mission, a more important one at that!"
"Heh, I can't believe you're saying this at this moment, Diamond…" Sice remarked. "Well, we're choosing how to die then… then I'll make my choice, I'm going to die fighting for survival at the least."
"Choosing how to die? Well, doesn't that also mean that we can also choose how to survive?" Cinque stated.
"Y'know, you can be pretty clever sometimes, Cinque." Cater admitted. "Yeah, Spade is right, this isn't the time to back down."
As Class Zero began to gather their resolve to head to Pandaemonium in order to try for Agito, Heart sensed something in the distance, approaching Akademia.
"I sense someone coming here… That familiar feeling… could it be…?" Flora remarked, before she then left the class-room to head outside Akademia.
Richard and the others quickly followed after her, as they saw that at the entrance, was Celestia herself, as Flora moved forward to greet her.
"Lady Celestia… why have you come here?" Flora asked back.
"Ah, the favour of the dragons… Cid has gained that which is truth in the Land of Judgement." Celestia declared.
"No way, Cid is Agito!?" Eight exclaimed.
"...That doesn't mean that it's the end of us. We can still head to Pandaemonium, and fight to become Agito as well." Gunter said. "Lady Celestia, are you here to take us to Pandaemonium?"
"If you go there as well, I will be your escort. Powerful you may be, Spade of the Cardinal Suits, the Land of Judgement cannot be reached by mere mortals." Celestia stated. "Only a l'Cie can open the way. The Vermillion Peristylium currently has no l'Cie, so I will act in their stead."
"...That can't possibly be true, can it?" Sice stated. "This just sounds like a trap."
"This is a choice that I have made. All of you may choose to do as you please." Celestia answered back. "But there isn't much time, however, for you to debate the matter. I am only able to retain my human consciousness for the present while the Dragon remains unharmed."
"Celestia… Are you saying that Soryu is being attacked by the Rursus as well?" Richard asked back.
"...That isn't an important matter right now. I can see your resolve. In the southwest seas, the sanctuary of death has arisen. Beyond the reach of mortals, it waits. I will grant thou passage thither, yet these words you have best well heed: from nowhere, nothing shall return. In case the memory of your life should fade… let now your peace be made."
"...Well, I did warn you all." Richard told Class Zero. "So then, have you prepared yourselves? Once we go to Pandaemonium… we will fight for Agito, or die trying. Spare no effort, everything and everyone is at stake."
Ace was silent for a moment, before he then turned to Celestia. "...We're ready."
"Spoken you have, and thus passage I shall provide. For the sanctum of death, together we depart." Celestia remarked, before she then transformed into her draconic form, lowering a wing for the group to climb atop her back.
As soon as everyone was on her back, she immedaitely took flight, as Akademia grew more and more distant, as they were getting closer to Pandaemonium, which was a large floating island, with a singular grand temple atop it, with countless revolving gears on the centre of it, as well as around it.
Celestia then landed on the front area of the temple, as the group disembarked, while Celestia transformed back into her human form.
"...Your son… Is he still alive?" Flora asked Celestia.
"Thanks to your deeds, he told me of what you have done…" Celestia answered back. "It is by that gratitude that I aid thee. This has proven that my belief in Mistress Kaya's envisioned future was not misplaced, and her sacrifice and meeting with you was not in vain. He lives to rally those of Concordia to live for tomorrow."
"Wait, Mistress Kaya?" Deuce stated.
"Queen Andoria Kaya of Concordia." Celestia declared, stunning Class Zero.
"What!? You still remember her Majesty?" Deuce exclaimed with shock.
"When I became a l'Cie, Her Majesty's dragon returned my memories of her to me." Celestia answered back. "Mistress Kaya had the power to see the future. Therefore, she knew that her visiting Milites would bring about her certain death."
"Then why did she…" Cinque started.
"She must have believed that it was necessary. That is what Mistress Kaya chose." Celestia stated with a solemn look in her eyes. "The same is true of me… I have chosen a path at variance with the will of the Azure Dragon Crystal… And so, I will lose everything in turn for this treachery. Bound by the family name, I defended my kingdom and my people as the Akatoki Warden, but now, it ends. My son lives still, and I pray that he will continue the legacy. Is this… the path I have chosen?"
"Lady Celestia…" Gunter remarked, as Celestia edged towards the edge of the island.
"Heed this well, you are to choose your own paths! Follow the path in life, to find your death!" Celestia declared, before she then jumped off the island, as everyone was shocked, with Chen and Flora trying to reach her, only to fail, as they heard her fall towards the ground.
However, after a few moments, Celestia rose again, in her dragon form, as she roared at the group, before then flying off.
"Lady Celestia… your passing will not be forgotten easily…" Flora muttered to herself.
"...It seems that in her final moments, she intended to guide us." Richard remarked. "Listen now, Claes Celestia Misca Sancest…. Is no longer a part of this world. She is now forevermore the Shinryu."
Class Zero silently mourned her, before they then turned back to the temple itself, as they noticed that there were a pair of arches on the sides of the ground, with purple energy flowing between them.
"Ahhh… could this be fate?" A rasping male voice was heard throughout the ground. "Our paths have never crossed, but I know who you are. You're the pawns of that woman, the one who has crossed the White Tiger. Very well, I shall be the one to pass Judgement on you."
"You know about Mother…?" Ace stated.
"Is that… Cid Aulstyne…?" Gunter remarked.
"...The very same. Turns out Celestia and Kurasame weren't lying... Be prepared, we are going to face ordeals beyond the likes we have encountered before." Richard declared.
"Within my dark clutches, you shall die a slow death." Cid declared.
"Says you! I'd like to see you try and kill any of us!" Chen snarled back.
"I believe that we have to pass through these arches in order to proceed." Queen remarked.
"Let's split up, and take them out one by one." Ace agreed.
"Wait, before we split up. I have two things of importance to do. First…" Richard stated, before he then pulled out the crystal pendants. "Heart, Diamond, and Club, wear these. You will need them in time."
"...I hope that you will not pull the same trick that you have done before." Gunter told Richard with a serious tone.
"Do not worry, I will ensure that I stay to my word." Richard remarked, as he slipped the last of the crystal pendants on himself. "And second, Class Zero, heed my words clearly: Your humanity is the last thing you want to sacrifice. No matter what power it gives you, no matter how luring the trade-off is, your humanity is what gives you the right to be Agito… do not lose that quality."
Class Zero listened carefully, before they nodded in unison, before the two teams split up. Through the left arch was Ace, Richard, Trey, Gunter, Cinque, Seven, Nine, and King. And through the right, was Flora, Chen, Deuce, Cater, Sice, Eight, Jack, and Queen.
With Ace's group…
The group arrived on the left side of the temple-ground, as they noticed that there was a Rursan Reaver, waiting for them, although it was different, in that it had a simple green-edged blade, and its porcelain mask was on its head.
"Time for Judgement." Cid declared, before the group suddenly heard a voice boom through their heads.
Slay thy enemy
"Wait, that's really it?" Nine remarked. "This just sounds too easy!"
The group immediately attacked the Rursan Reaver, as its own attacks were easy to predict and evade, as Nine thrust it down onto the ground, while Seven sliced through its chest with her whip-blade, defeating it, before Ace collected its phantoma, as the Reaver melted into particles.
"You are now authorised to proceed." Cid stated, as the gate ahead of them opened.
"Don't get cocky, any of you. This is just the start." Richard warned everyone in the group, as they proceeded through the gate.
What lay ahead of them was a large hallway, which seemed to be curving towards the centre of the temple, as there were cube-like constructs on the walls and ground.
"This should be easy for you." Cid mocked, as the voice of Judgement rang through their head.
Find truth, to escape the endless cycle
"Truth… what does it refer to?" King stated.
"Look, over there!" Jack remarked, pointing to a plaque on their right, as there was something written on it.
"'Only through the avoidance of suffering can one break the unending cycle'... This is the key to pass this trial… but what does it mean?" Seven stated.
"...Wait, suffering… Suffering refers to pain, agony, injury…." Trey stated, quickly realising the answer to the trial. "It seems that we are to find a way through here, without taking even the smallest of scratches…"
"How the hell are we going to end up injured, if there's no enemies-" Nine was about to argue, before glowing eyes appeared on the cubes, and some monsters appeared. "...Me and my big-mouth."
"All of you, don't bother even getting up close. Take out everything from afar. Make sure that they are all destroyed or dead. We cannot risk dawdling here too long… Time is ticking for our lives." Gunter stated.
The entire group complied, as they used magic and ranged weaponry to slowly break through the enemies, as the cubes simply turned inert when they were defeated. Eventually, they reached the end of the hallway, and went through the teleporter on it, before they found themselves in the same hallway again, with slightly different monsters.
"Huh? We're back here again?" Cinque answered back. "But I thought…"
"Did any of us get hit by anything?" Ace asked the group, to which all of them shook their heads. "Huh… I think that we might be on the right track at least. Maybe we just need to do it again."
They did so, and when they went through the teleporter, they were in an entirely different hall-way, although the passage was slightly tilted to the right and slightly upwards as well. And on one side of the hallway, were windows gazing out to a landscape of Ingram.
"Milites…!? It seems that we're deeper into the mystery, it seems." Trey exclaimed.
"...It doesn't seem real. Let us proceed." Richard stated, as the group went through the teleporter on the other side of the hallway.
With Flora's group...
Finding themselves on the right side of the temple-ground, they were surrounded by Rursan Reavers, same type as the one that the other group fought.
"Are you up to the challenge?" Cid stated, before the declarative voice of Judgement rang through the group's head.
Endure thy enemies' assault
"Endure? For how long?" Cater remarked.
"I don't think that we should be asking that." Eight stated, as the Rursan Reavers moved towards them, blades raised. "They're coming!"
The group battled the Rursan Reavers, as they managed to take down some of their number. However, with each one they fell, another appeared to take its place. With the supporting members making sure to protect and heal the fighters. Eventually, enough time passed, and the Reavers suddenly collapsed, as if their life was suddenly snuffed out, and they didn't rise again.
"Proceed onwards." Cid ordered, as the gate ahead of the group opened, and they entered through it.
On the other side of the gate, was a curved hall-way, which seemed to be lined with unignited candles. And before them, a Rursan Reaver appeared, although it seemed to be mostly translucent, and it slowly advanced towards the group.
"You should at least be able to do this much." Cid remarked, before the voice of Judgement was heard again.
Slay your unseen enemy
"Unseen? What's that supposed to mean?" Sice scoffed. "We can easily see the bastard, although he looks a bit light."
"I think that there is another meaning to it…" Queen remarked, as she cast a spell, which seemed to phase through it. "...Just as I thought."
"Wait, it can't be hit?" Cater exclaimed, before she then dodged an attack, as it made a real clanging sound. "And that thing is definitely able to hurt us back!"
"Wait, the candles on the hallway… and there's a plaque there…" Flora remarked. "'Only the Candles of Expiation can unleash the violent fervor burning within thee.'... The candles must be lit."
"Alright, I'll distract tall and menacing! You guys just use fire to light those candles up!" Chen told the rest of the group, as she rushed the Rursan Reaver, drawing its attention.
The rest of the group quickly used fire spells to light up the candles, with each one lit making the Rursan Reaver more and more opaque, before it was fully visible. As soon as it was, Chen rushed it down, and cut through it with a cross-claw slash. Flora then took the phantoma from the downed Rursan Reaver.
"You are now authorised to proceed." Cid declared, as the gate on the other side of the hallway lifted open.
They went through the open gate, finding themselves in a tilted hallway, with Akademia visible on the other side.
"Huh? This is… Rubrum?" Deuce muttered with confusion.
"Not important, let's just get moving. We got a Judge to smack!" Chen harshly stated, as the group passed through the hallway.
The two groups finally rendezvoused with each other in a large room, as several monsters appeared.
"What are monsters doing here?" Ace stated.
"A part of the trial… Let's finish them and get moving." Richard remarked.
Everyone fought against the monsters, as they defeated them one by one with each other's help, quickly making short work of them.
"Alright, I've had enough of this-" Ace growled, before he then suddenly fainted, as did the rest of Class Zero.
"What the hell…!?" Chen exclaimed, as she walked over to them. "Oi, now's not the time to sleep on the job! What's wrong!? Hey!"
"They're being called by the Vermillion Peristylium." Richard explained, as Chen turned to him. "...That's why I told them they must not forsake their humanity… the Crystal offers them to become l'Cie."
"But isn't that better? I mean, you saw what l'Cie can do, right?" Chen asked back.
"No, that's wrong." Flora stated. "To forsake your humanity to become l'Cie, is to forsake your right to become Agito. If they choose to become l'Cie, then we will be the only ones left to fight for Agito."
"...All we can do is pray that they made the right choice." Richard answered back. "In the meantime, since the only ears that can hear us are our own… I want you to all promise me something."
"...What is it, Richard?" Gunter asked back, facing Richard.
"Those pendants… they are meant to absorb phantoma." Richard answered back. "Before, only I and Flora can do so, since we know the method and the ability to do so. But these pendants allow us to forgo that… because it absorbs phantoma passively."
"Wait, seriously?" Chen exclaimed back. "Then what does that relate to what we're going to do?"
"When we face the Rursan Arbiter, the Judge… when he falls weak… take his phantoma. Do not let Class Zero take it." Richard answered back. "...They will not know this, but if they take it… they will surely perish."
"Why?" Flora asked back. "Why would his phantoma be lethal, and why are we the ones to take it upon us?"
"Because those pendants store that deathly phantoma, without harming the user. Although you might have noticed it weakened us slightly, because its also draining our phantoma, although not a rate that we should be concerned about." Richard stated. "The phantoma is not lethal just because it is poisonous to mortals… no, it's because Class Zero will soon be at a state where they will be teetering at the edge of life and death. And only we can ensure that they do not fall to death. Please, you know they all deserve to see tomorrow, after everything they have been through…"
"...Fuck that bastard... You have my vote of confidence." Chen growled. "I'm sure that whatever the bastard does, it won't be able to bring any of us down."
Flora and Gunter looked towards each other, before they nodded at Richard. At the same time, Ace and Class Zero woke again, clutching their heads.
"...What was that?" Ace stated, before turning to Richard's group. "...Did anything happen?"
"Nothing happened. You just passed out." Richard answered back.
"Then we should continue on." King stated. "We need to become Agito."
"Class Zero, before we continue on… I just want to say, in case this might be the last chance to do so…" Richard added, before he then smiled at them. "...I'm truly proud of you all."
They soon passed through the portal at the end of the room, as they found themselves on a square platform, with gates in the four cardinal directions, as there was a lot more of the same kind of platform in the distance, scattered around.
"Are you up for the challenge?" Cid stated, as the voice of Judgement followed.
Through the claimation of souls, shall the gates ahead open
"Huh… Looks like we're going to have to go through a lot of transporting." Jack remarked, as the group headed through the portal ahead of them,
What ensued was a massive maze of platforms, each portal leading them to a different set of platforms, some with Rursan Reavers, some with the green lizard-like Tonberries. Either way, the group defeated any enemy they crossed, and eventually found themselves out of the platform maze, before they found themselves in a platform with a round pedestal for them to stand upon. As the group did so, they were teleported to another hallway, except there was a fork in the front, with two gates ahead.
"Guess we're going to have to split up again." Sice remarked. "I say we stick to the same teams. Which way will we go?"
"This way." Flora remarked, as she guided the group to the left door, while Richard's group headed to the right door.
With Flora's group…
The group found themselves in a hallway with many corners and turns, as they could see that there were monsters already ahead of them.
"You have little time. Make it quick." Cid's voice was heard.
With scarce time, claim thy victory
Flora and the group immediately noticed that several parts of the floor lit up red. When Jack tried to cross one, he was hit by a plume of flame, causing him to yelp and jump back.
"Seems that we can't cross those red panels without getting hurt. Guess we'll have to tread carefully, and take these enemies from afar!" Cater exclaimed, as she used her magitek blaster to shoot the enemies from afar, assisted by Queen's magic.
They carefully maneuvered the hallways, fighting various monsters along the way, and making sure to move around the lit-up red panels, so as to avoid injuring themselves, as they reached the end quickly.
"I thought it would take you much longer than this. Proceed." Cid coldly commented.
"Hey, screw you, bet you can't do it faster!" Chen snapped back.
"Diamond, I don't think that it matters." Eight stated. "Let us press on."
They proceeded through the doors, before they found themselves in a revolving room, as there were Rursan Reavers teleporting in.
"I prepared this just for you." Cid declared.
Shatter the Pillars of Monad, and discern the flame's location
"The Pillars of Monad? Do they mean these?" Queen remarked, pointing towards the pillars in the room, and then at the golden sigil that was connected with the platform. "...And that sigil… I suppose that this is what discerns the location of the 'flame'."
"But there are no flames… What do we do?" Cater stated.
"I believe that we should break those pillars, but first, let's get rid of the Reavers." Chen suggested,
The group disposed of the Reavers in the room, as the group inspected the room, sigil and pillars.
"Hm… It seems that we will have to break them, if we want to continue." Sice stated.
"Wait, perhaps there is an order to which the pillars must be destroyed…" Flora said. "...Try destroying a few of them, and see what happens."
The rest of the group did so, as the pillars broke easily. There was no response from the room itself, until when there was only one pillar left, flames suddenly lit up on one end of the room.
"...The flames!" Deuce remarked. "Then does that mean…"
"Destroy the last pillar when that eye sigil goes over the flames…? Got that!" Jack exclaimed, before he then broke the last pillar, as the flames and sigil were lined up. The room continued to spin for a moment, before it was connected to an entrance, as the gate opened.
When the group reached the next hallway, it was another tilted one, with the background being that of Concordia, as there were even flying dragons in the skies above the building.
"This is… Concordia…? First Rubrum, now Concordia… what is the connection to all of this?" Queen remarked.
There was no reply from the group, as they proceeded through the end of the hallway.
With Richard's group...
They reached a hanging part of the temple, as there was a snaking passage before them, with multiple kinds of aerial enemies.
"Are you up to the challenge?" Cid questioned.
Thou shalt not use strength to defeat they enemies
"Strength… Do you have any idea what that means in this case?" Seven asked the group.
"...It means that we can't fight with our weapons. However… magic on the other hand…" Trey answered back, as Richard fired a ice spell to down one of the aerial enemies.
"Just make sure that you make your attacks count. Magic's a far more limited resource for us." Richard warned everyone.
The group slowly advanced across the pathway, as they used various forms of magic to both attack the enemies and defend themselves, as they arrived at the end, without a single motion from their weapons.
The next room they found themselves in, was a large room with revolving platforms, as there were more monsters.
"You should at least be able to do this much." Cid spat.
Without arcane power, fell thy foes
"So it's no magic this time…" Richard remarked. "...Guess I'll have to leave it to you guys. Just make sure to avoid getting trapped by the moving platforms."
The group proceeded through the platforms, slowly traversing each one of them, as they used their weapons to take down the enemies, with slight difficulty, although they managed to succeed quite quickly, and went through the door into another tilted corridor, this one showing the crater that was Lorica.
"Milites… no, Lorica?" Ace stated, seeing the destroyed landscape.
"...Huh, I think that this might be proof that we're likely deep in our journey to the centre of Pandaemonium… I think we managed to see facsimiles of the four kingdoms…:" Richard commented. "But now's not the time to dwell on that. I think that the path ahead is where we can regroup with the others."
The two groups reconvened once again, possibly for the last time in their journey through Pandaemonium, as they went through the large junction room, ascending a wide set of stairs to reach a large platform, which began to rise as they stepped onto it.
As the platform began to rise, they noticed a sole Rursan Reaver approaching them. Richard fired off a destructive arcane bolt that floored the metallic creature instantly. However, instead of being downed for long, it was covered by the yellow misty glow of phantoma, as it transformed into the monstrous version that the group first saw at Akademia, rising up again to fight them.
"This form also teems with life." Cid declared, upon the revival of the Rursan Reaver.
"Teems with life… is this what life has become…?" Flora stated with horror in her voice.
Chen clicked her tongue, as she knocked the creature onto its jointed knees, before Cinque smashed its porcelain face open, revealing nothing but shattered metal, while Trey absorbed the Reaver's phantoma, destroying it.
The group then reached their destination, as there was a long passage with blood-red waters on the sides, and at the end is a large four-way junction, with doors that had the symbols of each nation inscribed on them. And in the centre, is a large teleporter, which seemed to be obstructed by a large ball of void energy, that was leaking down into the teleporter itself.
"This world teems with life- trivial life. I see no value in it." Cid said. "Is this the culmination of a thousand years? How disappointing. It is a simple matter to destroy the world, if but a bit tiresome. Heh heh heh…"
"Alright you damn freak, I heard enough!" Nine exclaimed. "Who the fuck gave you right to destroy the world!? You think that we'd let that happen after everything that we went through? How about you come down and face us yourself, you smug snake!"
"Do not resist. Accept your judgement with proper respect." Cid continued, ignoring Nine's words. "Recite its words upon your death, and you may yet acquire some piddling value."
Richard's fists clenched upon hearing those words, although he didn't show his anger otherwise.
"Pay no attention to those words. We are here to overturn a verdict, not accept it, no matter how many times we are told to give up." Richard declared with a serious tone. "...It seems that we are now entering these facsimiles, before we can reach the end…"
"Then we should go through the one with Rubrum." Sice remarked. "It's familiar ground."
They soon entered through the Rubrum portal, as they found themselves in the town ruins, as they could see that there were a few Dominion legionnaires ahead, before the voice of Judgement rang out.
Deliver those pitiful souls
"Pitiful souls… Does it mean-" Deuce was about to say, before Rursan Reavers teleported into the streets, targeting the legionnaires.
"I'll handle this! Move!" Ace exclaimed to the legionnaires, who were struck with panic upon seeing the Rursan Reavers.
"We're counting on you!" A legionary shouted back.
"Protect this area!" Another one declared, as she fired a fire spell at the Reaver, doing little damage.
The group slowly advanced, as they tried to defeat the Reavers, although more and more spawned in, closer to the legionaries, as they were being cut down with cries of death and agony.
"HELP US-" The last surviving legionary panicked, before he was cut in two by the Reaver's blade, as Chen cut the Reaver to avenge him.
"...We couldn't protect them in the end…" Deuce stated sadly.
"Don't let this weigh on you, the enemy is trying to weaken your resolve." Gunter warned the group, before the gate ahead of them opened.
They slowly went through the gate, finding themselves in a destroyed plaza, with fires everywhere around them, with corpses strewn across the floor.
"Behold! All you held dear has been reduced to ashes by your own magic!" Cid boomed, as the corpses suddenly were consumed by a black ichor, causing them to rise again, all with hostile intents to the group.
"...What is this sorcery…?" Trey exclaimed.
"We have to do this…" Ace declared, before he then used his cards to cut down a few fallen legionaries, while the others foguth back, although they felt a pang of guilt with each one of the former comrades they slain.
Suddenly, a Golem appeared before them, as instead of its grey and blue coloration, it was pitch black and red instead.
"An Eidolon? Think that you can- Ah, nevermind, I doubt it would work…" Jack sighed.
"Damn them! Damn them!" A hateful voice was heard above.
"I'll never forgive them! Never!" Another voice declared.
"Are these… the dying thoughts of those who perished…?" Cinque asked with a guilty expression.
"To think that this is how they truly felt… I think I understand why they turned on us like that…" King stated.
The group quickly dismantled the golem with magic spells and powerful strikes, as it crumbled back into stones when it was defeated.
"We won, but…" Ace stated, seeing the corpses in the plaza, the black ichor having disappeared.
The group said nothing more, as they found themselves back in the large junction, before heading towards the portal to Milites, as they found themselves back on the streets of Ingram, except they were flooded to the depth up to their ankles.
Eliminate thy unseen foes
"Eliminate our unseen foes, what does it mean-" Cater remarked, before her instincts flared, causing her to dodge aside, as there was the sound of a blade being swung, and striking where she was, with the water splashing.
"Rely on your senses!" Chen exclaimed, as she closed her eyes. "If you hit something, keep on hitting it and where it might go!"
The group did so, as they made their attacks carefully, making sure that they hit their targets, which turned out to be invisible Reavers, that de-cloaked when they were defeated. When the group were sure that there were no more enemies, they continued on to see that there was another plaza, with a familiar aerial MA descending down to face them.
"Your petty knowledge cannot save you from being swallowed by the waves." Cid declared, as the MA attacked them.
Unlike the real deal, the imitation MA fell easily, with the group using lightning spells to ground the MA, before using ice spells to trap the MA in the water, as the close-combat members of the group quickly dismantled the downed MA, as it exploded.
"So this is the reprisal for my acts…" Qator's voice was heard, as Class Zero were surprised by the voice.
"That voice… did we… know it from somewhere?" Ace stated.
Richard turned away with a solemn silence, before they were returned to the junction, as there were only two more portals left to traverse through. They decided to travel through the portal depicting the symbol of Lorica, as they found themselves right inside the great crater that was formerly the country itself, as there was a darkened copy of Gilgamesh standing before them.
"The once rigid shields shatter like thin ice and disappear." Cid growled.
"Wait, isn't that…!" Cater exclaimed.
"It seems that we have to face one of our most troublesome enemies." Gunter stated. "...The weakness in his stance lies in the fact that he is left open, should his own attacks be interrupted. Those who are capable enough will parry his attacks, and the others will assault him in his moment of vulnerability."
"Show me! Show me your power!" The Gilgamesh copy declared, as he charged the group, with his great-sword hefted over his head.
Nine and Jack moved to parry the initial blow, barely doing so, as they knocked him back, while the others charged onto him, and assaulted him with various attacks, before the great warrior rose back up into a protected stance.
"Ho-ho… not bad." Gilgamesh declared. "But my soul's scream cannot be suppressed! Pillage, plunder, leave nothing in my wake!"
Gilgamesh then assaulted the group with a series of consecutive slashes, as the group were forced to block and dodge his attacks, waiting for an opportunity to exploit his stance again, before Richard caught an attack with his blades, and then using a earth pillar to blast Gilgamesh back, while the others followed up on his attack, as Gilgamesh fell onto his knees.
"The light of destruction! That terrible, terrible light!" The Gilgamesh copy breathed, before collapsing. "I am the lord of… Arrrghh…"
"Be at peace, Gilgamesh of Lorica…" Gunter declared with solemn respect. "You have fought well to your last breath."
The Gilgamesh copy then faded before them, as the group were brought back to the junction. With the only choice left, they headed through the Concordia portal, as they found themselves on the alcoves of a Concordian city, except there was a purple miasma around the group. With their first breaths, they were immediately struck with crippling pain, ingesting the poisonous air.
Survive the miasma, and press on...
"Poison… urgh… I doubt it would be useful to cast Esuna here…" Queen wheezed.
"I cannot…" Flora stated, before her staff glowed, expelling the poisonous miasma, and creating a safe zone around her, as she gasped for fresh air, which helped to dispel the poison in her, as did the others. "...There, we are safe for now."
"I don't think so." Eight remarked, pointing at the Reavers approaching the group. "Try to fight within the sanctuary that Heart created for us. Do not stay long in the poisonous air, or you'll be poisoned again."
The group heeded the advice well, keeping distance with Flora, and slowly defeating the Reavers in their way, before they reached a large gate, as the air ceased to become poison for them, allowing Flora to dispel the dome of purification with an exhausted sigh.
On the other side of the gate was a large plaza, where there were the same beastly deformed creatures that were once human, during the battle in the Strait of Judecca, swarming the plaza by the dozens.
"Behold what has befallen the realm you failed to defend." Cid declared. "The azure streams are now weathered and polluted."
"Argh, I don't want to see them anymore!" Cinque remarked with horror and disgust, as the creatures charged at them, snarling.
They quickly took out the creatures, making sure to not let each other get raked or bitten by the feral creatures, before their numbers finally depleted.
"...Is this really what the world will become?" Flora muttered to herself, before they were sent back to the junction for what might be the last time.
They turned their attention to the teleporter, as the large floating orb of dripping void exploded, lighting the teleporter up.
"I have a feeling that this might be the last trial before us…" Chen remarked. "...You guys ready?"
Class Zero immediately nodded back, as did the others, causing Chen to chuckle. "Of course you are, we've got this far after all… Let's finish this and prove that there is Agito, so that Judge can go fuck off!" She declared.
They then all stood onto the teleporter, as they found themselves on a large ascending passage, starting at the bottom, as there were multiple cubes on each layer of the passage, with a blood-red sea below them.
"Now, time for your Final Judgement." Cid declared.
Avoid the sea of the damned… and become Agito.
"Agito? If we manage to do this, we'll have done it!?" Cinque burst with joy.
"Hey, not the time to be counting our Chocobos early!" Nine exclaimed, pointing at the slowly rising sea of blood. "We gotta get moving, or we'll fail!"
"Quickly, everyone move and fire spells! We can't afford to be halted for a single moment!" Richard shouted, as he sprinted up the passage, before the rest of the group followed him.
They managed to barely keep pace with the blood-red sea, despite the fact that they destroyed any cubes before they could even fire at the group. As they did, they heard a cacophony of voices that seemed to be the last thoughts of the countless dead. However, they refused to let the words deter them, as they managed to reach the top, where they could see that there was a teleporter before them.
"We're almost there!" Chen remarked, as she moved for it. "Ha, so much for your Judgement, you-"
Before Chen could even finish, the group were suddenly struck by a storm of dark-red lightning, causing them to collapse on the ground, as all of them but Richard was rendered comatose, as the latter was barely clinging onto consciousness.
"You disappoint me. I've lost interest." Cid cruelly stated, before Richard pushed himself towards the teleporter. "...What?"
"...I'm not… finished yet…" Richard growled, inching towards the teleporter with his hands and arms.
"FALL!" Cid declared, before Richard was hit by a barrage of lightning, finally knocking him out with a scream of pure agony.
"No… It cannot…" Richard rasped, before his consciousness faded.
Time passed, as Flora suddenly awoke herself, as she found that her own body felt weak and heavy. Yet, she barely managed to maintain the strength to push herself onto her feet, as she turned around to see that everyone else was still unconscious, and the injuries that the wicked lightning left them remained, moreso on Richard, who were even more severely injured.
Richard slowly awoke, as he stood back up, disregarding the pain entirely, with an angered expression on his face.
"DAMNIT! DAMNIT ALL!" Richard screamed, banging his fist on the side of the wall.
"Spade…" Flora started.
"...I guess that bastard has it out for us… Gives us a spot of hope, and then rips it away…" Richard growled. "...If he wants to rescind the right for Agito so much… we'll tear it from him ourselves."
"But you're… we're…" Flora responded back.
"It doesn't matter… all of the l'Cie are down for the count. We're the only ones who can save this world, Heart." Richard answered back. "As long as there is breath in us, we will defy the Rursan Arbiter until the end."
"Then at least let me-" Flora remarked, as she attempted to heal the group, only to find that she can't muster her power. "...I… I can't…"
"Forget it, we're stuck like this as is." Richard responded back. "But we still have a chance at victory… Over there."
Richard was pointing towards the other side of the hallway they were in, as there was a large crystalline structure growing from one of the walls. When Flora got a closer look at it, she was shocked.
"Rem…. and Machina? But how…?" Flora stated.
"...They were unfortunate to be forced as l'Cie on opposing sides. Even when Tempus Finis has dawned… the Crystals could care less for anything else than eradicating each other." Richard bitterly stated. "And so, the two of them have perished in each other's arms, the cruel fate tearing them apart in their last moments."
"How… terrible…" Flora remarked with horror in her voice, before Richard slowly inched towards them. "Spade, where are you…"
"Like I said, our hope of victory lies in them… They may have sublimated… but they left behind a final gift, our weapon against the Judge." Richard stated,
He then managed to finally limp over to the crystal, as he saw that Machina and Rem were embraced with each other. He then noticed that there was a pair of small crystals on the base, one red and one white. He then took them, and pocketed them.
"...Rem, Machina… you didn't deserve all of this… None of us did… Don't worry though, we will finish this once and for all…" Richard declared. "...Just lend us your power… Together, this cruel cycle will end."
The rest of the group slowly awakened, as they were in great pain, crippled like Richard and Flora was.
"Damnit, did we…" Sice remarked.
"...Bastard tricked us all this time… We were never considered to be participants to begin with…" Chen growled. "This pain… I only felt like this once before… and it brings back bad memories…"
"I feel heavy, I can't move much like this…" Eight grunted.
"...Guess we were lucky Aria prepared something for us…" Chen remarked, as she reached the supply bag that Aria gave her. "...Here… you all need this."
The group looked inside the bag, as there were curatives inside. They hastily took hold of them, consuming them. Although it did nothing to help their crippled state, they did feel that their wounds were being healed.
"...Guess it did help a little." Queen admitted.
"Wait, over there…!" Jack remarked, as they saw Richard waiting for them beside the crystal. "We should get going… Spade is already…"
The group slowly moved towards Richard, limping and shuffling, before they saw the crystal.
"Machina and Rem…?" Deuce remarked. "...How could this have happened…?"
"...We cannot dwell on their deaths. We have to make sure that their deaths were not in vain." Richard stated firmly. "Before us… the teleporter… the final stairs to the Judge. Even if we have to crawl… we refuse to give in."
"That's right… I already pissed off the Judge… what more could he do to us than right now?" Nine growled back.
Richard nodded back, as they shuffled into the portal one by one, finding themselves in a large passageway, that led into the sphere of revolving gears they saw before, with a large portal before them.
"...Right there… Any of you can't walk anymore… Use me or Club… We are durable and strong enough even in this state to support you." Richard told Class Zero.
Without any words, Deuce and Queen pressed onto Richard, as he wrapped his arms around their shoulders. Gunter let Eight rest upon him, as he did a shoulder-carry as well.
They slowly advanced down the passage, making their way slow step by slow step.
"Very clumsy… You died?" Cid mocked the group. "Inept. Worthless. Let those be your names."
They soon managed to reach the ascending part of the passage, as the group were starting to feel the weakness catch up to them, although they refused to stop advancing.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you your results: You failed." Cid spat at them with venom. "You're unfit for Agito. It seems the life I bestowed upon you was for naught. Dead in life. And alive in death. Still you have failed to become Agito. Those born of the blood of Etro, and those who do not belong… Seen and unseen, both worlds beckon you."
Despite the scathing words, the group refused to despair, as their eyes were filled with determination, moreso from Richard's group and Ace himself, as they were almost before the large portal.
"What!? This… This is not my will." Cid growled.
"Believe it… you're about to go obscure yourself, Arbiter…" Richard breathed, as they made the final step, passing through the portal to the Judge.
They found themselves on a circular platform, in a vast space, as there were torch towers along the edge of the platform, and a massive pool of red blood before them. Standing atop the pool of blood was a man in white general outfit.
"Cid Aulstyne…" Richard growled. "No… The Rursan Arbiter…"
"Like a rusted gun with a broken trigger that can no longer fire… Like a stagnant pool in a river, muddy and black… Like an insect whose legs have been severed, that can no longer move forward… You're all completely useless." Cid told the group with an emotionless stare in his eyes. "From head to toe, from the day you were first born, your existence has been devoid of value. Those with no value have no rights in this world, but as your Judge I shall hand down your punishment!"
Cid then disappeared in a rising pillar of blood, before the large pool of blood began to bubble. It was then struck from above by several fire-balls, as the group turned to the source, seeing that it was Celestia in her dragon form. However, the pool still bubbled, before a pair of clawed metal hands climbed out of it, as the entire form of the transformed being appeared before them, being a large armoured torso with arms, with a tiger's head on its waist, a spread of golden lined panels behind its back, and a spiked ring around its collar. Out of the massive gap in the top of it, was the transformed Cid himself, his lower half turned serpentine, dressed in a red cape and regal armour, with a large mask that covered his eyes that had a triplet of purple crystaline eyes, and a large spear in one of his hands. Strewn across the armour itself, and on the sides of Cid's serpentine body, were large spherical pockets, which seemed to be dull and unlit. This was the Rursan Arbiter, the Judge for Agito.
With a roar, the dragon Celestia charged at the monster, only for the Rursan Arbiter to raise his spear, and swing it down, creating a massive barrier that halted the dragon's advance, and knocked it back, before Celestia was struck by a storm of dark lightning. The Rursan Arbiter raised his free hand, as it glowed red, before he then swung it across with a slashing sound, as Celestia was struck by a cutting force, as she sagged down, while a large glowing sphere left her body, possibly her own phantoma, as it floated to the Rursan Arbiter. The rapidly crystalising body of the dragon immediately fell backwards, falling into the void, while the Rursan Arbiter banished the phantoma of the fallen l'Cie, as its energy flowed into him, causing a golden glow to appear around him for a moment.
"...Shit, did he just…" Nine remarked.
"Don't give up, it's not over yet…!" Ace exclaimed.
"Return the life I gave you with slow prolonged suffering." The Rursan Arbiter declared, as the group tried to attack him, although whenever they tried to land an attack, the Rursan Arbiter would raise his barrier to block their weak attacks easily. "Submit to my will."
He then reached down, before swinging his spear down, creating a large wave of energy that cut through Sice, causing her to fall, with blood spewing from the large wound that she was left with, as she wheezed before perishing.
"Sice!" Deuce exclaimed.
"You are merely mortal." The Rursan Arbiter declared, before he then swiped a clawed metal hand over the group, as it managed to catch Eight, lifting him up before the Rursan Arbiter, as he raised his hand, before a blood-red line appeared between Eight and his hand. He then crushed Eight in the metal hand, and lifted his other hand, collecting Eight's phantoma, as his body fell to the ground, devoid of life.
"Why… Why is this happening?" Cinque remarked.
"Go ahead, resist for what it's worth. " The Rursan Arbiter cruelly mocked, before lifting his spear, bringing down a rain of dark thunder on the platform, as it struck Queen, causing her to collapse down on the ground, before another blast of lightning put her down for good.
"We… We can't fight against him in this state…" Trey remarked, as he tried to fire an arrow, only for said arrow to be blocked, before he was hit by the Rursan Arbiter's falling blade, causing him to meet the same fate as his fallen classmates.
"I will sound the knell to shake the world…" The Rursan Arbiter started, as he blocked Deuce's magic attack, before she was hit by divine thunder, taking her out.
"When nine and nine meets nine, the depths of reason shall stir..." He continued, as he used his own spear to block Jack's attack, before cutting him down with a powerful slash that cut through his chest, causing him to collapse down.
"When the seal of creation is broken…" The Rursan Arbiter then raised a metallic hand, before slicing Seven across with it, as it gouged deep in her body, causing her to be sent flying, in a pool of her own blood.
"A voice of thunder shall sound…." The Rursan Arbiter then raised his spear, before he then used both metallic hands to grab Nine and King, as the former tried to wriggle himself free, and the latter tried to get an arm free, barely managing to do so, only for his shots to be blocked, as the Rursan Arbiter claimed their phantoma with another swipe of his hand.
"...And thou shalt know…" The Rursan Arbiter concluded, as he charged the dark lightning into his spear, before bringing it down, as the resulting lightning storm turned Cater and Cinque into dead corpses, when they tried to dodge it. "...I have come."
"You've got to be shitting me…" Chen growled. "This is… really how we're going to be…"
"We can't give up… not here…" Ace stated, as he staggered forward, only for the Rursan Arbiter to lower himself to grab Ace with his own hands, before he then plunged his hand right through Ace's chest, to the cadet's agony.
"Let go of him!" Gunter growled, as he stumbled forward, with his spear poised for a thrust.
"Pathetic." The Rursan Arbiter mocked, barely giving the attack a glance, before using his own spear to deflect it with such force, that Gunter's spear was knocked out of his hands, before the Rursan Arbiter grabbed him in a choke-hold, before then striking him with a rapid stream of dark lightning, as Gunter collapsed on the ground. And as insult to injury, he drew his other hand out of Ace's chest, as the cadet collapsed as well, and the Rursan Arbiter consumed Ace's phantoma, returning the golden glow around him.
"Club!" Flora exclaimed, before the Rursan Arbiter turned to her, and raised his spear. He then fired off a massive orb of fire that consumed Flora's body, as she screamed in agony, before her burnt body fell to the ground.
"...Damnit, this can't happen… I won't let it happen!" Chen remarked, as she moved to draw her spell-card. "'Declare-"
Before she could even utter another word, the Rursan Arbiter thrust his spear forward, as an invisible force struck Chen, as she noticed that there was a gaping hole in her chest from the attack, as her hands fell, with an expression of disbelief on her face.
"...Ha, I guess… this is what I… deserve." Chen stated with a bitter smirk, before she fell to the ground, as life faded from her eyes.
Richard saw the bodies of his own friends, and the cadets that he bonded well with around him, as he felt a great sorrow in his heart, and rage towards the Rursan Arbiter. He clenched his grip around his blades, before he then let out a roar.
"I sentence you back to dust." The Rursan Arbiter stated without any indication of being threatened by Richard's rage, before then flooring Richard with lightning.
However, Richard rose back on his feet again, as he moved forward slightly less quicker than before, even though the wounds were piling on him. The Rursan Arbiter tried to attack him, only to find that despite his wounded condition, Richard was not allowing any of the attacks to hit him fatally.
Eventually, Richard reached attacking range, before he then smashed the barrier with all of his force, repeatedly doing so.
"Die already!" Cid remarked, as he slashed down on Richard, which downed him, but it still didn't stop him, as blood leaked from his wounds.
"Fuck… you…" Richard coughed. "You don't get to tell me to die, you sick fuck. Cid was a twisted bastard, but at least he had a fairly respectable purpose despite his warmongering… But you, Gala, you're a real fucking piece of work. You created all these fucking cycles, and perpetuated this tragedy over and over again, just because you want to become perfect. Fuck your perfection! Fuck your judgement! I will have none of it! You're not the ruler of my fate, or anything in that matter! So you DIE!"
The Rursan Arbiter's face crinkled with disgust and rage at the impertinence that Richard was showing, as he lowered himself. Richard tried to attack him, only for the Rursan Arbiter to hit him with thunder, stunning him, long enough for the Rursan Arbiter to plunge the spear blade-first through Richard's heart and lung, silencing him, as he gurgled in agony, coughing up bloody erratically, as his strength waned in mere moments.
"Abhorred by me- no, the entire world, your meaningless life reaches its end. What pathetic beings you are." The Rursan Arbiter declared, glaring into Richard's eyes through the helm he was wearing.
"At least… I'm master… of my fate… This is… not… over..." Richard wheezed, before he finally perished, his head slumping.
The Rursan Arbiter was left curious by Richard's final words, as he found them odd. As he did, from Richard himself, the pair of crystals that Richard took from the subliminated bodies of Rem and Machina fell out, before they then glowed.
"A future only humans can attain-" Machina's voice rang out, as it shocked the Rursan Arbiter, who looked for the source of his voice
"...that is the future you hold." Rem's voice was heard, as the Rursan Arbiter growled.
"Who dares…!" The Rursan Arbiter snarled.
"After the trials of countless worlds…" Machina declared.
"...And with the aid of the fated ones… You all made it…" Rem continued.
"...To a single future!" The two voices declared in harmonious union, as the two stones immediately floated, before they then revolved around Richard's body, before entering it, as he glowed with the golden aura of phantoma.
"I won't allow this!" The Rursan Arbiter declared, before he then brought the spear down onto Richard's body, intent on obliterating it.
However, before the spear could reach its path, Richard's eyes snapped open, as his body was reverted back to its optimal state, and he then rose up, with a phoenix of flame emitting from his body, and letting out a triumphant roar, leaping up and knocking the spear back.
"No… Impossible!" The Rursan Arbiter exclaimed.
"Believe it, seems that the power of humanity wins out over your so-called judgement." Richard smirked back. "Now then, with that crippling handicap you unfairly threw onto us banished away, it's time we go for Round 2, and this time, it's you who's going down! This is the power of the strongest pair of l'Cie in Orience! One that surpasses your divinity!"
"Enough! You are nothing but lowly, detestable vermin to the end…!" The Rursan Arbiter declared. "What can you hope to do alone!?"
"That's my line." Richard continued to smirk, as the stones left him, yet his body was still covered in the golden aura. "You're the one who's alone. All of us? We're doing this together!"
The stones then reached Flora, as they started to revive her. The Rursan Arbiter realised the meaning of Richard's words, as he screamed with frustrated rage, and tried to bring down thunder on the corpses, yet Richard raised his blade, and created a barrier, empowered by the power of the l'Cie, that deflected the lightning away.
Flora then rose up, as she slowly got up. "Machina… Rem… Your power has given us the hope we needed." She stated, before turning towards the Rursan Arbiter. "Your cruelty ends here, Arbiter. Humanity will find a bright future in spite of you!"
Flora then immediately used the boost in her magic to entangle the Rursan Arbiter's body, leaving him unable to grab the group with his hands, or strike them, although he tried to use thunder to strike the two currently revived members down. However, even when they were struck, they were merely knocked down, and rose up.
"You cannot defeat me! I am your judgement!" The Rursan Arbiter stated, before Chen revived, and rushed towards the head of the Rursan Arbiter, hitting him through the serpentine body, as her slash broke through the barrier that the Arbiter had, and hit him, causing him to flinch.
"I might not have liked you much, Machina, but you did care for Rem somewhat. So thanks for the help, that makes us even for the shit you pulled." Chen stated. "As for you, big and metallic, it's time that you learn that you should have put me down properly, because the Black Cat of Ill Omen… always pays her debts back!"
"Know your place… I ORDER IT!" The Rursan Arbiter stated, as he was becoming more unhinged at how uncontrollable the situation has become, firing off a rain of magic spells on the ground, only for them to dodge and block through all of them.
The last of Richard's group were revived, as Gunter slowly rose up, and picked up his spear, before he then charged right up the vines entangling the Rursan Arbiter's body, and striking him in the upper body with a thrust, that caused it to wriggle in agony, followed by the divine creature's cries of agony.
"This power… is the power of those who believe in themselves, not the gods who toy with them. Gods are meant to protect and guide humanity. False deities like you who toy with our lives and ruin them for your own amusement and selfish gains… deserve nothing but scorn!" Gunter roared.
Suddenly, the stones began to revolve around the entire platform, as they seemed to start reviving Class Zero as a whole.
"This is it… We're putting an end to this. Keep on smashing this bastard. Class Zero gets the honour of doing the critical blows, because they're the ones who got screwed over the most in these cases!" Richard shouted.
"Understood." Gunter nodded, as the four of them combatted the Rursan Arbiter, buying time for the revival of Class Zero, as they clashed against his attacks, both physical and magical, as their phantoma refused to be taken from them, as if divine protection was placed upon them.
Soon, Class Zero was brought back onto their feet, as they were fairly revitalised from the help of Machina's and Rem's spirits.
"This is.." Queen remarked.
"Our second chance. We can do this, now that we're no longer broken." Ace remarked.
"...Finally, you guys made it back to the land of the living!" Richard declared. "Listen up! You saw those sockets in his armour, right? The only reason he can exist is because he's using a massive amount of phantoma to manifest. He's not all powerful, take his phantoma, like you did with a Rursan Reaver, and we'll make him vulnerable enough to actually die!"
"It's a plan." Nine remarked. "Alright, time for you to pay the piper, you smug bastard!"
King then shot at the Rursan Arbiter with a powerful bucking shot from both of his hand-guns, causing the Rursan Arbiter to recoil back, as he then collapsed on the platform, with his hands on the platform. King then focused on the socket on the left shoulder of the Rursan Arbiter, claiming a dark red phantoma, that inched towards King, before it was absorbed by Gunter's pendant, causing him to grimace in pain, as if absorbing it was detrimental to his own health.
"Urgh…" Gunter grunted in pain.
"You okay?" Ace asked.
"I'm fine… It's merely a strong bout of pain. I can still fight." Gunter responded back.
"Know your place!" The Rursan Arbiter remarked, as he rose back up.
"I know my place, it is you who delude yourself into believing that you're above our justice." King declared back with a glare.
Queen then immediately moved forward, as she hit the Rursan Arbiter with a spray of magic orbs that caused him to collapse again, as Queen absorbed the phantoma from the left dragon shoulder-guard, as the phantoma once again went to Gunter, who felt the burden grow, and yet he didn't make it evident.
"What are you doing, mortal!?" The Rursan Arbiter exclaimed, as Queen noticed that his attacks were weakening.
"...Spade was right… your strength is derived from phantoma itself… It seems that you're not infallible, Arbiter." Queen stated.
The Rursan Arbiter tried to strike the group with a series of slashes, as they mostly endured or dodged the blows, with Jack doing the latter, side-stepping each slash, until he is close enough, before he then cut through the Rursan Arbiter with a red line across the path of his blade, as the Rursan Arbiter fell again, with Jack taking the phantoma from the left gauntlet, as the phantom reached Gunter, causing him to fall to a knee. Richard looked at this, before gesturing to Gunter with a nod, causing the knight to focus on avoiding attacks, since his role was mostly done.
"Give it up, it's too late to change anything!" The Rursan Arbiter growled.
"Well, can't exactly say that unless we at least tried." Jack joked, before his mood evaporated. "But seriously, here's our answer as a whole: No."
The Rursan Arbiter's left arm began to sag, as it hit the platform, unusable from the lack of phantoma fuelling it.
"Look! His arm isn't working anymore!" Cater exclaimed. "Guess he can't do some of his attacks now!"
"The power that leads to Agito… it is not yours!" The Rursan Arbiter shouted, as he raised his spear, trying to strike the group with dark lightning, as Nine dodged them, before he then leapt high into the air, and cut down on the Rursan Arbiter, leaving him dazed once again, as Nine took the phantoma from the right shoulder, as it flowed to Flora, who was dazed from the sudden bout of pain.
"...For Class Zero, I must endure this agony." Flora remarked, as she cast a spell to try and alleviate the pain slightly.
"How can this be…" The Rursan Arbiter stated with disbelief in his voice.
"Oh, it can, and it will be!" Nine shouted back. "We're going to tear your shitty system down part by part!"
Before the Rursan Arbiter could recover for a second attack, Eight already got in close, before he then launched a mighty punch forward with explosive force, as it managed to break the Rursan Arbtier's barrier that tried to block it. After his attack was launched, he immediately took the phantoma from the right dragon shoulder-pad, as it flowed into Flora.
"This can't be… how is this happening?" The Rursan Arbiter stated.
"This is our power, as Class Zero and Cardinal Suits. We will not be easily defeated by you!" Eight declared.
The Rursan Arbiter tried to throw magic at the group, only for Ace to erect a Wall spell to block it all, as Seven advanced, before she then threw her whip-blade sky-ward, and then brought it down on the Rursan Arbiter, weakening him further, as she took the phantoma from the left gauntlet disabling it completely, as Flora retreated from the field, as she reached her limit on the phantoma absorption.
"There is no way I can lose." The Rursan Arbiter stated.
"Perhaps you believed that your power could conquer all, but we surpassed you nonetheless." Seven stated. "We will bring back our lives with our own power."
The Rursan Arbiter was confined to being in range to be attacked by the group, as they did so without hesitation, assaulting the divine judge with every attack they knew. Whenever the Rursan Arbiter would try to lift his spear to call dark thunder or cast spells on them, he was interrupted by a powerful strike, with the group slowly weakening him to take all of his phantoma from him.
Sice then used her scythe to fire off a massive beam of darkness, that hit the Rursan Arbiter, causing him to cry in pain, before she then took the phantoma from the left side of the armour's waist, as the phantoma flowed to Chen, who winced, although she didn't seem to be affected.
"Heh, you think that'll kill me… I'm used to curses and ailments… they don't affect me much…" Chen smirked.
"I do not accept this outcome!" The Rursan Arbiter seethed.
"Who gives a shit what you want? You made us go through all of this, so FUCK YOU!" Sice swore.
Cinque then rushed forward, as she prepared her mace, winding it back, before landing a powerful strike on the Rursan Arbiter's head, as it managed to cause the head-piece to crack visibly, before she then took the phantoma from the the right side of the armour's waist.
"This can't be…" The Rursan Arbiter stated.
"Remski and Machina did their best to help us, so we won't let you win!" Cinque retorted back.
Cater then locked on the Rursan Arbiter, before she then fired a large homing shot that damaged the Rursan Arbiter further, as his armour was beginning to crack, as Cater took the phantoma from the tiger's head, as Chen looked at the Rursan Arbiter, pain in her body, as she continued to fight, unlike the other two members.
"Curse you, you will not…" The Rursan Arbiter growled.
"Shut it, we're going to beat you and make this world better!" Cater shouted back.
"He's getting weak! We're almost there!" Trey exclaimed, seeing that the Rursan Arbiter had turned sluggish in his actions.
"I said this is your Judgement. Your lives, they are mine…!" The Rursan Arbiter breathed, before Trey raised his bow, before firing an arrow into the air, as it turned into a rain of arrows that struck the entire body of the Rursan Arbiter, as Trey claimed the phantoma from the chest region of the armour, as the phantoma flowed to Richard, who had a more violent reaction, letting out a cry of pain, as he was left staggered.
"Damnit, looks like I pushed myself quite far, for the recoil to be this strong…" Richard cursed. "But so long as I'm not dead, I'm not going to stay down!"
"Are you the way? The path…?" The Rursan Arbiter stated.
"We will write our final pages, in spite of your actions. This is our path, even if it diverges from the will of the divine." Trey declared to the Rursan Arbiter.
"I told you… this is the end! Surrender to it!" The Rursan Arbiter declared with desperation in his voice, before Deuce used her flute, as she fired off a series of shots that hit the Arbiter, causing him to flinch, before she then took the phantoma from the serpentine body of the Rursan Arbiter, rendering him immobile even in his serpentine body.
"Never…" The Rursan Arbiter seethed. "NEVER!"
"Just a little more… and everyone can be saved. We come too far to lose… So please, Ace and Spade… end this!" Deuce declared.
The Rursan Arbiter immediately turned berserk, as he was throwing dark lightning everywhere erratically, as Ace and Richard slowly advanced towards the Rursan Arbiter, dodging his attacks.
"When will you realise your efforts are futile?" The Rursan Arbiter spat. "Agito is beyond your reach! Once more, the world… will vanish in its spiral."
"That's what you think. We have become Agito already, if we still stand here before you. And with that power of Agito you covet, we will put an end to all of this!" Ace declared, before he then threw his cards up, as they spread around him like a ring, all of them turning red, before they honed towards the Rursan Arbiter, damaging him greatly, as he collapsed.
"You cannot… I will not…!" The Rursan Arbiter stated, before Richard then jumped up, as he turned into his Master Form.
"This is over, Rursan Arbiter." Richard declared, as he brought back both of his blades, as Desidero glowed a dark purple light, while Divine Judge shone with a golden light, while a ring of elements appeared behind him. "Go back to your void and remain there for eternity… The spiral of Orience… ENDS TODAY!"
Richard then sliced through the Rursan Arbiter, passing right through him, leaving behind a glowing cross-mark on the stunned Rursan Arbiter, as the magic shattered parts of the large armour he bore. Richard then raised his hand, as the blood-red thread of red phantoma mist appeared over his right hand, before he then clenched it, claiming the last of the Rursan Arbtier's phantoma, while the cross-mark exploded, shattering the entire body of the Rursan Arbiter.
The defeated Rursan Arbiter let out a scream of pain, as the golden glow immediately left his armour and body, flying into the skies of nothingness above, with white wisps dancing up the golden aurora of light, like the millions of fallen spirits that were consumed by the Rursus, sinking slowly back into the pool of blood.
As soon as the Rursan Arbiter was defeated, Richard slowly treaded towards the group, as the divine glow that fuelled the group's strength faded away, as well as the borrowed power, causing them to sag and sway, some of them even collapsing on the ground.
"The adrenaline rush is gone." Jack stated, before he then chuckled. "But still, we did it, the Judgement is that we win and the world is saved."
"Indeed… it is our victory…' Flora remarked. "We have saved the countless people of Orience by defying the gods themselves…"
"Ha… Hahaha…" Chen weakly laughed. "I can't believe this… I never felt like this for a long time… feeling that I actually accomplished something so extraordinary, and yet also so rewarding…"
Ace then slowly staggered forward, before he was caught by Richard, as the both of them looked up to the skies, as there were a rain of falling lights.
"Did we… do it…?" Ace asked Richard.
"...Yes we did, this sight… it's beautiful, isn't it? The countless people in the heavens… are cheering for our victory, with this rain of stars…" Richard smiled back.
"Let's… all go home." Deuce remarked with relief and joy in her voice.
"Yes… but the pain and exhaustion… it is a little much for now." Trey stated, before he finally collapsed unconscious.
Soon after, the rest of the members followed in the same way, although as the darkness claimed Richard… he had a relieved smile on his face.
In the ruins of Akademia…
Ace slowly stirred awake, to the sound of Cater's voice, calling his name out, as he noticed that his arms were shielding his face, as if the light was hurting him. He slowly moved his arms away, to see that Cater, slightly bloodied, but also still fairly lively.
"Ace… are you awake?" Cater asked gently, as Ace nodded back.
He then looked around, as the rest of Class Zero were injured and slightly crippled from those injuries, but they still seemed in fine condition otherwise. Chen herself was resting herself on top of a table, Gunter was keeping an alert guard, even when he was wounded, and Flora was using her magic to try and create a healing field to alleviate the group's pain, while Richard was resting an arm against the teaching pedestal, to support him.
Ace took a look down at his wounded hands, as he winced slightly.
"Yeah… that's right… The war is over." Ace stated.
"I wonder… if we're… we're going to die?" Queen remarked gently.
"I'm afraid of… dying… And yet, we don't feel like we're slipping away…" Seven stated.
"Oh, boy… this really hurts… I can't even joke about this…" Jack grunted.
"Yeah, it is… quite painful." Trey stated, before turning to Flora. "Are you… going to cure us?"
"I am, I believe that even though we were meant to perish… I can see that there is still hope of survival." Flora stated. "I can feel the effects of my own curative magic keeping myself alive…"
"...Then why… does this hurt… so much?" Cater winced, as she teared up slightly.
"What's with you all!? I thought we were ready to die!" Nine shouted harshly, shoving himself up, and ignoring the bouts of pain it brought to him.
"But…" Cater stated.
"I'm not ready…" Sice added.
"I'm scared…" Eight said as well.
Nine heard those opinions, as he slunk back into his chair. "...Yeah, I guess we all are…" Nine admitted.
"I can't stand it…" Cinque whimpered, before she then broke down into tears, before Chen slowly rose up, and walked over, before taking the soft-hearted girl into her embrace, and letting Cinque cry into her shoulder.
"There, there… it's all over. We'll make it. Even if I have to give my life, all of you will make it through." Chen assured Cinque.
"But I don't want you to go either, Diamond… you're all… You're all important people!" Cinque cried out, as some of Class Zero also broke down into tears as well.
Richard saw this, as he slowly walked forward, and cleared his throat, as he then began to sing a tune that he thought was fitting.
Walk on, wandering souls,
For your respite, we pray
Richard's voice caught the attention of Class Zero, as they raised their eyes, some filled with tears, as the black-haired boy was singing with spirit and heart, as Flora, Gunter and Chen were also entranced by the singing.
Let our humble song clear your hearts of dismay…
Rekindle the flame in your souls and set you free
So walk on and become the light that guides the way…
"How did you… know that song?" Seven asked Richard, who only smiled back.
"It's a song that Arecia taught me… She said that it would help to calm your hearts and souls." Richard responded back. "I never had to sing it before… but I did recite it just in case… Guess it worked… I mean, you're all not crying anymore, right?"
"I'm not crying anymore…" Jack chuckled. "I never thought… you would go this far for us, Spade."
"Hey, the war is over now, right?" Eight remarked.
"That's right." King confirmed back with a nod.
"Well then, let's think about what comes next." Eight suggested.
"Next? We might not have a 'next'..." Cinque stated with sorrow, as she sniffled a little.
"But that means that you can dream as big as you want…" Chen answered back. "And if we make it through… we'll do our best to carry it out. Just say what comes to heart."
"Yeah… good point." Cinque agreed, as her mood lightened up. "Then let's think of a future… a big happy future!"
"What should we do first?" Deuce asked, as he looked around the group. "Any suggestions?"
"I want to invite Mother on a trip to Concordia and Milites!" Cater started.
"Don't you think you've been to both of those places enough times on our campaigns?" Sice retorted back.
"We're not going there to fight- we're going there just for fun." Cater replied back.
"For once, we'll finally be able to take it easy- and so will Mother." Ace stated with hope.
"Then… we're just going to have to draw up a proper itinerary." Queen added.
"That's our class leader: always micromanaging!" Jack snarked.
"Since when am I the class leader? That's Ace!" Queen responded back, glaring at Jack.
"Okay. So what do we do when we get back from our trip?" Cinque asked again.
"Let's see… How about we study something else besides fighting. I mean, Heart and Spade did some teaching on other stuff as well." Eight stated.
This earned the growls and groans of several cadets. "What? More studying and tests?" Jack moaned.
"We'll take it easy on the teaching. You all have been stressed so much lately." Flora answered back with a kind smile. "First, we take our vacation through Concordia and Milites, and then when you are all ready, we can start teaching you all."
"So what do we study then? Is there anything that's NOT fighting?" Nine asked back.
"How about learning about the tales of ancient heroes and figures in Orience's history? I'm sure that you'll be intrigued to learn about great warriors that fought against armies for their ideals and nations." Flora suggested.
"We have so much left to learn, especially since all we ever known is war." Deuce added.
"Does that even count as studying…? I guess so." Sice stated, before smirking. "It's also something that sounds interesting."
"Good! And then? What do we do when we're done studying?" Cinque answered with a cheerful tone. "What do we do WAY in the future?"
"Way in the future? Like how long?" Nine asked back.
"How about, like, ten years later?" Cinque suggested.
"Hmph, ten years, you say?" King scoffed. "I can't even imagine."
"I'm sure that no matter what we do, it will be great as long as we're together." Deuce said with hope.
"Yeah. Life would definitely be fun. I just know it!" Cater stated boastfully.
"Yes, I would agree with that." Queen agreed.
"Hmmm... " Jack pondered. "But you never know what will happen in the future, right? So I think we should just stay in the moment, y'know what I mean?"
"Oh, is that why I heard you whisper that you never want to grow up?" Seven quipped, as the group let out a few chuckles.
"Wait, what the hell!?" Nine exclaimed with surprise, as the group exploded into laughter.
"You know… even if we die here right now… it wouldn't be the worst thing." Chen remarked.
As Class Zero chatted about their futures, with Chen and Flora, and even Gunter, who decided to both tease and assure the cadets with his words, Richard watched it all with a smile, closing his eyes for a moment.
'I've done it… Class Zero survives this trial… Their death was sorrowful and had meaning, but they deserved to be living examples of hope and determination, not martyrs…' Richard thought to himself with a feeling of satisfaction and relief. 'And I managed to bond with them as a class… Guess they've realised that they're not the child soldiers with restrained emotions that they once believed. Arecia… Class Zero will be together for the future. And I'll spend some time watching them grow a little. The rest of the worlds can just wait a little before I leave-'
Richard was suddenly wracked with a severe cough, as he felt his strength sap away greatly, his torso hitting the side of the pedestal, as he hacked and wheezed several times, before with a mighty cough, he felt liquid hitting the hand covering his mouth. When he pulled it back, he was distraught to see that it was blood, as his breathing hitched on the sight of it.
'What…? But I didn't even…!' Richard thought with desperation, as he felt his torso suddenly feel wet in a sudden, as he slowly looked down, seeing that the robe he was wearing was tainted with the darker red of blood, compared against the lighter red fabric of the robe, as the blood marks were where the Rursan Arbiter ran him through, and where he pierced himself in the fight against the Nox Suzaku.
At that moment, Richard quickly realised what was happening, as he chuckled weakly, stroking the wounds in his chest, that seemed to have opened by some reason he couldn't discern, with a bitter yet solemn smile on his face.
"I guess… this is the price… to overturn their fate…" Richard softly stated, as he slowly stumbled down the stairs. "...I refuse to let them see me die before them like this... Class Zero… doesn't deserve to see... one of their guardians... die like a miserable wretch…"
Richard limped towards the door of the classroom, slowly pulling him up the stairs, only to find himself drained of energy, as he collapsed onto them, the sound caused by it drawing everyone's attention, as they noticed that Richard had fallen.
"...Spade?" Flora remarked, as she moved towards Richard. "What happened? Are you…"
Gunter didn't waste any time going over to Richard, before flipping him over, revealing the mortal wounds he bore, causing Gunter's eyes to widen. "Spade… you…" He muttered with sorrow in his voice.
"Shoot… I guess that I couldn't make it after all…" Richard quietly proclaimed. "...I was hoping that I could get far enough… so that you wouldn't have to see this mess I'm in…"
"Spade… why is this happening to you…?" Ace asked, as he knelt down, looking into Richard with sad eyes.
"...I guess there was… only one reason for it…" Richard answered back, before he then raised the crystal pendant around his neck, as it was cracked. "...I… I traded my life… for all of yours…"
"What… How could you have done that..!?" Nine exclaimed with disbelief and anger"You were all fine when you and the others took that bastard's phantoma! Did that bastard leave a death curse to take you out with him!?"
"...No, this is because… I treated my life as a sacrifice for you all…" Richard weakly smiled back. "...I… I told you all lies… and I hope that… for the better of you all… that those lies would have stayed with me, in life or death…"
"You lied…? But you always did so many trustworthy and selfless things… What could you have lied about…?" Cater asked, as she was trying not to cry.
"...A lot of things…" Richard breathed, closing his eyes. "...But I have… to tell you a story… from the beginning."
Class Zero listened closely, as Richard began to speak.
"...I never told you… about what I was doing before we went to the battle of Big Bridge and the battle of the Strait of Judecca." Richard stated. "...Before we went there… I fought the most foul creature… the perversion of the holy bird Suzaku, in order to attain its essence, to create a weapon against the Rursan Arbiter. For its defeat, I paid the price in exposing my phantoma to it, weakening me. I still recovered, but the scar on my very soul remained… and it was through that very scar… that what happened after… condemned me to death, now that I realise it."
"What… did you create? Did you… create these?" Trey stated, referring to the cracked crystal pendant.
"Ha ha, astute as always, Trey…" Richard stated back, lowering his arm. "But your Mother helped me… she helped me mold that very essence into four pendants… one for each member. It would be dangerous for you to all wear it, because only those with great power can wield it. So we wore them… when you were called by the Vermillion Peristylium, to choose whether to be mortal or l'Cie."
"You… knew?" Eight asked with some surprise in his voice.
"...I did. But that's not important for now." Richard continued. "...It was because of these pendants, that we were able to take your place in absorbing the phantoma of the Rursan Arbiter, into these four vessels, instead of your very bodies. Had you done so, the very essence of the phantoma would have overwhelmed your bodies, and destroyed them, condemning you to death, like I will. But it worked in the end… none of you are tainted by his phantoma… so you will live for another day. Diamond, Club, and Heart, they will live too, for their spirits are strong enough to resist the taint… but an injured soul like mine… which only briefly recovered… It became too much."
"All this time… All this time you knew what was going to happen…" King bowed his head. "...You know about the Rursan Arbiter… and now that I think about it, you seemed like you knew how each battle was to be fought, and how the war would progress… tell us… how did you all know of all this?"
"...Because I'm from another world… and I peered into your history…. Past and future." Richard answered back with a solemn smile.
"...What!?" Cinque exclaimed. "You… You can predict the future?"
"Only up to this moment…" Richard admitted. "...I know how you are all born from Arecia Al-Rashia and raised by her to become Rubrum's greatest cadet team… the one to end this war. I knew about the many things that Milites did for the sake of victory. I knew about how the king of Concordia, the craven bastard, conspired to kill Queen Andoria for petty reasons… All that and more… was not outside of my knowledge…"
"Then why did you never tell us about this? We could have-" Queen stated with desperation.
"...Tempus Finis was inevitable. Had we not fought in the ways we did, Rubrum would have never emerged victorious…" Richard answered back. "And if Rubrum was never victorious… we would have never gained the chance to enter Pandaemonium as fated… The Akashic Records were the same to my knowledge… so I followed them as well, and guided you to do so as well. It never told you about your fates... But I knew… and it pained me…"
Richard then teared up, as the tears streaked down his face. "...You would all die for this beautiful world you have saved. Taking the sacrifice in absorbing the Rursan Arbiter's phantoma to defeat him, you would slowly die, first afraid, then hopeful and satisfied in your deaths…" Richard responded back with emotion in his voice. "I couldn't let that happen… so I did all of this, planned it out… because I refused to let the few people who returned my own trust and camaraderie perish because it was fate! You all deserve to live as proper men and women!"
Deuce then looked down on Richard's crying expression, as she teared up slightly. "Spade… We never knew that you had to carry such a burden…" She remarked.
"There was a goddess in this world, who watched this world fall to ruin so many times." Richard declared, as his tears mostly dried off. "She awaited champions who would help her bring an end to the destructive cycle of the world. We were those champions. I offered her hope that the ones known as Class Zero, the only ones that she considered her children in mortal flesh, would live through this tragedy… In exchange, she promised that she would take care of this world and allow the world to never fear war again, and finally see the dawn of peace. She brought us down on this world, to meet you all…"
"...Then…" Seven stated, as she was at a loss of words.
"Although we didn't live through the same miseries you did… But even in these most brief periods in war… I understood your lives, and I came to know you all…" Richard smiled back. "...It doesn't matter if I lied about my origins and life, or anything else… I never lied about the fact that I was your instructor and that my duty was to help you grow. And look at you all now, you've grown so very much… and you have such care for me, that it pains me to leave you like this… You could say that I'm your guardian angel… and that I always held a place in my heart for you all."
"You idiot, stop talking, I'm already hurting in my chest as it is…" Sice answered back, as she was wracked with sobs.
"But now… my duty comes to an end… I wanted to continue on with you all…" Richard muttered back, leaning his head back. "I really… wanted to see the future you all were going to step towards… But I can at least die easy, knowing that I have given my life for a generation of heroes who would be the founders of a new era of the world."
"...Man, this really sucks… Really, it sucks…" Jack admitted, as he let tears fall from his face.
"Ace… I want you to grant me a final request… Can you… give me one last tour… of Akademia… just for the memories…?" Richard requested from Ace.
Ace was silent for a moment, before he put on a forced smile, and pulled Richard up. "...Anything for you, instructor." He stated.
Richard silently smiled, as the group slowly filed out of the classroom, with Ace holding Richard over his shoulder.
You stare up at the stars in the clear, endless skies
Slowly fading lights shining back in your eyes
Completely consumed with your search for certainty
You'll lose sight of everything and get left behind
Ace carried Richard out of the main building, which seemed to be in shambles, as they found themselves in the ruined fountain courtyard, as the fountain itself had chunks of stone missing from it.
"...You remember the time that we all sat underneath the fountain…?" Richard asked Class Zero. "...We talked about many things… but there was one thing that I'm sure that you never forgot.."
"You asked us… whether we deserved to be loved by others." Jack stated. "Man, now that I think of it, you asked us that, because you wanted to show that you cared for us."
"...It was something that we were hesitant to answer, before Aria decided to butt in." Sice remarked. "I swear, the mouth of that girl, but she spoke for all of us. We did believe that Mother wasn't the only one who could love us, especially Heart."
"I'm glad that I left an imprint on your hearts." Flora declared with gratitude.
We can leave this place together—all alone, you and me
We both know the road to follow and where it may lead
But if the world should come between us and you fall behind
Then just call me
Let your voice reach out, and tell me to wait because
The group then reached the ruined arena, as they stared at the massive space before them.
"I remember what happened here… We fought the enemy jammer weapon… and then Spade summoned an Eidolon to crush it." Seven stated.
"Oh, come on! Don't tell me that's your only memory of this place." Jack exclaimed with outrage. "Of course, I remember the time that an upstart spear-user tried to pick a spar with our knight instructor-"
"You have a death wish!?" Nine snarled back, as Jack jumped back.
"...You have grown much from then, Nine. Be proud of that. In my world, you would have been one of the greatest knights I would have known." Gunter admitted with a proud smile to Nine.
"I… I guess, thanks?' Nine stated, unsure on how to take the praise, which caused Richard to chuckle slightly, before coughing gently, hurting his throat from the laughter.
All I know is that I want to be with you
To be the one that, 'til the end, you can hold onto
I'll keep you safe, so place your trembling hand in mine, I'd
Give everything for you to say that you'll stay by my side
We've made it through the storm
Take my hand and run with me
Someday, somewhere
Only the two of us
Together we'll be free
They soon reached the main gate, as they were in the ruined corridors, as Richard closed his eyes gently.
"...Say, do any of you know how many times we left through these gates, for a mission or a training expedition?" Richard asked the group.
"...I can't even start to count." Seven admitted.
"That's because we've been out here for so long, that we could say that we know the world quite a lot more than most people." Chen stated. "I even remember the times, when we took you to certain landmarks, and some of you were thrilled by the view."
Deuce blushed slightly, as she remembered that there was a time where she and Chen were alone on a beach shore, as the disguised nekomata kept on teasing her, although they did enjoy the view together, before they were found by the rest of the group, both scolded by their respective parties.
"...I can feel it coming down on me…" Richard admitted, raising a weak hand to his chest. "...My time grows even shorter… I'm beginning to feel like I should close my eyes, and trail off… but I know that when I do, they will never open again…"
Everyone looked towards Richard, as Ace lifted Richard up slightly, to keep him on his shoulder, as they continued to walk through Akademia…
"Don't waste your life on me. Save yourself instead," you cry
"I'll be fine on my own"
Pain wells up in your eyes
I brush away your tears and take you in my embrace
"My life's only wasted without you by my side"
The group then entered the airship landing space, as they stood atop the broken landing pad, with the wreck of many Rubrum airships surrounding them.
"How many times have we been here?" Cinque remarked, looking at the destroyed airship landing space."It was only twice that we ever took an airship from this place…"
"Yeah, no wonder… Spade was already someone who preferred us to enjoy the view and fight the monsters." Sice snarked, which caused Richard to weakly chuckle in response.
"...Do you think that we'll ever be able to take another airship? I gotta say, taking to the skies… was a great experience." Jack admitted.
"Of course." Trey stated. "Although the world might be in disarray now… it's not like that the knowledge of the technology we once had, has vanished without traces."
"Another trip on a air-ship… Maybe we'll see how the world would look like, when it is at peace…" Ace admitted.
I thought I'd leave this place forever—don't look back, just let go
In the rain I started walking down the only road I know
And just when I thought it was over,
You're the freedom that found me
So don't let me go
I'll run anywhere if you'll run with me, too
The group then headed towards the Crystarium, as the great library was in ruins, with books strewn everywhere, and the lights barely alight.
"All these books here…" Queen stated. "I suppose that books are the least likely to survive a cataclysm like this."
"Queen, everyone, she's the class nerd. "Nine tried to joke, before he was bopped on the back of his head by Flora's staff.
"These books are important for learning. Have nothing that I have taught you sunk into you?" Flora scolded Nine.
"Well, we don't know much about fighting, so how could I learn anything else easily?" Nine responded back.
"Then perhaps, you should pay attention to the class 'nerd', like some of the others." Flora quipped back, with a sly smile on her lips, which caused some of the class to chuckle, and Nine to become flustered.
I want to hear your voice to ease the fear inside
Just let me know that you'll be here, always right by my side
Let me take you in my arms and hold you tight
If I'm with you and you're with me, we can get through the night
I know the way you feel
You don't have to lie to me
So close your eyes now
I'll stay right here with you
It'll all be fine—you'll see
The group headed towards the cemetery, as they saw that unlike most of Akademia, it was relatively unscathed, as the countless graves surrounded the group.
"...Many people had died in this war…" Deuce solemnly declared. "But it was thanks to them that we were able to move on and save this world that they died for."
"Perhaps, some of the guys on the other side… Perhaps they were just like us in some way." Cater admitted.
"No-one is truly a monster…" Richard gently stated, as his eyes were unfocused, indicating his fragile condition. "...We all hate each other in this war, but in the end… we are all the same in death… We are all human."
"Hey, you still here?" Ace asked Richard, shaking Richard gently.
"...Only barely, I can't even see properly now, but I can feel the lingering gloom here." Richard admitted with a faint voice. "...And I don't even know how many of you are around… My senses have been dulled so much. I can only feel your shoulder and arm, Ace… nothing else… I'm almost slipping away… I think… it's time I rest."
And I know that if I promise it's not over
It'll only make the end come even sooner than expected
But when the day comes and there's nothing left to do
I'll be here to reach my hand out
'Cause the end won't come as long as I'm with you
The group finally returned to their classroom, as Ace slowly rested Richard against a pile of rubble, as Richard sunk into it, with what little strength that remained in him.
"...You know… I always thought that death would be something so terrible…" Richard stated with a weak breath. "But… somehow… I feel truly at peace… my body feels like it's drifting on the air itself... Is this… because I'm dying with only a few small regrets?"
"...Don't say that." Eight declared, turning away to hide his pained expression. "You have nothing to regret at all… We know that you did everything for us, and we couldn't make it up to you in the end…"
"...I guess so." Richard weakly stated, as Class Zero began to feel sorrow pinch at their hearts, with the faint smile on Richard's lips lingering on his bloodied lips. "If there is one regret I can name… it's that… this future we paved… I'm not going to see it… But I know… it's one that I'll be proud of making…"
Ace walked over, as he held Richard's hand in his own, trying to fight back tears. "...You made me as your successor, through all of the teaching you have done for me. I will promise that I'll protect this world in your stead…" Ace declared with devotion and spirit. "...And that your death will never be in vain… Spade…"
"...Then your final step is complete." Richard answered back, closing his eyes. "...You truly are my successor, in the end."
And of everyone in this world, you and I came together
If you call me
And let your voice reach out, then
I'll always wait because
Rem and Machina burst through the classroom doors, as they seemed to be back to normal, as they saw everything before them, as Rem gasped in horror, while Machina was left frozen with disbelief, as Class Zero looked towards them.
"Rem…? Machina…?" Deuce remarked. "You're all… alive?"
"And you're all…" Rem remarked. "But… Spade…"
Machina walked towards Richard, picking up speed, before he then rushed over to Richard, as Class Zero moved aside for him to reach the fallen hero. Ace even moved slightly, as Machina rushed to Richard.
All I know is that I want to be with you
To be the one that, 'till the end, you can hold onto
I'll keep you safe, so place your trembling hand in mine, I'd
Give everything for you to say that you'll stay by my side
"Hey! Hey! Get up! You can't possibly be…" Machina exclaimed with emotional pain in his voice. "Tell me… Tell me it's all fine…! That you're not…!"
"Ah… Machina…" Richard rasped gently, as Machina let out a stifled gulp. "...You're here… Are you? I'm… I'm glad that you're here…"
"Stop it! Stop being so kind to me!" Machina screamed with frustration. "I don't want you to tell me everything is fine! It's not! IT'S NOT! I did so many horrible things… and yet I… I…!"
Richard used the last of his strength to raise an arm to place a hand on Machina's cheek, as the cadet's eyes were filled with tears, while Rem was covering her mouth, trying not to cry, while Richard smiled back at Machina.
"...You did nothing wrong…" Richard responded back softly. "...We all did many horrible things… but that doesn't mean that… we shouldn't be forgiven… Machina… Machina Kunagiri… Please, take care of Class Zero… you too, Rem Tokimiya... And all of you of Class Zero… forgive Machina… He was a fool who cared too much for his love… and he will make up for what he has done…"
I want to hear your voice to ease the fear inside
And let me know that you were here, waiting right by my side
All I know is that I want to be with you
'Cause you're the one that, in the end, I can hold onto
Machina was left holding back sobs, while Rem was in the same condition, as were some of the more emotional members of Class Zero, while Ace lowered his head, and the rest of Richard's group were solemnly silent.
Richard slowly tipped his head over, towards the opening in the wall, before he then saw the sun-rise in the distance, as it looked fairly beautiful shining on the ruins of the city.
"Heh… To die in the arms of my own students… That's not… a bad way to go… and to see this as my last sight…" Richard stated, his voice almost inaudible, as his eyes slowly drifted down. "I'm satisfied… Ace, Deuce, Trey, Cater, Cinque, Sice, Seven, Eight, Nine, Jack, Queen, King, Rem… and Machina… I'm… truly… Truly… proud… of… you… all…"
Richard slowly let his eyes fall closed, as Ace felt the grip in Richard's hand give away, slipping from his hand and hitting the ground, as the black-haired swordsman passed on with a peaceful smile on his face.
"No…" Machina exclaimed, before he then grabbed Richard, and shook him hard. "NO! WAKE UP! PLEASE! NO!"
Ace quickly moved Machina off him with a firm shove, as Machina staggered back slightly, before he then saw the pained look on Ace's face.
"He's gone… Machina… Just… let him be…" Ace strained to say.
We've made it through the storm
Take my hand and run with me
Hold on tight now—don't you let go of me
I know the way you feel
You don't have to lie to me
Someday, somewhere
Only the two of us
Together we'll be free
Machina then collapsed on his knees. "NNNNOOOOOOO!" He cried with pure anguish, falling forward, sobbing and whimpering.
Rem also began to cry, while the rest of Class Zero broke down one by one into tears, either crying in anguish and loss, or silently letting the tears streak down their face with staggered breaths. Chen turned away, trying to keep her crying expression away from the others, while Gunter placed a hand over his chest, in a gesture of mourning, and Flora let out a few soft sobs.
"I'm sorry… Spade… I'm sorry… so… sorry…" Machina heaved.
Ace walked over to Machina, as he placed a comforting hand on Machina's shoulder, as Machina looked towards Ace with raw eyes, before turning back to the ground.
Walk on, wandering souls
For your respite we pray
Let our humble song clear your hearts of dismay,
Rekindle the flame in your souls and set you free
From Richard's corpse itself, a golden glow emitted from the hole in his chest, as it exuded particles of golden light that floated along the blowing winds, as Rem looked up, and saw as the light particles trailed into the skies, and right into the sunlight, as it created a radiant rainbow from where the class saw.
"...Look…" Rem gently whispered, as the rest of the group did so, seeing the rainbow that spread across the skies, as it brought a sense of peace and happiness to their hearts.
"Is that… Spade's… parting gift?" Cinque remarked.
"A rainbow… he must have wanted for us to move on and live our lives without any regrets like he did…" Queen stated, before she wiped the tears from her eyes. "...It's beautiful… Never before, have I seen something like this."
"Yeah, that's the beauty of a rainbow in peace-time." Chen smiled, as the few tears on her face slowly dried off.
So walk on and become the light that guides the way
The light shining brightly to guide the way
Machina then slowly stood up, as Rem leaned against his shoulder, as the two of them looked up to the rainbow, with hope in their eyes.
"A new time has come- to the weak and foolish…" Machina started. "To those who endured… to those who made mistakes… to those who fought… A new day has dawned."
"History left him behind… But we'll always remember him... " Rem continued.
"We are…" Ace stated, looking to the rainbow, before a solemn smile appeared on his face. "...right here."
Gunter slowly walked over to Richard's body, before picking it up in a bridal carry, as he turned to the others.
"...We wish to take him to a place, where he stated that he wished to be buried…" Gunter stated with a heavy tone. "...Will you grant us this, our final request of you all?"
"...He was your friend to the end." Sice admitted. "...We have no right to change your decision."
"...Thank you all… We will never forget what happened here." Flora answered back.
"We'll miss you all… truly…" Deuce responded back with a gentle tone.
"...Goodbye, all of you. Live your lives to the fullest, will you?" Chen said with a weak smile.
As Class Zero saw them off, the three living members, with their fallen leader in their possession, left Akademia, as they treaded through the ruined plains of Rubrum, before they stopped at a certain spot, where they saw Arecia, who had a solemn expression on her face.
"...So in the end, the price of defying fate was his own death…" Arecia declared. "...I suppose that in all of my power… I should have known that my aid had doomed him, but also saved my children."
"...Are you here to take us back?" Chen asked with a glare in her eyes. "...I hope you're satisfied. Richard died making everything right in this damn world. You better have found a way to fix things up, or I'll make sure to pay this debt back."
"...I understand your hate and anger towards me." Arecia declared. "...To think that in the end, it was by my method, that Agito was found… and that they survived. I owe you all a great debt for his death, even if it doesn't mean that death is permanent for him."
"...It's not?" Gunter asked back.
"...I suppose Richard never told you." Chen told Gunter and Flora. "It's something that Richard told very few people… and only slightly more know this fact. Richard can't die like a human. Like Kaguya… Like Mokou… he will be reborn from death, although unlike a Hourai Immortal, it takes time for him to recover from death. He would have never tried something like this otherwise. It's so frustrating, that he holds his life with much less regard, just because he can evade it… But at the same time, he treats each life he has… as if it was his last, so he won't die… unless he accepts that he will due to cause and effect.."
"...So that's why I felt his soul leave his body… he would be born again…" Flora remarked.
"Arecia Al-Rashia… What will happen now?" Gunter asked back.
"...I have undone what we both did to Orience. The dead shall be remembered once again… and mourned, and the Crystals have vanished from Orience. No longer shall the will of the Crystals divide the world." Arecia answered back. "My answer has been given already, for a price that I selfishly forced you all to pay. I will fulfill my end of the bargain… the Altocrystalium, and its full capabilities, whether you push it to world-ending levels or not… is yours by divine right."
The group were silenced, as they looked towards Richard's dead body.
"Another thing before you depart…" Arecia stated, as she turned to Chen. "...I apologise for what Machina has done… for his behaviour in the early phases of the war… was my own doing."
"What do you mean?' Chen asked back with a gruff tone.
"...There was a cycle where Machina got close to Class Zero, and taught them human emotion." Arecia answered back. "It was because I foolishly believed that human emotion weakened Class Zero, that I distanced him by forcing Rem with the incurable condition that she was struck with."
"You… what?" Flora remarked with disbelief and horror, as she looked at Arecia, with eyes filled with betrayal in them.
"...So it was you…" Chen remarked, clenching her fists, while keeping her rising anger in check. "...Because of you, Rem, someone who I actually grew close to… had to suffer… Let me ask you this… do you think that you'll be able to atone for this?"
"...Unlikely, but I can only try." Arecia answered back calmly, closing her eyes solemnly. "I won't ask for forgiveness, when I am far too gone to be given such things, and don't deserve it, after the countless cycles I put every single soul in Orience through. I understand that there are gods and goddesses myself. I will inquire with them on how I will find my redemption."
"...Do you know why I hate all of this bullshit?" Chen responded back with a prickly tone, as she gestured around all of her surroundings. "Because this reminds me of the day that I had to adopt a far different mask, in order to protect those I love... those I cherish. There was a great war, and I was a naive child back then… One day, Heiwa, who was my closest friend, and I were captured by terrible people in a war that was far more devastating than this. We were subjected to the cruelties of war, tortured over and over again by our captors, just to develop something to destroy our homeland, and kill those we cared for. I cried for help… and nobody came. Our only company was each other. It was through those days, that I learned that innocence could only last so long, before it would be corroded away by reality. I still had a mask of childish innocence, but I grew jaded and pragmatic. I killed our captors, and did everything to bring Heiwa out, without letting her go down the same way I did. Watching Class Zero be in a similarly despairing situation I had, in almost the same age… it breaks me every moment, so I decided to help them be better."
"Chen… I never believed that you held such a burden in your heart…" Flora admitted. "I never thought that you would have gone this far to hide your own pain."
"Forget about it, it's a mote compared to the sea of despair that Richard carried with him. I'm just happy that he still cares enough to ensure that I can overcome my terrors and be a better person for everyone." Chen responded back with a melancholic smile. "...He doesn't have the same luxury."
"What will happen to Richard then? Will he be reborn in his body, like my children have?" Arecia asked Chen.
"He can't. That body is effectively a corpse. Even if he did come back through it, he'll be dead in a short time." Chen answered back. "No, we'll take this back to where we live. There lies a collection of bodies like his, sealed in a place that only few of us know, and cannot be detected by anything other than divine omniscience. He'll be reborn in one of those bodies, waking up in a few days after his death... From there, we'll be there to help him recover slowly. Death… is not something you walk away easily from. We're taking his body… because we can restore it to proper condition, to act as another spare. Save for a lack of body to retrieve, that was what mistress Yukari had dictated for us of Gensokyo."
"I see… then I wish you well then." Arecia answered back, as she created a circular portal before the group. "...This portal will lead you to the stronghold that you once departed from."
"Yeah… thanks." Chen answered back with a slightly melancholic tone, as the group left through the portal.
After the war's end, the light gradually faded from the four Crystals.
Now bereft of their beacons of hope, the civilizations of Orience descended into a age of darkness and destruction.
Yet in the midst of the chaos, a band of young men and women entreated the denizens of Orience to seek hope in the blessings of nature around them, to rebuild this broken world with their own hands and breathe life anew into the land.
The people turned to them as their new beacons of hope, their leading figures of the new Orience.
Their names were Ace, Deuce, Trey, Cater, Cinque, Sice, Seven, Eight, Nine, Jack, Queen, King, Rem Tokimiya, and Machina Kunagiri, known as Class Zero of Rubrum.
Together, they helped to slowly return Orience to the vibrant world it once was, before the war ever started.
In memoriam for their fallen instructor, Spade of the Cardinal Suits, whose true name was never found, Class Zero ordered a majestic grave to be constructed, sitting in the square of the new capital, Akademia...
As for the rest of the Cardinal Suits, they were never seen again. Some say that they separated from each other as per Spade's final wishes, while others speculate that they have retired from war, and settled down together out of society. However from the day after Tempus Finis had passed, there was no more records of them.
The first of their numbers, Machina Kunagiri, passed away in a major hospital, with a peaceful smile on his face, his elderly wife Rem Tokimiya, his aged classmates by the bed-side, staring out to the view of the new capital.
His last words were thus: 'Spade… Thank you for giving us this world…'
Inside the science sector of the GFS Ryujin, several days later…
Chen, Gunter and Flora entered the restricted area of the science sector, as they descended down a large elevator platform, which took them to the darkened lower sections of the laboratory itself, as there was only barely enough light to illuminate the area.
There was a line of biotic tank chambers, as there were each a body of Richard inside of it, dressed in a tightly fit plug-suit to ensure that the body is properly covered for when it is released from its storage, as they were placed in suspended animation, with monitors that kept track of the condition of each body, with the most current one, the corpse that the group retrieved, being left to be healed by the biotic chamber's curative solution.
They were also escorted by a standard biologist, who was tasked with keeping track of the various bodies down in the area, as they left the elevator.
"We just recently received a faint neural response from Chamber #6." The biologist, who was a male human with brown hair and glasses on his face, holding a clip-board in one arm. "...I believe that Richard Liu has resurrected in this body."
"Is that so?" Chen asked stoically, as she looked at the monitor on the chamber holding the body, as the neural scans did match the biologist's analysis. "...Bring him out, he needs to be let out as soon as possible, to recover in time for what is to come."
"As you wish, Chen Yakumo." The biologist stated, as he walked to the console connected to the biotic tank chamber, inputting commands, that would undo the suspended animation placed on the body, as the body was forced out of unconsciousness, with Richard stirring awake, breathing softly into the breathing mask fitted on his face, connected to the air supply within the tank chamber, as the fluids slowly drained out, lowering Richard onto the floor of the storage chamber.
The doors of the storage chamber slowly opened, as the biologist undid the breathing mask on Richard's face, before the latter slowly staggered forward, before Gunter caught him.
"...Are you alright?" Gunter asked Richard with concern.
"Yeah, I'm all here." Richard answered back. "But I just woke up from my own death… it's going to take me a long while before I can get my balance and footing back, as well as the rest of my motor capabilities, and next, my own powers."
"Was it worth it, to die for Orience?" Flora asked.
"...It was a life well spent. I may have as many lives as I wish, so long as my own soul is unharmed…" Richard responded back. "But that doesn't mean that I would throw it away at the slightest of prices. If dying was the only way that those cruel gods would be satisfied to not ruin everything again, I'd pay the same price again… but not until I got everything that I am back."
"...Welcome back." Chen smiled, and hugged Richard.
"Yeah… welcome back…" Richard smile, returning the hug with a wet one, as they embraced for a while.
Unmei Force Solitary Legends: Young Spirits
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