Unmei Force Shattered Heroes: Shadowed Tragedy
Chapter 1: Halua and Emil
In Emil's mansion…
The entire group traversed the mansion, before they reached a small courtyard, as Emil looked around, even though he couldn't truly see.
"It should be right around here somewhere…" Emil stated, as the group spread out across the courtyard, looking for any mechanisms to unlock the path to the Planning Room. Eventually, Link managed to find a small hidden lever inside the fountain, as he jostled it.
"Should this be it?" Link stated, before they all heard rumbling, as the stairs to the door back into the mansion receded under the door, revealing a downwards passage into the depths of the mansion. "...I suppose this should be it."
Sanae took the chance to look at the sign written on the entrance of the passage, as she grumbled slightly, considering that it was mostly in bad condition, bad enough to be nearly unreadable, save for a few words.
"Huh… something inside this place is dangerous, enough for there to be a warning for that thing." Sanae told the group.
"If someone bothered to attach a warning to this room, I doubt they will appreciate us forcing our way inside." Grimoire Weiss scoffed.
"But what we require lies within. Danger or not, we cannot back down." Link remarked. "I doubt that whatever we face down there could be more dangerous than what lurks on this world."
Emil suddenly clenched his head with one hand, wincing greatly.
"Emil? Are you alright? I can help-" Elma offered, before she was stopped by Emil's raised hand.
"Nothing… it's nothing. I'm fine." Emil assured Elma, who still was fairly concerned, as was some of the group, including Nier himself.
They soon descended down the passage, entering a underground facility that seemed to be well-maintained despite being abandoned long since.
"Something is amiss with Emil. Take care-" Grimoire Weiss advised the group.
"We do not require you to tell us to take care of him. We will ensure that he is well protected and cared for." Virion interrupted, drawing his bow. "I have slain many creatures before, and none has escaped my attention even once."
"How rude, is that your confidence or your arrogance?" Grimoire Weiss growled back.
"...Confidence." Virion answered back evenly.
The group proceeded, before they found a few Shades in the way, as they fought off the Shades, defeating them easily, fighting more as they proceeded along, until they found a loose piece of paper belonging to some report.
Corrin was the one to pick it up, as she read through it, seeing that it described the progress of initial research of a 'Subject 6', signifying a great leap in 'Gestalt' research. There was a photo of a feral humanoid creature, with a spherical white skull-like head.
"A research facility…" Corrin recognised the writer's profession. "What exactly is 'Gestalt'? And this creature in the photos, 'Subject 6'... What are they?"
"This must have been where I was…" Emil started, before he was wracked with pain again, as he clenched his head again.
"Emil!" Nier exclaimed.
"I'll… I'll be okay. We need to keep going." Emil answered back, although the group was unconvinced.
"...Do you think that there must be something related to him as well here, Grimoire Weiss?" Momiji stated. "From what I can discern… his head-aches started in here, and intensified at the mention of the facility…"
"...A astute observation, woman." Grimoire Weiss. "But it leaves the question of what the connection is."
"If you are going to refer to me, call me by my name, Momiji, not as 'woman'." Momiji stated with a deep frown.
They continued yet deeper into the facility, as the number of Shades grew, and they even encountered a large shade that thrashed at its surroundings. When they reached another set of stairs into a deeper floor of the facility, they found another report page, as Gus looked through it, before his eyes widened, upon seeing its contents.
"...This… This is a terrible truth. Momiji… I fear that you're right." Gus stated.
"What… What did you find?" Nier asked.
"This page, it details a meeting agenda." Gus explained. "It refers to a solution for long-term storage of Number 6, a progress report on Number 7, and disguising the laboratory's above-ground facility as a mansion. But that's not what shocks me… Number 7 has a photo… and it's Emil himself, and Number 6? It's a she, and she resembles Emil like a sister…!"
"WHAT!?" Corrin, Elma, Link and Nier exclaimed simultaneously, out of sheer disbelief.
"...I suppose that the truth has come out. A living experiment… No wonder you are cursed with horrid power." Momiji growled to herself.
"Nnnnghh… What was I… doing here?" Emil asked himself, as the pain returned with a vengeance on his head.
"I have doubts as to whether or not Emil will be able to continue." Grimoire Weiss argued.
"Like it or not, Emil's past is in there, Grimoire Weiss." Richard declared firmly. "He'll have to endure it. The truth is in his grasp. He won't let it go easily."
Emil nodded in agreement, as Nier gave Emil a worried glance, before they headed down.
They soon reached a small passage leading to a large octagonal playroom, as they fought off hordes of Shades, before they found another page, as the group were hesitant to dare gaze on its contents, as Elma slowly walked forward, and picked it up.
There was silence for a moment, as Elma's expression turned more and more horrified with each passing moment, before she then collapsed on her knees.
"No… This is…" Elma muttered with disbelief.
"What is it-" Virion stated, as he took the page, and read it, as his expression soured greatly. "...Damned wretches… to think that they would sink to this level…"
"What did you find?" Nier asked Virion.
"Emil was left alive as a failsafe to Halua, or Subject 6. I do not know how he would be one for that monster that was formerly a girl with hopes and dreams…" Virion stated. "And what's more… the ones who wrote this, disposed of the other subjects, in the interests of 'protecting state secrets'. I almost feel like I've returned to the cutthroat world of intrigue, one that disgusts me."
Emil then collapsed, as he was in a fetal position, letting out cries of pain, as Elma and Corrin rushed to comfort him.
"Emil… EMIL!" Corrin exclaimed. "Please respond, are you still well?"
"I'm a… weapon?" Emil muttered, as he slowly rose up. "What does that even mean? What am I?"
"You're going to be fine." Nier assured Emil, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Your past makes no difference. We'll support you no matter what."
"You can expect the same from us. We'll help you shed this terrible past away." Sanae answered back with conviction.
"At any rate, you would hardly be the first member of our merry band to have issues." Grimoire Weiss added.
"Let's go… I believe that our answers lie ahead." Richard stated, as the group left through the door ahead.
They passed through several doors, before entering a circular containment chamber, as there was the skeletal creature, Subject 6, formerly Halua, restrained against the wall by a set of large iron nails, through her body or around her limbs, all bound by chains.
"This is… Halua?" Gus remarked.
"...No, not Halua… This is Subject 6, a result of scientific ambition." Momiji shook her head. "I doubt that much of her humanity would have remained, if any."
Emil was silent, as he gazed at the creature for a moment, before he then gasped loudly.
"I remember now… I remember everything." Emil stated, slowly walking forwards, as the group looked at him. "We used to be humans. Normal humans. Just a bunch of regular human kids like you'd see anywhere. And then… we came here. They wanted to turn us into weapons. So they used magic to perform terrible experiments on us. Eventually, they succeeded. They managed to create a 'perfect' weapon. The name of that weapon… was Number 6. But soon, they lost control of Number 6, and the experiment was deemed a failure. They had to create a weapon that could petrify Number 6 and seal it away. So they created me…"
"...Number 7." Richard declared, as most of the group was struck with sympathy and emotional pain for Emil. "The counter-weapon to Number 6."
"Weapon or no weapon, you're still Emil to us." Nier declared firmly.
"You're not just Number 7. You're Emil!" Elma exclaimed.
"...All of you, thank you." Emil stated, turning to the group, before then back at Subject 6. "This is Number 6. She's… my sister."
Suddenly, Subject 6's head moved, as her red eyes stared down at Emil, and the group suddenly drew their weapons on reflex.
"This thing is alive!?" Grimoire Weiss said.
"...Of course, she must have been living for a long time." Momiji stated. "It seems I am right… she is no longer human anymore."
"My sister is the greatest weapon ever made, and…" Emil continued, as the bony fingers of Subject 6 twitched, as the hands pushed against the restraints. "With her power, I could eradicate my petrification curse."
"But wouldn't that mean-" Elma remarked.
"...Yes, it seems that a fight is inevitable." Virion remarked. "...Stand back, I doubt that these chains will hold her any longer."
"Then what about Emil!? He's far too close to that thing!" Corrin exclaimed.
"Emil-" Gus tried to say.
"First, you have to promise me something… all of you." Emil stated, as Subject 6's movements became more and more erratic, as the chains began to shake and rumble under her movements. "If my sister somehow manages to swallow me up… If my original self becomes lost… I'm afraid I may try to hurt all of you…"
The nails snapped off one by one, as Subject 6 landed on the ground behind Emil with a loud thud, although Emil didn't seem to be fazed. "And if that happens…" He started.
"No, wait!" Nier exclaimed, as he rushed towards Emil, as Momiji and Link did so as well, with their blades raised.
"...Then I want you to kill me." Emil shouted, just before Subject 6 dipped her head down to engulf Emil with a single bite, as the impact forced Link and Momiji to back away, while Nier was knocked back, before being stopped by Gus and Richard.
"You have to get him out of there now!" Grimoire Weiss exclaimed.
"I'm on it. We're not gonna lose anyone else!" Nier exclaimed, drawing his weapon.
"Elma, follow behind us, keep your distance." Gus ordered Elma. "We'll take care of this."
"...Please, save Emil… and help Halua…!" Elma begged the group.
The group engaged Subject 6, dodging her charges and claw-swipes, as they tried to attack her with their weapons, only for their weapons to deal little effect, although the magic that Nier, Richard, and Gus were using, were actually harming her.
"It seems magic is the only way to damage this one!" Grimoire Weiss advised the group.
"Tch, we also realised that just earlier! Use your weapons only to block and parry her own attacks! Blast her with raw magic power!" Richard stated.
The rest of the group followed his orders, as the group resorted to firing magic blasts and spells to barrage Subject 6, who in turn spewed massive patterns of spherical magical bullets, which cancelled a considerable portion of the group's offence, although they were reliably harming her with their attacks.
Eventually, they managed to weaken Subject 6 enough, to the point that she collapsed on the ground defeated. Nier immediately charged his own magic up, as he conjured a barrage of magical lance blasts, as they surged towards the skeletal creature, pinning her against the wall.
"...Halua, allow me to end your suffering." Link stated, as he grasped his blade, as it glowed silver, while Nier created another set of lances, before merging them into a large one.
Link was the first to act, as he beheaded Subject 6 with a silver flash of energy, before the large lance hit it on-centre. Suddenly, the body and head of the creature glowed, before it then exploded into a bright flash of light that caused everyone to avert their eyes.
When they turned back, they saw that Subject 6 disappeared, and in place was a lare purple magic-circle.
"Emil!" Nier cried out.
"Yeah?" Emil answered back, his voice ringing from the magic circle.
"Are you alright?" Grimoire Weiss asked Emil.
"I'm… still alive! I feel my sister's power inside me I think I can control my abilities now!" Emil exclaimed with joy and hope.
"Yes, we're all quite pleased. Now get out-" Grimoire Weiss said, before he was smacked onto the ground by Sanae's staff. "Argh!"
"Have some tact, Grimoire Weiss!" Sanae scolded the sentient grimoire. "Emil! If you can hear us, take your time, we'll be there for you!"
"Just a second… I can't… I can't see very well…" Emil stated, before he then let out a horrified gasp. "No! Don't! Don't look at me!"
"Emil, what's wrong!?" Corrin exclaimed. "Are you-"
"Stay back!" Emil shouted.
Despite the statement, Elma and Richard rushed forward, just as the magic circle faded away, revealing Emil himself, who had turned into a humanoid version of his sister, with his suit now in tatters like a robe around his bony body. He slowly raised his skeletal hands to his face, and wept loudly.
"Good god-" Grimoire Weiss stated, before Richard flicked his hand, as he used a wind spell to silence the living book.
"Alright, Grimoire Weiss, that's enough out of you, Emil doesn't need your opinion at the moment." Richard stated with a heated tone, glaring at the now silenced grimoire.
"Emil…" Corrin remarked.
Elma slowly walked over, before she then slowly wrapped her arms around Emil from behind, as it temporarily stopped the sobbing, as Emil turned around to look at Elma.
"Emil… It's alright… It's all over now." Elma told him with a comforting smile, as there was a few tears in her eyes. "...You no longer have to be afraid of yourself, and your sister… she'll be in a better place. It doesn't matter what you're like… you're still Emil, and you're still Nier's friend. And you'll still be my friend… because…"
Elma silently willed her horns to appear, as Nier was shocked to see the horns show on Elma's head.
"...We're the same... We're no longer human anymore…" Elma stated with sympathy.
Emil continued to sob, as Nier walked forward, and held both Elma and Emil in his embrace.
"What'd I tell you, Emil…" Nier stated. "We're here for you. No matter what."
Emil slowly raised his head, looking at Nier. "You… you look just like I thought you would. You look really cool." He stated, before looking at the group. "And all of you…"
"Don't worry, you're still human inside… and that's what counts the most." Virion stated. "A monster with a human heart is the target of envy for many, I assure you."
"...I think I'm okay now." Emil responded back, as Nier let him and Elma go. "If this is how I look now, then so be it. I was terrified at first, but it's not all bad, you know? If Elma was like this long ago… I think I can be fine with it all. I have the magic I wanted, and I can use it to bring Kaine back to us."
"Emil…" Nier stated.
"We should hurry. She's waiting… I hope that she'll like all of the new friends we made." Emil answered back. "I sure hope seeing me doesn't petrify her… you know? In fear?"
Richard undid the silence spell, as Grimoire Weiss exhaled heavily. "I see this transformation has not stolen your terrible sense of humor…" He remarked dryly.
He then turned to Richard. "As for you, how brazen are you to silence me at a whim like this? Do you know how stifling it is to have been silenced for so long!?" He ranted. "I would most prefer that you do not try that again on me!"
"Like I said, you need to shut up and let us do the talking, since you'll likely make Emil break down into more tears with your words." Richard answered back with crossed arms.
"Did I see it right? Is Elma… not human?" Nier asked Richard.
"Not many of us are. I'm not, Momiji's not, and Elma certainly isn't, as you can see." Richard stated. "But worry not, we count human enough at first glance. Didn't want to startle the people by undoing the veil early. I at least don't have any non-human features to hide."
"I see…" Nier hummed to himself.
The group then made their way out of the facility, making fast pace towards the library, where Kaine was, as Emil stood before her, with the rest of the group standing behind him.
"Whenever I interacted with Kaine, I was reminded about something from my past." Emil stated. "Maybe my mind has been confusing her with my sister this whole time. Anyway…"
Emil then began to cast a spell, as a purple eye-like pattern appeared in front of him, as the stone-like structure began to rumble, as light began to wash over the entire slab of stone, until the entire area was alight, before Kaine's unconscious body fell forward, as she had short white hair tied into a small pony-tail, a blue dress with white bandaged sleeves. Emil caught her, before they heard a loud roar.
"...Was that…" Virion stated.
"The reason why she was petrified in the first place." Nier growled. "There's a beast we couldn't beat five years ago in there, and if it can still roar like that, I think that we got another fight in our hands."
"Do not fear, we will handle this creature for you." Momiji stated.
Suddenly, the unpetrified doors were flung open, as a massive Shade that seemed to be a large octopus-like creatures with yellow-tipped tentacles and a rock-hard head with a spiked maw, surged out, causing the group to scatter, as it rose up to its full height, letting out a roar.
"What anger this creature must have! How did it even survive these past five years!?" Grimoire Weiss exclaimed.
"I'm not going to let this happen again. It dies today, with aid!" Nier snarled.
The group immediately grouped up on the creatures, as they dodged its flailing tentacles and head, aiming for the tentacles, as they swiftly damaged them to the point that they fell limp from the signficant damage dealt to them.
"It seems that you deserve your chance to end this, Nier. Let me give you your chance." Virion remarked, before he then raised his bow, and fired a rain of arrows that pinned the creature's tentacles down.
Momiji wasted no time in dashing around the creature, before she then swiftly severed each and every tentacle from the creature, leaving it flailing on the ground with a deathly wail.
Nier then concentrated his magic again, as he created a set of dark energy hands, which merged into a pair of larger hands, as they wrapped around the creature by the head and neck, before he then grit his teeth, and exerted pressure on the creature, as yellow blood spurted out from the severed tentacle joints, as it writhed and wriggled desperately. However, Nier's dark magical hands won out, as he crushed the Shade's heads with a messy explosion of yellow blood, as the head-less corpse fell to the ground.
Nier and the rest of the group walked over to Kaine and Emil, as Kaine slowly opened her eyes, as she saw the entire group looking down on her.
"Oh… Hey…" Kaine stated with a fairly light voice and tone.
Kaine then slowly sat up, as she turned to Emil, who shied away, as she stared at him for a few moments, before speaking again.
"Emil, you were the one calling me, weren't you?" Kaine said.
"You still… recognise me?" Emil asked back.
"Of course, I knew right away." Kaine nodded back.
"Thank you, Kaine." Emil answered back..
"Welcome back, Kaine." Nier said, reaching a hand out, as Kaine took it, and stood back up.
"Wow, you grew up. So… how long has it been?" Kaine asked Nier.
"Five years." Nier answered back.
"Shit… That's a long time." Kaine cursed. "Any luck with Yonah?"
"We are still no closer to finding her. We need a way to locate the Shadowlord." Grimoire Weiss stated.
"By the way… this is for you." Nier added, handing her a white-petalled flower.
"Is that… a Lunar Tear?" Kaine asked.
"It's not as good as your grandmother's, but… I tried." Nier answered back.
"No, it's great. Thank you." Kaine responded back.
"I'm glad that all that's well ends well for now." Gus remarked, catching Kaine's attention.
"And who are these people? New friends that you picked up?" Kaine asked Nier.
"Only recently. But already, they were a great help in bringing you back here." Nier responded back.
"Ah… So I suppose that I owe you guys something?" Kaine asked with a stoic tone.
"Nothing. Nier is our companion, so helping him bring you back is just what we wanted to help with." Richard responded back. "It's nice to meet you though. I hope that we'll get to know each other."
"...Maybe." Kaine stated to herself softly.