Primus

"Can't say I'm surprised, Kazuto, Asuna, and Joshua. Your bond is strong...but at the same time, it makes you weak." Primus leans himself on a pillar on the ninety-fifth floor of Central Cathedral and glances at the dark-haired woman to his left. She smiles as her left-hand toys with the hilt of her rapier, her eyes on the northern horizon. Like him, she watched the battle from afar, through an art he conjured, though she seem satisfied with the result. Jaymes, alone, defeated Kirito in their opinion, but Asuna almost had Jaymes down for the count. "You look excited, Eva."

"Ever since she descended in this world, I've been intrigued with Stacia's imposter. I have a desire to fight her, that's all."

"You'll get your chance soon enough." Primus holds up his right hand, and the images of Noxium and Stella appear in the palm of his hands. The respective younger siblings of Eva and Primus are currently on the other side of the End Mountains, awaiting his orders. He told Kirito that he has until the seventh hour, but Primus knew neither Kirito or Asuna would put their friend down. He had not counted on Jaymes being saved, but it is a trivial matter. The fight was to stall for time, at the minimum. The deaths of any combination of the otherworlders would be cherries on top of the cake.

"Primus, is it time? Jaymes has been freed, unfortunately, and so has Eydis." The girl knight too? The power of the Orthinanos girl is strong indeed, but once again, no matter.

"Yes, Noxium. Worry not about whether they're under control or not, my preparations are complete. Right now, I suspect Kirito and his allies plot against us for a final confrontation. Now we commence our second plan, to forcibly take all they've built."

"How it should be carried out is up to you," Eva adds. "Do expect resistance from the defenders of the realms."

"What of the Integrity Knights? Surely you have something in store for them?"

Primus chuckles as he gets down on his knees. "I'm beginning the spell words now. Be strong, you two. As the mothers and father will it."

"As the mothers and father will it."

The image fades, leaving the elder siblings alone. Primus stares out to the night, a warm smile on his face. "Our dreams are in reach now. It's unfortunate it has to come to this, but our hand is forced. Even in its ugliness, this world is beautiful."

"That means we just have to do better with the next one, and lead it to the perfection Stacia sought of it."

"Indeed, Eva... Ah, two of our special guests have arrived." Primus smirks and closes his eyes. "The spell words require a great amount of time. Can you hold them off? No, can you hold Asuna off?"

"No need to. From the eightieth floor to here, there's a barrier that only I can enter and exit. In other words, take your time, for they'll have to kill me to come to you." Eve walks to the edge of the lookout, then back to the golden-haired warrior behind her. "I won't fail you, Primus. But if I do...finish the fight." Primus silently answers her with a nod, and Eva leaps off the ninety-fifth floor for parts below. As she disappears, Primus focuses his

"The time has come, you otherworld mongrels. To avenge you, Brother, and to uphold my promise to you, Mother... System Call..."

Mia

"Supreme Commander!" Without warning, Mia bursts into the quarters of Supreme Commander Iskahn and Ambassador Sheyta, not caring about what could have been going on inside during the mid-evening hour. As far as she's concerned, she beat them to the dinner table, and based on the commander and ambassador's reaction to her intrusion, they're unaware of what's going on since Mia's return.

Thanks to Lady Eydis, who learned a traveling spell similar to Jaymes' from the First Children, she was able to get to the Dark Territory, but unfortunately was sent outside the city. Most of the last hour has been her rushing to the castle, alerting the soldiers in the city to begin preparations for battle and to spread the message. Some didn't believe her, in which she used her position as the emperor's sword to her advantage, and others did without coercion.

When she made it to the castle, by luck she ran into Brunhild, who told her to assemble the mages and then asked the location of the supreme commander. That is what brings her here, now, with the commander in a private meeting in his quarters with the leaders of the demi-human races. If Iskahn is telling them about the mountain goblins' troubles in the empire, she's going to interrupt.

"Mia? What's the purpose of this interruption?"

She catches her breath and walks to the gathering of the two humans and the four demi-humans, nodding her head in respect to Lilipilin, leader of the orcs, and the leader of the giants, mountain goblins, and flatland goblins. "Sir, I must report everything to you first...on the day your daughter was kidnapped, something happened in the empire. The Emperor...was defeated in battle."

"WHAT?"

"Huh?"

"The Ium boy was beaten? By who?"

"Specifically, by Lady Eydis-"

Sheyta, who is normally soft-spoken and manages her emotions if not completely silent, shows surprise and shock for the first time since Mia has known her. "Lady Eydis? Impossible. She loves Jaymes as she did Alice. She'd never turn her blade against him."

Mia understands Sheyta's disbelief. "Believe me, I had a hard time believing it too. But it is true. Just earlier today, Ilia, Lady Medina, and I fought her. Lady Medina barely saved us and marginally won the fight to bring Lady Eydis back to her senses. But as I was going to say, she was under the control of a group of people we're calling the First Children. According to Lady Eydis, they...took control of Eydis by using her memories, sadness over Lady Alice's disappearance, and feelings about Medina and Jaymes against her, They plan to do the same with the emperor against the Swordsman Delegate and Swordswoman Subdelegate...but if that fails, they may-"

"Supreme Commander-M-Mia?" All eyes turn to the entrance to the chambers, where the knight Arthurio appears in a hurried manner. His eyes dart from the second-in-command of the realm to the emperor's apprentice, confused. "H-How... Nevermind that. Commander Iskahn, look outside!"

"I swear if one more person breaks in here..." Iskahn walks towards the nearby balcony, unhappy with the continuous interruptions, and doesn't even step outside before he makes a bewildering noise. "What the-! H-H-How?"

Mia and the others join him, all eyes on the darker skies to the west of the city. Beyond the walls is a sea of floating creatures, and they weren't there when Mia returned. Jaws slackened around her, she finishes the words she would have said had not Arthurio interrupted her. "They're invading the dark realm and the empire." Heat flares up, drawing Mia's eyes to the supreme commander's balled fists.

"This meeting will have to wait... Mia."

"Sir."

"Are they responsible for Leazette's kidnapping the other day?"

"The one we met in the throne room is named Noxium. He's the self-proclaimed son of the dark god."

"...Arthurio, send out the order. Prepare all forces for battle."

"Yes sir." Arthurio nods and heads out of the quarters, Mia hot on his tail. Once they're outside, near the junction between both the emperor's quarters and the couple's they just left, Mia reaches out and grabs the senior knight's wrist. He stops and turns around slowly. "Mia?"

"...Arthurio, we've known each other for years, so answer me honestly... Do you think I caught up to Lipia? I mean, I fought an Integrity Knight as she did, so I at least must be at her level, right?"

Arthurio sighs and removes his wrist from Mia's grip. "You've done more than most knights, including me. I'm quite jealous you got to go to the other side and fight as you did. And Lipia would be proud of you, as I am."

"But I couldn't protect the emperor."

"Yeah, but he's just like any other guy. He doesn't want the girl he cares for to see him fall. I know I wouldn't want you to see me like that. It's embarrassing. He also kept you away to protect you...which, if I had my way, I would have done for you."

Mia looks up to the blue-haired knight, seeking the hidden meaning behind his words. A smile forming on her face, she steps back and holds her arms behind her. "Maybe if you survive this battle, you can convince me. But I want a lakeside house, okay?"

Arthurio looks dumbfounded by the ridiculous notion but smiles back nonetheless. "And where would I find this lake?"

"I suggest you look hard enough. Now go!" As Arthurio heads for the staircase, Mia giggles and steps away toward the emperor's quarters. Yes, she should go along with Arthurio and rally all forces, but she...needs a moment to herself, to critically analyze the situation they're in. She didn't want to admit it in front of Arthurio or the commander, but the First Children are much stronger than they are. Those worries are exacerbated by the lack of Jaymes' presence. If he was here...

"Mia?"

Mia freezes upon hearing her name and is turned to stone by the presence of a lone figure in the chambers of the emperor. "Ilia? W-What are you doing here?" She turns her head, seeing Ilia's mentor leaning against the balcony, her head turning from the outside to the interior. "Lady Medina? Seriously, why are you two here? Isn't the Human Empire-"

"Kirito, Asuna, and the Integrity Knights can handle that. But we do owe you a few for helping us out. Besides," Medina looks to Mia's right, her eyes heading to the door between the living quarters and the bedroom of the emperor. Mia turns around, and that's when her eyes widen. Words are inescapable but her legs move on their own as her body collides with another, her eyes brimming with tears. One hand holds the back of her head, the other around her waist, and both are tightly holding her.

"You're back... Jaymes."

"I'm back, Mia."

Jaymes

As I descend from the forty-ninth floor towards the front of the castle and wait on Mia, my eyes are glued to the city. Between me and the city gate, the main road of Obsidia is lined with the human civilians of the city and the demi-human visitors, and their eyes are now all on me. My sight then floats beyond the gate, the dark skies of the Dark Territory are clouded by the minions and their masters, Noxium and Stella.

My right-hand drops to the left side of my waist, tightening around a cloth-wrapped hilt that originated from a wall in my room. Normally, I'll have some voice in my head (internally or externally) telling me not to do this alone, and normally I'd listen. But Medina and Ilia have their task here. Kirito and Asuna are against the older siblings. And even if I didn't need to do this alone, I'm the only one who can. I'm the only one with the power to stand against the First Children...at least one of them. Hopefully, my plan goes just that way.

Just as Noxium tormented me for days, I plan to torment him one last time. I'll leave Stella to the others for now, but the Dark Territory will survive at the end of the battle. That is not the want of Joshua Hardin, the will of the Crimson Warrior, the desire of Lucky Red, or the wish of the Lord of Knights. That is a decree by Jaymes, the Emperor of the Dark Territory...and this 'Integral Factor' thing Kayaba declared me to be.

"So you've made your choice, as I knew you would."

Ah, there's the voice in my head, the one I just got done talking to. "Yes, you have your answer, I can't back down now. Even if they weren't standing here, what they did to me made things personal."

"I know how you are when things get personal… I know better than most."

"So... What you said earlier, what does that mean now?"

"The Integral Factor? That's for you to figure out what that means now. For you to reshape it to something of your own...and to have others close to you do the same. Then maybe you can tell me."

I look over my right shoulder, seeing my admittedly attractive apprentice struggle with landing while flying, her purple hair bouncing with every step as she catches up to me. I look in the direction of the balcony outside my room. where Ilia and Medina stand, watching. I find myself smiling in turn and answer with a nod. "I will, Kayaba."

"Kayaba? Who's that?" Mia looks at me in confusion. I shrug and wink at her as we head to the city's gates and lay out my plan. After explaining all I need to tell her, I place a hand on her shoulder. "You got all that?"

"Yeah... But are you sure about this?"

I smile and lift my hand to her hair, caressing it. "You're too cute to be worrying."

"A-Are you flirting with me now of all times?" She blushes and bows apologetically. "I have to reject you, my heart belongs to another, but if things change, maybe you'd have a chance... Hehe, then I won't have to worry about sneaking into your bed without clothes on then, huh? Empress Mia has a ring to it... If we win here, maybe I'll consider promoting myself from cute little sister to super hot wife."

I'm happy to see the situation has not put a damper on her normal teasing self. "I'd hold you to it, Mia." I drop my hand and flip the switch from doting brother to concerned mentor. "I'll do my best. But I must ask you if you're up to this if I cannot win then and there. If we fight together Mia, I cannot promise that I can protect you."

Mia holds her bow up and out to me in confidence. "You gave this to me. You gave me six months' worth of knowledge, including skills only you can teach me. If... If I did not fight with you now, I'd feel like I'm not strong enough to call myself your student. So I won't disappoint you, Jaymes. I will prove my strength as your greatest student!"

Her declaration to be my best student is prideful at most, but I accept it all the same. I never considered Koharu my student, and I didn't teach Ronie or Tiese too much. I may have more students in the next two centuries, and even if Mia never becomes my greatest, she will always be my first. But the next one is a male, I can't handle girls around my chronological and mental age with...ignorance forever. I don't have the dense fortitude of Kirito, but I'm not physically loose like Klein used to be. Eventually, I'll cave...oh right, I got nothing to worry about. I rescind my previous statements.

"Three minutes after the battle starts, then. See you soon, Lady Mia." I bid my apprentice farewell and rise up in the air, With hundreds of eyes on me, I look down on as many as I can, then glance at the blanket of darkness beyond the city. I know now so many dark-worlders are going to die in defense of their home. I could just head out there and ignore them, but something holds me back...for not once in seventy-five floors did Diavel, Kibaou, Lind, Asuna, or Heathcliff lead us without motivational words. Even I do some with Crimson Squad when we take on hard quests or competition like Squad Jam or Battle of Bullets. Now I am an emperor, the leader of this world, and I have one duty.

"...People of Obsidia, what lies out there is most likely our doom. Beings from the beginning of time when the gods roamed the earth have come to reclaim it. Not just the fertile lands of the Human Empire, but the arid in which we survive. I'm sure the rumors have spread about my identity, from a devilish conqueror who killed the previous emperor to a god beyond that of Vecta. Yes, I did slay Vecta, but the Vecta who returned is not the Vecta you believed him to be. He, like myself, are being from another world. But I do not admit that to alarm you, but to tell you that I will not retreat back to my world and let you suffer at the enemy's hand. No, I will fight for you. As your emperor? No, but as a human who calls this desolate place home. I made a promise to someone I respect that I will see the day that the Dark Territory and the Human Empire can coexist in peace, but I cannot do it alone. A king needs his people, and I need you."

"You have one thing the First Children, that the Human Empire does not, and that's power. A power that made Administrator quiver in her tower that she barred entry pass to this land. A power that makes the four kingdoms fear the End Mountains. A power that, during the war, every man and woman who saw your army pissed their pants. Even the oh-so-glorious Integrity Knights, fearful in their own right, were afraid of you. Now, what says you? Are you going to cower in your homes as those beasts threaten our walls, or are you, the humans and demihumans of the Dark Territory, going to show the might and power that the Human Empire still fears to this day? If so, take up whatever weapons you have and fight...because whether you live or you die, whether we see tomorrow or burn tonight... It is not my decree, the supreme commander's, or the Law of Power that takes you to battle. It is not our decree or the Law of Power that says we will not surrender or retreat. No, it is your own will that the stories will speak of in the future that saved the Dark Territory. Show these invaders the full power of this side of the End Mountains!"

As the city drowns in cheers and war cries, I fly out of the city to the dark horde of minions alone. After flying a considerable distance from the city, about halfway to the cliffs, the minions surround, I land on the reddish ground, standing tall and firm. Do not be confused, I'm afraid right now. Not too long ago, I almost died, and add that to the many other times I've almost died, you'd think that wouldn't phase me. But if I fall here...Mia dies, Medina dies, Ilia dies, the Dark Territory dies, and the Human Empire dies. I don't have Falchion, so I lack some of the power that took down Vecta, Hersyrian, and Quinella. Though Vindica is in my possession, I plan to win with the power entrusted to me by someone stronger than I, with skills I developed in the last two years. I look to the wrapped blade and the one promise I made upon it.

I got to stop making promises, I keep them all too well.

I glare up to the cliff, looking in the direction of the two strong presences, my hands raised in mockery. "Noxium! Stella! Here I am!" Their response is every color of the eight elements surrounding what looks to be Noxium and Stella. A hand is thrust forward, and immediately, multiple Sacred Arts are fired upon me...