Chapter 9: Heavensfall


"Hmm... Nothing as far as the eye can see..." A soldier remarks, looking at the desolate building around them. There have been reports of people just disappearing from there. No traces left behind, possibly some form of transportation ability. They look over at another soldier who has joined them in their search to investigate this disappearance matter.

"From what we know still as of today, there isn't anyone here. Are we really being led to a wild goose chase, or is it really a magus we're dealing with?" The second soldier wonders.

"I don't know: that's the whole point of an investigation." The first spoke. "But if it's still... empty." They pointed over at some of the furniture present. "...Why are some of the furniture new, as if they have been placed just recently?"

"Is it actually a trick to put us in security so that whoever... could be here, will strike us at any point?"

They slow down at one of the corridors, stopping at one of the worn out black curtains. The first looked out at the window detailing afternoon rays. "I don't know. But nonetheless, we must be on guard. Is that right-"

But as they turned back to face their partner, there wasn't anyone besides them. Alone. "...Hey, where did you go? This isn't any laughing matter. It's serious!"

They took a look around. There wasn't any furniture around that could conceal them at all, so they couldn't have hid. But it was just seconds, they would have heard footsteps to indicate movement. They looked up, just the same old ceiling that was there.

They looked back at the curtains. No, there would have been shape, but there isn't on any of them. It was impossible for someone to hide without drawing suspicion. Then, who...?

It must be the work of someone adept in magic, someone is here. And now they have to find whoever caused this...

...Until they had a glimpse of long purple scales before it suddenly coils around them, locking their arms by the side and unable to get hold of their weapon. As they struggled, they met with the view of a long sharpened tip at the end of the purple, a tail.

Wait... a long purple blade-tipped tail... This couldn't be...

...The curtain moved. It... was animate, and it tore itself off from the bar.

...It wasn't a curtain...

The black "curtain" twisted about, revealing a form within it. Or more accurately, an illusion for eyes to perceive it as a curtain. The fabric spreads, revealing deep red inside of the now shaped black cloak. Black gas materializes itself from within the cloak, giving view of several yellow spherical lights inside of the body constantly flickering from within. The top of the cloak closes up around the shape of a head, sporting a pair yellow and black eyes with no visible mouth. A tall golden crown forms ontop of its' head and two pairs of membranous wings with punctures on them are attached to their back. Six purple-scaled serpents with white undersides emerges from behind their head, hissing loudly with red eyes. From around their neck, it is tied together by a form of golden neckwear that appeared to have the gender symbols of female and male hanging down in sequence. And at the end of their coat, the purple scaled tail hangs from there, as animate as the serpents from above.

This demon was the Manifestation of Lust, Asmodeus, and he looked at the soldier with a blank look. The coils of the snake around the soldier tightened their coils around them. The snakes were sucking the life out of them. The armor began to break, it pierced their body in. They tried to scream, but...

"One place... would be more welcoming for you." They hear Asmodeus speak. His cloak spreads open and a portal forms above them.

The soldier couldn't do nothing but watch as that portal sucked them in. They felt an overwhelming sensation of lust and passion. The need to be defiled and dominate. To satiate the burning sensation of their reproduction organ and heat. They looked at the one inside that place, they smiled with passion and licked their lips disgustingly. What of their virginity to be pure? Total nonsense. To defile one and be defiled, that was the way to go.

In the matter of seconds, the portal had sucked the soldier in and closed up with Asmodeus's cloak lowering to drape back around his gaseous body.

"And one more cleared up." He sighs in boredom. He could hear the hissing of the snakes behind him as they rubbed themselves close to his cloaked head. "Now, now. You will all get your turns once we are done with this place."

He looked and felt the passion of once pure soldiers defile themselves. He could hear the torment their subconscious minds screamed for him to stop. He didn't care nor bothered to their torment, like who ever fell victim to his power to send to the realm of lust of passion overtaking even the purest being to ever exist, Infernal Realm.

Prided themselves as angels? Pure beings? How arrogant. They brought nothing but sorrow and death by their pure laws. Their wickedness disguised the disgusting oath they placed. The oath the condemned the will and freedom of those who willed themselves, to be called "tainted" and punished for it.

And... turned him into this. Without flesh at all. Just as about any others who have been 'tainted'.

It ended up bringing some benefits of his capabilities he couldn't do back then as a regular mortal. And allowed him to create the Infernal Realm.

And back to peace and quiet... Asmodeus hovered through the corridors of this empty place. He stops by one of the rooms. "...Belphegor, they are all cleared. Are you finished yet?" He opens the door of that room.

"Hm? What was that?" A demon asked as he played with a soldier's upper half, they screamed in agony and sorrow. "It wants to die? But I am curious of how they act in this state? Can you entertain me?"

"I mean... looking through at these." Asmodeus enters the room and his tail sweeps to shut the door.

"I am not yet done." Belphegor snapped in annoyance. "Can't you see what I am doing?"

"I can see very clearly." Asmodeus answers.

"Good, now shoo-shoo." Belphegor sighed. "I still need to see how they can move."

Asmodeus looked at the Black Mages around him, all were used beyond what they were capable of. Their magic, the one that kept them alive, was drained. They didn't have much time to live.

"Also, could you dispose of those toys?" Belphegor requested. "They're broken and find me new ones. You know the terms why I am even helping you."

"...Of course." Asmodeus's tail stretches out and they coil around the unmoving Black Mages, scooping them up. He looked over the demon sitting on the throne. The Manifestation of Sloth, lazy and he knew that even that emotionless and idiotic God of another dimension outside this world of Fidem couldn't stand this demon but he knew that they needed this demon.

There was a light, annoyed scowl in his mind as the Manifestation of Lust left the room.


"This book now?" Noct asks, waving it in front of Al.

"It's all about the history of Heavensfall." Al replied. "Have you heard of it before?"

"Heavensfall? No, not really. The first time I actually really heard about it." He sets the book down onto the table they are using. "Many said that life got tougher around here after that..."

"Indeed and the disappearance of the two Gods who ruled over the dimensions." Al added. "Only one of those Gods remained."

"One of those Gods?"

"He is all-powerful yet cannot intervene for the rules he manifested in this dimension and he cannot abide against it. He is known in many names, but we mainly call him the Watcher. As even for thousands of years, we never saw how he looked like."

"The... Watcher..." Noct ponders. He turned over the cover of the book. "Wait...why would he make rules that prevent him from intervening?"

"It is unknown why." Al answered. "It must be because of the power he possess or because of other reasons we never know."

"Yeah, no one knows, huh?" He took a look at the contents. He began to read them and told of the Watchers and the descriptions they possessed of those who saw them. They took form of three humanoid figures and no knew what their true forms were actually like. "Read the Aether part earlier... flows through the dimension of Fidem..."

"This is also one of the things that helped in bringing forth what we imagined into reality with Magic and we, Eidolons, are created through this essence."

"Oh, right... Aether is the form of both life and magic..."

"Yes." Al agreed as they continued to read.

Noct slowly read each line the book has to offer for Heavensfall, not having a clear read onto this event. "...Angels?"

"Those who pass judgment on those they decreed 'tainted'." Al explained. "Our views and theirs are different, they destroy those who follow a different fate in life and caused the rebellion of those. Like the Eidolon who once rebelled against the Angels and protected us. However, didn't end up becoming a Manifestation of Sin."

Manifestation of Sin? Noct looked at Al and wondered about the one he saw the other day. That figure who killed Omega. "Wait. I've never really heard of a Manifestation of Sin, before..." Noct tells Al.

"They're incredibly powerful demons." Al explained. "Once part of the highest order of Gods and Angels before fallen from grace for their rebellion and how 'tainted' they had become in their eyes. They were the reason for Heavensfall."

"So... what happened in Heavensfall..?" Noct listened to Al as he flipped through more pages.

"It is the reason Gods became a rare sight." Al continued. "Good and evil Gods, all fell before them."

"Wait, what?"

"The Manifestations of Sin killed them for they were the reason for their despair. The cruel Gods twisted them into demons they are today."

"Uhh... So, the Manifestations of Sin..."

They both look at one line who described someone as an ex-angel. Flesh and soul burnt from damnation. Flesh without skin. "...I think... I saw something like that during that investigation on where Omega was."

"What does he look like?" Al asked as he turned the page.

"Well... If I remember, he had dirty white wings... and black armor... and fleshless skin, I think." They got to the Manifestation of Pride, Lucifer. "...Is that him?"

Al nodded as Noct looked around the drawings on that page that detailed what they do and the description of each part. "...Once an angel of the heavens... rebelled against the Gods, but was condemned into a fallen angel by them..."

"Indeed." Al nodded. "Because of the horrors he was forced to do. Killing the innocents because they followed things not thought by the Gods."

"So... he felt it wasn't right?"

"Yes." Al replied. "Beliefs and personal feelings are different."

Noct looked back at the page. "I think some would agree with him, some won't..."

"That's how we conscious beings are." Al agreed. "If no one hates nor loves us, how do we learn and grow?"

"I think I get that..." Noct turns over the page. "...So ...he literally broke out of... hell?"

"Quite so." Al wondered. "But the injuries and torment he sustained changed him forever."

"...Oh... I really can't imagine what happened during then, huh..." Noct read through again. "...Huh? Heavensfall happened at..." He stared at the date of the recorded event and then at the current date. "...Nine years..."

"...Yes." Al nodded. "With no Gods but a few and the Watcher still alive." It all happened in the span of one day... only few Gods remained for nine years... The Gods...Who were known to be omnipotent and immortal...Killed.

"Noct?" Al called out. "What do you think of a world without God?"

"Huh?" Noct turned to Al. He rubs the back of his head. "Uh... I'm not so sure... But... people follow Gods, right? I don't know if we have to keep relying on them, but... Maybe one day we are actually more right than them? It's... well... I think it has to be a time where we have to stand up for ourselves, I guess."

"I see." Al nodded as he looked up. "If you ask me, I am a follower of Etro's teachings. Because to me, she is my mother, like the first Eidolon before I. Our duty is to help the living and ease their burdens. The lives of other species are finite, including us Eidolons but...We all live once, better make them count."

Al turned to face Noct. "What do you think of my belief?" He asked. "Is it wrong?"

"I'm not so sure how to answer, but... there's no right or wrong, right?" Noct ponders, tilting his head.

Al nodded. "I find it right but it is alright for you to disagree. That said, I shall still remain your friend even if you find my beliefs wrong."

"Alright..." Noct responds with a nod.

As Al continued to read the book again to refresh his knowledge about the Manifestations of Sin, Noct saw that figure again. He appeared to be reading a book and nobody seemed to notice him.

"Huh?" He mumbled to himself.

The man turned the book a few more times before he turned to Noct. He wore some kind of eye visor, it covered his eyes and left only his mouth exposed. Not showing any kind of emotion.

'Wait, I definitely saw you before...' he recollects back to when he met Diabolos along the way in the mission at the Chocobo World...

He heard a reply within his head. 'You did.'

He let out a gasp in surprise and Al turned to him. "Noct?" He wondered. "Is something wrong?"

"...Al? Could you look over there?" He motions to where the figure stood.

Al followed his pointed finger. While Noct could see him... "...I only see Nifil and his brother-in-law. Over at the side, Mako-chan is with Makoto." Al replied, even if he was directly looking at that figure. "Something which interests you?"

Noct nearly toppled. He could see well of the four present. But he doesn't see that hooded figure? "...Uh, could you stay here for some time? Need to check on something." Noct tells Al.

"Alright then." Al nodded while Noct stood and went off to where the figure sat.

The figure stood up and made his way to the door. A way to the Great Library's rooftop. Noct groaned, it was several stories up there, but he couldn't lose sight of that figure. If he stopped now, he may not see him ever again. The answers he may be looking for would disappear forever. Now was a time and no more second chances for him to see this figure again. He took a deep breath and followed.

He passed by Egon Earthbound covered in ice in a pose that he was conversing beside Arubo Nifil looking at a book. He continued to keep his eyes locked as he took the stairs up, stepped onto one of the elevators bringing him up to the upper floors.

Noct began to pick up the pace as he watched the figure head up to where the path leads to the rooftop, now making it appear as a jog. He turned, sees a leg come out of view before he climbed the stairs.

He should hurry even if the rooftop had no way of other exits if form of flight or movements are excluded. And he ran up, reaching the topmost floor and entering the rooftop area. The figure stood there, overlooking Unita. He looked like he was waiting for Noct while he read a book. Noct approached him slowly, he wondered what did this person want.

"...Hey..." Noct raises a hand up, thinking of touching him to get his attention.

"...Yes, I see you over there."

Noct took a step back as the figure answered him... right? He looks at the figure again. Dressed in a long sleek white robe with a hood drawn over their head. He looked at this stoic figure, who were they? What are they? He wanted to ask them. Noct looked at them reading the book they carried. It was rather... antique, having a rather leathery cover with some form of metal lining the ends of the book. It appears to be laden with many symbols of unknown definition.

The figure read a bit more before closing it. They turned to Noct and told him something that he needed to do. In that blunt tone.

"You'd have to get through the corner edges up through a raised level of land."

"Excuse me, what?" Noct blinked. "What did you just say?"

The figure sighed and kept on reading. Noct didn't understand what that riddle meant. Why was this figure being so discrete? He wanted inquire more about it but...

"Who are you?" He wanted to know who this person is.

The figure turned, not answering him, and walked away.

"Hey." Noct looked at him.

They stopped and let out a simple finger snap.

"Whoah!" He covered his eyes with his arm from a sudden flash. When he looked back, that person was gone...

He groaned, disappeared again and what did he mean about that instruction? He scratched his head. Great... a mystery person he can see but others can't... for some reason... That riddle he was given. What did it mean? Maybe ask Al about this and...why was their face hidden?

The human groans to himself, scratching the back of his head. He shouldn't keep Al waiting downstairs. Go through the corner edges up through a raised level of land? What did they mean?

...Maybe he needed time to think about it... what that hooded person meant... Yeah, that's it...

He made his way back down the long series of stairs and elevator until he returned to where Al was waiting for him. It didn't bother the Eidolon much as he continued to read the book over and over again. Grasping the information and trying to piece together what he knew and the biases the book had.

"...Alright..." he nods. "Heavensfall is..."

Al turned around. "Yes, it's an event which happened that caused nearly all Gods to have died in the span of one day in Fidem. A fallen angel who had been condemned to Hjll broke free out of his prison and slew them all, leaving Fidem a godless dimension."

"Yeah..." Noct nods. "Thus the Manifestations of Sin were known to Unita..." he read through again. "The Manifestations of Sin are known as Lucifer, Satan, Asmodeus, Mammon, Leviathan, Beelzebub and Belphegor..."

"Of Pride, Wrath, Lust, Greed, Envy, Gluttony, and Sloth respectively. Remember, Leviathan the Manifestation of Envy and Leviathan of Feymarch are different individuals."

"Yeah..." Noct held his head. "Two beings of the same name, but of different..."

"Remember not to attack one of my friends for having similar names." Al reminded.

"O...Okay." A nod. "...Say, about that Feymarch..." A slight pause. "...I'll get a book about it."

"Alright." Al nodded and then wondered about something. "It's been years since Leviathan and Asura saw me."

Years? "...Huh? Years?"

"The flow of time between the two worlds is different." Al explained. "Just as we speak, minutes or hours had already passed in Feymarch."

"Already?" Noct asked. "Then... doesn't that mean you'll be old if you are in there?"

"Like Rydia." Al told him. "She was a child when she started her journey and when she got back after Leviathan saved her, she was now a matured adult."

"Rydia?"

"She's like their daughter, even if she is just a human." Al explained.

"Huh... Uh..." Noct ponders. "Oh..."

"So, anything else you want to know?" Al asked.

"...Hmm..." Noct looked at some books. "Maybe I'll just revise on these..." Al looked to see that Noct was eyeing the reading material detailing about the history known about Crystals.

The Crystals were made by beings known as...Crystallians.

"...What... are the Crystallians?"

"I haven't seen one since nine years ago." Al explained. "They became extinct during the event of Heavensfall."

"You serious?" Noct blinked.

"They also killed them." Al nodded. "Children...women...every single one of them."

"Every one of them...?" He looked more down at that... A race gone...?

"Their creator was reported to be there when that event happened as if he knew it would." Al stated. "Only intervened a bit but didn't because of the rules he implanted on this world."

"That... somehow sounds so... Does anyone know who...created the Crystallians?"

"I just said it, the Watcher did." Al answered. "Even when he created this dimension, he cannot interfere unless he was told to. He appears anywhere and none of us can see him."

"...Oh..."

"That's all about I remember..." Al answered. "Even if I was able to fight around that time, I couldn't prevent it from happening for I and the Eidolons were far away."

"I... I think I get it..." Noct looked back at the books there.

"If I were to meet a Crystallian that was alive...I would want to thank them for guiding and protecting us. Also led to the creation of the beautiful world of Unita we now lived in. To apologize that I was not able to save them when they needed it."

"Oh... Hmm... Can I read it, anyway?"

"Of course." Al nodded, a pang of guilt could be heard deep in his voice. He must had regretted not being able to save a single Crystallian's life.

Noct slowly nods and he grabbed the books and read them.Al let him read and took a book about the different kinds of species in Unita while Noct read the topic about the Crystallians.

...Crystal Core. Noct let out a painful groan.

"Noct?" Al called. "Are you alright?"

"...Huh?"

"Are you alright?"

Noct looked at the topic of Crystal Core on the book again. "..." He touched his forehead. What was that just now? "...The Crystal Core...?"

"It's the core of why Fidem stands." Al explained. "Crystallians are usually the ones who maintain its power. I don't know how they do it."

"...But... there aren't any more Crystallians, so what'll happen?"

"I...I do not know." Al shook his head. "Several are trying their best to restore it but..."

"Uh... Nothing?"

Al didn't say anything but a solemn nod.

"...Oh..." He looked. "...Er, what did you mean by restore?"

"It is rumored that the power of the Crystal Core is fading without the Crystallians around. If it were to be destroyed, then..."

"Then... what?"

"...Fidem will be covered in eternal darkness." Al finally let out. "Not even the Watcher can restore it. All of us will cease to exist."

"...What!?"

"That will happen and I do not know why they would do this."

"I... don't want to ask, but... who?"

"I do not know." Al told him. "I do not know how the Crystallians were killed. The Manifestations of Sin are strong but they cannot defeat an entire race unless someone betrayed them. We do not know who did it."

"A... traitor?"

A nod.

"..." Noct looked down. Why would someone do this?

Al didn't know the answer but there must be a reason why. He looked over at Noct. He hasn't visited the Feymarch. Perhaps they could spend some time with him as a guide.

"If you want, do you want to go to Feymarch?"

"I don't think... I've ever been there before. Sure."

"Right, if we get the time." Al nodded and held Noct's back gently.

"Okay, Al. Hold you onto that."

"Alright, Noct."


The view of cloudy skies right from where he stood... Lucifer had his wing draped over his front as he gazed at the sky... Since when had that sight been unfamiliar to him?

He heard a loud groan and turned to see a muscular four-armed giant with a furnace as a head.

"...Satan, you've returned." Lucifer greets.

The reply he received was a groan.

"...I see you've released some of your pent up rage." Lucifer nods, gazing at the four bloodstained swords held by the giant.

They were only groans yet this fallen angel knew what he meant. Like he trusted this fellow fallen angel for long. Satan let out a breath through his furnace heat through red cinders. He looked over the side, more soldiers fell before them. This base was theirs. Lucifer looked at his exposed torso. He remembered that a long time ago, that skin used to be of a lighter dark coloration, not this level of dark skin.

He looked over the numerous scars he had. The reminder of the wounds he took when he tried to save other lives. But in the end...

...they condemned him. Framed him. Sinned him. Even for saving innocent lives that were taken from lies he was given.

That gave birth to his rage. The rage that burned strongly like the flames on his head. Never quenched. Never stopped. Never put out. Always burned endlessly until he was satisfied...but that was easier said than done for the anger he had was against everything of this world.

Lucifer walks over and pulls up the long scarf that draped over Satan's left side and sighed.

"Stand still."

He lets the fabric fall onto his gauntlet and his hand conducted an odd form of pitch black energy. Lucifer hovered the hand over some wounds by the large left pectoral before the energy seeps over to the wounds.

Satan lets out a breath and relaxed as the wound healed.

"Better?" Lucifer watches the wound close up.

A nod and Satan let out a relaxed tone. He was grateful for his help that he now felt better. But his rage will still grow.

"Again. It always has to be these sort of mortals... In the end... they are still alike..." A sad and remorseful groan was heard from Satan. A fool of him to think of defending them.

He brought his wing out to the side and swung it without looking around him. A powerful gust of wind was heard before hearing a sounding snap. He turns to see limp bodies fall onto the ground, broken by the violent currents of wind.

A groan was heard, Lucifer turned to Satan. He knew what he meant, why do they have to fight for the Gods who tormented them and vainly fought against them, the one who brought down most Gods in one day.

Lucifer nodded and looked at the area beside Satan.

Satan groaned and Lucifer nodded. He turned to see the direction to Unita.

"The Organization. They are the only ones at the most capability of being the ones who can challenge us." He looked down at his weapon before facing ahead. He turned to see Leviathan. A mission for him to make.

"Leviathan... Come over to this area..." he orders the Manifestation of Envy.

A nod came. From four heads. He then made his way to the destination he was told to go to.

Satan asked what he wanted from making Leviathan challenge the Organization. Lucifer looked at him and told him about how they were capable of. He wanted to know it from the capabilities Leviathan can report back after the battle.

"...Leviathan is one who wouldn't fall easily to them, after all."

He looked back to Unita's location. The Organization...

He wanted to see it all through to the end.


"Mmm..." A voice rang as he smelt a rather sterile smelling scent reaching his nostrils while he took in soft and heavy breaths.

He heard the sound of beeping reach his ears and felt his body cold. He gently opened his eyes to be greeted by Glitch's face.

"Hoho! Awake!" The duck sings.

The red dragon opened his eyes before he felt the horns on the back of his head pierced through the pillow he laid on. He lifted his head up, the pillow behind his head with it pierced into them. He looked at Glitch and blinked his scarred eyelids a couple of times.

"Ho, hold on~..."

He looked at the wires connected around his bare muscular chest.

"Out for many days, survive~" Glitch floats about.

"..." he remained silent. He just took some breaths and felt his groin sore.

"...Who...are you...?" The dragon asked.

"Oho! Glitch Atad!" Glitch answers. "Doctor, take care of patients~."

"...Doctor." The dragon muttered and held his head. "...What...happened?"

"Don't know, ho!" Glitch replies. "Mental scan, lookie!" Glitch materializes a digital display.

Just as he was about to reply, they heard someone come in. They turned to see Vivi entering the room. The boy was visibly surprised to see him awake.

"Oh, M-Mr. Ryu!" He exclaimed. "You're awake, thank goodness!"

"...Ryu?" The dragon wondered.

"Huh?" Vivi expressed in astonishment.

"Who is...Ryu?"

Glitch was presenting the digital board to show that the mental scans have come up with amnesia. "Amnesia..." Vivi muttered before looking at the dragon. "It may not do much but...Your name is Ryuunosuke Sato but prefer to be called Ryu. I am Vivi Ornitier."

"..." Ryu looked down and Vivi tilted his hat. "Vi...vi...Ry...u..." He held his head. What was he forgetting? He looked at Glitch.

"Don't worry Mr. Ryu." Vivi comforted. "We'll help you...get through this. Just like back then when I first joined."

Ryu looked at Vivi for a couple of moments before looking at the weapon Glitch extracted beside him. A lance... It appears to be large and long, tapering like a joust. Though there appears to be some sort of barrel by the base of the joust.

"What's..." Ryu asked.

Vivi tilted his hat and turned to Glitch.

"Found it, ho!" Glitch answers.

"..." Ryu held the weapon while he looked at his wings. No response, neither can he make them move. Glitch scanned the damages around his body a bit more.

"Hmm..." Glitch brought out several data displays. Several more damages were still present but he was now conscious. He looked back at Ryu.

"Need to rest a bit soon, ho~."

"Okay, I am glad you are okay, Mr. Ryu." Vivi bowed down polite. "I hope you can recover soon."

"R-Right..." Ryu nodded. "Thank you...Vi."