Chapter 21
It was Cat who woke up Illumi at two o'clock and explained to him all that was happening. The eldest Zoldick child listened intently, his large cat like eyes rarely blinking as he tuned to every detail. Now and again, he would scratch Cat's chin, even though he was the nen manifestation of the first Kalinnan emperor.
~ Protect the One and let no ill befall her. But it's too late! ~
"I don't like the sound of this. It says that Rudy is going to die." Illumi said and looked at Cat with varying degrees of menace.
"I need the Dark Executioner to help me guard Rodimostev." Renard simply said. "I don't even know where to begin to look because I'm sure I sure something that was very close to god in my visions. You are the only other natural nen user here, so you are the perfect choice to help me protect Rudy until we find out who is this mysterious being." Cat looked at him slightly questioningly. "Just how much training have you had with your full potentials?"
"None." said Illumi calmly. "But I know my limitations and what I can do. Rudy dragged my soul up from the depths of loneliness and despair, and Karen-chan highly reveres her Emperor. I will not fail these people." The assassin ignored Cat's gaping jaw and continued.
"Much of the prophecy is comprehensible, save that bit about the suns. We can't do much now. Where is Rudy?"
============
At first, Rodimostev Alanis Kalinnan III thought that tonight was going to be like every other night. That was until the head of Eunuchs, the elegant and powerful Echlan politely entered her study with a dish of cut fruits and informed her that after her midnight snack, she should prepare for the upcoming assault against the Forbidden Palace.
Her first reaction was anger - angry that she was not first informed, and betrayed, that her own people would turn against her.
The second reaction was fear because she was now carrying the most precious burden in the world. She clutched the Pendant, dangling on the strongest chain around her neck, concealed beneath her robes. Emperors may come and go, but the Pendant remained and the one who carried it was the Emperor.
The Pendant is the Device which allows the Emperor to control the nen around her and mould it to her will. It is a flat circular disc, transparent and strangely faceted inside so that when the sun hit the object, it would break up the light into many sparkling rainbows. As it was worn around the neck, it was always in physical contact with the wearer, and the nen of the wearer activated the Pendant. Thus whenever Rudy screamed away her pain and loneliness in the temple, the Pendant would be influenced by her own nen, and in turn, reflect it in the sea of nen around the Forbidden Palace. That was how tidal waves occurred. However, she no longer held ultimate faith in that idea, for only a few nights ago, Illumi had been able to send shockwaves just as strong and forceful as hers when he was trapped in the desolate Cell. Things had just been so hectic and her emotions had been flung into the maelstrom with the approaching Pledge that she didn't even have time to ask Echlan about how Illumi was also able to control the nen around them, something which only she should be able to do with the pendant.
And now, Rudy was afraid to loose it. It was the symbol of her status and position. It was something she traded her humanity and soul to possess. It was what made her Emperor.
Echlan immediately began to fill in each and every impeccable detail which she greatly appreciated, and by the end of his speech, she decided that she would take a stand in the dais outside the Throne Room.
"It's a windy night sire. At least put on your jacket."
It was an unusually windy night for an Arcadian Summer. It must be a bad omen.
"No. I feel fine. Has Alluka come up with anything concerning the way in which my people will be controlled?"
"He is meditating not far off.in a trance. I suppose he is still scanning the city."
"But it's almost three o'clock. I need results soon."
"How can you interfere sire? Mind control is not your area of expertise."
"But I can talk to them." She let the Pendant dangle freely now, no longer hidden, its flat surface shimmering brightly in the unnatural moonlight. "I am going to amplify my voice with the nen and command them to be still. I will not let this prophecy come true."
"I commend your efforts, Rodimostev," Renard said from behind her, his feet silently padding the cold stone floor. "But only Alluka can deal with this I'm afraid. You should be pondering on how there will be seven suns suspended in the sky."
"I already know the answer." Rudy regarded Cat coldly, even though he was her ancestor. "You have no need to worry about that little phrase anymore. It's so simple I wonder why no one ever spotted it." She looked around quietly. "Where is Illumi-san?"
Renard sniffed daintily. "We bumped into the Monk on our way here. Monk insisted that Illumi go with him to the Temple. Apparently, a lot of people want to talk to him."
"Of course." The young emperor suddenly looked down coldly. "He is by far the most powerful person in the Forbidden Palace. Everyone would want to pass their little secrets and abilities on to him." She could not hide the bitterness from her voice.
"What do you mean?" Echlan said sharply.
"What I mean is," Rudy glared at the wide courtyards in front of her "that I've been approached before by all those who've gone by, be they Kalinnan, Cardinal or Wardien or whatever dynasty they come from. They want to pass on their abilities to someone worthy. Apparently, they found me lacking."
"Please don't say that sire." Already in his mind, Echlan was beginning to formulate many ideas and his mind raced to explore the possibilities of each one. As the Master Eunuch whose duty it was to serve the Emperor to the best of his abilities, and anyone who looked like they would even pose as the tiniest threat to her would be dealt with. Regardless of who they were.
"But it's the truth is it not? I'm barely a natural nen user, the Voice being my strongest technique. They tried to show me all these things, but each time, I failed so miserably. I don't get it Echlan. Not all Emperors were natural nen users. Why is it that everyone expects so much of me sometimes? Is it not enough that we won the war? Now, I must somehow be able to miraculously be the ultimate model of what an Arcadian Emperor is supposed to be, nen and all. Is it unacceptable that I can forge this nation into greater glory without being a true natural nen user myself? When I first wore the Pendant, they all see me as another weak Emperor, Echlan, but I will show them that I will be the greatest to ever live. They will see an empire so strong and prosperous that they'll have to cover their eyes from the bright light, even if I can never be one of them."
"You forget sire, that you have other very special talents."
Rudy refrained from snorting. "Oh really? Please inform me, for I seem to have forgotten what I can do."
"You can look into our souls, sire." Echlan said solemnly, his face calm yet with hidden intensity. "You uncover what we try to hide from the world or discover what we thought we had lost within us. You can recover humanity for even the most deranged and filthy murderers, and at the same time, you are the most understanding person there will ever be. That is the type of person who is most fit to be Emperor. Sire, you may only be fourteen, yet your understanding of life is as profound as mine, and I've been around for way too long already. I don't give a damn if Illumi-san can perfect every Sacred Power there is. You know that people will only follow you Sire, not some ex-assassin who only came to his senses a few days ago. I for one will serve no one but you."
Rudy seemed to stare at the eunuch with a puzzled expression, then she frowned, and then she looked downright confused and helpless. Finally her look was dark. "I'm being threatened again. And when I'm threatened, I bite."
"Now is not the time to be jealous of somebody else." Renard said harshly. He turned to direction of the North Gate. "It has finally begun. Let us embrace the inferno that will engulf us in the next few hours."
==========
General Kamus was the only supposedly 'sane' one of the Generals left in the Capital, so whilst Misha took active part in the fighting, he remained in Command Center watching the events unfold. He bit the insides of his cheek in part dismay, part frustration as some of the radio connections with several groups of soldiers out in the city began to buzz with static.
"Frequency blocker in range sir. It looks like they should be able to neutralize it entirely in about two minutes."
"Tell all units to start adjusting their frequencies to Pattern A then, the waiting time is five minutes. Lets make our rebels work to cut us off." He ordered stoically, still glaring hard at the screens. "Also, get them to keep a lookout for where this jammer could be. See it, destroy it."
Another man working at his station cried out in shock, staring dumbly into one of the many large screens. "That's my mom." He pointed a wavering figure at what was once a plain and simple woman, now her face fiercely scowling with a flash of madness in her eyes. In her hands was your ordinary garden shovel, only now, she wielded it with ferocity and set about the blazing streets, intent on destroying anything in her path. His face drained to the colour of bone and he sat limply in his chair, unable to avert his eyes.
"We have a similar situation near the National Park too sir."
"Market square is being ripped up! People seem to have gone.mad."
"One of the factories have been deliberately lit sir. Attention Fire station three, send patrols to contain the outburst of fire at the steelworks factory."
All around him, Kamus heard the relaying of messages of destruction and casualties and families turned and fought against each other.just as Renard has said in his prophecy. He picked up his cellphone and dialed Berenger's number.
The giant Palace Guardian responded after the first ring. "I'm down by the Eastern Gate. The rebels are trying to break through here whilst all the confusion's going on in the city. Damnit! The electricity lines have been sabotaged.I can barely see who's head I'm hacking off."
"People are going mad all around us. Why aren't you with the Emperor?"
"Master Echlan is watching over her. I'm needed here." Berenger broke off for a moment, swearing vehemently which was followed by a series of explosions enough to make Kamus wince. With his ear far away from the phone, he could still hear the Palace Guardian's roar above the din.
"Would someone hurry up and shoot some Illuminators into the sky right now, or I won't be responsible for who my bloody axe hurts."
"I'll contact Echlan. Don't let them break through the Eastern Wing. Sending reinforcements on the way."
"I don't need reinforcements." Berenger continued to shout, the sickly wet sucking sound of him pulling the axe from his victim's body clearly audible. "I just need some damn light. ARE WE DONE WITH THE ILLUMINATORS YET!?"
Kamus hung up and quickly dialed another number, impatiently tapping his foot on the ground as he grew more angry with each passing moment.
"Yes general?" Echlan's low murmur in the quiet background was quite a distinct contrast to the war being waged on the other side of the Palace.
"Does Alluka have anything to say about this madness at all? People have been going for each other's throats in the streets for the past forty five minutes. Where is my bloody answer to this? I thought my nephew promised that he could do something?"
"He's still in his trance, except now he's frowning.what the?" Sounds of loud popping could be heard and Kamus starred impassively into the screens watching the black sky suddenly light up by massive fireworks, the incandescent center still shining brightly as it hung in the sky.
"Berenger's just lit the Illuminators. The electricity lines have been cut off and we're lucky that they haven't blown up the power station."
"Greatest apologies General, but I've never actually seen these Illuminators before."
"Of course you haven't Echlan" Kamus said with incredible patience. "They're new invention, courtesy our war scientists. It's supposed to be able to last two hours."
"Gods..they're shining so brightly they're going to hurt my eyes. It's as if I was staring into the midday sun." Echlan complained.
Sun?
Kamus became frantic. "Echlan! How many of them do you see?"
"You want me to ruin my eyes? Very well..there's six.seven of them."
"That's it! Seven suns suspended in the sky! Renard must have mistaken the Illuminators as stars or suns because they are so bright. Quickly rouse the Emperor. We've got to stop this devastating madness."
He quickly slammed his phone shut, immediately barking new orders and telling the city guards to be on alert for an abrupt change of situation because the seven suns were suspended in the night sky, basking the Forbidden Palace and the surrounding city with a strong unnatural light.
His cellphone madly rung again and he instantly picked it up. Echlan's voice came over to him almost excitedly from the other side, which was rare for those who knew the Master Eunuch found him to be a conservative person who regarded any outward display of emotion as a sign of lack of control.
"General Kamus" his alto voice was nearly shrill. "the young Alluka believes that he was found out what is causing the madness. He is quite certain that there is a large presence out there, a single entity with enormous psychic abilities and thus is able to control so many people at the one time." there was a short period of silence where the rapid speech of two children could be faintly heard. "Alluka-kun says that he cannot deal with such an enormous entity by himself. He likened it to.say he was a candle flame, then the presence out there controlling the civilians would be like a huge sun."
"You mean he's totally outclassed." Kamus summarized for him.
"But the Emperor believes that she can give support to Alluka-kun - "
"That's not possible." Kamus flatly interrupted, annoyed by more harrassing calls and reports on the situation around the Forbidden Palace. If the red alarm lights weren't flashing, he wasn't about to spring a few more grey hairs. "Rudy doesn't have these mind powers that Alluka has, so how on earth is she going to render him aid?"
"The Emperor is going to use the Device and command the nen to.." Loud explosions cut off the master eunuch's speech. "It's too technical for me I'm afraid General. Rudy is very certain and confident that whatever she plans on doing will work..I can see the silhouettes of rebel forces. I'm going to be on my guard but I would feel MUCH safer if the General could fill up the gap in the defence near North Gate please?"
"On it." Kamus shut his phone with a savage and pleased grin. It was brief however and replaced by a frown when he saw the Northern defences begin to crumble under pressure. "Get Brigade Six to reinforce the North Gate..it's about to collapse!"
"Umm.General..Brigades Four to Twelve had to be called into the city to quell the disturbances."
"Are there any other troops we can call for backup?"
The man at the computer deftly clicked several buttons and ran an extensive and exhaustive scan, then numbly shook his head. "All troops have already been deployed and stationed. The current status report of each is that they are needed where they are."
Kamus turned to his Lieutenant. "You take over command here. I'm going out to back up the Zoldick Family."
The Lieutenant gave a sharp salute. "Yes sir!"
*********
Nervousness to Alluka wasn't new. In fact, he had lived with similar negative feelings for the past four years, and he bitterly swore that it wouldn't get the better of him now in this crucial hour. After letting his mind roll over the vast city for the past two hours, he finally spotted an overwhelming presence which had been hidden to him before by state of the art cloaking. But now that he knew it was out there, he knew it would be suicide as a single mind to challenge something the size of a mountain.
And then the Emperor knew exactly what she was doing and clutching the Device around her neck so tightly that her knuckles became a frosty white, the wind began to stir unnaturally around them. In his mind's eye, he was the able to see the gossamer fabric which crested like the gentle waves around them, their colours constantly changing, pulsating as if it were a living being. With an iron will, Rudy activated the Device to carry out her commands, and through the cracks of her fingers, the pendant began to glow and became increasingly bright with no sign of stopping. And the nen wildly lapped at her feet, wrapped about her like a giant cloak of never-ending colours.
Alluka felt his blood rush and his nerves tingle hysterically. He was suddenly boosted with energy, his body being force fed a power which he instantly wielded and transmuted into a psychic energy that allowed his mind to leap out and give a deafening roar of challenge against the overwhelming presence which the rebels controlled.
Echlan gaped as Alluka's image was magnified a hundred times and now his ethereal mind projection crouched slightly, ready to pounce on an evil that he couldn't see. In response to Alluka's challenge, the other presence which had the city gripped in madness sent out the projection of himself as a massive brain with one ghastly eye trying to stare down the young Zoldick.
The whole city must have been able to see this appalling wonder of two espers locked in a battle on a different level and field. The assassin's deadly claws lashed out but met an invisible barrier that the Brain had surrounded itself in, a forcefield of pure energy to repulse anything that dared to come close.
Rudy was now completely bathed with white light, so pure and bright that it outshone the illuminators in the sky and made them look like dim, weak lights. Echlan gasped in terror as he realized that the eighth sun referred to in the prophecy was the Emperor who had never imposed her will on the Device before. There was a terrible reason why and was only clearly evident now. The nen around them was never supposed to be controlled, only made to respond to the subconscious will and emotion. To reach out and grasp this fabric and wield it to one's desire would burn your life away.
The Eight will burn the brightest, but that which burns twice as bright lasts half as long.
Horror dawned on the Master Eunuch and he nearly screamed out in frustration as the words finally made sense. "She is giving up her life in this struggle.the Device is eating away at her right now, bit by bit." a dry and emotionless voice responded to his mute astonishment in his mind and the despair nearly made him cry. Blood steadily ran from Rudy's nose and white strands began to appear in her jet black hair. She could not hold out for long, and whilst the fierce mental struggle continued around him, the master eunuch helplessly ran through the lines of the prophecy again and again to find the again.
Summon the Guardian and the Dark Executioner!
Echlan paced around, gritting his teeth in sheer frustration. Even if Renard was here, the cat could provide no help, and they never figured out who the Dark Executioner was.
In such desperate times when your hands seemed to be tied to affect destiny, there is usually only one thing left to do. He fell to both knees and pressed his forehead onto the trembling ground and began to whisper prayers to the powers that be. "My Emperor is dying..please.please.ancestors and those who have long fallen, rise and protect the Palace for it is now under dire siege."
"Master Echlan, murmuring to the ground will not help you." A calm voice said from behind. Momentarily stunned, the eunuch quickly regained composure and got off his knees, subconsciously dusting his robe. Illumi Zoldick stood in front of him, calm and impassive as profession demanded, but his slightly narrowed eyes questioned him. Echlan frantically gestured to the painfully bright light and told Illumi that the Emperor had to be stopped.
"The rate she's going, her life will be completely burned and -"
The older Zoldick dispassionately looked up at the large projections locked in fierce battle of will and mental power and nodded.
"But if she doesn't continue, then Alluka-kun does not have the power to compete with that pile of guts! That brain there is behind the madness described in the prophecy. But only Rudy as Emperor can use the Device...we're screwed."
Illumi self-assuredly walked into the center of the mini sun and consequently knocked out the Emperor from behind. In rapid moments, the intense light around her dimmed and faded, leaving Echlan gaping, so highly strung on his emotions that he didn't know what he should register at that moment.
Alluka felt his power connection suddenly fade, and in that second, he felt a terror so cold and chilling that he had never experienced before.
But in Illumi's hands materialized a weird instrument which bore a faint resemblance to a harp. The assassin plucked the strings to draw melodious harmony but in a harshly metallic timbre and he opened his voice producing an unnatural sound of the thousands of souls channeling their rage through his voice. It was raw and dissonant and cut through the air like a hot knife on butter. And the nen reacted to this music, roaring like a tornado with Illumi at the vortex, and as his fingers continued to pluck at the strings, Alluka's image became so defined and realistic that it was almost like he had grown into an unbelievable giant.
Feeling the infinite energies circulate his blood, Alluka's eyes blazed with undying determination, and his mind now surged on by what seemed like a tidal wave of energy, he carelessly slapped aside his adversary's shield and with a vicious grin, his clawed hands sliced cleanly through his enemies image. Although Brain did not have a mouth, his dying breath was ripped into a wailing scream of unending hate and destruction followed by the massive destruction of the machine which lay on the outskirts of city.
Alluka's image silently reduced in size and became increasingly transparent until it was blown away by the light breeze whilst Illumi's song came to a discordant end, leaving an unnatural silence. The young assassin slumped forward, totally drained and exhausted, but the grin of victory and accomplishment still hung on his pale, sweat covered face. He even managed to let out a weak laugh but soon lost consciousness, immediately drifting into a deep, well deserved sleep.
Echlan rushed over to where Rudy lay, face pale as ghost, skin as cold as death. "Her pulse is extremely weak.I must call for the Royal Doctor." He tried to calm his trembling fingers and dialed to the Command Center. "Lieutenant, I believe the people have returned to normal.but the Emperor is down. I need a doctor here immediately."
After a brief pause, the Lieutenant responded with dread in his voice. "The Medical sector has been completely blocked off. The Royal Doctors are fighting a hard battle themselves.wait.Miss Karen is out at the North Gate remember? You should go get her!"
"Illumi-san, I'm going to get Karen-chan. Could you guard over Rudy." He said almost breathlessly from the tensions and fear. Illumi wordlessly nodded, though his face looked thoughtful. He stepped next to the Emperor's fallen body and his brother's slumbering one and was surrounded in a glazed, semi transparent done. Echlan felt his eyes bulge.
"Invulnerable resistance?" he whispered.
"Go get Karen-chan. No one will get through me." He intoned so coldly and clinically. Despite himself, Echlan felt a merciless smile pull his lips. The Zoldick sure did train the best assassins who would remain unmoved even in the most chaotic of times.
It was Cat who woke up Illumi at two o'clock and explained to him all that was happening. The eldest Zoldick child listened intently, his large cat like eyes rarely blinking as he tuned to every detail. Now and again, he would scratch Cat's chin, even though he was the nen manifestation of the first Kalinnan emperor.
~ Protect the One and let no ill befall her. But it's too late! ~
"I don't like the sound of this. It says that Rudy is going to die." Illumi said and looked at Cat with varying degrees of menace.
"I need the Dark Executioner to help me guard Rodimostev." Renard simply said. "I don't even know where to begin to look because I'm sure I sure something that was very close to god in my visions. You are the only other natural nen user here, so you are the perfect choice to help me protect Rudy until we find out who is this mysterious being." Cat looked at him slightly questioningly. "Just how much training have you had with your full potentials?"
"None." said Illumi calmly. "But I know my limitations and what I can do. Rudy dragged my soul up from the depths of loneliness and despair, and Karen-chan highly reveres her Emperor. I will not fail these people." The assassin ignored Cat's gaping jaw and continued.
"Much of the prophecy is comprehensible, save that bit about the suns. We can't do much now. Where is Rudy?"
============
At first, Rodimostev Alanis Kalinnan III thought that tonight was going to be like every other night. That was until the head of Eunuchs, the elegant and powerful Echlan politely entered her study with a dish of cut fruits and informed her that after her midnight snack, she should prepare for the upcoming assault against the Forbidden Palace.
Her first reaction was anger - angry that she was not first informed, and betrayed, that her own people would turn against her.
The second reaction was fear because she was now carrying the most precious burden in the world. She clutched the Pendant, dangling on the strongest chain around her neck, concealed beneath her robes. Emperors may come and go, but the Pendant remained and the one who carried it was the Emperor.
The Pendant is the Device which allows the Emperor to control the nen around her and mould it to her will. It is a flat circular disc, transparent and strangely faceted inside so that when the sun hit the object, it would break up the light into many sparkling rainbows. As it was worn around the neck, it was always in physical contact with the wearer, and the nen of the wearer activated the Pendant. Thus whenever Rudy screamed away her pain and loneliness in the temple, the Pendant would be influenced by her own nen, and in turn, reflect it in the sea of nen around the Forbidden Palace. That was how tidal waves occurred. However, she no longer held ultimate faith in that idea, for only a few nights ago, Illumi had been able to send shockwaves just as strong and forceful as hers when he was trapped in the desolate Cell. Things had just been so hectic and her emotions had been flung into the maelstrom with the approaching Pledge that she didn't even have time to ask Echlan about how Illumi was also able to control the nen around them, something which only she should be able to do with the pendant.
And now, Rudy was afraid to loose it. It was the symbol of her status and position. It was something she traded her humanity and soul to possess. It was what made her Emperor.
Echlan immediately began to fill in each and every impeccable detail which she greatly appreciated, and by the end of his speech, she decided that she would take a stand in the dais outside the Throne Room.
"It's a windy night sire. At least put on your jacket."
It was an unusually windy night for an Arcadian Summer. It must be a bad omen.
"No. I feel fine. Has Alluka come up with anything concerning the way in which my people will be controlled?"
"He is meditating not far off.in a trance. I suppose he is still scanning the city."
"But it's almost three o'clock. I need results soon."
"How can you interfere sire? Mind control is not your area of expertise."
"But I can talk to them." She let the Pendant dangle freely now, no longer hidden, its flat surface shimmering brightly in the unnatural moonlight. "I am going to amplify my voice with the nen and command them to be still. I will not let this prophecy come true."
"I commend your efforts, Rodimostev," Renard said from behind her, his feet silently padding the cold stone floor. "But only Alluka can deal with this I'm afraid. You should be pondering on how there will be seven suns suspended in the sky."
"I already know the answer." Rudy regarded Cat coldly, even though he was her ancestor. "You have no need to worry about that little phrase anymore. It's so simple I wonder why no one ever spotted it." She looked around quietly. "Where is Illumi-san?"
Renard sniffed daintily. "We bumped into the Monk on our way here. Monk insisted that Illumi go with him to the Temple. Apparently, a lot of people want to talk to him."
"Of course." The young emperor suddenly looked down coldly. "He is by far the most powerful person in the Forbidden Palace. Everyone would want to pass their little secrets and abilities on to him." She could not hide the bitterness from her voice.
"What do you mean?" Echlan said sharply.
"What I mean is," Rudy glared at the wide courtyards in front of her "that I've been approached before by all those who've gone by, be they Kalinnan, Cardinal or Wardien or whatever dynasty they come from. They want to pass on their abilities to someone worthy. Apparently, they found me lacking."
"Please don't say that sire." Already in his mind, Echlan was beginning to formulate many ideas and his mind raced to explore the possibilities of each one. As the Master Eunuch whose duty it was to serve the Emperor to the best of his abilities, and anyone who looked like they would even pose as the tiniest threat to her would be dealt with. Regardless of who they were.
"But it's the truth is it not? I'm barely a natural nen user, the Voice being my strongest technique. They tried to show me all these things, but each time, I failed so miserably. I don't get it Echlan. Not all Emperors were natural nen users. Why is it that everyone expects so much of me sometimes? Is it not enough that we won the war? Now, I must somehow be able to miraculously be the ultimate model of what an Arcadian Emperor is supposed to be, nen and all. Is it unacceptable that I can forge this nation into greater glory without being a true natural nen user myself? When I first wore the Pendant, they all see me as another weak Emperor, Echlan, but I will show them that I will be the greatest to ever live. They will see an empire so strong and prosperous that they'll have to cover their eyes from the bright light, even if I can never be one of them."
"You forget sire, that you have other very special talents."
Rudy refrained from snorting. "Oh really? Please inform me, for I seem to have forgotten what I can do."
"You can look into our souls, sire." Echlan said solemnly, his face calm yet with hidden intensity. "You uncover what we try to hide from the world or discover what we thought we had lost within us. You can recover humanity for even the most deranged and filthy murderers, and at the same time, you are the most understanding person there will ever be. That is the type of person who is most fit to be Emperor. Sire, you may only be fourteen, yet your understanding of life is as profound as mine, and I've been around for way too long already. I don't give a damn if Illumi-san can perfect every Sacred Power there is. You know that people will only follow you Sire, not some ex-assassin who only came to his senses a few days ago. I for one will serve no one but you."
Rudy seemed to stare at the eunuch with a puzzled expression, then she frowned, and then she looked downright confused and helpless. Finally her look was dark. "I'm being threatened again. And when I'm threatened, I bite."
"Now is not the time to be jealous of somebody else." Renard said harshly. He turned to direction of the North Gate. "It has finally begun. Let us embrace the inferno that will engulf us in the next few hours."
==========
General Kamus was the only supposedly 'sane' one of the Generals left in the Capital, so whilst Misha took active part in the fighting, he remained in Command Center watching the events unfold. He bit the insides of his cheek in part dismay, part frustration as some of the radio connections with several groups of soldiers out in the city began to buzz with static.
"Frequency blocker in range sir. It looks like they should be able to neutralize it entirely in about two minutes."
"Tell all units to start adjusting their frequencies to Pattern A then, the waiting time is five minutes. Lets make our rebels work to cut us off." He ordered stoically, still glaring hard at the screens. "Also, get them to keep a lookout for where this jammer could be. See it, destroy it."
Another man working at his station cried out in shock, staring dumbly into one of the many large screens. "That's my mom." He pointed a wavering figure at what was once a plain and simple woman, now her face fiercely scowling with a flash of madness in her eyes. In her hands was your ordinary garden shovel, only now, she wielded it with ferocity and set about the blazing streets, intent on destroying anything in her path. His face drained to the colour of bone and he sat limply in his chair, unable to avert his eyes.
"We have a similar situation near the National Park too sir."
"Market square is being ripped up! People seem to have gone.mad."
"One of the factories have been deliberately lit sir. Attention Fire station three, send patrols to contain the outburst of fire at the steelworks factory."
All around him, Kamus heard the relaying of messages of destruction and casualties and families turned and fought against each other.just as Renard has said in his prophecy. He picked up his cellphone and dialed Berenger's number.
The giant Palace Guardian responded after the first ring. "I'm down by the Eastern Gate. The rebels are trying to break through here whilst all the confusion's going on in the city. Damnit! The electricity lines have been sabotaged.I can barely see who's head I'm hacking off."
"People are going mad all around us. Why aren't you with the Emperor?"
"Master Echlan is watching over her. I'm needed here." Berenger broke off for a moment, swearing vehemently which was followed by a series of explosions enough to make Kamus wince. With his ear far away from the phone, he could still hear the Palace Guardian's roar above the din.
"Would someone hurry up and shoot some Illuminators into the sky right now, or I won't be responsible for who my bloody axe hurts."
"I'll contact Echlan. Don't let them break through the Eastern Wing. Sending reinforcements on the way."
"I don't need reinforcements." Berenger continued to shout, the sickly wet sucking sound of him pulling the axe from his victim's body clearly audible. "I just need some damn light. ARE WE DONE WITH THE ILLUMINATORS YET!?"
Kamus hung up and quickly dialed another number, impatiently tapping his foot on the ground as he grew more angry with each passing moment.
"Yes general?" Echlan's low murmur in the quiet background was quite a distinct contrast to the war being waged on the other side of the Palace.
"Does Alluka have anything to say about this madness at all? People have been going for each other's throats in the streets for the past forty five minutes. Where is my bloody answer to this? I thought my nephew promised that he could do something?"
"He's still in his trance, except now he's frowning.what the?" Sounds of loud popping could be heard and Kamus starred impassively into the screens watching the black sky suddenly light up by massive fireworks, the incandescent center still shining brightly as it hung in the sky.
"Berenger's just lit the Illuminators. The electricity lines have been cut off and we're lucky that they haven't blown up the power station."
"Greatest apologies General, but I've never actually seen these Illuminators before."
"Of course you haven't Echlan" Kamus said with incredible patience. "They're new invention, courtesy our war scientists. It's supposed to be able to last two hours."
"Gods..they're shining so brightly they're going to hurt my eyes. It's as if I was staring into the midday sun." Echlan complained.
Sun?
Kamus became frantic. "Echlan! How many of them do you see?"
"You want me to ruin my eyes? Very well..there's six.seven of them."
"That's it! Seven suns suspended in the sky! Renard must have mistaken the Illuminators as stars or suns because they are so bright. Quickly rouse the Emperor. We've got to stop this devastating madness."
He quickly slammed his phone shut, immediately barking new orders and telling the city guards to be on alert for an abrupt change of situation because the seven suns were suspended in the night sky, basking the Forbidden Palace and the surrounding city with a strong unnatural light.
His cellphone madly rung again and he instantly picked it up. Echlan's voice came over to him almost excitedly from the other side, which was rare for those who knew the Master Eunuch found him to be a conservative person who regarded any outward display of emotion as a sign of lack of control.
"General Kamus" his alto voice was nearly shrill. "the young Alluka believes that he was found out what is causing the madness. He is quite certain that there is a large presence out there, a single entity with enormous psychic abilities and thus is able to control so many people at the one time." there was a short period of silence where the rapid speech of two children could be faintly heard. "Alluka-kun says that he cannot deal with such an enormous entity by himself. He likened it to.say he was a candle flame, then the presence out there controlling the civilians would be like a huge sun."
"You mean he's totally outclassed." Kamus summarized for him.
"But the Emperor believes that she can give support to Alluka-kun - "
"That's not possible." Kamus flatly interrupted, annoyed by more harrassing calls and reports on the situation around the Forbidden Palace. If the red alarm lights weren't flashing, he wasn't about to spring a few more grey hairs. "Rudy doesn't have these mind powers that Alluka has, so how on earth is she going to render him aid?"
"The Emperor is going to use the Device and command the nen to.." Loud explosions cut off the master eunuch's speech. "It's too technical for me I'm afraid General. Rudy is very certain and confident that whatever she plans on doing will work..I can see the silhouettes of rebel forces. I'm going to be on my guard but I would feel MUCH safer if the General could fill up the gap in the defence near North Gate please?"
"On it." Kamus shut his phone with a savage and pleased grin. It was brief however and replaced by a frown when he saw the Northern defences begin to crumble under pressure. "Get Brigade Six to reinforce the North Gate..it's about to collapse!"
"Umm.General..Brigades Four to Twelve had to be called into the city to quell the disturbances."
"Are there any other troops we can call for backup?"
The man at the computer deftly clicked several buttons and ran an extensive and exhaustive scan, then numbly shook his head. "All troops have already been deployed and stationed. The current status report of each is that they are needed where they are."
Kamus turned to his Lieutenant. "You take over command here. I'm going out to back up the Zoldick Family."
The Lieutenant gave a sharp salute. "Yes sir!"
*********
Nervousness to Alluka wasn't new. In fact, he had lived with similar negative feelings for the past four years, and he bitterly swore that it wouldn't get the better of him now in this crucial hour. After letting his mind roll over the vast city for the past two hours, he finally spotted an overwhelming presence which had been hidden to him before by state of the art cloaking. But now that he knew it was out there, he knew it would be suicide as a single mind to challenge something the size of a mountain.
And then the Emperor knew exactly what she was doing and clutching the Device around her neck so tightly that her knuckles became a frosty white, the wind began to stir unnaturally around them. In his mind's eye, he was the able to see the gossamer fabric which crested like the gentle waves around them, their colours constantly changing, pulsating as if it were a living being. With an iron will, Rudy activated the Device to carry out her commands, and through the cracks of her fingers, the pendant began to glow and became increasingly bright with no sign of stopping. And the nen wildly lapped at her feet, wrapped about her like a giant cloak of never-ending colours.
Alluka felt his blood rush and his nerves tingle hysterically. He was suddenly boosted with energy, his body being force fed a power which he instantly wielded and transmuted into a psychic energy that allowed his mind to leap out and give a deafening roar of challenge against the overwhelming presence which the rebels controlled.
Echlan gaped as Alluka's image was magnified a hundred times and now his ethereal mind projection crouched slightly, ready to pounce on an evil that he couldn't see. In response to Alluka's challenge, the other presence which had the city gripped in madness sent out the projection of himself as a massive brain with one ghastly eye trying to stare down the young Zoldick.
The whole city must have been able to see this appalling wonder of two espers locked in a battle on a different level and field. The assassin's deadly claws lashed out but met an invisible barrier that the Brain had surrounded itself in, a forcefield of pure energy to repulse anything that dared to come close.
Rudy was now completely bathed with white light, so pure and bright that it outshone the illuminators in the sky and made them look like dim, weak lights. Echlan gasped in terror as he realized that the eighth sun referred to in the prophecy was the Emperor who had never imposed her will on the Device before. There was a terrible reason why and was only clearly evident now. The nen around them was never supposed to be controlled, only made to respond to the subconscious will and emotion. To reach out and grasp this fabric and wield it to one's desire would burn your life away.
The Eight will burn the brightest, but that which burns twice as bright lasts half as long.
Horror dawned on the Master Eunuch and he nearly screamed out in frustration as the words finally made sense. "She is giving up her life in this struggle.the Device is eating away at her right now, bit by bit." a dry and emotionless voice responded to his mute astonishment in his mind and the despair nearly made him cry. Blood steadily ran from Rudy's nose and white strands began to appear in her jet black hair. She could not hold out for long, and whilst the fierce mental struggle continued around him, the master eunuch helplessly ran through the lines of the prophecy again and again to find the again.
Summon the Guardian and the Dark Executioner!
Echlan paced around, gritting his teeth in sheer frustration. Even if Renard was here, the cat could provide no help, and they never figured out who the Dark Executioner was.
In such desperate times when your hands seemed to be tied to affect destiny, there is usually only one thing left to do. He fell to both knees and pressed his forehead onto the trembling ground and began to whisper prayers to the powers that be. "My Emperor is dying..please.please.ancestors and those who have long fallen, rise and protect the Palace for it is now under dire siege."
"Master Echlan, murmuring to the ground will not help you." A calm voice said from behind. Momentarily stunned, the eunuch quickly regained composure and got off his knees, subconsciously dusting his robe. Illumi Zoldick stood in front of him, calm and impassive as profession demanded, but his slightly narrowed eyes questioned him. Echlan frantically gestured to the painfully bright light and told Illumi that the Emperor had to be stopped.
"The rate she's going, her life will be completely burned and -"
The older Zoldick dispassionately looked up at the large projections locked in fierce battle of will and mental power and nodded.
"But if she doesn't continue, then Alluka-kun does not have the power to compete with that pile of guts! That brain there is behind the madness described in the prophecy. But only Rudy as Emperor can use the Device...we're screwed."
Illumi self-assuredly walked into the center of the mini sun and consequently knocked out the Emperor from behind. In rapid moments, the intense light around her dimmed and faded, leaving Echlan gaping, so highly strung on his emotions that he didn't know what he should register at that moment.
Alluka felt his power connection suddenly fade, and in that second, he felt a terror so cold and chilling that he had never experienced before.
But in Illumi's hands materialized a weird instrument which bore a faint resemblance to a harp. The assassin plucked the strings to draw melodious harmony but in a harshly metallic timbre and he opened his voice producing an unnatural sound of the thousands of souls channeling their rage through his voice. It was raw and dissonant and cut through the air like a hot knife on butter. And the nen reacted to this music, roaring like a tornado with Illumi at the vortex, and as his fingers continued to pluck at the strings, Alluka's image became so defined and realistic that it was almost like he had grown into an unbelievable giant.
Feeling the infinite energies circulate his blood, Alluka's eyes blazed with undying determination, and his mind now surged on by what seemed like a tidal wave of energy, he carelessly slapped aside his adversary's shield and with a vicious grin, his clawed hands sliced cleanly through his enemies image. Although Brain did not have a mouth, his dying breath was ripped into a wailing scream of unending hate and destruction followed by the massive destruction of the machine which lay on the outskirts of city.
Alluka's image silently reduced in size and became increasingly transparent until it was blown away by the light breeze whilst Illumi's song came to a discordant end, leaving an unnatural silence. The young assassin slumped forward, totally drained and exhausted, but the grin of victory and accomplishment still hung on his pale, sweat covered face. He even managed to let out a weak laugh but soon lost consciousness, immediately drifting into a deep, well deserved sleep.
Echlan rushed over to where Rudy lay, face pale as ghost, skin as cold as death. "Her pulse is extremely weak.I must call for the Royal Doctor." He tried to calm his trembling fingers and dialed to the Command Center. "Lieutenant, I believe the people have returned to normal.but the Emperor is down. I need a doctor here immediately."
After a brief pause, the Lieutenant responded with dread in his voice. "The Medical sector has been completely blocked off. The Royal Doctors are fighting a hard battle themselves.wait.Miss Karen is out at the North Gate remember? You should go get her!"
"Illumi-san, I'm going to get Karen-chan. Could you guard over Rudy." He said almost breathlessly from the tensions and fear. Illumi wordlessly nodded, though his face looked thoughtful. He stepped next to the Emperor's fallen body and his brother's slumbering one and was surrounded in a glazed, semi transparent done. Echlan felt his eyes bulge.
"Invulnerable resistance?" he whispered.
"Go get Karen-chan. No one will get through me." He intoned so coldly and clinically. Despite himself, Echlan felt a merciless smile pull his lips. The Zoldick sure did train the best assassins who would remain unmoved even in the most chaotic of times.