Chapter 13: The Road to Hell
The Bevellian army was nearing the Zanarkand borders. They were now in position a few miles away from the camp. The Zanarkand summoners were now forming their line of defense. Every single summoner was in the front lines as if willingly to sacrifice their lives freely. The Elder Summoner Yevon, together with Yunalesca, was there to lead them in the assault.
"Don't fear those machina-using fools! They should fear us! If they want war, we'll give them one! Prepare yourselves!" Yevon shouted.
In a matter of time, the Bevellian army started to march in their position. The summoners were trembling, but they still had enough courage to stay in their position. Soon, they started to summon their Aeons. After some time, the field was crowded with different creatures. Valefor, a winged birdlike Aeon, started scouting on the army's position. Shiva, the azure-colored goddess with a winter's heart, cast a snowstorm to stall the army from pushing further.
Slowly, as the army attempted to fight Shiva's storm, they started to dwindle in numbers. Some machinas started to malfunction while some soldiers could not fight the cold and froze to death. Shortly, most of them were still able to resist Shiva's cold. Ifrit, the beast with the hands of fire, suddenly appeared; it was their second line of defense. The Aeon pulled out a big chunk of flaming rock with its muscular hands, and threw it at the approaching army like a huge blitzball. A whole column of machinas exploded as they were hit by the fast approaching rock. Being summoned, another Aeon, Ixion, the lightning horse, appeared out of a dark amethyst portal. Its horn began to spark as it unleashed several bolts of lightning. A unit of machinas began to short-circuit and crippled on the ground. . However, as if unharmed, the army continued to march.
"There's too many of them!" Belgermine shouted.
As the summoners began to step backwards, Yunalesca appeared and summoned her Aeon, Bahamut. It started to fly around the army and started to shoot its impulse attack on the army. Hundreds of dark colored spheres began to hit the area of the army. The army started to retaliate. Using their heavy artilleries, the machinas began to shoot Bahamut, as well as the other Aeons. Bahamut fell on the ground as it crawled away from the menacing army. Soon, the army reached their desired position. They readied their weapons and positioned themselves for a full offensive attack.
"Show no mercy! Attack!" the captain shouted.
Another bloody battle soon started. The two forces, split in two, started to merge in an all out battle. Loud cries could be heard as both group started to slaughter themselves. The fogs of war soon started to form. The Aeons started to fade in defeat. Many summoners were killed in the battle field. Zanarkand began to fall.
On the other side of the field, Bevelle, Lenne was fighting her way towards Shuyin. Despite her discreet entrance, she was seen by one of the guards and the sounding of alarm started. Without any other choice, Lenne summoned her Aeon, the great Odin, and fought her way inside Bevelle. The guards were no match against her powerful Aeon. They were shooting at her, but Odin's blade deflected the bullets as it sliced their body in two. Soon, she reached the council hall. She investigated the area to find the way down to the undergrounds. Although it was her first time to have reach Bevelle, she seemed familiar with it deep inside; it must be because of the dreams she had envisioned. She found a switch inside a small room and pressed it. The lift outside the hall started to operate. Together with Odin, they rode the lift down.
She reached the labyrinth-like area of the undergrounds, which was operated by many lifts and escalator-like devices. From fork to fork, she operated different switches to reach the chamber where the next area was located. On their way, they were confronted by different machinas. However, with Odin's Zantetsuken, they rendered useless. Finally, they reached the exit of the labyrinth-like area of Bevelle.
In the next area, they saw a hole on the ground; it was a big one. Lenne looked down, but because of its deepness, she could not see a thing. She rode Odin's stag as both of them jumped down the hole.
They reached the power generators; the main security system of Bevelle. She tried to solve its puzzle, but after she had deactivated one of them, the alarm rang, and everything started to operate on its own. At its center, a creature flew up. It had the wings of an insect, with two scythe-like hands to slice its opponent to pieces. Its crimson eyes were focused on them.
It is a creature known as the [1] Spectral Keeper. For years, this creature has protected the Bevelle undergrounds from outside forces. Its sharp scythe-like hands are sharp enough to cut one's body into two without that person noticing it.
Lenne stepped backwards as Odin went in front of her; a battle soon ensued. The insect attempted to slice them, but Odin blocked it with its blade. Doing a counter attack, Odin slashed the creature on its body. With Odin's successful hit, the creature screeched in pain. The creature burst in anger, and cast a spell on Odin. Vulnerable from the spell, Odin's body began to get heavy, and his moves started to slow down. The creature screeched as if laughing and went towards Odin. With Odin's whole body slowed down, the creature was successful in slicing him for a myriad of times. He started to weaken.
Lenne gasped as she witnessed the scene. She quickly looked for a dispelling tonic to use on Odin. Luckily, she found one. Quickly, she threw the tonic at Odin and in no time, he regained back his speed. Odin stood up as the creature started to withdraw again. Odin rushed towards it and pierced his sword right into its heart. The creature yelped and fell down. With one last breath, the creature faded.
The center formed a spiraling staircase going deeper into the undergrounds. Lenne assisted Odin as she cast a healing spell on him. They continued their way downwards. More soldiers confronted them below the spiral path. Odin continued to battle as he protected Lenne behind her. With the last solider slain, they ran quickly inside to avoid anymore confrontation.
Meanwhile, Zanarkand's summoners were losing morale as the army slaughtered them. The army's battalions were too many for them, and still kept on coming as they defeat one unit to another. Many withdrew from combat as the army went nearer into the camp. Yunalesca was distressed and yelled at them to go back to the field, but some lost the faith to battle.
"What are you doing!? You can't leave the field! Zanarkand's fate is in your hands!" She shouted as she saw more summoners withdrawing.
"… We can't hold them much longer. The summoners are in low spirits… They think it's fatal to continue. We need back-up." Belgermine said.
"Hmmm… I guess we have no choice. Sound the horn." Yunelsca murmured.
"A practical idea. We need the Ronsos' help. I'll stall them for now."
"Do what you can, Belgermine. We will never forget your bravery."
Yunalesca signaled to sound the horn. Soon, a loud honk could be heard everywhere. The Ronsos began forming at the foot of Mount Gagazet, and marched towards the Zanarkand camp to heed assistance.
Belgermine, still full of courage, fought the army, together with Yunalesca's Bahamut and a couple of summoners left, with her three Aeons, the Magus Sisters. The sisters swiftly attacked each nearing machina. Mindy, dressed like a bumblebee Aeon and smallest among the sisters, started to shoot her stings on the enormous machina mech, which was approaching them. Cindy, dressed like a ladybug Aeon and fattest among the sisters, jumped high into the air, neglecting gravity, and squashed the soldiers that were forming nearby. Sandy, the dressed like a red flying ant and the tallest among the sisters, hurled her sharp blades, forming a flaming line, at the army.
However, their efforts were useless. Soon, more machinas started to appear to compensate the attacks. Belgermine stared at the newly approaching group. She knew her end would come soon. With a final attack, she ordered her Aeons to form their Delta Attack. They formed a triangular arrangement as they blasted the army with one last blow. With the intense attack, fog began to form as it hid the outcome of the attack. Hoping that it was the end, Belgermine crossed her fingers. However, she felt the ground tremble and many more came out. Losing hope, she knelt on the ground. The machinas started attacking them with their automated machine guns. The sisters, exhausted, blocked each bullet to protect their summoner. In no time, unable to resist further, they soon faded together with the other Aeons leaving their summoners behind.
"Give up summoner! You don't stand a chance against the Bevellian army!" Pointing his rifle at her, the captain shouted.
Belgermine smiled and spitted at them. She was an honorable summoner to fear death over pride. The captain burst in anger, and ordered his men to surround her. Belgermine accepted her fate. She was more than willing to sacrifice her life for her land.
"I'll let you eat your pride woman!"
"Make me."
Infuriated, he signaled them to desecrate her body. Stab after stab, Belgermine fell on the ground as she felt each bayonet piercing her body. She did not show any expression of pain. In fact, she was still smiling as blood gushed out from her mouth. Soon, she lay motionless on the ground, and the soldiers were surprised to see her face that even in death, she still was happy. They won the battle against her technically, but they suffered defeat deep inside.
*Footnotes*
[1] Spectral Keeper – it's the boss in the Infiltrate Bevelle episode in FFX-2. It's the insect like fiend after calibrating the generators.
