As they traveled to the Zao Ruins, Stella started to think about what happened. She was surprised that Van hadn't told her anything. Maybe because she has been with Asch lately. She has been giving him information on what is going on. Does Van not trust her? She wants the Score to disappear from this world for a long time. The assassin gave a long, deep sigh.
Tear sees her falling behind. She walked back to Stella and noticed her struggles. "Is something the matter, Stella?"
"I'm just shocked that Van has kept me in the dark. I don't know what is going on now. Everything is just upside down." Stella applied.
"Does my brother trust you with anything else?" Tear was curious to know.
"To be honest, I don't know. I have been just following orders from Van."
Anise hears the conversation and decides to join in. "What made you decide to join Van in the first place?"
"The reason I joined Van is because I hated the Score." Stella told them the truth.
"That was your reason?" Tear was utterly surprised.
The assassin nodded. "Yes. That is why I joined the God-General. Even though he is just using me for his plans."
"I see."
Anise was dumbfounded about Stella on the Score. "But the Score is supposed to lead people to the right path for their future."
Stella sighed annoyingly. She hates hearing the same thing over and over again. She wants the Score to really disappear.
"Should we be more aware of you? I won't hesitate to fight you here." Guy frowned.
"Guy!" Anise said.
Stella shrugged. "Do whatever you want. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to know my purpose."
"Your purpose? What do you mean?" Luke was puzzled.
"Ion told me that I should find my purpose from all of this. Van has been hiding me in the dark." Stella folded her arms on her chest.
Natalia tilted her head. "Is it because you were with Asch most of the time?"
"Probably. He and I are being double agents for you guys and the Oracle Knights. I'm sure they are still aware of me, because of my powers."
"I think we should be fine with Stella. She isn't a threat for now." Jade pushed his glasses.
"We need to go. We're wasting time here. We won't be able to save Chesedonia." Stella walked past them inside the ruins.
"She's right. Let's get going before it is too late." Tear said as she trailed behind the assassin.
Everyone else followed behind them.
They arrived at the entrance of the Sephiroth. It has been a long while since the incident happened here. It felt like yesterday to Stella.
A distance call was heard from afar. Stella turned to the source of the sound. There was nothing. She senses something dangerous around the Sephiroth. Apollo and Ace aren't around to sense the danger.
Luke sees Stella behind them. He couldn't tell if she was thinking about Van or something else. The red-haired replica walked back to Stella.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked.
The assassin didn't turn to Luke, but instead responded to him. "There's something here, but I don't know where. Whatever it is. It's dangerous. Keep your guard up."
Luke nodded. "Right."
They went to catch up with the group. The group were waiting for them to arrive. Stella sensed something coming and quickly pushed Luke out of the way. Luke was surprised by what Stella did. Until a large scorpion attacked Stella.
It swung its pincher to strike. Stella quickly took out her weapon and blocked the attack.
"That creature!?" Jade said.
"It is probably aggressive from the shaking of the Outer Lands." Tear ready her weapon.
"We need to take it out and help Stella." Natalia started to shoot her arrows.
Everyone takes out their weapon and starts to fight the large scorpion. The arrows were a distraction to get the monster away from Stella. It backed away from Stella and went straight for Natalia. The princess shot another arrow but the armor was too thick.
Guy quickly blocked the attack to get Natalia away. She runs from a distance and starts to shoot more arrows.
Tear and Jade were casting their arte. Anise goes in and attacks the monster to help Guy. Luke arrived and helped out Anise.
Stella observed the monster. The armor is too hard to break. Attacking the front is too dangerous. Maybe fighting on the side could work. She looked up at the tail. The tail doesn't have any armor. It was vulnerable.
Tear and Jade called out their arte, but the armor reflected their attacks.
"Its armor is too tough to cut. None of our attacks are working." Guy backed away from the monster.
"Is there a way to break it?" Anise asked.
"Natalia shoot the tail," everyone turned to Stella. "That is its weak point!"
"Right." Natalia nodded as she readied her arrow.
The princess shot her arrow to the tail. The tail fell down on top of the monster and scattered its armor.
"Now, it was defenseless! Attack it!" Jade shouted.
Everyone went in to attack the monster. The monster launched its full on attack being defenseless without its armor. Stella casted her arte and stopped it from its track. Luke finished it off. The monster is now dead.
Jade was surprised how Stella was able to know its weak point. There was something more to her than he thought. He observed the assassin wondering what she was. Maybe that's why Van needed her.
Tear noticed that Jade was in his own world. "Is there something wrong, Colonel?"
"No. It's nothing." Jade replied as he pushed his glasses.
Everyone made it to the Sephiroth. It was shockingly beautiful and yet massive. How could something this big fit under the Outer Land? Stella looked around the place. But not knowing what the Sephiroth does. She waits for the group to do what they are supposed to do. The assassin watched as Luke removed the seals by Jade's directions.
She was surprised to see how Luke was able to control his power. After Luke was done, Chesedonia has started to ascend down to the Outer Land. The land was slowly going down into the Qliphoth.
Stella starts to have doubts about Van's decision in the current world. Can she trust the God-Generals? All the pieces were coming together. She wants to talk to Van about his true goal. He should be in Belkend with Legretta. This is a good chance to talk to him while all of this is going on.
"Now that Chesedonia is descending down into the Qliphoth. We should stay inside just in case." Jade said.
Everyone did want Jade instructed and waited for Chesedonia to land into the Qliphoth safely. It looks like it landed safely.
Stella turned around to leave the group. The group noticed that the assassin was leaving.
"Where are you going? You aren't going back to Van." Guy frowned.
"Guy, you don't have to be so rude to Stella. She probably has a lot in her mind now." Anise remarked.
"Anise is right, Guy. Although, she is part of the God-Generals. She hasn't done anything to hurt us." Natalia feels sorry for Stella.
"Master Van and the God-Generals are hiding things from her. I can't hold a grudge on her. After all, she was forced to do what she was ordered too." Luke said.
Stella sighed deeply. She has decided what her purpose was. If it means leaving the God-Generals. They will be hunting for her and killing her. Asch already made up his mind.
"So, what are you going to do now, Stella?" Tear asked curiously.
Stella turned back to the group. "I'm going to ask Van personally about his goals. If he wanted me to help him, he should at least tell me. But they haven't fully trusted me. Asch already made up his mind. So, it is time to do the same. I have figured out what my purpose is. Even if I leave the God-Generals, they will come after me and kill me."
"It seems you made up your mind. That considers us as allies." Jade smiled.
Stella feels somewhat strange from Jade's smile. "You know. I have no idea what is going on in your mind, Jade. Anyways, I'm heading out. I don't want the God-Generals that we have been together. I'll contact you guys if I have any information regarding the Score and such."
Luke nodded. "Right. Thank you Stella for helping us." He bowed to her.
"You certainly changed a lot, Luke. Glad to see that. I'll see you later." Stella left the Zao Ruins.
She walked out of the entrance of the ruins. Stella sees Apollo and Ace waiting for her. They went up to her all worried about her.
Stella let out a chuckle. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you two to get hurt. Anyways, let's go to Belkend. I need to go and talk to Van about his plan in all of this."
Stella whistled to call in the monsters. Griffins arrived. She jumped on their backs along with Apollo. They ascended up and headed straight to Belkend.
Stella arrived at Belkend. She goes to the Replica Laboratory where Van is there with Legretta. She asked the researchers where she could find Van. They told her he is at the end of the laboratory behind the doors.
She arrived at her destination. Stella sees Van and Legretta together. Van was looking at the papers on the desk. He heard the door and turned to see who it was. He wasn't surprised to see who it was.
"Did you find Asch, Stella?" Van asked.
She shook her head. "Asch has been dodging me every time I find him. He knows why." Of course she was lying to him. Who knows if Van noticed it or not, but he is no fool.
Van observed her. "I see. But it seems you are here for something else. What do you want to know, Stella?"
The assassin sighed lightly as she folded her arms on her chest. She feels nervous asking him his plan, but she needs to know what he is really after. Legretta can see Stella is lying to the Commandant. She won't hesitate to kill the assassin.
"Your plan. I did join as a God-General to destroy the Score with you, but I have been hiding in the dark too long now. I need to know what your plan is."
Legretta jumped in. "You don't need to know anything. You're a -"
"Legretta," Van stopped her. She stopped as she was ordered. "Before I tell you my plan, are you willing to follow my commands? This is beneficial to the plan."
"I haven't deceived you. I'm still with the God-Generals," she continued. "My whole reason why I joined you is to destroy the Score. Is it not? Then why hide something that is valuable from me? Is it because you don't trust me? I'm not a fool that you are using me for your plans."
The Commandant looked at her eyes. They aren't lying to him. "Alright. Have you heard of Lorelei?"
Stella never heard of Lorelei besides minor rumors. "Is that the seventh fonon inside the Planet's Memory? There aren't many remnants of Lorelei within the Planet's Memory."
"Of course, there are some remnants of the seventh fonons in the Planet's Memory. It is the sole reason that I need to absorb Lorelei and destroy the Score."
"What about the present world? Humans are still going to follow the Score. They are still going to die if they continue to read the Score."
"Humans are useless so they are. Replicas will suffice."
Stella widens her eyes. "You're planning to destroy the real world. How are you going to destroy it? There aren't enough replicas to make your replica world."
"There is. With enough data of replicas I can recreate the world with replicas without the Score."
"Do you have any care for the original world?"
"No. This world is nothing but a ghost of Yulia. Humans will continue to read to Score in its support of Lorelei."
The assassin understands what Van is planning from what he told her. She put the pieces together. "So, you want to absorb Lorelei to recreate a replica world to destroy the Score. Everything will be replicas, including the world. Now, that sounds like a foolish plan. There has to be another way to destroy the Score."
"Are you saying you don't agree with my plans?" Van frowned.
"As ridiculous this plan is, I have to disagree with this plan. I know there is another way to destroy Score without destroying the present world."
Van hummed as he knew that Stella would no longer be under his command. "I see. You made up your mind. You know what happens to traitors when they don't disagree with the plan."
Stella wasn't stupid. She knows what he means. "Of course, but this isn't the place," the assassin looked at Legretta. "I'm sure someone has a place for me for my coffin."
"That I would agree. Next time, we meet Stella. I won't hesitate to kill you nor the God-Generals." Van promised.
"I thought Sync was supposed to kill me. Anyways, I shall take my leave." Stella leaves the laboratory.
"Commandant, it would be better if I kill her. Now, she is no longer part of us. She can't let her go wild as she pleases." Legretta commented.
"Don't worry. If Sync is able to comfort her then it won't be a problem, but I can tell that she isn't coming back. I shall have Sync kill her unless you want to do it yourself."
Legretta crossed her arms on her chest. "She has been a thorn to the God-Generals for a long time. I shall put her out of her misery. I promise she won't interfere with the plan."
The assassin leaves Belkend as Apollo and Ace arrive. She doesn't know what to do now. She is no longer part of the God-Generals. She could visit Sync at Radiation Gate. He doesn't know that she left the God-Generals.
"Let's go to the Radiation Gate and say goodbye to Sync. He will get the message that I left the God-Generals. Now, I'm a lone wolf surviving to live. But if I can convince Sync to switch sides then we can stop Van together." Stella sighed deeply as Ace transformed into a large bird.
She got on his back as well as Apollo. They went to the Radiation Gate to meet with Sync.
Stella arrived at the Radiation Gate. She walked in to find Sync. She sees him standing on the passage ring. Of course, he doesn't know that Stella left the God-Generals. Van will probably tell the other God-Generals soon.
"What brings you here, Stella? Should you be finding Asch for Van?" Sync asked.
Stella rolled her eyes. "There's no need for that. Asch will go to Van himself. He isn't dumb. Also, I just want to come here to see the Radiation Gate." She lied.
Ace flew past his master to Sync's shoulder. Sync turns around and sees Stella in a puzzled state. He was confused why she was making that expression.
"What's with that expression? Did something happen?"
"Not really. Just thinking about the plan." Stella glared from the distance.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really want to go through this plan, Sync? This plan is ridiculous."
He didn't know what was going on with Stella. "What are you talking about?"
"There's no need for any explanation. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about." Stella turned to Sync.
Sync figured out what she meant. "You mean Van's plan of absorbing the seventh fonons. As long as it is erased from this world. The world can be free from the Score. That is why I'm here to realize my dream. I know that Van is using me for his plan. But as long as there is no Score and Lorelei, my existence won't mean anything."
Stella walked up to Sync and said, "Your existence? Are you saying that you haven't gained anything when you were born?"
"Nothing. I was born as a piece of meat." He responded straightforwardly.
"Don't say that. You're not a piece of meat. You're more than that. I see your potential. Who cares what anyone else says about you. Replica or human, you have feelings like me. We can work together." Stella was very passionate with her words with Sync. She wants him to understand not for himself but for her too.
Sync glared at her then turned away. "Words are too complicated to understand. No one can understand me."
"Your heart doesn't lie, Sync. It knows the right path. Besides, I already have my purpose. That's why I must move forward. And see my purpose. I will protect what I love." Stella looked at her hands and clenches.
"Don't forget your helping Van to achieve his goals."
Stella chuckled. "If they don't see the shadow, then they are fools. The prey is always running from the predator. It won't stop until it catches its prey. That's where you are blinded by the foolish king himself."
Sync was confused with words Stella said. "What do you mean by that?"
"That's something for you to find out. I'm sure the Commandant will give you the full details." She smirked as she played along. "I should be going on. It is going to be very busy without their eyes."
The assassin leaves the Radiation Gate. Apollo followed her behind while Ace stayed with Sync. The tempest watched as Stella slowly got further away. He folded his arms thinking what Stella was talking about.
"The predator always chases its prey until it is caught. Without their eyes? And what is going to be very busy?"
It had been too long since I wrote this story. I wanted to come back to it. Here it is. I hope you guys enjoy.