100 Years Later

Terratopolis had undergone another change in the past century.

The espers had discovered much by now, all the secrets that the dwarves and elves together shared. They knew all about making clothing out of various plants now. They also knew of refining and mining too, although Leviathan and Ogopogo had discovered those secrets on their own years before. The mountain had been tunneled out further, and various places crafted and shaped to suit the needs of others. It was making a rather lovely home, and was always growing more detailed and sculpted. In particular, there was a great stretch of land in the middle of the main crater that had been dug and filled with rich earth. Kirin had discovered how to plant various plants of food within them, and grow those specifically. By doing so, her mother could now eat plants all the time without having to constantly search for more. Now, she could get them from the comfort of her own home. The rest of the floor was doing nicely as well. Much of the top layer had been broken up thanks to the action of the roots of the plants. As a result, soil was beginning to form in its place. Furthermore, the tree from Ultima Nexus was growing larger and larger all the time, breaking up more rocks into soil and dropping down deeper into the stone. There were plants growing everywhere along the surface now. There was enough soil for that at this point, and the bottom of the crater was beginning to look like a truly habitable area.

The plant idea was actually one from the humans. They had learned to grow certain types of food around wide-open areas, thereby making themselves a constant source of food and enabling them to settle. They were also trimming down on their clothing. They wore leather a lot more now instead of just any old fur. They also were beginning to learn how to use a lot more tools and techniques. They didn't have to live in caves anymore. They had managed to build smaller homes out of wood now. They even were beginning to learn how to tie them together or fasten them in other ways.

However, that was about the only good thing about them.

The tribe that still went after Crusader soon subdivided again. There were differences in beliefs, and no false god to differentiate between them. A few years later, and the tribe that had broken off in worship of Bahamut and his family broke off again. Mainly, they broke off in who they thought was the most important of all of them. Three sections had resulted. One believed Odin to be the best. One believed Bahamut. The last one believed Leviathan. Finally, Palad's original tribe had broken. The first son had held them together, but his own son had broken it up. There had been an argument between the two heirs of Palad's successor, and so they had split. Half remained in the forests of the world, but the other half moved south into the treeless hill country. All of the tribes were breaking up, it seemed. They were moving out to other corners of the world and moving everywhere.

However, an interesting development had taken place. The hill tribe's current leader didn't last long. Shortly after relocating, he died and had abandoned the tribe. They were left on their own, with no one to guide them and help them survive. But then, another had come forward to lead them. He was dressed in red, and had covered his face and head with it and his skin was white. He had carried a great sword with him as well. Under him, the tribe had advanced even further in knowledge and had maintained peace and prosperity. On hearing of this, the espers knew who it had to be.

Gilgamesh had reappeared.

Back home, Bahamut sadly couldn't say the same about his brother. He was still missing, and he began to lose hope of every seeing him again. He had to look after the children instead, and try to get hope from them. As they did, he had completed his own maturity. He and the others had ceased to look older decades ago. They were at their maximum state. Now he looked over the others as they grew.

Ifrit was now a fully grown, fearsome looking wolf monster. Great horns extended down behind his head and a fiery mane cropped the top of it. He had been the first to learn his Omniapex. He called it his Inferno-pyro. He quickly learned how to do many other things with his fire abilities as well. However, Shiva also learned to do much with her powers. She had matured into a fully-grown young woman too. She wore scanty clothing often, however, not at all like Starlet. She was still very cold to many people. She learned her own Omniapex too, a move she called Diamond Dust. And the only one she ever used it before was the only one she seemed open to, Ifrit. The two of them formed a close relationship over the next few years. Eventually, they too became married. It was a highly unusual match, and they both seemed to drive each other crazy sometimes. But they did unite somehow. They were looking forward to their first child.

Titan eventually became a little less childish, a bit more intelligent…and a lot more massive. Now, he was beyond many of the others in physical strength. He also learned some powers of his own, although it took him a long time to learn how to control them. Leviathan had to take him out of Terratopolis before he brought the place down from his ability to cause earthquakes. He also learned his own Omniapex, Terra-furio.

Ramuh had continued to pursue knowledge. But he was more of a naturalist, interested in cultivation and animal life. He didn't pursue Leviathan's course of study, but wanted to be more in tune with nature. So he pursued his time going out and studying it, or observing it in its natural state. He seemed to age much faster than the others. He grew up like a man, but he seemed to age much quicker. His eyebrows had only grown faster, though his head stayed bald. He had grown a mustache and beard, and it had only grown longer with time. Already, it was down to his waist, and saw no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Palidor was now a full-sized bird esper. She was as big as any of the adults, and was as graceful and beautiful in flight as ever. She nested high now, near the top of the mountain. She too had learned his Omniapex, which seemed to be more for the benefit of others than herself. She could make others leap and dive just like herself.

The former children, now adults, were all eager to have their own children now. However, they had to wait another hundred years instead of fifty. After all that had happened, the espers wanted to wait. They wanted to ensure no more problems happened to interrupt the birthing the next time around. Furthermore, they wanted to make sure all of the children were ready to mate the next time. That meant that the current children had to wait an additional fifty years, and it was small consolation that they were immortal. They still had to wait. But now, the next group were also full grown young adults.

The Slyph had never shown up again. No one knew what had become of them. But the others had grown. Kirin and Unicorn were both full grown now. They were very knowledgeable as well. True to their mother, both of them had healing powers that they were quickly mastering. Unicorn had grown into a great horse-like creature with a single spiraled horn coming out of her head. But Kirin had turned into some great forest creature. Two large antlers grew out of the sides of her head, and a green mane extended down her neck. Both of them were interested in growing things and giving things life, and Kirin had been responsible for bringing more life and plants to the area.

Tritoch had shown remarkable potential. He seemed to be overwhelmingly intelligent, agile, and strong. He was able to talk and read at the age of three. By the age of eight, he already knew his Omniapex, the Tri-Dazer. His strength grew quickly afterward, making him ascend past some of the oldest espers in addition to the newer ones. But despite the worst fears, he never turned wicked. His development seemed to be entirely his own. And so, he grew and became his own person with his own likes and dislikes. If Griever had planned on making him an extension of himself, he had failed. He had grown big and long, and his wings filled in with feathers as splendid as his mother's. He was a dazzling sight to behold indeed, and a marvelous esper. And he too was looking to mate this time around.

And to this tune, Bahamut was readying himself for another round of children. There weren't any major celebrations planned this time. There wasn't going to be any arrivals or guests this time. It was just going to be a simple ceremony. And he was eager to see the result. There shouldn't have been any mishaps this time. After a hundred years of peace, nothing seemed too terrible or troubling this time around. Everything should go without a hitch. And now, he would get to see the offspring of their first generation as well. In a few short hours, they would begin.

Bahamut looked down over the land below him, from the same opening he had looked out a hundred years earlier. Already, the normally busy grounds were clear. All of the espers had withdrawn and went inside to plan. People were pairing up left and right to decide who would give birth with who this time. Some were deciding not to have anymore children. Among them were Leviathan and Starlet, happy with the children they had. Starlet was, of course, thin again at this point, and both she and Leviathan continued to get along just fine. The others were more earnest, however. And of the original espers, Odin was one of them… He inhaled deeply and looked over the empty land below. No doubt, this would be another interesting day.

Abruptly, Bahamut heard a knock on the door behind him. Yes…that was a new thing they had tried making for privacy, taking wood in strips, putting them together, and covering entrances with them. They called them doors. He turned around to see who it was at once. He was expecting Leviathan to come by to have a little pre-event chat. However, on turning, he was most surprised at what he saw. He saw no esper at all, just a middle-aged human man. He was stark naked, somewhat balding, and had a long brown beard and thick mustache. He gazed simply into the room, not saying a word. Bahamut, however, was immediately puzzled. A human was here? How had a human gotten here? The nearest village was over three thousand miles away.

"Uh…um…who…who are you?" Bahamut finally found himself saying. "How did you get here?"

However, on hearing that, the man seemed happy. He grinned widely and beamed his teeth. "Heh-heh…fooled you, didn't I Bahamut? Just as I hoped."

Bahamut blinked in response, more confused than ever at this reply. "Excuse me?"

The man closed his eyes in response. Then, to Bahamut's surprise, he began to alter. His neck extended. His arms and legs went down to his sides and seemed to melt into his skin. His face elongated. His hair fell out, and scales slid out from his skin and into place. His beard twisted into long, scaly whiskers, and he twisted and turned around as he grew thinner. He also grew much taller and longer than before too. At last, to Bahamut's amazement, he saw no man there…but the full body of Leviathan. The king of espers gaped in surprise.

"Leviathan? You…how did…?"

Leviathan grinned in response. "My latest technique, Bahamut. I learned how to shapeshift and take the form of a human. It takes a lot of practice, but I could teach you how to do the same."

"Amazing…" Bahamut answered. "You…you can actually look just like one of them!"

Leviathan shrugged in response. "To tell you the truth, it was for Starlet. As you can imagine, we do look quite a bit different…and that can come in hard…" Here, he paused, and leaned in closer to Bahamut, giving him a wink. "Er…sometimes, if you know what I mean. So I took the form of a human so I look just like her. Plus, this will really help out on my research if I look just like everyone else." However, after saying this, he grew a bit uneasy and frowned. "I tried to make myself a bit more handsome…but apparently this trick only reflects how I really look on the inside. I can't change it any more than I can change my own appearance."

"It's still amazing." Bahamut reassured. "And I'm sure Starlet will be pleased."

Leviathan managed a smile in response. After that, he moved a bit more into the room and went over to the window. "So," He began. "Any plans to reproduce this time? You still don't have any true children. All of the dragons had their own babies by now."

"Me?" Bahamut asked, chuckling a little. "Heck no. I'm going to be a bachelor forever."

Leviathan leveled his gaze at him. "That's kind of a depressing outlook."

"It's the truth." Bahamut simply replied. "Anyway, I'm planning to stay maybe for the start of things tonight, but then I'm going to be moving out on a little hiatus."

Leviathan raised an eyebrow at that. "Hiatus?" He asked.

"Yes." Bahamut answered plainly. "I've been around here for so long… I never get out anywhere. It's been so long since I've run around the world…a hundred and fifty years now. I really need to take a look at the places and people. I've only been hearing about people from the rest of you. I haven't run around at all on my own. I'd like to see what's been going on since the end of Griever, especially in Palad's group."

"Alright. Just don't count on them calling them Palad's group." Leviathan answered. "Remember, he's been dead for some time. Now they call themselves the Paladin."

Bahamut sighed and bowed his head a little at that. Palad's aging and death had brought a very clear thing to his mind. He was immortal as were his kin, but any human friend he made would eventually die and be long since forgotten. Only a name would remain that no one knew the origin of. That was a sad thing to remember all of these landmark ages. However, Bahamut had to remember it was also a time for life. There'd be more children tonight, and they'd have their first official ceremony since the first one. That was always a cause for joy. And soon, Bahamut would be checking in on the rest of the world too. It would be good to see the development of the world as well. And tonight, he'd get a chance to move out and see the offspring of all the people he had met a hundred years ago as well.

Finally, Bahamut exhaled and turned back to Leviathan. "Well, let's get going to the chamber. It's another big night tonight, after all."

After the sun went down, everyone had assembled in the birthing chamber. It had expanded a bit at this point. After all, there were quite a few more people ready to go this time, and they had to make room for them all. Three generations of espers, all of birthing age, were now in the chamber and ready to go. There was nervous excitement among all of them. After having to wait another fifty years than expected, the first generation was especially eager. Things had gone quiet all day, so it was set to go without a hitch. Now they were all ready. The older ones were eager for the ritualistic event to take place again, and all of the younger ones were ready to engage in this for the first time.

Bahamut stood in front of the chamber, and looked over the whole group. "Ok everyone. We're ready for the first official celebration of the birthing. The first one was a bit haphazard, granted…"

"Tell us about it." Ifrit sneered in response, now in a deep, aggressive voice that he had developed. Shiva elbowed him to shut him up at that, and the others laughed a bit in response to that. Bahamut smiled and gave a knowing nod.

"Yes, I remember all too well…" He answered, then regained his composure. "But now we're ready for a true event. Now, the first one up, I believe, should be our latest couple, married now just thirty years…Ifrit and Shiva."

Here, Bahamut gestured to the couple. Ifrit was still rubbing his side, but he grinned and waved a monstrous claw at the others. Shiva smiled modestly. Everyone began to clap in response when they were named. Everyone except Odin. He was impatient to get underway himself. It had been a hundred and fifty years…he was ready to try for a new heir. It had taken him a while to find one that was desirable and willing, but at last he had managed to find one that would be ready to do it. That was all that mattered. He could still obtain a son from it.

Ifrit and Shiva paused for a moment after the applause ceased. However, in the end, they both looked a bit uneasy. Ifrit coughed and started to say something. "Well…very kind of you all…but…I'm afraid…me and my wife…would prefer to keep things a bit more…physical, you know? This whole short process isn't all that pleasureful…"

Shiva sighed and elbowed Ifrit again, making him gag this time. After that, she turned to the others and spoke in a subdued voice. "What my oaf of a husband means to say is that we would prefer to have our children naturally. So I'm afraid you will all have to wait another nine months."

"Oh, you're no fun…" Palidor scolded.

"Oh, hush up, Palidor." Starlet shushed playfully. "It's good to have children more naturally. It's a very pleasant experience, not that I would trade any of my fusion births for the world…" She trailed off a moment, and then bowed her head a little. She became quiet all of the sudden, and a melancholy went over her. Leviathan frowned a bit and nudged up to her encouragingly. She still hadn't gotten over losing the Sylph. She still missed them every day, and her inability to find them. The memory of that made her slow down a little. However, after a few moments, the time passed, and Bahamut gave a nod to Ifrit and Shiva. He turned back to the others and addressed them again.

"Very well, so that's how Ifrit and Shiva shall have their first children. So, next we will have…Titan."

The whole group turned confused at that. Titan had been running around asking them for years now to make a child with him, but no one had dared agree. Everyone hated the idea of doing anything with Titan, or of having a child with him. They didn't want to risk having another ignorant child like him. Yet someone had to. Titan grinned and moved forward in earnest now. He pushed through the crowd and came up front, and eagerly went over to one of the fusion pads and stood on it. As he did, another one came out of the group. It was Ogopogo, slowly backing up onto the floor and dragging something behind him.

Odin snorted. "Figures. You would be the fool who agreed to mate with this idiot."

"Actually…I had something else in mind." Ogopogo simply answered. He continued to back up, and as he did, the group became aware of what he was dragging out onto the field. It was a great looking thing that looked like an strange mixture of odds and ends. Strange rocks seemed to be cobbled together to form an odd looking man with huge forearms and lower legs, thin rear arms and upper legs, a huge torso, a head that was leveled a bit lower down on the body, and finally two long pipes curving out of the back of the thing. Most of the body seemed to be made out of clay, but the back end was made out of iron. The head had a giant curved, bowl-shaped lip that protruded from under the top of the dome-like head. He began to push it forward toward the main pad.

"What in the world is that?" Kirin asked.

Ogopogo grinned in response. "This is an interesting little thing me and my brother have been working on. We found that by cutting objects into certain shapes and putting them together, we could make things we like to call 'simple machines'. But by putting a lot of them together, we can make a much bigger machine, and this is one of them. We call it a 'golem'."

The others looked puzzled at this, looking over the strange man. "What does he do?" Bahamut asked.

"Well, nothing yet." Ogopogo answered. "It needs something to make it move. And we think we have just the thing. Our own energy can make it move, just how our energy makes our body moves. And so, this is how Titan can reproduce. Uh, Titan? You need to be in the middle."

Titan nodded, and did as he was told. The others were still confused as Ogopogo moved the machine down to one of the side platforms. They watched this in puzzlement and waited for a few moments. At last, Ramuh spoke up to try and see what was going on next. "So…what are you going to do?"

"Well," Ogopogo slowly answered as he finished, backing away from the machine. "In theory, this is going to work just like a regular separation technique. The only difference is that he's going to put the energy into this instead of making it into another creature. This should also be easier on Titan than trying to do it completely." He turned to Titan and gave him a nod. "Ok, Titan. Just how Leviathan showed you."

Titan nodded with a grin. After that, he balled his hands into fists, grit his teeth, closed his eyes tight, and looked as if he was about to let out a huge fart or make a wish. However, he focused and continued to concentrate for a few moments, and the others went silent as he did. Ogopogo stopped and waited for him to react. The others also waited. Bahamut looked a bit uneasy at the whole thing. He licked his lips uneasily and turned back to Titan. "Uh…separation technique?" Bahamut asked.

Ogopogo nodded. "Yes."

Bahamut continued to watch Titan. However, there was no change. His body seemed perfectly the same. It didn't shrink in the least. He didn't appear to change at all. But he kept focusing, and Bahamut could sense the new energy forming inside him. The others watched uneasily, not knowing what was going to happen. They continued to stare and hope that no mishap would happen. Some began to wonder if Titan was doing anything at all. But then, at last, something did happen. Titan opened his mouth, and immediately a small orb came out, shining with brown light. It was an interesting aura to say the least, however it sailed straight toward the machine. It touched it, and immediately seeped into it and vanished. The others uneasily waited for a moment, staring at it in puzzlement.

"Um…what part of Titan broke off?" Shiva asked ineasily.

"The part I figured he'd miss the least…" Ogopogo responded. "His wisdom."

The espers immediately turned to shock. "We've never tried that before!" Bahamut exclaimed.

However, they all soon forgot about that. A splutter came from the machine. They all turned to it, and saw it shift a bit. It sputtered again, and as it did, a small plume of smoke came out from the top. It made the others jump back in surprise. A moment later, they began to hear a turning and churning from within the machine. It started off slow, but began to pick up speed quickly. Soon it was constant. And as it was, it began to spit out smoke from the top of its pipes. It shook and vibrated a little. But then, to the amazement of the others, small lights turned on within its head. Light shone out from its eyes. It turned its head and looked to the group of espers. They paled in response, and shot back a little.

"Eh…"

"Um…"

"Er…hello?"

The machine paused a moment on hearing that. However, right after doing so, it immediately extended its leg back and gave a bow, of all things, to the crowd. The others gazed on in puzzlement.

"Greetings, Master Ogopogo." The machine answered. "It appears that my planned conception was a success."

The others blinked and stood stunned and silent. They couldn't believe it. The thing was talking. What more, it already knew who they all were. "Um…you can talk?" Starlet asked in disbelief.

"But of course." The machine calmly replied. "You are Mistress Starlet."

The others looked confused at that. Everyone was genuinely astonished. "And…and you recognize us?" Leviathan stammered.

"Of course I recognize you." The machine calmly answered. "All of the wisdom that belonged to Titan was put into me now. I know everything he knows. But unlike him, my artificial brain was not made with the same handicaps that he possesses. That is why I am better able to apply the knowledge that he had."

"But…what about Titan?" Leviathan exclaimed. "How is…?"

He turned to the esper at this. However, Titan was happily coming off of his pad and marching over to his newest progeny. "Yay! Titan have child!" He exclaimed as he walked over to the machine. He immediately wrapped his huge arms around the machine and hugged him tightly. If possible, the machine looked confused and a bit uneasy.

"Um…yes, father. You do have a child now." The machine responded.

"Well, I guess it worked out." Leviathan shrugged in response.

The others were still uneasy for a few moments. This had been the strangest birth yet. They all stood uneasily and thought for a moment. However, this new machine, this golem, seemed to be perfectly pleasant enough. And he was already rather intelligent. And Titan looked unaffected. None of them ever wanted to do this themselves, but so long as it had worked out, then it might as well be allowed. Titan and the machine moved back into the crowd once again. Bahamut swallowed a bit and looked uneasy, but in the end gave a shrug and motioned again.

"Ok…that's over and done with. Next, Odin and Unicorn are coming up."

Starlet snapped her head over to Odin at that. Her face flushed with surprise, but that quickly turned to hurt and anger afterward. She fumed at Odin. Odin, on his part, didn't seem to care. He calmly stood up and walked down to the platforms. Starlet sneered at him a bit longer, but then turned to Unicorn. Her eyes pleaded with her, trying to get her to turn away from her decision. She tried to convey the heartlessness of Odin to her with her stare. However, Unicorn didn't look at Starlet at all. She had wanted a child herself for some time. And to this goal Odin had persuaded her to have one with him. He could provide the partner for a fusion. She was already focused on the ground below, and without hesitation she stepped out onto the platforms as well. She moved down to the side and walked right over to the opposite platform, as Odin took the first one. Neither of them said a word to each other. Both of them wanted a child, and Unicorn already knew not to speak to Odin unless he cared to speak back. On Odin's part, all he cared for was an heir. Nothing more.

Bahamut looked over this uneasily. He had known Odin's growing animosity for some time now. And after what happened with Gilgamesh, long had he dreaded Odin having another child that he did not love. However, he knew he couldn't change his mind. "Um…Odin…you're planning to do a fusion this time, and not natural-"

"Let's just do it." Odin cut off coldly. "I've been waiting decades for this. I want a son."

Bahamut sighed in reply, and backed away from the pads. And so, as Starlet grit her teethin anger and glared daggers at Odin, both he and Unicorn began. The room went silent, and both Unicorn and Odin stood up straight and tall. They closed their eyes and put their hands to their sides, and the process began. Both of them focused and began to concentrate pieces of their auras between one another. A few moments went by as they did. Then, as always before, the small spheres appeared over their heads. The others watched carefully. Bahamut and Starlet alike hoped for the best. Both spheres hovered in the sky for a few brief moments, shining and shimmering. Then, as always, the two of them went together to meet each other in the center on the middle pad. Both of them united, and immediately a brilliant white flash shot out throughout the room.

Everyone closed their eyes and drew back. They covered their gazes as a rush of wind and power ripped through the room. After a few moments, however, the flash died down again as it always had. The room resumed its previous color. All of the espers put down their hands and arms and turned to look back to the front of the room. They watched as they saw both Odin and Unicorn open their eyes. They turned their heads and looked down to their new offspring. The others moved in as well, and they too looked down at it. All was silent for a brief moment, and the only sound was Odin's heavy footsteps moving across the stone floor to the central platform. Once there, he looked down…and was totally silent with a cold look on his face.

An ugly, squealing, gray boar with red hair writhed around on its new body.

No one said a word. Odin leaned up and looked down on it. His eyes filled with disappointment…and anger. Unicorn herself looked uneasy about it. She winced a bit, and walked over to it slowly. She tried to express some motherly love, but she could not hide her repulsion. The piglet squealed loudly and in an annoying tune, writhing around and looking both ugly and vile. It was, in all honesty, a hideous blemish on the esper race. None of them had ever expected a being this foul-looking and acting. Even she could barely reach out her muzzle to stroke it. When she did, the thing continued to squeal and whine endlessly. That was the only sound in the room. Its squealing continued to bleat and drone on without end. The thing was inconsolable. It began to grow irritating and annoying.

"…Shut that damn thing up." Odin coldly commanded at last.

"He's…he's just a baby…" Unicorn half-heartedly reassured.

"Give him time, Odin." Starlet added. "Your son may-"

"This…disgusting…thing is not my son. It's another damned failure." Odin harshly snapped back. "Look at it. It's a putrid, writhing, worthless little pig."

"It's still your son, Odin." Bahamut responded.

"I'm not fathering that thing." Odin retorted in growing anger. He looked up at Unicorn and glared at her. He stared at her as if it was her fault. His look was so fierce that she recoiled a bit, cowering underneath him. The pig continued to squeal. "You…I should have known not to mate with you. You're as hideous as it is. You're a damned subcreature, just like him. Even you can't stand to look at it. Even you can't stand to hear its infernal bleating!"

The pig squealed louder at this, growing frightened at the sound of the angry voice in the room. But that was the last straw. Odin was livid with fury. His eyes blazed with anger. In rage, he lashed out to the creature with his foot, though Starlet screamed for him to stop a moment too late. "I said shut up!" He bellowed as he kicked the thing with all his might in the head.

The impact sent the creature flying across the room. It squealed louder than ever for a few moments of sailing through the sky…before it struck the stone wall. It hit head first, and the impact immediately sent one eyeball shooting out of the thing's head. Soon, only a bloody socket remained in one spot, as the gray pig slid to the ground. It went silent on being struck against the wall, and began to twitch instead as it slid down and then lay on the floor. It continued to twitch afterward, having gone into shock from the trauma.

The others were horrified. No one moved an inch for a few moments. They just stood in stunned silence. Odin himself was a bit stunned at his actions, fuming and breathing hard as he glared at the pig. But he hated it. He hated it more than anything. It was a failure to him. After all his struggles, trials, and tribulations, this ugly little piece of flesh was the only thing he had to show for it. He couldn't take it anymore. It reflected on his own failure. At last, the group reacted. Unicorn bowed her head and began to sob bitterly. Leviathan and Bahamut rushed across the room to the fallen newborn, trying to see how bad it was hurt and if it was still alive. Starlet didn't move at all for a few moments. But then, she slowly turned to Odin. As she did, her eyes blazed with more hate than ever.

"You…heartless…merciless…bastard…"

Odin blustered and fumed for a moment. However, he realized that he couldn't escape what had happened. The others began to look at him in horror and disgust as well. He had committed a heinous act, and there was no denying it. Even he couldn't excuse himself right away. And yet, as he stood there, his hate for being inferior...his hate for not having a decent son…overwhelmed him. Hissing and fuming, he scowled and suddenly turned away. Without another word, he marched right out of the room and left the other espers to stare at him as he left. No one said anything. No one tried to stop him. They were all too stunned at what had just happened. They watched him march out and heard his footsteps vanish as he stamped down the hall. He was soon gone.

Starlet, tears in her eyes, turned and began to comfort Unicorn. As for the others, they merely sat and waited as Leviathan and Bahamut tended to the new child.

Shoat, the gray boar, would live, it seemed. But Odin's kick had silenced it forever. It lacked the ability to speak now, due to some sort of brain trauma. What more, it would go through life with only one eye. As the child grew, Bahamut had a feeling that it would forever hate Odin, and with very good reason. But he couldn't change what would happen. They had yet to have a child who could turn back time. And so, the birthing ritual ended. Another series of unfortunate events had ruined everyone's anticipation about the coming event. The only children that would be coming now would arise from natural childbirth at this point.

Night wore on. The machine, named Golem by his father, went to retire with Titan in his own chambers. Everyone else went to bed. Unicorn realized too late the folly of being too desperate for a child that she had paired with a man who loved no one. Everyone now had a lower opinion of Odin. He had been cold before, but now they saw him as heartless. He cared for nothing except himself and a successor now. He had run off and quitted Terratopolis it seemed, but none of them cared. They were all too upset at him now to care where he went. Starlet agreed to stay with the injured child that first difficult night. It would be weeks before full recovery, and she was the only one not struck uneasy by Shoat's mere existence. All in all, it was a pretty grim place for Bahamut to leave.

However, the esper was nevertheless eager to. Getting away from this difficult scene was a relief to him. Hopefully things would calm down and be back to normal by the time he returned. Meanwhile, he would get to see much of the world and the people there. He hadn't forgotten about that, and was eager to see what was going on. That was his only joy in this troubled time now, and he was eager to satisfy it.

And so, around midnight, Bahamut bid farewell to his family. He gave Leviathan jurisdiction over the place until he returned, embraced his friend, and then set out in the middle of the moonlight. Alone, he went out into the main courtyard of Terratopolis, unfurled his wings, and sailed into the sky. Hopefully, he already began to think as he went up into the heavens, he would see his brother on his journeys. Then he could finally apologize for what had transpired a lifetime ago. Or if something had happened to him…then perhaps he could learn the cause. With that in mind, Bahamut soon was in the sky. He turned away from the mountain, toward the warmer climates, and then took off at full speed, leaving his family and friends far behind him.

Only then did Odin finally reenter Terratopolis once more.

It was late at night. Everyone else had turned in with their new children, and Odin was alone when he landed back on the grounds. Angrily, he stomped into the tunnel leading in, still fuming over all that had happened.

All he had ever wanted was to have his legacy take its rightful place among the espers. All he ever wanted was to ensure that they would be the rightful kings. He had already consigned himself to the fate of never personally being the successor. But he wanted to make sure his further generations would be the true successors. And he had always counted the cost. He always knew it wouldn't have been easy. He knew it would have taken time and work, and he had invested that and much more. He had struggled and labored to try and make the perfect child, to make an heir to lead the espers into the future. And what did he have now?

One milksop waste of training.

One hideous blemish.

And the disdain of everyone.

However, as Odin had walked around for the past few hours, he did begin to realize things about himself. His disappointment was great, but what he began to hate as well was what he was turning into. Foul as the creature he sired was, he realized he had lost his temper. He couldn't kill the thing. It was alive and had a right to it, much as it disgusted him. But he hadn't cared. He had wanted to destroy it, the thing that was alive because of him. That was irresponsible. It was against the code he had lived by all his life, against his honor. But because of his anger and fury at not having a decent son, he had lashed out angrily. This desire for an heir…this hatred of being inferior to Bahamut…it was driving him to this madness. It was leading him to become something feared and hated by all others. He had ignored that for quite a while, but he couldn't anymore. He hadn't cared about the opinion of the espers for such a long time…but now he couldn't deny what was happening.

Yet at the same time, he couldn't put down his desperation. The one desire that had consumed him for decades was as strong as it was the day it began. No matter what he did, he couldn't put it down. He had to have a son. He had to sate his need. He had to have an heir he could be proud of. He could not rest until he did. He knew he was the warrior esper. He knew he had the power within him. He just had to unite it with someone who could use the power to its maximum. He had to have a child who could use his pure, unadulterated strength, something that could be perfect where he had failed.

But he never got it from uniting with his fellow espers, Odin realized as he continued to walk up the halls, farther and farther up the chambers. All of them made his children weak. Starlet had imparted too much of her sympathetic nature. Unicorn…was already an aberrationon the sight of esper kind. None of them were adequate. Bahamut might be the only one, but he didn't want him. Then the child would be as much his successor as Odin's. He couldn't stand that. No…nothing could promote his being beyond where he already was.

Perhaps it was him. Perhaps parts of him held him back. Perhaps his strength was too hampered by other parts of him. But how could that be? He trained himself so hard…for so long…without fail. Yet he was naturally inadequate. No matter what he did he couldn't change that. He would always be weaker as he was. His natural body was leaning to being inferior. He couldn't change it at all…no matter how much he wanted to…

However, as Odin walked on, he suddenly slowed his step. A thought came to mind.

Perhaps…he could.

There was one technique that was useful for getting rid of undesirable parts of himself. He could change himself in that regard. He could separate all the parts of him that held him back…that were full of doubt…that refused to live up to their full strength. He could rid himself of anything that made him weak. He could bring out a single, pure entity…one that would not show hesitation or weakness in any form. One that embodied his pure, unadulterated power. One that would take all that he had given him and become more and better. One that could truly surpass him…Odin perfected, as it was.

The idea began to appeal to him. It excited him. Why not? Why not make a perfect Odin? Why not make one that personified power? Why not, he asked himself, as even then he began to walk toward the separation chamber…putting aside all restrictions from his mind and seeking only his heir?

But then, he slowed down his step. He knew why. He wasn't ready to sacrifice his own power. Giving up his power would mean letting too much of himself go. It would mean becoming only a part of his former self. And he didn't look forward to being a fat blob or a thin rail. He couldn't just give up his power like that. And any other aspect of himself would just leave an inferior child. No…none of those methods would work. He needed a better way…

And there was one…

He could separate his negative side from his positive one. In his negative side…there was power, strength, ferocity, fury…in addition to all other things. Getting rid of that part of him would leave him a creature that would be useless as a fighter. With only his good half in place, what good could he be? But it wouldn't rob him of all his strength. And it would isolate all the hardness, power, and strives he had made. It would create something that would not be hindered by any mercy or compassion. It would make something that could finally be strong and mighty, that could finally take its rightful place in the world of espers. He could finally have the esper son that he wanted…and he could sacrifice nothing of himself other than the best. He could make a perfected Odin…the perfect heir.

Anyone, of course, could see the flaws in Odin's reasoning. Evil likewise had doubts, fears, and wickedness. Crusader had been consumed by evil, and it had turned the thing into a monster. He also didn't recognize that goodness had great power in it as well. He didn't realize all that his goodness turned him into…he didn't realize it gave him his true power and honor. Without it, he didn't realize what he would truly be… Perhaps had he been a stronger person, or had used his brain more, or his own wisdom, he could have seen the folly in his ways. He could have seen the wrongness of what he was doing. But he didn't. He saw nothing…nothing except his consuming desire to be better, to have an heir. All other desires had been sacrificed to this one obsession. He knew nothing else…and he could be satisfied by nothing else. The thought, the mere chance that he could have a perfect heir…he couldn't deny it. He wanted it too much. Evil hadn't taken him yet, but this evil desire had. And the more he thought of it, the more he wanted it. The more he believed its validity. The more he thought it could work. And so, his desire made the option grow from possibility to chance…to obsession…to desperation. He had to try. He didn't care about anything else…just making the perfect heir.

Odin's pace picked up, and soon he was rushing down the halls. The desire continued to leap in his mind. The chance continued to excite his heart. He thought of nothing else, not even the consequences. He had to do this. He had to try it. Soon, he had reached the top…and he went rushing right into the fusion chamber.

Within seconds, Odin had leapt onto the central pad. There he stood, and immediately he calmed himself down. He stood straight and tall, and closed his eyes. He started right away, struggling to find the power within him. He was experienced with this, however this method was harder. It didn't come right away. His negative feelings permeated him, and were a lot harder to isolate. And so, he focused and concentrated for a few moments. The moments stretched into minutes. The minutes stretched to an hour. All the while, Odin went through his mind and struggled to find negative emotions within him. He searched through all his being, looking for the negative values with him. Doubt…fear…aggression…every dark part of him had to be found and accounted for. Every part of it had to be drawn together. Every part of it had to be grasped. It took forever, struggling to find it all. But in the end…he did have much of it. He did have an invisible cord tied throughout his being to this.

Odin hesitated again. After this, there would be no going back. He would lose a part of himself permanently. He didn't know exactly what that would do to him. But in the end, his one unified desire asserted itself. He had to have a perfect heir. He had to have someone superior. He didn't care about anything else. And so, he did it. He drew it out from within him. He pulled it together inside, and formed it into one concentrated point. Strange…it felt strange within him. It was cold and hot at the same time…and it seemed to draw within itself…as if a great void was within it that it sought to fill, but there was nothing to fill it with. So it sought to consume everything around it…which was Odin. The warrior esper felt uneasy with it in him. He felt cold…nauseous…sick on the inside. He wanted to get rid of it. And so, he forced it out of his body as fast as possible.

But as he felt it drawing up…as he felt it leaving his insides…Odin began to feel different again. The sickness vanished, but other things vanished as well. All of his negative feelings…fear…jealousy…envy…all began to come out of him. His anger, rage, grudges…they began to come from his body. The code that he lived by of honor…suddenly seemed so much stronger and easier to follow… It was a strange feeling. He suddenly felt more livid throughout…more light and at ease…even stronger…and, dare he say, happier. A great change came over him, and inside he feltnew… But as he felt this, however, new feelings began to enter him as well. Concerns he had never cared for now came forward, and feelings of conviction began to bear down on him, strong and present in his mind… Gradually, he began to feel detached from reality. He lost connection on the evil coming out of him. Instead, he felt something new…and he felt only himself inside.

Starlet… You were so innocent and kind…you've always been so loving. And all I cared about was myself. I never thought of you. I kept your own child from you, and he was as much yours as mine. Even if I could have made him better, I hated you for being his mother…and you didn't deserve it. You were always so kind… I'm sorry.

Shoat… What have I done to you? You were my son in the end, yet all I did was treat you with hate… And now, because of my hate…you will have to go through life like this. If I wasn't prepared to take responsibility for you…I shouldn't have had you… I made a horrible mistake.

Gilgamesh… Gilgamesh, my son… All I ever wanted you to be was the strongest warrior. I struggled to make you into that. But as I did, in the face of your failures, I never saw anything else exceptmy ownfailures. I never saw how much devotion you gave me…how much you aspired to be for my satisfaction.

Why…why did I want an heir so badly? What did I want it for? Why did I hate Bahamut so much? Bahamut acted perfectly…selfless and devoted. But because it was not me that killed Crusader, I hated him. I hated all that he advanced to become. And perhaps…that was why I couldn't reach his level. That was why I couldn't be the same as him. He wanted to be stronger only so that he could defend others, and he selflessly gave up his power so that he could rid the world of Griever. Would I have done the same?

No…I wouldn't have.

I wanted to be stronger for a selfish reason. I wanted to be stronger so I could surpass Bahamut and all others…to be the true king of the espers. Bahamut never cared for that. He never cared for power or prestige…only the betterment of all people… He did nothing but struggle to help us all, and I hated him for it…despised him for it…

Bahamut…you are better than me.

This desire for an heir did not come from love. It came from jealousy and hate. That was why I was less. That was why I never lived up to my full potential. My reasons were always selfish. No matter how much honor I wanted…no matter how much I wanted to help the humans…I always had that desire beneath. And because of that, I never could reach true strength. I could never reach true power. My heart was never clean like yours, Bahamut. I cared too much for myself. But true power…the code of a warrior…is not to grow stronger than another, but to grow oneself. It is not to conquer, but to defend others. I failed in my code…I failed since the start. I never realized what I had, and I had this selfish wish.

I am sorry…

…Wait.

The new esper…coming from my evil…

No…I must withdraw it!

Immediately, Odin opened his eyes. He had to pull it back in. But just as he was ready to do so, he froze in shock. He looked before him, and saw it was already too late.

His monstrous heir stood before him.

Odin's face was stricken with shock...and terror.He also felt it…and not since Griever had he felt anything so evil. Perhaps…even more so. Griever might have had an ounce of good within it, but not this thing. There was nothing in it but hate and evil. There was no thought in its mind but wickedness and death. There was no love in its heart, and not a single pure intent in its brain. It was evil embodied. It looked vaguely like Odin…only twisted. The thing was tall as he was, but its cape covered its entire body. It swathed around it like a cloak, and a great iron buckle fastened it around its neck. The color was blood red. It bore horns on a helmet like Odin, only this helmet was black and red and the antlers were curved down and cruel, like a bull ready to charge. Lastly…there was its face. It was nothing but a hideous white skull poking out from the helmet. Its teeth were long and sharp. Its face was twisted into a grinning, wicked smile. Lastly, there was its eyes. They were nothing but small red lights burning in a black skull. An air of darkness came over him. The room itself seemed to darken from his mere presence. It grew cold and still…as if life was rotting in the presence of this foul creature. This…was Odin's son. His "Odin perfected".

It was a horror.

The monster grinned wickedly at Odin. Odin stared back like stone. He dared not blink. A foul smell from the monster filled his nostrils, and he grew uneasy within. "What…are you?"

The thing flashed its terrible fangs. It answered in a voice that sickened Odin…for it sounded like him, only insane and demented. "Why father…I'm what you always wanted." It grinned in its cold, heartless tone. "I'm your heir."

Odin blinked in response. He clenched his teeth, and felt himself sweat. "You…you were not what I desired."

"Oh, but I was, father." The thing hissed back. It began to move up on Odin. Shocked at the thing's mere existence, he backed up from it. "I'm everything you always wanted. I'm the power to take…to conquer…to rule…to kill. I'm not afraid to do everything you always wanted. I'm not afraid to seize what was rightfully yours. You…you always restricted me. I dwelt deep in your heart, yearning so much to satisfy your deepest, darkest desires." It spoke smoothly now, yet its voice would curdle milk and make babies cry. "You wanted so much to kill Bahamut."

Odin's eyes widened. "No…"

"You wanted to be a king beyond Griever."

"I…didn't…"

"You wanted to kill your stupid children."

"No…" Odin answered, shaking his head. However, he couldn't deny that his heart had entertained such dark thoughts. They had been within him at one point. They filled him with more conviction than ever…but those had been his darkest thoughts. He no longer cared about them. He didn't want them to remain within him. He wanted them gone, and he never wanted to encourage them again.

"But you were weak…you were always weak." The monster went on cruelly. "You were the failure, not your children. You just lacked what you needed to be the strongest."

Odin paused at that, but then clenched his jaw. He shook his head defiantly. "No…you're wrong. It was my negative emotions that made me weaker. It was that which kept me from true power. But the power I sought and the reason for it were also in conflict. I had impure motives from the start. You…you are everything I don't need."

The thing grinned wickedly in response. "You truly think that? You truly think a bunch of sympathy and care makes you stronger? Well…why don't we find out?"

Odin frowned and drew his sword. "…Gladly. You are my first true mistake, and I'll be more than happy to correct your right now."

The creature flashed its teeth. It extended a hand from its cloak, revealing it to also be nothing but bone. Odin crossed Zantetsuken in front of himself and prepared for a fight. He glared at the thing and waited, ready to intercept the first attack. As the skeleton hand came out, it was revealed that a small ball of darkness was held within it. Odin glared at it, and readied himself for the attack. Slowly, the monster raised it up and lifted it behind him. Odin tightened his teeth, ready for the attack to come. But then, as the monster brought his hand down to attack…Odin saw at the last moment he wasn't aiming for him. He was aiming for the ground. His eyes expanded, and he moved to react to it…but it was too late. The black orb hit the ground right in front of them.

Immediately, a black cloud of darkness exploded from the ground. Like a cloud of thick smoke, it moved up and quickly filled the entire room. All was turned to darkness. Pitch black filled Odin's vision, and he could see nothing. All was turned to the darknest night…or darker yet. Odin looked up at this, and fumed angrily. Quickly, he shot forward and swung his blade out into the darkness. But he hit nothing. It was already gone. He grit his teeth in frustration and anger. As he did, he heard a horrible laughing within the blackness. It echoed throughout it, filling the whole area so that it did not show where it was coming from. Odin sneered and closed his eyes, beginning to scan the area for the monster.

"Heh-heh…little too slow, Odin?"

"You…" The warrior esper hissed in response, still trying to find him.

"I won't prove myself to you here, father." The thing mocked in response, especially on the title. "No…I'll show my true power in the same arena Gilgamesh has. I have big plans for this world…and they will take some time to complete. But when they do, I assure you…no one will ever remember the so-called horrors of Griever's rule compared to what I will do. My name is Hades…the name the world will bow down to in terror ere long."

The thing laughed wickedly to end the little speech. Odin scowled and continued to search for him. But he couldn't find his energy. It seemed already gone. But it couldn't be. He realized now the horrible mistake he had made. He had spawned a creature of pure evil, all of the wickedness in his heart personified. If that thing got away…there was no telling what evil it would unleash on the world. He had to stop it. He couldn't let it get away…he couldn't! He scanned desperately, expanding his range. He went all the way to his limit. And as he did, the blackness began to clear. Like black smoke, it faded and moved away as before. Light slowly came in again. The room was slowly outlined. The platforms became visible again, and the entrance and details formed throughout the room. In a few more moments, the rest of the black darkness cleared…and the room was revealed. But there was no one in it. No one, save Odin.

Horror sank into Odin's heart. Fear and dread came over him. He tried being angry and frustrated, but he was more upset at what he had done. This was his fault. That monster…that Hades…it came from his evil. And in his greed to have a child, he had spawned it. Now, whatever it did…wherever it went…it would be all his fault. Whatever deaths it caused…misery it brought…it would be because of him. All because of that damned desire within him.

At once, Odin fell to one knee, and let Zantetsuken drop to his side. Overcome with grief, Odin wept for the first time in his life.

To be continued...