Even after getting a response from Solus, Estinien remained reserved. He did not seem like a liar, but the ascian was also not a fool. If the truth was much direr than what he presented, it would be impractical to disclose it, at least before Fandaniel is out of the picture. The dragoon knew better than to trust anyone from their black-robed brethren, for it was Lahabrea's hand that guided the Archbishop to Azys Lla.
It was also clear that news about Elidibus had shaken Solus. From that point onward, he made sure to hasten their preparations in any way possible. He would not afford any time for garleans and eorzeans to ease the strife between them and form any semblance of camaraderie. Lucia and Quintus supported him, both eager to stop the madness around them.
And so, a plan was brought forth to attack both fronts. Cid volunteered to lead the attack on the gates with his N-Warrior, which will create enough of a distraction for the tempered. Magnai and Cirina were first to join his assault with their steppe warriors, with Lominsian and Ishgardian contingents following through. Meanwhile, a squad consisting of Estinien, Lyse, Fordola, and garlean soldiers led by Emet-Selch would be snuck into the tower's heart on one of the trains from the depot Estinien discovered.
The battle began with Lightning's speed; the armies of the Ilsabard Contingent stormed the parade grounds moments before Estinien found himself on an underground rail, charging through the tunnels, feeling the vile essence getting closer with each second. He didn't care much about what they will find there. Something was telling him he would have driven a spear into it regardless.
"I can feel the bloody bastards…" - Fordola said as she overlooked the next few railway carriages. "There are some that are still here."
"Then we will have to clear the path." - Estinien nodded, glancing at his Allie's once again. Emet-Selch led Jullus and other soldiers into the battle, but his mind was obviously preoccupied. The one who orchestrated this entire plan was at a loss as they entered the gateway of the gods.
"My lord, we're all ready." - Jullus said with eagerness, his voice echoing through the tunnel. "Just give us a command, and we will crush them."
"Then do it." - Solus responded. The ascian had a moment of clarity, possibly realizing that he needed to be a bit more inspiring in moments like this. He walked to the front so everyone in the group could see him while overlooking the most fitting path for them to follow. Lyse looked away with distaste and joined Fordola and Estinien.
"It's still wrong…" - Lyse shook her head. "I know why we are doing this, I truly do, but after all he did, it's all wrong…" - The woman clenched her teeth.
"We would've not come this far so quickly without the freak." - Fordola responded. "I like it as little as you do, but there comes a time when you just shut up and work with whatever you have. Right, Estinien?"
"Yes…" - The dragoon responded, trying to leave the thought of Emet possibly murdering his friends behind. It was easy to ally with him when garlean crimes were an abstract concept for the elezen, but imagining him extinguishing Alphinaud's life made Estinien seethe with fury. "Whatever anger and disdain we have for him, it will do us all good to use it in the coming battle."
The two women had no argument with that; all of them were a little worried due to the danger of their undertaking. Before they could talk, all of them were interrupted by Emet-Selch's commanding voice.
"After all the days of preparation, you are finally here, approaching those that destroyed the Garlean nation, plunged others into chaos in an attempt to destroy this world. Remember who you are fighting against, and do not hold back for the shortest of moments. This is a palace, a city that has been taken away from you. So go forth, conquer, rule. Together, we shall punish the traitors in a manner they deserve!" - His words were not the most sincere, but the garleans cheered nonetheless, while eorzean heroes took as their last warning that the time to strike had come.
The squad charged into the further carriages that were still plagued by the tempered's presence.
"For Garlemald! No mercy for the broken!" - Jullus exclaimed as he slashed the nearby thrall, encouraging his men to fight to their fullest potential. Estinien followed and found himself clashing with three soldiers at the same time.
In other situations, the dragoon might have been much more methodical in his approach, but the musings on Emet-Selch's past have done enough to make him step into his anger. The dragoon ravaged one of the tempered by piercing his neck with a spear, furiously pushing the man to the ground as he drowned in his blood. The other two did not even have time to move while Estinien plunged the lance into the eye of his nearest opponent. He screeched in agony for a few moments while his brain still functioned. Fordola was swift to join and slice the remaining soldier's body in two.
"Were you always that good?" - Fordola said, very impressed at Estinien's abilities.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, I gather."
He saw Lyse battling the tempered along the garleans, rivaling their eagerness to fight. How ironic that in an attempt to destroy this world, Fandaniel has united those who would never have fought side by side otherwise.
Their skirmish would not continue for long; the train had reached its destination. The depot beneath the tower remained relatively uncorrupted, but its grim hallways were a gateway to the rest of the tower.
"And here I was hoping that you could deal with those enemies efficiently enough…" - Emet's disappointed voice rang out from behind. The ascian snapped his finger, summoning an array of dark arrows falling from above, wounding each tempered with precision while avoiding allies.
"Couldn't you do that straight away?" - Lyse said with annoyance.
"Each spell requires focus and concentration, these…Circumstances are hardly ideal." - Emet responded in a tone of indifference before stepping onto the depot's floor.
"We are in; the traitors are within our grasp!" - Jullus exclaimed.
"Let's not keep them waiting." - Solus smiled and gave his soldiers an allowance.
The squad walked through the surprising empty corridors before encountering a mechanical creature on their way. It was a mechanical weapon with a humanoid body, some technologies Estinien could easily recognize as garlean, but they were twisted to no end. This guardian has raised its hand, pushing the floor with unrelenting force. Estinien felt the ground beneath them shaking despite its strong foundations.
"Spread out!" - Fordola commanded before rushing to the side.
"Since when are we taking your orders?" - Jullus scoffed.
"That thing's attacks are single-focused. Having to choose its targets will be harder if we are all in different places!"
Jullus did not like to obey, but Fordola's resonant gave her the ability to peer into their opponent's strategies. This guardian was simple in its programming and, therefore, would have been easy to trick. Jullus's guard attacked from the right while Eorzean heroes remained on the left, the guardian would sometimes switch between one and the other, but the area of his strikes has not been enough.
"Get ready!" - Estinien said after noticing the guardian charge itself with energy. In the next instant, it pulled the fighter closer, attempting to ensure that as many as possible would be caught up in his onslaught. However, this gave an opportunity for Emet-Selch to intervene. Creating magical barriers on both sides of the warrior while forcing two arcane spheres into it created a devastating explosion that destroyed the guardian's circuits and forced it to go haywire. Electrical currents of energy have been spurring out of the vessel while Estinien and others remained untouched. Solus created a potent aetheric arrow, flying directly into the guardian's head, destroying its brain.
As the mechanical warrior collapsed into oblivion, Estinien once again could not deny the boons of having an ascian at their side. Any opponent except Zenos and the eikon that rested inside would fall to them as quickly as leaves on the wind.
"Thank you, my lord!" - One of the garlean soldiers exclaimed with a relieved voice. Emet strolled through the room slowly, making sure that the guardian was truly destroyed. Afterward, he gave eorzean heroes a stark glance as if expecting something.
"We're fine." - Fordola stated, only to be ignored by the ascian.
"Thank you…" - Lyse forced those words out of herself, and Estinien saw a sly smile emerge on Emet's face before he stood tall and finished his examination.
"Let us be off, then. So far, this is hardly impressive for the Allag's most genius mind." - The ascian sighed, and the rest followed him into the tower.
Estinien was in awe at how much has this place changed. It was only a few months ago that he and Gaius infiltrated what was once an Imperial palace and saw Emperor Varis get slain by his own son, and there was nothing to indicate that this was the same place.
"By the gods…" - Lyse shivered as she looked at the spire from below; its walls were imbued with dark magic that radiated unease and dread into the heroes' spirits. Even for the most resilient, fighting here would be a challenge.
"We can't falter; let's go." - Estinien encouraged her in the best way he could. He looked at the garleans, who could scarcely believe their eyes.
"What have they done…" - Jullus clenched his fist as the boy's eyes radiated pure rage. "Damn every single traitor, anyone who dared to play a part!"
"Keep that fury in check for now. You'll need it." - Emet said in a commanding tone while searching for the way forward.
"There's an elevator here." - Fordola noted after examining the devices around them; it became clear that this platform served to ascend this spire, and it was at the top where their true enemies must have been waiting.
"Perfect." - Solus responded. "We will be in with a surprise for our dear bringers of chaos. Activate it."
After a few moments of examining those technologies, the squad ascended. This did not come without ramifications, as the tempered were alerted to their presence. Dozens of garlean soldiers jumped from the upper floor, landing directly on the platform.
"Ambush!" - Jullus yelled. "Kill them all!"
Emet and the garleans encircled most of their opponents and began the fight themselves, leaving only a handful for Eorzeans. While amidst this bloodbath, Estinien noticed another platform beside them. It was slowly moving up while besieged by enemies.
"Isn't that…Cirina!" - Lyse called out. Cirina, Magnai, and Alberic were all crashing garlean skulls one after another.
"And here I thought we've been getting ahead of them!" - Estinien heard his mentor's call when they noticed each other. There was little time for talk while everyone was engaged in a battle of their own. Still, even without ascian aid, the warriors of the steppe and Ishgardian knights had the benefit of free will on their side; without the advantage of others, tempered had no chance of success.
Moments after Solus finished annihilating the last magitek claw, tossing the metal carcass to the pile of tempered bodies that lay before them, the platform reached its highest point. There was another dark corridor for the squad to traverse from that point on.
"How was the assault?" - Estinien decided to check in with others on the opposite platform before their parties separated once again.
"Better than we imagined." - Alberic was pleased with their results. "Our losses are minimal, and having to separate left those tempered weak and spread out."
"The iron men have no vigor and fury. They are not strong enough to master the true spirit of battle." - Magnai said with his usual arrogance and certainty. "And they will pay for any of our warriors that have fallen."
"We end it. For Sadu." - Cirina said quietly. "Good luck to you." - Soon after, the group disappeared inside the nearby corridor. Estinien could only imagine these paths eventually leading to the same halls, and there was only one way to find out.
"Let's go!" - Jullus commanded, and the garleans followed him. Estinien noticed that Solus grew more distant as they were approaching the tower's heart. He did not run as fast as before; the fears had been gripping the ascian; it felt surreal to see one of their kind share emotions that ascians distanced themselves from.
"We're close." - Solus said in a tired voice, which nonetheless did not lose the spark of anticipation.
Shortly before another elevator, the squad entered a room that was once a center for scientific research, just as twisted by Fandaniel as the rest of this palace. There was another mechanical guardian in front of the elevator, but this one was different. Much slimmer and agile.
"Here you come, freaks!" - It exclaimed in a robotic yet familiar voice. It reminded him of one of the garlean scientists overseeing the lab when he escaped and had to fight an Ultima prototype, though he could only guess on the matter.
"An aether of a living being…" - Emet-Selch said with a flicker of disdain.
"Wee hee hee! You see my true nature, don't you?" - The machine spoke. "Now, you'll see the power of my genius!"
"All very exciting, but we scarcely got any time. Stand back, and I'll destroy this abomination." - Solus commanded and unleashed dark astral arrows upon the transformed scientist, but his shields deflected most of them.
"My master warned me you will come, so I have infused myself with someone anti-magical, he he heee!"
"You're playing with fire, pest. I see your point, though; a more direct approach is in order, attack!" - The ascian commanded and had the garleans charge forward. Estinien aided them. The creature before them was a pathetic man who was nothing without his cybernetic enhancements.
However, his defenses were considerable. The mad scientist deflected most of the magical strikes, unleashing his maniacal inventions that would slice anyone who was not careful enough. Two garlean soldiers realized the danger of their situation too late and fell to the sharp discs. One of them has been cut in halves, while the second one fell to the ground as he bled out, barely alive.
"You'll pay for that!" - Jullus yelled and was about to rush at their opponent, but Lyse tried to stop him.
"Wait, you can't hurt him like that! We need more power, stop!"
"Like hell, I will; this one isn't tempered. He betrayed us for power or another goddamn promise!" - Jullus's disdain was rampant once again as the mad scientist was waiting for him to come into his trap.
"Come here, little toy, let's play! Hahahah!" - He giggled in a maniacal distorted voice, reaching for Jullus with his claws. Luckily for him and Lyse, Emet was able to set up a magical barrier just in time before they got him. Lyse pushed Jullus away from the blast.
"Wasn't I clear enough?" - The boy said.
"You would've died!"
There was no room for their arguments as the two found themselves entrenched in a battle against the scientist again, holding the line of defense. Their reinforcements should arrive soon; there was more than one path to getting into this room.
"He'll attack the ascian." - Fordola said to Estinien moments before their opponent targeted Solus. Her resonant was always invaluable. "This is our chance."
The dragoon nodded and charged at the cyborg, maneuvering between the blasts and trying to grapple on his back. The cyborg paid no attention to this; he was absolutely unhinged and took sincere joy in battling them. While Solus was searching for weak spots, Estinien had a chance to prove that mortals were of some use where ascians failed, after all.
Before any of that could occur, however, the wall to the right of them shattered, creating a hole with a view of the garlean wasteland from above. This was no coincidence. The N-Warrior was there in its full glory, carrying the crimson blade and its hand.
"Need a hand? "- The heard Cid's slightly playful voice.
"What…How are you? I didn't expect you!" - The scientist spoke frantically as the N-Warrior descended and stood between him and the squad. Their opponent tried to tackle Cid with his usual devices, all of which were futile against the might of this new invention.
"Just here to say hello." - Cid charged his robot's sword and sliced the scientist in halves. He let out a broken scream before falling silent forever. Jullus was especially happy to see his demise.
"That's what happens to all traitors, dog." - He was swelling with re-emerging pride for his people. "We're almost there; they can't hide any longer!"
Solus looked at Cid's invention with a shade of approval. This was the first time the ascian got to see it in action.
"Finally, I recognize that ingenious mind of yours." - He sighed. "A shame it took so long."
"I'll take that as a compliment." - Cid said. Estinien looked over their losses. Many garleans from the squad died or stayed behind to rejoin with others and guard their path. Solus and Jullus were the only ones left with Eorzeans.
"Can we expect your aid when we reach them?" - Fordola asked Cid.
"I need to help the other squad first. I am trying to examine the battlefield from all angles, Gridanian squad is facing an ambush, and they are hardly holding on." - Cid's words were immediately met with Emet-Selch's disapproval.
"Forget about them, and let's focus on something that matters. Fandaniel and that primal of his are up there. The sooner they get destroyed, the better for all of us." - The ascian argued.
"We ain't leaving anyone behind." - Cid said stalwartly. "They won't survive without my help, and I will be there. If any of you can join, they will be grateful."
"I'll go with you." - Lyse volunteered. "A-Ruhn did everything h could to heal my wounds when we first arrived. It's only fair that I return the favor."
"Very well. Will the others manage?"
"We should…" - Solus said. "I expect you to rejoin us at our positions as soon as you have finished your task."
"Naturally."
Moments after, Lyse grappled to the N-Warrior and disappeared into the night with Cid. The path ahead for Estinien, Jullus, Fordola, and Emet-Selch has been clear; too much chaos and battle have been ensuing across the tower and parade grounds to count on anyone. They could only hope that their combined might would be enough.
…
Solus zos Galvus barely noticed how quickly they ascended to the top, ironically so, considering his key part in this siege. The mortals have impressed him, playing their parts to perfection and tricking the tempered into splitting, although this was hardly a complicated task. One after another, enemies, men, and machines fell before the might of the unsundered. As the confidence burst in Jullus and other followers, it was gradually waning in Emet.
It felt surreal to walk in the halls of the palace built under his supervision, the one where his grandson resided only recently, now so twisted by forces of chaos and despair, but that was far from his biggest concern. The primal's echo loomed atop the tower, in a restricted chamber, as did that of Elidibus. The last of his brethren, loyal to no end, his spark of life was still glittering in the distance, but as they got closer, the scent of tormented spirit became clear. His soul, once white and pure, has been scarred and corrupted by this wretched tower, and realizing this was enough to fill Emet's heart with disdain. He will find Themis. He will save him no matter what.
When the ascian and his remaining companions ascended to the summit, they were forced to witness a shocking picture. The final hall was built around an arena with only a few tempers tending to it. At heart rose a disgusting, malformed creature in chains. Its body was not reminiscent of a mortal, the beast with dark skin and pale eyes, its teeth sharp as blades, it had thin, almost skeletal arms while its legs could not even be seen beneath the pool of sheer darkness it projected.
"Seven hells…" - Fordola uttered as the group got a look at the monstrous eikon. "Someone has a bloody twisted imagination."
"Is that it…The monster that tempered us?" - Jullus raised his sword, ready to charge into the heat of the battle and destroy the beast.
"It is." - Solus nodded, gesturing for the boy to wait. "Though I can hardly recognize this one, it does not belong to any tribe…In whose image was it created?"
A maniacal cackle spread through the halls moments after Hades said those words. It was a twisted, gleeful voice that took pleasure in every moment of their shock. It has been a long time since Solus worked with Amon directly, but he instantly recognized the echoes of his once calm and pained voice. A dark portal emerged above them, and a lone silhouette followed. The crimson color of his soul left no doubts in Emet's mind, yet the body he used was different. His purple robes were old and torn, and his cape was made in an ascian image, almost as an attempt to mock their customs. Emet would not put it beyond Fandaniel to do so.
"How ironic that it is you who would ask that question, lord Galvus." - He bowed courteously and with dramatic exaggeration. "Don't you sense a glint of familiarity whatsoever?"
"Fandaniel." - Estinien spoke with anger and bared his spear. "We have not come here to talk; the time for that has passed." - After the dragoon mentioned his name, Jullus became extremely agitated.
"That's the bastard… You'll pay for what you have done!" - The boy screamed and jumped as high as he could, trying to slice the ascian into pieces. Amon was swift to teleport away to a safer location, witnessing Jullus fall to his knees after missing.
"To bring such angry pests to our reunion…" - Fandaniel shook his head in disapproval, still focused on Emet. "I thought higher of you, but it would seem that this would be yet another mistake your radiance has made." - He smiled with glee.
"The only mistake I have made is giving you the smallest semblance of freedom. You have been a faulty reincarnation and had to be discarded a long time ago. Know this, then, that after I dealt a killing blow to another fool who has traded Amaurot for a mortal life…You can expect no mercy." - Emet spoke with disdain. Even with reviled Mitron, he could see his reasoning. His will was weak, like that of many sundered, and he chose to live in the moment rather than give his all for the cause. Amon, on the other hand, sought nothing but destruction. There was no logic in his actions, only a madman's ploy. Still, his confidence gave Emet a reason to remain cautious.
"How dramatic of you! To finally face the vile schemer that foiled your dreams of rejoining and to promise him agony…Then why do you not yet strike?"
"And here I thought you could not get any more arrogant. There were greater threats than you, and none have stopped us. I will ask only once, then. Where is Elidibus?"
"You wound me, sir! You have just witnessed the most splendid of my creation, the mighty Anima, and still, all you care about is that insufferably boring fool?" - Fandaniel played up his offense, taking a look at the monstrous eikon. "A masterpiece…Who would have thought that poor Varis's body could become so unique?"
"Lord…Lord Varis?" - Jullus's voice quivered. "What are you talking about?"
"He-he…" - Fandaniel giggled as if enjoying the reactions he got. Even Emet-Selch was intrigued. "You garleans have decried all gods, and yet every man needs something to believe it, to put his hopes and dreams into it, to make the will manifest. Your belief was in that of your fallen Emperor, in your hopes of his return, of his grand scheme to save and rebuild Garlemald. You failed to realize the moment when they turned into prayers. Thus, was the Anima born, your own, garlean eikon!" - Fandaniel mocked Jullus.
"Liar! We would never… We'd never create such a monstrosity! We would never defy our Emperor's memory like that, never!" - Jullus was about to attack again, but Solus formed a shield between them that forced Jullus to recoil. Fandaniel let out one last smile before disappearing into the dark portal again.
"Why didn't you let me…That bastard is a disgrace. He did THAT to his radiance, your grandson!" - Jullus shouted in a fury.
"It is not my grandson, just a fainting image, and a poor one at that." - Emet said calmly and with a little unease. Despite the turbulent relationship Solus and Varis maintained, his grandson was loyal and followed their plan until the end. He did not deserve to have his memory desecrated in this manner. "Your hysterics would do nothing but offer Fandaniel more entertainment. If you truly care about Varis's legacy, then calm yourself down and prepare to give him as honorable of an end as possible now."
Jullus took a deeper breath before looking at the arena in front of them.
"Yes, you're right… Let's do this. For Garlemald."
"You can count on us." - Estinien said with Fordola at his side. Seeing Fandaniel made each of them forget the disdain and distrust they shared beforehand, not while this psychopath remained unpunished.
The few tempered that remain have fallen before Emet's might, and soon the party has reached Anima, standing in front of the tormented beast. It roared and screeched, ready to strike at any moment. Were they to make as much as another step, it would attack. Solus felt his companions' disdain, especially that of Jullus. He could also sense Anima's essence.
"There is nothing of him there." - Solus shook his head, giving Jullus an encouraging stare. "A broken husk with nothing but fleeting memories and desires of others to fill it, have no regrets."
Jullus responded by taking a step and sighing.
"You will be remembered, my liege, and this abomination will not. That I promise."
Emet realized this to be a signal and sent aetheric arrows into their opponent. The primal screeched and responded with an array of dark blasts emerging on the arena. Fordola and Estinien swiftly evaded them, as did Hades, but he could still sense the energy they radiated, that of pure darkness and despair. He has witnessed many primals in his life, but this was beyond malformed and pitiful.
"It's preparing something!" - Fordola shouted as the primal began absorbing energy from the tower itself. It roared, and four dark portals emerged at the angles of the platform. Each of them forged a dark bond between the fighter that was nearest to it. Solus felt this wearing him down, but his own dark powers far exceeded those created by the eikon.
He teleported as far as possible, weakening the bond. The other three did their best to stay away from those portals, though it was not as easy for them.
"It burns…" - Jullus uttered as he moved away from his portal. The dragoon was next to speak, for he noticed something else forming in their abyss.
"It has chains, be on your guard!"
Each of those dark portals unleashed metallic chains that bound Solus and others. The ascian found them to be no more than a simple nuisance and broke his tether with a dark surge. Others were pulled closer towards their portals, forced to slide across the room as they desperately maintained their balance. Jullus fell moments after but got up as soon as the chain weakened. His eyes were that of shame and anger; it must have been difficult to feel weaker than some savages.
The next weapon Anima had in store was an Azure wave of aether that formed on the ground. Its surge immediately established connections with other souls and pulled the four warriors into the room's center.
"Damn it, spread out! "- Fordola shouted in a commanding tone, but this was not necessary. Solus created a dark portal strong enough to transfer all of them, moving his companions to the edge of the arena moments before the blast was able to burn their flesh.
"It's a strong one, but we'll break it!" - Jullus exclaimed, still full of eagerness and resolve.
Emet could feel the tower's walls pulsating with aetheric energy, flowing through its walls and getting absorbed by Anima. Some of these traces were hauntingly familiar and made Emet fearful. He knew this trace, and its presence here made him think of the worst.
"Get ready!" - Fordola shouted as the primal prepared to strike again, this time empowered by the tower itself. A piercing roar preceded the onslaught. Emet created a dark barrier that surrounded them as he saw Anima's mouth beam with white light. It unleashed the burning aether, burning the quantities of it Solus did not believe possible to utilize at the same time.
Despite their resistance, the shield was shattered by Anima's power. Solus felt a shockwave that pushed them to different sides of the platform. After a fleeting moment of disorientation, he analyzed the arena, getting a glimpse of all his companions. All were alive and stable, only if worn out by such tempestuous might. It was clear that simple magic would not bring Anima down; Emet had to unleash his all for it.
The platform around them began to change, distorted as an illusion.
"What's going on?" - Jullus wondered, trying to avoid the glowing light that emerged beneath them. There were no walls around them, just the image of the abyss created by Anima.
"Stay close!" - Fordola rushed to stand in between him and Estinien. Solus felt Anima's presence much closer now, almost as if they were inside its beating heart. The poisonous mind weakened them but, at the same time, presented an opportunity. The ascian examined the creature before them. It distantly resembled the Anima itself and shared the same essence, trying to chain its opponents.
As it tried to strike at them once again, Solus teleported just in time to defend others from its powers.
"It is trying to absorb our powers and fuel itself with it; resist if you want to live!" - Emet commanded to others while trying to focus. Such conditions have been far from perfect, but over his years, Solus learned to concentrate and employ his creative magic in any setting. The only barrier that he had before him was the fleeting thought of Elidibus's whereabouts. Every time his flow of thoughts mused on this, Solus felt his soul shrinking.
"What should we do now?" - Estinien was on his guard, preparing for another attack from the primal.
"Distract it while I get ready."
"For what?"
"You'll see."
Estinien didn't argue with that because he had bigger problems to worry about. The arena became encircled in fangs that radiated the energy of futility and despair. One after another, they were pushed across, leaving a burning trail behind them. Emet's mortal companions could barely stand in this chaos.
"Rhalgr take me, it's too swift even for resonant…" - Fordola spoke with a heavy breath before avoiding more of those strikes. Jullus was the least agile of them, and so he was the first to get lost in this poisonous array. He bravely fended the dark energy off despite his wounds, but this would not last for long. Solus felt Fordola charging towards the platform's edge to aid him, destroying one of those twisted fangs and securing a pathway for Jullus. She lent the wounded man a hand, helping the garlean get up and focus.
"I could've done it myself…" - Jullus said, trying to mimic disdain, but this wasn't enough to hide the relief in his voice.
"Oh, shut up already." - Fordola scoffed before rejoining the battle.
They were good fighters, and they would soon see the end of their opponent. Hades was able to focus, thinking of the warm memories guzzling inside him and filling his soul with newfound resolve and strength. His thought transformed into images, that of him spending time with Apollo and Hythlodaeus, hearing the former's tales of his journeys and enduring the latter's pranks. Hades thought of his annoyance, just as fake as Jullus's disdain at Fordola and how it was unable to mask the devotion and love he felt for his friends. They brought colors into his life, the colors that made his soul burn so long, even after their souls were tormented and gone. The colors that still shone in the twin crystals Hades brought to the Source. One of them is dark purple, like the deepest reaches of darkness and the void; the other is orange and burning as bright as the sun. These memories were his resolve.
A mighty wave of darkness pierced the room as Hades unleashed his true form. The mortal companions watched in awe as the sorcerer of eld emerged before them. Carrying his staff and aetheric power, Emet felt unstoppable as even the eikon seemed like a puny threat on his path.
"Is that him?" - Fordola couldn't believe her eyes.
"Stand aside. It is time the old Emperor Solus reminded you how you deal with eikons!" - The ascian exclaimed.
Anima attempted to break Solus's form, but his barriers grew much more powerful and could throw its aether aside, even absorbing a fraction of its power. Hades fed on the aether around him, absorbing the currents within; even the tower's walls could not protect every single drop.
The ascian gleamed with energy that made him overpower the eikon. He began by creating a number of crimson spheres that wounded Anima's heart, one after another. The primal screeched, losing control of its pocket dimension. The illusion began to break as the image of a room they were in began to re-emerge around them.
"You have tainted my land for long enough; now go back to the oblivion from whence you were summoned!" - Solus exclaimed before unleashing a ray of darkness that pierced Anima's heart. The eikon's screech became indistinguishable and quiet with every moment, and purple cracks formed on its body. Emet shielded his mortal companions before the explosion of aether occurred, annihilating Anima once and for all.
The group found themselves amidst the same arena they entered, but any illusory or aethereal effects had worn off.
"Is it over?" - Jullus asked.
"Aye, it would seem so." - Estinien responded as he stood up. "The primal is no more."
"We avenged him…We did it!" - Jullus's triumphant voice rang in Solus's ears, who could not feel the same aura of victory just yet. He would remain transformed, still expecting more to come. It was worth remembering that Zenos was still here, and his strength was on par with that of the ascian and Edwin.
"Couldn't you have turned into the bloody demon sooner?" - Fordola shook her head as she watched over Hades's true form.
"If only you knew how much concentration a transformation takes…" - He sighed in a distorted voice.
"Congratulations, congratulations!" - Fandaniel's excited voice echoed from a small podium above the arena. Hades looked up and saw the sundered ascian giggling and watching their every move with intrigue. If there was a moment when Emet hoped that destroying Anima would finally foil Fandaniel's plans, now this hope was gone in an instant, but he still had something in his mind.
"You were given everything…" - Emet said disdainfully. "A life, immortality, memory, and knowledge, you were given a purpose. And if there is still some semblance of memory left in that broken mind of yours, you will remember that it was the unsundered who gave you this purpose! How dare you repay us like an ungrteful swine? How dare you give in to the nightmare that destroyed our home and try to reenact it? The man whose soul you bear gave his everything to find a solution to the Final Days with his knowledge, and you use it to turn all these efforts into ash? You are not worthy of your title, Amon. You are not worthy of being one of us." - After those words, he heard Amon laughing once again.
"Ah, sweet, delicious irony! It is true what they say, our lives are merely a play, and we are the fools who play their parts…A cycle that I will see broken, despite your misgivings." - The sundered mage said spitefully. "Have you ever stopped to consider whether I wanted your "everything"? Do you presume to give others purpose, to decide for them to whose feel will they bow and which chains they will put over their wrists?" - The contempt Amon contained for thousands of years was finally unleashed. The anger, hatred, fear, and agony that festered in his soul now echoed in his disdainful and maniacal voice. Emet-Selch knew that he was faced with a pure monster, the one that he had created.
"If your purpose is to annihilate everything mortals and ancients alike worked to build for generations…You do not deserve to be called a man. A title of a rabid beast would suit you better, and you will be put down like one." - Solus responded. "I know that you seek to destroy Zodiark, but I believe it is long past the time for this farce to be over. Surrender, and your rebirth might yet be painless."
"How ingenious of you to have it all figured out! Oh no…You have destroyed my source of power, the only way to gather Anouilh aether to break the dark god's shackles. So quick, we're you to unite the garleans and eorzeans against a common foe that I did not even get enough aether…You left my best-laid plans in ruins!" - He sounded painfully fake; Solus knew that this was not over. His patience for Amon was running very thin, however. "But what is that…Do you hear it?" - Fandaniel smiled, and this was not just a ploy.
Solus felt the tower's walls pulsing yet again. The aether of it was unbound.
"What is going on?" - Estinien asked, and Emet wished he knew the answer.
He heard an explosion from one of the nearby rooms, the endless hoards of energy were unleashed from the tower's spire into the sky, transcending the atmosphere and going as far as the moon. Solus's senses did not lie despite him desperately wishing that they did. This surge was shattering Zodiark's shackles, one after another p.
"Ah, this wondrous sound!" - Fandaniel cackled once again, gazing at the crimson spire around them. "So much aether, perhaps there will be no shackles left at all! Oh, finally, the path is clear!"
The realization that Amon has been undoing everything the ascians worked for was the final straw for Emet. He launched an array of dark arrows into him, but most were deflected by another soul emerging from behind. The scythe of darkness has destroyed any of Emet's advances, and another silhouette appeared near Fandaniel, just as familiar to everyone present. Zenos yea Galvus, his wayward descendant, was here, looking at Solus with disappointment.
"I was promised a reunion with my great-grandfather, and all I see is a rabid, eikon-like creature…" - Zenos said calmly as he eyed Solus. The ascian knew better than to give any light to his disdain, but others couldn't share the same feeling.
"You bastard…" - Fordola clenched his teeth. "Breaking a nation just wasn't enough for you, eh? Now you want to shatter this bloody world just for the sake of it!"
"Ah, the attack dog returns. You have not changed except in your allegiance, I see." - He responded, attracting Jullus's attention.
"Do you even hear yourself…You were supposed to become our Emperor, our new ruler, our glorious leader! And what now? The nation you rule is as good as gone because of you, and you don't even bat an eye! Do you know how many you've slaughtered for nothing?" - He unleashed his anger.
"As many as were in my way." - Zenos responded, uncaring for the lives he has taken.
"Monster! You don't deserve your heritage. Even Solus is much better than you and your taint!"
"Your fears and disdain hardly concern me." - Zenos responded. "You may fight all you want, but your attempts will be futile. This world shall be engulfed in a singular flood of darkness by my hand, putting it forever into oblivion." - He closed his eyes, imagining this blissful moment.
"A wave of darkness by your hand?" - Solus spoke with misunderstanding. "Whatever are you talking about?"
"When Zodiark is free, I shall take place as his heart and take the world with me in one last act of glory…One final attempt to reenact the moment." - Zenos spoke with uncertainty and regret that he tried to hide.
"You fool, you naive fool…" - Emet couldn't help but laugh. "It seems that there is little honesty dynamic duo, all the while your despair has taken away your senses, Zenos." - After he said those words, Emet felt unease and tension in Fandaniel's soul, even if slight. This was exactly what he hoped for. "He would never allow you to claim control of Zodiark." - Emet declared, gaining Zenos's attention. "For the simple reason that he needs the elder primal destroyed. Zodiark will not end this world, for he was created to shield it and keep the laws of reality in check. With him killed, you will unleash the true end Fandaniel seeks."
"Lies, my lord, absolute lies." - Fandaniel shook his head. "Would you believe me who aided you faithfully for days or your disgruntled ancestor who is angry that you claimed his throne?" - Fandaniel argued, but Zenos gave no response. He just listened, taking every word in. Solus continued.
"There will be no glory or satisfaction in falling victim to beasts that will be born of your despair, and you know it, Zenos. You have lost an enemy that was dear to your heart…And that is a reason for you to die like an ascian pawn? Of the paragons that you wish to challenge, wish to surpass! Do not forget that Edwin's soul is still in the stream of the first shard, and when it will be rejoined…He will return. Stronger and mightier, a conquest for you to claim. He respected you for what you are, but if you rob him and yourself of this opportunity because of your petty disappointment, what is there left to respect?"
Solus's speech garnered no response from either Zenos or Fandaniel, as both heeded his words. Zenos looked down, pondering on what he had just heard. It was surprising to see a flash of doubt in his eyes, rarely has he ever displayed emotions apart from boredom and, at rare times, eagerness. Zenos sighed and walked into the corridor, leaving the room.
"My lord…" - Fandaniel said cautiously.
"Do what you will, ascian. I shall await you near the teleport."
"As you wish." - The ascian responded with relief as an arrogant smile emerged on his face. Despite all the chaos and suffering he brought, the glimpse of anticipation still persisted in his gaze.
"You are a fool, Amon." - Emet-Selch said. "If I had any doubt before, now I see that you can't help but confirm this suspicion."
"A fool…" - The ascian clenched his teeth before continuing. "I believe there is one question unanswered, Hades, isn't there? Where is Elidibus…Where is your dear Themis?" - He hummed playfully before taking out a mechanical device. The ascian pressed it, making the tower's walls pulse again. The currents of aether with a familiar presence danced on the arena before Emet-Selch. They soon formed a silhouette of Elidibus before the group. The white-robed ascian was unscathed physically, and his presence, even if corrupted, was unmistakable.
"Is that Elidibus?" - Estinien asked cautiously, echoing Emet's senses in that something has gone terribly wrong. It was his skin and robes; they gleamed with a purple color. The ascian stood there motionless, staring into the abyss silently. Hades approached him quietly.
"Elidibus…Themis, can you hear me?" - It was worth a try, but his comrade did not respond. Instead, it was Fandaniel's voice that pierced Emet's ears again.
"Our Emissary was so eager to redress the balance as I plunged this world into chaos with my towers that he came alone, right into my trap. This was but a challenge that I provided Zenos with and results…Oh, the results were truly spectacular!"
"What have you done to him?!" - Solus demanded in a furious voice, but before he could attack Fandaniel, the sundered ascian pressed another button, and a pillar of dark aether emerged where Elidibus stood, followed by a gleeful laugh from the schemer above. Hades and others were taken by surprise and once again had to shield themselves from a powerful surge, hearing Fandaniel's voice from above.
"I have made a few alterations, perfecting our "hero." As some of you know, the towers' power rested on summoning Lunar primals, my favored creatures. As much as I adored having Lunar Bahamut as my pet, there is one primal that eliminates all the competition…The one that was once born of hope, now an instrument of despair!" - As he exclaimed those words, the pillar disappeared, and a Warrior's silhouette emerged. It was identical to Elidibus's transformed state, a knight with a blade, shield, and cape that resembled Themis, empowered by hope and light. But the physical appearance was the only similarity, his skin was still purple, and his eyes had become emptier than ever before. "Rise, Lunar Elidibus! Rise, Warrior of Despair and destroy our enemies!" - Fandaniel gleamed with excitement as Solus watched this transformation in utter silence.
There were few things that could make the ascian's heart shatter. When he saw the light being lost to Edwin when Ryne overpowered him in Eden. Even when Elidibus told him of Lahabrea's demise, he managed to meet those losses with dignity. But seeing Themis, the youngest of the convocation, who, despite this, was the one that sacrificed the most for Zodiark and their star's salvation in such a broken, malformed state, made Emet burn with ferocity.
"Seven hells!" - Fordola prepared to fight along with others, but Hades paid little attention to them, not while his friend was amidst horrific torment before his own eyes.
"You will pay for this!" - Hades screamed at Fandaniel before attempting to strike him down. The sundered ascian quickly evaded the arrows that were sent his way, and whatever was to follow was blocked by Elidibus. The dark warrior unleashed an aetheric surge that disoriented Emet-Selch, pushing him aside towards his mortal companions.
"No, I don't think I will." - Fandaniel shrugged. "If anything, you should be proud of my resourcefulness, is that not what you expected out of all ascians? I have lured him into a trap and forced him to suffer a humiliating defeat, and when he tried to escape, the tower claimed him! His soul is an epitome of power, most of his aether served as the perfect fuel for Anima, and I left just enough to let you sense his presence. The truth is, he was dead before you even set foot on this world! Now the heart of Zodiark is no more, as are his shackles. He is ripe for taking! And I and Zenos shall do exactly that, although it pains me that I will not see any more of the unsundered battle." - He looked at Elidibus after those words. "But you will do your best, will you not?"
"Y…Yes…As you command, my lord." - He said in a monotone, broken voice. "The days of the convocation are over; now only despair shall reign."
"Wonderful! See how much better he became? To see this insufferable, idiotic, controlling…Degenerate in my chains. Oh, you will not believe how blissful it is. And now I take my leave; the stage is yours!" - Fandaniel disappeared, leaving the transformed unsundered and mortals alone.
"Resist this, Elidibus…" - Emet tried his best not to lose control of the situation. He needed help; if there was still some of his aether inside, he could be saved, he could still live. "This is not you! Turn this might against the one who shackled you. Together we will…"
"Silence." - Elidibus said and plunged his sword into the floor. A surge of crystallized energy swirled beneath their feet, forcing mortals to retreat from their positions and join the fight. His movements were mechanical and resembled that of a puppet. It was so painful to see that Emet could barely set a shield in time for the strike from below. The ascian felt his essence burning as the wave of light unleashed itself on him.
The next image he saw was Elidibus charging at him, ready to pierce his former friend. Emet tried to strike back, but before he could prepare himself, Estinien plunged his spear into the Lunar primal's leg. The pain was momentary, but it allowed enough time for Emet to compose himself and create two aethereal mirrors that pushed Elidibus aside with their destructive energy. The primal breathed heavily and began to absorb more power from the spire's walls. Emet looked around, noticing that the mortals were ready to battle, but they had no option but to put their hopes upon Emet.
"Focus, Themis, focus!" - The ascian looked primal into the void in his eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of Elidibus he once knew. "Remember who you are! Remember the day you were chosen to join us in Amaurot, how proud and happy you were…"
Elidibus continued his onslaught, avoiding Jullus's attacks and pushing the boy aside. He continued to fight Hades. The ascian felt a powerful surge of wind gushing above him in an attempt to disorient Solus.
"Think of…Think of when you volunteered to become the heart of Zodiark! This was your choice; you took upon this role with pride and honor!" - Emet's voice broke for a moment as his attempts to reach Elidibus bounced off him.
"He won't listen; we need to deal with him, now!" - Fordola exclaimed as she maneuvered between his elemental strikes of corrupted fire and ice, masterfully making use of her gift. Working with Estinien, she hoped to find a weak spot to eliminate Elidibus, but Solus couldn't allow it to end like this.
Elidibus employed his creation magics, forming a device reminiscent of a crossbow. It unleashed an aetheric blast upon Hades that he tried to deflect. The ascian converted it into the energy of pure darkness and sent it through the floor to wound Elidibus from below.
"Think of the day you returned to us…Of the day when you chose to fight to see our world whole again, when we toiled on countless worlds…" - Hades breathed heavily, unable to force himself to increase his might. "Please."
"I do not know you." - Elidibus responded mechanically and created a sphere above Emet. Its explosion forced the ascian to fall behind and come close to collapsing. The aether Elidibus instated there has been corrosive, bringing agonizing suffering to Hades. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the words he heard from Elidibus. As he saw the warrior fighting his mortal companions, easily overpowering the trio, Solus could barely force himself to stand up and continue the battle.
His thoughts have taken him back to a time before the tragedy. A myriad of moments that he thought long forgotten swirled in his mind in a vortex of remembrance, all of them about Themis. He remembered this wide-eyed, idealistic man as he put his white robes on, taking on the role of the Amaurot's mediator. He remembered how he always overworked himself, trying to do his best for the world, how he got to know everyone in the convocation and treated them as friends, if not brothers and sisters. He was patient with everybody's antics and loved and respected by every single member. He thought of the few tears he shed before stepping in to become Zodiark's heart. He was afraid like anyone would, but he did not allow others to see it, forever becoming an idol and a hero in their eyes. And then the sundering came their years of work that made him forget. There was no joy or happiness in their work, none except the faint hope that one day he will see Amaurot restored. Emet thought back to their last meeting, how Themis finally began to remember some fragments, expressing a shade of a man he once was. He went into the beast's maw alone, and it was because of Emet-Selch…
"My lord, we need you!" - Solus was torn away from his musings by Jullus's agitated voice. The first thing he saw was a wave of fire that spread through the room, hurting Fordola and Estinien, that desperately fended the warrior off. Jullus was just as tired, but he decided to try and make their Emperor remember. "Please…" - Jullus's voice broke in a pained regret; he was thinking of something else as the boy closed his eyes and clenched his fist. "I know he is your friend, I understand…But he'll kill us and then you if you don't help!"
He was right; of course, he would not give up after coming this far. Too many souls still counted on him to finish their mission.
Solus rose up and interrupted Elidibus's latest cast, allowing his mortal companions a reprieve. As Elidibus attempted to slash his opponents, Hades blocked his strike with a crystal staff. Moments after, he pushed the primal aside with aetheric arrows, giving himself another moment.
"Can you kill him?" - Fordola asked with hope.
"Whether I can is not the matter here." - Emet scoffed and focused on Elidibus. He focused and attempted to sense his aether; if there was the smallest part that was still pure, he could claim it, could find another vessel and source of his power.
"None will escape my wrath!" - Elidibus shouted, plunging his blade into the floor. A shockwave of ice emerged, binding the mortals to the ground while freezing their weakened flesh. Solus remained relatively unharmed, though he wasn't eager to help the mortals out. Those spells had a temporary effect either way.
"Now, you will remain as you are!" - Emet commanded while peering into Elidibus's soul. His will created a set of dark chains around the primal, allowing him a chance to glimpse into his essence. What he saw was far from what he had hoped for. The vast majority of Elidibus's aether was replaced by a corrupted simulation created by the tower. The fragments that still belonged to his original soul were miniature and separated from each other in different corners of his essence. Fading white spots were the only reminder of who he once was. Amon outdid himself; he created a monster and left just enough for it to still have something from Themis. Separating these fragments would take a long time, and even if so, there was no guarantee that they would persist in separation.
"You will not chain me!" - Elidibus shouted as he shattered his chains with a wave of light. The primal rushed to the ascian as his eyes gleamed with fury. He slashed Hades's body, forcing the sorcerer to retreat toward mortals who had freed themselves by that time. Many possible ways to proceed flew through Emet's head. Perhaps he could catch some of those fragments from the stream and try to combine them into a soul that still maintained Themis's personality and self. He grew in strength, sending another shockwave through the floor, wearing his opponents down. Solus could finish him, this pale recreation was nowhere near Elidibus's equal in strength, but he still lingered.
"We can't hold him for much longer!" - Estinien said.
"Do something, my lord!" - Jullus added.
Elidibus focused the light's power in his body, ready to unleash it. Fordola must have sensed the onslaught coming as she charged into the fray. Moments before Elidibus plunged his blade into the ground once again, she stood before him and used all her strength to prevent this strike. The primal clearly did not expect to be met with such resistance, but the shockwave was still powerful. Solus heard Fordola screaming in agony as her entire body burned, still continuing to resist the primal's blade.
"AARGH, GODS, IT BURNS!" - She screeched as she was faced with a horrific burden. This gave a few seconds, and there was little time to think. Another strike would kill Fordola and other mortals, as well as weaken Hades. After all of his desperate attempts, Solus had to accept the inevitable as his heart ached with regret and shame.
"Forgive me…" - His voice broke as the mightiest arrow of darkness emerged from his staff and pierced Elidibus while he was vulnerable. The primal moved aside and grunted in pain, trying to resist. Solus felt the pain of Elidibus's soul, its terror and fear, and worse of all, a sense of failure that mirrored Hades's. The primal fell at the ascian's feet, broken and weakened, his body barely able to maintain its form.
"I…Kill…You…" - He breathed heavily and tried to speak, but Hades could not give in to his doubts. The ascian let out a cry of despair before forcing the rest of his dark power into a giant explosive sphere; the wave annihilated Elidibus and drained Emet's own strength. The moment he felt Themis's soul dissipating, Emet immediately reverted to his mortal form, unsure whether it was because of the powers he wasted or the sheer emotional pain that dragged him down into the darkest pit of oblivion.
And then came the silence. Solus felt Elidibus's echo for a moment before what little remained of his soul dissipated. Gone forever, unable even to return into the stream. The soul of the world's first hero, the only true hero that remained, was tormented by villains who took him hostage, twisted beyond belief. And now he died. Emet-Selch killed him. Out of all those years, everything the unsundered have gone through, this cruel twist of fate, this raging injustice, has pierced Emet's heart stronger than any blade of light. It felt like being in a fever dream, a monstrous nightmare from which he would never wake up. All could have been avoided had Emet not allowed him to go alone; now, there was no soul to apologize to, nothing but memories and shame.
"Seven hells…" - Fordola grunted in pain; she was wounded after the battle and could not stand up. Estinien rushed to her side and kneeled.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm bloody perfect. How didn't you guess!?" - She shouted before coughing in pain.
"My lord…" - Emet heard Jullus's voice behind him, although he could not force himself to turn. It was a sign of weakness to show one's tears to a subordinate, even as they fell on the floor from his paralyzed eyes. "You did the right thing. Thank you." - He spoke with sincere gratitude, the most sincere Emet had ever heard him. How unfortunate that it was the worst of moments for him.
The ascian strolled slowly towards the gates which led to the teleport Zenos mentioned, likely the one that would take them to the moon. But he did not care about saving Zodiark or the world, not in this fleeting moment. All Emet cared for was looking Fandaniel in the eyes and making him pay. Obliterating his soul as he did to Elidibus, purging the very notion of him ever existing from the face of this realm. And he will enjoy every single moment.
"Emet-Selch." - He heard Estinien's eager voice behind him. After turning around, Solus noticed that Jullus was tending to Fordola while the dragoon followed him. "I have my own score to settle with Fandaniel. We aren't done yet, are we?" - There was no point in denying aid. Hades glanced at Estinien and nodded.
"Come, then. Let us claim our vengeance."