As mad as the work seemed before, it was even more now. Leviathan had never known a creature that could live like this, but seeing as this was a machine he struggled to make it work. He had to shunt oil and fuel to different areas, rework the batteries, and struggle to get as much power to the initial systems as he could on the monolith to try and get it to work. As best as he could figure, the machine could operate as it was now with only the upper half actually moving. The thing would be unable to get anywhere, but it wouldn't need to. All it would have to do was be functional enough to strike back.

As daylight continued to fade, and night fell, the espers worked frantically. Because they did, they frequently ran into more problems, and struggled to compensate. Mistakes were made. Pipes were ripped or burst, steam was channeled into the wrong valve and blew it out, and one of the batteries was totally discharged and rendered useless. Replacing these things, which would take a day in and of themselves, was also a frantic, reckless business. Leviathan cut corners everywhere, trying to just get the thing to move. More often than not, as a result, the machine spluttered and died rather than worked out. But as they continued to move frantically, at last the machine began to get to some semblance of operation. Yet there wasn't the time to test many things, and there was no time to test things a second time to make sure the first run hadn't broken something.

Night continued to deepen. Overhead, Leviathan heard the sounds of revelry as Alexandria celebrated its newest monarch. It curdled his blood. Did any of those reveling people have the slightest idea the horrible fate that awaited them? Did any of them know that soon they and their families would be in mortal danger? Leviathan didn't know. He only knew that time was running out. He wasn't even sure if it could run when this was all over. But he had to try.

As Leviathan finished reattaching the replacement battery and running its tests, Terrato hauled a length of pipe up to a nearby relay. Espers were working wildly all around them, but Terrato managed to continue to work calmly as well as quickly, and even looked to Leviathan as he continued to hook up the pipe.

"…You know, in the hustle of all that has been happening, we forgot one important thing. What are we going to christen this when and if it works?"

Leviathan hesitated for a moment after that. While it was hardly an essential thing, he realized that he should call it something. He hesitated, and looked up for a moment. He really couldn't think of much. What was appropriate? There were some esper words for good and holy… They didn't work out so well. They were too complicated. What about mountain? Or monolith? Both of those were bad sounding as well. He thought harder about the nature of the machine, and looked over it for a moment. There had to be something good… This whole mountain was the throne for the great castle of Alexandria, after all…

When Leviathan thought of that, at once a name came to him. And to him, human sounding as it was, it seemed to fit it perfectly.

"…Alexander."

"Lovely spot for our third act, don't you think?"

Wyvern merely glared hatefully down on the pitiful pale creature beneath him. The very sight of him made him want to vomit. Even in his human form, that he had taken right now, he was far larger than the puny little mortal. Despite the amount of power he had gotten from him, he still had to suppress his nausea at the thought of working for this miserable creature. He could tell the little fop actually still believed himself to be Wyvern's superior. Well…he would show him soon enough. After tonight, the last look he would see on his feminine face would be horrible disgust as he inhaled a whiff of Wyvern's foul breath…

"Whatever." Wyvern snapped back. "Your inane chatter bores me."

Kuja's smile faded for a moment. Both of them now stood at the front of the great city of Alexandria. It was late now, approaching midnight. The streets were clear. All those who hadn't turned in had gone to the coronation of Queen Garnet. On thinking of her, Wyvern received another joy. It would be very fun to rip her miserable little body limb from limb. The little runt deserved it, after all. The only thing that Wyvern couldn't stand any more than working for Kuja was the thought of working for that fat cow. And because of the stupid summoner race, he had nearly been forced to do so. She and her city would suffer for that.

"Don't forget, you are my slave, subcreature." Kuja flatly answered. "You had better show some respect."

Wyvern merely grinned in reply. He crossed his arms confidently and glared at him. "Still think you're the one calling the shots, peacock?" He sneered in response. Afterward…he quickly turned his face into a scowl. "Get this through your feathered head. The only reason I'm working for you is because we're both getting something out of it. If you think you have such great control over me, then keep up your incessant babbling, and I will be glad to show you who is the true master here."

Kuja, in response to this, merely cupped his laced hand to his mouth and gave his airy chuckle again, once again taking a feminine characteristic. Wyvern struggled not to rip his head off for doing that stupid thing again. "Oh, Bahamut…I could easily educate you as to why I am not only the master here, but actually a superior life form. But I don't waste my time with puny matters of no consequence such as yourself."

Wyvern tightened a hand into a fist, and began to grit his teeth.

"The only thing I care for you to do is tear this city asunder, and kill every last man, woman, and child on it. And thanks to you being patient enough to follow my instructions, you should have enough power to turn this continent into a sheet of heat-fused glass, and cause a lovely flood of screaming, terrified souls to enter into the Lifestream of this world."

Wyvern continued to frown at this. "…I know full well what I'm getting out of this. Revenge against the human race for spawning summoners in the first place." He stated. "But what's in it for you? Why are you so eager to see your own race die?"

As if that was a private joke, Kuja gave his light little laugh again to this…in a tone that curdled Wyvern's blood. He didn't like that voice. It was too cold and unnatural. It made him want to forget the deal and kill Kuja right now. Yet in the end, he quit and looked back to Wyvern. "Let's just say…" He began in a sinister, cruel voice. "…That I have a problem with there being any other life forms in existence other than myself. I also have superiors who I need to render an account unto. Pull this off, Bahamut, and I'll grant you another target whom I think you'll be most eager to destroy."

Wyvern would have raised an eyebrow if he could have. "…Who?"

"All good things to those who wait." Kuja calmly answered. "Now…begin my third act."

Wyvern snorted again, but decided he was getting nowhere here. He'd beat the truth out of him once this was all finished. After that, he turned and looked to the city once again. He paused for a brief moment…and then suddenly leapt into the air. His legs carried him much farther than any human could jump, and soon he sailed one hundred…two hundred…three hundred feet in the air. Once he reached that point, he spread out his arms and legs and immediately halted in the sky.

Wyvern quickly shredded his clothes. His scales burst out over his skin, his horns and crest erupted from his head, his wings and tail lashed out behind him, and his body enlarged. Soon he turned red and grew nails and claws, and his full evil power erupted once more like a flame from a volcano. Soon, the sky and ground around him rumbled under the power of his great body, and the world grew darker in his wake. The great Wyvern finished transforming, and now glared down on Alexandria like a bird of prey over its kill.

The esper banked forward and began to soar over the city, and discharged his breath weapons on everything he could see.

Leviathan felt a cold spike strike through his subconsciousness and into his brain. He quivered and nearly dropped where he was. He wasn't alone. The other espers stopped what they were doing at the same time and looked up in fear. Regardless of ability, there was no way that any esper couldn't deny the sudden eruption of dark power and hatred that now came forth, especially not this close. It looked as if something had stabbed them in the chest, and their jaws dropped and eyes bulged as sweat burst forth from their foreheads. Moments later, the espers turned and wheeled their heads around to an invisible source. However, they weren't looking in the stone monolith for it. They were looking beyond to what was outside…to the horrible evil they could now sense. And now…they began to sense other lives winking out and feel terrible waves radiating off of it.

"Good God…" One of them breathlessly remarked. "What is that monster?"

Leviathan didn't answer. He stared at it only a second longer, and realized that Wyvern had come. Their time was now up. Immediately, he turned his head to the others, and spoke in a commanding voice to force them to move. "All of you…finish what you are working on now and then evacuate the stone monolith."

The other espers turned back to him a moment. However, they then quickly complied. They turned back to their tasks and quickly began to wrap them up. One of them even finished quickly, and then immediately took off for the elevator. As he did, Leviathan turned to his own battery. He made a few more minor adjustments, and then closed it up. Hopefully it wouldn't break down, but there was no more time. Sadly, it was a good thing that Wyvern was taking his time to destroy this city. If he had used his Omniapex immediately, then their realizing it was him would have been futile.

Now finished with his own task, Leviathan closed his eyes and looked up. Despite the fear and urgency of the situation, he began to focus and stretch out his senses. Luckily he was a practiced pro at this, and it took no time at all for him to start to stretch out telepathically. As he did, he began to search the surrounding area. Not finding what he wanted immediately in Alexandria, he quickly turned his attention to beneath the castle. It was hard to focus with Wyvern's own horrible power overshadowing everything else, but he was successful. Soon, he went all the way into the basement, and once there he quickly found the Gargant tunnel and began to go through it. Luckily, he didn't have to go far. He soon found the energy signature he was looking for, along with other familiar signs, including the "good" anomaly, and saw that it was nearly to Alexandria. Without hesitation, he called out to it mentally.

Eiko?

There was a brief pause afterward, for humans were always shocked when contacted mentally. But then, he heard an uncertain reply.

…Is this you, Leviathan?

Yes. It is time.

But…I can't do it without Dagger's help.

Who was Dagger? Leviathan wondered privately. Maybe it was some sort of name they gave Garnet. Yet another name change. Those humans could be so silly… Well, it didn't matter. He quickly spoke up again.

I'll send her along. Make for the roof of the castle. Once you get there, join your stones with Garnet's…or Dagger's…and then summon the entity within. Its name is Alexander. This is the only chance you have of destroying that monster that's attacking Alexandria.

…Ok. I'll do it.

Good girl.

Leviathan broke off his link, and momentarily returned to reality. Abruptly, a large explosion went off that seemed on the exterior of the stone monolith, and suddenly the whole facility shuddered. A bit of dust rained from the ceiling, and Leviathan swallowed. They were running out of time. Even without his strongest attack, Wyvern could destroy Alexander before he was summoned. He looked up nervously for a moment to the ceiling, as he saw it slowly stop shaking from the eruption. Many of the espers were gone now, and others were quickly running. He heard other explosions overhead, and he knew that Alexandria's cannon was returning fire. However…he realized that would only make Wyvern target the castle more than before. Sure enough, another explosion suddenly sent a tremor through the facility, and more pebbles rained down.

Terrato finished installing his own pipe, and nervously turned to Leviathan. "…That debris could ruin some of the gears."

"Nothing we can do now." The sea serpent answered. "Just go."

Terrato held a moment, looking at his regent with anxiety. But then, he turned and began to rush out after the others. There were only four espers left still working at this point, and Leviathan was one of them. Another eruption went off, and one of the espers, Leviathan thought, quit working even though he wasn't finished yet and turned to run for it. It didn't matter now. The sea serpent inhaled deeply and braced himself for another contact. Soon, he closed his eyes, and reached out again.

There was chaos throughout the castle now, what with the army running about trying to defend the city. Fortunately, at least some people were evacuating. That was probably the best thing for them right now. Yet it wouldn't matter if Wyvern got off his strongest attack. Despite the trouble, however, Leviathan soon found the person he was looking for. Her own signature stuck out like a sore thumb.

Now was the hard part. Leviathan swallowed at the thought. This girl was so out of touch with her summoner heritage, there was no telling what she would do. Yet he had a feeling she would be more receptive to him now. She better be. If she didn't go through with this…then it would all be for nothing, and her people would die. Hesitating only a moment longer, Leviathan called out to her.

…Garnet.

As expected, there was the traditional pause. It was longer than usual, and Leviathan hoped that she wasn't panicking or thinking that was a hallucination. At any rate, he waited patiently and prayed.

…Who's there?

Leviathan sighed in relief. The first hurdle had been cleared. She was talking to him. She sounded uneasy, afraid, and emotionally distraught after all that was happening to her castle. She had barely been queen three hours before she had to order her army to combat this coming evil. He swallowed again and licked his lips.

There's little time to explain, Garnet. Suffice to say, I am what you call an eidilon.

Another pause, and then more confusion. An eidilon…? Calling me? Why? I don't…

As I said before, Leviathan continued in a cold, serious voice. There is little time. Answer me this, Garnet. Do you wish to save your kingdom from destruction?

I…I don't…

Do you or don't you? Leviathan nearly shouted.

Garnet paused for a moment on the other end, obviously uneasy. For a moment, Leviathan thought he had scared her off. But then, he heard a response. And it was a bit stronger than before, showing that she had some determination about some things at least.

Yes. Yes, I do. But…Bahamut is the strongest of all eidilons…

There is one that is stronger. And he slumbers right beneath your feet.

…Excuse me?

You have the jewel you need to summon him. Rather, you have half of it. Eiko has the other half, and she's already headed for the top of Alexandria castle. Go up and meet her, and both of you must summon this eidilon. His name is Alexander, the holy eidilon. You must go and summon him now. He's the only thing that can destroy both Bahamut and his master, and save your city.

Another pause. Leviathan feared, for a moment, that Garnet's endless uncertainty was frustrating his attempts to get her to move. However…it luckily lasted only a moment. Then he heard her respond in a quivering, yet determined, voice.

Alright. Alright, I'll do it.

Then go now.

With that, Leviathan broke off the mental link. Well…some good fortune for a change. It might yet come to nothing. He had never even experimented with this sort of thing. He wasn't exactly sure if it would work, especially since the esper was still in pieces. But there was no time to waste. It was now or never. He wished he had thought of a contingency plan…but he supposed it didn't matter. If this didn't work, he and the workers could do little to stop Wyvern. And when he fired his Omniapex…they'd be doomed as well. Both their lives and the lives of these people depended on Alexander now.

Now alone, Leviathan lingered only long enough to say one last prayer, and whether one more explosion, before turning and running for the exit too.

He's using an eidilon…

Unknown to either the espers or the people of Alexandria…or anyone else on Gaia, for that matter…the battle below was taking place before an audience of one. High over the surface of Gaia the man now hovered in a great, blue, oddly shaped ship that confounded designs of all other airships up until this point. His withered, ancient body now looked over the large red iris view screen that enabled him to view the planet with little difficulty at any time, and unknown to anyone. His black gauntleted hand clutched the hand rail with a progressively stiffening grip, and his jaw clenched around his wiry white beard.

I should never have given him a personality…but he would have been useless to me otherwise. I didn't want him. I wanted Zidane. This is what I get for using leftovers. I repeated to the fool endlessly the danger of using eidilons. He was always an arrogant little twerp. Even now, he doesn't realize the only reason this eidilon isn't killing him is because it's using him as well.

You're on your last strike, Kuja. I didn't wait thousands of years just to have your insanity ruin things…

Leviathan fled out of the doorway to the stone monolith and charged into the surrounding forest. He didn't have to worry about guards now. They were gone, back into the main city. Even with his back to it, Leviathan could feel the heat pouring off of it, and see the glow of the flames reflected in the trees. But still, he plunged into the deep, wet wood that surrounded the castle, and ran on.

The esper ignored roots and brambles that got in his way. He smacked away branches in his face, and his power ripped out roots that tried to trip him. He breathed hard and fast, more from fear than exhaustion, as he put as much distance between himself and the stone monolith as he could. There were no forest creatures or insects around. They all had sensed that death would soon come on this place, and had already fled for their lives as well. Leviathan wanted to flee too, but that was no longer an option. Alexander was the only option.

At last, Leviathan emerged into a "gather point" that he had set up. As he pushed through the trees into a clearing, he saw that the rest of the espers were already gathered there, and were looking back up to the ruin that was Alexandria. Leviathan slowed his step, but continued to rush forward until he had met up with the others. Once there, he panted for a moment, but then turned and began to watch as well.

There was little one could see from the forest. Alexander was still standing, tall and impressive, over the city. But now, he was mostly covered with smoke. The city itself was too small to see clearly over the canopy, but Leviathan could see the flames and black darkness rising from it. He could hear the multitude of screams even from over here. He saw lights erupt from the castle, no doubt the cannons struggling to fight off the horrible beast. Finally, every once in a while he saw the horrible monster Wyvern come out of the black gloom only to turn and plunge back into the fires, like a bat out of hell. Things were turning bad…

"Look!"

Leviathan perked up at that, and recognized Palidor's voice. She was pointing out to Alexandria castle, he soon realized. The others turned and looked up to it as well. Unfortunately, Palidor had the best eyes out of all of them. They were not able to see what was going on. Leviathan himself squinted, but then looked up and focused on the castle roof. If there was something going on, he hoped it was happening there. But between the smoke and the distance, it was impossible to see anything.

That was…until he saw a white glow.

Far at the top of Alexandria castle, a pale glow began to surround two individuals. Both of them, who had been earnestly calling out to the presence in their stones, now opened their eyes and gazed in amazement. The glow continued to grow brighter as it surrounded the both of them, and soon small rays of light seemed to erupt from the ground on the circle their two bodies made. Small sparks of whiteness began to flutter up from it, and it continued to grow as they stood there. A ringing seemed to come out…like some faint noise from the heavens. It was light yet powerful, and it only grew as they continued.

Slowly…both girls found themselves slowly raised off the ground. The smaller was raised far higher, nearly flying as she was pushed into the sky. As they rose, they watched and saw their fragments move on their own. They left them, and came forth to spiral around once before inverting and coming together. They slowly united into one single crystal in between them. And once they slowly slid together and became one…a dazzling pure light began to eminate from it. It soon bathed over them both, and increased the shine around them. It was marvelous…wonderful to behold. As they stared at it…their pains and fears and doubts went away. They felt warm…livid…happy… A light of purity and goodness flooded into their souls, and all darkness and confusion was swept away. Garnet momentarily forgot the pain of her mother and people dying, and felt only content and reassured within the light of the Crystal Stone. Eiko, on her part…felt as if she didn't need any parents…and was comforted simply by the light of the stone.

However, as time continued, the entire population of Alexandria ceased fleeing and turned up to the castle. The foul Mistidon creatures that Kuja had unleashed to supplement his destruction of Alexandria paused and curiously looked up to the sight. Even Wyvern, reveling in his glorious destruction, stopped to look up to it. As they watched, the great white glow that started in the top of the tower, seemed to spread. It appeared to highlight the entire castle. It did not glow as a light did, but nevertheless the black smoke appeared to part and be blown away, and was replaced by a great white shine from all around it. The heavens seemed to turn white, and beam down rays of radiance over the castle as the glow at its head continued. Soon, pure light had enveloped the entire structure. At that point…it began to change.

Abruptly, the entire front tower suddenly surged up. To the shock of everyone, it was like an earthquake had suddenly erupted and forced the front keep into the air. Only as the massive stone structure rose, it didn't break or bend off…but stayed straight. A great cracking sound was heard, and a rumbling went out a huge pieces of stone began to fracture and fall off of this front tower. As it did…more cracking went on either side of the castle, as the two towers on the sides abruptly shifted and began to shed tons of earth and rock. The ground shook as a tremendous rumbling sounded. A quake fractured the streets of Alexandria as the stone fell to the ground and shattered. Slowly…it seemed as if the two towers on the side began to move. They seemed to be drawing into the main tower, which continued to hover over the tiny city below and shed rock and dust. The two towers seemed to fix themselves onto the raised tower, and as they did…the seemed to provide levers that pushed the rest of the massive castle into the air. The sound was tremendous, and all below were overshadowed by the glorious light of the castle as well as its massive size. They felt like ants beneath a great creature as it slowly woke up. And they realized, somehow…that Alexandria castle was coming to life.

One of the towers lifted. The thousands of tons of rock and stone lifted into the air, and then came down to balance the great stone structure. As it did, the world below shook, and all were thrown to the ground. The other tower did the same, shattering the foundations of the nearest buildings and sending them into a collapse. The great stone monolith continued to move, and pulled itself up…like it was pulling its torso out of the ground. Within it, the sound of thousands upon thousands of gears and levers moved as the huge machine was filled at last with a spark of life. Now, it towered over everything for miles, glowing radiantly and showing off its full majesty. It looked as if it was a huge citadel…a town-sized tower that had come to life. That was true enough, for that was what it was. It was covered with ancient ridges and architecture, that of a much older castle and age. It was weathered and natural looking as well, showing that this thing was far more ancient than Alexandria. The two towers that could easily fit the entire populace of Alexandria within them formed two limbs that supported the bulk off of the ground. Finally, there was its head. It was a tremendous castle itself. The old work of Alexandria castle had fallen away, revealing a far more majestic and glorious palace underneath. It was ringed and ridged in ascending order, and crowned with a multitude of spires and towers, making it look like a great city and a king at the same time. If that wasn't enough…the bright light suddenly gathered around the great monolith. It condensed and became blinding, and all who watched were forced to shield themselves and look away. When they did, it continued to build and burn…until it flashed out with a light more glorious than the sun. It pierced the eyes of the onlookers even when they were covered, and they all cried out. But then they slowly uncovered them and looked back to see what had happened, they were even more amazed. Old and stone as the huge thing was, now…a pair of shimmering, ethereal, and pure white wings now slowly unfolded from in front of it, and went behind it. The radiated with light and holiness as the great esper amalgamation at last came to life.

Alexander was born.

It worked.

I can't believe it worked.

Leviathan and the others were stunned into silence as the great radiant esper drove off the darkness and smoke, leaving the night clear and bathed in its white glow. They couldn't see it…but the mistidons, terrified at the power of this new thing, turned and ran in terror. As the smoke parted, Leviathan saw that Wyvern alone still hovered over the city, but even he had stopped to stare in amazement of the great thing.

Leviathan couldn't help but scan Alexander…and was overwhelmed. The esper was conscious, and brimming with unparalleled power. A legion of Grievers couldn't have stood up to this thing. And yet, thankfully, he realized that the great esper allowed him to scan it. It was not plagued by evil, but was indeed governed by good and pure desires. All of Leviathan's hopes and dreams seemed to have been fulfilled. He had done it. He had made a pure and good esper, and it was more than strong enough to destroy all of Gaia's foes.

Now for the true test…

Damn Leviathan to Hell…

Wyvern sneered this as he looked at the behemoth of an esper towering before him. Wyvern had never been that good at sensing power, but he had a feeling that this thing was strong, especially with how it was literally changing the weather as he stared at it. This was why Leviathan always ran off to Alexandria. This was what he constantly ran out and did for hundreds of years. He was building this thing…specifically to kill him.

It made the esper fume with rage.

His horrible teeth gnashed and spat. His muscles bulged, and his own dark power began to flare up. He arched his body and balled his hands into fists as he glared at the giant. In his mind, his hate swelled again. He plotted all sorts of revenge and death to befall Leviathan and everything he loved. Time and time again, the damned esper had frustrated him. Throughout history, he always went behind his back with these pitiful little plans. Always he interfered with him on the eve of his victory! He was finally avenging himself on humanity…about to become the Emperor of the Blue Planet at last…had thrown off the shackles of his servitude… And now Leviathan was ruining it again! Ruining it with this damned stone esper! His hate continued to rage…horrible hatred toward Leviathan…toward his followers…but most of all to the glowing esper that now towered before him as large as a mountain…

Damn you… Damn you… DAMN YOU!

Losing your temper will avail you little.

Wyvern suddenly snapped out of his anger. His head snapped up. Abruptly…a voice had traveled into him and spoke. It wasn't quite a mental message. It was more like a message that had been sent to resonate through his being and his being alone. But whatever it was…it was strong. Far stronger than any normal telepathic message. It had much more force. It felt like a physical power rather than some mental signal. The voice was the weirdest… It seemed both male and female…old and young…artificial and natural…and was totally calm and controlled.

Wyvern grit his teeth immediately. He knew what it was.

"You…" He sneered out loud in his inhuman esper voice. "What the hell are you?"

I am Alexander.

Wyvern continued to sneer. "I mean where the hell did you come from! I've never seen you or sensed you before! What are you!"

I am the bringer of justice. I am a child of all goodness in all espers, combined and presented with this body. I am the supreme guardian.

Wyvern continued to glare evilly at the thing through his visor. "…And I suppose you think you're mightier than me, the Lord of All Espers?"

I do not think. I already know clearly that your power is far inferior to mine.

Wyvern hissed. "You're a smug little son of a bitch, aren't you!"

Pride has nothing to do with it. Alexander calmly continued. I can clearly see your power and mine. It is quite impossible for you to defeat me. My goal in life is one of protection and mercy. I will not allow you to harm another living thing. You must surrender.

Wyvern growled deep in his throat. His hatred surged. Heat gathered around his body, and a fire leapt up in his stomach as he glared wickedly at Alexander, all the while full of bloodlust and violence.

"You conceited, wretched abomination!" He spat back viciously. "How dare you talk down to me! How dare you! I am the King of All Espers! I am your lord and master! I am the greatest and strongest of all creatures alive! And you have the smugness to treat me like I'm some inconsequential punk! Look at me! With a single blast I could kill everyone within a hundred miles! I've bathed in the Lifestream for thousands of years…been rebuilt with greater powers…and have attained the power of Terra itself! I've worked too long and hard for this! You think you, some miserable damned machine, some stinking freak of nature, is going to take it all away from me! I haven't passed through this all just to have some ambitious little bastard like you suddenly come up and take it from me! I am your King! Fear my power! Fear my might!"

I will do neither. Alexander calmly answered. You are insane. You have warped yourself with your own hatred for your brother. You are a danger to all innocent life on this world. I will not allow you to stay in a position that will enable you to harm others.

"And what the hell will you do about it!" Wyvern snapped viciously, striking his tail in a cutting motion and spitting out fire from his mouth. "You think some damn machine is going to stop me! Nothing can beat me! Nothing! I've attained power greater than anything in the world! The greatest in history! I'm unstoppable now! I'll never let some damned half esper take it from me! Do you hear! NEVER!"

Then you will be stopped by force. Alexander answered, not in the least miffed.

"STOP THIS!"

Immediately, Wyvern unfurled his wings. He didn't care anymore that light was now draining his ability to do this attack. He simply arched himself back and began to generate the power. Soon, energy currents were flowing into his wings. The air around him grew dark and stagnant, and a horrible burning sphere began to gather in front of him. He tightened his muscles and buckled. Not finding enough power in the air around him…he soon began to channel his own horrific ki into the attack. It expanded dramatically in power and fury as he did so, burning and sizzling in mid-air. Finally, he was ready, buckling and sweating under the might of the attack. His head snapped back, as he bellowed out in bloody rage.

"NOC-PYRIN!"

The deadly ball immediately took off and sailed for Alexander. The huge orb cut through the air and produced a horrible squeal behind it. Rays of light draining currents formed behind it, and a line of gray and stagnant air and smoke blazed beyond it. But the horrible attack itself, smoldering and sizzling, made its way right for Alexander's heart. Even weakened, the attack was terrible. It could destroy the entire Alexandrian area, as well as all the people within it. Alexander stiffened, and watched the deadly missile come right for his heart…

Then, moments before striking, Alexander flexed his giant angel wings and crossed them in front of him. The attack came forward a moment later, and sailed right for the point where they intersected. It soon erupted. And yet…when it did…it illuminated a massive, translucent, sapphire white sphere that suddenly seemed to encircle not only Alexander, but everything around him as well. The great sphere was only partially illuminated, but it blazed to life in response to the force being used against it. A sound from the heavens seemed to ring out, and its noise drowned the horrible squeal of the Noc-Pyrin. The explosion itself should have still destroyed everything for miles…but as Wyvern looked on in horror, the attack seemed to be snuffed out. Striking the barrier was like dropping a torch into water. The eruption was damped as the field grew brighter, and soon the light and energy seemed to affect it more…dimming it down and turning it to a lower glow. It appeared toconsume the flames as soon as they exploded. Within moments…the attack was swallowed up into the sphere, and the sphere itself then faded.

Wyvern had not been so astonished since fighting Griever. His attack…his horrible attack…with enough power to turn every esper in the world into dust…was useless.The dark esper couldn't believe it… All of his new power…all of his might…turned to nothing so easily. Alexander hadn't even ruffled one of his white feathers. The esper's limbs fell, and he stared blankly in breathless shock at the stone monolith…

Alexander wasted little time. He had given his warning, but moreover he knew Wyvern's true nature. He knew that he would not repent, and that he had to be stopped before he hurt anyone else. This was the only way. And so…the ground quaked again as a huge rumbling went out. Slowly, what appeared to be one of the tiers around the castle-like head of Alexander separated from the others, and raised a few precious feet. What was revealed was the dark interior of its head…specifically a large crystal relay made of some bizarre technology within. However, it was exposed and in darkness only a moment, before it suddenly began to glow, and immediately became white and glorious. Moments later, more of the great heavenly sounds began to ring out, as huge beams of light began to fire out from within. But rather than act like energy rays…they actually banked and curved in midair like missiles. And soon, they had all turned and adjusted…and sailed straight for Wyvern.

The dark esper didn't move. He could only stare. His mouth hung open slightly, and his face was twisted into horror and anguish. He emptily stared at Alexander, unable to move or defend himself. It wouldn't matter now, however.

He realized he had failed.

As Wyvern stared, he saw Bahamut again. His ghost seemed to mock him now, laughing over this doomed body. He saw all the pain he had endured. The hellish training…the beatings by the fiends…the agony of the Lifestream…the journey from the moon to Gaia… Everything he had endured…everything he had struggled for. He had gained so much…gotten so much strength. He had killed histwin at long last. He had broken free from his traitorous brother. The world had been his. Ultimate power had been his. He had worked so long and hard…devoted every thought and action to this one destiny… Humanity was on its knees before him… The espers were his… He was the king…the emperor…the greatest of all espers…

And now, as the blinding holy light began to overshadow his body…driving away the gloom he had gathered around himself and replacing it with glorious purity…his lip quivered. His wings sagged. If he still had eyes…he would have sobbed. His kingdom…his dreams…what he had worked for since the end of Griever…gone…

Right before the holy missiles struck him, he shook his head once…and a tear slowly rolled out from underneath his visor.

"It…it's not fair…"

Then, without screaming, without resisting, without doing anything but hovering there…the light hit him and exploded.

Wyvern's body was soon lost in a maelstrom of holy light. Great burning white explosions enveloped him and rocked him. His limp body was thrown about violently like a rag doll, and vanished into the whiteness of Alexander's purity. More and more beams began to strike him, each one more deadly than one of Bahamut's own Sol-Pyrins. Each shot flung Wyvern about more viciously. The light burned him inside and out. His blood turned to fire in his veins. The replacement parts melted off. Finally, as he was being thrown about, his very body, burnt into charcoal by now, flew apart and fragmented. The holy light instantly vaporized the parts. Soon, he had totally vanished into the purity.

At last, the light turned off. The holy blasts didn't continue, but dimmed and turned themselves off, not risking hitting anyone else. And as they faded…they revealed nothing. There were no fragments, no specks of dust, and not even the metal scales that had been built into him. The only thing that did fall were two small shards. One already gleamed with an inner goodness and power, shining like the sun. It had been there. But now…it was joined by a similar shard, identical to it in everywhere…except it was filled with darkness and radiated coldness. Both now fell down…down...down into the chaotic city below, and soon vanished into the wreckage and the flames.

Wyvern was gone.

He's dead. He's finally dead.

It's finally over.

The other espers were dumbfounded. Most of them didn't know what to think. Their creation…the mighty Alexander…he had turned Wyvern into ashes without even trying. His new power dwarfed everything else to date. They didn't know what to think. They still thought it was Bahamut, after all. They didn't know whether to be happy that the destructive esper was gone, or mourn that their leader had been destroyed by their own work. Only Terrato knew for sure what to think. A grin began to spread across his mouth, as he realized they had done it. Alexander was the greatest of all espers, and he had avenged their king after his murder ages ago. Alexander was by far the mightiest of all espers. Now their race, and the world itself, never need fear evil again. Alexander could destroy any threat.

Leviathan, however, still earnestly looked on. He knew by now not to ever count chickens before they hatched. The world, and their race, would never truly be safe until Kuja had died as well. He did want to rejoice, though. It had worked. His greatest creation had done it. The holy esper had at last defeated that cruel, demented creature. But it still had to destroy one more… And it should have been easy. Strong as Kuja was, he had been surpassed by Wyvern. And now…Alexander only dwarfed his strength even more.

Despite the obvious superiority of his esper, Leviathan nevertheless found himself calling out to the holy monolith.

Now, Alexander! Finish Kuja!

The red iris magnified him now. From this range, he could see him throw back his hair in that effeminate manner he always used. Even now…he was laughing. The cocky bastard thought this all some sort of game solely for his amusement. He always was an egocentric little nut. That was what he had corrected for in building Zidane and the rest of the genomes. He had no real concept of danger, which was why he couldn't possibly see anything being stronger than him.

There was no question about it now. His creation was rebelling against his orders. Even now, he plotted to control this terrific new esper…this Alexander. It was a joke. Kuja didn't even realize that this esper could wipe him out of existence like the meaningless gnat he had been before he had given him a personality. He still didn't realize that if he hadn't made the deal with Bahamut, he would have been ashes by now. But now he wanted this Alexander too… And the truth of the matter was, even if Kuja could do the impossible and control an eidilon of this power, he would never let him do it. He didn't trust the little experiment anymore.

And, frankly, unlike Kuja…he had learned to respect the power of the eidilons ages ago…when he had met Bahamut face to face in the tower at Cornelia.

The man was still dressed from head to toe in black armor. He still had the one bright, blood-red jewel gleaming off of his chest like a heart. He still had a blood red cape flowing behind him. He still looked powerful and strong, mightier than most mortal men. And yet, the years had not been kind. The last of the Terrans, extinct now, had blessed him through genetic experiments with long life, but he wasn't immortal. He had gone mostly bald now. He had long since lost his cumbersome horned helmet. His face was filled with a white beard and mustache. However…his eyes were still hard, merciless, and soulless…without any pity or mercy for any living thing. They hadn't changed at all in thousands of years.

And they alone clearly showed those who could remember on the Planet…that he was Garland.

The dark warrior clenched his fists on the rail of the Invincible. This starship, the greatest of Terra's flight achievements, was now crewed by a single solitary relic of their forgotten race: himself. The others had died. And since leaving Gaia ages ago, he had been hard at work to try and give them new life. And for the most part, the human races of this world had been unaware of his attempts to doom their race and revitalize his own. And they had been going successful as well.

But through it all…Garland feared the eidilons.

He still remembered how their king managed to find out his true intentions and came for him. He had never forgotten it. The power of the eidilons was too strong to be harnessed or stopped by his kind. They would always be a threat. The only thing they could do was try and work around them, and Garland had been trying that. But when he had returned to this world to implement the first phase of his plan, he realized that the natives of this world had learned how to summon them. Knowing full well that he couldn't hope to hide things from both humanity and the eidilons, especially if he wanted his plans for a Lifestream disruption to succeed…Garland knew that the summoners had to go. That was why he had laid waste to Madain Sari years ago, hoping to do away with the last of them.

And now…his prototype…the pawn he had counted on to implement his work without tipping off to the world that Garland of Cornelia had returned (especially the eidilons) was ruining it. Time and time again, the fool had allowed the last two summoners to slip from his grasp. He did so at Alexandria, he did so at the Iifa Tree, and now he was doing it again. He was only interested in obtaining the eidilons they used against him. Garland knew now that was why he let them live. He was doing it so that they would continue to summon stronger eidilons against him…and so he could get stronger combatants as a result. Garland had cautioned Kuja greatly before sending him to Gaia that the eidilons were to be avoided and destroyed, not harnessed. At yet Kuja disobeyed him time and time again…first giving the eidilons to Brahne…then to capturing Bahamut…and now to attempting to yoke Alexander.

Garland, with a sneer, knew well why he was doing this now. He was doing it because he, Garland, was the only thing he feared. Kuja's tendancy was to crush all life around him so that he would not feel afraid or threatened. It was psychotic and immature, but it was there. He knew the one thing he couldn't destroy was himself. Because of that…the only thing that terrified Kuja was Garland himself. But he also knew that Garland feared, although respected was more appropriate, the power of the eidilons. Kuja assumed the old adage as a result, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". He wanted to get the power of the eidilons and use them against him…rebel against him and destroy his own creator. And the fool was about to jeopardize all of his plans as well as his worthless life to do it.

No, Kuja. I think you've gone too far this time.

Garland scowled as he reached over and began to type on a keypad surrounding the iris. He didn't need the little failure anymore. Mokoto was frail natured, but hopefully she would soon be able to take his place. Garland preferred to use Zidane, and he might get to yet if the genome continued on his current course. He might just "meet his maker". At any rate, he could proceed without him. The other genomes were nearing their final levels of education, and the destruction of Alexandria…coupled with what he was about to do…would provide enough of a ripple in the Lifestream to insert Terra's.

Garland continued to adjust buttons, and pushed everything to maximum. This should still work…although it would cut it close. His own powers were insufficient to do this. Under any other circumstances, he wouldn't risk using this. At maximum power, the Invincible could destroy a continent. Although Garland normally wouldn't want to see Gaia damaged, he had a feeling that this eidilon would try and restrain the blast to itself. It was in their nature to be self sacrificial. But he was definitely going to do this. He didn't risk this getting any worse. Already, this newest eidilon was above and beyond any of his previous estimates. Anything worse, and he wouldn't be able to fight back against it.

At last, the dark warrior pushed the engage button.

This is for ruining my first plans, eidilons…

The area had gone strangely quiet. Leviathan had noticed that with Wyvern dead, the screaming had ceased. Now, only the soft sound of burning and the faint shine of Alexander lingered on. Even his gears seemed to be moving slower. Still, the sea esper earnestly waited. He wanted the holy esper to hurry and finish Kuja. Then they'd be alright…

But as Leviathan thought this, he suddenly noticed something. The wind was beginning to pick up. He ignored it at first, until it began to build in power. Suddenly, a great gust went by and tugged at his robe, pulling it into the air. At this, the regent snapped back and looked around. The other espers likewise recoiled. They saw the wind grow worse. Soon, it was whipping violently around them and growing stronger. The trees around them began to rustle harder and harder, and whipped one way and the other as they did so. Lighter branches began to be snapped off. Leviathan's human hair and beard were thrown about, and he had to raise his hands to hold it down. It was as if a storm had suddenly fallen on them, but without any rain or lightning. There was thunder, however. Soon, he and the others began to hear a rumble. But it wasn't any normal thunder…it was much louder. It sounded…almost like the sky was ripping. And it began to grow louder as time went on, growing into a much more powerful roar.

Looking about in confusion…Leviathan was overwhelmed. "What is this…?"

"Look!"

Again, the screams of Palidor caught their ears. But this time, they were far more frantic and terrified, as well as more urgent. Leviathan stole a glance at Palidor, and saw her eyes wide in terror and gaping back at Alexandria. Leviathan turned back with the others to see what was going on. As he did…he heard the roar grow louder and louder, becoming deafening. Yet still it increased, and would not stop. It wasn't a series either. It was a single roar of thunderr.Leviathan gaped again as he saw the source of the wind.

The clouds in the sky, still illuminated by the holy light, were rotating. But they were doing it on a grand scale, and were growing more powerful in their rotations, drawing more and more wind into them. Leviathan gaped at the sight, as he saw all of the clouds for miles around swirl. This wasn't a tornado. This was more like a hurricane…forming right here over the city. A great eye began to be generated over the castle, and the espers were dumbfounded as to what this new evil meant.

But then…something far more horrifying happened.

A real giant red eye suddenly opened over the eye of the storm.

The other espers recoiled in terror. Leviathan himself was shocked…and felt his own heart freeze. What in God's name was this monstrosity? What horrible evil was coming now? He looked up to the great red eye, and stared transfixed in horror along with most of the population of Alexandria. For a few moments, he was paralyzed in horror, as the other espers around him began to cry out and fall back.

But then…Leviathan suddenly noticed something. He couldn't read any aura from this eye. Nothing good, evil, or even living was coming off of it. Blinking in astonishment, Levaithan looked closer. Then it struck him. On another inspection, he realized it wasn't an eye. It was…some sort of great lens. An iris lens. It was gigantic, and hovering through the eye of the storm. But it was artificial.

"It's…a window…"

As Leviathan said this out loud, the other espers turned to him with their own panicked expressions. They then turned back, and realized that Leviathan was right. On another look, they too saw that it wasn't natural. It was a bizarre window shape, but it was some sort of giant window. And now, it hovered right over Alexander in the middle of a storm of its own making.

"What is that thing…" One remarked. "Why is it here…?"

Leviathan didn't answer. He continued to stare at it. He was scared now, and confused. What did any of this mean? What was this thing? Was it from Kuja? Was it a machine? If it was, how did a machine get that high in the sky? It was above the stratosphere… He had to scan it. He had to see something…

But at that, Leviathan froze again. He did soon sense something. Power. There was power building in that lens. And as it built, he began to hear the already ear-splitting roar grow louder yet. He sensed neutral energy begin to build around the eye-like iris. What more…he began to see it. Soon, rings began to move around the "eye's pupil". They expanded and contracted, and then began to glow. They did so brighter and brighter…and as they did the energy continued to build.

"What's it doing?" Terrato called out.

Leviathan gaped for a moment longer at it…before his pupils shrank and he felt his heart race. Another horrible thing had befallen them…the worst yet. Their own victory was being taken away from them. He didn't know what this thing was or where it came from…but it was gathering power. It was preparing to fire. And it was much stronger than previously. In fact, he already saw it begin to approach Wyvern's base power level with no end in sight. The rings continued to circle and gather, and the deadly energy only continued to build. The wind whipped up harder around them, and trees began to groan and snap around the espers.

The sea serpent realized the horrible truth. Whatever this thing was…it was going to attack Alexander.

"It's…it's attacking…" Palidor breathlessly announced out loud.

Terrato gaped at it a moment, and reached the same conclusion. Suddenly, he leaned forward and yelled out. "Alexander! Destroy that thing above you! It's going to shoot you!"

But Leviathan felt his heart turn cold at the sound of that. They hadn't completed Alexander's cooling systems. He couldn't recover quickly from firing. Leviathan had thought it was unnecessary…only needing it to fire once to destroy Wyvern and then recharge a smaller amount to destroy Kuja. But this would be stronger. It was growing in more power, and growing fast. It surpassed Wyvern's former power, and began to become over half as strong as Alexander with no end in sight. The great stone monolith, rumbling the world below it, slowly began to pull itself up to raise its head to the thing slightly.

Leviathan thought of crying out to move…but it was useless. Alexander's rear legs hadn't been finished. He couldn't move from his spot. The regent realized the horrible truth. There was no where for Alexander to run, and no way to defend himself. The weakest espers gaped in terror a moment longer, but then turned and ran for it, getting as far away from Alexandria as possible. The others stared in terror. The wind continued to rise. The storm grew more violent and spun around the iris. People began to scream in the city again and ran. As for the power…it continued to grow. It was nearing Alexander's level now, and looked to pass it.

"If that thing fires…it will destroy Alexandria and us with it." Terrato spoke in terror.

As if in response to this, however, the great Alexander gave a groan again. As Leviathan watched, the colossus extended its massive glowing wings over it and covered itself again. Only now…it shielded above it. This was a hopeless move. It couldn't restrain the power like it had before. It would still be damaged. If anything, holding out like this would damage it more. But at that thought…Leviathan turned a shade white.

Alexander knew this. He wasn't trying to save himself…he was trying to prepare his body to absorb the power full force.

He was trying to spare the life of the city.

"Alexander, no!" Leviathan screamed as the roar deafened his voice. The wind swallowed up his sound. It was hopeless anyway. Alexander couldn't run. He couldn't defend himself or fight back either. He could only lay there. But no…this couldn't be! Leviathan's heart filled with dread and terror as the power grew to Alexander's level and beyond. The serpent could never build another Crystal Stone. He couldn't die here! He couldn't! Alexander was their future! He was the hope for the world! He was the chance to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for humans and esper kind! Not now! He still had so much to do! He still had such a great job ahead of him! He had just been born! He couldn't die now!They were doomed if he did! Their race was finished if he died!

But as Leviathan screamed out another defiant "no", it was swallowed up again by a new noise. He could only watch helplessly as a burning red glow enveloped them and everything for miles, plunging everything into a bright red light as a deadly beam of energy, focused in the center of the eye, came down and struck Alexander full force.

The great white sphere rang out with a sound like an angel's cry. It shined brilliantly and beautifully, and as the red deadly light covered the world below, Alexander's own sphere shone like a second moon in its last act of defiance. The wings held. They buckled, but the power held. Now, a great cracking and whining went out as the two powers collided. Sizzling and burning resulted. The skies thundered and swirled faster, roaring and thrashing about madly. Deadly energy waves rippled off the collision. But still the mighty Alexander held. The great white wings buckled under the deadly power. Slowly, pinions began to break off and immediately shatter into fragments of white radiance. But the thing head, continuing to let the power be poured out on it. It creaked and groaned, but for a precious minute it continued to withstand the power. It had to…because it sensed small lives on its head that had to be protected until they could flee, and he vowed to live until they could escape.

Yet at last, the power was too much for it. The stone monolith gave out the last of its strength, and collapsed. The beam shook and shuddered the white sphere for a few moments longer…and then finally, with a sound like a million crystals shattering, the sphere broke. Immediately, the white purity of Alexander was turned to red. The horrible heat split right through its great wings, setting them aflame and tearing them to white shreds. The holy esper endured it, and merely held up to the end, and let the great beam strike it at the top of the head. With its final moment, it held on as much as it could to the energy, determined to at least save the city.

Immediately, the head exploded from within. Metal and stone rained everywhere. Gears, conduits, and pipes were thrown to the hurricane wind. The blast continued to go through, blowing up Alexander in levels as it traveled down his body, blasting him into nothingness. Huge eruptions went out throughout it. Fire and death rocked it severely, and the castle was turned into stone and metal fragments as it continued to fracture and erupt. The tower legs warped and bent, and then lost all support. They collapsed on themselves, and then slowly fell to the ground, sending out massive quakes as they struck the earth and sent out horrible ripples. The rest of the body smoldered and burned…before finally the greatest eruption came of all. As the survivors of Alexandria struggled to shield themselves, a great eruption of fire exploded into the air. A fireball a mile high burst forth, and black smoke, soil from craters, and burning, twisting, breaking fragments of Alexander were blasted into a mushroom cloud that could be seen from everywhere around the mist continent. It looked as if the world was ending.

It took a half hour for the explosion to die down, and for the smoke to fade. Long before it did, Kuja, stricken with terror that his plans had been found out, fled Alexandria for the other side of the world. The great red eye in the sky had closed and had disappeared, and with it the great storm and roar had left as well, leaving only the true thunderstorm following behind, much more natural and pleasant sounding, to fill its place. The soft rains slowly extinguished the ruin of Alexandria, and slowly plunged the rest of the world into darkness as it put out the fires. The last of the smoke vanished, and at last all was calm and clear again.

But now…the once great and beautiful Alexandria castle was a smoldering foundation. Debris was scattered everywhere around it for miles from the explosion of Alexander. Soot, blood, and metal had turned the clear lakes surrounding it into a rotten waste. A great blackened crater was left hovering over the ruin of what had once been the great castle. The huge mountain was gone, blasted into ashes after revealing its true nature. No one dared come near it, but let it continued to smolder and lay in the ruin that it had become.

And somewhere, deep in the forest, the last three espers that hadn't fled looked on. Palidor and Terrato stared blankly. But as for Leviathan…he simply fell to his knees, put his head to the ground, and lost all hope.

Five Days Later

Terratopolis was as silent as a tomb. The rain seemed to make its way there, and the former bright and cheery halls were now gray and overcast. No one was out and enjoying it. All were in their rooms in mourning. The place was cold…and rain continued to drip and fall all around it, making it all dark and wet. It was as joyless here as it was in Alexandria. All was silent and still…and dreary…

Starlet's footsteps echoed long through the hall as she approached her husband's chambers. It was too quiet now. Too still… Terratopolis, once a place of joy and laughter, a paradise on Gaia…was a chamber of mourning and sadness. She too was downheartened, and felt like she was walking through a tomb herself. Sadness hung heavy on her as well. Yet somehow, she forced herself to be strong and keep walking. She forced her head to look up, and she tried to look as pleasant as possible. She stopped when she reached Leviathan's door. She hesitated a moment…wondering if she should enter or not. But after a pause, she tentatively reached out and took the handle. She licked her lips once, thought again for a moment…but then opened the door. Still echoing long and loud, she walked through to the interior, and silently closed the door behind her. She looked up and into the back of the chamber.

The queen felt a great emptiness in her as she did. All of his books…his charts…his models…his experiments…gone. They had all been removed, and were likely destroyed. She had feared that he did. She didn't know why he would have done such a thing, but he did last night. She heard a great clatter in his room, and had feared him doing something to his prized possessions. He had gotten rid of them all. Now…the room was large and empty…cold and silent. There were still the arches leading out to an overhang over the lower courtyard here, and they still let in the gray light of the outdoors. It felt cold in the rain, and one could hear the neverending drops continued to fall.

Seated in a sprawled out position on a cushion, far on one side of the room, was her husband. He was as still and somber as a statue, much as he had been ever since he arrived days ago. He stared out emptily into the rainy sky, and his face showed no mirth or joy of any kind. His powerful eyes were empty, and he lay against that cushion as if he had lost his own child with the death of Alexander.

Starlet licked her lips. Then, she took a few steps forward. Her footsteps made her hesitate, for they echoed even louder in here. But then, she went on. Leviathan never looked up to her as she approached. He continued to be somber and silent. It seemed to take forever to cross his now empty room, but cross it she did. At last she reached his side, and stood up and looked over him a moment. He never looked up. The queen blinked once, gazing at him with concern…and then dropped down to her knees to his side.

"Leviathan…"

The sea esper in human form said nothing. He reacted to nothing. Starlet hesitated…but then reached up and took his hand. It was cold and clammy, like it hadn't moved in hours. She held it firmly in her own hands, and reached up and placed it against her breast.

"Leviathan…" She spoke up again. Again there was no response, and after a pause she continued. "There will be no rebellion now. Everyone is mourning." She hesitated, and then shrugged and sighed. "I am not sure who they all are mourning for now… Atomos, Odin, Bahamut, Wyvern, or Alexander…but we have all quieted down."

Leviathan said nothing, and showed nothing.

"…Garnet, Eiko, and their friends survived. Alexander guarded them until the last. They are making their way after Kuja, to hunt him down for what he has done. The other cities are being rebuilt, and they are working on rebuilding their armies as well-"

"Do you really think it is over?"

Starlet stopped at that. She looked up to Leviathan, but he hadn't turned to her. He merely continued to stare outside. She blinked once.

"Excuse me?"

"Do you really think it is over?" Leviathan calmly answered, not varying his tone at all.

Starlet hesitated again. "…Things are bad, but the two summoners live. And the humans will track down what did this to Alexandria…"

"Starlet…" Leviathan softly cut off, very gentle and not harshly. Starlet went silent at that, and stared earnestly at Leviathan, but he didn't turn back.

"…Do you think that because we are all sunk in depression that this is the end? Do you think that because we have this fragile peace that this is over? Do you even think that if the humans find and destroy the perpetraitors that anything has improved? Starlet…for thousands of years, humans aspired to be like us. We were god-like. We were pinnacles of power. We were the ones they invoked and emulated. And for thousands of years, we lived in this world separate from them. Oh…they had summoners and every once in a while we would interact…but we were separate. Our strength made us different. Our level of being made us different. We could live as we wished, and we didn't have to be accountable to any human. We had nothing to fear from them.

"But Starlet…look what has happened. In just a month, we espers became the weapons of this world. We were pitted against other powers as if we were mere tools or pawns. Our lords were rendered helpless before the powers of humanity. The most deadly and prideful one of us all…he willingly became the slave of a human because the human could give him more power than espers could. The strongest of all espers was not beaten by a foe or entity…but by a machine. A machine. A nonliving construct that we thought was as inconsequential as the grass until now. The future of warfare has been revealed to humans…and it lies not in airships or gunpowder…but in us. We are the ultimate weapons. From now on, no nation on Gaia will ever feel safe again unless it has an esper under its own command."

Starlet said nothing and showed nothing…but felt a cold pit in her stomach.

"We are quiet now…but we are now leaderless. Do you honestly think these people will follow me? You're as strong as I am, Starlet. Tritoch is stronger. And there are many others in addition. Now…there is nothing left. Bahamut was respected only as long as he was alive. Now that he is dead…there is nothing to keep anyone following me. Do you think that base and wicked notions died with Wyvern? Do you not think that there are others among us who now fear humanity? The events that have happened…the oldest ones among us made the playthings of humans…do you not think that has terrified some of us? And do you not think they want to respond to it the way Wyvern did? With power? That is their only source of comfort now. But they know their own power isn't enough. Don't you think they will jump at the chance to gain more power? That they will partner with each other for strong alliances? That they will oppress the weak and gather the strong? Or worse? That they will partner with humans who can promise them power, as Wyvern did?

"Last month, Starlet…we were our own race. We were the things of myths and allowed self government. But that is no longer. Now the human race knows of us…and it has the means to bend us to our will. Eiko and Garnet…and their descendants…will be the most precious commodity in the world. In the future, wars will be waged to see who has the most of their offspring on their side…because that will mean power. That will mean us. And now…we are so weak…we will be too chaotic and scattered to do anything about it. We have no leaders left. No rallying points. Alexander…he was the only thing that could have united us all. But he was destroyed so easily by a human invention. So many of us have died in the last few days…and all the results of humans, not espers. Don't you think that some of us will now flock to the humans…for protection? For security?"

Starlet couldn't answer this…but she knew it was the truth. This technology…this power…it may have been alien, but now the humans had it. And humans, above all things, were resourceful and adaptive. And they would build on it and make it their own. And they would improve it. Their powers would continue to grow, and they would continue their latest turn to dominance. And in truth…no human establishment would feel safe without the protection of an esper now. Leviathan's grim prophecy was going to be carried out in the next generation…when the survivors of Burmecia would beg one of Queen Garnet's children to be their king…so that they too would have a summoner in their kingdom. And things would only escalate from there. What they, and the world, had seen in the past month…was only a sample of a far greater and more terrible conflict. One the likes of which the world had yet to fathom…and one that would wipe the surface of many continents as smooth as glass before it was done. The queen could only bow her head and stay silent in response to this grim future.

Leviathan sighed long and low, and shook his head out at the falling rain.

"…Perhaps Crusader was right. Perhaps humans should never have been trusted. But now it doesn't matter. I fear with all my soul…with every part of me…we have seen only the opening shots in this first 'War of the Magi'…"

THE END

That's the end of the addenum.

Now, I'm sure some of you noticed differences between what happened and what was in the game. I tried not to depart too far in most cases, but I did my own spin on some things. I hope it wasn't too bad for you.

For those of you following along, look for more chapters to be added to "The Wyvern Battles" for the continuation of this story.

See ya.