Forty Years Later
One thing was for certain.
No matter what had happened, Bahamut had managed to successfully exile himself.
Two score ago, he had left Terratopolis, willingly giving up the throne he had held for four thousand, one hundred and fifty years. He put himself into exile, planning to go far away from Wyvern and the affairs of espers. Khan and Singh had accompanied him, refusing to leave their master's side when he left. As for Leviathan, he did take the title of king...but refused to wear the crown. That, he placed on Bahamut's head, as a reminder that he was the true King of All Espers. Leviathan himself took the title of King of Espers, for there would always be one who ranked above him. On that note, Bahamut had left. He searched over the Planet's surface for some time after that, and he was able to catch some final news. Leviathan banished all of the espers that had plotted to betray Bahamut, driving them off into the world. His own brother, Ogopogo, was among them. Bahamut sighed again when he heard that. This whole time, he hadn't even been aware of Ogopogo plotting against him. So lost was he in his own thoughts. Another brother turned against him... It only made his heart heavier as he left, making him wonder how his family had turned against itself...and wondering if another would come. Last he heard...Leviathan consented to Kluya's conditions and allowed him to enter the world of humans.
Hearing that, however, gave Bahamut the impetus he needed. Nowhere on the Blue Planet would ever safely conceal his presence...so why not venture off the Planet? As ridiculous as it seemed, Bahamut knew that the orbit of the Lunarian moon was close. It would take some effort and power...but he was capable of doing it. He was more than strong enough to withstand the pressure with the aide of a magical shield. Air was a problem, but his vast lungs could hold in a breath for hours. Or he could create an oxygen bubble within the sphere. Of course, that left Khan and Singh. The only way they could make the trip would be if Bahamut used his own power to shield them from the cold darkness of space. Furthermore, leaving for the moon meant leaving everything they knew and loved behind for a barren wasteland. But in the end...they would not disobey their master, and they would not abandon him. They agreed to come. And so, sweeping them up and enveloping them in a shield, Bahamut took off.
The journey was harder than he thought. If it had been any other creature, even a lower power esper, they would have died. Bahamut was able to maintain his barrier strong enough to begin with, but the moon was farther away than he anticipated. Even traveling at speeds inconcievable to the human eye, it still took him days, and taxed the oxygen he had taken to the limit. His stamina nearly gave out, and he was soon straining and grunting to maintain the barrier. Luckily, Khan and Singh were there, and both of them transfered some of their energy into him. But it was still barely enough. Bahamut used the power of a Supra-velo to speed himself up, but it only made him breathe faster and it barely pushed him to a faster rate. It was a nightmare, and Bahamut nearly destroyed himself again doing it.
But in the end, the three suddenly burst into a new atmosphere. To their surprise, as they passed onto the satellite around the Planet, they went into an air-filled environment and could breathe normally. Bahamut at once realized that Kluya had spoken the truth. This was a spaceship of some sort. Despite being in the cold depths of space, they felt normal pressure, heat, and air. The surface was barren and lifeless, however, like any other rocky wasteland. That meant it had to be an illusion, something crafted by the Lunarians so that no one would suspect their moon-sized starship to be anything more than a rock in space. Khan and Singh were justly amazed, and Bahamut couldn't blame them. They marveled at this new world for a short time, flying over it while Bahamut caught his breath. But then...he saw a great crystal tower made out of three spires of glass-like material. He made for that immediately.
Inside, Bahamut and his attendants were pleased to find a rather comfy atmosphere. It appeared to be the interior of some sort of palace. In the central chamber on a raised platform was an empty throne, and no sooner had they approached it than a form teleported into it. He was an incredibly old man. Bahamut could tell this not just from his physical form, but from his eyes. They blazed with the same wisdom of the ages that immortals like himself did. He had a long beard that surrounded him, but a great white crest for an eyebrow. Bahamut recognized him as a Lunarian like Kluya. This one explained that his name was FuSoYa, and Bahamut recognized the name from Kluya. It was his older brother. The Lunarian was very polite and proper. He addressed them as guests and waited on them. He showed them Lunarian technology that healed Bahamut's weakened body and energy alike within seconds. After that, he sat back and listened to Bahamut's tale that explained why he had fled to the moon. He next asked the Lunarian if it would be fine if he would remain on their spaceship. FuSoYa consented so long as they continued orbiting the Blue Planet, but warned him that they might leave in a few decades.
Next, he led him to the cave.
A great ring of stone surrounded a pinnacle of rock on one part of the moon surface. There was an entrance to a cave there, that led deep into the glittering depths of the moon. Here, the walls and floor were covered with a rough-hewn rock that looked more like crystal than true stone. It formed columns and pillars like ancient underground caverns, and it led deep over wide and dangerous chasms into the moon's surface. It sparkled with its own inner light, bathing the chamber in a white and shimmering glow. It was amazing to say the least. It was like being surrounded with a world of shimmering glass or diamonds. FuSoYa granted this cave to the esper to make his own dwelling. He offered to furnish it with whatever he needed, to which Bahamut responded there was nothing. After a few years, Bahamut did use his power to carve two intricate stone columns and a platform for himself to rest on, but that was the extent of the decor. He set these up to guard the way to him, and lay on the platform itself. But that was it. Khan and Singh were glum about the decorations, considering it rather boring. However, the cave in and of itself was a grand and beautiful place. It was pleasing to the eye and very remarkable, and espers had a love for natural beauty in any form. However, Bahamut did have to conjure beds for them, which he eventually did with the columns. Every day, however, he turned them back.
Finally, as a gift to the esper, and to help him if Wyvern should ever encounter him, FuSoYa gave Bahamuttwo massive pets. They were great purple creatures with shaggy manes and razor sharp, saber-like teeth. They looked like huge mixtures of bison and lions. They stood ten feet tall and stretched forty feet long, and their power matched and even exceeded their massive bodies. They rippled with strength and might far beyond that of any other creature on the planet. They were nearly invulnerable, unlimited in stamina, and terrifically strong. The fortunate thing, however, was that the colossal monstrosities were rather tame. They never attacked unless they were provoked, and the three of them made sure not to do so. The rest of the time, they lazily plodded around the cave, looking for food or sniffing the area. FuSoYa called them Behemoths. They were great creatures from the Lunarian's homeworld, living juggernauts without match in the planet. They brought some with them on the ship to repopulate them one day on a terraformed world. The creatures were normally docile, but highly aggressive when provoked. Once that happened, they would relentlessly attack their opponent until they were no more. And the stronger that an opponent threw an attack against it, the stronger it would fight back. If the opponent hit it with a painful enough move, it would fire a blast of storm energy that would siphon the life of an opponent until they were merely food for one of the beasts. Looking them over, Bahamut realized there was no way that even Wyvern could kill one with one blow. He would have to grapple with one before winning. Hence, they made a good alarm, and perhaps an effective deterant. And so, to the chagrin and terror of Khan and Singh, they stayed.
Time passed dully in the cave. There wasn't much to do or be aware of. There were creatures on the surface of this moon, other organisms that the Lunarians had brought. Occasionally, one of them came forward and attempted to pick a fight. Bahamut promptly obliterated them. Other than that, there was nothing of interest. They couldn't sense what was happening on the Blue Planet from here, only vague energy sensations. For the first few years, all they did was hang around all day. It grew somewhat tedious at times, but Bahamut already had thousands of years on his side, and infinite patience with his immortality. Khan and Singh were able to adjust somewhat better as well, but they were still a bit weary. After all, they couldn't sense or do anything here. And they didn't know how long they were supposed to be here, and what they were supposed to do.
However, after the first few years...Bahamut grew even more anxious.
It started with a feeling. Until now, his senses had picked up little from the moon. But then, he faintly sensed something else. He thought he sensed a dark presence within it. It was very faint, but it was there. It was constant and unyielding. And it was distinctly dark...and evil. And yet, when he tried stretching out his senses to find more about it...he found himself thwarted. It was as if something was blocking him...or rather, blocking what he was sensing. Something was strange here. It was as if the entire planet had been constructed in such a way that it created a natural energy field devoted to not blocking things out...but keeping things in. Bahamut couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it appeared as if deep within the surface of the moon, nearer to the center...there was some sort of dampening field. And within that...he sensed the presence. That raised his irritation toward the Lunarians. He wondered what they were doing there. And yet, there was no way into the moon's core. Not that he knew of. And it appeared it was being restrained. But still, it made him uneasy. The presence shown through despite the dampner around it. Bahamut couldn't get a real fix on it though. But from what he could guess...it was rage. The same violent rage that he once sensed from Wyvern...one of pride and ambition and unquenchable malice. But it wasn't the same. He could tell that much. No...this was something different, and based on his estimates it had to be much, much stronger... It almost seemed to, if it was possible, form one collective consciousness of pure hate...
That feeling lasted for a few years. Then, Bahamut sensed something different. Because he was within a part of the damper area by being under the planet, he couldn't sense exactly what was going on back home. However...he sensed danger. Somewhere inside, his senses warned him of a growing threat. As impossible as it seemed, it appeared that somehow the rage that he sensed on this world was trickling out into the other world. Something was beginning to make its presence known there. Bahamut didn't know what, but it made him uneasy and fearful. Again, he felt as if the Lunarians were doing something to betray him. He held his peace for a while, but he only sensed that the presence on the world grew stronger. Though blocked, as time went on he felt a mounting danger coming, just as it had in the alternate timeline when the Temple of Chaos was destroyed. Eventually, it grew so strong that Bahamut withdrew, slipping past his monstrous guardians, and went to FuSoYa. The Lunarian seemed a bit perturbed, but informed him that there was some sort of disturbance within the moon that was leaking out. He was trying to deal with it at the moment. Bahamut sensed no lie within his mind, and for the moment he didn't want to risk returning to the Planet. Instead, he bided his time and waited, hoping he wasn't making the same mistake that he had made ages ago. Perhaps it would be better to stay on the moon anyway, for here he sensed the greatest danger...
The Planet remained faint as Bahamut struggled to sense what was going on. As the years passed, he felt the presence grow stronger and stronger, and he began to feel as if other good forces were going out. That nearly broke him, and made him risk returning to the Planet regardless of what would happen on the moon or if Wyvern would show up. But before he did...he felt other forces as well. Lights within the darkness softly began to glow, and those that stood up for good began to mobilize. Bahamut hesitated, and watched and waited to see what else would happen. Things did not change for a few more years afterward. But then...his vision grew foggy. Some sort of whirling chaos was playing itself out on the world below. The light forces and dark forces began to clash at once. Bahamut realized that some great evil was taking place, and that now the world below was erupting into war. Sensing this, Bahamut wasted no time, but rushed to FuSoYa.
The Lunarian had been grim when he reached him. He told him that he wanted to leave at once, and the Lunarian glumly returned that it was impossible. It was then that FuSoYa finally gave Bahamut a name to the burning rage he had sensed within the Planet. It was another Lunarian of great and wicked power: Zemes. Contrary to the desires of FuSoYa and Kluya, Zemes had come to this world in much the same fashion that Garland had...wishing its destruction. He had wanted to slaughter the native peoples, enslave ones that were useful, and then take the Planet for theirselves. After all...they were simply "underevolved" creatures. Eventually, FuSoYa had been forced to put him to sleep. But his anger and rage was too great. It swelled with hatred for what had happened to him and a burning lust for revenge. It consumed him in the same way that it had consumed Wyvern. And now, the evil within him was actually taking a consciousness to itself, and was manipulating the world below while his body slept. It had taken centuries, but now it stretched out its dark influence to the Blue Planet. It was manipulating dark hearts there to its will, and was conspiring to unlock an ancient Lunarian device. Apparently, eons ago, when the Lunarians first saw an interest in the world, they built a massive tower that would one day connect the Lunarian moon to the Blue Planet, one that spanned underground and above ground. They named it the Tower of Bab-Il, and hid its construction under a mountain, away from the eyes of the world's beings. But now that Zemes was making his presence known, the mountain had been uncovered. No doubt, Zemes planned to use the Eight Crystals of the Blue Planet to link up to the Eight Crystals of the Moon. The result would link the two worlds together, but more importantly would allow Zemes to activate an ancient Lunarian weapon contained in the tower named the Giant of Bab-Il. This colossal monstrosity would annihilate all life as Zemes intended, leaving the world to be rebuilt in his image. Until now, he had been gathering his power on the world below and preparing to move. Now, his full strength was brought to bear, and his minions were moving to seize the Crystals and use them to activate the Tower.
Yet Zemes was aware of FuSoYa and Bahamut's presence as well. To that end, he had managed to stretch out his powers and seize control of the Moon's Crystals. With them, not only did he seal the way for any to enter the core of the moon and attack him, but he also adjusted the orbit of the moon to the proper point of contact with the Tower of Bab-Il. It was now farther from the Blue Planet, and Bahamut didn't have the strength to get there before he was dead. FuSoYa also could do nothing...nothing but hope that somehow one would use the Lunar Shuttlecraft, the Big Whale, to come to the moon first.
Bahamut returned to his chamber cursing himself. Even if the Lunarians hadn't directly intended this evil to come to the world, it was there fault it had come to be. And again, because he trusted them, he was again too late to help out. Wyvern was nothing now. He needed to get back to that world to destroy the Tower. But now he was helpless to do anything but wait. He thought that he should never have left...but then he realized that was wrong. Wyvern had been the real threat then. Now, the only reason he needed to return is because there was a greater threat. He could do nothing about it but wait and watch. Leviathan and the others remained. He could only hope they were taking steps to deal with this...
Bahamut channeled the power of Khan and Singh over the next year in a desperate attempt to see what was happening, all the while pouring over his faculties to find a way to slay Zemes himself. But he couldn't create a new tunnel. The stone was too hard to break with any energy weapon. So he had to bide his time. As the months wore on, both sides waxed and waned. Both sides rised and fell. But all the while, he could feel as if the dark presence was inexorably moving himself forward. His powers continued to grow and his influence made itself known.
Then, came the one day when Bahamut felt something. It was as if the entire moon came to a stop. And at that...he felt a massive surge of victory from the rage in the Planet's core. He felt as if it doubled its evil presence and gave a cry that its plans had at last come to fruitition. Seeing this, and sensing the danger, Bahamut again left the cave and went to consult with FuSoYa. He was prepared to obliterate the Eight Crystals if they would get him into the center of the moon. Yet on emerging and beginning his flight...he saw something strange. It was as if a giant, glowing airship had come down onto the moon's surface. Bahamut couldn't describe it. It looked vaguely like a great cetacean being, but it had hundreds of lights glowing around it, and it gleamed like shining metal. It was at least three times the size of the airship Bahamut had once seen, but it used neither propellors nor air bags to move. It seemed to fly clearly under its own power. And as Bahamut watched...the huge ship suddenly lifted off right in front of him, turned, and then blazed through the depths of space...right back for the Blue Planet. On seeing that, Bahamut began to wonder. Was this the so-called "Big Whale"?
When Bahamut returned to the Lunar Palace, it was empty. FuSoYa had departed. Over, he could smell something. Man-flesh. Four distinct scents were still there, and they had arrived not too long ago. They were clearly human...save for perhaps one of them... But they had come. At that, Bahamut realized that they were from the Blue Planet. FuSoYa must have left with them and went back. However, they had forgotten him, he realized with a sneer. Again, he was forced to wait, and with a deep-throated growl returned to his cave.
Again, Bahamut stretched his senses. The darkness and light powers both peaked, and the clash was tremendous. It seemed as if the conflict would destroy the world, and Bahamut feared that the Giant had been activated. Yet in the end...the dark powers broke, and light won the day. The dark presence was driven off of the face of the Blue Planet, and again goodness reigned. Yet Bahamut did not rejoice. Instead, he sensed, buried deep within the moon, an increasing anger. If possible, the dark presence collected further...became even more distinct. It looked as if it would indeed form its own presence. No...the enemy was not gone. He was merely thwarted, and now he was regrouping and rebuilding his strength. Now, Bahamut assumed, it was bending all of its power toward freeing its body. Then it would be able to conquer the world itself.
Bahamut immediately left for the palace. However, it was still empty when he returned. Impatient, he waited for hours for the Big Whale to return. It didn't in the end. A one-time use shuttle from the Tower of Bab-Il arrived instead, and landed right outside the palace. FuSoYa emerged, but he had company. A dark knight was with him...one of immense power and deep within the shadow of evil. Bahamut felt that this one could give him a run for his money himself. But as he braced himself to attack, FuSoYa made him halt. Although the dark knight had a bleak aura about him, FuSoYa claimed that it was breaking, and that he had been turned from shadow. This man had been Zemes' lead puppet in the quest to destroy the Blue Planet. But now that he was free, he wanted revenge. The Giant of Bab-Il had been stopped, and Zemes' plans had been frustrated. But now, the Lunarian was indeed summoning all his power to himself to break out and conquer the Blue Planet himself. To that end, he had even withdrawn the power holding people back from the core. FuSoYa and the man were now headed into the heart of the moon to destroy him. Bahamut immediately offered to go as well...but to his surprise, FuSoYa refused. The great esper, growing irritable, was about to flex his power over this man. But at once, the Lunarian changed. His eyes burned with inner wisdom, and his body seemed to grow with power. So much, it even made Bahamut halt, and he said something to him.
"Your frustration is understandible with us, Bahamut. Once this is done, we shall depart from your world, and not return until you are on our level. We will not risk this happening again. But for now...you must leave this to us. I must insist that you do not enter into the core. You are not the only one with power to see into what things may come. And I see great agony and misery down there...even death. Whatever happens, you must leave this to us and never go down there."
The power was so great that it made even the great Bahamut stand back. Before he could recover, FuSoYa and the dark knight entered into the portal and teleported to the moon's core. Frustrated again, Bahamut paused for a while longer. The Lunarians had screwed up, and had done a great calamity to the Blue Planet. But still, he sensed a good spirit and sincerity within the heart of FuSoYa. With the dark knight joining the Lunarian, he wondered if even he could defeat the two of them. He wanted to follow...wanted to do anything but wait a moment longer. But in the end, the cold warning of FuSoYa burned within his mind and would not desist. It warned him gravely not to come, and so at last he turned and went back to his cave.
And that brought him to the present.
Now, Bahamut found himself pointlessly waiting again. Deep within his cave, he scanned about endlessly for an indication of what was going on in the moon. But he could sense nothing. As of yet, there was still no change, and he was forced to simply pace and wait. He stood on his platform now. He was in human form again, and wearing the spire that Leviathan had refused to take. But he saw little need to conceal himself anymore. No one ever came here, and nothing with reason was still on the moon's surface. Khan and Singh, also in their mortal forms, leaned against the columns and waited for any sign of news from anyone, but still to no avail. Bahamut kept thinking of going anyway. Maybe he could still catch up to them and do something. Despite the warning, he couldn't stand just sitting here while so much was going on. What had happened back home? How much damage had the Giant done? Were his brothers and kindred alright? Nothing answered him...nothing but the long, empty silence of the cave as he endlessly waited on...
But then, Bahamut perked up an ear. Soon after doing so, Khan and Singh did as well. They turned their heads deep into the cave, listening far into its depths. They thought they had heard something, far away...
"What was that?" Khan ventured after a moment.
Bahamut focused a bit and listened further. It sounded...almost like a death gasp. But it was from something very large. No small creature made a sound like that, not one that carried farther into the cave. He tried to sense forward, but his abilities were dulled. He searched for a dying power, but within the cave there were no evil or good consciousnesses to key on. However...he did think that he sensed some sort of power. A great power that was in light. Yet there was a mixture. There appeared to be bits of shadow around it, and Bahamut was bewildered by this. He cursed his dull senses, and shook his head.
"Perhaps...just the Ging-Ryus fighting." He finally said. He knew it wasn't true. There was something else out there, but it was of lower power despite its strange purity. So he waited a bit longer. At any rate, they did have the Behemoth guards.
As it turned out, Bahamut only had to wait another hour or so. Then, he, along with Khan and Singh, perked up their heads to a much closer sound. A human could have heard this one. It was a distant, angry roar. It was followed by the sound of something heavy falling, and then another snarl after it. This continued onward, and Bahamut recognized the voice. So did his attendants in wide-eyed surprise.
"...That's a Behemoth!"
"It's fighting someone!"
Immediately, Khan and Singh braced themselves and prepared to transform.
However, Bahamut held a hand to them, still looking onward. "Hold." He ordered them. They looked to him in puzzlement in reply, but then did as their master told. They sighed and calmed down. As for Bahamut, he sensed onward. It was clearer now. There was definitely a very strong individual in their midst. And this one bore great power of light. It was almost dazzling even to look at, even for an esper. Bahamut was shocked to see that indeed. No ordinary person or creature could attain that level. The only way they could, that he knew of...was to endure the ancient Paladin rite of expulsion, whereby a potentiate summons forth and conquers their own darkness within. It was a passage that few people even survived, let alone triumphed on. And besides...the Paladin had been extinct for over a thousand years. Bahamut began to recognize other strange and powerful presences around this one. And indeed...they must have been fighting the Behemoth. He couldn't tell what race they were or read their thoughts yet. They were an odd assembly...but very strong.
The Behemoth raged and battled them for a straight hour. Bahamut was stunned. He didn't think anything could fight a Behemoth that long and still have the stamina to continue. Their powers continuously diminished, but obviously they had the power to heal themselves, for they bounced back just as quickly. At last, the Behemoth gave out another sonic cry, just as the one before it had done. It too had been struck a fatal blow, and the entire cave shuddered as the great creature fell.
Khan and Singh both began to sweat, fearing a great and terrible monstrosity had come. They trembled and looked on. As for Bahamut, he merely stared darkly ahead.
"...We have guests."
The three waited a few more minutes. Judging from the battle distance, Bahamut reasoned that these powers weren't far. When they came into his presence, at last he would have a clear picture of them. But for now, they peered ahead into the glowing, crystaline cave and waited. Khan and Singh were not allowed to transform, but they did brace themselves and waited nervously for a foe to arrive. Bahamut found himself eager to meet them as well. At last,a series of echoes began to slowly ring down the cave of crystal. And as they did, shadows began to step out from far ahead. The three looked forth, and Bahamut turned his keen eyes out to examine them as they arrived.
The first was one of the ninja order, Bahamut realized right off the bat. His body was covered with the legendary armor of the Genji, the greatest of their race, and two long samurai swords were strapped to his back while ninja stars filled every belt he had on him. The next was a strange one. She seemed to have bright green hair, which, as Bahamut recalled, was a trait that had become isolated to the Summoner tribe. She was draped in green robes and bore the markings of a great wizard, and a long whip was coiled and hung next to her waist. A white wizard came forward next. She was an exceptionally battle-ready one. She wore light armor and thicker robes under her normal white attire, and a great longbow was tied behind her along with a quiver of arrows. Next came a tall warrior, armored thickly in large plates and masked. A lance was crooked over one arm as he came forward. Bahamut realized that this was one of the Order of the Dragoon, for his plates were shaped to look like dragon scales and crests. Then...there was the last one. Even before searching his mind and spirit, Bahamut realized that this was the one he felt. He was dressed in radiant armor, and his hair seemed almost to shimmer irredescently as he moved forward. A light seemed to come off of him as he walked forward. His face was kingly and strong, and yet still had great mercy and gentleness within. Only a healer had that sort of look...and the only knights that had been healers that Bahamut was aware of were the Paladin. All were, of all things, humans. Except...perhaps not the knight...
They marched right to the main platform. Some were more timid. The white wizard regarded the area with suspicion, while the summoner seemed to treat it with reverence. No doubt, she already realized she was headed into the lair of a great esper. The Dragoon, however, seemed to be cold and to the point, and cared little for any of it. The ninja didn't either. The Paladin alone tread softly with decisiveness and yet respect. They passed straight through the columns as they approached, and the child-bodies of Khan and Singh recoiled in surprise. They cried out to these five powers, asking them who they were and what they wanted. They were still shocked that anyone could even make it past the Behemoth guards. The two of them sure couldn't, meaning the five could easily destroy them. Bahamut, however, had a bit more bravery as they came forward. They marched up to the platform, and only then came to a halt. They looked up and stared on Bahamut's own ancient and wisened face, looking as the crystals reflected off of his glorious crown. None said or did anything for a few moments.
Bahamut used the opportunity to look over them more deeply. From this range, he could sense them well. The white wizard had a spirit as pure as snow, and a heart that was soft as down. She was the model of a white wizard. The summoner had a fairly good spirit, but it was fiery and impassioned. It was almost as if it was a child spirit in an older one's body. That only figured. She could not be more than fourteen. But he could sense deep wounds within her heart. Luckily, they had mostly mended, but the emotional scars remained. The ninja, although older than all of them, was the most childish. His spirit was as chaotic as a hurricane, and constantly oscalated between nobility and base hatred. He depended at least partially on anger for his power. The Dragoon was a far cry from what the original had been. His soul was dark, nearly consumed by a burning, deep jealousy. He was almost another Wyvern, and Bahamut sensed that his evil had dominated him more than once. But still, there remained a slight spark of goodness within him. Lastly...was the Paladin. He was the strangest of all. His spirit was as light and pure as that of the white wizard, and yet he could sense that was a recent change. There were remnants in there that suggested that he had once been blacker even than the Dragoon...perhaps even as dark as the knight who had passed in with FuSoYa. And yet, he had never seen such wickedness and hate in a man's soul so totally consumed by his justice and mercy. Where the summoner had scars, even the Paladin's scars were gone. Only a memory of the past darkness stayed, and it too had nearly faded.
Interesting indeed.
"...Well, visitors on the moon." The esper slowly began, eyeing them all...indeed, seeming to hold all in his gaze. "How unexpected. I take it that it was you five who slew my guardians. That was no small feat. How may I help you?"
The summoner stepped forward at this, right before the platform. Immediately, she threw herself down to one knee, and bowed her head before him. "Have we the pleasure of being within the presence of Lord Bahamut, Father of All Dragons, Ruler of All Espers?"
Bahamut raised an eyebrow to this. "So, you know of me?"
"We read of you in the library of Lord Leviathan, Master of the Seas." The girl answered.
"How interesting." Bahamut calmly answered. "And how did you manage to access these records? Or even enter the world of espers?"
The girl paused at this, and swallowed. "...King Leviathan and Queen Ashura took me in once my mother died as their adopted daughter. I spent seven years in their world, although only six months passed in real life. They trained me to be a great summoner and black wizard."
Hmm...so the theory was right. Bahamut mused. Constant use of time warping spells and the hourglass had a side effect on Terratopolis, as Leviathan had hypothesized. The result was that time moved faster there than in the real world. It wasn't all that surprising that the espers missed seeing it happen. After all, when one is immortal, time tends to be irrelevant. All things will eventually crumble. Still, this was interesting. Leviathan and Starlet...wait, she was using the name Ashura now...Ashura had adopted her? A human? A summoner yes, but a human none the less? Interesting.
"And why did they take you in? Why did you not stay with your people?"
The Paladin seemed to turn a shade red at this. Some of his dark memories strengthened. The Dragoon was the same. The scars within the summoner burned, but she managed to answer. "...I am the last of the summoners, Lord Bahamut. All others were burned to death when my village was destroyed. King Leviathan brought me to his home in order to train me to be capable of fighting against the growing darkness within the world."
Bahamut leaned his head back a bit. "So...you are aware of Zemes?"
At this, the Paladin likewise dropped into a kneel before Bahamut, and bowed his head. "My lord, I'm afraid we haven't the time. We must quickly complete what we have come here to do."
"Time?" Bahamut simply replied. He let out a small chuckle at that. "We both value time very differently, little human. I myself have had nothing but time since I arrived here, time to sit and wait while the world changes without me. And now, I would like something else to fill that time. Tell me your story, and what has become of the world. Then I will hear your requests."
At this, the ninja rolled his eyes. "Oh, for God's sake. Let's just get out of here and go kill him. We don't need this big, white-headed, pain in the ass anyway."
The green-haired summoner instantly stood and wheeled around to the ninja as if he had just said he murdered a child. "For once in your life, show some respect!" She snapped at him harshly. "This is the King of All Espers! Do you know how easily he could flatten you!"
The ninja merely snorted, rolling his eyes and looking unimpressed.
Bahamut quickly began to dislike the ninja.
"Very well, but we must be quick." The Paladin at last consented. The summoner sighed and turned back to bow down again. The ninja crossed his arms and groaned. As for Bahamut, he crossed his own arms and patiently inclined his ears.
It was a fascinating tale to say the least. It was filled with things that Bahamut never thought possible. And in the end...he actually felt a personal blow against his heart, and was shocked and surprised at what had happened. The world had indeed gotten worse in his absence, it seemed. It all started with Kluya. After building a few things on the world, and sharing his secrets of the airship, he had passed on while on the Blue Planet. But he had fathered two sons with a human woman before departing. One was the Paladin before him, Cecil. The other was a boy named Golbez. Not long after their birth and their father's death, Zemes had begun exerting his influence on the world below. He eclipsed the Crystals of the Moon just as the Oblivion Stone had once eclipsed the Crystals of the Blue Planet. As a result, they evoked a new set of Four Fiends of the Elements: Milon of Earth, Cagnazzo of Water, Valvalis of Wind, and Rubicant of Fire. These four were sent to the Blue Planet to do Zemes' dirty work. But they weren't what he had his sights on. Seeing the power and the potential for darkness within the sons of Kluya, the Four Fiends moved to take them. In the end, they seized only one, Golbez. They spirited him away to the Tower of Bab-Il, where Zemes' influence raised out the darkness within his heart and consumed him with it. Then he became the pawn of Zemes, and as the years went on he trained himself in dark arts to become one of the most powerful dark knights in history.
Cecil had been adopted by the good King of Baron, as had the Dragoon, Kain. At this point in the tale, Bahamut suppressed a smile. He knew that Baron was actually the domain of Odin, and that the king was him in human form. Both Cecil and Kain became powerful warriors in their own right...but secretly they had a split over a maiden named Rosa. She subconsciously led them to become more competitive and rough with each other, for Kain saw soon that she favored Cecil. She even trained herself to become an archer and a white wizard (eventually becoming the white wizard that Bahamut now saw before him) to aide him. Inside Kain's heart, he hated him for it. However, Bahamut soon heard bad news. After thousands of years of reigning as king secretly over the humans...Odin had fallen. One of the Fiends, Cagnazzo, had secretly stolen into the palace and took Odin by surprise, attacking him in his weak human form in a cowardly fashion. Odin had died as a result. Bahamut was shocked to hear that. Odin was a mighty esper, and his brother, and he had been so easily defeated? The shock probably would have been worse, had not the summoner told him that Odin yet remained on the mortal plain. His spirit had left his body, and eventually Leviathan used his own power and knowledge to put it into an suit of armor body. He was only in a half-life now, but he was alive until a way could be found to undo what had happened.
But the Fiend's treachery ran deep. It was he who utilized the power of Baron to systematically begin destroying the powers of the world and stealing their Crystals to use in the Tower of Bab-Il. Thousands died as a result. Seeing how Cecil could one day be used by them, he ordered all knights, Cecil included, to train in the ways of the dark knight, causing Cecil's inner evil to grow and threaten to consume him as well. In the meantime, they eventually took Kain, using his jealousy to dominate him. Rubicant, Fiend of Fire, smashed the kingdom of ninjas, eliminating the last free kingdom that could have offered resistance. The summoners were destroyed by the unwitting servants of Baron, who ironically were the Paladin and Dragoon that stood before him. And one by one the Crystals fell into the grasp of Golbez.
Yet eventually, Cecil rose against the enemy. Betraying the dark code he was bound to, he began to fight against Golbez and Baron alike. Over time, he had gained and lost many allies. He had fought in countless battles struggling to right the world, and surmounted one great challenge after another. One, unfortunately, was due to Leviathan. At one point in his quest, he had managed to take the final summoner, Rydia, to safety. But the esper king had feared that only death awaited Cecil's group if they went to Baron immediately, and so he intentionally wrecked their ship before it ever reached the destination. That allowed Cecil to be diverted to Mysidia, where eventually, he ascended the Mountain of Ordeals, underwent the trial to become a Paladin, and banished the darkness within him. It also allowed Leviathan to spirit Rydia away to Terratopolis, where he could make her a great summoner. The adventure with Cecil eventually took them all over the surface of the upper world and below it as well, deep into the Underground region. He slew all Four Fiends of the Elements one by one, along with the help of the Prince of the ninja kingdom, Edge (who was the petulant, arrogant individual before him). In the end, however, due to the manipulation of Kain, Golbez was able to collect the crystals and reactivate the tower. The link between the tower and the moon was established. However, the result also caused the surfacing of the long dormant Big Whale, which Cecil claimed to get to the moon. Once there, he met with FuSoYa and returned to the Blue Planet. They were too late to stop the Giant of Bab-Il from being reactivated, but luckily the forces of the Planet had united in one concentrated effort to destroy it.
Cecil's group had entered into the Giant to destroy it from within. There, they ran into the Four Fiends of the Elements again...which only figured, because the Crystals of the Moon were still eclipsed and their dark natures could be evoked. They destroyed them and then the Giant's brain. Golbez then appeared, with Zemes' rage flooding over him to the point of madness. But FuSoYa managed to break Golbez free from his control. On doing so, the dark knight wished to get revenge on Zemes. It was he that Bahamut saw with FuSoYa when they returned. However, Cecil's group refused to stay put either. They returned to the moon, now with Kain again released from Zemes' control as well, and prepared to pass into the core to fight as well.
When the tale was concluded, Bahamut gave a nod to it all. Things had indeed changed in the world. He feared what had become of Odin in this new form. But for now, his concern was the group before him. "I see... And just where do I figure in to your quest?"
The group hesitated at that for a moment. Rydia especially did so, seeming nervous about the whole undertaking. But at last, she spoke up and forced herself to be strong.
"...We have come to enlist your aid." A pause, and then a slow exhale. "...I seek to challenge you for the right of making you my summon."
Khan and Singh, far away at the columns, both turned at this. Bahamut himself raised his eyebrows, and looked over the five small humans. But then, after a moment, he finally responded.
He laughed.
Rydia swallowed and paled at this. Edge frowned and began to look insulted. Kain showed nothing. Rosa seemed a bit hurt as well. Cecil sweat a little in response. But still, Bahamut laughed, mocking them all to scorn. After all...the idea was totally and utterly ridiculous to him. He couldn't do anything but laugh. And so, he continued to sound it. He let his head snap back and continued, deep, loud, and long throughout the entire cave. They all began to blush and mutter, but Bahamut continued to laugh at the notion.
With a great effort, Bahamut managed to reduce his laughter. But still, he felt a great mirth arising inside of him, and he had to struggle not to laugh again. He gestured out to them all with casual hand. "You? You want me to become your summon? Do you think of me as some sort of mere chocobo? Or a pathetic moogle? Do you think that the title King of All Espers came to me as a figurehead name? And you come to me, weak and as meager as you are, and you profess such a challenge to me?"
"Hey, come off it, old man!" Edge snapped back...causing Rydia to turn white in fear, and furious at the ninja. "We've already beaten Ashura, Leviathan, and Odin!"
Bahamut merely snorted in reply. "They must have been going easy on you..."
Despite her reverence, Rydia managed to speak up. "...No, not true, sir. They challenged us at full power, per the conditions of the trial for summoning. Neither refused to give me any advantage. Queen Ashura revealed her entire battle form, and Leviathan used his Tsunami on us. Odin nearly struck us with his Zantetsuken. But we triumphed over all."
Bahamut frowned in reply to this. Leviathan must not have been keeping up on his training like he told him to. Starlet must have been out of practice. And Odin must have been struggling to get used to his new body. There was no way that five meager humans could beat them at full strength. Something had to have weakened them first.
"Leviathan could have been beaten without the power of Light." Bahamut simply responded. "It would have been difficult, but by no means impossible. Especially if a mere fiend managed to defeat Odin. No matter how strong you are, or think you are, no human can ever defeat me. The worst I have ever challenged a group of humans before is at one tenth of my total power, and they failed to defeat me. I have grown much stronger since then. Do you honestly think that you five can beat me at full power?"
"We are willing to try, if it will mean having the King of All Espers aid us in battle." Cecil answered in response.
Bahamut paused at that. The five were perfectly steadfast. To his amazement, he realized that they were serious. They actually wanted to fight him. He couldn't believe it. Had humans grown insane over the past few generations? He didn't want to fight them, in reality. They mostly had good hearts. And in all honesty, it amazed and pleased him to see Palad's line revived. He saw a great nobility within the one called Cecil. After hearing the tale, and seeing as Odin had at last been displaced as a king...he realized that Baron would need a new king. And within Cecil, a man of Palad's bloodline and of a pure and noble heart, he saw that he would make a great king of men. But that would mean nothing if he died here. Why were they throwing away their lives so rashly? If they had beaten Leviathan and Odin, weren't their powers enough? Did they not realize that it was impossible for any human to defeat him?
Bahamut, therefore, glared at them darkly. Perhaps they were arrogant...and Bahamut hated arrogance. "Do not be overconfident in your endeavors, and do not tread where no one has dared. If you fight me, you will be forced to fight my full power, as the conditions of the trial demand. And as the trial goes, I will not hesitate to kill you. I say now that I do not wish to. You have labored far too long and hard to fall now. You have good souls, and the world always needs good souls. You can do much to revive the world now. And as for Zemes, FuSoYa and Golbez are already gone, and they possess powers even greater than your own. So why labor when you are not needed?"
"Sorry." Edge flatly answered. "But I'm not one to just sit by and let people do things for me."
"I have my own score to settle with Zemes." Kain coldly added, speaking for the first time.
"And I am willing to do this. I have endured many fears and dangers, and I am willing to endure this." Rydia also answered.
Their determination did not waver. Their fear did not grow. They were ready totackle it like any other challenge. His words would not dissuade him, no matter what happened. Bahamut frowned a bit at this. They had to be arrogant...or foolish. But something did strike in his mind...the four Light Warriors. They had a similar endurance and refusal to quit. They were willing to endure anything for the sake of defeating evil. But then again...Bahamut knew that even they couldn't beat him. And if they couldn't, what chance had these people had? And yet...there was the fact that FuSoYa had warned him away...and that he could go into the center if he was a summon. Then again, he didn't like the idea of being the servant of any human. He wouldn't make this easy on them at all.
Bahamut looked down over them. They still did not yield, even under his powerful gaze. In the end...he spoke slowly.
"...Again, if you do this, there's no going back once we begin."
The five did not change in the least. They remained perfectly steadfast and calm. Bahamut took in a deep breath at this.
...I hate to kill you five, but so be it.
Bahamut raised his head slightly. "Khan...Singh...you'll want to stand back."
The two blinked in astonishment. They had never seen anything like this before. No human had ever challenged Bahamut before. Immediately, they swallowed and began to back away, both of them readying themselves for a fight of the century. As for Bahamut, he looked down to the others.
"...You two better get up, if you're going to fight me. And give me some room."
Cecil and Rydia both nodded, and then sprung up and backed off. Edge gave a laugh and sigh, as if it was about time. He readily drew both of his swords. The others didn't react right away, stepping back and getting into the ready position. Then, they stood at the ready. As for Bahamut, he very slowly cracked his neck muscles. He folded his fingers and pushed them out.
"...It's been a while since I've been this active..."
And with that, the ground began to shake. The wind in the area picked up. Energy began to ripple around him. He balled his hands into fists and put them at his sides. Then, he closed his eyes and focused. As the surroundings began to grow more turbulant, his clothing suddenly shredded. His body began to swell and grow. His neck enlongated. Scales sprung out from his body and began to cover him. A long tail broke out from his rear end, his hair fell out and was replaced by a great crest, and huge wings unfurled behind him. The five were a bit awed by this. It had been a while since they had seen such a transformation...or felt this much power coming off of a creature. Yet they still waited, watching him as he grew larger and stronger than ever. At last, the transformation was complete. Bahamut, now in his full great dragon form, now stood before them and glared down on them. His eyes opened, revealing bright yellow reptillian pupils.
"Is this what you wanted?" Bahamut addressed them, his tone now large and booming, shaking the foundations of the room.
Almost immediately, however, the white wizard did a gesture in front of herself. Seeing this, Bahamut regarded it with some puzzlement. A moment later...he felt as if tiny magical bits were swimming around in him. They felt almost like sensors. He was puzzled by this, until Rosa made a sort of announcement.
"29,450...that's a bit better than Leviathan."
"Not much though." Kain simply answered.
Bahamut raised an eyebrow to this. But then, he understood. They had some sort of scanning spell developed. That was odd. Bahamut had never heard such a thing before. It was fairly simple, however. He could easily replicate it. However, in response to this, Bahamut merely smiled.
"Oh...I can do a bit better than that. Hyper-velo."
With that, the winds suddenly surged around Bahamut. Dust began to be swept up, and the ground shook more violently. He felt the familiar red aura surround him and rotate rapidly, fueling his power and speed until he was charged with new energy. Once it was done, the esper stood and flexed again. Seeing that Bahamut had obviously grown in power, Rosa once again performed the spell. On doing so, she paled a bit and swallowed.
"He's now...at 36,789."
A collective wave of nervousness passed through the group. Some of their earlier bravery was starting to crack. Bahamut tried not to smile. These little upstarts thought he was such a pushover, eh? At that, he grinned once more, showing off his white incisors to them all.
"That's nothing. Watch carefully. Supra-velo!"
When Bahamut did this, the cave seemed to grow dim. Darkness surrounded him as light seemed to be drained into him. The ground rumbled stronger than ever and threatened to fracture. The wind grew colder around him, and the winds blasted so hard that they began to whip up the clothes of the others. But they just stared on at Bahamut in perfect awe. Even the Dragoon began to gape at him and his new strength. The new and more powerful spell surrounded him, and made his red aura blaze faster and stronger than ever before. His muscles bulged within him, and he felt quicker and nimbler than anything alive. With that, he looked down at them, now rippling with power, and looked again to see what his latest strength was. The white wizard, almost timidly, ran the spell over him once again. On doing so, her flesh turned to match her clothing, and she slowly let the value slip.
"...47,890."
The others were stunned. They looked to Rosa in disbelief, before turning back to Bahamut in utter surprise. The esper himself merely grinned, and flexed his new muscles and wings. The five warriors looked at a loss. No doubt, they hadn't expected one so strong. But Bahamut wasn't going to let up now. It was time to show them just what this power could do.
"Well, if these preliminaries are over with..." He began calmly. "Then I am ready to begin. I'll even make a wager with you five. There are five of you...and so I'll give you each five attacks to defeat me. That means five rounds. At the end of this time, I will be ready to blast you all with my Megapyrin. I once killed a fiend with that attack...so if I were you I'd try as hard as you could to beat me before I'm ready. Begin."
The five hesitated for only a moment longer. But then, they suddenly turned dangerous. Their adrenaline took over again, and they all brandished their weapons and readied themselves for battle. Once all were ready, they did as they were commanded and made their assault.
Cecil brought out a great sword that blazed as strongly and brightly as himself. Bahamut turned and looked to this, and saw to his amazement that it was Excalibur, the legendary holy blade of the Paladin. Supposedly it was long since ruined, but it appeared to have been reforged. Cecil rushed straight up to the esper king and swung at him with all his might into the side. To Bahamut's surprise...it actually hurt a little. The slash managed to dent some scales and draw a small scratch from the side. Kain was next. He darted in and thrust his spear downward in a slashing movement on Bahamut's other side. It was weaker than Cecil...but also managed to hurt the esper king slightly. It drew a little blood as well. Edge came forth afterward, swinging both blade dangerously. He struck with both simultaneously at Bahamut's abdomen. Yet again, Bahamut felt a tiny bit of blood fall from him, although this was the weakest attack. Rosa loaded her bow, took careful aim, and fired. The bolt, again to Bahamut's surprise, managed to strike perfectly in between two scales and hit the flesh beneath. But that was all it did. Finally, there was Rydia. She folded her hands together and generated a great green aura around herself. Arcane words spilled from her mouth, and she threw her hands up and uttered a final unpronouncible word. On doing so, great green energy orbs suddenly erupted from her hands. They swished and danced through the air on a green mist, and sailed straight to the esper king. They struck him at once, making a horrible noise as they did so, and they seemed to seep into his flesh and cover him with the green mist, making his whole body the bright color. At that...Bahamut felt a little dizzy. His stomach felt slightly nauseous. It was some sort of poison spell, he realized. But against an esper like him, it was only a mild irritant.
"Five." Bahamut simply said at the end, as he stretched out his tail and balled his hands into fists.
Cecil pressed his attack, rushing forward and slashing against Bahamut's side again. If anything, this blow seemed to strike harder, and it appeared to have a holy aura about it as it struck. Again, Bahamut felt a sting of pain. Edge came in as well, cross slashing his old injury this time and driving it in deeper. Rosa stretched out her hands over Cecil. As she did, what appeared to be a series of white cubes streamed out from her and went around her body, before each vanished into a stream of light. When they did, a great orb suddenly materialized around Cecil. It appeared to have strange bits of purple flame on the edge of it, shaped like numerals. The entire apparatus surrounded Cecil. To Bahamut's astonishment, it seemed as if the humans also had a spell that increased speed and power. It was weaker, but he definitely felt Cecil's power increase. The Dragoon Kain crouched for a moment...and then leapt up into the air. To Bahamut's surprise, a magical power seemed to run through him as he did, and he sailed high into the sky and toward the ceiling. However, Bahamut counted this as a move. Lastly, there was Rydia. She too did not attack, but folded her hands and began to concentrate. She spoke some other phrase into the air, but Bahamut did not wait for it.
"Four." His wings slowly began to unfurl and spread behind him.
However, Bahamut felt his focus nearly shattered in the next moment as a spear came down and struck him right in the chest. It went deep into him this time, piercing scales and hitting his sternum. True pain flowed through him, and he gave a bellow of agony. He looked out, and saw that it was the Dragoon. He had used the ancient jump technique, and it did quite a bit of damage and pain even to creatures such as himself. Cecil came up next, and struck not one but two blows so fast that Bahamut barely kept up with them. Scales and blood flew off with one strike, and Bahamut felt more pain shoot through his side. The ninja Edge removed three of the stars from his belt and flung them at Bahamut. They were aimed perfect, seeping under three of his scales and causing three new wounds. Rosa once again summoned the squares of light around herself. This time, it was a different spell. The same white orb appeared, and once again it had the characters on it. But this time...it appeared right over Bahamut. And as it moved, Bahamut felt things change. The world seemed to slow. His body grew sluggish. His movements seemed like they were in jelly. However, to this, Bahamut merely snorted. Trying to slow down his count, was she? With a simple exhale of air, the slow spell was broken. Bahamut at once felt regular again. That was...until Rydia finished her latest spell. This time, as she spread out her arms...her body seemed to be enveloped in a bright yellow aura, one that smothered all of her features save for her impassioned face. A series of green orbs erupted from her again, but this time each one had a red flame inside them. They expanded into a ring, and began to hover over her. A thin mist began to paint in front of them, and they grew somewhat translucent...like a water surface almost. Bahamut saw this, and recognized it. It was a portal of a summoner.
The surface continued to condense and the orbs held. The other warriors stepped back, giving their summon some room. As they did, something began to emerge. It started off as a horse head, and for a moment Bahamut thought Unicorn or Kirin. But as the horse continued to come out, he saw that there was a tall rider in the saddle. He had changed somewhat. He still had a horned helmet, but now the helmet was shaped like a skull to totally enclose his features. His armor was darker and tight, not letting anything through. But still, he held the great curved blade in one hand. He was still a pinnacle of might and power. There was no mistaking who it was: Odin. As he emerged from the portal, he held his great Zantetsuken over his head. His red eyes, or rather energy that represented them, blazed within the helmet's eye sockets. He looked up and saw his opponent, and readied Slepnir to charge against his enemy. But then...he froze. He saw exactly who his opponent was.
Bahamut saw him, and merely cracked a smile.
Don't bother, Odin. I don't fear you at all.
Odin paused in response to this. But then, he realized it was true. If that was the case, it was useless to try. Instead of striking or doing anything, Odin simply nudged Slepnir with the reigns. The six-legged horse turned around, and marched right back into the portal the way he had come. Soon, Odin and his mount vanished back inside. Once they did, the mist disappeared, and the orbs faded into nothingness. The portal was gone, and the spell was over. Below, Rydia didn't react with surprise to this. She seemed to have been taking into consideration that this might have happened. However, she did sigh.
"Three." Bahamut's wings were fully out, and he began to summon the power.
The group was growing nervous at this point. They had done damage, but nothing serious. Rydia bent her head and began to chant another spell. Kain once again readied his lance and then leapt into the air once again. Cecil charged forward and attacked again. This time, he slashed once, drawing more blood from a minor injury, but then brought the Excalibur up and drove it into Bahamut's abdomen as hard as he could. The great esper soon broke for a moment as he felt the sword pierce his scales and be driven in four inches. That was murder to a human, but to him he could take it. Still, he had to struggle hard to resist the urge to simply backhand the knight away. Edge pulled out three bigger stars, and this time flung them at the head of the beast. Seeing this, Bahamut broke for a moment...and at last cheated. He closed an eye just before one of the stars hit it, while the others imbedded in his head and neck. The one for his eye hit the eyelid and nearly pierced through, and soon blood was rushing down into his vision. Bahamut nearly groaned in overwhelmed awe. These humans weren't pulling any punches, were they? Again, Rosa cast another spell. This time, however, it was a series of irredescent rings. They abruptly formed around Bahamut, and began to encircle and swirl, almost forming a tornado. They went up and down on his massive body, and Bahamut could feel that they were trying to halt him once again. This spell was a bit harder to break, but in the end Bahamut only had to exert a little of his will to make it fall.
"Two." A light began to glow from between Bahamut's teeth.
Bahamut then braced himself for the worst series of strikes yet. Kain came down and thrust his spear into the exact same wound. He felt it sink into his bone and then begin to break into it, causing fracturesto form. The esper grunted and nearly lost his focus at that. But it soon became worse, for Cecil came forward next and drove his own sword in deeper, this time going to six inches. He narrowly missed hitting something vital, and blood began to freely run out from the wound. Instead of striking again, however, he merely ripped his blade out through the tender flesh, cutting a large gash into Bahamut's abdomen. Pain began to cloud Bahamut's other senses, but still he held up. Edge didn't throw any stars this time. Instead, he clasped his hands together and began to gesture in some sort of strange manner. He did this for a moment, before suddenly throwing his hands up and sounding out an arcane word. The moment he did, Bahamut's vision filled with light as a hundred thunderbolts struck all around him. Electricity seeped into his body and fried him from the inside out, blasting him again and again and burning his tender flesh. It was agonizing, but in the end, when it broke, he was still standing. He saw the fear and desperation in the eyes of his opponents now. The grace period only had two more moves in it, and still Bahamut stood. They too were beginning to run out. Rosa didn't attempt another spell against him. Instead, when the ring of light surrounded her, she did something different. Another irredescent wave appeared to come up, but this time it surrounded her rather than attacked Bahamut. The great esper immediately believed it was a barrier spell. But that wouldn't matter. No damage-reducing shield would save one from this attack... It seemed that it was over for them.
Until Rydia made the summoning gesture again. Once more, the orbs came out from around her and went over her head. Once more, the portal formed in between them. The others stepped back...and actually took extra steps this time. Moments later, a form began to emerge. This one was long, coiled, and sinewy. Its scale-covered body was the color of the sea, and its eyes blazed an aquamarine color. It had a great beak with long whiskers coming from it, and a long saggital crest. It stretched out massive along the ground, extended to its full length, and Bahamut, on seeing it, was a bit astonished. They hadn't lied about the King of the Espers after all. He knew in a moment that he was looking at Leviathan.
The great sea serpant turned to Bahamut...and hesitated for a second. But then, Bahamut felt a mental message projected into his mind.
Sorry, Bahamut...but you're about to see just how much I've improved.
With that, Leviathan stretched out his own magical power. As he did, water molecules in the air began to gather. This would be impossible on a real moon, but on the Lunarian's moon there was indeed cast off moisture from the organisms there. It gathered together and began to collect and form behind Leviathan. Slowly, a great mass of water began to take shape. Bahamut recognized this. He had helped Leviathan learn it ages ago. However...it seemed stronger this time. Bigger. Indeed, he didn't remember this much water being gathered. And it only continued to swell and increase with time. It went from ten feet tall to twenty feet...then to thirty feet...then to forty. More and more water built up behind it, and the entire structure tottered with immeasureable strength. Bahamut sensed the power within it...and he felt himself begin to falter. Just looking at it grow, he began to slip on his concentration. Then, he bit down and prepared to steel himself. This was going to take all his focus to withstand. And injured as he was...he wondered if he could do it. Clenching his hands tighter and digging his talons in, he watched the massive wave finally complete. Then, rushing forward as fast as a falcon, the tremendous wave of water slammed into the esper king.
Water, when pressurized and concentrated enough, could cut through stone and metal. Its power could fracture the surface of the planet and blast through mountains. Such a force struck Bahamut now. He felt his wings violently snapped back and broken. The pressure against his sternum made his ribs begin to break. His legs locked...but they began to break too under the strain. Scales were ripped off of his skin, and his wounds were blasted open. Not to mention it felt as if a tectonic plate was being dropped on him. Bahamut was shocked as pain riddled his system. Leviathan had indeed gotten better...too good, in fact. If he hadn't done the Supra-velo, this attack might have killed him. Now, it nearly broke him, and it continued topush as it rushed by. Bahamut would have never taken this attack in real life. He would have countered with one of his own or avoided it. He began to curse himself for making that deal as he felt his body ravaged by the colossal Tsunami. He began to think that it was it. It was all over. The humans actually would have been able to do it.
But in the end...the water ran out and died. Leviathan, having done his one attack, maintained the normal esper tradition, and turned and went back through his portal. Soon, it dissipated, and again it was just the esper and his five combatants. As the water cleared and his vision returned, he looked at them, and saw a desperate fear on their faces. They had been earnestly hoping that this would do it, that Bahamut would have been defeated by an attack of this magnitude. But to their horror...he still stood. Bahamut felt as if he had water in places he didn't know he had. He felt his body injured and broken from the assault. But he was still standing. He still had power. And as he looked out, he saw the anxiety within them grow. Their battle stances and faces were gone. All that was left were feelings of shock and terror that Bahamut was still standing, and that they had used their last move. Bahamut slowly managed a smile to this...for that attack had been very, very painful. For a moment, he thought he might actually lose to five humans. And what would that do to his reputation? Now that he had survived all that they could throw at him, he felt the dark desire for revenge swell within him. After getting a beating, he wanted to give one back. If they thought that Leviathan's Tsunami was something...they hadn't seen anything yet.
"One."
With that, Bahamut cracked his mouth open wide and extended his wings and limbs. He watched as the humans struggled to brace themselves, knowing the whole time it would be for nothing. Again, he felt a small measure of pity. He hated to kill them...but that was part of the deal in the end. Gain an esper as a summon, or die. With that, the great light burned out from within him, and a moment later his Megapyrin ripped from his mouth full force and blasted a path of doom and destruction right to his enemies.
Moments later, Bahamut's vision filled with red flame and explosions as the huge balls of his Megapyrin devastated the area. They sank into the flesh of one human after another, and erupted from inside. The sounds of supreme agony were drowned as their bodies were writhed like puppets. Their energy immediately dropped to nothing as the blast tore through them. Yet still it burned on, obliterating stone and crystal and incinerating all before Bahamut. Edge's cockiness was destroyed as his body was wrung free of weapons and his mask was burned off. Kain at last showed true emotion, pain, as the explosions within him threatened to bust his armor off from inside. Cecil's cape burned away and his hair turned to wildfire as the flames tore at him. He could hear the explosions break Rydia's spine as she was rocked around. All of them began to be covered with horrible blisters and burns, as their strength and power was turned to nothing.
At last, the firestorm died down. The sizzling, charred, lifeless bodies fell down before him, unable to even breathe. The huge wave of black smoke cleared, revealing the tremendous path of destruction that had been unleashed. Bahamut looked over this all and gave a frown and a nod. However, he also began to pant. That last attack had taken a lot out of him, everything that had endured the Tsunami. But it was done. His opponents lay defeated. Inside, however...he felt a bit of regret. Perhaps...he could go a bit easy on them. After all, they were just humans, and they weren't ready for this power. He could perhaps heal the four of them and let them go on their way. It was breaking the rules, but he didn't like to...
Wait a minute...four?
Bahamut turned and looked over the chaotic battlefield...and saw that he had missed one. Rosa still stood. She was panting and tired, having been effected by the heat and strain from the blast. But she was unhurt. However...there was something that still stood in front of her. It was the irredescent barrier. It gleamed brighter now...burning with new power and vigor. Power that seemed to almost be identical to the blast that Bahamut had just exhaled...
Then...it hit him.
That's no barrier...
"No..." He slowly managed to get out...before abruptly his Megapyrin exploded from the barrier and was reflected right back at him.
Moments later, Bahamut found himself bellowing in agony as his own attack blasted into him. Scales popped off of his body from heat. His wings were shredded again into tatters. His bones were seperated and fractured further. His eyes felt like they would burn right out of his head. The smell of his own flesh roasting entered his nostrils. All the while, he was ravaged with explosion after explosion...and his mind was utterly shocked. He couldn't believe it. He had actually been hit by his own attack. The white wizard saw they couldn't beat him, and so she set herself up with that new spell so that it would hit him back. He was being blasted and broken by his own move. It had been the supreme act of trickery...but effective. Bahamut felt his brain bashed around in his head, and his vision clouded and grew dizzy. His stamina was sapped, and his strength was erased by the power of his own blast. It was much stronger than Leviathan's attack, and feeling it even reflected was too much for the esper to bear.
The attack died down again. But now, Bahamut was the one who was charred and smoldering. His body was broken. His strength was gone. He slowly exhaled, and stared blankly forward in wide-eyed shock.
"I...I don't...believe it..."
That was all that Bahamut could croak out before he collapsed and slipped into unconsciousness.
A few minutes later, Bahamut opened his eyes again. He was pleased to feel not the slightest bit of pain. His bones had all reconnected, his burns had been healed, and his wing membrane had regenerated. However, he also frowned inside when he realized how he had to have recovered. It must have been one of the elixirs. One potion was enough to totally rebuild a person's body, but they were very rare. Even he had only managed to have one of them. The components for them had long since left the world. Only those already made remained. He had refused to use one even after the fight with Griever. But now, the deed was done. As he looked up and saw the crystaline ceiling above him, he also saw the heads of his two attendants, Khan and Singh, anxiously looking over him. They must have used the elixir on him. He sighed slowly at this.
"Master, are you alright?" Singh inquired.
On hearing that, Bahamut's memory came back to him. Then, he frowned again at his newest disappointment. It was true, wasn't it? He had actually been beaten by humans.
Bahamut slowly pulled himself up to his feet. As he did, he raised his hand to the sky and materialized a purple robe in it. As he pulled it down over his shoulders, his body shrank and turned under it, reverting back into a human form. To say that he felt a bit insulted was an understatement. True, he did have an affection for humans. But people could have affections for flowers and still be angry if the flower one day beat them into the ground. It was humiliating. It sent a whole new series of thoughts into his mind. So, this was what it had come to. The great Bahamut, King of All Espers, who had ages ago saved a race of half-savages who could barely defend themselves against weather, let alone animals...now beaten by the exact same race. Humans had grown far stronger than he had anticipated. First they had surpassed the Four Fiends, and now they had surpassed the espers as well. That was a scary thought as well. What did that mean about the espers, then? What were they in relation to the humans now? What was Bahamut to them, now that five of them had beaten the supposedly invincible "dragon god"? Was he just another summon to them? On the same rank as a lowly chocobo? When he fought Wyvern forty years ago, he thought that their two powers were unmatched, and that anything would have died in their wake. He knew he wasn't as strong as Wyvern, but he still thought of himself as a powerful being. But since he had lost to the humans...how strong was he really? Was he at his limit?
These thoughts continued to rush through Bahamut's head as he turned back into a human. In front of him, he struggled not to glare angrily at the five in his midst. Their clothing was still in tatters, but their bodies were already prepared. Only soot and old blood remained on them. The white wizard had gone about each of them, using her power to regenerate their wounds and heal their near-fatal injuries. That was something else remarkable. How did a white wizard become so strong, to save even those on death's doorstep? Looking at them now, it was almost impossible to think that they were dying minutes ago. They all now moved freely, and slowly went about collecting their armor and weapons. However, they also were talking amongst themselves.
"I can't believe it... We actually defeated Bahamut!" Rydia half-cried.
Edge merely snorted with a grin. Bahamut felt his anger surge. You were real smug a moment ago when I was burning your face off... "Nothing to it."
"I disagree." Kain retorted in response, cold once again. "I think our victory was in part due to our five round grace period. Without it, I'm not sure how we would have fared."
Don't patronize me... Bahamut grumbled in his brain.
"The real reason for victory was Rosa." Cecil announced, as he sheathed the undamaged Excalibur back into his scabbard. He turned to her, and immediately her white features turned red as she blushed. "If she hadn't thrown up that Wall spell, we all would have been done for."
Rosa looked uneasy at that. She fidgeted a little, and then shrugged. "It was nothing, really... I wasn't even sure if it would work. I just remembered when we read that book on Bahamut that the author theorized that the only way to beat him might be to reflect his power back at him. So I took a chance."
Bahamut felt himself frown again. Oh, so it was your tip, Leviathan? I'll get you for this... He sighed a little bit, venting his true nature in it so that it was more like a grumbling blast. Hearing this, the five paused in their diatrabe and turned back to him. They assumed he was getting their attention. As for Bahamut, he began to seethe within. He had been too arrogant as well, it seemed. If he hadn't given them that five round period... But now that he had, he began to realize what else it meant. Not only was he beaten by mere mortal humans...he realized he had to carry out his end of the deal. He would become their summon. He was now their servant, at their beck and call whenever they wished for him to aid them. He forgot about the fact that it meant he would get to go into the moon's core as well. He thought only about what it meant for him. In the end, however, he forced back his anger. He had to give them proper courtesy, after all, and they earned their due.
"Very well." He stated. "This must truly be the power of light, if you managed to defeat me. Therefore, as we agreed..." He paused at this, not believing he was going to be saying this. "...I, Bahamut...will be your summon from now on."
The group seemed pleased at this, particularly the Summoner. She also seemed a bit overwhelmed, hardly able to believe that she was actually recieving him as a summon. She was unable to do anything but be excited for a moment. But then, she calmed herself down. She readily walked up to the esper, and held out her hand to him. Bahamut stifled another growl. Now, his life was going to be bound to this puny human. He struggled not to smack the hand away in disgust. Instead, he consented. Struggling to steel himself, he lowered his hand and grasped hers. After that, he sighed again and began to focus. Rydia likewise closed her eyes and began to concentrate as well.
A pause went by, but then it began to work. Slowly, Bahamut felt a thread of himself seep out of his hand and into Rydia's. As it did, he felt a thread of her seep into his own hand. Both of their appendages began to glow with green light, and lines began to be traced through their arms. For a moment, the two became linked. It was as if the Lifestream had been shrunk down to two people, and now it flowed freely between the two people. Bahamut continued to hold, until he began to distinctly feel the presence of Rydia inside him. Likewise, she was beginning to feel Bahamut's aura fixed inside her. As it reached its peak, the threads of energy began to fade. The light seeped back into them and the exchange finished. Both of them released and drew their hands back. The exchange was complete. Bahamut had bound his life to Rydia's.
The Summoner grimaced a bit, and slowly raised her hand and clenched it. Apparently, Bahamut had been unconsciously crushing it in his grip. However, she was still pleased about this. She stepped back from Bahamut, and then immediately dropped into a kneel again. "Thank you, Lord Bahamut. We are grateful for your help."
It's not like I have a choice...or like you need it. Bahamut brooded in response. He said nothing.
Edge turned to her and beckoned on. "Come on, Rydia! Let him sulk and let's go get Zemes!"
Rydia again blazed into an angry face, and then shot to her feet and wheeled around to them. "What did I tell you about being disrespectful!" She immediately shot after the ninja, even as he turned and began to walk out the way he came. The other three turned and followed after them, and soon they were walking out once again.
Khan and Singh both gulped. They were astonished that Bahamut had lost. No one had ever beaten Bahamut before. Even Wyvern lost on a technicality. But five humans had done it? What did this mean? How was the master feeling? Slowly, they turned and looked to the esper king. He glared at the five as they slowly walked away, but said nothing. Khan swallowed after a moment.
"Er...master..."
"Don't." Bahamut coldly commanded, his voice rocking the ground.
Khan immediately nodded in response. "Right." In a flash, both he and Singh left their master's side and fled back to their columns. The human Bahamut was left to stand in the midst of his destructive wake, and ponder the change in his life.
To be continued...
