And here we are. I think the title speaks for itself. Now, a forewarning…
I WILL PUT THIS IN ALL CAPS TO STRESS HOW STRONGLY I FEEL ABOUT THIS. IF YOU REALIZED AND CAUGHT ON TO WHAT I DID IN THIS CHAPTER, THEN PLEASE DO NOT SAY ANYTHING IN THE COMMENTS AND REVIEWS CONCERNING YOUR PREDICTIONS SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO READ THE REVIEWS DON'T CATCH ON! I DON'T WANT ANYTHING BEING SPOILED AND GIVEN AWAY. AND I MEAN THAT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF CONTENT FROM THIS CHAPTER!
EVEN WHEN I TOLD PEOPLE NOT TO GIVE SPOILERS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE HEROIC CALAMITY, PEOPLE STILL DID IT. BUT I GAVE UP ON ENFORCING THAT PART! THIS TIME IT REALLY, REALLY, REALLY MATTERS IN CASE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T CATCH ON!
THIS CHAPTER IS UBER IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THE REST OF THIS STORY AND FUTURE PLANS!
Chapter 52: Broken Chains
Issei's Lifespan: ?
Vali was eagerly scouring the area where Issei had fought Vetrazin and Elgormud. She tried to overturn rocks and sense his presence. Yet, nothing came about. She only grew more and more frantic as time went on.
The reason was because of the massive amounts of blood she found everywhere. Vali had two suspicions now. Either Issei got mixed up in all of this by pure chance, or she had been too blind to notice that Issei was doing this the entire time. She had learned of Issei's connection to the Aviturs thanks to information from Rizevim.
She had learned that Bahamut and the Aviturs were ancient enemies from Rizevim and everyone else she knew that had existed when the First Calamity happened.
She felt like such a fool. Issei had been shouldering so much and yet, she was too blind to see it.
"Vali, he's not here. I don't sense him, either." Kuroka shook her head.
"But!...damn it…" Vali growled in frustration as she blasted a canyon wall with mana.
Everyone looked at her in genuine shock. Vali never EVER lashed out in anger in that fashion.
She had missed him by possibly several moments. She could feel it. Her gut was telling her that Issei was in some kind of chaotic situation. She refused to give up. She had to find Issei and make sure he was okay. For some reason, she felt the constant urge to panic. At first, she was able to control these emotions but as time went on, her mind started to plug thoughts in. What if Issei was in trouble? What if he was in danger? It was like an intuitive thought.
Despite her best attempts to stop this, Vali felt herself growing more and more frantic with each passing day.
"We need to go home now. The others will take care of this." Arthur put a hand on her shoulder.
"I can't do that. I have to find Issei." Vali shook her head.
"I know how you feel, but this is out of our hands right now. The Alliance will take over the investigation of this matter. As for finding Issei, we should wait until the Alliance sorts out the data we'll need to find him. We can't exactly go anywhere and do whatever we want." Arthur reasoned.
Politics. Always so troublesome.
When the group returned home, Vali immediately went to her room. Inside, she had maps and lore stacked and organized for a long hunt. She had been trying to track Issei's thought process as of 3 days ago. She had been hoping to get inside his head and figure out where he'd go next. At first, she was content to do as Issei had hoped and live up to his expectations but that wasn't going to work anymore. Her intuition refused to leave her be. She wouldn't risk the idea of Issei being alone and in danger or pain.
She hadn't told anyone, but once she figured things out, she planned to. At first, she could've asked clairvoyants to track Issei down, but any time she tried, they told her that they couldn't find him. They couldn't see where he was. They couldn't sense his fate.
Merlin had been her first choice, but he was unable to help. Thus, Vali was left to do things herself.
It frustrated her unbelievable to have missed him by a hair's breadth.
"Issei…where are you?" Vali sighed as she stared at the map of the world in front of her, just like how Issei used to.
Issei awoke, his vision blurry. Yet, in the blink of an eye, his mind returned to the last subject it was on. His impending death.
"Wait a minute, I'm alive?!"
Issei looked around. He was in the Vestige, flying aimlessly in the skies. He looked around and found himself in France. There had been no input for the directions in the ship. There had been no intentions of coming here. With a long gander, everything looked exactly like how it was supposed to. There were no mirages, no fog, no illusions.
Issei took a knife and cut his finger. Yep. He felt pain. He was breathing air. He could taste, smell, see, hear, and feel.
"I'm alive…Ha…haha…hahahaha! I'm still alive!" Issei chuckled in relief and disbelief.
He then remembered.
"Rexis…what's my lifespan?" Issei asked.
"I don't know…After you activated that new power of yours, when you summoned the ghosts of the Knights of the Round Table, your lifeforce went into overdrive and at the same time, it became chaotically weak. I can't make heads or tails of what's going on. To boot, you've been in a coma for 2 weeks." Rexis was flabbergasted.
"TWO WEEKS?!" Issei screamed in shock.
"Maybe…just maybe…" Rexis said.
"I get to live…" Issei chuckled.
Merlin had pushed for Issei to keep trying to live, to keep going. Was this his endgame? Was this Merlin's help that had restored him to life?
Even so…Issei had a decision to make.
"You've hit a major crossroad, Issei. If…if you're back to normal and we don't have to worry anymore…what're you going to do?" Rexis asked.
Issei paused. For one brief moment, he considered going back home to the others but stopped. He remembered what sort of devastation came about from the Aviturs. He couldn't stop here. He had a job to finish.
Issei was silent for literal hours. He had so much to think about. From remembering his past lives until this very point, he consolidated all his experiences and reflected upon them.
"No…I won't turn back." Issei shook his head.
"But-"
"I set out with a mission. I'm going to finish it. The Aviturs can't continue and I don't want the Cycle of Reincarnation to continue. We're going to end this once and for all. Just because things went back to normal, it doesn't give me a reason to just quit." Issei explained.
"But what if things landslide on you again?" Rexis asked.
"That's a risk I've gotta take."
Issei sighed.
"You saw all the devastation that they caused. You saw all the pain, heard the crying, and felt the sorrow that came about. You and both know how much it hurts to be left behind and to leave others behind. I don't want that for anyone else. Also, think about the curse we've got. I'd much rather have my successor live a free life instead of being stuck with fighting these mad beasts and dying. Just because I can be happy in this life…it doesn't mean I'm going to doom my future self and future generations because I want to be selfish. This is more than just about me." Issei reasoned.
It was sad, but this was just who Issei was. He'd never place himself over the lives of others. The average person would, but with someone that had experienced all that he had…he understood that he was just one in quadrillions of people. He wasn't going to be selfish and prioritize himself and feel self-entitled.
"Are you sure about this?" Rexis asked.
"I am. I've come too far to just stop now." Issei said.
"Alright. Then we'd better get to work. Elgormud said that the Shadow Avitur, Sorgamark, was waiting in Japan." Rexis sighed.
"Makes sense. If what I'm thinking is right, then Sorgamark has to be in Akita Prefecture. That was where the Shadow Walkers used to live, hidden in the mountains." Issei concluded.
"He's taunting us. He has to be." Rexis said.
"No use in trying to avoid it. We were going to fight, eventually." Issei said.
Arriving in the secluded mountains of Akita Prefecture, Issei trekked through the mountains, ignoring the obvious ninjas in the shadows. Remaining on his guard, he walked the familiar path that he once had as an assassin among the Shadow Walkers.
Despite his past experiences, however, there was no nostalgia. He only had loathing for his life as an assassin.
"I've been looking forward to this day. It's just you and me now."
A cold and casual voice said. Issei tried to get a hold of where Sorgamark was.
"Really? You've got a lot of friends to keep you company. Dead friends." Issei said.
"True. They're no fun. I was waiting for you, my eternal playmate. How many times have we met and fought? How many cycles did we do a rinse and repeat? Do we even remember why anymore?" Sorgamark's voice echoed like a metallic whisper.
"I don't exactly care about the number. It doesn't change the fact that we've been fighting and killing each other for ages. It doesn't change the fact that you and your siblings have been going around causing nonstop destruction with no regard for others. If that wasn't the case, then why did you cause so much death in the First Galaxy?" Issei asked.
"True, we were born with malevolent purpose. Even now, I'd love nothing more than the prosperity of my kind." Sorgamark chuckled.
"And to do that, you need to destroy what's stopping you." Issei finished his statement.
"Not necessarily, but it helps. Doesn't the same go for you? For example, look at you humans. You want to industrialize and grow and to do that, you destroy forests and landscapes. You uproot animals and cause their endangerment. All of it, in the name of your kind's progress. Even so, you've endangered and brought other species to extinction. You can't even understand the fact that all of you humans are the same. You just can't see past the color of your skin, hair, and eyes, or the shape of your eyes. If you ask me, Lucifer had the right idea when it concerned how problematic all of you convoluted people are. Gods, demons, beasts, angels, spirits, and humans…all so petty." Sorgamark laughed derisively.
"Can't say you're too different but can't say you're wrong." Issei said.
"How can you all call us and each other out when you're the same, then?" Sorgamark asked.
"Because we can change. The people who deny that people can change, are merely two-faced, self-righteous liars or they're people who're incapable of change and want to deny that truth about everyone else." Issei said.
"Perhaps. Even so, you can fight for your beliefs as I fight for mine." Sorgamark noted.
"And what's the point of this? Stalling me? Trying to get me to turn to your side?" Issei asked.
"Just curious, is all. I actually intend to enlighten you." Sorgamark chuckled.
"About all the moves you've been making behind the scenes?" Issei guessed.
"Indeed. It was I who sent that serpent that attacked you at the Pendragon Compound. It was I who manipulated the Shadow Walkers. It was I who had Glymvr send that Jotun after you. It was I who possessed Ileana and Rintilr. It was also me who sent Vetrazin and Elgromud after you at the same time. To boot, I kept your friends and those gods trapped. I thought you were going to die but Merlin clearly thought ahead and gave you a rather annoying new power." Sorgamark said as he rose out of the shadows.
Sorgamark had glowing purple eyes with a long serpentine body, reminiscent of an Asian dragon. He had 6 clawed limbs with a long bladed tail. Spikes protruded from his back and he had a fanged snout.
"I am Sorgamark, the Avitur of Shadows and the leader of the Aviturs. It's an honor to meet the most prospected Host of Bahamut." Sorgamark honestly said.
"Of all the Hosts, you've shown the most initiative and perhaps accomplished the most. There has never been a situation where I was the only Avitur left standing. It excites me. To reach such a monumental moment." Sorgamark chuckled.
"So, the point of all your rampaging, the point of why you took caused the First Calamity, was to destroy all life and spread your progeny…" Issei confirmed to himself.
"Is that not enough? We're not simply destroying just for the sake of it. We're terraforming this world so that our kind can prosper. It's just that we know that the lifeforms on this world are going to spread to the stars eventually, and they'll be parasites. You humans are already on your way there. You've seen enough lifetimes to understand that, already, don't you?" Sorgamark asked.
Issei couldn't refute that point, nor did he see reason to. He'd just get suckered into losing his cool.
"Are you done talking? I'd like to kill you now and make it back home for dinner." Issei activated his Balance Breaker.
"Oh? Even though you're so kind, you don't want to talk? I'm shocked."
"I don't parley with manipulative creatures like you. You went after an innocent girl's parents, ruined their lives and tormented Vali. You ruined the lives of others by assassinating people and creating political fallout. You stuck your hand in so many things and caused so much suffering. You don't even sound like you're sorry. So, what reason would I have for sparing you?" Issei asked.
"What if I had the cure for your problem?" Sorgamark asked.
"I'd rather die and take all of you with me, rather than accept that." Issei glared.
"Wow. I guess you and Bahamut aren't that different after all."
Immediately, the two dropped the chatter and began their fight.
(Shadow of the Colossus OST – A Violent Encounter. Play Song.)
Sorgamark snapped at Issei with his jaws, only for Issei to roll to the side, slashing upwards, creating a shockwave that sent Sorgamark rolling backwards. In retaliation, he breathed a stream of shadows at Issei, eating away at his armor.
Issei and Sorgamark exchanged blows countless times. Blocking one another, trading fire, and maneuvering around. Issei changed into Slayer Mode, raining down weapons and controlling them with his mind.
As he closed in, he grew blades all over his body, spinning violently as he sawed away at Sorgamark's flesh. Sorgamark roared, blasting Issei back with shadows before stomping his feet, causing blades and sharp tendrils of shadow to launch at Issei. Dodging and weaving around, Issei narrowly avoided each attack.
Sorgamark spun around, smacking Issei into the face of a mountain, crumbling much of its side. Issei dashed right at the creature, slashing its arm, only to be ensnared with chains made of shadow.
"Blitzer!" Issei changed into his speed form.
Zooming out of the way, Issei changed back into Slayer Mode, deploying the Phantom Knights of the Round Table in tandem. As they assailed it, Issei prepared [Path Cleaver].
Sorgamark stomped his feet again, causing shadows to cover Issei in a sealed dome just as he unleashed his attack. Before Issei could be hit by his own attack, he canceled it out. Instead, he used Rexis' own technique [Imperial Primacy] to overload and try and negate the barrier. With Bahamut's added power, Issei managed to escape, only for Sorgamark to snatch him up into his teeth.
As Sorgamark flew into the air, he breathed his shadow breath, smashing Issei into the ground with his attack. In reprisal, Issei fired a beam of Abyssal Energy into Sorgamark's mouth. The beast howled in surprise before glaring at Issei. As he came bearing down on Issei, he continued streaming its shadow breath down on him. Issei managed to resist with a barrier and shield.
Creating a javelin, Issei flung it right at Sorgamark's mouth. Flying upward, safe behind the path that the javelin cut, Issei spun, gaining momentum and kinetic force. With one mighty swing, he managed to cleave into Sorgamark's face.
In return, Sorgamark gripped Issei and smashed into the ground. Issei tried to fight back but Sorgamark melted into shadows, keeping Issei from striking him. He wrapped around Issei, coiling as Issei felt the shadows eating away at his armor.
Issei tried to force his way out but was unable to. Just then, he remembered one of the lessons that were given at the Italian Pantheon Convention. If something is intangible, hit them with something that can also become intangible.
Summoning the Phantom Knights of the Round Table, the 16 knights barraged Sorgamark with attacks, forcing him to let go of Issei.
Sorgamark's spikes lit up as energy beams struck Issei, knocking him into the mountain again. Melting into shadows, Sorgamark sped over to Issei, wrapping around him again. Before the Phantom Knights of the Round Table could attack him, he would try to crush Issei.
"Onslaught!" Issei stifled out.
Changing to his default long-range mode, Issei fired a dozens beams in Sorgamark's face.
"That doesn't work on me." Sorgamark chuckled.
"True, but this will." Issei said.
Using a sword, he impaled the part of Sorgamark that was wrapped around him. Freed, Issei sped away.
(Shadow of the Colossus OST – A Violent Encounter. End Song.)
"You can become intangible but in order to touch anything, you need to solidify parts of yourself to do anything." Issei pointed out.
Sorgamark chuckled, impressed.
"You really are a lot stronger than before. Still, I think you could become stronger. I wonder, just what would it take to accomplish that?" He wondered.
"What?" Issei asked.
"Would I have to enrage you? Would I have to taunt you? Or…would I have to torment the ones dear to you?"
Issei eyes widened in realization.
"You filthy worm!" He growled, darting right for Sorgamark.
"Yes, I think I'll pay your friends a visit." Sorgamark chuckled as he opened a portal of shadow.
"Damn it!" Issei charged right into the portal, trying to stop Sorgamark.
The two thrashed around through the shadow dimension, blasting, slashing, and dodging.
Suddenly, from thin air, black and violet energy struck Sorgamark. He spasmed and jolted in shock as a bright light obscured Issei's vision. When the light faded, Issei was stunned. Standing in front of him was a human. No, this person had the same aura and feeling as an Avitur despite his mortal form. He wore purple armor with golden accents and had short black hair. His eyes glowed purple and he had a cape that looked like wings.
"So, this is what the Void has decided."
Simultaneously, 5 other magic circles appeared behind him, each of them respectively being green, red, orange, blue, and golden.
"No…" Rexis gasped.
"Yes. The Aviturs have been given their full powers back by the Void. Witness us at our true forms." Sorgamark smiled.
Five humanoids appeared behind him.
"It looks like Vetrazin was unable to make it. No matter. Six of us should be more than enough." Sorgamark sighed.
Geosagr had come back as a tall figure with brown eyes and short brown hair. He looked uninterested in the things around him, but he leered at Issei. His armor was orange and purple, covering him from head-to-toe in it. On his gauntlets, were large retractable claws.
Azriga was a beautiful woman with long red hair and red armor that revealed some of her thighs and abdomen. She had green eyes and a scowl on her face, with hostility aimed at the Host of Bahamut. She had gauntlets that were glowing red with heat veins and a black cloak around her waist.
Glymvr had dark blue hair tied into a ponytail that reached her waist. Her eyes were yellow and she wore blue armor that was aquatic themed, having serpentine and fin features with arm blades. She merely had a calm look on her face and seemed to be analyzing the situation around her. In her hands, was a spear that was colored blue and shined like clear glass.
Otebel had short green hair, with blue eyes, and wind-themed armor that was colored jade green. He was tall but had a slim and slightly skinny physique. His back had folded wings, with blades adorning the surfaces of his armor and a folding bow on his back.
Elgormud had purple hair with gold and purple armor that covered his entire body. His eyes were purple and he was large and burly, having large muscles. His helmet had a large horn and there were spikes on his back and shoulders. A massive axe was strapped to his back, waiting to be used.
"This will be the end of everything, dear Bahamut. Are you ready to fight all of us at once?" Sorgamark smirked.
"Issei…you can't take them on." Rexis gasped, terrified for Issei's fate.
Vali and the others were preparing for a birthday event that Rizevim and the others were hosting. Today, October 16th, was Vali's Birthday.
"I don't know about this." Vali said.
"Hey, a ton of people came by for your birthday. You don't have to stay all night, but at least spend some time with the people who came to see you. The Amazons, Valkyries, and others even came here to meet you. Even Artemis is here to pay tribute. Your parents worked long and hard to have your first birthday together with us as a whole family." Ezagyra said as she helped Vali with her makeup.
Vali was in a sleeveless blue dress with detached sleeves, wrapping heels, and her hair was let loose.
"Don't you think we have too many parties?" Vali asked.
"True, but everyone needs a laugh right now. After what happened in Italy, people need a reason to smile. A lot of our people witnessed something traumatizing when they were held captive. Not only that, but it's your birthday. Do you have any idea how blessed we all felt when you were born? You deserve recognition after doing so much for so many people." Ezagyra said.
Two weeks had passed since then and not a single sign of Issei had been found. Even now, Vali wanted to ignore this party and get back to her search.
"Besides, you've literally only had 4 hours of sleep a day. It's not healthy. You need to remember to take care of yourself. Now, I'll be going down to meet with your grandfather. The party is going to start soon, so come down at 1600 hours, soldier lady." Ezagyra chuckled at her own joke.
When the door closed, Vali walked over to her balcony. She leaned over and stared at the setting sun.
'I can't believe how much more like you I've become. You used to look over maps and read books all the time. I'd always wondered why you did that, despite acting so carefree. Now, I'm doing the same. Your tendency to dive into work is even starting to rub off on me…I wonder…what we'd be doing right now if I'd realized how I felt and if you reciprocated. Sometimes, I wonder what you're doing. Are you eating well? Are you getting enough rest? Are you safe? There's so much I want to ask but can't because you're so all-over-the-place that you won't pick up my calls. I swear, the next time I see you, you're in for it.' Vali sighed.
'I love you. I miss you so much. I miss you so much that I feel so empty. That hole in my heart just won't go away. All those times my heart went pitter-patter, and I didn't realize that it was genuine love. I feel so empty and listless that the only way I can even communicate with you is through thin air and hope my thoughts reach you.' Vali sadly said.
She looked at the time before proceedings downstairs.
"Welcome to everyone who was able to come here today. As you may know already, today is my granddaughter, Validia Lucifer's 17th Birthday. Please know that everyone here are people that are very dear to her, with not as many attendants as would be expected. Still, even so, I wish to extend my gratitude for you taking your time to come out here and join us tonight." Rizevim stepped aside as Vali came into view.
Standing at the podium, Vali was the center of the room as a light shined down on her.
"I want to thank everyone for coming here today. I know that recent events have caused much discomfort and worry. Everyone here is someone that is very important to me, whether you be a part of my peerage or a friend that I've made on my travels. I'm truly grateful for your continued friendship and care. From today onwards, I hope that we can continue living on together." Vali gratefully smiled.
And thus, the party started. Vali got swarmed by guests, per the norm, with gifts loaded onto her arms.
"So, you're 17 now, eh? Got anyone you're interested in? I've got a nephew who's available." Lady Phenex chuckled.
"I-I'm fine, thank you. There's actually someone that I'm interested in, already." Vali sheepishly chuckled.
"Oh, that's too bad." Lady Phenex sighed in disappointment.
That surely didn't deter many men from trying to score a date and alone time with her. Regardless, Vali was able to avoid all their advances, mainly because her father would send glares in their direction if they got too close for comfort.
After some time, Vali walked over to a window seat to catch a break. Just then, Vali felt her entire body tremble involuntarily.
'What was that?' Vali asked herself in alarm.
It was that same feeling she got whenever Issei was in trouble. She looked out the window. Forming over it was a dark swirl, like a portal.
Within the blink of an eye, something crashed into the room.
"AAAH!" Several people screamed as the window was smashed open as something crashed into the Hall.
Glass and debris scattered everywhere as the smoke settled.
"Who goes there?!" Rizevim advanced.
All guests paused when they saw that it was Issei, bruised, battered, bloody, and mangled. He was panting, struggling to get up.
"Issei?!" Lefay exclaimed.
"You need to get everyone out of here now. NOW!" Issei desperately said as he looked at the portal in the sky.
"Balance Break! Calamity Catalyst – Fortress Maker!"
"I didn't think they'd be this strong, even at reduced capacity. You've got to pull all your stops out!" Rexis barked.
Cladding himself in his bulky armor, he formed dozens of walls of mana as he slammed his palm onto the floor, creating a massive metal wall.
"What are you all still standing around for?! Don't ask questions! Just evacuate!" Issei snapped at the others.
'Rexis, what options do I have left? It's do or die now.' Issei demanded.
'…'
'HURRY UP!' Issei roared.
'We've got 2 options. We either release Bahamut from his seal or…we use a controlled version of Doom Bringer. Both options will kill you.' Rexis stated in the simplest of terms.
'Do it…' Issei steeled himself.
'If I don't do something, we'll all die now or soon. I can't stop them the way I am anymore. I never expected them to be this strong.'
'I understand. I'll need at least 10 minutes.' Rexis said.
He was distracted by the banging and trembling of the metal wall he'd put up.
"Shit. Onslaught!"
(Shadow of the Colossus OST – Counterattack. Play Song.)
Changing into his default long-range form, Issei started charging his cannons. The moment the shield wall broke, he fired without restrained, shattering the entire Hall where the party was being held.
"AH!" Several guests screamed in surprise as they were flung everywhere from the shockwave.
Sadly, Geosagr used a shield of mana clustered with rocks to hold back his beam with the help of Otebel and Glymvr.
"[Mirror Storm]"
Glymvr rebounded the attack right back at him.
"[Echo Gale]" Issei switched back into Fortress Maker Mode.
The attack rebounded back at the Aviturs.
"[Cyclone Vanishment]"
The attack was nullified as Elgormud moved in. Azriga and Glymvr created a storm in the sky using their elements to facilitate the weather conditions.
"[Shock Factor]" Elgormud grabbed Issei by the neck, electrocuting him as Elgormud received a bolt of lightning from the sky that his siblings made.
"AAAGH!" Issei screamed in pain.
"Enough!" Sirzechs, Ajuka, Rizevim, Michael, and Azazel attacked.
"Hmph!" Sorgamark, Otebel, and Glymvr stepped forward.
"[Mirror Zone]"
With their powers combined, they created a sphere around the area. The attacks of the five rebounded like rubber balls, attacking all of the guests and their casters. With the combined strength of Sirzechs, Ajuka, Rizevim, Michael, Azazel, and Sun Wukong, there was no way anyone here would be fine.
"[Abatement]"
"[Ricochet]"
"Excalibur! Caliburn!"
"Reflect!"
Ileana, Rintilr, Arthur, and Vali, along with many others used their best barriers and weakening abilities to lower the power of the combined attack. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep everyone from coming out unscathed.
"[Divine Fall]" The 6 Aviturs layered the same spell over each other.
"Damn it! This again!" Artemis sunk to her knees.
"Divine Fall, a most useful technique. It's perfect for weakening anything that's supernatural. With our strength and the spell layered 6 times over, you'll be stuck like that. So, just sit back and enjoy the show.
Issei, who saw this, went into Slayer Mode. Protruding spikes from his armor, he impaled Elgormud's hand. Dashing over while the Aviturs were unsuspecting, he spun around slashing the Shadow, Water, and Wind Aviturs. Their armor cracked as their blood was drawn, they countered with a blast of mana that shattered Issei's left arm armor.
Knocked back, Elgormud gripped Issei by the head before slamming him into the ground, creating a massive crater. He then grabbed Issei's arm and flung him at Azriga.
Fixing his posture, Issei slashed Azriga across the chest before kneeing her in the face. She growled in irritation before bashing him in the chest with a palm strike, causing it to erupt into flames as she kneed him in the face. Finally, she flipped over him kicking him over the head while he was on fire.
Elgormud swopped in for another attack but Issei blocked, using Slayer Mode to slash him repeatedly across the chest before impaling him with his sword wreathed in Abyssal Energy.
"URGH!" Elgormud coughed up blood as Issei kicked him aside.
He blocked one attack from Sorgamark's twin swords and jumped over Glymvr's whips of water as he ripped out Otebel's wings.
Even so, it wasn't enough. Issei was yanked back towards Glymyr with her whip as Azriga drop-kicked him into a pool of lava. Otebel fanned the flames around him into a twister of blazes. Sorgamark created blades of shadow, stabbing away at Issei, who was barely dodging and blocking any attacks.
Elgormud came rushing back, elbowing Issei in the throat. Not giving him a chance to breathe, Azriga slashed him in the back, causing a fiery explosion to burst from his back. Otebel flew from below, upper cutting with a cyclone of wind blades that knocked him towards Geosagr, who punched him the force of a meteorite that caused an explosion to destroy the debris all around them.
Elgormud stomped on Issei, kicking him and stepping on his head repeatedly, with a lightning bolt supercharging all of his attacks.
"UGH! AGH!" Issei groaned in restrained pain.
He pushed Elgormud off, punching him into the distance as he uased his full power to slash at the other 5 Aviturs.
"[Mirror Zone]"
When Issei's attack was reflected, he switched to Fortress Maker Mode.
"[Echo Gale]"
"Now!" Sorgamark signaled.
The 6 Aviturs gathered around Issei, creating a multi-colored aurora.
"[Hexanova]"
The powers of fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, and shadow combined, forming a vortex that obliterated Issei's armor and lacerated him dozens of times over.
"ISSEI!" The Lucifer Family cried out in worry.
Issei fell over to the ground as a bloody mess, not able to budge one bit.
'Damn it, only 5 more minutes!' Rexis growled.
"ENOUGH!"
Vali wrestled against the inhibiting power of the magic circle.
"Don't you dare touch him again!" Vali roared.
"I, who shall awaken, am the Heavenly Dragon who has taken the principles of supremacy from God. I envy the Infinite and I pursue the Dream. I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy and I shall take you to the limits of white paradise." She chanted.
"Juggernaut Drive!"
Vali was enveloped in a light-blue light as her Balance Breaker enveloped her. Her form shifted into that of an armored white dragon, growing larger in size.
Vali darted right at the Aviturs, whipping them with her tail. With physical contact established, she could use her abilities without restraint.
"[Divide 20x]" Albion declared.
"Won't she go berserk?!" Rintilr asked.
"Vali won't if she substitutes her immense mana supply as cost." Rizevim shook his head.
The Aviturs staggered as she took some of their energy. Almost immediately, red sparkles jetted out of her wings, a sign that she hit the limit of energy that she could safely handle.
"[Half Dimension]" Albion announced.
The Aviturs growled as they were stuck in place.
"Don't think so. I wanted to save this for Bahamut, but I can't exactly have you interfering." Sorgamark pointed a finger at her.
"[Void Seether]"
A purple and black laser shot the gem on Vali's chest, immediately dispersing her Juggernaut Drive. Vali then jolted violently as pain infected every single cell in her body. She couldn't move, she couldn't think. She could only suffer.
"You're still green. You haven't worked with your Juggernaut Drive long enough if that was enough to disengage that form. Now, I guess since you're the Songstress of Serenity, it'd be best to kill you too." Sorgamark walked over to her.
(Shadow of the Colossus OST – Counterattack. End Song.)
(Fate/Zero OST – Back to Zero. Play Song.)
"Don't you dare." Issei coughed out blood as he staggered up.
The 6 Aviturs looked at Issei, wondering what else to do to him.
Issei was running on fumes now. His vision was blurry, he was exhausted. He'd been weakened with a mixture of the abilities of the Avitur and their greater control over them. Not only that, but he had to fight 6 of them alone. It didn't help that Sorgamark was crafty, having planned in advance for every possible outcome.
"How much longer, Rexis?" Issei asked.
"All done. Once the transformation ends, Issei…you're going to die." Rexis warned.
"Thank you, Rexis. Thank you for everything." Issei weakly smiled.
Rexis could only mourn what would happen next.
Next to Issei, the broken clock began to ring. He looked at it and saw that it was 9 o'clock.
DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!
"The ninth hour has come. The bells have tolled for the 16th time." Rexis solemnly said.
'It's time.' Issei nodded to himself.
The prophecy hadn't been averted, after all. That was 16 tolls of the bell. It was time to die.
"Let's end this." Issei declared.
"The incantation will come to you, Issei."
"I am of the Abyss from eons long lost. I have walked the ages with no sight in end. I shall rise once more for the final toll. I shall transcend this existence as the Bane of Beasts. I shall claim victory for the final time. I am the Calamity Catalyst." Issei chanted.
The Aviturs tried to attack and stop him before he could finish but the aura he projected protected him. Even more of Bahamut's power had been unlocked. Just as it enhanced it, it damaged his body continuously with each passing second.
Bahamut's ghostly form manifested before draping over his body, solidifying into new armor. Issei had gained eight metallic dragon wings. His armor had become sleeker and more angular while maintaining some bulk. Even more, he resembled Bahamut even more now.
"Calamity Catalyst, Primordial Ascension! CALAMITY SAVIOR!" Rexis announced.
"You have 10 minutes, Issei." Rexis warned.
Rejuvenated, Issei attacked. With a flap of his wings, he slammed all 6 Aviturs into the distance. Flying after them with a sonic boom, Issei caught up to them within a flash. He had hit them hard enough that they flew to an uninhabited part of the Underworld. The resulting blast was so strong that all of the debris made was sent flying to the edges of the city.
"What?!" Sorgamark exclaimed in alarm before Issei clutched his head, slamming into the ground after forcing him to fly into the distance.
Spreading his wings, Issei instantly fired [Sky Razer], raking massive laser beams along the area, following each Avitur. Opening his palm, Issei used a new version of [Vacuum Burst]. Creating an energy vortex to absorb mana from the air, Otebel, Azriga, and Elgormud were drawn closer. This time, there was now way his targets could escape.
"[Vortex Burst]"
A massive navy beam roared out of Issei's hand, destroying Otebel's arm and severely wounding Elgormud and Azriga, ridding them of parts of their bodies. Even though they miraculously regenerated, Issei sent homing bomb blasts after them. They intercepted, firing elemental magic that rocked the area like a massive earthquake.
Issei appeared right in front of Azriga like a nightmare, punching her so hard in the ribs that loud cracks echoed. He then spun around, hacking off Elgormud's left arm before smashing his foot into his face.
The Lightning Avitur's body hit the ground, creating a new crater.
Geosagr erupted from the ground, trying to surprise attack Issei. Issei disappeared in an explosion of mana, knocking Geosagr back, only to be caught by Issei from behind. With a slash of his sword, he almost managed to kill Geosagr. Instead, Sorgamark hit Issei with a powerful wave of Void energy, forcing him to only cut partway through Geosagr's shoulder.
Issei seemingly disappeared, only to reappear in front of Sorgamark, impaling him with a blade before blasting him with a massive burst of Abyssal Energy. Unfortunately, he had dematerialized himself in time to avoid the attack.
In response, Issei summoned the Phantom Knights of the Round Table, now clad in dragon-like armor that resembled his own. They dashed forward, slashing away at the 6 Aviturs like flashes. Issei concentrated power into his materialized sword. It radiated and trembled with Abyssal energy, destroying the area around him. Water dissolved and the ground broke apart as he advanced toward them over the sea.
"I didn't think he'd become this strong from the transformation. I didn't think we'd still be so far from full power, either. We need to retreat." Sorgamark muttered to himself.
Issei clapped his hands, creating a barrier that trapped the 6 Aviturs.
"[World Razer]"
Beams erupted from all possible directions of the barrier, trapping the Aviturs as they were assaulted by countless lasers. All the while, explosions kept erupting over and over under the feet of the Aviturs.
Activating a magic circle, the 6 Aviturs began to prepare to teleport away. However, before they could completely disappear, Issei managed to land his strike after getting close enough. Slashing through each of them, Issei managed to severely wound them, as their blood erupted like geysers from his attack.
They stared at him in disbelief as they realized the depth of their wounds. It was unbelievable that they'd lost the advantage so quickly. They, the feared destroyers of the old world, were defeated by this one human in a manner of several minutes. He, who had only lived to see 17 years of life, had outmatched reincarnating beasts of destruction. Even if they weren't at their full strength…how could this happen?
Issei tried to raise his weapon for another strike to complete the job but he couldn't. His body lost all strength as he was forced to drop his weapon. With Issei unable to finish the second blow, the Aviturs disappeared. There were no words, only shock at what had happened and the fact that Issei had won. There was no definite death for the Aviturs but the wounds they were dealt with were undoubtedly fatal.
(Fate/Zero OST – Back to Zero. End Song.)
This was it. Steam and smoke hissed from his body as his armor dissolved away.
(Gladiator OST – Honor Him. Play Song.)
As his armor faded away into dust, Issei felt all strength leave him completely. He trembled violently as he struggled to even stand. He gurgled and coughed out blood from his injuries. The sad part was that he felt no pain now. Yes, he had been so burnt out that his body could no longer feel pain from all the previous agony that had piled up to this moment.
Even so, he limped over to the nearest rock to support himself. Sliding to the ground with his back against the wall, Issei could only pant weakly and stare at the setting sun. It was too poetic. The view he was given was a view that he liked to see often. He now recognized where he was. It let him look over the domain of the Lucifer House and in the distance, he could see the Lucifer Manor, untouched by the chaotic battle.
"You did it, Issei. You can finally be at peace." Rexis said.
There was no reason to say anything else. It was already too painful. Rexis could sense that Issei's life force was nothing more than dying sparks now. His body could no longer handle any more stress and he'd expended what little stamina and power he could squeeze out of his being. Issei was at the end of the road.
Issei looked at the sun. He had managed to protect this day. From his death, a new day would dawn tomorrow and the next day after that and after that.
(Gladiator OST – Honor Him. End Song.)
It was just a shame that Issei had to die alone in this life. Even though he was prepared for it, it didn't lessen the pain. Issei could feel it. His waning strength was proof of his impending death. All he had to do was breathe his last breath.
"ISSEI?! ISSEI, WHERE ARE YOU?!" A frantically screaming voice came closer.
Issei barely had the power to turn his head and look.
Vali gasped at the mangled state Issei was in, his body had been burned from the overwhelming power of his Abyssal Calamity Form. He was sitting in a pool of his own blood, his bones visible from his torn flesh.
"Hey…" Issei said, mustering a smile for the love of his life.
Vali…Vali was destroyed by this sight. She could sense it. She could feel his life force fading away. Just the look of fading light in his eyes was tell her everything. His listlessness, wounds, and words spoken previously during the battle…Even worse was the fact that her heart could feel that Issei's time was here.
"I wish we could've reunited in a better way." Issei forced himself to hang on, giving her a sad smile.
"Just hang on. I'll get Asia and the others." Vali's hands trembled violently as she tried to heal him with magic.
Issei shook his head. He gently smiled at her as he held her hand.
(God Eater 2: Rage Burst OST – Revolving Lantern. Play Song.)
"It's okay, Vali. It's okay for it to end like this. This is the end of the road for me." Issei tried to reassure her.
"No. No. No. No. No. Please stop! Don't say any of that! I can help! You won't die here!" Vali's tears fell down her face without restraint.
"Issei?!"
Just then, everyone that Issei cared about came into his view. He weakly smiled at all of them.
"There's so much I should've told all of you. I know I should've been honest from the start but I couldn't. Not till now." Issei said.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey! Don't…d-don't talk like that, brother." Sairaorg knelt next to him, choking back his tears.
It wasn't said, but it was already inevitable. Issei was going to die.
"It's too late, guys. This all started back when I went into my Doom Bringer form and went berserk. A human body was never meant to be able to handle the power of Bahamut to begin with. Every time I used my powers…it shaved away at my lifeforce and lifespan. There was no way to stop it. If there was, then we'd have never met. That was why I set up so many schemes. You all changed me into a better person."
"I didn't want everyone to keep suffering in solitude, so I decided to meddle with everyone's lives. It's just so painful to want to cry but you have nobody to cry to. I just wanted you all to be safe and happy. Even so, I'm sorry." Issei apologized.
"You were only doing your best for us…" Sairaorg shook his head.
"I'll come back again…As the Host of Bahamut…I'll reincarnate once again in the future. We'll meet again someday, whether it be in the afterlife or in my next incarnation, even if it won't be me as Issei Hyoudou. That's why…from now on…live life to the fullest and make sure to have no regrets. You don't know when it'll be the end of the road." Issei smiled weakly.
He then weakly turned to Vali.
"Vali…I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry that I'm only saying this to you right now. Now that it's come to this…it's only right that I be honest with you. When I was still in school with you, I knew that you were special. After getting to know you better, I began to feel closer to you. I wanted to learn more about you and when I did, I fell in love with you. You stood by me and were my first real friend. You were so kind, generous, and patient. You're the most beautiful woman that I've ever been lucky enough to meet. You filled in the hole in my heart when I lost my family. You were the one who pushed me to keep going. You were the love that encouraged me to never give up. I know it's horrible to say this to you as I die but I want you to know that I love you and I always will." Issei smiled lovingly at her.
"I love you too, Issei. Issei…there has to be something I can do. You can't die now." Vali pleaded, heaving in sobs.
"I'm sorry, Vali, but I can't. Even now, I can barely hang on. Seeing you all alive and well…I'm satisfied with my life. I'm satisfied with all I've done. Even if I die now, don't cry. Don't grieve. My time is over, just like how it would've been sooner or later. You'll move on. You need to move on because I know that you'll make me proud. Even if my next incarnation is different, always remember that I love every single one of you very much. That will never change. You'll all be okay without me now. I, Issei Hyoudou, will always be with you in mind and heart. I'll always be watching over you…no matter what…I…love…you…all." Issei weakly said.
At long last, Issei's hand went slack. His eyes lost their light as his last remnants of strength finally left his body.
"Issei? Issei…Issei?...Issei?!" Vali stared at his corpse, wide-eyed, and going into shock.
Everyone could only fight their tears, most of them failing to. Their hero was dead.
Lefay took off her hat, trying to hide her tears. Embern wrapped her in a comforting embrace, trying to do his best to console her.
Lianshi wiped tears as Kuroka bit on her sleeve to fight the sobs she was building up. Bikou put his arms around. He'd hoped to comfort them but failed as he slumped over, tears running down his face.
Arthur turned away, unable to let others see his crying face. Elaine held him from behind, also hiding her crying by burying her face into his back.
Izalana, Rizevim, Ezagyra, Rintilr, and Ezagyra stayed close together, trying to find some sort of comfort from one another.
Sairaorg held onto Issei's hand, onto the hand of his dearly departed brother in bond.
Vali's hands continued to tremble as she futilely tried to heal him. She had the most utterly broken and destroyed look on her face. Tears poured down without pause from her empty eyes as Issei's death sank in. Her heart began to cave in as the pain of heartbreak followed soon after.
"No…No…You can't leave…You can't leave me behind, Issei." Her flat voice slowly grew more and more frantic.
"This isn't funny, Issei…you…y-you have to wake up now…" Vali's voice trembled.
She gently caressed his head against her.
"I promise, I'll pay more attention to you. I promise I'll love you more than anything. I promise I'll do anything and everything for you. I promise I'll always be there for you…So, please…" When Vali first spoke, she sounded in shock, in disbelief. Quickly, she grew more erratic, unstable. At that last part, she was reduced to shaky, tearful whimpers.
"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME AGAIN!" She howled so loud that the heavens trembled.
Vali cried and sobbed without care now, no longer able to withstand the sharp pain in her chest. Slowly, Vali could feel it. That pain that kept attacking her heart so horrifically that she couldn't stand it. This heartbreak…it was so real. Vali panted desperately as she tried to breathe. Yet, she couldn't. She fell over, clutching at that acute pain in her heart.
"Vali…please, c-c-calm down." Ezagyra said in between gasps.
At this rate, Vali would literally die from heartbreak.
(God Eater 2: Rage Burst OST – Revolving Lantern. End Song.)
If life was going to continue without Issei, then Vali saw no reason to live anymore. Issei was everything to her. Issei was the reason why she looked forward to the future. With Issei gone, Vali couldn't stand the thought of another moment without him.
(Doctor Who OST – 10th Doctor Theme. Play Song.)
As Vali cried, the wind in the area picked up. Slowly, everyone noticed that something had changed in the air. Something was different. Something was coming.
"What now?" Rizevim grit his teeth.
"Something's coming." Artemis said.
"I recognize this feeling. It's unlike anything else…I felt it during the end of the First Calamity." Sun Wukong said, solemnly.
That primordial wariness that was a part of all living beings ignited. It was like a familiar call that everyone recognized.
Suddenly, far in the distance, a blue light came rushing. It was unknown where and how it came to be, but like a circular ripple in water, it swept across the land, passing through everyone like wind.
"AH! ISSEI!" Vali let out a panicked scream as Issei's body was lifted into the air.
"Is it…Is it the ABYSS?!" Michael gasped in alarm.
He knew that power. He'd never forget that feeling. Vali tried to get him back, but every time, she was stopped. Everyone followed suit but were blown back by the overwhelming force and power of the alien light. They could only watch once again as Issei was taken from them.
As Issei's body was lifted into the air, the blue light surrounded him, infusing his corpse with its brilliance.
When they looked up, they saw the most unbelievable sight.
They all dropped their jaws in awe as they saw Issei's body move, trembling and shuddering as more and more of that energy and light infused into Issei's body. Suddenly, the spectral image of Bahamut appeared but almost as soon as it came, it was subdued, returning to Issei's body. Its roar echoed, as if lashing out but it had no power here.
No one understood what was happening anymore. How was this happening? Who caused this?
"For too long, you've cried and suffered. No more. From this day forward, you're free." A mysterious voice echoed in pure majesty and power, as if its word was law by providence.
Was the Abyss doing something? Was this an unforeseen trick by the enemy?
Yet, even so, everyone felt pacified. They felt safe, reassured. Slowly, the light died down, the constant waves of blue energy growing less frequent. At long last, Issei's body was lowered back to the ground, whatever took him had finished its business.
Vali ran over to him and brought him back into his arms. She held him protectively before the waves of cerulean light finally stopped passing over and through them. Then Vali gasped.
Issei had a heartbeat.
Vali took a crying sigh of relief. She listened to his heart, felt his wrist, his neck and pressed her ear to him. He was breathing. He had a pulse. He was alive again.
"He's alive?" Rizevim asked.
"H-He's alive." Sairaorg confirmed in happy shock.
"Heh…Hehahahaha!" Ezagyra began to laugh in relief as happy tears came.
"Issei's alive!" Word spread amongst the crowd as cheers and tears of relief replaced the tears of grief.
Issei, the Heroic Calamity, had been pardoned by death. The Cycle of Reincarnation had been averted.
By the powers that be, Issei had been given back to them.
(Doctor Who OST – 10th Doctor Theme. End Song.)
Arc 4: Fare Thee Well. End
Next Arc: Arc 5 – Advent Memories
Now, with that out of the way…
Come on, you folks didn't think I'd have Issei die permanently, did you? Still, I had Issei come back to life in a very different way this time. No, it was not by Bahamut's hand. It was by someone else's. Just putting that out there. I won't say who because it'll be revealed through the story. The hint was already given, so that's why I gave that message in the beginning Author's Note.
Anyways, how were your feels? Sad? Relieved? They wanna call me a sadist? If so, then I take that as mission accomplished. I was wracking my brain for a while trying to come up with dialogue and find music that would really hurt the feels. And this was what I came up with. A lot more dramatic and high-pressured.
But…we're not through the woods yet. You guys still have another chapter to read for the 6-part update.
And NO, I WILL NOT RESPOND TO PMs ASKING FOR SPOILERS! NO MORE OF THAT!
