Shambhala - a realm of near-complete darkness. Lit only by the narrow, cyan circuits that lined the locale, ones that provided a light blue ambiance to the underground society so far removed from the detailed aesthetics of Fodlan. It was the gathering ground for hatred against the children of the goddess.
It was the home of Agartha.
Thales, the undisputed leader of the Agarthans, was sitting comfortably within his small quarters. Several buttons lined the desk he sat behind. Books and novels of varying natures surrounded the aforementioned buttons, providing Thales with easy means of access to their contents. Should he require such a luxury.
He didn't. Not at this current time. There were many other factors to consider; many things to think about. Many reasons for that devilish smile of his to exist.
A pair of his Agarthan underlings were standing behind his desk. The one on his left was a female, garnered with bright blonde hair and wearing the outfit of a Gremory. On his right was an immensely large individual. His overall appearance was masked by the bright, beige and bulky Great Knight armor he wore.
It was time for the master to hear what he wanted.
"Chilon," Thales acknowledged the voluminous Agarthan to his right. He then addressed the lighter, delicate one to his left. "Bias. Two of my last remaining Generals. What has occurred to our brethren as of late is abhorrent. We shall never forget their lives and every action they have taken to service Agartha."
Bias and Chilon nodded, both keeping quiet out of respect for not only their fallen comrades, but mainly for their master.
"Solon, our greatest mage. His research shall prove invaluable to us in our efforts to come. Kronya, one of our most skilled infiltrators. She fought only to further our cause. Both were ended abruptly by that cowardly Church of Seiros," Thales spat. "More recently, we were faced with the loss of one of our dearest mages - Pittacus. I understand you were rather close with her, Bias."
"I was, Master Thales," Bias confirmed, lifting the veil from her Gremory uniform to display her full grey-skinned visage. "She...was like a sister to me. I cannot forgive that dastardly Archbishop for ending her life."
"You had plans to confess to her, did you not?" Chilon mockingly asked in a cold tone.
"No!" Bias immediately denied. "I would never do such a thing. Not to her. Agartha has no place for relationships that cannot further its society. Is that not correct, Chilon?"
"Hmph. I was merely testing you. It is fortunate for us all that you have not lost yourself to the bitter web of emotion. A weak minded soul also has no place in Agartha. Much less would they have a position as a General," Chilon commented. His icy way of speaking persisted.
"I am not weak, Chilon."
"It did not seem that way when you learned of Pittacus' death."
"You-!" Bias clenched her fists, the veins upon her face bulging as the heat of her anger flared up.
Thales glared at the two Agarthan Generals wrapped up in their meaningless argument. Without needing to clear his throat or perform any other extraneous action, a sudden shout was all he required to halt them both instantly.
"Enough!" Thales shouted at the two. They broke off their argument, their gazes returning to their master at a near-instant speed. "There is no need for such quarrel within our ranks. We are all Agarthans, living under the watchful eye of Agartha. Do not be vexatious to each other."
Chilon and Bias both nodded in understanding.
"Now, I believe I requested your presences for a reason. Tell me, have our preparations within the Sealed Forest reached their completion?" Thales questioned his Generals.
"Yes, they have, Master Thales," Chilon certified. "We have periodically raised and lowered the Silence Barrier so the fools at the monastery would be enticed by the idea of our presence. We will lower it completely very soon."
"The Forbidden Spell is also ready, Master. I am prepared to cast it at any time. It has required the sacrifice of one of our own, but that is necessary in order to further our cause," Bias added.
"Solon's texts are certainly onerous in regards to scrutinization. I will applaud you for your ability to decipher them, Bias," complimented Thales.
"Thank you, Master Thales. Your praise is unparalleled," Bias maliciously smiled. "I am glad we were able to recover his research from our hiding place within that forest. Solon uncovered some most intriguing details."
"That he did," Thales agreed. "I am most interested in that artefact that rests underneath the monastery. According to Solon's research, we will require the bearers of the Apostles' power. Myson has learned of the location of two of them. The others are still unknown to us. But that will change in due time."
"If I may ask, Master, when will we capture the one that hides among the Church? We could very well do so during our plan which pertains to the Sealed Forest," Chilon wondered.
"You speak wisely, Chilon. As always. But no, we will not do so then. We must await for the most opportune moment with which to steal what we need," Thales denied, shaking his head. "You are both aware of the purpose of our plan in the Sealed Forest, are you not?"
"We are," the two Agarthan Generals responded in sync.
Thales grinned. "I am most pleased. I have the utmost faith that you shall succeed in your respective duties. You must. Agartha accepts no alternatives."
"We understand, Master Thales," the Generals again spoke at the same time. "We daren't bring shame to the glorious name of Agartha. Our mission will succeed."
"Most wonderful. Now, return to the Sealed Forest. Prepare yourselves for a dangerous encounter."
"Yes, Master Thales," the two accepted their command.
Nothing else needed to be said between the three. Chilon and Bias departed from the tenebrous quarters. Thales was all alone, able to think and scheme in peace. His eyes directed themselves away from where they'd been staring at, instead focusing upon a particular novel resting upon his desk.
He did not pick it up - for he already knew what it was. Thales smiled fiendishly.
"The hand of Agartha shall smite all those who dare oppose it," he recounted. "Princess. You shall soon understand what that truly means. How foolish of you to stand against the hand that fed you so."
Within the lightened realms of Garreg Mach Monastery, one Lucas Hog was engaged in fervent training with a straw dummy. He unleashed a rapid barrage of diagonal sword slashes with his wooden blade - he primarily used the sword. But he'd also integrate an additional means of attack into his barrage every now and then.
His fists. Blunt force was not quite as effective in power as a sword slash, but as Lucas discovered through various sessions of testing, it wasn't power he was after.
It was all about speed. Fists did not require any eloquent means of attack. There was no need to draw it back to prepare for a strike. All one needed to do was release it. From there, many other options could be given. It primarily depended on the opponent's reaction, but from a broad sense, there were many paths to follow after a seemingly random punch. One could follow it up with a sword lunge, a sword slash, repeated unarmed strikes; anything. As long as damage was dealt.
One of the more effective options was a Reason magic spell. A well-aimed and timed Fire, for example, could be quite the destructive addition to what might have been an unimpressive melee combination. Thunder was also similarly effective. Lucas was unsure if the new Reason spell he'd been working on had any kind of use in this manner, though such ideas pertaining to that spell were mere speculative.
He hadn't mastered it yet.
Lucas struck the straw dummy with a violent rush of blows from both his training blade as well as his left fist. His sword was carried in his right hand. Several times, he'd throw out a Fire or Thunder whenever it felt good to do so. Whatever spell he chose, the dummy would respond with a seemingly smug attitude, remaining ready to soak in all sorts of damage despite the punishment thrown at it. Lucas grunted.
"Damn. I'm still pretty sluggish. If I stay like this, I'll never be able to fight on the same level as Edelgard, Jeralt and the other highest skilled fighters here. I need to keep going...I have to!"
He kept going. The poor, perhaps overly smug training dummy received a multitude of additional sword slashes, deft punches and destructive Reason magic spells. If it had been a fight, well, there would be no contest. Lucas was decimating the inanimate object.
But even through all his effort, it still remained. If a little singed from his Fire and Thunder casts. Lucas grit his teeth.
"My power output's still lacking. If only I could get a year's worth of training in a day or something like that. Unfortunately, despite the existence of magic, such rooms are but a dream," Lucas remarked to himself. "Well, I mean, I could just keep using Divine Pulse, but I'd only be retaining the knowledge mentally. My body would be the same as it was minutes ago. That is how it works, right Sothis?"
"Yes," she said with a yawn. "Curse you, Lucas. I was just about to initiate a most wondrous rest. A hopefully wondrous rest, that is."
"Sorry. I guess I was...thinking too loudly?" Lucas assumed, mentally shrugging. "Either way, I do apologise."
Sothis emitted some vague noise of acceptance. "It is fine. One must do what they have to do. I will remain awake, if only because I am curious for what your student is about to say."
"Huh?"
Returning to the real world, Lucas discovered the approach of one Edelgard von Hresvelg. Her expression was one of determination - as if there was something that needed to be done. The teacher matched his countenance to hers.
"Professor. I have overheard what Lady Rhea has been saying about our mission for this moon," Edelgard began. She proceeded to quieten herself. "I trust you know what it truly entails."
"I do," clarified Lucas, lowering his voice to a whisper. "The Agarthans have occupied the Sealed Forest. I'm glad Rhea accepted my suggestion of making this the Black Eagles' mission. If it were anyone else, they'd be in grave danger."
"Why is that?" Edelgard asked.
"Because it's a trap," Lucas answered. "Although Solon is dead, I can't see the rest of the Agarthans simply abandoning his work and potential ideas. That'd be foolish. And if they're using his schemes, then there's no doubt that they'll use that spell."
"A spell? During my time as the Flame Emperor, I was able to discern many secrets of their inner operations. Now that I think of it, I am surprised I am still alive considering what I know. Anyway, during that time, I heard some rumors about a particular spell that would remove any obstacle from their path, no matter how powerful or obstinate that obstacle could be."
"Yeah," Lucas nodded. "That would be it. The Forbidden Spell of Zahras...be very careful, Edelgard. Without the right kind of power, there is no escape from that spell's grasp."
"Understood. I will remain on guard."
"You'll remain on...Edelguard?"
The Adrestian princess merely glared at her teacher, unamused. Lucas nervously chuckled.
"Never mind. Just watch out for it, please. I know what the spell looks like as it's starting up, so if you're in danger of being caught by it, I'll warn you," he added.
"Thank you, Professor. That is all I needed to know. I do not know when they will call upon us to begin the mission, but I will prepare for it all the same. Goodbye."
Edelgard then left the student training grounds. Lucas, now on his physical lonesome, returned to his energetic sparring session with the unarmed dummy. Despite the intensity of his actions, his thoughts were elsewhere and elsewhen.
The Sealed Forest persisted within the consciousness of Lucas' soul.
All of the Black Eagles marched out of the monastery. By their side was a contingent of knights, led by Jeralt, Alois and Catherine. Their presence was enough to ease the woes of the less confident soldiers.
As for the less confident students, Edelgard's resolute stare wiped away any doubts they may have had and reassured them that everything was going to be okay. After all, if Edelgard was unperturbed by the possibilities of the upcoming battle, then there was no need to fear. Bernadetta took this to heart.
The combined forces of knights and students headed deep into the dark and murky forest, one that was so close to Garreg Mach itself. The sheer mistiness of the locale had been enough to reintroduce fear into those with weak minds. Alois chortled.
"Well, this place is certainly mysterious. No wonder why it's known as the Sealed Forest," the knight commander remarked in a joyous tone that eased the tension amongst the more worrisome members of their group. "I'm sensing the beginnings of a joke, but it's just not coming to me."
"Maybe that's a sign you shouldn't say it. Our enemies might hear you and then get a surprise attack on us," Catherine advised. "Or maybe their sense of humor is so terrible that they end up laughing, which would give away their position and give us an advantage. Though, I wouldn't bet on that. Just stay quiet, Alois."
"Come now, Catherine. This grim place needs a bit of lightening up!" Alois countered, lowering his voice as per his superior's request. "I do apologise, however. I'll make sure to keep just a bit more quiet from this moment on."
"Thank the goddess…" Jeralt mumbled to himself.
Small bouts of laughter emerged from the overall group. It all slowly quietened down the further everyone got into the Sealed Forest. It was as if the darkness consumed the group's merriment. Despite this, they all pressed on, seeking out the enemies they were instructed to eliminate.
As they walked, Lucas looked over to Jeralt, his expression full of disquietude. Jeralt returned the gaze and smiled. The Black Eagles professor then brought his eyes back to the direction in which the whole group was walking in, not giving any obvious visual indicators of how he felt.
He assumed. However, the captain could tell. He carefully slid past several of the men that were in the way between him and the young adult, placing a hand upon his shoulder.
"What's wrong, kid?" Jeralt asked with a comforting smile. "Worried about an old man like me?"
"I…" Lucas initially hesitated, but was able to literally shake it off. "I'm more concerned about your injury. You sure you're feeling better after all that?"
"Of course. I'm not made like most people, you know. I was able to heal a lot faster than anyone else would in that situation. Hell, if I wasn't the way I am now, then I probably would've died a long time ago," assumed Jeralt, withdrawing his hand. "That, and it's also been a month since we fought the beast that caused this damn injury in the first place. I had time to heal."
"That makes sense. Still…"
Jeralt shook his head. "I understand your concern, kid. But I think I'll be fine. You've got a plan for this battle, don't you? I trust your foresight. I'd be a damn fool not to at this point."
"I do. Actually, that's why I asked Catherine to join us for this one. And it's partially why I'm so worried right now."
"We're gonna be fighting more of those beast things, aren't we?"
Lucas nodded. Jeralt sighed, tilting his head backwards as he walked.
"I guess that explains why Catherine's here, then. I bet it's got something to do with her Heroes' Relic. Do those things have some special advantage against the beasts?" The captain wondered.
"Yeah, they do. I think. At the very least, having exceptionally powerful weapons like that will definitely help us turn the tides," Lucas answered. "There'll be two Demonic Beasts this time, which is why I wanted us to have two Relic users. Well, I mean, we have three, technically…"
Lucas looked over to Yuri. Specifically, his Fetters of Dromi.
"But Yuri's Relic isn't gonna be able to deal damage to them. It doesn't have any offensive capabilities on its own like other ones do," the professor continued. "Although, it will be helpful. For him."
"Right. So I guess we're gonna have to watch out, huh?"
"Indeed. Can you see why I'm so worried now?"
Jeralt muttered a vague sound of understanding. He then put his hand back on Lucas' shoulder, surprising him with the sheer force behind the unexpected contact.
"It might seem like the odds are against us with two of those damn things, but you've prepared specifically for this situation. Have some faith in yourself and others, kid. Your plans are good. Everyone else is great. They'll be able to carry out your orders. If they don't want to, I'll make 'em. We've got this."
Lucas couldn't hide the smirk that rose to the surface.
"Thanks, Jeralt."
With the younger one sufficiently satisfied, the Captain of the Knights of Seiros withdrew his hand once more and remained by the kid's side. Everyone then proceeded further into the deep, gloomy green.
Everyone then came out to a clearing. This was evidently the place. Hooded figures dotted the immediate area. A single Demonic Beast hung around each of the two paths the dirt-lined clearing split off into. Although some were scared, a reassuring call from Jeralt was all that was needed.
"Alright, everyone, listen up! We've found the enemies that set themselves up in this forest. Professor Lucas has a plan to take 'em out, so listen to him if you feel like living!"
All eyes were then trained upon Lucas. He gulped, steeling himself.
"Thanks for listening, everyone!" He began. "We'll be splitting up into two groups! That might seem like a bad idea with those beasts around, but it makes sense! I'll be taking the Black Eagles and some of the knights up the right. Jeralt, Catherine, Alois, Yuri and the rest of the knights will be heading to the left. Edelgard and Catherine, I need you two to be the primary attackers for your respective groups. Your Relics will be key in this battle!"
The two girls nodded, although Edelgard's gesture was full of understanding, whereas Catherine's was less certain.
"Don't worry too much about us splitting up. The paths will meet back up shortly after we take care of the beasts," Lucas added. "Don't die, everyone. We need to live. Let's kill those beasts and wipe out these dipshits who think they can skulk around near the monastery!"
Much to his surprise, mostly everyone proceeded to cheer upon the completion of his little speech. Even with those who were stoic or quiet, such as Hubert or Linhardt, there was very clearly an extra degree of energy to their movements.
Lucas grinned. He gripped his Killing Edge and pointed it towards the direction the rightmost Demonic Beast was in. With a lowered stance, he was ready to fight.
But his nerves kicked in. His arms and legs shook, visibly vibrating to a mild degree. His heart rate shot up to an intense speed. Yet he was determined to maintain his position.
A hand was placed on his left shoulder. Lucas looked up - a light was beaming down upon him. Dorothea reassured her teacher with only a smile. It had the power to cease his uncontrollable shaking and fill him with a newfound vigour.
One shout. And the battle would begin. He took a deep breath. Silence.
Lucas shouted.
"Let's go!"
A sudden roar emerged from the crowd. Everyone charged forward, splitting up into the sides laid out by Lucas' plan. Jeralt and Catherine's team darted over towards the left, immediately engaging with several of the hooded figures. Lucas and Edelgard's team went straight up to tangle with whomever was there.
The battle went underway.
Almost right away, the Demonic Beasts were encountered by the two halves. As per the plan, the wielders of the offense-oriented Heroes' Relics became the centerpiece of the pair of charges. Edelgard darted forward with her Sword of the Creator while Catherine did the same with Thunderbrand. Both offensive charges revolved around the women.
Edelgard drew first blood on the rightmost Demonic Beast. She unleashed an elongated swing with the divine might of her blade, cutting clean through the thick skin of the creature facing her allies. It was a powerful enough strike that it caused the beast to stagger. This in turn allowed several of her friends to get in close and provide additional damage-related support.
Some Dark Mages decided to become an annoyance. They flung several Miasmas deep into the formation of students and knights. All of them struck true, causing a handful of knights to stumble over in place whilst the rest of the group proceeded to land at least a single hit on the figurative elephant in the 'room'. Bernadetta and some bow-using knights were instrumental in getting rid of those "damn spell-flinging dastards", as a particular mouthy knight put it.
Catherine and Jeralt's team faced similar difficulties. Their beast was further away than the other group's, meaning there was more time for Dark Mages and Cavaliers to intercept. Jeralt had his own, far superior Paladin style to counteract all those that thought they possessed even a crumb of skill on horseback. He put them in their place.
Whatever injuries the overly old man came across were promptly healed by Yuri. The Abyssian-at-heart was more than content with assisting his friend's plan. His Fetters of Dromi were proving rather useful, what with the defensive and mobility-related boosts they were giving him. He was able to sustain much more damage than ever before and move around with an unprecedented amount of speed - all thanks to his Crest of Aubin.
The slits and lacerations Thunderbrand inflicted dug deep into the Demonic Beast's boulder-like body. Other, varying weapons from the knights followed up with lunges and gashes of their own, piling up a hefty amount of cuts upon the brute. Some knights were slammed away or into the ground by the mere trashing of its tail.
Some had been unfortunate enough to come on the receiving end of its terrifying fire breath attack. Just one wave of flames was all it took to tear through the armor of any unlucky soul. They weren't dead, but as indicated by their ear-piercing screams of pain, they might as well have been.
Jeralt, Catherine and Yuri were fine - despite whatever minor wounds they'd picked up. Scratches and bruises upon their faces and small parts of their arms. Plenty of Priests were around to provide healing whenever needed.
Yet there were scars that wouldn't go away. Not just yet. Not while they were still in battle.
On the exact other side of the rocky field, Lucas' team were dealing with their Demonic Beast with some decent effectiveness. All of the hooded Agarthans that chose to approach had been swiftly taken out as per the professor's insistence. This made tackling the beast merely a smidge more comfortable. Its wild, unpredictable nature resulted in the fight being rather painful for those that got in its way.
Fortunately, Lucas' Divine Pulse allowed him to bypass some elements of frustration. Ferdinand had been swiped by the Demonic Beast's sharp claws, deep physical cuts digging into the orange-haired student's body and likely ending his life instantly. Turning back the hands of time gave Lucas the opportunity to bark out a command in the direction of the Aegir heir, thus averting a dark history.
He couldn't do such a thing for everyone, however. Lucas was well aware of the limited nature of his command over the deictic technique. His students were generally skilled and quick enough to avoid all of the beast's more vicious moves.
Some of the knights did not fare so well. Lucas had to watch as several of them died right before his very eyes.
He chose not to let any of it bother him. There was a battle to be fought - a battle he needed to win. Lucas preserved his Divine Pulses for when he truly felt as if he needed to use them. Mainly for when his students received a fatal blow. Bernadetta and Caspar especially required saving.
As his Divine Pulse usage count increased, the aching of his head worsened. It hadn't been enough to impede his progress in any meaningful way. But the way it constantly pulsed, as if he was hearing the screams of the very fabric of space-time itself yell at him for his inconsideration regarding the fragile nature of time - it was there. Always there.
Eternally present, like time itself.
The Demonic Beast was a rather irksome and dangerous foe. Magical spells were constantly thrown at the creature while those with melee weapons engaged in close quarters combat. Edelgard was distant, cutting away at the enemy with her Sword of the Creator, powered-up by her dual Crests. She was the group's trump card against the being. The vile, unnatural thing.
Following a combined effort, the beast fell, its body unmoving on the ground.
"It's...over," Lucas said between heavy breaths. "For now, anyway. Let's k-keep moving, everyone. The battle's not finished yet."
"The curtains have yet to be called, huh?" Dorothea rhetorically asked, also panting.
"We have yet to encounter any of the enemy's generals. We must proceed with wariness," Hubert advised. "Are you well, Lady Edelgard?"
"I am fine. Though I believe my Heroes' Relic is beginning to see some damage," Edelgard noted, staring at a minor crack on her blade. She sheathed it, replacing it with a Steel Axe. "I may need to repair it after this battle."
"I will wander throughout the entire continent to locate the materials you need," Hubert declared to his lady.
"That will not be necessary, Hubert. I believe Miss Anna sells all of what Edelgard would require," Ferdinand informed his classmates. "If I am remembering correctly. It has been some time since she was last at the monastery."
Lucas flipped himself around, giving his students a strange look. "Everyone. Battle's still going. We can't afford to stand around and talk. Take a moment to breathe and let's get back into it!"
Instantaneously, the students and knights detected the urgent tone of the teacher's voice. They did as they were told, shutting up and taking whatever short amounts of time they needed for their respective breaks.
Only then did they "get back into it".
The students and knights headed up the path surrounded by trees on their left and right, somewhat muddy earth beneath them along with an evening sky above.
Although, the path was short, as it soon opened up to a wide open area that contained a rectangular stone platform with four pillars residing in its corners. On the other side of the area, Jeralt, Catherine and Yuri's team emerged, somewhat battered and bruised from the encounter with their Demonic Beast, but otherwise alive. The two teams met back up with one another and proceeded up the open space.
A lone Agarthan stood within the middle of the stone platform. They wore a dark-grey Gremory uniform, their face protected from view via the use of a veil.
Lucas recoiled in shock - he recognised this figure. There were vague suggestions of brilliant blonde hair shining somewhere behind that veil. He grit his teeth. An intense anger flared up to his visage.
"You there!" Lucas called out as he stepped forward from the combined group. "What are you playing at? You're massively outnumbered. Nothing you can do can overcome our power. You'd best give up now."
"You wouldn't happen to be the professor of the Black Eagle House, would you?" The Agarthan inquired, undeterred by the human's threats.
"I am. What's it to you?" Lucas barked, pointing his Levin Sword at the woman.
She grinned.
"Oh, wonderful. It appears I've found the right one."
Without warning, the unknown Agarthan flung a Sagittae in Lucas' direction. He almost instinctively dodged, but quickly remembered the fact that there were students behind him. No other choice remained. Lucas blocked the spell with his Levin Sword. The force behind the attack forced him backwards somewhat, his feet dragging across the ground as he repelled the blast.
No damage was dealt, yet he could feel there was something else behind that attack. His eyes narrowed as he repointed his magical sword at the Agarthan.
"As I said, you're outnumbered. There's no point in trying. Give up!" Lucas demanded.
"Is that what you said to Pittacus before you brutishly killed her?"
Lucas, again, was taken aback. "Pittacus?! You...no, you can't be her. Then who the hell are you?!"
Her voice took a turn for the angered. "My name is Bias. I was Pittacus'...closest ally. She was the one that taught me everything I know. And you were the one that killed her, were you not?! I will have your head for such a heinous action!"
"You were her friend, or whatever?" Lucas rhetorically asked. He smirked. A hint of maliciousness came to his facial expression. "That's nice. She tried to use me, only so she could further her plans. She didn't care for who I was! If you were her best friend, then you must be just as bad as her! I'll be the one to have your fucking head!"
"Such impudence...know your place, worm!"
Bias stood perfectly still, her right arm raised by her side, ready to perform a cast. Lucas rushed in, uncaring for anything other than the death of the Agarthan before him. Edelgard, Jeralt and Dorothea stretched out their hands as if to stop him, yet they relented. He was already dashing ahead.
Lucas sped onto the stone platform, swiftly making his way across. Bias' stance persisted. Not a single sign of movement came from her.
Until she suddenly pulled out an Agarthan heart from underneath her cloak.
"What?!" Lucas exclaimed. His speed instinctively decreased so he could get a good look at the object in her hand. "That's a...shit!"
"You witless vermin! You've fallen into my trap!" Bias maniacally laughed. Dark magical aura enveloped her hand. "It's finally time...time to obtain my revenge for my teacher's death! By the ancient power within, allow me to unleash the Forbidden Spell of Zahras!"
The darkness grew in size. Lucas scowled, but then his face lightened. An idea came to him. His eyes landed upon his Levin Sword as a grin emerged.
"No you don't!" He yelled.
As he continued to sprint forwards, Lucas pulled back the arm that wielded the Levin Sword as far as it could go. He then launched the blade with all of his might, sending it flying and spinning through the air - straight for the Agarthan woman.
"What is that-" Bias responded in confusion.
The darkness within her hand faded somewhat as she stepped to the side, evading the projectile. An expression of scorn fell upon her. She turned herself back to her human opponent.
"You pest! How dare you attempt such a vicious maneuver! I will end your miserable existence, all to save you from the desperation that surrounds you!" Bias shouted, clenching the Agarthan heart smothered in black-purple mana. "You will die-!"
She was cut short as a blade pierced her torso. Looking down, Bias could see a sword with a black and red hilt embedded deep into herself. The sable mana she'd been carrying slowly dissipated. She coughed up blood.
"Irritant...h-human!" Bias stuttered between iron-filled coughs. "You will pay for this transgression!"
Lucas, who'd been continuing his speedy advance the whole time, did not halt once he reached the wounded Agarthan. He instead used his momentum to release a powerful punch to her face. The force of his right hook had been enough to send her to the ground, back first. Blood spilled all over her mouth and veil.
It reflected the shining red within Lucas' eyes.
The professor said nothing as he grabbed the Killing Edge that was still stuck within Bias' chest and proceeded to yank it out of her body. She screamed in agony as the blade ripped its way back through her wound, the gaps between the sides of her body flopping uselessly as Lucas returned his weapon to his grasp.
And then he brought it back down upon her. He chose a different spot for his second attack. Then again for his third. As well as his fourth. A downpour of stabs had been unleashed on the injured Agarthan.
It didn't stop. With each one came a different pitch of yelp from Bias. Lucas continued to say nothing as he performed his elaborate execution. His endless murdering. It wouldn't end, not even for-!
"You can stop now, Lucas," Sothis insisted.
With a call from the goddess, Lucas halted in place as he was about to enact yet another stab. He looked down on the fallen Agarthan, only to see a familiar sight.
A body riddled with holes. He sighed.
"I've done it again. I just can't help myself, can I?" Lucas internally remarked. "Though, in my defence, this bitch deserved it."
"You're right. She did," Sothis concurred. "But it's not about that, as you well know."
Lucas was silent. "I know, but I-"
"Be careful! You're still in the middle of a battle, Lucas. Do not lose focus," Byleth interjected, reminding his host of the state of the physical world.
"Ah, yes! Byleth is correct. We can discuss this in further detail at another time. For now…" Sothis paused. "Keep your emotions in check, Lucas. It wouldn't be good if you lost yourself."
Tilting his head away in embarrassment, the mortal professor nodded in understanding. He returned his gaze to the physical realm, his eyes once again viewing the Agarthan's body. Her final words had fallen on deaf ears.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Professor?" Dorothea asked, her presence becoming clear to him once he saw a flutter of brown out of the corner of his right eye. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I was just…" Lucas' pupils and irises darted to the leftmost corner of the eyes they were in. "Calming myself, I suppose. There's nothing to worry about."
"Oh, good," Dorothea said with relief. She offered him a certain blade. "Here. I picked up your Levin Sword for you. Wasn't expecting you to bring back that sword throw move of yours."
"Heh. Thanks. And well, it was certainly effective," Lucas replied as he sheathed his Killing Edge so he could retrieve his magical blade.
He looked all around, finding two groups of soldiers venturing up two different sets of stairs, one resting on each side of the wide open area. Confusion was evident - only for a moment.
"What's going on now? I kinda zoned out there," the professor wondered.
"There's more enemies up top. Doesn't seem like there's much more to worry about, but who knows. It's kind of hard to tell what's happening on that raised bit of land," Dorothea informed him.
A tall dirt wall was some ways in front of the pair. At its peak was a flat piece of earth of which neither of the duo could really see anything that stood upon it. The wall's height was just a little too high.
"Ah. Well, in that case, we better get moving. No time for chatting," Lucas stated. "No more of it after this point, at least. Not until the battle's won."
"Got it, Professor!"
Their next action decided, Lucas and Dorothea rushed over to the rightmost stone staircase, proceeding to join their allies in their elimination of all the remaining enemy forces.
A miniature army of Agarthan soldiers was all that was left. The knights and students engaged them in battle. Although there was limited space on the raised plot of land, there was enough for a handful of fighters to move around freely. It was sufficient for the long-ranged battle everyone was having with those dastardly spell-flingers.
Lucas had been scanning the environment, curious to know how well the rest of the fight was going for everyone else. He noticed something that stood out quite a bit from the crowd: Edelgard was deep in combat with a single, horsebound foe.
His instincts kicked in. They led him over to that encounter. As he approached, he could hear the two talking.
"Princess of Adrestia...your time has come to an end," the horse-riding Agarthan spoke in a freezing, cold tone.
"I think not. My life will not come to an end, not so soon! You are sorely mistaken if you believe I will let myself fall here," Edelgard countered.
"I was not referring to your life, Princess," the Agarthan vaguely corrected. He wore a heavy, bright armor that covered his entire body - including his face. It made it impossible to tell what kind of expression he was bearing.
Though it was obvious by his smug tone.
Lucas' free hand clenched.
"Edelgard!" He called out as he got closer.
"That's-" Her expression faltered for a brief moment, until she realised who it was that called out to her. "Professor!"
Black Eagles' teacher zoomed right in, joining Edelgard at her side. He had his Levin Sword pointed at the bulky individual that faced them both down. The Agarthan's expression was unknown.
"Hmm? Another challenger wishes to oppose me? Try as you might. Your futile offense means nothing to me," the male Agarthan taunted, brandishing his Silver Axe.
"This guy's confident," Lucas noted. He then addressed the white-haired student beside him, massively decreasing the volume of his voice. "So who's he?"
"His name is Chilon. He's a General of...that kind," Edelgard clarified, following her teacher's volume-related example. "He seems to be an ally of the one you just killed. Good work on that, by the way."
"Thanks. And thanks again," Lucas thanked twice consecutively. "Wait, that kind? Why are you saying it like that?"
"I do not want our allies to learn of their identity and then become overly worried in a dangerous situation such as this. I will also assume he doesn't want the name to become public, either. Their kind appreciates being unknown."
"Right. Thanks for the clarification, then." Lucas focused his gaze on the Agarthan. "This guy looks tough, but he's not gonna be able to take both of us on at the same time. I'll take one side, you take the other. Got it?"
"I understand your plan, Professor, but wait just a moment. This is not some ordinary enemy," she warned.
"How so?"
"Allow me to show you."
Edelgard lunged forward with the Sword of the Creator, extending the blade out so it could reach the heavily armored individual. It struck true.
Nothing else happened aside from the sound of a small metallic clang erupting from the contact of weapon and armor. The Sword of the Creator returned to its regular size. An audible, slightly filtered bout of laughter came from somewhere underneath that substantial sheathing.
"Displaying the futility of your battle to your new ally, Princess? How humorous," Chilon mocked. "The likes of your kind always provide me with adequate laughter. Try it again if you so dare."
"Huh?!" Lucas exclaimed in bewilderment, raising his voice back up. "How did that-it just bounced off! Surely it should do a little more damage than that, right?"
"You fail to understand," Chilon smirked. "My armor is far more special than your feeble mind can ever hope to comprehend. Not even that pathetic Heroes' Relic can pierce it. I am impregnable."
"What? That doesn't even make any sense! How can he have armour that resists even a damn Heroes' Relic?" Lucas questioned.
"I am unsure. I can only theorize that it is a creation of...them," speculated Edelgard. "I do not know how we can overcome it. Perhaps you can attempt a spell?"
Lucas shrugged. "Worth a try."
Readying a ball of flames within his palm, the professor shot it forward as soon as it was ready. Chilon remained still, allowing the Fire to pass harmlessly over him. Not a single iota of visible damage could be seen anywhere upon him.
A deep, booming sneer sounded from the large Agarthan.
"Fools! I have already informed you. I am impregnable. Not a single tool or spell shall overcome my defenses," bragged Chilon. "Bow down now, else you suffer our wrath."
Lucas' mouth was agape. He gazed over at the hand that fired the spell. It was shaking. He pulled it back as if to comfort it, but all his efforts were useless. It kept shaking. As did the rest of him.
"No…" Lucas muttered. "There's gotta be a way. We've gotta be able to defeat him! But how? I don't see a way around that impossible armour of his. Doubt we'll be able to get to those tiny slots in between the armour's different segments. Have you tried that, Edelgard?"
"I have, but I wasn't able to reach them. He's surprisingly quick with his movements for such a large fighter," Edelgard answered. "But we may just be able to do it if we combine our might, Professor. We must give it all we have."
"Or else we die, right?"
"Indeed."
Lucas sighed, weaving a hand through his hair.
"Then let's do it," he said. "On three."
At his command, Edelgard readied herself for another close-range bout. Lucas tightened the grip on his Levin Sword, aiming its pointed end at Chilon's head.
"One, two…" Lucas counted down, pausing. "Three!"
The pair of humans bolted towards the Great Knight, hoping to deal some manner of damage. Partway through their combined sprint, they split up, intending to attack Chilon from different sides. The Agarthan audibly smirked.
Chilon raised an additional axe he kept sheathed: the Bolt Axe. He aimed it at Lucas, who was unable to dodge the sudden bolt of electricity that fell from just above. The professor collapsed to the ground - not unconscious.
Satisfied, Chilon swung his horse around so he could focus on the Adrestian that had been coming at him from the side. She'd already extended out her Sword of the Creator. A simple shift to the side was all he needed to do to allow his armor to block the attack for him. Another audible smirk.
"How ironic. We are both creations of my master, yet we are fighting one another to the death," Chilon pointed out. "You are attempting to, at least. Uselessly, I might add."
"What are you getting at?" Edelgard questioned.
"This is the same manner of power you could wield, Princess. My master would most certainly have given you something on the level of my armor. He has the most understanding of our technology. There is no doubt you could be on the same level as myself," Chilon assumed. "Should you have not chosen defiance."
"I need not your power. I will forge the world I desire with my own hands! Your manner of technology cannot be humane. I will never accept it," Edelgard objected.
"We do not care for the limitations set in place by your kind. We shall achieve any level of power through any means. Anything to attain our deepest desires! You are absurd for rejecting it. Now, you shall understand why that is!"
Chilon raised his Bolt Axe, preparing to unload its magical might upon the Adrestian.
His offensive action was halted when the faint feeling of electrical magic tingled across his back. The Agarthan turned his horse sideways so he could get a solid look at the human who wished to strike him. He chuckled maniacally.
Lucas was standing, Levin Sword in hand. Bruises almost entirely covered his face. His body shook, indicating that he was using as much energy as he possibly could to even stand.
"I should have known you were not downed, vermin. Your kind can be rather resilient. To my dismay," Chilon commented.
"That can only be a good thing," sassed Lucas. "I thrive off of irritating your kind."
"Hmph. You truly must be the one that ended the life of Lady Pittacus, in that case. One with no prior knowledge of our kind would speak the way you do. In the interest of eliminating all of our enemies, you shall die, worm," Chilon threatened. He raised his Bolt Axe. "I will not give you the satisfaction of final words."
"Fuck you," Lucas swore at the Agarthan.
"A vexatious pest to the very end. How fitting, human. Now, fall-!"
A chime sounded to his right, interrupting his execution. Chilon practically rolled his eyes as he looked over to see Edelgard attempt an elongated stab towards one of the slots in his armor, which he'd instinctively shifted his body slightly to avoid.
She tried another. Chilon seemed to groan at this as he moved his body to the side once again.
"No!" Edelgard cried. "Just hold still…!"
"I grow tired of these games," the Agarthan simply said. "I will end this farce!"
As the Adrestian heir attempted another stab, Chilon moved to the side once more. But this time was different.
Instead, he chose to grab the Sword of the Creator itself with his armored hand. Much to the surprise of both of his enemies.
"This ends now!" He yelled, tugging back on the captured blade with an immense force.
Edelgard's eyes widened. Despite her own grip on her weapon, Chilon's sudden display of physical strength had caught her by surprise. She found herself flying forwards with the sword, heading straight for the despicable Great Knight.
Before she could let go, a fist met her face. It struck her with such might that her momentum was immediately transferred into the opposite direction. She flew into the distance, landing some ways away from the elevated land, nearer to the stone platform. Her body skidded along the ground, her head smacking against several sharp rocks until she halted completely.
The Sword of the Creator finished retracting itself as its pointed end remained within Chilon's grasp. He threw it aside, intentionally aiming for the professor that still opposed him.
"Ah, no!" Lucas exclaimed as he evaded the Heroes' Relic while fruitlessly reaching out for his student. "No...is this it? This can't be it, damn it! There's gotta be something, anything! We can't just die here!"
"Unfortunately for you, this forest shall be your grave," Chilon declared as he fully turned his horse around to focus on the teacher. "You have opposed me for long enough, rat. I will bring you punishment from the hand of Agartha itself!"
The Agarthan raised his Bolt Axe and fired off a shot from it. Lucas jumped to the side, only barely avoiding the beam of electricity that came at him.
"Hold still, pathetic human!" Chilon barked, readying his Bolt Axe once again.
Lucas prepared himself to dodge again, but after feeling around on the ground, his hand landed on something...oddly cold. Peeping beneath himself, he grinned as soon as he realised what he'd just touched.
Just as Chilon fired another bolt of lightning, Lucas grabbed the discarded sword and raised it high, blocking the magic attack entirely. Chilon's tone of voice indicated a great deal of momentary surprise. But then he smirked.
"Hmph. You believe you can wield that blade, whelp?" Chilon queried.
"Can I?" Lucas asked the compatriots within his mind. "It should be possible, right Sothis, Byleth? I mean, you guys are in me, after all."
"I don't see why not. We may have to provide you with our power so the Sword of the Creator is able to detect our presence. I do not know if that is a necessary measure, but it is all we can afford to do as of this moment," Sothis assumed.
"Good. 'Cause I'm gonna need all the power I can get to overcome this guy's defence…" Lucas paused, as the beginnings of an idea formed and culminated into the thing called hope. "Wait just a minute. That gives me an idea."
"What do you plan to do?" Byleth wondered, inquisitively.
"Remember that incident when we were practicing my Heal cast with Yuri a couple weeks ago?" Lucas mentioned.
Sothis' mouth fell wide open. "No, you cannot be suggesting…!"
"If you wanna bust a wall, you need the right tool. This is that tool, Sothis. I have to beat this guy. Chilon HAS to die. I'll need your power and Byleth's to make it happen," Lucas convinced the goddess. "So please, give me your energy!"
Byleth's eyes widened in realization. They receded to their regular size when he was able to think it through on his own before airing his thoughts to his friends.
"I will give you as much power as you need, Lucas. We must defeat the enemy that stands in our way. For our friends…" Byleth accepted the plan. "And our loved ones."
Lucas hesitated, but nodded. "Yeah. Let's do it, guys! We'll give this everything we've got! We have to!"
"If I must. Be careful with my power, Lucas. You know what happened last time," warned Sothis.
"I know. But if it's our only option, then I'll have to throw caution to the wind. I don't know what's gonna happen when I try it in an offense-related scenario, but I should probably do this away from any allies, just in case…" Lucas decided, tightening the grip on the Sword of the Creator. "Wish me luck."
Sothis and Byleth did just that as their friend returned to reality. Chilon was ready to fire another shot from his Bolt Axe. Lucas, meanwhile, was ready to get moving. The two men of varying races stared each other down.
Without warning, electricity crackled down above Lucas' current spot. He heard the noise and sidestepped, evading the attack. Chilon continued to rain down bolt after bolt as Lucas bolted around his foe. He halted his advance when he arrived roughly to the spot where Edelgard was standing earlier; the complete opposite end of where he once was.
"Hmph. Have you now realised your futility, human?" Chilon questioned, stopping his offense to speak. "Will you now hold still and perish?!"
"No. Quite the opposite, in fact," Lucas said as he closed his eyes. "You're the one that'll hold still and perish."
"What?! Such bravado from one who hasn't been able to lay a scratch upon me thus far! It seems you still don't understand your place!" Chilon bellowed. "Fall to my axe, wretched human!"
"No." Lucas opened his eyes and scowled. "YOU WILL FALL TO MY BLADE!"
Just then, a white aura expanded from Lucas' body, creating a gigantic burst of wind that disturbed even Chilon. His horse fared no better. It began whinnying, endlessly complaining about the annoying gales that were overwhelming its feeble eyes. Chilon tried to shield himself from the wind by raising an arm up to his face.
But it was just too strong.
His white aura expanded into a massively dazzling light, becoming a point of interest for anyone present in the area that was still alive. They had to avert their gaze, though it didn't matter. They could feel the light. The sheer divinity radiating from Lucas' presence instilled a certain feeling of contentment within all those aligned with the church.
Any Agarthans still remaining had grimaced heavily as soon as the light emerged.
Lucas raised the Sword of the Creator to the sky as said weapon glowed an enormously brilliant orange. Its ancient energy stretched out further into the air above as Sothis and Byleth continued to pump more and more mana into their host's systems. A pillar of orange towered above everyone else.
"Vertical!" Lucas began to call out, his voice having a slight heavenly echo. "Progenitor God...Slice!"
He lowered the obscenely colossal sword, bringing down its full might onto the unfortunate Agarthan.
"What is this power?! No! Leave me be, foul being! No!" Chilon refused to believe his fate. "The hand of Agartha shall smite you someday, human-!"
It effortlessly tore through the very same armor that had given Lucas such trouble prior. Slicing clean through the Agarthan as well as his horse, Lucas raised the divine blade back up through the massive cut it just made.
He then performed another gigantic slash. But this one was horizontal. The enhanced Sword of the Creator sliced Chilon into quarters. Lucas reeled his arm back and then changed up the sword's mode of attack. He switched it into its whip-like mode, unloading a barrage of endless swings onto the Agarthan, cutting him up into thousands of pieces, the sizes of which gradually decreased with every slash.
Chilon had long since died. However, the energy within Lucas was strong and hungry. It needed more. Once he was satisfied with tearing Chilon apart, the professor that wielded deictic power dropped the blade. It returned to normal upon landing.
And then it was time to feast.
Lucas stretched out both of his arms, bringing his palms together and extending them as far as they could go. His white, divine aura still flaring, a bundle of flames began to form within his palms. They only grew in size the more Lucas charged up his next attack.
"Final!" He screamed. "Progenitor God...Inferno!"
A monumental torrent of fire blasted out from his palms and over towards the fallen pieces of Chilon's body. The stream of flames dragged itself across the ground, digging into the earth as a result of its sheer size. It enveloped the remains of the Agarthan and his horse, burning them to ash within seconds.
The cascade of conflagration didn't stop there. They kept going. Past through the remains of the Great Knight and through the endless amount of trees ahead. Lucas' attack lit up the sheer darkness of the Sealed Forest.
It also removed a chunk of its trees. Not an overly huge amount, but it was still something notable.
Lucas' flames eventually reached their climax. Its size gradually decreased once his body started to give way. Once the fire dissipated, the immense destruction his technique left behind was clear to see. An empty road of dirt and ash resided where innocent trees previously rested. Nothing that touched the divine power that had just been displayed had survived.
This only partially applied to the one that wielded it. Lucas panted heavily as the white aura surrounding him vanished, as did the immense gust of wind. It all disappeared as if nothing happened.
The sole reminder of the incident - other than its destruction - was its perpetrator.
Pained and absolutely strained, Lucas slowly turned around. Edelgard was standing some ways behind him, down on the lowered elevation of ground. She looked up, his exhausted figure blocking the view of the sun.
Not a single word was exchanged. She stood in a mix of amazement and astonishment, her mouth overly agape and her eyes reflecting the fleeting rays of the sun. To her additional surprise, he slowly raised a thumb that pointed upwards.
"I…" Lucas said between breaths. "I did it…"
And then he collapsed.
Author Notes: Oh yeah. That happened. Thought I'd expand upon the whole display of power Byleth showed when he first merged with Sothis during that one cutscene of the game. Of course, I also had to combine it with Lucas' dorkiness to make it just a bit more anime-esque. See if you can spot the three references in his attack names!
Oh, and, uh, I guess we're getting close to the timeskip, huh?
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