Preparations for the Resistance's next attack were underway. Although most were uncertain about the idea of a campaign against an enemy they never heard about, the fact that all three rulers as well as the acting head of the Church fully believed in its necessity was enough to quell any questioning.
As a result, the many soldiers of the Resistance returned to their usual methods of training to prepare for the coming battle. As the Resistance army had grown substantially over the course of the war against Arundel, the various training grounds of the monastery were filled up. Some people had to train within the outskirts of Garreg Mach simply because there wasn't space in the normal training areas.
Fortunately, Lucas managed to find some space in what once was the students' training grounds. He was even able to get himself a straw training dummy, which he quickly took without reservation. With a training sword in hand, he practiced his skills against the dummy for as long as he could.
As he practiced, Lucas unloaded a flurry of quick blows, bits of straw falling to the ground as he did so. He lunged with his blade, performing a swift slash to the right before slamming the Seiros Shield into the dummy. He used the short amount of time his shield bash gave him to execute another lunge, jamming the edge of his blade into the chest of the dummy.
Sensing an opportunity, he slightly retracted his borrowed blade and crouched, pointing the sword toward the floor while holding it beside his leg. After a second, he rose, taking his weapon with him as he spun around, performing a spinning slash attack that left a considerable gash on the straw dummy's body.
Lucas turned back to witness the damage he caused, yet frowned.
"What's wrong?" Byleth asked him.
The black-haired man looked down at his wooden training sword, his frown persisting.
"That felt weird. I always thought the Spin Attack was a decently effective move, but something about that felt…off to me," Lucas replied, getting back to a regular standing position while still staring at the sword. "I can't explain it. It's just weird."
"I think I understand. You're so used to your current fighting style that trying to use these flashy, extraneous moves simply doesn't work."
"What? Fighting style?" Lucas' eyes narrowed. "I have one of those? I've never put much thought into that kind of thing…"
"That's precisely it - you don't put much thought into your fighting. Because of that, you're rather unpredictable. You don't spend too much time thinking about the moves you make before you make them, which means your opponents don't have much time either. You begin attacking them before they can anticipate you. You make them fight at your pace. That's quite an advantage to have in a battle."
"Er, I don't know about all that. I just do whatever kind of attack makes sense to me. I'm not sure if putting little thought into your movements is a good idea or not, especially in a large-scale battle. You need to know where you are and what you're doing so you can coordinate well with your allies."
"You're still alive, aren't you? That should be evidence enough that your fighting style is quite effective. If it wasn't, you would have been killed long ago."
"I mean, I've almost been killed. Multiple times, now that I think about it. I still wouldn't say my fighting style's any good."
Sothis groaned, her sounds of sheer disapproval ringing across Lucas' mind. "Oh, enough!" She glared at him. "Byleth is an experienced warrior, you know this. He has fought in the same war four times and has been trained by the best of Fódlan. He knows what he is saying. You should listen to him."
Lucas, in the void of his mind, raised a finger and opened his mouth to speak but stopped.
"Do you see now?" Sothis' expression softened. "Your unique fighting style is what has allowed you to stay alive for as long as you have. Certainly, my Divine Pulse as well as Seiros' sword and shield have helped you to an extent, but you cannot attribute your victories to mere tools. After all, it's not as if you use these things in every encounter."
Lucas almost said something in response, yet he hesitated once more.
"Thank you, Sothis," said Byleth, smiling at the goddess. He turned back to Lucas. "Don't underestimate yourself, Lucas. You're certainly not weak, even without Divine Pulse and your Sacred Weapons. You've become very strong."
Again choosing not to verbally respond to those that were speaking to him, Lucas merely looked down at his hand in the physical world, the one that was holding onto the hilt of the training sword.
His grip tightened as he furrowed his brows. Sothis and Byleth left him alone.
As Lucas stood there, in a corner of the old student training grounds, the world around him continued as normal. Soldiers walked around behind him, blades clashing, arrows flying, grunts of intense effort rising from the crowd - all while Lucas remained in his distant state. His mind was far away.
But a familiar voice snapped him out of it.
"Lucas?"
His eyes widened, his very soul perking up upon recognizing the voice, which happened in an instant. Lucas looked up and to his side, finding Dorothea standing next to him with a concerned look.
"Are you okay there, Lucas? You look like you're lost in thought. Worried about something?"
"Um, uh…" Lucas paused, blinking rapidly as his prior thoughts slowly disappeared. "I-I'm fine. It's nothing serious. Just, uh, had some revelations about my fighting style, that's all."
"Your fighting style? I'm not sure why you're concerned about that. As long as you're fighting to protect what you care about, does it truly matter how you do that?"
"I…guess not?" Lucas scratched the side of his head. "Uh, anyway, why are you here, Dorothea? Was there something you needed?"
"Yes, actually. There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Go ahead."
Dorothea nodded, giving Lucas a brief smile before her brows furrowed, her visage radiating an aura of concern.
"I heard about our plans for the next battle. We're going to a place called…Shambhala, was it? The home of the Agarthans, I think they're called. Who exactly are they? I heard they're bad people, but do they truly deserve to be eradicated by us?"
"Yes," Lucas replied swiftly, with no hesitation. "They deserve nothing less. They're villains through and through - they need to be stopped."
"I can tell you feel rather strongly about this. I'm guessing you know them?"
Lucas nodded. He looked up to the gray sky above. "Do you remember, five years ago, when I was kidnapped?"
"Yeah…?"
"An Agarthan woman did it. She was under a magical disguise, so, to everyone around her, she looked like a regular person. I was at a low point at that time, very depressed from all the things that happened to me up until then. This Agarthan bitch took advantage of me, tricking me so she could kidnap me and bring me back to her Agarthan friends. She didn't care for me at all…she only helped me feel better so she could then backstab me for the sake of her mission." Lucas glared at the sky. "That's when I knew, for sure, that all Agarthans are trash. They deserve nothing else but total annihilation."
"Oh, wow…" Dorothea covered her agape mouth with her hands for a short moment. "I didn't know it was quite like that. I knew the experience was harrowing for you, but it was an Agarthan that captured you? Are they all like that?"
"I don't know a single one of them that isn't downright evil. Thales is, or was, their leader and he was the one in control of the Empire, having disguised himself as Arundel. He's the reason why the Ashen Wolves are dead, as well as him being the cause of Ferdinand's, uh…his mental state. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one that orchestrated the Tragedy of Duscur…"
"Wait, really? They did all that? And this Thales guy…he was their leader?" Dorothea's frown became charged with anger. "Okay, never mind, then. I guess we should kill them all."
Lucas' gaze landed on Dorothea, his mouth shooting open in surprise. "Wow, I, uh…I didn't expect you to agree so easily."
"I can tell these people would only be a constant threat to our peace. They clearly don't care about us. I'm sure they want us all dead. With all that you've told me, I don't mind making sure they can never do anything like that ever again."
Lucas' surprised visage lingered for a short while longer, gradually morphing into a content smile.
"Yeah, absolutely," he said. "They'll pay for what they've done."
Dorothea nodded. "I'm usually not one for revenge or blatant murder, but I get the feeling that if we leave them alone, they'll only continue to hurt others. The only way we can stop them from doing that is by getting rid of them all. And that's exactly why we're going to Shambhala, right?"
"Right. It'll be a dangerous place, what with all the Viskam and Titanus, but there shouldn't be many more fights left once we're out of there…I hope."
"Yeah, me too."
Dorothea clasped her hands together, her expression becoming sorrowful as her gaze was cast toward the floor. Lucas' brows creased, his smile fading and being replaced with melancholy.
"You know, Lucas, I…" The Dancer hesitated. "I hope you make it through this one."
"Same to you. I don't wanna lose you."
"Yeah. Um, I also-" Dorothea cut herself off again. She sighed. "How about a hug for good luck?"
"Um…" Looking all around himself, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed nobody was looking in their direction. He turned back to Dorothea with a blush. "S-sure."
With a smile, Dorothea shuffled closer to Lucas, who was still wielding his training blade. He promptly put the weapon down on the ground, preparing for the embrace that was to come. Although he was nervously sweating, he found the courage to open up his arms. Dorothea did the same as she approached him.
She wrapped his arms around him, gently pulling him closer. Lucas' arms hung out by his sides - he was uncertain of what exactly to do with them. However, it soon became clear. He followed her example, wrapping his arms around Dorothea's partially exposed back, feeling the full effects of her warmth.
Lucas' nervous disposition slowly faded, his sweat disappearing. Now that he was calm, he was finally able to smile and appreciate what he was experiencing.
And then it hit him.
"I'm hugging Dorothea," he thought, her luscious, brown hair brushing against the side of his head. "This is…"
Byleth and Sothis said nothing, though the latter of the two had a smug grin upon her face. The light-green-haired man glared at the goddess, preventing her from making any sort of remark. She simply slumped back on her throne, observing the events unfold in the physical realm through the lens of Lucas.
The hug was undisturbed, even as those around them continued to train. It was as if the world itself allowed the two to have their moment together.
"Kid?" A gruff voice came from nearby.
Lucas suddenly looked up, his face blanching the moment he saw Jeralt staring back at him.
"Err, ahh, err…" Lucas said quickly, without much thought and while still holding onto Dorothea. "I…"
Dorothea, sporting a confused expression, rotated her head, soon understanding the reason behind Lucas' strange noises.
"Oh," she spoke, blushing. "Well, hello there, Jeralt. What brings you here?"
"I'm here on behalf of Seteth. Seems Rhea wants to speak with Lucas. I don't know why, so don't ask me. I'm just the messenger." Jeralt grunted. "The one time I'm doing work in my office, I get called off to do something else…"
"The archbishop, eh? Hmm…" She glanced at Lucas. "She really likes you, doesn't she?"
Lucas gave her an inquisitive look. "W-what?"
She chuckled. "Never mind. Looks like you've got something to do, so you should probably do it." Dorothea released her arms from around Lucas. "Go on, then. You shouldn't keep the archbishop waiting."
"I, uh-"
"Kid," Jeralt sighed, "relax. I don't care what you were doing. I'd be a damn hypocrite if I said anything about it, which is why I'm not. Now get yourself over to Rhea's quarters already. I don't wanna give Seteth a reason to shout at me. Guy can be seriously furious when he wants to be."
Lucas briefly glanced at Dorothea, his nervous disposition returning. He breathed a calming sigh, which didn't calm him at all, before facing Jeralt with an uncertain expression.
"Um, a-alright."
He gave Dorothea another glance, who only smiled at him. That was all he needed to power through his uncertainty and begin departing from the training grounds, ensuring to properly put away his training sword before leaving.
As Lucas walked away, Jeralt turned around, intending to do the same. Yet, halfway through his turn, he stopped and gave Dorothea a sidelong glance.
"He seems to like you," he commented.
Dorothea raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying?"
"Nothing. Don't mind me. Just an old man rambling about things he's seeing, I suppose." Jeralt put a hand to his head, seemingly attempting to massage it. "Lemme ask you something. If you're willing to answer, that is."
"Depends on what the question is."
"Heh. It's just a quick one, so don't worry. You don't have to answer, I'm only asking to satiate my curiosity. It's not like I'm dying to know."
Jeralt fully turned around, facing the former songstress.
"Do you like him?"
Dorothea paused. Her head tilted to the side, her eyes no longer focusing on the Blade Breaker.
Before she could speak or come to any sort of conclusion, Jeralt raised a hand, halting her mental processes.
"Never mind. I shouldn't have asked." He turned around once more. "Just looking at you told me all I needed to know."
With nothing left to say, Jeralt departed from the training grounds. Dorothea watched him leave with a curious expression, though she soon shrugged and left as well, her business in the training grounds having concluded.
As she walked through the open doorway that led to the rest of the monastery, Jeralt's question weighed on her mind. It stuck with her for the rest of that day.
Lucas went up the stairs leading to the top floor of the central building. He made his way over to the set of closed double doors leading to Rhea's quarters. Raising his hand and balling it into a fist, he was just about ready to knock.
But he hesitated, moments before he made contact with the door.
"What's the matter?" Byleth asked.
"It…it's that feeling again. The same thing I felt back at last week's war council, when Rhea stared at me like that. What is this…?" Lucas lowered his arm. "I feel uneasy, but I also feel warmth? Why am I feeling this way about Rhea, of all people?"
"Perhaps it is something to do with my presence within you. After all, Rhea is my daughter." Sothis frowned. "But then, if that were the case, you would feel some form of familiarity with her. You do not, therefore I am out of ideas."
"It doesn't quite feel like familiarity, no." Lucas shook his head. "I haven't felt like this about her before, not even when I was speaking to her five years ago. Did something change when I fell unconscious, maybe?"
Sothis shrugged. "Who's to say? You may even find an answer to that question today. There is only one way to find out."
Lucas glanced at the door, taking a deep breath.
"Yeah. I know."
Raising his fist once again, Lucas summoned the strength to knock on the door. Seconds later, Rhea's calming natural voice came from the other side.
"You may enter," she said.
Lucas gulped. He nodded, even though nobody else apart from himself and the two inside his mind could see such a motion. Releasing the tension in his fist and reverting it to a regular open palm, he lightly pushed the double doors open.
As they gently glided to the sides, Lucas was met with the familiar sight of Rhea's quarters. It was the same as it ever had been, with the plentiful shelves and desks surrounding the spacious, regal-looking room. Rhea was standing by a bookshelf, reading an old, tattered book. She looked up when the faint creaking sound of the opening doors alerted her to the identity of her visitor.
Her face brightened in an instant when she saw the person standing in the doorway.
"You have finally arrived. I am…overjoyed to see you once more," she spoke with a calm voice, swiftly returning her book to the shelf. "Please, come in. I have been waiting for you."
"Um, sure."
Lucas walked inside the room, closing the doors behind him. Rhea motioned to the small, circular table that was in front of her bed.
"Please, sit. I would very much like to speak with you."
Lucas nodded along, silently accepting Rhea's request. He took a seat on the right side of the table while Rhea took the one opposite to him. As the two sat down, Lucas gazed at the archbishop, who was staring straight into his eyes with an unusually calm demeanor. He partially turned away, choosing instead to focus on a corner of the room while keeping her in his peripheral vision.
Her smile remained.
"So, uh…" Lucas paused, his eyes occasionally fluttering back to Rhea's stare. "What did you want to speak to me about?"
Rhea did not answer immediately. Instead, she continued smiling, merely breathing a sigh of relief before speaking.
"It has been so long…we may now speak with one another, just as we did in the past."
Lucas blinked and slightly raised an eyebrow. "Um, yeah, that's true. I-I guess. We haven't spoken since before the war."
"Yes…" Rhea briefly closed her eyes, her head tilting up towards the ceiling for the same amount of time. "I have missed that divine presence, that so very familiar presence of yours. It makes me feel warm inside…"
"Er, thanks? I've, uh, missed you too. You were always a nice person to speak to."
"As were you. Our talks from long ago were the one thing I would always look forward to. After your passing, I…" Rhea clasped her hands together, casting her head down toward said hands.
Lucas' eyes widened. He was about to say something, yet Rhea continued.
"I struggled to find peace with myself. I was wrought with anguish and I found difficulty in persevering on my own. My memories of our time together were the only thing keeping me going…it was the source of my strength."
"I, uh, wow. I didn't know it was quite like that. I'm…sorry?"
Rhea's smile returned as he raised her head back to a normal level. "You need not apologize. I do not, and will never, blame you. The fault lies with those who took you away from me…those wicked ones."
She scowled, her gaze turning away from the person on the other side of the desk and to something not there.
"I shall eradicate them all. Every last one of them shall perish under the flames of my wrath! They dared to take your life, so I will be the one to take theirs! Punishment will come. I will make them feel your pain…" She stared at Lucas with a softer, yet still angered expression. "I swear it."
Lucas, who still had a raised brow, nodded. "You're talking about the Agarthans, right? In that case, yeah. We're just about to storm their headquarters. They won't get away with what they've done. Their days are numbered."
Rhea's visage completely softened, returning to its earlier state. "I am so pleased to hear you say that. Such words, from you…that is what gives me power. I hope you understand what it was like for me to live without you."
"Uh, right. I understand. Must've been terrible being in captivity for five whole years. I didn't think you liked me that much, though."
Rhea's brows furrowed. "It seems time has dulled your memory somewhat. It is a shame you do not quite remember as we all shared our affection rather frequently. Some were more reserved, but it is a fact that we all loved you."
Lucas blushed, initially speechless.
"Ah, I, well…" He scratched his cheek. "Thank you, I-I guess. Was, uh, that all you wanted to speak to me about?"
Rhea nodded, her expression gaining sorrow. "That will be all. It…has been fortunate to speak with you again."
"Yeah, same here. I'll see you another time. Thanks for the talk."
Lucas, doing his best to ignore Rhea, rose from his seat and proceeded toward the door. He was about to pull them open, yet he stopped when he heard Rhea speak.
"Wait," she said, reaching out for Lucas with her arm. "I…I need you to promise me something."
"What's that?" Lucas asked, his head partially rotated in her direction.
Rhea cast her head toward the floor momentarily before refocusing her gaze on the individual she was seeing. "Please, return to me…"
She paused.
"Mother."
Lucas gasped, his eyes greatly widening.
"Mother?!" Sothis exclaimed in Lucas' mind. "Does she…no, she truly cannot be this foolish, can she? No child of mine can possibly be so delusional…it cannot be!"
"What? What's going on?" Byleth wondered. "I don't follow."
Sothis glanced at Byleth, who was standing by her throne. "It may very well be that my daughter, Seiros…is the greatest fool Fódlan has ever known."
"I still don't understand."
"I shall explain it to you as we walk." Sothis waved it off. She turned ahead, facing away from the throne. "Go, Lucas. Leave this place…lest you become the target of further, unwarranted affection from my daughter - who seems to believe that you are me."
Byleth's eyes expanded, much in the same way as Lucas'. "What?!"
Lucas nodded and proceeded to leave Rhea's quarters. The archbishop remained where she was, watching Lucas depart with a lingering sorrow upon her expression.
The Resistance army began their march to Shambhala at the end of the first week of the Verdant Rain Moon. All preparations had been made and everyone felt they were ready for what they hoped would be the final battle. With the exact location of the underground city having been discerned by Seteth's scouts, the last obstacle to the final battle was no more..
Departing from the east, the Resistance marched through the Alliance once more to the Great Bridge of Myrddin, this time crossing it without opposition. Entering Imperial territory, the army made a sharp turn to the east, passing over a smaller, much less significant bridge closer to the coast.
House Hrym's seat was close, but that was not their destination. They ignored the town, instead marching to a hidden mountain path. Thanks to the work done by the scouting team, the Resistance knew precisely where the stone path was located and began making use of it.
Before long, the army found a small ruin about halfway up the mountain. Faint, gray-beige stones were embedded into the ground, creating a path that led toward an average, unassuming stone door that was in the middle of the mountainside itself.
Seteth, who was at the head of the column, approached the door and attempted to open it through any means he could think of, yet nothing worked. Tapping, knocking, pushing, attacking - the door would not budge. Progress was halted for the Resistance as its leaders tried to work out a method to get it open. The Resistance's various soldiers all took a break, sitting themselves down on the path they'd been walking on, which had ended at the short, stone path to the door.
Lysithea chose not to do so. Instead, she glared at the door from a distance. After a second, she winced, her hand moving to her chest.
"Hmm…you appear to be having some kind of reaction to this place. How intriguing," commented Linhardt, who was standing right behind her. "Are you in any pain?"
"I don't know if you're asking that because you genuinely care or if you're asking for the sake of your curiosity." Lysithea sighed. "Either way, I'm fine. I just feel…strange, I guess you could say."
"I wonder why that is. Perhaps you should remain outside if being near this place is what's causing your sudden reaction. It wouldn't be very good if you collapsed in the middle of the enemy's headquarters."
"I'll be fine. I personally want to ensure the deaths of all those who put me through those horrible experiments. If only so others don't have to feel the same thing I did."
Linhardt put a hand on his chin, tilting his head to the side. "So it was the Agarthans that did this to you…" He frowned. "While I must commend their ingenuity, I cannot abide by their inhumane experiments. There is a line that all researchers must not cross - they have far exceeded it."
"Yeah." Lysithea nodded. "But first, we need to get inside. And it doesn't look like we're getting any closer to that happening. There's gotta be something we can do…"
Linhardt silently glanced at Lysithea, who was still clutching her chest, as well as the stone door that Seteth and some other soldiers were surrounding. His eyes narrowed.
"Obviously, all locked doors require a key." He turned to Lysithea. "I wonder if you are the key we need."
"Huh? Why me?" Lysithea turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's my firm belief that doors are locked solely to keep out those that do not belong in whatever room or building that is being locked. I don't think the Agarthans particularly want us to destroy them and their home, so it would make sense that they would keep us out and only allow themselves in. As such, it may very well be that this door is designed to only allow Agarthans inside."
"Are you saying that I'm an Agarthan? That's foolish."
"I agree, that would be foolish. Fortunately, it's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that since you were experimented on by the Agarthans, you may have some trace of their presence within you. It may be enough to open the door."
"That…" Lysithea's gaze swapped over to the door. "Might work. Huh. Good thinking, Linhardt. I'll give it a try."
"Oh please, thinking is one of the only things I'm good at. It would be abhorrent if I couldn't do even that."
"Aren't you also really good at sleeping? That's your whole thing, isn't it?"
"That's my other talent." Linhardt grinned. "I'm quite good at that one."
Lysithea chuckled.
"Yeah, that's certainly true. Anyway, I've got a door to open. Time to become a key…"
Determined to allow the Resistance to make progress, Lysithea approached Seteth and the soldiers, walking past them and closing in on the impenetrable stone door. There were several, small cracks within its makeup, evidently from the soldiers' failed attempts to get it open.
Lysithea ignored any remarks she was beginning to think of and stopped before the door. She waved her hand in front of it, pulsing dark magic from her hands. The door briefly glowed in a similar black and purple aura as her mana and began to shake.
Seconds later, the door opened, retracting into the ground. Seteth and the soldiers were taken aback while Lysithea stared into the ensuing dark passageway with simple amazement.
"Huh, so Linhardt was right…" She glanced at the soldiers behind her, who were all speechless - including Seteth. "I can explain later. For now, I believe we've got some evil cultists to exterminate."
"Yes, you are very much correct." Seteth looked behind him, waving at the rest of the army, notifying them that progress had been made. "Everyone! We are about to enter enemy territory. The Agarthans are heartless schemers, so be careful of any fatal tricks or traps they may have lying in wait. We know mostly what to expect, but we do not know everything. Either way, we must all remain cautious."
The Resistance's soldiers formed up in front of Seteth, around the small plateau that was around the now-opened, ruinous door. They largely all nodded.
Seteth turned around, facing the darkness within. He unsheathed the Spear of Assal.
"We must eradicate every last one of them, but we must also do this quickly, lest we all perish to the might of their javelins of light. Keep in mind that we are doing this for the sake of Fódlan. We shall not know true peace until the Agarthans are no more…"
He pointed his spear toward the darkness.
"Follow me! Let us fight for Fódlan, for all those that have passed due to the intervention of the Agarthans! They shall pay for their continued sins…today!"
Cheers arose from the army, increasing their morale. Seteth led the charge as the Resistance stormed the city without light, the home of the Agarthans - Shambhala.
Immediately after entering through the door Lysithea opened, the Resistance found themselves in quite the extensive stairway. A massively tall, yet narrow spiral staircase had been behind the door, forcing the Resistance to proceed in a single-file manner. A line formed in the plateau, where all the soldiers that weren't at the front of the line were waiting to get inside.
The staircase was cloaked in shadows. Not a single torch could be seen, thus the Resistance had to feel rather than see. Although, it wasn't entirely pitch-black, as turquoise lines were running through the ground and walls, providing some semblance of light - even if it wasn't much.
Rhea was toward the back of the line. She remained calm the entire time, her expression giving no indication of any strong feelings. Lucas was by her side, though not of his own volition. The archbishop requested that the person she believed to be her mother would always be with her, thus Lucas was stuck guarding her. Dorothea was there as well, in front of Lucas. She kept an eye on him, although she frowned whenever Rhea looked at him with that overly warm smile of hers.
Catherine, who was behind Rhea, gave Dorothea a scornful expression whenever she caught a vague glimpse of the former songstress' frown. Shamir always helped to get Thunderbrand's wielder's mind off the situation, yet it very clearly lingered with her.
Regardless, the Resistance pressed on, making their way down the tall spiral staircase. It eventually stopped, coming to a small, circular landing that led out into a wide, dark hallway that was filled with those unusual, cyan lines. They were the only thing guiding them, as the walls were practically invisible with all the darkness.
As the Resistance proceeded through the shadows of Shambhala, they came across various other corridors and split paths they could take. Since nobody knew the precise layout of the underground dwelling, Seteth ordered everyone to stick together until they found exactly where the Agarthans were hiding.
After some more time was spent searching, the Resistance arrived at a massively expansive room, one that had a large wall surrounding the middle with medium-sized corridors surrounding said wall. From the side of the room the Resistance was at, they could see a sizable entryway into the middle area, which seemed a little bit brighter than everywhere else as the dark gray walls over there were visible.
Two different groups of Agarthans approached, one from the left end of the corridor the Resistance was in and the other straight ahead. They prepared themselves.
"Steel yourselves, everyone! We must eradicate these inhuman monsters and bring peace to Fódlan!" Seteth declared to the army. "Do not falter, and let us succeed! Forward, now!"
Another eruption of cheers later and the battle began.
The Resistance's soldiers charged ahead, splitting up into two so they could engage both enemy groups at the same time. Primarily, the group on the left consisted of Warlocks as well as a few Gremories, while the northward one had a lot of Swordmasters in it. The Resistance's mages led the charge against the opposing spellcasters, using their natural magical resistances to stave off any spell-related damage they'd receive.
On the other hand, several of the Resistance's Snipers fired their arrows in the direction of the Agarthan Swordmasters, pelting them with everything they had before the enemies could even get close. This allowed the melee users to finish the job, namely Dimitri and Edelgard, who cut through the weakened opposition using their Relics without any issue.
Similarly, the plan to attack the Warlocks and Gremories worked out rather well. Linhardt, Marianne, as well as some other Bishops, successfully powered through the incoming offense, allowing people like Lysithea and Annette to fire off meaningful counterattacks. With a further peppering of arrows, the Agarthan Warlocks and Gremories were soon no more.
But Shambhala was not without its own defenses. The Resistance found themselves occasionally zapped by some unknown, thunderous magic. It was the work of the Viskam, the Agarthans' magical turrets. The Resistance knew they had to proceed quickly, lest they all fell to the enemy.
It was then decided that the Resistance would officially split up for the sake of speed. Everyone knew they only had a limited amount of time before those javelins would appear - as per Lucas' prediction. Because of this, the two groups barrelled down their respective hallways, one half going toward the left while the other traveled north.
Claude and Seteth led the eastward advance. There was only a small stretch of dark hallway left until they arrived at the opening in the wall they spotted earlier. As soon as they got to it, however, they were assaulted by several Agarthan Swordmasters, Snipers, and Paladins. It was quite the considerably sized formation, so a majority of Claude and Seteth's squad went to take care of them all.
All while Lucas, Dorothea, Catherine, Shamir, as well as some lower-ranked knights, closely guarded Archbishop Rhea.
The northward squadron, led by Dimitri, Edelgard, and Jeralt, had their own problems to deal with. There didn't seem to be an entryway into the inner chambers of the room on the side they were on, which meant they had to wade their way through more swaths of enemies before they could make significant progress. They soon found themselves locked in battle with several Agarthan Grapplers, along with some additional Swordmasters, Snipers, Warriors, and Paladins that later joined in on the skirmish.
While some of the lower-ranking soldiers had fallen in both groups, the Resistance hadn't lost much overall. They kept on fighting, undeterred by the sheer hatred that each Agarthan was throwing into their attacks. The surface dwellers' desire for victory was far stronger than that.
After Claude and Seteth's group felled their foes, they pushed on into the inner chambers, soon encountering a Titanus, one that was backed up by various Agarthan Warriors. Fortunately, most of the Resistance had already faced some Titanus before, therefore they didn't need to spend time figuring out how to deal with them. Those that hadn't fought a Titanus unit before, such as Seteth and those that weren't there during the battle to retake Fhirdiad, followed Claude's lead.
Group formations and combined attacks were key to inflicting serious damage against the Titanus. One person on their own wasn't enough to even put a considerable dent in the Titanus' mechanical armor, yet a group effort was more than enough to take them down.
The Titanus collapsed under the power of Claude and Seteth's team. Following their victory, they were able to move on, progressing into a large, open chamber with two square pillars rising into the distant ceiling.
Toward the back of the open room was a large structure of sorts, almost looking like an ancient temple of sorts, modified by the Agarthans' unusual technology. Two Viskam turrets were positioned at the front of the structure. Although the Resistance knew they wouldn't be likely to destroy them, they knew there was an easier method of getting them offline.
Finding the exact Agarthan in control of them would be quite the task. Yet, they were more than willing to do so.- all for the sake of protecting their allies.
With the other half of the Resistance, they had progressed safely to the northern corner they were approaching. Turning to their left, they found another staircase that led down into the central chamber. A Titanus unit was waiting there for them, as were Agarthan Bishops, Snipers, and Swordmasters. Edelgard and Dimitri charged in, engaging their new foes with their allies right behind them.
The Titanus didn't last much longer. It was brought down with the combined efforts of all the people within Edelgard and Dimitri's half of the army. The Agarthan infantry didn't fare much better, even though the Resistance was only a little bit tired after taking down the Titanus unit. Some of the lower-ranking soldiers did fall to such an attack, yet everyone else was able to proceed.
The Resistance was nowhere near finished. Once the Titanus had fallen, Edelgard and Dimitri's squad took care of the remaining Agarthan soldiers in the nearby area. When they finished doing that, they headed south, approaching the same central chamber the other half of the Resistance's army was in.
As a result, everyone was closing in on the structure in the middle of the chamber. Though, there were still some stragglers to deal with. A horde of Agarthan soldiers that had yet to fall. There were also the Viskam turrets, which were actively taking potshots at the Resistance, even killing a handful of their soldiers. The one controlling the Viskams had not been discovered, meaning the Resistance was forced to weather such a distant, magical assault the best they could.
The Resistance was scattered within the central chamber, different groups fighting their own battles against the different Agarthan garrisons. Due to the numbers advantage they had, some of the Resistance's forces were able to splinter off and search around the area in smaller, detached groups.
Lysithea, Linhardt, Ignatz, Leonie, as well as some lower-ranking soldiers, approached a closed-off room in the corner of the chamber. On the floor was a red triangle pointing toward a locked door. Lysithea and Linhardt narrowed their eyes as they scrutinized what they were seeing.
"It doesn't seem like we can get in there," said Ignatz, keeping his Silver Bow by his side. "Maybe we shouldn't have wandered off."
"Are you kidding, Ignatz?" Leonie turned to her former classmate, placing her free hand on her hip. "Just look at the design of this thing. There's no way there's nothing inside. We can't just not take a look!"
"But what if it's dangerous? It might explode as soon as we get in!"
"Oh, I'm sure it's fine. I doubt these Agarthans would wanna destroy their own home. There's no way they'd do that."
Ignatz stared at Leonie with a blank expression, merely blinking at her. Leonie paused, slowly coming to a realization.
"Uh, yeah, never mind what I said." Leonie shook her head. "I forgot about that part of our plan." She glanced at Lysithea and Linhardt, who were still closely scrutinizing the door. "Hey, you two! Do you sense any…explosive magic-y stuff?"
Linhardt yawned. "No…it just seems like an ordinary locked door. Well, as ordinary as things get around here. Which isn't very ordinary at all, especially compared to the rest of Fódlan. So, I guess this is a fairly average door by Agarthan standards."
"Does that mean it's safe?" Ignatz asked.
"The door itself is fine. As for what is inside…" Linhardt paused, momentarily glancing back at the door. "I do not know. It's as if they have some kind of barrier preventing anybody from detecting any sources of magic coming from within. Rather perplexing."
"Then let's get it open!" Leonie grinned. "If there's danger, we'll just run. But considering the size of this, uh, building, or whatever it is - it can't be that bad. Right?"
Linhardt sighed. "I would hope not." He looked beside himself, finding that Lysithea was continuing to stare at the door.
Yet her expression indicated there was something else to it. Linhardt frowned in concern.
"Found something?"
Lysithea hummed an initial response. "I sense…something. I don't know what it is, but it feels…familiar, somehow." Her expression faltered slightly. "I'll admit, it's terrifying me a little."
"Hmm, how strange." Linhardt put a hand to his chin. "I suppose you'll only find out what that feeling is once we get inside. Maybe the door activates in much the same way as the one outside…"
"You might be right. Let's see."
Approaching the door, Lysithea stretched out her hand, pulsing dark magic around her palm in the same way as before. Leonie, Ignatz, Linhardt, and the rest of the soldiers, prepared for something to happen. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing a rather well-lit room.
Several Agarthans were waiting for them inside. A garrison of Grapplers came barrelling toward Lysithea. Her eyes widened.
"Uh-oh. I think I might be in trouble."
But then she grinned, purple mana flowing around her hands.
"Just kidding," she said with a smirk. "You're the ones that are in trouble!"
She cast a spell, causing several dark spikes to appear in the air above the Agarthan Grapplers. The spikes came quickly crashing down into the small group of enemies and promptly exploded, causing them to be blown away from one another, separating into different areas of the room.
Linhardt, Leonie, Ignatz, and the other soldiers, charged in, ready to finish off the job Lysithea had started.
A fight broke out within the confined chamber. Steel clashed with steel all around, with soldiers on both sides dropping to the floor once their lives expired. Leonie and Ignatz led the offensive against the Agarthans stationed within the room while Linhardt and Lysithea were right behind them, providing additional ranged support with the use of their spells. The numbers advantage came back into play, as the Agarthan garrison was rather small in comparison to the squad of Resistance soldiers.
Lysithea was blowing away and ending the lives of any Agarthan that got too close to her or her friends. Thyrsus in hand, this was merely a simple task.
However, it became complicated once her gaze landed upon a certain Agarthan Warlock whose gray, veiny visage was covered by a black mask with a pointed nose section. She narrowed her gaze at him and approached.
"You…" She said to him. "You're the source of that familiarity I was feeling. Who are you? Have I met you before?" Her expression was replaced with an icy glare. Dark mana pulsed in her right palm as she pointed it at the Agarthan. "Answer me. Now."
The Agarthan chuckled, much to her confusion.
"What's so funny?!"
"Oh, child. You think you're in a position of power. Yet you don't realize…" The Agarthan grinned. "You'll die - no matter what."
"We know about your plans! You're going to try and destroy this place with your javelins of light, aren't you? You want to kill us all in the ensuing explosions! That's not going to work!"
The Agarthan's expression was unreadable because of the mask, though it was clear his prior confidence had faded. "What? How did you…hmm, perhaps Myson was right. You beasts aren't to be underestimated."
"Of course we aren't! Now, tell me, who are you? Why do I feel as if I recognize you? Answer me, or else you'll really begin to see why underestimating us was a bad idea!"
"Hmph. Impudent worm. I'll answer your request…if only to satiate my curiosity."
The Agarthan looked up, two white lights contrasting the darkness beneath his mask. He grinned.
His grin turned into a cackle, which only served to irritate Lysithea further. She fired a Miasma at the Agarthan, one that was easily blocked with a magical barrier.
"Why are you laughing?! Your life is being threatened! This isn't the time for laughter!"
"Ha…I beg to differ. You…yes, you. I know you, child." The Agarthan lowered his gaze. "You are the child of House Ordelia, are you not?"
"Yes, I am. What does that have to do with you?"
"Everything, child." The Agarthan harshly laughed to himself. "Long ago, following House Ordelia's misguided attempts at supporting House Hrym in their pathetic rebellion, the Empire replaced many of Ordelia's officials with ones of their own. Many of them were of the ordinary sort, but others were, in truth, Agarthans."
The Agarthan took off his mask, revealing his grin in full.
"I was one of them. I was in command of our group, instructed by Master Thales himself to infiltrate the ranks of the Empire's officials and take advantage of the situation to test our theories." He chuckled. "It seems our experiments were a success indeed."
Lysithea's mouth flew open, a gasp escaping from her.
"That means-"
"Yes," the Agarthan interrupted. "My name is Odesse. I am the reason why you possess such grand power. Why your hair lost its pigment and why your life has been cut short. I will admit, that was an unfortunate side effect, but I am still pleased to witness the effectiveness of my theory. Two Crests can truly enhance a living creature's capabilities…"
Lysithea froze, her eyes and mouth agape as her gaze cast itself to the floor. She said nothing in response, using the time to process what she had just learned.
"So you're the reason behind it all…why I'm like this."
"Indeed!" Odesse exclaimed, cackling once more. "Is it not beautiful? The power of Agarthan technology…it's quite staggering, wouldn't you say? Truly, it's something to behold. There is no limit to the power we may achieve, the discoveries we may find - we are without equal. Wouldn't you agree, child of House Ordelia?"
Lysithea frowned. She raised her head, giving Odesse an intense stare of vicious intent.
"You think that's beautiful?! What kind of nonsense is that?!" She yelled. "I've been suffering for so long, because of what you did, and you have the nerve to tell me about how great you are?! My life has been cut short by you! I was put through all kinds of pain, both emotionally AND physically - you don't even seem to care! It's almost like you don't even value life itself!"
"I value life. Just not those of the surface dwellers. They're insignificant, after all. Why should I care for those beneath me?" Odesse wondered, unfazed.
"You inhumane monster…!" Lysithea breathed a sigh, the tension built up in her body releasing. "Fine. If that's how you feel, then I'll give you a reason to care."
Spreading out her palm as wide as it could go, she pointed it in Odesse's direction. Intense amounts of dark, magical energy flowed around her hand, engulfing even her fingers in its darkness.
"I'll make you feel the same pain you inflicted onto me all those years ago…!"
"No, you won't." Odesse shook his head, sighing. "I was hoping to remain for longer, but as it appears…" He looked around the room, seeing the majority of his brethren cornered within the room. "It's about time for me to leave."
"W-wait, what?"
Odesse sniggered.
"Goodbye, child. And goodbye to you too, Myson…"
In an instant, Odesse disappeared in a flash of purple light, teleporting far away from the shadowy confines of Shambhala. Lysithea frowned, her anger fading as her attack ceased.
Only her frown remained.
"That annoying, vexing…"
"Bastard?" Linhardt suggested, his voice suddenly appearing in her ears.
Lysithea turned to her side, finding Linhardt standing just a little ways behind her. Her frown disappeared.
"While I normally wouldn't use such crass language, it perfectly describes the kind of being that Agarthan was." Lysithea folded her arms, gazing into the sea of Agarthan corpses surrounding her. "How dare he get away like that!"
"The fact that he escaped only means you may get a chance to see him again. When that day comes…." Linhardt smiled. "Well, it's up to you what happens."
"Assuming I'm even able to live that long. Who knows how much longer it's gonna be until you and Professor Hanneman are done?"
"Good question. If I had an answer, I would most certainly tell you. However, research is like life itself. There are many mysteries left to uncover."
Lysithea sighed, her visage gaining a hint of sorrow. "Please don't take too long."
"I'll try not to." Linhardt nodded. "Now, let us take a break." He yawned. "I think we could both use one…"
"Heh, alright. I won't complain."
Taking an opportunity, Lysithea and Linhardt sat down against the wall of the chamber, taking a momentary break to catch their breaths and heal their wounds. Leonie, Ignatz, and the remaining soldiers in their group, all followed suit.
Despite the sudden departure of Odesse as well as the irritation it brought, Lysithea was able to find a temporary respite beside Linhardt. She chose to bask in the moment of peace she had, forgetting all about Odesse and the rest of the battle. For now, anyway.
The rest of the battle was going smoothly for the Resistance. After Odesse's departure, the Viskam deactivated, thus they were no longer peppering the Resistance with their long-range magical attacks. Because of this, they could focus solely on the fight ahead.
There wasn't much left to do, anyway. Only a few survivors remained - taking care of them was simple. Once the central chamber was cleared of enemies, it was time to approach the large, otherworldly building in the middle of it all. A narrow set of stairs led up to what appeared to be a locked door, but as the Resistance got close to it, it opened up, revealing a spacious room inside.
Only a few Agarthans were on guard within the room. Several Warriors, Warlocks, and Dark Bishops were scattered in their positioning, whereas a small squadron of Swordmasters protected a particular Agarthan that was standing in front of a throne.
"Damned worms…! Not even the Titanus slowed them?!" Myson exclaimed, his angered, yet fearful expression hidden by his veil. "My fellow Agarthans! This is our final stand! May we defeat these foolish beasts! They shall feel the wrath of Agartha itself!"
The Agarthans in the room cheered in response to their commander's words. Claude smirked.
"Well, they've certainly still got their spirit. It's admirable, honestly. Even though they're facing down an entire army, they're willing to give it all they've got," he commented, fitting an arrow into Failnaught's bowstring.
"I suppose it's do or die for them, huh?" Hilda sighed, twirling around Freikugel in her grasp.
"No kidding. Anyway…" Claude aimed Failnaught at a random Agarthan. "How about we help them make that decision? Come on, my friends! Let's end this battle - for good!"
The Resistance soldiers around him cheered, much in the same way as the Agarthans did moments prior. With their respective spirits emboldened, the two sides rushed at each other, engaging in what they all knew would be Shambhala's final battle - regardless of who would become the victor.
Because of the Resistance's numbers advantage, as well as the limited space within the final room, some of the humans had to remain outside, lest the room became too crowded. This was a perfect opportunity to allow Archbishop Rhea to stay out of the fighting, a notion the Knights of Seiros were more than happy to follow.
As such, Lucas, Dorothea, Catherine, and Shamir, waited outside while they guarded Lady Rhea. From where they were in the middle of the central chamber, they could hear the sounds of steel and silver clashing with one another, spells being flung around and colliding with various targets, causing all sorts of magical explosions to occur. They could even hear intense cries of agony, likely from those that were killed as a result of the fighting within.
Lucas had a furrowed brow.
"It's only a matter of time before we need to escape," he said. "I just hope those last few Agarthans don't try to pull anything…"
"We've backed them into a corner. I don't see them being able to get out of this alive," remarked Dorothea.
"That's true, but you know how these, uh…'people' are. They're slippery. Slithery, even."
"Are you saying we're all gonna die?" Catherine wondered, frowning scornfully at Lucas.
"What? No, no. I'd n-never say that. I'm just saying that I'm worried about any secret weapon they might bring out of nowhere. I hadn't expected Thales to use the Rite of Rising, so who knows what these last few Agarthans might try to do…" Lucas replied, doing his best to not look Catherine in her hateful eyes.
The female Swordmaster grunted. "You're pissing me off, you know that?"
"I, uh…I'm sorry?" Lucas gained a hint of regret in his expression.
"You better be. I'm sick and damn tired of your attitude. Always thinking you're so special…you're nowhere near as strong as I am."
Lucas paused, his brows creasing closer together as his head cast itself to the floor. He sighed, sorrow taking over him. Dorothea saw this change in his demeanor and frowned, turning around to glare at Catherine.
"What's your problem, Catherine?" The former songstress asked in an accusatory manner. "I've seen you glaring at him for the entire battle. Did he do something to you? If anything, you're the one pissing me off."
"Oh, shut up. Leave me alone. I'm allowed to have my own opinions. What are you, his bodyguard?" Catherine turned her hateful stare in Dorothea's direction. "I just don't like him, that's all. No need to get on my case about this."
"There is a need. When you purposefully go out of your way to make him upset because of some pettydislike you have of him - that's when there's a need. Especially when we're in the middle of a battle. You can't just start fighting your allies like that."
"You're pissing me off as well, now. Excellent work. I now have another person to hate…"
Dorothea was taken aback. "You…you're insufferable! I can't believe the Knights of Seiros has someone like you in their ranks."
"What'd you say….?" Catherine tightened her grip on Thunderbrand's hilt. "I ought to show you some respect, girl. I have my position for a reason."
"Could've fooled me. Besides, you don't want to fight me. I'm much stronger than I look."
"We'll see about that!" Catherine yelled, pointing her Relic in Dorothea's direction.
She was about to start dashing ahead so she could start a fight, but Shamir put out her hand, stopping the sword-wielder from doing anything.
"Enough. Don't antagonize your allies," Shamir calmly said to her partner. "You have thicker skin than that. I know you do."
"But, she…"
Catherine stared at Shamir, her rage slowly subsiding. She glared at Dorothea and Lucas for a moment before huffing and turning away.
"Whatever." Catherine shrugged. "If I killed them, there'd be less people watching out for Lady Rhea. I guess I can leave them alone."
"Good. There are other, more important things to focus your anger on. Don't forget that." Shamir glanced at Dorothea and Lucas. "Sorry for her behavior. She's just worried about Lady Rhea."
"Hmph." Dorothea folded her arms, turning around to avoid looking in Catherine's direction. "She's not the only one worried about something."
Shamir nodded. "That's true." She sighed. "Very true." She gave Catherine a sidelong glance, yet resumed talking to Dorothea. "I'll keep an eye out for her. Seems like I'm the only one capable of doing that."
"Please do, Shamir."
"I will."
Shamir went to approach Catherine but stopped before doing so. She turned around, facing Dorothea one more time.
"We do sound alike, don't we…?" The Dagdan woman quietly said to herself.
"Huh? What was that?" Dorothea asked.
Shamir shook her head, faintly blushing. "Nothing. Don't worry about it. I'll leave you alone now."
The conversation drew to a close, leaving Shamir with nothing left to do aside from approaching Catherine and remaining by her side, which is what she proceeded to do. Meanwhile, Dorothea's angered expression faded, replacing itself entirely with concern as her gaze landed on Lucas once again.
"Ignore her. She's just being mean for no reason," Dorothea advised, ensuring to speak quietly as to not allow the knight in question to hear. "Are you okay?"
"I'm…" Lucas sighed, stroking the face of the Seiros Shield. "I'm fine. Just need to keep myself focused on the fight."
"I suppose that's one way to go about ignoring her, heh." Dorothea giggled. "As long as you're okay. I hate seeing you all upset. It's not a good look for you."
"...What is a good look for me?"
"Now that's an easy question. I'll answer it later, though. Like you said, we gotta keep ourselves focused on the fight…"
Dorothea gazed over to the Agarthan structure the sounds and stench of fighting were coming from.
"I wonder how they're all doing in there?"
Inside the room, the fighting was slowly coming to an end. Agarthan bodies lined the floor, countless streaks of crimson covered the blue lines of energy running through the place, while only a small handful of Agarthans remained.
Seteth closed in on Myson, the one Agarthan that seemed to be commanding the others. The Swordmasters that were near him had all either died, or were dragged into the fighting elsewhere in the room.
The two locked eyes, staring sharp daggers at one another.
"Nabatean filth! You and the rest of your kind shall die!" Myson exclaimed, dark mana engulfing his hands.
"I think not. You will find that it is your kind that will die today. For the sake of all my brethren you have so selfishly slaughtered…I will put an end to your sins!" Seteth twirled around his Spear of Assal from atop his wyvern. "It's time for this long-standing adversity to cease, once and for all!"
"So be it! Have at you, worm!"
Myson fired a pair of Miasmas, aiming them directly at Seteth. However, he deftly avoided them, side-stepping the spells in mid-air thanks to his trusted wyvern. Since he was at range, Seteth figured the best option would be to take advantage of that fact, thus he pulled out a Short Spear and threw it at Myson with all his might.
Unfortunately, the Agarthan was in the middle of charging another spell, so he had to make a choice. To preserve his well-being, he chose to dodge, which caused his concentration to wane, therefore losing the charge he'd built up. Seteth used this time to dive in with his Spear of Assal and attempt a lunging stab, propelled by the momentum of his steed's flight. Myson wasn't able to avoid it in time and was struck in the side, the Sacred Weapon poking through his dark, Warlock robes and piercing his gray skin.
Although it seemed as if Myson was at a disadvantage, he grinned. Seteth was close-in and he had to spend some time pulling out his lance, which meant Myson had a perfect opportunity for a counterattack. Initiating a cast of Dark Spikes T, several black and purple spikes of mana appeared around Seteth, slamming into him with a considerable explosion. Seteth pulled away from the explosion as it faded, his armor slightly burnt and his face bruised as well as slightly bloodied.
Seteth briefly nursed his injured face while Myson did the same with his stab wound. Seconds later, the two began fighting again.
Their fight raged on, with Seteth having to avoid as many of Myson's spells as he could. Fortunately, the stab wound he inflicted on the Agarthan earlier seemed to slow him down, which made avoiding the spells much easier. This allowed Seteth to swoop in and unleash multiple stabs and lunges upon his opponent, thus causing Myson to slow down as his injuries became just too much for him.
After a while, Seteth found the perfect opening. With his wyvern, he zoomed in, deftly evading each magical projectile that came his way. He reeled his arm back just as he was approaching Myson, then pushed forward with every bit of strength he had.
The Spear of Assal pierced directly through Myson's chest and came out the other side. Myson clutched his chest, releasing any kind of charge or tension built up within his body. Seteth sensed this weakness and pulled his Sacred Weapon back, allowing Myson to double over, curling upon the dark floor.
"It is over," Seteth said with a stern, yet faintly aggressive tone. He pointed the Spear of Assal at Myson's skull. "It all ends…now. Have you anything to say for yourself, Agarthan?"
Myson spat blood onto the ground. "F-filth…you are filth! Filth! Y-you are nothing more than the dirt beneath my feet…!"
"Hmph. Incidentally, it seems you are the one beneath me. I suppose I cannot expect logic from a mere walking corpse."
"Y-you monster…! Your kind ruined us, condemned us to this eternal darkness! Now, you wish to finish what you started?!"
Seteth blinked, unfazed. "Yes. Is that all? Oh, by the way, just so you know…"
The lance edged closer to Myson's face.
"What has happened to you and your kind?" Seteth glared at Myson. "This is your fault."
"N-no!"
Seteth lunged, reaching straight for Myson's head. He pushed forward, intending to kill the Agarthan.
But he disappeared in a flash of purple light, teleporting away from Seteth's murderous intent. Confused, Seteth stared at the bloodied tip of his lance and sighed.
"It seems I will not be getting my revenge…"
He closed his eyes but only for a short while. Once he was ready, he reopened his eyes, turning back to his allies within the room, noting that all the Agarthans had finally been killed.
"Everyone!" He called. "It is time for us to make a swift evacuation! Before long, javelins of light will rain down upon this place. The Agarthans mean to entrap us within and destroy us with the final remains of their destructive power! As such, we must escape before that can ever happen!"
He pointed toward the exit of the room with his Sacred Weapon.
"Let us go, now, or else we shall never see the light of day ever again!"
The Resistance made their agreement with Seteth's orders loud and clear. Promptly, they all began regrouping with their slightly scattered allies, intending to depart from Shambhala before its fated destruction.
They left the way they came and never looked back.
Further into the darkened depths of Shambhala, Myson reappeared, fresh from escaping death by Seteth's hands. He had teleported to a large chamber, one that had a strange symbol carved into the floor directly beneath his feet.
Before he could bleed out any further, Myson reached down to the symbol and began to pulse his mana into it. The symbol rose to life, bright purple light radiating from the carving, which activated a hidden mechanism.
Nothing happened - not immediately. Yet, Myson grinned.
"Th-those foolish humans…! They shall die! Th-they will fall by the hands of Agartha! B-by the hands of our capabilities!" Myson exclaimed, talking to himself.
He looked over to the side of the chamber, where several steel coffins were chained to the wall. His grin intensified.
"If they somehow survive c-complete annihilation…Nemesis will bring them down. Th-they shall pay…"
"Overconfident as always, Myson…"
Another voice rang through the empty chamber. Myson turned in the direction he believed the voice came from, staring into the eternal, lifeless darkness of Shambhala.
"Wh-who is that?! Show yourself!"
Footsteps. Myson looked behind him.
He stumbled back, his face taken with pure fear.
"Y-you…?! I thought you were with him-!"
"Indeed I was," the person said with a confident tone of voice. "But now I'm here. You see, I require something from you, Myson. I'm sure you know what it is."
Myson was silent, his eyes widening behind his tattered and torn veil.
"Nemesis might do something, but we all know what the true plan is. It's time for it to begin."
"N-no! L-leave me alone!"
Instinctively, Myson stepped back, yet the person appeared behind him, preventing him from moving anywhere else.
"Your death is assured…I will only become stronger."
"No! L-leave-"
In an instant, the person tore their hand through Myson's chest, making the hole that was already there even larger. They stole the Agarthan's heart, detaching it from the insides of their body and taking it for themselves.
"Thank you, Myson." The person smiled, maliciously. "You truly do have a kind heart. Goodbye now."
Myson wordlessly collapsed to the ground, a massive pool of blood forming beneath his corpse. The person merely stared at the body with that smug smile of theirs.
"Now, to bide my time…until the day I can truly become the strongest."
The person teleported away, leaving Myson and Shambhala to their fate.
Author Notes: Another big one, outta nowhere! Shambhala has been raided, and thanks to Lucas' foresight, the Resistance successfully avoided the javelins of light! Myson has been killed, Odesse has escaped - only one battle remains. Hope y'all enjoyed this one!
Thanks to Frost for beta-reading!
Morrowing: Sorry I didn't see you review until now! I'm very stupid sometimes, haha. Seems like the talk went rather well last chapter, hopefully that leads to something good!
blueassassin996: We might very well get something like that! You'll just have to wait and see :)
Feel free to drop a favourite, follow, and/or a review, if you're so inclined! I'll see ya next time!
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