Elysium's Heroes
Chapter 11. What it means to be Driver and Blade!
Rex woke up in his bed and looked around. "Where am I?" he thought to himself. He was in his old hut on Gramps's back. But didn't he fall asleep with Pneuma? She was nowhere to be found. What happened?
Rex got out of his hut and looked around. It was still the middle of the night and he saw Tora and Nia with their blades still sleeping in their sleeping bag. Then he looked around to see gramps's head and noticed the green light on top of Azurda's head. There she was the wonderful Aegis shining up the darkness of the night with her beautiful aura. Pneuma's beautiful light gave Rex an idea. "I should talk to Tora."
"I'm glad I made this journey with you Azurda." Azurda Tilted his head back. "Don't tell me you are planning on leaving us again. Pneuma?" Azurda asked. "Never again! I made a promise to Rex. I will never sacrifice myself again. we promised him we will always be with him." Azurda Tilted his head towards the sea again. "I am glad I made this journey with you too Pneuma. Rex is lucky he found you two." "No…, we are lucky he found us."
Pneuma watched the cloud sea with hopeful eyes. A single tear flew down her cheek as the sisters spoke with each other through telepathy.
"Can you feel it? Tomorrow is going to be the day. Tomorrow is going to be the day we will finally become mortal, and we can finally be with Rex in peace." Pyra told her sis. "Yes, I can feel it. He truly is an amazing man. No one has ever done this for us. Heck no one has ever done so much for anybody. Even without us, look how much he changes people in an instant for the better. Always putting others before himself. Always trying to learn for the sake of others. And he is only fifteen!" "Sixteen." Pyra corrected her sis. "What?" Mythra questioned. "He turned sixteen 2 weeks ago." Pyra calmly told her sis. "Well then why didn't he say so? We could have prepared and…" "Because he doesn't even know!" Pyra cried. "What do you mean he doesn't know?" Mythra asked confused. "He is always so busy trying to help others the poor boy forgot his own birthday! I only know about it because Azurda told me. That is why I wanted to make that cake for him. And thanks to your help it turned out great but… he still doesn't know." "Then why don't you just tell him? He wouldn't be mad about hearing it, I'm sure." Mythra pleaded. "Because you and I are going to personally surprise him." "… I don't like where this is going…" "Oh come on! Aren't you tired of being a vi…" "DON'T SAY THAT WORD!" Mythra angerly shouted in their telepathy." "It's embarrassing okay so don't say it!" "Yeah, and it's not going to change if we don't do something about it! I don't want to be virgin forever!"
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO SAY THAT WORD PYRA! I just… I'm not ready." "you're never ready Mythra! we have been a virgin for 500 flipping years! It's so embarrassing and stupid. I want it to change… don't you…?" Mythra didn't answer. "It's okay if we do it with the man we love right?" Pyra asked. "I guess so…" Mythra awkwardly answered. "Besides… I kind of felt him for a little bit." "WHAT!? No, you didn't!" "Yes, I did, I had my knee between his legs for a bit."
"Is he… is he big?" Mythra uncomfortably asked. "It was only my knee so I couldn't feel him very well but let's just say that when it comes to size, what people say about his height doesn't apply to his lion…" Pyra said with a huge blush now. "Oh gosh…" "Look… when this is over, I am going to graduate from being a 500-year-old virgin. You're either in or out Mythra." "… Okay… Okay I will join. I'm tired of being a virgin too." "don't worry Mythra it will probably feel really good… I hope."
"Tora, Tora! Please Tora wake up" "Hmmm…. Meh meh?" "Tora, I need to talk to you about something please come with me." "Rex Rex... what is it? It is middle of night?" "I know, I know, But I need to talk to you about something. Tora followed Rex to his hut when Rex noticed Pneuma still standing on Azurda's head. If only he knew what lewd thoughts his soon to be wives were thinking about right now.
"So, what is it?" "Shhh." Rex put his finger on Tora's mouth. "You can't tell anyone about this. Especially not Pyra and Mythra." Rex whispered. Tora just nodded. "Tora what do you know about micro soldering?" "Ahh! Tora expert when it comes to micro soldering! Tora handcrafted Poppi's motherboard all by himself!" The Nopon excitedly whispered back. "But why Rex Rex want to know?" "After we have reprogramed Ophion, Pneuma will give me half of her core crystal again to maintain our link as driver and blade after we have rewritten the laws of physics of the world." Rex told the Nopon. "Okay… But what does that have to do with micro soldering?" Rex got close to Tora's ear to make sure no one was going to know about this, especially Pneuma who was still standing on top of Azurda's head and thus very much withing hearing range. Rex whispered his plan into the Nopon's ear. "WHAT!?" "SHHH!" Rex shushed the Nopon. "But that is very dangerous! We could damage… we could…" "Tora…" The Nopon stopped and looked up at Rex. "I have helped you with the parts for Poppi, now you will help me with this. Okay? The Nopon looked at Rex without saying a word for a moment. "You really are going to be a great husband for them." Tora sighed in defeat.
After a few hours the gang arrived at The Cliffs of Morytha. Everyone was awake and in their combat gear. Pneuma split into Pyra and Mythra again to check their Aux Cores one last time. "Okay so everybody know the plan?" Rex asked the gang. "Nia, Ophion hits very hard, so you have to make sure to keep Tora alive at all costs. Prioritise reviving him over me if things get rough, okay?" "Got it." Nia answered while equipping her weapons. "Tora, I have equipped you with Crit healing accessories, If things get rough you can heal yourself by using Poppi's QTp Mode. "Understood!" Tora answered. "Pyra, I need you for Blade combo starters and finishers we can use fire element to get Orbs fast. "You can count on me Rex!" Pyra answered. "Mythra, I am equipped with Crit healing accessories as well. You're focus is to deal as much damage as possible while critting to keep me alive so we can save our revives for Tora and Nia. "No problem!" Mythra confidently answered. "Okay everyone, charge!"
As the team got close to Ophion. Pyra tried to communicate with Ophion one last time. However, her effort were in vain as Ophion only saw the communication attempt as a potential attack. And fired a huge laser towards Rex.
"Rex!" Mythra screamed. And she angerly turned to Ophion and hit the Artifice with a full powered Ray of Punishment. Instantly healing Rex up again. "Thanks, Mythra, it seems we won't get through to him without a fight." Maybe you should try to get close with Poppi's boosters." Nia suggested while landing an Aqua wave acquiring the water Orb for the team. "No, we have to weaken him first!" Mythra said while starting up the next blade combo. "If we try to get close now, he will simply shake us off. We have to weaken him first!" "Good point. Everyone, stick to the plan and we will be alright." Rex said confidently to boost the team's efforts.
After a full hour of fighting the gang started to get tired, but so was Ophion. "Damn that snake has a lot of health… you truly have strong Artifices Mythra!" Nia panted. "Poppi suggest performing a Chain attack now. According to calculations. Chain attack should just do enough damage to target without fully killing it." "Okay than we'll do that. Everybody ready?" Rex asked the team. "You betcha! Nia answered. "Alright!"
As the Team performed their Blade combo Pyra and Mythra Turned into Pneuma to break all the Orbs they have made and damage Ophion to a now exhausted state. Ophion stopped attacking. "Okay Pneuma Let's get on Poppi to reprogram him!" "Yeah!" The trio flew towards Ophion's head and Rex removed the backplate of his head. "It's deeper in here" Pneuma told them. "Leave it to Poppi!" Poppi analysed Ophion's carefully structured brain to find the incorrect reprogramming Malos did on Ophion. "There!" Poppi shouted and Rex opened the tiny safe that was Ophion's brain. It was carefully wired, and chips and hardware was all over it. There was no way anyone could figure out such a high-tech piece of technology. Except for Pneuma because she of course had all the necessary data to reprogram Ophion. A little Wire crossing later, and Poppi flew Rex and Pneuma back to the cliff. "Did it work?"
Ophion tilted its head and loudly screeched towards the gang. only Pneuma knew what Ophion was trying to tell them. "He says thank you and he is sorry for attacking us." "It's okay Ophion, you couldn't help it." Rex said to calm the Artifice down. "Calling in Siren do you read me!?" Pneuma called Siren towards the surface and in a few seconds the Artifice came landing down with lightspeed. Ophion and Siren were now both awaiting their instructions that the Legendary Aegis had in store for them.
"Ophion and Siren, I need you to lend me your strength. My power is shrinking, and I need all our power combined to change the fate of Blades in the world. I am so sorry, but this will mean you two won't be able to stay alive after this." The 2 Artifices simply obeyed and answered in their own way to the Aegis that they are happy to cast out the mission that she has tasked them with. This was their duty after all. They needed to carry out her will.
Even though it was fated to happen the Aegis still cried and told the Artifices that she wished it didn't have to end this way. The artifices felt her pain and shared with her that everything will be okay, and they were happy to be her Artifices. An incredible power sprung out of Pneuma's Core Crystal as both Siren and Ophion beamed a huge amount of power right at her Core Crystal. A big Circle of light surrounded Pneuma blowing almost everyone away from her. Except for Rex. Who was somehow unaffected by the huge radiating light that surrounded Pneuma.
"Come, Rex" Pneuma had an echo in her voice as she was now levitating from the ground and invited Rex into her hand. Rex simply obeyed and put his hands on hers standing right in front of her. Both with tilted heads and closed eyes. The Master Driver and Master Blade concentrated all their power and knowledge that they had to change the fate of blades forever.
"By my right as Aegis I now grant every Blade in existence the ability to join their Driver's soul after death splits them." Pneuma said "This is the Architects will and as Master Driver I will do anything in my power to protect Pneuma and every Blade that lives in this world. I will do my part and fight for a future in which Human's, Blade's, and Titan's alike, will live in harmony and equally!"
A huge beam of green light turning golden washed over the Earth. And everywhere over the world. Blades core crystals lit up with a golden aura. resulting in a huge radiating explosion with the golden after remains washing over the earth's atmosphere and linking every blade's soul with their Driver.
Pneuma and Rex still radiating in light opened their eyes and looked at each other in tears.
"And as my right as Aegis I grant my own driver half of my life force. Not to share our connection in pain, but to share our connection in love and pleasure."
They pulled each other closer and kissed in the radiating golden light that was slowly dimming inside Pneuma's Core Crystal.
They released their kiss and looked around to see the damage that they caused. And it seems no damage was done whatsoever. "My… My lady… I feel my soul connected to yours. I think it really worked!" Dromarch told Nia. "Yes… and I feel… Free… Like being a flesh eater isn't a curse anymore. I feel so… cleansed!" Rex and Pneuma smiled at their friends now knowing they changed the world for the better.
The only sad thing they witnessed were Ophion and Siren now laying on their sides at the Cliffs of Morytha without making a move. "I'm sorry Pneuma…" Rex said. "It's okay Rex. They were happy to fulfil their purpose. I am happy that I at least got to tell them that I didn't want them to die. "I'm sure they understood. Well as far as machines can understand things."
"They were clever Artifices, they had their own artificial intelligence and sacrificed themselves in order to save Blades. They are the reason we can now be together." "Yes, I love you Pneuma." "I love you too Rex" "Come on, Let's go to Gramps and tell him the good news. I'm sure he will fly us home." Rex told his lover. With the good news told to Azurda and a happy Team, the gang flew back towards Leftheria. As getting there was going to take the whole night anyway. the gang enjoyed their evening meal on Azurda's back and got to sleep.
This time Pneuma made sure to stay at Rex's side all night long. Rex was already asleep and Pneuma just looked at him with a big smile on her face. Way too overjoyed to feel any sign of tiredness. She was so happy with what happened that she simply cried her eyes out. Still smiling at her sleeping driver. Making sure to hug him as comfortably as possible. Until she finally cried herself to sleep. Still smiling. And still hugging her lover.
