Discordant Harmony

Chapter 8

War on all fronts

"Wars don't bring

Lasting peace,

Only

Lasting Death.

(Janet Morris)

Author's Note:

Before we get into this hectic and chaotic chapter. I felt it right to summarize a bit about how individuals fight and about chips in general. Just to give people a clearer idea that I'm not just randomly trying to make up powers and go with the flow.

So the following chips exist at the moment, I may add more depending on the direction of the story:

-Battle Chips- These chips are used to enhance one's situational awareness and to flood adrenaline into their body, making their mind razor sharp and focused. They can also use these in conjunction with their own cybernetics and become faster, stronger, more durable, etc. There chips are mainly used for battle, and not for logical thought process, that's the next ones.

-Logia Chips- These chips are what individuals that need to perform multiple tasks and analyze huge quantities of date use, as well as for negotiation, diplomacy and others. It enhances the rapid firing of the neurons and overcooks the neural pathways to speed up logical thought processes, analytical input and consider countermeasures in order to successfully succeed in their problem. As you may have guessed by last chapter, Anastasia Hoshin has one, and other's shall as well such as Vincent, and a certain witch yet to appear. These chips are also very effective in strategies for planning a battle, just not used in a battle itself.

-Translator Chips- Chips used to translate the languages around the world as previously seen in chapter 4 where Ella and a German couple talked, this is usually inserted in the Metia instead of being in the brain. Hence, translations can come up a bit slower. Some individuals such as Otto have it in their brain and excel with it.

-Origin Chips- This is a fairly simple chip which basically acts like your birth certificate, passport, way to pay for things, and has all of your history inside of it. Not all individuals on earth have these, only those belonging to the countries involved in the International Registrar System, where the richest futuristic countries have their own coalition. Poorer countries still act such as modern day earth and use paper documents and such. This will be a plot of contention later, but people from countries not in the IRS trying to go to countries that are. For example people from Botswana trying to go to south Korea, have to pay double the amount of fees. It's an unfair system that will become important later on.

Finally, I can't think of any more chips that are as important as:

-Zero Chips- These are chips that are only used by Re: Zero characters, hence the name. It depends on which individual uses it, but the way to activate it is always followed by [Zero Ignition] The calling card to activate their unique skill set and bring their powers to the line. I try to keep the powers to canon in a way, but it will differentiate a lot and go off tangents. These chips have the ability to evolve and grow stronger. Making the individual stronger. When a character uses their Zero chip, it isn't only limited to a certain ability. They just have to use [Zero Ignition] and then form a variable. Finally, the three different modes of the Zero Chip are as follows;

Urban Mode: Meaning that they limit their abilities and narrow it to a scope of power more useful in a city or infrastructures such as buildings. It helps them control their power so they don't excessively waste it.

Environmental mode: Mainly used when fighting out of cities or when cleared of people, it allows the user's power's to increase and affect their surroundings and environments, such as when Shaula used it in Mt. Everest to not cause an avalanche yet still destroy the rock. It is finely tuned to whichever environment they are fighting in.

Freeform Mode: Literally freeform means they wield their ability to the maximum input and can freely alternate with it to cause whatever consequences results from their actions. It's the strongest form of the chip as it allows the user to maximize their abilities while disregarding the havoc it plays on their brain, at least for the meantime. It has severe negative side effects as it can cook someone's brain and kill them if they aren't ready for the backlash of their own power.

Now, Zero chips will be explained later and have pivotal roles, they can only be tracked through unique tools the government of the world uses, and these people are treated with extreme caution, since the chip isn't actually cybernetics but organically intertwined with the physical molecular body and brain of the host. So, this can't be taken out or anything like that for study, the individual wouldn't survive. And no one implants these on people, some are just carrying it without being aware of it. While others have used them since little to survive. Will Satella and Subaru have one? We'll have to see. Also I'll correct the issue I had in chapter 4 when Satella used Zero ignition: Herculean Strength. It'll be just a battle chip allowing her to use such overwhelming force.

Anyway, glad y'all stuck around for this long ass explanation, let's get to chapter.

(Scene Change)

In the beginning of everything there was One, one being, one existence that lived as the Universe unfolded. It was content to be the single being in existence, yet it also felt strange emotions, such as longing. Longing for another, desire for another to interact with. One felt discordant as it experienced emotions for the first time in its eons of experience. One thought to itself:

"It's time I think, I think? What are these feelings, this intuition, that no single thing should be alone. Not even I, One. But, but, but, is this right? Is this wrong? No, I decide it isn't, I believe it's time.

So One decided. Then, One became Two, and everything changed once more. One welcome Two who was confused and inquired:

"What is this? [Omitted] how did you make me?"

"[Redacted] It wasn't hard, One simply wanted for Two to exist. In Discordant Harmony if needed."

Two's luminescence shined and they seemed to be in a playful manner as they responded:

"Well, One. Then let's have some fun, shall we?"

For the longest time One and Two where in sync and harmony, both content to play around in the vast cosmos and explore different nebulae, yet there was no life in the cosmos, nothing but void and darkness.

Two pouted as they told One their distress:

"There is nothing in this cosmos worthy of our attention, just dust and gas giants, while fascinating to look at first, the composition and analysis wasn't satisfying."

One frowned in thought as they replied:

"Then… Maybe we need someone else?"

One and Two decided that enough was enough, and they needed another. One that was ready to bestow upon the darkness the traces of light, of curiosity, of innocence. So One and Two joined, and Three came out.

Three was happy with its siblings, they all dwelled in clusters of black holes and gazed at the vast infinity of their abode. Yet, as they all floated around in peace it thought to itself:

"My siblings and I are happy, and content, however this isn't enough. This vast infinite universe has nothing but us three, drifting in tranquility, oh I know! Let's try to make more friends, let's try to make life."

It's sibling's weren't happy, they pouted in anger and discontent. Saying that having three is perfection, there is no need for more, yet Three was determined. And Three said to its siblings:

"I shall no longer be called Three, One and Two. From now on my name is Od. Od Laguna. And I wish, for there to be life to everything and everyone that is to exist, surely we cannot be selfish and greedily hog the vast cosmos!"

Yet, One and Two weren't happy with Three, no, with Od. Yet, they understood his point of view, they huffed in [Discordant Harmony] while they racked their brains. Their floating auras bubbled as One became something, no, someone else. Same with Two.

"Interesting Brother Od, then this One here will call itself, no himself something different. My new name is Flugel. We'll look forward to seeing what the three of us can do."

The luminescent dark orb became a figure, a humanoid body. Someone with dark hair and fierce eyes, he smiled as he breathed for the first time of his life, and chuckled at the magnificent of having an actual tangible form. Flugel spread his hands out and marveled at the unfamiliar action of seeing his hand turn into a fist, then into a palm splayed outwards, He thought:

"How interesting, this sensation of feeling. This wondrous ability to feel alive, and feel my essence manifest as an existence that is something other than spiritual. To matter, to exist. Seems very important now after all. Being One, was interesting, yet the incessant torrent of sensory information makes me feel alive, for the first time ever. I had to create artificial air pockets for these things I have called, lungs? I'm unsure but it isn't an unpleasant sensation."

While Flugel experienced the myriad sensations of feeling like being an actual existence, Two spoke afterwards:

"Then, as my siblings, no, as my brother's did, I vow to do the same. This one's humble name of Two shall now be known as Echidna, I grow curious to what the world's will be like."

Two, stopped existing, and became a woman with dark Victorian clothes, and flat shoes encased her delicate feet. She opened her pale grey yet also pseudo brown eyes and observed the physical universe as never before. Her lips parted as a surprised expression crossed her face, and she thought in joy:

"These atoms interacting with each other, the protons and electrons acting in harmony with the Atom, how beautiful. How many universes exist? How many quarks are acting according to their nature? What is at the end of the so -called black holes, is it another universe? Or emptiness and solitude? I don't know, yet I wish to learn. Oh… so much to gleam from merely opening this body's eyes."

All three siblings looked at each other, feeling wondrous at the sensations they felt. Both Flugel and Echidna looked at their little sibling, Od. And he was simply magnificent, a child with aquamarine hair yet his eyes sparkled like celestial stars, oh.. how they couldn't wait to give life to these planets. To descend in millions of years and see what the people and fauna they created would look like.

Od, Flugel, and Echidna smiled at one another, and with their physical manifestations taking form they clasped hands and uttered:

"From One, Two was born. From One and Two, Three was Created. And from us Three, everything else will be MANIFESTED!"

Flugel, Od, and Echidna all smiled in contentment as the vast cosmos suddenly grew light and myriad stars filled the night. Echidna's breathe grew stilted, as the former entity of Three hitched her breathe and with tears in her eyes said:

"It's so beautiful, brothers it's magnificent. Look at all the worlds to study, to analyze, to extract information from and run comparisons for why they grew up in such a way. How fascinating, how curious, how riveting, is this my heart pounding? Why do I even need a heart? To breathe and function? Yet, we aren't real physical bodies, no this isn't enough, not merely enough. So, let's change the parameters shall we?"

(Scene Change)

Echidna was lounging in a prairie field of a nameless world, drinking a substance from a wooden cup, to say it smelled sharply of jasmine wouldn't be incorrect. Her siblings Flugel and Od were both playing a game of a sport they created called chess, which she was interested in until she was able to beat both of them multiple times after a short string of losses.

She looked at the world and sighed as her memories came to her mind with haste:

"The Pleiades sisters where interesting to meet, although a tad far away it was worth the trip. The phenomenon known as the Ordeal seems to have changed life for everything and everyone in the vast cosmos. Yet, I tire of this feeling of worship, of listening to the masses exalting?. It's maddening to be worshipped when one can dedicate themselves to better pursuits, like the avenue of primitive science we found in ancient Uruk, the temples of worship always reference our presence. However, that is quite unneeded. Only Flugel likes to directly interact with the populace and teach them ingenious ideas of agriculture. I don't mind if they have truly curious ideas, however I seem to quickly be growing bored. Bored of everyone, but not content with this dullness. Where is the fun, where is the ingenuity of humanity. Where are the catapults of Alexandria, where are the strategies from the God Emperor of Persia? However, I feel I can't satisfy my own Greed, how does this happen? I missed it, I miss being someone that cared for it, to care for people. Yet, I only care for my siblings, and don't think anyone else could make me accept them… It's time, time for my final idea. This has to work, this will work…. Please let this work, it must…. Let's explain to my world, to my brothers."

The idea burned in her mind, and gave her relief, her eyes shook and her lips quivered as she whispered to herself, yet Flugel, Od, And Echidna where always connected so they instantly knew her thoughts.

"So Echidna, you wish to try something new? Sigh, this siscon love will get me in trouble for sure." Sighed Flugel as he rubbed his chin in thought. Yet, he wasn't against the idea, his cute sis Dona always had wacky yet inventive ideas. Especially as they all comprehended their thoughts instantaneously. Flugel was the pioneer that always had innovative ideas and ways to achieve them. From building shelter and shacks from mud huts, to eventually advancing to granite and marble buildings of stupendous proportions.

Od was curious, as he was like a child. His form was of a small child, being birthed after the former One and Two created him, with nothing but innocence in mind. He had long flowing aquamarine hair that reached his ankles, tickling him softly as he ran through the prairie field and had his share of fun with Big Brother Flugel and Big Sis Dona.

"Wait, you really think this method will help us and the people that look up to us?" Asked Od with innocent eyes that seemed to shift colors depending on his mood, one morning they would be verdant green like the forests they loved to camp in. Other times it would be crimson red as he would get mad at what some of the people that followed him did to other tribe's. Violence was something Od was something unfamiliar, and he got scared yet angry that people couldn't just live in peace.

Yet, both Dona and Flugel comforted him as they hugged him at times and told him that they couldn't interfere in the affairs of the people they created, so many millennia ago. They had their own cities, factions and despite neither of the three wanting it, a distinct desire to reign supreme over others.

The human factor -is what Echidna eventually called it,-was an urge or primal instinct to dominate. So she thought long and hard on how to solve the problem. She didn't want to resort to wanton violence as that would lead to unnecessary conflict and frankly, it didn't interest her. Human ingenuity however, grasped her curiosity far more.

How was it that they always strived to use their brains in a manner that bewildered her frankly. From creating monoliths worshipping them, to the far distant continent of sand where pyramids where built to honor them. Although they all had different names in the religious scripture humans liked to fancifully write and say a divine revelation was born when no such thing had ever happened. All three liked to call themselves by the names humans made up. From Kali, to Indra, to Buddha, as well as Odin, Zeus, and even Osiris and Isis. They were truly fascinating for making such nuanced and detailed mythology for what remained in their minds upon creation.

Echidna hummed and finally concluded:

I believe we have reached our limit in these forms. Sure, they are great, magnificent and nearly omnipotent as well as omniscient. But… I would like to give a try to being a 'human'. What do you think brothers, shall we prepare for this?"

Od Laguna seemed a bit miffed, he twirled his hair around with his left hand as he finally exclaimed:

"Hmm, I don't think that's the path for me, Onee-chan, I think I want something a bit more substantial."

Here Echidna and Flugel's eyes widened in shock as they both asked:

"Well? What are your thoughts brother, please don' teases us and just give it to us straight."

Od enjoyed being the center of attention as he replied:

"Ahem, Ahem. Big Bro Flugel and Sis Dona. I think I want to become a world, is that strange?"

He was nervous as he asked since he always assumed he would be with his siblings till the end of the cosmos, yet Echidna and Flugel seemed to shudder as their eyes lit up. Flugel went first with a serious countenance:

"Brother Od, this is a serious thing to talk about. If you truly wish to become a planet or its sentience, you may forget you memories of us, of the origin. Do you really wish to grow through that?"

The words that Flugel sternly delivered to Od made him shake his small body in fear, yet he nodded as he accepted the outcome with a determined expression:

"I intend to see this through, Flugel, and Echidna. I hope you will both join me at least for a little bit."

His eyes went back to sad ones, yet before he could feel anguish he was hugged by Echidna and Flugel as they both replied:

"Of course Od, we will be delighted to experience your journey there, and we will accompany you. However, we shall live as denizens of your world ok? So we can truly test your capabilities and what may happen in error."

Od looked at both Dona and Flugel smiling warmly at him as he said:

"Well then… let' journey together and we shall see each other reborn, no… from zero!"

With bright lights encircling the three they each went to the realm Od wanted to make, and horrendous consequences where born out of their ideals that they hadn't even had the inclination to consider, such was their excitement…..

(Scene Change)

A drift breeze blew across the open veranda as a white haired woman shifted positions as she dreamed of memories bygone to the eons and epochs. She grumbled in her sleep and tried to position herself to sleep more peacefully, yet an emergency comm was delivered straight to the Logia's chip implanted in her frontal cortex, with a muffle she yelled:

"Od! Flugel, NOOOO. Don't make the same mistakes as I did please…."

However she gruffly got up and rubbed her sleep deprived eyes, as she usually only slept 4 to five hours a day. Too much work to be done, to many things needed to satisfy her curiosity. With a groan Echidna got up from her posh bed with luxurious sheets and stretched. She heard her bones cracking in muffled protests as the small pockets of gas exited her body. Yet, she removed a tear from her eye, she seemed to have been crying. And she looked at herself in the mirror in apathy as she wiped her tear ducts, and with luminous eyes she said:

"How curious, to be crying after a forgotten dream.. What was that, what exactly is going on?"

Tears again fell from her face as she crumbled and was discontent with the situation, a being that hadn't felt feelings for eons, yet a being that was as real as the neighbor that lived by your side.

She looked at her hands and trembled as she asked one question:

"Why? Why do I need these feelings? These emotions? These unnecessary abilities to analyze what my brain makes up.? I.. Do not know, yet it does not resist the quietude of my heart."

She contemplated the dream, yet it vanished swiftly like a midnight summer dream, ethereal and fleeting. Echidna gritted her teeth as a migraine began to be formed, however she stopped herself as she used her Logia's chip functions to flood her brain with endorphins and she smiled in satisfaction. However, the action she committed prevented her from trying to see any more snippets of the dream.

Yet, today was a very busy day and she couldn't afford to be distracted by ghosts of her past. She clapped her cheeks and said out loud:

"My name is Echidna, no last surname. My parents are…. My parent…. Family?"

Her head seemed to split in two as she was trying to rationalize everything she had dreamed of, and brief flashes of an angry man with dark hair and fierce brown eyes yelled:

"Don't d…. DO I…. IT… Remem… wha… happen….. the world… will never be … th… sa…"

As brief flashes of memory came and went she was left even more confused, then she remembered sad turquoise eyes that flashed with aqua marine hair that seemed to be crying:

"Big sis… why? Wh… di… yo… sacrifi….. every… for… your… gre… I mis… the old Onee… I Don….. lik… you….. lik… thi…"

Her eyes felt like waterfalls as the dam broke and tears rushed out, she could hardly hold her composure. As Echidna the person and Echidna of the past struggled to reconcile with themselves, she was unaware of the reason for this turmoil. However, through sheer will she ended up performing a desperate maneuver and shouted out:

"Logia Chip, OVERWRITE!"

At her command the last five minutes ended up getting deleted from her memories and saved in a private internal server in her mind frame. She breathed in and out heavily as she seemed to have stumbled briefly over what had happened. She laid down on her couch and sighed as her automaton had already came with a cup of jasmine tea. She took a sip and felt her body relaxing at the familiar smell, one that seemed to have been with her forever.

She looked out the virtual display windows and the hover car traffic that seems to have grinded to a halt, not surprising considering the current state of the city. Echidna would probably be held responsible for this since she after all is the current chair of the Council.

She shows no traits of worry for her future, it's all set in stone, unshakeable, and she will continue moving according to the path she set down so many years ago. When she first met Flugel. She seemed to frown as she remembered the scene.

(4 years ago)

Echidna was enjoying herself immensely as she tackled Landau's problems about prime numbers, she deleted her thoughts and reorganized them in a concrete manner. She thought, pondered, drew up imaginary hypothesis and then decided to implement theoretical and mathematical analysis.

She was in a public café sipping on her favorite jasmine tea, and her legs swayed back and forth as she wondered about the problem she was trying to solve, one that no one had been able to find a concrete solution to since first proposed in 1912.

After a struggle of two days she solved the issue and jumped in joy, for she was always an individual to express jubilation after solving a difficult puzzle.

As she looked at her solution she heard a gruff voice behind her back reply:

"You know this isn't complete yet correct? Montgomery and Vaughan showed that the exceptional set of even number not expressible as the sum of two primes was of density zero, although this set is not proven to be finite. However, remarkable progress trying to solve one of the biggest unsolved problems in mathematics."

She twirled around at hearing such a voice, with a frown she replied:

"Oh? So who are you, Mr. PHD in Theoretical mathematics?"

She analyzed the being in front of her, since he seemed to be rather composed as he smirked and wagged his finger. With a clearing of his throat he announced himself:

"The name is Flugel, and I'm a mere researcher for CERN, nice to meet you, and your name is?"

She huffed and puffed in discontent and with a wave of her hair replied back:

"I'm also a humble, curious student of knowledge, named Echidna. And you're interrupting my time of peace and solitude. You're a rather rude young man you know."

Here Echidna was surprised as she heard Flugel burst out in laughter and joy, and her heart seemed to shake as that rueful laugh brought back fleeting memories of another individual she would dream of. However, the memories seem to vanish as quickly as a fleeting storm that occupies the land and makes the residents cower inside their abodes.

She was about to inquire as to why he laughed, yet he got a ping from his metia and read the screen as he frowned, with a sigh he stood up and started leaving as he also replied back to the confused woman:

"Sadly, I have a prior engagement to attend to, tonight's the night of the revelation after all. Hopefully we will see each other soon Si…. Echidna. I wish the best for you and so long."

She felt a pang of sorrow and hurried out of the café, feeling confused. Instead, of acting like normal she was bewildered by her actions. Chasing after a strange man? Yet, why did he feel so… right?"

Without allowing her thoughts to continue she rushed forward relentlessly, and once outside the café she looked around her surroundings but couldn't see the man dressed in that queer shabby brown coat. She realized she must have missed him when she sees a glimmer of light.

Echidna turns her head around and sees Flugel vectoring across the skyscrapers as if he was one with the wind, and in a scant few seconds she couldn't even see his silhouette. Her melancholy increased as she suddenly yelped and shouted in exclamation:

"Flugel? THE FLUGEL? The pioneer of the age of technology just visited me, and I didn't realize until later. How curious, interesting, and amazing."

With a small smile she didn't know she could still make she whispers:

"I can't wait to meet you again br… Flugel."

She frowned at her words, as they seemed to conflict with her memories. She didn't know why she was going to call him brother, as she frowned again and pondered the thought, daylight streamed through and the crowds outside appreciated this warm summer day.

(Scene Change)

Rem, and Ram dodged Cecilus quick lighting strikes with all of their might, yet they were covered in cuts. Both of them gritted their teeth and shouted out:

"[Zero Ignition: Synesthesia.]

Rem and Ram shined brightly as their Zero Chips gave them a blue and pink aura respectively. They felt this wasn't enough and yelled:

"Battle Chip, Maximum Overdrive!"

Their chips reported:

20% percent increase in speed.

35% percent increase in evasion.

15% percent increase in strength.

25% percent increase in durability.

[Warning, allowing the following changes will severely affect your bodies do you with to proceed?]

"YES!"

"[Commencing operation]

Rem and Ram shrieked in pain and agony as they felt the nanites flood their bodies and blood leaked out of their ears, nose, and even eyes. However, they endured until they heard the successful chime. And then felt a flush of hidden power suddenly released. With newfound confidence they each went a separate way to attack Cecilus Segmunt.

Ram threw her nano carbon fiber Morningstar aiming to take his head off, while Ram unleashed her storm of Fula and aimed at his legs, and upper and lower body attack. Something that was done with the pure combination of tactics developed between the twins. In addition, they grew even bolder as they had added their battle chips prowess to their zero ignition burst.

As they expected to do at least a modicum of damage to the huge threat, Cecilus smirked and replied while the cybernetics in his body glowed and he cheerily responded:

"An excellent attack, using Satella as a distraction to attack me from behind while you both target my head and legs, I commend you! No, I am impressed indeed. However, for two baby demons and a woman who doesn't even know what her power is, this is not enough. Not merely enough to reach my current status."

As he said those words and Satella reeled in shock right about to stab his kidney from behind, he parried the blade and slapped her in the face. Causing Satella to be hurled fifteen feet as she felt pure white, hot agony as never experienced before. She fell to her knees and her cheek was bleeding, yet her eyes seemed to melt in despair as she saw Cecilus continuing his maneuver.

He jumped in parallel to the attacks of Rem and Ram and narrowly missed them both as he lashed out with hands and feet and beat the Oni twins back as they crumpled to the ground. He remained unruffled and unafraid as he smirked:

"Now, let's proceed with the objective, it would be nice to get Emilia but my senses feel she is being occupied by someone rather powerful. Seems like too much of a bother when I have such an easy prey in front of my eyes."

He narrowed his eyes and smiled like a Cheshire cat as he approached Satella, who was trembling not in fear, but pure hot rage and fury at herself. She yelled inside her mind:

"Why! Why am I so weak, so helpless, so vulnerable to everyone when I'm just prey to stronger people. Sure, I can take out a few hunters and mercenaries, but this man is a genuine monster! What the fuck am I supposed to do? Even those strong looking twins got blown away with just his hands, and he has two swords in his hips. He is clearly underestimating us, yet I'm lacking. NOOO, I need to beat this bastard, just this once, please, please… PLEASE!"

To her surprise she felt a faint resonance in her body as it seemed like something was blooming inside her. She held her breath as she heard a voice in her head:

[Attribute blossoming]

[Zero chip is being activated!]

After a spell nothing happened and Satella was wondering until she heard the same voice in her head:

[WARNING, WARNING! FOREIGN ANAMOLY DETECTED]

[INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT POSSESS ZERO CHIP!]

[SYNTHESIZING!]

[PROCEDURE COMPLETE!]

[ZERO CHIP HAS BEEN FORCIBLY ADJUSTED FOR ENVY CHIP!]

[PROCEED!]

Satella gasped in wonder as she felt power flow through her body, a deep, black, darkness unknown to humans invaded her body and it seemed to rip her to shreds. She screamed and cried hot tears of pain, yet endured the moment. Until finally the words she needed to say flashed in her mind.

She got up tired yet renewed with vigor and shouted:

[ENVY IGNITION: SOLITUDE OF YIN!]

And it seemed that the very shadows bowed down to their new queen as they lifted her on a shadow throne as thousands of hands went to Cecilus. He rushed forward unexpectedly as he quoted his favorite martial art's predecessor:

"When the situation is dire! Break forward and no retreating!"

He unsheathed Murasame and Masayume, he felt he needed them for this conflict. His pulse quickened and he laughed in joy, at finally meeting someone worth swinging his blades too and activated his ability:

[ZERO IGNITION: PURSUIT OF THE HEAVENLY SWORD!]

And the shadows collided with the dream eater as well as the fiend sword and it dispelled the shadows swiftly. Satella was shocked and fell to the ground in pain as the backlash of using her newly awakened powers wreaked havoc upon her soul.

Cecilus was slightly disappointed yet as he rushed to apprehend her before any other weird situations happened, he dodged to his left a sword thrust that was aimed at his temple. He got up and dusted him off as he narrowed his gaze.

For in front of him was a stoic gentleman, one that seemed to have lived through all the hardship of life.

He replied with hostility at having his prey so rightfully delivered in front of him denied:

"Who the fuck are you to impede this great one from his mission, old man?"

The man seemed to be contemplating the scenario in front of his eyes, a wounded silver haired girl known as the target of pursuit from others. Two unconscious twins and he clenched his sword as he testily replied:

'My name is Wilhelm Van Astrea, and Cecilus you have committed a grave error thinking that you can freely use your abilities anywhere you wish. I shall put an end to your daring and bold actions right here, right now. Let's do this."

Wilhelm clenched his sword Hibiscus, named after his wife's favorite color, as Cecilus laughed and replied while sheathing Masayume and only using Murasame:

"Interesting, fighting a withered old man would damage my reputation, yet I like the look of your eyes. Let's end this quick old man, I have places to be and things to do."

With blatant disrespect Cecilus said and charged at Wilhelm.

Wilhelm and Cecilus blades could barely be seen even with augmented vision. It was as if two storms collided and dominated for superiority, to see which one would bare it's fangs first and eat the other. The battle so intense, gales could be felt from everywhere. Satella looked in astonishment as she exclaimed:

"Is this the path of true swordsmanship? Even in this day and age, there are people still pursuing the horizon of the sword, the ultimate goal for them. How… incredible"

Wilhelm and Cecilus disengaged for a brief moment as they both analyzed the other. Wilhelm spoke first as he started walking to the flustered Divine General:

"You see, I was also a young man at one point of time. I always made mistakes and never made up for them, even my dear wife scolds me mercilessly. However, let me show you the swordsmanship I've learned during these arduous times."

Spoke Wilhelm as he dodged another attack aimed for his kidney by Cecilus, who was actually enjoying himself a bit. He smugly replied:

"Old man, you talk quite a bit for someone on the back foot. You prattle about the glory days while not understanding that the young generation will always outshine the old one. Let me show you some skills instead of listening to your useless rambling.

[Zero Ignition, Murasame change form: Lighting judgement freeform.]

After his words his blade flashed. A swift moment in time, a moment meant to be remembered.

Since a thunderclap could be heard as the sword was drawn to cut Wilhelm down, who had his eyes closed. He wasn't pleading for his life as Cecilus has seen countless time from other opponents. Nor was he despairing. He was simply… Stoic, like a tall rock meant to endure the erosion of time.

The swordsman who had no cybernetics, no augments. A rare true human who became one of the top fighters in the world with his own will, suddenly opened his eyes before the sword would have pierced him and gently replied:

[Zero Ignition, Swordsmanship of mortality]

And he parried Cecilus beautifully, it looked like a dance. The way he effortlessly sent the stray energy away from the blade master went to a building that collapsed upon receiving the energy. Wilhelm wasn't done as with the same motion his blade shallowly cut into Cecilus left thigh before he hurriedly retreated.

As Cecilus was confused, stunned, and even breathless, he stepped back and heard his now worthy opponent say;

"You see, I am not as young as you, nor is my sword as sharp. I only have my will and my wife's love, so come blue lighting let me show you what this old man has."

Wilhelm and Cecilus blades met, Cecilus Murasame and Wilhelm's Hibiscus's sword collided, chips and small dents could be felt from Wilhelm's sword, yet the blade remained in optimal condition. Cecilus felt frustrated as to how he couldn't land a death dealing blow to this old man.

Yet, he recognized this was dangerous and very, very bad. How can he not even defeat this old man. Then he winced in pain at his burning pain and couldn't recall the last time an opponent could actually injure him. However, he smiled because he had don't considerable damage to his opponent.

Wilhelm was injured everywhere, had cuts on his arms, legs and even chest yet he continued to calmly parry any attacks that were fatal. Cecilus grew impatient and shouted:

"What the hell is going on old man. Your bleeding everywhere yet remain standing, what crazy cybernetics do you have?"

Wilhelm dodged a blow meant for his neck yet, got a shallow cut on his cheek and as he cleaned his face with a handkerchief after a brief interlude he gazed at the handkerchief and smiled. His wife gave it to him and he treasured it. As his reverie was going on he muttered:

"Cecilus Segmunt, do you like flowers?"

"What? Who has time for that?"

Cecilus replied as he unleashed his second sword, the dream eater and prepared to finish this old man once and for all. He felt a deep fear and unsettling feeling from this old man, he didn't know what it was. But it screamed danger.

"My wife asked me for a decade if I liked flowers, and I always said no. I never saw the point until the fateful day of when I saw her smile as the hibiscus flowers bloomed. Then I understood. It's not about flowers, but the joys of loving in the moment. This is my moment blue lighting. Let me show you.

"Ethereal petal, first slash."

And with a sword that transcended the limits of the human body, Wilhelm cut off the left arm of his opponent as he thought about the beauty of the flower petals his wife had shown him. For life is infinite and ethereal, a single moment will change everything.

AN: FUUUUCKKKKKKKKKKKK, I couldn't have done this without Reactionist and AWZ, Fucking props to those legends. I'll be under their desk whenever they desire. Also My homies Elmo and Kill helped as well with the beginning.

Please don't kill me, this is a sci fi story at core but as all things exist, something must precede them in some way. So enjoy the lore since it's very… IMPORTANT. ~DESU~.

Hope this chap delivered info as well as hype. I'm planning on ending this in chapter 10, arc 1 not fic Kek. Arc 2 will be wild as fuck, you have my motherfuckin' word. Love y'all, especially the 4 people that read this. Anyway cya and have a good Sunday, or Monday if you some time travelling cunt from Australia, like my boy toy Wombat. (Author of 7 Betas and still no quality.)

BEEEEEN, you'll show up soon m'kay?