Chapter 14: Bridge Between Worlds
Horatius
Forcing myself upwards on shaky limbs I ignore the concerned questions and inquiries from my companions, staring off into the distance where that minuscule facet of Tia slithered off to.
"...atius? Horatius, what happened?!"
I finally meet Scáthach's terrified expression, wiping away the spit and drool coating my lips and chin.
"It was the mad goddess, wasn't it?"
Gilgamesh's armored form radiates anger and frustration, voice naught but a metallic hiss as she states, "Just what manner of sorcery and trickery did she make use of, to so cleanly escape our view?"
Shaking my head I take a steadying breath, explaining, "She brought herself to this world through my mind and body...it's not a stretch of the imagination to assume she's hiding herself from everyone's perception but mine through that same connection, considering her reliance on my body to work as an acnhor."
Altera appears more sad than she does worried or angry, now that it's clear I'll live.
"Then she has returned."
A brief rumble shakes the ground that has nothing to do with the slowly searching Trihexa, a familiar sensation overwhelming my perceptions-
-and with a tear in the fabric of reality that sounds as if someone ripped a planet sized sheet of paper in two a gargantuan head pulls itself free from a rapidly growing patch of distortion in the ground, black water with crimson lines and esoteric markings giving birth to more and more of the creature.
...Tia's form as the Dragon or Serpent she was often heralded as being, every facet of her Human form twisted and scaled to become truly monstrous, with oversized horns, teeth and pulsating flesh.
If the way everyone openly gawks at her appearance is any indication, she's visible now.
"Of all the worst possible times the mad goddess could have reappeared...we shall have to split our efforts, between the newest monstrosity and the-"
The Queen of Heroes is cut off as the colossal form Tia has assumed bends low, flares wings the size of an ocean liner...and launches herself upwards, the trailing lines of power acting like some twisted form of elevator as she disappears into the portal that had no doubt been intended for the Trihexa.
Aforementioned beast doesn't even seem to notice the Goddess aside from a cursory glance, instead turning its attention to something that's moving on the side opposite to where we're standing.
"...Horatius, is she-"
"She's headed back to Earth. Our Earth."
While we may have had need of Kischur's artifact to find our way home I don't doubt for a second that Tia can make her own way through the Dimensional Gap, honing in on our original reality as if she'd never left.
…
For better or for worse...it's time she and I put an end to this.
"Keep Trihexa from following us and destroy those armors or whatever along with it."
Gilgamesh's helm snaps around to face me, tone incredulous as she inquires, "And just what are you planning to do, Gladiator?"
"As much as I have to."
Altera silently nods, understanding the import of that statement as Scáthach gives my hand a brief squeeze, quietly stating, "I wish you luck, Horatius."
"Thanks...I'm gonna need it."
Turning to face the twisting and spitting portal overhead I close my eyes, chanting,
"Castles Crumble, Empires Fall. Villages Wither, Nations Bicker. Travel the World and Drown it All, Death Comes for All!"
A rush of strength and expanding perceptions coincides with my body dissipating into intangibility, mind throwing itself along the path Tia took into the Dimensional Gap.
While she may have been able to use my body as a means of breaking out of her prison, that's a two way street. Through Irappu I can sense her presence and location even though the very fabric of reality in this dimension seems frayed and constantly shifting, a veritable maze of roads and pathways that lead somewhere or nowhere all at once, a labyrinth that I would be helpless to navigate were it not for the beacon of the Sumerian Goddess to light my way.
…
How the Hell am I supposed to stop her? I don't have a choice in the matter but there's nothing out here that I can use to halt her, no planets or celestial bodies that I can usurp and take for my own-
[Oi, what are scrubs like you doing out here in my personal race track? This tract of nothingness is taken, go find your own!]
I almost have a heart attack as out of fucking nowhere a colossal red dragon starts floating next to where I'm racing along the length of the corruption Tia left behind, scarcely able to believe that it can actually see me.
...I'm assuming this is the Great Red mentioned in stories. That is just my luck to run into it right now as I'm-
"Don't be, mean to him, Baka-Red...he's trying to help a, friend."
[Eh?! You mean that big ol' snake thing is his friend?!]
My perception finds itself pulled in three different directions, one facet trailing after Tia and the other two gravitating towards the pair of beings that just popped into existence alongside me.
"Ophis? What are you doing here?!"
The Ouroboros Dragon—in the form of a winding and infinite reptile—makes its way alongside the far more bulky drake, calmly explaining,
"Lilith warned, me what was happening, that you needed, help."
If I had a physical form right now it would be twisted in exasperation, that the little runt actually helped me out despite the fact that I've spent most of the past few days jealous of her mere presence.
"I do. What are you two capable of doing?"
[Hold on, I never said I would-]
"Quiet, Baka-Red. Don't be, difficult."
The enormous creature adorned in crimson scales huffs, petulantly replying,
[Fine, but only if they get off my property once they're done! I was just about to perform a four-dimensional 360 corkscrew ollie and they're ruining everything!]
I try to ignore the dull sense of unreality that accompanies watching a literal pair of primal forces argue about being kept from performing skate park tricks in favor of trying to ensure I don't lose track of Tia, still making her way across the chaos of the Dimensional Gap.
"What do you, need Horatius?"
I force myself to take the mental equivalent of a deep breath
"Are the two of you capable of creating celestial-sized bodies on a moment's notice? How about disrupting inter-dimensional travel?"
[Ha! I could do that easily! I thought you would need something difficult!]
"Yes that, is doable."
"Alright, then here's what I need you to do."
Kischur
There are times when fate throws a curveball at you, when events go so far off the beaten path that even all of your observations across parallel worlds doesn't prepare you for the sheer amount of shit that's about to hit the fan.
Now just so happens to be one of those times, when the Jeweled Eye blares a dire warning of approaching and imminent disaster...and this time I don't have the luxury of relying on Horatius and the Heroic Spirits accompanying him to provide additional support. If it's a threat on the level of Crimson Moon—which it almost certainly is, judging by the pitch black coloration of my little invention—then things are gonna get ugly.
"Well, no one wants to live forever...might as well die young and leave behind a beautiful corpse."
Swiftly grabbing my cane and Jewel Sword I prepare to go about discovering the root of this oncoming threat-
-and tense as a wave of such primal apprehension and worry courses through my veins that I'm abruptly reminded that us living creatures are still very much in tune with our more basic instincts, recognizing that a predator is approaching the watering pit and there's nothing we can do about it.
"Shit."
With that succinct summation of the current state of affairs I close my eyes, letting the flow of mana throughout the world enter and pass through me without interruption, attempting to locate the source of such a blatant and obvious disruption of the natural order of things-
-and find it immediately, cutting open a portal without hesitation and stepping through it, briefly passing through the formless void that observes all realities past, present and possible before I exit through another that drops me at my target destination, right off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
"Oh that's not good..."
Maybe a hundred meters above the waves is a colossal tear in reality, tinged black and red as it opens up into formless chaos and crazed swirls of varying color. That would be ominous enough on its own, were it not for the Counter Force residing at the base of the hole.
And I mean all of the Counter Force, dozens—if not hundreds—of individuals all spaced equally around the opening of the portal, some Human and some Human-like as they stare upwards with unbreakable concentration as my blood runs cold.
This kind of response from Alaya can only mean one thing...an extinction level event. One that has the absolute potential of wiping out quite literally every Human on the planet, bar none. Nothing else would be able to bring the mess of thoughts and behaviors that is Alaya together long enough to create this kind of reaction.
...Why do I get the feeling this is somehow Horatius' fault?
"KISCHUR, CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
Speak of the Devil and he shall appear...speaking directly into my ear by directly manipulating the air around my location, creating a deafening howl that vaguely resembles his voice as most of the sandbar is kicked up into a violent storm.
A shame about the volume, but finesse was never one of Irappu's strong points.
"Yes, obviously. Where the Hell are you and what did you do?"
"NO TIME TO EXPLAIN, TIAMAT IS EITHER SECONDS OR MINUTES FROM ARRIVING BACK ON THE PLANET. WHAT'S THE SITUATION OVER THERE, HAS ANYTHING GONE WRONG?"
Only the first part of his statement registers.
"You IDIOT! I told you repeatedly that cutting off any and all ties with that Goddess was the correct decision and now look-"
"KISCHUR, I KNOW. PLEASE, I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE OTHER SIDE."
This unbelievable, heartsick fool of a took!Not even Tolkien insults encapsulate his dumbassery!
Grinding my teeth in vexation I nonetheless do as he requests, gazing around before succinctly reporting, "We have a portal about two kilometers in width stretching over the Mediterranean, leading to some kind of rainbow puke environment on the other side while all of the Counter Force—and I mean all of them—are ready and waiting a short distance from where I am."
"IS THE EMIYA OFFSHOOT ONE OF THEM?"
"The tan one? Yeah, he's there. Where the Hell are you?"
"CHASING TIAMAT THROUGH THE PORTAL YOU'RE LOOKING INTO. AND IF THIS NEXT PART OF THE PLAN GOES RIGHT I'LL BE DROPPING OUT OF CONTACT SOON."
Resisting the urge to huff in vexation I grumble, "A plan, huh? Care to fill me in on what it is?"
"NO TIME, BUT IF IT'S GOING TO WORK...I NEED YOU TO CONVINCE THAT EMIYA COUNTER GUARDIAN TO MAKE SOMETHING FOR ME."
Altera
"Very well, we've been entrusted with destroying yet another cosmic horror...how do we wish to proceed?"
"You need ask? Crush it with the full extent of our power, especially now that we've been gifted a rather significant surplus of strength. And then we pursue the Gladiator with all haste, offer what aid may be needed."
Scáthach nods along with Gilgamesh, both of my friends turning to face the still turning and searching Trihexa-
"Our companions may still be in close proximity to the creature. Any attacks could potentially injure them as well."
The Hero Queen clicks her tongue in irritation, grudgingly admitting, "You raise a valid point, but what then shall we do? Merely wait for an opportunity to-"
An explosion echoes across the landscape, five figures winging in our direction as we prepare ourselves for a battle. Four are familiar, one is not.
...Correction, the fifth is familiar but was once an enemy, the Dragon Crom Cruach.
Now an ally, perhaps? The other four do not seem alarmed by the giant beast's close proximity.
"I am not the only one that sees the beast's attention shifting, do I?"
I once more direct my eyes in the direction of the Trihexa, noting that the monster does indeed seem to be sending looks of undue interest in our direction. Namely, in Lilith's direction.
…
I shall not let the comfortable and soft girl come to harm.
"No, it is. It seems it has a target of choice."
Scáthach nods at my observation as our gathered companions finally land nearby, Gilgamesh glaring at the 'Evil Dragon' as she comments, "Another enemy turned ally so quickly, at the eleventh hour? I find myself...dubious."
Despite the confrontational words the beast doesn't make any sort of aggressive movement, merely dipping its head and rumbling,
|I desire to test myself against the strongest, to find the limits of my strength...before us is a foe far greater than any before.|
Ah, I understand. He is much like Scáthach and Vali.
A battle maniac.
"He is speaking the truth, we can trust him..."
Lilith adds her own words and my two sisters relent, Gilgamesh turning to Vali, Dulio and Tobio, drolly asking, "And what about the other one? The more insane of these two lizards?"
"Dead. We took the opportunity of Trihexa's awakening to gang up and slaughter the monster before it had a chance to escape or cause further havoc."
Scáthach sighs, remarking, "A shame, I rather looked forward to finishing off that beast myself."
Tobio's tone is dry as he quietly mumbles, "I think there's plenty left over for all present..."
His words coincide with our initial target gradually hauling itself onto stable land, many heads glaring in our direction as a storm of smaller figures—the armors that were seen earlier—fly around it much like carrion birds would swarm over a battlefield.
"Altera, dear? Shall we thin the herd?"
I nod in agreement with Scáthach's offer, replying, "Amalgam Phantasm?"
"After such a lovely mana overcharge? I can think of no more perfect a time to do so."
Most heads turn towards us, even Gilgamesh curiously inquiring, "Amalgam Phantasm?"
We both begin our preparations, the Photon Ray rising high overhead as Scáthach states, "We have not been idle during our years of travel, Queen of Uruk. We always strove to hone our skills, to craft new and better ways of capitalizing on the second life we were gifted."
One of her spears is tossed high overhead, whirling madly and glowing with crimson power as she advises, "Prepare yourselves for a hard fought battle once the display is over...we shall have need of many hands."
Pointing the hilt of my faithful weapon towards the distant foes—the smaller ones, specifically—I channel mana into the Noble Phantasm, Scáthach standing close by as she does the same.
A slight nod is shared between us.
"Soaring Teardrop Ray!"
One of my sister's many spears shatters into a thousand fragments, countless fragments dotting the sky in front of the newly manifested array that denotes my own usage of a Noble Phantasm...and we begin.
Combining Noble Phantasms was Master's idea, based on his experiences with Irappu. If a Human could merge with a greater spirit, then could not two Heroic Spirits share facets of their legends?
Yes, we could. Noble Phantasms, for all their unique mysticism, are still our own abilities and we are free to use them as we please. All it takes is conviction and time to practice, something the vast majority of Heroic Spirits aren't allowed.
The burst of divine energy that spills forth from my own Noble Phantasm strikes the suspended fragments of Scáthach's spear, the blinding energy wavering briefly as its own effect and power is rewritten-
-and Marc's strength is divided into countless smaller beams of energy, twisting and winding across the sky in a manner reminiscent of needlework.
The strange armors accelerate to impressive speeds that a sprinting horse would be envious of, flying out of the path of the converging streams of light...and I continue to supply the conjoined Phantasm with mana, the tingling warmth of excess strength perfect for this situation as the Soaring Teardrop Ray abruptly twists, countless bands of illumination continuing to seek out their targets.
The end result is simple enough. Mark's divine power infused with my sister's ability to shift and bend causality, ensuring that the foe is struck as long as the technique is supplied a steady stream of kindling.
And strike our enemies it does, the armors unable to escape the whims of reality with mere speed as they are speared by the dozens then hundreds, each construct hit turning to ash and flame that begin to litter the ground with countless tiny bonfires.
The skies are clear now.
"...Most interesting."
Gilgamesh's impressed tone leaves Scáthach smirking, the rest of the gathered group blinking in surprise before Tobio snaps out of it, resignedly stating, "I don't suppose you can perform such a feat once more? It seems numbers are on our foes side today."
The young man speaks true, yet more of the armors rising from the crater, Trihexa itself rousing itself forward with the angry growl of a hunted beast, Scáthach and I sharing a nod as we prepare to once more burn them-
-and the land is suffused with golden light, thousands upon thousands of glowing portals dotting the sky as the Queen of Heroes grandly states, "I'm afraid I cannot allow my majesty to be outdone today, especially not after such a magnificent display...come, fellows! It seems we have a monster and its spawn to slay~!"
Oh. She sounds rather happy. But no matter, perhaps this battle will be over all the quicker for it.
An earth-shaking roar emanates from the beast we are to hunt and we march to battle.
Horatius
"Are you both ready? We get one shot at this."
[Ready for you to get off my property. I'm doing this one thing and then I'm outta here.]
"I shall fulfill my, part of the task."
"Alright then. In three, two, one...NOW!"
(NieR Automata – A Beautiful Song)
Tia's head darts for the whirling portal, terra on the other side nothing but calm waves and deep blue of the Mediterranean as she breaches the edge of the hole in reality-
-and Ophis perfectly times her move, employing her ability to bring forth dead universes she's devoured as instead of Earth we find ourselves orbiting a lifeless planetoid the size of Saturn, local sun a mere pinprick of light as the draconic head atop a writhing body of crimson mana pathways and midnight sludge looks around in confusion.
Got her.
"Red, your turn!"
[Yeah yeah, I know!]
I pause for a moment, allowing an image to rise to the fore of my shared mine with Irappu...and a presence just as domineering—if not even more so—than Irappu's suddenly seizes that image, rips it from my non-existent brain and breathes life into it.
On either side of Tia identical replicas of Jupiter waver into being as if they had always existed, kilometers upon kilometers of swirling gasses and howling storms, ripe for my exploitation seeing as how these celestial copies don't have a ruling consciousness in them like the Sol ones do.
[There, you've got what you wanted. Later.]
Without further comment both of the primordial Dragons return to the still swirling portal we arrived from, Ophis offering a very Human nod before vanishing.
...Primal forces of the natural order indeed. I've already seen the Ouroboros' in action but the DxD?
Dragon of Dreams is an apt descriptor if ever I've seen one, to simply take a mental image from my mind, comprehend it in full and with a simple twist of intent create it from nothing but raw power.
"Apologies in advance, Tia."
I reach out with Irappu's aid, imbue my sense of being with the makeup of the jovian giants...and push.
Much like a weightlifter bench-pressing a particularly heavy set the two planets begin to move, Tia's eyes widening as she makes to retreat once more into the portal she left behind-
-far too late.
Atmosphere heats, gasses ignite and through my connection with the two planetoids I can hear the scream and roar of fiery destruction that engulfs Tia's form, incinerating it on the spot and keeping the serpentine body from reforming and retreating back through the portal.
But for all of the destruction being displayed, for all the force that the two Jupiters exert on the Goddess and all the conceptual weight Irappu and I can bring to bear...it's nowhere near enough to truly kill her. The Sumerian Goddess has become something a bit greater than a mere Divine Spirit or God.
Being removed from the planet for so many years in a bit of folded reality that technically doesn't exist, implanting her essence within my body while mixing with Irappu...I think it's safe to say her life has become so diluted and disjointed that unless one could destroy her scattered body and mind—alongside the Divine Graph of whatever form she's currently occupying—she's effectively immortal.
…
As a matter of fact I'm counting on it.
I leave Irappu to continue crushing the two gas giants together, retreating inside my body and mind as I chase down the connection Tia had to open between us in order for this whole ordeal to happen in the first place.
That's where we'll truly settle things.
Darkness claims my vision, Human mind undergoing a shift in perception and location that it was never truly meant to handle-
-and when I come to I'm facing my olden lover from across a familiar sandbar and beach setting, where we always used to talk and revel in the experiences of the outside world. The only noticeable difference is that instead of a calm and cloudy sky the horizon is dominated by a starfield and solar inferno, the sight of dual Jupiter's slowly catching fire as their atmosphere's began to burn uncontrollably dominating the scene.
"You would pursue me across worlds, in a vain hope to divert what cannot be stopped?"
Tia stands atop the lapping waves, glowing lines of Divine Graph sheathing her lower body like a gown as delicate fingers curl inwards in an expression of agitation that doesn't match her placid words and expression.
"I'd chase you across galaxies, if that's what it took. And who said anything about an unstoppable plan? I've spent just under two centuries halting more doomsdays than one can shake a stick at."
A bitter expression crosses the Goddess's flawless features.
"You speak so lightly of doing the impossible, yet could never find a method to free me from this unbreakable prison."
"You're right, you know...but this is a second chance, Tia. One I never thought I would get. The opportunity to finally make right what I shouldn't have done in the first place."
A liberated smile pulls at my lips as I take a single step towards her, onto the soft and warm sand.
"I wouldn't waste it even if the lives of my home and everyone I care about on it wasn't at stake...because this time I'm not going to fail."
Prismatic orbs of exotic pink display, for the briefest of moments, ecstatic hope at my words before doubt and resignation once more takes hold.
"You cannot win, Horatius. Restrain my body within this dimension all you please...but unless you destroy my Graph through means I know you do not possess, I shall never be free of my purpose and desire."
A brief employ of Gradiation Air covers my body in my old armor, worn millennia ago when I was but a slave, decorated with my old motifs and insignia as I lower the wolf's head visor with a nostalgic clack.
"We'll see about that."
"...Please, Horatius. Do not throw away your life on a lost cause."
The blatant pleading in her voice—her, a Divine being begging and requesting rather than demanding—would in any other circumstance cause my will to crumble.
Not today.
"I'll be the judge of what cause is truly hopeless...as well as whether it's worth betting my life on."
Creatures begin to spill forth from the formless energy emanating from Tia's body, twisted beasts and shadowy figures that appear to be a hybrid of every demon and monster ever imagined on Earth, all snarling teeth and rending claws as they form a living barrier between me and the Goddess.
"And today...I'm all in."
There's a saying back on Earth, a motto often bandied about with both humor, reverence and wisdom, depending on the situation.
Beware an old man in a profession where men die young.
I never considered myself to be a particularly strong individual. Altera, Scáthach, Kischur and now Gilgamesh? They're strong. They command powers and abilities befitting their legends and work ethic, wielding esoteric strategies and skills I can scarcely comprehend. Even Irappu, as powerful it may be, is by no means an equalizer. It and I, when working in tandem, are more a blunt tool than we are a scalpel, a weapon of last resort when all other options have failed.
Were I ever to engage any of the aforementioned individuals directly without Irappu's aid it'd be a laughable stomp of a match.
…
But I've been alive for a long time. A long life that was begun in blood and combat, of fighting and occasionally killing my fellow man and woman to survive. Even if that life was eventually set aside in favor of more peaceable pursuits, even if those ingrained instincts became rusty with the long years I walked the planet...they never truly left, sharpened and honed several times over the course of my extended existence as battle was either found or sought me out.
And the more recent chapter of my life, of spending time with Altera and Scáthach, has only further increased my repertoire of martial and combat-related capabilities. You don't spend time sharing daily adventures and nightly dream cycles with warriors of their caliber without passively acquiring some of their tricks.
When it comes to pure battle experience and accumulated skills, leaving aside more mystic elements, I'm probably the most dangerous person on the planet.
And now I need to make use of every single one of those aforementioned techniques, as Tia's creatures swarm me from every conceivable angle.
While I doubt I could write a bestiary on the things—my sensing abilities aren't and likely never will be all that accomplished—I've seen my fair share of monsters and can recognize the basic characteristics.
Hardened skin and muscles, strong enough to rip an unarmored Human to pieces while withstanding blows in return from both blade and fist. Predatory instincts equal to that of the sharpest of hunters. Durability and hardiness that makes them all but immune to the touch of pain and disease.
…
They barely slow me down.
A lion's roar, powerful haunches launching the creature at my head with jaws wide...at least before a lantern shield snaps into existence along the length of my arm, feeding the thing a sliver of steel through the head as I let its spasming body pass overhead-
-a burst from an M60 rips off the legs of two enterprising leopard creatures, the smoking gun shoved into the throat of a charging rhino beast as I roll away in a spray of water and sand-
-an ox guard with a Gradiated claymore turns an ambitious snake being into shish kebab, a pirouette letting another beast's claws glance off my shoulder pauldron rather than tear my arm off, primed grenade exploding directly beneath it and turning its belly to mulched meat-
-a high thrust with a hooked spear catches a diving avian in the neck, rotation of my reinforced body slamming it into two of its fellows attempting to take me from behind, sawed-off shotgun landing in my palm and promptly splattering yet another monster's brains across the water-
-a whirling heel kick that brings my greave into the spine of a darting gorilla version, snapping it like wet wood as I hurl my shield like a frisbee into the jaws of a reptile variant, cutting deeply into its mouth and removing its threat.
The fighting is automatic, without thought or hesitation as I let instinct guide my feet, my hands, my weapons...a perfect symphony of blood and destruction as I advance step by brutal step towards my oldest love, glimpses of her features inbetween the killing and slaughtering a mix of despair, hope and disbelief.
...I can't even imagine what it must be like to be stuck in her position. Driven by inescapable instincts, consumed by a hunger that can't be sated by anything other than one specific course...all while desperately wishing that wasn't the case, watching someone who once betrayed your most wild hopes and dreams suddenly reappear, only to try again in such a ludicrous and seemingly impossible manner as to be laughable.
How could she not think what I hope to achieve is completely absurd? Suppose I do reach her, beat down her endless supply of monsters and protectors? What can I hope to achieve? Strike her with my mundane weapons, blow her up with purely physical explosives? I have no conceptual weapons more powerful than mere Black Keys and Irappu is busy keeping her physical body contained.
…
I step up the pace of my advance, arms whirling and legs dancing in an ever increasing tempo as I ignore the strain my muscles and bones undergo, even my vastly improved reinforcement unable to keep up with the requirements and strain of such an accelerated battle.
For all that I can do...this body is still Human. And Human's have limits.
Ten steps away, a rain of manifested grenades battering me with their percussive force as I trade immediate injury for space to move.
Five steps, a contortion of my waist that causes something in my side to crack as I wrap a panther's head within my arms, snapping it like a brittle board.
Two steps, a scorpion and moth hybrid finding a gap in my armor and perforating a lung as a dane axe splits its skull in two.
One step, our eyes of deepest night and vibrant pink briefly meeting as I reach outwards, placing a hand over her navel, right where her mark of divinity is located-
"Now."
-and my opposite palm closes around the handle of an ornate dagger as a multi-colored portal disgorges it, grim smile appearing on my bloodstained lips.
Thank you, Kischur.
I channel mana into the Noble Phantasm, ram it through my palm and into Tia…
The world stands still, her disbelieving eyes boring deeply into mine.
"I told you, didn't I? I'm not going to fail."
Rule Breaker shines with magical light as its effect takes hold, severing any and all Supernatural contracts it comes into contact with. Or, at least, that's what it's supposed to do. At the end of the day Rule Breaker was made by a Human with Human limitations in mind. Medea of Colchis was a gifted genius and superb mage, no doubt about that...but to sever the bonds between a divine spirit and the planet itself? A contract that has become all the more convoluted due to Tia being imprisoned in a separate space for so long while simultaneously existing with me, a unique being throughout the world's long history?
I'd have better luck trying to collapse a skyscraper with a plastic spoon.
…
But that's fine, Rule Breaker wasn't meant to completely tear apart this transcendent bond...it was just meant to open the door enough that I could jam a foot into the gap.
Irappu and I flood the now discernible contract between Tiamat and Gaia with our power, a flickering thread of light that trails from her Divine Graph to a distant location glowing brighter as I send out a call, a request through the Transcendent Spirit that reaches out to the planet itself.
...And it answers back.
Directly overhead, even as Tia's monsters fade away into mud and shadows and I offer up a triumphant grin something...appears.
Not Alaya, nor Gaia. No, what I need is something far greater than any of the individual wills of the world.
I need them both.
'World', the combined representation of both the planet and Humanity's will, gently hovers before both Tiamat and myself, the Goddess gaping openly at the rarely seen manifestation.
It's fairly unassuming, a simple orb the size of a basketball in the likeliness of Earth...but even from a distance I can tell that inscribed upon this thing are details beyond counting, that if I were to look at ever increased levels of magnification I would no doubt find it to be a perfect replica of the blue and green planet we reside upon, right down to the people inhabiting it.
My nature as a Human and Irappu's as a construct of Gaia, brought together through sheer chance and happenstance...and together we can reach out to the perfectly melded representation of both forces of the world, no friction or contention to be found in this form.
...Perfect.
I remove my hand and Rule Breaker, limp towards the gently orbiting World with bloodstained teeth bared in a victorious grin, stopping only when I can feel the attention of the alien mind settle on me, distant and removed curiosity emanating from the force of unified nature as I raise my head, shouting out my most desperate ploy to date.
"WORLD! I WISH TO MAKE A CONTRACT!"
Dormammu, I've come to bargain!
Was tempted to copy that bit directly but eventually decided it would be a bit out of context, sorry, Strange.
But a lot of ideas that I've tossed around in the ol' grey matter showed up this chap, Amalgam Phantasms, a unified Alaya and Gaia...and more planet-shredding goodness.
Tune in next Chap as the aftermath of the insanity is concluded!