Unmei Force: Inherited Wills
Prologue: The Passage of Eternity
In the GFS Ryujin...
Richard was preparing himself, as he was slowly adjusting his own magician robes, as well as placing the silver gauntlets on, while he had the complete X-Stone placed on the table in front of him. While he was gearing himself up, he was left pondering about how the situation has turned into what it was now.
"All this world-jumping... All of it..." Richard muttered to himself. "It all comes to this, a final trial to acquire what lies within the lands that this stone holds as key to... I've spent so long in those worlds, melding with the natural world around me... Only once, did I break my own routine of masquerading our identities... And that was before the heroes..."
Richard then sighed, before he then clicked his gauntlets on, finishing up on his gearing-up. "It doesn't matter though. Once we get there, and succeed in the trials that lie in wait for us... Everything will be worth it. Perhaps Gensokyo is doomed regardless... Perhaps I'm chasing a vain goal..." He continued, before he then clenched his fists. "But I refuse to idly stand by and do nothing, especially with all it took to get this far. I have put more than just time and effort into this quest, and I have gained more than just stones. Power for my friends... Future allies... Knowledge of the multiverse around us... They'll all only make the aftermath of all of this much more comforting for all of us."
Suddenly, Richard's communicator rang with a shrill ring-tone, before he then pressed it on. "Report." He simply stated.
"Commander, we are in sight of the destination located." The executive officer of the base responded back. "It seems to be quite small, only a large space-bound island in the middle of open space. But we cannot deny that the power reading emanating from it is far beyond what your normal scanners can take. We doubt even the exponential-power scanners could even be able to properly scan the power within. I guess that all that I could say, is that if we're looking for raw power, this is a real jackpot."
"I understand. But we have other goals on the island. Prepare a transport ship, and a small escort force to protect it, lest any unwelcome visitors try to intrude in our affairs." Richard responded back.
"Your wish is my command." The XO humbly responded back, before Richard turned it off.
Richard then walked over to the weapon-stand, where both of his blades were laid, as they have been maintained after all the battles down at the previous world, picking them up, and sheathing them behind his back, before heading out.
Inside the hangar of the space fortress...
Richard went out to the hangar, as the transport spaceship was already in place at one of the runways, while the rest of the group were there, including Erika, who was no longer a simple hologram, as she seemed to be here in proper flesh and blood. The other person of interest, was Flora, who was quite curious about all of the various youkai races moving along, and acting like a modern army, which turned her views of the fantasy creatures on its head.
"Oh my... It has only been around a week since I have been placed in this... fortress of yours, and I am still amazed at what I am seeing." Flora remarked. "It seems to look all unnatural, yet I can still sense the flow of natural energy within each being, and that there is very little chaotic darkness in this area. I do wonder how you are able to lead such a astonishing army, at such a young age."
"I'm older than I look, Flora. Let's just say that my rank as a Lieutenant Colonel, a modern equivalent to a battalion commander, is earned through blood, sweat, tears, and tactics. You'll need a long, long time, to get used to all of this unfamiliar technology, I'm afraid. If it comforts you, Elma and Ieyasu had the same problems before." Richard responded back with a smirk, before turning to Erika. "I take it that the heads of technology managed to get the job done? How does it feel to be back in the real world, in flesh and blood, although you're still sort of digital data as a Digimon?"
"It almost feels the same as back when I was an actual person." Erika answered back, examining her own body. "However, there is still that feeling that I can't simply describe or properly feel, that flows along my body. Perhaps that the digital part of my own body spreading itself and slowly melding with my actual form?"
"...So, you've called us all here." Fox stated, as he glances over the entire group briefly. "And you actually called ALL of us here, not a single active member left behind. You must be quite concerned for what we're going to face down there?"
"Not that I'm expecting heavy opposition. A smaller squad of us could still handle it, so all of us would be an overkill in the standard case, even with our findings." Richard responded back. "No, the reason I need you all here, is because I have a feeling that these trials we're about to face... They're going to need the abilities and talents of every single one of us."
"What...?" Reimu asked back. "How can you be so sure?"
"...I can't exactly describe the reason." Richard answered back, shaking his head gently. "Maybe it's the one directing the trials, subconsciously guiding me to do this, so that the trials are properly done?"
"Either way, we're all gathered here." Corrin answered back. "And we are prepared for what is to come, no matter what."
"Yeah, this is what we've been doing all this time, right?" Antonio remarked, back in his hedgehog form. "It's nothing different. We've got your backs, like you got ours. So don't worry about it, none of us are going to chicken out, just because it feels a little wrong."
Richard smiled, before he then beckoned the group to board the ship, as they took their seats, while Reisen and Gus helped to lock down the restraints for Elma, Flora and Erika first. As the pilot of the transport ship ignited the ship's engine, Richard could hear the sound of many other engines rumbling into action, as most of the group were aware that those were the escort ships that were protecting them on their journey to the enigmatic island.
"Man... I never thought I would miss the feeling of this, although it has only been a few months..." Marisa stated. "The feeling of enjoying a good ride on a ship."
"I guess that part of you never left you, even after the war, right?" Gus chuckled gently, as Richard barked in hard laughter, while Marisa scoffed with a embarrassed expression.
The transport ship then took flight, as it left the hangar, and right into the vast outer space, with the sizeable escort following around it, actively seeking out unknown targets, to identify and destroy if needed be. Thankfully, the trip was safe and uneventful, as the ship managed to reach the island quickly, before it then started its descent down on the surface of the island.
Strangely, the island seemed to have a transparent layer of energy, that acted like some sort of barrier, yet it allowed the transport ship and its escort to enter without any resistance. However, it was noted, from the environmental sensors on the ship itself, inside of it was a environment sustainable for human life, with sufficient oxygen and carbon dioxide to maintain a proper atmosphere of a habitable area.
After the ship had landed on the ground, the rear hatch opened, as the group stepped out of the large vehicle, and onto slightly worn stone. When they all turned around to gaze at the environment around them, they were surprised to see that the area around them seemed to be a mixture of lush environments, with tall trees surrounding the two sides of the path, and lively grass dotted around the area. The path they stood on, was made of shaped and worn stone, as they followed it along with their eyes, before it reached a large entrance made of black metal-alloy, with linear energy-veins around the edges of the large entrance.
"Odd..." Reisen remarked, seeing how the futuristic entrance clashed with the natural environment around them. "This thing before us is definitely not made of natural magic, or at least not without combining it with technology..."
"Your point being...?" Velouria asked back.
"She means that there is more to these grounds than what meets the eye." Gus answered back. "After all, I doubt that the task-master of these trials is merely well-informed about merely about elements of fantasy realms, but also the world of technology and sci-fi, and the intersection between both worlds, with how it looks."
"Doesn't change the facts that we're going ahead. It just means that the one holding the trials knows how to account for every single of us." Richard stated, before he then started walking along the path. "Come on."
The group followed him, as they made their way to the front of the entrance. Just right in front of the large sealed doors, was a pedestal with a familiarly-shaped imprint in the middle of it. Without any words, Richard pulled out the prismatic X-Stone, before he then slotted it in the hole, as a perfect fit. What happened after was the stone glowing brightly, as energy veins lit up with the same energy, as it flowed right into the doors, as they slid open with a loud, but muffled hiss.
Everyone descended down the stairs, which followed the futuristic setting of the entrance, as the edges of the stairs were glowing red, as there was white lights illuminating the path down. It took them a while to get to the bottom of the long staircase, but they managed to reach it, where another door lied. This one didn't require anything to activate, as Fox gently touched it, and it slid open.
It led them right into a large circular room, with an amount of doors for almost every member of the group to take one door each, as one of them would need two people, accounting the splitting involved. Right in the centre of the room itself, was a large circular console, which seemed to look like a holographic panel, except there was only hand-print scanners along the edge. Connecting between the large console and the various doors, were inactive energy lines on the ground, with one door having two energy lines connected to it. Each line was connected to a circular pad on the panel itself, and the entire room was mostly barren of any features, save for that, except for the large circular thin gap around the console itself.
"The hell is all of this...?" Reimu asked, before she then looked around, seeing the doors and the console. "Is this some sort of meeting room, because that's what it looks like to me."
"I think it's more of a central hub, with all those doors.' Antonio argued.
"Either way, we should look around for any clues, about what we should do-" Richard was about to say, before the top of the console glowed a bright blue, as it alerted the entire group. "What the..!?"
Before their eyes, they saw millions upon millions of grain-sized light particles spread out over the console itself, before those particles then condensed together quickly to form the holographic counterpart of a person, with the top of the console still lit up. Not only that, but the hand-print scanners suddenly roared into motion.
The person before them, seemed to have only half a face, with only a mouth and chin, the rest of it shadowed with a fading effect towards the top of the rest of the body was fine, as they could see that the person was dressed in a scientist's lab-coat, with long boots and leather gloves. It was hard to tell if the hologram itself was a male or female, before it spoke.
"Welcome, welcome, all of you." The hologram spoke in a digitalised male voice, that seemed to be quite casual, as it bowed gently in greetings. "It seems that you have come here as I have predicted. I would congratulate you for acquiring all the X-Stones and finding me, but you all are most aware that the trials have not ended, right? They are almost at the end, but a final set of challenges lie in wait for you. If you emerge victorious over them, I shall grant you what you have come for, and more."
"Well, could you at least give us some instructions to go with all of this?" Fox asked. "Because I don't think that we've got any clue for what those doors are for."
"Calm yourself down, Fox Mccloud. I was about to get to that." The hologram responded back, as it shocked several people, especially Fox, when the hologram addressed him already.
"How-" Link started to ask the hologram.
"-Do I know?" The hologram cut off, finishing off the question, before then flipping its hands and arms around to shrug. "Well, if I'm going to properly give you a fitting trial for each of you, not knowing each of you is a no-no. As for how I know it... Well, let's just say that I have my own ways, and I assure you that I didn't use any underhanded means of acquiring it. Now, regarding the trials... Those doors are your way to your trials. Most of you are individually separated to meet your designated trial head-on, with an exception. Who are involved into this exception, I will show you later."
"Just a few questions..." Elma stated, as the hologram turned to her. "...What are the trials that you are going to put each of us through? And who are you, mister?"
"Ah, you shall have your answers." The hologram responded back cheerfully. "I guess there's no point hiding what type of trials you're all facing. It's a straight-up fight with your matched opponent. I assure you, you'll find that your opponent is tailored to test you and your limits hard. It's magic vs. magic, fist vs. fist, weapon vs. weapon, same-type matching. Well, except for the one exception. And to answer the other question, you can just call me DW for now. For what it stands for, as some of you are racking your heads to figure out already, you'll know eventually."
"So, hypothetically speaking." Marisa asked back. "For someone like me, you're likely going to be putting another witch against me. That's what you're saying.'
"A simple example, although my pairings for you all are more complex than your standard roles. I have taken into account other factors as well." The hologram stated. "But why tell, when I can show. We might as well get this show off the road, before you guys start getting cold feet or second thoughts."
By the circular panels, holograms of each of the members appeared. "If you would please stand where your image is, and then placed your hand on the hand-print scanner in front of you." The hologram instructed. "Once you've done that, you'll know which door is set as your trial, indicated by the line of light that will appear behind you."
The group did what they were asked to do, as the less tech-savvy of the group hesitated for a moment, before seeing the others make their way to their positions, making the rest of them do what the hologram, DW as he calls himself, told them. Once everyone was on their positions, and pressed a hand onto the hand-print scanner, the circular device glowed brighter, before the energy lines below them lit up, as the energy moved along to the door, which then lit up brightly when the energy reached its destination. As soon as the process was done, the group turned around to see their respective energy line pointing to their destination. Richard and Gus, who was standing next to each other in the circle of members, were both surprised to see that their energy lines were pointing to a single door, causing them to look at each other in confusion, before it turned to understanding.
"Right then, it is all set." DW chuckled. "Just a word of note, before you all make your way to the trials. You can't take any grievous wounds or die in these trials, but you will be ejected if you are deemed too weak and damaged to fight, or you are forced into forfeit. Although this doesn't mean that if one of you fails their individual battle, you all fail, it's best that you all win. Only those who have win, have the right to challenge a failed trial themselves, and that will take a while, with the intense fights you'll all have."
"Geez, glad to hear that being beaten into a bloody pulp is allowed here..." Antonio sarcastically grumbled.
"Right then... I guess that this is where we divide and conquer." Richard stated, turning to everyone. "I know that we work well as a team, but don't underestimate your own individual strength. You all are capable of raising hell, so go and kick ass and show them that the Unmei Force are something to be reckoned with."
"Okay then, see you when the battle's over." Marisa grinned, before she then made her way to her door, as it slid up, allowing her to walk through it, before it then closed, as the light faded from it, indicating that it was locked.
"You better not be the one ending up dragging us back." Velouria growled at Richard, as she made her way to her door. "I doubt that you have an easy fight for yourself."
"We will be awaiting the good news." Reisen saluted back at Richard, as she entered her trial door.
"Don't worry, Richard. Even if we aren't together... We'll all make it through." Corrin spoke with a hopeful tone, as she left as well.
"Richard... Gus... I wish you good luck in your own battle." Flora smiled at the duo, before she then followed through her door.
Elma looked at both Richard and Gus for a moment, before Richard then nudged his head slightly, smiling gently, as if encouraging the young demoness to go on. Elma returned the smile, before she then went through her door with a determined expression. The rest of the group entered through their doors, until Richard and Gus were the only ones remaining.
"Richard..." Gus muttered.
"Don't say anything. Don't want to jinx ourselves, do we?" Richard remarked. "Let's see what we're up against. I doubt that you got anything that would be able to handle a tag-team between the two of us. Out of all possible pairs... We're one of the strongest in this group, so you better hope you have a decent challenge ready."
The two of them entered through the last door, as DW watched them leave, before a smirk appeared on his lips.
"Oh... You'll be surprised at what kinds of challenges I'll be providing, my friend." DW smirked. "After all, you've got a equally destructive enemy that you and your companion will be against. Either way, this will be interesting to see... Have your friends gotten stronger under your wing... Or have they stagnated in the peaceful moments away from the battlefields... Time to see the results."
DW then disappeared, leaving the large circular room barren and silent.