The Thirteenth Order
Chapter XII: Release of Light and Shadow
Valhalla…
(BGM: Persona 3 – Sake Rare no Tatakai)
A lance was thrust into the side of a Skeleton. The holder pulled back then pivoted on their left foot, dragging the Skeleton along and around, to be then riddled with multiple arrows before being lifted, then slammed backwards into the ground behind the holder.
Hrist sneered as she noted the attacks were barely hurting it, even when infused with energy. Slowly twirling her spear, she pulled back and thrust forward once, spun on the tip of her left toe, jabbing it in the stomach with a backwards thrust, then flipping it around her while righting herself, delivering a final, more powerful thrust to its midsection.
It was then that Lenneth, the eldest of the three Valkyrie sisters, slid towards the Skeleton, knocking it off its feet and then delivering a deadly vertical slash to its torso, followed by an equally deadly horizontal swing at its neck. The combined attacks finally broke through, and the creature fell to the ground in a spray of green blood and then disintegrated.
All over the Hall of the Gods, Einherjar and even Gods were battling these creatures. Even Freya's potent beams were barely inflicting any damage. And then there were the newcomers…
Sora, Kairi, Riku, Roxas and Alicia had all arrived after Alicia somehow teleported off the ship and entered the fray. Even with her new training, it wasn't enough to stave off such a massive flow of Mindless. Even Odin was beginning to feel the strain.
"Blasted demons! How is it we've not yet slain their ranks?!"
Alicia frowned as she ducked under the swing of a giant armored man-demon. Her sword did little, for every time she swung it would guard with the gigantic shield it had on its left arm, and counter with that huge sword. She tried kicking it…but it just hurt her foot and almost got her split in two from its amused swing.
Kairi and the others were fairing a tad bit better. Mostly Kairi due to her new power. Though faint and few at this point, she could still see the Death Lines on her targets. Arms and legs, and occasionally heads went flying with every swing she made. Her skill had indeed improved, but the deciding factor was definitely her power. Alicia would admit, she was a tad bit jealous of Kairi. Kairi's eyes were the same as Zero's, if a bit weaker, and they also held that mental connection. Alicia flushed slightly at that, as the question of whether that meant every thought flowed through her mind. Distracted as she was, she narrowly evaded a swing from the giant.
Damn…at this rate…we're going to tire before we beat these things! Even with this sword…I'm not strong enough…Zero…if you were here…you'd be able to finish these monsters off! But…you're not…and I have to fight alone again…even Silmeria…Hrist…and Lenneth…even Odin himself isn't strong enough! Sora…Riku…Kairi…and Roxas…they're better at defeating these monsters because of their weapons and skills…but my spells aren't strong enough…I haven't regained my old skills…I'm weak and I hate it! I want to be stronger, I AM stronger…I just…can't feel it… Zero…please…help me…help me be stronger…help me beat these things!
Unknown…
"Damn…she's not doing too well. Fuck…I gotta do it." Floating through a Dark Corridor, Zero motioned. A glowing orb of white light appeared in his hands. "Alright you. I wanted your power for myself, cause God knows I could use another Light ability…but there's someone out there who needs your power more than I do. Go to her, she will be your new master. I won't get there in time enough to help her, but you can, and you will. So help me if something happens to her because you didn't feel like obeying a human, let alone a female, I will rend your soul asunder and leave naught but your power left."
The orb lifted out of his hands and rocketed off into the distance.
Hang in there Alicia…I'm almost there… "That may be, but when you DO get there, you have something else you have to do first…the plan must continue if we are to destroy another." I know. At least I can help them before I do it…
No sooner did she make that mental plea, did the creature in front of her knock her away with its shield arm.
"ALICIA!"
She groaned and looked up. Everything seemed to slow. The Mindless giant had its sword raised over its head. Silmeria…Lenneth…even Hrist started running to the girl, trying to reach her before it did. The sword came down. Slowly, as if through water, the world moved. And then…moments before the giant slab of metal molded into a weapon impacted on her body of flesh and blood…a glowing sphere appeared in between them, engulfing the girl with blinding white.
"Wh-what?"
"Girl who's soul resonates with the power of Creation…I am Beowulf, third guardian of the demon tower. I have been sent to assist you in your battle against the Unknown. Will you allow me to fight by your side?"
"Sent…Zero…sent you?"
"The one who bears the soul of Existence gave of me this task. If it is your will, I shall grant you my strength eternal."
"Please…help me…"
"Very well. Take my blessing and go forth, child of Creation. May your foes forever quiver in fear of the strength of your brilliance."
All this, happened in the span of a second. When things picked back up, the sword came down on the glowing girl, only to be halted with a mighty clang. The light bent and twisted and then wrenched itself away, dispersing and leaving behind Alicia…with the sword caught between her arms…arms that bore strange grey gauntlets with glowing white lines.
(BGM: Devil May Cry 3 – Arkham Battle 2)
She gave a shout and thrust her arms out, forcing the giant to stumble. She pulled her right fist back and kicked off the ground, delivering a jaw shattering right hook to its face, the force of the blow toppling it. She flipped over and everyone saw a pair of greaves on her feet, in the same style as her gauntlets, looking like an animal's hind legs. She made three rotations and brought her right heel down on the center of the demon's chest, causing it to give a pain-filled roar and then burst into a spray of blood and energy.
Seeing the new threat, the other creatures all charged for her. In a move that surprised everyone, she just smiled. This…this is the power I've been wishing for…something that can push me beyond just being a psudo-valkyrie…something that would make me…me!
As the creatures charged her she spoke.
"I am Princess Alicia of the Kingdom of Dipan…" She placed her right leg behind her, balling her fists and tensing her muscles.
"And I'm gonna kick your sorry asses into next week!"
As a group descended upon her, she gave a small hop and slammed her fist into the ground. A split second later, a massive pillar of light erupted from where she stood, engulfing both her and the creatures…but only the creatures were effected, their bodies being ripped to shreds from the force of the maneuver.
She wasn't done yet though.
Alicia kicked off the ground, utilizing both Shukuchi and natural speed to make her way to the next biggest Mindless demon. She pushed off the ground with her right foot, pulling herself into a tight spinning motion. After a few revolutions she extended her left foot, slamming it into the face of a boar-like creature. It snarled in pain as she landed only to pivot on her left foot and smash it in the gut with her right. The roundhouse kick forced it to stumble back slightly, and the girl then jumped in the air…and something strange happened.
A white glyph, comprised of three circles with parts of them overlapping, forming a triangular shape appeared beneath her feet, and propelled her even higher. She curled into a ball spinning rapidly, and then extended her right leg, slamming it down on the monster's skull…and carving straight through its entire body like a knife. The demon split in half and then burst into particles.
It was then that a bunch of Skeletons and Lizardmen tried to jump her…but she was prepared. Combining her Valkyrie abilities with the new enhancement to her Light element gained from the weapon she wore, a faint light appeared on her back as she curled into a ball again…energy swirling around her.
"Blasted demons…"
The light intensified and seemed to form four points on her back.
"BE GONE!"
She instantly extended her arms and legs, forcing the small orb of energy around her outwards. The energy became a pillar of light with three faint rings of power around it as four shining white wings emerged from her back in a flurry of feathers.
Though still ethereal, like the Valkyrie's wings, they seemed brighter…more solid somehow.
"Four wings?! How is she doing this?!"
Alicia quickly proved that the wings weren't just for show. With a few flaps, she launched herself for the nearest group of demons. Spinning her body, she landed a right kick to the side of a Lizardman's head, which was followed by a left heel in the chest of an Ogre, then succeeded by a backhand to the face of a Skeleton. She flew straight into the face of a Marcellus the giant armored man-demon shattering its shield with a single punch and then following up with a series of blindingly fast strikes that left behind impressive looking dents in its armor. The maneuver knocking the demon-man off balance, she flapped again, took to the air and drove her foot into its chest before throwing her weight backwards, forcing herself into an arc where she crushed the Marcellus' jaw with her other foot.
The demon was launched into the air where Alicia appeared in front of it, fist glowing. She pulled back and then swung forward, not only impacting the man-demon, but sending a rather large wave of light energy down to the ground as well.
She landed and gathered her remaining power. Beneath her, a small glyph appeared as glowing pink feather shaped energy particles flowed around her.
"Sacred light, shine down upon my foes and rend their souls for time eternal!"
She swung her arm to the ground, incanting the name of the spell she wish to cast.
"Judgment!"
The area seemed to blacken. Beams of piercing white erupted from glowing rifts in the air, slamming down upon the ground and incinerating all Mindless they touched. With this last spell…she eradicated the remains of the army.
"It would seem he was correct…you are quite worthy…"
The wings faded from Alicia's back as she fell to her knees, panting. Kairi and the others rushed over to her aid.
"Ok, I'm not impressed that often, but damn you did a crazy job there Alicia."
Alicia gave a faint smile and nodded…then her eyes went wide with horror. The others whirled around to see all the particles of Mindless they destroyed gathering together into one giant creature. It looked like a much eviler version of the Marcellus.
"Oh…crap."
(BGM: .hack game music perfect collection – Phase 1: Skeith)
Suddenly the world darkened again.
"Tenkou mitsukuru tokoro ware wa ari."
A purple glyph appeared beneath the armored demon, comprised of straight lines in a cross formation, with giant circles between the lines.
"Yomi no mon hiraku tokoro nanchi ari."
The circles pulsed with light, and beams of energy lanced up from them. The beams seemed to arc their way and come together above the armored being, which was staring skyward in confusion. The now single giant beam fired into the sky…a sky now marred with dark black clouds crackling with electricity.
"Ide yo! Kami no Ikazuchi!"
The clouds seemed to spiral around the point where the beam entered, a purple mist appearing around the ring of clouds.
"INDIGNATION!"
A massive lance of forked purple lightning instantly shot down from the ring of clouds. The sheer level of intensity of the electrical attack instantly incinerated the man-demon, leaving nothing behind but a small crater.
As the hall returned to normal, amazed and fearful looks on both God and Einherjar alike, a single figure stood.
"Zero!"
The young warrior raised his head, a strange look in his eyes. He took one step and then seemed to blur out of existence for a split second, suddenly appearing much closer to the group than before.
"Whoa, how'd you-
Alicia suddenly tensed. Zero raised his hand…and then flung it to the side. A sudden pulse of energy ripped through the group, knocking them all to random points of the chamber. He blurred again. Kairi gave out a sharp cry.
"Kairi?!"
They all looked up and saw Zero with his hand inside Kairi's chest. The girl had an agonized look on her face, tears streaming down her cheeks…eyes pleading with Zero to stop…whatever it was he was doing. He simply gave her a cold blank look, and slowly withdrew his arm. But from the glowing rift inside her chest came not just his hand…but his hand containing a small black sphere with a white gem inside it. Kairi dropped to the ground in pain, clutching her chest.
Zero stepped away from her and Riku tried to attack but suddenly froze in mid-air. Zero turned his head to look at him, and Riku was repelled flying at an extremely fast pace into a pillar where he bounced off and landed on his face.
An aura of black surrounded Zero.
"If you want answers…come to where the Mage stole the Sacred Lance and defeated the God."
A dome of black surrounded and engulfed him…and when it disappeared, he did as well.
Kairi slowly got to her feet, as did the others. Sora immediately ran over to Kairi as Roxas pulled Riku to his feet.
"You ok?"
"Yeah…damn, my back hurts though…"
"Kairi! Kairi what did he do to you?"
"I…I don't know…it…it just hurt. I don't feel any different…What do you think Naminé?" Nothing. Naminé? Naminé answer me! Then it dawned on her. "He…he did something to Naminé!"
"What?"
"He said if we want answers…but…what the hell was he talking about?!"
Odin cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention.
"I believe he was referring to Yggdrasil…the tree of life. Perhaps he has fled to the top of Yggdrasil."
"Where is this place?"
Alicia cut in. "It's not far from here, in fact very close. But it's dangerous…many traps and Divinity Voids exist along the way. I'll come with you since I know the way."
"So will we!" Silmeria spoke. "I want to see for myself the power this human wields…that he would be able to eliminate in one attack that which would have taken all of our power."
The other Valkyrie nodded. "I shall accompany you as well. If he knows this world's past…he may know something else of interest for us."
"But…Lord Odin-
"It will be fine Freya. I trust you can keep this place safe for now on your own?"
"Y-yes…my Lord."
After a series of nearly deadly traps…they finally made it to the top. A beautiful plateau of crystalline objects floating in the ether.
"Amazing…"
"Damn, there's nobody here…"
"I wouldn't say that…"
A voice Sora and the others knew well spoke. A figure stepped out from behind a crystal pillar.
"Naminé!"
The girl looked different however. Where she once wore a white spaghetti strap dress, it was now black, decorated with strange looking markings. Her hair had grown, down to the small of her back, and was pulled into a ponytail with two bangs framing her face.
Kairi ran to hug the girl but time seemed to slow as Naminé glowed a faint yellow.
雷 (Ikazuchi: Thunder/Lightning)
Suddenly, Kairi jumped back as a giant obstruction in the shape of a bolt of lightning colored yellow appeared in her path, crackling with electricity.
"What the heck was that?!"
"Her new power."
From behind another pillar came Zero.
"What did you do to Naminé?!"
"I did nothing but give her what she wanted…and then some."
(BGM: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann – Nikopol)
風 (Kaze: wind)
A sudden pulse of air knocked Sora, Riku and Roxas backwards into Alicia's group.
光 (Hikari: Light)
Suddenly a wall of energy appeared between them. Naminé raised her right arm and a weird looking Keyblade appeared in her hand. Her eyes narrowed at Kairi who was looking very confused.
"N-Naminé…what are you doing?"
"I'm going to prove myself. I will no longer be your shadow…I will be myself!"
She glowed red.
火 (Hi: fire)
Kairi jumped out of the way as a giant sphere of red engulfed where she stood, its arrival accompanied by a brief flash of an infinity symbol.
迅 (Jin: fast)
Naminé suddenly appeared in front of Kairi, arm pulled back. In moments, the blonde swung her weapon, smashing Kairi in the face and knocking her into the wall of light. The redhead ducked under the follow up attack and narrowly evaded a stream of light that arced its way from Naminé's hand.
"Wait a minute…that looks…that's that Knight's Keyblade!"
Riku and the others looked at Sora. "Knight?"
"Yeah, this guy in like…golden armor! Man he was tough! He kept going on about Xehanort and stuff, but his Keyblade was intense!"
Further examples were given as Kairi tried to make an attack on Naminé, only to be knocked back by a ring of swirling energy that erupted from where the blonde slammed the keyblade onto the ground. The blonde then flicked her wrist, turning the keyblade into an energy whip again. The stream of light wrapped around Kairi's ankle and slammed the girl into the ground. Naminé glowed dark blue.
雨 (Ame: rain)
Out of nowhere, a torrent of rain fell from the sky. Kairi tried to get up only to gasp in horror as Naminé glowed yellow again.
雷
Like before, a giant yellow lightning bolt slammed into the ground…only this time, Kairi was horribly electrified as at once, all the moisture in both air and water carried the electrical currents to her, the massive buildup of energy knocking her into the air.
Naminé glowed green.
結 (Ketsu: bind)
A group of green vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around Kairi's body, holding her in place. Naminé then flipped her keyblade over, holding it by the striking end. The hilt split in two and opened up like a container of sorts. Rings of light appeared around the hilt and slightly in front of it as a giant orb of energy formed in between the two openings.
"It ends here!"
The orb of power launched itself and slammed into Kairi, who loosed a pained scream of agony. There was a small explosion and the barrier of light shattered…and Kairi dropped to the ground.
"KAIRI!" Sora and Riku ran over to the fallen redhead while Roxas just looked at Naminé.
"What's your deal Naminé?! Why'd you do that?"
From everywhere, but nowhere, a voice that few recognized rang out.
"What does it matter? She performed admirably for someone who just recently acquired such power…"
From a glowing rift came a man with brown hair down to just below his ears, glasses…and the purplest outfit any of them had ever seen.
"Impossible!"
"And yet here I am. You fools…I told you I was a God…I cannot be defeated so easily!"
Alicia spoke the name of the man before them…the man that had caused her so much grief and trouble.
"Lezard…Valeth…"
WHOO! Alright! Lezard's back! But wait…where did Zero go? Why did Naminé suddenly flip out like that? And where the HELL did she learn those moves?!
RCRS: Zero Shinzaki. He doesn't have a middle name, but his nickname is "Shinigami" AKA God Slayer. At times he'll also go by the name Xenmaru, but that's only when he's REALLY pissed or undercover. He's roughly 19 and…well…I can't think of any obsessions really…but he's really good in fights. Like, he can take stuff he saw in a game or movie, and duplicate it pretty well. And he always makes jokes related to games and movies, sometimes confusing enemies with random quotes or phrases from them. So yeah, he's a gaming nerd at heart.
Oh and he prefers torturing those who did wrong, rather than killing them. Like, if it's a human and they say…killed ten children, he'd throw them into an eternal nightmare where all the children they killed turn around and just stab, shock, burn, drown...the living FUCK out of them. Oh and he's lazy. Unless it comes to people he cares about or a job, he's really lazy. He'll get up and make his own food and stuff, but he won't get up and walk a couple paces to grab the remote or something, he'd just levitate it over.
D&S Master: Not so much Chains of Fate…more so…magical binds placed by the other gods. You've probably figured out who the speaker is…but perhaps not who Zero's voice is…
Alright, only a few minutes left till work. CHALLENGE! See if you can spot and name the references in this chapter! One's kinda vague; the other's pretty damn obvious! Also, I hope you have SHIFT+JIS. It adds to the chapter pretty well…