Chapter 39: The Final Charge Part I - The Beast within the Council!
(Author's added: Every SINGLE school idols that participated in the Sunny Day PV.)
Previously on Darksiders: Frozen Assets
Back on Earth
"You'll be hunted! The White City for certain...the Council...and there will be others! You would wage this war alone?!" Uriel shot out in concern.
War clenched the shattered fragments of the Seventh Seal by his right hand and replied with a deep voice.
"No..." said War raised his right hand up high.
"Not alone..." he continued, just as three comet and two mini-comets descended upon the skies.
Uriel saw two mini comets surrounding the green comet.
"Two mini-comets...that means..." the Hellguard Commander's eyes widened.
With the Seventh Seal broken, it summoned the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, along with two female figures beside Death's left.
"War...my Brother. It's good to have you back..." Death gave a bro-fist towards the Red Rider.
"And to you too...Death." War simpered.
"What about the two women? Who are they?" Strife wondered.
"Long story...you impatient brat." Death snarled.
Uriel's eyes widened as a smile crept upon her face...
"Chris...Alito..." she smiled.
"War...meet Chris and Alito. Chris and Alito, meet War, Strife, and Fury." Death introduced.
"It is an honor to meet the Four Horsemen in all their full glory." Chris simpered as she bowed along with Alito.
"Death...what is this?" War wondered.
Chris and Alito recalled their original purpose for coming to this world - to destroy Corruption that threatened to terrorize with dimensional disruption.
"I spent a way to help you prove your innocence by reviving humanity...and these women helped me along the way. You sure got yourself into plenty of trouble, huh?" Death nodded as he shared his main experiences with Chris and Alito.
After finding out that Chris and Alito assisted with the pale Rider throughout the journey, the Red Rider extended his right hand to the two women.
"To help my brother deal with a very dangerous threat to the balance is something few people can tolerate. Chris...Alito...thank you for assisting my brother through the journey he ventured. And to think you do it out of a wish for your parents' last will...You have my respect, honored one." War nodded.
"We're kinda surprised...After the Charred Council's betrayal, I thought you will believe we are doing it for ulterior motives too; I can't blame you if you think this way...being betrayed is certainly not the way to go..." Chris shook her head and clenched her fists.
"If my brother can develop respect for you throughout, there's no denying why. For that reason we will respect you; whom can reap respect from Death...reaps respect from me." War nodded softly.
"We're just happy that you and your brothers are finally reunited. That is more than enough to comfort us." Chris simpered.
"Fury...Strife, it's an honor to meet you too." Chris and Alito nodded.
"I will give you that...thanks..." Strife grunted.
War nodded softly once more.
"Fancy that! Women adventurers helping us out...if that damned Council think that humans are a joke, they did think twice about that now!" Fury chuckled.
"Speaking about the Charred Councils...we already know about the Charred Councils betrayal through the Crowfather back at the Well of Souls." Death frowned.
War frowned as he clenched his fists, crackling with fire and blood.
"It is not Abaddon who tricked me, it is the Charred Council. They know that the Angel of Destruction will betray the White City and laugh at the Councils' faces, but they could not send for us for they thought we would not obey due to reasons of assassination." War frowned.
"So...the Charred Council tricked you into believing that the Seventh Seal was broken by giving out 'The Call' right?" Chris frowned.
"Yes...Because they knew I would find the ones responsible for kick-starting the Apocalypse." War nodded.
"So they tricked you...they manipulated you. And here we are, thinking that Abaddon is the one responsible for all of this?!" Strife clenched his fists.
"The time of the Council is coming to an end...I always have a belief that this will happen; I just did not expect it to be THAT soon..." Death frowned.
"What do you mean, brother?" War wondered.
"It means your demise is absolute, and not us!"
A deep growling voice shattered the atmosphere, a voice of authority and accusatory tone rose the four, Chris, Alito, Uriel, and the Hellguards' attention.
Three big ancient spirits with heads half lion and half lamb, hairs that bunched together to form a crown on each of their heads with intricate arcane tattoos, big jaws, sharp teethes, and strong, gigantic muscular bodies of neither demon nor angel appeared. The left Council has a flame-like hair and long beard, the Center wore a scowl upon his face and a ram-shaped horn, and the right has two wavy horns and a scar across his face.
"The Charred Councils have finally shown their true faces..." Death frowned.
"Three ancient beings of neither angel nor demon, but with the shape of an Aldrich Abomination instead! Heh! I expected more from the Councils that I don't take any crap from!" Strife snarled.
"You are the one who allowed Corruption to take place even when you know it would devour all of Creation...all because of your definition of Balance!" Death clenched his fists in anger.
"You know that our betrayal is for the best intentions of the balance. Now that the humans are revived, the true battle of the Apocalypse can commence!" the middle head bellowed.
Death stood in front of the Four, faced the Council, and pointed his Harvestor at the three looming beings.
"Do you really claim that the Balance is basically humans fighting against demons and angels in a supreme ordeal of 'who gets to govern of Creation' better? This two people here prove that they know the Balance better by, ironically, not knowing much about Balance according to your standards!" Death bellowed.
Chris and Alito's eyes widened. "Wait...us?"
"Throughout the eons, I have been a reaper travelling throughout the world, reaping their souls, taking their names, and blasting the worlds into the dark Abyss. I always thought it was all in the name of Balance. I never seemed to understand humans at all, because all I have to do is just harvest their souls when their lives were up..." Death then pointed at the Icy Maiden and her confidante.
"Throughout my journey with them, however, I have learned many things about the values of humanity and Balance more than you, or I, or anyone of us in this god damn state of existence who claimed themselves better than humans could!"
"Yet you still ask me to reap the souls of innocent lives because of your claim that Balance serves to stay its hand? You know about Corruption, yet you still stay your hand because balance means life and nothingness, right? NO!"
"When I took a leave of absence for a few centuries, I felt at peace with myself. When I converse with War, I felt at peace too. When rest, I felt at peace too. When Chris is with Alito, they felt at peace too! When the world is peaceful and quiet, the world is at peace too! When people do whatever they want, like what I do - killing as an art - I felt at peace too! The truth of the matter is...there is no real definition to what Balance is!" Death shot back.
"Then tell us, what did both women do to maintain their world's Balance?" the right Charred Council bellowed.
"We don't claim we are the superior ones. All Alito and I do are to prevent history from repeating itself - to prevent any innocent beings from being killed by any heartless evils from around the world and beyond!" Chris frowned.
"Then your understandings of 'Balance' is nothing but mediocre!" the Charred Councils echoed, but Chris and Alito stood bravely.
"Yeah? Alright, I do not know a damn thing what Balance is, I will give you that! In fact, I do not even want to delve deep into it! All I know is that as long as every innocent beings, family, and friends could live together in harmony...then whatever claims to your theories about Balance are fucking invalid!" Chris bellowed.
"You...a simple-minded being who forsook your humanity for the powers you need to protect Humanity...what makes you think you know better?!" the middle Charred Council accused.
"Because I told you, I don't claim myself superior than anyone except for heartless morons like you three! Even if Humanity is lost...Alito and I are determined enough to find the meaning of humanity, because we are once humans as well!" Chris clenched her fists in determination.
Both Chris and Alito's eyes glowed intensely as the Hellguards, Uriel, and the Four were nearly blown away by the two women's torrential aura.
"Five years, ten years, maybe for a lifetime, whether is it our fault that our parents died...we don't know...But what we do know is, our duties are to protect the innocents until we can find the true meaning of what Humanity is! Because if our parents and the innocents back in our world can place their beliefs and trust upon us..." Chris and Alito crossed their arms as the revealed the cores in their chest - their Project Programmes Core glowing hot with intense arcane energy.
'WE DON'T SEE WHAT ELSE COULD STOP US IN OUR OATH TO REDEMPTION!" Chris and Alito screamed as streams of white light erupted from their chests core and into the skies, creating a dimensional warp hole temporarily.
Back in Chris and Alito's dimension - Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture - Nikon (AU Japan)
Kako Takafuji, at the stage in the Nissan Stadium for the Super Spring Music Festival, was about to sing Kiso when her Fortune Talisman that she wore around her neck began to glow intensely.
The Fortune Lady Idol could feel the same arcane energy as before; Chris and Alito were calling for her help...
"Chris...Alito...I knew it, I knew that one day you will take the first step out of your ice cave of yours; to make the first step into finding the meaning of Humanity!"
Kako raised her Fortune Talisman...
"Chris and Alito, let your first step into finding the meanings of Humanity begin with this one small step!" Kako spread out her arms as her levitated Talisman shot forth a huge burst of magic into the looming atmosphere.
Back at The Four's Dimension
Two streams of arcane energy converge into one big beam as Samael watched from afar, his eyes widened as he smirked and nodded softly...
"If this is what Humanity's extent could go..." Samael smirked.
The converged beam struck both Chris and Alito's Project Programmes Core as they felt a surge of power and a strange sense of support and warmth flowing through their systems and veins.
Chris and Alito's dagger that Valus gave them flashed as they reacted with their core.
"What's happening to Chris and Alito?" Death squinted as the Crowfather, appeared along the Four Horsemen.
"Solace...both Chris and Alito achieved it. They finally achieved that by finding each other in their hearts when they looked deep enough." the Crowfather stroke his beard.
"What do you mean?" Death wondered.
"When a person is at the most calm, most tranquil, and yet the most determined and furious...their aim will be clear. Their mindset will be at the freshest...and Samsarel help those who dare go against beings of such mindset...Such is the mysteries of the human mind, soul, and most of all...the heart." the Crowfather smiled.
All we want is to see a world where humans can co-exists with other beings, no matter who they are...
All we want is to see families not succumbing into the same fate that we do...
We do not care who you are, what you are, what kind of position you acquire, what powers you have, what knowledge you have about Balance, or whathaveyou!
As long as we see you tearing the fabrics of Humanity, taking away innocent lives for the sake of the Balance, thinking that it is the best way to do...
WE WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!
Project Programmes Arcane Reactor - Expanding Core Software Data File and Hardware Arcane Driver
Achieving Solace
Reconfiguration of Software
Software Upgrades Complete
New Systems - Genesis Arcane Flight Capabilities online
Processing Levels Upgraded
All stats boosts - online
BIOS Systems - Upgraded
Primary and Secondary Slave System Core Upgraded and connected
Establishing Upgraded HUDs
Endurance Programmes Boost by 300%
Regeneration process for Cardio systems improved by twice the amount
Champion Form unleashed...
OPERATIONAL MODE - ON!
With a short, sharp war cry, the arcane aura that surrounded them burst forth and dissipated into the thin air.
In the middle of the dissipated aura, Chris's hair turned light sapphire. Her eyes were the same as the arcane rune - the symbol of ice - on her left eyes. Her arms were coated in a sapphire ice made of liquid nitrogen and arcane magic. The armor's pauldrons around her grew slightly longer, branching out into four ice spikes on each side. The ribbons that made up her waist belt became longer as it flowed along in the wind. Chris's forehead glowed as the symbol of four rings intersecting each other in a straight line appeared.
Alito transformed into two slightly bigger Lifebanes with sharper blade bodies and skeleton hilts with eight ice crystals in the compass's direction. Blue and green veins intersected and merged with each other at certain junctions upon its blade body, glowing with immense arcane power.
Chris's back formed a powerful jet booster pack that manifested wings made of strong, arcane ice with jet boosters.
"Impossible...is this...is this the capacity a human being can reach?!" the middle Charred Council bellowed in shock, his eyes widened.
"Want to know why, you fucks? Because Alito and I, along with our allies that we made back in our world, had come to peace and virtually eliminated the world off heartless morons like you...That is why we are able to advance as a single society...and no one, not even innocents get left behind..." Chris looked up to the Charred Council in defiance.
"You fools who want to rule the world under some petty regimes, under your own definition of Balance. Always forcing others to do what they cannot do for themselves, just like what you did to War! That is why I never pray to any one, nor will I be prayed to, because in the end it's not about me or Alito...IT'S ABOUT THE INNOCENT BEINGS THAT WE WILL STRIVE TO PROTECT!" Chris's aura burst, revealing her new permanent form in all her true glory.
Activation: Quattro Arcana - Vajra Mode...ONLINE
"So that's the capacity of humans back in her world..." War nodded.
"They are now ready to take the first step to finding Humanity's meaning, but they will never be ready until we defeat the Legion first. I will fill you in more as we whoop them." Death crossed his arms and summoned forth his Abyssal Armor, complete with two horns upon his head.
War nodded, "I know honor when I see one; such is the power of the Nephilims. We will help along, and I will exact my vengeance..."
War materialised ten Abyssal Fragments as they fused upon his armor and formed his own version of the Abyssal Armor that had layers after layers of thick plates, a kneepad with the shape of a two-horn demon, a multi-layered plate that begins from the waist down and has intimidating jagged designs. By its waist lay two medium-sized teeth. The armor also sported demonic-shaped shoulder pauldrons upon the wearer's shoulders. Black smoke surrounded the wearer's dark red scarf.
Fury's Abyssal Armor is black and grey with the flame of the Abyss upon her shoulders. Flame trailed from her thighs passed her chest and across her back in an electron-shaped barrier. Fury's flame hair became dark purple as her skin became grey. Her eyes glowed hot with anticipation, burning with vengeance.
Strife cracked his knuckles as his armor became darker with spikes ram horns upon his pauldrons. His boots' back had star-saws attached, and his scarf became inscribed with archaic letters. His arms were filled with tiny guns with concentrated explosives upon his fingertips. His mask's edges became sharper and bullets straps could be seen across his chest - signifying ammunition.
The Four walked up to Chris and Lifebane, both in their Quattro Arcana: Vajra Mode.
"Our bonds with you are shattered the moment the Seventh Seal is broken...This time, Charred Council...we will make you pay for the crap you have given us!" Death bellowed.
"Uriel! Call the Hellguards to protect the humans that will be revived soon, the Legions of Hell are marching soon!" Chris called out.
"Right! Hellguards, AT ARMS!" Uriel raised her Justice as the Hellguards cheered.
"You think you can defeat us? We are the Charred Councils, the rulers and guardians of balance, we do what is good and what is necessary, even if it means sacrificing the innocents!" the Charred Council bellowed.
"Yeah? Well...then good riddance to you!" Chris smirked.
(OST Used: Megaman X5 X vs Zero)
"YOU WILL REGRET YOUR TRANSGRESSION, YOU FOOLS! SACRED FIRE!" the Charred Council roared as they rained down huge streams of fire from the skies.
"We don't need you, or your worthless dictation on what is Balance when you cannot even fend for yourselves!" your Chris smirked as she crossed her arms.
"Arcana Force: Tranquillity Orb - Fire!"
Arcana Orb activated - Fire Resistance 70%
A huge barrier surrounded the Four and Chris as they charged upon the looming abomination that were the Charred Council's true form.
Chris's liquid nitrogen that circulated inside her bloodstream along with arcane magic allowed her ice to be at Antarctic level, allowing her to charge through the fire barrages with ease along with the Four, shocking the Charred Councils to no end.
"HELLFIRE STREAK!"
Fury took out her whip, Inferno Rage, and yelled...
"HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED!"
With the power of the Seals at their back, Fury engulfed her Inferno Rage with intense arcane fire of the Abyss ad quickly whipped through the three heads of the Charred Councils' body.
The Whip, though malleable, slashed through the Charred Councils' rocky bodies with absolute ease. Scorching flames seared through their bodies, eating at their magic at every second.
Chris braved the rain and even managed to deflect several streams of fire shots into the face of the Charred Councils. The Icy Maiden dived upon the Center Council, where the latter began for a swiping left hook.
Chris somersaulted in mid-air, managed to dodge it narrowly as she landed on the left arms of the Charred Council, and used her enhanced abilities to sprint towards the abomination's head.
The bodies upon the center Charred Council's left arm attempted to shoot lava shots at Chris, but she simply deflected off like flies to the face.
Chris jumped in the air as a click echoed through the whispering wind. The Icy Maiden fired up her Genesis Flight system and descended upon the Center Charred Council, brandished her merged Arcana Lifebane, sliced across the Council's face with great force, and unleashing a huge vertical ice arc.
The arc's intense arcane body sliced through, crumbled the surfaces of the Center Council's skin, and burrowed deep into its nerves, causing the Council to back down in pain.
Death's Reaper Form soon joined in as Chris as they hovered over the Center Council.
"Care to take the honor, Death? He is yours, after all..." Chris simpered.
"I guess it should be my turn in saying, 'We deal with this freak, together!' huh?" Death gave a short grunt as he transformed into his Reaper Form, glowing green and hot with its intense, Arcane Magic.
The Center council roared as he unleashed another streams of fire from his right and left arm, and his mouth. He also summoned eight orbs around him to shoot at the approaching figures.
Death's Reaper Form and Chris's Quattro Arcana: Vajra Mode danced and evaded the streams of fire energy, constantly looking out and deflecting the orbs shooting towards them one by one.
The Charred Council released a densely charged fire blast upon his mouth.
"Hey, Death! I hope you still remember, since you are one of the oldest beings, why a mouse is scared of an elephant?" Chris simpered.
Death's Reaper Form nodded, "You need to say more?"
Both Chris and Death got close together, building enough arcane magic to surround them in a meteor-like formation, and drilled themselves straight into the energy beam itself.
The concentrated blast scorched their armor and pushed them back initially. However, Chris and Death managed to take back the advantage by propelling themselves with strong arcane propulsion from their Genesis Flight System and Arcane Bone Wings respectively.
Soon enough, Chris and Death managed to neutralise the blast.
Strife, War, and Fury soon joined in.
"Mind if we get a piece of the action?" Fury grinned.
"Sure thing!" both Death and Chris shot out.
The five members flew straight into the Center Council's mouth.
As the team travelled down the Center Council's gullet, War pointed at the huge lump in the Center Council's belly.
"That's its core!" War shot out.
"FULL FORCE!" Death shot out.
The five members hit out full force with their weapons, inflicting enough arcane energy for the core to implode in on itself. The full force of the explosion blew Chris, Death, War, Fury, and Strife back, but they managed to stand their ground amidst their charred injuries.
Lifebane powered down back to Alito, just as the six members viewed the monstrosity that rose from within the lump's ashen remains.
"You scums...Do you really think that your perspective on Balance will get you to peace? You know nothing about Balance, only I know the meaning of all! I am Balance, and Balance is me!"
The team could see massive amounts of arcane energy weaved into an intricate network of webs in the belly of the Council itself.
And in front of them lies a molten warrior with four arms and wielding four weapons - a scythe, big blade, a giant gun, and a big whip.
His face was barely recognizable; just the same jaw that the Charred Councils possessed, with big white dots for eyes, and an enraged expression upon his face. His hair stuck out in furiousness and his back has six portals behind his back, spewing intense arcane energy.
"Talk about hideousness...I will be glad we don't have to serve this bigoted cockpiece anymore..." Fury gave a face of disgust as she flared up and transformed into a body of fire with the aura of a phoenix, carrying two whips instead of one.
"According to the scans...this thing is the head core of the Councils - we destroy this, we destroy 'em all." Alito followed.
"Let's put an end to this corrupted Council's misery!" Fury frowned.
War clenched his fists...
"I once am loyal to the Council...only to find out it conspired against me. Today...I will spare no mercy in defeating the one's whom betrayed me for eons on end...and the ones who placed my brother, Death, in so much pain...I have kept this anger inside me...but now, ALL HANDS ARE OFF!" War roared, his eyes glowing red-hot with anger as he transformed into the fearsome Chaos Form - a Balrog of insurmountable power, chaos, blood, and rage.
"That Council can kiss their sweet butts goodbye!" Strife joined his Mercy and Redemption, that he just got back from Death, and merged them to transform into the Punisher Form. His armor became more plated, thicker, and sharper, with multiple scaling layers. His hair grew slightly longer, his eyes glowed white in anger, and his gauntlets became rock hard with multiple scales.
"To think that all of this stands because the Charred Councils are consumed by their own sense of pride; that they think they know what the true meaning of balance is just because killing off innocent beings to stop Abaddon is the best way...this mess, must end!" Chris shot out.
"You fools...suffer for the disobedience, the travesty you have wrought! I'm the one who walks even after death...you cannot defeat me!" the Council's core, which Chris and Alito detected to be what the foe said - Draugr.
The six stepped forth and shot out, "BRING IT ON!"