It wasn't until that moment, staring down the two hulking monstrosities that had charged into their little cavern, that Jack wondered if the creatures that skulked the halls and streets of the ancient city had planned it all. Maybe it was all a coincidence - the undead were rarely, if ever, very smart. The Corrupted were basically animals unless they had someone commanding them, and he remembered the same had been true of the Risen and, perhaps, the Faceless as well. Jack couldn't remember if the monsters from Sacred Stones were intelligent or not - judging by the snarled and hairy face of the Tarvos, swinging its double-headed axe with reckless abandon against Alm, he was betting on 'no'.

Even if none of it had been planned, they were still trapped against a rock and a hard place. The only reason Jack could think of for why they hadn't been completely overrun yet is that they had a number of Emblems on their side. Without Chrom, Lyn, Celica, and Alm on their side, plus the corrupted Three Houses' lords, they would've been mashed into paste.

That didn't mean that they were having an easy time of it, though. First order of business: they had to separate the Tarvos and the Faceless. That was easy enough - they really were just mindless beasts, in a way, especially the Faceless. Ivy, Veyle, and Seforia took on the Faceless, alternatively blasting it with magic and stabbing with Areadbhar. Jack, Alm, Yunaka, and Céline drew the attention of the Tarvos.

Jack narrowly dodged a blow meant for him, and the Tarvos' axe slammed into the ground, splintering the steps further into the cave as it snarled. Céline had Engaged with Celica, and appeared right beside the creature, blasting it with a Warp Ragnarok at near point–blank range.

Unfortunately, Alm was too preoccupied with making sure the Risen and whatever else surged from the entrance to the caverns to help strike a blow as the beast was stunned. Yunaka and Jack struck as one - Yunaka at the beast's chest, and Jack at its equine legs. No blood came from the wounds Jack inflicted, that was the strangest part. The Risen, the Husks, none of them bled. As Jack cut with his blade, Chrom was busy fighting against the creature's axe.

Before long, both Yunaka and Jack had to move back, and Jack let out a deep breath.

"These things just don't die…" he said.

"Engage," Yunaka said, "I'll cover you."

"Right. Emblem, Engage!"

Jack wasted no time. The minute he could feel himself wreathed in the energy of his Emblem, he lifted Falchion into the air. Robin was by his side, and struck the blade with Elthunder, electrifying it. Jack grunted as he jumped high into the air. Céline and Yunaka were distracting the beast, just in time for Jack to lunge forward from up high as Falchion collided with the Tarvos' head.

The creature's head cracked in two like an egg, and it slumped to the ground in an electrified, burnt heap.

Jack took a deep breath. "Alright, that's one. How are the other's doing-?"

The air was knocked out of Jack's lungs as another body slammed into his chest. He hit the wall hard, so much so he was surprised it didn't make a crater when he did so. He coughed and sputtered as he looked at the person who had slammed into him. Iridescent, long green hair met his eyes, and it took him a minute to realize that he was looking at Ivy Engaged with Lyn.

Ivy was up almost immediately, though a bit of blood trickled down from the corner of her lip. She took several deep breaths before she looked at Jack.

"It is stronger than we thought. We need help," she said, her voice low and scratchy.

Jack coughed again, hoping above all else that he remained Engaged for a little longer. He looked to see the Faceless fighting against Seforia. Veyle was nowhere to be seen.

"Where'd she go?" Jack asked. "Veyle, I mean."

"She went back into the Architect's chambers. And now, no more questions!" Ivy demanded, a Killer Bow forming in her hands. "Just keep it from hitting me again. I was not able to get a shot off last time, but I will not make the same mistake twice."

Jack gave a mock salute as he looked at Céline and Yunaka. They had joined Alm in fending off the Risen horde, so it was up to Seforia and Jack to make sure the Faceless didn't reach the Architect's chamber.

"Alright, then," Jack said, wiping a bit of spittle from his lips. "Let's do this."

Jack moved forward, his feet above the ground as Seforia was about to be crushed by a two-handed smash. He stabbed Falchion into the Faceless' back, right through its golden skin. It let out an ungodly roar and immediately began backpedaling. Straight into a wall.

The only reason Jack survived being crushed against the wall was because he was Engaged with an Emblem. Otherwise, he probably would've been a red stain on the wall. It sill hurt like all hell to him, however, and he immediately fell to the floor in a heap, sputtering and coughing again as the Faceless turned around, snarling echoing from behind the metal cage that hid its face. Seforia was the only reason he was able to survive.

Seforia looked more than a little worse for wear. She had more bruises than Jack could count, but she was still moving and still fighting. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to defend herself from the beast.

At least until a blow explosion took the thing's arm off. Jack held his breath and realized that Nat's crossbow was no longer on his back. He didn't know when she had taken it, or when she had cut through her bonds, but it was enough of a distraction for Ivy to finally get her shots off. They struck the Faceless through the chest, eyeholes, and the legs, and it fell to the ground, gurgling.

Jack got to his feet, holding his back as he braced himself against the wall he had just been crushed against. He looked around and noticed that the Risen were gone, and everyone looked to be injured in some way. Ivy held her side, which seemed to be gently bleeding, Céline looked as if she had been blasted with magic more than once, and Yunaka and Seforia were both incredibly bruised. Alm was the only one who didn't seem to be injured, but considering what he was, that wasn't all too surprising. Jack really hoped there wouldn't be another wave of undead - they wouldn't be able to handle another one.

Natalie stood there, her crossbow in her hands. She was the only human who appeared uninjured, and Jack was worried about that. She wasn't pointing her crossbow at anyone, and she didn't seem hostile, but Jack had no idea what to do or say. It felt like the moment he did anything, it would end the momentary peace they had won for themselves.

"Well," Jack began anyway, standing up straight as the power from Engaging with Chrom faded away. "I think that's the last of them. Is everyone okay-?"

A blast of magic, like a laser, came from the cave entrance and slammed against the opening of the Architect's chamber. Jack swore under his breath as he readied himself for another battle.

A giant eyeball stared back at him and the others. Its iris was a deep read, and its pupil narrowed upon seeing the others. Along its back, writhing tentacles made it look like some kind of Lovecraftian creature.

Mogall.

There was a whole other host of monsters just behind the floating eyeball, and magic gathered in its pupil, aimed directly at the entrance to the Architect's chamber. Jack tried to move fast, but his injuries caught up with him, and he nearly stumbled to the ground trying. The others weren't in any position to move very far either.

Thankfully, at the last possible moment, Jack heard the sound of bare feet against the stone, and he turned to see Veyle rushing forward from the Architect's chambers, a large staff in her hands.

"Stop!"

Her voice rang out through the room, such that even the bones of the dragons in the walls looked as if they had obeyed. The red light in the Mogall's pupil turned blue at once, and it seemingly calmed down. The creatures that surrounded it - Jack finally saw that they were Entombed, or something similar to them, with bags on their heads with stitched mouths, and gelatinous bodies. And they were about to be swarmed by them before Veyle came along.

"Guard us," Veyle ordered, and as if it was the most natural thing in the world, the Mogall obeyed, turning around and looking back into the darkness, before blasting a wave of magic forward and vaporizing something within only it could see.

Jack finally got a good look at the staff, and he marveled at it. It was a rod of gold and silver, intertwined in an alternating, spinning pattern, and at the top, a blue gemstone glowed brighter than a star. Jack wiped at his eyes as he moved forward.

"Did you have tea while you were there? Have yourself a good break?" Jack asked, though his voice was devoid of venom.

"I-I didn't mean to take so long. The Architect is… very long-winded," Veyle admitted, looking around. "You all need help. I'm not very good with staffs, but maybe I can help heal you!"

Jack watched the entrance to the cave the entire time he felt the healing light of a staff on him, healing his wounds. It didn't take long to get everyone in fighting shape again, thankfully, though he could tell everyone was exhausted.

"What did the Architect tell you in there?" Jack asked, rubbing the back of his head. "And… er, did it mean to do all that? With that staff and the monsters outside? They aren't gonna turn on us, are they?"

"I don't really know. It's very hard to get a straight answer out of them," Veyle admitted, taking a step back. "It's like… it's like trying to talk to a very talkative shield."

"Ah, I see. A good thing I have a lot of experience talking to shields. They're so very chatty, you know," Jack replied.

Veyle lightly hit Jack's shoulder. "You know what I mean."

"I got the gist of it. Also, ow," Jack said, rolling his shoulder as he stood up and looked to the damaged entrance to the Architect's chambers. "Weird. All this is weird. I never expected to be fighting Risen and Torvas' and Faceless and goddamn Mogalls. Those are from multiple different worlds, but not here. Elyos was supposed to have its own monsters."

Robin appeared beside Jack.

"What the Architect said…" Robin mumbled out, before his voice grew stronger after saying that. "If this world was created from the shattered remnants of other worlds, perhaps these are simply the survivors of those worlds. The last denizens of them, so to speak."

"...Robin," Jack said, his voice soft. "There were a lot of Risen we just fought."

Robin looked down. "I know."

"I don't know how all of this works, but surely because you're here, it means somehow, somewhere, your friends are still alive, right?" Veyle said, before shaking her head and looking more determinedly at Robin. "No, I know they are. And maybe, one day, you'll meet them again."

Robin let out a chuckle. "Maybe you're right. It's nice to think about. Even if I don't, at least Chrom and I can be as we always have been: two halves of a greater whole."

Chrom appeared on Jack's otherwise, his arms crossed but a big wide smile on his face as well.

"That's the spirit! If only we were on a ship, it'd be just like old times," Chrom laughed. "And besides, Lucina is still out there. We can still see her again."

"Zephia probably has her," Jack said, crossing his arms. "We'll get you three together again. I'll make sure of it. But first…"

Jack turned to look at Natalie. She was up against a wall, looking around nervously. Jack nodded to the Emblems who disappeared after, and Veyle went to help the others. Jack slowly approached Natalie like he was approaching a scared rabbit. She spotted him almost immediately, but she made no motion to point her crossbow at him.

"Hi, Jack," she whispered.

Jack moved to put his hands in his pockets, but he couldn't find them in time so he simply wiped his hands on his leggings. "Hi, Nat."

"I saw that," Natalie said.

"No you didn't," Jack retorted.

"How can you tell me what I have and haven't seen?" Natalie asked.

"Because I'm your older brother and my word is law."

"Bullshit."

"No, it's not bullshit. You're bullshit," Jack said, looking down at Natalie from the bridge of his nose with his arms crossed. "You know, judging by the fact you decided to save us from that Faceless rather than make a run for it."

Natalie snorted. "And go where? The only way out is through that cave, and I'm not stupid enough to go down there by myself."

"Stupid enough to be tricked by a dragon with three eyes, though."

"I wasn't-!" Natalie said, bringing her hands up to the sides of her head and shaking it. "Something's wrong. Nothing's felt real since we've gotten here. You don't… you don't feel the same way, do you?"

Jack ran a hand along the scar on his face. "Hasn't felt fake, if that's what you mean. Or like a dream. This kinda pain can only happen in real life."

"Did Griss really do that to you?" Natalie asked, lowering her head.

"Yes. I got a good look at his smiling face as he did it," Jack replied, nodding and pacing in front of Nat. "They did something to you, Nat. They fucked with your head. The Emblems you're using, that they use too, they're all red and distorted, don't you see? I know sometimes things aren't what they seem, but you have to look at the facts."

"I…" Natalie began, only to cut herself off to look at where the Bracelet of the Three Houses used to be.

"Nat, you can come with us," Jack said. "It's not too late. It'd take some convincing, yeah, but you- Okay, the Brodian brothers will probably hate your guts for the rest of their days, but that doesn't mean every bridge has been burnt. We can-!"

"Jack, there's…" Natalie said, waving a hand to stop Jack from continuing. "Even if I do that, there's someone I care about on the other side. Someone important to me."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "You found a boy?"

"What? No, nothing like that," Natalie continued hastily. "It's… it's hard to explain, but I've basically adopted a little sister. Her name's Marni and I can't just- she's a good kid, Jack. Could be one, at least, if someone gets her head on straight."

"Marni? The little blonde-haired girl who revels in killing people?" Jack questioned.

"She's never 'reveled' in killing people!" Natalie professed.

"You didn't see what she did to Flora Mill Town in another timeline," Jack replied, "she reveled in it alright. Her, Zephia, Griss, and Evil Veyle - all of them slaughtered people for nothing but 'fun'."

"But you've got Veyle on your side now!" Natalie pointed out. "What're you gonna do, kill her over things she hasn't done!?"

Jack took in a deep breath and shook his head. "No, I won't. And you're right; I shouldn't be so judgmental. If she's important to you, fine. I just hope it isn't in that way."

Natalie's face scrunched up. "That's disgusting, Jack. She's barely past seventeen. I've seen her more as a sister anyway."

"I can't believe you got a younger sister without my permission," Jack groused, rubbing his forehead as he paced. "This is why you should never go shopping on your own."

"Oh, fuck off, asshat!" Natalie spat, "The little twerp clings to me like you wouldn't believe! She's probably driving Zephia mad as we speak!"

"Good. About time that horny dragon had someone to piss her off," Jack grunted.

"Horny- Oh, I see, very funny. Original, too," Natalie said, completely deadpan. "But, yeah, I can't leave her behind. But everything you've said, everything that's happened, I…"

"I'll take it as a 'no', then," Jack said.

Natalie shook her head. "No! No, don't take it like that. I've… been having doubts recently. I can't tell if anything happened to me. I don't… it feels like I'm forgetting shit, like my head's been scrambled like an egg. Sometimes it's not so bad but other times it feels like it's about to split open. Griss… when he was interrogating you, did he say anything? You must've thought about the whole mind control thing from somewhere."

Jack nodded. "Oh yeah, did he ever like to talk, Nat. Talked about the shit Zephia can do to people's heads. Erasing memories, editing them, making them act like completely different people…"

Natalie looked down again, her brows furrowed.

"Nat," Jack began, "do you remember how you got here? To Elyos?"

"The last thing I remember from our old world was walking beside you on our way to college," Natalie murmured. "And then, sometimes, I have dreams about being on a table as weird colors flash in front of me, gripping at my head and my heart. There wasn't any pain but I could've sworn I was screaming and shouting."

Jack nodded grimly. "I am going to kill Zephia."

"I-if anything about what I've dreamt is true, then you'll need to get in line, Jack," Natalie growled out. "I… I can't abandon Marni, but I can sabotage them while I am with them, and find a way to tell you what they're planning. They know me, and they trust me to be a sniper for them. I can keep doing that."

"Are you sure, Nat?" Jack asked, his voice quivering slightly.

Natalie shrugged. "I can already tell I'm gonna have to earn the trust of the guys you're with. I'll admit, I always wondered why they never let me see Sombron, but considering how you describe him…"

"He looks like Sauron without his armor, yes," Jack replied, rubbing his forehead. "I- alright, fine, just be careful, alright? Zephia and Griss, there's no changing them. They're both monsters. But, hell, if you can change Marni's mind, go for it. I'll let Alear know the next time I see him."

Natalie nodded, a small smile on her face. "Thanks, Jack. I'm… sorry for all this, you know?"

"Don't be sorry. You couldn't help having your mind fucked with," Jack said, patting Natalie's shoulder. "I think the others went into the Architect's chambers. Let's join them."

When Jack and Natalie entered the Architect's chambers, the first thing Jack noticed was that the blue light from the Architect was a lot weaker than it was before. The massive skeleton itself looked on the verge of crumbling, with cracks forming in its bones. And when the Architect spoke, its voice was distant and hollow, as if coming from a great distance.

"My time in this world is ending. At long last," the Architect said, "You have my last creation. I ask that you use it well. The Enemy's Champion gathers strength. Even weak as I am now, I can feel it. When you have disrupted her, all I ask is that you leave this city as it is supposed to be: a tomb, never to be disturbed. Do not go picking amongst its bones."

"It is the least we can do," Ivy said, bowing her head. She looked at Jack, her eyes narrowing on Natalie before returning to the Architect.

"I thank you, from the bottom of my heart," the Architect breathed out - as much as a giant skeleton could do so, at least. "And you, tiny one… Veyle, your name is. Do not let the shadow of your birth darken your future. Let the light atop that staff guide you through. Farewell…"

The light in the Architect's eyes faded away, until there was nothing left. All that remained was a giant, crumbling dragon skeleton. Veyle looked away, tears in her eyes as she wiped at them.

Not a single person spoke after that, at least not while in the Architect's chamber. Alm's silence, however, felt different. The proto-Emblem looked as if he had lost a parent or a sibling.

"I suppose that means I won't be far behind," he said.

That caused Jack to blink as they exited the Architect's chamber. "What?"

Céline looked at the proto-Emblem with wide eyes. "Surely you are not serious. You are not like the Emblems with us, so how can you-?"

Alm rubbed the back of his head, a sheepish smile on his face. "Well, how can I put it? There's no real way to say this but I feel like… I feel like I'm being drained. As if I was a full bucket that just suddenly had a hole poked through the bottom."

"That's a horrifying way to put it," Jack mumbled, mostly to himself.

"So, you mean to say that you will disappear any second now?" Ivy asked.

Alm shrugged. "I don't have any good answer to that. It just feels like my time is limited. I guess I always was a test, you know? Me and the others. It's the rings that have the real power."

Celica appeared beside Alm, a deep frown across her face. "Please, Alm, do not say that again."

"You've always known me better than I know myself, Celica. I can't lie," Alm said, holding his arms out. "But don't worry. I will help you reach the end of this, regardless of what happens. You can hold me to that."

"Maybe there's some way we can stop it?" Veyle suggested. "There has to be a way."

"There could be. Or there could not be," Alm replied, "and regardless, you don't have the time to dawdle around and look for it. Focus. We need to stop the Enemy's Champion. Queen Seforia said she knows who that is."

"Yeah, I took her arm," Seforia said wistfully. "And she nearly took my life. Not a lot of skill, but certainly a lot of power. Good thing you have that staff with you to help bolster our forces, otherwise we'd have a hard time."

"Brianna…" Jack mumbled.

"Oh, is that her name? It's very nice," Seforia remarked. "Way too nice for a girl like her."

"She didn't always used to be like this," Jack said, cracking his neck.

"Doesn't matter," Natalie commented.

"No, it doesn't," Jack agreed. "Killing hundreds, maybe thousands of people - she didn't look like she was brainwashed. I don't think she is. Something- something must have changed to make her act this way."

"Well, she is named 'The Enemy's Champion'. Doesn't inspire a lotta confidence, ya know," Yunaka chimed in.

Ivy shook her head. "We still have no idea what this 'Enemy' is, and frankly, I do not think I want to know. We should focus on the task at hand, and end this nightmare."

"And see the sun again, right?" Jack suggested.

Ivy nodded glumly. "Yes, I would much prefer the Solmic sun to this… nothing."

Before the group left, Ivy stopped Jack from entering with the others. Natalie went on ahead with everyone else, and Ivy eyed her suspiciously until she was out of sight.

"I am assuming you had a good reason for not binding her again?" Ivy asked.

Jack nodded. "Considering she said she would spy for us, yeah, I think I had a good reason not to piss her off."

"Spy for us? You were able to convince her of that in a single conversation?" Ivy asked, eyes narrowing. "I find that hard to believe."

"You… would be right to do that," Jack admitted. "I'll admit, it's really strange how fast she came around, but then again, she's had dreams. Nightmares really. And, well, look at us! And look at Sombron's forces! The fact she was able to kid herself for so long has to be because of horrible brainwashing. And also, I am going to kill Zephia."

"I believe you will have a long line ahead of you," Ivy hissed. "I believe everyone in the Divine One's army wishes for her death."

Jack shrugged. "Guess it's just a matter of getting there first, eh?"

"Indeed. Now, I will trust that you will keep an eye on her regardless. I do not know how she will 'spy' for us, or how she will even be able to get information to us if she turns out to be completely truthful, but I will let it slide. Now, shall we-?"

"Wait a sec," Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned away. "Shit, this really isn't the most romantic spot, but fuck it - do you, uh, when this is all over, wanna… go out for lunch sometime?"

Ivy stared at Jack as if he had grown a second head. She looked for so long that Jack wondered if time had stopped without him noticing. That was, until he saw a luminescent blush spreading across her face.

"I-I do not believe this is a good time to be asking me this, but…"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I get that. I wanted to do it as a sorta 'if we don't make it out of this' kinda thing but it's not really working out that way. Um, you don't need to say yes right now obviously. You're right about it not being a good time. I just thought that, well, might as well ask, right? While the iron's still hot."

"The iron is not hot. Not that I am averse to the idea - it just, it just comes as a shock. You are a… you are a strange man, Jack. Has anyone told you that?" Ivy asked, trying her best to hide her face behind her fascinator.

"More times than I can count," Jack chuckled.

"Well, good. Because it is true. I am assuming you don't have a plan in regards to this 'date'?" Ivy continued.

Jack looked up to the ceiling. "I had a few ideas. Thought about it a bit. Also, date? Didn't realize we were going that fast."

"Are you trying to toy with me? You must do a better job. This is a date in all but name," Ivy said, though Jack could see the smile on her face even below the fascinator.

"Why do I need to do a better job? To defend myself from you?" Jack asked, arms crossed. A smile was slowly growing on his face as well, the nervousness melting away.

"Oh, very much so. Elusian politics are tiresome and horrible, but they imparted to me a good amount of ways to make people dance for me," Ivy said, her voice sinking lower.

"How evil," Jack snickered. "I guess I'll just need to watch out then, huh? Never know when a witch could cast a curse on me. I just hope it's benign."

"I would not worry about that. Especially if the witch is fond of you…" Ivy said. "By the Divine One, how did I get to talking like that! Anyway, yes, Jack, I accept your… invitation. But first, we must make our way out of this terrible place."

Jack nodded. "Agreed."

Just because every corner the group passed was no longer host to otherworldly monsters, did not mean that the danger was over. The ancient city rumbled every so often - a constant reminder of whatever Brianna was doing, and the Hounds had to be skulking around in the dark somewhere.

Nonetheless, it was much safer compared to before, and with each group of Risen, or Terrors, or Magevellian monsters they came across, the more their numbers grew. Before they reached roughly the same level they had been at when the ground beneath them gave way, there was an entire platoon of blue-eyed undead and monsters.

Jack could hardly count them all. There were Risen, Revenants, Fiends, more than a few Tarvos' and Faceless'. And there, toward the far back, there was a cyclops - Jack had completely forgotten about them until it had nearly flattened them out of nowhere.

And, of course, there was the first monster that Veyle had converted to their side. The Mogall led them from the depths of the ancient city, until they were parallel with the plaza they had fallen through. There was still, sadly, no sign of Alear or the others.

That was, until the Divine Dragon appeared behind a corner, looked forward and saw the Mogall, and promptly went right back around the corner.

"Shit!" Jack said, pointing forward. "Veyle, hurry! Before he blasts our new friends!"

Veyle was at the front in an instant, just in front of the giant eyeball as Alear whipped back around with Lionel in tow, his Hurricane Axe glowing green.

"Don't attack! Please! You don't need to fight them! They're with us!" Veyle exclaimed.

"Veyle!?" Alear shouted. "Get away from that thing! We've had several of them attack us already!"

Jack was next, standing in front of the Mogall who looked more confused than anything. "She's right, Alear. Don't shoot. And Lio, please put the axe down!"

"I think I'll keep it ready until you explain what's going on," Lionel replied.

"I have a staff with me! It lets me control them!" Veyle explained quickly. Look at their eyes!"

Alear craned his neck to look behind the Mogall, and nearly recoiled onto the floor when he noticed the army of the dead behind them.

"This…" Alear whispered. "This doesn't make any sense. How? How can a single staff do that?"

"I admit that I do not know myself, Divine One," Ivy said, stepping forward. "But for what it's worth, I can personally vouch that Veyle had done it successfully."

"It's a really, really long story," Jack added.

"So long you can't tell us anything?" Lionel asked. "I can't believe I'm on the two-toned hair guy's side but, fuck, here I am."

"I… alright, I believe you. But still, I'd ask that you keep, er, them away from me," Alear said, "Now that I've found all of you, it's good to know that none of us died when the floor went out beneath us."

"Seems like you've had your own story to tell," Jack noted.

Before anyone else could speak, however, the rumbling throughout the ancient city grew worse, and the group turned to its epicenter.

They were given a good view of the old temple, and the dark-light that had been there before was so eerily bright that it looked like a star had come from the sky and landed on top of the temple. Ivy said what everyone was thinking.

"We need to hurry."

Not my best chapter, I'll admit, but there's always good ol' character interactions to go with!

Anyway, here's a link to our Discord server: discord. gg/u89gs745fn

See you guys next time!