Jack wasn't all too excited about traveling on a ship again.

He wasn't dreading it too much compared to last time - he remembered that the others had a harder time with it, while Jack himself trained with Boucheron. It was so strange how simple everything seemed back then. It was just him supplying information to Alear and the other royals, with them all traveling together like a band of adventurers from some trashy isekai story.

Although, Jack hoped that their story was turning out better than any one of those.

Of course, as far as Jack could remember, none of those stories had anything like war machines from his old world popping up in random places. At least, not any that Jack had seen - there could've been one, but he'd stopped watching anime before the pandemic hit anyway, so it was a moot point.

As to the 'random places' part, there was evidence that planes had crashed into the Inner Sea. Bits of wreckage littered some parts of the sea, with fuel leaking onto the surface, in cascading colors that almost hypnotized Jack.

It only confirmed what Jack and the others had already suspected: Sombron wasn't controlling whatever it was that brought Earth technology to Elyos. In retrospect, that may have been obvious, considering that Sombron had only brought six jets with him, with a group of Ashborn that had no rhyme or reason to their formations. He may have had Earth technology, but he didn't understand Earth tactics.

And that left Alear's army with a substantial supply of ready to use firearms lying about. Some of the soldiers had taken to using them, but there was one person who still looked at them with fear in his red eyes. Jack sat before him, opposite of a table below deck where light barely reached as a storm raged overhead.

"The gun isn't going to bite you, Alcryst," Jack said, shoving the rifle forward. "And you can still keep using your bow, but there's a reason why my people only used them for recreational purposes."

"What will happen when we run out of ammo for these weapons?" Alcryst pointed out, looking down at the slightly dirty rifle with fear and suspicion. "These things are… they are not right. Something that causes a ringing in my ear every time I shoot it should not be used."

Jack nodded. "I mean, fair point. Ear damage was really common in the military I think. But you can't argue with how effective they are. You don't need to use it all the time, I'm just asking you to… keep it with you. Learn how to use it better. Then, if you're ever in a tight situation where you can't use your bow, voila! You got something that can help you out."

Alcryst let out a sigh. "Maybe you're right. Still, I don't like this. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something wrong with these weapons."

Shrugging, Jack said, "Maybe. I don't like the thought of using them here myself, but the fact is that no matter what, war on Elyos has changed forever."

"That is what scares me the most, Jack, far beyond even using these weapons," Alcryst said, rubbing his temples. "What will the world look like once Sombron has been killed? Will we simply all retire to our kingdoms? Or will our friendships prove to be fleeting? Thinking of such things makes it difficult to sleep at night."

"And not the thunder and lightning outside?" Jack asked.

"That doesn't help either," Alcryst admitted.

"Listen, Alcryst," Jack said, placing a hand on the rifle before them. "I'm not gonna force you to use this. All I'm saying is give it a chance. It's a weapon, just like any other."

Alcryst sighed. "I know. I know that this is all completely made up in my head. Like many things in my life, right?"

Jack shrugged. "I'm hardly one to judge, Alcryst."

"Well, I'll think about it. You're probably right. There'll come a time where I might need to use these. I'm just… I'm just so worried."

Taking in a deep breath, Jack leaned back and crossed his arms. "Yeah, me too. You're right to be a bit afraid and worried, in all honesty. Who knows what this'll do to Elyos in the long run. If the Elusians could make a crossbow like the one I use, then who knows what they can do with a gun and some magical powder."

Alcryst's eyes widened and the color drained for his face as he clasped his hands together. "Oh, Divine One, deliver us…"

"I don't think Alear's on our ship. Sorry, Alcryst," Jack replied.

"Maybe, but it helps me feel better," Alcryst said. "Even with all of this new weaponry, I can feel it - something is going to happen. I don't know how or where, but I can feel it. Can't you?"

"There could be. Or we're only weeks away from kicking Sombron's teeth in. We can worry all day, or we could make sure he doesn't have the time to pull any more tricks."

"What if we're too late?" Alcryst asked quietly.

"Then we won't need to worry about it for long," Jack answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Have you talked with Lapis at all recently? Maybe she could help… take the edge off."

Alcryst blinked. "How could she do that? I mean, I like talking to her, but I'm…"

Jack leaned forward and placed his chin on his hands. "I'm saying that having someone special in your life can help you see the bigger picture, or to get you back on track. And you could use both. And she's already, well, she's already holding a flame for you, you know."

Alcryst looked down at the table. "I know."

Blinking, Jack said, "You do? I thought-"

"I know, but she- she shouldn't. She doesn't deserve that. She deserves someone who won't cause her grief just for loving and being with. She deserves…"

"Alcryst," Jack said, holding up a hand to stop the Brodian prince. "I know you didn't just say that to the commoner who is dating the crown princess of Elusia."

Alcryst's lips pressed into a thin line as he nodded. "I suppose I did."

"That's the good thing about shake-ups, Alcryst," Jack continued, "Even with all the upheaval that'll happen by the end of this, eyes will be all on you, and they'll all be lenient. For me, there's barely anyone in Elusia to say that Ivy and I's relationship is against tradition or some shit. For you, it might be a bit different, but I think you should still try."

Alcryst let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes. "You really think so?"

"Well, you'll never know unless you go for it," Jack said.

"Very well. I'll need a proper time and place for it, but at least thinking about that will get my mind off-" Alcryst looked down at the rifle between him and Jack, narrowing his eyes. "My mind off that."

"At the end of the day, Alcryst, someone is gonna use that, even if it's not you," Jack replied, "Just keep that in mind."

"I will, Jack. And… thank you. I think I really needed to hear that," Alcryst said, standing up and nearly folding himself in half as he bowed. "I know we haven't had time to talk very often, but I'm glad to have met you."

Jack couldn't help but blush and smile bashfully at that, turning away. "And I'm glad to have met all of you, as well. My life's really turned around since coming here."

Just for you, though. Best not to think about what the Ashborn are going through.

"You're really serious, aren't you?"

Hortensia had found her way onto Jack's ship, her pegasus 'pawing' at the wooden floor behind her as she stood before Jack, her hands on her hips. Jack had to give her points for confidence; if he was her height, with her build, he didn't think he'd be able to stand up to anyone. It showed how she'd been raised: boisterous and assertive. He had to admire that.

Of course, what she was asking about was a sensitive topic. She did have a right to ask, though, being Ivy's sister and all. So, Jack kept the snide remarks to himself and answered her question.

"Yes. I am," Jack replied, crossing his arms. "I haven't been this serious about something for a long, long time. I love Ivy, Hortensia. And I'm not going to be scared off by power-hungry nobles or the undead."

"It's not the undead you have to worry about, but fine," Hortensia said, turning away and walking up to the side of the ship to look at the crystalline blue waters below. "I haven't seen her this happy in a long, long time, you know. When you asked her on that date, she had a light in her eyes that I couldn't ignore. So I helped her, even though I still think what you two are doing is a mistake."

"You know as well as me that there's nobody left in Elusia to object," Jack replied.

Hortensia leaned further over the side of the ship, groaning before she stood up fully.

"I know!" Hortensia snapped. "I know, I know, most of those stuffy nobles I hated are all dead, but our castle - my home - is still under Sombron's control, and I don't like being reminded of that!"

Jack nodded, bowing his head. "Didn't mean to bring up bad shit like that, Hortensia. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Hortensia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Honestly, I don't even care anymore. Kiss Ivy as much as you want. See if I do anything about it."

"Okay," Jack replied.

"J-just don't do it within my line of sight! Weirdo," Hortensia quickly added. "Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. You better be serious. I'm serious! If you screw this up, I will find you."

Jack nodded. "I'll help rebuild Elusia. You have my word."

Hortensia snorted. "Yeah, sure. Why? It's not your home."

"It will be," Jack said, closing his eyes. "It will be."

Hortensia stared Jack in the eyes for several seconds, neither looking away. Finally, Hortensia sighed. "You really are serious, then. Good! That means I don't have to do anything drastic."

It was Jack's turn to snort. "I have an Emblem with me. What would you have done to me that I couldn't do right back to you?"

"Oh, I have my ways," Hortensia replied, mounting her pegasus. "You better take good care of Ivy. Or I'll find you. Don't forget!"

Hortensia flew off without another word, and Jack sighed as he walked to where she had stood, looking out to the sea. In just a few more days, they would be at a port in Elusia - or what would be left of a port. Elusia was a country of ghosts, after all, and who knew how many of those left behind had either been killed or forced into Sombron's service. Jack shivered as he remembered what had happened in the timeline of the game.

Jack just hoped that it wasn't as bad. Most of the people of Elusia were safe, but for those left behind…

The port that they decided to sail to looked as if no human life had inhabited it for years.

Fog rolled in from the steep mountains nearby, and more than a few icebergs clogged the docks. The buildings still stood, but some looked as if they had sustained battle damage. There were no bodies, no signs of human remains anywhere. Not even Corrupted or Ashborn seemed to call the place home.

Sombron had a handful of ships that had retreated from the second battle of Lythos, but none of them could be seen in the harbor. Either they had been completely destroyed upon arriving, or Sombron had arrived somewhere else. Neither possibility inspired much confidence in Jack.

Jack could feel his chest tighten as several of the ships entered the harbor, and placed gangplanks onto the docks. Jack was beside Alear as they made their way forward, the fog obscuring anything that wasn't a few feet nearby. Alear peered into the mist, down one of the streets of the port town.

"This is strange," he said.

Jack couldn't help but snort with that. "You think? It wasn't like this in the old timeline. There would've been Corrupted everywhere. Not that I thought there'd be any this time, either, but…"

"Most of Elusia's citizenry escaped with me," Ivy whispered, "but some stubbornly refused and stayed behind. This was not one of those places. Yet, still, there should be something here. This is one of the few port towns of any size on Elusia's southwestern border. Where-"

It was as if the earth beneath their feet came alive. The ground rumbled with such force that Jack was nearly thrown off his feet, and the others didn't seem to be doing much better. Aside from Alear and Ivy, Timerra and Diamant were nearby, checking one of the side roads when the quake hit. They were thrown to the ground as well. Timerra laid in place, unmoving as Diamant followed suit. Jack looked up from the fog and the shaking to see the sky cracking and breaking apart. He rubbed his eyes and it was gone.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of shaking, the quake finally stopped. Jack got himself back up to his feet as he looked around. Alear and Ivy were able to keep themselves upright, thankfully, and they began to help Timerra and Diamant up as Jack looked around for any sign of what had caused such an event.

"I thought those were gonna stop when we went down into the ancient city!" Timerra exclaimed. "Why's it happening now!?"

"I do not think what caused that was the same thing that happened in Solm," Diamant said. "There are no fissures in the ground for Husks to attack. And the sky… I am not the only one who saw the sky, correct?"

Jack nodded. "I saw it too, but it went away really quickly."

"That is what happened when… when Natalie died. Do you remember, Divine One?" Ivy asked quickly. "That was when the planes and guns and other machines from Jack's world made their way to ours. Could it be possible that-"

Jack's eyes widened. "B-but I'm still here and Lionel-"

"Lionel is here. What just happened?" Lionel asked, coming from one of the ships. "Everyone is awake now, you know. Including me. I hate it."

"My apologies, but we had no control over what just happened," Alear said, breaking his silence as he looked around. "There are still no signs of Corrupted or Ashborn - wait a moment. Is that-?"

Alear moved forward, and Jack watched as he went further into the fog than anyone else had thus far. Jack could barely see him by the time he stopped, knelt, and grasped something. He turned around and held it up for all of them to see.

It was the one-eyed, blackened helmet of a Corrupted. Alear continued to walk forward before dropping the helmet to the ground.

"There are a dozen of them just down the street," Alear said, turning back around, his hand on Libération's pommel. "And more than a few guns, as well, from what I could see. Still, there's nothing around here that's alive or dead. It's like they all vanished."

"I thought Corrupted disappeared with their helmets," Jack said, rubbing his chin, hearing his heartbeat in his ears.

"Then it means something happened here that didn't kill them, but took them anyway," Lionel said. "Did you- no, you didn't hear that, because there's nothing to hear."

Jack turned to Lionel with a brow raised. "Lio?"

Lionel shook his head. "I know it didn't make sense."

"He is right," Ivy agreed. "Shall we do a sweep of the town, Divine One? Just to be certain that there is nothing here?"

Alear nodded. "Do it, but be careful. Whatever it is that took these Corrupted and Ashborn may not be far."

"This just keeps getting better and better by the second…" Timerra grumbled.

Jack went with Kagetsu and Zelkov to help sweep the northern part of town. And just like where they had landed, there was nothing. Only the helmets of Corrupted and the firearms and perhaps a few scattered army fatigues of the Ashborn were left within the city. All throughout, the fog refused to let up. It was everywhere, although it seemed to get less and less severe as time went on.

Kagetsu kicked a Corrupted helmet down the street.

"I have always wanted to do such a thing!" Kagetsu said, laughing. "I never much cared for these terrible things, but being able to play ball with them is more fun than I had envisioned!"

"Mind that you do not draw attention to us," Zelkov advised. "Even if everything appears quiet now, causing too much noise could lead to our untimely deaths."

"There hasn't been a sound since we docked here," Jack pointed out.

Kagetsu tilted his head. "And what does that mean?"

"No sounds. No birds singing, no sounds of Corrupted wandering the buildings, no gunshots, no fireballs soaring through the sky, nothing. Absolutely nothing," Jack continued. "Everything is so quiet, I could hear a pin drop from halfway across the town. There's nothing here, alive or dead."

"That could be the case," Zelkov admitted, crossing his arms and glaring into the fog. "Something has happened here, but I have a feeling all of you have said something like that. I wonder what it could have been."

"Maybe Sombron told all of his soldiers to take off their clothes?" Kagetsu suggested.

Jack snorted a laugh. "Maybe! Maybe."

And, of course, there had been the massive earthquake earlier, but no one had talked about that since it had happened. Not that Jack could blame them.

"We have not seen Sombron since he fled from the battle," Zelkov pointed out, "Could it be possible that he isn't the one behind this?"

Kagetsu shrugged. "I don't know. Jack?"

"Most things have revolved around him thus far, though there was all that weird shit in the ancient city, and I doubt he could've brought four Outlanders here without outside assistance…" Jack said, trailing off with his last sentence before shaking his head. "Just be ready for anything, I guess."

Zelkov hummed. "Well, now I have reason to be frightened, if the fabled augur cannot discern what is happening."

Jack groaned as he wiped his forehead. "I was really hoping you'd forgotten that name for me."

"Why would he? It's a good name," Kagetsu said, rubbing his chin.

"It just doesn't make sense anymore," Jack replied, shrugging. "I never really was an augur or a prophet or whatever. I'm just Jack now, especially. My knowledge is all but useless."

"Then it is a good thing the Emblems bequeathed their battle skills to you," Zelkov said.

Jack looked down at the Bracelet around his wrist, smiling.

"It is."

There was nothing within the port town, and even the surrounding countryside seemed to be devoid of life - the crops hadn't been reseeded, the remains of the livestock were the only bodies they found, and they had long decayed into nothing but jumbled skeletons. The only thing left to do was set up a camo and move further inland, which took a few days.

Nothing of note truly happened during those tense days, although Jack never really got a good night's rest. Not even when he began to sleep in the same bed as Ivy did he get good, restful sleep, and neither did she. It was as if both of them knew something was going to happen soon. Something even uglier than the second battle of Lythos.

"What do you think it is?" Ivy asked quietly, staring up at the canvas ceiling of their shared tent.

Jack shrugged, laying his hands behind his head. "Could be anything. Something's just not seemed right since that earthquake. And… and that port town."

Ivy nodded, and even through the dark Jack could see the deep frown on her face. "Sombron will pay for it."

"Where do you think he's gone?"

"Where else? The seat of Elusia's power. The castle. It's the only fortified position where he could possibly stand up to the combined might of all of Elyos," Ivy replied. "And yet, for all his power, he has squandered it. Of course, when this is over, we'll…"

Ivy turned to look at Jack. She really was beautiful - far more beautiful than Jack could possibly put into words. And not just physically; she exuded a cool confidence yet still held onto her humanity such that Jack couldn't help but stare at her and smile.

"Thinking about marriage already? After only a few weeks?" Jack asked, chuckling. "You know what you want. I can respect that."

"Mm. I must think about the kingdom's stability and having an official consort would do wonders for that, with the people knowing their future is secure," Ivy said, turning so that she was one her side. She placed a hand on Jack's chest, and he shivered at her cold touch. "Of course, to ensure that, certain… protocols have to be put in place."

There was a different tension in the room, and Jack wasn't too averse to this one.

"Really? I'd like to hear about these protocols. You know, since I'll be the Queen's consort in a few months," Jack replied with a breathy whisper.

"We shouldn't go too in-depth with it, but I'm willing to tell you a few things. It's very simple. You have experience with it. You'll likely be a natural…"

After they set out from their base camp, they began their long march through Elusia. Jack had forgotten how cold the place could be - and it was nearing the end of Summer, so it was still in its warmer months. The landscape was beautiful yet savage, with deep valleys cut into the rock, and black mountains stretched high into the sky.

But there was something strange, deep in one of the valleys. And ashen gray mountain that reached the highest of them all. It seemed so out of place that it had to have been placed there by something.

It was Jack, Alfred, Ivy, and Alear at the front of the formation, looking down at the blockage from up high. It was supposed to be an easy way into Elusia - Ivy had even identified a fort that could either be used as temporary shelter, or as a potential spot for resistance. None of that could be seen beyond the gray mass.

"There is not supposed to be a mountain blocking that pass," Ivy said, her voice quick and sharp. "I have sent men down this pass before, and they reported nothing blocking their path."

"So, uh," Alfred said, "Did a mountain just get up and walk to this place? By itself?"

Alear shook his head. "Mountains don't just move on their own. Maybe… maybe this was what caused the earthquake we felt a few days ago-"

The earth began quaking again, and at that height, falling down was extremely ill-advised. Jack held himself up by bracing himself against a rock outcropping, but even the shaking earth could not keep his eyes from being glued to the ashen mountain nearby.

"That's…" Jack said, swallowing a growing lump in his throat. "That's not a mountain, is it?"

A ghastly hand reached up from the mountain, clouds of ash falling down about it as it grasped and a nearby clifftop. Another hand reached and and did the same as a low groaning sound echoed through the once pristine valley. It took several moments, but before long, there stood a giant creature the likes of which Jack, or anybody else on Elyos, had ever seen.

At its full height, it easily towered over any mountain top or cliff in the valley, with the closest reaching what appeared to be its shoulders. Its limbs were short and stocky, and ended in long, clawed fingers for the arms and elephantine stumps for the legs. Its head hung low, before it fell backward, showing off flattened nostrils as well as pock-marked 'skin'.

The worst part was when its 'eyes' and 'mouth' opened. At first, they were nothing but three empty sockets, but then a booming, droning noise echoed throughout the valley, and a brilliant blue light erupted from within it. And it looked up to the sky, screaming like a million people had been congealed into one amalgamate being.

Jack only had one thing to say to that, and it wasn't even a complete thought as Alear began barking orders to the others.

"W-what…" he whispered, "h-how…"

Now, it is time for my most fucked up creation to take flight. Enjoy.

Here's a link to our Discord server: discord. gg/u89gs745fn

See you guys next time!