Chapter 19
Whispers in the Wind
Ragna sighed as he looked out over Cyslodia. Being assigned to the Renan castle there was indeed a grand opportunity for him, but also quite limiting. Not only was Cyslodia cold as the ninth circle of Hell, but the realm had no Titan to protect it and was in danger of collapse from all the dimensional instability that the Convergence brought. Suddenly, in walked X, ready to exploit the realm's suffering for all it was worth. Turning to face her, Ragna said, "So, what brings you here, my delicious Consul?". A vacant smile on her face, X said, "Oh, Brother Consul, you know our lord YHVH is hurting ever so badly. He needs life force from people to heal, especially after what that little ingrate Jack did to him. Even you know that; after all, it was why Z brought you back as one of us. Your wife Velvet too.". "I know that, Sister Consul, I do, which is why I plan to help our lord in every way I can.", Ragna said, a red infinity symbol shining in his left eye. Her smile never fading, X then calmly and serenely left Ragna's room. After she did so, Velvet strolled in, a red infinity symbol shining in her right eye. The two embraced, with Velvet then saying, "My love, I know Z brought us back ostensibly to serve YHVH, but rest assured that I will find our son too.". "Wonder where he could be though. He never really showed up at Garreg Mach despite our hopes that he would. Indeed, when Veyle helped fish him out of his underwater prison when he first came to us after these long years, we were absolutely disgusted with what he'd been through. Still, the past is the past after all. All that really matters is ensuring the Endless Now continues for all eternity.", Ragna said.
Meanwhile, Revali entered a dusty storage room where Fubuki was waiting. "OK, Lord Consul, what is it you need?", Revali asked. "Revali, I trust you and the other Champions know about the Chronos Terminal. YHVH needs access to it in order to build his ideal world and so we can successfully complete the Ascension Project. Even Operation Oraculi was activated purely for that divine purpose.", Fubuki said. "Why, how could I possibly forget? Especially with how you and Karen essentially drilled that purpose into us. An utterly asinine briefing if I do say so myself but a very informative one all the same.", Revali replied. All of a sudden the two were then transported into a weird golden realm where they came face to face with a giant golden mechanical angel of sorts. Recognising who they were facing, Revali and Fubuki instantly bowed. "I see such respect comes second nature to you, especially towards a being of my divine calibre.", the angel said. "Nothing like it in the world, Lord YHVH.", Fubuki replied to the angel. "Remember your holy promise: to find and guide my holy vessel to the Chronos Terminal and use the seven Chaos Emeralds to aid me in the inhabiting of the vessel in question. Failure to do so will not be accepted and you shall be harshly punished.", YHVH boomed. "But of course. Our only purpose is to serve You, our Lord who art in Heaven. Hallowed be Thy name.", Fubuki said. Warping back to the storage room, Fubuki and Revali then noticed Karen entering the room, his right eye glowing with a red infinity symbol. "Ah, Lord Consul. You've come.", Revali said. "Indeed I have.", Karen replied. A red infinity symbol glowing in his left eye, Fubuki then said, "Oh, Brother Consul, have you found Jack yet? We need him so YHVH can use him as His new vessel.". "About that, there's something I need to tell you. It concerns the status of the green Chaos Emerald.", Karen replied.
As Fubuki and Karen talked, Sonic ran desperately through Ganath Haros, cleaving a path through many of the robots that attacked Colony 4. "Wow, look at him go!", Mash said excitedly. "Indeed. After all, he is the fastest thing alive.", Amy said. Sensing a sinister presence behind them, Amy and Mash turned to see a man with slicked back white hair and grey eyes wearing a blue tunic holding a blue katana. "And who are you?", Mash asked. "My name is Vergil, but you won't need to know that whence I kill you and sacrifice your souls unto our Lord.", the man said. "What brings you to Ganath Haros anyway?", Lanz asked. "Lanz, I have suspicions that you crossed blades with the suicidal maniac Ashera of Colony 11 in Mahag Saar. Is that correct?", Vergil asked. "I…uh, don't know what you're talking about.", Lanz said, nervous. "Cut the sparking crap.", Vergil said. "Still though, it would certainly be a shocker if it turns out I did.", Lanz said, laughing nervously. "Incidentally, how did it feel when you were reborn in the darkness and given new purpose?", Vergil asked. "Well, it did feel great, as though we could do anything in the world and not even Jack could stop us.". Lanz replied. "I agree.", Amy said, smiling. "Still, one thing is clear- we need to find the Chronos Terminal before Jack does and guide our lord there so He can take control of the Ascension Project.", Lanz said.
Entering a dark room, Rinwell then sat down, a sad look in her eyes. Accompanying her was a small white owlet with blue eyes. "Don't worry, Hootle. We'll win provided the Ascension Project provided all goes well.", Rinwell said to the owlet. Hootle looked back at her in understanding. Ethel then entered, holding a strange egg. "Oh, hey Ethel.", Rinwell said. "Rinwell, do you know where the Chronos Terminal is?", Ethel asked. "I think I might do.", Rinwell said. "You think or you know?", Ethel asked. "Well, I don't know exactly where it is, but if I really had to guess, I'd say it's likely in Kunad Highway, beyond the Kunad Gate.", Rinwell replied. "If that's the case, then we need to find a proper pathway to it and ensure that Cyber Space won't warp us away when it does. I hate it when that happens.", Zeon said. "And exactly how do we find a way to get to the highway?", Shadow asked. "I guess we'll have to cross that bridge when the time comes.", Rinwell said.
"What do you mean, the green emerald is gone?!", Fubuki asked. "When I fought Jack in the Forest Temple, he somehow unleashed a dark wave of energy that completely shattered the emerald when I used Zantetsuken. That's all I really remember.", Clive said. "It seems the little ingrate is more powerful than we thought. In light of this we'll need to be extremely careful if we encounter him again.", Cloud said. "Incidentally, we never really reunited you with your sister, did we?", Alfred said to Fubuki. "No matter. When we invade the Sovereign Empire when our lord allows us, we'll find her.", Diamant said. "Wow, Diamant, you too?", Ike asked, disgusted. "Come on, Ike, we need to fight. That's what Nintentopia thrives on. Well, death too.", Eirika said. "Ike has a point, though. All these years of fighting with no real end in sight has twisted us. Into what I can't really say, but I don't think it's a good thing.", Leif said. "Yeah, I agree with you, Leif.", Corrin said. "Still, we need to focus on finding the Chronos Terminal at least. From there we can discuss all potential next steps.", Lyn said.
Meanwhile, in Mahag Saar, upon the obsidian tower where I fought Wyvern, I felt a strange chill, as if something apocalyptic was about to occur.
The story continues in the next chapter.
