Chapter 28

Digital Delusions

Entering a dark room, Ragna sighed. "It's not like you to be so tired. What's wrong?", Diamant asked. "I don't really know, Diamant. It's just that I don't know why Jack won't support the noble Ascension Project. Even he should realise that if YHVH is to die, then he should help us and support our goals in ascending. There's also the matter of how he became Phoenix's Dominant too- last time I checked, he had no overt connections to either Valisthea or the Grand Duchy of Rosaria. What's more, he's apparently convinced that we've been trapped in Cyber Space and is trying to break us out.", Ragna said. "Maybe he might know something we don't.", Neptune said. "Well we can't deny that possibility.", Anders said in agreement. Calmly drinking tea, Neptune then said, "Well, we need to make sure the Ascension Project succeeds for Yuito and Naomi's sake.". "Do you know when they'll succeed Alphen and Shionne as Sovereign and Maiden respectively?", Anders asked. "Knowing them, they'll likely crown Yuito and Naomi on the very same day as their wedding. That is if Jack finally accepts that he's no longer fit to become the Sovereign.", Ragna said. "Still, do you think they'll be able to properly perform the Spirit Channelling Ceremony?", Lloyd asked. "Of course they will. All we'll need is the Renas Alma and we'll be all set for Yuito and Naomi to perform the Spirit Channelling Ceremony.", Chai replied.

As Ragna and co were talking, Isurd entered Garreg Mach's library. There, he saw Taion sitting down on a chair and calmly reading a book whilst drinking tea. Bowing, Isurd said, "Lord Consul, we have finally managed to locate Agnus Castle.". "Good. Finally, we shall be able to escape this digital prison and allow Yuito and Naomi to ascend and rule as the Sovereign and Maiden. Good work.", Taion replied. "About that, Lord Consul, I don't actually believe that either Yuito or his backup Noah will actually be able to properly ascend.", Isurd said. "Why do you think that?", Taion asked. "Well, I performed a scan of the two and found that their Sovereign powers might actually be artificial. Of course, in order for the Spirit Channelling Ceremony to be a success, we need someone with genuine Sovereign powers as the conduit and a Maiden beside him as the stabiliser. I also scanned Lindow, Haseo, Ragna and Dante and found the same thing- their Sovereign powers being artificial.", Isurd explained. "And let me guess, my and Lanz's Sovereign powers are artificial too, right?", Taion asked. "That they are.", Isurd said. Suddenly, Sena rushed in. "Lady Consul, what news do you have?", Isurd asked her. "They're finally awake, all of them!", Sena said excitedly. "You mean the Dreamers?", Taion asked. "Exactamundo!", Sena said. "That's great news, certainly.", Isurd said.

Meanwhile, Alfred, Diamant, Ivy and Timerra entered a mechanical room with an array of mechanical pods. The pods themselves were of a rectangular prism shape and had blacked out "windows" of sorts. The pods were also letting out a large amount of steam as the windows defogged, opening to reveal a coterie of people about to wake up. Alfred stood over one of them, witnessing a young girl with short brown hair and green eyes wearing a dark orange nightie wake up; she groggily scrambled to her feet and nearly slipped back down had Alfred not extended his hand to help her up. "Thanks, Your Highness.", the girl said. "Rita, how long were you out for?", Ivy asked the brown-haired girl. "I honestly don't know, Lady Consul. If I were to guess, though, I'd say I was out for about a week at most.", Rita replied. "Interesting. Very interesting indeed.", Diamant said before turning attention to the other people groggily rising out their pods. These included a young man with spiky brown hair slightly shifted to the right and green eyes wearing a blue shirt, white gloves, black trousers and black boots; a man with short blue hair and matching blue eyes wearing a blue military uniform with white stripes, a pair of black rectangular glasses, a turquoise undershirt, blue puffy cuffs and long white boots; a man with spiky reddish-brown hair and blue eyes wearing a green long-sleeved shirt lined with blue accents and gold buttons, a long white coat also with gold buttons, white trousers and white shoes; a man with short spiky brown hair and brown eyes wearing a red jacket, long black trousers and grey mechanical boots; and a man with tanned skin, long cyan hair in a ponytail and blue eyes wearing a suit of teal plate armour. "Oh man, does it feel great to be back.", the man with brown hair and green eyes said. "Certainly, Sorey.", Diamant said to the man with spiky brown hair shifted to the right and green eyes. "By the way, Hubert, what do you know about the Agnus Castle Ring Vault?", Ivy asked the blue-haired man. "To be honest, Lady Consul, I know that King Zeke and Queen Morag did their best to hide its location, especially from the Consuls. I believe they did so to keep the red Chaos Emerald safe.", Hubert replied. "Then we need to find it so we can prolong the Endless Now as much as we can.", Timerra said.

Turning her attention to the man with spiky reddish-brown hair, Timerra then said, "Asbel, have you heard from our lord Z about the plan?". "Not really. After all, I have been recovering alongside my brother Hubert after what that ingrate Jack did to us during the Battle of Prison Island.", Asbel said. "I see.", Alfred said. Looking at the brown-haired man wearing a red jacket, Diamant said, "Now then, Kor, have you heard from Marni or any of the other Hounds about the Ascension Project?". "Not that I know of.", Kor said. Turning her attention to the cyan-haired man, Ivy then asked, "Veigue, just to make sure we're all on the same page, did X or Y tell you about the Sovereign or his backups?". "No, I don't think so.", Veigue said. "Strange. I thought they would have.", Ivy said. Eavesdropping on them, Futaba chuckled before walking into a strange mechanical room with a gigantic black and purple crystal at the back. Noticing Akira looking at the crystal, Futaba said, "Oh, there you are, Brother.". Turning to face her, Akira said, "Sure thing, Sis.". Embracing her, Akira then said, "Futaba, do you know if Dad and Mom are aware that we're in Cyber Space?". "To be honest, brother, I just thought we were in the Metaverse again, like back when you transferred to Shujin and then when we were investigating EMMA.", Futaba said. Thinking for a moment, Futaba then said, "To be honest, learning that we were in Cyber Space was news enough to me.". "Not surprising, really.", Akira said.

Meanwhile, Eggman met with Terumi again. "What is now, Mr. Egg?", Terumi asked. "Terumi, when we entered Cyber Space to prevent Jack from breaking from the abuse YHVH was about to thrust upon him, did you notice anything odd?", Eggman asked in return. "Now I think about it, though I didn't see anything, I did sense something was strange. Like, as if Cyber Space wanted us to enter it.", Terumi said. "As if Cyber Space wanted us to enter?", Eggman said. "Yeah, like the digital realm we're now in wanted us to enter and now we can't escape because Cyber Space doesn't want us to.", Terumi replied. "If that's the case, then what about everyone else who entered with us?", Eggman asked. "Maybe they're all living their normal everyday lives in this digital world without realising it.", Terumi said with a horrified realisation. Looking at Metal Sonic, Eggman said, "Yeah, like when I used the Phantom Ruby.". Ardyn then walked in with a worried expression on his face. "Oh, hey Chancellor. What's got you all worried?", Terumi asked. "OK, listen to me and listen well. I believe we may no longer have an easy avenue to fulfil the Ascension Project.", Ardyn said. "How do you mean?", Eggman asked, turning to face him. "Well, I had some scientists perform a rudimentary scan of Kunad Highway in preparation for the Spirit Channelling Ceremony and found that the Kunad Gate is just…gone. Not destroyed, not inactive, just gone. Vanished. Disappeared from this realm.", Ardyn said. "Not gonna lie, that does sound serious.", Eggman said. "What's more, the Renas Alma is gone from Rachel's castle and I fear that the culprit may be approaching the Cauldron near the castle's location.", Ardyn continued. "Wait, Lady Rachel's castle is in Cyslodia, right?", Eggman asked. "That it is.", Terumi said. "Then, who could have possibly taken the Renas Alma?", Eggman asked. Taking a moment to think, Terumi then said, "Possibly someone we know very well, albeit not as a friend. Maybe one of our greatest enemies.". "Come on, who could fit that criteria anyway?", Ardyn asked. A look of fear then invaded Eggman's face. "No, that can't be.", he said. "What do you mean?", Terumi asked. Suddenly, Terumi came to the same horrified realisation.

"What do you mean, Jack has the Renas Alma?!", Shiden angrily asked Rachel. "I gave it to him so he would be able to stop the Endless Now. I have no regrets in what I've done.", Rachel said. "You would be so willing to deny an eternal life for our world Nintentopia? Why?", Mio asked. "Mio, dear, the Endless Now is not living. Existing, perhaps, but certainly not living and even a Consul like you knows it.", Rachel replied. "But still, you must know that the Sovereign's duty is to his people. Why move against him? Why betray Lord Yuito?", Mio asked, tears in her eyes. "Boo hoo. Even you know that Yuito is not a real Sovereign. Alphen certainly gave him a fraction of his Sovereign powers but Yuito is not a real Sovereign himself; he lacks the equal disposition to all forms of Dahnan astral energy and he can only properly manipulate astral energy itself when linked to either Shiden or Hanabi through SAS. Even you know that.", Rachel said. "That's not untrue.", Shiden said. Walking in, Arashi then said, "On that note, Rachel, would it be proper to assume that Jack is also responsible for causing the Kunad Gate to disappear?". "Yes, that's right.", Rachel said. "To be honest, though, the Kunad Gate was essentially accelerating time to an irreversible point and allow YHVH to create a Quantum Time Lock.", Kasane said. "Wow, Kasane, you too?", Shadow asked. "I just hope it's not too late for Jack to stop messing around and reclaim his place as the Sovereign. I mean, it's common sense at this point that Jack claims his place as our monarch and supreme ruler.", Ovan said. "I hope so.", Rinwell said.

Meanwhile as they were talking, X listened in and started to chuckle.

The story continues in the next chapter.