Chapter 31
Embrace the Dark
Walking into Isla del Sol, I then felt a sinister presence. Deciding to make my way to the tallest building in the city, I saw a strange man clad in black armour. "Who are you?", I asked. "I am you. Remember, Warrior of Darkness. Remember who you are.", the figure said before disappearing. Unnerved by what the figure had said to me, I then found myself in the tallest building in city at the ground floor. I looked around the building only to see a similar gold and silver pair of statues like what I'd seen in Vigrid. "Weird.", I said, walking up to the statues. Noticing that the statues were in Alphen and Shionne's likenesses just like the ones in Vigrid, I then heard Yuito's voice behind me saying, "You will go no further.". I turned around to face him, noticing that his right eye was glowing an even brighter red. "And tell me, why should I listen to you?", I asked. "You are not the chosen successor to the Sovereign. I am.", Yuito said. "You do realise that you don't possess the necessary traits to become the Sovereign, right? Besides, YHVH's going to use your body as a new set of clothes anyway. Even if you were to become the Sovereign, it wouldn't really be you on the throne.", I said. "You will take back what you said immediately and hand over the Renas Alma too.", Yuito said, clearly not having listened to what I told him. "No. I am the Sovereign, not you.", I said.
Rushing at me in anger, Yuito covered his sword in a purple energy. I easily dodged his attack, retaliating with a gust of wind. Slashing at the wind to disperse it, Yuito then threw a fire extinguisher with his psychokinesis which I promptly destroyed with a giant fireball. Letting out an angered shriek, Yuito then said, "You traitor! Maybe YHVH was right to beat a strong sense of imposter syndrome into you after all.". "You're one to talk, usurper.", I said. Yuito then grabbed a larger fire extinguisher and threw it at me; I easily threw the fire extinguisher back at Yuito with my Force Magic. Narrowly dodging it, Yuito warped away, shouting, "This isn't the end!". Shrugging, I then made my way up the staircase to the top of the building.
As I walked up the stairs, I then encountered a mysterious vision of Ragna and Velvet talking to Maruki. "Your son seems to have a strong sense of imposter syndrome, believing that he is genuinely undeserving of any achievement he earns. Not just that, but he's also been exhibiting very serious health problems; a scan we conducted of him revealed that he'd grown up with a chronically broken skeleton. He has absolutely no stamina most of the time, not to mention being unable to even run very short distances. He's also been showing clear trust issues, reeling away when we even tried to simply stroke his hair. And that's not even getting into the absolutely putrid stench emanating off of him.", Maruki said. Horrified, Velvet covered her mouth, saying, "What did YHVH do to him?!". "Also, he's showcasing classic confidence issues, refusing to even see that he is supposed to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign. Not a good trait for a ruler worth a damn, truth be told.", Maruki said. "In that case, Doctor, would it be OK if Jack stays with Noah and Mio for a while? At least with them Jack would be with loving parents. Not to mention, he'd have a brother of sorts in Ghondor.", Ragna said. "About that. Something happened to Noah and Mio; something connected to Z and their four friends; not to mention I don't know if Ghondor survived what happened to his father too.", Maruki said. "That's OK. Maybe staying at Lythos Castle then with Lumera would be a better option.", Velvet said. The vision then faded, leaving me extremely confused.
Entering the top floor, I saw a red sword with a black hilt and a hollow opening embedded in a stone pedestal. I approached the sword, extending my hand and gripped the hilt tight. To my surprise, the sword then turned into data before disappearing much like with the Renas Alma. "So, you've claimed the sword Dein Nomos.", a voice said behind me. I turned around to see a young girl with long platinum blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a red shapka, a short sleeveless black jacket exposing her midriff, a checkered red skirt, black fingerless gloves and black thigh high boots. "Hi, my name's Jack. What's yours?", I asked. "My name is Alisa Ilinichina Amiella. But that is not here nor there, Your Majesty.", the girl said. "Wait, what did you just call me?", I asked. "Oh, there are much bigger concerns facing Nintentopia, Your Majesty. Far greater concerns.", Alisa said. "If you say so.", I said. Taking a moment to compose myself, I then said, "Well, Alisa, do you know why I'm still having these visions? Rachel said it's because I'm not the actual user of Cyber Space but I think there's more to it than that.". "Well, Your Majesty, when we entered to save you from YHVH, a miscalculation on our end caused us to become trapped here. Dr. Eggman though was able to use Sage to keep an eye on you from afar whilst we tried to figure out what was going wrong. However, whilst we were doing so, our memories ended up inadvertently leaking into Cyber Space, accidentally displacing you as Cyber Space's user. Not only that, but it also caused YHVH to bind you to this specific section of Cyber Space known as the Nightmare Void, a realm created especially to trap and torture you. Indeed, there is no justification for what YHVH did, both back then and even now.", Alisa explained.
Before I could respond, I then heard Hanabi laugh behind me. Turning to face her, I then noticed that Hanabi was wearing a suit of sinister red armour. "Finally, you remember! Yes, you are our Sovereign. You are the one chosen to rule us and Nintentopia.", Hanabi said, a red infinity symbol appearing in her left eye. "Wait, you're a Consul too?", I asked. "I am, Your Majesty.", Hanabi said. "But why didn't you tell me? Wait, did I ask you to tell me?", I asked. "Oh, you wouldn't remember. The amnesia and all.", Hanabi said. A sinister red aura then appeared around Hanabi as she smiled, ever so cheerful and delightful. "Lady Consul, it is time for His Majesty to know the truth.", Alisa said. "Don't worry. He'll remember, even if he doesn't want to.", Hanabi said, walking over to and embracing me. I then found myself in a strange autumnal wood, the trees themselves embracing a red and yellow ensemble in their leaves. I also noticed that the air was a bit chilly. I walked through the wood, noticing the gold and silver statues in Alphen and Shionne's likenesses again. I then came across a village in the woods; a strange sense of nostalgia came over me even though I had never actually been there. I approached one of the houses, noticing the graveyard by it; I read the headstones there, wondering why the names seemed so familiar to me.
Entering the house, I noticed how empty and dusty the house was, as if no-one had lived there for years. Before I had the opportunity to walk outside, I then heard Ragna's voice say, "I knew you'd return eventually.". I turned to face him, saying, "Hi, my name's Jack. Who are you?". "So, you've forgotten me too? I guess it can't be helped. My name is Ragna the Bloodedge.", Ragna said, his voice becoming softer and gentler. Taking a moment to think, Ragna then said, "Then again, Lumera never told you what happened to your father, now did she?". "She told me enough. She said you killed him.", I said. "No. I am your father.", Ragna said. "But that's impossible.", I said. "You always have been, son.", Ragna said. Suddenly, Velvet came through the door holding a basket full of food. Looking at me, she rushed over and hugged me, saying, "I thought this day would never come. Welcome home, my son.". A strong sense of emotion then came over me; I subsequently hugged Velvet back, crying. "Don't worry, son. Mommy's here. There, there.", Velvet said.
Suddenly, I snapped back to the top of the Ithavoll Group's building. "Do you understand now, Your Majesty?", Hanabi asked. "No, I don't. Why was I transported to that village anyway?", I said. "You were born there. Well, I say born, but problems with Velvet forced the doctors there to cut you out of her womb. And just so you know, that village has a name and that name is Aball.", Hanabi said. "It's almost time to for you to see your wife too.", Alisa said. "Wait, who do you mean?", I asked. "Never you mind.", Alisa said, walking over to the door. She opened it slightly and whispered something before turning to face me again, saying, "Her Majesty is coming now.". The door opened even further, with Framme walking through. Looking at me, she perked up and rushed over saying, "My love.". "Wait, I thought Yumi was my wife.", I said. "Maybe in this Cyber Space time loop but not outside of it.", Hanabi said. Embracing me, Framme said, "I've missed you, dear. So have our children.". Surprised at this, I asked, "Wait, when did we marry again?". "After I healed you. We fell in love and one thing led to another. Eventually, we were wed. Dohalim was there, as were our friends.", Framme said. "If that's so, then why did I think Yumi was my wife?", I asked. "That's simple. When you were placed here in Cyber Space, you had suffered absolutely horrible injuries. Indeed, your head was cracked open and you were bleeding all over. It's possible said injuries affected your memories alongside the Cyber Space loops you experienced- in them, you had different wives every time. Those wives included Melia, Juniper, Sophie, Yumi and even me. YHVH placed you in said loops anyway to torture and torment you and, most importantly, make you forget Lady Framme's love. But now, you won't need to suffer again any more, especially now that you and her have now been reunited.", Hanabi said, ever so sweetly.
As I took a moment to absorb what Hanabi told me, I then heard a deeper female voice say, "My, my, what a heartwarming reunion.". I turned in the direction of the voice, only to see a woman with long white hair, tanned skin and purple eyes with two horns in the shape of a crescent moon – the horn on the right side being smaller than the horn on the left – wearing a dark purple dress with an opening for her navel. Accompanying her were three figures: a man with short green hair and red eyes wearing a khaki outfit showing off his chest, various piercings on his face and red tattoos on his face and sides; a man with spiky grey hair and yellow eyes wearing silver and mauve armour and Marni. "Wait, Marni? What are you doing with those three?", I asked. "Oh, the widdle Jack the Ripper doesn't remember three of his most trusted allies? And I thought you were smarter than that.", Marni said. "More to the point,", I said to the silver-haired woman, "who are you?". "Oh, I didn't realise your amnesia was this bad. Then again, you were very badly injured. But that's neither here nor there. You can call me Zephia.", the silver-haired woman said. "My name is Griss.", the green-haired man said. "And my name is Mauvier. Much like with her sister, Lady Veyle told me much about you.", the grey-haired man wearing silver and mauve armour said. "And we are known as the Four Hounds.", Marni said. "Indeed, you may think of us as a typical sitcom family. Think of me as the mother, my husband Mauvier as the father, Griss as our son and Marni as our daughter.", Zephia said. Turning my attention to Marni, I then asked her, "Anyway, why did you call me Jack the Ripper?". "Oh, you committed ever so lovely atrocities against the Sin Eaters. No matter how much you convinced yourself that it was all to protect the Multiverse, we knew that you were really targeting them out of hatred for what they were. And how lovely you were against them.", Marni said, smirking. I turned to Framme, saying, "Framme, is Marni telling the truth about my actions towards the Sin Eaters?". "She is, my love. To be honest, I enjoyed what you doing to them too. Scratch that, everyone fighting against them enjoyed what you doing, me included.", Framme replied. "On a much more serious note, we need you to reclaim your place as the Sovereign. YHVH's actions have seriously destabilised the Multiverse and we need you to take your place as the Ruler of All Things if the Multiverse is to survive. Please, Jack.", Zephia said. "I don't think I really deserve the position though. I did fight against the Sin Eaters, but only to stop them from spreading the Flood of Light across every world, not because I hated them for what they were. Besides, I think that Yuito would deserve the position more than me.", I said. Getting angry at this, Griss said, "I don't think you understand your situation. Besides, Alphen personally chose you to succeed him as the Sovereign, not anyone else and certainly not Yuito. Also, it's not like you wouldn't deserve it, especially after what YHVH did to you. So I think you'd be justified in ruling over us but that's just me.".
Before I could respond, I found myself in an ancient shrine. I looked around the area, noticing that it seemed to have built specifically for someone. I walked forward, noticing the black knight with a horned helmet. The knight was covered in an oddly familiar black and dark red aura, dancing and prancing about like fire. "Remember. Remember your purpose.", the knight said before vanishing. As I approached the shrine's inner sanctum, I saw a vision of Noah and Mio talking with Alphen. "He might obstinately refuse his calling as my heir, but if he does, I want you to show him that he truly has no choice in the matter. He must succeed me as the Sovereign; after all, it is him who has an equal disposition toward all types of Dahnan astral energy. Besides, as you two are parents yourselves, it is only natural for you to guide him, just as you did with Ghondor.", Alphen said. "What are you implying?", Noah asked. "Jack needs to wipe out and crush the Sin Eaters if the Multiverse is ever to survive. I have also told the Four Hounds about this too; of course he might nominate someone else to take his place on the basis that he feels he might not deserve to rule over others as the Sovereign but is Jack who must stop the Flood of Light from consuming all.", Alphen said. The vision then faded, greatly confusing me. I looked at my right ring finger, only to see a beautiful white ring with golden engravings and a golden stone in the centre; before I could wonder what my true purpose was, I heard Alvis behind me. "It seems you truly do have a strong case of imposter syndrome. A pity too. Of course, what YHVH did to you was truly unforgivable but I suppose it can't be helped.", he said. Alvis then mysteriously disappeared before I could respond. Malos then walked up to me, examining my right eye very curiously. "Most peculiar.", he said. "What do you mean?", I asked. Chuckling, Malos then said, "Well, you do have Sovereign powers, but it seems that they're not properly manifesting in you. Maybe it's either because you can't properly control them or it's because you're actually scared of them, not to mention terrified of what may happen if you lose control of yourself.", Malos replied. "And you think I can't manifest my Sovereign powers properly because of a psychological block?", I asked. "Yeah, that. It also seems that Odin eludes you too; not because you can't control him but because you're scared of priming into him and losing yourself. Then again, most Dominants are.", Malos said. "Maybe you're right.", I said. "Oh, so you admit that you're scared? I didn't know you were so honest. But seriously, you need to stop blaming yourself for crimes that other people committed and you need to stop punishing yourself for even very minor failures. If you are to fulfil your destiny as the Sovereign then you really do need to stop with the self-blame. You need to embrace the darkness, not run from it.", Malos said before walking away. Before I had any time to reflect on what he said, though, I then sensed an earthquake shattering the very ground beneath me, sending me tumbling into the dark below.
The story continues in the next chapter.
