Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. No sue for you.
Book I, Part II: Mortal Conflict - The Zodiac Brave Story
Chapter III: Confrontation
[March 18, 2152 | Esthar, Grandidi Forest | 4:43 PM]
"Fireball!"
Uriko's attack sailed at the dark-cloaked figure on front of her, who merely put up a pink barrier of energy, the Shell making the Fireball attack dissipate harmlessly on its surface.
"This may not even be worth my time, if all of your attacks are as weak as that one," the figure said, shaking his head. "I'll end this quickly."
The energy veil around him began to shrink as he spoke, forming into nothing more than a dark ball in his hand and revealing his true looks. The figure's body was of average-build, his chest covered by a white shirt traced by yellow lines around the outside. His arms were covered in a sort of cloth gauntlet, covering his arm from the elbow down in blue and yellow material. His pants were much the same as the shirt, white with yellow outlines, and his boots resembled the coverings on his arm in both design and color, reaching up to the knees. On his lower torso and upper parts of his arms and legs, the areas were covered with bandages, unknown whether it was from injury or just a stylistic choice.
"Don't let your guard down," Sumiko said, looking at the figure carefully as she held her rapier out in front of her in a fencing stance.
"Believe me," Naoki replied, "I won't. This guy just reeks of trouble." Without another word, Naoki hurled the kunai at the figure, watching in disbelief as the kunai actually slowed down in mid-air before coming to a complete stop in front of the figure. The man simply plucked the throwing weapon from the air calmly, dropping it to the dirt.
"Just so you have an idea of who you're messing with," the figure began, "allow me to introduce myself. I am Seeker, a Time Alchemist, at your service. Of course...my objective right now is merely to take the Holy Stone from you. Simply hand it over, and there will be no trouble."
"And if we don't?" Uriko asked, eyes blazing.
"Then I'll take it. By force."
(Play: For The Reunion (Naoki's Battle Theme) - Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children)
"It's three on one. We can take this guy," Sumiko said, green light swirling around her as she stabbed her rapier into the ground. "Soil Evidence!"
The ground under Seeker cracked slightly, then exploded, raining shards of earth down onto the Time Alchemist, who winced a little under the unexpected attack. Quickly, however, he regained his focus, throwing the energy ball in his hand at the trio. The ball landed before the trio were clear of the radius, exploding out into a Demi spell which sapped part of the energy from the group. As they recovered, Seeker called another spell, pressing his momentary advantage further.
"Haste!"
Red light flashed around Seeker for an instant before vanishing, tinging his body a red hue, and he charged the group, the spell rendering his movements instantly a blur. Naoki barely had time to look up again before Seeker blasted him in the jaw with an uppercut, the combined force and momentum lifting Naoki up to crash into the ground a slight distance away.
"Inferno!"
Uriko pointed a palm towards Seeker as Naoki fell, a spray of fire washing out from her hand and onto Seeker and burning away at the Shell spell that remained over him. Seeker just smirked, sensing the spell's ineffectiveness and pointing a palm over towards Uriko in response.
"Quarter!"
Instantly, Uriko recoiled in shock, another large amount of her energy destroyed by the invisible, mental attack. Sumiko's hands thrust out then, launching a powerful Flare spell at Seeker which slammed into the Shell, buckling it inward but not breaking it. Naoki also stood back up, but his eyes were now different from before. Instead of his normal black pupils and white eyes, his eyes - now red - sported a smaller pupil with three curved dots, resembling commas, surrounding the pupil in a vaguely triangular formation.
"Punch me in the face, will you..." he muttered, watching as Seeker defended against another spell from Uriko. Quickly, he held a hand up, watching as an intricate seal appeared in the air in front of his hand upon the focus of his energies. "Thunder Flare!"
Instantly, the air around Seeker became electrified, trapping him in an orb of lightning that continuously chipped away at the Shell protecting him. Another Firaga spell flew in, courtesy of Uriko, and caused the Shell to shatter, both the Thunder Flare's final bursts and the remnants of the Firaga exploding in Seeker's face and pushing him back slightly.
"Now you've made me mad..." Seeker growled, charging at Naoki with his enhanced speed. To Naoki, however, Seeker looked as if he was still moving the same speed he was without Haste. Seeker threw a punch aimed at Naoki's face, which he blocked, retaliating with a powerful strike into Seeker's abdomen, followed by a snapping high kick that sent Seeker stumbling back. Wasting no time, Naoki and Sumiko took the opportunity to launch a joint attack, Naoki's hands flashing through multiple hand signs as Sumiko's rapier rose to the sky.
"Grand Fireball!"
"Blackout!"
A powerful fireball launched from Naoki's outstretched hands as bolts of dark energy appeared in the air over Seeker, courtesy of Sumiko's attack. Seeker just stood still, holding his hands out as purple light gathered around them. The same energy began to outline the fireball and energy bolts as they approached, turning their red and black colors a purplish hue, before they simply stopped, frozen in mid-air.
"No way!" Sumiko cried, seeing both attacks now frozen harmlessly in the air.
"I'm afraid so, my dear. Time Alchemy is a useful thing. For instance..." Pressing a palm to the ground, Seeker smiled as a small, circular seal of some sort flashed on the ground, causing both suspended attacks to fade from sight in the blink of an eye.
'What was that supposed to do...' Uriko thought to herself, keeping her attention focused on Seeker. "Hydra!"
The ground in front of Seeker rumbled before a large, three-headed dragon of flame seemed to rise from the ground, spitting bolts of pure fire at Seeker. Seeker vanished in response, and before anyone else could react, two small portals opened up near the trio. One portal released a powerful burst of fire at Sumiko, Naoki's Grand Fireball attack, while the other released Sumiko's Blackout attack towards Naoki and Uriko. Surprised, none of the three had the chance to react before the attacks struck them, sending Uriko to the ground and staggering Naoki and Sumiko.
Reappearing, Seeker looked over the battered trio and smirked, wondering why such a weak group of kids could be so stubborn.
"Sending your attacks into the future is but one of the many things I can do as a Time Alchemist. However...I believe it's time to end this little game." Vanishing again, Seeker warped over to where the packs of the three were laying, quickly snatching up the topaz that was found earlier and smiling. "There. Mission accomplished. I hate to grab and run, but orders are orders." Without any further warning, a bubble of dark energy formed around Seeker, gradually shrinking in size around the man's form. When the bubble imploded into itself with a small burst of energy, Seeker was gone.
(End: For The Reunion (Naoki's Battle Theme) - Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children)
Angrily, Uriko leapt up, pain momentarily forgotten as she glared at the spot Seeker stood a moment ago. "I can't believe we let him get away! And with the gem, no less!"
Grunting slightly, Naoki rubbed his aching shoulder before holding his hand out, another intricate symbol appearing in the air and showering white light over his body. "We tried, Uriko...that's all we could do." Silently, he turned to Sumiko, casting the symbol again and engulfing her body in white light as well.
"He forced you to use the Sharingan?" she said, noticing the intricate design and red coloration encircling his pupils.
"He used Haste. I countered it." Closing his eyes for a moment, Naoki opened them again with a quick blink, returning his eyes to their normal state as he dismissed his ability.
The Sharingan. A special ability possessed only by Naoki and his family, the Sharingan allowed the possessor to copy nearly any ability that they see, but only if their body and mind were capable of handling it. It also allowed the possessor to better see an enemy's movements, effectively slowing the target's movement in the eyes of the user. However, it took a large drain on the user's energy if used for too long, possibly even killing them if pushed beyond their limits.
"We should get to Esthar," Naoki continued, looking between Sumiko and Uriko. "We might be able to find out more about this...'Seeker.'"
"Sounds like a plan," Sumiko said, beginning to pack up their things with haste as they prepared to make a trip into the heart of the Estharian continent.
[March 18, 2152 | Trabia Garden, First Floor, Hallway | 4:38 PM]
"So, the worm is awake."
Those are the first words I hear after leaving the infirmary. Turning to my right, I see the same person who was dueling Katanas earlier in the day leaning against the wall, arms crossed and staring at the floor.
"And just who might you be, who possesses such a lovely disposition?" I say, rolling my eyes as the figure's head tilts up to stare at me.
"The name is Albel Nox, fool. I am the Symbology instructor here at Trabia...of course, I doubt that you'd last a day in one of my classes. Anyone who can be beaten that easily by Revolver doesn't deserve to train under me."
Biting my tongue, figuratively speaking, I force myself to ignore the insult as another question comes to my mind.
"Okay, I'll admit, he wiped the floor with me. So, let me ask you this. Just how powerful are the DeValles, anyway? I've seen all three of them fight, but just how powerful are they?"
Albel scoffs. "Darius is overconfident...though this isn't surprising, considering both his age and...other events. However, it would be foolish to consider him weak. Revolver is more refined in his battle style, making him a formidable opponent. Katanas...he is nearly unparalleled. He has quite a reputation on Gaia for being quite possibly the most powerful fighter alive. His strength, both in and out of battle, has earned him a nickname of sorts: the Steel Reaver."
"And how powerful are you? You looked like you were holding your own against Katanas when I first saw you."
Hearing my words, Albel just smirks. "I am powerful enough, worm. You are correct; I was holding my own on the battlefield against Katanas. However, I know my limits. If that had been a true fight, I could not have stood against him. But do not get the misconception that I believe I am weak. My power is not something you would care to witness firsthand."
The look on Albel's face is enough to nearly unnerve me in itself, but the tone of his voice makes it clear that he isn't someone I would care to have angry at me.
"I see. Thanks for the information," I say, nodding at Albel and continuing down the hallway. Albel says nothing, instead just shaking his head and walking off in the opposite direction. Stopping for a moment, I notice a piece of paper tacked to the bulletin board near the end of the hallway that catches my interest.
Attention: All Students
Registration for Trabia Garden's Alchemy courses will begin on March 17, 2152. Please contact Katanas DeValle for more information.
Registration for Albel Nox's Symbology courses will begin on March 24, 2152.
For registration information on any of the following courses, please see the appropriate instructor.
GNS 201: Basic Gunsmithing - Darius DeValle
BKS 102: Intermediate Blacksmithing - Revolver DeValle
LRC 301: Introduction to Long-Range Combat Techniques - Jonathan Zeras
The bulletin lists several more courses and instructors, but my mind is fixated on the first part of the bulletin.
'Alchemy...I wonder if there's any way I could enroll here at Trabia to sign up for that...'
Mentally shrugging to myself, I decide to ask Katanas about it later before exiting back into the lobby. As I move to step outside of the Garden, however, a quick glimpse outside reveals that a snowstorm is currently blowing through the area. Sighing, I focus on my energy intently, before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
[March 18, 2152 | Centra, Abandoned Ruins | 4:40 PM]
A small flash of light signaled Kisara's reappearance on the continent of Centra, home of a civilization destroyed over one hundred years ago. All that remains of the once-proud civilization are ruins, much like the ones that Kisara now stood in front of.
"Even after all this time, some of the ruins of Centra have not been destroyed."
As she took several steps towards a set of stairs leading down, Kisara stopped, looking around the area. Something didn't feel right, though she wasn't surprised - the area had been the source of a massacre many decades ago, and it was likely that fiends still roamed the area even now.
"Darkness is strong here...no doubt the remains of fiends and the souls of the deceased."
Still, Kisara moved down the stairway, descending into the depths of the destroyed civilization. The area beneath was damp and murky, wet from water seeping through the ground. Kisara's immediate surroundings appeared to be some ancient maze of tunnels, possibly used for hiding during attack or some number of other uses. Its purpose now seemed to be a haven for fiends, as numerous darkness-dwelling fiends approached Kisara, skittering just as quickly back into the dark upon discerning her ethereal-born nature.
However, not all fiends were so fearful. A tall, four-armed skeleton wearing ceremonial robes of some sort barred Kisara's way as she delved deeper into the ruins, looking down with menacing eyes that glowed with dark power. A Bonelord, the remnants of a priest who devoted his life to magic, only to lose his mind in his research...and then lose it in the literal sense shortly after as he was driven insane by his knowledge.
Kisara stopped, looking at the fiend in front of her that easily dwarfed her in size, before shaking her head.
"Poor tortured soul...I shall release you from your torment." Chanting softly, a small orb of energy gathered in Kisara's hand, hovering above her hand until it was just smaller in size than a basketball. "Shining Orb!" Releasing the energy, the orb flew at the Bonelord, prompting the large fiend to chuckle, the sound eerie and out of place in the halls. Waving its arms in front of its body, a transparent wall of force appeared before its body, taking the brunt of the attack and leaving the Bonelord unharmed.
"Foolish goddess..." it hissed, voice scratchy and weak. Extending all four arms to its sides, orbs of energy began to form in each palm, one each of red, blue, white, and yellow. Thrusting its arms out, Firaga, Waterga, Blizzaga, and Thundaga burst from its palms, all four third-tier elemental spells headed straight for Kisara. She was unintimidated by the fiend's power, though, and conjured an energy barrier of her own that received the attacks.
"Not as simple as I thought...very well," Kisara said, placing her hands in a praying gesture. "Binding!" A wave of energy suddenly rushed from Kisara, carrying with it the power of Stop magic as it approached the Bonelord. The fiend gestured quickly, summoning a skeletal minion from the ground that intercepted the attack, before seeming to smile towards the magus. Raising its arms into the air, a portal appeared over the Bonelord, spells of all elements and affinities beginning to fly out from the depths of the magical gate. Everything from Firaga, to Thundaga, to Aero stormed towards Kisara, who covered her face as the multitude of spells converged on her. Fortunately, what the spells had in number, they lost in power, each individual spell being much weaker than a normal spell of the same kind. As the spells continued to strike both Kisara and the ground around her, she uncovered her face, white energy surrounding her entire body.
"I have been given powers by the great mage Xeios himself..." she began, looking up at the Bonelord. "I will not fall so easily to the likes of you, demon!" Placing her palm towards the demon, she unleashed a powerful burst of energy that split into four individual streams, each easily as powerful as a typical Holy spell. The Bonelord had no way to defend against such an attack, and its body began to turn to dust under the holy power. Looking at the spot where the Bonelord once stood, Kisara used some of her energy to cast a curative spell over herself to heal her wounds before shaking her head.
"What manner of sorcery was that...even necromancy could not have created such a beast..."
Quickly pushing the thoughts away, Kisara continued to head down the hall, intent on finding the Stone as quickly as possible.
Several minutes later, Kisara came across a grand set of doors, worn away from time and the water slowly dripping from the ceiling of the halls. Pushing the doors open, she stepped into what was once a large antechamber, but is now nothing more than an empty room with several fallen statues inside. Amid the rubble of the statues, Kisara spotted a bright red glow and headed for it, kneeling down quickly to examine the source. A bright red ruby lay partially covered by the rocks, emanating a clearly magical glow that lit up the dark recesses of the room with a soft shine.
"The Holy Stone Capricorn..." she murmured, picking the Stone up. Instantly, the glow ceased, turning the room pitch-black for an instant before the Stone began to faintly glow again.
"Who dares to touch the Stone...speak thy name," a voice rang out, seeming to come from every direction at once.
"I am Lady Kisara, Ethereal Mage under the god Xeios," Kisara replied, unafraid of the disembodied voice.
"You and your kind are not welcome here," the voice replied harshly. "Replace the Stone and leave this place."
"Who are you to give orders to a goddess?" Kisara asked, insulted by the words of the unknown being.
"I am the Lucavi Demon of the Stone, Adramelk. I am wielder of its power, holder of its knowledge, and chooser of its bearers. Your kind I am not bound to respect in the same way as mortals..."
"Nor am I bound to respect you, demon. I am trying to safeguard the Stones from misuse. I mean no harm to the Stones, nor do I intend to use them for my own purposes. My intentions are for the safety of this realm, and nothing more."
"Your intentions aside, you have been ordered by your Creator to not intervene," Adramelk continued, leading Kisara to wonder how the demon could be aware of such a thing while bound inside the Stone. "By breaking the binding that holds you to her word, you no longer receive the benefits of her protection. Expect no quarter from me or my minions. Now, replace the Stone and go in peace. Else, prepare for the wrath of the Ghost of Fury...my wrath."
Kisara remained silent for a moment, knowing that Adramelk had a valid argument, but did not openly say so. Instead, she merely placed the Stone back onto the ground before standing up and turning to leave. "As you wish."
The room brightened considerably at that, and mist began to rise from the Stone, forming into a vague shape of a powerful looking beast resembling Ifrit, but less canine in appearance. The beast's skin was a dark green, and razor-sharp horns extended from the beast's skull at an angle as well as black claws that sprouted from thick, muscular hands. The being's name was Adramelk, Lucavi of the Capricorn Stone and the Ghost of Fury.
"One more thing, goddess."
Kisara stopped, turning around at the demon's words. "Yes?"
"Those who break honor-bound oaths...are not welcome here." With a loud roar, mist began to cover the room, forming into many different fiends of all shapes and sizes. Kisara's eyes widened, realizing both the Lucavi's intentions and that she is completely surrounded seconds too late to act. Summoning energy to her hand, she tensed, preparing to take the only option left and fight her way out of the ruins.
Author's Notes:
Seeker is an original character belonging to Iron Reaver and used with permission.
Albel Nox is essentially the exact same as he is in Star Ocean 3: Till The End of Time. He was played by Iron Reaver.
Adramelk, I believe, is also the same as he was in Tactics. He was also played by Iron Reaver.
If it's not becoming evident, Iron Reaver played most of the villains during this story. Just to point it out. As always, please read and review.