Chapter 49
What You Fight For
Making my way to the Silver Mountain, I then felt a violent surge of dark red energy burst forth from my body. The energy crackled like lightning, enough to nearly bring me to my knees. "NO!", I shouted, just barely summoning the strength to keep moving. "Your body is still rejecting the cyber energy.", Sage said. "How do you mean?", I asked. "Remember when you fought the Titans? Well, when you defeated them, the cyber corruption they absorbed to protect you was transferred from them to yourself. Alongside teaching you their techniques, the cyber corruption was supposed to turn you into the Sovereign meant to rule over Aionios, since His Majesty wanted you to succeed him as a tyrant. But somehow, something went wrong, causing you to resist the corruption instead preventing you from becoming a cruel and ruthless leader. I don't know why you're even resisting the darkness, but please, you need to succumb. If anything, do it for me.", Sage said, almost on the verge of tears. "Sorry, but that's not how I roll.", I said. "Please, you must submit to the darkness within you!", Sage said, actually crying this time. "I can't succumb yet, not when I'm so close to stopping YHVH.", I said. "Well then, have it your way.", Sage said, angrily pouting before she warped away.
As the energy surge cleared up, I continued running towards the Silver Mountain, noticing a strangely placed pathway leading directly to the mountain. Walking up the path, I then had (you guessed it) another vision, albeit this time of Eggman feverishly typing at a giant computer. "You need to hurry, Doc.", Griss said. "I'm working as fast as I can. Besides, creating a 1:1 copy of Cyber Space specifically personalised to Jack is proving to be tougher than I thought. And that's not even factoring in having to create virtual copies of the Titans in order to protect Jack and, if necessary, empower him with the strength to destroy YHVH and save the Multiverse.", Eggman replied. "Still, you really a computer wizard. To think that one man could create a copy of a digital realm and personalise it to one person after even seconds of wondering how it even worked. Impressive.", Ganondorf said. This was then followed by another vision of the Emblems, the Champions and Ouroboros placing my unconscious body in a cyan Cyber Cage. "You really think this will work?", Sena asked. "It'll have to. Cause I don't know what will happen if it doesn't.", Ike replied. "Still, Jack really didn't deserve what YHVH did to him. I mean, who goes out of their way to actively torment, torture and traumatise a baby simply for being different?", Lanz asked. "I agree. I mean, it's because of YHVH that Jack even refused to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign, not to mention YHVH's countless invasions simply because not everyone was worshipping him. If anything, it is YHVH who is in the wrong and not Jack.", Daruk said. This was followed by another vision where I saw Alphen, Shionne, Rinwell, Law, Kisara, Dohalim, Haseo, Atoli, Kuhn, Yata, Sakubo, Endrance, Pi, Ovan, Lindow, Sakuya, Soma, Kota, Alisa, Yuito, Kasane, Hanabi, Luka, Gemma, Tsugumi, Kagero, Arashi, Kyoka and Shiden about to enter the same Cyber Cage which had now turned into a sinister and foreboding crimson colour. "I don't know what we'll find when we enter this, but know that we may find it hard to leave Cyber Space when we enter. Without any further ado, it is time for us to enter and rescue Jack.", Alphen said.
The vision then faded, concurrently matched with another storm of red cyber energy bursting, this time from my left arm. This burst of energy was also twinned with the green energy of the Anchor, the two energies causing a very deep pain to surge in my left arm. "Embrace it. Embrace the darkness and stop holding back.", Malos said behind me. "Easy for you to say.", I said as the energy storm faded, with a disappointed Malos then walking away. Continuing the climb, I then saw that Purgatorium itself was anything but natural; rather, it was completely unnatural and artificial. I also saw that the four angelic versions of the Titans had also completely vanished without a trace. As I wondered why, I then saw a strange circular gate that had already been opened; feeling that it wouldn't hurt to continue on, I walked through the gate. I then saw a crying X sitting on a nearby bench; wondering why she was so sad, I ran over to her in an attempt to cheer her up. As she looked up at me, X tearfully asked, "Why? Why do you keep holding yourself back?". "I-I don't know.", I said. "You really must stop holding back the darkness. It is the only way to destroy YHVH and save the Multiverse. You need to let go of who you are; of your humanity. Otherwise, all of us is as good as dead.", X said. "I don't think that erasing my humanity is going to help. After all, it's part of who I am.", I said. "Typical answer from a delusional goody two shoes. Well, if you're really that unwilling to get rid of your humanity, then go ahead. Go die against YHVH and doom us all.", X said before storming off. Continuing on, I then came across a sinister crimson crystal not unlike the ones atop the five towers. Sensing utterly sinister cyber corruption from the crystal, I nervously reached out my right hand to touch it. As I touched the crystal, I then felt my body suddenly seize up as my left arm started glowing with a strange crimson glow. Suddenly, I found myself in the chamber housing the Throne of Light.
Walking up to the throne, I then found myself strangely repelled by a black burst of energy. "Wait, what?", I asked, confused. Walking in, Diamant then said, "Oh, if it isn't the former Sovereign heir.". "What do you mean by former Sovereign heir?", I asked. "I have nothing to say to you, especially giving how you abandoned the throne at a critical time of need for the Sovereign Empire.", Diamant replied. "But the throne belongs to me.", I said. "It used to belong to you. But you chose not to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign and refused to notice the fake kingsmoot he had set up to spur you into action. Though you were indeed fighting against the Sin Eaters, you were still obligated to notice the ceremony and interfere, marking you as the next Sovereign and ensuring your reign over Aionios. But you didn't, thus forcing Alphen to announce Yuito as the next Sovereign instead.", Alfred said, also walking in. "Now, may we have the Ring of the Sovereign?", Diamant asked. "No. It belongs to me, as does the throne.", I said. Sighing, Alfred then drew his sword. "You treacherous ingrates, how dare you defy me!", I spat at them. "Strong words, coming from you.", Timerra said as she walked into the chamber with Ivy accompanying her. "We really do need the Ring of the Sovereign from you; with it, we can detect and take the Ring of the Maiden and give them to Yuito and Naomi respectively. If you're not willing to become the Sovereign then please just let someone more responsible and worthy take over instead.", Ivy said, her eyes full of tears. "I am your Sovereign and you will obey me!", I shouted as a cloud of dark red energy formed around me. Suddenly, the cloud dispersed, returning me to Purgatorium.
Taking a moment to compose myself, I then said to myself, "Wait, what was that?", utterly confused. "You realise it now, don't you?", Shulk asked behind me. Turning around to face him, I asked him, "What do you mean?". Chuckling, Shulk then said, "Do you know why I guided you to Alvis' Core Crystal in Ganath Haros? It was to ensure that you would have all you needed to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign. I also made sure you resonated with the Core Crystal and summoned Alvis as your Blade in order to make sure that you were the Sovereign. After all, when the Convergence happened, a temple dedicated to the Ontos core was built in Ganath Haros by Melia's family. When he brought you to us, Alvis reverted back to his original form as the Ontos core but not before he bade me and Alphen to place him inside the Ontos Shrine and seal it with a barrier that only a Sovereign could break. 6 towers – 5 in Aionios and 1 here in Purgatorium – were also constructed with red Cyber Space Crystals to test your resolve specifically, though they were hidden in Cyber Space to prevent YHVH from finding and destroying them; the last one in Purgatorium was created in order to simulate a reality in which the former Crown Heirs of Elyos would turn against you and declare Yuito the Sovereign instead; I dare say that you passed its test. It is now time for your final test- destroying YHVH and saving Aionios.". I then turned back around and continued walking forward, only for the ground itself to crack open as I saw the four angelic versions of the Titans burst out of the ground. "Of course they would.", I grumbled as they flew towards me, the angelic version of Supreme in the lead with its four cyan wings of fire. Suddenly, a burst of crimson cyber energy erupted out of me, taking the form of Supreme's sentries which then proceeded to fire a furious volley of dark gold bullets at the four, easily mowing them down before disappearing.
Absolutely confused at what had happened, I then landed on the ground, the path leading directly into the Silver Mountain. Walking inside, I noticed that time and space were literally falling apart in the mountain. "Do you see now? This is what awaits the Multiverse if YHVH wins. Thanks to you, he is greatly weakened but it is only a matter of time until he fully recovers and breaks out of Cyber Space.", Sage said. "Oh, I see.", I said. Looking nervously at my left arm, Sage then said, "It is a wonder how you're able to manage both the Anchor and your cyber corruption, but the two contradictory natures of those powers are clashing. Maybe that's why you can't control your powers.". "Maybe it is.", I said before walking forward. As I navigated the eldritch space in front of me, I then felt a painful surge of energy in my left arm, accentuated by the claw unleashing both crimson and emerald electricity; still, I continued on. Soon enough, I came across a sinister white chamber with an ivory door at the end and with a red carpet underneath my feet. I rushed quickly to the door, only for Sage to appear behind me. "If you continue past this door, you will be unable to turn back until YHVH is destroyed. Are you ready to continue forward?", she asked. "I am.", I said. "Are you sure?", Sage asked. "Yes.", I said. The two of us then put our hands on the door and opened it, promptly walking forward ready to face YHVH.
The story continues in the next chapter.