CHAPTER 13:

SACRIFICE AND PURSUIT

The platform turned out to be a lift, for want of a better word. The interior of the Spirit Tortoise seemed to be a hybrid of cave, organic innards, and even magitech, to use a term Raphtalia used. But when they emerged into the room with the core, it seemed almost entirely technological. They stepped off the lift, which returned where they had come from

"Is that the core there?" Harry asked Ost, indicating a crystalline chunk that glowed with a pale blue light.

"Yes. But look over there," Ost said, indicating a crimson-coloured globe inset in the wall, filled with a bubbling liquid. Motoyasu and the Cardinal Spear were in there, connected to rather nasty-looking tendrils. He seemed unconscious, but was in discomfort at least.

"…He's siphoning their power," Raphtalia hissed in horror. "Motoyasu and the Cardinal Spear…he's using them like a bloody battery."

A slow clap filled the air, and Kyo appeared from behind the core. "I have to admit to being surprised by your mind, girl. But still, you've been appallingly stupid regardless. After all, you could stop me by killing that slut in the Chinese dress behind her. She is the embodiment of the Spirit Tortoise."

"Yeah, no, there's no guarantee that will stop it," Harry said. "But…I know what will." He fired off a Bombarda, only for it to splash against a yellow shield that flickered into existence briefly, a dome of golden light surrounding the insane ex-gamer turned genocidal scientist.

Kyo simply laughed, a jeering cackle like a hyena. "Did you think it'd be that easy?"

Harry, after a moment, looked to Raphtalia. "…Raphtalia?" he whispered. When she looked to him, he said quietly, "Remember what we did to Balmus."

Raphtalia's eyes widened in understanding, before she nodded. "…Okay, but it's my turn."

"…Sorry, what was that?" Kyo asked, placing a hand to his ear mockingly. "Don't tell me you are trying to plan? How cute."

"Not trying. Rishia, Glass, Therese, Ost, hit that barrier with magic attacks for a while until Raphtalia is ready!" Harry said. "L'Arc, get ready to fight off whatever he has."

His allies agreed, and a barrage of magic spells spat against the barrier. "Oh, for fuck's sake!" Kyo snapped. "Isn't trying the same thing over and over again the very definition of insanity?!"

"Oh, the last bastard we did this to said pretty much the same thing," Harry said, even as Raphtalia readied her sword as the spell barrage ceased. "And you know what happened to him?"

Kyo seemed to realise something was up, but he had just enough time to see Raphtalia disappear with the distinctive whipcrack noise of Apparition. He was about to move, only for Raphtalia's sword to sprout from his chest with a sickening crunch. Blood gouted from his mouth, and he choked out, "…How…dare you…gank me…you cheating…cunt…"

From behind him, Raphtalia yanked the sword from his body, before cutting off the arm holding the Vassal Book. The barrier flickered out of existence, as did one surrounding the core. "That…" she said coldly, before taking his other arm with another slash, "is the pot calling the kettle black. Now, die." She then slashed off his head, his rotten eyes wide with surprise, pain and anger, and it rolled to a stop in front of Harry, who fired an overpowered Reducto through it, pulping it, just to be sure.

Harry then followed it up with a Reducto sent at the chamber containing Motoyasu, who flopped out of the shattered chamber on a tide of pink liquid, choking and coughing it up. He remained unconscious, though, even as Raphtalia hurried to check on him. After using a spell on him, she muttered, "He'll live. That stuff was oxygenated, some sort of life support medium to keep him alive and conduct magical energy."

"I think I understand," Ost said. "Kyo was using the Vassal Book as a catalyst to channel Motoyasu's energy and that of the Cardinal Spear into the Spirit Tortoise. It was also being use to fuel that barrier over himself and the core. Still, we don't have much time to waste, Harry."

Harry looked to the faux-femme fatale, and frowned. She was looking in pain and exhausted. "Ost…are you all right?"

"Destroying the heart took a lot out of me, as did firing that barrage at Kyo," Ost said, in between pants of exhaustion. "The problem is, the Spirit Tortoise is on the verge of reviving, and even without Kyo's direct control over it, it will continue its mission. I fear that whatever Kyo did to it may still influence it. So…I'm asking you, please…destroy my core."

"…Are you absolutely sure?" Raphtalia asked morosely. "You'll die."

Ost nodded. "I know. But…I welcome this end. I've lived too long, done far too much, and as long as I live, I will be a danger to this world, especially after Kyo's meddling. Do it now, before I regenerate."

Harry knew what she was asking him to do. And while he would have liked to have deluded himself into believing he had prepared for this moment, in truth, he was very unprepared. He'd only lost Rifana not so long ago, but having to actually participate in killing Ost, even at her own request, was hard.

But they didn't have an alternative. Even without Kyo's direct control, the Spirit Tortoise, from what she understood, would continue rampaging. And Ost had lived for centuries, in some form or another, doing work that she despised. And yet, now, she had been nothing but helpful, doing nothing to try and betray them.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't remotely fair. But it needed to be done. And at least it was being done on her terms.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, Harry nodded reluctantly, and turned to the others. "On three, unleash the strongest attacks you can on the core, all at once. One…two…THREE!"

A barrage of attacks smashed into the core of the Spirit Tortoise, that beautiful crystalline structure that held the heart of Ost, as well as thousands upon thousands of souls' energy. At first, it seemed like it would hold, but a spiderweb of cracks soon appeared on it. The cracks crept along the surface of the core, widening, deepening, before finally, it shattered in an explosion of pale blue light.

Ost screamed in pain, spasming and convulsing, before she slumped to the floor, panting heavily. But even as she did, Harry caught her, lying her down. "…You did it," Ost said quietly with a sad smile. "…Thank you. Here…a gift for you. My last gift." Her hand reached out, and touched the gem on the Shield.

Harry blinked as a notification told him that the Spirit Tortoise Heart Shield had been force-unlocked. "…Ost…" Harry said, his voice thick with grief.

The lift platform returned, with Hedy and the others in tow. "Mummy, Daddy, what happened?" Hedy asked. "Fitoria said the Spirit Tortoise has been…oh no…" She was staring at Ost in sorrow, as were the others. True, they knew this was coming, but it was another matter entirely to see it happen.

"Ah…Cardinal Heroes…come here. Let me touch your weapons. Bring the Spear Hero over here," Ost said. After she did so, she said, "I've managed to force-unlock certain weapons. But…use them wisely."

"…I'm sorry," Harry said quietly, his eyes moistening.

"No…I'm sorry, that there wasn't any other way, that I had to make you go through this, so soon after losing Rifana," Ost said. "But…it's fine. You accepted me for what I was, far more than I expected. If I can be reborn, perhaps, I hope, it will be as your comrade and ally, with no such strings attached."

"Ugh, sometimes, there's not enough vomit in this world, or any world(1)."

The unwelcome voice had Harry and the others whirling to face Kyo's corpse, which was still lying on the floor, unmoving. And yet, that was his voice. It was unmistakeable, that deranged bleat of a voice.

The first thing that caught their eye was the swirling vortex, some sort of portal. The second thing that caught their eye was the Vassal Book, floating in front of it. "A Horcrux," Harry snarled. "You turned the Vassal Book into a bloody Horcrux!"

It swooped through the air, avoiding the spells he and Raphtalia fired at it, before a vial filled with azure energy was taken from Kyo's coat, vanishing into thin air. "…What the fuck is a Horcrux? Eh, whatever. I'm guessing you have some idea of what this is, given your tone. You may have stopped me from fulfilling my optional objectives, but MAIN OBJECTIVES COMPLETE, MOTHERFUCKERS! I've got enough energy for my purposes, and I'm taking it back with me, bitches! Fuck this, I'm out! GG EZ! WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!"

Before they could stop it, the Vassal Book sped into the portal, vanishing. "He must've bound his very soul to the Vassal Book," Glass snarled.

"So, almost exactly like a Horcrux," Harry said. "Dammit! That's just made him harder to kill!"

Ost suddenly grabbed his arm. "Wait…" As Harry looked down at her, she said, "Normally, Cardinal Heroes cannot travel to other worlds, Harry. But as he has stolen some of the energy harvested, I can give you temporary permission to travel to that world. I only have enough energy to give one of the Cardinal Heroes that permission."

Harry looked up at Ren and Itsuki. Itsuki shook his head. "No, it's better that you do it, Harry. I…I need to get my head back in the game."

"We'll protect this world while you're gone, and ensure Kitamura's safe," Ren said. "But you go find Kyo, and you make him pay for what he's done."

Itsuki then looked to Rishia. "Rishia…go with them."

"Fweh? Sir Itsuki?" Rishia yelped. "But…you need someone to watch your back."

"…Yes, but…I don't think I'm worthy enough to have you." As Rishia protested, Itsuki said, "Don't argue. I need to do this, to prove to myself that I am worthy to be the Bow Hero. Anyway, I'm thinking of going with Sadeena to help her out." He then hugged her. "Rishia…be strong, stronger than I am. Once we're both ready, then we can be a party again."

"…Fwehhh…I won't let you down, Sir Itsuki!" Rishia declared.

"You'd better hurry!" Glass said. "The portal won't last for much longer!"

Ost nodded, and touched the Shield again. Harry blinked at the notification on his HUD from the Status magic. She was giving him temporary special permission to travel to another world.

Even as her body seemed to begin to fade out of existence, he gently hugged her. "Thank you. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain, Ost. You deserved a better life than this."

"…Thank you, Harry," Ost said. "Now…you'd best get going. Glass is right, that portal won't last for long. I've been keeping it open for now."

"Thank you," Raphtalia said, before she looked to them all. "Goodbye…and good luck, all of you."

And with that, the otherworld heroes, with Harry and his party following, ran through the portal…

Sometime afterwards, Ren, his party, and Itsuki were explaining matters to Mirelia, Éclair, Sadeena and Fitoria, having carried out Motoyasu. "The portal closed soon after they left," Ren said. "And Ost…her body's gone."

Fitoria looked to the sky. Ever since Ren and Itsuki emerged, motes of light were emerging from the Spirit Tortoise and settling on the ground. The near-barren wasteland they had fought in was growing new plant life. Even now, Ren and Itsuki watched as it grew. "I see."

"…Fitoria, you're not bothered by this?" Itsuki asked. "Ost, who seemed to be your friend, is dead now. And Harry and his party have gone to another world."

Fitoria looked to the Bow Hero, and Itsuki realised his faux pas when he saw her glistening eyes. "Itsuki…I am grieving in my own way. I have seen many friends and acquaintances die over the centuries…even a few by my own hand. Ost was the latest, nor will she be the last. As for Harry, Raphtalia, Hedy and Rishia…I trust they will be all right. Kyo is the priority. So…what will you do now?"

"My party and I will head back to Lurolona for now," Ren said. "I want to protect the people there in Harry's absence."

"…And…I've made my own decision," Itsuki said. "Sadeena…when you head back to Zeltoble…I want you to take me with you."

"…Take you with me?" Sadeena asked.

"Yes. Look, you're doing what you can to save those people from Lurolona who were enslaved," Itsuki said. "If I can do anything to help, then I will. I…I just need to do something to prove I am worthy."

After a moment, Sadeena came over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to prove that. Just by having the balls to stand and fight, despite what happened to you, proved it. But if you want to come along, well, sure. It's been a while since I've used a bow, but I might be able to teach you a thing or two, even with that Esper power of yours. Just so you know, though, Zeltoble is a cesspool of scum and villainy. And they don't take kindly to people rocking the boat. And they'll be eager to try and keep you there, just so you know."

"…I'd like to see them try," Itsuki said firmly.

And so, the battle against the Spirit Tortoise wound down. Victory had been achieved, but at a most terrible cost. And the war wasn't over yet. But they hoped that a reprieve had been gained, at least for now…

CHAPTER 13 ANNOTATIONS:

Kyo has been thwarted, and Harry and company have pursued him to the other world.

I was originally going to have Harry realise the portal Kyo left behind was a trap, and have him get Winky to take them across to the other world, but (as mentioned in my review-answering for prior chapters) I needed a way to ensure Raph-chan (well, Raphy, I love the anime dub's version of the name) was born, and to ensure Raphtalia gets the Vassal Katana. Plus, I don't need my characters to be hypercompetent, just reasonably competent.

Also, sorry to Rishia fans that she didn't get her moment of Hengen Musou-fuelled awesome. But Harry and Raphtalia wanted to take him down quickly, and hard.

Kyo binding his soul to the Vassal Book was something I saw in another fanfic. I can't remember which one, but given Kyo's paranoia, well, it's not unreasonable. That being said, he's never actually heard of Horcruxes, just the phylacteries in fiction that inspired them.

Review-answering time! Guest (regarding Harry calling out Kyo on his envy): Thanks. I wanted to make the fight between Kyo and Harry a bit more personal, and I was inspired by the backstory shown in the anime adaptation. While Kyo's prior incarnation wasn't a complete loser (Allen Blaster claims that Aneko Yusagi elaborated that Kyo was an engineer in his past life, something Allen Blaster used for Diligence of the Shield Hero), I decided that he was struggling, gaining the qualifications for being an engineer, but struggling to get work in the highly competitive work culture of Japan, not helped by his own social problems and obnoxious and entitled personality. He eventually became a shut-in, working from home, but the jobs dried up, and his gaming accounts being hacked was the last straw. As for Itsuki's former party, well, karma may be eventual, but it is coming for them.

L: Honestly, that was wholly by accident and due to a misconception I had. I just had to hastily cover up my fuck-up, but in a way, it also feels more logical, given that we have so many reincarnations become evil Vassal Heroes, and not just Kyo and Takt. As for who the new Vassal Book Hero will be, well, no comment. :P

I haven't read that fic, though, so I can't comment on it. As for Hedy's captor, well, he'll get a very different fate, courtesy of a wrathful Aunt Hermione. And that guy's fate will prove to be a Chekhov's Gun…

OniTenshi500: It's not aggressive as in she is swearing or anything. It's just less of 'please stop fighting me, lest you die' and more of 'I am so sick and tired of you entitled gamers ruining worlds like mine'. And I've never heard of an L-Ratio. Does the L stand for Loser or something? She does accuse him of being a thief himself, projecting onto her, as well as comparing his name to the Japanese word for 'scum' and 'trash', which really pisses him off. Raphtalia is the sort of person who rarely gets truly loudly angry, with only a few exceptions (indeed, the worst she did in my fics was to go berserk when Rifana was murdered in the previous story). Her anger, a lot of the time, is understated and underscored with a tense calm…and that sort of anger is often the scariest.

1. This comes from the QI episode Everything, Etc. Upon hearing Clive Anderson's buzzer, which is Everything I Do, I Do it For You, Stephen Fry remarks "Sometimes, there just isn't enough vomit in the world."