Chapter 53
End of the Nightmare
Charging at Ifrit Risen, I fired off a series of dark blasts of dark red energy from my scythe. Again, Ifrit Risen dodged the blasts, only for me to psychically command the blasts to catch up with and impale him. "Don't think you can get away from me, Mythos.", I said, pure venom in my voice. "Now we're talking!", Clive said through Ifrit Risen, promptly warping behind me with a sword of fire in his hand. I nonchalantly parried the attack with my demonic left arm before unleashing a burst of crimson cyber energy. Turning to face Ifrit Risen, I then charged towards him atop Sleipnir, firing off several blasts of ice from my scythe. Crushing the icicles with blasts of earth, Ifrit Risen then formed an imitation of Zantetsuken in his hand which I easily snapped in half with a bolt of lightning. As my scythe and the broken half of Clive's imitation Zantetsuken clashed, the energy unleashed caused the arena I saw to break apart, revealing that we were in a multicoloured void. Not caring one bit, I fired a blast of dark fire from my demonic left arm, the fire itself impaling Ifrit Risen and forcing Clive to return to human form. Following suit, I then formed a second scythe in my demonic left arm before unleashing a furious assault that Clive just managed to block with Titan's arm. Dismissing my scythes, I fired up two Tao mandalas, the circles themselves now being a sinister crimson. As Clive unleashed a punch of earthen energy, I countered the attack before unleashing a giant fireball that hit Clive before exploding in a burst of dark energy.
Panting heavily, I said, "Well, you're not so easy to kill as I thought.". Chuckling, Clive said, "Well, it only took you losing your humanity completely and priming into Odin for you to realise it. And now that you've finally awakened as the Sovereign, the time has come for you to rule Aionios as the Supreme King, the Ruler of All Things.". "I entered this war not to rule but to save the Multiverse from anything that would threaten it. If that means dismantling the Sovereign Empire as well, then so be it.", I replied. "Such heroic nonsense. Besides, you deserve to rule the Multiverse. Not only have you saved it multiple times from the Sin Eaters and the Flood of Light, but you also suffered a lot; it isn't right for you to keep denying your rightful position as the Sovereign. All in its right place, after all.", Clive said. Disturbed at Clive's words, I summoned Zantetsuken to my right hand and gripped it tight. "Try all you might, there is no way for you to run from your destiny as Our Sovereign.", Clive said. "Try me.", I said, unleashing a beam of darkness from Zantetsuken. Clive dodged the attack easily before warping up to me and grabbing my neck, lifting me into the air. "Now, Your Majesty, awaken and realise your destiny!", Clive said before I felt very groggy.
Suddenly, I heard a voice saying, "Oh, Jack~. Wake up, my beloved.". Opening my eyes, I saw Hanabi sitting on my bed, with her wearing a black robe accented with orange stripes with an opening to expose her stomach, black fingerless gloves, a black miniskirt, black boots and a black cape worn on her waist; she was also wearing heavy pink lipstick and equally heavy pink eyeshadow on her face and pink nail polish on her fingers and toes. Looking over to the left, I saw a cot beside the bed. "Are you OK, my love? I felt groggy too.", Hanabi said. "When I what?", I asked. "When I became a Dark Signer and coronated as the Maiden beside you as the Sovereign, dear.", Hanabi said. It was at this moment that I saw that her scleras were pitch black…like mine. I also saw that Hanabi also had a visible baby bump too, explaining why there was a cot by her side of the bed; she was pregnant. "Don't worry though, my love. You'll remember soon enough.", Hanabi said, ever so sweetly. I then found myself in a peaceful country village; well, peaceful as a burning village could be. "What happened here?", I asked. "Such a silly question. You know just as well what transpired here.", Mio's voice said behind me. "But still, what happened?", I asked. "Oh, that's simple. Why, you killed the people here. Well, I say people but let's not kid ourselves; they were clearly Sin Eaters.", Amy's voice said. "M-Me, a killer?", I asked in shock. "It's truer than you think.", Melia's voice said.
The scene changed again- this time to me sitting on an ornate golden throne with Framme sitting on a less ornate but still fancy throne beside me. I also noticed that I was wearing Alphen's Gahm Arthalys outfit whilst Framme was wearing Shionne's L'Aze Phiarquis outfit; much like Hanabi, she also had a prominently visible baby bump. In front of us were Byleth, Eunie, Shiden, Tager, Flynn and Yumi all talking to each other; what they were saying I couldn't quite catch. Suddenly, the conversation died down, with Byleth turning to me and saying, "Say, Your Majesty, how many people have you killed since your awakening as the Sovereign?". Turning to face me as well, Yumi said, "More than you have saved.". Also turning to face me, Eunie said, "Run from yourself and this is what you get.", a red infinity symbol glowing in her right eye. "These…these are the wages of your will, Your Majesty.", Tager said. I then found myself in a bloodied field, with a ring of fire surrounding me. Facing me was a dead dragon with blue eyes and artfully ripped out scales for the lack of a considerably better description. "Wait, is this the future that the Ascension Project will bring? A future of endless destruction and no will in the world?", I asked myself. "Not necessarily.", the dragon suddenly said before jerking itself up painfully, its scales falling off to reveal nothing but bone. Vomiting at what I was seeing, I then snapped back to my fight with Clive.
"Wait, what did you show me?", I asked, taking a moment to breathe. "Why, the future that you will expected to lead Aionios to.", Clive said. "That is a future of nothing but destruction and pain! Surely you must have realised that too.", I said. "That is of no concern. You are the Sovereign and it is your duty to rule over Aionios, not to serve it. As you are the one Odin chose, it is thus your duty to revel in your divinity.", Clive said, a manic smile on his face. "That future is wrong and you know it.", I said, gripping Zantetsuken even tighter. "Oh, mark my words; you will rule over Aionios and you will crush all who oppose you underneath your heel. That is the duty of a Sovereign.", Clive said. Shrieking in rage, I unleashed a furious array of razor sharp beams of darkness from Zantetsuken that Clive easily dodged. "There really is no running from your divine purpose.", Clive said. "And I've heard enough!", I shouted, bringing down 13 fiery meteors from the "sky". Easily swatting them away, Clive then said, "Well then, have it your way.", before disappearing.
I then found myself back in Destinea Cathedral, wondering what had just happened to me. Making my way outside, I then saw that the sky was beginning to break apart. Having no time to stop and relax, I then saw a newspaper clipping fly by me. Grabbing it, I saw a notably concerning article- rather, it was claiming that the heroes were about to escape from Cyber Space and put the final phase of the Ascension Project into motion. "Isn't it just wonderful though?", Corrin asked behind me. Turning to face her, I said, "Corrin, did you know about the Ascension Project the whole time?". "Yes. In fact, all 12 of us Emblems knew about the Ascension Project. Not just that, but we were waiting patiently for you to awaken as Our Sovereign and lead it to completion.", she replied. Extending her hand, she said, "But there's still time. You can still ally with us and experience victory everlasting; all you need to do is simply come with me.". "Why do I get the feeling that you'll force me to come with you if I refuse?", I asked. "Why, that is because I'm not asking. You will come with me and lead us to victory, Your Majesty.", Corrin said, her sweet smile contrasting with the dead look in her eyes. Before I could answer, I found myself in the hangar where I found Knuckles. As I looked around the dark room, I saw a note strangely addressed to me daring me to follow the heroes into where they were travelling through- the Interdimensional Void. As if on cue, a black and dark portal opened, beckoning me to enter. Steeling myself, I walked forward into the portal, preparing myself for anything.
The story continues in the next chapter.