Words Count: 4453
A/N: My hair's still falling out, but it's not as severe. Thank God, my hairline was horrible a few months ago.
If you think I'm doing a good job, and wish to read Episodes in advanced, please check out my P a treon . com (/)Regularrr
( "We were lied to…
Every single one of us.
We were lied to by our parents;
We were lied to by our teachers;
And we were lied to by society."
The man scoffs, quietly running fingers through his bang.
"It reminds me of Junji Ito's 'The Enigma of Amigara Fault'. It is a story revolving around a mysterious mountain filled with perfectly-shaped human-sized holes that attract people to enter them, all of whom believe they are destined to fit perfectly inside.
As the humans become trapped in their chosen holes, they're slowly twisted to unrecognizable shapes. Regretting their decisions, they try to turn back, but it's too little, too late. They're no longer able to turn back. That mountain is society and the people around us;
And I'm the idiot who foolishly entered the hole."
The God opposite to him tilts his head.
"May I ask thou something?"
Amethyst eyes narrow as he puts on the trademark smile, gesturing with his hand. "Go for it."
"Doth thou truly believe thou art too far gone?
Hath thou grown so disillusioned, thou shan't even attempt to fight and save thine Soul?"
Malice leaks out of his pores;
"For what, and for whom exactly? You?"
And sarcasm bleeds into his tone.
"For thyself.")
"Are you really right?" She challenges once more, seeing his quiet and seemingly sullen expression. " Is this not proof enough? If not, then no need to look elsewhere, just walk in front of a mirror. Magi are part of Humanity too, or do you deny that also? Mankind has found every reason under the Sun to butcher itself since the Dawn of Creation, so what if they're wiped out? Will it make any difference? Can it be any worse than the miserable existences most of them are treading through?"
For the first time, Lorelei finds her throat tight- unable to speak, yet she forces herself to say nonetheless. "That is the only thing that makes Life worth living to begin with! It is the struggle against Fate! To live is to suffer and writhe, but there are ways to free yourself from it! It's why I decided to sponsor you to begin with–!"
Amusement oozes from the Beast's pores. " Oh? And there I was, under the impression you picked me out of billions solely to entertain yourself. Do not lie to me, Blueblood. I know your every desires." Hands clasped behind his back, he stalks towards her- predating. " This isn't an argument you can win, Queen of the Tower, for I know everything about you. I know the hate you harbor for the current stalemate the three Worlds is in–"
He vanishes into thin air, appearing next to her. Startled, Lorelei lashes out with a kick which instantly reduced the building next to the Hotel to dust.
Yet, the Queen's strike harmlessly passes through him. Whatever Spell or Divine Power he has used, it allows the Beast to close the gap in an instant, leaving no room to attack. " The same way I know how much you loath the Aristocrats' broken ideology. They suppress talents and twist them to soulless imitations of their predecessors- dolls and puppets capable only of echoing what they've been taught. In a sense, you adore the Democratic Faction, but you're unwilling to abandon your Seat to follow them…"
His voice's like honeyed wine- slick; slippery yet tempting nevertheless. " Others see you as the marvelous and stunning Queen, but I see you for what you really are: A coward." His fist slams into her solar plexus, sending the Queen crashing into the opposite building. " You used Leonis to implement changes because you did not possess the courage to do it yourself.
Your servant- Ambrose, under your orders, whispered in the ears of Lords and Ladies promises of wealth, prestige and power just to pit the them against him. Used the lives of his friends and lovers as insurances. You lost little in the process, while he acted as your guard-dog. Your Enforcer–" Standing over her broken form, he smiles, watching her heal her wounds. Magnum had clearly spared her consciousness unlike that first exchange, else Lorelei knew for a fact she'd have bled out to death.
" On the surface, it looks like you're helping him, but you're only helping yourself. With an alternative presented, the First-Gens started to flock to the Aristocratic Faction- to you…" She tries to rise, but a kick forces the Queen back to square one. " With their positions threatened, the Democratic Faction had no other option but to wage war against him, furthering their divide. Rather ingenious of you, your Majesty. I must admit, it was exceptionally-played."
The Beast compliments, as if everything he's mentioned had nothing to do with him.
Realizing how fruitless her attempts to resist have been, the Blueblood grabs his shins out of desperation, activating her Mystic Eyes, only to see his now corrupted Codes- jumbled, and utterly nonsensical. " Worry not, I hold no hate for you, in truth. Had I been in your position, I'd have likely done the same, but don't- not even for a moment- pretend you helped him out the goodness of your cold, wretched heart.
It is honestly sickening." Circling her fallen form, the Beast smiles then clarifies, as though to call her too dumb to catch onto his meaning. " Your hypocrisy I mean." Leo's hand caresses her shoulders. So gentle, yet firm. It's precisely how the Queen had often imagined Connor's to be. Hidden underneath is naught but malice… And a tiny sliver of affection. "Then why have– Argh!"
She screams, feeling something grind down on her ankle.
Snapping back, Lorelei resentfully glares at the smug Deity.
" Unfortunately, much as I loath to admit it, his affection for you remains–" He finally alleviates the pressure on her ankle, stepping off. " So we can call it even with this. I'm going to extend an olive-branch to you also: Join me."
The Beast grins; and although it is still a wicked thing to behold, there doesn't seem to be an undercurrent hostility like before. " I can gift Connor to you on a silver platter. Guy's in love with you, if you couldn't tell, but there are too many things in the way. I can make all of it a non-issue, just–"
Hellish, skull-shaped red and purple flame erupts, covering his entire hand as he stretches the appendage. " Take my hand… It'll be worth it–" Hypnotic rings flash in his eyes. Whether it is real, or merely a figment of her imagination, the Queen doesn't know, nor does she care after being enthralled by his Divinity. " You will no longer have to keep up this farce; no longer have to pay any heed to decorum or crush your own desires for the prosperity of House Barthomeloi. You can just be a simple, normal girl like everybody else."
His tongue flicks, wetting his dry lips.
" Imagine, how great would that be? You, him and your passionate desires."
Rationality flees her mind as she begins to really consider his offer, before a fiery crescent wave cleaves the building they're atop in half. Unlike her Spells, this one seems to stick even though his physical form has shifted to another Dimension. Still, in spite of the flickering flames incinerating his flesh, forcing the Beast to heal- Nay, to reverse Time similar to how her most-hated enemies- the Apostles do whenever they are harmed. " Tsk…"
The Beast clicks his tongue, facial features twisted in annoyance at the new arrivals, but he doesn't seem at all surprised. " So a God has descended to deal with little ol' me? I am honored!" The irritation vanishes as quickly as it comes, replaced by a smirk. " How have you been, O'Great Sun God Mithras? You cocky; self-righteous pile of feces?" Scurrying to the side, the Queen of the Tower retreats a distant away, wide-eyed at the flaming hordes in the horizon.
'Mithras… The Persian God?'
Lorelei narrows her eyes, but otherwise stays silent.
" I see you've learnt some new tricks, Ahriman!"
The arrival's voice holds some ethereal qualities as well, its weight no less than the Beast of Progression, who rolls his eyes- arms crossed. " And I see your voice's as irritating as ever." Perhaps she's imagining things, but the Queen immediately notice his fists flexing- the prominent veins adorning them twitching rather nervously. " Last time it's inconclusive, so let us resume our eternal battle once again, Ancient Evil!"
In almost every religion, the Battle of Good and Evil is always present in the forms of different Gods with opposing characteristics- locked in a forever war against one another.
The Blueblood never expected to see this played out in real-time. Such tales are merely myths to the current form of Humanity. Even Phantasmal Species are rarities nowadays, let alone Deities. 'Is this what those Stars-Gazers were working on?' She had heard plenty about Animusphere and his ambitions, but she hadn't expected him to have come this far. Even if the man were generously aided-
A fact which Lorelei does not doubt, summoning an actual God to this Era is not any less praiseworthy than Magnum's feat of Divine Ascension. After all, even she dares not think of such a thing, albeit it's mainly because Lorelei's pride doesn't allow her to submit to anybody except herself- the Gods included,
Hence why the Queen has never touched on this particular Branch of Magecraft, but who's she to complain when things are working in her favor? 'It is best if the two of them fight to the death, although I will settle for–' Her thoughts trail as she sets sight on the Beast, who casts an amused glance in her direction, almost as if he can read her mind. His grin widens. 'Scratch that, Magnum definitely possesses a version of Telepathy.'
Although, she doubts calling Magnum's appropriate now, since the Beast clearly rejects the identity, instead aligning with the name Ahriman- the Zoroastrianism God of Evil, the same supposedly responsible for the Evils that have plagued Mankind since its Creation. She doesn't believe a lick of it, but as all Magi have or will eventually learn, faiths and beliefs can be a terrifyingly powerful Force in their World. " Hmmm… Your moral integrity leaves much to be desired, but your courage's commendable nevertheless."
A miniature Sun shoots towards her like a cannonball in an attempt to envelop the Queen- its light both soothing and agonizing, but the Beast doesn't seem to like his preys being taken, for he immediately counters with his own Dark Star that gets in the middle.
The clash ruptures buildings, reducing whole structures to atoms with neither gaining the upper-hand. The Persian Hordes howl angrily, the resulting noises as they beat their chests echoing for miles- sounding a whole lot more like war-drums instead of bellows. In response, the Demons roar defiantly, leaping to intercept the army. It's neither pretty, nor mesmerizing, nor graceful- their battles.
They brawl with ferocity; one side hoping to inflict as much damages and pain as possible, the other desperately trying to rip and tear the Demons apart in an attempt to destroy the Evil from its source. "My Legion!"
The Persian God shouts in an unidentifiable language that, somehow, Lorelei; the Brigade and the Martial Artists are still able to make out the meaning of. "KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL! USE YOUR LIGHTS TO PURGE THE WORLD OF THESE FILTHS!" The Beast does not voice his dissatisfaction, but the malice bleeding out of his glare is telling enough.
While the Demons lack the ability to fly, they sure as Hell can jump and throw stuffs around, even sparing the time to infuse the lampposts they're using as javelins with a healthy dose of Demonic Energy. Just as Good's the antithesis of Evil, the opposite's true… In layman's terms, the Legion of Light may deal more damage, but the Demons can drive them completely insane and shake their faith, which is the foundation of the bond they have with their Patron Deity.
As for the consequences a shaken bond may have…
Lorelei stares as hundreds from the Legion plummet to their demise, their Mystic Codes dissipating while they claw at their own faces, having been driven mad.
Those with stronger Wills manage to hold on.
Still, their once blinding lights have already begun to visibly diminish- slowly worn down by the Demonic Energy that clings to their forms in clumps like leeches. It's no longer a question of 'If', but 'When' they too shall fall, and 'How' many of the Beast's Demons they will force to accompany them to Hell. Lorelei whirls to find the Grandmasters and her Brigade have also regained their fervor.
Beating a hasty retreat, the Queen tries to jump off the edge and join them, only to come to the realization it is moving away instead of closer. 'Dammit! The lil' bastard messes with Space!' She scowls as words said in a taunting voice carry themselves to her ear.
" And where exactly do you think you're going?"
Brain jumping from one solution to another, Lorelei decides to use her regular means of attack- the wind-based Spells with an added touch. His Codes may be corrupted, but certain lines are still somewhat comprehensible, which the second part of her Spell takes advantage of, shifting into the same Dimension the Beast has occupied. As expected, he exits the State soon after to find multiple follow-ups. " You–!"
Blackened blood spills from his wounds, staining his chest as he gasps. She had felt rather hopeless earlier- believing him to be unkillable, but… 'Anything that bleeds, can die.' Inky darkness bleeds into the Beast's sclera as he scowls, charging towards her. Lorelei raises her defenses, though she needs not to, for the Persian God, who's silent mere moments ago, slams into him. " Ahriman!"
Tangled, the two Deities crash into buildings- the sheer speed at which they are moving managing to set the atmosphere on fire while they trail like falling Stars. " Your opponent is this King!" A bestial bellow rips itself out of the Beast's throat, his voice rippling through the air and dispersing the fire everywhere. Everyone except the Demons, the majority of whom have no sense of self-preservation, attempt to block, but it's too late.
Most of her Brigade and the Martial Artists will die, had she not been here. "[ᛏᚢᚱᛏᚨᚾᛟ]!"
A tiny tornado forms within the palm of her hands- growing larger in seconds to drag the fire towards the center and create a flaming tornado. The heat alone is enough to melt the buildings around them. It'd have too, if Lorelei hadn't done her magics as usual.
"It'll not hurt him, right?"
The Queen mutters underneath her breath- heaving heavily, before sending the disaster at the brawling Gods. "He is the God of the Sun, after all."
Lorelei justifies, watching while the explosion, rivalling the force of the F.O.A.B rocks Hellsinki to its foundation.
Shockwaves wash over everything, permanently scaring the landmark as a mushroom-cloud- Well, clouds the Dark Sun. "So this is the Gods…" The Northeast section of the City's been reduced to a pile of charred and burning rubbles. It's no wonder they stand atop the food-chain undisputed, reigning over all once upon a time despite the presences of other Phantasmal Species.
Although she did not believe she's the strongest, Lorelei had always possessed an amount of pride regarding her achievements and personal prowess- hard not to when the entire world seems to sing your praises, but watching the battle unfolds, the Queen can't help chuckling wearily. 'Can I last more than a second against a serious Divine Spirit?'
— False Sovereignty —
She is wrong…
It's hard to admit for someone as prideful and self-assured as the Queen of Heroes, but she has wronged him, and the result's the current situation they have found themselves in. What angers her the most is: She knew. Though she did not vocalize it ever, she knew precisely how the pressure can destroy him, and rather than providing the boy some level of comfort, Gil did what she has always done, which's to prioritize her own feelings.
She had demanded so much from the young boy and, in a sense, forced him to be ambitious beyond his desires, which broke him mentally. Gil has never said it, but it disgusts her, hence why she abandoned him- to see him descend into the same path all before has sought. She couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so she left, thinking it'd alleviate the guilt which had taken root- burdening her Soul.
Taking the time to sort out her feelings was merely an excuse she used to placate herself.
The Golden Queen thought without her there, he'd improve mentally… Instead it sent him in the spiraling pit of insanity.
She wanted to apologize, yet her ego as a Ruler kept her lips tightly sealed, leading up to this moment. Leonis has transcended mortality, becoming a God, and was then subsequently submerged within the filthy muds birthed from Mankind's evil deeds;
Humanity is on its last-leg;
The Gods Gilgamesh so despised have descended to influence them once more, worsening the situation for she knows more than anyone, once the Masters have regained their whips, they will never loosen their grasp again.
She herself is confined as a result, though still given sustenance via Fuyuki's Leylines.
The fault doesn't lie solely with her, but she must shoulder parts of the blame, thus the Golden Queen can only try and escape, for it is useless to ponder on her mistakes, and do nothing to make up. Fingers curled, her nails sink into the curved Space. Ironically enough, Gil's banking entirely on her Divinity, the parts of herself she loathes the most, but B-Rank [Divinity] simply can't compare with a [God's Core].
Even as her fingers blister- the skin flayed by the Spatial Storm caused by the condensed and curved Space that is rejecting the Golden Queen's presence. Still, she tries. Without the [Gate of Babylon] to rely upon, she can only do this, unfortunately– "Gurgh!" Gilgamesh's shot back, bouncing against the unseen walls of her prison. Angrily, she punches the ground which shakes the Bounded Field, yet the damn thing shows no sign of caving in.
As the first solution she thinks of is to dig under, her entire outfit and nails are caked with dirt, sadly it seems Leo had thought of that too, thus explaining the sphere shape of her prison. "Dammit, Leonis!" The Golden Queen roars in a fit of rage, about to lose all hope when Fate finally gives her a way out.
— False Sovereignty —
"We have to stop him…"
Artoria mumbles, her armored fists clenched as she watches Hellsinki descend into chaos.
"Leo can't be allowed to wreak havoc…"
But, except for the new arrival- Ciri, the remaining Servants do not seem to share her sentiments. Ishtar, who has taken completely over due to Sella's constantly degrading sense of self after the death of her Mistress, cannot care less, "It's just another Apocalypse, and a few more dead humans–" Carelessly throwing one leg over the other, she muses. "It's nothing special."
Both the Witcheress and the King of Knights frown at her heartlessness. "How can you say that?! / Goddess Ishtar, do you feel nothing for their sufferings?"
Popping a grape in her mouth, she grins- white hair cascading down her back and shoulders. "The relationship between Gods and mortals is clear. They give us worship and entertainment; we give them shelter–"
She pauses, swallowing the fruit and seductively licking her fingers clean. "Now that Humanity has developed their wings and is trying to dethrone us, why should I intervene on their behalf? Why should I risk this second life?" The Mesopotamian Goddess reveals a half-lidded look, more amused than angry at the destruction laid upon Finland and all the countries sharing its borders. "You–!" Gritting her teeth, Ciri's hand rests on her blade, and the Goddess' eyes flash in contempt.
"There's a thrum in your veins… Similar to him." Ishtar plops herself up and challenges. "But if you think you can defeat me, you are dead wrong, little mortal."
The two- one Servant; one Witcheress- narrow their eyes, turning to look at the others, but one is a Demoness birthed from Leonis' powers so she's ultimately unreliable,
And as for Lancer– "I'm sorry, but I can't betray Master. If it's Humanity he has turned his sword against, I can only obey."
The Automaton's eyelids close shut, before dozens of Chains sprout behind him. "A good and proper Servant will show their Master the errors of his way." The King of Knights instantly argues, unfortunately– "I'm not a Servant. I am a tool. I'm dirt made flesh and born to obey the commands of my Master."
Their expressions twist at Lancer's self-deprecating words, even Ishtar who considers herself a victim at his ' treachery'. She rolls her eyes, though doesn't act or say anything. The Tigress of Fuyuki, seeing the hostility that has arisen, jumps between the groups. "Hey! Let's just relax! Maybe we can talk this out?"
"Doubtful."
The Sumerian Goddess of War snorts.
"Then we can only fight…"
Artoria's eyes flare with determination as she releases her legendary sword- Excalibur, from its scabbard.
"G- Guys, wait–"
The air crackles with anticipation as Ciri unsheathes her own silver blade, the Witcher steel gleaming in the dim light. Ishtar smirks, yet remains grounded, even making a scene by pulling popcorns out from under the table. Nobody knows where the Goddess keeps the snacks, but no one has the mind to question it. Divine Spirits are full of surprises, after all.
The ground they stand on trembles under the Servants weight of their impending clash.
With lightning speed, Ciri lunges forward, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Penthesilea effortlessly dodges the attack, her feral movements unmatched even by the most skilled of warriors.
She retaliates with a series of blows, each one aimed with deadly accuracy and leaving holes in the Fujimura Ancestral House.
The Witcheress parries them skillfully, darting and weaving through the chained flail.
Meanwhile, Artoria charges forward with a powerful thrust of Excalibur, which Enkidu blocks with the interweaving Chains of Heaven, the clash of metal resounding through the Japanese-style house, causing the entire structure to collapse on their heads. With little care in the world, the two engage in a fierce swordfight, their blades clashing with a shower of sparks. "Hoh? This Monster Slayer isn't half-bad!"
The Goddess chuckles, throwing another piece of popcorns in her mouth.
Artoria and Enkidu dance a deadly waltz, their weapons clashing with deadly blow- practically untouched by the dust particles.
Ciri, her eyes locked on Penthesilea, anticipates the Amazon Queen's next move. With lightning-fast reflexes- further amplified by [Temporal Acceleration, the Witcheress parries the strikes. Still, even her training merely allows her to just barely keep up with the beastlike ferocity of her opponent.
Ishtar, still observing the battle with a smirk plastered on her face, offers amused commentary. "Oh, how entertaining. The clash of Humanity's Hope against the Gods' Ultimate Weapon."
Her eyes glint cruelly. "But will it be enough?" She takes another handful of popcorn from her seemingly endless supply, tossing it into her mouth as the battle intensifies.
Their movements- Artoria's and Enkidu's appear to mirror one another, both prioritizing efficiency over grace.
Albeit, compared to the rigidity of Lancer's makeshift style, the King's movements are far more fluid, a testament to her years of honing her skills as a knight.
Excalibur, with its luminous glow, leaves trails of light in its wake as it cuts through the air.
Enkidu, ever resourceful, utilizes his Chains to their full potential. They lash out with deadly accuracy, seeking to bind Artoria and restrict her movements.
But the King of Knights, undeterred, dodges and parries the chains while maintaining her relentless assault. Ciri gives no quarter to Penthesilea, her blade retaliation swift and calculated, hoping to exploit any opening, her strikes- without a doubt- aimed at vulnerable points in her opponent's defense.
The clash between the four warriors continues, the battlefield filled with the sound of clashing steel and the growing destruction surrounding them. The ground trembles beneath their feet as their powers collide, threatening to tear the very fabric of reality apart. In less than minutes, the once stunning and well-cared for garden of the Fujimura Mansion is reduced to crumbling craters.
Just as the Witcheress is about to clash with the Demoness again, a ripple through Space echoes.
Nigh unnoticeable, yet ear-piercing for someone as sensitive to changes in Space-Time axis, it nearly causes her to stumble into the flail. Luckily, she manages to [Blink] away, using multiple Temporal Phantoms to hold off the Servant-turned-Demon. 'What was that?' Ciri thinks, head whipping towards the source of the disturbance. Something tells her it's very important to their cause that she investigates, but… 'I can't leave her all a sudden.'
Her gaze lands on the blonde,
"Miss! Can you hold these two off for a moment?!" The Witcheress questions. Ciri normally isn't one to bank on chances, but this feeling resembles what she felt when her employer- Alaya granted her blessings to survive what that sleazy merchant- O'Dimm had dubbed, 'The Boundary'. Artoria, while somewhat confused, decides to take a leap of faith and trust the Witcheress. She's good at reading people, as all Rulers are required to be, and this doesn't look like a woman who plans on abandoning her.
"Go!"
Still hesitant, Ciri bites her lip and teleports towards away, but without a foe to defeat or even pursue, as there's no trail or scent, the bestial Demoness immediately turns her eyes on the sword-wielding Servant… Faced with two Servants, the King of Knights is slowly yet surely pushed back by their combined effort. Grazed by their weapons, Artoria grimaces, narrowly avoiding getting her head smashed in by the flail, only to have her thighs pierced by the Chains of Heaven.
She swallows a scream, unwilling to part with her dignity even as her end nears;
Luckily,
*CLANK!
There's still another ally of Humanity here, "Artie, are you alright?" All three Servants blink at the Tigress who has intervened to save the Once and Future King, but the one to vocalize their confusion and astonishment is instead Ishtar, "What on Earth are you wearing?"
Dressed in what can be described as a slutty string-bikini, Taiga blushes. "Shut up! Leo gave me this, I didn't pick it!"
The Goddess of War and Love blinks rapidly, whistling.
"Say what you want about the guy, but he has nice taste."