Chapter 24
Way of the Blade
Entering the arena where Iori was waiting for me, I felt a strange feeling of anger come over me. Wondering why I was feeling such anger, I then looked at my right arm which was expelling a strange black and dark red smoke. Nervous, I gingerly entered the arena, noticing that the stands looked very empty and looking upon the yellow sand and the dark golden stands that reminded me somewhat of the arena where I fought Zero, Rean and Link. "Now, you have one last chance. You will awaken and unleash the darkness within you. You will give in to the darkness and embrace your true nature. And you will become the Ruler of All Things.", Iori said. "Iori, please, I'm really not worthy of Aionios's throne. So please, let's just let bygones be bygones.", I said. "Not this again. You really don't know or care how much we've tried to get you on the throne specifically. After all, you know that Yuito is unworthy of ruling over everything, especially not after what he did during the early days of the War of Heroes.", Iori said. "Well, I-", I said before Iori said, "Besides, out of all the people in modern Aionios, only one person possesses a natural disposition to all four types of Dahnan astral energy and that person is you. So give in and embrace your true nature already!". Summoning Zantetsuken to my right hand, I said, "OK, then. If you want to play, I'll play.". "That's the spirit.", Iori said whilst drawing his swords. All of a sudden, Iori then rushed at me and unleashed a brutal slash that I expertly parried and followed up with a steel counter. Not missing a beat, I unleashed a large blast of dark energy from my demonic left arm that Iori dispelled with a blast of fire. Undeterred, I rushed forward whilst forming a second Zantetsuken in my left hand, slashing with both swords in a furious flurry. Unleashing a wide radial spin, Iori then gathered fiery energy in his swords and slashed with them, creating a large beam of red fire that I managed to just barely dodged.
As I wondered how to counter, I then heard a strange voice in my head say, "Why? Why don't you unleash it?". "What are you talking about?", I asked. "Oh, you know, that what you inherited from your dear father.", the voice replied. "You mean Ragna or Gilgamesh?", I asked. "The former. Ragna the Bloodedge.", the voice said. Narrowly dodging an attack that Iori unleashed, I asked, "What are you?". "Oh, I am your right arm. The arm that contains the power of destruction where your left contains the power of calamity, that which you inherited from your dear mother Velvet Crowe.", the voice replied. "This is getting nowhere.", Iori said before unleashing a strange black gemstone that burrowed its way inside me. A strange feeling of pain came over me almost immediately afterwards, causing me to drop my two swords resulting in them disappearing. Clutching my head, I screamed a terrible scream. "You want it to stop, don't you? You want it to go away, don't you? You want it to stop bothering you, don't you?", the voice said. "Not gonna lie, I do.", I painfully said. "In that case, unleash the power of darkness within your arm. I daresay you know the words to do so.", the voice said before it disappeared. "OK, ready or not, here I come!", Iori said before rushing at me. Unleashing a dark sphere to keep Iori at bay, I then clenched my right hand and said, "Restriction 666 released. Dimensional interference field deployed. Azure Grimoire, activate!".
Whilst my right hand unleashed a strange dark power and the crest of the Black Beast appeared on the back of my right hand, a strange feeling came over me, as if something within me that had been broken for a very long time was only now being repaired. I had no time to relish the feeling, however, as a strong murderous rage promptly came over me, reddening my vision. As the dark sphere disappeared, I roared, causing the arena surrounding me and Iori to turn a sinister crimson. Then, a pattern of green resembling a magic circuit appeared on my body only to suddenly turn red, coating me in a black and dark red fiery aura. Resummoning my two swords back to my hand, I bellowed in rage before rushing at Iori again, unleashing an onslaught fuelled by a renewed anger. Suddenly, the elemental power that the crystals conferred upon me surrounded me and formed a magnificent tornado of magical power, only for the tornado to disappear as the energy within itself burst, causing the black and dark red inferno emanating off of me to burn hotter and hotter. Gripping my swords tight, I promptly moved at a very fast speed, my movements flowing like the very water itself. Striking at Iori's vital areas, my swords were only stopped by Iori's own dance of steel. Unimpressed, I fired a blast of dark energy from my right hand in the shape of one of the Black Beast's heads before warping in front of Iori, now only holding one of my swords. Slashing back with his own swords, Iori then unleashed a brutal onslaught of slashes that I blocked with Zantetsuken, my resolve as firm and unchanging as the earth itself. Responding in kind, I unleashed a powerful slash that unleashed several more much Iori's pleasant surprise.
Gripping Zantetsuken tight with my right hand, I then gathered dark energy in my left hand, the darkness appearing to draw in the very air itself. Unleashing the energy, I then fired a storm of dark magic, shaping the elemental power of darkness itself into blasts of dark energy, demonic daggers, dark red spikes and black and crimson tornados. Not to be outdone himself, Iori then unleashed a brilliant storm of fire from his own left hand that the dark energy I unleashed drew in and absorbed. Rushing forward, I unleashed a furious display of slashes and stabs, many of them in conjunction with the dark energy blasts. The blasts themselves formed a wild and uncontrolled storm that easily blew away any spells that Iori attempted to cast. As my anger grew and grew, I summoned a second Zantetsuken back to my left hand, with Iori in turn unleashing a large amount of energy from his own body. A pattern of green magic circuits appeared on Iori's body only to then turn golden as they unleashed a giant inferno from his body. Strangely, the inferno covering Iori then turned into Aura itself, the Aura being a royal blue colour. Running at me, Iori then unleashed a series of powerful slashes only to be met with my own fiery swordplay, unleashing a strange crimson flame with each slash and stab from my two swords. Fuelled by the inferno, Iori's Aura then covered him like a shell of magical energy; undeterred, my slashes grew even faster and stronger, becoming just as powerful as a raging inferno. The slashes chipped away Iori's Aura bit by bit, me not even noticing Iori's futile attempts to counter and slash my own attacks.
Panting heavily, I then felt a strange burst of darkness surge inside me as my Avatar appeared. Fusing with it, I saw my black and dark orange robes turning purely black as dark red spikes adorned them. My swords were also dispelled in favour of a scythe forming in my right hand. Screaming in rage, I then burst the black and dark red inferno, promptly rushing at Iori and unleashing a furious and brutal onslaught that Iori struggled to keep up with. Roaring, I then impaled Iori with my demonic left hand and unleashed a large explosion of dark red energy that I followed up with a slash that Iori countered with a slash from his swords. Undeterred, I then gathered a large amount of dark red energy into my body and semi-primed into Odin, transforming into Sigurd's first Ascension from Fate/Grand Order, the power itself coursing through my body and taking on the form of Fafnir around me. Unnerved, Iori then unleashed a large amount of power in an attempt to rival my own; unimpressed, I rushed at Iori and slashed forward with Zantetsuken that had suddenly reappeared in my hand. Unleashing even more of his Aura, Iori then ran dry. "Damn. Seems like I used too much.", Iori said. "Well, it's only natural when using a power you're not used to using.", I said. Capitalising on the opportunity, I then resumed my assault only for Iori to desperately counter with his own slashes. Chuckling, I then formed the power around me into the form of the Black Beast only for the power to suddenly disappear, causing the arena's colour to return back to normal and taking the scythe in my right hand and the black armour I was wearing with it.
"Wait, what was that?", I asked as my rage faded. Smirking, Iori sheathed his swords, saying, "Well, it seems there's hope for you after all. You gave me a good fight, Your Majesty.". Walking off, Iori then strangely collapsed. Shrugging, I then walked off in the opposite direction, finding myself in a strange underground temple. There, I saw a squirrel woman with short light brown hair, a light brown furry tail, squirrel ears and hazel eyes wearing an orange and black crop top, a pair of orange shorts, long black stockings and orange boots. "Aunt Makoto?", I said to the squirrel woman. Turning to face me, Makoto said, "Well, it seems that your memory is returning after your Magic Circuits were repaired. And yes, it's me: Makoto Nanaya.", Makoto said. "Anyway, what do you mean by Magic Circuits?", I asked. "Well, for one, your Magic Circuits are what was repaired when you unleashed that dark power of yours against Iori. For two, Magic Circuits are what allow a mage like Iori to use a power named magecraft; Ars Magus and Ars Armagus are very damn similar to it.", Makoto said. Placing her hand on my chest, Makoto said, "Well, it seems that the Magical Energy Reactor that Fafnir gave to you has now turned into a Super Magical Energy Reactor, greatly increasing the amount of power you can use.". "And is that a good thing?", I asked. "Yeah, it is.", Makoto said. "Still, what caused that outburst when I fought Iori?", I asked. "You know how you refused to unleash the dark power in your right arm? Well, that refusal caused a lot of energy to dangerously build and bottle up; when you unleashed that dark power against Iori, you unleashed all the power you had built and bottled up alongside the energy you had already unleashed causing you to go berserk from your inability to control it. That said, you've now unleashed the power causing it to reach a fairly safe level- well, as safe as the power of darkness itself can be.", Makoto said before walking off. As I reflected on what Makoto said, a sinister feeling then came over me.
"What is this feeling?", I thought as I found myself then facing a strange mahogany desk. On the desk was a strange note that read, "Subject appears unable to control Odin's power; however, said inability is psychological rather than physical and primarily stems from trauma. Said trauma is also why subject refused to succeed Alphen as Sovereign and subsequently refused to give in to the darkness and embrace his true nature. Will have to resort to intense physical stress to force subject to overcome trauma.". "Wait, what?", I asked. "So you've noticed, huh?", a strange voice said behind me. Turning around, I saw a woman with long white hair in a ponytail and piercing red eyes wearing a white kimono and a navy blue dress. There was also a red ribbon in her hair. "Wait, you're Tomoe, aren't you?", I asked the woman. "Yes, I am. You're finally starting to remember. I'm glad, very glad. Regardless, my name is Tomoe Gozen, yes.", the woman said, crying with joy. "Wait, what do you mean by 'starting to remember'?", I asked. "Never you mind. I've come to take you home, Son.", Tomoe said, holding out her arms as a nauseously bright aura enveloped her. "Wait, I thought Ragna the Bloodedge and Velvet Crowe were my parents!", I said. "Oh, you actually believed that piece of fertiliser?", a fox-eared woman with pink hair and yellow eyes said as she walked in. She also had a fox tail and was wearing a blue kimono. "Come on, Tamamo, you know we need to force him to remember if he ever developed signs of amnesia.", Tomoe said to the fox-eared woman. "That may be the case but even still, we must obey the orders the Silent Core gave us.", Tamamo said. "Oh, you two are just hopeless.", a young girl said as she walked in. She had very pale skin as well as black hair and purple eyes and was wearing a tattered purple kimono alongside a black form-fitting bodysuit and long black stockings as well as dark brown sandals. She also had a pair of horns with red tips on her forehead. "That's not like you, Shuten.", Tamamo said to the horned girl. "Well, you know what they say- if you can't get them to remember normally, then force them.", Shuten said. "This is getting us nowhere.", I said. "Oh, you're such a spoil sport. Does Mommy have to discipline you?", Tomoe asked. Sensing a dark burst of energy from all 3 of them, I summoned Zantetsuken to my right hand and gripped it tight. In turn, Tomoe readied a naginata whilst Tamamo summoned a circular mirror and Shuten whipped out a kodachi. Steeling myself, I prepared for an attack.
Gathering solar energy in her naginata, Tomoe then rushed at me whilst firing a beam of fire from her weapon that I narrowly dodged. Retaliating, I then unleashed a blast of dark energy in the shape of the Black Beast's head that Tamamo dispelled with a blast of lightning. Undeterred, I then followed up with a blast of darkness that Shuten easily pierced, causing it to explode. As a black and dark red aura covered me, I then unleashed a violent onslaught of sword slashes with Zantetsuken and a series of punches and claw swipes with my demonic left hand. "You fight like a demon when you're angry. Not that I'm complaining.", I heard Tomoe say. "Truly how a Sovereign would fight.", Shuten said. "That's it! That's the way! Unleash your power and prove that you are the one to rule over Aionios as the Ruler of All Things!", Tamamo said. "Kill you…kill you…kiLl yoU…kill you!", I said as a strange anger overcame me. "Well, I believe it's time to force you to awaken, Son.", Tomoe said before she unleashed a large amount of fiery chains that covered my body and wrapped themselves around my throat. Incensed, my anger then skyrocketed as the chains then suddenly broke. Consumed by the darkness, I then rushed at the three women before my anger strangely faded, causing Zantetsuken to disappear alongside the black and dark red aura. "Wait, what?", I thought as I found myself facing a strange stone pillar inscribed with the class symbols for Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, Berserker, Ruler, Avenger, Moon Cancer, Alter Ego, Foreigner and Pretender. "The time has come for thy second trial, Sword Demon.", a strange deep voice said. "Second trial?", I thought. Suddenly, the stone pillar disappeared only to reveal Musashi. "Musashi?", I asked. "That's right.", she said. "Where am I now?", I asked. "Why, the Arena of the Extra Classes. Don't tell me you've forgotten already.", Musashi said. "I don't remember there being an arena dedicated to the 6 Extra Classes of Ruler, Avenger, Moon Cancer, Alter Ego, Foreigner and Pretender. At least, I don't think there was.", I said. "Oh, that's where you are wrong.", said a young girl with long mint green hair and yellow eyes. She was wearing a dark teal kimono with a yellow bow on the back and long white socks, as well as white horns in her hair. "Now, now, Kiyohime, we need to coax his memories out. If that means we use force then so be it.", Musashi said to the girl. "And I will get the power to burn my love into him too.", Kiyohime said with a maniacal smile on her face. "Don't forget me.", said a young girl with long black hair and blue eyes wearing white samurai armour. "Well, if you think you can help him, Ushiwakamaru, be my guest.", Musashi said to the girl. "Wait, what are you-?", I asked before my body suddenly froze. Walking up to me, Ushiwakamaru said, "Don't resist, my love. You'll be fine soon.", before she tenderly stroked my cheek and kissed me.
Finding myself in the corridor of a castle, I noticed that the carpet was a sinister crimson. Looking out of the window, I saw that the ground was volcanic with lava bursting out of several cracks in the earth. "Why am I in the alternate Fodlan again?", I asked. I also noticed that the sky was a sinister crimson with the Blood Moon as the only visible celestial body in the sky. Walking down the corridor, I passed by a strange black mirror that caused me to have a strange vision of myself burning in a black and dark red inferno. "Wait, is that person…me?", I thought. "Why, it is you.", Tamamo's voice said. "Why do you resist it still, cousin? What do you possibly have to gain?", Agravain's voice said. "Why do you refuse to embrace your true nature? You know you'll die if you devote yourself to kindness, compassion and empathy. So why do you refuse it?", Alastor's voice said. The vision faded, leaving me extremely confused. Passing by another mirror, I then saw a picture of me holding a demonic red sword with an eye in it. "Wait, is that another me?", I asked. "Why yes, wielding the demonic sword Soul Edge too.", said a voice behind me. Turning around, I saw a young woman with golden blonde hair and red eyes wearing a white turtleneck shirt, a dark blue skirt, black tights and black boots. She was accompanied by a woman with short black hair and grey eyes wearing a lilac purple dress and a red hoodie. "And you two are…?", I asked. "And I thought your memories were starting to return. Anyway, my name is Arcueid Brunestud, the Moon Princess.", the woman with golden blonde hair said. "And I am Shiki Ryougi.", the woman with short black hair said. "It really isn't like you to not embrace your true nature though. Please, do it for me.", Arcueid said. "I-I…", I said before I found myself in a strange field. A chill ran down my spine as a black inferno briefly engulfed me before disappearing. I then heard a strange explosion as if something horrid was about to awaken.
The story continues in the next chapter.