A/N: Hello Every Nyan. So, for those of you that don't read EiS, this is one of the best moments in the series. Like, legit, you should look up the name of Cid's secret move if you haven't seen an edit or something already.
Btw I'm surprised no one brought up the country accents I tried to give Lea and Ann? I guess it wasn't obvious or everyone else thought it fit too.
Disclaimer: I do not own Trapped in a Dating Sim: This World is Tough for Mobs, nor do I own The Eminence in Shadow. The only Beta reader here is the Elf.
-P2W-
"Eek! What have we done to deserve this!?"
A sea of blood. That's what this is. And appropriately, a man is screaming in the middle of it all. 'It' has come unannounced. Without any warning or stating its reasons 'it' bursts through the wall and commences its slaughter. Yet another man becomes prey to its black blade. No one wants to fight 'it.' The men wish to make a hasty escape and nothing more. But 'it' is blocking the only exit.
"H-Help…!"
*SLASH*
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhh!"
His body is split down the middle, sliced from the top of his skull to his crotch. Blood bursts from each side as the two halves fall to the right and left. As 'it' submerges its body in blood, it catches the falling drops tenderly. 'It' might have the appearance of a woman, but her temperament is of a devil.
Upon noticing there are few prey left in the area, 'it' extends its weapon, elongating the black blade. Without exaggeration, the katana literally extends far enough to smash through the wall. With a might swing, 'it' destroys the building…
And everything inside of it.
From atop a clock tower, an alluring elf watches the complete annihilation and fall of a building. It's a joke, almost.
"It has begun." Remarks Alpha.
The breeze tousles her long golden locks, glistening in the dark of the night.
Alpha sighs like a troubled mother as she witnesses Delta's rampage. "Oh, Delta… She always overdoes it." Oh well, it's not as though she can undo what's already done.
Alpha looks over the capital from the top of the tower. The entire capital begins moving frantically. Everything commences as planned. And most of the attention is directed at Delta, who just hacked a building to bits.
Alpha frowns in a resigned manner, "I have to give it to Delta for making it easier for the others to start…"
If she could just ignore the victims, she could admit Delta's move are exceptional. Oh well, she needs to make sure that the other girls are in position.
…
And Gamma got her sword stuck in a pillar.
Oh, wait she's swinging around the pillar now. How ingenious. She should tell Cid later, he needs to praise the shades as well. She may be the first, but she knows that she won't be the only, if for the safety of her hips if nothing else.
-P2W-
Alexia lies as still and despondent as a corpse. Hope has long since faded from her eyes. But she's still cognizant. She can hear something going on outside. Alexia opens her eyes for the first time in hours, curious.
The only ones who ever enter the room are a female caretaker and the mad doctor, which gives Alexia nothing to do except sleep on the same chair that binds her hands and feet.
Neither Alexia nor the creature that has served as her cellmate bother each other, which means they are getting along all right. The creature begins to raise its head at the sounds. The clamor intensifies, indicating there's some kind of conflict beyond this room.
Alexia looks over at the creature, "Bet you also can't sleep with all the noise. But I think it's best to stay awake. You don't want to miss out on the fun."
Alexia knows it won't answer her, but she talks to it anyway. Boredom can have strange effects on the mind. It takes a while before the sound of a key unlocking the door echoes throughout the room in a flustered and apprehensive way.
It's the mad doctor. He makes a mad dash around the room gathering as much as he can as he frantically speaks, "Damn it, damn it, damn it! Those bastards… They're here! This is the end… Th-They'll kill us all!"
"The knight order won't kill needlessly," Alexia remarks, "If you surrender now, I'm sure they'll spare your life." Or they won't, she thinks.
"The Knight Order?" shrieks the mad doctor, "I don't give a damn about them! Th-The fiends will kill everyone. Everyone, I tell you!"
This confuses Alexia. Then who? She ponders. Alexia can't imagine anyone else. But then again, she knows it's completely possible he's gone nuts.
The mad doctor claws at his head and shifts his gaze toward the creature. "I-I've made a prototype. I-If I use this, even a worthless creature like you might be useful." The mad doctor then pushes the device with the syringe into the creature's arm.
"You should do that." Warns Alexia, sounding quite serious, "I don't have a good feeling about this."
But it's too late. The mad doctor has already injected the unknown fluid into the creature. "Behold! I give you a glimpse of Diabolos!"
The creature begins swelling, its muscles bulging before their eyes, and even its skeletal structure begins to expand as a black and red aura crackles around it. Its right arm, which was long and thick, morphs into a malicious and ominous form. Its fingertips sprout nails as long as human legs. Its left arm appears to be holding something and stays stuck to its body.
"I-Incredible…Astounding!" Yells the mad doctor.
But the chains cannot endure the rapid growth of the creature and snap off on their own. And then…
*Splat*
The mad doctor isn't even spared a final scream of agony before he's crushed by its right arm.
"I told you it was a bad idea," sing songs Alexia.
Alexia and the creature lock eyes. She studies its movements.
Alexia closes her eyes, long having given up hope. "Well, then." Her hands and feet are bound, which means there isn't much she can do. Although she can't stand the thought of dying as a consequence of some idiot's mistake.
The creature swings its right arm.
"You…!"
It avoids Alexia and pulverizes the chair that binds her.
Alexia looks over at the creature with an astounded look, the hope returning to her eyes as a result of the selfless action, "Did you… really free me…?"
The creature emits a high-pitched shriek and more black and red energy crackles around it. Then, it crashes through the stone wall.
Alexia gets up, rubbing her wrists and ankles before proceeding after her strange friend's new pathway. As she stares at the piles of trampled soldiers that litter the long, dimly lit hallway, a voice rings out.
[Princess Alexia.]
Alexia grabs a sword from one of the soldiers and meets they watchful eye. Or rather drone.
[Do not worry. I am an ally.]
Alexia attempts a few swings, but Luxion dodges them easily.
[My apologies for not interfering sooner, but my master has to issue commands for me to do so, and he was indisposed. I also calculated that there was too much of a high risk to interfere sooner given that many of your captors were members of the guard meant to serve you.]
Alexia warily eyes the talking orb but doesn't lower her guard, "So why interfere now?"
[1. With your freedom I can now safely lead you to your sister's side. I calculate her to be the only one that you can trust and find that trust rewarded.]
Not believing him in the slightest given how far the capitals of Holfort and Midgar are, Alexia asks "and two?"
[2. My master's wife had convinced me. Considering Master is currently indisposed still, it is in my directives to fall to the next in line in leadership. Also, I recommend reaching for that corpse's keys, so that you may undo your magic sealing cuffs.]
-Leon-
"You two can quit that faintin' thing, you're not foolin' nobody." Said Lea.
I get back up and look at the two doppelgangers. I then looked at Angelica and offer her my hand to help her get back up.
"Right… uh, where are we?" I ask warily.
Our surroundings are a beautiful garden that seems to stretch endlessly, only interrupted by a river passing through.
"I believe this is somethin' like a memory. Minoru used to talk about this kinda stuff all the time. Never really got it myself, but that's not what's important right now." Revealed Ann.
"Yes…" said Angelica, "who… who are you two? Why do you look just like us? And why are we here?"
Lea and Ann both smile, but then Lea wipes the expression off his face and looks me dead in the eye. Suddenly his voice takes a tone I would never expect from the country boy impression he'd been giving off. It's more regal in tone, not like Holfort's King either, like something straight out of a story book. "Let me ask you something first. What is it that you plan on doing, given all that you know, Hiro? No, Leon now, right? Why get involved with the prince, the villainess, and the protagonist."
A chill crawls up my spine at the mention of my name. My previous incarnation's name.
"Hero? Prince? Villainess? Protagonist?" parrots Angelica. She looks at me confused, before redirecting her attention to the pair. "Wait, what do you mean, all that he knows?"
Ann smiles sadly, "That's for him to reveal to you later. But if it helps, we have access to all of your memories. You should have some access to ours too if you try hard enough. After all, we are you, and you are us."
Angelica and I look at each other warily. All of my memories? Meaning my past life's where I played through this world as a game? And even if they look the part, what do they mean they're us?
"You… you said your name was Ann correct?" questions Angelica, "Like Saintess Anne?"
Said Saintess nods, "That's what you all called me. Although I think they started adding an e after about a thousand years, something about how language changed I believe. I think that's the reason your last name is Barfort now instead of 'from Bart's fort.'"
Angelica only gets more surprised, and I'm in a similar state of shock. I could have sworn that Olivia was meant to be the Saintess, so why would she look just like Angelica? Moreover, why is someone who looks just like me with her?
I shake my head, best to answer the question. "It shouldn't need to be said. It's to stop the bad endings."
Lea shakes his head in disappointment. "That is not the answer I seek. Tell me the reason Leon Fou Barfort would fight, not why Hiro had completed the game."
"The reason Leon fights…?" I ask.
Angelica and Ann seem to be interested in our conversation as well, but don't interject.
"If Leon is not the one making the decisions, then you might as well forget about living in this world alongside everyone." Declared Lea.
What?
Lea then adopts a mournful look, "The lack of a reason for living is why the kingdom fell all those years ago. The lack of belief, especially in myself, is the reason that everything fell to such a degree. That is why everyone remembers Julian and his little crew of misfits as the ones to establish the kingdom, why I was forgotten. Why…Mary had done what she did."
"Lea…" said Ann.
Lea merely shakes his head before stepping towards me. "If you cannot get it through your head that you live here, that you earned a right to live here simply by making the connections you did, let alone all the feats you achieved, then you will do nothing but repeat my mistakes."
…I hate to admit it, but I've had trouble letting go of Hiro. Now that I know Hanabi is here and doing her best to repeat the game's events I trapped myself into a downward spiral of what needs to happen according to the game's parameters. But we've long since passed that point.
"…" but I still can't bring myself to acknowledge that out loud.
"If you can acknowledge that, if you can give me a reason as Leon Fou Barfort to change the future of the kingdom, then tell me. However…" Lea stops and then takes out a sword from a flash of light.
I also stance up, acknowledging what is likely going to happen. Hoping I'm wrong, I can't help but ask, "What are you doing?"
Lea levels his sword in my direction, "If you can't muster such a reason, then I shall take that body and do what needs to be done! I will not sit as the country I founded has its children sold into a futile war so that the rich become richer, and the poor stay poor! I won't stand for such injustice ever again! I have my own reasons to fight!"
I take out my own sword, as Lea becomes so irate that he begins to cry as he speaks. Angelica tries to rush to my side and help but Ann holds her in place.
"Because of me, my spoiled brother became even more corrupted and became the king. Because of me, he and his friends became obsessed with Ann's light. Because of me, Mary had to sacrifice herself to reunite me and Ann! Reparations must be made! I owe them to make up for the tragedies caused by my hesitance!" Cries Lea.
I think carefully. It's difficult given the pressure exerting from Lea, but I take a deep breath. I think back to everyone I know. To my friends at the academy. Clarice, Deirdre, Claire, Rose, Cid, Dan, Daniel and Raymond. I think about all the times we ran around the past year. All the times me and the boys got into trouble. All the times I sparred with Claire and Rose. All the tea parties with Clarice, Deirdre, Angelica and Olivia…
I think back to my family. Mom, Dad, Nicks, Finley, Colin, and Jenna. Heck, Merce too. Those days back at home in the Barfort territory. Yeah, I did a bunch of farm work till my arms fell off, but Dad was always there to pick me up and carry me back home. Mom was always ready with dinner at the table and a rag to wipe my face. Nicks would do all the stupid stuff brothers do, like that time we went cow tipping in the neighbor's yard only to immediately get caught because Dad went there for a poker night. Finley would always ask me to give her tips on how to fight because Dad would never teach her like he taught Nicks and I. Colin would constantly ask me things because I supposedly knew everything. Even the arguments I would have with Jenna. She's the worst sometimes, but when she took a hit from Zola for me, I knew that we'd always have each other's back. When Merce helped me contact the idiot's fiancés, no questions asked, I knew she was family.
I think about Olivia and Angelica. Angelica… I still had some reservations about her being close. When I met her as a maid I all but got a crush on her then and there. When I realized she was the villainess from Alto Liebe I did my best to distance myself from her outside of my plan, but I know I was following her with my eyes for more reasons than that. Even now, as the memories of Lea and Ann running around in our bodies flood my mind, I can't help but say I want nothing more to embrace her like that. Not to speak of how I feel about Olivia.
Olivia… I've tried so hard to say that she's just the protagonist. That she's not going to love me. That she'll meet someone better and move on… But the first time we met at the gate I should have known that I had her go done my route. No, that I had long since made her fall for me, and it didn't take long for me to follow. Olivia… I'm going to come see you and give you a big kiss and come clean about everything.
I ready my sword, "I have my reasons too and I'm done pretending that I don't. I'm sorry but this body is mine, and I'm going to use it to protect everyone I care about exactly how I know I can do it!"
Lea chuckles, "Wel said… I wish I had that determination back then."
"Satisfied?" I ask, knowing the answer.
Lea nods, "Indeed… however, why is it that I feel like I need to cross swords with you?"
"Who knows? But, and this might be because we're the same person, I feel like it too." I acknowledge.
Lea and I cross our swords like fencers before a duel, and he declares "Then may our swords clash to our heart's content!"
"Men" sighed Ann.
"Men." Agreed Angelica.
-P2W-
[We should be approaching the exit soon. Do you believe you can make it? I can attempt to drag you if needed.]
Alexia shakes her head. "I should be fine, I could even fight if needed."
[…I wonder if this is what Master meant by "setting up a flag."]
"What?" questioned Alexia. However, Luxion seems to have disappeared.
"We can't have you leaving on your own." Calls out a familiar voice.
"Y-You… why are you here?" questions Alexia as her eyes widen in astonishment.
Confidence overflows from the smile stretched across the face of a dashing blond. It's Zenon Griffey.
"Because this is my facility, that's why." Admits Zenon with a smug look on his face, "I invested a lot of dia into that man. That's all there is to it."
"Ahh…!" Alexia growls in anger before calming down, "…That's nice to know. I always thought you were messed up in the head. I guess I was right."
"Think whatever you want. But I don't mind as long as I have your blood." Said Zenon.
Alexia sighs in frustration, "All anyone talks about around here is blood."
Zenon continues as though he hadn't heard her, "With my research and your blood, I'm destined to receive the twelfth seat in the Rounds. I shall bid farewell to my meaningless position as an instructor."
"The Rounds?" laughs Alexia, "Is that a group for lunatics?"
"The knights of Rounds is a gathering of twelve superior knights from my religion. It will bring me greater wealth and fame than I've ever known." Zenon reveals before shrugging, "I would have preferred Princess Iris, but it looks like I'll have to settle for you."
A forceful swing from Alexia's sword signals the start of their battle, she goes straight for the jugular. However, Zenon blocks it without much effort.
"Oh, excuse me. I forgot you hate being compared to your sister." Laughed Zenon.
Alexia growls in anger once again as sparks fly from the colliding blades. Judging this skirmish merely by the manner in which their swords dance in the air, one might be inclined to say their skills are equally matched. But the sword bearers wear very different expressions. Alexia angrily glowers whereas Zenon has a relaxed smile.
"You've improved. But you're still mediocre." Taunts Zenon.
Alexia visibly contorts her face. For a moment, it looks as if her urge to cry is drowned out by pure fury. Alexia knows. She knows full well she isn't strong enough to beat Zenon, and her flimsy weapon won't last long. But Alexia hasn't spent all those days training with her head in the clouds. In her mission to become as strong as her sister, she's realized her own short-comings and worked hard to make up for them. She's observed her sister's swordplay more than anyone else.
"Just watch me!" Declares Alexia. "Then say if you really think I'm mediocre!"
With that, she lunges at him with all the energy she can muster. It's a stroke reminiscent of her sister's assaults. Zenon's smile vanishes and he puts more effort into his sword strikes.
However… Alexia is still injured. There's only so much energy she can muster. Zenon attempts to capitalize on weakness and finds a knife fly by his face.
"Who-!?" yells Zenon. A gunshot rings out and stops him, causing him to back up.
[Apologies for the wait. But back up has arrived.]
"And here I thought you ran away?" snarks Alexia.
Alexia turns and sees a few figures. Claire, Rose, Clarice, and Dan.
"So, you brought a few friends, no matter. It's just a few children who believe themselves adults. Let me show you the skills of the next generation of the Rounds!"
Alexia rushes forward, but immediately finds her sword knocked out of her hand. She stands still in awe, never seeing an attack with so much power lurking behind it. But before she can acknowledge the differences in skill level, Claire jumps over her head and catches Alexia's airborne sword. Claire then dual wields the sword in her arm and Alexia's as she strikes down at Zenon.
As Zenon and Claire exchange blows, Rose joins in. Zenon is more powerful than both, the girls seeing their arms shake with each blow they receive on their swords, but he begins to feel overwhelmed. Dan then joins in by firing his gun wherever Zenon attempts to back into, forcing him to keep reacting to Claire and Rose's assault.
Clarice drags Alexia outside and begins to patch her up with a med kit she had brought.
"…Thanks." Mutters Alexia through the pain.
"No worries. I'm sorry we couldn't show up earlier." Said Clarice.
Alexia looks upon the starry knight and sees the full moon, the only source of light for the night aside from Luxion. Alexia then looks down at her medic, "Where's Iris?"
"Sorry," apologizes Clarice as she looks up at Alexia, "She didn't really believe us when we said we could help find you. We tried to show her Luxion, the floating eyeball, and the 'foo-taj' of him finding you, but she left once the city stared being attacked."
"So she is here…" acknowledges Alexia.
Before she can feel too happy, though, Claire, Rose, and Dan all fly away passing by the two girls.
"What!?" screamed Clarice.
"Heh. To think I would have to resort to these because of a few snot nosed brats." Warbles a distorted voice.
Clarice and Alexia turn to see a now heavily altered Zenon, reminding Alexia of the creature she was roommates with.
Clarice takes out a gun and aims for Zenon's eyes. "I'm twenty you dick!"
However, the shots do nothing and Zenon quickly bats her away, landing on top of the others. Afterwards he stares at Alexia, and she begins to tear up, wishing for her older sister to show up.
"You're coming with me," declares the monster as it reaches for Alexia.
A single tear drops from her eye. All hope is lost and the only source of light in her life is the moon.
Just then—
The moon's light is obstructed as well. And it's replaced by a red glow. Zenon and Alexia look up to see a man clad in ebony, his face obscured by smoke with nothing showing but his glowing red eyes.
"My name is Shadow. I lurk in the shadows and hunt the shadows…"
-P2W/Iris-
Elsewhere, the creature that shared a room with Alexia finds itself fired upon by soldiers as it roams the city. The shots do practically no damage, doing nothing but angering it more. Dark knights from Midgar arrive and attempt to strike at it, even managing to do some damage, but its wounds heal instantaneously.
The knights stand in shock at the feat, allowing for the monster to swipe at them with a roar. They just barely hold on.
What in the world is going on? Thinks Iris. Her red hair swirls behind her as she dashes through Holfort's capital late at night. She was told that a building had been destroyed shortly after those children attempted to lie to her. At first she thought it was another lie, but as Iris sprints toward the city, half in disbelief, her subordinates and Holfort's soldiers kept receiving report after report. There are many ambushes occurring in the capital simultaneously and for some odd reason every armored soldier has been told to stay at home and guard their respective houses.
Selfish as it is, it does make some sense given how random everything seems. Logically, there's nothing connecting the various locations under attack. Businesses, warehouses, restaurants, private homes of nobles… The crimes must be premeditated, but she can't figure out the goal. That said, the capital had been shaken. The five heirs had attempted to join her as she left, but the queen has sent some of her own guard to make sure they couldn't.
Given that they were in the city for Alexia's disappearance the Knight Guard had no choice but to join forces with Holfort's soldiers and mobilize in a state of emergency. They've begun evacuating high-profile leaders. Though it's late, curious residents peek from their windows, many stepping outside for a better look.
Something strange is happening. This is in no way a normal incident, thinks Iris.
At this moment a scream reaches her ears. Shouts from the knight order of a monster. Given that they're close Iris books it towards them. When she turns the corner down a back street to the main road, she spots the monster. It's a colossal, hideous beast.
With a swipe of the enormous, blood-soaked fingernails on its right hand, it transforms the knights into piles of flesh.
"What is that?" mutters Iris in shock as she dashes toward it.
Iris then jumps up and charges her blade.
"Stand back!" orders Iris as she slashes her blade through the monster. "Hyaaahhh!"
With one fluid movement, her unsheathed blade shimmers in the darkness as it slices through the creature's chest. Iris then calls out to the knight Order as she continues to eye the now wounded creature.
"Eight of our men have fallen Lady Iris." Reports one of the remaining knights.
A single hit took them down. Her wine-red eyes tremble with sorrow when they fall upon the ghastly corpses.
Iris turns towards the remaining knights and issues orders, "Everyone who's wounded fall back! Once we evacuate this area—"
Iris hears a weird sound and turns back to the monster. She sees the wound she had dealt the creature beginning to heal.
"It's regenerating…!" cries out a knight.
Another bemoans, "This can't be! Even after that blow Lady Iris dealt it…!"
Iris orders her men to stay back as the monster begins to charge at her. Its moves are quick, powerful, and heavy—but predictable. If it's going to keep healing itself… thinks Iris… then I'll just have to slice away at it before it has a chance to regenerate!
Iris and the creature then charge at one another.
"Roooaarr!"
"Haaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
Iris counters ruthlessly. She slices its arm to pieces, chops off its legs, and beheads it. Successive strikes rain down on the creature, as if daring it to regenerate from the flurry. She won't let it retaliate. She's the only one attacking. And yet…
The creature still regenerates. Iris curses under her breath before readying her sword once again, preparing for a long fight. She doesn't think she'll lose. The situation might be strange but the thought of defeat never once crosses her mind. But in the next moment—
"Why won't you see it's hurt?"
Iris jumps in surprise at the new voice. "Wha—?!"
Iris glares at new contender. Said uninvited guest is a girl in an ebony bodysuit.
"Who are you?!" demands Iris as she does her best to keep the intruder and the creature in view.
"Call me Lady Shade." Acknowledges the woman as she walks toward the creature.
Said creature attempts to strike Lady Shade and creates a crater where she stood. Iris thinks for a second that she was instantly dealt with but a glow from the sky distracts her.
"Poor thing. That must've hurt." Said Lady Shade with the voice of befitting of a mother consoling a child. Lady Shade's face then adopts a determined look beneath her mask, "There is no more need for you to be in pain."
Lady Shade extends her ebony sword, longer than her entire body, and from it a light blue glow that lights up the entire city emerges.
"What the…?!" yells Iris, befuddled.
Lady Shade shifts as she falls, so that she is holding her sword above her head, and she looks at the creature in pity. "There is no more pain. No more sadness. You don't have to cry anymore."
The blade descends and slices the creature in two. Iris has no time to react. She can only watch in awe as Lady Shade bisects it. Everything about it feels natural. There is no bloodlust—it's as if this is the only reasonable solution.
White smoke rises from the husk as it gradually shrivels to the size of a little girl. A locket pendant falls from its left hand. Inside there is a portrait of Milia and man next to her. The man bears a striking resemblance to the foe Leon and Olivia had faced when rescuing Claire. Lady Shade picks up the locket and the girl. She then walks away without even glancing in Iris's direction.
"W-Wait!" cries out Iris.
Lady Shade stops before remarking, "Play your assigned role as a spectator and keep your eyes on the stage. Don't disturb the Shadow Garden's performance."
With that, she vanishes within the white smoke.
Raindrops run down Iris's hair and fall onto her face. She's trembling, but she doesn't know why.
"The Shadow Garden…" ponders Iris, stunned in place.
Just then, an explosion echoes in the distance. Iris moves in its direction, hoping that's not where Alexia was. She senses that her little sister is at the epicenter of this chaos.
-P2W-
"Shadow…?" wonders Alexia.
"Shadow!" cries out Claire.
"The man clad in ebony…" declares Zenon, "I see. So you're the feral dog who dares to nip at the Cult. Heh. You seem to have an inflated ego from destroying our smaller facilities, but you haven't even taken down one of our main fighters. You're just a coward who picks on the little guys."
"Nuh-uh!" cried Claire, "Shadow is way stronger than he looks!"
"And he looks pretty damn scary!" backs up Clarice.
Although it would seem that the man who calms himself Shadow is at odds with Zenon, Claire acknowledges that he's helped her before. Clarice and everyone but Alexia have heard of Claire's stories of how Shadow saved her and Leon in the Lost Hangar of the winds. This is good news, but they still acknowledge that he's not necessarily their ally. Hence why they're doing their best to get on his good side.
Shadow doesn't seem to care one way or another as he speaks, "It doesn't matter who or what we choose to destroy. It's all the same."
Zenon laughs as he readies his mutated body to strike, "You're sadly mistaken. The main army of the Cult is here. Today, I'll hunt you down with my bare hands. This is your fate. I'm Zenon Griffey, the next one to fill the twelfth chair of the Rounds. Taking your life will be my achievement for them."
Zenon then grabs Claire's airbike and throws it at Shadow, then follows by crushing the spot where it lands. However, Shadow was already behind Zenon.
Shadow turns his sword to Zenon.
"I thought you were going to hit me, Mr. Next-Gen Rounds." Mocks Shadow.
Zeon begins to strike wildly like the monster he has now become. But none of his hits land. Zenon roars, but it sounds hollow. It's as if an adult is practicing with a child.
Alexia watches the fight in shock. She has never seen Zenon reveal this side of himself before. Ignoring his now monstrous appearance, he has torn off his calm smile and mask of integrity, and still, Shadow reaches out of his reach.
The strongest person Alexia knows is her older sister. Even so, Alexia doesn't think her sister would be capable of overwhelming Zenon. The scant noise from Shadow's dance around Zenon's thrashes reminds her more of a practice match against weakened monsters than the harrowing event it was mere moments before. Alexia's eyes are glued to Shadow's form as he leads the monstrous Zenon about, his stance lookin familiar to her. And that's due to it being the so called 'mediocre' swordplay, the same stance she uses and is mocked for.
As a child Alexia often believed that with enough hard work she could become just as strong as her sister. But no matter how hard she tried; she never stood a chance against a genius. She was always compared to her sister and mocked for being average. 'Mediocre' swordplay, the swordplay of someone without strength or talent. Alexia had never given up on it, no matter how foolish it felt at the time. And now she witnesses someone who's accomplishing a level of mastery she only ever dreamed of, no even beyond that!
It's only now that Alexia finally understands what her sister meant by stating she liked Alexia's swordplay. This is the swordplay Alexia likes. Witnessing this, she can see the path the wielder has walked in life. It's a direct result of serious and unwavering efforts. Alexia's sister may have had the same thoughts.
And now, these so called 'unremarkable' moves are overwhelming the genius Zenon Griffery.
"Who is this guy? What's his deal?" asks Dan in awe.
As though he was waiting for someone to say it, Shadow utters "We are the Shadow Garden. We lurk in the shadows and hunt the shadows. That's the only reason we exist."
"You're out of your mind! The Cult should have gotten rid of you long ago!" roars Zenon.
Everyone is completely excluded from this exchange. They can't make heads or tail of why they're fighting or what they're trying to accomplish. It all just seems like something out of a story book… but. What if it isn't just nonsense? What if there's been something underneath the surface?
All of Leon's friends realize that he might be the only one who knows anything about this.
Zenon tries to strike again, but it would appear that Shadow has begun to get bored as he begins to beat Zenon with his bare hands. Even landing a high kick that makes Clarice jealous of Shadow's flexibility.
"Stay still!" roared Zenon, "Fall to my almighty power!"
"Hmph. Creature born of borrowed power, you'll never walk the path of the almighty!" Shadow states as he slams his foot into the ground and bathes their surroundings in a violet aura.
"This is new." Acknowledged Claire.
This is the first time in this battle that Shadow intensifies his magic. Until now, he's barely used it. It is so exceptionally precise that it's impossible to perceive. This surge of magic shows itself in the form of blue-violet rays of light. There are hundreds of ultrathin strands. These create a dazzling pattern as they wrap themselves around Shadow like veins.
"Playtime is over." Declares Shadow.
The aura stops just short of Alexia and the other students of the academy, almost pushing them away from it.
"What is this?! Is this magic?! How… how can one person possess so much" cries out Zenon in shock.
Rose also cries, but in awe, "It's so beautiful…"
"Once…" begins Shadow, forcing everyone to look at him. "There was a man who challenged nuclear power. He trained his body and mind to hone his techniques. But it remained far beyond his reach. And then… Giving up was not an option. So, I trained and trained, until I reached an answer. The best way to avoid being vaporized by a nuclear bomb… Is to become the bomb myself."
Zenon rages and surges with power, attempting to swing a sword at Shadow, only for it to break as I touches him. Zenon can only fall in shock and fear.
"Those students have learned the lesson I had from the lost king on their own, that when you lack strength there is power found in working together. What you had is borrowed strength. Now witness and remember well what true strength is."
Shadow raises his arms as the strings swirl together with a high pitched sound that pierces the silent night.
"This is my apex, why…
I…AM…ATOMIC."
Shadow twirls his sword and for a moment the blue-violet strings vanish. But then, everything is bathed in white. All sound is lost. The light penetrates everything, consuming the walls and the earth, blasting upward into the night sky.
As patterns of light are etched into the night sky, the entire capital assumes a blue-violet hue. From impossibly far away, the delayed blast ripples across the city, sweeping away the rain clouds, shaking the ground and the private residences before passing. All that's left is a full moon and a beautiful night sky full of stars.
Zenon has been vaporized. He doesn't even leave behind a single speck of dust.
And then… Shadow flings open his coat and slips into the night.
Alexia and the other students stand in awe, unable to process what just happened.
"Did… did that really just…" Claire cannot even manage the words.
[I have recorded it, if you'd like to witness it later.]
"Yeah…" acknowledges Rose.
Alexia looks down and sees the sword Claire dropped when she was tossed. She picks it up and readies her stance. Then, she swings.
"Alexia! Alexia!" calls out a certain redheaded princess. Alexia recognizes her sister's voice immediately.
Before Alexia can say anything, her sister brings her in for a big hug, crying her name out over and over. Iris is soaking from head to toe, and her body feels chilly and warm at the same time.
"I'm so glad you're safe… I really am!" cries Iris, surprising Alexia. At Alexia's gasp Iris separates from her sister and apologizes, "I'm sorry. I must be cold."
Alexia hugs her sister again and shakes her head against Iris's chest. "Thank you…Iris."
…
"Should we just leave… or?" Deirdre asked her friends. They all just shrug.
-P2W/Leon-
Leon lies on the ground, Lea's sword leveled at his throat.
"I guess I lose then." Remarked Leon as his chest heaves in exhaustion.
Lea smiles before dismissing his sword. "No, I lost when we spoke. I lost a long time before that. You just helped me vent my frustrations. Thanks."
Lea then helps Leon to his feet, and their surroundings begin to fade. Angelica rushes to Leon's side.
"I can't believe you!" she yells as she pulls at his cheek. "Of all the asinine—! Fighting against an ancient adventurer from the time of the founding of the country! You! You!"
Leon pulls in Angelica for a kiss. She melts momentarily before shoving him off, although there isn't much effort in it.
"So what now?" asked Leon "Do you just move on?"
Ann smiles. "In a way, but remember, we are you. And you are us. The necklace and bracelet just let you channel your memories a bit more. You should try getting the staff too. But that was Mary's, so let that Olivia girl have it."
Everything begins to fade away in white light.
"Don't let us down now!" calls out Lea.
"And every time you kiss each other, we're kissing each other too! Please do it a lot!" calls out Ann.
Angelica and Leon blush.
I definitely need to talk to Olivia a bit and see what she thinks about the fact I'm in love with both her and Angie. Thinks Leon.
Leon then wakes up cuddling Angelica to his chest in the nurse's office.
"What are you doing!?" yells Angelica as she pushes Leon off. She then remembers her dream as she hears her necklace and bracelet jingle with the movement and tries to check on him.
However they're both distracted by a bright blue-violet light from the window.
That… wasn't in the game. Thinks Leon.
A/N: I'll end things here. So, I mostly just redid the chapter from the game/lightnovel. It's… really hard to beat was already there. Like I couldn't just not do it like that. I did try to change a bit so as to not straight up plagiarize it, but still. I can't claim credit for everything. Heck, even the scene with Leon, Lea, Angelica, and Ann was based on a scene from the game Stella Glow. One of my favorite games ever. Honestly was the whole inspiration for Leon and Lea's relationship.
Anyway, let's get to the comments.
From QQ-
Someone ani: Glad you liked it, was worried it'd seem too off or make no sense.
I had a lot of fun writing the lemon. Would you believe it's my first time writing one? I think the stuff with Ann before counts as a lime.
I'm doing it whenever I get the motivation, don't worry. I'm playing P3R and Genshin in my free time.
Zackman2k12: I hope you get better soon.
EternalPonderer: *Looks up wiki* FUUUUUUUUUUU— okay whatever I took some college classes in English, I can make an easy excuse.
Alternativefuturefan27: I'm not sure what you mean. If you mean because Cid was panting when he came back, he was faking it for Luxion. If you mean because Lea won, same reason, Cid was fulfilling a role. It's like a lvl.99 character against the super secret final boss. As for the dense hero blood, well it is said that he looked just like Lea.
Adalino51298: I guess I can't blame you. I didn't do the best job of selling it. Just wanted to get my story out without thinking to hard about it.
From SB-
Kaleidoscope89: I mean… I'm borrowing persona spells.
I acknowledged it in this chapter, thanks for pointing it out, as I planned on waiting till he met up with Shadow Garden on the tower before I remembered that's just in the promos.
I'll do my best, she's pretty good outside of the alabama stuff.
From -
Haseo55: Thanks. Hopefully it makes more sense, but basically, when Leon and Angelica fainted, the necklace broke to save them. In doing so, Ann and Lea managed to take over.
Lmao yeah, several nobles and even two princesses now.
They do, but the fun of it comes from not knowing for a while.
Yeah, I get it. I still like it though, if wish there were more moments with the shades.
I still read stories with Issei and Bell every now and then, just depends on how good it is.
J-More: thanks for reading!
Guest: I recommend just going to qq like normal and then searching for my story by name. No idea why that happened.