Chapter 20
Sword Demon Chronicles
Walking through the portal, I then found myself in a very dizzying arena made almost entirely out of gold. "Where am I?", I asked. Looking at the stands, I saw that they were covered in very extravagant gold leaf whilst the arena itself was actually golden sand with a golden rim. Moving over to the edge of the arena, I then found myself strangely repelled by a dark energy. "Oh, did you actually think you could escape? Oh no, this is the tournament for you to embrace what you lost.", Valentino's voice said. "What I lost?", I asked. "That is correct. You lost something important and now the time has come for you to get it back.", Koneko's voice said. "And you will not be able to leave until you have done so. Tough, but them's the rules.", Itsuki's voice said. "OK, let's-a-go.", I muttered. "That's the spirit.", Vox's voice said. As I turned around, I then heard Alastor's voice say, "But first, we decided to put you through a warm up.". "Wait, warm up?", I asked. "Well, it is very poor form to start a major sporting event without giving a contestant time to warm up.", Ravel's voice said. "Like the Euro 2024?", I asked. "Close but no cigar.", Musashi's voice said. At this, I saw a large amount of dark red energy surge out of the ground only to take the form of a giant red oni with a large spiked mace. Forming Zantetsuken in my right hand, I then charged at the oni whilst unleashing a brutal onslaught of slashes mixed in with blasts of dark magic. "Yes, that's it! Unleash your inner beast!", Alastor's voice said. Screaming with rage, I unleashed a dark red blast of energy vaporising the oni. "With the ferocity you showed Cu, Arjuna and Circe during your fights with them, we wondered if you even needed to go through this tournament but given your failure to succumb to your cruelty and ruthlessness we decided to put you through this tournament. And now the time has come for your first proper fight!", Vaggie's voice said. "Oh, is that right?", I asked.
Looking at the far end of the arena, I saw a thin blue light burst out of the ground, dissipating to reveal a robot with long blonde hair and blue eyes and wearing a suit of red and white armour alongside a horned helmet with a blue gem in the centre. Not only that but he had two spherical shoulder pads and two green gems on his chest alongside a white codpiece and white fingers and toes. He was also holding a beam katana with a blue laser blade. "So, who are you?", I asked. "I am Zero, Maverick Hunter extraordinaire.", the robot said. "Well, you certainly are a zero in more ways than one.", I said before rushing at him. "Don't get so cocky!", Zero said before rushing at me in turn. Unleashing a brutal onslaught, I fired several beams of darkness from Zantetsuken that I supplemented with blasts of darkness that Zero just managed to parry. Seeing an opportunity to strike, Zero closed in and slashed with his beam katana only for me to dodge and follow up with a flash of steel that disorientated the Maverick Hunter. Gripping Zantetsuken tight, I then instinctively unleashed a burst of dark energy from my right hand that strangely enhanced my strength and speed to the point that Zero had great difficulty keeping up with me. Grinning, Zero then burst the energy in his beam katana to the absolute limit prompting me to unleash an even greater burst of dark energy from Zantetsuken that promptly caused me to strangely go berserk and savage Zero with a violent flurry of slashes that Zero responded to with a flurry of violent slashes from his own sword. Stabbing Zero in the stomach, my anger then strangely faded as I blasted a beam through his body causing Zero to fly out of the arena. "Good! Now if you fight like that with the other two fights, then you will be recognised as our Sovereign like there's no tomorrow.", Alastor's voice said. "Wait, other two?", I asked. "That's right!", Rias's voice said. "Bring out the next contestant!", Issei's voice said.
Looking at the far end of the arena, I saw a man walk in with unkempt black hair and fuchsia eyes wearing a red jacket, a black shirt over a white vest, blue denim trousers and leather boots. He was also holding a tachi. "Who are you?", I asked. "Well, given you failed to recognise Zero, I'm quite disappointed that you don't recognise me either. My name, regardless of that fact, is Rean Schwarzer of Thors Military Academy.", the man said. He also sounded a bit like Revali. "And is that a school or something?", I asked. "Well, it's a military academy much like Garreg Mach Monastery. But that is of no concern right now.", Rean said before he rushed at me, only for me to parry his blow with Zantetsuken, promptly following up with a steel counter. Gripping Zantetsuken tight, I then chased after Rean and unleashed a violent onslaught, the black and dark red energy surrounding me and forming into what looked like an eight headed serpent. The monster then disappeared back inside me and promptly egged me into unleashing an excessively brutal and violent onslaught against Rean that only made him smirk. As my rage grew, I fired several blasts of dark red energy that Rean parried with his tachi much to my great anger. Not to be outdone, Rean unleashed a violent assault in turn that I deftly parried with Zantetsuken. I then watched as Rean gathered a dark energy within his body and burst it, causing his hair to turn white and his eyes to turn red. He then rushed at me with a most peculiar joy, unleashing an even more violent assault than before only for me to dodge like a boss and unleash a deft flash of steel that knocked Rean out of his new form, causing his hair and eyes to return to normal. Shrieking in rage, I then unleashed a giant explosion of dark energy that sent Rean flying out of the arena. As my anger subsided a second time, I then returned to the ground. "Oh wow! Keep it up and you'll be well on the way to reawakening as the Sword Demon! Bring out contestant number 3!", Yukio's voice said.
Panting heavily, I looked at the far end of the arena only to see a man with blonde hair, blue eyes and pointed ears wearing a green cap, green tunic and green trousers and black boots. In his left hand was a sword with a magnificent purple hilt whilst in his right hand was a shield with the crest of Hyrule on it. The sword also seemed to be strangely glowing. "Are you-?", I asked before the man said, "Yes, I'm Link, the Hero of Hyrule.". "A link to the past, or a link between worlds?", I asked. "You're funny.", Link said before he rushed at me. Rushing at the man, I unleashed a violent onslaught that Link courageously countered with an onslaught of his own. During said onslaught, he then wisely threw out his boomerang and used his hookshot in a fruitless attempt to disorient me; parrying said attacks, I then responded with a violent steel counter that Link blocked with his shield before unleashing a powerful slash that fired off a golden beam of light. Dodging the beam, I then responded with a flash of steel that Link perfectly dodged before unleashing his own furious flurry rush that I parried, following it up with another steel counter. Gripping Zantetsuken tight, I then blacked out. Snapping back, I then saw Link lying on the floor defeated in a pool of his own blood, but he was still alive. Zantetsuken had also vanished. "Wait, what?", I asked. "And the results are in! With the premature embracing of your true nature, it is safe to say that you are not worthy of ruling over Aionios after all. You have 30 seconds until we come and get you!", Alastor's voice said. Screaming in rage, I blasted a "hole" of sorts around the rim of the arena and charged forward.
Rushing out of the arena, I felt myself get covered by a strange dark red energy. Getting angrier and angrier, I felt my strange dramatically increase by a very wide margin. As my vision blurred, I then found myself outside of the venue. Gazing upon a vast expanse of green, I then saw a demon with spiky red hair and red eyes wearing a blue overcoat with golden details on the upper body, a blue cape, a white belt emblazoned with a red D and dark blue trousers with blue shoes. I walked over to the demon only for him to turn around and smirk as he looked at me. "Well, if it isn't the Sword Demon!", the demon said. "Do I know you?", I asked. "Well, it seems you still have amnesia. My name is the Demon God, Demigra.", the demon said. "Why are you calling me the Sword Demon?", I asked. "Why, because you are the Sword Demon.", Alastor said behind me. "I don't understand. Why do you say I'm a Sword Demon when I'm clearly a therion?", I asked. Looking at each other quizzically, Alastor asked, "Do you want me to him?", with Demigra responding, "Well, best to get it over with sooner rather than later.". Turning to face me, Demigra then said, "When you came to this world, what did you do after you left the Masters of the Mystic Arts?". "Well, the most I remember is that I fought against the Sin Eaters to defend Aionios. They just kept coming and coming.", I said. "And why were they coming and coming?", Alastor asked. "Maybe because I was killing them so much.", I said. "And why were you killing them so?", Demigra asked. "Because I thought they were a threat.", I said. "Oh no, that's not why you were killing them. You were killing them because you liked it, you ruthless demon, you.", Alastor said. "Truth be told, that ruthlessness was why women were throwing themselves all over you. Charlie, Vaggie, Neptune, Noire, Blanc, Vert, Rita, Niffty, Cecilia, Edelgard, Bernadetta, Celica, Micaiah, Eirika, Corrin, Lyn, Brynhild, Medb, Barghest, Baobhan, Melusine and even your beloved sister Mordred just to name a few.", Demigra said. "But that's not possible. I swore an oath.", I said. "Did you? Did you really?", Alastor said before he and Demigra walked off.
As I walked down the field, I then felt a strange surge of darkness well up inside me. Shrieking in rage, I then unleashed a giant explosion of power that strangely empowered me for some reason. Continuing to walk, I then saw a woman with long raven hair and grey eyes wearing a black dress. Approaching her, I heard Arashi's voice say, "Well? Will you take and have her for yourself?". "Wait, what did you say?", I asked. "Come on already. No-one is watching. Take her. Break her. Make her yours.", Hanabi's voice said seductively. Concerned, I then saw the woman turn around to look at me, only for her face to light up with a smile. Rushing over to me, she then said, "I knew it. I knew you would awaken as the Sword Demon eventually. But you haven't properly embraced yourself. Please, Jack, you really need to stop pretending that you're a hero. It's easier than repeatedly lying to yourself.". "Do I know you?", I asked. Hurt, the woman said, "Well, you clearly don't remember your purpose or even me. Anyway, my name is Shanoa of the Order of Ecclesia.". "Shanoa, have you been hearing strange voices trying to tempt you?", I asked. "Why do you ask this?", Shanoa asked. "Well, just before we met, I heard Arashi and Hanabi trying to lure me into the darkness.", I said. "No, I haven't.", Shanoa said. "Strange.", I said. "Well, what's strange to me is someone so obviously self-delusional and trying to convince himself that he truly is a hero when he is so ruthless. And that's not the man I fell for.", Shanoa said. "Wait, you're actually attracted to ruthlessness?", I asked. "Well, after the Silent Core exposed how fickle I was, I admit that your actions toward the Sin Eaters were quite fetching. Not to mention how much you fought so well against them.", Shanoa said. "But I-!", I said before I felt another surge of darkness surge forth. Screaming in pain, I heard Shanoa then say, "Don't fight it. Embrace it.". As the surge faded, I then panted heavily. "Well, it is very disappointing that you're trying to be kind. Don't be kind.", Shanoa said in disgust before she walked away.
Reflecting on what Shanoa said, I then found myself in a strange hallway. At the end of the corridor was a strange statue that was shaped like a Grim Reaper. Approaching it, I saw a series of strange pictures on the walls depicting various battles involving the Chosen. Strangely, they all seemed to be fighting me. Looking at the statue, I then found myself in a strange throne room. Looking at the throne, I saw that it looked very ornate and tacky. "Do you remember now?", a voice said behind me. Turning around, I saw a young girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a red bow in her hair and a black and red Gothic Lolita outfit. "Wait, are you-?", I asked, feeling a strange sense of fear. "Yes. My name is Regina, the daughter of King Mercenaire.", the girl said. "Wait, you seem a lot like Veyle.", I said. "And why is that?", Regina asked. "Well, Veyle has a father who she served as his leftenant much like you. Not to mention, she had command of terrible monsters called Corrupted much like you having command of the Distains.", I said. "Oh? Could it be that you're remembering me after all?", Regina asked playfully. "Well not remembering but I did hear of you during my service as a government employee.", I said. "About that, YHVH had absolutely no right to do what he did to you. In fact, I don't even understand why you're so adamant about continuing to punish yourself for the crimes of another.", Regina said. "Maybe it's just habit.", I said. Looking at the throne again, I then found myself on the top of Mount Coronet. "Wait, is this the Spear Pillar?", I asked. "That is correct.", Iori said. Looking at the altar at the centre, I then had a strange feeling. "What is it?", Iori asked. "Well, Master, do you think that the Spear Pillar could be used as an anchor point to teleport a large group of people?", I asked. "Well, that would require a powerful magecraft spell but I don't see it wouldn't be possible.", Iori said.
Suddenly, I found myself back on Ouranos Island. "OK, back on the Starfall Islands.", I thought. Seeing a strange dark red sphere in the distance, I rushed towards it, wondering what it was.
The story continues in the next chapter.