Chapter 11
Raging like a Tempest
Looking around, I noticed a mechanical hallway. "Guess I'm on the ARK.", I thought. Walking forward, I noticed how eerily empty the ARK was; though I was essentially on a long-decommissioned space station, I also had the feeling that there were still people here, however that worked. I then looked out a window, gazing into the empty void of Space; looking down on Aionios below, I noticed that the atmosphere looked a bit off. Rather than being either blue or green, the sky looked like a weird mishmash of colours, many of which conflicted with each other. "Weird.", I thought. Continuing on, I came to a mechanical door that promptly opened automatically. Walking through, I arrived at an overly lavish living room with a red satin carpet and crimson silk couches alongside a finely polished table and a very cold to the touch glass on it. I put my hand on one of the couches only to find that it was still warm; someone clearly was sitting there not long ago. I then heard a voice behind me say, "I knew you'd arrive someday, dear cousin.". Turning around, I saw a woman with long red hair and grey eyes wearing a gothic Lolita outfit with long red stockings and red high heeled shoes. Accompanying her were a tall woman with long ashen-blonde hair and teal blue eyes wearing a white dress with several stylised dog paw prints on it; and a young girl with long white hair and orange eyes wearing a silver dress with a cartoon dragon on it. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met.", I said. Scoffing, the blonde-haired woman then said, "Just how bad is your amnesia? Well then, my name is Barghest.". "My name is Baobhan Sith.", the red-haired woman said. "And my name is Melusine.", the white-haired girl said. "Wait, you mean like the Fairy Knights from the British Lostbelt?", I asked. "Exactly.", Barghest said.
Then, I felt my body seize up. "You're still resisting it. Don't.", Barghest said. "Easy for you to say.", I painfully grunted. I then found myself in a strange chamber with four strange symbols on the ground: a red sword, a blue bow, a golden-brown gauntlet and a collection of green daggers arranged to look like wings. Nervously holding out my right hand, I then was surprised by them not glowing or releasing energy. Walking forward, I positioned myself in the centre of the chamber only to feel a strange earthquake. Suddenly, I saw a strange figure clothed in black hooded robes and with a pale white face. "Can I help you?", I asked. I then saw the figure point a bony finger at me before manifesting a scythe. As I walked towards the figure, I then got the strange feeling that maybe the figure was me. Suddenly, I found myself in a strange with some opened books on the table. Perusing the books, I read, "In the first year of the Sovereign Calendar was the Sovereign Empire of Aionios founded. Long live Our Sovereign, may He rule o'er us forevermore.". In another book, I read, "Fore in the first decade of the Infernal Calendar did Our Sovereign and Our Maiden rule with an iron fist so delightfully cruel and wicked; for in the second decade did they rule with an even more delightfully crueller iron fist; long may they reign o'er us.". In a third book, I read, "Fore in the first 863 Years of the Realm did the Mythos and his Queen rule over All with a sword of flame that the Mythos did use to burn down his foes.". "Wait, are they all telling the same history?", I asked. "Not exactly. But I will tell you what they are telling: your holy reign over us, Mythos.", Alastor said. "What do you mean?", I asked. "Oh, if I just tell you then it would take away the surprise! Instead, you shall learn your purpose in time.", Alastor replied before mysteriously warping away with crimson energy. Concerned that the Radio Demon was consorting with Moebius, I then found myself on the observation deck of the Space Colony ARK. I saw a young woman there with long blonde hair tied in a long braid and amethyst eyes. "Jeanne.", I said. Turning round, Jeanne said, "Oh, so you remember me but not your cousin or her friends? I guess miracles really do happen after all.", with a voice that sounded a lot like Ann's. Laughing nervously, I noticed a strange ring on Jeanne's left ring finger; I wondered if Jeanne had found a lover. Walking towards me, Jeanne then looked into my eyes longingly, saying, "I will make you remember your purpose, one way or another.", smiling.
Finding myself in a lavish bedroom, I saw a blonde-haired girl sleeping next to me. She looked a lot like Artoria yet her hair was messier and her face looked younger. "Where am I?", I thought. "You're home with me, brother.", the girl said. "Brother?", I thought. Looking at my left arm, I saw that it was back to normal again. Confused, I tried to get up only for the girl to say, "It's no use. We aren't supposed to be up yet.". Then, a knight burst in, saying to the girl, "Princess Mordred, we've found the location of the Void Crystal.". Waking up and jerking her body up unexpectedly, Mordred said, "Wait, for realz?". "Totes.", the knight said. I then found myself in a strange arena facing Dimitri down, who was wielding a demonic lance that looked like it had been carved from a dragon bone. "You do know why I'm fighting you?", Dimitri asked. "I-I don't know? How we did get here again?", I asked. "You do need to embrace your true nature if you are to save all of us. There is no other option.", Dimitri said before he attacked. Snapping back to the observation deck, I saw Jeanne crying. "No, please don't cry.", I said. "Don't you get it?! Your kindness will eventually kill you someday, mark my words.", Jeanne howled in sorrow. "I don't understand.", I said. "Of course you wouldn't. Then again, I can't believe you would devote yourself so slavishly to your belief in and devotion to morality, what many realise to be such heroic nonsense.", Dimitri said, strolling in. "Please, Dimitri, we need to make him see that he will need to be cruel and ruthless if he is to save the Multiverse from YHVH.", Jeanne said, her sorrow growing. "Oh, I will. And I do believe that I know how to do so.", Dimitri said, walking towards me wreathed in a crimson aura. Grabbing me by the collar, Dimitri then yanked me off the ground with a maniacal smile. "Dimitri, why?", I asked. "I'm sorry but you've left us no choice.", Dimitri said, his smile growing wider.
Suddenly, I found myself at the core of the Eclipse Cannon where a strong hurricane had kicked up. Looking at the core, I saw a giant green crystal there expelling an obscene amount of energy much like with the Earth and Water Crystals. I then felt a strong and acute pain in my right arm, causing me to grab it with my demonic left arm. "Kill. Consume. Destroy. That is your desire, no?", Valentino's voice said. "No, I will defend Aionios from all who will harm it.", I said. "As the air to the bird or the sea to a fish, so is delusion to the delusional.", Vox's voice said. As I walked closer to the Wind Crystal, I then heard Velvette's voice say, "Well, the Negative Speed Force needs something special to function and it is something that you possess. Something that Eobard and Eddie made the mistake of letting go of, much like Hunter, August and Savitar.". "Wait, what are you talking about?", I asked. "I didn't know you could be this stupid. You need to embrace it, too.", Rias's voice said. "Well, your parents also made the mistake of letting go of the darkness too and look what it got them.", Issei's voice said. "They're right. You really do need to give in.", Veyle's voice said. Getting closer to the crystal, I then saw a very beautiful woman standing there, looking at it whilst absolutely transfixed. She had long pink hair, beautiful bluish-green eyes and pointed ears and was wearing a white chiton opened up to reveal her midriff with falcon wings attached and bronze sandals. Sensing something, she turned around to look at me, with her face being consumed by a peculiar joy. "Circe?", I asked. "Oh, you remember me as well! Jeanne was right; miracles really do exist!", the woman said. I then felt the Wind Crystal unleash a sudden burst of wind energy, covering me in a green pillar of light that then entered my right hand. Once again, Zantetsuken formed in my hand as a red double-bladed sword; now, to my surprise, Reader, I saw dark energy appear around my left hand before turning into a dark red circle in front of my left palm expelling dark energy. "I guess the time has come for you to master the Wind Stance of Niten Ichiryu now. And unlike with Cu and Arjuna, I do hope you will actually unleash your full strength this time.", Circe said.
Taking a fighting stance, I then slashed forward with Zantetsuken, then following up the slash with a blast of dark energy. "But I thought I was capable of manipulating all 4 types of Dahnan astral energy.", I said. Chuckling, Circe said, "And you are. But this is not about that, now is it? Come, unleash your true power.". "Oh, I will.", I said, stabbing forward with Zantetsuken and following up each slash with a blast of dark energy. Circe deftly dodged such attacks before responding with a blast of fire that I stabbed back, much to Circe's delight. Clenching my left hand tight, I then unleashed a stream of acid that Circe dispelled with a gust of wind. I then unleashed a blast of dark energy that I formed into the shape of a dark red lance that Circe easily crushed with a sphere of water. Undeterred, I fired a blast of dark red gas followed by a dark fireball that Circe easily blocked with a pillar of earth. Rushing forward, I stabbed forward with Zantetsuken with Circe parrying the attack easily. "Well, it seems you really aren't worthy of ruling Aionios after all. Maybe Dimitri was right; slavishly devoting yourself to such heroic nonsense is what you're good for.", Circe said. "Why you little-!", I said, gathering dark energy around me that I dispelled to form black modern military gear, the helmet taking the form of a wolf. Rushing forward, I then unleashed an aggressive dance of sword and magic, trapping Circle in a dark sphere that I that I crushed. Surprisingly, Circe was miraculously unharmed.
Then, I felt a sudden rush of dark energy well up inside me. As the energy welled up, I saw my armour get covered in a dark green glow, causing Circe to smile. "Yes, that's it!", she said. Unleashing a giant fireball, Circe then threw it at me only for me to slice it in half. I then unleashed an aggressive assault that Circe just barely managed to counter, only for my armour to then change into that of Odin's semi-primed form. "No. There's no way you can control Odin's power!", Circe said. "Uh, yes I can.", I said. "No, you can't.", Circe said. "I'll figure out how to control it once I prime.", I said. "Even though there are people on board?", Circe asked. "If they die, that's of no concern to me.", I said. Then, my armour disappeared, causing me to cry out in rage. Summoning the black armour to me again, I then rushed forward and unleashed an even angrier attack of swordsmanship and dark magic blasts that once again caused me to be covered in a dark green glow. Channelling the energy, I then stabbed forward, each attack lighting a dark flame. "Still, to think you could activate the power of Afterglow without yet having mastered your powers. Maybe there's hope for you after all.", Circe said. Then, the Wind Crystal shattered, dispelling Zantetsuken and my dark armour as well as the dark red circle in front of my palm. "So, are you willing to submit to me as your Sovereign?", I asked. "No. You're clearly unfit to rule and you failed to embrace your true nature three times now. Though you nearly primed into Odin, you failed to activate the Negative Speed Force and because of that, you are no longer fit to rule. You are now to head to Death Mountain and hand in the Renas Alma and Dein Nomos to Yuito so he may be crowned instead.", Circe replied, her expression stern. "You bitch.", I spat. "I don't make the rules. And neither will you", Circe said. Attacking her out of anger, I then found myself in a rocky and volcanic area. Hearing a volcanic eruption in the distance, I rushed over hoping to make sense of what was happening.
The story continues in the next chapter.