Chapter 22
The Tortured Eikons Department
Gareth sighed as she looked at a plate. "What's wrong, poppet?", Morgan asked. "Well, Mother, is my cousin really going to be able to awaken as Our Sovereign?", Gareth asked. "Well, poppet, Jack is progressing very well in regards to his physical and magical training but I understand where you're coming from given his lack of cruelty and ruthlessness, not to mention his aversion to giving in to the darkness and embracing his true nature. Still, we can remedy that.", Morgan replied. "What do you mean, sis?", Artoria asked. "Well, I gave Iori a special Mystic Code that can control Jack and force him to awaken his cruelty and ruthlessness, not to mention force him to activate that right arm of his. Because we both know what said arm is, don't we?", Morgan said. "Still, to think that he inherited such a powerful arm from his own father. Makes me jealous.", Artoria said. "Don't forget, sis, that I also inherited something from our father too.", Morgan said. "Indeed. Still, I wonder how Dad is, given how Mom and Uncle are talking about using Origin to rebirth Aionios.", Artoria said.
Walking into a strange chamber, Gawain said to a black-haired man, "OK, Agravain, we can talk now.". Turning to face him, Agravain said, "Brother, are you aware of the power of the Azure Grimoire?". "I've heard that it is a powerful grimoire that Ragna the Bloodedge possessed before he passed it down to his son who doesn't even know he has it.", Gawain said. "The thing is, Ragna also still has the Azure Grimoire. I believe the main reason Jack can't activate his is that he doesn't know he has one. That, and his lack of training in using seithr.", Agravain said. "But I don't think Jack can even use seithr. Last time I checked, Jack didn't appear as though he could use seithr. By all appearances, he seems to be only capable of using Aura as a substitute for not only mana but also its separate but identical offshoots, those being seithr, aer, fonons, eleth and whatever orbal energy is.", Gawain said. "Truth be told, though, I did sense a dark power from Jack's right arm that his Aura seemed to be fuelling, resulting in the power being both infinite and oddly restrained.", Agravain said. "You think it's like the ambient mana that I used in the Moon Cell?", Gawain asked. "I don't exactly know what the Moon Cell is but yes.", Agravain said.
Looking at a sword with strange writings on it, Mordred sighed. "Sis, can we talk?", Gray asked as she walked in. "What's eating you?", Mordred asked. "Well, it concerns what we might need to do to awaken Jack's true nature. "Well, being loyal and supporting him won't cut it. We can rule that option right out. Still, being loyal and supporting might hurt the pain of what we may need to do.", Mordred said. "Wait, are you implying what I think you're implying?", Gray asked. "Yes.", Mordred said. "Still, what you're suggesting may be indeed what we'll need to snap Jack out of his trauma. Not to mention it's also what's keeping him from controlling Odin's power.", Gray said. "Wait, you serious?", Mordred asked. "Yeah. When I saw him prime into Odin, it was clear that his inability to control Odin's power was actually psychological rather than physical. Not to mention, said inability also primarily stems from trauma, which is also why he refused to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign and also subsequently refused to give into the darkness and embrace his true nature.", Gray explained. "But then, why can he tap into the Negative Speed Force and not lose control of that?", Mordred asked. "Maybe because it's feeding off his anger and hatred like it did with Eobard and Eddie, not to mention Hunter, August and Savitar when it brought them back to fight Barry and his friends. But why he also can't see his true nature is beyond even me.", Gray said. "To be honest, even Jeanne could see that he was only hurting himself, even Dantes who Jack is the most alike among us Heroic Spirits.", Mordred said.
Sipping a glass of orange juice, Jeanne watched as a girl with purple hair and purple eyes wearing a long black coat, a black miniskirt, a white shirt, a red bow tie and long black boots arrived. She was accompanied by a woman with green eyes and long bluish-green hair wearing a brown crop top and brown trousers; a woman with long black hair and yellow eyes wearing a nun outfit; and a man with short grey hair and blue eyes wearing a blue and white tunic with a blue cape with moth wings affixed to the back. "So, the Extra Class Grand Servants have all gathered now?", Jeanne asked. "No, we're still missing the Grand Avenger.", the woman with purple hair said. "Come, BB, you're being a sourpuss.", the grey-haired man said to the purple-haired woman. "You know, Oberon, that if the 13 Grand Servants can't all come together, we cannot hope to preserve Aionios.", BB said to the grey-haired man. "Still though, you are aware that in order to align the Moon Cell and Cyber Space together, we need the Grand Avenger's Saint Graph. You have a plan to get it, Kiara?", Jeanne asked the black-haired nun. "Oh, if it's anything like what I did to that Hero of Justice, I doubt I'll have any trouble.", Kiara asked. "That's good to know.", Oberon said. Turning her attention to the bluish green-haired woman, Jeanne then said, "Kukulkan, how capable are you with controlling ORT's power?". "Well, Jeanne, I feel that ORT won't mind if we use his power to force Jack to give in to the darkness and embrace his true nature.", Kukulkan said. "You know, when I became the Grand Ruler in response to YHVH's constant attacks, I didn't expect that the situation would become dire and desperate.", Jeanne. "Nor did I when I became the Grand Moon Cancer.", BB said. "Nor when I became the Grand Alter Ego.", Kiara said. "Nor when I became the Grand Foreigner.", Kukulcan said. "Nor when I became the Grand Pretender.", Oberon said.
Entering a dark room, Barghest saw a woman playing all by her lonesome, slumped over on a brown bean bag whilst the room was illuminated by the thin light of the woman's TV screen. The woman in question had long brown hair and golden brown eyes and was wearing a yellow blouse, a pair of blue denim jeans, a khaki hoodie and white socks alongside brown glasses. "It's late, Jinako.", Barghest said to the woman whilst turning the light on. "Just one more level.", Jinako said. Sighing, Barghest said, "OK, but don't blame me if you can't concentrate during the war meeting tomorrow.". Turning the game off, Jinako then said, "Seriously though, regarding the Waxing Moon Vessel, do you really think that it will be capable of helping us fulfil the Ascension Project and preserving Aionios?". "Where are you going with this?", Barghest asked. "Though Yasuhiro was kind enough to create the Waxing Moon Vessel for us with Are's help, I believe it might not be able to fulfil the Ascension Project. I mean, don't get me wrong, the Waxing Moon Vessel is very powerful but it is still limited as a copy of the Holy Grail, not to mention how it seems to be very incomplete.", Jinako said. "Still, I think Yasuhiro will do something eventually.", Barghest. "I hope you're right.", Jinako said as Barghest left. Closing the door, Jinako's vacant smile grew sinister. "Sucker.", Jinako maliciously said as a purple hummingbird mark appeared on her arm. Gathering black and dark red energy, Jinako then unleashed a torrent of energy, sighing as the energy faded. Her scleras turned black as the night and her clothes were promptly replaced with a black robe accented with orange stripes leaving out a midriff, black fingerless gloves, a black miniskirt and black boots.
Walking down the corridor, Jinako came across Arashi, whose own scleras were also pitch black and wearing a black robe accented with green stripes, strap-on high heeled shoes and a black and white dress. "So, how long do think it'll take before they catch onto us Dark Signers?", Arashi asked. "Well, Ara, I don't think they're aware of our true natures yet. You know how incompetent mortals can be. Regardless, we'll need a lot of mana to summon our Earthbound Immortals into the world and the Waxing Moon Vessel can help with that.", Jinako said. "But how will we be able to summon them without needing to sacrifice as many souls as possible?", Arashi asked. "Well, the Waxing Moon Vessel should be able to act as a substitute for the human souls the Earthbound Immortals need given that the mana within it should be able to warp space and time. If it can summon a demigod like Yasomagatsuhi, then it can certainly summon the Earthbound Immortals into the world, though Yasomagatsuhi was admittedly helped in its incarnation by Puppet Playground's activation.", Jinako replied. "And do the other Heroic Spirits know of what they really are?", Arashi asked. "No, I don't think they are.", Jinako said. "That's good to know.", Arashi said.
Looking at a screen, Barry gathered a torrent of gold electricity. "Looks like I still have a stable connection to the Speed Force.", he said. "You know, I don't think why you wouldn't, Allen.", Eobard said as he walked through the doorway. "Still though, Thawne, are you still able to call upon the Negative Speed Force?", Umi asked. "No, I don't think I can. Barring the fact that I was displaced as the avatar by that ingrate, I also seemed to have given away the suit of the Reverse-Flash away as well. At any rate, I cannot summon the suit to my body making me think that the ingrate is masquerading as the Reverse-Flash.", Eobard said. "That doesn't sound good at all.", Vegeta said. "No, it doesn't.", Niffty said in agreement. "Still, if worst comes to the worst, we can just kill Jack and re transfer the suit and the Negative Speed Force back to you.", Quinella said. "I don't think it might be that simple, Mom.", Kirito said. "How so?", Medb asked. "This is merely a hunch on my part but I think that Jack might be immortal. When he was in Cyber Space, I though I sensed two strange presences surrounding Jack who I believe to be the Two Brothers of Remnant. I think they might have made Jack immortal somehow.", Kirito said. "If what you say is true, then we're not out of the woods yet.", Arjuna said.
Observing a strange pattern on a stone circle, Maka heard a knock on the door. "Please, come in.", she said. Entering the room, Shinoa said, "Maka, did you notice anything strange at all about Jack?". "Come to think of it, he didn't seem to have embraced his true nature, nor had he given in to the darkness.", Maka replied. "He of all people should know what happens when someone like him rejects their true nature. It really isn't healthy for him to keep doing so.", Shinoa said. "I wonder what exactly will finally force him to give in to the darkness and embrace his true nature.", Maka said. "Oh, that reminds me. Do you think Rule Breaker will be able to sever his connection to the Infinity Core?", Shinoa asked. "I don't think it'll work but we can give it a shot. And once we do so, he will finally know the divine and almighty grace of both Gloom and the Silent Core.", Maka replied. "Still, best we keep it a secret from him so he doesn't catch on.", Shinoa said. "I like the way you think.", Maka said. Suddenly, Mitsuba then burst into the room. "What's the matter?", Shinoa asked. Panting heavily, Mitsuba then said, "The Chaldea Security Organisation has called. They're ready to start summoning 5 new Servant types.".
The story continues in the next chapter.