Chapter 12
Bright as the Flame
Walking forward, I wondered what had caused the eruption to go off. I also wondered why I had been chosen by the Negative Speed Force and why Eobard and Eddie had been rejected by it. Moreover, I also now felt an irresistible and uncontrollable urge to defeat Yuito and prevent him from becoming the Sovereign. Feeling that the atmosphere was very impossibly hot, I saw that my clothes had also changed to the black and dark orange robes that I was wearing in Cyber Space. Seeing three people in the distance, I felt a strong need to cut through them if necessary and make a beeline to the Fire Crystal. Upon getting closer, I got a clearer look at the three- one of them resembled Matt Letscher and was wearing a yellow suit with a red lightning bolt on the chest, one of them resembled Teddy Sears and was wearing a black leather outfit and the third resembled Karan Oberoi and was wearing a white outfit. Then, the three of them turned to look at me in synch much like with Vox, Valentino and Velvette. "Who are you three?", I asked. "Why, aren't we aggressive?", the man in yellow asked. "Well, if you want to know, then I am the true God of Speed. But you can call me August Heart.", the man resembling Karan Oberoi said. "I am Hunter Zolomon.", the man resembling Teddy Sears said. "And I am Professor Eobard Thawne, descendant of loser extraordinaire Eddie Thawne.", the man resembling Matt Letscher said. Eyeing me curiously, Hunter then said, "So you're its next avatar, huh? The Negative Speed Force sent you to kill us for failing to defeat the Flash, is that it?". "Actually, I don't know why I was chosen. And you will respect me, your Sovereign.", I said. "Temper, temper.", Eobard said. "It's true, though. If you don't use the Negative Speed Force in moderation, you'll end up just like us. And you will never even be able to defeat Yuito if you're so dead set on hatred.", August said. "I will the power gifted to me as I see fit. All you need to do is shut up and follow me where I lead.", I said, pushing up my glasses. "Well, don't say we didn't warn you.", Eobard said before the three disappeared. Frustrated, I reflected on Dimitri's words, knowing that I was missing something. As I walked further, I wondered if it would be worth it to abandon my promise to defend Aionios against all who would harm it, but then that would also mean having to accept that my cause was based on foolishness. "You really are in pain. If you just let go, it would finally end.", Sage said. "I still need to destroy the Crystals first.", I said. "And if you fail, what then?", Alvis asked. "I won't fail.", I said. "If that's the case, then you need to embrace the darkness.", Alvis said.
Arriving at a giant bridge, I saw Hikaru talking to a girl with pink hair and pink eyes wearing a white dress. She also had a noticeable baby bump. "You know as well I do, Madoka, that Jack needs to give in to the darkness and embrace his true nature to save us all. And if your husband cannot save him, then no-one can.", Hikaru said to the pink-haired girl. "I know, Hikaru, but still, we need to force him to awaken if he won't do so on his own terms.", Madoka said. Hikaru then eyed Madoka's baby bump, saying, "So, when is he going to come out?". "Well, I'm just about to finish my second trimester so I'd say about another 3 months.", Madoka replied. As I got closer, the two then disappeared. "You've come. Wonderful.", Flynn said as he walked out of the fire. I noticed that his armour now looked much more draconic. "So, Bahamut is exerting more power over you?", I asked. "Heavens, no. I have now acquired a great power, so great that you will be grovelling before me and asking to receive it too.", Flynn replied. "That'll be the day.", I said, summoning Zantetsuken and attacking. Dodging, Flynn asked, "My, isn't someone aggressive?". Slashing again, I screamed with rage, unleashing a giant storm of darkness. "If you keep attacking, you will never calm down. And you will never become the Sovereign.", Flynn said, disappointed. "Why you little-!", I shouted before attacking with a blast of dark energy from my left hand. Blocking the attack, Flynn stabbed back with his sword only for me to parry the attack and slash back with Zantetsuken. "Why are you so angry?!", Flynn asked. "Don't you dare question me, your Sovereign!", I yelled before unleashing a darkness empowered slash. "Well, to think you're so unstable that you even think you're still Sovereign…it chills me to the bone.", Flynn said. "What did you say?", I asked, angry. "Oh, you're no longer the Sovereign. Yuito is. The Waxing Moon Ritual shall be commenced shortly to give Yuito the power he needs to recreate Dein Nomos and the Renas Alma so he may be crowned as Sovereign of Aionios with Naomi by his side as the Maiden. And we need the Crystals intact so they may be able to regulate the mana flow caused by the Ritual so there aren't any…adverse side effects. Don't you see? The Crystals are needed to help empower the Waxing Moon Vessel and grant Yuito the power to fulfil his wish, whatever it is. If you didn't interfere past this point, that would be most appreciated.", Flynn said. "No.", I said. "What?", Flynn asked. "As Sovereign, it is my decree and mine alone that all shall worship me as the God I am and no-one is to say otherwise.", I said. "You're willing to interfere in the Ritual so badly?", Flynn asked. "I am. As I am the Sovereign there is no need for the Ritual at all; thus the Ritual should be cancelled immediately.", I said. "But you refused to become the Sovereign and recommended Yuito to Alphen and Shionne as your replacement.", Flynn said. "Time can be rewritten.", I said. "Fine. Have it your way.", Flynn said, leaving in a huff.
Continuing on, I entered an underground shrine much like when I was in Cyber Space only to find that the mural was now different, instead depicting Odin vaguely fused with the Black Beast. Touching the picture, I saw a strange vision of Alphen, Shionne, Rinwell, Law, Kisara, Dohalim, Haseo, Atoli, Kuhn, Yata, Sakubo, Endrance, Pi, Ovan, Lindow, Sakuya, Soma, Alisa, Kota, Yuito, Hanabi, Tsugumi, Gemma, Luka, Kasane, Shiden, Kyoka, Arashi, Kagero, Shulk, Fiora, Reyn, Dunban, Sharla, Melia, Riki, Rex, Nia, Tora, Vandham, Morag, Zeke, Noah, Mio, Eunie, Taion, Lanz, Sena, Matthew, A, Nikol, Glimmer, Na'el, Daruk, Urbosa, Mipha, Revali, Marth, Celica, Sigurd, Leif, Roy, Lyn, Eirika, Ike, Micaiah, Lucina, Corrin, Alfred, Diamant, Ivy, Timerra, Neptune, Noire, Blanc, Vert, Ragna, Jin, Noel, Rachel, Naoto and many others get covered with a thick black and dark red liquid. The scene then changed to them in a dark purple void looking at a giant purple orb with a dragon with a split nose inside opening his glowing purple eyes. Oddly, they didn't seem to be resisting any of them, as if they were deliberately letting the darkness consume them. Feeling a very strong sense of fear, I recognised the dragon and the orb immediately. "Naga and the Silent Core?", I asked fearfully. "That's correct.", a voice said behind me. I turned around to see a teenage girl with blonde hair tied into pigtails and aqua blue eyes wearing a white dress with a stylised depiction of a leviathan on it. "Don't you remember me?", the girl said. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met.", I said. With a very sad look in her eyes, the girl then said, "Well, my name is Fenimore Xelhes.", calmly walking towards me and looking longingly into my eyes. "Did we meet?", I asked. "Of course we did. Remember when we met at the Gala of Rebirth? Well, I was there and I remember you falling in love with me quite fondly.", Fenimore said. Turning back around, I then found myself in a strange hall with a white marble floor and white marble pillars. Reaching the far end of the hall, I opened the door only to find myself in a lavishly extravagant living room. There I saw the blonde girl in that vision of a bedroom sitting on a chair and reading a book. The most striking thing about her was that she resembled Artoria to a T, having messy blonde hair tied into a ponytail and green eyes and wearing a red dress that exposed part of her cleavage. Looking up from her book, her eyes then met mine, causing her to perk up. "Brother!", she excitedly said, running over to me. "Wait, why are you calling me your brother?", I asked, confused. "So you really don't remember after all. Well, I am your sister Mordred and Auntie Morgan told me that you would return to us soon.", the girl said. Then eyeing my demonic left arm, Mordred said, "Well, evidently not entirely as yourself. But that'll return eventually, whether you want it to or not.". "What do you mean, sis?", I asked. Smiling, Mordred then chuckled before putting her hand on my shoulder.
Snapping back to the underground shrine, I then walked out of it to see that Death Mountain itself was actually quite closer than I thought it was. Looking at the volcano, I saw that it was dangerously very close to erupting. Unnerved by this, I then saw a man with spiky black hair pointing upwards and black eyes wearing a blue spandex jumpsuit and white gloves and white boots. Looking at me, the man scoffed before saying, "So, you're the man who fancies himself the Sovereign, huh? Don't make me laugh.", with a very smug and haughty voice. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Vegeta.", I said. "Your amnesia seems to be quite inconsistent, huh? Nothing a little battle with that faker can't fix.", Vegeta said. "Wait, which faker are you talking about?", I asked. "You've really forgotten already? You know who. Our mutual enemy.", Vegeta said. Noticing that the temperature had drastically increased, I saw as a red gas appeared. "So, you see how overtaxed the Fire Crystal is. It is your purpose to absorb the energy from it like you did with the Earth, Water and Wind Crystals and make the energy your own. Even the Sovereign should be able to do that.", Vegeta said before walking off. Continuing my walk towards Death Mountain, I then saw what looked like a young child crying and grovelling on the ground. He also vaguely looked a bit like me as well. "If I could have only embraced it earlier, then maybe…", the child said before disappearing. "Wait, was he…me?", I asked. "Maybe.", said a woman with long pale blue hair and pale blue eyes wearing a black ribbon in her hair and a dark blue crop top with a black miniskirt. "Aunt Morgan?", I asked. "Vegeta and Jeanne were right; your amnesia is quite inconsistent. Yes, nephew, it's me, your aunt Morgan.", the woman said. Looking at the gas that had become more intense, Morgan then said, "But reunions will have to wait for now. I believe you have to do something to do first.". At this, I then raced into the gas.
Running forward, I then felt myself propelled by a strange speed. As a red energy started to encircle my body, I saw my vision get redder and redder. Then, my right arm started to seize up again. Thinking that it was because of the excessive fire energy that was manifesting as a red gas, I then found myself at the base of Death Mountain where Yuito was waiting for me. "You sure took your time.", Yuito said, turning to face me. "Well, you know, I had to take care of the other 3 Crystals first. That sort of thing.", I said. Grabbing his sword, Yuito then gathered purple energy in his left hand; at this, I summoned Zantetsuken to my right hand, no longer shocked at it taking the form of a red double-bladed sword, one the blades being shorter than the other. I then formed yet another Zantetsuken to my left hand, the blade again the form of a red double-bladed sword with one of the blades being shorter than the other. Rushing at Yuito, I then unleashed a very strong slash that Yuito just managed to counter; undeterred at this, I then unleashed a very powerful slash that Yuito deflected before using his telekinesis to lift a giant ball of magma that he then threw at me, injuring me a bit and singing my robes. Yuito then followed up this attack by suddenly teleporting right in front of me before then stabbing me in the stomach, causing blood to spill out onto the ground. Taking a somewhat masochistic pleasure in this, Yuito then grinned, the look in his eyes becoming manic and wild. "Embrace it, nephew. Unleash the power within your right arm and embrace your Eikonic might.", Morgan's voice said. "She's right, son. Unleash the darkness and give that fake Sovereign the fight of his life.", Artoria's voice said. As a strange anger came over me, I then growled, "I will be the strongest. I must be the strongest. I won't lose to you!". "That's it! That's the spirit!", Jeanne's voice said. Feeling something within me break, I then saw a pillar of dark red fire erupt out of Death Mountain, only for the power to oddly enter my right hand, filling me with a fiery anger. "Or maybe you don't have what it takes to become the Sovereign after all.", Arjuna's voice said. "I'll show you!", I roared as elemental energy spilled out of my right hand and burst. Covered by a fiery dark orange aura, I rushed at Yuito and attacked, my slashes with the two Zantetsukens whipping up a strong flame. Gathering a crimson darkness towards me, I then burst the energy, my body now covered by a suit of black armour that appeared to strangely shine in the heat. His smile growing wider, Yuito then called four red cables that inserted themselves into his back, causing Yuito copies to appear. Their swords were also covered by yellow electricity as Yuito's eyes then turned green with black scleras.
Preparing myself for anything, I watched as the Yuitos sped forward whilst covered in a pink aura. Gripping my swords tight, I then waited as Yuito brought down his sword with a brutal slash that I countered before dispelling the duplicate Yuitos with a fiery slash. I then felt a dark reddish orange glow cover me as Yuito covered himself with a beige shell so to speak; rushing forward, I spun like a spinning top as Yuito unleashed a violent onslaught of telekinetic energy that I easily deflected with my spinning, my attack also easily dispelling Yuito's "shell" and sending him into the volcano. Racing towards him, I felt a dark blue glow cover me as I dispelled the Zantetsuken in my left hand, grabbing my remaining Zantetsuken with both hands and then unleashing a furious onslaught that was equal parts strong and quick. Just barely managing to parry my attacks, Yuito then turned up the voltage as he infused his blade with a greater amount of electricity prompting me to unleash a violent storm of red electricity in kind much to his surprise. As my movements drastically sped up thanks to the red electricity, I then burst the power causing my slashes to easily outspeed Yuito's own. "There's no way.", Yuito said with a strange look on his face that looked more surprised rather than shocked. As his eyes returned to their natural red with white scleras, Yuito then appeared to turn invisible as a dark golden brown glow covered me. Forming a dark red magic circle in my left hand, I then unleashed a pulse of dark energy that easily exposed Yuito's location. And it was a good thing too since he looked like he was about to shank me in the back. Promptly infusing his sword with fire, Yuito then unleashed various fiery slashes that I easily parried with various dark magic blasts. I followed this up with a series of stabs that easily pierced through the various fireballs and other fiery objects that Yuito threw with his left hand, be they cars, lamp posts, cones or even vending machines. Frustrated, Yuito then unleashed what looked like a bonafide beam of fire from his left hand that I easily countered with a blast of gravity that easily threw Yuito back. Speeding over to Yuito, I watched as the environment around me distorted before my eyes only to narrowly dodge a blast of golden light that Yuito had unleashed. Watching closer, I saw that Yuito was holding a sword with a golden blade; looking at it, I felt strangely giddy and excited. Yuito then sped towards me with a pink aura covering him; as we clashed in a brilliant storm of red and pink, I easily performed a complex series of stabs and dark magic blasts, unleashing a dark red tornado alongside dark red shards of earth, dark red fireballs and dark red pressurised water. I then unleashed a dark red storm of dark energy from Zantetsuken as Yuito unleashed a blindingly bright flash of golden light from his golden sword. As he struggled to keep up with my speed, I then unleashed a giant storm of darkness as I entered a strange battle trance causing my stabs to ignite a dark flame. As Yuito's surprise changed to a peculiar joy, I then stabbed him in the chest causing the cables inserted in his back to disappear and the golden sword in his hand to vanish. Screaming in rage, I then unleashed a giant storm of red electricity that pierced the sky causing Zantetsuken and my black armour to disappear.
Panting heavily, I then looked down into Death Mountain's caldera where I gazed upon a gigantic red crystal that looked heavily cracked. Suddenly, I was then teleported in front of the crystal, noticing that the red gas had disappeared as well. "Fire mana is indeed more powerful but also more volatile and unstable, much like the Negative Speed Force.", Eobard said as strolled in. Laughing nervously, I then instinctively ducked as Eobard attacked me with a blade formed from red electricity. "You can't keep running from it. Eventually you will have to give in.", Eobard said. "Yeah, you're right. So is Dimitri and Jeanne.", I said. "Oh? So you admit it, huh? Well, I'm so flattered!", Eobard roared as he stabbed me in the chest, causing a violent storm of red electricity to flare up inside me. I screamed as the energy covered me, only to transform my robes into the yellow suit Eobard was wearing, red lightning bolt on the chest too. Consequently, Eobard himself was stripped of the suit, only to be left with a black leather getup. "So you're my successor as the Reverse-Flash, huh? Colour me surprised.", Eobard said as the yellow suit disappeared, revealing my black robes underneath. Amused, Eobard then walked off. Confused at what had happened, I turned back around to look at the Fire Crystal only to see that it too had shattered into pieces. "Weird.", I said. I then found myself in a strange forest that strangely seemed familiar to me. A chill then dripped down my spine as I wondered why I had warped there.
The story continues in the next chapter.
