Chapter 2

The Illuminated Ones

Bracing myself, I entered a large room with a raised platform that had six pedestals. Approaching the centre of the room, I noticed the eerie silence. Looking around, I saw a giant stone statue that vaguely resembled Alastor and another statue that resembled…well, me. "Weird.", I thought. Looking closer, I also noticed that the statue that allegedly resembled me actually wasn't wearing glasses and was wearing the armour of a shining paladin. Wondering where Tony and Charles were, I called out, "Professor? Tony? Where are you?". As if to answer, Tony came in his red and gold armour alongside Charles in his wheelchair. "Oh, good. You had me worried.", I said. "Your hearing will not be listened to yet. We are still waiting for the rest of our noble six to arrive.", Charles said. "Wait, the rest?", I asked. As if in response, I saw an orange portal appear with a man with brown hair, green eyes and a brown beard wearing a blue and red cloak and yellow gloves appear, followed by a man with pointed ears and black hair wearing a black leather shirt and black leather trousers, a man in a black suit wearing a black domino mask with a tuning fork attached to the head and a man who vaguely resembled Ioan Gruffud wearing a blue form fitting suit with a 4 on the chest. "Wait, Master?", I said to the man in the red and blue cloak. "Nice to see you again, Jack.", the man said. "Wait, you know the Sorcerer Supreme?", the man with pointed ears asked. "Know him? He trained me.", I said. "Well, this is turning out to be a very eventful day for us.", the man in the blue form fitting suit said. "Well, now we're all here, how about we introduce ourselves to you?", the man in the blue and red cloak asked. "That's fine with me, Master.", I said.

"Well, you've already met me and Professor Charles Xavier here, but my name is Tony Stark, head of Stark Industries.", Tony said. "I am Namor, the Sub-Mariner.", the man with pointed ears said. "I am Reed Richards, Scientist Supreme and the Smartest Man Alive.", the man in the blue form fitting suit said. "I am Doctor Stephen Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts and the Sorcerer Supreme. The man next me is Blackagar Boltagon, King of the Inhumans.", the man in the blue and red cloak said, indicating the man with the tuning fork on his head. "And together, all 6 of us are the Illuminati.", Charles said. "O…K.", I said. "Now, we recently received reports that an Incursion had been triggered in a dimension called the Nightmare Void. We don't know how the Incursion had been triggered but it had apparently originated from an entity called the Kunad Gate. Did you or did you not trigger the Incursion and if you did, why?", Reed asked. "I did trigger the Incursion, yes. And I did so to stop the Ascension Project from succeeding.", I replied. "And why did you stop the Ascension Project?", Namor asked. "I did so because the Ascension Project would have created a world without freewill had it succeeded. The Chosen were trying to create a world without freewill- no choice, no will, no life. I did what was necessary to protect the Multiverse; after all, I swore an oath and I intend to keep it.", I said. "Tall words for a Dominant and a therion.", Tony said. "Still, we have your testimony. You're free to leave now.", Reed said.

Suddenly, I heard a strange rumbling outside. "Wait, is that normally supposed to happen?", I asked. "You're right, it is strange.", Strange said. I then heard a second rumbling. "Wait, you don't think that the Baxter Foundation is being attacked, do you?", I asked. A third rumbling then sounded. "Come on, there's no way you can't react to three rumblings in a row.", I said. "Oh, we know.", Tony said. "Then why aren't you going outside to check?", I asked. "Incidentally, when you caused that Incursion in the Nightmare Void, did you honestly think it would be enough to actually stop the Ascension Project dead in its tracks?", Reed asked. "Well, no, but I didn't have any other options.", I replied. "Jack, what you did merely delayed the Ascension Project, not stop it.", Namor said. "So you mean the Multiverse is still at risk of the Chosen destroying it?", I asked. "Pretty much.", Tony said. "Incidentally, do you have access to the Mage Relic?", Strange asked. "I think I do.", I said before an orange sphere appeared out of nowhere in my right hand. "Oh, there it is.", I said, nonplussed.

After a short pause, Tony said, "Well, Jack, the second reason we brought you here is to stop the Chosen from acquiring the 7 Class Hero Relics. I don't know what Anders said to you in the Fornis Region but when YHVH first invaded, the Chosen created a set of seven relics meant to empower various people and grant them the powers of the Seven Classes- the Swordsman Relic, the Warrior Relic, the Lancer Relic, the Brawler Relic, the Archer Relic, the Duellist Relic and the Mage Relic. These seven relics were meant to synergise with the thirteen Legendary Weapons and grant the heroes who wielded both the class relics and the Legendary Weapons the power to save the Multiverse and destroy any threat that endangered it. But somewhere along the line, the Chosen somehow got the idea that YHVH and his legions were apparently human beings who deserved respect and unsuccessfully attempted to reconfigure the weapons to instead aid YHVH in his conquests. Indeed, when you came to Aionios during the tail end of the War of the Worlds, the relics themselves were starting to break down from misuse; as you see, the Chosen were apparently under the impression that the relics could help them to fulfil and complete the Ascension Project, not to mention granting the Sovereign absolute power and the authority to rule over the Multiverse as a God. It is for that reason that the Chosen cannot be allowed to succeed.", Tony said. "But why would they need all seven relics?", I asked. "Well, the Mage Relic in particular contains the power to cast a powerful spell that can fuse all worlds in the Multiverse together – in fact, all seven relics contain this power – but without all the relics together, the fusion would be very unstable and would risk the destruction of Aionios as well. Indeed, the Chosen plan to use Aionios as the focal point for the fusion and they intend to carry it out at Origin, the central point. This is because the Ontos core – which Alvis and A are both derived from – has the power to resonate with the Class Relics and amplify their power. Of course, the heroes also need access to either the Holy Grail, the Greater Grail or the Waxing Moon Vessel to start the process.", Reed said. "Indeed, while you possess the Mage Relic, the other 6 relics are in the Chosen's possession- Vergil holds the Swordsman Relic, Blanc holds the Warrior Relic, Mai holds the Lancer Relic, Knuckles holds the Brawler Relic, Kyoka holds the Archer Relic and Lloyd holds the Duellist Relic. But don't worry; the heroes can't track you through the Class Relics as they don't hold that function nor can they can track you through Moebius, what with your lack of an Iris.", Namor said.

As I took a moment to process what I had been told, the doors were suddenly blasted open. Turning around apprehensively, I was absolutely shocked to see Micaiah flanked by a legion of invisible-looking soldiers with a shimmering purple aura surrounding them. "Micaiah, why?", I asked before noticing her scleras were black as the night. Giving off an unnervingly serene smile, Micaiah then said, "You silly boy, this shell is not Micaiah.". Attacking, I unleashed a violent gust of wind at Micaiah only for her body to mysteriously vanish, replaced by none other than Mio. "Wait, Mio?!", I asked, confused. "I guess this cat's out of the bag now. Yes, I'm a Consul. I became one after my beloved husband Noah died. It was to resurrect him, honest!", Mio said. "Mio, are you honestly trying to fulfil the Ascension Project?", I asked. "I am, my dear mab.", Mio said. "And why are you attacking the Baxter Foundation?", Reed asked. "Well, it is to reclaim my beloved son from your grasp.", Mio said, a red infinity symbol glowing in her left eye. "But I'm the son of Ragna the Bloodedge and Velvet Crowe, not you.", I said. "Oh, my mistake. Could have sworn you were my beloved mab though.", Mio said before vanishing in a red glow. Turning back to face the Illuminati, I asked, "OK then, why did Mio say I was her son?". "Well, that's because you are her and Noah's son and Ghondor's brother in another universe. But I thought Variant Memory Leak was only a theory.", Tony said. "Maybe it might be due to the prolonged amount of time the Chosen spent in Cyber Space.", I said. "You know, you might be right.", Charles said.

After another short pause, I asked, "So what is Variant Memory Leak anyway?". "You see, Variant Memory Leak is what happens when people start remembering memories that aren't necessarily their own but actually come from their Variants rather than themselves. Incidentally, a Variant is an alternate universe version of a specific person, like how you are Toby's Variant.", Namor said. "Wait, what?", I asked. "It's true though; you are Toby's Variant, not the inverse. Still, I didn't think you would actually be more moral and ethical than him though.", Strange said. "What do you mean, Master?", I asked. "You see, the reason why Toby is so hated is because yes, he is a serial child molester. Meanwhile, you were hated because of your refusal to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign, even though your refusal was actually derived from trauma than genuine unworthiness. I dare say that it's healed though.", Strange said. "Yeah, I'd say that my trauma is gone now.", I replied. "Then your mission, should you choose to accept it, is clear: stop the Chosen from succeeding and destroy the Ascension Project.", Charles said. "Of course. I accept your mission.", I said.

Right on cue, I then heard an ear-splittingly loud alarm. Rushing out of the room where I talked with the Illuminati, I then saw a giant inferno climbing rapidly up the stairs. Unleashing a giant tidal wave to part the flames, I then rushed down the stairs to the reception only to see the Emblems effortlessly destroying the robotic drones. Turning to look at me, Lucina said, "Oh, Sovereign! You've returned to us!". "I haven't gone anywhere though.", I said. "Nonsense. After you returned to your world after you escaped from Cyber Space, you were supposed to wait for us to pick you up and deliver you to your royal throne in the Divine Capital, Lenegisiad. After all, your throne in Dragon Wing Castle is still empty; please, just come back to us. There'll be time to complete the Ascension Project afterwards.", Sigurd said. Firing up my Tao mandalas, I said, "The Ascension Project will fall and I will ensure it does. No ifs or buts.". "Why? Why would you reject divine power? What could you possibly have to gain by denying your nature?", Lyn asked. "It isn't about denying or embracing my nature; it is about protecting all of reality from destruction.", I said before I unleashed a giant fireball that Corrin easily dispelled with a burst of water. Micaiah then fired a thin burst of light through the steam generated by the burst of water that I easily parried before following up with a gust of wind. Dispelling the gust of wind, Eirika then said, "Well, Arashi was right. You really aren't ready to rule over Aionios yet. Come to us when you're ready to rule over all.", before the Emblems ran out of the entrance.

Pursuing the Emblems, I ran out of the door as well only to find myself facing a destroyed street. "Don't feel sorry, kid; since the Incursions started, we've been facing cataclysmic events on a very frequent basis. Blame YHVH.", a nearby construction worker said. As I ran through the street, I noticed a sinister hooded wraith with a very cold aura fly by; continuing on, I passed by a stall manned by a robotic woman who greatly resembled Noel. Eating at the stall was a young man with grey eyes and short black hair wearing a black hoodie and black armour accompanied by a bespectacled woman with matching brown hair and brown eyes wearing a black sailor outfit and black stockings. As I approached the stall, I heard what they were saying. "Man, it sure is a disappointment that the Master Unit is gone. And right when the Chosen were right on the grasp of victory too. Don't you think so too, Shino?", the young man with grey eyes and short black hair said to his bespectacled girlfriend. "Indeed, Kazuto.", Shino said to the young man with grey eyes and short black hair. Before I could properly introduce myself, I then found myself in a strange dark hotel. "Weird.", I thought.

Looking around the corridor, I then looked out the window only to see a familiar burned landscape. "Wait, how am I back in the alternate Fodlan?", I asked myself. "So that's what this continent's name is.", said a voice behind me. Turning around, I saw a man with green eyes and short spiky black hair wearing a green cape and a suit of silver armour underneath with a pair of green trousers alongside brown gloves and brown boots. Accompanying him was a man with blue eyes and black hair wearing a suit of spiky black armour; a man with red eyes and long blonde hair in a ponytail wearing a suit of red and silver armour; and a man with golden eyes and curly brown hair wearing a brown tunic with a green cape over it. "I'm sorry but who are you?", I asked. "Uh, I knew his amnesia was bad, but not this bad!", the blonde-haired man said. "Still, that can be remedied. My name is Naofumi Iwatani.", the man with green eyes and spiky black hair said with a voice that sounded eerily like Maruki's. "I am Ren Amaki.", the man with blue eyes and short black hair said. "I am Motoyasu Kitamura.", the blonde-haired man said with a voice that sounded like Akira's. "And I am Itsuki Kawasumi.", the man with golden eyes and curly brown hair said. "So, what brings you to the alternate Fodlan?", I asked. "Fodlan?", Motoyasu asked. "Yeah, the continent graced by the goddess Sothis.", I said. "Honestly, I don't know myself. I mean, we were fighting these strange abominations and then we found ourselves in this strange hotel. We met a strange chap named Alastor who said we could escape in time.", Itsuki said. "Wait, Alastor?", I asked. "That's right!", Alastor said behind me excitedly. I turned around to face him, only to see that he was not alone, flanked by a red-haired and one-eyed demon in a maid outfit and a demon with grey skin and long white hair wearing a red button-up shirt and a black skirt. "So, who are your friends?", I asked. "Friend would making a lot of assumptions, but my name is Niffty.", the one-eyed demon in the maid outfit said. "And my name is Vaggie.", the demon in the red button-up shirt said. "What also brings you three to the alternate Fodlan?", I asked. "You know, following those pesky Incursions, we found that reality itself was starting to crumble. One minute we were snug as bugs in rugs in the Hell Hotel only to find ourselves in this strange place you call Fodlan the next. If only that Cidolfus had given us the Eternal Sword right from the outset we would be back home so to speak.", Niffty said.

Suddenly, I then found myself facing the Boathouse again. "Wait, I'm back home now?", I asked myself. Taking a moment to process what was happening, I then walked in the Boathouse's direction, ready for anything.

The story continues in the next chapter.