Chapter 6
Loredumps Anonymous
Looking around Asakusa, I asked, "Logan? Gilgamesh? Where are you?". Another earthquake then hit. "Strange. Doesn't seem like a normal earthquake.", I thought. As I tried to leave Senso-ji Temple's grounds, I then found a strange barrier preventing me from leaving. A note then flew past me and into my hand, the note itself saying, "Origin. That is where we are waiting. Come to us when you are strong enough.". "Well, that's not cryptic.", I said. A third earthquake then hit. "OK, something has to be causing these earthquakes. The question is…what is?", I said to myself. I wandered the temple grounds, wondering why I couldn't leave. Then, a mysterious dark shadow fell upon me. "Odd. Doesn't seem like it's the evening yet.", I thought before I looked up. "Oh.", I said. Indeed above me was a gigantic woman with long purple hair and a purple eye, the other eye covered with a bandage. In fact, most of her body was covered by bandages, with her left shoulder, her left leg and right leg covered in a green moss. "Uh, can I help you?", I asked. "Where is Master?", the giant woman asked. "Uh, who is your Master? Maybe I can help find them.", I said. Looking down at me, the purple-haired woman said, "Oh, Master!". "Wait, do I know you?", I asked. "Yes, Master! It's me, your Servant, Kingprotea!", the purple-haired woman said. "Wait, why are you calling me your Master?", I asked. "It's simple, really. You summoned her as your Servant to help take down Toby when you entered the War of the Worlds. Along with me, she is part of your own personal army that you formed to stop the Ascension Project.", Alvis said. "That's right! You've finally returned, Master!", Kingprotea said excitedly. "Come to think of it, I do remember vaguely summoning a spirit to help me fight against YHVH. The spirit was also quite large too.", I said. "Come, Master! Let's go home!", Kingprotea said before I found myself in front of the Baxter Foundation yet again.
Walking inside, I caught the sight of Charles again. "Ah, Jack. There's something we forgot to tell you before Mio attacked. It concerns the nature of the 7 Class Relics.", he said. "I hear you. So, what else do you have to tell me?", I asked. "Jack, there is a reason as for why we had you pick up the Mage Relic. Even though you might not be able to use its power, we still had you obtain it to stop the Chosen from acquiring it. The main reason we could not afford to let the Chosen acquire the relic was because if they had, chances were that they would have immediately kickstarted the Ascension Project. Not to mention how they would require an obscene amount of energy to pull off the Ascension Project successfully, which they didn't have thanks to you.", Charles said. "But what do the Relics actually do?", I asked. "Glad you asked. You see, the Class Relics were originally created to grant people the power of the 7 Classes of Swordsman, Warrior, Lancer, Brawler, Archer, Duellist and Mage. The Swordsman Relic allows its wielder to spin around with a sword alongside allowing them to counter an attack if they block it perfectly whilst holding a shield and even allowing them to use iaido if they have a katana equipped. The Warrior Relic allows its wielder to perform a powerful charged attack capable of causing tremors and causing stalagmites to rise out of the ground. The Lancer Relic allows its wielder to throw their lance like a boomerang and to truly absurd distances. The Brawler Relic allows its wielder to enter a state of increased power after they connect a successful series of attacks. The Archer Relic allows its wielder to precisely aim shots at any part of the body and enter a state of concentration when they do so. The Duellist Relic allows its wielder to easily inflict lethal blows and weaken their enemy with a status ailment. And finally, the Mage Relic allows its user to easily perform magic spells and even cuts down on the amount of time needed to cast them too.", Charles explained. "Kinda sounding a lot like Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin mixed with several other RPGs to me.", I said. "Indeed.", Charles said. "Also, the Relics are able to generate weapons that are relevant to that specific class's fighting style. For instance, the Swordsman Relic generates normal one-handed swords, greatswords, rapiers and katanas; the Warrior Relic generates axes, hammers, maces and scythes; the Lancer Relic generates lances, obviously; the Brawler Relic generates gauntlets; the Archer Relic generates bows; the Duellist Relic generates daggers, many of which can be dual-wielded; and the Mage Relic generates rods, staffs and whips. Indeed, they are all quite limited in what they can do.", Reed said, walking in. "But who would limit the Relics in such an oddly specific way?", I asked. "Oh, you know who.", Reed said.
After a brief and awkward silence, Charles said, "Of course, the Relics themselves are designed to synergise with a specific class line; the seven classes being a way to measure human development in a very safe and controlled way. The classes themselves are also capable of promoting into a higher tier once the person in question becomes strong enough- Swordsmen can promote into Knights which promote in turn into Paladins, Warriors promote into Berserkers that promote in turn into Reapers, Lancers promote into Dragoons that promote in turn into Liberators, Brawlers promote into Grapplers which promote in turn into Monks, Archers promote into Snipers which promote in turn into Marksmen, Duellists promote into Ninjas that which promote in turn into Assassins and Mages promote into Sorcerers which promote in turn into Void Knights.". "So basically it's a job system like the ones in the Final Fantasy games.", I said. "Indeed it is. And the best part is that people chosen by the Relics can combine Relic Actions with their Job Actions for extra style.", Reed said. "I suppose they can.", I said. "Not to mention, Dominants are also specifically geared to a specific class line too given the power of their specific Eikon; indeed, it seems like someone created this system for a specific kind of people.", Reed said. "Wait, system?", I asked. "Yes, the System. The fundamental rules that reality on Aionios runs on, not to mention the Multiverse. You may know it as the World.", Charles said. "I remember when I was a child being told about legendary heroes who had weapons capable of breaking past this 'World' you speak of; weapons like Ea and the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi. I have reason to believe that these weapons may also be capable of interfering with the World itself.", I said. "Well, the Ascension Project itself requires that the System needs to be intact, as otherwise it wouldn't be able to spread it across every world and make it the primary rule of reality. But you aren't part of the same reality that everyone is.", Reed said. "Well, Aunt Rachel said I was a Chronophantasma and I do remember being cursed when I was in Cyber Space. Maybe the two are related somehow.", I said. "And who cursed you?", Reed asked. "I didn't catch their names but I remember two figures- one glowing a radiant gold and the other covered by a shadowy purple.", I replied. "The Two Brothers? But how could they enter Cyber Space without the Blazing Sword?", Charles asked. "Well, according to Remnant's mythology, the two are Gods so I wouldn't put breaking the usual rules of reality past them.", I said.
Thinking on what I said, Reed then said, "Well, we obviously have things to discuss.". "Don't let me keep you.", I said before Reed and Charles mysteriously disappeared. I took this as a sign to leave the Baxter Foundation, only to see a mysterious girl with waist-length raven hair and purple eyes at the entrance. Turning to see me, the girl then ran up to me. "Oh, Jack! I thought I'd never see you again!", she said. "Do I know you?", I asked. "Course you do! But in case you've likely forgotten me, my name is Himari Akemi, formerly known as Homura Akemi, the protector of Mitakihara City.", she said. "Wait, you're one of Kyubey's Puellae Magi, right?", I asked. "That's right! See, the reason I came to this place is because I lost of my wife Madoka and I thought you might know where she is.", Himari said. "Wait, wife?", I asked. "That's right. Don't you remember? You were present at my and Madoka's wedding! Oh, and you're the Dominant of Ifrit too.", Himari said. "But I thought I was the Dominant of Odin.", I said before Himari mysteriously disappeared. Rushing out the door, I saw a young man with white hair and red eyes, the hair in particular making him look like a rabbit wearing a suit of black armour. As I approached him, he then promptly rushed to me instead. "It's you. It really is.", the man said. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met.", I said. "Oh, that simply won't do. Well, my name is Bell Cranel, a fighter of the Hestia Familia.", the man said. "Well nice to meet you, Bell.", I said. "Look at him, he doesn't remember.", another voice said behind me. Turning around, I saw a man with short spiky brown hair and light brown eyes wearing a red t-shirt with a dragon on it and blue jeans. Accompanying him was a woman with long red hair with a red tuft and blue eyes wearing a white dress. "And you are?", I asked. "Oh, how rude of us. My name is Issei Hyoudou.", the man with brown hair said. "And I am Rias Gremory.", the woman with long red hair said. "Wait, you mean like Gremory as in the 56th demon in the Ars Goetia?", I asked. "Close but no cigar.", Issei said.
Suddenly, I found myself in a snowy town facing giant skyscraper. Looking around anxiously, I wondered where I was. Steeling my resolve, I then entered the building, only to see that it was completely empty. "Hello? Hello? Anyone home?", I asked. Receiving no response, I walked further into the lobby, noticing a strange collection of 7 weirdly placed statues. They were arranged in a very strange circle as if they were facing each other; as I got closer, noticed that the statues consisted of a swordsman, an archer, a pikeman, a soldier mounted on a chariot, a wizard, a sneaky killer and a beast with a lion's head. "Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin and Berserker. The seven classes of the Holy Grail War and the Waxing Moon Ritual.", a voice said behind me. I turned around, seeing a woman with brown hair and blue eyes wearing a blue sweatshirt, grey jeans and blue sneakers. "Now before you ask me who I am, my name is Aoko Aozaki. Still, I had no idea your amnesia was this bad.", the woman said. "Do you know where we are?", I asked. "Good question. This is a Magical Workshop I created that gives Heroic Spirits the power to test their Noble Phantasms without harming the environment.", Aoko said, looking at my right arm very nervously. "Aoko?", I asked. "Seems you haven't awakened yet. No matter. I'll have to put in a request to Chaldea to get to the bottom of why you haven't awakened and what to do in order to make you awaken.", Aoko said. "What do you mean?", I asked. "Come with me.", Aoko said.
Following Aoko into a very strange room, I noticed that much like she was wearing a ring with a red cross on it much like Barry and Julis. Looking a tapestry on the wall, Aoko then said, "Now, Jack, I don't if Iori told you this when you met, but your Eikon Odin is…special. Rather than being limited to just one type of combat, he is capable of combining his blade with a special swordsmanship style known to Iori as Niten Ichiryu: the Way of Two Swords. "You mean that fighting style invented by Miyamoto Musashi, right?", I asked. "Absolutely. Now, the Way consists of five stances- Earth Stance, Water Stance, Wind Stance, Fire Stance and Void Stance. Though Musashi and all she taught the Way to were able to learn it normally, you weren't when Iori tried to teach you it. I don't why this is but I believe it has something to do with your right arm. Though I know you are Dominant, you are very special among them too- you are in very close proximity to a grimoire capable of using a substance called seithr to drain life from people. It is possible that the grimoire you possess is interfering with your fighting; if it is, then you need to find a way of controlling the seithr so that it is obeying you rather than the reverse. After all, it is your right as Sovereign.", Aoko said. "To be honest, my use of magic is kinda running on instinct rather than deliberate.", I said. "The tapestry here depicts four of the five Crystals that you must absorb power from to gain control of the Way of Two Swords- the Earth Crystal in Sunleth Waterscape, the Water Crystal in the Mortvia Aqueduct, the Wind Crystal aboard the Space Colony ARK and the Fire Crystal in Death Mountain. I recommend you start with the Earth Crystal.", Aoko said. Looking out the window, Aoko then said, "Then again, it is late tonight. Start looking for the Crystals tomorrow.". "If you say so.", I said.
As I left the building the next morning, Aoko watched me from the distance in a light pink nightgown. "You know he'll need to give into his true nature, don't you?", Barry asked. "I do. But he'll need to master Niten Ichiryu first before he'll be strong enough to crush all who oppose him.", Aoko replied. "There's also the matter of our friends in Origin. They'll need to be sacrificed to him if he is to master the blade.", Julis said. "An unfortunate circumstance but one that must be met to ensure Jack will rule over all.", Barry said. "Still though, he needs to be stronger.", Julis said before she and Barry left the building. Smiling, Aoko then said, "May the Father of Understanding forever guide you, Jack.".
The story continues in the next chapter.
