Chapter 39
A World Without Light
Rushing at the other Eikons, I then found myself barricaded by a mysterious green crystal. Snarling, I slashed through it and continued to charge at the other Eikons, propelled by the power of the Negative Speed Force and my Doom Wings. "Wait, how can he still use my father's powers?", Shadow asked. "You know, it's easier to understand if you don't ask questions.", Mackenzie said. "I guess you're right.", Shadow said, unleashing a golden spear of light that I easily dodged. This was followed in return by a violent onslaught with Gram, with me unleashing a giant slash of dark energy that Shiva easily froze before shattering it. As my golden eyes grew brighter, I unleashed a dark beam from my demonic left arm, promptly letting the Negative Speed Force greatly increase my speed as to out manoeuvre Phoenix, Garuda and Bahamut whilst also dodging their and Ramuh's blasts. As Garuda unleashed a giant pressurised tornado, I used the Negative Speed Force to empower one of my slashes, aiming it at the tornado with deadly precision and causing it to disperse. "So, you're not all violent aggression, huh?", Shiden said through Ramuh. Roaring, I then unleashed a deadly display of swordsmanship and dark magic, my slashes growing stronger and faster with each successive blow. "No. Way.", Eunie said through Garuda as I then unleashed a pressurised beam of darkness that pierced through one of Titan's literally rock solid barriers.
Preparing to unleash the killing blow, I then saw water energy gather around Fenimore and what seemed to be nothingness itself gathering around Yata. The two energies then burst, with Fenimore turning into a massive serpentine creature with blue scales and red accents on her body, large dragon like wings, multiple fins on her body and long flowing tendrils on her head, said head having a long narrow snout filled with razor sharp teeth- the Eikon Leviathan. Yata followed suit, turning into a walking giant mechanical castle that seemed to be made out of black metal with red dots strewn about his body- the Eikon Alexander. "Now all 9 Eikons are here.", Ultima's voice said, causing me to unleash an especially furious onslaught composed of powerful slashes and precise stabs, my attacks deflecting back Leviathan's attacks. Suddenly, my body then became covered by an eruption of black and dark red fire and red electricity, causing me to unleash a furious roar. "Don't fight it.", Fenimore said through Leviathan. "She's right. Embrace the darkness and become the Sovereign.", Yata said through Alexander. "In fact, we'll help speed it up!", Tager said through Titan, prompting Ifrit and the other 8 Eikons to rush at me, with them covered in a strange red glitchy aura. As I screamed with rage, I rushed at Ifrit and the other 8 Eikons, Gram covered in a dark red glow. I then slashed with the sword, the slash piercing through the combined attack of fire, wind, electricity, earth, light, water and ice. As the attack exploded, I then saw my golden eyes turn to blue. "Is it happening?", Yumi asked through Shiva. "It seems to be the case.", Byleth said through Phoenix. As the dark energy covered my body, I then unleashed a giant sphere of darkness as I screamed even louder.
Finding myself in a strange dark room, I noticed that I had suddenly turned back to normal. "Where am I?", I asked. "What? You don't recognise your own mind?", a voice said as black and dark red energy coalesced into a giant black dragon. "Who are you?", I asked. "I am the Fell Dragon Fafnir, who you interacted with in a past life.", the dragon said. "In a past life?", I asked. "You noticed a strange blue scar on your chest, didn't you?", Fafnir asked. "I don't think so.", I said. "How did you think you got the scar?", Fafnir asked. "To be honest, I don't really remember.", I asked. "I remember. It happened when Brynhild stabbed you after she fell under YHVH's influence. She used a powerful attack called Brynhild Romantia that killed you and quite literally set your heart on fire back when you were a King…back when you were the hero Sigurd.", Fafnir said. "Wait, you mean like the Fire Emblem character?", I asked, confused. "Well, in Aionios, the King of Jugdral named Sigurd who is also Chrom and Marth's father was named after the Sigurd that Chaldea knows.", Fafnir said. Suddenly, the room lit up, with me finding myself in a strange burning battlefield consumed by red, orange and yellow flames that burned incessantly and constantly. In the distance was a strange black samurai wielding a red-hued laser sword. As I tried to run away, I saw the samurai then walk up to me as I was merely walking very slowly. "Who are you?", I asked. "That should be obvious.", the samurai said with a pained breath. "Y-You're Darth Vader, aren't you?", I asked. "That is correct.", the samurai said with another pained breath. As he stabbed me with his laser sword, I then found myself in another battlefield with Yuito literally just across from me wearing nauseously bright white armour. Suddenly, I found myself become covered by a jolt of dark red electricity, with a strange black and dark red mist seeping out of my right arm. "So? Are you just going to let YHVH win and create a world without freewill- the very kind of world you hate? Or are you going to fight back and destroy YHVH's mad plan to drown every world in a sea of sinister light?", Dantes's voice asked. "No! I'll fight back and destroy YHVH! I'll burn everything that tyrant seeks to defend and raze everything it stands for!", I said, a surge of hatred welling up inside me. "If that's the case, Mythos, then it is time for you to accept your hateful and raging will.", Alastor's voice said. As the electricity covering my body turned into fire, the mist seeping out of my right hand turned into a black and dark red sphere. "This is power. This is-!", I thought as I smirked.
Snapping back to the fight, I then heard Fafnir's voice say, "Now, if that is the case then you will need to awaken and embrace what you really are. Is that OK, my Servant?". "This is getting nowhere.", Clive said through Ifrit as the black and dark red sphere surrounding me disappeared, covering me in a black and dark red inferno. "Enough!", I roared. "Come again?", Shiden asked through Ramuh. "You obey me, Odin! Not the other way around!", I roared as Odin's blue mantle turned orange. "Oh no, it's starting to happen!", Knuckles said. "What's starting to happen?", Mio asked. "The darkness is consuming him! At this rate, nothing will be left of both Jack and Odin!", Tails said. Suddenly, Ifrit rushed towards me only for me to unleash a giant blast of dark red energy. "What are you, anyway?", Flynn asked through Bahamut. "Servant: Avenger. I am power, I am hatred, I am destruction! With sword in hand, I shall reap the world and condemn it to the fires of destruction! My name is Jack Sebastian Arnold. Your end has come!", I roared as the Negative Speed Force covered my body. "No, that's impossible!", Futaba said. "What's impossible, sis?", Akira asked. "His parameters. They're nothing like I've ever seen!", Futaba replied. "How so?", Haru asked. "Strength: EX. Endurance: EX. Agility: EX. Luck: EX. Mana: EX. Noble Phantasm: EX. That isn't possible! It never was possible!", Futaba said. "Wait, what do you mean by parameters?", Law asked. "And what did he say about being a Servant?", Amy asked. "Do you wanna tell them or should I?", Sonic asked. "Go ahead.", Futaba said. "OK. When Gerald, Madoka, Mai, Frederick, Harry, Ezio, Logan, Futaba, Goku, Barry, Snake and I came to Aionios specifically, we were told of a Holy Grail War called the Aionios Waxing Moon Ritual by a man called Yasuhiro and it was our duty as Servants to participate in it. Of course, we refused as we didn't want YHVH to suspect anything.", Sonic said. "But I thought there were only seven Servant classes.", Vector said. "That's how things normally are in a Holy Grail War. But this is not a normal Holy Grail War.", Futaba said. "How so?", Ryuji asked. "Normally in a standard Holy Grail War, there are seven Servant classes but here, there are thirteen. They consist of the 7 Core Classes of Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin and Berserker and the 6 Extra Classes of Ruler, Avenger, Moon Cancer, Alter Ego, Foreigner and Pretender. I for instance am a Ruler-class Servant.", Sonic said. "And I am a Moon Cancer-class Servant.", Futaba said. "But I thought Servants couldn't normally exist here in Aionios.", Lanz said. "Well, when Jack was summoned, it was to get us back on track, so to speak or to destroy YHVH otherwise. He was summoned as an Avenger-class Servant.", Futaba said.
Rushing at me, Bahamut unleashed a giant barrage of golden beams of light that I countered with a burst from the Negative Speed Force. I followed this up with a furious onslaught that Ifrit intercepted with a fiery barrage of punches and kicks only for me to then create a giant explosion of dark energy that forced to de-prime, my robes turning back to black and dark orange with the other Eikons following suit and de-priming back into their respective Dominants. Returning to the ground, I summoned Gram to my hand and rushed forward, unleashing a giant onslaught of stabs and slashes that Clive just managed to keep up with as he summoned four orbs of fire that surrounded him; undeterred, I then unleashed a furious volley of Doom Spears followed up with razor sharp beams fired from Gram. "How is he still going?", Taion asked. "That's what the Avenger class does to someone. It gives them the hatred they need to fight on.", Futaba said as she narrowly dodged a beam herself. "Still, we can't let him win. Can we, Clive?", Yuito said as four red cables dug themselves into his back. "I suppose you're right, Yuito.", Clive said as he sprouted four blue wings brimming with holy power from his back. "So, you think using the power of the Eikons will be enough to stop me?", I asked. "Oh, this isn't the power of an Eikon. This is the power of Ultima!", Clive said as holy fire surrounded him. As Clive and Yuito rushed at me, I fired even more razor sharp beams from Gram, making sure to dodge once the two got within melee range. I then dodged a fiery uppercut from Clive and an electric downward slash from Yuito, countering with a furious onslaught that Clive countered in turn. Suddenly, an even greater surge of anger came over me. "You can fight it! Do it and we can negotiate with YHVH for a lighter sentence for you.", Clive said. "No. I don't think I want to.", I said. "What do you mean?", Yuito asked before a dark red pillar of fire covered me. "You are still held down by your kindness, compassion and empathy, not to mention your nonexistent "humanity". So what do you want to do now? What do you want to do with them?", Black Doom's voice asked. "Take them. Take them and destroy them. Free me from my virtue.", I said. "Well, if you insist.", Black Doom's voice said before the pillar disappeared, causing a surge of black and dark red energy to burst forth from my body, creating red cracks that darkness and the Negative Speed Force were leaking out of. "You know the incantation. Unleash the power within you and overcome the light!", Fafnir's voice said. Clenching my right fist, I then said, "Restriction 666 released. Dimensional interference field deployed. BlazBlue, activate!", causing my Magic Circuits to promptly appear, now awakened and permanently activated. The cracks on my body disappeared and the dark energy surrounding me then spiked, turning into a giant black and dark red inferno.
Disturbed, Clive then looked at me, asking, "What the Hell has he done?". Then, I unleashed a giant black and dark red flame as my Magic Circuits turned from green to orange. "There's no way!", Futaba said. "What do you mean?", Kagero asked. "His Aura is supercharging his Magic Circuits!", Futaba said. At this, I then snapped even harder than I ever snapped before. Utterly consumed with rage, I rushed at Clive and Yuito, who promptly sent their powers into overdrive – Clive becoming consumed by a fiery aura supplemented by wind, electricity, earth, light, ice, darkness and water and the flames turning his blue wings a fiery yellow-orange and Yuito's hood covering his head, causing the very battlefield to distort. "No! Yuito, you can't!", Kyoka said. "What's he doing, Mom?", Kasane asked. "He's sending both Brain Field and Brain Drive far beyond their safe limits. In effect, Yuito is using Brain Field Overdrive.", Kyoka replied. Undeterred, I unleashed a furious onslaught as Clive and Yuito unleashed theirs, me screaming, "DIE! DIE! DIE! Everything in Aionios DIES!". "So, that's your goal. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed in you.", Clive said. "DIE!", I roared, unleashing a giant volley of dark magic, creating infernos, earthquakes, tidal waves and gale force winds galore. Sighing, Clive then unleashed a giant blast of light that I countered with a giant explosion only for the skies to turn golden. Down descended a mechanical angel in the form of Yaldabaoth from Persona 5, only for the angel to say, "Jack Sebastian Arnold, you have disobeyed my orders for the last time! You shall be punished accordingly and will never know any mercy from me!". "That's easy for you to say, YHVH. But I am the Sovereign and shall defeat you in the service of my revenge!", I shouted to the angel. Suddenly, my anger grew even stronger, causing me to unleash even more power, resulting in me turning into the Black Beast again. I then unleashed a giant explosion of darkness, turning me into Odin. Angered, Clive hurriedly primed into Ifrit, unleashing a giant explosion of fire that appeared to fuse with the darkness I was unleashing, only for the power to enter me, causing me to unleash an even angrier onslaught that culminated in me unleashing a razor sharp beam of darkness at YHVH that Ifrit deflected. "I won't give up. It all depends on me. I can't lose, not when I'm so close!", I bellowed, unleashing an even greater black and dark red flame, my cyber corruption flowing into the fire and promptly burning away. "No.", Clive said through Ifrit as I prepared to unleash the killing blow with Gram only for Clive and me to be forcibly de-primed, my Azure Grimoire also deactivated. I then looked at Alphen, Shionne, Rinwell, Law, Kisara, Dohalim, Haseo, Atoli, Kuhn, Yata, Sakubo, Endrance, Pi, Ovan, Lindow, Sakuya, Soma, Alisa, Kota, Yuito, Kasane, Hanabi, Tsugumi, Gemma, Luka, Kyoka, Shiden, Arashi and Kagero glowing with a nauseously bright aura with six orbs flowing around them. Gathering a dark red aura around myself, I then chanted, "When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back and reveals a world without light!", causing a Blood Moon to appear only for it to suddenly disappear. Then, an earthquake sounded, causing giant amounts of fire, earth, air and wind energy to erupt out of the ground. "Uh oh.", I said, promptly priming into Odin and fleeing the battlefield, causing the red glow to disappear. Riding on Sleipnir as fast as I could, I then left Aionios's atmosphere and flew towards the Space Colony ARK, only de-priming after entering the core.
"What's happening, Master?", Kingprotea asked as I hurriedly ran to the shrine where the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald were waiting. "No time, we've gotta go now!", I said. Reaching the shrine, I then produced the orange orb that I had found in AMVC and watched as it floated over to the Emeralds. "The Relic of the Avenger, huh?", Alvis asked. Holding my right hand in front of me, I then chanted, "The servers are the seven chaos. Chaos is power- power enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the chaos.". As various alarms sounded, I then said, "Chaos Control!", causing the colony to disappear. Meanwhile, the elemental energy I escaped had covered Aionios like a cocoon, causing the energy to burst. Travelling to the observation deck, I then saw that the colony was in a strange red void before a mechanical voice said, "All present at the Spear Pillar: 0.". "No, there's no way that can be right.", I said before a virtual display appeared, depicting Origin turning into the Dark Hollow from Sonic and the Black Knight and slotting on to Camelot Castle, "completing" it in a way. "Oh. Oh. Fu-u-uck.", I said only to notice that Alvis, Kingprotea and Atalante had completely. "That's odd. Where is everyone?", I thought only to feel a chill down my spine.
Despite everything I thought, the battle to stop the Ascension Project had not ended. Rather, it had just begun.
Jack will return in the next fanfic: Requiem Flux Aeterna.