So, uh, been a while, huh? This chapter is a little on the late side because I've been busy with work and all that fun stuff. I only have the free time that I do because I'm sick, and have nothing better to do.
In lieu of that, I'm gonna write this chapter, drop it, and probably disappear for a few days while I recover from being sick. This chapter has a large reveal at the end of it, and it's integral to the through line this series will have.
That being said, ya'll know the drill. Stay tuned for the end of the chapter for my response to reviews/comments. For now, enjoy the chapter!
[-Chapter 11: A Peek into the Past and Future-]
"Thunder. Lightning. Each are two halves of the same whole. Follow the current and the boom, and you will truly understand our art. For you, though, I suspect it means more than just that, young one. You're different from the rest of my students, but I will treat you the same nonetheless. Despite your proclaimed heritage." – an Old Man guiding a young, lost boy who appeared when a bolt of lightning struck near The Old Man's house.
[Opening Song: Dance In The Game – By: ZAQ]
When Jolyne stepped through the chalk door that she created in her apartment building, she had expected to walk into something similar to what was depicted in those fairytale stories when a character walked into a place with such a mystical name like "The Roundtable Hold." She expected a fantastical place, but instead, she was met with something far more… sombre-looking.
The Roundtable Hold was grand—like a hall in a castle. But the faint lighting of the room, mainly given off by the large, towering stake of golden light hovering just above the center of the room atop a table decorated with many a weapon, made it look almost eerie. Haunted, even.
The air was dusty and old. It smelt of mildew and weeks-old ale, which made Jolyne recoil in a mix of disgust and confusion. Six chairs sat at the table adorned with weapons and the massive stake of light, but all of them were empty. Several semi-circle grooves in the wall that were made to appear as places to hold things decorated the walls of the main room. There were three doorways, though it would be more apt to call the middle a peering area and the two to the left and right as awkward halls, were offered in front of her. If she were to turn around, she would've seen a fourth.
One led to a balcony, the left one led to some kind of hallway where distant clanging could be heard, and the one to the right looked to be where a library would begin. Nobody was around, leaving just her and whatever that clanging sound was.
"Huh… this is kinda dull," Jolyne muttered, scratching the back of her neck. When she looked down, she noticed that she was wearing her armour and not her casual wear. "Huh?" Jolyne muttered, before tapping something on her back. Looking over her shoulder, she saw her massive new weapon, 3F, stored on her back in all of its glory. "HUH?!" Jolyne exclaimed, looking around, now completely confused. Why was she in her dungeon-crawling gear? Was this place hostile to her like the dungeons were?!
"You look confused. It's to be expected. Your kind is usually confused when you show up here," An old, yet sophisticated voice that contained a hint of bitterness filled Jolyne's ears as she looked around to see where it was coming from. It didn't take her long to spot an armoured man walk up beside her having come from the rear entrance that she just now noticed had been behind her.
He was hunched over, truly giving off his age just by appearance alone, and his armour was a light gray. What looked to effigies of ears craved into his helmet formed a beard-like protrusion around his helmet, and the eyes of his helmet were far too deep for her to see anything within. Atop his helmet was what appeared to be a crown-like shape, and draped over his shoulders, he wore a bright red cape that looked like a flag with no symbol.
In his right hand was what appeared to be a cane with a claw-like handle, on which his hand rested. He hobbled over, as would any old man, and he regarded her with a hint of annoyance. "Hurry up and be on your way. This place is typically only reserved for Tarnished, those who come from The Lands Between. But The Greater Will has made an exception for your kind specifically. Those who fight "the greater battle" as they say."
Without so much as another word, the armoured old man walked away, leaving Jolyne more confused than she was when she first got there. She went to say something but stopped when Mono spoke up.
[That was Sir Gideon Ofnir. Ignore him for now. He is of little consequence and should be primarily ignored. Think nothing of him.]
Jolyne narrowed her eyes. She didn't know if she was going to take Mono at his word, but after giving it some thought, she decided to listen. For now.
As Sir Gideon Ofnir disappeared down the left hall, Jolyne frowned. She had a few things that she wanted to do. According to The Remembrance Of Frenzied Beast, if she were to talk to The Finger Reader—whatever that was—she could receive "the power of its namesake" whatever that meant.
A part of her was curious, but another part of her was concerned. What exactly would she be getting from something linked to something… like that? Clearly, The Frenzied Flame was not to be toyed with, so why would she be able to receive any of its power? She wanted to ask Mono, but considering how unreliable he'd been as of late, she didn't want to bother.
"Well, might as well look around to see what's here…" Jolyne thought as she began to wander around the barren place that was The Roundtable hold. Outside of a fireplace and the large table in the center, there wasn't much value in the main room. So, after weighing her options, she decided to go down the opposite hall to where Gideon went.
Why? Because Gideon seemed like a piece of work, and she didn't want anything to do with him. So, without so much as giving the left hall a passing glance, she went down the right hall—closer to where the metal clanging was coming from. As she walked down the hall, she passed by a closed door, and just outside of it was a… creature.
That was the best way to describe… it. Him? It looked like a guy, so that was what she was going to go with. The male creature was hunched over an anvil, bashing away at a large slab of metal that appeared to be a sword, grunting all the while. He had a large tail that matched half of his body length, and he had various open wounds on his back and forehead that seemed to be slowly but surely healing.
Scales covered his upper arms, and he had a feather-like bird on his chin. His face looked like something only a mother could love, and his eyes were ruby red. Despite his appearance, he didn't look like he was hostile, nor did he give off that impression. The only thing that made her weary of him was the chain on his leg.
Cautiously, and with a hint of curiosity, she approached the creature, who looked up from his sword, and then went back to doing what he was doing. "You're a new face," he spoke, slamming away at his sword. "No matter. It's all the same. Lay out your arms, let's get smithing."
His tone was gravely, old—no. Ancient. She blinked, before finally clueing in he meant weaponry. "Okay…" Jolyne drawled, bringing out 3F and stamping it in front of him, drawing his attention. "Uh… do think there's anything wrong with this? I just got it, and I—"
"What in The Erdtree is that?" The creature said, looking at the large halberd with a hint of disdain. "Is that a Bardiche? By Queen Marika, how the hell did you retrieve that? Those things 'ave been outlawed."
"Uh… I got it from a token," Jolyne answered as the creature's eyes widened, before scoffing. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothin'. You're one of 'em, are ya? A "Multiverse Warrior" right? Now I understand. We 'aven't had someone like you come around in ages. Last one that passed through here was a lady as well. 'er name was Diamond," the creature said, cracking his neck to the side. "I'm afraid there is nothin' I can do with that weapon. Most I can do is upgrade it fer ya with those stones you'll find. 'Side from that, if you gather enough tokens, I can smith 'em into a better version of 'em. If ya ain't got none of that, then I'm afraid our conversation is done."
Just like that, the creature went back to smithing. Raising an eyebrow, Jolyne tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her eye. "Okay… uh, what's you're name?"
"Hewg."
"Huh. Nice to meet you, Hewg…" Jolyne said, before looking over her shoulder. An awkward silence hung over them as Hewg continued smithing, grunting with each clang of his hammer. "What about broken swords?"
"Broken?" There was a hint of a growl in Hewg's voice, which made Jolyne tense. She had no idea why she felt any sort of fear from Hewg, but given that he wasn't human—or even human appearing for that matter—it triggered some kind of response in her brain that made her feel a little… nervous.
"Yeah… Broken. I was fighting a monster, and their weapon shattered by an old one," Jolyne replied, taking out her broken straight sword, and brandishing it at Hewg. "Is there a way I can get it fixed?" Jolyne asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Or… remove the Weapon Art from it?"
Hewg took the weapon from Jolyne and examined it. "Well… I can remove the Weapon Art using a Whetknife. But aside from that? Yer outta luck, kid. Unless ya had the other bits, I could maybe reforge it, but since this is all ya got? Ain't nothin' I can do."
"So, do I have to pay you to remove the Weapon Art or…?"
"Nah, just give me a couple of minutes. Unless ya have somethin' else ya gotta do just wait around in 'ere. Won't take me very long," Hewg said, before looking down and getting to work. Before he did, though, Jolyne spoke up again.
"Do you know where The Finger Reader is?"
"In the main room where the large door is in the back. I see Gideon go to it throughout the day. Come back when yer finished with 'er," Hewg answered as Jolyne walked away, allowing Hewg to work. As she walked by, she couldn't help but notice that another person was sitting down who hadn't been there before.
He was tall, had broad shoulders, and was wearing a white tunic with brown slacks. He had dark skin and his hair went down to the back of his neck. It was spikey, and his back was turned to her. In his right hand, he had a large, yet strange sword plunged into the ground at his feet. It radiated power, like something she had never seen before in her life.
The blade was pure black, with three large spikes along the dull end of the blade, and the sharp end was serrated—like a meat cleaver but far larger and far more devastating. Just looking at it made her body shudder in both fear, confusion, and a hint of curiosity as to why it looked and felt the way it did.
The man looked over his shoulder, directly at her, his piercing yellow eyes making her cower under his gaze. Power lurked in his eyes—devastating, world-ending power. A power that she was intimately familiar with because it reminded her of Mono, except it was so much more.
For a brief moment, his eyes widened, but they changed to a half-lidded, almost amused look. The man stood up, his blade disappearing into nothingness as the pressure that had filled the room disappeared entirely. It was only then that she realized just how muscular the man was. He looked like a professional bodybuilder with how he was built.
Arms the size of tree trunks, his chest was immensely defined and just by looking at it, she could tell just how rock hard it was. Even though he was wearing a tunic, she could see just how tight the fabric was on his skin. His legs were the same as his arms but to a little less of an extent.
"Well, is that a newbie I spy?" The man said, his tone a little on the deep side, but nothing too domineering. There was a hint of laughter there, too. Not mocking laughter, but honest merriment. "I can sense you're like me. You got one of The Seven Systems lurking in ya, right newbie?"
The stupor she was in vanished when he started speaking, and she nodded. " So this is another "Multiverse System User" as Mono puts it," Jolyne thought, a tiny smirk taking up her visage. She looked him up and down, admiring his physique.
The guy was shredded, and she wouldn't lie to herself and say that she didn't like what she saw. He was huge, and if she had to guess, he was also "huge" in other places too. No one was that muscular and gave off that kind of energy if they were lacking in the downstairs department.
That being said, he also looked like an adult, and while he was objectively attractive, she wasn't into muscle men. Some muscles were nice, but not like the man in front of her. It also didn't help that she was a minor, so there was that.
That aside, a part of Jolyne was a little bit awestruck, seeing as she was talking to another person who was supposedly like her, but another part of her was put off.
Maybe it was the look in his eyes from before. Maybe it was how he held himself. Maybe it was that large, unnatural, almost alive-feeling sword he had plunged into the ground. But whatever it was, there was something about this man that made her feel… put off.
Regardless of that, she kept a friendly demeanour and spoke. "Yeah, name's Jolyne. What's yours?"
A smile took up the man's visage as he reached out his hand in a gesture of friendship, a twinkle in his eye. It almost seemed like… recognition. Did she… know him? Suddenly, the way he looked almost looked familiar. But she couldn't quite figure out why.
And then, he finally introduced himself. "Name's Jamol Anderson. Nice to meet ya, Jolyne."
Suddenly, and without warning, her head began to hurt—like a tidal wave smashing against the side of a cliff, her mind ached and her soul cried out in pain for some reason and it made her skin go pale, her senses numbing within the blink of an eye. It made her stagger back and nearly bump into the fireplace behind her, her pupils dilating as Jamol looked at her, concerned.
Jamol walked over to her, holding her hand, a comforting gesture, but his words were nothing but a jumble of sounds and vowels because she was stuck in some kind of delirious, self-induced panic. She didn't know why, but she was, and it hurt.
But more importantly, there was something that had caused it—not because of something she did, but it was what Jamol had said; and right there, that was it.
His name.
Jamol Anderson.
Why did she know that name..?
Then, it hit her. Her eyes widened, a glossy stain covering her irises as a gasp escaped her lips, that pain from before coming back in full swing. She felt as if someone was slamming her head into the side of a wall repeatedly, despite the fact that it wasn't happening.
"C'mon, *&Q(QE* , keep up will ya?"
A forest, a dirt path, a young boy with a large, toothy grin on his face. Black hair and brown eyes with tan skin. Dressed in a shirt and shorts, though the details were lost to her. It was from her point of view, as if this was something that happened to the original person that she replaced.
No.
No, that wasn't it.
This felt too real.
This felt too personal.
"Jamol! Wait up!"
Another voice. Her voice. But… was it her voice? It sounded like her, but it wasn't her. It was but it wasn't. Her breathing hastened, her skin breaking out in goosebumps as panic filled her emerald-green eyes.
"First on to the lake is the best!"
"That's not fair! You're faster than me!"
"Then stop being slow, * (QE*!"
The young boy's voice filled her mind as if something was trying to claw its way back to the surface. She could feel tears well up in her eyes, but she had no idea what was happening. Why she was remembering that name—why Jamol's name had meant something to her.
It didn't make any sense to her, yet here she was, shaking and on the verge of tears as the panic in her body came to a crescendo, before subsiding, her vision clearing up as Jamol was now seated next to her, a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
A shuddered breath escaped her lips, her eyes returning to normal as finally, whatever had come over subsided. "You good, Jolyne?" Jamol asked, raising an eyebrow. His voice… there was a concerned tone to it that made her feel safe. She didn't know why, but she felt safe.
Why?
What was happening to her?
"Yeah… I'm fine… just… I don't know. I guess your name sounded familiar to me and…" her voice trailed off, a tinge of hurt laced within. "Something about my past… I don't remember it all too well. I think Loki took my memories away from me when I was reincarnated into this body…"
Jamol scoffed, a smirk taking up his visage. "Well, he is a Trickster God. It doesn't shock me. Not even remotely. I heard Nanabush's patron has a similar issue to you," Jamol noted, taking his hand off his shoulder. He looked her over, and Jolyne could tell that there was a perverted gleam in his eyes that made her tense. "Say, how old are you?"
"Sixteen," Jolyne replied immediately, and instantly, that gleam in his eye vanished, his face heating up with embarrassment as he went stiff as a board.
"Damn, my bad," Jamol said, clearing his throat, whatever tension was in the air dying immediately as he coughed into his hand. "Ya look older than you are… I, um… sorry about that."
"It wouldn't be the first time I've been hit on by older people. At least you apologized for it," Jolyne muttered, thinking back to the butchered remains of Takemura. A sly smirk took up her visage as she thought about how his screams echoed in her mind. "Perverted, pedophilic bastard…."
"Well, I suppose I should get going then. I gotta a kingdom to rule," Jamol said, standing up with a grunt. Jolyne raised an eyebrow, standing up with him as he looked over his shoulder at her.
"Kingdom to rule?" Jolyne asked, curiosity in her tone as Jamol smirked.
"Yeah, it's called Vacuo. Tell ya what, when you're… I'd say level 450 at the bare minimum, I'll invite ya to the universe I reside in. But first," Jamol began before a window popped up in front of Jolyne's eyes. It was a black text box with a yellow outline—different from hers, which was a black box with a green outline.
[Jamol Anderson (Lvl 1,850) has sent you a friend request!]
[Accept?]
[Y/N]
"1,850?!" Jolyne's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as Jamol smirked. "You're strong as shit dude, what the fuck?!" Jolyne exclaimed, prompting a scoff from Jamol.
"Would you believe me if I said I was the third weakest right now?" Jamol said as Jolyne's jaw dropped, disbelief colouring her eyes as Jamol cackled, his laugh boisterous, kind of like an endearing uncle. "I'm not kidding. Right now, you're the weakest, then there's Rika, and then there's me—in that order," Jamol said, his laughter dying down as a sly smirk took up his visage. "But just because I'm the third weakest doesn't mean I'm not more powerful than most of the whelps that run around."
"Yeah, I guess…" Jolyne muttered, looking back at the pop-up, before pressing the [Y], another notification taking its place.
[Added: Jamol Anderson (Lvl 1,850) to Friends List!]
[You can summon a weaker shadow version of him during Boss Fights that are significantly stronger than you are (50 levels higher than you're current level). However, you will get reduced EXP if the shade is used. This does not apply to Story Bosses, as no one, aside from in-world System Users, can be summoned to aid you.]
"Right on. Well, I hope I'll be seeing you soon, Jolyne!" With that, Jamol vanished into thin air, leaving Jolyne alone again within The Roundtable Hold. Her eyes trailed to the door at the back of the room, and readying herself, she approached the doors. When her hands pressed against the auburn wood, she felt a burning curiosity well up in her chest.
What lurked beyond the door?
Was it going to be something horrifying? Something confusing? Maybe a bit of both?
Pushing the doors open, Jolyne was greeted with a… rather disturbing sight. Two massive, downright gargantuan fingers loomed overhead, wriggling in an almost disturbed manner. They looked decayed as if they were falling apart.
Next to the giant pair of fingers was a woman. Or… well, she thought it was a woman. It looked so emaciated, so… mummified, it was hard to tell. It was dressed in a large robe-like garment with what appeared to be a banner draping down the front of the robe, accompanied by a hood that covered the top of its head.
Small, bony hands clutched a large club that had bells attached to the tip. The… corpse turned to look at her, and while it had no eyes, it clearly noticed her presence. Then, in a very elderly voice that resigned itself to being female, the corpse spoke.
"Ah… I see. The Greater Will has sent yet another one of its… knights… to The Roundtable," the woman said, her voice dripping with curiosity and intrigue. "I know full well why you are here, girl. I am Enia, The Finger Reader. These are The Fingers, envoys to the Greater Will. Before I turn whatever Remembrance you have in your possession, would you care to listen to The Fingers?"
A little taken aback by the sight—at the fact that an actual corpse, Enia—was talking to her, she collected herself nonetheless. "Sure, why not?" Jolyne said, not wanting to be rude. A small, mirthful chuckle left Enia before she turned to the fingers.
"Very well, a-hem…. Welcome, Interloper. You are a welcome surprise, as are the rest of your kind. Should you wish to explore The Lands Between, all you need do is request it. After all, if The Greater Will wishes you to be here, then we shall allow it. Ah… how kind, don't you think?" Enia said, turning back to face Jolyne, who looked up at The Fingers, before looking back to Enia.
"Yeah, it's very kind of them," Jolyne said, scratching the back of her neck. "I'll… definitely think about it. But, uh… for now, maybe you can help me with this." As Jolyne spoke, she pulled out a small, shining orange orb—the physical manifestation of The Remembrance she gathered.
"Ah, yes… A Remembrance. While it is not of The Lands Between, I can still siphon out the power of its namesake. Bring it here, and I'm sure that troubled being will help you decipher what it is you want," Enia said, outstretching her hand toward the orb in Jolyne's hands. She took a step closer and placed it in Enia's hand.
Enia took it, raised the club and gently tapped the orb. She mumbled something, and when she did, a spark of light flashed around and encircled the orb. As soon as the light touched the orb, it cracked open like an egg, and two screens appeared in front of Jolyne, and behind them were two smaller orbs of light.
"You can only pick one, Young Knight. Choose wisely, lest the other be lost to time," Enia said, her voice carrying a cautious tone as Jolyne nodded, paying close attention to the two options before her.
[Frenzied Sword of Desolation - Mythic]
[Greatsword conjured and created by The Frenzied Flame, heavily dulled of its purpose, and sapped of the flame that constantly surrounds it.
When Kokichi became one with The Frenzied Flame, despite having lost himself mind, body, and soul, there was a small fragment of him that lived on, begging to be set free. To be released from the torture and agony that The Flame of Frenzy forced upon him. Unfortunately, the only way to escape such a cruel fate was through death.
Weapon Art: Cleanse, O'Flame of Frenzy
Unleash a coating essence of The Flame of Frenzy over the sword, and send out a wave of Frenzied Flame, causing a large build-up of Madness on any individuals hit by the attack. The follow-up attack allows the wielder to plunge their blade down into the ground, causing an eruption of Frenzied Flame around them like a wall, dealing massive damage and massive Madness build-up to any would-be attacker]
[Requirements: Physical Strength: 800, Arcane Wisdom: 550, Faith: N/A, Blasphemy: N/A]
Looking at the sword, seeing that the large, finely crafted weapon that was The Frenzied Sword of Desolation, a part of her wanted to take it. A part of her wanted to have that weapon for the sole reason that it was classified as a mythic weapon. But upon seeing the stat requirements, she backed away from the idea.
She wasn't going to have those kinds of stats for a while now. Even if she wanted to wield it, and even if it was as powerful as it was, and even if this gift by The Greater Will was majority cleansed of The Flame of Frenzy, after seeing what Madness did to Kokichi—even if he hardly knew the guy—she wouldn't have wanted to inflict that on anyone.
So, she looked at the other option.
[Chaotic Outburst – Mythic]
[A spell created and used by Kokichi Oma, Beast of Frenzied Flame.]
[Inbue your arms with Flame of Frenzy, and plunge your hands into the ground, creating a wave of Frenzied Flame that burns and dissolves all that comes into contact with it, leaving whatever is left behind in a state of Madness. Causes slight madness build-up to the caster (33).
Even when first touched by The Flame of Frenzy, he resisted it. But when that melodic voice of The Lord of Frenzied Flame touched his ears, he had to try his damnedest to resist its call—its allure. The words spoken to him were meant to entice, not convert. So that the seeds of madness would bloom regardless of his doing. Due to losing his loved one, he fell to the flame.
"Everyone you ever loved will die eventually. Life is not worth living. It is better to just burn it all away—to melt it to nothing. Besides, what more would have to live for if the world is to be undone by my hand?"]
[Requirements: Physical Strength: N/A, Arcane Wisdom: 735, Faith: 200, Blasphemy: N/A]
Jolyne coiled back in disgust after reading the description of Chaotic Outburst. Both choices sucked. Not because they were weak but because, on a moral level, it was depraved. Both options were the mark of madness, and frankly, she wanted nothing to do with them.
"Never mind, Enia, I don't want either of these," Jolyne said, closing both windows in front of her as Enia nodded.
"A good choice. The Flame of Frenzy is not to be messed with. Those who do pay the price," Enia shuddered. "By Queen Marika, even uttering its name makes me feel ill. Would you like me to convert it into levels for you, dear?"
"Yes please," Jolyne replied, as Enia cursed the ball of light in her hand, as bits and pieces of it flew to Jolyne. She felt her body warm, and power flow through herself in the process. When the transfer of power was finished, her stat screen appeared, and she had gone through another significant jump in power.
Level Up X5 (33 – 38)
Stats:
Health Points: 1,900 – 2,400 [B-]
Mana: 1,850 – 2,350 [B-]
Stamina: 1,950 – 2450 [B-]
Endurance: 950 – 1,200 [C]
Attack: 109 – 149 [E-]
Defence: 109 – 149 [E-]
Magic Attack: 185 – 235 [E]
Magic Defence: 185 – 235 [E]
Critical Chance: 3% - 3.5%
Critical Damage: 53% - 53.5%
Exp Till Next Level: 2,143,722
"Two… Million… One hundred and forty-three thousand… seven-hundred and twenty-two Exp… Are you fucking kidding me…?" Jolyne thought, disbelief in her eyes at what she was seeing. Yeah, her stats went up a lot, but.. for fucksake, why did it cost that much to level up?!
[If you are worried about the amount of Exp it takes to level up, Dungeons scale with your Exp amount when it comes to their Exp rewards. Enemies in easy dungeons will drop 5% of the Exp you need to level up once, Normal is 7%, Challenging is 10%, Hard is 15%, Insane is 25%, and Impossible is 30%]
"Well, that makes things a little less sucky…" Jolyne eased her annoyance, before bowing her head at Enia. "Thank you, Enia. I'll let you be now."
"No, thank you, Young Knight. It's always fun peeking into the journeys of those closest to The Greater Will. Have a good day, dear," and with that, Jolyne exited the room with The Fingers and Enia, and after that, she went back to Hewg.
"Back already? Well, no matter. I've finished what ya asked of me. Take it and begone," Hewg muttered, handing her an orb of light, dark red in colour. Jolyne took the weapon art, bowed to Hewg, muttered a thank you, and then promptly teleported back to her apartment.
When she returned, a tired sigh escaped her lips. Today had been a very long, very upsetting day. She just wanted it to end so that she could relax for a little bit. No more stressors, no more having to put up with people—none of that.
She deserved a little bit of a rest, at least for a little bit.
She was back in her casual wear, no longer dressed in the school uniform but rather in her favourite black hoodie and purple sweats. The more she wore it, the better it felt—the more it became like a second skin to her. She wandered her way into her bedroom, and just as she was about to plop onto her bed and fall asleep, there was a series of rapid knocks at her door.
Confusion took over Jolyne's visage, as she looked over her shoulder. She waited for a moment, just in case she had misheard, but then, another round of rapid knocks rapped against her door. From the sound of things, whoever was knocking on her door was either tiny or a child. If it was the former, then she wouldn't be so concerned.
But if it was the latter….
"Either way, who would be up at this time of night…" Jolyne thought, turning around and walking to her front door. Before she could open it, another set of knocks came, this time more frantic. There was an almost panicked nature to them, and it made Jolyne concerned.
"One moment…" Jolyne muttered, opening the door. When she did, she was greeted by what could only be described as a slightly disturbing sight. It had nothing to do with the individual—well, actually, it did, but regardless of who the person was, it was what they were wearing that made it disturbing.
There was a little girl at her door, easily no older than maybe ten years old, wearing an almost see-through dress that, if one were to squint, you could see right there, revealing that she only had bandages covering her exposed parts—not bandage wraps, but band-aid brand bandages, which made Jolyne want to hurl right then and there.
Her hair was let down, reaching all the down to the center of her back, and it was a light shade of pink. Fear was etched into her eyes, and she had tear stains running down her cheeks. The way her body shuddered, desperation clearly present, a parental instinct deep within Jolyne burned with a bright passion, and it was only further compounded by the look in the little girl's eyes.
There was a vulnerable look in her eyes, and they screamed as if begging for help. The way her shoulders were tensed, the fact that she was shivering in what was most likely fear, and the words that she said next didn't help matters either.
"P-Please… help me."
[XXXX]
When one pictures what The Gods would be doing in their spare time, most people would like to believe that it was off doing wonderful, fantastical things. Chasing after angelic beauty, preparing for events that no mortal mind could possibly come up with, and giving greatness down to those who would give up their mind and body to them.
Sure, while some Gods did that, those Gods were the envious type. Loki used to be like those Gods, but as of recent events—and by recent he meant recent for a God—he had to sprout a level of maturity that he frankly didn't really care too much for. Why The Almighty believed that he was the best choice to become a Patron of a member of The Seven would always illude him, especially given his track record. But, then again, he never explicitly said it was for his track record that he was chosen to lead one of The Seven.
The Almighty would never tell him, even if he asked really, really nicely.
He supposed it made sense. Be not of your destiny, but shape your destiny to be you, or whatever the saying was. Even if it drove him up the bend trying to figure out why he was chosen, he knew better than to not question it. A younger, less wise version of him would probably call the current him a dumb little boy who knew nothing of the power he had. But he matured now.
He wasn't that rambunctious little shit he used to be.
Which led him to where he was now. Sitting at what could only be described as a roundtable, with six other thrones surrounding the table, much like the one he was currently seated in. The chairs were large, with tower-like backs that nearly touched the roof of the building they were in, each with armrests that were large enough to fit even the lankiest of arms.
Loki himself was dressed in his usual outfit, the one with the purple opened-top tuxedo and his fashionable green shirt. Black suit pants and matching black shoes, with white gloves that covered his hands. His black hair was slicked back, and his enchanting purple eyes gleamed with a sense of pride that no other God-like being would dare to show off.
Truly, Loki was a grandiose God, and it showed in both how he dressed and held himself. If he were the only God there, then maybe he would stand out. But now. Rather, much to his annoyance, he only served to fit in.
Starting from left to right, there was Archangel Michael—a broad man with pale white skin, and glowing white eyes that exuded power with equally white wings tucked on his back. He was dressed in a golden holy armour with a large cross etched in the front, and his hair was a slicked-back golden colour.
Next, there was Buddha. Despite his frail appearance, he was not one to be reckoned with. He was smaller looking than most Gods, but regardless of his appearance, he still oozed the same power that everyone else at the table did. He had cream-coloured skin, black pits for eyes despite his pleasant smile, and black hair done up in a bun. He wore an orange toga, and despite the peaceful look in his eyes, there was still clearly a tension in his body from the last time they had convened.
After Buddha there was Shiva. He was a man of blue skin, wearing mostly nothing other than a dark brown cloth that wrapped around his waist. His hair was done up in a large bun, with the rest of it cascading like waterfalls down his shoulders and back. He was immensely well built, his muscles looking like mountains—fitting for The God of Destruction and Recreation. Rather than two arms, he had four, and all across his body were various tattoos that signified his journies and the past, present, and future. His pearly yellow eyes had a tinge of anticipation within, belaying a chaotic God with a calm appearance.
Next, there was Nanabush. He was by far the most confusing of all the Gods at the Table of Equals. He was a fox-like humanoid creature, with dark orange fur and beady red eyes. His clawed hands rested on his snout, and he looked practically bored to death. He wore no clothing but subsequently had nothing for clothing to truly hide. He was merely an anthropomorphic fox deity, even if he was viewed as mostly a menace.
After Nanabush, there was Zeus. When one imagined Zeus, one imagined a tall, powerful, muscular figure with brilliant white hair and a thunderous gaze. What he was instead was much like the Almighty. He was a small, frail, brittle-looking old man. But despite that, he was rather well-built. His graying hair was atop his head, though there was hardly enough of it to call it hair. He had a small, elegant smile on his face, and while he looked to be harmless, he was still the vindictive God of Lightning—the worst God of Lightning there ever was. So much so that on numerous occasions Raiden tried to kill him for "beseeching the awe and power of Lightning". Not that it ever worked in his favour.
Finally, last but certainly not least, a God far older than even Zeus, and matching the age of The Almighty, give or take a few hundred thousand years, there was Ra. Unlike most of the Gods, Ra was different. He had both characteristics of an animal and a human, rather than one or the other. He had a Hawks head, yes, but the rest of his body was human.
He wore a headdress made of gold with dark blue stripes working through it. His eyes were a piercing, commanding yellow, and he had on armour that matched the colour of his headdress, which exposed his midsection and perfectly sculpted abs. In the center of the chest was a large yellow orb meant to replicate the sun's visage, and around his waist was a cloth that covered everything else from view. His hands were clawed like the talons of a bird, and his body language was fierce—a no-nonsense vibe washing over everyone with his mere presence alone.
"The meeting of The Watchers has begun," Ra's powerful, booming voice filled The Grand Hall as everyone nodded in acknowledgement. "We are here to set in motion The Seven Laws of The Seven, and rules that bind them to the cause of Protecting Creation. We are limited in time, but we shall make due. Just like we always have, and always will."
Another mumbling wave of acknowledgment and agreement filled the hall, as Ra cleared his throat. "Now then, much like the last times we've done this, I will start first . I Enact The Law Of Trust. No Member Of The Seven May Be Allowed To End Another Member's Life For Or By Any Means. All in favour say I."
"I!" The Grand Hall erupted in unanimous agreement.
"Good. Zeus?"
"Hehehe, I always love this part," Zeus said, clearing his throat, his voice a little on the quiet side from age. But when he spoke his Law, his voice became just as booming as Ra's. "I Enact The Law Of Equality. All Of Those Who Are Of The Seven Are To Be Treated Equally Based On The Laws Of The World That Which They Inhabit, And Vice Versa. All in favour say I."
"I!" Once more, The Grand Hall erupted into unanimous agreement.
"Wonderful. Nanabush?"
A sly smirk took up the fox's expression. "I have a different law in mind than what I normally propose. I've already discussed it with them, of course, and now I bring the option to the table," Nanabush said, earning a raised eyebrow from Buddha. But, before anyone could question him, Nanabush spoke his law into reality, which all but forced them to abide by it. "I Enact The Law Of Bonding. For The Seven Remaining Pure Outer Gods Shall Join One Member Of The Seven and Will Fully Bond With Them, Becoming One With Them, So That He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named May Finally Fall."
A silence cast itself over the table, as the other Gods stared at Nanabush. There was no shock to his trickery, just disappointment. Although Loki found it funny, all things considered. Nanabush used to be his apprentice and now look at him. He was proud, frankly.
"Nanabush… do you have any idea what you've just done?" Shiva muttered, a hint of alarm in his voice as Nanabush scowled, his lips upturning in a snarl.
"Most of my Pantheon is dead because of that big old oaf fumbling the situation. I'm taking matters into my own hands using the tools that he provided us. The other Outer Gods are sick of it, too. They want It gone—not sealed, but dead, and I saw an opportunity. Tell me you want this war to continue until it reaches the conclusion where all of Creation meets its end, and I'll tell you who a traitor is."
There was a deep, ancient anger in his voice, one that Loki understood far too well. Nanabush had truly lost a lot of his family and friends to this war. He had been one of the most impacted, excluding Shiva and Zeus, but even they wouldn't have done something so drastic.
"There is nothing to be done about it now. Which Outer God chose who? This will no doubt break the established laws for The Seven that have been enforced for eons, but, unfortunately, we have no choice," Ra said as Nanabush smirked.
" Nature chose Shiva's pal, Hisoka. Youth chose my friend Daniel. Death chose Julliet, Ra's little girl toy. Stars said "hello" to Jonathon, aka Zeus's little weapon, seeing as Diamond has met an unfortunate fate. Fire said "friendly hello hi" to Buddha's very own Rika. Funnily enough, Time said hello to Jamol, aka Michael's little bastard. Finally, that left Rot, who looked at Jolyne, and said that she'd do just fine, but first, it's gotta be freed from someone. I'm pretty sure Loki already knows who I'm talkin' about."
There was an annoyed, almost exhausted groan that came from Loki—the kind of groan that was saved for when someone had royally pissed him off. Not that he would show it. "Great. Now she actually has to step foot there to kill her in order to get the full cooperation of Rot. Lovely," Loki grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Well, fine then, can we just get this over and done with then? We've got lots to worry about now, don't we?"
"I couldn't agree more," Nanabush said, smirking. "All in favour, say I."
"I!" Despite the slight reluctance, everyone in The Grand Hall responded with agreement.
"Awesome! Shiva dearest, it would be your turn, I believe," Nanabush said, elbowing him as Buddha frowned.
"Yes, it would be," Shiva replied, his voice soft yet genuine, carrying a hint of care of reverence. He breathed in, before breathing out, a calmness filling the space around him as he spoke. "I Envoke The Law Of Exception. Each Member Of The Seven Does Not Have To Abide By The Laws Of The World They Reside In, And Will Go Punishment Free, So Long As They Adhere To The One Law Of The Multiverse; That Being Sworn Protection Of Creation. All in favour say I."
"I!" Everyone unanimously replied, as Shiva smirked.
"Perfect. Buddha, I believe it's your turn," Shiva said as Buddha nodded silently.
"Then I will be quick," Buddha said, his tone peaceful and tranquil. "I Envoke The Law Of Passion. Each Member Of The Seven, Should They Produce Some Kind Of Offspring For Any Reason, Said Offspring Will Be Granted A Sliver Of The Power Of The Outer God That Which Is Residing Within Them." As Buddha said that, he cleared his throat. "A slight twist on the old laws. Typically, it would be the sliver of The System dwelling within that particular member of The Seven. But, we all know what kind of problems that causes. All in favour, say I."
"I!" The Grand Hall is once more filled with agreement, as Buddha smiled, looking over to Michael, patting him on the shoulder.
"The floor is yours, Michael."
"Yes, thank you," Michael said, clearing his throat. "I am aware that I am not a God, and that I am merely a stand-in for when you all find a correct choice to replace the departed Vishnu. I am thankful for you allowing me to sit with you all today. As in accordance with the rules, I will lay out the law I wish to present, on behalf of The Almighty." Michael said, his expression becoming still, like a tide ready to recede into the ocean before blasting out in a small thunderous wave.
"I Envoke The Law Of Contest. Once Each Member Of The Seven Has Travelled To And Completed At Least Three Worlds And Has At Least Three People Serving Them, Then A Tournament Will Begin, Where Everyone Is Set To Level 500, And Where The Grand Prize Will Be A Copy Of Death's Very Own Sycthe Of Annihilation."
"A tournament, you say?" Zeus smiled, and it looked downright haunting. "Reminds me of The Ragnorak…. Hmm, well over 100,000 Years ago. I'm still salty The Gods Lost…" Zeus grumbled, a twinkle in his hollow pits for eyes. "May I host it?"
"Yes, you may. But remember the conditions. No Permanent Death of Those who take part. All Deaths will be reverted once it is over, and no individual Member Of The Seven can battle. It will be the Servants Only, and The Servant who wins will take the weapon for their Host," Michael clarified as Zeus's smile widened.
"Oh yes… That sounds like a wonderful time~!" Zeus cackled, earning a shiver from Loki. The old man was terrifying when he wanted to be, which made sense. Especially given when he was as old as he was. He should've expected it, but still.
"I take it everyone agrees?" Michael asked, earning a resounding "yes" from everyone within The Grand Hall. "Very well. Loki, what is your Law that you wish to bring forth?" There was a hint of a taunt in Michael's voice. Which made sense. Loki and Michael never saw eye-to-eye on anything, and as such, they viewed each other as rivals.
That being said, Loki was the more powerful of the two. Michael was merely a spoiled brat who had his Daddy's favour more times than not. So when Michael issued him a challenge, well, what else was he to do but answer it in kind?
But, then, what would he do? Well, following in line with Nanabush and his mentality of "get rid of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named," a sly smirk took up his visage. Nanabush recognized the glint in his eye, a smirk taking up his visage as well.
"Well, following along with the mindset of "end this war for good," here is the rule I wish to include," Loki began, as he cleared his throat. All eyes were on him now, and judgment lurked within all their eyes, but none moreso than Michael. Once he was sure that he had everyone's attention, Loki spoke.
"I Hereby Envoke The Law Of Conjoinment. From Here On Out, Should A Member Of The Seven Die, Rather Than Their System Going On To Someone Else, It Will Find The Current Strongest Member Alive, And Join With It, Granting The Power That Which The Previous User Had, Along With The Outer God It Was Conjoined With."
Outrage immediately followed after his declaration from everyone but Ra and Nanabush. Their disagreements were loud, but Loki had already used The Voice Of Command. Whether or not they wanted this was not up to them.
"I object! That's absurd!" Michael bellowed, slamming his hand on the table as Loki scoffed.
"Oh really? Why? Do you not wish to see the end of this war, Michael? Or are you simply saying that because it was I who suggested it?" Loki asked, raising an eyebrow, as Michael clamped his mouth shut, a snarl taking up his expression as if to say that he viewed what Loki had decreed as a betrayal.
"Loki… a fusing of two systems could grant one of The Seven the power of a God, let alone all of them at once! It would put them on the level of The Almighty! It would threaten creation! It would—"
"Would do no such thing, Zeus," Ra interrupted, crossing his arms as Zeus's eyes widened.
"You agree with him!?" Shiva exclaimed as Ra nodded.
"For too long, we have been at this war. For too long, we've allowed this war to claim the lives of an uncountable amount, including Gods like ourselves. If Yahweh wishes to keep his little game up, then so be it. But we seek an end to this, and if it means overthrowing his wishes and desires, so be it. He knows he cannot interfere, and if he tries, The Greater Will and The Lesser Mind would punish him without a doubt," Ra stated, which further seemed to infuriate Michael, but he kept his mouth shut.
"Furthermore," Nanabush spoke up, "the idea is ingenious. What better than to kill a band of Rogue Outer Gods than with an amalgamation of multiple Outer Gods? And with The Systems there to regulate the power of the individual, truly, even if they became a threat, so long as the Systems adhere to their programming, we shouldn't even need to worry about it."
"And if they don't?" Buddha asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Then they don't. At that point, we'd be ants to them," Nanabush replied, shrugging his shoulders. "As Zeus so rightfully claimed, they would be on the same level of power as The Almighty. We wouldn't stand even a remote chance. It's risky, but then again, we're Gods, or in my case God-like, and Michael is an Archangel; but still! We live for this sort of thing! What's life without a little excitement, yeah?"
"But it goes against Father's wishes!" Michael spoke up, his anger evident. "We're going behind his back! The Creator's back, no less!"
"Well, like Ra said, it isn't like he can do anything about it. He can huff and puff all he wants, but at the end of the day, he gave us complete control over them this time around. He all but said he had better things to do than protect creation, Michael. To me, it seems like he's given up, don't you think?" Loki asked, raising an eyebrow as Michael faltered.
"No… father would never…"
"But clearly, he has," a new voice spoke up, prompting everyone to look in the direction of the entrance. There, they were created with a man dressed in a white coat, an equally white tophat with a red ribbon going around it alongside a small crown-like effigy underneath the red ribbon. He had a toothy grin, and a white suit underneath his coat, accompanied by knee-length boots and a cane. His fingers were pointed like claws, had he radiated with power—even moreso than Michael, who openly sneered at the newcomer.
" Lucifer," Michael growled as Lucifer strolled within The Grand Hall, the clacking of his cane echoing within as he stopped just before standing next to Loki.
"It's a truth I've been trying to tell you all about, but none of you wanted to listen. I guess, until it was too late, I suppose," there was a cheeky little tone to his voice as Lucifer snorted, looking at Michael. "Hello, Mike…" Lucifer drawled, before seeing Ra, and smiling, voice picking up a more cheery tone. "Hi, Ra!"
"Hello to you too, Morningstar," Ra greeted, looking over to Michael. "I know you loathe your brother, Michael, but—"
" That thing is not my brother. He never will be. He's a damned Traitor and should have been killed rather than exiled," Venom filled Michael's voice, his hands shaking in rage as he gripped the armrests of the chair he sat in.
"And yet, here I am, and guess what?" Lucifer said, a large shit-eating grin on his face, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I. Told. Ya. So."
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Michael roared, going to leap over the table, when all of the other Gods in the room pointed their weapons at him, making him stop dead in his tracks. Shiva's spear, Buddha's hand, Loki's bow, Ra's staff, Nanabush's claws, and Zeus's lighting bolt were all aimed up close and personal with Micahel, making him back down and sit on his throne.
"Rule number one, Mikey, no violence within the Grand Hall, lest you be met without yourself. Last I checked, you wouldn't be able to take us all on," Zeus said, a mocking tone to his voice, as they all put away their weapons. Zeus then turned to Lucifer, smirking. "What brings you here, Lucifer."
"I was actually here to talk to Loki. His Patron became a Dreadknight and I wanted to meet her personally. I need Loki to take her to me, what with me not being able to travel to other worlds without express permission or if I'm not making a deal with someone."
"Oh? Well, that's a surprise," Shiva said, chuckling. "It's been a long time since someone willingly became a Dreadknight! What kind?"
"A Voidbringer!" Lucifer said, almost giddy. "I've been running low on those, so, ya know, having someone who could become insanely powerful become one willingly makes things so much better for me!"
Michael just kept glaring at Lucifer, who didn't pay him any mind. "So, Loki, mind taking me to meet her?"
"Well, I take it that the meeting is over?" Loki asked, earning nods across the board. "Well then, I'll agree to take you whenever you're ready."
"Awesome! I just have a few things I need to clear up in Hell. Anduriel and his cronies are starting to get antsy. Most of his people are stuck in coins, and he's getting babyrage mad. I told him not to go to That World but they did anyway. I gotta console them and tell them to do better or some shit. Honestly, it doesn't matter. They're lesser Fallen Angels anyway," Lucifer said, tapping his cane on the floor before a pillar of fire erupted around him, signalling his departure.
Not too long after, the rest of them left, and as Loki sat back down on his couch, he felt a smug victory wash over him. It was a good day when he got to see Michael all red in the face. While he was a little annoyed that Jolyne wasn't going to get Time on her side, Rot wasn't all that bad. The only issue was having to kill Her before she got any modicum of power.
"Oh well, that can wait. She doesn't need that kind of power just yet," Loki thought, as he reclined into his couch. "But what can't wait is what's about to come next! Her first fatal blow to It is done, and now it's time for the second. Once It's gone, she won't have to stick around in that boring as-sin world!"
And with that thought, he snapped his fingers, the TV turned on, and Loki got ready to enjoy more of his Patron's antics.
[-To Be Continued-]
[-Outro Song: Outsider – By: Eve-]
And thus! The first arc is over. Gotta say? I'm glad. The next arc is so much better than what just wrapped up. It's the part I'm most excited to write. Shit's about to go down, and it'll be amazing.
Also, Jamol! Yup, he showed up. I wonder what that strange weapon of his is, and why it gives off the energy of being alive…? Oh well, guess we'll never know ;)
Anyway, onto reviews/comments.
(Quotev) Sunky Addict: Nope, I'm taking them with full stride! Speaking of references to the old book… Ya, have fun with that.
(Ao3) Fluffycuddlebug: I haven't watched Black Butler, so I wouldn't know.
(Ao3) WilburDrake: Speaking of Jamol, here he is! Also, while I'd love to make a story where Jolyne goes to Elden Ring, that would be a bit too much. At least for now, anyway.
(Ao3) void_boi1: A bit of both! Also, eventually.
(Ao3) Shine375: Wha…! Me? Kill a beloved character? Noooo… I would never! (silence) A-hem, anyways, maybe. I don't know. We'll see more from Makaria at a later point.
(Ao3) AidenJacksonSmithDSBB: You're goddamn right I did! Also, yeah, he's a little different from the OG variant.
(Ao3) Kolt: There is no beast of Frenzy in Elden Ring. I mean, you'd think there would be, but eh, whatever. I mean, there *is* Midra from the DLC who is kind of like a candidate to become something like that, but whatever. Oh, and it is very "don't shoot the messenger", and you're idea of a traitor is… not far-fetched, but at the same time, you're also kind of wrong. Also, as displayed, the Gods are very petty. Have a great day, Kolt!
(Ao3) JustSomeoneCooler: Thanks! Also, Jolyne will find out about that at a later point.
And that's all from me for now! See ya'll later!