Cosmic Wars Omega: The Multiversal War across the Infinite Frontier

by Darth Necron

In the aftermath of the Secret Wars a path to the Multiverse was formed. Decedents of legendary warriors Ben Auro and Doug Fitter, Michael Auro and Astra Fitter, now must unite the likes of Rachet & Clank, Sam Porter, MegaMan Volnutt, 2B, Mark "Invincible" Greyson, Tanjiro Kamado, and the other last hero's of the universe to stop the Negaverse from conquering all other universes.

63. 315Dirge of Those Chosen By the Universe

Chapter 315: Nightmerish Dirge of Those Chosen By the Universe

As dire as Shinryu 's descent was, we turn back time a bit to see the various servants and warriors of light dealing with far less imposing enemies. When Dale was sucked into the Temple of Time she found herself in a room with four walls. As she made a remark before she could move out a male voice uttered," You don't have to worry, your destination is to be my gold!"

Eden glanced to one side and saw that a tall, intricate, and imposing suit of armor, complete with spiked arms and an horned helmet, had popped out of nowhere. Even in the confined area, the armor gleamed with such a brilliant luster that it had to be tempered out of pure gold. His purple cape flourished behind him as he tightened his hands into fists and got into a ready stance.

In response, Eden simply looked to the nearest wall. "Whatever. Just stay out of my way, would you?"

That seemed to hit a nerve in the warrior, who registered visible surprise before yelling back. "You don't fool me! I am Goldor! The wealthiest and most powerful lord of Amur! I know what you're here for! You will not take my crystal! Instead, you will take a sound thrashing!"

The arm cannon began to hum as energy collected in it. "Listen, 'Gold Door'... I don't have time to waste on fourth-tier henchmen. If you're not going to do something useful like tell me how to get out of here, then beat it. Consider that your only warning."

Now doubly infuriated, he reached for his hip and drew out an equally golden sword. "Don't think I need the mercy from a-"

That was the last he got out before a burning blast of concentrated energy struck him right in the chest. His armor didn't so much explode as simultaneously melt and burst, resulting in his entire upper half…sword, cape, helmet and all…being turned into a molten, golden, spherical shape before what was left simply clattered to the ground.

Eden, who hadn't even looked away from the wall, sighed as she swiveled her arm back around to fire again.

Yet she got a surprise when she did. As if the wall had suddenly gained the consistency of fresh mud or clay, a great impression formed in it and began to poke out like a tremendous bas relief. It ended up taking the figure of a twisted, skeletal humanoid with a demonic face full of sharp teeth, and claws that seemed to "pierce" the wall enough to emerge and reach for her. Immediately, a grinding noise echoed from it as it started so slide across the floor toward her.

She heard similar noises around her and quickly looked to see the other three walls had also turned into 'Demon Walls'. Now all four were beginning to grind inward to try and crush her between them.

"Are you kidding me?" she sneered as she raised her gun arm again while also brandishing her sword. "Now the whole Temple is trying to kill me? I don't have time to blast every last bit of this place to rubble!"

A new male voice then cut in with," He may have been a joke, but I am not."

She saw an intimidating man cloaked in detailed liquid metal armor with purple-magenta highlights and jet boots that allow him easy movement. The man took out a sword and suddenly started flying around the area." I am General Glauca of the military supreme commander and magitek infantry leader of Niflheim. For hearth and home I will, GUH!"

While his jet boots caused him to appear behind Dale, in a second she did not even waste time talking to him and shot him in the head. As he fell to the ground she shrugged at the sight of him not being as superior to her previous opponent as he thought he was.

She saw the Demon Walls were still coming without any human guidance, and took aim and nearly fired, but didn't get the chance. Suddenly, a much more forceful shuddering went through the chamber.

No longer a tremor or the movement of something large but an actual quake. She tensed for a moment, thinking that even the ceiling was coming down on her, and that soon she'd be buried under who knew how much stone and rubble.

Yet though the quake picked up intensity, she soon saw it somehow wasn't spreading through the room or, more specifically, under her. Rather, it was traveling out to the four adjoining walls. And on touching their bases, it grew far more intense and severe.

Enough to start fracturing the floor and ceiling, pinning the walls down and subjecting them to greater stress. The demon visages on each one went wide-eyed and seemed to be horrified for a moment longer, before the violent tremors sent rifts and fractures into them. A moment later, they burst into thousands of pieces, and all four walls crumbled into rubble as a cloud of dust was sent sweeping over Eden.

She recoiled, sheltering herself as she expected more of the place to come down. Yet the quake quickly dissipated, and the smoke began to settle soon after revealing little more than empty halls beyond. She straightened at that, and her visor lit up more brightly to act as a beacon to illuminate the darkness about her.

Amid the fading dust, she soon spotted a silhouette. And based on its position, namely holding out a hand that was now withdrawing, it had been the source of the earth spell that had destroyed the walls.

"Who's there?"

A half-chuckle, half-snort responded before the form walked through the dust. "It's been a long time, you stupid grunt."

Hearing that voice was not only enough to make Eden go wide-eyed, but she actually retracted her helmet to look at him with her own eyes.

Sure enough, as he stepped into the clearing, it was him. The attire, the bronze clasp of a High Child of Hyne, and even his signature kusarigama coiled up in his opposite hand. Even the smug look on his face when he came into the light; albeit perhaps a bit more friendly than what she was used to.

"Taraketh…"

"Surprised to see me?" the mage tossed back with a hint of a smile, before he let it fade and sighed. "I'm a bit surprised to see myself here, to be honest… I'm glad I ran into you, though. You may have upgraded now that you're a Guardian Force, but someone with experience still has to watch your back."

"What…how…" She paused, shaking her head. "Nevermind that part. How did you get here?"

"Someone with horns on their head suddenly popped in front of me and said they needed my help. I tried to argue, but he apparently wasn't having it. He seized me and drug me here…wherever 'here' is. I didn't get a chance to get much of the details but I know enough to know that there's something worse than Lady Mianyl here. At first he told me to head for a place called 'Gongaga', but I ran into some woman in a suit named Cissnei there who said I'd find you if I came here instead, and so I did."

He frowned.

"Something about a 'Black Materia'? I mean, that's nonsense. The Black Materia was destroyed hundreds of years ago." He looked about uneasily. "Although…this place does match some of the stories I read about the Temple of the Ancients…and it's starting to seem like anything is possible here."

The room suddenly gave another shudder. This time, some dust and small pebbles did rain from the ceiling, causing both individuals to look skyward.

"Was that you?"

"I wish…" Taraketh sighed. "Dael, you need to get out of here. Bahamut is here too and he's in full dragon form."

"I know. He's with me."

"No, he's not. He's fighting some sort of aberration right now but I can already sense the magical energy in this area is growing unstable. Even if he wins, he's going to have more to deal with soon." He grimaced. "And while I may still have you beat in experience, there's something to say about raw power… I don't think anything short of another god is going to make a difference up there. So let me handle the Temple; you go up and help him out."

Eden paused before giving him a small smirk. "Still think he needs my protection, huh?"

"Well, I'd be lying if I said you weren't good at it—no matter what body he's stuck in."

"Thanks. Good luck." She raised her arm to blast her way through the ceiling, but at the last moment lowered it again. "On second thought, I don't want to accidentally bury you in a rockslide. I'll do this the long way."

With that, her jets fired up and she touched off of the ground to shoot into the surrounding caverns.

---

Aeris heard Dale leave but was distracted by her new surroundings. She heard many explosions in the distance and looked at the wide chamber around her before she shrugged." Well, I did think the temple in my universe was a little dusty but now this is like, the opposite extreme. Got to find everyone before things get to, oh?"

The flower girl heard a door close before she rubbed her head." That you Ezan?"

She heard a roar before she looked up and saw a red dragon upside down on the ceiling. She saw the dragon breath fire before she rubbed her head." Not sure why there is randomly all this crazy gravity stuff but whatever."

The former flower girl heard a snicker before she turned around to see that Baigan was warped to the room with her. The humanoid snake hissed out an angry," It's no use resisting woman, the darkness will win over all!"

Aeris just let out a sad sigh before responding with," I'm sorry you were consumed with pain but please fight it and don't let your rage consume you."

"You think I resisted this?" Baigan snapped out." I let myself become a monster so I could be strong! I am reborn by the Absolute…and I will get the glory I deserve!"

Aeris saw he looked manic and just rolled her eyes before she looked at the dragon hanging directly above her." Oh…if you're just going to be a creep without remorse then I don't have time for putting up with your crap then. Bye!"

Her holy magic surged before she caught the dragon above her in a force grip and casually flung it at the snake man.

Baigan just screamed in shock before Aeris saw the dragon go crashing out of the room and sighed." I guess Ezan has rubbed off of me a tad but…got to focus on those who still can be saved. Besides…I can feel Sephiroth above us…and no matter what differences he has with the one from my universe I know it can't be good.

I'm sick of playing his games damn it. I know Ezan can handle everyone's hear at once so don't have to worry about the others hear. Besides my sis and her group seem kickass so I know the Turks and their interns won't trip them up. Hang on guys, we will get through this, we have to! Goddess Prism Power!"

After fully transforming again she casually backhanded the Red Dragon that tried to get back at her for flinging it at Baigan before flying out of the Temple.

---

As she did, others were not finding their battles so easy to end. Some of the ones finding themselves in a bit more trouble were Leviathan and Carbuncle, who were warped into a wide room with Leblanc, Logos, and Ormi.

Carbuncle glanced to each one of the Spira outfit for a moment, before smirking and cracking his tiny neck. "About time I got to show my stuff for real. Hey lady, what's the matter? Couldn't you afford a full furisode?"

Leblanc's eye twitched. "Hey! This outfit is what made me the most sought-after woman in all of Spira!"

"Sought after? What're you talking about? With an outfit like that, there's nothing to imagine!"

Her eye twitched again, even more furiously this time. "I don't know which summoner would produce such rude Aeons but it is seriously getting old!"

Leviathan gave a small tut. "I'm not sure exactly which world you're from, madame, but I know something of summoners and I can tell you that we are no 'Aeons'. Neither are we bound to have any one master. We consent only to be called by those who best us in battle."

This caused Lablanc to snicker before she fanned herself. "I don't know what kind of wild fayth would act like that, but I'll break you all the same! But I'll use your own kind to do it! Time to make use of this Dress Sphere. Sandy, Cindy and Mindy, help humble your own kind, aide your queen, Magus Sisters!"

The diva had green energy spheres form around her before forming three magical circles around her. The three-bug woman formed around the one who summoned them.

Carbuncle's tiny mouth smirked as he put one paw into the other, emitting the tiniest of "knuckle cracking" sounds. "Three on two, huh? I like those odds! Ready, you salty old fart?"

No answer. Puzzled, Carbuncle looked up, and saw the old man was rubbing his long brown beard and staring at the three.

"Uh…Leviathan? Bad time for a senior moment."

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. I just seem to recall some trio of espers who ran off to join up with one of those Lunarians ages ago. I think they became his servants but they didn't have a bug aesthetic, as I recall…"

All three of the women, one short, one fat, and one lean, seemed to frown in response to that. They appeared to want to call out something, but for whatever craft or ritual of summoning was involved, none said a word and simply flexed themselves.

The tall one, who Leblanc had called Sandy, didn't even wait any longer but quickly swished her bracelets in the air and performed some sort of spell. It apparently was targeting the squat one, Cindy, as he saw a translucent sphere appear around her.

"Heh…I know a Reflect spell when I see one," Carbuncle smirked. "Let's roll!"

"Actually, Carbuncle?" Leviathan interjected yet again, before letting out a weak snicker. "It's just…well…heh…it's so rare I get to, oh, what's the word, 'cut loose' like you, Bahamut, and mother. You mind if I handle this one myself for a change? I'd like to see what I can do in a human body for once."

"Oh come on! This is my time to shine!"

"There'll be others. Believe me. More than you probably want."

"Ugh…fine, but make it quick."

"Thank you," he politely answered before stepping forward. With that, the old man calmly pulled back his hood and took off his raincoat. He moved so slowly and pleasantly that Leblanc and her companions looked bored for a moment. That, however, changed when he pulled off his sweater.

At first, Leviathan's body was rather scrawny and withered—as one might expect for an old man. However, it was also completely criss-crossed with numerous tattoos of ocean seas, whirlpools, waves, and especially a long sinewy sea serpent that went along and back across his body. Once he was fully revealed, however, the very movements of his arms seemed to make his muscles start to grow.

He tossed his sweater aside and took a deep breath and began to flex, which seemed to make his muscles enlarge even more along with his height. As it did, the sea serpent seemed to thrash about on his body—making the whirlpools larger, the waves higher, and the seas more tempestuous and rough.

Taking in one last deep breath, he let out a "hoi" as he stomped one foot on the ground. A distinct tremor went through the ground as he seemed to grow an extra eight inches and his muscles exploded to rippling size. He was nothing short of a hulking bodybuilder now.

The Leblanc "Syndicate" was now stunned. "Oh, boss…he got a lot bigger…" Omri muttered.

"I'm sure it's just…a bit of glamor…" Logos murmured, nearly stammering.

"Just…just go thrash him already!" Leblanc finally spat out.

Sandy immediately dove on Leviathan, her bladed gauntlets flashing out. Yet Leviathan matched her speed perfectly—blocking each one with the broad sides of his arms against the broad sides of her blade. Despite his size, he kept up with her just as easily and without the slightest hesitation.

The smallest, Mindy, frowned at that, and quickly rubbed her wings together. They crackled with electricity, before they sent out a bolt of lightning his way. Yet in spite of being preoccupied with Sandy, Leviathan—moving with all the practiced skill of an expert martial artist—easily sidestepped the shot while still defending.

The tall one was surprised as the short one ground her teeth in frustration, and soon sent more electric spells his way. They didn't help much, however, as he continued to dodge her while blocking the blades.

Finally, he snapped out his normal flow and ducked under one of Sandy's strikes. The tall one looked stunned just long enough to take a palm to the stomach—visibly knocking the wind out of her and sending her staggering back.

Turning to Mindy, he shot for her; easily dodging two more lightning strikes sent his way before putting his own hands together and aiming for her. A chant later, and an intense crystallization of ice took place in midair before sending a diamond-esque like projectile right into her. It smashed on connecting, knocking the bee-clothed girl skyward.

That done, Leviathan turned to Cindy. Her cracked his neck and rotated his arm, getting ready for the final blow…

Yet he paused on seeing Cindy smirking at him, before she spread out her hands wide. A wave of green light came from it—the trademark of a healing spell. His eyes turned to Sandy for a moment, and saw as soon as the green wave hit her she sprung back to her feet at full vigor.

His eyes turned the other way and soon spotted the still-flailing Mindy suddenly stop in midair as the wave hit her and right herself. Her wings were charged with more energy than ever, and she unleashed her largest electric spell yet…right at Cindy.

Leviathan and Carbuncle's eyebrows alike raised in surprise as the translucent sphere around her lit up—moments before the bolts of energy sailed toward both of them. Leviathan grit his teeth in agony as he went rigid from the hit—his natural weakness triggered from the lightning. Carbuncle, on the other hand, fluffed up like he had been thrown into a cosmic clothes dryer as he audibly yelped in pain.

Now stunned, Leviathan could do little to protect himself as Sandy quickly rushed in on him and finally said a word: "Razzia!"

Leviathan was noticeably smacked about by the severity of the attack, his head going flying back and staggering as a result. Yet no sooner had the attack abated than Cindy ran up to him next: "Camisade!"

Another powerful blow struck him, this time knocking him nearly off of his feet and leaving him staggering. As a result, he was still stunned when Mindy finally ran in, reared back, and cried out: "Passado!"

This last one smacked Leviathan around with a chain of 15 blows…most of them managing to break Leviathan's skin and draw blood. When the final went off, he was hit so hard he went tumbling over himself in midair and flung back in Carbuncle's direction. As the smaller Guardian Force slammed into the ground from the electric attack, Leviathan nearly joined him—before fanning his legs out and catching himself. Even so, he was hunched, bleeding in a few places, and breathing a little hard.

Her confidence restored, Leblanc smirked. "Tut tut! Together the Magus Sisters are the strongest of the fayths! No other summonings can stand against them! This match is mine, loves!

Leviathan, however, only let out a good-natured chuckle. "That was quite surprising. What did you think, Carbuncle?"

While he was still smoking a little and let out a cough, he nevertheless chuckled as he got back up. "Smart enough to use Reflect offensively, huh? Don't see that too often… Ok, play time's over. Ready to end it, Leviathan?"

"Of course. I used to be king of the espers, remember. I have a reputation to maintain. So let's end it with the next move."

Leblanc went open-mouthed, seeing how calm and serious they were. Omri and Logos were much the same. A bead of sweat formed on her brow, before she quickly frowned and stamped her foot. "The…the impertinence! You're not ending this with your next move! I am! Sisters, you know what I'm talking about!"

They seemed to have the same idea, because all three of them scowled before they simultaneously balled their hands into fists. Each one of them spread their tiny wings and began to flutter them, causing them to rise into the air and quickly position themselves over Leviathan and Carbuncle. The magical energy in the area rapidly began to charge as each one began to summon a white, sizzling sphere of power about their bodies.

Leviathan rose calmly as this went on. "Ready, Carbuncle?"

His tiny mouth grinned. "Got you covered."

"How dare you!" Leblanc yelled over the growing power. "That's their unbeatable Delta Attack! There's no defense against it!"

"Isn't there, now…?" Carbuncle coolly answered.

Both Leblanc as well as the sisters began to see the at that, but they didn't waste any more time. The spheres grew to full intensity, causing all three sisters to vanish in the sheer energy, before at last they fired—combining their powers and sending them careening down on Leviathan and Carbuncle.

Yet no sooner had they fired than both they and the Leblanc Syndicate gaped—for while Leviathan was still there, standing calmly and smirking, a very shocked-looking and stunned Cindy was where Carbuncle had been a moment earlier.

They looked to the sky and saw Sandy and Mindy now aghast to see Carbuncle in Cindy's place, pulling at one of his black button eyes with a paw and sticking out his tongue.

"Unblockable attack, right?"

In horror, the two sisters looked down and were just in time to see Cindy cry out in anguish as the Delta Attack slammed into her with a tremendous eruption. Yet their shock didn't last long, because Leviathan used that moment to hold out a hand to either Aeon and chant. Pillars of water with strength enough to shatter concrete and pierce metal erupted from either hand and proceeded to slam into the guts of either one.

In moments, both of them were practically swatted like their bug personas and sent careening off into the nearest walls, while Cindy's body burst out of the resultant explosion like a cannonball and sailed straight for the Syndicate.

Leblanc turned pale. "Wait you supposed to be stronger than the likes of, GUH!"

The fattest of the Magus Sisters was blasted into Leblanc, and she and her sidekicks were also blasted into the walls. As the three were knocked unconscious and the Magus Sisters faded away, Carbuncle touched down on the ground while Leviathan let out a yawn and rotated his arms.

"When it comes to Reflect, don't mess with the master," Carbuncle snorted, crossing his tiny paws in front of his tiny chest.

"Well, that was invigorating…but I really can't stretch nearly as well in this tiny body," Leviathan mused. "I think I'll stick with my full body from now on—gangly as it is. I suppose it's a bit egocentric of me to say I'm glad they had some opponents I could actually handle, but everyone likes to feel useful."

Carbuncle snorted. "You like feeling useful? Look at me. I've seen jackrabbits more intimidating." He frowned. "Look, I'm never going to admit this to Eden or anyone else, so don't go spreading around that I said this, but…let's be real here. I'm not exactly the kind of esper any summoner is going to pull out first.

I think Terra's old group called on my magicite, like, once and that was just to see what it did. I can't very well reflect people to death. I've always only been great when I'm paired with other Guardian Forces. And now we're stuck here with just two of us…'cause let's keep being honest. Bahamut and Eden don't really need us either."

Leviathan hesitated, his look dimming slightly, but in the end he shrugged. "True. However, there's a lot of other allies we do have around here. And I'm sure we can give them a hand."

He sighed. "I guess you're right. Ugh…I may actually junction to someone after all before this is over…blech."

Leviathan smirked. "Think of it as giving an 'assist'. Now come on. I can't very well throw any tsunamis around in here without risking sweeping away allies, so let's get to where I can use my full size and strength."

As they tried to get out of the temple to help their family, others were dealing with their own battle.

At the moment others in the group were having a much worst experience with a creature of the sea, Tifa, who by bad luck was warped alone with Ultros.

---

At first Tifa did not even pay attention to the purple octopus as she looked around." Cloud, is that man really your father? No, has to be Sephiroth just trying to mess with him more. I have to get to him!"

She tried leaving the room only to evade an incoming tentacle. As she glared at Ultros the octopus cleared his throat." Ho ho ho you are not getting past me, no sir! No picking on me now! "

"I don't know what you think this is but you made a big mistake."

Ultros saw Tifa get into a fighting stance before he laughed." Oh I heard all about you from the Turks girl! Tifa Lockheart is all the rage around these parts and I can see why! Cute girls, my favorite kind! I do like them pretty!"

"If you think I'm some thing to prey on your going to be sorry when I kick your ass with your own ripped off arms!"

"Oh did I be a bad octopus and upset you? So sorry…I'll try and be gentler."

"I won't! Meteor Strikes!"

Tifa jumped up to try and shatter her target, but to her horror Ultros lashed out with two of his tentacles to grasp her arms before she could unleash her move. Ultros laughed at Tifa's shock before hissing out," I'm not as clumsy as I look babe! You got those moves Sabin had but you do look good doing them! But those moves won't help a master of the sea! This has been one wild day but I knew it was going to pay off! Let's have some fun!"

He was about to grasp Tifa with his other tentacles before he is intercepted by Cryder.

Ultros was about to grasp Tifa with his other tentacles before a loud crackling began to echo from the ceiling. Ultros looked up in puzzlement, just as a rather large piece of masonry broke loose—somehow perfectly in the shape of a stalactite—and began to fall right for his bulbous head.

Wincing in panic, he instinctively released Tifa to use all available tentacles to scuttle out of the way—narrowly missing as the rock pierced where he had been. As he gasped a little in fright, a loud whistle pierced the air. "Hey, fishface! Aren't you a little far from the ocean?"

Both Tifa and Ultros looked up to the sound; and found someone else was joining them. Between the long boots, weather-beaten attire with sash, loose white shirt and bandanna around the neck, and cutlass of all things hanging at his hip, it didn't take long to make out what the new arrival's profession was.

And that was before looking to his face with his tied-back black ponytail and large, bushy mustache gracing his sun stroked, slightly scarred, and grinning face. He even had a bit of swagger as he strolled toward the two.

Tifa looked a bit surprised at the new arrival. "Who are you?"

"Oh, my apologies, love. Still getting off my sea legs and forgetting my manners." He proceeded to give a gallant bow. "Cryder Morningjay. Pirate…er…former pirate. Privateer, as it were, with all legal recognitions and privileges and rot from the Esthar government. Having a little trouble with an octopus? Just so happens to be my specialty."

Ultros snickered out, "A pirate,seriously? Ugh, way too retro. I don't know what seas you sailed mate but you got nothing on me!"

"Fair enough. I forgot to bring any flour or tempura with me, so I'll wager I can't make anything that tasty out of you."

Ultros took a moment to get the insinuation before gritting his sharp teeth. "How dare you! You're dealing with octopus royalty here!"

"So much the better," Cryder grinned as he drew his sword. "Don't you know we pirate folk love sticking the nobles?"

Growling, Ultros answered by snapping his body around and producing an orifice out of seemingly nowhere. Soon after he discharged a blot of inky-like substances at the pirate. The man answered by sidestepping, only to find the octopus had used it as a distraction to advance on him with tentacles thrashing.

Cryder smirked back as he waved his free hand in front of him. In response, out of thin air, spectral flames bearing the likeness of wills of the wisp appeared before him in a screen of dancing plumes.

As they looked small enough, Ultros reared back and lashed out with his tentacles to merely smack them aside. However, he only got through two before howling in pain—as striking the fires only made them erupt as if they were made with oil. They proceeded to splash over the ends of both tentacles in waves of flame.

The distraction cost him, as Cryder used the moment to lunge forward and start swinging. Ultros was forced to quickly abort his attack as he found himself on the defensive. With Cryder in his tentacle range, he couldn't deflect or protect himself without risking slicing along the blade. He tried to dip two more tentacles inward, only for the pirate's sword to force him to back off. Hissing, he nearly yanked himself fully out of range…

Yet that was when Cryder balled his free hand into a fist and did something rather unconventional. While slicing away at one tentacle, he ducked inward and slugged the octopus right in one of his bulbous eyeballs.

"Ack!"

With stinging pain driven into his skull, Ultros tried to recoil, but it was too late. He used his big tentacles to shove him back, but he still hissed again when Cryder's sword flashed one more time. He forced his eyes open, moaning in pain, to see two red cuts along two of his other tentacles.

"Are you kidding me? Bah, you may have an eye for treasure, fatso, but let's see how good you are diving in deep waters!"

Ultros unleashed a burst of ink to cloud the area, and while he tried to kill the pirate while his vision was clouded he found out the hard way the extent of his target's powers. He once again tried to lunge himself forward with his rear tentacles in order to give the pirate a thrashing—only to find his leverage gone. The ground beneath him had suddenly turned into the consistency of oatmeal, and instead of shoving forward all he managed was to sink his tentacles into the earth—anchoring him where he was.

"Huh?"

"Looks like land ain't your forte either, mate!"

Ultros saw the murk in front of him part and raised his tentacles to lash out at what it was, only for them to hit nothing as the object in question ended up being an old bottle that spiraled through the air and smashed right in his forehead. Again his eyes were forced to shut as shards of dirty glass scattered across them—leaving him perfectly open for Cryder as he dove forward and sliced him two more times.

Sheer pain and panic forced the octopus to yank himself free, frantically crawling back and bleeding all the way. Using his side tentacles, he quickly began to "scuttle" to the sides, trying to at least find a way to get behind his target. "Oh man I could lose this one! Might want to…huh?"

He was halted again as the inky smoke cleared, this time completely, and revealed Tifa bursting at him looking furious. "You creeped around enough you pervert! FINAL HEAVEN!"

Ultros just cried out, "I'm sorry! Not the, GUH!"

Tifa smashed him right out of the chamber, and as she landed on the ground the rest of the ink died down. It left the pirate standing there, a bit perplexed that his fight was over. Yet once he saw what had become of the octopus, he sheathed his sword, turned to her, and gave her a small round of applause.

"Nicely done, lassie. I dare say you remind me of another young spitfire. Heh, maybe more than one at this point."

Tifa raised an eyebrow as she cleared her throat. "So…you're friends with the others?"

"That depends on which others you be talking about. These are strange waters even for a man like myself. Let's just say I've got no love for anyone flying the flag o' 'Shinra' or anyone else who likes leechin' off the planet and call it square, eh?"

She sighed. "Well, I'll take your word for it for now. I have to find my friend so we can get to know each other later."

"Oh, well very good. Seems we're in the same boat after all, lass. I've got a couple of young mates of mine to track down as it were. What do you say to doubling the pairs of eyes lookin' about for both of them, eh?"

"I'm not really in the position to refuse right now, so alright. This way."

---

Meanwhile Red XIII was dealing with Zorn and Thorn, but the two jesters kept the talking dog pinned with their combined magic.

Red XIII growled and tried to lunge at the blue jester, only for his brother to cast ice magic to freeze the talking dog to the ground.

The two both laughed in unison as they made hand jesters and both said, "You're a nasty beast, but not as nasty as our combined magic! Submit to your betters, mutt! Flare!"

However, although it sailed out from both of the jester twins and nearly put down their intended target, the only impact it ended up having was to light up an iridescent, translucent shell to appear around the canine; surprising Red XIII as much as Zorn and Thorn. A moment later, both of them dove for cover to avoid the exact same spell shooting back at them—narrowly missing getting singed by it.

A jingling noise accompanied it, and Red XIII turned to see Taraketh come running in from behind him. His kusarigama was already out and stretched between his hands, and his hard and disdainful expression was already focused on the two jesters as they picked themselves back up.

"My gratitude to Sir Carbuncle for that spell…" he said aloud, before addressing the two. "If that crude attempt at Sir Bahamut's technique was the best you clowns could come up with, you're better off throwing yourselves into a circus. You two are rank amateurs at best when it comes to spellcasting. Those half-cantrips you threw out are an embarrassment to mages everywhere. I'll ask you to surrender if only not to insult yourselves a moment longer."

Thorn laughed before yelling out, "Pompous brat, you will pay for taking us lightly! Meteor!"

A warping sound rang through the air as space distorted—forming a single hole that seemed to open into the cosmos. In the next instant, a sizzling, flaming ball of fire shot out of it and straight for Taraketh.

The mage simply snorted and cast a spell of his own. "Haste!" A moment later, his body, its speed now fully tripled, shot backward and clear of the attack. The meteorite slammed down where he had been with a considerably concussive explosion, but even as the shockwaves were moving out he simply moved around them heedless—giving off a greenish sheen as he did.

"Shoddily done. A few simple enhancement spells is all I need to evade even a black magic of that magnitude. I've seen a Comet spell with more force."

Zorn sneered. "This one's got a big mouth!"

"Big mouth, this one has!" Thorn retorted. "Two at once, let us let him try!"

"Try taking two at once! Blizzaga!"

Both jesters cast at once and soon sent monstrous, bone-chilling shards of ice flying at him together.

Taraketh merely scoffed. "Crude…insubstantial…unfocused…you two must really be jesters. You can't even get your spells off in time to prevent me from countering!" Taking his kusarigama hammer up, he began to swirl it fiercely around him as he shouted. "Quakra!"

From the source of his weapon, concentrated magical energy blasted forth and into the ground. Soon, the floor was being ripped up violently by jagged pillars of rock tearing through it like some giant worm—headed straight for the twin jesters. When the pillars met the ice they easily pounded the latter into snowflakes, and remained heedless of the cold all the way until they reached Zorn and Thorn.

Seconds later, both were launched out of the ground as if they had been ejected from trampolines, only for the ceiling to erupt in a matching quake and smash into them with equally hard and powerful pillars of rock. Both slammed onto the floor with sickening smacks.

Both were clearly sore from the move, and looked it as they slowly tried to pick themselves up. "You have some tricks, but we are far more than simple mages!"

"Far more than simple mages, we are!"

Light radiated from both jesters at once, and a sound like a great heart thumping began to echo through the air. Taraketh looked puzzled only a moment, before his look turned into revulsion as both of them seemed to literally begin to melt before his eyes. Not into liquid, but more of some sort of grotesque, fleshy molding clay.

Yet even more disgusting was when the two slid to each other and bonded their torsos, with most of their limbs distorting into flipper or knob-like appendages, their bodies uniting in some grotesque monstrosity, and all that was left was their two twisted heads—eyes now glowing and their own jester caps seeming to have melded with their skulls.

Yet when the lumbering Meltigemini was finished, Taraketh's only reaction was to regard them with even more disgust. "Before you were just a pair of uneducated, talentless fools. Now you think you're somehow more impressive because you degenerated your bodies into something even more hideous and mangled? Revolting monster…"

Meltgemini snarled out, "Let's see how long you can keep that look as you melt! Viral Smoke!"

The two headed demon unleashed a squall of toxic gas to try and surround the area only for Taraketh to show how little he thought of this. Still regarding the demon abomination with a sneer, he simply adjusted the path of his kusarigama and called out again. "Aeroga!"

Soon, the malformed creature, in spite of its large base, had to shield itself with its own flippers as a gale-force tornado-like wind ripped through the chamber, not only sending all of the toxic magic back at it but soon beginning to batter it with broken off pieces of stone and rock from the previous assault. Both heads hissed and cursed. "No! You're a master of both earth and wind magic?!"

"Any true mage would be. And unfortunately for you, I've mastered even more than that!"

Taking up the sickle portion in his other hand, he effortlessly began to swirl that around while still generating his Aeroga spell with his other arm. Soon, the sickle chain began to gleam red as if it was being heated over irons, before smoke and flames began to generate around them.

Both heads of the enemy snarled, "No…you are not better than us! Dooms, GUH!"

Before they could complete the spell Red XIII bit the monster's right arm before howling out, "Don't think you can forget about me. Chilling Roar!"

The red dog then froze the monster's limb, causing Taraketh to drop his wind-generating arm and focus totally on his now-flaming weapon. "Trapped by ice? I'll set you free. Get out of my sight!" Snapping his sickle forward, he bellowed: "Firaga!"

In moments, Meltgemini was completely bathed in deluges of lava-like flames, which only seemed to burst into larger and bigger flames as they swept over it. Its twin heads were contorted in agony only for a moment before being reduced to ash; before the flames proceeded to annihilated the carbonized remains of the demon as well. Once the fires died down, there was nothing left but a black smudge on the ground.

Red XIII sniffed it for a moment, before turning to the mage as he relaxed and put up his weapon, and soon gave Taraketh the same treatment. On completion, he shrugged. "Well…whoever you are you have my thanks."

"It's no problem whatsoever," he answered, finishing coiling up his kusarigama before crossing an arm over his chest and giving a dignified bow. "Taraketh Sabian…" He opened his mouth to say more, but then winced and grimaced. "Normally this is where I would give you my titles, but those no longer mean anything. I am simply an accomplished student of the magical arts trained by Sorceresses themselves. I came here ready to rid this world of horrors and monstrosities like that one was, and it gives me personal satisfaction when they are those who misuse the arcane."

After saying this, he gave a bit of a start, and looked a little awkwardly at Red XIII.

"Although I must say I wasn't expecting to run into a…talking dog, of all people. Nevertheless, I have learned the hard way more than once not to judge by appearances, so…at your service."

He nodded. "Well, for my part, you're no odder than the ones I been running around with already. But come on, still have to find the rest of the pack so to speak."

He readily straightened. "The feeling is mutual. I've already run into Dael…er, Lady Eden, but she can handle herself. I have other companions who should have arrived here who will lend a hand as well. Believe me when I say there is little than all of us together cannot accomplish."

"I don't doubt your resolve, but we are dealing with more than just Shinra… We are dealing with an enemy so vast I can't even begin to understand the scale. All I know, is that we still have to fight no matter what."

"Well, this is a chance for me to take an active role where I previously sat on the sidelines, and I certainly don't intend to waste it. Lead the way."

---

As they wondered about the state of their comrades, the fights were unfolding at the moment. Yuffie was fighting Ba'Gamnan, Fujin, and Magissa all at once. Yuffie saw Ba'Gaman lick his lips before she shivered." Hey guys I know I am popular but this is just creepy."

Ba'Gaman hissed out," I don't care what you think! Too long have I gone unpaid! I'll carve my bounty out of that body! You're the prey hear girl!"

He tried to attack her, only for a whistling to echo through the air. As his attack lashed inward, a loud clashing sound rang out as a massive axe blade landed in between him and his target—surprising both at the same time. Yet that surprise was soon doubled when a woman leapt down from the same direction the axe had come, seized the handle with one hand, and (nevertheless) yanked it out with ease.

As the gigantic axe was hoisted over the woman's shoulder, she turned and boldly faced all three at once with a clenched jaw and burning eyes. She was dressed entirely in natural leathers, animal bones, beads, and war paint of a native of the wilds. Her long hair flailed behind her as free and wildly as the look in her eyes and her considerable muscle flexed as she made it clear she hadn't the slightest fear of any of them.

"Don't mention 'prey' to me, wyrm. I've slain creatures whose young were more fearsome than you." Her axe came around and aimed itself at all three opponents at once. "My name is Ceja Dracocorazon of the Nine Bands of the North. I do not fear death, much less the three of you."

Ba'Gaman snarled. "I'm not wasting any more time with any more of you humans crawling out of the woodwork!" Revving his saw blade, he dove at Ceja and drove it inward with a spear thrust.

The woman's eye twitched and narrowed, and, snapping around like the strike of a snake, she swung her axe blade around to meet the weapon. A moment later the bangaa was stunned, for she didn't clash or deflect his thrust but actually caught it perfectly in between two of the saw teeth. Muscles tightening and not even quivering, she halted him easily before twisting and deflecting his spear thrust to the ground. It embedded in there a moment later, leaving him stunned and disarmed.

Trying to seize on the moment, Magissa quickly reared back and lashed out with her whip right for her eyes. Ceja, however, again turned to her with the eyes of a hawk, and in a flash of speed simply reared her head back and let the whip end crack only the air—not even flinching when it snapped in front of her eyes.

A moment later, she removed a hand and seized the end of the whip, quickly twisting it around her wrist and meaning to yank it away. Magissa, however, only grinned back as she used her free hand to ready a spell to hit her opponent.

That grin quickly evaporated, though, when Ceja snatched up her gigantic axe as if it was a tremendous shuriken (even larger than Yuffie's) and flung it at her in a deadly, spinning arc. She quickly had to abandon her whip anyway and recoil to avoid having it slice her in half.

At that point, Fujin made her own move. Snapping her arm forward, she let her chakram fly at the now-disarmed Ceja. Yet the woman merely crouched slightly, limbered her hands, and then lashed out with her knuckles as it reached striking range. To the one-eyed woman's surprise, her weapon was knocked clean to the ground with a clatter—leaving her disarmed as well.

In response, she narrowed her gaze and held out her hands, soon issuing out a torrent of wind after the native warrior. Ceja was struck at once and began to slide away from the force, before she quickly planted a foot, crossed herself, and lowered her head to lean into the wind—halting any further retreat. Fujin nearly pushed in harder, before she heard a whistling noise behind her quickly growing louder. She turned about, and her one eye bulged before she quickly cut off her attack and stepped aside to avoid being bisected by Ceja's spinning axe.

Yet in spite of the shortage of time between the moves, the moment the wind cut off Ceja again stood at the ready and nimbly reached out her hand to the spinning disk—catching it with perfect timing and bringing it to her side.

"That is enough," she flatly stated. "I have demonstrated I am the superior warrior. Yield now or your lives are forfeit."

"DECISION. DESTROY." Fujin retorted. "HELP, SEIFER. Tornado!"

The woman with an eyepatch created a funnel of wind, even more intense than before. Once again, the warrior had to lean in and brace herself to withstand it, but still ended up pinned down.

Ba'Gaman snarled as he finally freed his weapon before hissing out, "You may have some skills, but I carved through ace viera's tricks! You will fall all the same! Eviscerator!"

His wheel like blade glowed as he tried to slice the interloper apart. Ceja, however, kept her eyes open and saw him coming, and countered by suddenly twisting her feet down and grinding them against the stone.

She sprung forward as he reached her, twisting herself around into a spiral that negated the wind tunnel just enough to lash out with her huge axe again. The sheer size overcame the reach of the saw blade, connected with its non-toothed edge, and chopped it in two.

Ba'Gaman was stunned, which was too bad as she wasn't finished. She released her weapon temporarily but kept spinning forward, before she lashed out for his neck like a lion going for the jugular of prey. She seized it and kept twisting, yanking him off of his feet, hauling him around in a spiral, and finally smashing him down into the ground with all the ferocity of the most savage of predators. Blood erupted from his throat, his pupils shrank to nothingness, and he got out one gurgle before going still.

Unfortunately for Ceja, this move still took some time, and Fujin used it to break off her attack, run forward, and snatch up her chakram again. Seeing her opponent unarmed, she reared back and yelled out, "RAGE!"

She flung the chakram at her exposed backside a second later, only for Yuffie to shout out, "You're not as hot as you think, one eye! Inexorable End!"

Yuffie unleashed her limit break to break Fujin' s weapon, and take out her and Magissa at once. Ceja, by now, released Ba'Gaman and turned at the sound of the attack—noticing how she had just been spared an attack from hitting her unawares.

Yuffie landed and gave a thumbs up before uttering, "Thanks for giving me an opening, lady!"

Ceja hesitated, frowning a little at how she had almost been caught off guard, as well as noticing Yuffie's choice of words, but she ignored it as she stood again and took up her weapon. "There is no need for thanks. In Fuliet, there is a saying. It benefits the Ursa to aid the Honeyguide, even if it means engaging the Saurons."

Yuffie rubbed her head. "Never heard of that, but cool. Hey, come on we have to find the others! I'm missing out on all the Materia!"

Ceja's previously fierce face turned into puzzlement. "Materia?"

"Yes, of course, materia! That's why they call me Yuffie, the world's greatest materia hunter!"

The woman's interest was piqued at that. "I do not know what kind of monster a 'materia' may be, but if you are hunting it then I am with you."

---

At the same time Barret was staring down Reno, Rude, and Rajin all at once. As soon as the three arrived in their area Barret saw the man with sunglasses and grit his teeth." Glad your bald ass got thrown in here, we still got unfinished business with Sector 7."

Rude swept the dust off his suit before he sighed." And here I was hoping that I would land with Tifa."

"You serious? I don't think she wants to see one of the men who caused her bar, and her entire town to get crushed asshole!"

"Still going on about that? It was nothing personal, just business."

"The fact that you think that makes what you did better?"

"We live in the world that exists, not the fantasy world you wish existed. Those who can't keep up, get left behind."

Reno shrugged before adding," It's not fair but those with the power make the rules. Got it memorized?"

Barret charged up his gun arm before throwing out," If that's how you're playing then the guy with the gun is going to shoot down the Shinra dogs that came to the fight unarmed!"

Rude suddenly punched the ground hard enough to throw Barret off balance. Before he could refocus Rajin ran up and slammed Barret in the face with his bo-staff.

As Barret was smashed to the ground the former Balamb Garden disciplinary committee member snickered." You got no grace fool! You got no chance yah know?"

Rude cracked his neck before he shrugged." Not bad rookie, you might have a place yet."

As Rajin smashed Barret again and caused the larger black man to cough up blood Reno then lunged and jabbed his rod into Barret before trying to paralyze him before he snickered." Man you think a guy like you who keeps losing his teammates would read the god damn room! How many more pieces of your body you going to lose before reality gets through your thick head? I heard you were just made A faction leader of Avalanche because your " team" was too afraid to lead anything! Guess they got what they paid for!"

Barret snarled out a bitter," Shut the hell up! Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, even Dyne, you're paying your debt for all the lives you took!"

"Thought you been around long enough to know that the winners don't pay the losers jack!"

Barret tried to get up before yelling out," You fools really will sell out everyone just to get some crumbs at your masters table eh?"

Rajin shrugged before spitting out," Your all talk yah know? If you don't have the skill to back it up then get the hell out!"

Reno, Rude and Rajin prepared to attack Barret to knock him right out of the platform.

Reno, Rude and Rajin prepared to attack Barret to knock him right out of the platform…only they didn't get the chance. As they were diving in, a new body, large and muscular and yet graceful and quick, ducked in between. In a flash, he moved like water and went to work. Reno's prod was caught by a wooden-tipped staff, which quickly tapped it head-on to abort its thrust before swinging around to deflect it away.

All of this took only a heartbeat, leaving enough time for the staff to swing back around and catch Raijin's own thrust with the middle of his own shaft, before he quickly pulled back, knocked the weapon upward, and then smacked it to shove back at Raijin; aborting his attack and making him retreat.

Finally, he shifted the staff to one hand to free up the other, with which he caught Rude's own punch in his palm. It was enough to push his arm back, but did no more than that. He quickly freed his other arm up by standing his own staff up temporarily and launched a palm toward Rude's face. This forced the Turk to quickly abandon his own attack and recoil to get free.

A moment later, all three men were standing back, now facing this new arrival. He was dressed like a desert monk, although from his loose clothing and how it was tied he seemed to be more of the combat-orientated type. He was older and bald, but the tone of his muscles and the skill he had demonstrated made his power more than clear. He calmly held one hand before him as he took up his staff again with the other.

"Perhaps I have skill…to enforce my speaking," he spoke in a broken, heavily-accented dialect. "And…if on finding you do not possess same…follow own advice and…" He struggled for a moment, trying to grasp the idiom he overheard. "…go to hell…?"

Rajin was not sure what to make of the new arrival before spitting out, "What rock did you crawl out of, old timer? You picked the wrong time, yah know?"

The monk gave a small yet polite bow. "I am Jalab. And this is correct time. Evil not held back by time, era, or planet. Way of Pallas the same…do not abide evil or let stand." Raising his head, he calmly gestured to each man one after another. "You three. You abide evil. You bow in its wake. You cause…wrongdoing."

Rude repositioned his sunglasses before shrugging. "No, I'm not bad. But like it or not... I sometimes have to do bad things. Don't take it personal."

Jalab turned his head, looking at the man more inquisitively. Enough to where Rude started to frown at him. Finally, the monk held his hand up, gesturing around his own eyes, and then indicating to the Turk.

"You…hide eyes. Wish to hide the world? Or no longer able…to look self in eyes?"

Rude gave a sneer in response, then shot forward and attacked. However, Jalab retorted by tossing his weapon aside all together and putting his hands up in palms. The Turk lashed out with multiple strong punches and blows, but it did no good. The monk didn't even shift weight as he readily blocked and deflected each and every attack headed his way. His face remained the picture of calmness throughout.

Getting annoyed at this, Rajin shot forward and started thrusting with his bo staff for the monk as well. It forced Jalab to pick up speed, but it didn't break him. Both opponents knuckled down and began to attack more fiercely and rapidly. Jalab slowly picked up speed to counter, but as it kept coming he started to tense up more. His calmness started to break. At long last, he was forced to take a step back to evade the latest bo strike…

Yet at that moment, the monk actually closed his eyes while still deflecting, took in a deep breath, and then opened them again. A fire was in his eyes as, to the shock of his opponents, his fists doubled in speed. The two were barely able to withstand his attacks for more than two seconds before one fist went out and struck Rude under the armpit while he was rearing back and another went into the elbow of Raijin as he went back for a thrust. With the stop hits having halted both of them, both men were left wide open as one iron palm after another (one into Rude's middle and the other across Raijin's face) knocked both of them back with air-shaking force.

Rajin wiped off the blood from his cheek and just smirked. "Yah got some skill but that just means we have to lay down the hurt!"

Rude nodded before punching the ground and causing an energy geyser to erupt underneath his target. Obviously, Jalab didn't take this standing still. He immediately sidestepped to one side, but that was the intention. Rajin saw his target dodge the strike into his path before yelling out, "You're mine! Raijin Special!"

Reno threw a EMP charge to create a moving electric field to try and limit his target's movement just as Rajin unleashed his combo attack. The charge managed to go off, sending out the mobile wave of electricity, and Jalab looked at it right before seeing Rajin coming for him.

However, he didn't move. Rather, he quickly locked his palms together, pulled them down to his hip, held the crucial moment it took for Rajin to get into just the right position, and then snapped his palms forward.

To the shock of Raijin as well as the Turks, his hands shone with focused chi energy before they fired out in a pure white holy beam. The attacker quickly shifted to bracing his bow to guard, but that did little good when the intense blast hit it—shattering it in his grasp, sending him flailing to the ground, and carrying on past him to strike the EMP Charge and instantly obliterate it.

As the beam died down, Jalab released and put both hands at his sides. Immediately, his entire body began to glow with the same aura as his chi flared.

"True talent…but hearts are weak. Men who cannot stand for anything…always doomed to be knocked over."

With that, his eyes blazed white, before fires erupted from his body. Each one that did grew into an inferno, but also bore the likeness of Jalab himself. As if he had used some sort of "fire clone jitsu" to make them. Yet whether it was an illusion, conscious flames, or even the man moving so fast that he simply took the likeness of multiple monks of flame didn't matter.

All that mattered was that Reno, Rude, and Raijin were soon being pummeled so quickly by so many images that at no one time were any of them being smashed by less than three fists. The heat from each blow singed their clothes, smashed their armaments, and pounded their bodies—leaving them only puppets on strings to be knocked about again and again for several fateful seconds.

Reno had lighting crackle around his body before he became faster, and got out of the way of the next strike. He had his Baton glow before he yelled out," I'm not having the promotion of a lifetime be taken from me from some fossil! Flashstrike!"

He prepared to attack Jalab, only to see a large energy ray heading at him from the sky, Barret's Satellite Beam limit break. As Reno was blasted across the room Barret cracked his neck." That's for thinking you could look down on me asshole!"

Finally, it was done, and Jalab was left standing exactly where he was before as if he hadn't even moved to begin with. As the three hit the ground with a thud, Rajin coughed up blood and struggled to rise. "This…sucks yah…ugh."

Rude saw the impact shattered his sunglasses before he winced. "No…I made it this far…can't…ugh."

Reno yelled out a bitter, "We are supposed to be the one's kicking ass and taking names. Not…ugh."

As the three lost consciousness, Barret got up and snickered. "Yah got off easy punks, I don't have time to waste. Still, thanks for bailing me out brother."

The monk extended one leg to curl under his discarded staff and kicked it up into the air for him to snatch it out of it. Once it was in his grip and back at his side, he faced Barret, gave him a smile, and then crossed his arm before him to give a polite bow.

Barret smirked. "These 'Special' AVALANCHE reinforcements really are all over the place but I don't care if you're a moogle. If you're helping to save the planet you're my new best friend right now. Any more of you around?"

Jalab's look was inquisitive for a moment as he had to process the nature of the words he heard, but then he nodded again. "Yes. Some have come. More than few. Friends…like me…of Eden. Here…" Again, he looked puzzled. "Brought from…one all…to many alls…to save many alls…?"

Barret nodded. "Works for me. Better see if I can find Aerith. Those assholes won't stop trying to drag her back to Hojo and that girl's suffered enough."

"I will join you," Jalab answered, holding up his hands and making a small gesture. "As the word goes…let my hands talk to others in place of me…?" With that, he gestured in a direction with his staff. "Sense other chis there. Having fights. We should go."

Taking the new lead, the monk beckoned to Barret as he ran off in the same direction.

---

Unlike the others, Clive, his group, and many of the others were dealing with Sleipnir, Qun'mi Tru'e, Snow, and Dycedarg Beoulve. All four were competent enemies, but things took a turn for the worst as Sleipnir showed he could effortlessly clone himself to boot.

At the moment Alphen slashed in half a large red projectile that Sleipnir fired at him, only for another one to almost stab him in the back before Shionne blasted the other one back with her magic. She looked grimly determined before uttering," I don't care how many of you there are, you not taking everything away from me again!"

The left most Sleipnir snickered before giving a mock bow." Forgive me if my performance seems uninspired. It's just, I expected so much more from the likes of you. Perhaps this…will settle things. "

He formed a larger lance in his hand, as did the other clones, before they all fired large red energy projectiles at their targets. He saw their anger before he laughed." You will all pay for what you did to my master! Ratatoskr!"

Sleipnir summoned large swords of darkness and flung them into the air. Clive used the new power that he acquired after absorbing Ultima before shattering the energy blade and hissing out," He sought to make us slaves! If you insist on being a slave yourself then you will join him!"

"No…my master's glory will trump your foolish delusions of freedom! Dead Man's Bier!"

Sleipnir unleashed an even more intense barrage of red energy attacks before Clive tried to finish off his target. However a wave of ice caused him to get off course, before he saw Snow was the one who released the spell. The blond-haired man grasped his fist before uttering," Don't you realize this place is a prison for monsters like us? What's wrong? Still holding back? You holding back!? That it, savior? I'm right here! Come on!

Chaos Geyser!"

Snow punched the ground and tried to encase Clive with a geyser of ice, only for a large projectile of even thicker ice to come up from the right and shatter it. Snow then glanced to the left and saw that the magic came from Jhil before Clive's lover frowned at Snow." Your not the only one who can use ice hear."

Snow snickered before he shrugged." Got your own Shiva eh dude? Not bad, but I got two! Stiria, Nix, lets show these posers how the Shiva sisters roll!"

A mark on his fist summoned two woman that looked like Shiva. The elder sister Stiria had dark blue skin with a pale blue claw mark on her right eye. She has dark blue and white color palette with bronze highlights.

Nix had pale blue skin with an blue skintight clothing and silver metal armor. Her headdress, which becomes the back wheel well, has Etro script for "Shiva". Beneath her visor is a dark blue claw mark on her left eye. She wielded a floating wheel.

Clive's Cid saw the two Shiva sisters float around Snow before he snickered." They get two in their world eh? We got the raw deal."

Benedikta snickered as wind twirled around her." Must you think with your cock at every moment Cid? This man's nothing but a fool."

Snow had the Shiva Sisters transform into a motorcycle before Snow snickered. " I don't need your pity! You're no Angel of Death! Come on, kill me! Cie'ths are hard to kill, so prove you have it in you! Depths of Despair!"

Snow unleashed a massive burst of dark ice magic, and Jill found herself struggling before Rinwell came to aid Jill and yelled out," Damn it dude don't you have any will to live? Huh?"

She was nearly blindsided by Qun'mi Tru'e, till Kisara blocked the strike with her shield. Seeing her attack intercepted, the Secundus l'Cie of the White Tiger Crystal merely snickered." We are all chained to fate, the more you resist the worst it's going to get!

Come Dáinsleif!"

The armored woman suddenly warped out of Law's fists before appearing to the right. The moment she did she summoned a giant tank like mechanical fox with countless laser cannons. As blasts started to rain down Cid took a deep sigh." If you have that slave mindset the battle is over before it begins you sad pawn. Pile Drive!"

Cid used one of his Eikonic Feats to unleash a barrage of lighting bolts before Dion looked at the woman, and Snow before he winced." I'm not sure but I think a few of are opponents were as controlled as I was."

"So if I zap these wankers hard enough they will snape to there senses eh? Even with things like this, it's a damn shame letting people die a slave."

He tried to get closer to Qun'Mi, only for another energy wave to come his way. He saw that it came from Dycedarg before the man with the beard spat out," Your as foolish as the Cid I know. Only the elite deserve happiness!"

He tried to attack Cid only for Razma to parry the strike before the younger of the two family members yelled out," You really have lost sight of justice this badly brother?"

"'Justice'? I'm embarrassed to think you even said that! You think such pretty ideals can govern the people!? Why are you able to use that sword? Why do you think the people call you a hero? It's all because of me! Because I dirtied my hands you're here! You should be thanking me, not despising me!"

"I don't play by your rules brother! Astral Munition!"

Razma fired a beam of energy from his sword to catch Dycedrag off guard, and go through the older man's gut. Dycedrag yelled out in pain before yelling out," Damn you brother, you can't stop me no matter who you rally behind! I'll sell my soul for victory, as long as I win there is no sin! RAHH!"

Razma saw his brother glow before he noticed what was in the man's hand and winced." Is that one of the shard of auracite of the Lucavi? No, AHH!"

He saw his brother transform into a demi human with a goat's face and dark brown goat horns. He has tanned skin and dark green fur on his head, back, and legs, and his arms were tied to his torso with a green rope. The demonic man roared out," At last, I, Adrammelech am reborn! And so on you, Ramza, my gaze alights. Now know regret, a traitor's recompense! Aphony!"

The now goat man unleashed a burst of toxic gas, only for Joshua to yell out," You won't erode the hope we still have demon! Flames of Rebirth!"

He unleashed a barrage of flames that burned away the gas, and as Adrammelech screamed in pain as the others fired on him as well he roared out," No, if I was not bound to this mortal body I would, RAHH!"

A lightning bolt from Cid caused Adrammelech to vaporize before the leader of the resistance movement in yelled out," Then you would just burn faster! No matter what, we are not rolling over no matter how big your master's whip is!"

Sleipnir saw more of his clones being erased, and saw Snow and Qun'mi were being beaten back before he yelled out," No…your destiny is to die, there's nothing you can do to stop that! Dead Man's Bier!"

The knight unleashed an even more intense barrage of attacks as he yelled out. However Billy Butcher suddenly burst up at him and smashed him with an enhanced crowbar before yelling out," Oh shut up you damn cunt! Maybe we have to bite it but we are not being killed by a moron like you! You're just a more deluded Splinter!"

He smashed the knight into the air as Clive charged at him." No matter where we come from, in this battle are flames burn as one! No matter how fated we are to be shackled, we will delay the inevitable…as we always have…and always will!"

As he released a surge of flames Alphen also had his eye glow." That's right…are flames won't stop burning till it's over! Flaming Pyre!"

The two former slaves combined their powers before unleashing a barrage that was so intense that it vaporized Sleipnir and all his clones at once. Billy looked at the sight before he shrugged." Well…I did not sign up for this tour but could be worst mates to tag along with."

Snow was also blasted back from the combined heat magic before he grasped his l'Cie brand bitterly." Damn it, don't you guys realize how hopeless this is? They will take everything and GUH!"

Beat and Neku, who were part of the group blasted Snow to the ground before the former reaper sighed." Keep getting in the way and get shredded, yo! If you were screwed over to man, then don't just take sit back watching around as assholes take things people care about... AND THEN SIT AROUND CHATTING!"

Snow saw the resolve of the group around him before he snickered." So…it's not too late to be free? S…ugh."

Cid saw Snow was unconscious, but everyone suddenly felt weak as Qun' Mi had her Dáinsleif jam everyone's powers with her fully charged crystal jammer. The masked woman smirked before uttering," At last, it does not matter what tricks you have if I jam them all! I'll kill you al land size glory for,"

She was cut off as a bullet shot her machine's cannon. In spite of having little in the way of obvious weaknesses, the shot clearly hit a flaw because the bullet ripped right through it—breaking the metal spire entirely and leaving it sparking and bent over. Realizing there was another attacker, she turned to see who it was.

However, although her eyes rested on a newcomer, that wasn't the one who had struck. Rather, it was a younger man with bushy, frazzled hair under a combination hard hat and goggles, a messy and overgrown beard and goatee, and a host of what looked more like large power tools rather than weapons hanging from his back and hips.

Nevertheless, no sooner had she looked at him than he nodded—apparently staring at her battle damage—and then turned and flashed a thumbs up to farther away. At a considerable distance, taking cover, was a uniformed soldier with an elaborate sniper rifle.

"Great job, Quaren! I'll take it from here!" That said, he turned back around and looked at the woman and, more specifically, her armor. "Wow, now that's what I call a magitek armor. Those old bulky mechs have nothing on that. I bet Sybenia would have loved to get their hands on the blueprints for that one. I wouldn't mind getting a crack at it myself…"

He began to smile, only to quickly frown again.

"Oh…but Lady Faerio never would have let me tamper with weapons." A pause. "At least, not in the open…"

"Cid!"

The voice was so far away it only came as a distant echo, but Cid raised his head to hear his name called only to see the newcomer do the same.

"Could you concentrate on taking out the target…please?"

"Oh…oh, yeah-yeah! Sorry!" he retorted before he began to tumble for his toolbelt.

Clive's Cid raised an eyebrow. "Another Cid, eh? It's a more popular name than I thought."

A sneer came from within the Dainsleif. "Adding two more won't help you." With that, the war machine stood up, rising to all four mechanical paws and dashed out for Cid; clearly meaning to trample him to bits.

Wincing in alarm, he quickly went for his belt and, while he fumbled for a bit, managed to get out something that looked like a massive caulking gun. As the Dainsleif threatened to smash him, he cried out and dove in a roll to one side while squeezing the trigger. Narrowly, he missed getting rent apart by the metal as it raced by.

Qun'Mi, seeing she had missed, quickly manipulated the controls to pivot around—only to find the mech stalled and jammed. Puzzled, she tried to move them again only to get the same result.

As for Cid, he got up and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that the Dainsleif was now anchored by one paw—courtesy of him ejecting a large amount of adhesive putty in his wake. Putting that weapon away, he quickly whipped out what looked like a large, industrial drill and fired it up. "Ok…time to power this big guy down!"

With that, he dashed in toward the backside of the machine and drove the drill bit into the back of it. A flurry of sparks emerged as it ignited to full power, and he grit his teeth and dug in. However, after only a few moments of furious drilling, he blinked and noticed something. The sparks coming off weren't from metal, but rather some sort of greenish light. He looked more closely, and realized that the machine was wrapped in some sort of overshield.

"Huh? They got barriers too, right? Well, no matter… I'll just have to keep boring until…"

Again, Cid trailed off, blinking in surprise as he noticed a change around him.

"That's weird. I'm starting to glow too…" A pause. "Uh oh."

Abandoning his drill, Cid quickly pulled out what looked like a large tape measurer instead and cast it out like a whip. It hooked across a bit of rubble nearby, and he pressed a button to have it recoil like a grapple to yank him free, just as an energy blast rained down from the heavens where he had been. He cried out in alarm, but was even more shocked to see that the damaged cannon, although sparking and warped, was still firing.

"Quaren! I thought you disabled that!"

"I did!" the sniper yelled back, quickly adjusting his weapon. "Yet somehow that mech is still running!"

Cid didn't get any more chance to protest, because he had scarcely landed before he found another light was glowing down on him from above. Going into full panic, he soon broke into a run to avoid getting shot by another destructive cannon blast. He started to fumble for another tool, only to yipe and drop it as another shot fired close enough to nearly blast him off of his feet.

Qun'Mi grit her teeth as she struggled to take aim again, adjusting the crosshairs on her mech's display. Yet just as she locked onto Cid again, the readout suddenly turned into a gray blot. "What?" Cursing, she smashed her hand against it, but it did no good. Scowling, she instead flicked a switch to turn to the auxiliary view and saw the reason. The sniper had swapped out his weapon for a smoke grenade and had lobbed it right in front of her headpiece—blocking her view of the engineer.

"Think you're so clever, huh?" she sneered, before quickly pivoting her crosshairs over to Quaren instead. The sniper was still swapping out his weapon for his next shot when he noticed a green light shining around him, quickly causing him to tense up.

"Cid! I need help!"

The engineer was still running at the moment, but seemed to pick up on the fact that not only was he no longer being targeted but that his comrade was now in trouble. Halting in midstep, he looked about to see the situation, then quickly nodded. "Got it!"

One hand went for his back while the other went for his goggles. As soon as they were over his face, he pulled out what looked like a somewhat enlarged acetylene torch and quickly lit it up. Yet no sooner was the plume ignited than he swapped it around and aimed it at the Dainsleif—more specifically the foot that was gummed to the ground with putty.

"Good thing I mixed up the explosive batch before heading out…" he muttered, before turning the end of the torch. Instantly, it was transformed into a flamethrower as it jetted out a plume of heat right for the goop, and incinerated it only for a moment before it ignited. Just as the cannon was about to fire again, an explosion not only sent the whole mech gyrating but blew one of its legs clean off. Now leaking oil like it was blood, the entire mech slumped down to one side.

"Thanks! Now my turn!" Quaren yelled as he finished slapping in a fresh clip. Adjusting the scope to his head, he proceeded to fire off eight shots in repeated succession—enough to make one think he was firing a semi-automatic.

However, his aim was more than true. With each shot, another one of the radial arms that made up the Dainsleif's cannon sparked, sizzled, and bent over. The green light managed to re-aim on the sniper only for a moment before his seventh and eighth shots did too much damage. Even with Qun'Mi pushing the machine past its limits, there was something nothing left to fire with.

"It's crippled! Take it down, Cid!"

"You got it! Good thing I've got plenty of cores for this baby now!"

Tossing his torch aside, Cid instead pulled out what appeared to be a gigantic technical hammer that needed two hands to wield. As soon as it was out, he gave it a twist and the humming of a generator within the head began to sound forth.

It rapidly grew in intensity and emitted a potent, blazing light from within it as he initiated the best "heroic charge" he could muster and barreled right for the machine. As soon as he reached it, he wound it back as it gave a loud whine, and then snapped around and smashed it full force into the head.

The core within the hammer ignited, sending out a wave of overwhelming power into the Dainsleif. The head was instantly obliterated, and yet the force sent waves of gleaming light throughout the rest of the mech, triggering a series of escalating explosions and malfunctions across the entire machine. It literally began to deconstruct and destabilize before the engineer's eyes.

He grinned only a moment before he realized what was about to happen—at which point he turned around and charged for cover. As for the pilot, she took only a moment to assess the rapidly failing systems all around her, many of which were beginning to erupt in flame, before she simply slumped in her chair and groaned.

"This sucks."

A moment afterward, the entire fox-like mech erupted in explosion, and what was left of it quickly clattered to the ground in bits and pieces.

The blast obviously destroyed the crystal jammer along with it, and so it wasn't long before the others were able to get to their feet. Cid removed his goggles and wiped his forehead nervously while putting his tools away, and it wasn't long after his sniper companion shouldered his weapon and ran out to join him at his side. In a few moments, the two were facing the others.

At that point, the sniper, who barely looked past teenage and still had an air of "soldier boy" about him, quickly clacked his legs together and stood straight and tall. "Sorry for the delay. We were still trying to assess who were enemies and allies when we came upon you, and it took me a bit longer after that to set up. Captain Quaren DeSur of the Esthar's Hawks, Sniper."

"I'm Cid. Cid Boer," the other added with a more casual wave. "Sorceress Knight, if you can believe it. Well…former Sorceress Knight, I guess…"

The other Cid saw the outcome of the battle before he snickered. "I'm Cidolfus 'Cid' Telamon, mate. I'm glad to see another man with my name that shares my passion, even if you express it in another way."

Seeing him extend his hand, the smaller Cid accepted it and shook…although he winced a bit at the end under the much more powerful grip strength of the other. He quickly held it behind him with a smile after he was done. "Well, uh…heh…I don't think I've done quite as many pushups as you, and I may not be the best when it comes to magic or swordplay, but I'm glad you like some of my homemade magitek. And I'm glad I'm able to help. I heard that we're mostly fighting against this group called Shinra but that there's an even worse group set over them?"

Billy let out a bitter laugh as he leaned back." Sorry mate the only time we have is for the cliff notes version at the moment but its either fight or prey for a quick death."

The taller Cid shrugged. "To the very end these tyrants are going to make everyone dance to their tune…it can't be too late damn it."

Clive sighed before he heard explosions in the distance and shrugged. "The others are fighting even harder to be free; we must do our part."

Jonney Sliverhand snickered before he shrugged. "As much as this has been a pain in the ass sounds like we were just the extras and that the real show's going on for some of the others around here. But, sounds like it's time to crash the party."

The others nodded before figuring out where to go next. As they did Johnny was right, for some were dealing with a much more personal clash, Ragnar and Azure among them.

---

The others nodded before figuring out where to go next. As they did Johnny was right, for some were dealing with a much more personal clash, Ragnar and Azure among them.

The two men slowly walked side by side through the Temple interior. Azure, normally the more cool and composed of the two, kept looking one way and the other as they made their way along. Ragnar, however, kept his head forward and unblinking—as if his thoughts were a million miles away.

Azure slowly and tentatively put his hand on a bas relief as they walked, his face expressionless and dark. "This is it. This is where all of Meteorfall began. Right here…from the Cetra themselves. Mr. Vice…do you hear anything?"

He slowly exhaled, almost quivering. "Too much. Entirely too much. Most of it fear…and rage. I can almost feel the pain in the voices. The hate. Like little red-hot sores dotted all over a body…"

Azure silently walked a few more steps and then stopped. Ragnar was so preoccupied that he kept going. However, he halted when he noticed shadows up ahead. And when he stopped, he soon heard footsteps along with them. It wasn't long before three figures became noticeable. Only then did he notice Azure's change, and he turned back to him. He was staring forward silently.

"Azure?"

"They're here."

"Who?"

"The three remnants."

Even if Ragnar didn't recognize those words, a fire went off in his veins. A voice in his mind began to speak more loudly and antagonistically. The very muscles in his body twitched for his sword. He turned back and, sure enough, it was them.

Ragnar and Azure had never seen them with their own eyes, but the black attire reminiscent of their progenitor, the silver hair, the green eyes that seemed to struggle to be catlike… Even the weapons they bore meshing with their source's origins. It could be no others. Loz, Yazoo, and Kadaj…the so-called "advent children".

It took almost all of Ragnar's self-control to keep from drawing Ragnarok. Azure walked up to his side and came to a stop. The other three soon halted as well—Loz grinning, Yazoo regarding them with mild interest, and Kadaj stepping forward a bit further with an expression that was merely a shadow of the "true article", but its best imitation.

"Well, well, if it isn't our youngest brother. And look…he's turned family traitor just like our eldest. He's actually side-by-side with the enemy."

"He stinks," Loz snorted. "He pisses me off even watching him breathe."

"Disgusting," Yazoo sighed. "Sephiroth was supposed to rid us of them…and now there's an extra one. Does he need him as well?"

Kadaj chuckled. "No. He's just a mistake. Kind of like our oldest brother, I suppose."

"Good," Loz grinned again as he cracked his knuckles. "Then we can get rid of him."

Ragnar felt a tension in himself—both from rapidly growing anxiety as well as non-native feelings wanting to manifest themselves in him. Yet somehow, in spite of all that, he forced his hands to open wide and held them in front of him.

"Listen to me very carefully. The three of you are sick; only you don't know it. We don't have to do this. We can help you, but you have to lay down your weapons and trust us."

This only seemed to amuse the three. Yazoo crossed his arms and regarded Ragnar with a haughty glare. "Did you hear that, brothers? The abomination of an Cetra says we need to trust him. As if it wasn't loud and clear that this world is screaming at him to kill us as we speak."

"Maybe he's too scared to beg for mercy," Loz chuckled. "I wonder how much more scared I can make him…"

Ragnar swallowed, but before he could say another word Azure took a step forward.

"He's trying to help you. And he's right. She's lying to you. It doesn't matter how much you do for her. It doesn't matter how much you try to please her. She'll never accept any of you. She has the only one she wants—Sephiroth. The three of you aren't necessary anymore. She'll use you like she used everyone else. Like she used Cloud. Like she used me."

He took a deep breath, then held out his hand to them.

"But it doesn't have to be that way. You can change. You can be free of her. Just like I am."

Kadaj winced slightly when Azure mentioned that Jenova had the one she wanted, but as soon as he said that last part his eyes lit up with a manic light before he let out a burst of laughter so loud it was almost deafening in the temple.

"So the younger is going to tell the older how to live their false lives, is that it? Well you might as well. After all, even your short life as our brother was more than what we had! You had remains of your own to go back to!"

Azure reacted in surprise at that, pulling back his hand. Ragnar himself lowered his. "What…what are you saying? Weren't you born the same way?"

This turned Kadaj's smile into a scowl. "'Born'. What a lofty privilege such a miserable form of life gets to have. So frail…weak…foul…and yet still blessed with having a true mother. And what do we have? Nothingness. Nothing but the dregs of memories from other putrid little maggots like you and the rest of those on your planet giving us form.

Nothing but the will of someone greater given flesh and bone! There is no 'alternative' for us! No lives to return to, no matter how insignificant! No pasts or origins or afterbirth! We exist for only one purpose! Every drop of blood in our veins there for one goal!"

He ground his teeth at Azure.

"Tell me, little brother…seeing as you know so very, very much…do you still think there's anything else for us besides that?!"

Ragnar was speechless. He turned to Azure. The youth was quiet for a moment; trembling a little for the first time. His mouth hung slightly as his eyes widened.

However, in the end, he firmed up again. "Yes, I do."

Kadaj actually gave a start at that, his madness giving way to surprise. Not only him, but Loz and Yazoo as well.

"You want to live. You want a place in this world. You want something besides being a tool for someone else. I know because that's what Ms. Gainsborough told me you wanted."

"Be quiet…"

His hand extended again. "And I believe there's a chance you can have that. And I'm willing to help you get it. And even if it's not possible, it's something worth fighting for. Worth more than whatever lie you've been listening to until now."

"Sh…shut up…"

"Because you already know how that ends, Kadaj. All of you do. If there's even a chance…a glimmer of hope of being something else…it's worth everything, isn't it? A life of your own-"

"I said SHUT UP!"

With that, Loz launched himself forward—turning his body into a living cannonball. Before Ragnar or anyone else could react, he slammed into Azure and tackled him, knocking both of them down the hall they had come from.

Still infuriated, Kadaj nearly launched himself after him along with Yazoo. On spotting this, Ragnar grit his own teeth and finally let his instincts take control.

The two tried to shoot by him, only for Ragnarok to whip out in a flourish and seem to practically burst into flame right in their path. Both were forced to halt and looked at Ragnar, whose eyes were now burning with ethereal green light.

"Alright, you two want to do this the hard way? You aren't getting anywhere near him unless you go through me!"

Yazoo smirked as his blade-like gun swirled into his palm. "You can have it your way. I've always wanted to know what it's like to spill a Cetra's blood."

Loz continued to carry Azure across the floor before they both went down. Only the young man wasn't thrown into a tackle. Instead, he planted his feet, extended his arms, and grappled with the larger man. He pushed him along the floor for a few moments, before he gave a grunt and swung his hips, using the momentum of his attacker to fling him off of him and to the side.

No sooner had he done so, however, than Loz sprang back at him with astonishing speed and slammed his gauntlet into Azure's stomach. The young man's eyes bulged as he bent over the intensive blow, and Loz grinned as he followed it up by bringing his other gauntlet up and slamming it down on his shoulders. He doubled over, only to snap back up when Loz followed with another lightning-fast uppercut. This time some drops of blood were knocked up with it as he was sent hurtling back.

Loz took a moment to cock back his fist before shooting forward with a finisher…only for Azure suddenly sprung to life, cast himself to the ground on one hand, performed a nimble "coffee grinder" maneuver, and slammed his heel alongside Loz's head.

The big man was surprised not only at how easily the young man had snapped out of it, but also the force that broke off his charge and sent him careening into the nearest wall. He broke part of the bas relief as his face hit against it, before he peeled himself off and stood again. Azure was already facing him, legs planted, fists up, and, in spite of some blood dripping from his lips, wasn't even breathing hard.

Loz smirked. "Got some fight in you, little brother?"

"I only have one brother. You're not him," Azure coldly answered.

Loz grinned again before taking off in a burst of light, before smashing his gauntlet into Azure again. Yet this time, the young man was fast enough both to cross his arms in front of him in time and strong enough to intercept the blow. While his teeth grit and he slid back an inch, he held his ground.

This didn't seem to miff Loz as he kept grinning and quickly hooked Azure across the face instead. With another thunderous blow, his head was snapped to the side and he was sent staggering.

Another flash step later, and he gave him yet another uppercut. He tried to drive in for another punch as he was stunned, yet Azure, in spite of his pain and dazzling, again sprang to life and reached out with his arm to snare the gauntlet, pinning Loz's arm down. However, the man simply smashed him in the face three more times with his other hand to force him to let go.

As he staggered back, Loz swung his arms wide and balled both hands into fists, getting ready to step forward and crush Azure's head between them. Yet just as he advanced the young man's arms shot up and intercepted either fist at the wrist.

Loz's smirk soon faded as Azure raised his bloody face—his green eyes now blazing and looking slightly more cat-like as his teeth grit. A moment later, both of his legs snapped up in a flash and collided with Loz under the chin.

The blow was so thunderous the man's face turned to jelly as he was knocked senseless. A second later, Azure was on him. Drumming like a woodpecker, his fists dove into Loz's midsection one after the other in six rapid blows.

He twitched a little with each one, showing discomfort as he recovered, before he tried to cut Azure off with a backhand. Yet the young man ducked underneath it, and then pivoted around once again while lashing out with a sweeping kick. To his surprise, Loz's feet were knocked out from under him as he was dropped to the floor.

As soon as he landed on his back, the big man was forced to quickly roll to avoid Azure's heel from smashing down onto him, and then immediately use one arm to launch himself back to his feet to miss a follow-up kick.

Yet before he could even plan a counterattack, Azure's performed a third step in his move as he twisted his body around and gave him another thrusting kick right to his nose. The big man was again sent flying back and smashing into the wall, cracking it a bit harder this time.

Azure once again took position, breathing a little harder now, as Loz rubbed his now sore nose and put his fists back up—grinning again. "So this'll be fun after all…"

Ragnar's own fight was far more intensive. He crossed Ragnarok in front of him as Yazoo fired point blank for his head. His magical weapon's nature managed to negate the power of the shots, but it still left him immobile as Kadaj drew his own double-bladed katana and aimed a slash for his side.

He quickly pivoted the blade to deflect it, but before he could follow up with anything else Yazoo sprung up in the air, sailing over Ragnar's head in a graceful somersault, while firing his weapon down at him from below.

The Cetra barely had time to raise Ragnarok to deflect against those as well before Kadaj moved to his exposed side and slashed out for it, and ended up having to twist around the last two bullets so he could bring his sword up to protect against another cleave.

Now, however, he tensed as he realized his position. Yazoo landed behind him but Kadaj was still in front; leaving him being attacked on two sides. Again heeding the voices, he twisted the broad side of Ragnarok behind him just as Yazoo opened fire on his back, but had to soon contend with another screaming voice telling him to arch backward to avoid Kadaj slicing through his neck an instant later.

He kept following forward as he snapped his blade over his head and crossed it in front of him to avoid a follow-up thrust, but immediately had to spin away to avoid Yazoo as he cartwheeled around him and fired again.

He tried to bring his blade up to change to an offensive, but Kadaj came charging at him first. Gritting his teeth, he instead had to knuckle down and brace himself against the power of his blow, and as the two clashed the remnant got right in his face. "Funny, you don't seem to be so friendly now! I thought you were supposed to 'save us'?!"

Ragnar retorted by pushing back to shove him off of him, but Kadaj willingly leaned off just to give Yazoo a clean shot. The Cetra quickly had to bring his blade back up to guard his face. "Why don't you get down on your knees and pray like the last one did?" he chided. "You saw how well it worked for her."

A note of anger stretched through Ragnar's face, but it only served to hurt his focus as one of Yazoo's bullets managed to streak past his sword and graze the side of his scalp. Hot pain flowed through it, nearly breaking his concentration as Kadaj shot past and tried to thrust him from behind. It was only due to the voices in his head practically screaming that he shifted one way and let the two blades cut only tunic.

Instantly, he snapped around with a horizontal chop to try and aim for Kadaj's neck, but Yazoo again stepped in front of him and used the blade of his gun to halt it—a move that shocked Ragnar in and of itself.

As a result, he had little recourse when Kadaj leapt off of Yazoo and tried to overhead chop him. Ragnar managed to evade it, but a follow up kick to the stomach nearly knocked the wind out of him and sent him hurtling back.

Both remnants smirked, thinking this was the end of it. Raising their weapons on the staggering Ragnar, both of them shot inward for the killing blow… Yet in the moment it took to ready themselves a green light had begun to emit from Ragnar's center; and when they reached him, to their surprise, at the last moment his head snapped up with renewed light. The Ragnarok flourished in front of him, blazing bright enough to blind them and actually emitting fiery heat. Both were forced to abort and stagger back, covering their eyes.

Ragnar let the blade dance in front of him a few moments more, seeming to fill the area with fiery light, before readying it again. "Gentlemen, I hate to break it to you, but I've crossed blades with the real Sephiroth and I'm just getting warmed up."

With that, he advanced on the two. Yazoo quickly raised his gun and fired again, but this time Ragnar kept charging, flourishing his blade to deflect the bullets. His face actually turned to alarm as Ragnar reached striking range, and it was only because Kadaj ducked inward to block his thrust that he was able to backstep.

Ragnar didn't let up, however, as he immediately began to advance on Kadaj with three flourishing slashes—each one burning like flame and radiating light. The combination of heat and brightness soon forced the Sephiroth larvae on the defensive.

Yazoo managed to reposition and fire again, but Ragnar was settling into a "flow" now and his blade effortlessly danced to sweep about to both block these incoming shots and leave a screen of fire in his wake that his opponent couldn't see through. Kadaj again tried to go in for an opening, only for Ragnar to pivot around and meet him—countering both of his blows before actually being able to deflect one enough to aim a slash for his chest. Kadaj was again forced to retreat, and as his look turned to growing anger as both he and his partner started to pick up speed themselves…

Meanwhile, the fight between Azure and Loz continued to get more intense. Both matched blows, dodges, deflects, and counters with progressively growing force—shaking the air and the temple around them with each hit. Yet no matter how many blows were landed on the other, neither was slowing down. However, while Azure's face grew more focused and his breathing increased, Loz only seemed to be enjoying the match as time went on.

In a series of three quick, blazing moves, Loz came at him again. Azure avoided the first two swipes, but on the third one he blocked with one hand and gave Loz two quick crosses against his face. While it knocked his head one way and another, it didn't stop him from lashing out with a haymaker for Azure the moment he was done.

The young man quickly ducked underneath the blow, curled his left arm into a hook, and dug it repeatedly into the man's kidney region. When that failed to even stun him, he quickly ducked to one side to avoid his next blow, raised both of his legs and slammed them across the side of his face.

Again, he wasn't stunned for more than an instant before he took off in a blaze again; this time tackling Azure once more, wrapping his arms about him, and smashing him into the wall. The pain was enough to cause a fracture of his own and the young man tightened his face in pain, but he quickly used that moment to drive his head down in a fierce headbutt right onto Loz's own nose.

The big man's latest smirk was turned to pain, and so the young man followed up with two more strikes until, at long last, he felt something shift as blood began to ooze from Loz's nostrils. The grip loosened and he stepped back.

Pressing his advantage, Azure hauled off and buried his fists into Loz's stomach with two more blows, knocking him back a few more inches. Just enough to rear back and ready a cross for his face. Yet just as he was hauling off to strike him, Loz sprung back to life just as quickly as Azure had, smirking again, and easily caught his limb. Azure froze only a moment before readying his other fist to counter, but that cost him. Loz spun his own gauntlet around first and buried it in his stomach.

Now the air went rushing from Azure's lungs, moments before his body was pinned against the wall and crushed between the blow and the hard stone. Loz quickly gave him another one, this one sending the deepest fracture into the wall yet and causing Azure's eyes to shrink into pinpricks. His legs turned to jelly and he began to falter…

He didn't get all the way to the ground. Loz reached out with one of his massive hands and clamped it around his throat. Azure grit his teeth—instantly grasping the hand with both of his own, but wasn't able to pry it off with the metal reinforcement. Loz grinned again as he readied his other hand into a fist to either put him down right away or keep him "submissive" until he choked.

"Sorry, kid brother…but I've got all the strength and speed of the original Sephiroth backing me up."

Azure glared back at him for a few seconds, his eyes still gleaming with the green light, before removing one of his hands to place it under the big man's arm. Seeing as he wasn't trying to get free, Loz pulled his fist back for the final blow.

Abruptly, the sound of a blade slicing flesh rang through the air, and at once both of his hands went flaccid. His grin turned into aghast shock, and as Azure quickly threw his hand aside and rose to full height, he revealed that his removed hand was extended with an open palm. In response, a Murasame sword had extended out of thin air as if pulled from nothingness and slid itself right into the big man's midsection.

"I got a bit more than just that from him," he retorted coldly.

As for Ragnar, his eyes continued to blaze as he fended off both attackers at once. They continued to increase the speed and ferocity of their own attacks, and slowly managed to put him on the defensive once again.

Yet his own power continued to blaze. Faster and faster he moved, matching sword strikes and bullets again and again. As he did, the light of his blade grew brighter yet. Now it was too gleaming to even look at—like the filament of a light bulb or a blazing hot iron. The air rippled around it with growing heat. Even getting close to it was hurting now. Yet neither remnant stopped.

Finally, Yazoo, growing disgusted with this, paused to reach for his side and pulled up a materia. As he slapped it into his own gun barrel's slot, Kadaj attacked Ragnar full force with one furious slash after another. It was enough to force the Cetra back at first, taking three steps away as he forced himself on him.

Then he planted his foot and knuckled down under one of Kadaj's thrusts—immediately pushing it back up against his chest, twisting around, and deflecting it to one side. Soon after, he advanced on him with increased power, smashing his flaming blade down on his twin katana again and again. Enough to make Kadaj show tension. Even fatigue.

Yet before he could push any further, Yazoo finished loading his weapon and dashed at Ragnar from behind. He raised the gun and opened fire. Once again, the voices of the world alerted him, and he aborted his attack on Kadaj to turn about and deflect the shots. Yet once again, Yazoo not only leapt into the air to sail over him, but he no longer fired bullets but clusters of freezing cold magic.

The Ragnarok hit them, but the end result filled the air with an icy chill and spread rime over his blade. The flame rapidly died and the blaze dimmed, and Ragnar himself had to grit his teeth to withstand the magical shots.

Seeing he was stunned, Kadaj took his opportunity and lunged forward again. Ragnar's eye twitched, before he spun about and aimed his sword in a thrust to intercept him. Unfortunately, that was what the man had been waiting for as he drove his own weapon out and caught Ragnarok's blade in between them.

Smiling in triumph, he pivoted his weapon down. Ragnar's wrists were twisted and he contorted in agony as his body was wrenched to the ground…right before he heard a metallic snap. His eyes enlarged as he saw the blade of Ragnarok get broken clean off at the hilt and clatter to the floor.

Ragnar tried to rise again only to find Kadaj's blade at his neck and Yazoo's gun barrel pressed to the back of his head. Both of them were smirking at him. "That was your last hurrah, 'general'. Looks like you lost the same way you did to Sephiroth—getting your precious Planet-made blade ruined."

Ragnar stared right back at him. He didn't break or falter. If anything, his eyes seemed to blaze even more intensely than before—as if in defiance. It was enough to make Kadaj and Yazoo's smirks ebb.

"That's the thing about us Cetra. The Planet always has our backs."

"What're you-"

Kadaj was cut off as tremendous flames erupted from the end of Ragnarok's hilt—fountaining out to envelop him in a wave not of fire but of raw, holy planetary energy. It immediately burst out in such light that both men were fully blinded, but the energy within made their skin burn and ache worse than any fire. They were powerless to do anything but recoil—which gave Ragnar all the time he needed to rise again.

He hoisted Ragnarok just as its blade finished reforming in the same flaming glory as before, and without hesitation he snapped around and flourished it at Yazoo one more time. The man cried out a moment later as not only was his gun chopped in two but his forearm was lopped clean from his body. Kadaj managed to open his eyes to respond a moment later, but his own feeble attempt at the counter was too little as Ragnarok's flames cleaved his own dominant arm off.

The light died down a moment later, save for the fiery luster of Ragnarok and Ragnar's own blazing eyes, but the two Sephiroth Larva fell to the ground.

Yazoo went all the way down, letting out a pitiful whining cry as he clutched his burning, severed stump to his chest. Kadaj, however, looked stricken with horror and agony as he cried out at his own amputation.

Ragnar slowly exhaled and nearly spoke, before he heard something get dumped on the ground next to him. He looked and saw that Azure had carried Loz with one arm back to the three and dumped him next to him.

The big man was stricken with agony; courtesy of a long, curved blade protruding from his gut. Ragnar traced it and saw it extended all the way to Azure's hand, who now held it in a thrust inside him.

"My 'aim' is a little better than Sephiroth's as well," he coldly informed him, as Kadaj turned to Loz in a mix of anguish and surprise. "The edge of my blade is resting on your hepatic artery. All I need to do is shift my grip and you'll bleed out internally in less than a minute."

Loz's face looked tight with anger while simultaneously holding back tears, but he didn't move. Kadaj quivered all over with fury, but could do little more than that as Ragnar pointed his blade at him.

"This fight is over. There's no point in killing you three. Stand down. Save what little life you have left."

Kadaj gnashed his teeth, his anger swelling. Not only him, but Yazoo and Loz soon began to look enraged as well. As their anger grew, their bodies began to ripple. As if they were turning into intangible vapor. "You think I need pity?! From you two?! A mutated piece of Cetra trash…and a failure just like us?! You two think you're better than Sephiroth?! Then let's see how long you last against him!"

Suddenly, Whisper's flew out of the three youth's mouths as Kadaj's entire body turned into a miasma of vapor. Not just him, but Loz and Yazoo rapidly followed suit—the former of the two seeming to phase right off of Azure's blade.

Both men were stunned at the sudden change, but that was nothing compared to a moment later when the streams of vapor shot away from them and then into each other, mixing into a much larger cloud. Rapidly it condensed and became opaque, before growing fully tangible again.

What resulted was shocking to both of them. Neither of them had ever seen "Rebirth or Bizarro Sephiroth", or else they might have had a frame of reference.

As it was, they were aghast to see what looked like a massive, rock-like heart made of three separate ones compressed together, and a sickening green beacon emerging from all three and emitting a ghastly light. Coming from that was the torso of some hulking gray humanoid.

Across its muscular chest, Ragnar and Azure saw the imprint of a visage that looked vaguely like Loz, and extended into claw-like wing projections on either side of it. The hulk's own head bore both true horns and horns that looked like they came from what was once hair, and the face bore the likeness of Kadaj. Finally, a smaller humanoid figure was emerging from the top of that one's head, and was unmistakably Yazoo.

The thing hesitated only momentarily before its eyes opened. With that, both arms snapped forward and discharged terrible lightning that filled the entire passageway. Ragnar barely managed to bring up Ragnarok in time, but even when the bolt struck it drug him backward a good four meters. Azure, however, wasn't so fortunate. The blast struck him head on and cast him away like he fired from a cannon.

Ragnar looked after him in shock, but had little time to worry about him as the hulking monstrosity advanced on him. Quickly, he focused on it and began to spin his blade in front of him once again—building up light and heat.

Yet it didn't work this time. As soon as the thing got close enough, it reared back one of its wing-like claws and swept it at him. Ragnarok was nearly ripped out of his hands as he was taken off of his feet, smacked into the ceiling, and left to fall to the ground.

He was left stunned and in pain, yet had to force himself to get up quickly as the "second body" over the main one aimed its hands and sent out chaining rings of deadly energy that not only tore up the floor but left flames in its wake.

He barely managed to roll out of the path of destruction before forcing himself up and dashing at the monster. Bringing up Ragnarok, he focused his power and, as soon as he was close enough, performed his three-part cross slash technique directly on its glowing center. But to his dread, a translucent barrier emerged the moment he did—strong enough to negate his attack to nothing but a scratch.

Worse yet, it left him open to get slammed by the other wing-claw of the monster. Again, he was brushed off of his feet and smacked into the wall, this time letting Ragnarok slip out of his hands. When he landed, two large slashes had torn his tunic nearly off, with both of them drawing a bit of blood, and as he toppled to the ground he let out an agonized cough.

Yet in spite of the pain, he grit his teeth and whispered something that made green light come over him. The slashes closed up part of the way and he inhaled, right before he forced himself to roll again as the monster slammed its feathery talons down on where he had been and scraped up the floor like an earthmover.

He dove for his sword, only for the hulk to spin about and fire flames even larger and more searing than his own in his path. Ragnar winced and was forced to recoil, right before the abomination hovered toward him with frightening speed and discharged more balls of flame in its wake. Left with no other choice, the man turned and ran for it as the horror chased after him, firing again and again at his heels.

Finally, as the flames from one of the balls struck him in the back, tightening his face in agony from the singing, he held out his hand. In a flash of fiery light, Ragnarok vanished from the ground only to reappear in his hand.

Planting his feet, he snapped around, crouched, and then leapt into the air in a mimicry of Cloud's own "Braver" chop. It came just as the monster reached for him again, and as a result his sword came down, passed through the sharp feathers, and cleaved deep into the appendage.

Ragnar grit his teeth and forced it down with all his might; trying to cut off the hand portion all together. But while he managed to keep pushing until some gleaming, green blood oozed out from the wound, to his horror he saw his chop halt with his blade still embedded only shallowly in the monster's flesh.

He almost swore he heard a "heh" from the central head before the other claw came around, concentrated its power, and smashed itself against Ragnar's skull. The man went limp as blood erupted from his forehead, and he gagged a moment later as he was cast to the ground.

The hand he had tried to cleave pressed down on him, its sharp feather talons diving into the stone and catching Ragnar's sword and neck in a scissor-grip. It rapidly began to push down as he weakly tried to recover enough to stop it—looking to take off his head…

It was halted when Azure's blade flashed out—cleaving the tips of either feather talon away. The monstrosity looked up to see the young man—hunched over, heaving, and sporting a burn mark across his chest—but still bearing his sword and at the ready. He immediately dove forward, sword out, and drove it straight for the greenish core. Again, the barrier went up, but the blade tip went deep enough to prick the surface of it this time.

Furious, the sub-body again unleashed the red rings, forcing Azure to leap back. Yet rather than leave himself set up for the next move, he quickly tried to dash around to attack the hulk from the sides. In response, it rotated just as fast after him, discharging more balls of fire to lap at his heels. In spite of its own power and speed, however, Azure started to get the distance on it. As a result, the sub-body paused before changing its spells. Soon after, Azure cried out as the ground in front of him exploded in pillars of rock, smashing him in the ankles and chest and making him halt.

He tried to pull himself off, but the monster dove for him first with its intact claw shooting out to impale him. Azure managed to twist to one side, but not enough as the claws not only slashed his shoulder but pierced his own jacket and sent him careening back to be slammed against the corridor wall.

It pinned him there for a moment as lightning gathered around the limbs of the abomination, but Azure saw it coming and, focusing with all the effort he could muster, he yanked himself to one side so hard he ripped his shirt and jacket and fell to the ground. The lightning sailed past him and impacted the wall uselessly, and he used the moment to lash out with his sword and slice into the "wrist joint" of the wing arm—spilling more of its blood across the floor.

The hulk yanked its arm back, shocked and angry, before it went into a blind rage. It immediately stormed at Azure, hammering down on him again and again. The young man struggled to withstand it, but each blow clearly agonized him along with the nails occasionally getting through and slicing at his forearms.

He grew weaker and weaker with each strike, and nearly looked ready to collapse…when he suddenly burst to life as the monster reared back for the kill and quickly sliced out twice to leave a gash in either arm. The thing was stunned long enough for him to pull back, crouch, and drive his sword forward again for the core.

Both arms reared back and caught it before it could make contact, and combined with the shield the sword was halted. Yet Azure grit his teeth and kept pushing, determined to put it through. The hulk sneered back, its own massive size and strength coming to bear as it pushed back. For a moment, Azure's legs started to give. His arms bent. The sword pushed away as sweat started to mount on his brow.

Yet Azure's fury kept rising. His pupils narrowed even further. The abomination pushed a bit further, only to realize it had stopped and suddenly could overwhelm Azure no further. Soon after, the main head noticed something.

A mottled black and white feather floating down. Another soon joined it. And a third afterward. It looked back at Azure, and its grotesque faces—all three of them—gaped.

A single wing was extending out of Azure's back—starting out black at the base but giving way to white by the end of it. Slowly, Azure began to rise again. His sword began to move forward, the tip touching the barrier and now beginning to slip through it and near the core again. From the monster's disjointed mouth came a single noise: How?

Before he could grow any nearer, however, the sub-body raised its hands and let fly with lightning again. This time, Azure was so close he could only get struck with both bolts and contort in agony.

Instantly the pressure was off the monster and he was left immobilized by the attack. The sub-body continued to electrify him as it readied the energy circles again; finally able to finish him…

It never saw Ragnar—bloody, torn, and yet still wielding the burning Ragnarok and blazing with the Planet's power—leap up behind it and drive another cleaving chop down on top of the miniature humanoid.

The thing gave a bellow of anger and pain from its main body as the smaller one was bisected from shoulder down to the hip region—both parts instantly bathed in flames from Ragnarok. Ragnar leapt back off of it as it reared back and thrashed madly for a few seconds, before it tried to spin around and slash him.

However, that left Azure free, and in spite of the magical torture he sprung to life in an instant. Using his new wing, he practically flew up to the back of the monster and opened a slice along its back.

As greenish blood flew from the wound, the monster roared even louder before spinning around with a backhand so violent that it ripped the stone masonry out of the corridor wall. Yet it missed Azure completely, and in leaving itself open Ragnar gave a yell before he dove for the core again with all of his might. The barrier held for a moment—just long enough for the thing to look about—before the Cetra yelled even louder and plunged his sword into it.

The abomination thrashed madly, ripping itself back and yanking its body off of Ragnar's blade, but now fountaining out blood as the core rapidly dimmed. Azure, eyes as focused as a predator, took a moment to zero in on the monster, and then moved in flashes of speed that put Loz into shame.

The first slash removed one of the arms at the shoulder, and the second quickly did the same to the other. The third was a vertical slash from down to up that opened another gaping wound along its back, while the fourth came down in front and sliced open a large part of its pectoral muscles.

The fifth and sixth slash opened either end of its neck, causing it to bleed even more profusely. The seventh was a stab into the already wounded core, and the eight finally slashed outward to rip it clean from its body.

The thing collapsed to the ground; its misshapen body splaying out, shedding blood everywhere, and struggling to rise. The head, stricken with pain and agony, looked up and saw both of its opponents take a position on either size of it.

Azure's wing unfurled as his blade went to his hip while Ragnar hoisted his burning blade behind him. An instant later, and both darted forward and sliced together…and to the tune of a fountain of blood the conjoined heart of the monster was bisected in two.

One last cry rang out as the thing turned is head to the heavens, only for it to burst into the same miasma once again. Yet it didn't rise or swirl this time. It sank to the ground and solidified—revealing the three bodies of the remnants. Each one was rippling even harder now. They were agonized, weak, and clearly breathing their last.

Ragnar, from where he landed, was breathing hard now, and it took him a moment to summon another wave of healing energy over him. He was only able to close his wounds in the end. His sword dimmed and he returned it to his side. He looked across the corridor and saw Azure was already standing tall again.

He had dismissed his sword and his wing was gone—leaving only fluttering mottled feathers in its wake. Finally, Ragnar looked down on the three. Kadaj was the only one showing any life. His anger and madness were gone—replaced only with a hurt and scared look as he vainly reached to the sky with his remaining hand.

"Mother…why…why don't you…answer us…?"

Ragnar regarded him silently and grimly before his head bowed slightly.

"Mr. Vice."

He looked up again, seeing Azure was looking at him.

"Pray for them. Please. It's what Ms. Gainsborough would have done if she was here."

The Cetra paused, swallowing, but finally gave a nod. He looked back down to the fading remnant and stepped up to their sides. Once there, he exhaled and drew his sword again. He pivoted it down and drove it into the floor, making it an anchor as he dropped to his knees and closed his eyes.

The words that came were in the language of the Cetra, and so Azure could only stand silently and imagine what was being said. Yet even not knowing the meaning, they seemed light…comforting…reassuring. In the end, he saw Kadaj close his eyes. A faint smile formed on his face just before it vanished, and Loz and Yazoo soon followed.

When only the two were left, Ragnar exhaled and opened his eyes. "I don't know how long this Planet has left…but may they find at least a momentary peace returning to it. They didn't ask for this." Pushing himself back up, he looked to Azure and nearly called out to him. However, he stopped on seeing the young man was staring at where they had been.

"Azure…?"

He exhaled. "It's nothing, Mr. Vice. It's just…I couldn't save them. I couldn't get them to see past how they were made. Past him. Past…past her. I…I really didn't want to have to kill them."

"You didn't have a choice."

"That wasn't a good enough reason for Denzel, Marlene, and Ms. Gainsborough. They didn't give up on me."

"Because they knew there was more to you than just traces of Sephiroth. In the end, you were the one who decided you wanted to be Azure."

Azure sighed. "I thought I could have shown them they could have done the same. Should I have tried harder? Taken more time? Or was it just never meant to happen? No matter what universe we go to? Did they always have the same fate…?"

"Azure."

The name was forceful enough to make the young man look upward. Ragnar had walked closer to him, and was looking him in the eye.

"You are not them. I don't know if they could have chosen differently, but you can and you did. You're Azure Strife. No more and no less. You made that fate for yourself."

The young man paused, before he took in a deep breath. On exhaling, he relaxed more and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Vice. I just…I guess I needed to hear that again, is all."

"Don't worry about it. Come on, let's go." He took in a tired breath. "We've still got to face off against the one person neither of us ever wanted to fight again…and even if he's not are Cloud, he has to know he does not have to go through this alone."

---

As they moved out, little did they realize that this universe's Cloud was in a far worst mental state than the Cloud that was the leader of Squad 7, and it only got worst being confronted by a man who was acting like he was his father.

At the moment Glenn saw Cloud's fighting stance before he snickered." Guess I really should have stuck around a bit eh boy? Maybe you would know how to fight without looking like a wuss!"

Cloud grit his teeth before snapping back," Shut up! This is how a SOLDIER fights!"

"Well I'll show you how a real man fights! Blazing Onslaught!"

The bearded man threw a projectile at Cloud, and the spikey haired warrior tried to slash it in half, only for him to see it was a Flash Grenade that went off in his face. As Cloud was blinded, Glenn then slammed the giant red hammer in his hand at the man he was calling his son. Cloud on instinct parried the strike with his Buster Sword, but the impact still knocked him into the wall behind him so hard that the room shook.

Glenn saw Cloud yell in pain, but get back up before his grin widened." Well at least your stubborn like your old man! Now if you just had my brains you might not be a disgrace!"

"Shut up!" Cloud spat back." No matter what, you're not my father! No matter what, if you were my father then you would not have left my mother to die!"

Glenn snickered before he rolled his eyes." I said I was your father; I did not say I was a good father! Face it Cloud, just had bigger things to do then be tied down by the likes of you! I'm a man who kept his eye on the prize, that's why I'm the knight, and you're the puppet."

"Your nothing but another monster to take down!

Infinity's End!"

Cloud prepared his leaping sword move before Glenn narrowed his eyes." I'll show you a real end boy!

Stage of Defeat!"

Glenn mortified Cloud by intercepting the attack, and hitting him so hard that an impact shocked the entire temple. Cloud was knocked into the air, but Glenn caught Cloud before he could fall to look at the young man in the face and spit on him." Look at you, just some pathetic dog being led around by a leash who does not even know what you're fighting for!"

"I know what I'm fighting for damn it." Cloud shouted out bitterly." Sephiroth killed mom, and burned down my home and wants to destroy the planet! There's no bigger reason then that!"

"That's only because you're a man who always follows others Cloud! You never been strong enough to have your own dreams! I joined Sephiroth because he would make things interesting, that's all the reason I needed! I guess you not being around real men is my fault, so I'll try and make up for it! But you're going to join me and Sephiroth on the way to the new Promised Land, and take out anyone who's in the way like that whore that's confusing you!"

"You mean…Tifa? Don't talk to her like that!?"

Glenn's eyes widened before he smirked." Still can't let go of that crush eh? You never grew up…so I'll have to make a man out of you the hard way!"

He prepared to punch Cloud, only for a sword as large as Cloud's to block the fist. Both men saw that Jecht had landed near the area before he snickered." This may not be my family drama, but I know all about lousy fathers. Trust me jackass, screwing up your son is nothing you can fix with one dinner."

"Hah, you think you can judge me dude? Your even more of a puppet then my boy hear!"

Jecht had his eye twitch before spitting out," The great Jecht has dreams, too you know! Might be too late for me to fix things with Tidus, but at least I can kick your ass to feel better! This is just for you, Ultimate Jecht Shot!"

The former host of Sin kicked the ground hard enough to kick a chunk of it up to knock Glenn back. He then kicked another chuck up like a ball and slammed it into the other bearded man. The impact shook the temple before Jecht cracked his neck." There's no shame in losing to me so just, huh?"

A dark aura erupted out of where Glenn was shot into before he emerged with glowing red eyes." I was going to say the same! Because you're just a puppet, I'm a chosen one damn it! Hell On Wheels!"

The man working with Sephiroth had his aura erupt before he charged at Jecht with enough force to make the man fall to his knees. Jecht muttered out," Just how strong can a guy get? GUH!"

Glenn spun around to unleash a blazing slash to knock Jecht through the wall. He landed on the ground, saw Cloud struggling to get up and kicked him to the ground before he sighed." Man your to wishy washy to even make this fun! What did you even think you were anyway?"

"I'm a SOLDIER First Class!" Cloud shouted out defiantly, causing Glenn to crack his neck." Nah, you're just a pretender, that's all you ever was and ever will be Cloud! You're a nobody, and if you won't get in line, you will die a nobody!"

He prepared to strike Cloud, till he saw a flash of light and saw a wave of energy coming for him. He blocked the projectile before a brash male voice yelled out," He's not alone, I have his back!"

The two saw a man who was in the same outfit as Cloud, and even had the same sword, but had wild black hair and blue eyes. Cloud saw the man's confident grin before he looked shocked." What…Zack?"

Glenn looked alarmed before hissing out," Zach Fair? Your dead!"

"In this universe maybe, but I'm hear from another so thanks for smashing them together! Sorry Cloud, not a lot of time to catch up but I got a ride from your new buddies and made it here just in time! I don't know who you are, but your through!"

"Tsc, your just another bump in the road clown! You may have been his idol, but I'm still the boy's father!"

"Seriously? From what Cloud said, or more like how little he said you were never around! "

"Maybe, but blood's still blood!"

"Can't deny that…but sometimes bonds are not about blood and are more of a real family then anything else!"

"Like that means anything!"

"It means everything!" Cloud shouted out as he unleashed a sudden energy sword wave that cut Glenn's check before he spat on the ground." Rage eh? My weak little puppet of a son, that's almost endearing. But you're just trying to pretend you're like Zack…you're a faker to the end!"

"I'll show you what's real and what's fake! No matter what you're a fake that I'll never see as my father! Let's go Zack!"

"Heh, sounds good Cloud, let's go!"

The two both attacked Glenn at once and the bearded man got a few cuts as he fought off both of them at once. Despite never fighting together before, the two men with large swords fought so in synch that it did not take long for Glenn to lose his cool before he grit his teeth." Damn it, you're nothing but puppets who fight for nothing! The pride of a soldier amounts to nothing, that's why Sephiroth, and I, threw it away to transcend being a mere soldier!"

To the two swordsmen shock, tentacles burst out of Glenn's body and attempted to bind his attackers. Cloud slashed the sudden attack before his eyes widened." What…that looks like…Jenova!?"

"See Cloud?" Zack shouted out." He's just another one of those crazy Jenova things so don't listen to a word from him!"

"Damn fools!" Glenn roared out as his body mutated more and more to form wings like some of the other Jenova spawn." If you won't be part of the future…you will be left behind!

Sanguinary Flames!"

As he fired red lasers in all directions Zack blocked some with his sword before uttering," You may think it's nothing, but it still means a whole lot to us!" Zack shouted back defiantly. Cloud nodded before adding," Glenn, whoever you are I'll show the extend of are pride! Together Zach!

SOLDIER's Pride!"

Him and Zach unleashed a duel limit break attack to strike Glenn in tandem. Glenn saw his hammer shatter, and his wings got sliced off and yelled out in pain as blood came out of him in all directions before he yelled out a bitter," Damn you Cloud, you would do this to your own father?"

"Your just an imitation, and I want the real thing!"

Glenn grasped his chest before he snickered bitterly." But an imitation is the only thing a puppet like you deserves Cloud. That's all…you ever will…GUH!"

Cloud unlashed his Finishing Touch Limit break to blast Glenn away before yelling out," Your wrong…I know I deserve more than that."

Zack saw Cloud looked uneasy before he patted Cloud on his shoulder." You do deserves it Cloud. I know I just got here, but these short moments are all I needed to know he was wrong. After all, hero's never give up on their dreams right?"

Cloud looked at his blade, and realized Zack had the precisely same one before he nodded." Right…thanks Zach. But…where…where did you come from?"

"Heh…long story man but I came with the other guys who are not from around hear."

"Oh…so you're with that Ezan guy?"

"No…but I'm with Angeal's group. Is, he hear?"

Cloud heard an explosion in the distance before he shrugged." I was…distracted but one of the enemies that the Turks brought seemed to know him. We were all split up, Tifa, Aerith, everyone."

Zack raised an eyebrow before muttering," Aerith is hear to? We have to get to her!"

"Because of Sephiroth?"

"That, and because his new buddies want to do something even worst then what Sephiroth on his own wanted to do! I'll explain on the way but we have to hurry! Don't mean to dismiss what you just went through but all these guys might as well be distractions!"

Cloud nodded before he sighed." Lead the way."

Jecht stumbled up before he looked at the two and moaned." Oh man I must have been hit harder than I thought, there's two of you now kid!"

Zack let out an uneasy chuckle before he shrugged." Guess we should patch this guy up first though."

As Cloud made sure his back up was ok the focus changes to someone also dealing with someone who had ties to him, the Aerith of this universe.

---

Her, Vincent, Cisseni and Verdot have been fighting Elena and Tsung.

Tsung looked at those before him before Elena smirked." You seen the flags around the area right? Sorry ancient but the temple is Shinra now! You snooze you lose!"

Vincent loaded his gun before shrugging." With how things stand you should not be bragging."

"Your point? Between me and Tsung we have the strength of an army! "

Tsung sighed before uttering," Spare us both the effort and,"

"No!" The native flower girl shouted defiantly." I put up with your "advice" long enough Tsung!"

The long-haired Turk took a sigh before uttering," Just remember that I tried to reason with you all. But no matter who you are, if you are in the way of the job you will be neutralized. That is the fate of all who get in the way of the Turks."

He raised his fist before Verdot took out his gun. The older man saw Tsung's alarm before he sighed." No, that's the flawed way of the Turks I taught you. But I thought me leaving taught you something Tsung. After I lost my family, from that day on I killed what was left of my emotions and focused on my work. It was the only way I could forget what had happened. The only thing that I could lean on after that was the Turks. But I don't want you to become like me. That's why I'll do this."

"Then your mind's deteriorating worst then I thought Verdot. The only bitter memories I have are of failed missions. And today won't be one of them, not with everything on the line. Chi Burst!"

He swiftly shoot out a ball of wind in a straight line to knock the gun out of his former boss's hand. He saw Vincent come at him and unleashed his" Vortex" kick to kick the caped man back. Before he could follow up he saw a giant shuriken go for him and evaded Cissnei's attack. Before he could follow up Aerith unleashed a blizzard spell to freeze the ground around him.

Elena saw her boss starting to freeze up before yelling out," Don't think its that easy!"

She shot the ice with her gun before Tsung nodded." Elena, with me."

"Right sir! Sparkstrike!"

Both members of the Turks leapt into the air together and slammed their fists down in an electrical explosion that knocked everyone back. As Aerith struggled to get back up suddenly Elena grasped her from behind before she smirked." Need those hands to cast magic right? Thought you could just get past me? I'm a Turk damn it! You ran away so far, we had to chase you across the entire planet but its game over!"

Tsung saw the others look tense as he got between them and Aerith." Face it Aerith, we know you more than anyone else in your life aside from your mother. Thus, we are more of your family than any of them. It's time to come home to where you belong."

Eyes burning with determination and gun aimed with a steely grip, Krystea glared unblinking at the man as she adjusted the barrel to the larger caliber. "That was your one and only warning shot, Tseng. Stand aside."

Tseng was not sure what to make of the woman that looked like Aerith before he snickered. "Is this some attempt at a joke?"

Krystea frowned. "So I guess I wasn't around in whatever universe you're from…but that doesn't matter. Just like it doesn't matter if we're both Turks or not. I don't want to kill you but you're threatening the only person in the world I'd be willing to aim a gun at you for."

Tseng snorted. "Oh, so you're a Turk from another universe then? How ironic… Well, if you're really a Turk then you should know what that means. It means we get our job done. No matter how dirty. No matter how much it costs. No matter whether or not someone says it's 'right' or 'wrong' from a subjective or objective standpoint. If you knew all of that and are still willing to backstab me or your 'Tseng' or whatever, then you're just a basic traitor and I don't have the time or patience for you."

Krystea's teeth grit. "You want to know what happened to the Tseng in my universe? You want to know what his pride in the Turks ended up getting him in the end? Shoved into a giant test tube just like all the other people he delivered to Shinra over the years when they ran out of human guinea pigs. All his pride was good for was using him for every dirty job they didn't have the guts to do themselves."

Tseng saw how angry she looked before he shrugged. "The pride of a professional is not the same as that of a common man or woman. If you really wore that uniform you would understand, but I guess you're just a spy, eh? I don't know if you look like Aerith just to mess with us, but it does not matter. No matter what, the Turks will see the mission through."

He tried to attack her, only for Cisseni to intercept him and utter," Damn it Tsung, don't you realize no amount of loyalty matters to Shinra? Zack was so loyal to Shinra that he killed his own mentor, and they still killed him just because his existence made them look bad! They throw everyone away!"

"Well, that's why we will prove that the Turks will be profitable to the very end. And that's why, failure is not an option for me!"

Aerith took a deep breath before she was about to say something, only for Cait Sith to suddenly grasp her arms from behind.

As she struggled to move she saw the giant moogle was motionless before she winced." What are you doing Cait Sith? Did they do something to you? I can't move so let go or, huh?"

She saw the small cat like being's head twitch before uttering," So sorry but this toy is under new management…my genus."

Aerith winced before uttering," Hojo?"

The moment she said that, Krystea forgot about Tseng and spun to the robot. "What?!"

Cait Sith, under Hojo's control suddenly laughed madly before uttering," I dismissed this useless toy but this is a fun way to reclaim what is mine. You have a destiny to fulfill my dear, and you will guide us to the true promised land."

Krysta let out an outraged yell and actually pulled the trigger down halfway before managing to catch herself—realizing she couldn't shoot the large caliber without ripping into Aerith. Tsung grit his teeth." Hojo…this was not the plan."

"Oh this always was the plan Tsung…but your to far below the chain of command to be aware of that."

"Is that what the president said?"

"Know your place, Rufus is busy dealing with important matters and there won't be time to waste on obsolete things like you lot!

You distracted the riff raft long enough so your reward will be allowing a quick exit!"

Cait Sith flung himself on Tsung, who easily kicked him into the ground. But as he did the Moogle flew off, with Aerith in tow. Everyone saw Cait Sith begin to blow before he, in Hojo's voice hissed out," Those who can't be my specimen, have no use to me!"

Cisseni threw her shuriken at Cait Sith to hurl it away, just before it blew up in the distance. As it blew a hole in the Temple, Krystea stood there, still aiming her weapon where the robot had gone, eyes going wild with fury and anguish and desperate to want to shoot something.

Finally, she nearly cast her gun to the ground and barely restrained a scream. Pulling together all of the decorum of a proper Turk she could muster, she slammed her weapon back into her holster, took a deep breath, and glared with a near murderous rage at Tseng and Elena.

"Where is he taking her and how do I get there first?"

Her look was so violent that even Tseng wasn't able to laugh off her appearance this time. He was silent for a moment or two, before he spoke quietly. "There might be a way…but only if the rest of the enemies in the Temple are cleared out."

To punctuate this, Krystea heard a few explosions in the distance. Yet her resolve didn't waver. Adjusting her tie, she pivoted around and began to march herself alone toward the new opening in the Temple. "I'm not letting any version of my sister down again. I'm going find her and I'm going to burn down whatever sick science project he has in mind this time just so I can throw him on top of the fire. And I don't care who gets in my way…including the two of you."

Tseng couldn't help but raise a curious eyebrow on hearing the "my sister" part. Verdot looked at his former second in command and sighed. "Are you still going to die like a dog, Tseng?"

Tsung looked at how betrayed Elena looked and sighed. "If we survive this, we will see what the options are. But first thing first is survival. We gave everything to Shinra to ensure we had a place, and if that option is closed to us then, the only logical thing to do is to take the path that's left to us. This is the beginning of a new way of the Turks…again. But one thing remains, are pride in our work.

Elena let out a small smile before they tried to deal with the sudden betrayal and see if their comrades were still around to be informed in time.

As they tried to figure out how to move on from here someone else was dealing with even more insanity, though for different reasons, and that would be Ezan. While Ezan knew Seifer from his own universe, and even fought simulations of him from time to time, fighting a version who was enhanced with the powers of the Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation was a new matter.

---

At the moment Ezan and Seifer were unleashing countless blows per second, Seifer saw Ezan looked emotionless before he snickered out," Man your even more of a bore then Squall, guess you would be pals with him! But I'll show no mercy all the same. Seriously! No Mercy!"

Ezan saw Seifer cast a fire spell and casually had his energy cross bow that he used when posing as Yozora slip out of his free hand to knock back the blast before he casually parried each strike, he saw Seifer's anger and sighed." You should not dismiss mercy Seifer…you might be needing it very soon."

"You think you can look down on me dude? Squall thought he could do that, till I crushed him with my true power! And I'll do the same for you! But this time, I'll leave a lot more than a scar to send the message to anyone that dares think they are my rival! Kneel loser!

Demon Slice!"

The Ex-SeeD spun round quickly until he appeared to be a mini tornado that slashed apart everything around him. However, Ezan stood firm before narrowing his eyes." Oh, I assure you I don't see you as a rival, you're not anywhere close to the level where I would even humor that. Chidori Stream!"

Lighting crackled around Ezan before he unleashed surge of electricity into his opponent. This caused Seifer to stagger, before Ezan then declared," Delta Ray Edge!"

The sliver haired man instantly unleashed his three-part combo attack to slice Seifer's right arm and chest. This caused the gunblade wielder to yell out in pain before he had his aura flare up." Think you can mock me? I'm not a boy…I'm a knight! And if you're getting in my way then like it or not your my new rival. Anyone that tries to get in my way has to be cut down! Bloodfeast!"

Seifer unleashed a barrage of blasts from his Gunblade to try and barrage Ezan, before he swings his gunblade twice, vertically and horizontally, forming a fiery cross on the ground beneath his adversaries' feet. As Ezan eyed the cross it exploded. Seifer saw the temple shake before he laughed." Hell yah, that's what I'm talking about! I'm no grunt, I'm a Sorceress Knight! I can't afford to lose so your never getting past, huh?"

To his shock the explosion around Ezan condensed, before it got absorbed into the sliver haired man's Nu-Epyon katana before Ezan declared," I can't afford to lose either…and seeing the mission through is far more important for me.

Backlash Mirror Force Flare!"

The Super Elite Enji Knight unleashed the reflected projectile at his attacker, causing Seifer to widened his eyes in shock before he yelled out in anger." No…you won't make a fool out of me! I'm not finished, I'm just getting started!"

His aura increased before he slashed the blast in half. He looked at Ezan with pure contempt before Ezan shrugged." I once thought like you, seeing rivals as those who tarnish my pride that I had to dispatch as swiftly as possible for the sake of my reputation.

But then my rival forced me to open my eyes. It's not too late, even the likes of you can change if you open your eyes."

"Piff…I'm a young revolutionary that's with the most powerful guys in any universe ever, and I Always got to be doing something BIG! I don't want to stop, I got to keep running! I've come this far…and I'm going to make it to the end, to the goal! the only thing I need to change is you being alive! Jager Soul!"

Seifer's aura exploded till he taking the shape of a Jager before he burst at Ezan. However his target grasped his fist tightly before yelling out," Then I' will open your eyes the hard way! Susanoo Reflection Slash!"

In an instant Ezan had his Divine Joutei sprit armor consume him before he blocked Sefier's slash, and unleashed his counter attack. The attack shattered Seifer's Hyperion gunblade, along with his entire arm before Seifer screamed out," Ergwahhh! No…I…I had the ultimate power!"

Seifer fell to the ground before Ezan saw his opponent's body twitch before he snickered." And yet you clearly don't have the skill to even come close to wielding it. That's why you would never surpass Squall, or me. Now…to make sure no one else causes any harm with power they can't control."

Ezan was caught off guard as the ground shook before he looked outside the Temple." Damn it, the Temple was blocking out all the energy signatures from the outside…but its clear things are escalating. Is it Kefka? No, it feels like someone else. Was it, that Zoth? Shinryudramon should be enough for him but, nothing is what it seems with the upper ranks of the IV&C. After all this, I have to see this mission through."

Realizing how much time Seifer cost him before trying to get a handle on the situation. Little did he know just how much things had escalated. But we rewind time a bit to address the threat he wondered was the source of the problem, Zoth.

---

After Shinryudramon attacked him the moogle did not seem to be stressed out of it, as we get back to him Zoth was just laughing as the Mega level Digimon smashed him through the ground at the length of many city blocks in a manner of seconds before Zoth yawned." Did you get all of that out of your system? You must feel silly acting like you can still change anything Kupo!"

"Shut up!" Shinryudramon replied as he took out his beam sword." It's not too late, and I'll fight till the end to make things right!"

He prepared to slice his target, only for Zoth to have a tentacle come out of his mouth to bind that arm. As Shinryudramon looked shocked Zoth's face morphed into a hideous demon before hissing out," Sad little Digimon wants to get his master back? The only way that's going to happen is to die! But you're being a good little pet to the end eh? After all you're dancing to the tune! Or, rap for this tune! Di Di Di

Digimon Digimon

Di Di Di

Digimon Digimon

Di Di Di

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon are the Champions

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon are the Champions

Change into Digital Champions to save the Digital World

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon are the Champions

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon are the Champions

Digivolve into Champions

Digivolve into Ultimate

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon are the Champions

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon Are The Champions

Digimon Digital Monsters

Digimon! Kupo!"

"I'm not Ben's pet…I'm his friend!" Daigo roared out as his other hand became a cannon." And you think you're not a pet when your just doing tricks for him?"

"I'm not a pet, I'm an employee! And there is nothing wrong with that, everyone in the whole Multiverse is an employee of Mr. V Day! After all, soon there are only going to be three things, his employees, his slaves, and his corpses, Kupo!"

"Damn it, he does not own everything yet!"

"And you think you and everyone hear is trying to stop him eh Kupo? The fact that you don't realize how powerless you are is what makes this all a big show! You think you can stop him from collapsing the Multiverse, or even try and take the energy from the Gan Knot World to fight back? It's not that easy Kupo!"

Shinryudramon remembered the plan and saw the Moogle did not seem to be aware that they were trying to use Ben's counterparts to defy that judgment before he narrowed his eyes." We won't know if we don't try!"

"That's right…be a fool to the last minute Kupo! But there's a big show going on so I don't have time to humor you all day. Don't worry, you can play with another Digimon instead.

You're up, MaloMyotismon!"

Zoth took off his top hat before it glowed, and a bat flew out of it. It flew across Shinryudramon 's face before flying to the ground. A demonic roar was heard before it transformed into a gigantic humanoid monster as big as the Temple.

It was a man with white demonic armor, a tail, bat wings, blond hair, a red mask over his face, and two demonic mouths on his shoulder pads. The new arrival gave off a demonic roar before yelling out," Fear me!"

Shinryudramon winced before uttering," You getting your big brother to team up on me?"

"More like tag in Kupo." Zoth uttered dismissively." MaloMyotismon, or BelialVamdemon in some universe's is a demon king Digimon. Can you take him? Well one way or another he knows how to hurt right? Can you take him down before he kills all your new buddies? Let's find out!"

Malo Myotistmon had his eyes glowed before yelling out," Crimson Mist!"

The demonic Digimon had his two shoulder mouths, called Sodom and Gomorrah open and spews out a thick red, acidic mist. Shinryudramon saw the mist melt the trees near them instantly, and saw some of the mist heading for the temple before he widened his eyes." Damn it, this is not over!"

"Oh of course not Kupo!" Zoth hissed out as he saw Shinryudramon took to the air." The party is just beginning! Live long enough and you will know just how fun a party it will be, for us Kupo!"

Zoth laughed as he sunk into the ground. But Shinryudramon was too busy from keeping the melting mist to get into the temple to hurt his friends. He saw Malo Myotismon looking sadistic before he narrowed his eyes." I did not last long to go down to nasty fog jerk! Infinite Exia Ray!"

Ben's Digimon Partner fired his rainbow energy blast to try and blow the fog away, only for his new target to yell out," All light will be blocked out by the darkness! Soul Shield!"

Shinryudramon saw his target use a shield of darkness to absorb the energy of his attack before he shouted out," Oh nuts." Before his enemy yelled out," Pandæmonium Flame!"

Malo Myotismon then had his aura surge before he fired an extremely high-temperature beam from Sodom and Gomorrah that blasted Shinryudramon. He tried to block it with his shield before he glared at his opponent." Man, you're reminding me of that nasty form Xehamaru took when he invaded Neo Arcadia. But, no matter how nasty you get you're not winning!"

"Oh yes I am!" His demonic enemy declared." Foolish knight! Watch closely now, your universe is being consumed by eternal night! Your meaningless little gathering of buffoons doesn't frighten me! It doesn't matter how many of you there are, you'll never defeat us! Screaming Darkness!"

The demonic being fired more spheres of darkness to try and overwhelm Shinryudramon, but the royal knight held his ground before he grit out," No…I'm not failing hear, not now!"

Malo Myotismon 's grin widened before he hissed out," But your ripe with fear, I can feel it! You think you failed your friends and you're right, you have! Their souls can tell you about it!"

His eyes glowed before images of Ben, Lacus, and others appeared around Shinryudramon before Ben uttered," Daigo…all you really did was fail me."

Shinryudramon sniffed his nose a bit before he growled out an angry," Hey, I just went through this illusion stuff I'm not falling for that again! I've been around for centuries now, I'm not a kid! I was tired before when those church cultist fed me that fruit, but I'm not falling for cheap tricks again, too much is on the line! I'll show you how serious I am!

Shinryudramon, Mode Change…Judgment Mode!"

The Royal Knight unleashed his full power and released enough light to shatter all the dark energy around him. Malo Myotismon was blinded by the light before he howled in pain.

"Wait! What's happening? The light, it's blinding! No, it can't be! Aaargh...No! This can't be happening! This light can't make me disappear! I won't allow it! Nightmare, "

"Verus Zenith Ray!"

He fired a larger golden energy beam to hit the enemy Digimon just as the dark attack went out. Malo Myotismon screamed out "Aaargh!"

Before he was vaporized. Shinryudramon made sure he was gone before he took a deep breath." All that and he was just a roadblock. Got to step it up to pull this off."

He realized the Temple of Ancients had formed while he was busy fighting before he rubbed his head." So that's the temple? Geeze I hope everyone found what they were looking for before the bad guys did and, huh, whoa!"

At this time Shinryu descended from the sky, causing the Digimon with the same name to tense up." Whoa, no one told me this world has those Super Dragon Balls! I mean, that's the only dragon I ever saw being that big! Wait…something about him looks…familiar. Wait…something about him smells familiar to! He…almost smells like me! Wait…wait, I did not see myself back then but he, he looks kind of how I was…when Seiya killed me back then. What…what is this? Better find out…I won't let anyone take away are last hope, even me!"

As unsettled as Daigo was, as he dashed back to the new arrival, we turn back to those who are taking the new turn of events even worst, Bahamut and his brother.

---

The dragons saw the man who was more or less their father looking at them with utter disgust. Yet after his final proclamation, the two both took off for him like speeding bullets. Bahamut's face was grim and expressionless while Tiamat's was mad with hate, but both of them hurled straight for what seemed to be the "chest" region of the colossal dragon and smashed into him with an echo that would have crumbled a mountain.

Shinryu, however, never shifted so much as a hair's breadth. His teeth barred. "SUBCREATURES…GNATS OF WYRMS…WERE YOU BOTH A HUNDRED TIMES STRONGER, YOU STILL COULD NEVER PUT A SPECK OF DUST ON ME!"

Shrieking like a demon, Tiamat bellowed in response before flashing his terrible claws and beginning to strike and rake against Shinryu's side for all he was worth. Each swipe would have rent adamantine…but didn't so much as leave a scratch on his golden scales. Bahamut, still grim, still showing nothing, hauled back and swung his tail with all of his might into the crook of Shinryu's scales, but gained nothing other than another booming echo.

Tiamat shifted to violently headbutting the colossal beast while Bahamut pulled back, gathered power, and then drove himself with one thunderous blow after another. The shockwaves made the seas cast up, the clouds part, and rocks tremble below.

Yet they yielded nothing. Both pulled back at one point, then cried out as they initiated their separate powering up techniques to wrap themselves in auras of light and dark and increase their power, but it made no difference.

Going wild, Tiamat cracked his mouth open and began to discharge sphere after sphere of his Megapyron over Shinryu's body—covering him with clouds of fire and smoke. Bahamut, slowing down at this point, pulled himself back, crouched over, and dug in deeper.

In spite of his morose face, his power surged, and when he cracked open his mouth and streams of burning hot energy streaked into it, it was clear that his new power had enabled him to ascend past the "Megaflare" and all the way to the "Gigaflare" at minimum.

That was made clear a moment later when he discharged a pierced beam of energy into the midsection of Shinryu. Yet it did nothing. The fire and healed peeled off of his body like water on rock. When Bahamut was finished, hunched over, and panting, he saw he had done nothing.

Shinryu let out a growl. "I HAVE SUFFERED YOUR FEEBLE STRUGGLING LONG ENOUGH."

The colossal beast flicked its whiskers…and both dragons cried out in agony as beams of plasma-like electricity instantly wrapped around both of them. It proceeded to yank both into the air like a pair of dolls and slam them into the ground so hard it sent two columns of dust hundreds of meters into the air.

Shinryu extended ten of his claws at once, and then began to flick them one after another. With each one, an echoing strike was heard against Bahamut and Tiamat, and both were soon bellowing as scales, flesh, and blood were cleaved from them each time. Both were powerless to move in the plasma grip as their progenitor continued to hit them again and again for several seconds of agony.

It was at that point Eden took no more. Firing up her own jets, she began to rise after Shinryu—only for the elder wyrm to twitch one of his eyes toward her. A single claw snap from another arm a moment later, and she cried out as a bloody gash appeared across her midsection. She immediately fell to the ground in a heap, clutching her slashed armor and the flesh beneath.

"STAY OUT OF THIS, PUNY LITTLE MUDBALL OF A PLANET! YOU HAVEN'T THE SLIGHTEST RIGHT TO EVEN EXIST BEFORE ME—LET ALONE INTERVENE!"

The claws relented, and the plasma snapped the bloody and torn bodies of Bahamut and Tiamat into the air once again before slamming them once again into the ground—harder than before. The jaws of Shinryu opened up—only to let out a stream of Megaflares in its Fulgent Rain attack, in a burst of heat and light so great it could be felt for miles pummel both of them with one resounding explosion after another. Almost any other being in the multiverse would have been annihilated. As it was, the two were seared and beaten again and again.

When it was finally done, the plasma coils shot out again—this time wrapping around their necks in a choking grasp and yanking them off of the ground and back before Shinryu's head. As terrible as their injuries were and as much blood as they were dripping, it was clear if they hadn't been able to regenerate the two would already be dead. As it was, their healing was happening so slowly it was barely visible.

"FOOLISH WRYMLINGS…WAS THAT WHAT YOU CALL 'POWER'?" His eyes twitched to Bahamut. "WORTHLESS GRIEF…" Then to Tiamat. "AND MEANINGLESS RAGE? ONLY THE PITIFUL FIGHT WITH EMOTION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO STRENGTH OF THEIR OWN TO USE! TRUE POWER NEEDS NOTHING. NEITHER HATE NOR SADNESS NOR JOY NOR LOVE. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY BE DIFFERENT WITH HOW FAR YOU'VE COME, BUT IF YOU'VE FAILED TO LEARN THAT SIMPLE FACT THEN YOU'RE GREATER FOOLS THAN ALL THE WYRMLINGS BEFORE YOU!"

Bahamut simply hung there, dimly looking at Shinryu and not even struggling. Tiamat, however, breathed hard a few times, before fresh violence flew into his eyes. Once more he flexed and strained, his muscles bulging and his aura flaring. He struggled for a few moments before, giving a murderous bellow, he actually broke out of the plasma coil. Screaming, he sailed straight for one of Shinryu's eyes—claws extended and full of bloody rage.

A dismissive snort came from Shinryu's maw before four of his eyes pivoted to Tiamat—right before each performed a Gigaflare. All four beams struck him at once, and it was impossible to tell if he bellowed in pain or rage as his body was almost instantly blasted miles away and over the horizon from the sheer force.

"DEFIANCE—COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS AGAINST POWER. NOTHING BUT AN ANNOYING IRRITANT."

Turning back down, Shinryu saw he had no further opponents. It made him growl in disgust yet again.

"WEAKNESS…NO MATTER WHICH REALITY I GO TO ALL I EVER BEHOLD IS WEAKNESS. PATHETIC, NUGATORY CREATURES. YOU INSIGNIFICANT HALF-BEINGS THOUGHT YOU WOULD SAVE ALL REALITIES? PAIN AND DEATH IS ALL YOU DESERVE, AND YOU'VE HARDLY EARNED THAT PRIVILEGE. BE THANKFUL YOU ARE SO REVOLTING TO MY EYES THAT I WANT YOU ANNIHILATED IN THE QUICKEST FASHION!"

Shinryu opened his mouth even wider. At once, a burning light came from it so blazing, so hot, and so bright that it was as if he had swallowed the sun. Even Bahamut had to wince to look away. Eden, still trying to staunch her own bleeding, looked up in horror.

"No…that's…even greater than…the Terapyrin?!"

Bahamut let out a pained grunt, but through his crushed windpipe he half-whispered. "A…Petapyrin…"

The blast looked ready to annihilate the area, and the fallen could detect it had more than enough power to do so. Coiling his head back, Shinryu cracked his mouth open a bit wider and let the blast go—seeming to bathe the area in the sun as the light of death came for them all…

It never landed.

It only reached half the distance before a much tinier figure appeared to materialize in front of it and, for all of its fire and heat, caught it. As the light died down, it revealed Ezan standing there—having totally absorbed the blast meant to kill the others.

As Ezan absorbs the blast meant to kill his new comrades, Ezan yelled out," Oh, you have not seen all are power yet! Backlash Mirror Force Flare!"

Ezan unleashed his counter attack, Yet his target's irritation seemed greater than ever as he tossed Bahamut's body aside like a paper cup and glared fully at the former Enji Knight. "INSOLENT LITTLE NOTHING! WHAT ARE YOU TO OPPOSE MY WILL? I AM THE GOD OF ALL DRAGONS ACROSS ALL REALITIES!"

Ezan just powered up before declaring," I don't care what you are, you won't be the first dragon I subdue Shinryu! Resshin, of the Karyū Flames!"

Ezan had the barrage of dragon head shaped flames come out of his arm and all swarm Shinryu, but to his shock the flames just went through Shinryu before it snarled out,"MORE WEAKNESS…WEAKNESS AND GORMLESSNESS!" it snarled. "ALL WYRMS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MY EXHALED LIFEBREATH! NO DRAGON'S FLAME IN ALL REALITIES CAN HURT ME!"

This caused Ezan to grasp his fist tightly before he uttered," Then I'll show you my blade can burn brighter than any Dragon's! Judgment Blitz!"

Ezan instantly became covered in his Divine Joutei armor and in a flash was above Shinryu. But as he brought his blade down Shinryu intercepted with the swipe of his claw. Ezan was able to push Shinryu back a few inches, but only caused Shinryu to narrow his eyes.

"YOU MITES ALL LOOK THE SAME TO ME…BUT IF YOU ARE OF THE SAME ILK, YOU ARE STRONGER THAN MOST I DECIDED TO KILL AS OF LATE. JUST THE SAME, YOU ARE STILL INFERIOR."

He prepared to unleash an attack from his mouth only for Shinryudramon to yell out," Well good thing I got my buddy's back jerk! Dividing Quantum Slash!"

The royal knight Digimon hit Shinryu just before it could release his mouth blast, causing Shinryu to be knocked off course. Ezan wasted no time and yelled out," Twilight Omega Flare!"

He unleashed his energy beam of light and darkness to blast Shinryu in the neck, and was able to blast Shinryu back a bit. The two friends got to each other's side before Daigo nodded." What's going on Ezan? The Sephiroth of this universe transformed into something really crazy!"

"It's not Sephiroth Daigo, he's over there." Ezan uttered bluntly as he pointed to Sephiroth and Lady Ni looking amused to the right." This enemy is Shinryu, the ultimate dragon that seems to have existed to devour failing universes."

Shinryudramon widened his eyes before uttering," Shinryu? Wait…I know that sounds familiar. Wait. Shinryu, oh…OH NUTS! He's what my Digimon form is based on? Wait, I remember Bartz said he fought a Shinryu before he fought Exdeath and said it was just a strong dragon that was hiding in a box!"

Ezan saw Shinryu emerge looking only annoyed after being hit with his energy blast before he winced." I think that was just a phantom and this is the real one Daigo. I fought a few fragments in my time traveling the Multiverse, the others in the alliance told me they are called planesgorgers but none of them were close to this size.

Damn it, even Kisara as the Blue Eyes Ultimate White Dragon, which was a being that Zannacross made into one of the Cosmic Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum of are universe, feels like a child compared to this."

Daigo looked at Shinryu before he narrowed his eyes." I knew, I knew I remembered something about him, more than just having one of my names too! Ezan, my memories were not great around that time, but, he, he looks like that Getter Shinryu form I was in when Seiya killed me. That Fou-Lu guy, along with Doctor Hell and the others talked about me becoming the ultimate dragon. So that means, this was the original?"

Ezan paused before he shrugged." I'm still getting the grasp of all this but, sounds like there is a connection one way or another. But the only relevant info, is that he's are enemy."

"Right." Shinryudramon growled out." No matter what he is, he's going down!"

Shinryu made a sound like spitting. "WHETHER YOU ARE TRULY MY WRYMLING OR NOT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE…YOU'RE NOTHING BUT ANOTHER MISERABLE WEAKLING HERE TO OFFEND ME WITH YOUR FEEBLENESS. YET YOU…YOU SEEM TO BE PARTICULARLY ODIOUS. PAIRED WITH SOME INFERIOR TRASH RIGHT DOWN TO THE MARROW OF YOUR BONES. LIKE MUTANT SLIME SCULPTED INTO A VISAGE OF A WYRM…"

Shinryudramon powered up before jabbing back with," Here is what I think of you think! Verus Explosive Barrage!"

As he fired a barrage of attacks Ezan formed an energy shuriken in his hand and yelled out," Kamui Tachyon Shuriken!"

They both fired projectiles at Shinryu's head before the dragon roared in fury. "THOUGHTLESS GNATS! DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS WRETCHED, BORING DISPLAY IS ENOUGH TO DEFEAT ME?! I TIRE OF YOUR MEANINGLESS TWITCHING!"

At long last, Shinryu flexed his coils, as if he suddenly gained the ability to slither along the air itself. It proceeded to do so as it flew even higher in the sky, stretching its bulk over the entire landscape below. Letting out a hollow roar-like sound, numerous portals began to open up all around it—both above it, to the side of it, and in front of it.

A moment later, it unleashed its Fulgent Rain attack. Light projectiles began to rain from each one as if it had summoned falling stars from all across the universe.

Ezan saw more than a few projectiles were heading to Bahamut, Dale, and Aeris before he swore and flash stepped in front of his comrades to try and deflect the blasts. He neutralized a few but he and Shinryudramon still got blasted hard into the ground.

Shinryu hissed out how foolish they were for thinking they were his equal before Ezan powered up once more." You're not my equal, I'm just feeling you out. I'll show you who the true elite between us is Shinryu! Omni, huh? GUH!"

He sensed something and turned around just in time to see Sephiroth coming at him with his sword. Ezan got stabbed through the shoulder before the one wing angel had a cruel smirk." You ignorant traitor…you think you can forget about me? You won't escape this time, you will, huh?"

Before he could press his attack, he saw light headed his way—courtesy of the others. In spite of still bleeding and his wounds only partially sealed, to say nothing of limping on one leg and clutching his shoulder while collapsing a broken wing, Bahamut had managed to crawl into range to fire another Sol-pyrin. Eden, her armor still broken but her wound healed, had risen, aimed her cannon, and fired off an Ultima-like blast from it.

The shot was enough to force him to pull his sword out and recoil to evade the attack. Bahamut, breathing hard and still morose, nevertheless fixed him in his gaze. "We're not finished yet."

Aeris added," That's right…no matter how bad this nightmare is getting, we will wake up from it!"

Sephiroth was about to respond before Shinryu let out another snarl, echoing enough to redirect attention back to him. "YOU STILL STRUGGLE, WRYMLING? I ALREADY TOLD YOU I'LL SUFFER YOUR DEFIANCE NO LONGER. YOUR ONLY PURPOSE NOW IS TO BE DEVOURED AND RETURN THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY I WASTED ON YOU. SUBMIT NOW…OR YOU WILL LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO FEEL MY ANGER, AND NOT MERELY MY IRRITATION!"

Bahamut looked back at him. He said nothing for a moment. Then, to the surprise of the others, he turned away from them to the dragon god and began to walk toward him.

"Bahamut?" Eden practically shouted. "What…what are you doing?"

"He's only here to consume me and Tiamat. He doesn't even think the rest of you are worth killing," he stated coldly. "I was always too weak to fight the IV anyway. If I let him have me…maybe he'll fly off and let the rest of you live."

"Are you crazy?!" Eden shot back, limping forward and seizing him by his hurt arm. "You can't just throw yourself at that thing!"

Bahamut kept his head bowed. "It doesn't matter, Eden. We both know the truth now. Sephiroth may mean it just to hurt me…but it's the truth just the same. Tiamat and I never should have existed." He motioned his head to the elder wyrm. "That was what we were supposed to become one day. Heartless, savage monsters that only cared about being stronger. The Planet was terrified of us. That's why it made Griever. That's why…everything happened."

He turned to her.

"How many deaths have I caused, Eden? Simply by being born into Gaia after being sired by this monster? Was that what the Planet was trying to prevent?"

Eden hesitated for a moment, but only a moment before her helmet drew back—letting her deep, greenish-blue eyes meet his.

"After all the talk you made before, Bahamut, it pisses me off that you're looking for sense in what that lunatic says. After everything you've done for the Planet and the people on it, you're really thinking that you're somehow a 'mistake'?"

Bahamut swallowed. "If so…then why? Why did the world…my mother…want me destroyed?"

"I have no idea why I ever would have wanted that back then, but if I did then I was a goddamn fool!"

The esper actually let out a gasp at how sharply she said that, but she grit her teeth and continued.

"Because you're the best son a planet…or a mother…could have asked for! I wouldn't trade you or sacrifice you or give you up for anything! Not for a planet without Chaos! Not for a planet without Zemes! Not even for a planet without Jenova!"

On saying that, leaving Bahamut stunned and speechless, she wheeled on Shinryu.

"And I don't care about your damned pride or power! You aren't special! There's thousands like you all over every universe! People and creatures that think just because they can step on people who are weaker than them that they're anything more than glorified bullies! My son is a million times more than you'll ever be!"

Shinryu glared at her, numerous claws starting to tighten from its multiple arms as it let out a deep growl.

"NOW I SEE…MY SPAWN COULD HAVE BEEN STRONGER, BUT BECAUSE OF YOU, LITTLE MUDBALL, IT WAS CORRUPTED…AND WASTED ITS LIFE ON WEAK PURSUITS AND DELUSIONAL IDEALS…"

Its teeth flashed as a burning purple light gathered in its throat.

"DAMN YOU AND ALL EXCUSES FOR LIFE TO EVER BE FOUND ON YOU TO HELL!"

Cracking his mouth open wide, he unleashed his purple Cosmic Breath attack. The sheer force of the blast unleashed a shockwave that knocked Ezan and Shinryudramon back, leaving only Eden behind. She stared at it wide-eyed in shock, but also knew Bahamut was behind her. As a result, she tightened her jaw, crossed her blade in front of her, and prepared for the inevitable…

But as Eden was about to be hit, she felt a shove knock her aside. Stunned, she had just enough time to look back and saw who had pushed her out of the way…meeting eyes with Aeris.

And a moment later, the attack blasted straight through her stomach.

Eden slammed to the ground from the force as the waves died down, but quickly scrambled to all fours and yelled back in horror. "No…no! Aeris!"

She gave a weak smile. "Sorry, just acted on my own. You…you have a family still, Dael…you…you need to keep living for their sake."

Shinryu roared out in defiance. "YOU THINK ONE OF YOU FLIES RUSHING TO OBLIVION IN PLACE OF ANOTHER CHANGES ANYTHING?!" he hissed out. "IT MEANS NOTHING! JUST AS THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO DELAY YOUR DEATHS A SECOND LONGER!"

Levinbolts began to pour out from the great golden serpents body, raining down death upon everything below. Some of them clearly targeting those still unable to protect themselves. Ezan and Shinryudramon deflected the attacks again and again as they kept trying to pierce the others, before Ezan yelled out, "You will pay for that, you monster!"

"AND YOU WILL PAY FOR BELIEVING YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE! I HAVE PROVEN YOUR HELPLESSNESS AND FRAGILITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND YET YOU STILL BLATHER SUCH INANE NONSENSE?!" The ground began to quake as light gathered in his jaws and thunder crackled around his body. "ANNOY ME WITH YOUR IDLE BOASTS WHEN YOU HAVE NO AIR TO BREATHE OR A WORLD TO STAND UPON!"

Lady Nil winced before she cleared her throat." Lord Shinryu, we just want to remind you this world is too important to destroy at this point of time."

At once, the eight eyes twitched to her, and if anything the beast looked angrier. "I CARE NOTHING FOR THE DESIRES OF THIS 'IV &C '…AND I QUICKLY TIRE OF WORTHLESS MITES TALKING TO ME AS IF I NEEDED THEIR COUNSEL!"

She sighed. "But my lord, if you destroy the world you won't get the feast you were looking for, eh?"

At long last, the dragon god hesitated. The lightning slowly dimmed and the bolts cut off as its claws relaxed.

"IF YOU ATTEMPT TO TRICK ME, YOU WILL WISH I HAD LEFT YOU TO THEM."

She bowed. "But of course not. We are getting the chain reaction ready to give you the feast you deserve, my lord. If you want, we can go now. It's not ready this…instant but it will be ready soon. Shall we depart?"

Shinryu growled, but coiled in lower. Yet as he slid toward Nil, he twitched his eyes back out to Bahamut and Eden. "FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GIVE UP YOUR MISERABLE HALF-LIVES SOON, WRETCHES. FOR I WILL FIND YOU ONCE I HAVE FED. AND THE NEXT TIME YOU BEHOLD ME, I WILL GIVE YOU A BRUTAL DEMISE EVEN IF I MUST SWEEP HALF OF THE STARS FROM THE SKY TO DO IT."

As he looked back to Nil, in an instant Sephiroth went up to Aeris and grasped her by the neck. He saw her fear before he smirked." Don't fret, you won't die yet. This time, you will get the death you deserve, I'll rob you of your light forever. Sleep with despair."

He cast Heartless Archangel to drain all of the flower girl's energy before Ezan widened his eyes with alarm." No Aeris!" He tried to use his magic to get to her only for another swarm of Whispers to swarm in between him and his lover. He blew them all away like nats, only for even more to swarm him.

As they did, Shinryu bellowed out to him. "NO ONE ESCAPES THEIR DESTINY, LITTLE KNIGHT. CERTAINLY NOT THE WEAK."

His tail coiled up, tightening so much that crackles echoed through miles.

"AND ALL THE WEAK HAVE BUT ONE DESTINY."

With a cutting motion so heavy it sent a thunderclap world-wide, Shinryu's tail flickered down and struck the ocean. The end result sent a quake so potent, fierce, and terrible that it took only moments for the sea to heave and create a tidal wave—sending a monstrous deluge right for what was left of the group.

Ezan and Shinryudramon managed to shatter the wave, but by the time they did Sephiroth had flew into a portal of darkness with Aeris along with Nil, and Shinryu was already in the distance.

At the same time, many miles away, Cait Sith's hijacked Moogle briefly dropped in for a landing. While it continued to hold onto the captured Aerith, the robot seemed to look about somewhat impatiently for a moment. The sounds of distant battling were still rolling, which caused the man piloting it to let out an impatient growl.

Finally, a sound of jets rang out before an Airbuster armor dropped from the heavens.

"It's about time," Hojo's impatient voice came from the moogle. "Machines are getting to be as unreliable as humans…"

The machine, obviously, didn't answer as it activated a few switches on its gauntlet. This, in turn, sent out a beacon signal on a coded frequency obscured by magical technology. And moments later, a portal of darkness emerged in front of the two. The moogle immediately hauled Aerith inside. Soon after, the Airbuster armor followed.

So preoccupied was Hojo with his specimen that it never crossed his mind to ever look at the back of the Airbuster armor. Otherwise, he may have noticed that the back paneling for storing extra shells was loose. And if he had thought to open it up and take a closer look inside, he might have noticed that it had picked up a stowaway.

Krystea was rather pleased to find out that, multiverse or not, the Shinra technology still had the "assist" protocol that the Turks had access to. When needing to make a hasty retreat or slip in covertly, a simple preprogrammed signal from her cell phone app would requisition the machines to help them out—in this case providing a ride. Now as she crouched in the back she tuned up her reinforcer on her Valentine handgun as she readied herself for war.

So it's just me who's made it this far… Fine. It was just me and her before, and I can do it again. I don't care about the odds. If it costs me everything, I'm going to save her.

After a remark of how Krysta is ready to risk everything to save her she's gone, but the others are not aware and Ezan grasped his chest as he realized he could not sense his wife." No…Aeris! Not like this…not like this!"

Daigo saw Ezan looked more worried than he had in centuries before he grasped his shoulder." Hey Ezan don't let those jerks break you now we need you! It's bad but Aeris is tough…we just got to move fast!"

Ezan took a few labored breaths before he nodded.

"What in the world is that thing?!"

The sound of Ragnar's voice prompted the others to look up. Emerging from the fresh hole in the walls of the Temple were Ragnar, Cloud, Eden's comrades, and most of the others that had been battling within. As they ran up, Carbuncle saw the state of everyone and whistle.

"Aw man…you all look like Hell. What happened here?"

Leviathan himself looked rather grave on spotting Bahamut and Eden's current states, and that only grew worse when he noticed the demeanor of everyone. "I don't think I have to be wise to know that golden serpent in the distance had something to do with all of this. Bahamut, what happened?"

The dragon took a deep breath and exhaled, but on seeing the eyes of Ragnar, Leviathan, and Dael's comrades on him, he spoke.

"That…abomination over there…is my father. My true father."

Eden clenched her jaw but said nothing more. The others were stunned.

"What do you mean your 'true father'?" Carbuncle asked. "I thought Eden just kind of 'magicked' you and the rest of the old guard up?"

"That thing is a nightmarish horror that travels between universes. Apparently, it seeds newly formed world crystals with its essence so that it gives rise to dragons. That's why our kind has become so prolific. He wants us to be born, grow into beasts of destruction and death, become as strong as possible, and then…consume us like fruit ready for harvest." He took in another deep breath. "And I am that fruit for my world in my universe…like the rest of the draconic race."

"Impossible…" Ragnar remarked, his face turned in disbelief…but also concern.

"It's true, Ragnar. I've got nothing to gain by shying away from it." He hesitated again, looking down and clenching his fists. "I will admit that I wasn't…at my best back there. But even if I was, I'm not sure I can even fight this beast—let alone win. It doesn't matter though. I can't let him get away with this. Even if the IV &C is defeated, he can't be allowed to wander free any longer. He'll only keep seeding more worlds with his offspring, killing millions, and getting stronger. He'll be as bad as this Sieg one day…possibly worse. I know what I have to do, but…"

He looked down at his fists.

"I'm not sure what to think of myself now. I've worshipped at the altar of power for so long that I never questioned it. Now, I…I don't know if I can still believe in it. Or myself."

Ezan saw Bahamut's dismay before he grasped his fist tightly. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Bahamut. I assure you, it might not be entirely be the same situation, but I do know about finding out painful truths about one's father. But…we don't have time to go over it now. We have to heal our injuries then move out right away, before…before it's too late."

Bahamut saw Ezan looked on edge and nodded. He looked at Dael's friends. "I'm sorry, everyone. I wish I could express more joy on seeing you all again, but…I've got a lot on my mind right now. I regret to tell you all this has only been a warm up."

"The feeling is mutual," Eden threw in as she looked at them all, forcing a wry smile. "It really has been too long since we were all together…so it makes me more than a little sad to say you all need to stay behind. Against that…that thing…I don't think you'll be much help."

"Well, if you wanted me to stay behind, lass, you shouldn't have spent all that time makin' a decent man outta me," Cryder snickered.

"Sorry Dael," Quaren flatly answered. "You're not my superior officer anymore so I don't have to follow your orders. Besides…you really think we're going to sit back now that we've finally got a chance to fight alongside you and Bahamut again?"

Taraketh stepped forward, putting his weapon aside, and pulled back his sleeves as he approached both her and the dragon. "Never thought the day would come when I'd be healing you and Sir Bahamut. Just hold still."

"Taraketh, I can-"

"You need every ounce of mana you can spare for what's up ahead, Dael. Both of you. Better I use my pool up here."

"Well I'll be…it really is the whole gang together again," Carbuncle snickered, before pointing a paw at Taraketh. "Even the one I would have settled for being 'optional'. Heh, joking aside, I'd much rather have you around than-"

The ground gave a shudder as a large body slammed into it. Everyone turned about to look, and saw the still-bleeding, heaving, smoking, and mad-looking Tiamat hunched over on the ground.

"…him," Carbuncle practically squeaked.

"Oh, planets and stars…" Leviathan half-muttered.

Ragnar's face almost went white as he absent-mindedly went for his sword.

Eden held out her hand to them. "It's alright. He's not hostile."

The dragon didn't even seem to notice them. He held his claw out long enough for the flesh and scales to regrow on it, before he slammed his fist into the ground. "Damnit, damnit, damnit, damnit all to hell!" Rising to his feet, he spread his wings, snapped his head around, and discharged a Nocpyrin to a fragment of land and proceeded to annihilate it in his wrath.

"Ok, so he is a little hostile," Eden corrected.

Ezan heard the others react and uttered a cold, "Bahamut…just to be clear…thisis your brother, Wyvern? And he'snotan enemy? Ireallyhave to know right now who is a problem right now because I'm in no mood to humor enemies."

Eden saw how Ezan had his right hand over his eye, had sparks of lighting crackle around his body, and was hardly keeping himself together before she winced. "I don't know how much my son told you, but Wyvern went though something of a…spiritual rebirth following his last rebirth. He's not exactly the friendliest of individuals, but he has changed. He's even taken the name of Bahamut's legendary rival, Tiamat, now."

"Wait, what now?" Ragnar practically gasped. "Master Bahamut, she can't be serious. He tried to kill Cloud. He had Tifa turned to stone and nearly got her shattered. He helped the New Shinra just to get to you…"

The current world's Cloud turned to him, aghast. "Wait...what did that kid just say?"

"I'm not a kid!"

Bahamut closed his eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. "And…in spite of all that…he helped save our world from Mianyl. Every last living thing that dwells there, whether I like it or not, owes him their life. And right now, if he's willing to yoke his strength with ours, we can't afford to say no."

Ragnar opened his mouth to protest, before frowning and sorely relenting. Carbuncle smirked a little. "If he gets too onery, just tell him whatever bad guy we're fighting is a Sorceress. That'll sic him on 'em."

Again, the group was silenced as Tiamat flashed his tail against the ground, sending out another crack as he bellowed enough to make the weaker individuals shrink back from the force. Bahamut, now partially healed by Taraketh, leveled his glare at him.

"I know you're upset right now, brother. I'm the only one here who understands just how upset you are. But you have to realize by now that your rage isn't going to avail you against Shinryu-"

"Don't mention that overgrown worm's name, Bahamut! Don't you dare! Or I might take out some of this anger on you!" he bellowed in response. At that, he violently turned about, causing the people to tense up. "I don't need your help! I don't need worthless weaklings! I don't need anyone! I'll kill that gold-plated freak myself and I'll do it alone!"

Ezan narrowed his eyes. "The mission istoovital to permit your tantrum. We will proceedpreciselyas I say from here."

Tiamat proceeded to explain to Ezan in the most foulest and profane language possible exactly what he thought of his 'mission'. "No human will ever command me! How about you keep your damn mouth shut and stay out of this before I walk over there and rip your jaw right off of your skull?!"

Bahamut saw Ezan was looking angrier by the second. "Tiamat…I will say this in the most neutral way possible. Just this once—do not do this."

Daigo winced and added, "Seriously dude back off before it's too late! Ezan is getting into classic angry mode!"

Tiamat paused for a moment, but only to look Ezan straight in his eyes with his own blazing with hellish light. "So what? You think I'm scared of a single human? I've leveled dozens of your kind who were supposedly the 'greatest heroes' in the world! When I was soaring through the air and slaying without trying, humans were huddled naked and afraid in the snow! And from my personal experience, little has changed! I may not want to take out my anger by ripping off any of your faces at the moment, but I won't serve my inferiors!"

Ezan cracked his neck. "Yet Shinryu trashed you all the same, so your superiority seems to be in doubt. But if power is the only thing you understand then fine. Show me your power and we will settle this quickly."

"We don't have-" Leviathan started to protest.

Eden immediately held up her hand to silence him. "You'll only make it worse."

Tiamat glared down at Ezan for a moment before he drew himself up to full height. Some of his anger gave way to a malevolent smirk. Fire began to build in his jaws as his wings extended. "You smug, stupid little " Pretty boy"… And I was willing to spare you. Do you have some sort of death wish?"

Tiamat asked if Ezan had a death wish before Ezan gave him a full glare with his Rinne- Sharingan and replied with," Do you?"

Before Tiamat realized Ezan was behind him in an instant. He roared in outrage and lashed his claw out at Ezan, only for the sliver haired man to catch it with his finger. Tiamat and his comrades were shocked at Ezan's display before the sliver haired man narrowed his eyes." That's all? Well…you're not weak…but you're finding out the hard way that you're not as big as you think you are. I don't have time to be diplomatic… Perfect Susanoo!"

Ezan let out his fury as his aura exploded and caused the ground to shake. While normally he had his sprit armor be human sized, to show his point Ezan let his armor expand like how Madara Uchiha did when he fought him, before it became a black and white giant of energy with a tengu-like nose, wings for flight, and is clad with robes and ornate armor.

Tiamat saw that Ezan's human shaped aura was now taller than the mountain behind him, and had a flashback to when he fought Alexander under the command of Kuja in his universe.

The mere memory of it was enough to cause his anger to subside, and to actually give a single quiver." You…you're no mere human… What are you? Some sort of god?"

Ezan replied with a blunt," Not a god, A Enji Knight! And this is what that means!"

Tiamat was just starting to realize this might have been a mistake as Ezan punched Tiamat so hard that the dragon went flying through the water hard enough to split the sea. Ezan moved fast enough to bat Tiamat around the sky like a pinball as some like Carbuncle and Ragnar wish they had a camera or some other way to record the sight, before in an instant Ezan appeared above Tiamat and punched him all the way into the depths of the ocean with enough force to knock the water out.

As Tiamat noticed the Sunken Gelnika bounce to his right and realized he was punched all the way to the depths of the ocean Ezan kept up the pressure before the various dragon heads roared and Ezan narrowed his eyes." These flames are from the various dragons across the Multiverse who gave me their power, including another Bahamut who acted more like you.

Listen well…the only reason you're not erased already is because Bahamut put in a good word for you. But the lives of the last people I care about are at risk and no one will be allowed to endanger that! If you're too unstable to follow the plan I will neutralize you now and face the consequences later! So, do we have an understanding?"

Tiamat saw Ezan's Susanno was forming many hands with giant blades. In spite of his earlier fury, which was now increased all the more by seeing himself humiliated yet again…and spared by his brother, no less…he seemed to get the writing on the wall and silently nodded.

Ezan closed his eyes. "Good."

He then smashed Tiamat all the way back to where the others were, landing with a thud hard enough to cause a shockwave. To say it caused a stir to have seen things ended so quickly left quite the impact.

"…So, did you see any blobfish while you down there?" Carbuncle asked the flattened Tiamat.

"I did warn you," Bahamut sighed.

"Well, the fact that Mr. Ezan here didn't end his life means he must have calmed down on his own, so…that's progress," Leviathan shrugged.

Eden just held a hand to her forehead, sighed, and shook it like the disappointed mother that she was. "Over six thousand years and you still have a lot of growing up to do…"

Ragnar fought hard to suppress his disappointment on seeing Tiamat was still breathing.

before Ezan appeared and powered down again before he looked around and sighed." Sorry…I might be a tad…stressed at the moment."

Billy Butcher saw Tiamat moaning in pain before he snickered." Hey you still got off easy mate he killed me before bringing me back to life to make me fight for him!"

Daigo sighed before he looked at his long-time friend." We won't lose her Ezan! We, just have to figure out where she was taken to!"

Cloud looked around before he rubbed his head." Well, you guys were the ones who said that all of Sephiroth's new allies were in Midgar right?"

"Indeed." Ezan uttered grimly." But we don't understand what Sephiroth is up to. Now, we have to get to Aeris without her life being endangered."

As he looked frustrated a calmed voice cut in with," Don't fret Ezan, while today has had some horrible turns, luck has not completely forsaken us."

Ezan turned around and saw The Warrior of Light holding up an injured Garland, with Angeal, Kari, and Riku behind him. Zach raised an eyebrow before uttering," What took you Angeal?"

"Sorry to not be here, but we were getting, even more reinforcements."

Ezan paused before he took a deep breath." No offense, but unless it's the most powerful among the Alliance they would be cannon folder in the face of Shinryu's power."

"I know your upset Ezan but don't forget that it's not always about power. Since Sephiroth is the source of this operation, we brought in someone who would know him best. Everything good "

"What do you, huh?"

Ezan almost thought he saw a reflection as he saw someone looking like him, with green eyes and a black uniform. Daigo blinked a few times before he rubbed his head." Whoa, you brought another Ezan!"

"That…that is not me." Ezan uttered bluntly before the new arrival gave a polite bow." Pleased to meet you all, I am Sephiroth. I'm aware someone with my name has caused you all pain so I wanted to help."

Cloud widened his eyes in shock before uttering," Is this a joke? This is a younger Sephiroth?"

As Cloud looked alarmed Zach got in front of him before he winced." Hey Cloud chill its not the Sephiroth that killed your mom!"

An older male voice cut in with," He's right, this Sephiroth is from a universe where he did not descend to madness and joined the Multiversal Rebel Alliance, along with myself."

The group saw three men behind the younger Sephiroth. One was a young man with an average build. He had fair skin, coiffed medium-length blond hair, and blue eyes. He wore a dark striped blazer over a white dress shirt with a lavender ascot tie, light gray dress pants held up by a chain belt with a buckle in the shape of a horse's head, and black dress boots with a silver buckle. His accessories included a pair of silver-rimmed glasses, white gloves, and silver stud earrings.

To his sides were a man in a red outfit with a rapier, and a young man with dark gray hair and blue eyes in a black uniform. The man with the glasses nodded." I'm Lazard Deusericus, former union executive director of the SOLDIER program before joining the Alliance. Along side me is Genesis, and Nyx Ulric of the Kingsguard of Lucis. I know you don't know of me, it seems in most universe's my father kills me but in my own, I managed to defy the odds."

Ezan eyed Genesis before he raised an eyebrow." So, this Genesis is on are side to eh?"

The man who looked like one of Ezan's former enemies smirked before flicking his hair back." I can't speak for the person you fought but, I'm one who is grateful for the bonds I made with my comrades and wish to hold on to them. Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess

We seek it thus and take to the sky

Ripples form on the waters surface

The wandering soul knows no rest."

Nyx just shrugged before throwing in," And these dudes seemed chill so I stuck around. This Lazard guy has a reason to see this through though dog."

Lazard nodded before following up with." Rufus is my half brother, and even if this is a different universe, there are still ways I can compromise him even with the power he now has. On top of that, are Sephiroth hear can counter at least some of the powers his counterpart in the Infinite Victory and Conquest Corporation to give us an edge."

Ezan eyed the man with his hair carefully before uttering," Unless you're hiding something, you're not nearly as powerful as your counterpart."

"Not alone." Young Sephiroth replied." But I can still make a difference. Doing what I can, is the only way I can atone for the sins of my counterparts."

Ezan then saw some robotic lions, the units of the " Voltron" Mecha, along with Masaki, Setsuna, and other Gundam's and mecha coming to him before he looked at the light coming from the Tuner Fork in the distance before he closed his eyes." Well…anything that will increase the odds of our success is welcome. Aeris…hang on just a little longer. I swear, I'll go to the core of the Negaverse before losing you again!"

Eden looked at Ezan as he said that, and nearly opened her mouth. She bowed her head and looked away instead. Leviathan caught that and slipped in closer to her.

"Penny for your thoughts."

"Nothing. I just realized…apologizing to Ezan for being the reason Aeris got captured isn't going to help anything." She let out an expletive of her own. "I can't even promise 'we' will get her back. It's not like I can do anything against that thing… I wouldn't even make a good distraction." Her teeth clenched as she snorted. "Not to mention our record for saving people we care about is…below par. And after I made those bold vows to her…"

"Enough of that talk, mother," Leviathan quickly hushed, speaking quietly to not let Ezan overhear. "It seems many of us have made our share of mistakes today. Let's concentrate on not making any more. If nothing else, we now know one thing. Aeris' life is key to their plan, or they wouldn't have captured her to begin with. That means we have at least the length of time it takes for them to do whatever ill design they have in mind with her…"

"If anyone else needs healing, hurry up and gather around me," Taraketh announced as he finished with Bahamut. "The stronger folks save your energy for what comes ahead."

As they do Ezan tries to repress his fears on what's happened to his wife, and if he knew what was going on his fears would be justified, because at the moment Aeris has just woken up after Sephiroth had drained her energy. As soon as she woke up she was mortified to see she was bound in a cross like formation.

She looked around, only to see that Aerith was also captured by Hojo, and bound in a crystal cross herself. Aeris looked around, and gasped as she saw countless woman that looked like her with slight differences. She was right in front of her was a giant compass-like object before she grit her teeth. " What…what is this? They made my cell a mirror room or something?"

---

To her dismay a voice she loathed replied with," Mirrors? Utter nonsense child. Before you, are all the versions of you left across the Multiverse Cetra!"

Aeris froze as she saw Hojo walking up to her, with Sephiroth, Lady Nil, Rufus, Lezard Valeth, and a few of the other scientists walk up before she grit her teeth." Hojo…of course you would be hear to. I'm glad though, I never got to pay you back for everything you did to me and ma!"

Hojo smirked before he shrugged." I'm curios if you will have that delusional defiance to the last moment. It will make the experiment even more, intriguing."

Aeris saw Aerith wake up and look horrified before she grit her teeth." Still trying to find the Promised Land?"

"Please, I have enough material to make my own promise land. And you will be the key to that. Or to be more precise, you, all of you dying will be that key."

"Wait…what?"

She saw a man has six wings similar to a angel and a golden gate on his back walk out of the groupd He appeared to be made of clouds and wore a light-colored robe. His ears were long and pointed as well as he smirked." Greetings child. I'm the Emperor of Palamecia, and the current ruler of heaven.

This is Arubboth, throne of the lord. Your already in the after life in a sense, and you shawl be given your sentance rather soon.

Lezard Valeth snickered before he made a dramatic gesture." Rejoice my dear. You are about to go through the pleasure of having all versions of you die at once! When the Sovereign's Rite is ready, all your souls will perish at once!"

One of those in the group was Wilhelm before he pointed to the giant compass behind him." This is the Zarathustra device, one of the relics of God. Those who worshipped God brought it with them from Lost Jerusalem. God gave his worshippers a choice, the power to change the form of this universe. But in order to call upon the final power, a key is needed. You all are that key. Together, you will lead the wills from throughout the entire universe to Zarathustra."

Sephiroth snickered as he waved Masamune across her face." You won't just die, you will be sent back in time to create a time loop. This cycle of despair will admass enough energy that it will ripple across the Multiverse. Like I said before…your deaths will create a wave of despair that will hasten the reformation of the entire Multiverse.

Once, the warrior Garland created a time loop with the four friends to become the demon Chaos. All of you, will help me create a time loop superior to that, to make me an even more superior divine being. And from that despair, my true promise land will be born. From this, planet, we can see the Multiverse, ever unfolding.

Some quickly perish, while others endure. Yet even the most resilient universe's are doomed to fade. Nevertheless there loss is not to be mourned. For it is not death that awaits them, but a homecoming that awaits them. And in the embrace of…Mr. V Day's will, all will be embraced as one. Listen to your planet Cetra…to her ecstatic cries, her rapture. "

Sephiroth widened his hand to show below, and Aeris realized that Shinra was connected to a tower that had gone beyond the planet, allowing her to see her world below. She saw darkness and the Whispers were swarming around it before she winced." Screaming…its screaming."

"Foolish flower girl, I thought one like you who had endured would understand. Let go of the past Cetra's…for the future is bright. For me at least. We are to bear witness to the reunion of worlds. And in the process, me killing all of you will give me the energy to ascend to the same Sixth Dimensional plane as V-Day and the rest of the board of directors. Then…I will be where I should be. The energy will be enough to appease Shinryu, till I dispatch him after I ascend to my status as the true chosen one, thanks to your sacrifice. For in the end, death shall beget life. "

Lezard Valeth laughed before he looked at her hungerly." Rejoice, part of you will live on, as my homunculus bride so that I can rule my beloved goddess!"

Aeris had her eye twitch as she saw how deranged Lezard looked." Great…had to find the one guy who makes Hojo look less creepy. But you play with fire and you will get burned!"

Lezard saw Aeris's defiance before he looked even more amused." That icy gaze sends chills down my spine. It drives me to create the new realm that will get me to escape the aguish in my heart!"

Aeris spat at him before hissing out," I'll never be your whatever creep! Just for saying that Ezan is going to make you wish you never looked at me, if I don't get to it first! He, he will come."

Sephiroth chuckled before uttering," Well…time to see who the true chosen one is…once and for all."

---

With everyone so preoccupied on the matter at hand, it was understandable that their eyes would be blind to much else. Such as one particular corner of the facility where Maritza was talking with another of her erstwhile cohorts.

"So got that? Think you can deliver this little message for me?"

"Why can't you just do it yourself?"

"Heh…please. Everyone around her is already watching me like a hawk—which is just how I like it. They can gawk at me out of the corner of their eyes all they like. That way they won't notice you, my little friend."

"And what makes you so sure I'm your 'little friend'?"

Maritza leaned her head back and gave out a laugh, but when she looked back down her face had suddenly seemed to gain 30 years worth of maturity and seriousness. "Because you've got the same look in your eye that I do. I took one look at you and I knew. You don't really care about 'promotions' or 'places in the new order' or even multiverses. You're here for one reason and one reason alone—revenge. There's someone's blood here you want so bad you can already see yourself steaming it up to add to your morning latte. Am I wrong?"

"…Fine. I'll pass your message only because I can't stand sucking up to those guys a second longer. But if they find out it was me then the cat's out of the bag, and there's no way I can take out everyone here even with your help."

Martiza snickered again. "Patience, little one. You'll soon have all the backup you can handle and then some. Sadly for the upstanding gentlemen in the main room, our party is going to start well before theirs."

---

Authors Notes: I know we were pushing the limits on this one but, wanted to make a true tribute to Final Fantasy AND give all of Sky's original characters time to shine so hope it was worth it.

Speaking of that, to be clear Quaren, Taraketh, Cryder, Ceja, Jalab, and Cid Boor are all from Sky's Servant story.

For today's new additions let's get started. Nyx Ulric and General Glauca are from the Final Fantasy XV Kingsglave movie.

Zach Fair, Lazard Deusericus, and Genesis Rhapsodos are from Final Fantasy Crises Core, Genesis may look just like the one who previously in Cosmic Wars but he's one who's on the side of the Alliance.

With how things ended up with Glenn...no way of knowing if he will even show up again in the third part of the remake but well, at least it gives me wiggle room lol.

Young Sephiroth is from Ever Crises

The Light Emperor and Arubboth are from the Soul of Rebirth bonus quest in later versions from Final Fantasy 2.

MaloMyotismon is from Digimon Season 2

Zarathustra is from Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra, wanted to mix the end game of Final Fantasy one with Xenosaga 3 to combined the endgames of my two fav RPG's at once.

Well, hope everyone enjoy's how things lead from hear, thanks for the reviews, hope you see enough things you like to leave more and till then till next time.