Requiem Flux Aeterna

by Bleachfananon2

The third instalment of the Jack Arnold Fanfic Universe. Alas, Jack's efforts were in vain. Or were they? Regardless, it still falls to our brave hero to undo the Ascension Project and save the Multiverse. But what is lying in wait for him at the end of his journey?

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Railways of Time

Waking up, I then found myself in a train seat with Emeri sleeping next to me, her head resting gently on my shoulder. Looking out the window, I saw the railways themselves were made out of time itself. As various histories passed us, I then heard an announcement say, "Our next stop is feudal era Japan. Change here for the Meiji Restoration period.". "Wait, what?", I asked. Looking down at my waist, I noticed that the Ziku-Driver was still intact. "Oh, good.", I said. As the train travelled down the railways, I then summoned the Kuuga Ridewatch, noticing that it still seemed intact. Dismissing it, I then noticed that me and Emeri were the only two people in the entire train carriage. Not only that, but the tables were also made from quartz. Wondering where I was, I then saw a strange red glitch on the table in front of me and Emeri. Concerned by what I was seeing, I then saw the glitch suddenly disappear. "Huh?", I thought. "What's wrong?", Emeri said as she woke up. "Emeri, did you notice a strange red glitch just now?", I asked. "Can't say that I have.", Emeri said, looking at me with a longing gaze. "Where are we anyway?", I asked. "This must be the famed DenLiner that I've heard so much about; first from my little sis Anby and second from my comrade Trigger.", Emeri said as she looked out the window. "Still, what brought us here?", I asked. Suddenly, a strange explosion rocked the train, prompting me to stand up and get out of the seat. Noticing a strange dark portal in front of me, I summoned Gram only to see Kukulkan walk out, her presence covering the tables in eerie green crystals. "You.", I snarled. "Don't be like that. You know that you need to awaken as Ohma Zi-O and to do that, I will do everything in my power to help you.", Kukulkan said with an eerie smile on her face. "She's right. You were chosen by our lord Ultima to awaken as Ohma Zi-O and it is your destiny to collect the Ridewatches so you can do so.", Emeri said. Gripping Gram tight, I rushed at Kukulkan only to suddenly find myself in a strange field. Looking around, I then saw a strange fog appear. Out of the fog came the unmistakable sight of Ryotaro Nogami. "Ryotaro?", I asked, confused. "Oh, good. You're starting to remember us.", Ryotaro said. "Wait, what do you mean by 'us'?", I asked. With a vacant smile on his face, Ryotaro said, "Why, your fellow Kamen Riders!".

As the fog grew more intense, I slashed through the fog only for Sento's voice to say, "Oh, that won't work. Come on, just embrace your true nature and ascend as Ohma Zi-O already!". "He's right, my Overlord. You must awaken as Ohma Zi-O and reclaim your holy throne!", Woz's voice said. Suddenly, the fog disappeared, revealing a strange arena. "Huh?", I thought. "If you won't awaken normally, Mythos, then we shall have to force you to do so.", Ultima's voice said, only for another voice to say, "He's right, he is.", behind me. Turning around apprehensively, I saw Another Den-O behind me. "No.", I said. "Oh, you mean yes.", the Another Rider said. Suddenly, a strange sense of anger swelled up inside me, promptly turning into a strange black and dark red inferno that covered my body and formed into a strange aura that covered Gram. Rushing at the Another Rider, I then unleashed a furious onslaught of slashes and stabs that Another Den-O managed to keep up with. Frustrated, I then unleashed a whirlwind of dark red fire that coalesced into a series of black and dark red fireballs that surrounded me. "Oh?", Another Den-O asked, pleasantly surprised. Screaming with rage, I then rushed at the Another Rider, covered in a black and dark red flame. "DIE!", I roared, unleashing a giant wave of dark red fire that the Another Rider was pushed back by. As my eyes briefly flashed red, I then unleashed a second furious onslaught that Another Den-O failed to keep up with. Forming a second Gram in my left hand, I then unleashed a powerful series of slashes and stabs that promptly forced the Another Rider back and forced it to detransform. Dismissing both swords, I then saw Another Den-O detransform into Clive. "Why?", I snarled, my rage fading. Chuckling, Clive said, "Well, it seems you're awakening as Ohma Zi-O just fine. Still, with the powers you just unleashed, it seems you might be my son after all.". "What are you saying?", I asked. Looking around the arena, I then asked, "Wait, where did the Den-O Another Watch go?". "Don't you see? It went to our lord Ultima and he shall keep it until it is time for you to properly collect the Den-O Ridewatch. Until then, you shall grow stronger and prove that you are the Multiverse's true Sovereign.", Clive said with a sinister grin on his face before a blinding light appeared.

Finding myself back in the DenLiner, I then saw that I was in a strange room. "Where am I?", I asked. Noticing a strange computer, I saw that it had strange text on it. "Huh?", I asked. "Oh, you've seen it too.", Sento said as he walked in. "Sento, what is this strange computer?", I asked. "Oh, this? Well, it's a device I invented that allows Chaldea to check what skills a Servant has. In case you didn't know, Servants have skills associated with their class and their own legends. In your case, something odd came up. Chaldea indeed saw that you had access to the Avenger, Oblivion Correction and Self-Replenishment (Mana) skills but also saw that you have access to the Divinity and Existence Outside the Domain skills. I'm also personally curious as to why you have those 2 skills as well.", Sento said. "Maybe it's because I'm just that cool.", I said. "But still, the fact remains that you have skills associated with 2 Extra Classes; the Avenger and Foreigner classes in particular. If you don't know how, then I guess it's no big deal.", Sento said. "Anyway, there's something I've been confused about.", I said. "What is it?", Sento asked. "What is the true purpose of the Legendary Heroes?", I asked. "Do you want to know? I mean, really, what could you hope to gain by learning that information?", Sento asked. "Cut the crap. We both know that the 13 Servant Classes of Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, Berserker, Ruler, Avenger, Moon Cancer, Alter Ego, Foreigner and Pretender were summoned to Aionios to participate in the Aionios Waxing Moon Ritual for a reason. Unless I know the reason, I feel I can't really ascend as Ohma Zi-O.", I said. "OK, if you really want to know, so there. The purpose of the Aionios Waxing Moon Ritual is to destroy Aionios, with the 13 Servant Classes meant to fight each other and empower the Waxing Moon Ritual with their essences. When the ritual is complete after a Servant wins, no matter their class, the Waxing Moon Vessel is to empower the winner and give them the power to destroy Aionios and additionally rouse them into such a state if initially unwilling to do so. Additionally, the purpose of the Legendary Heroes, or at the 13th generation anyway, is to kill YHVH and destroy Aionios once and for all. Of course, said 13th generation presently consists of the 13 Servants who were summoned to participate in the Aionios Waxing Moon Ritual and destroy Aionios. And Yasuhiro was also kind enough to devise a failsafe: if the Waxing Moon Vessel is destroyed or rendered inoperable, the 13 Class Relics will generate the energy needed to destroy Aionios instead. Indeed, the purpose of the Legendary Heroes is to defend the Multiverse against any who would harm it, including and especially YHVH. When he first appeared, he was such a threat that the original set of Grand Servants – the Grand Saber, Grand Archer, Grand Lancer, Grand Rider, Grand Caster, Grand Assassin and Grand Berserker – wasn't enough to stop him. In response to this, the Throne of Heroes, on top of preventing YHVH from entering it under any circumstances, silently authorised and forced the summoning of Extra Class Grand Servants: the Grand Ruler, Grand Avenger, Grand Moon Cancer, Grand Alter Ego, Grand Foreigner and Grand Pretender. Not that it stopped YHVH from trying to enter the Throne of Heroes anyway, including delivering a blatantly false summoning catalyst to Chaldea.", Sento said. "And what of Ohma Zi-O?", I asked. "Of course, in the event that everything to stop YHVH fails, the ascension of Ohma Zi-O is a last resort to ensure that YHVH will die and fail in his plans. Besides, you saw it, didn't you? You saw the false histories that YHVH had created to trick the Multiverse into thinking that he was a natural part of it. And don't get me started on the Flood of Light and the Sin Eaters; mechanisms hijacked by YHVH to create a world without freewill. Not that the Flood of Light and the Sin Eaters were natural to begin with, anyway.", Sento said. At this, I then felt a black and dark gold flame briefly erupt from my body. After it faded, I saw the Ziku-Driver glow briefly. "Seems you're now ready to continue your ascension as Ohma Zi-O.", Sento said. "I…I see.", I said.

Leaving the room, I saw the unmistakable sight of Hajime Aikawa in front of me. "Hajime?", I asked, confused. Turning to face me, Hajime said, "Ryotaro was right; you are beginning to remember us. Still, you're not yet ready to fulfil your purpose as Ohma Zi-O. At least, not as you currently are. To that end, I have decided to help you with your accession.". "What do you mean?", I asked before a strange green tentacle impaled me. Suddenly, a strange feeling came over me as a black and dark red inferno burst forth from my body. Overcome with a strange feeling of anger, I unleashed a powerful burst of dark fire as I felt my body change. Screaming in pain, I then felt a burst of dark red electrical energy violently surge forth from the body, burning the tentacle and causing my pain to quickly change to rage. "Bastard! What did you do to me?!", I asked. Chuckling, Hajime said, "Why, I've made you into what I am: a Joker Undead. Besides, now there are 3 of them in the world- me, my friend Kenzaki and you. Besides, if you don't want to fully mutate into one, I recommend that you not only seek out the Ridewatches you have yet to find and start using that Azure Grimoire of yours.". Enraged, I rushed at Hajime whilst forming a black and dark red burst of energy in my right hand, only for Hajime to dodge. "Another thing. Now that you're a Joker Undead, it wouldn't be right for us to fight right now. Of course, we will fight after you ascend as Ohma Zi-O but not whilst you still have Ridewatches to create.", he said before walking into a dark red magical portal. As my rage faded, I then saw the corridor become very distorted, the DenLiner itself seeming to turn into a Doom Zone. Finding myself outside the train, I then felt myself become dragged into a nearby portal. "NO!", I yelled as I fell into the portal, not knowing where it would take me.

The story continues in the next chapter.