A/N: This should be the last fighting chapter. If you saw my drawing earlier, you'd know there's two main fights here. Here's a link to the drawing on pixiv. https/en/artworks/125349526
Oh, and here are some fun achievements that a reviewer, Rendfire, had created on :
Thicker Than Water: Improve relationships with your estranged sister, best family ending unlocked.
With Friends Like These: Get noble friends to volunteer to fight for you, improved equipment for troops during final chapter.
Race To The Finish: Get a veteran racer to share their knowledge, armor unit upgrade unlocked.
The Bearded Lion Roars: Keep all members of the Crimson Knights alive when terrorists attack, better training for conscripted troops/improved troop stats for final chapter.
Lurking In The Shadows: Keep relations with Shadow/SG as high as possible throughout game elite units present during final battle *bonus* Shadow prevents any of them from carrying out any plans to assassinate you.
Love Across Time: Max out relationships with love interest(s post-game, your family grows).
(from ch 42) Seeds Of Doubt: make Hertrude second guess her decision possible golden ending unlocked.
I even came up with a couple for last chapter too.
Hail to the King: Max relationships to non-party members and raise popularity, making the army fight leading to the final boss easier.
Heroine? Villainess? No, A Human: Should Olivia, Angelica, and Marie's stories all be cleared before the final boss, The Royal Airship's power can be used. Best Ending Unlocked.
It's My Story Too: With the right dialogue choices, Sherry will unlock her full potential. True Final Boss unlocked.
Anyway, let's get to the story now.
Leon Fou [now Rapha] Barfort: Renowned adventurer and current crown prince. / previously: Hiro (pre:isekai)—Lea of Bart's Fort (The true founder of Holfort and lover to the Saintess Ann and Mary)—JOU_MOU_ (someone who used to work in Luxion's facility.)
Angelica Rapha Redgrave: Daughter of Duke Redgrave and ex-fiancé to Julius/ Previously: Ann of Bart's Fort (aka Saintess Ann and lover of Lea of Bart's fort). / Also goes by Angie to close friends and loved ones.
Olivia: Commoner from the Kagenou Barony. / previously: Mary lover and companion to Ann and Lea. When they had returned from their adventures in ancient Midgar, all three had been attacked by the founding heirs as they all wanted Ann. To save Lea and Ann from such a fate, she teleported them away, and swapped bodies with Ann. / Is also known as Livia by her close friends and loved ones.
Cid Kagenou: fiancé to several famous elves but just a regular mob you'd find anywhere / previously: Minoru Kagenou boy from Earth that would be transported to the ancient times of the current before dying at the hands of his friends due to becoming demonically possessed out of grief. / Also dons the secret identity of "Lord Shadow." Leader and founder of The Shadow Garden. / Mundane Mann, a pathetic looking sword wielder that disappeared many years ago and has returned for the Bushin festival. / Kageno of Mitsugoshi, after an argument with his parents, Cid decides to go by Kageno for a while.
Alice [Kagenou: Cid's personal elf servant, lover, and childhood friend / previously: Beatrice (this is non canon, but all of Shadow Garden had identities before joining so I made a name up for her.) / Dons the secret identity of "Alpha" or "Lady Shade." Co-leader and second founder of The Shadow Garden, first of the Seven Shades. The name "Alpha" is only used by those in Shadow Garden.
Other Shadow Garden Members: All of the seven shades have secret identities. They see their Shadow Garden names as their true names and will use that in their own thoughts. But to everyone not in Shadow Garden that sees them as their secret identities will use those names.
Beta: Natsume Kafka, renowned writer.
Gamma: Luna of Mitsugoshi, owner of said store and many others, richest Woman in the world. Xianyun, Swordmaster of the fareastern kingdoms.
Delta: Sara, certified good girl.
Epsilon: Shiron, amazing musician known internationally.
Zeta: Zetan. Previously known as Lilim, named after the therianthrope hero, Lili.
Eta: Goes by Eta Lloyd Wright, renowned Architect.
Charlie: Known previously as Carla Fou Wayne.
Yankee: Known previously as Stephanie Fou Offrey
Foxtrot: Sherry's mother, real name Lukreia.
Aurora: Called Violet by Cid, and now camps out in his soul/brain. Known as the Witch of Calamity, and the Demon Diabolos.
Disclaimer: I don't own Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs nor The Eminence in Shadow. The only Beta reader here is the elf.
-?-
Finding the white ship in the underground bunker was easy. Fixing it up was fun. Using it?
Well…
I can't help but wonder if I shouldn't have destroyed it after we had finished using it. When we were told what effect it could have, I had thought they were exaggerating.
But that psychic attack…
Well, at least it got some people to calm down.
Like that one vampire lady that wanted to create the haven or whatever it was she called it. I hope she's doing well. I never visited. I think she said it was near this big tree?
Anyway, the ship had to be sealed away once it was used to help settle the kingdom. We even made sure to divide the powers it held.
See, to help settle the kingdom we had to use the power of the ship to get rid of those demon clones, basically all of those big monsters that were out and about, and get everyone to stop being so ready to kill each other just because they lived in a different town. Having a device that could do all of that… well we needed to nerf it a bit.
We ended up teaming up with that researcher guy, Vandel, so that the power held by the ship that could control monsters would be placed into two flutes. Basically, it was some random pipes we used some other magic to reshape. Because of that, no one but someone from our family could actually use it. Something we made sure not to tell Vandel.
Sure, he'd eventually figure it out. But what was he going to do? Tell us to use it? Have any of our kids use it? We'd obviously warn them, so unless he's somehow going to live for hundreds of years from now there's no way Vandel's ever going to be able to use the things.
Sides' based on how much he always ranted about hating monsters and stuff I can't imagine he'd want to summon more. I'm guessing that he lost someone to them?
Although…
Sometimes I wonder if when he says "I'll never forgive those monsters"… well, I wonder if he's talking about people.
-Leon-
With everyone else but me, Cid, and whoever is on the ship with him, being out of commission thanks to the girls' psychic attack, it obviously fell to me alone to grab the flutes and see if I could weaken Vandel in some way. Having all three giants all together… I figure that Lord Shadow would struggle even if he was piloting Arroganz.
"Looks like it's just you and me Hikaru." I said as I had Stolz fly as fast as it could past all the airships. They had all stood still in the air, unable to do anything anymore. What glances I took as I flew past showed me that most people chose to just lie down and cry. Several people were hugging one another. Most were some form of unconscious. "Do you think you can get The Partner to follow after Cid? I don't think he's going to be able to handle that on his own."
[I'm afraid it's time for Hikaru's bedtime protocol to activate. However, I shall make sure that the elf-lover doesn't make himself a martyr.]
"Luxion!" I cried with a smile. "Man am I glad to see you!"
[Yes, yes, it's not as though you ever really had to do anything without me considering you finally decided to delegate your responsibilities to others. The title of king really does suit you.]
"I take it back."
-Cid/Kageno-
While Violet's doing whatever it was on her end, I needed to keep up my role.
The way I see it, by deciding to be with the seven shades I kinda screwed any chance of truly being a mob. Instead, what I had to become was a minor character. The best friend that falls to the wayside the more girls are added to the main character's, Leon, harem.
Because of that I needed to adapt. So, now that we're clearly in the climax of the story this is exactly the moment that I need to step up as "Cid."
…
I suppose it does also help that thanks to what Livia and Angie did, Leon and I are kinda the only people that can do anything. Well, that and the numbers I took with me.
Which reminds me, "Victoria, Mu, Sigma, Iota," I called out catching the attention of each woman. Since I did technically "steal" "Lord Shadow's ship" I don't have to worry about Luxion listening in on us. Which is good because I don't feel confident about coming up with normal names on the fly like this.
I mean, I'm fighting a really cool final boss flesh mecha thing, I have bigger priorities right now. If anyone asks, I just paid everyone and did a real big pathetic display convincing them to help me out.
"Lord Cid" said Iota, clearly having fun with the little story I came up with in case any of the main characters asked. "We're close to the enemy, shall we begin firing?"
I nodded and with glee her and Victoria immediately ran over to man the canons and begin firing.
Iota is a bunny therianthrope. She has long blonde hair in two twin tails with pink ends, kinda reminding me of a gyaru… maybe she'd get along with Atlee-senpai?
Anyway, her Shadow Garden outfit resembles that of a crop top along with a frilled miniskirt, opera gloves, strips of golden coins along with a see-through overlay that covers the rest of her body, giving an appearance similar to an Arabian belly dancer. Which is a bit surprising to me given that she's Gamma's subordinate. I know she's been managing the beach hotel for us though, so maybe the gyaru vibes fit then.
"My lord, what shall we do?" asked Sigma.
"Take some of the armors and go to the girls' ship. They've lost all will to fight thanks to the Saintess's power. I need you to pretend that you snuck aboard the ship without me knowing so that you could help them evacuate before anyone knew better." I explained…
Man, it feels weird commanding them without my Lord Shadow voice.
Anyway, Mu and Sigma nodded and then ran off.
Sigma has a silver hair bob cut that reaches her shoulder, with a bang that covers her left eye and a braid that almost reaches her knees. Her Shadow Garden outfit resembles a kunoichi outfit, with the perfect touches of a black bandana and a purple scarf.
Meanwhile Mu's Shadow Garden outfit was basically a long turtleneck dress thing. She's got a lab coat on, sort of making her look like a nurse or doctor. Actually, I think there were plans to have her infiltrate the academy as the nurse if it wasn't blown up, and she was going to work with some other gyaru girl? I can't remember.
Both Mu and Sigma are dark skinned with palish hair, but while Sigma is nice and compact like Epsilon ('s true body), Mu is more mature, her plump limps and general demeanor kinda reminding me of the sexy way Gamma acts as Luna.
Well, that's enough description for new characters. We just got in close to Vandel… Vandel…
C'mon title… title…
Ah, got it!
"Alright! We need to buy Leon some time, for now we'll be taking on Vandel the Aggrieved!"
I do need to make sure there's like, a moment where Cid can actually do something about the whole magic cancer debuff. Hopefully whatever Violet's doing will line up well enough.
-Leon-
[Approaching throne room of Fanoss. Master, I recommend you be cautious, from what my sensor's were able to pick up… or I suppose what I couldn't pick up, there should be several members of The Shadow Garden there as well.]
"Mm, let's hope that Livia and Angie's psychic attack made them unable to move too." I said as I began to have Stolz descend.
From what I can tell, there was something of a fight here. I immediately see the princesses and Sherry, but I also see two Shadow Garden members. I guess that since the castle is still standing, they must've been the ones to fire off whatever caused all of this. If it was Lord Shadow, there wouldn't have been anything here.
"Do you detect the flutes Luxion?" I asked.
[Hmm… I know that they are in this room, but I believe the presence of The Shadow Garden is messing with my sensors. As far as I can tell there is no one in the room. It's unfortunate but I believe you'll have to get down to grab it.]
I grimace but I know he means it. Stolz would just crush them, and Luxion is still an AI at the end of the day. If his senses are being messed with then that really means there's nothing he can do.
"I don't suppose you've been able to recreate the armored angel set, have you?" I asked as I sat Stolz down and did my best to look through his sights.
[Somewhat. I do not have it completed, but I do have something similar to the nano-tech. You have noticed what Mistress Angelica has referred to as the "liquid" looking bits on Stolz yes?]
I nod as I realize what Luxion was saying. "Great, equip me with it as soon as I step down. I'm sure that the girls' power made everyone lose their power to fight, but at the same time I don't trust that The Shadow Garden or Fanoss didn't have some kind of trap set up."
[As you command. I will make sure to take command of Stolz just in case.]
I was immediately ejected from the cockpit and took a rolling fall. As I rolled, I felt the nano-machines wrap around me. I haven't actually done more than test it, and I have to say having the full thing wrap around me feels a lot like when Lord Shadow had given me the temporary slime suit.
However, I noticed that when I equipped the nano-machine suit nothing changed on me like it did with the girls.
"Luxion, I have the suit equipped right?"
[Yes.]
"So why hasn't anything changed?"
[I figured that having you change your outfit to give away to you having tricks up your sleeve, which would be disadvantageous. Am I wrong for assuming so?]
"Well, no…" I said, acknowledging Luxion's point and deciding to just go ahead and move on. However, I did mutter, "But transformations are a man's romance…"
[I see no point in sacrificing your well being just to help you fulfill some childish fantasies.]
I just huffed and continued to look around. From what I could tell based on all the burn and scratch marks, there was something of a fight here. If I had to guess this is also where that thing must've come from.
I shake my head. "I shouldn't worry too much about what's already happened and worry about how to fix things now…"
"Oh? So sure of that are you?"
I look to see the two princesses of Holfort, both of them awake but clearly worse for wear.
"Excuse me?" I said as I continued my search. "Whatever it is can it wait? Unless you're going to hand over the flutes-"
Both princesses waved them.
"Of course you'd have them…" I sighed. I was hoping they dropped it or something in the commotion that happened here.
"Could you answer me something?" asked Princess Hertrude. Figuring it was contingent towards me getting the flutes I motion for her to continue. "What's the point?"
"What's the point?"
Hertrauda continues this time chuckling sardonically as she explains, "We've lost everything. Our family old and new, this war, soon our kingdom, and given the price of playing these flutes perhaps we'll lose ourselves soon enough. *chuckle* You Holfortian barbarians don't even have the decency to let us have our rage and grief."
"So, we'll ask again, future king of Holfort." Said Hertrude with as much venom as she could possibly muster in this moment. "What's the point? How do you continue? Especially on behalf of the kingdom that has betrayed you and your ancestors. Why not let us destroy everything? You should be scarred for life! Yet somehow, you've moved past all the pain and continued to be some… some kind of light… guiding everyone else… everyone but us…"
The princesses stop so I figure it's my turn to answer.
"Scars heal." I said with a shrug.
The princesses rolled their eyes at me in unison, "No they don't" said Hertrude followed by Hertrauda, "Wounds heal." The princesses even show off some scars on their hands. If I had to guess they were left there by any discipline they received through child hood, as I know some noble families will hit their kids with a riding crop.
"Oh yeah, what do scars do? They fade I guess?" I said as I walked closer.
"I don't care what scars do." Sneered Hertrude.
"You should, Princess, because what happened in the past just doesn't matter. What does matter is what you chose to do now."
If it weren't for the psychic attack, I'm sure the princesses would have attacked me.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"
I shake my head and gesture past Stolz to the battlefield. "Right now, there's a giant monster headed towards Holfort while no one can do anything about it. The war is over, but someone refuses to see it end. My friend, a man who's about to be a father, is risking his life in so many ways to buy me time that I don't want to waste it."
I sighed and then knelt before the princesses, seeing that Sherry and some lady that looked like a grown up version of her and Lady Zeta were all in a big cuddle pile off to the side. Lady Zeta was watching, but didn't interfere.
I held a hand out to the princesses. "Our kingdoms were nothing more than puppets controlled by people behind the strings. Right now, your strings have been cut, and the people behind the scenes have been forced to participate in this stage they set up. I don't want to be played for a fool, nor lose anything else. Do you?"
Within the princesses' eyes, I saw the effects of the psychic attack start to wear off.
"Leon's right."
I turn to see the Weiss hovering behind Stolz. Behind me, was Livia and Angie.
"I… I know that it'd be too cruel to just demand you to stop…" said Livia, who'd clearly been crying. "But… maybe… maybe you could redirect that anger."
This seems to catch the princesses' attention. Livia always was good with women.
Angie nods and speaks up next, "Princess Hertrude, Princess Hertruada, let us join forces and end this once and for all. The main conflict has ended, and as Leon said all we have to take care of now is the people that pulled the strings and forced said conflict to exist. Please, let's have both our nations finally step out of the shadows. I promise that with my authority as one half of the Saintess and future queen of Holfort I won't force your kingdom into a life of eternal servitude."
I take over here. "But if you girls want everyone else to want that too, it'd go a long way for you to team up with us here."
The princesses looked at each other, considering it. They then looked over to where Sherry was. Finally, they looked to me and nodded. I smiled and tried to help them up.
However, Hertrude winced.
"Are you okay?" Livia started to fret over her.
"S-sorry…" said Hertrude as she clutched her leg, "I think the cost of playing the flute and summoning the guardians is starting to take effect…"
Hertrude rolled up her dress, and I looked away at first, only for Angie to have me look back and see that Hertrude's skin had broken into weird black tumors all over her legs.
And they're spreading quickly.
"Sister!?" cried Hertrauda.
Hertrude bites her lip as tears well up in her eyes, but before she can say anything I recalled something I learned back in Lindwurm.
"Most of our members come from the possessed that the others have sentenced to death." Said Lord Shadow, "Where others had seen a lost cause we saw potential. We saw those who needed to be saved. What say you to that, future leader?"
I look over to where Lady Zeta is. She waves to me lazily.
"Hey, can you cure it?"
The girls around me gasp.
"Cure?" Hertrude barks out a laugh, "You truly must hate me if you want to try and get my hopes up for something that everyone knows has no cure!"
"Yeah sure." Said Lady Zeta as she crawled towards us on all fours. Once she reached us, she knelt and had some mana pulse from her hands over Hertrude's legs. I saw as the tumors disappear as quickly as a would being healed. But that wasn't the only thing that disappeared.
"Well, would you look at that." I said as I helped Hertrude back up, pointing to some cuts that were no longer on her arms. "Scars do heal."
Hertrude just chuckled. "I suppose whatever our king says must be true, as they say." She then glanced back to where Sherry and the Shadow Garden members lay.
"If I wanted to hurt any of you," said Lady Zeta as she laid down, stretching for her nap much like a cat would. Which is fitting, I guess. "I would've. Honestly, I can't even bother to even think about doing anything bad right now. 'Sides we're kind of interested in making sure Sherry's okay. I'm sure you can imagine why."
"If anything happens to her while we're gone, I'll help them hunt you down." I said.
Lady Zeta just waved us off.
I nodded to everyone else. "Okay, now we need to go after that monster… wait, why is it just you girls? Where are the guys I specifically told to guard you?"
"Oh." Said Livia as we ran back towards the Weiss. "They went to go help Cid."
-P2W-
As the group left, Lady Zeta opened one of her eyes to find Sigma emerging from what darkness there was in the room.
"Lady Zeta," greeted the young woman. "The evacuation is ready. Lord Shadow said it'd be best to do so now before the psychic attack wears off. As far as we can tell only those near-"
"It already wore off." Said Zeta. "Lion can resist it, and let others as well, right? Well, when he told me to help it wore off."
Sigma just nodded. "As expected of one of the shades. But about that evacuation?"
"We'll be fine. Leave some air bikes or something at our safe house and I'll leave later." Said Zeta.
Zeta then looked over to the mother daughter pair of Sherry (or rather Shirley) and Lukreia.
"I… I want to see how some things are going to play out."
-Cid/Kageno-
Thinking about it, the devs of Alto Liebe must've really been shitty.
I mean, Vandel the Aggrieved looks just like the final boss of Kingdom Hearts 1! I mean, copying stuff from other people without transforming it? Not cool. Not cool at all devs. They even have the guardian behind him, and lore wise there shouldn't be something like that. I mean, it's just the sky guardian rather than a heartless Terra, but still.
Then again, I don't think Leon ever mentioned something like this could happen, so maybe it is just a coincidence? I mean, with how he's clearly a fan of the series (Lea's fighting style looked way too much like The Lingering Will's) Leon probably would've mentioned it at one point given how much he likes to grumble about Alto Liebe and when he was explaining the plan for how to fight Fanoss.
Anyway, I did play that game too, so I have a decent understanding of what we need to do here. I didn't play it as much as 2 (The Organization was one of the few Eminence in Shadow as the main antagonist things I've seen), but I remember playing the final boss a couple of times.
"Fire at the armor on top guarded by the Sky Giant, it's basically an exposed brain. Do your best to fire at the weird pimple things, they're what's firing the spells at us. Watch out for when three magic circles appear in the air, that's when three light lasers will fire. It's going to be his most annoying attack."
As I gave out the orders and had the numbers follow them, I had to wonder if I was just spouting random bull shit that didn't apply to this life. But thankfully I saw our canons hit things that existed on the game boss and all the other stuff. However, what I didn't anticipate is that Vandel would swing around his sword to deflect all of our fire upon his main body.
"Lord Cid!" cried Victoria, "The filthy disgusting repulsive armor is being impudent and won't allow us to destroy him as you commanded!"
Hm, come to think of it this was a game world that focused on mecha battles and the way to train for that is to train your ability to wield normal weapons, swords especially. So, we probably need someone to use a mech to fight it.
"Lord Cid!" called out Iota, "We're getting some requests to talk, should I let them?"
Huh? Who the hell would be able to shrug off a psychic attack when even I couldn't? Is it like with brainwashing not working on stupid… people…
"Do they sound stupid?" I asked.
Iota made a so-so motion.
It's them.
"Patch them in. Try to let me do all the talking, you'll run the risk of losing braincells if you get involved." I warned the girls. Several of them then made sure to slip on some headphones as I opened communications.
"Greetings, would you happen to be the infamous Lord Shadow?" said a voice that made me think they had green hair.
"No, but this is his ship." I replied cheekily, "If he asks, Leon stole it."
"Wha—is that you Kagenou!?" cried out a passionate red, "You stole Lord Shadow's ship? That's badass!"
"I mean, I'm kind of just borrowing it. Renting it without permission really." I said, coming up with the official reason as to why I'm not alone here on the fly. "But that's besides the point. You boys are here to play hero, right?"
"Play?" scoffed the purple guy, "We are here to be heroes."
"Good, because we need a few until Leon gets here." I said.
"Hah!" laughed a light blue guy with glasses, "Wait for Leon he says."
"His Highness is a formidable warrior." Said a guy in a tone of voice that I could admire somewhat. But he clearly needed to work on it a little more. "But so are we. Tell us what's the plan."
I rolled my eyes. At least these guys knew to mind the time, place, and occasion this one time.
"I'll use the ship to match his artillery, but you guys are going to need to actually fight The Black Knight."
"The Black Knight!? That's The Black Knight!?"
"Yes, the beast before us now is what I've decided to call The Beast of Land, Sea, and Sky: Vandel the Aggrieved! Heroes! I will give you the chance to fight him, don't waste it!"
Each of the five then gave what I can only assume is their pre-final boss quote.
"You got it! No matter how big the monster, It's an Adventurer's job to slay it!"
"As you say Lord Kagenou! On my honor as a knight I will see this beast slain!"
"A beast so lacking in beauty, I will allow the world to suffer it no longer!"
"Part of me can't help but wonder if it'd be possible to harness this strength for ourselves. But even I realize that such strength could never be worth it. Vandel, you made a mistake in daring to aim such power at us."
"This is a fight not just for the people of either nation now, is it? No, this is much more. So much more. Vandel, monster you have become, you won't stop there—will you? No matter. We just have to stop you before then. Know that today marks the climax of my journey, one the bards will come to sing for ages. And even if they forget my name, they will never forget that I defeated you."
Huh. You know what? 8/10. The lack of background music kinda ruins it, as does Julius being in a costume right now. As a technically now named character, I decide to join in.
"Heh. This is the kind of thing that separates the boys from men." I said with a chuckle before I marched out the deck of the ship once again. I stretched my hand out to sky. "Men, when I give the signal head for the weak point! I'll do my best to keep the artillery focused on me, you need to take out Vandel! 3! 2! 1! Attack!"
As I dropped my arm and had the numbers begin to fire in earnest, the boys let out a collective roar and charged towards Vandel. They had to dodge and weave through the blasts on both sides before finally confronting Vandel.
I don't think I'll have to get involved any further than this though. At least until Violet gets back.
"I'm back!"
Speak of the devil…
Violet pouts and stomps her foot. "Hey! Just because I was Diabolos doesn't mean I'm literally the devil! …Well, it does but I don't like it when you call me that cutie! Hmph!"
Sorry, sorry. Anyway, what was it you were doing?
"Oh, I went back into your mindscape so I could figure out how to play a role." Answered Violet.
"Oh?"
"Mhm. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but you know how you've told everyone that you have a familiar in your bracelet?" I nodded to Violet's question as my interest was piqued. "Okay, so when you get the chance, I want you to try and activate my bracelet. Like, jump in if you think if someone's in danger."
"Okay. Am I transforming into Lord Shadow or…?"
Violet just smiled.
However she then looked over to Vandel and got a proper look.
"…wait… is that…?"
Violet?
"EW! GROSS! EW-EW-EW-EW-EWWWWWW!" Violet began to scream in disgust at the sight of the beast. "KILL IT! KILL IT, KILL IT, KILL IT!"
The ship? I mean yeah it looks pretty gross-
"NOT THAT! THE ARMOR THE GUY IS WEARING!"
What's wrong with it? The eyes?
"NO THE ARMOR! THAT'S MINE!"
Wait, is that your other arm?
"EVEN WORSE, IT'S… IT'S LIKE HE'S WEARING AN ARMOR MADE OF… I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING LIKE MY TOENAILS OR SOMETHING! IT'S GROSS, KILL IT, KILL IT, KILL IT!"
I mean we already have some people on it…
Violet didn't like it but she acquiesced to the plan we were already working on.
-P2W-
As the 5 got closer they could make out Vandel's screaming that was previously drowned out by the artillery fire.
"No!" Vandel choked up on blood as his body was dealt an inconceivable strain due to the monster he'd become. "It's not over yet. I won't let it be over! As long as our countries exist, so long as I live, we will continue to battle. It is only natural after what was taken away from me!"
Jilk scoffed at this. "Preposterous! Are you going to act as if the principality is innocent?"
Vandel growled. "This goes farther than the manufactured war between Holfort and Fanoss! You could never understand! No one could possibly understand the pain I have suffered!"
"Just because you suffered doesn't mean you need to inflict that pain on others!"
"Hah! Suffer the loss of your wife and your pregnant daughter then tell me you wouldn't choose to sacrifice everything to get them back or burn the world in their memory!"
The five could say nothing more.
With no more words to be said, the 6 engaged in their duel. One would think that with Vandel being connected to the ship and forced not to move, he'd be easier to hit. But as Brad and Jilk do their best to fire at him, with Chris and Brad taking point, they found themselves batted away at every point. At one point the sky guardian Vandel was attached to even began to swing, its monstrous size was now somewhat contained but still no less deadly. Chris and Brad had to do their best to bat away the monster's arms and dodge Vandel's own sword swings.
Jilk growled as he saw his rifle fire leave basically no mark. "Well then, let's see how you handle this! Myriad Arrows!"
A phalanx of arrows surrounded Vandel all at once and then simultaneously pierced the gaps in his armor.
"How's that!? You can't—"
"Hmph!" Vandel flexes his muscles and shrugs all of the arrows off.
"You bastard!"
"It's not over yet!"
Together, Greg and Chris attempt to attack once more in a pincer attack, but Vandel deflected one with his sword and threw the other with his sky guardian limbs.
"What's wrong, brats!? Did you really think such feeble attacks would be enough to bring me down!" taunted Vandel "I've fought in hundreds of battles! I can rid myself of the lot of you in seconds!"
Julius grunted and did his best to meet Vandel head on. They met their blades several times but it was clear that even with the armor he borrowed from his father, Julius couldn't make up for the difference in skill.
But still he was going to try.
"I'LL GIVE IT EVERYTHING I GOT!"
Once more Julius found himself covered in a blue flame, but this time it extended to his armor. The sparkling white beautifully reflecting the blue flames, giving it an angelic appearance.
Julius charged in and begin to meet Vandel's blade once again. The others doing their best to give him the opportunity to fairly duel Vandel. Brad takes the opportunity to buff Julius with a heat riser as Jilk hits Vandel with a debilitate.
"Fancy yourself a hero do you?" taunted Vandel, his rage blinding him from the possibility he could lose, "Well here's a lesson for you, the heroes you look up to-"
"Are nothing more than lies, right?" Julius cut off Vandel. "I know that! I know how many lies I've been told unknowingly, but that's all the more reason to become one now! I can't change the past, but I will create a better future!"
Julius' flames begin to cloak Vandel as well, slowly causing him to sustain damage over time. As he realizes that he is taking far more damage than he'd care for Vandel has the sky guardian behind him roar, causing the 5 armors to fly back.
As they do, sinister looking portals of darkness appear behind them, but before they could fly into them, a familiar looking red and black magic circle appears behind each of them.
"What!?" Vandel screamed as he saw the five armors then appear on the bow of a new ship. But before he could question which ship it was, the sound of two flutes being played had cut through his connection to the ship.
Just as quickly as he felt his connection to the monster ship, he felt it severed completely as a voice and blade cut through it in unison.
"Where are you looking!?"
As Vandel found the connection between himself and the monstrous guardian ship severed, and when he looked to the side he saw who was behind the interruption.
At last we meet. A savage grin spread across Vandel's face. "I've been waiting for you, Fiendish Knight!"
Stolz grabbed Vandel and forced it to the lake below much like Vandel had Arroganz during their first bought.
"Yeah that's a real freaky name you've got for me," Leon replied. "But if I'm a fiend, that makes you something even worse."
Overjoyed, Vandel hardly noticed the trickle of blood running from one corner of his mouth.
-Leon-
What the hell was going on here? The sinister Armor felt more like a living thing than a machine, and those eyes all over it, darting back and forth, gave me the goosebumps.
"I've waited all this time to fight you again," said Vandel.
"Thanks for the heartfelt confession, but it's not as flattering as you think. I would've been cool with never seeing you again. That is one creeptastic Armor you're piloting."
[Master. That Armor is a travesty to all of human nature. Destroy it. Kill it. Destroy it. Kill it. Destroy it. Kill it. Destroy it. Kill it. Destroy it. Kill it. Destroy it. Kill it. Destroy it. Kill it.]
As Luxion started to unnerve me a bit Vandel cackled.
"I owe you and the kingdom my gratitude. This item—the Demonic suit's right hand—lay dormant in your vault. But none of you recognized its value, so the princess had it sent to the principality instead!"
"Demonic? Luxion, do you know anything about this?" I asked.
However Luxion just made noises that I can only describe as alskdhgalskdh.
"Seriously, cool your jets."
[I am perfectly calm, and I will remain levelheaded as I blast this infernal blight off the face of the earth. Hurry and raise your sword. Let's defeat this thing together. I must. Everything in my systems tells me that I must erase it!]
"Fiendish Knight!" bellowed Vandel as he began to charge towards me, "Now our Armors can fight at the same level. Let's have a fair battle this time, based purely on skill!"
Fair, says the guy who was hooked up to a giant monster ship a second ago.
In any case, I dodged his first blow but he swung in behind me right after.
[Enemy approaching from the rear.]
"Yeah, I know!"
I managed to block the attack again, this time with my rifle, but his great sword cleaved right through it. I abandoned the weapon and fished out a new one. Vandel's suit moved so fluidly, and so fast. It was clearly superior to the last one he'd battled me in.
I… was a bit iffy on my chances right now actually.
"You're annoyingly persistent, Gramps!"
"I'm not dying until I've at least taken your head!"
Stolz soared up high with the Black Knight in hot pursuit. As we pass by the others I briefly see The Partner show up to help Cid and The Weiss in combating the Giant monster ship.
"Take this!" Vandel roared, and the eyes on his suit conjured fireballs. I tried to dodge, but they followed behind me. Damn, just like the Kh1 fireballs. He really is ripping off that game. I blame the shitty devs.
"This is cheating!" I cried, accelerating in an attempt to outrun them. But he kept creating even more. "Send out the drones!"
[Deploying drones.]
Dozens of robots shot out of the container on my back. They were small, round, and equipped with machine guns, which they unloaded on the fireballs. The drones managed to disperse some of the flaming projectiles, but many of them were destroyed in the process. Any that survived the firestorm, the Black Knight cut in two with his great sword.
"You scumbag!" I snapped.
"You're the one person I don't want to hear that from…" Vandel paused. "No, you're not the one I need to take down." He abruptly ceased his pursuit, and his gaze wandered to the ship directly above us—the Weiss.
I felt something within me snap and I immediately rushed towards Vandel. I ended up tackling him through at least two ships that were jutting out of the lake and made him skip like a rock.
"NOT ENOUGH!" As soon as he skipped three times Vandel righted himself and went upwards. I desperately chased after him. I saw his arm stick up and the monster ship began to focus its attention on the Weiss. I saw the mouth of the ship in the front open and clearly begin to charge a laser while the arms of the monster on the back held the Weiss in place.
"NO!" I cried as the laser was about to fire.
However, right as he laser was about to point blank a black and red magic circle appeared in front of the mouth, and another directly over the ship.
Vandel was the one to cry out this time. "NO!"
The laser went through the magic circle and hit the monster ship dead on, puncturing a huge hole through it. As it fell it dragged its arms flailed as it tried to grab something to stop itself from falling, this meant that the Weiss and the Partner got huge gashes on each side. Because of that, smoke covered my vision of the deck of the Weiss.
-P2W-
Angelica, Olivia, and Mylene had all held each other, using their combined magic to cast a great barrier around them. But as nothing ended up hitting them, they slowly looked up. They saw someone float down in front of them.
Having watched the recordings of what happened in Lindwurm, Angelica was tempted to say that the person was Aurora, the witch of Calamity.
But once the trio of women got a better look of the person, they saw their hair was much shorter.
"Cid?" cautiously called out Olivia.
"Guess the outfit confused you a bit, eh Livia?" said Cid with a chuckle as he twirled around. "But it is indeed I! Cid Kagenou! With the help of my familiar I'm able to tap into the well of magic I've been using to keep myself healthy. And it turns out I've go a lot!" Cid laughed merrily, like he was proud of himself for having suffered for so Though I've never really used anything other than tier one spells and warp stuff… but hey, that warp stuff let me return the attack. Pretty cool If I do say so myself."
Cid was in high spirits about having essentially created a new character and setting given what he was going through. He is far from being a mob, but since this was essentially the end of the game he didn't mind.
"…But why are you wearing a dress?" asked Angelica.
Mylene pinched Angelica's cheek. "Oh, come now, surely that's not something you ask the person that just saved our lives."
"It's a robe." Said Cid with a blank look on his face.
"You can wear dresses if you want to Cid!" cheered Olivia, "It fits you pretty well."
"I had no say in the matter of wearing this, my familiar forced it on me. I'll melt if I don't wear it." Tried Cid.
"Cid, you don't need to explain yourself." Said Marie, who was also there but had been hiding behind the other girls. "You're the richest person in the world so you can dress however you want."
Getting support from Marie made Cid feel like he needed to defend himself even more vehemently.
"It's a robe! I've still got on pants! Here, look!" shouted Cid as he lifted his leg.
"Those are clearly tights sweetie." Chided Mylene.
"You don't need to defend yourself Cid!" Olivia added. "If you want to wear dresses, I bet Luna will buy you all the dresses you want! I could even help you pick out some if you want!"
(If you'd like I could help you swap genders.)
At Cleare's words Cid just groaned into his hands, knowing things would only get worse the more he spoke. "Let's… let's just go. This ship's falling down."
Cid then opened his hand and opened a new portal for everyone to step through.
-Leon-
[It would appear that Kagenou has managed to evacuate everyone safely to Lord Shadow's ship. Cleare has joined them, but that's the only reason I can monitor them right now.]
Before I can even breathe a sigh of relief, I hear the old man.
"FIENDISH KNIIIIIIGHT!" It would appear that now that the monster ship and the Weiss were gone, Vandel's only concern was getting me gone. I got the feeling that if I tried to run away he'd chase me to the ends of the world.
Which isn't funny. I already have Livia for that.
"Tch!" I parried his attack with my axe, but the great sword tore right through my weapon. "I thought you improved Stolz! Missiles all of them!"
[I also only had about a month to build it! Launching all Missiles!]
The container on the back of Arroganz opened again, sending a barrage of explosives toward the Black Knight. He put distance between us and dodged them all. Not only did he move sickeningly fast, but those stupid eyes of his launched fireballs to take down all my missiles too.
The only weapon I still had was what was left of my axe. My shockwave attack, 'impact,' required latching onto him, and I couldn't catch him. I could try using some buffs right now, but if I start using them, chances are he will too. I can't call on Lea since he didn't really use Armors.
He wants a 'fair' fight, so I need to keep things even at the bottom rung.
"All that training, this cheat item, and I still can't beat him!"
Every time I thought I had him cornered, he turned the tables on me. I'd exhausted every tactic I knew for Armor combat. But of course, I wasn't just going to give up.
I charged back in, throwing what remained of my axe at Vandel only for him to cut through it perfectly through the center. I use that to turn what's left of the axe into what's essentially two brass knuckles and begin to attack Vandel. He swings his sword, but isn't used to this style of fighting against him and goes on the back pedal.
I manage to land a kick on him but he swings his sword and breaks what's left of the axe in my hands. I decide to back off and recollect myself but Vandel gives chase.
[Purging container.]
I see the container usually found on the back of my armor drop off.
"Luxion!?" I shout as I dodge Vandel's strikes. "I'm glad for the loss of weight but didn't that have all of our main weapons?"
[Not a problem. Schwert will be here momentarily.]
As if on cue, the air bike Luxion had been working on in his free time descends. Right now Schwert looked more like a plane or a shield now than a bike, depending on how you looked at it. It aligned itself with Stolz's back, connecting at the same spot my missile container had been moments ago. Suddenly, my armor had wings.
"Luxion! You do get a man's romance after all!"
[I am an AI, I do not feel romance of any kind.]
"Poor Cleare."
[She is also an AI, she wouldn't feel anything either! In any case, Schwert is now an improved version of the container, equipped with an enormous blade. Please use it.]
I pulled out the sword Luxion indicated. It looked just like the one the Black Knight wielded.
I take a deep breath.
In.
Out.
"Let's do this Luxion."
I went full speed towards Vandel, already feeling the difference with the new upgrade. It's going to take a sec to get used to the new speed, since it's like stacking two or three sukukaja's, but I'll manage.
"You wanted to fight on equal ground!?" I shouted towards Vandel, "You got it! I better not hear any complaints from you!"
Schwert shot a laser beam straight to Vandel—a curving laser that tracked his movements. You know, in defiance of physics.
"Did that laser just bend!? I thought only magic did stuff like that!"
[Please shut up. You'll bite your tongue.]
This piece of shit, I almost thought you were cool for a second.
As I was distracted I ended up careening into the Black Knight at full force and sending him flying.
"Do you think this is over just because you got a new piece of armor!?" he howled, "I won't let it be over! If my wife and daughter don't get to live, then no one does!"
The Black Knight suddenly swells with power, all the eyes covering his body suddenly turning black and red. I see him gather power in front of him, forming a giant orb of destruction. I would call it a megidoloan, but Almighty attacks like that don't have this sinister air about them.
He launches it towards me and falls to the lake below us after, clearly not having enough energy to even fly anymore.
For a brief moment I feel a tinge of fear.
But then I recall one of the first things I ever experienced in an unfair fight with armors.
"If you wanted me dead." I said as I readied my sword and activated a feature available only to devices created by Luxion. "You should've used your damn blade."
[Mana Eater engaged.]
As the veritable black sun approached me, I charged with my sword straight to it.
"Grydyne!" I chant, using the gravity spell to have my sword spin above my head as I have it catch the black sun.
I'm sure from anyone else's perspective I'm performing a fool's errand. However-
[Airships 1 – 30, Mana Eating protocol engaged.]
All of the Mitsugoshi air ships surrounding us had their last resort activate, a web of mana eating devices that created a crystal lattice around the battle field. Every instance of magic within this sphere would slowly fade.
Meaning that the black sun began to shrink, and once it got small enough, I pushed it away, grabbed my sword, and then cut the spell in half. I looked down to where Vandel struggled and flew after him next.
"-" Vandel lacked the capability of human words and just roared something at me.
With what strength he had left Vandel swung his sword for one last time. As I swung, I noticed my charm glow once more.
Our swords met one more time but mine began to glow red.
[Initiating impact.]
My blade pulsed with power and cut straight through Vandel's sword and armor. It was like a water balloon had popped. Black liquid sprayed everywhere, and the old man fell to the water.
I reached to catch him, but all I ended up doing was grabbing what was left of the demonic arm. When I did I saw an eye open up from the severed arm, but it stared at me in fear.
[Ready whenever Master.]
I tossed the arm up in the air, ready to shoot. But when I did I saw that the sky took a purple hue, and a familiar looking beam of violent-blue light eradicates it. Before I can react several other beams of light appear. One of them even clipping me, much to Luxion's rage.
[I just created this!]
Thankfully, though, all the blasts do is cause me to lose power thanks to them all going to the shields. So while Luxion doesn't need to make a completely new armor, I can't exactly use this one anymore right now.
I plummet to the ground and see the ship everyone's on follow soon after.
-Cid-
We all rush to see if Leon's alive and, thankfully, he hops out of the cockpit as soon as our raft bridge thing reaches him. He hugs Livia and Angie as soon as he can, and they share a tearful embrace. Leon then sees me and gives me a fist bump.
He then glances down.
"My familiar forced me to wear this." I explained.
"All you have to say." Because Leon's cool like that he doesn't need any more of an explanation.
"I was so worried…" cried Livia.
Angie didn't say anything, but she looked around. On all sides we were surrounded by sinking ships, the most notable of the two being the Weiss and the Partner. I think she was more upset at the sight of the Partner, given all the memories she probably has on there given she'd practically been living out of it for the last year.
I pat her shoulder and she nods greatfully.
Suddenly, a shadow is cast over us. We all look up to see the moon blocked by none other than Lord Shadow.
Man, it's so cool seeing this from an outside perspective. If this is why Violet needed my clothes, then it was absolutely worth it.
Like a puppet on strings yet to come to life, Shadow slowly descends to the lake below.
I look over at Leon, and he nods resolutely. He separates from Livia and Angie slowly but holds their hands as he speaks.
"Angie, Livia, this is going to be one hell of a fight." He said as he looked into their eyes. "And you two have the most important role here."
"We do?" asked Livia.
I nodded. "That thing you did with the army just now? The psychic attack."
"Psychic attack?" questioned Angie.
"Your ability to have your feelings and mana reach the others." Clarified Leon, making it seem nicer. "This time, I'm going to need you two to try and reach Lord Shadow… or failing that, to provide me with the ability to finish the job."
"…You want to try and save Lord Shadow from the darkness." Realized Angie.
Leon looked over in the direction of where Vandel and the giant monster ship had landed before they faded away.
"Yeah… if I can." Said Leon.
"Okay. We'll do it." Said Livia.
Leon smiled and began to channel mana onto his feet so that he could walk on the surface of the lake's water. I follow after him.
"Cid?"
"This is my fight too." I said as I looked to where Lord Shadow was descending. "He saved my life, so I'll do my best to save his."
Leon nodded.
Eventually, we arrived at the one point in the lake where the water was still and the moon weas cleanly reflected.
Lord Shadow was a mere 5 feet from the surface. I could tell that Violet was warming up her control over him, as he began to come to life.
As he fiddled with the sleeves of his arms, Leon smirked. "This is it. Are you ready Cid?"
I rubbed the back of my head and smirked back. "I should be asking you that, Leon."
He did just get finished fighting Vandel the Aggrieved after all. I can't imagine that didn't take out a lot of him.
Lord Shadow finally touched the surface of the water.
He then coated the skies in his horde of ultra-violet-blue strings once more. As he did, he held his fingers up.
"Five minutes." Said Lord Shadow. "You have five minutes to beat me before I use my spell."
Ooh, a classic. How will Leon respond?
-Future King Leon-
I smile.
I reach my hands to the sky, to where the dome tip of all the strings coalesce.
"Then I'll just have to beat you in less than 4." I recall when Lord Shadow had destroyed the demonic Minoru, and how he had almost vaporized me before. I also remember how I survived with minimal burns. I then chant the spell I saved for this moment. "Black Hole"
As soon as the words left my lips a giant hole in the sky appeared, sucking the air and anything near it. It was far too high to get any ship thankfully. But what was important was that it did exactly what I wanted it to.
As I look at Lord Shadow I see that unlike every other time he cast the spell, the strings that would usually cover his body and likely either render the spell useless against him or protect him long enough to cast it are gone.
Meaning.
I can fight Lord Shadow.
[A/N: I feel like playing the OP of Mobuseka is fitting here- https/watch?v=kEA6aZFpHd4]
"Sorry Shadow, but no lurking in the darkness for you today." I shouted as I began assumed a stance, "If you want to fight. You're going to fight."
If I could see his face, I imagine Lord Shadow would be smiling. Instead, I see his crimson eye begin to blaze behind the smoke that overtakes his face.
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
Lord Shadow immediately surged with power.
"Luster Candy" chanted Cid, having both of our stats increase at the same time.
I then began to charge towards Lord Shadow, knowing that it's a bad idea to let him take control of the situation. Immediately I see him vanish but just like last time he aimed for my back. Knowing he was probably going to do that again I summon a sword with the skill I learned from Lea's memories and meet it.
Rather than allowing us to stay still, Lord Shadow backs off a little so that the momentum will carry me forward and he can swing again. Before he does I lean into the fall and touch his stomach.
"Impact."
My gloves swell with power and Lord Shadow is sent back a few feet.
"Agi!" shouts Cid, throwing a fire ball in the direction of Lord Shadow. Lord Shadow doesn't bother dodging, instead attempting to swing his sword to bat the fire ball back. However, Cid immediately follows up with a "Garu!"
The wind meets the fire ball and causes it to explode in Lord Shadow's face. I don't think he takes much damage from it but it does cause him to stop in his tracks. I take the opportunity to hit him with a combo of "Debilitate!" and "Grydyne!"
Lord Shadow staggers for a second but other than that if increasing gravity on him had an effect he doesn't show it. But when he starts running towards us this time it isn't faster than the eye can see.
Right as I swing my sword, milliseconds from both of ours clashing I hear Lord Shadow cast "Dekunda" and disappear from my sight.
He appears behind me again with a swing of his sword that I have to defend using my arm. As his swing connects I immediately feel that arm go numb. If it weren't for the nano-machine upgrade Luxion gave me I wager I would've lost the arm.
Shadow gathers fire into his arm, likely going to point blank me with his next spell.
"Titanomachia!"
"Makarakarn!"
Right before the raging inferno is about to hit me in the face, Cid casts a spell to reflect it back at Shadow!
I see him completely engulfed in a raging inferno for a few seconds but he emerges from the spell looking like he just shrugged it off. However, this time he jumps into the air, changing tactics. I see him gather his energy, likely using concentrate.
"Ice Age!"
I see a large ball of ice head my way but cast a quick "Magarudyne" to send myself and Cid into the air to dodge it. When it hits the lake I see it entirely turn into a thick blue ice befitting of a glacier in Antarctica. I briefly glance behind me to see that the girls are in the air on the ship and therefore safe. But Cid taps me on the shoulder to get me to focus back on Lord Shadow.
"Wild Thunder!"
I see Lord Shadow toss a spear my way that may as well have been sent by Zeus himself. However, Lightning is my element.
"Cid get behind me!"
"A little hard to do that in the air but okay!"
When the spear approaches me I stretch my arms out, catch it, feeling like when Luxion tases me, but still just barely able to throw it back in Lord Shadow's direction. He dodges it, but as he does.
"God's Hand!"
Cid casts a spell that has a huge hand appear out of a magic circle and effectively punch the spear back in Lord Shadow's direction.
It hits him dead on and he flinches but just looks back in our direction not even a second after.
"Vacuum Wave!"
A large tornado makes its way towards us, unfortunately we can't do a damn thing to actually dodge it. But the wind isn't what scares me here even with its face cutting speeds. No, what scares me is that it seemed to pick up some air ships and armors that were nearby and began to swing them our way.
"Nice Try!" Cid Shouts, creating a large magic circle in front of us, effectively catching the ship that would've hit us and instead forcing it to charge at Shadow.
Unfortunately, I see a bright light.
"Divine Judgement!"
A large beam of light comes from the sky and the ship that would've hit Lord Shadow instead is cut in half and passes by him. Cid and I land on the ground again as we prepare to charge towards him.
"Demonic Decree!"
Large trees that appear sinister in nature appear all around us, and I see Lord Shadow lift a large scythe over his head. As he prepares to swing I cast "Maganadyne!" and a large stone pillar appears below me and Cid, taking us out of the strike range. When Lord Shadow hits it I see him stagger so I take out my grappling hook again. It manages to wrap around both of his arms, so I immediately begin to retract it.
"Get over here!" I shout as I drag him towards us.
When he get's close Cid and I both wind back our arms and ready a skill each.
"Brave Blade!"
"God's Hand!"
Lord Shadow is met by my blade and another giant fist Cid conjures and is sent flying into the ice he created, even breaking it as he makes contact.
But just as quickly I see him get back up and cast another spell.
"Black Viper!"
Cid teleports me and him away, as we emerge from the portal I see gigantic serpent erupt from the ground and swallow the pillar we had been on. As the serpent closes its mouth it explodes into a giant pillar of black flame.
"You've done well to survive so far." Lord Shadow taunts he then gathers mana in both of his hands. As he does I see the water around us begin to look crimson in color and rise in pillars from the surface. But the water doesn't fall. Instead it begins to turn into orbs that then surround me and Cid.
The both of us go back-to-back as we take in our surroundings. I take out my gun and toss it to Cid.
"But that ends now." Shadow points his finger to us like a gun and the orbs of crimson water turn into hundred of thousands of blades.
"You ready?!" I shout back at Cid.
Cid smiles back as he shouts, "As one!"
As the blades fire towards us we do our best to parry, deflect, or destroy each one. Dipping, dodging, and ducking. Unable to stop as the army's worth of weapons go in our directions. While I use my blade to do most of the work, Cid uses spells like Garu, Zio, and Agi to either move the blades, force them to miss by shocking each of them, or make the water form them vaporize.
My limbs ache as we go through the motions. I have to jump over Cid several times and he has to use magic to keep himself moving at the same time, even casting Heat Riser or Luster Candy on the both of us every now and again just to make sure we don't falter.
At some point I start to get sloppy and I feel a few myself get a few nicks across my body, and I'm sure Cid is feeling the same.
But I won't stop.
"Just Die!"
The orbs don't even bother turning into weapons anymore, just endlessly firing straight lines at us.
"Leon!" shouted Cid as he did his best to dodge. "On the count of three throw me up!"
Trusting Cid I get ready, the attacks try and separate us but I don't let it.
"1!"
Cid and I have to ditch the place we were standing on, basically dancing around the field as pillars—if they could even be called that given how thin they were, beams maybe?—of crimson water shot at us.
"2!"
I see less and less things fire at us, it's likely Lord Shadow was running out of things to fire at us.
"3!" I drop my sword, pick up Cid, and throw him as high as I can. Some more pillar fire at me but I find myself disappear in a magic circle.
When I emerged from it I see that I've been teleported behind Lord Shadow, who is trying to hit Cid in front of him.
"Prison of Blades…" I chant, summoning Lea's strongest skill as I charge towards Lord Shadow. "I WILL BREAK YOU!"
At full speed I fly towards Lord Shadow, resummoning my sword first slashing him in the back and sending him towards Cid who immediately shoots him with an agi and sends him back towards me. We end up performing a tag team attack in which every time I hit Lord Shadow with a slash Cid immediately follows up with another spell. It doesn't matter that some of my attacks force me to start going around Lord Shadow, Cid always makes sure to fly around him so that he's perfectly on the other side making sure that Lord Shadow can't move an inch.
But eventually our attack has to end, due to the limits our bodies are reaching. So with the last of our strength I cast one last "Brave Blade" and Cid uses all of his mana to cast an "Agilao" sending Lord Shadow careening back to the lake. He hits one of the few chunks of ice and bounces a few times, winded if nothing else.
Cid and I both fall back to the lake's surface. We have to swim back up to a nearby chunk of ice. As we surface I see Lord Shadow swinging back in forth in place, clearly dizzy. What's more is that the strings that once covered the sky are now completely gone.
Perfect.
"Livia, Angie, now!" I shouted.
From the deck of the ship I see a light once more fill the sky, this time I can even sense it. It's warm.
[A/N: If you hadn't ended the song now would be a good time.]
-Violet-
This warmth…
Even though I couldn't feel when Minoru and Lea beat up the slime body I had been piloting. I can somehow feel this oh so familiar warmth.
I remember the last time I felt something like this…
I was in a cell. Crying to myself over the countless experiments I had been going through, the countless people I had killed, the countless amount of fellow subjects that suffered due to being incompatible with my blood.
But then…
"Yahoo! Gimme all your treasure!"
"Minoru! How are they supposed to give you anything when you already slashed through them?! Olivier, say something."
"Something."
"Ugh! That's not what I meant!"
"I only take orders from Minoru."
A strange group of people had stormed the base. But there was one person in particular. He wielded two crow bars, and once he saw me in my cage, he used them to pry it open. He then reached a hand out to me.
"Hey, you're free now."
He was so uncouth, and I'll never say it to his face but with the bag over his head he didn't look cool at all. At least objectively. But when he saw me staring at him warily, he sighed and took it off. As he did, the others crowded behind him.
"Oh dear, is she scared?" asked Ann
Mary pointed to her staff, "I can heal you if you need miss."
"Hey, don't crowd around her." Said Lea as he led everyone, "Besides we got other people to help."
Olivier said nothing, but her presence was somehow inviting.
I looked back to Minoru. His sweaty hair framing his gray eyes in an enchanting way. I had found the knight who would set me free. I had found people who I wanted to save me. Although I didn't know it at the time, I found a family.
It's been so long since I felt this warmth.
"Ah… I see… How could I have… forgotten…" I said through my Lord Shadow puppet. I don't think the lines exactly fit for the scenario but at this point I wasn't trying to perform. "Thank… you…"
I slowly fell asleep. The last thing I did was having the puppet disappear.
-P2W-
Back to back on a small chunk of ice Cid and Leon waited for everyone to pick them up.
"Is it over?" asked Cid, now back in his regular clothes as Violet's had gone back into the bracelet.
"Not till the fish jumps." Snarked Leon.
…
…
…
Fwip* *Ploosh*
"It's over."
.
.
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A/N: Happy Holidays! Sorry for the delay, I was unsure how to write this chapter honestly. Also my arm's been aching a little, all the work I've had to do has my wrist cramping sometimes. Sucks that all my hobbies need me to use my hands.
If you're curious, I don't think that Leon and Cid could beat like, an actual Lord Shadow. This was just Violet essentially controlling a puppet. And even then they didn't kill him, just tired him out enough that he couldn't stop Angie and Livia.
Since Lord Shadow did appear and challenge them to a fight, they naturally assumed he didn't get hit by the psychic attack. Also, I AM ATOMIC, is still a magic based attack. Luxion knows how to resist magic attacks. However I AM ATOMIC is still ridiculously powerful, even when Violet casts it through a puppet. So he can maybe tank it for a few seconds before it'd get him.
Oh and if you have trouble visualizing the boys being hit on all sides by weapons, it's like defending the Xemnas lasers from KH2. As for their team attack, I used Robin's final smash as reference.
Now let's answer the comments. (I won't respond to the ones on Bladist's omake since I didn't make that and therefore don't really have anything to contribute to that, lol.)
SB
MWKillKenny84: lol yeah.
Blazer66: thanks! I'll do my best.
Rendfire: Yeah, I was feeling tired as I wrote it and rewrote a lot of it, so that detail with Vandel picking up a sword when he already had one was a mistake. As were the other segments. Thanks for pointing it out.
Stolz is the new armor, if I said Arroganz it was because I was using the events of the Light Novel.
I haven't read Volume 13 yet, as I thought it'd release in January, but good to know I could get that characterization good enough.
As for your assumption of Vandel, yeah you're on the mark. I did change him and his goals somewhat, even though of giving him a pov flashback this chapter, but he's still fundamentally the same person. He didn't want to kill them, just knock them out.
Xyrothor: Thanks for reading and the compliment. Luxion is weaker, but that's mostly because he's never faced anything like Lord Shadow. Also I should point out, that Old Humanity did lose to New Humanity in the end.
I didn't think someone would read fanfic with talk to speech, that's cool, I kinda wonder what that sounded like.
So the suits from muv-luv, at least the ones I saw on google seem to be close. But I was referencing the official plug suit from the manga artist's twitter/pixiv. If you look on the Wiki you'll see it there. And a sexy torn version.
Someoneani: Lol yeah, thanks for reading.
Bladist: I mean, stealing a fanfic? That's just uncool. I need permission for stuff like that. Thanks again for writing it, and for letting me post it on the other sites. Ao3 really liked it.
Ao3
Wolfpaladin: I feel like this is the climax of Sherry's development, not its start. We'll see her reaction to Lukreia and stuff next chapter. Although I do hope that if Volume 7 comes out and she returns I don't end up like contradicting everything about her.
Canonically, Sherry doesn't remember much about her mother. And she lost the ability to speak for a while. I imagine she forgot how her mom sounded. Not to mention Lukreia was speaking like a damned soul/zombie.
The flutes weren't gone. Their magic was absorbed by The Eye of Vengeance. Vandel absorbed the eye and Violet's arm thing, which allowed him to combine briefly with the Giants.
As for Hertruada… I'm not sure, honestly. I was going to have her join Sherry's harem, but maybe I'll do something else. If you have any suggestions I'd consider them.
Yeah, Leon normally never trusts anyone. But given the happy relationships he's in now, and that they even know about his past life, he'd be more willing to trust people.
With that one 'baka' Julius had started the Marie route properly.
You know, the joke there was that creating baby AI's was supposed to be a euphemism for sex. Luxion was basically saying he enjoyed creating kids with Cleare. So you're not wrong, but you made it wholesome.
Yup. Now who do I include…?
Shadowy_Mann: I remember liking that manga at first but the jokes stopped landing after a bit. I don't think it's anything to get angry over though.
Heard it a couple of times, mostly in shorts.
Maybe if I do a proper full strength Leon vs. Cid fight.
That's a good suggestion, but I already had planned some things here.
That's pretty close to one of the alternate stories I mentioned. Where the Cult really didn't exist, and the girls were humoring him.
Totntotbt: In canon, Cid thinks his chunni past is behind him. He also think that Claire contracts it, and is patient with her about it.
He only got more desperate and fumbled stuff due to him finally aging now.
I mean, even though it's not sentient enough to become an orb, there's nothing saying it's stuck on the boat.
BOY4_GOW:
I mean there's monsters running around now too.
Something like that, yeah.
Lmao. Poor whoever was talking there.
That's exactly what I wanted people to take away from that scene, Vandel's last moment as a father.
Lmao.
Vandel did love his daughters, and that makes his actions so much worse.
Hope you liked how it played out this chapter.