Chapter 2
Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 2
OP Song:
MGS3 Snake Eater - Cynthia Harrell [With Lyrics] MGS3 Snake Eater OST
Insert Song: Start
Freezing Vibration OST 08 Kako to no Souguu
PART 1
DCMK Universe-Prime
It was the year 2017. For Chiffon Fairchild, a year's worth had passed ever since she met her beloved Limiter, Eugene Thruston, now a second-year student of West Genetics, or rather, former West Genetics, while she is now in her third year.
A few months after the 9th Nova Clash, a crisis that involved both the Earth Dimension and the Arch-Dimensions of Hell being simultaneously invaded by the Nova, extradimensional beings of great power akin to angelic abominations who had appeared on Earth a year after World War II. In the aftermath of the clash, it was eventually decided that both West Genetics and East Genetics would be stationed in Sinshin City, one of the most advanced cities in Japan, founded sometime in the 80s.
As both of these Genetics branches became unified, it now began to call itself Genetics Union.
In this place, there were men and women, chosen among all others, to lead the charge against the dreaded Nova and to protect the world that they all live in. Men were called Limiters. Women were called Pandoras. Pandoras were of primary importance, being the cream of the crop, while the Limiters acted as the support group of the Pandoras. Armed with great powers and abilities, the Pandora were nigh-unstoppable super soldiers, ones that gave prominent importance to women's lives and rights throughout the world.
The Pandora were described by the political, military, and social forums as a category of women, beautiful beyond compare, who were capable of acting as the "Preternatural, Supernatural, and Extranatural Deterrence". Their powers and their weapons were capable of even defeating the evils that had long since preyed upon mankind before the Nova arrived.
Ancient spirits of despair who cower upon the weak. Old gods of graves and shadows that used to be worshipped by satanic and devilry cults. Demons of hell that prey upon innocent and guilty souls. Monsters that were described in myth and legend. Beings from the sky that would come down from the heavens and inspire mankind's cultures such as the ancient pyramids.
A Pandora fights all of these things and is considered to be a symbol of hope that humanity had held tight and brought to the fore. They were the ones who established and contributed to humanity's full independence, interdependence, and autonomy, recognized by other races. No longer were they considered a weak race incapable of defending themselves. Their evolution as a species was apparent for all to see through these women. No longer would humanity have to feel powerless, for they have soldiers to fight on their behalf, champions that struck fear over the evils of ancient times.
But what about him? Eugene Thruston?
What can one say about him? The man that she loved dearly?
The man never had what may be called a normal childhood. He, as a child, was one of many who had been imprisoned in a concentration camp run by HYDRA during World War II. In there, he experienced the most brutal training imaginable, all to make him and others like him into perfect candidates as cyborg super soldiers. At some point in the war, he was rescued by the Sentinel of Liberty, Captain America, and had since lived under the care of the interdimensional organization Blackwatch, an "army with no flag", despite United Nations oversight, was not loyal to any country, but only existed for the sake of protecting the world and the threats that shadowed it. He fought through the darkness of the Cold War and saw all manner of evil that brewed within the conflict, hiding behind the two superpowers of America and Russia.
In 1964, in an operation called Virtuous Mission, also called Operation Snake Eater, he accomplished his mission of preventing a nuclear catastrophe from happening while also saving her father, Gengo Aoi, the man behind the theoretical and practical applications of a Pandora on the world's stage, and rocket scientist Nikolai Sokolov, an expert in making nuclear-armed battle tanks. In the aftermath of that mission, he was given the codename Lead Boss, personally naming himself after his mentor and big sister figure, the Legendary Heroic Pandora, Radost "Rad" Hale.
Since taking that title, he's accomplished plenty. He and his allies had protected the world from the tentacles of a nefarious conspiracy with desires for a new world order upon their image; they protected the world from a hyper-advanced artificial intelligence whose influence spans through multiple timelines; and they protected the world against the dreaded hellish nightmares found in humanity's fear of eternal damnation.
The Legendary Soldier.
The man who was now walking beside her. Quiet and solemn. His face was normal, enough that most would not have suspected the nightmare that he - and Chiffon - had seen. Throughout the campus, Chiffon notices the various Limiters and Pandoras that look in their direction, becoming aware of their presence. Chiffon's smile turned inward as the looks she saw were nothing but genuine admiration and respect that were directed against the man she loved the most. No one spoke a word - and in fact, no one needed to as words seemed to not be enough - as she and her Limiter walked through the campus.
Aside from them, there were soldiers stationed in the school that did not belonged to Chevalier nor to Genetics. They wore black suits outfitted with standard biohazard military combat gear. Their faces were covered by black balaclavas with rectangular goggles, covered by helmets and modified gas masks. White armored vests that can stop 50 caliber bullets or plasma fire on their tracks, utility belts that contain various types of military gadgets and hardware, as well as where they keep their advanced pistols, and black boots. Some of the soldiers in the area were non-humans, hence they had different gas masks and goggles designs.
They were soldiers of Blackwatch, the organization that took Eugene in and works with. They also saluted him silently out of similar sentiments of respect and admiration, though with an even greater degree because these men fought along with Eugene and had known him quite longer compared to the Limiters and Pandoras who passed by.
A man who had everything. And yet, had nothing but the worst experiences. That seems to fit the common theme of tragic heroes. Chiffon in particular could relate with Eugene and his life in more ways than one.
As they walked, they passed towards the airbase of the school where the newly arrived freshmen were about to start getting out of the hovercraft that were landing in the area.
"...Oh brother, good to see you arrived just in time."
Chiffon looked to the one who spoke with Eugene. A young man (not really) somewhere around the ages of sixteen and seventeen. He had brown hair and brown eyes, covered with Aviator sunglasses. He wore the same Limiter uniform as Eugene, with the same boots that had the words "FOXHOUND" on them, along with the image of a fox. His voice had a Russian accent, and his face seemed aligned more with Asian traits and ethnicity.
His name was Kyouichi "Kazimir" Minase. Most people, including Eugene, call him Kaz. His codenames were Stag Beetle and Master Shifu.
"...Hello to you, Madam President, I hope you're day is going well."
Another one spoke, this time addressing Chiffon herself, with a respectful and cordial smile. It was a young beautiful woman with an average height and build. She had green hair, tied up on the back of her head creating two flat ponytails with two hair strands coming down behind both her ears and three bangs covering her forehead with separations in between them above both of her brown-tinted eyes.
"Oh Cassie," Chiffon cheerfully greeted her with a smile. "How many times do I have to say about not having to be too formal with me? You are the Student Council President of East Genetics after all."
"Ehehehe," Cassie flashed a teasing smile, putting her right index finger to her face. "That may be true, but you still outrank me by about a few levels throughout the International Pandora Rankings."
"Don't sell yourself short," Chiffon shakes her head. "After all, you are the #5 Ranking Pandora in the world. That's more than anyone could boast about in their lifetime."
Cassie could only smile in response.
The four would now look at one of the hovercrafts that had landed. A young man would exit, carrying a bunch of bags. He was a young man with a plain face, short black hair, and brown eyes. Japanese looking. Slender build. Seems to lean more on "cute" regarding his face. He wore the same Limiter uniform as Eugene and Kyouichi. This would be Chiffon's nephew, Kazuya Aoi, the young man that she and her Limiter had both been waiting for in the airbase.
"Well, there he is, brother, your favorite student to date," Kyouichi pointed the young man out by moving his head a little. "Though I still can't believe that Ryuuichi and Cassandra even let the boy go to Genetics."
"Ryuuichi was at least reassured that he'd be safe so long as he'd stick with me and the rest of FOXHOUND, and I intend to keep that promise that I made with him. That and Kazuha's here teaching in Genetics Union so god forbid anyone from harming her little brother. Cassandra on the other hand is a different story where I've heard that it had taken Gengo himself to try to convince her personally," Eugene said.
"A bit overprotective that one, though I can't really blame her, being a Limiter is more of an occupational hazard than even a Pandora. At least a Pandora can run circles around an opponent. A Limiter, especially one without any combat skills, would just be a sitting duck," Kyouichi said, shaking his head.
"Aoi Kazuya isn't just any Limiter though," Eugene pointed out.
"True, considering Ironwood's drafted the guy into FOXHOUND because there's admittedly a lot of potential for him. And speaking of FOXHOUND, it's too bad some of the others aren't here to meet up with the new kid since they're all back in Genetics America," Kyoucihi said.
"There's always the Boom Meetings," Eugene suggested, referencing the online video conferences that Blackwatch tends to do.
As Kazuya drew closer, he smiled as he bowed his head a little. "Red-sensei, Master, Aunt Chiffon, and Ms. Lockheart. Good to see you guys again."
"Hopefully in much better circumstances," Eugene shaking his head while his arms were crossed.
"It is quite good to see you too, Kazuya," Chiffon spoke with a kind smile. "Hmm, that's a lot of bags that you are holding on to."
"Umm, well," Kazuya looked a little embarrassed. "My mother didn't want me to go all empty-handed and may have... packed a little too much for me to carry."
Flashback
"Umm... Isn't this stuff a little too much for me to carry, okaa-san?" Kazuya spoke, looking at all of the prepared bags with his two eyes.
He was speaking to an incredibly beautiful woman. Un fact, she is so beautiful that most people tend to think she isn't even human or speculate that she must be an actress or a model. She had a sculpture-like figure, with very long and straight silk-like blond hair which she tied to form a ponytail. Gold eyes, a very large buxom, a figure that all men would want to die for and worship to the very ground. Kazuya at times wondered whether his father was fortunate or unfortunate to have someone like her as his second wife.
Yes, this woman isn't really his true mother, just his stepmother who became her surrogate mother due to his birth complications. Not to mention the weird aspect of her being his father's sister which is another discussion entirely.
Her name is Cassandra Aoi. On the one hand, Kazuya definitely appreciates her love for him as a mother and would admittedly miss the hugs that she usually gives him. Though at the same time, Kazuya's probably a little embarrassed as hell due to his stepmother being this proactive in making sure that he gets the proper clothing, the proper food, and everything else for his new journey.
"Yes... I can concur with Kazuya, honey, this is a bit too much."
The one who spoke was none other than his father, Ryuuichi Aoi, who sported an exasperated expression. A man of average height and gaunt-looking features, and considered quite handsome.
"...Hmm," Cassandra looked a little downtrodden and silent.
"Maybe we should limit the bags from now on," Ryuuichi proposed.
Present Time
Chiffon sighed with light exasperation. "Same old Cassandra. Always quite serious and protective as a mother hen. But anyways," Chiffon smiled a bit as she clapped her hands a little. "How about we help you with the bags?"
"Oh, umm, well, I wouldn't want to-" Kazuya said.
"Save it, kid," Eugene spoke while grabbing one of his bags. "If there's one thing that you Aois are known for, it's that you can be quite stubborn as hell, and your aunt happens to be one of them."
"Spoke from experience, brother?" Kyouichi spoke with humor, with Cassie sporting a smile of similar sentiments.
"No comment, Kaz," Eugene deadpanned.
"Hmm?" Kazuya looks around, raising a little eyebrow. "That's strange. I haven't seen onee-chan around here at all. I thought she would have been here to give me some kind of greeting."
"Give it a minute, kid, she'll show up eventually," Eugene deadpanned.
"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUUUUYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAA~!"
"Or just a second," Eugene deadpanned.
A speed-blitzing figure came at top speed and suddenly enveloped Kazuya with a deep hug. Fortunately, most of his bags were taken care of by either Eugene or Kyouichi, so Kazuya could at least balance himself properly. He could feel the woman's face affectionately rubbing his cheeks, much to the man's embarrassment.
Her name was Kazuha Aoi. A Pandora Instructor of Genetics Union. She was quite beautiful, somewhere around her 20s, with back-length dark blue hair that had the sides tied to the back, amber eyes, and a voluptuous figure, wearing a light blue battle uniform.
"Oh, Kazuya, how onee-chan had missed you so very much~!"
"O-Onee-chan, stop, not here of all places!"
"Aww, but I want to hug my little brother a little more, it's been so long~!"
"You just met me a couple of days ago!"
Kazuya, try as he might, could not get out of the stronghold of one of the strongest Pandora in the world.
"Yeah... sorry about that, Kazuya."
An apologetic expression, with a scratching of his head, was sent his way by a man who had teleported from out of nowhere, probably due to an advanced wristwatch that was in his person. He was a man with brown hair and eyes with round frame glasses. He was wearing a white scientist lab coat, a simple white collar shirt with a red necktie, black pants, grey socks, and black shoes. His name was Dr. Kyle Emmerich, though most people call him Octagon. Some would even call him Eugene Thruston's partner in crime who shadows him via communications and technology.
"I thought that I'd keep her busy just a wee bit longer before she eventually decides to hug you in public," Octagon said.
"Octagon, you meanie~!" Kazuha suddenly flashes toward Octagon's position with a comedic outraged look and teary eyes. "How can you do that to me~?!"
"W-Well," Octagon puts his hands to the bridges of his glasses. "I figured that a boy getting hugged by someone as famous as you are would cause people to look at him funny on the first day."
"He has a point," Kazuya, Eugene, and Kyouichi all said.
"Mou~!" Kazuha pouted, with crocodile tears. "Then..." All of a sudden, Kazuha would suddenly lean in and kissed Octagon on the face, much to the latter's embarrassment as he blushed a bit. Kazuya in turn blushed a little upon seeing the affectionate gesture. Kazuha smirked a bit. "...That would be payback from me." She said with a wink.
Eugene shook his head a little in exasperation before he felt a kiss on his cheek. He raised an eyebrow towards Chiffon who initiated the kiss, the latter smiling with humor and affection. "Really?"
"I can't have my niece have all the fun, couldn't I?" Chiffon teased.
"That's just so like you," Eugene sighed before looking at Kazuya. "Well then, we should probably drop all of these back to your assigned room and head towards my mother afterwards for evaluation."
"That sounds like a plan," Kazuya smiled a little.
And then...
"...!"
Chiffon suddenly made an extra turn, moving in the blink of an eye, with a gauntlet materializing from her left arm, just in between Eugene's face and... someone else's face.
"What are you doing?" Chiffon gritted her teeth in irritation, emphasizing her words while maintaining a normal tone. Eugene in the meantime looked unsurprised, only pinching his eyes out in exasperation.
Chiffon was asking someone who had nearly kissed her beloved Limiter on the cheek. A young beautiful woman with long silver hair, with a light purple tone, parted to the left, that runs to the small of her back. She appears to have dark blue eyes, also with a light purple tone to them, and a very slender physique. She wore the same dark violet-red battle uniform of a Pandora, denoting her status as a student of Genetics Union.
Her name was Lucy Renault. Her real name was Lucy Aoi. She was Chiffon Fairchild's older sister. She and Chiffon do not get along, and that's an understatement, due to a lot of personal reasons. Eugene Thruston was but another addition as to why they do not get along.
"What... am I not allowed to give a good morning kiss?" Lucy remarked with a smirk.
"No, you do not," Chiffon's eyebrows knitted.
"Odd, considering I thought this was about teasing?" Lucy said.
"For actual lovers only," Chiffon emphasized.
"But that could count me in, seeing as I am in love after all," Lucy joked while maintaining her smirk.
"Are you trying to test my patience, Lucy?" Chiffon was getting a little ticked off, despite the calm tone that hinted a colder vibe.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, Chiffon, whatever would give you that idea?" Lucy said.
If this were an anime, there would be a strike of lightning and daggers thrown on both sides.
"...Umm, ladies," Eugene decided to join in.
"What?" Chiffon and Lucy looked at Eugene with a little irritation and bewilderment.
Eugene, despite feeling some chill down his spine, still sported a deadpanned look. "Could the two of you argue about it after we help your nephew unpack his stuff?"
He indicated Kaziya with his thumb, the latter smiling with exasperation while waving his right hand. Cassie looked a little exasperated. Kazuha in turn would giggle a bit while muttering about her Uncle Eugene being a "bonafide ladies man extraordinaire" while the others look on with deadpanned and expected expressions.
Chiffon would dematerialize her gauntlet, making a little contrite yet miffed expression.
"Oh, ahem, of course," Lucy would fix her expression almost immediately as she turned to Kazuya. "It is good that you have finally arrived, Kazuya."
"Ah...ehehe, same here, Aunt Lucy," Kazuya spoke with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"I do wonder whose bright idea was it again to bring these two to attend the same school... oh wait," Kyouichi sported an exasperated look.
"If you're still thinking that he deliberately did this just to either troll us or get strong grandkids based on my genes, then you're probably right in all of the above, brother," Eugene could not help but mutter in exasperation. "Now then, let's start helping Kazuya with dropping all of his stuff in his new room."
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
A Looming Crisis - Date A Live Music Extended
But just as they were about to leave, they noticed something off.
"...!"
Something was starting to happen. Something was happening. A sudden shift into the atmosphere. All of the Pandoras noticed the sudden shift. Same with the Limiters. In fact, all of the Pandoras and Limiters in Genetics Union would notice it. There were a few mutterings in the background, one that all boiled down to bewilderment, caution, alarm, and other mixture of grey emotions. Alarms were resounding throughout the base due to detecting the spike of extradimensional energies forming around the area.
"...Lucy, are you sensing what I'm sensing?" Chiffon asks with a grim tone.
"...Yes, I can sense it very clearly," Lucy answered with a grim tone. "It's... It's a growing swirl of unnaturally divine energy. No, more like something is mixing a lot of extradimensional energies and highly concentrating it on a single point. It doesn't feel dangerous... yet, but... I can feel it... outwardly stretching towards me and beyond. It... It feels very similar to a Freezing effect used by Limiters where it overlays the free territory of a Pandora. But this isn't Freezing, not normally. It's too wide scale."
"Based on my eye scanners," Octagon spoke while checking his high-tech glasses for extradimensional energies. "I can confirm that something is happening within our current location." Then he pointed towards a location a few meters away. "And it's coming from just over there."
Everyone would walk a few meters towards the location where they detect the swirling energies gathered. Then suddenly, there was a spark of pinkish lightning that was materializing which hit the ground. A pinkish silver sphere would form out of this random lightning. Everyone would thread lightly, stepping back so that they would not be hit by the lightning. The sphere would slowly dissipate as something was revealed to them all.
"...What?" Eugene and Chiffon both muttered, surprised.
They would see and feel the presence of two beings that were sitting down on the ground.
"...Hmm, where... where are we, mama?"
A young girl asked with a titled, puzzled expression. She had long plum hair that reached to her legs. Her hair is tied with one single braid and has a bow at the top of her head. Her eyes have a deep pink color. She wore a lavish pinkish-red dress with a gold emblem in the center. The dress also contains a large robe that reaches her feet.
The young girl addressed her beautiful mother, whose face was unveiled for all to see. The woman looked like a goddess. Even carried the aura and dignity of one. Eugene and Chiffon could feel the power that subtly exuded from her. It seemed siphoned off, yet still possesses a greater reach in terms of potentiality. Her eyes were of an intense pink, almost reddish in color. She wore a bright blue nun's habit with the appearance of a purple cloak with golden extensions on her shoulders and hips. The vast majority of her face is covered by a veil. At the top of her head, there is a decorated headdress with a golden emblem at the center.
Eugene and Chiffon took a closer look. Drawing out from their shared memories, there was one particular memory that they could pinpoint. A family picture that belonged to an old friend. The old friend once showed Eugene this picture and the latter still clearly remembers it to this day. He recognized the young girl from the photo. While her mother was somewhat difficult to recognize because she had short hair compared to her current appearance, there was no denying it. She was the young woman in the photo.
"...It can't be," Eugene muttered softly.
Rinne Sonogami. And her daughter, Rio Sonogami. Both of whom belong to a category of beings who should no longer exist. One called Spirits.
Flashback
Location: Unknown
There was once a being - a Spirit called Rinne Sonogami. Her name was most precious to a certain "someone" who had the power to seal Spirits. The woman who would eventually become his beloved wife, and through the spark and mixture of her and her beloved's desires, spawned a Spirit - their beloved daughter, Rio Sonogami.
When the "someone" had his memories return, buried deep within his heart, he cried in sorrow as the fires of a raging cosmic war engulfed everything around him. Every time Rinne and this "someone" were to meet, they were always doomed to forever be apart. Even when they spent the longest time, it was but a temporary fleeting happiness. The circumstances were against them from the start. The plan to revive a dead loved one needed to be enacted, no matter the cost, even if the memories were erased in the process.
It always ends. It never stops ending.
Until now...
For within the void, something was pulling them back.
PART 2
Present Time
Location: Unknown
There was somewhere. There was nowhere. That's the one thing that can describe this place of the unknown. The entire atmosphere felt chilling to the bone. Among the metal walls and the open pathways whose steps are threaded with care lest one were to accidentally fall into the deep abyss to the point of no return. The unholy presence of an uncountable number. Tall, celestial, humanoid creatures, wearing hyper-advanced golden armor, march and fly in tight formations, showcasing the highest discipline and commitment. Their five digits claw-like hands carried large silver halberd sword-rifles.
Hail Hydra! Hail Hydra! Hail Hydra!
Within the terrible minds of these creatures, there was a common patterned thought that united them. They serve The Hydra, a Dark Old God of the New World Order, their ultimate and final master. Their spiritual stench, a mixture of sulfur and dead worms, smells afoul, recognizable even by the most evil of men, an omen for all to flee.
They were the Hythar.
Their heights were measured by about 9 ft. tall. Their faces evoked the terror of eldritch contradictions yielding simultaneous pictures of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature. Their golden armor made them heavily imposing and built figures. Their helmets had horn-like protrusions that covered most of their heads, save for their eldritch octopus and draconic facial features, their blood-red glowing eyes that glow in the dark, and sharp edge teeth mouths that draw a mixed breath of hot and cold. An accursed yet recognizable perfect circle symbol was found on their torso, one that consisted of a skull on top but without the jawline, followed by octopus tentacles with suction cups, with each tentacle having a space that is reminiscent of gears. Their hands and feet were five in number, yet sharp-clawed and deadly.
Hence, a gathering of mighty beasts, less than human, their eyes foreshadowed a temperance within their malevolence, a fierce loyalty to the cause, and a desire to enact punishment upon those who would defy the will of The Hydra. Their heads were bowed as if anticipating the presence of their master.
One man was walking silently on the pathways. His footsteps held a dark purpose yet maintained a conscious reverence. He wore a dark menacing armored uniform. His helmet was dark, resembling a cobra's head, with a silver plate covering his face. On the front middle of his helmet, there was the same skull-tentacled symbol that the Hythar carried on their torsos. He wore dark gloves and boots.
Most do not know this man's true identity. If he had one, it was an old name that had been discarded with time. He is mostly called by another name.
The Commander.
That was not just a name. It was a title. A rank. A commander in chief of the heads of The Hydra.
Another person walks beside him.
A tall man, wearing a silver gas mask that covered his face. On his head, there was a military hat whose center had the symbol of a silver eagle clutching a perfect concentric ring containing the same skull-tentacled image. On the sides of his shoulders, two red armbands carried the same skull-tentacled symbols. He wore a dark Schutzstaffel combat uniform, with dark gloves and combat boots. His breath was audible, likened to a breathing apparatus, making him sound less than human. On his holsters, there were modified Luger P08 pistols, designed to fire potent energies of bluish color.
A top assassin, ingenious scientist, and expert occultist who had managed to conquer death, having tested it upon himself through his cyber-biological body.
His name was Reichsführer Karl Ruprecht Kroenen.
They both walk towards a monolith, standing at the epicenter. Standing a few meters near the monolith, the two men knelt reverently.
The Commander spoke with a low tone, beating his breast. "Domine, qui infernum conflegrit, avanti indulgium. "("My Lord, who shattered Hell itself, I ask for an audience.")"
Then, the mood of the atmosphere changes. The Hythar bowed their faces and their wings, instinctively aware of the presence that lurked beneath the monolith that was now changing shape into the same skull-tentacled symbol that they as well as the two men carry. It glowed with a sicky red. A dark presence that lurked from beyond.
"My Commander," a deep yet formal voice spoke from within the symbol. "What is it that you desire to speak with me?"
"The preparations are now complete, my Lord," the Commander said. "The Spirits of the old main world are now being summoned all at once as we siphoned all of their extradimensional spiritual energies to bring about the long-awaited Convergence. With each summon, crystals of great power would form, neither belonging to the trees of the Sephiroth nor to the Qliphoth but another tree in honor of your name."
"...Yes. The Hytholoth shall be its name, a root of metaphysical existence that would become attached and embedded upon the cosmological structures of this new universe."
Then the voice addressed someone else, not seemingly present in a physical sense, beyond the eyes of man. For this someone lay elsewhere, hidden in a dimension beyond.
"My Lord of Hell, my Leviathan, what say you?"
The voice addressed a Lord of the Inferno, a being of greater power subservient to the voice.
The Great Hythulu-Leviathan, Ruler of the Hythar, He Who Governs the Servants of The Hydra.
His appearance was terrible to behold, frightening beyond measure. A vaguely anthropoid outline and a simultaneous picture of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature, with a pulpy, tentacled, octopus-like head surmounted by a grotesque, rubbery, and scaly body, with prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and with rudimentary long narrow wings seen from behind. His size was terrifyingly large, borderline apocalyptic in proportion. He was bigger than Jupiter and had floating rocks encircling him similar to Saturn's rings, with multiple large tentacles as appendages.
"I say unto thee, my Lord, that the Hells of this new universe will soon shatter before your might. I will see to this personally," Hythulu spoke.
"...Hmm, and yet, I sense something amiss. Ripples of both future and past. Midnight is upon us all, my followers, for my all-seeing eyes would gaze familiarly upon the twenty-four suns that shine brightly within the dark, and among them lay my old adversary who had defeated me long ago. His world and the other worlds, all seven worlds of magical wonder, conjoined to a prime nexus, the effects of which would form seven emeralds of great power that represented each particular reality of miracles. My Commander..."
The voice now turns to the Commander.
"...Once the convergence is complete, you will find all of these emeralds, scattered throughout reality, and bring them before me. They will serve me well, for once all are joined, so too will they form a step among many that would lead to my return becoming imminently concrete."
"It shall be so, my Lord," the Commander said.
"But, a word of caution, for a Lord of Time, a Sorcerer Supreme, and a Time Walker has now hidden them from my all sight in the relative future, thus the search could prove to be rather difficult," the voice said.
"It is of no consequence, my Lord, for I and all of Hydra will see to it that they will be found. Neither those men nor the Suns will stand in our way."
"Nevertheless, it would be most unwise to underestimate them, thus caution and secrecy are needed, but of course, you are already well aware of that since you have first-hand experience dealing with someone of such delicate stature."
"With respect, my Lord, you give Sir Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott too much credit. As dangerous as he was, the man lacked a clear vision and was lost in his darker impulses, he held no desire for true change, but for a release of what had already been planted onto him the moment he was conceived. All I did was merely spark the events that would lead to its productive fruition that drew the course of my world's future. Through my actions, my world's infinitude of possibilities was conceived, where Spirits were born from a variety of circumstances. What Wescott had accomplished can only have been done through your will alone and his crucified corpse now serves as a conduit for what we are about to achieve in your name. All of my world's infinitude of possibilities, I offer them to you, to command them as you see fit," the Commander said.
"And these offerings, I accept with humble gratitude. Your faith will be rewarded greatly, my Commander. Continue with your patterns and watch quietly for the sun's movements," the voice said.
"As you wish," the Commander spoke with respect.
The voice would begin to look deeper, beyond the realm where his followers gather. And upon looking, he sees it. Or rather, he sees him.
"My Old Adversary... Saint George Artorius the Great..."
Universe: PC Universe-2004
"My Old Adversary... Saint George Artorius the Great..."
The voice echoed. And its whispers reached someone's ears. And through those whispers, a presence conveyed, one of dread.
"...!"
A young man heard the voice. His eyes widened as he stopped eating, garnering the attention of the family members who surrounded him, unaware of the voice that was speaking to him. He was a man with black hair and golden-brown eyes with a purplish hint, an overall handsome face, wearing a high school uniform consisting of a dark blue blazer with a green necktie and dark blue pants, with white socks and black formal shoes.
George Kurai. That was his name.
His expression darkened as they conveyed a solemn mixture of subtle terror and rage. His body trembled lightly. His breathing felt labored and troubled. His trembling fists clenched coldly. His eyes sparked with a bluish and scarlet lightning, glowing alarmingly.
"George?"
"Papa?"
"Onii-chan?"
"George, what is it?"
His eyes looked on in great fear for the loving family that now gathered around him, asking for his state of being. The Nono Family. A family that welcomed him as their own.
Shintarou Nono. A man with a muscular build and tanned skin, fluffy purplish brown hair and eyes. The father of the family. Sumire Nono. A woman with dark pink eyes, covered with an oval-shaped pair of glasses, and slightly curled auburn hair tied into a side ponytail with a purple scrunchie. The mother of the family. Their expressions held parental concern as they got out of their seats and gathered around him.
Kotori Nono. A young twelve-year-old woman with magenta eyes and shoulder-length dark magenta hair, tied in a low curling pair of pigtails. She has a strand loose on each side and small curled forelocks framing her face, with her bangs mostly pulled aside by three clips of cerulean, gold, and fuchsia. The youngest sister of the family. She got out of her seat and headed towards George, sporting a concerned yet alarmed expression.
And among them all, there were two that were close to George. One was Hana Nono. A young fourteen-year-old woman with magenta eyes and slightly wavy hair, sporting short and uneven bangs, worn down with a few green hair clips. The love of his life. The one called Cure Yell, a powerful magical girl known as a PreCure. The other was Hagumi Kurai. A young fourteen-year-old woman with pinkish-blonde hair and red eyes. His and Hana's daughter from a future that no longer comes to pass. She was also a PreCure, known as Cure Tomorrow. They were the ones closest to him as they held both of his shoulders.
George bites his lips, his voice trying to be steady and calm. "...What do you want, Dragon?"
Everyone widened their eyes, recognizing the name.
"Dragon," Hana muttered, alarmed and worried. "He's... He's speaking with you... now?"
George silently nodded.
The voice spoke. "I simply wanted to converse just a little. How I have missed our random diatribes."
George spoke grimly. "And... What do you want to talk about?"
"Our battles of then and now are coming to a head once again. The world you know may not be the same as you remember in the next few moments that are to come to pass. I contemplate deeply on how you are to overcome the tribulations that lay ahead. You and the rest of the Midnight Suns who have thwarted my plans to return, again and again. Can it be so this time? I look forward to finding out, as I watch within my darkest abyss, waiting... for our long-awaited battle," the voice said.
"That day..." George gritted his teeth as he emphasized every word. "...Will never come."
"Hmmm..." the voice laughed a little, a laughter of a thousand echoes. "...I would be very careful of being so sure, Artorius, for all are present to me, past and future, and I can see within the infinitude of futures one particular spot, our final battle found within my very own eyes. Oh... how I long for that day to come. Do prepare accordingly, for it would be a shame for a power like yours to be squandered needlessly over passing pursuits."
And the voice's presence rescinded, leaving George to gasp for breath. He glances at the family members that were looking at him with concerned expressions while a thousand and one thoughts were lingering within his mind. His heart grew weary and disturbed.
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Sins of The Father · Donna Burke · Ludvig Forssell · Akihiro Honda