Chapter Text
The clash between Kirin and the possessed Gunvolt at the Sunrise Palace’s peak was a long one, but it eventually came to an end, with Kirin emerging victorious thanks to the combined strength of her Radiant Fetters, Zed’s Golden Trillion and Luxia’s Djinn Septimas. However, the conclusion was something no one expected to happen.
“G… GV…?” Kirin muttered, her mind in a state of utter shock. One moment, she held her sword in preparation of defending herself from Gunvolt’s sudden lunge, and the other, the girl heard a grunt, followed by a feeling of being splattered with something warm.
“Well done… Kirin…” Gunvolt said, mustering his remaining strength to talk to her, coughing up blood in large amounts. His ally’s sword pierced through the blonde’s stomach, after all.
“What are you saying…? This isn’t ‘well done’!! I failed…” Kirin wasn’t a person who easily cried, but now, she felt like all she could do was weep, for being too weak to change the outcome of this fight.
“Don’t… beat yourself up over it… You managed to stop Moebius. Astral Order won’t cause trouble for the world anymore…” Gunvolt felt his body slowly freezing up. Everything was cold. Even so, he managed to smile at his friend.
“GV… Please! Don’t leave us behind, we’ve still got so much to do as the Dragon Saviors! Don’t leave me behind…”
“I’m sorry things had to end this way. Promise me… that you will keep working for the sake of a better future…”
Even though the blonde was in proximity and his words were heard clearly, the priestess couldn’t respond.
“I leave everything to you… partner.” As if on cue, his body turns into energy and dissipates.
Kirin keeps staring at her now bloodied sword, drops on her knees and covers her face. The world crumbled for the girl. Moments after Gunvolt’s disappearance, Zed and Luxia got closer to the grief-stricken Kirin, not knowing what to do or say. The prince was a ladies charmer, certainly, but even he was at a loss for words. Zed knew that no words or actions could console the priestess for the time being, so he kept silent, gazing at the night sky slowly making way for the dawn, thinking back on Kirin’s words about cooperation regarding the Moebius situation earlier. Perhaps in that scenario, everything could’ve been resolved peacefully, but it’s meaningless to dwell on the possibilities. His group and the Dragon Saviors have to accept what happened, and the tragic sacrifice of the Azure Striker.
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One life has come to an end. Life is a fragile thing, it can be snuffed out in an instant, through a number of means: natural causes, being a victim of murder, an accident or environmental disasters.
This life belonged to an individual, Gunvolt, who had a life full of endless battles and sorrow. Despite that, he kept his head high and fought for the things and people he believed in. However, the blonde’s life was extinguished suddenly, all so that the world’s history could continue. His friends may have given the boy a proper burial. They may have attempted to move on from this experience. Regardless of the circumstances, one life has come to an end.
“Guh… Where… am I?” With Gunvolt being conscious now, he realized two things: the blonde was back to his raiju form, one he mostly stayed in for his powers to remain stable, and he found himself in an unfamiliar location, with an orange sky and various stones looming above him. There were green crystals scattered all over the ground, too. “Am I not supposed to be dead…?”
You ended up in the Soulplane as an aftermath of your death, Gunvolt. Within it is the Boundary, something which allows those who cross it to return to the real world.
The unexpected voice in his head alarmed the raiju to an extent, but more than that, he was confused about his whereabouts, even after the brief explanation. One thing did etch itself in his mind, though. “So, there is a possibility of me returning to the world of the living…?”
Yes, but you will have many enemies standing in the way of your goal. Violence is the only way to resolve your problems here.
Considering how he only had the option to climb up from the bottom, the Azure Striker started to investigate the area. His abilities felt roughly the same in this world, though the boy noticed that his spark trail movement was much shorter now.
It didn’t take long to come across the first residents of the Soulplane. The blob creatures looked anything but harmless and docile, since they were swinging their tentacles in a frenzy. Gunvolt dashed through the first patch, but soon had to utilize his Lightning Horn to clear the landing area before him that was swarmed with those creatures. Once the raiju crossed to the other side, he saw what looked like a portal. “Can’t say this doesn’t look suspicious, but I don’t have much of a choice here, I’ve got a dead end in front of me.”
With that, Gunvolt entered the portal, and several moments later, he found himself in a different location, and an immediate threat in front of him. It was an enormous green fly that emitted a deafening noise.
A powerful fiend stands in your way. No mere resident of this world can hope to defeat it. However, whether it’s by fate or something else, you can utilize your limited powers from the living world to damage the foe and deliver a blow it will not withstand.
While Gunvolt had questions about how the voice knew of his background, he pushed that thought aside for now. The raiju had to deal with the enemy first. However, it seems that the fly had decided to perform a preemptive attack on its prey while it was standing, which prevented Gunvolt from dashing away in time. The Azure Striker believed it would only be a minor inconvenience because of his Prevasion, but he soon felt the brunt of the tackle, as his body was flung several meters.
“Damn…!” the raiju grunted. “Something happened to my Prevasion here, too. Looks like I’ll have to be extra careful.” As the enemy spat out several much smaller versions of itself, Gunvolt fried them with ease using his Lightning Horn. Then, with his handicapped movement, the Azure Striker circled around the fly 3 times with his lightning trail before unleashing a flurry of lightning bolts at it, which made the fiend collapse in a matter of seconds.
With the threat taken care of, the raiju proceeded to move forward before stumbling across a large crystal that emitted a pleasant heat. As he touched it, the Azure Striker found his surroundings enveloped in a blinding light. Several moments later, he could hear a voice that he last heard over 3 years ago, when the Eden organization fell.
“GV…”
Gunvolt opened his eyes to find that he was somehow in the apartment he and Joule had occupied in the past. “Joule…? Is that you…?” The boy had almost rushed to her side, but noticed that there was another version of him in the room, and that the girl didn’t seem to acknowledge this blonde’s existence.
“What is it, Joule?” the other Gunvolt asked.
“If a time ever comes when you find yourself lost and unable to make it back home, please don’t give up hope. Stay strong and keep faith in your heart. Your memories will give you strength to face the despair and chaos that will stand in your way. So please… don’t forget me.”
“What’s gotten into you so suddenly…? It’s not the first time I’ve heard stuff like this, but this has to be the most eventful moment,” the other blonde responded, not knowing what to say to that.
“Hehe, it’s okay. You don’t have to understand it now, I just felt like I had to let you know.”
With that, the apartment faded into the dark, leaving the raiju standing before what looked like a black gate with red veins, which also had a seal-like object blocking it.
“What was that about, a memory…? It’s faint, but I feel like I did hear something similar in the past… I’d believe it easily if I was told I was crazy, but there was that conversation right after I had supposedly seen the deaths of me and her because of Asimov… Everything is overwhelming me.”
This is the Boundary, your one and only means of returning to the real world. Four Keystones are required in order to remove the first seal.
“Wait, this is only the first seal? And what’s more, three of the seal’s corners seem to be glowing while the last one at the north isn’t,” Gunvolt said.
Yes, getting past the Boundary won’t be your single task. As for the other point, you are correct. Someone must have acquired three Keystones prior to your arrival.
“So that means I’m not the only one attempting to escape… And they’re probably intelligent enough for me to speak with and cooperate if possible.”
Remember well that violence is the only solution to your predicament. Your goal for now is to locate the last Keystone. Do your best to remain alive.
Gunvolt acknowledged the all-knowing voice and made way to the portal near the Boundary. He’d explore the surroundings first, but they were just plains that spread in all directions, similar to a desert with its sand. Once the warping ensued, the voice chuckled with glee.
Now then, Gunvolt. You are an unexpected guest, but perhaps that is for the best. I’m looking forward to seeing how you fare in the Spirit Springs.
Soon enough, the raiju found himself in a new place, and the atmosphere was weirdly serene for him. The Azure Striker noticed the blue and red streams of liquid descend from various structures far away. The floor was a rocky one and the surroundings were covered in a light pink mist, giving the area a mystic feel to it.
You have reached the Spirit Springs, it seems.
“I can see that, but wow, this place would be a nice one to have back in the real world,” Gunvolt responded. “So what are those red and blue streams?”
The fountains connected to the land’s spirit veins contain an endless amount of spiritual power that erupts from them, similar to a geyser. Pay attention to which fountains you come across. Some will leave lingering burns on you, while the others will freeze after they reach their height peak. Be wary of the fiends in this area, too, as they will not hesitate at sending you back to the depths.
“I see. I suppose this is gonna be one long climb to the top.” Before proceeding forward, the voice gave him a warning.
There is a presence here ever so similar, yet ever so different to yourself. Don’t hesitate to strike it down when it stands in your way. This might prove to be a one-sided encounter, however…
“One-sided…? What do you…”
Now then, fend off the fiends that await you as you ascend the springs and utilize the spiritual power of the fountains to acquire the Keystone you need.
Gunvolt felt that for a brief moment when the voice mentioned the part about the one-sided encounter, it sounded happy. He couldn’t inquire further because it disappeared once again, leaving the raiju to slowly make his way upwards.
After a few bouts with the residents of the springs, Gunvolt found himself somewhat injured. It was a tricky task to fight while maneuvering through the scorching hot and the freezing cold fountains, though the latter did help him gain height. As the raiju went through a gate that led to another section of the Spirit Springs, the Azure Striker came across a smaller version of the crystal he had seen before, and three floating gems that had the red, blue and green colors. The crystal seemed to have healed his wounds partially, but the gems were a mystery.
These objects are Magatamas. Collecting them will improve your abilities and heighten your senses. Once acquired, the Magatama spawns will regenerate the gems over time, so if you are able to, make sure to get as many as possible.
Indeed, the boy could sense a bit of his strength coming back to him as the Magatamas were collected. Gunvolt would take any advantage he could get to persevere in the Soulplane, especially since it looked like different locations had fiends of various power.
There was no way of knowing the time, but the raiju felt like it had been an hour if not longer since he had begun his ascent. The Azure Striker was lifted up by a group of water fountains to a warp portal that was resting in the middle of an island high in the sky. Upon interacting with it, Gunvolt was moved to an enclosed area, where a single creature was standing, shaking in terror.
Upon further inspection, it looked like some sort of lizard with scales. There was a green gem on the left side of its head. Once the creature spotted the raiju, it started quivering more, holding one of its hands close to its mouth. “This c-can’t be… Not another monster!”
“Does she mean the fiends in the springs…? That aside, it looks like the lizard is a girl, judging by her voice. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only resident of the Soulplane who doesn’t operate on primal instincts like everything else.”
It seemed like he stumbled across the presence he had been warned about right when he had entered the Spirit Springs. Contrary to the impression he got from the voice’s description, the lizard didn’t look like someone that would impede the Azure Striker’s progress.
“I’m afraid you are mistaking me for the fiends that inhabit this area. I may look somewhat fearsome, but I assure you I’m not a monster.”
“Guh… I hate this place so much! The only thing I do is keep running because everything out there is trying to get me! Why did you have to chase me all the way down here!? I didn’t do anything to deserve this!” she yelled in panic.
Gunvolt noticed that the lizard was very sensitive, so he tried to approach her both physically and mentally as delicately as he could. “Please calm down. I’m not here to get you. My goal lies elsewhere, and I was wondering if you could help me.”
“...the worst, throwing away my life like that–” she kept mumbling at a fast speed, but the raiju did catch the part that resonated with him strongly. She also reminded him of Elise, someone who he regretted killing, because the girl didn’t stand against him willingly.
“Perhaps I might’ve been too quiet before…” And so Gunvolt raised his volume to make sure he was heard. “Excuse me, could you assist me with my goal?”
“AHHH!! Why is it that I’m in this body? Why do I understand what the monsters here are saying!? It doesn’t matter if there’s a way to get back to the real world… I’d never make it, with or without this body!” the lizard whimpered. “...Do your thing, monster, kill me. I don’t have it in me to keep living like this… With no way back home, I’m better off dead…”
“Is she experiencing a panic attack…? Either way, I can’t reach her through normal communication. I’m afraid there’s only one option left…” With that, Gunvolt launched a small spark toward the lizard, careful not to hurt her too much. Nevertheless, she screamed from the jolt, but at least he had the attention now. “Look, I’m sorry for that, but that was the only way to snap you out of it. I don’t have a thing against you. You don’t seem to guard the Keystone from me, nor are you looking for a fight. If you step aside and let me move forward, we can resolve this peacefully.”
His words surprised the creature, who became less stiff upon hearing them. “You… You aren’t here to hunt me down…? You’re allowing me to live…?”
“I’m not the type of person to cause harm without sufficient reason. So far you haven’t made me even consider hurting you,” Gunvolt responded.
“I see… Thanks.” It looked like the lizard had dropped her guard down completely, and the look on her face suggested she was somewhat happy about this situation.
With her stepping aside, the raiju calmly walked past the lizard, though he had one question in mind, which made him turn around. “That stuff you mentioned before, about ending your life… Now that you’re in this place with a chance to come back to the living world, do you really wish to die for good?”
“Huh…? W-well, it’s not like I can return to the real world, it’d be impossible for me even without my current state…”
“If you aren’t opposed to the idea, why don’t we travel together?” As he said that, Gunvolt slowly extended a paw to the spooked lizard. “Learning that there are other intelligent creatures in this place who don’t only have fighting on their mind eases my mind a lot. Not to mention, it takes a toll on you if you remain alone for too long in a place like this. You experienced it firsthand, after all. If possible, I could also try teaching you how to fight with what you have so that it’d be possible for you to at least stand your ground. What do you say?”
The lizard was very cautious about this. Though from her perspective, the creature with the blonde braid exhibited no malice towards her, and seemed like he genuinely offered her the chance.
“Okay… If you really don’t mind me, then I’ll go with you… This can’t be worse than what I’ve gone through already. I’m Moenna.”
“The name’s Gunvolt, GV if you prefer. Pleased to meet you,” he responded. With the confrontation avoided, the new duo slowly made their way to a large crystal in the distance that seemed to have a green-like shape in it. Upon touching the familiar object, both Gunvolt and Moenna were enveloped in a blinding light and left the Spirit Springs.
Most disappointing conclusion… On second thought, things will be more entertaining to watch unfold after the Quaternary are taken care of. This session might soon prove to be the most interesting for me. I hope you’ll keep me entertained, Kuon, Gunvolt…