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Rem and Crusch fight both Archbishops one by one. Crusch is pushed back by the force Regulus' emits.
"Aguhgk?!" Crusch rolls against the ground puking blood from the immense pressure her innards endured.
Rem waits for an opportunity but she declares. "All of you will be purged by a hero. A hero that I admire and love."
Rem breathes and exhales by spitting out these words. "I am Rem! Head of the Roswal L. Mathers's Mansion! I am the one and only caretaker of my hero! Natsuki Subaru!"
Rem's morning star flung in the air,
Lye Batenkaitos and Corneas Regulus laugh and Lye Batenkaitos rambles about hunger and feasts when that happens.
"Everything is a feast, gluttony, eating, feasting everything is." Lye rambled more as the incoming attacks of Rem's Morningstar to Lye Regulus smirked and watched Rem get enraged while Rem did stall Lye for a considerable distance... An unknown force came from Regulus himself.
No force, no motion came from him that indicated he did it.
Rem was stunned from that invisible and unknown force that came from Regulus.
Her clothes became tattered and ragged from its effects. Lye smiles and shouted. "THANK YOU FOR THE MEALLL!!!"
However he was stopped by one person. His hand outstretched. His body in front of Rem. He threw Rem away from the fight and held himself against Lye and kicked him away few feet from where he was.
He was breathing heavily and couldn't move that much.
"Phew, Lady Rem. That was too close. For I didst get in time, you would've suffered the same fate as mine."
Crusch got up and supported Rem as she finally approached her. "Rem! Stay with me!"
"Lady Crusch... Who saved me..."
Crusch looked at the man. It was Lucien. One who is riddled with lies the moment she met him.
"You! What are you planning here Lucien!? Are you going with your absurd lies again?!"
"I do not have any awareness of this topic."
Crusch knew that was already a lie. But instead of being hung up by that, she helped Rem get away from this fight, and stood beside Lucien.
"Crusch stay back I have a plan."
"What plan? You, taking two Sin Archbishops? Meaningless."
"Lend me an ear." Lucied asked. "Hurry."
Crusch complied and heard. "Shadow will come, because I'm in danger and he cannot let me die. So... If I do something suicidal... He will come to save me and us..."
"Shadow as in... The Sin Archbishop of Pride? What...? Who are you... Really..."
No matter how Crusch wanted to deny it. He was involved with a detestable Sin Archbishop. He should've been eliminated long ago.
"Hmph. Don't you dare tell anyone this. I promise to be more honest in the future."
Lucien steps forward. "I am Cid Kagenou! The one that saved Fourier years ago!" Lucien- No Cid. Unsheathes his sword.
Nos another devastating statement that became true to her as a witness. Dumbstruck she laughs and doubts her Divine Protection.
"Wha-... Hahaha... That's a joke right...?" Crusch gave out a wry smile to cope with it.
"Hmph... Let's see..." Regulus reads his gospel and Lye rambles about hunger and feasts.
"Ahhh... Aahhnnn!!!! ANOTHER TASTY FEAST HAS COME! I am so LUCKY to hear that."
Lye and Cid fought with precise movements.
"An excellent butler will always come off unscathed in front of a lady." The tip of Cid's sword touched the daggers on Lye's forearm, yet despite that, Cid held on and fought Lye.
Dashing around the place. Lye and Cid made the ground split into different shapes similar to varied shapes of rectangles and triangles.
"..."
A while passed, and the three looked at the sky. A purple-ish light came down.
Cid shouted, "Shadow!"
Shadow stood up from his landing and killed Lye instantly when Shadow was already behind Lye. No breath, no wind made an effect to the surroundings. Just dead Lye's body with no signs of wounds.
"What happened?! How...?! Why are Archbishops fighting?!" Crusch asked.
"They're fighting because they have hidden agendas and I'm sure Shadow isn't an Archbishop anymore or was he? I never really knew." Cid said.
Cid then picked up Rem and carried her he pulled Crusch.
"There's no time! Stop gawking!"
"Y-Yes!"
As they ran away from the battle. Crusch thought of something else.
'Cid Kagenou was alive all this time... To think that... This was the reason why... Or maybe he hides a lot... That we... Ferris and I did not know before Fourier's death.'
"Crusch I'm sorry for lying many times." Cid said.
"... Why did you not show up?"
"I travelled through time."
Crusch wanted to deny it but her Divine Protection say Cid didn't.
"Beware of the Woman in White Hair and Clothes. She has Blue eyes and such. I don't know how much I could tell you more."
'Its not another lie.' Crusch thought.
"Maybe... Maybe I'm really going to my suicide plan this time... This might be the last time you'll see me Crusch."
Cid thought. 'Besides, I'm tired of being Cid and my Background Era is already over what's the point?'
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how much I can tell you yet. It might cut my life short, it was really fun being Lucien for months on my end..."
'Yeah. I'd resort to suicide much more earlier because you can sense my lies.'
"Don't say that... Tell me you'll live right?"
"..." Cid's face becomes serious and the tension made from his silence.
"... I don't know... Maybe it's just my last resort this time."
Shadow and Regulus had a face off. Shadow approached Regulus with caution, but he stopped.
"Hey, hey. What are you supposed to be? Don't worry about me. The guy you just killed he's pitiful and useless. I don't like fighting. He's already down for the count. I suppose it is imperative that you don't fight me because I hate fighting you see?"
"Are you the Sin Archbishop of Greed?" Shadow asked.
"Hmmm... Yes. I am. The Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult that represents Greed. Regulus Corneas."
"Hmph... I am the Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, one that represents supremacy and strength over everything, this one represents the Sin of Pride. Shadow."
"Hmmm... Then we'll see each other. Fellow Archbishop, may I see your gospel?"
Shadow reached out for his gospel in his coat. But suddenly a force unknown to Shadow struck him. Shadow had his arm and a leg cut off. But suddenly Shadow reattached them.
"What are you planning Archbishop of Greed? I knew you disliked conflict but..."
Regulus' senses didn't keep up with Shadow. Shadow was already behind him.
Some of Regulus' clothes were tattered. "You seem fairly strong."
Shadow thought. 'What the fuck was that... His heart isn't beating but his clothes reattached? What's this bullshit? I can't touch his skin. Even though... Ah- I see.'
Shadow pressed his sword on Regulus' neck.
"I've already seen through your power. You stop your body's time don't you? I can cut through when I want to." Shadow said. "Your so dimwitted to use your powers. I guess that's what you'll be."
"Let's call it a draw. Fellow Archbishop you seem to be a reasonable person. No matter what we'd do we'd just destroy this beautiful landscape we've stepped up on how about this? Deal? No matter how vile humans be. No matter what, we should at least be aware of nature's gift should we? The Flugel's tree is something we all know and love. We should keep it at that no matter how forgetful we are."
'This guy... YAPS TOO MUCH! What is his brain made out of?!'
"Deal. I don't consider you an enemy. Tell that to the silver haired woman. I'm going to do something on my own."
Shadow disappears from the site. Regulus sighs. "I could've died, anyway. A few bargaining chips are on my side. It's my right to be all given a fulfilling life. But I think that I am too perfect to fulfill more of my life."
Regulus walks away from the landscape.
"That man... Destroyed the swamps of Aihiya. Hahhh... I wished I could've gotten my wife before he obliterated her. Number 73 was a nice looking one."
Crusch, Cid and Rem finally reached out to others who were injured. Rem fainted on the way.
"Crusch-sama."
"Call me Crusch like earlier. I've... I've... Longed for someone to talk about Fourier. Is that fine?"
"Ah... That's okay... Maybe... I'd jump through time again to get away from this place."
"Haha. Pretending to be another person again? Such a hasty life you have. Why and how did you meet Shadow...?"
"Ahh... That? Actually I don't know how to explain it to you... Uh... He's... Hmmm..."
'What do I do... Suicide?! Come on Cid think think...!'
"It's another concept in another language. So I need to take time for translating it in my head."
"Yeah... It's fine..."
Crusch warmly smiled. Knowing that he doesn't have time. Because an Archbishop came to him.
"It's... Really... Weird even for me... It feels or... I know that Shadow is a part of me. That's the concept I can think of for you to understand my predicament."
'Oh god... It's very close...! I was willing to go suicide after that...!'
"I see... But... Why? Are you-"
Cid shows a gospel to Crusch. "No matter what I do... I always have to follow... What I want... But... It's just a need for you that I show this... That I... I... Accepted... going with this... I accepted this book from him..."
'If I told her that I accepted this book from Shadow. She might actually be confused if I lied about accepting it or if I got it from Shadow.'
"That's a lie! The wind of truth isn't steady from you."
'Ahh.... It's a yes or no thing. Jojo comes supreme when it comes to bypassing this shit.'
"Just think of it when I say the truth. It's hard for me to explain especially lying so much about myself. Anyway... It's late... Shadow might be coming here..."
An abundance of black substance that's slimy surrounding him. "For now... Good bye. I need to escape-"
Cid's arm was cut off... Instantly.
"Ahhh... AHHHH?!" Cid screamed reaching out to his torn shoulder.
"I told you to follow the gospel. Why don't you follow? Why are you travelling through time without my permission?"
"Aghk.... Ah.... Ahhh...."
Cid was writhing on the ground. Shadow stepped on his chest Cid's breathing heavier his only arm trying to push away Shadow's foot.
"Stop! Stop! Shadow!"
"Are you going to stop me? Or are you going to make me kill everyone here when I need to talk to his dimwit." Shadow threatened Crusch with a sword on her throat. Every move Shadow had was instantaneous as if... One would never be able to notice his blade. It's as if merging with nature.
Even Crusch knew she was no exception his motion is invisible. As if it was a distortion on reality itself.
Shadow lowered his sword.
"Ahh... You're lucky... One dimwit named Ram I swore to not hurt you. I'll revert that.
One swipe of Cid's shoulder down to his thighs. He gave Cid's arm back with his former arm still on the ground. Noticing his arm grew a new.
"Swore to me that you'll follow. Don't tell anyone that you're Cid Kagenou. Stay as Lucien and never tell anyone of your past... Understood? You as well Crusch. Swear it that you will not say anything."
"I swear to address Cid as Lucien and never say anything."
Rem was stirred awake. "Ugh... Lady Crusch... What happened."
Crusch raised a hand to give Rem a sign to not move.
"Rem. Stop... Don't move... Right now... Ci- Lucien... Is at the mercy of a Sin Archbishop of Pride, Shadow. Don't move... Please... Don't make him Kill Lucien..."
"What..."
"Be silent." Shadow warned. "It was a mistake that you woke up."
Rem frooze due to the killing intent Shadow emitted. She froze that this Archbishop didn't have the smell of Miasma. Instead, Shadow didn't even have an ounce of Miasma.
"Hahaha... The Archbishop is angry. How are you supposed to kill me when you swore Ram... To not kill me? Ram got... Got her horn back because of you... didn't she?"
"Hmph."
Shadow raised his foot from Cid's chest he finally breathed heavily seeking out for air.
"You sure are stupid. You're making us slaves for the witch cult. Cid... No. Lucien. You are me! Understood?! Time will come that we will merge again. That Silver Haired woman will make us slaves. You know that..."
"What... In exchange we'd fight the world? What... What's the worth in fighting for freedom when you have nothing for a home to stay in???"
Shadow held Lucien up in the air his feet couldn't supposed himself but dangled on Shadow's hands through the collar.
"You don't understand. You and I are the Archbishops of Pride. We are one! We are ONE!”
“I… will fight you… as many times as you can… Shadow…”
“You know that woman can alter Divine Protections. Crusch’s is no exception.”
Shadow let go of Cid.
“You… if that woman… sees us again there's no going back. We're going to be slaves of the cult.”
Shadow disappears from this place.
Cid felt relief that his ordeal was finally over.
‘Would this work? I don't really know… let's see… if it doesn't work. Suicide is an option.’
“Lucien!” Crusch supported Cid's head. He didn't have leeway to lie more this time.
“Lady Crusch…” Cid itched to sound normal but finally his RPing skills are used for this moment.
“I'll… sleep… I really need some sleep…”
Cid slept while everything was chaotic.
Rem looked at the sleeping Lucien and she remembered Shadow's words.
“You and I are the Archbishops of Pride. We are one! We are ONE!”
“What do you mean…”
Rem's eyes flashed with anger and disbelief. She immediately ravaged Lucien's clothes and searched for one thing…
There was no gospel. If Lucien was part of the cult. He would've had a gospel. Rem was baffled why he was called an Archbishop of Pride.
“Why… I… I…”
‘Hate the cult so much. Why are you with them? Where is your gospel if you're called the so-called Archbishop of Pride?’
Crusch stops Rem.
“Right now. We… both cannot answer you.”
‘I… I know… but… but… my sister… obviously loves this man…! My synthesia is always alarmed when Ram sees everything Lucien does; it's as if she's captivated with every moment of him.’
“Why…?”