Yves, Godiva, and Eddward formed one unit, whilst Atlas, Audrey, Cecil, and Jean comprised the other. With a shared understanding of the near-impossibility of their survival, they plunged headfirst into the abyss of the battle, embarking on a chilling descent into a realm where the grotesque danced with the night.
—••••••••••••—
ATLAS I
—••••••••••••—
As we said our goodbyes to the trio of Yves, Godiva, and Eddward, we forged ahead, led by Atlas at the helm, slicing through enemies on the left flank.
The ground beneath them transformed into a grim and unsettling collage as we ventured closer to the heart of the battle, our every step, our foot sank into the thick, damp blood plastered over the battlefield. Suddenly, roars and yelling reached them, but Atlas, the protector of this group, effortlessly parried the initial attack, retaliating with a strike that silenced the threat in half.
Taking in the scene of the battlefield, Atlas witnessed a chaotic battle that seemed like a tapestry of countless individuals—men, women, and children—engaged in conflict of body and soul. Amidst the pandemonium, perched upon a throne of fallen bodies, sat a disillusioned blond figure. His gaze held a mixture of boredom and disappointment, as if the unfolding chaos had failed to live up to his lofty expectations.
In the top right corner of the Hanged Court, surrounded by lifeless bodies, stood a mature man in his late fifties to early sixties. Draped in the attire of some dark and powerful knight without the armor; a dark robe flowed down his shoulders, perfectly complementing his long black pants. His face was adorned with a thick crown of hair and a matching full beard. In his hands, he held a gleaming curved black blade, while a golden revolver rested in his left hand.
Behind this mysterious figure, a woman in her late thirties to early forties, her disheveled raven hair falling around her face, silently wept. Cradled in her arms was a young boy, just a year or two older than Eddward, who stared into the Court with empty void in his eyes.
Atlas, completely absorbed in this eerie scene, was suddenly startled by a commotion behind him. Swiftly turning to his right, he locked eyes with an imminent threat—a blade poised for a confrontation. With all his skill and agility, he evaded the attack, but not without a soft trickle of blood staining his cheeks as he retreated.
A dance unfolded as Atlas's blade sliced through the assailant. Sensing the impending danger, Atlas, effortlessly sidestepped another assault, unknowingly dodging the threat that was aimed at his previous position.
Moving aside with swift and precise movements, his blade sliced through the man, causing a gush of blood to spray into the air and onto the ground. However, before he could fully celebrate his victory, another blade intercepted his own, forcing him to lower his weapon.
Atlas released his grip, feeling the impact reverberate through the resilient armor. Without wasting a moment, he retaliated by striking the attacker in the head with his armored hand, causing the man's head to cave in with his eyeball popping out of its socket.
Crouching down to retrieve his broadsword, Atlas found himself confronted by nine adversaries closing in on him. He couldn't help but to pray for the fools in his way. With a mighty swing, his massive man-splitter emerged, and in one fell swoop, all nine opponents met their demise, their bottom bodies collapsing in perfect unison with their sliced upper halves being thrown into the air for a couple of seconds before hitting the ground.
In the aftermath of the carnage, a deafening roar echoed through the air, shattering glass and unsettling everyone present. Emerging from a shattered building, bloodied and battered, Yves Cassian appeared. He was followed closely by a sinister figure, a large and slender beast with menacing red dots where the eyes should be.
As the beast descended upon them, two startling revelations caught Atlas's attention. The elderly man shielding the woman and child seemed strangely familiar with this horrifying creature, and the throne of corpses shifted beneath its weight. The man atop the throne, wielding a double-ended ax, descended as Atlas signaled Audrey and the rest to follow.
Moving towards the chaos unfolding in the middle right, the elderly protector of the woman and boy stood unwavering in the top right corner, silently witnessing the mayhem that surrounded them.
—•••••••••••—
BEYOND THE VEIL: THE GREAT SHIFT
CHAPTER 4: THE GREAT SHIFT PART: 4
—••••••••••••—
Yves experienced a profound sense of detachment, as if he were adrift in a boundless ocean of emotions. This vast sea seemed to stretch beyond the limits of infinity, encompassing both everything and nothing simultaneously. Suddenly, fear washed over everything as two pairs of crystal eyes forged from the white void and sea formed, it seemed to span everything in the infinite white void of light and knowledge.
The infinite scope of colors within those eyes seemed to possess an all-encompassing knowledge. They held every secret of the world. All the complexities of every agreement made, the fluency in every language spoken, the battles fought throughout history, the cycles of life and death, the hushed whispers shared across the lands, and even the fragments of forgotten or deliberately erased past.
Indeed, those eyes held the weight of it all...
Yves stood frozen, as the two crystal eyes of immense power and knowledge placed its gaze on them. He felt his thoughts raced like his knowledge and intelligence was being stripped forcefully. Before he knew it, his mind started to be filled with infinite knowledge, only a bit of knowledge implanted by this entity being that Yves remembered; "Beware the ancient blood. Embrace the fresh blood. Unleash your fury against the golden eyes."
—••••••••••••—
As Yves opened his eyes, he was greeted by the terrifying sight of the beast's upper half resting on his chest. Confusion washed over him as he slowly turned his head to the right, only to come face to face with the beast's head once more.
Naturally, this sent Yves into a state of panic, causing him to quickly rise to his feet and scan his surroundings. The aftermath of the beast's rampage was evident, with half the people lying lifeless and various parts of the creature scattered about. When he looked to his left, he spotted the blonde man.
The brave warrior engaged in a fierce battle with the beast, his silver ax stained with countless shades of crimson. Níels, the valiant blonde, struck the creature's head once again, only to witness it regenerate in an instant. They fought like two fearless lunatics, unafraid of the looming threat of death.
Níels' right arm was marked by a deep gash, blood flowing from it like a fountain. Yet, he fought on, a smile never leaving his face. Each severed limb from the beast was swiftly replaced with a stronger version, lost but not defeated.
Yves could only stand there, captivated by the battle unfolding before him. Every move was met with another, a clash of two masters in their own right.
Suddenly, a cold yet gentle touch on his back snapped Yves out of his trance. He turned to see Godiva and Eddward, concern etched on Godiva's face while Eddward rested his head on her dress. "How long...?" Yves asked, his voice filled with both curiosity and worry. Godiva smiled, though her worry was evident. "About 90 seconds." Yves nodded, but then a thought struck him.
"What about Cecil and the others?" he asked urgently. Godiva nodded towards the right, and Yves followed her gaze. There stood Atlas, Audrey, Cecil, and Jean, their eyes fixed on the unfolding spectacle, holding their breath. Beside them were three unfamiliar faces - an elderly gentleman and a young woman carrying a young boy.
Yves couldn't help but wonder, "Just what happened...?"
—••••••••••••••—
ATLAS II
SECONDS AFTER YVES CASSIAN FELL UNCONSCIOUS
—••••••••••••••—
Atlas gripped Audrey's hand tightly as they navigated through the crowd, with Jean and Cecil close behind. The onlookers watched in awe as the battle between Níels and the beast began as they made their way towards the top-right corner of the Hanged Court.
Breaking free from the crowd, they encountered a formidable opponent. Atlas swiftly unsheathed his blade, ready to defend himself. With a determined expression, he remarked, "You're surprisingly strong for an old timer…"
The elderly gentleman, undeterred by Atlas' comment, smiled confidently. "It's good to see that military personnel still possess a sense of humor, young lad," he replied, his curved black blade poised for action. His presence exuded a deadly aura.
"Ease up. I assure you, I have no intentions of causing harm to you or your people." As the massive broadsword was lowered, Atlas grinned at the man. "So, what exactly are your intentions then? Haven't you military folks taken enough from this weak-old man... or is the loss of a son not sufficient, and now you target my daughter-in-law?!" Atlas took a step back, trying to calm his racing nerves.
"You seem to have me confused. I was—nor any of us were a part of the military. We are simply survivors…" The elderly name looked closely at him like he could see through his history and person and determine what he was.
"Aren't we all survivors, in one way or another...?" Atlas smiled, closing the distance between them with his arms raised. "That's right... especially the 'weak-old' men in this world. I'm sure they have a saying... fear—"
"Fear old men in professions where young men die." The elderly man withdrew the curved blade as Atlas did the same. "Well then, speak…" Atlas chuckled softly. "When that creature appeared, I observed something interesting."
"You observed that I recognized that creature..?" The elderly man interjected as Atlas nodded. "So you wish to learn more about it... is that correct?" Nodding once more, the elderly man peered deeply into Atlas' eyes.
"The Nameless Sect," Atlas repeated the name, appearing perplexed. "They are genetically modified organisms created by the Nameless Sect. This organization supposedly has its origins deeply rooted in the Nameless Southern Continent and its downfall." The elderly man analyzed Atlas carefully, his expression filled with unease.
"You're unfamiliar with the Nameless Southern Continent, are you?!" The wise elder concluded from Atlas' face, reading his every expression. "Ah... Lady-Mother Lorelei, please enlighten this ignorant soul..." Irritated, he rubbed his eyes in frustration.
"And who might Lorelei be...?" Audrey couldn't help but be astonished as she witnessed the elderly man suffer a heart attack, only to miraculously revive. "Ohhh... Lady-Mother, where has this fool been hiding? Under a rock, perhaps? In another world? It matters not... please, educate him."
He chanted under his breath, with his left hand overlapping his right, the middle finger and ring finger of his right hand down with the middle finger of his left hand down.
"Neither the least, fool. I've given you the answer…now leave."
"I'm sorry, but the answer is no," Atlas replied, raising his left hand to his chin and smirking.
"What do you mean...no?!" He shouted in frustration. Before Atlas could respond, a loud thud resonated through the Hanged Court. Both of them turned their heads simultaneously to witness Híels effortlessly severing the beast's head, only for it to quickly regenerate stronger than before.
"How can we possibly defeat something like that? You seem to have some knowledge or at least a hunch," Atlas proclaimed as the elder nodded softly.
"The Artificial Beasts of the Nameless Sect possess a certain level of immortality. Inside their bodies, there's a small orb, about the size of a seashell pearl, that grants them this immortality. If we can destroy that…"
"Destroy them…" Atlas interjected, as the elderly man nodded. "Atlas. That's my name," he introduced himself officially, the elderly man nodded and bowed slightly.
"Auden Sato."
Atlas gazed deeply into Auden Sato's captivating deep brown eyes, which appeared as if they were encased in ice. Sensing the vulnerability, Atlas shifted his attention towards the beast, its body drenched in a chilling scarlet blood. "You plan to confront this creature?"
A chuckle escaped Atlas, tinged with a hint of embarrassment. "Indeed, I do."
"No, no... I'm curious as to why you choose to face the beast. Wouldn't it be easier to retreat and avoid the confrontation?" Atlas couldn't help but take a step back and frown softly. "Unlike me, you have no veil. You have no obligation to fight unless necessary... or do you not value the lives of your companions?"
"What's a veil…?" Auden furiously rubbed his eyebrows, sighing. "That is a topic that cannot be explained in a single conversation. Nevertheless, you still haven't answered—why?"
"Who knows? Perhaps it's my foolish ambition or my way of preparing for future challenges. I believe that by defeating this creature now, I can conquer whatever lies next." Auden couldn't help but curve his lips into a smirk.
"You seek experience and confidence in this new world. I understand," Atlas smiled, relieved to find someone who comprehended his desires for power and safety. "But let me offer a fair warning. Unchecked ambition can lead to either overwhelming success or the path of misery and destruction; the choices you make along the way determine the outcome."
Unconsciously, Atlas took a step back. Before him stood someone like himself, a man driven by overwhelming ambition, yet he was dealt a hand of misfortune and fate. "I will assist you—for now, let us depart from this court."
—••••••••••••••••—
YVES II
—••••••••••••••••—
Yves couldn't help but grin at the assistance of Godiva and Eddward, as he stood on both feet. Despite his limp, he walked with determination. Suddenly, their progress was halted by a deafening crash as metal collided with the cobblestone floor of the Hanged Court.
Yves turned his head and saw Atlas and an elderly man rushing towards the monstrous creature, with Níels close behind. Each step of Atlas caused the cobblestones to crack, while Auden moved with the swiftness of the night.
Simultaneously, Níels struck the Nameless Beast with a fatal blow, only for its head to regenerate. Before it could retaliate, Auden arrived and delivered a powerful vertical slash. Slicing the creature in two.
To their surprise, the beast split into two, creating two separate creatures. "Well, at least there are two pearls inside," Auden remarked, quickly analyzing the situation. He swiftly moved towards the beast on the right, unknowingly causing a sonic boom that shattered every window in the vicinity.
The left beast ran to attack Auden, but Níels kicked it towards the barely arriving Atlas, who unsheathed his massive black broadsword and cleaved it in half. However, just like before, the two halves regenerated into two new beasts.
"Three pearls?!" Atlas exclaimed, realizing the significance of this discovery. Atlas glanced at Auden, who was still engaged in battle. Turning his attention back to the two growling beasts, Atlas sighed. A two-versus-one situation was not unfamiliar to him, but he knew this would be his toughest challenge yet.
Before Atlas could make his move, a gust of wind rushed past him. He turned to see Níels, their eyes locking. Atlas was taken aback and confused, while Níels's eyes burned with rage, disgust, and fury, most of which seemed directed at Atlas and Auden.
"He's angry that we interfered?! Is it his pride? Ha...what a lunatic!" Atlas thought to himself as they both charged towards the beasts.
Three against three. Seems even.