To Protect his students…To Protect His students so they could grow into themselves and live long prosperous lives Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh would give everything and anything in this moment De Anigh refuses to just let go he cannot give in, or his students and their allies would be the next one's in Kurayami's crosshairs but this time there would be no one left to defend them there would be no 'one above all' and they would end up in the same position as him with Helios during the whole Sixth Gate incident before he mastered his innate ability and bloodline abilities. De Anigh would give everything past, present, his future hell even his chance at the afterlife if it meant he could protect his student's Brandon, Nalia, Erik, Madeline, Porsche, Grant…Ryan…he doesn't care what it could and would cost him he'll see his students safe and living the lives they wish for. ("would you truly do such a thing Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh you hold space and time within your reach and you would offer everything you have been, are and will be… just for them… no price too heavy you cannot make a vow such as this lightly will you really give everything you are to your students will you do whatever it takes you to protect them even if it means twisting your ideals and distorting your morals") asks an ominous echoing set of voices overlapping each other within his mind Aurelius doesn't even hesitate ("if it means they'll live prosperous long lives doing as they please then yes I would") says De Anigh no doubt in his firm mental tone. The ominous voices hum and he has the feeling of multiple eyes watching him from multiple angles with varying emotions [surprise, curiosity, acceptance and relief to name a few] ("what a curiosity we've told others this in the past and they weren't willing to abandon all they were, are and would be for the sake of even their most precious loved one's you are the very first to accept Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh").
The hive mind of voices pause and Aurelius feels like multiple individuals are intensely studying him ("there are costs…") they whisper in a sad warning tone ("there are always costs") remarks Aurelius mentally having made peace with whatever is to come the amalgam of voices continue ("once you fully accept you will not be able to rescind the offer this will change you… De Anigh Aurelius it will change you soul deep…") ("but it's the only way…right") says Aurelius mentally ("if you wish for this to all be undone for fate's to be unwoven then yes this is the only way…to emerge the victor of what's to come and see your students once more you will have to be ruthless Aurelius more ruthless than anyone else any kind of mercy will only see this chance being wasted") Aurelius makes a mental equivalent of a sharp nod he understands the façade he shows to make himself appear non-threatening and his habit of not taking much seriously for this he'd have to do away with both and show outside of battles what lurks below. He hadn't liked the times when he was younger when others had seen him as unnerving or unnatural for more than just his appearance and innate ability/bloodline abilities his attitude had unnerved others being serious and solemn had made those whom he didn't want to fear him fear him so later in his life around the time he was introduced into higher society he instead played into his more childish nature to make those stares and whispers go away and so they did, of course certain people still were wary of him but his innate/bloodline energy and techniques were the cause of that though but others like his students and those he defended saw him as an eccentric affable if arrogant goofball who rarely took things seriously a protector… and not someone to fear even if the façade slipped during his fights and had been slipping more and more permanently with recent events with the final emergence of the Grand Armus Demonicus that would be the end of the An and All.
As he feels himself falling into the black of what feels like his eternal/endless bloodline ability that afforded him temporal and spatial manipulation/control, he hears the amalgam of voices speak one final time the evocation feels poetical as well as final…
"The Sixth Gate, he who is Mana's strongest.
Sixth Gate he who has held his façade the longest.
The Sixth Gate who's longing seeks to do more than protect the weak
Sixth Gate a teacher is he his student's dearer to him than his history.
The Sixth Gate who will tumble and turn change and fall.
If only to protect them all
Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh the Sixth Gate be he…
May he be the one that rewrites destiny".
And with that final evocation declared from the unknown amalgam of voices Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh plunges… falling into his power as Kurayami watches uncomprehendingly as Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh's Mana energy distorts warps and folds in on itself becoming unstable without its vessel holding onto his control it floods the battlefield and beyond folding in it compresses itself imploding inwards before it explodes outwards in increments. De Anigh's energy floods through the city and beyond, burning into the air destroying any of the twisted umbra spirit's below Lunar rank. Kurayami stand's bathing in the powerful aura of 'the one above all' it's intoxicating and agonising to be in the epicentre of the collapsing quasar that was Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh in this exact moment beautifully terrifying in more ways than one and infinitely fascinating to Kurayami as the Spirit King because only his pleasure and his displeasure mattered in this world above all else and one of his greatest pleasures in life was to combat the strongest and of this era was the sixth gate user who was proving to be a formidable foe Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh he thinks looking upon the burning gold eyes that sear directly into he who meets them through the maddening burn of the collapsing quasar of power that was Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh.
De Anigh's smile splits his entire lower face displaying sharp canines even whilst collapsing into his own power being slowly torn apart Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh shows no unease or discontent though something dark and hungry lurks in the fractal gaze that holds the depths of a burning star something Kurayami wanted to see more of that darkness that lies just beneath the surface of the sixth gate user's affable if sometimes arrogant and always eccentric veneer its more than just being feral and overprotective in the moment of something bad happening to his students something truly dark and malignant lies in waiting Kurayami had seen it since the start of their interactions but it had grown tremendously since their last interaction and the sixth gate user's entrapment in the eternal nightmare and it was threatening to break through and consume all else that made up this era's strongest the most pressing question is…would he let it?. Would Aurelius Gilgamesh De Anigh be willing to fall for these students off his did they mean that much to him…?
Because Kurayami knew that De Anigh didn't give a toss about this stagnant society or its traditions and well in his position Kurayami would've torn this world asunder long ago for its over reliance on the sixth gate user was much too apparent, yet they tried to dictate to him his life even now as an adult they tried to impose their will on the professor on their strongest in an attempt to make the other bend to their will and the professor only seems to accept such a thing for his students and companions sake he thinks the best way to protect the next generation is to act as a shield an unyielding wall against the world outside of the safety of the academy's walls to interfere when the council of elders when they try to send unprepared children out into the world beyond on suicide missions because they see them as fodder to throw at their problems he willingly runs himself into the ground burns the candle at both ends in protection of all the younger years those at the academy are the safest in the world and even when the student leaves the academy and becomes a full-fledged user of Mana in their own right having chosen their profession path even then De Anigh still keeps a protective eye on them and will rush to their side if they truly need him all that's needed is a simple call and the one society calls 'the one above all' will come.
Everyone knew that be they Mana users or Umbra Spirits not that any being beneath Lumus Rank would be foolish and arrogant enough to stick around when one of the students summoned their professor in desperation to stay alive because the man was never kind in the face of his students being in genuine danger and certainly not when they're being forced to near death scenario's. As everyone knows that De Anigh is destined for Kurayami to stand alone at the end the last lone survivor of what would be the Grand Armus Demonicus to be the Spirit King's final fight his grandest battle yet…it was foretold… Aurelius's… existence, the actions of his life and the final fight of Mana users it was all a prophecy spouted millennia ago ancient and most had given up on it because so many tried to match it and failed horribly falling at the impossible hurdle of besting and destroying Kurayami they trained for it dedicated their lives to it but Anigh was different his family knew he would be powerful and they did try to force him on the path of every other prophecy fulfiller but unlike so many others Anigh didn't capitulate to their wishes he fought them every step of the way defiant of every wish of his parents including their last ones. He outlasted them and he rose far above any of them and he made certain that no child would ever have to go through what he lived because of their parents ever again the academy was no longer a prison that taught children their only worth lay in their gifts and how useful they could be to society but it was a sanctuary a fortified fortress a true home to those without one and Anigh was its staunch protector. For someone who'd been alive in the world for such a short period of time Anigh had truly disrupted it with his propensity to refuse his set path of fate. '…Fate cut…' was another title Anigh was whispered to have it made complete sense with how off the beaten path of his destiny he was. Looking at him even now Kurayami can still see the gods and universes influence trying to twine and twist around him and force Anigh back on his predetermined pathway that radiates around him but each and every time their manipulations and twisted changes were rebuffed. Anigh remained set on his path even now while be destroyed under the weight of his own collapsing power in manner that could do nothing but impress the Spirit King with his strength of fortitude but there was something new twining into that burning quasar of power something that felt numerous in being not to mention ancient Kurayami can feel it poking and prodding at him but it hangs around Anigh's shoulders sparking and curling around him like a content dragon this unknown entity gives off an odd sensation like it's watching him from all possible angles.
Anigh looks straight at him with those wild and dark sun burst gold eyes face split in an almost darkly euphoric smile as his body destabilises further, more and more of his power rushing free resolve lies within that darkened wild gaze resolve and clarity Anigh has made a decision and with his bloody teeth bared to the world and to Kurayami before him Anigh raises his arms displaying himself to the world grandiosely as he lets fourth the final eruption of his power oh Anigh was mad… willing to destroy himself for the sake of winning this fight Kurayami liked these kinds of people but they were so rare even in the so called prophecy fulfillers because even the most fervent would be wholly unwilling to fracture their own soul and implode their power at the odd chance that they might be able to best him but Anigh…he was different in more ways than one…a worthy adversary after so many centuries of yearning for something more he wouldn't lose his only true fight so soon even if it was to himself there would be no true self destruction of Anigh on his terms. Kurayami lurches forwards his own powers acting as a buffer to the worst of Anigh's unstable quasar of power that billows into the air around him in thick heady waves passing through the wild storm of power vicious marks are seared on to Kurayami's skin as he draws closer and closer to Anigh as he reaches towards his self-destructing equal all he needs to do is make contact and negate the others powerful currently self-destructive Mana skill and he'll have a worthy adversary for the rest of time.
Kurayami's fingers clasp around Anigh's wrist and the other looks down at him with irises swallowed by burning Starfire as Kurayami smirks ferociously at him sharp teeth bared his own irises swallowed by dark blood red his pupils slitted and draconic as he feels the pull of negation leaving his form but batting into something that opposes it…what?! That's impossible NO!? he refuses to lose his only worthy fight and he strengthens his negation mana to disproportionate levels fingers clawing into Anigh's wrist hard enough to draw blood "destroy yourself for their sakes like I'll let that stand …Anigh?!you are shattering yourself for nothing Sixth Gate and if you perish and I live what do you think will happen to your precious students…do you think your council will give up on sending others after me demanding the fulfilment of the prophecy when another couldn't possibly hope to match your actions here today you are my only true adversary Anigh and I refuse to lose you even to your own actions…". Anigh looks directly into Kurayami's dark blood red draconic eyes with eyes of swallowed sunfire. "You really think you can stop me Kurayami I've made my decision and it's not one I can go back on my word is my vow after all and I will do ANYTHING to protect my students as you well know. Kurayami's eyes burn into Anigh's seeing something other lurking that doesn't belong "what did they offer you" he hisses drawing Anigh in close by his collar "the voices that lurk in you now what DID THEY OFFER YOU what did you Exchange for the sake of these students of yours" growls Kurayami fully aware of how far the other would go in the sake of protection of his children but even he didn't anticipate Anigh could go this far. Anigh smiles jaggedly a fearlessness and willingness dancing in his Starfire irises "what else do I have to offer Kurayami…" he remarks knowing Kurayami's exact line of thinking. "…you self-sacrificing … FOOL…!!!" Kurayami hisses shaking him furiously as Anigh simply smiles without fear for what is to come because in his mind it will all be worth it if he can protect his kids, it also has the bonus effect of not giving Kurayami what he so clearly desires.
The Spirit King on the other hand had been thrown off by his mounting emotions linked towards this infuriating and alluring Mana user he's never wanted to keep one of his combatants before they always ended up dead at his feet another disappointment in his endless existence Anigh was the first and only one to break the pattern because he'd been smacked down by strikes that would've killed anyone else that had killed every other prophecy fulfiller but he kept getting back up no matter the damage done to him refusing to just lay down and die like everyone else would've or had in his same position. Kurayami felt drawn to this inexplicable Mana user this was the one prophesised he knew it as soon as he lain eyes on those burning sunburst gold this was his equal and there would be no other a unique curiosity specially created with the purpose of eradicating him. Anigh's head is tipped back towards the sky a rumbling effulgent manic laughter echoes through the decimated city blood runs steadily from numerous wounds searing now pure white pupilless eyes look down at Kurayami distant unapproachable burning yet chilling… Anigh wasn't present anymore at least not in his entirety something or rather someone else had instead started taking his place.
Despite Kurayami's strongest negation pull more and more mana floods out of Anigh's fracturing form and the Spirit King curses the professor for being so stubborn as he claws his grip deeper into Anigh's flesh "you are going to eradicate yourself Anigh… toss your splintered soul down into the chilling depths of the abyss with no chance of either restoration or reincarnation are you truly this mad because this is a special kind of madness that I thought only someone like me could afford to have and be capable of at my worst…Anigh…". The professor fractures further pure bright mana rushing from his every pore destabilising further and further. Until the professor's body and soul can't handle the output of Mana any longer and…he …S…H…A…T…T…E…R'…S...
Kurayami clutches desperately at his only equal as he turns back into star dust "no,No,NO,NO,NO!! Anigh do not you dare return to cosmos I will not go back to what I had before I finally found you my equal and I cannot and will not give you up not even to the embrace of death itself we will meet again Anigh know that… I will piece you back together bit by tiny cosmos bit if I have too, I'll rend an entire universe down to its knees and I'll have you back by my side where fate dictates you belong… see you soon my equal…".
Tumbling down into the depths of his fractured power and shattered soul Anigh hears the familiar cluster of voices speak out in echoey dissonance "time to keep your vow De Anigh if you wish to see your students once more you will have to be ruthless to get the chance, you know this more ruthless than anyone else". Anigh falls deeper and… d e e p e r … into the void of darkness and space all around him the voices having fallen silent.
Anigh
f al l s
for… a…
very… long… time
until he feels himself hitting something…
Wait what?! he physically feels himself colliding harshly with a stone-cold ground the impact steals what's left of his breath from him, and he experiences both feeling far too united to his body and out of body dissonance at the exact same time he winces as agony ricochets through him physical, mental and soul deep. His body, mind and soul protests but he can't afford to lie around and see what happens, so he forces himself into a shaky crouch his entire being pulsating with agony he can feel more blood pouring from retorn wounds that were healing before his harsh impact with the gritty cold ground, great he thinks to himself as the soft plinking of his blood hitting the ground echoes loudly in the eerie silence that surrounds him. Sharper pain lances through him as his bloodline ability eternal/endless tries to rectify his truly sorry state soothing over physical pain is easy enough when you know the technique behind the mana usage, but mental pain was finicky and beyond that soul pain was even more difficult to solve basically deemed impossible with a normal complete soul but on a shattered soul there were no chances of it being fully repaired and sent back to the way said soul was before the shattering. But Anigh refuses to give up his word is his vow after all, and he vowed for his students anything…
Anigh feels out of place and watched by figures beyond normal human and even mage sight comprehension but his bloodline ability eternal/endless is telling him there is something more watching him from the air around him looming over him ominously he tries to ignore it though because he doesn't like giving away just how sharp his senses are because of eternal/endless and the chrono gaze technique he doesn't want these unknown deific beings knowing the higher extent of his innate and bloodline abilities because he doesn't allow anyone to see the extent his power can stretch to when pushed. Mainly because he doesn't know what the being's responses would be, would they be like his family and mana society trying to impose their will and deeming him a tool would they be like Kurayami obsessive in search of an equal and unwilling to release him even to death's embrace or like the poking and prodding and attempting to force his path of Fate that his gods and universe tried to do and honestly he didn't wanna find out what their response would be if he made it apparent he could see them and that the longer he spent here the more clear his bloodline ability made them appear to him. These gargantuan looming figures that have very eldritch appearing forms when they believe no one has eyes on them he was seeing their true forms without the appearance lies that they weave for everyone else likely present in this world and it was because he was used to looking upon these kinds of horrors that he didn't have any reaction to one of these eldritch deific beings lunging closer to his face crooning how adorable this combatant for the newest Grand War of Fate's was.
One of the other deific being's with piercing russet red eyes hisses "what good will his looks do him in a grand war of fates how and why would this one even invoke a Grand War of Fates what need for the divine arc could someone like him have". "I find it curious that a mortal human would even be the instigator I mean to my knowledge every other invokee has been a demi, hybrid, arcane or some form of infernal never more than 30% mortal" but while they sensed something other from this sunburst golden eyed human he sensed predominantly mortal to them a unique anomaly amongst their combatants as the deities pulled from their world to monitor their worlds combatant usually had a connection to them be it blood or blessing, blood was most common but not only was this fractal sunburst gold eyed mortal unique in the sense that he was more than 30% mortal but he'd arrived alone no blood linked or blessing linked deific being from his world following directly after. Which was unheard of because every combatant was linked to a deity from their world this anomaly shouldn't be here especially not alone after all without favours from his worlds deific being how could the much more mortal combatant stand a chance in this Grand War of Fates.
This one had a strange energy clinging to him though malevolent and twisted it felt as close to a deific being as they were gonna get from this strange fractal eyed mortal so one of their finders opens up and spreads their deific essence over the multiverse looking for just that same energy but larger and far more concentrated looking to feel a familiar tug.
The finder feels a familiar concentration of omen like energy peering in closer to this one's essence and the universe it stands in the finder finds a being that's beside himself with a mixture of emotions rage incredulity excitement desire and intrigue all tied towards the anomaly mortal. The finder stares sharp dark blood red eyes to pierce it's own much to its surprise fury glints in them "are you the one that stole the sixth gate away with meaningless promises of protection for those brats of his….!?" he hisses. The finder was confused sixth gate??? did he mean that strange white haired fractal eyed mortal that turned up in on the final stage before the finished realm for the grand war of fate's was completed what kind of a name was sixth gate…?!
The closest thing to a deific being in this world lunges towards it fury and menace pouring off of its form and Finder didn't want to find out what it could be on the receiving end of for being the one blamed for the Elysian's deeds "I have naught to do with…sixth gate…? ending up in our realm that would appear to be the work of the Elysian. That explanation doesn't seem to matter to the clearly omen like being as it prowls closer it's energy still pouring off of it in heavy waves Finder yelps "look I've got nothing to do with his disappearance but I can take you to him!". The being pauses staring at the Finder humming in thought "well I guess that's an acceptable repayment for all the trouble you've been giving me" remarks the closest thing to a deific being in this universe.
Sharp black claws dig into Finder's now visible form specifically it's shoulder region "but if you are lying to me then you will find yourself on the receiving end of my full fury which you will find is no small thing" remarks the omen like being a promise lacing his dark tone. Finder not wanting to deal with this one longer than it had to steps back into the pathways taking the omen like deific being with it heading back to the final stage that comes before the final realm where the war of fate's will take place.
Finder reappears in what is essentially the half way waiting world between the combatants regular worlds and the realm where the Grand war of Fate's will take place. The omen like being releases his claws from its shoulder, its eyes locking onto the strange fractal eyed mortal who with a dark light glinting in his bright fractal gaze pivots on his heel and hisses at Finder "why the hell did you bring him here?!. The omen like creature feigns hurt with an unnatural smirk "it's almost like you don't want to see me after all we've been through Sixth gate I'm hurt truly". Sixth gate glowers "you can't really be that shocked Kurayami" sixth gate croons derisively.
The being now known as Kurayami chuckles darkly "oh I suppose not… now are you going to try and explode yourself again Sixth gate…". The deific beings are startled explode himself what did Kurayami mean by that surely the mortal couldn't self implode. Sixth gate chuckles darkly and bitterly "what good would that do… you just seem to follow me no matter where I go…" he chirps something unnatural and chilling lacing his tone that sets all present except Kurayami on edge who just seems to lean in closer excitement and anticipation glinting in his sharp dark red irises.
By the energies pouring off the pair it's a wonder they haven't already started going at it already cause they both seem about ready to. There's a feral spark to both of their unnatural sharp gaze's leaving everyone else present on edge they move towards each other purpose lining their every step as they proceed closer and closer to each other energies flaring and reaching out towards each other twining and twisting together into something even more horrifying than their original energies something heady and heavy unnatural that doesn't belong together but will not separate because one or more of the energies is unwilling to let go.
Kurayami lunges towards Sixth gate reaching out with fingers tipped by large black claws for his twisted nature and energy reaching towards the mortal all present thought there would be more concern displayed but sixth gate didn't seem phased or alarmed in any manner Kurayami's hand bats against something they cannot perceive an invisible physical barrier?! and the omen like being sighs "holding your passive sixth gate in this state doesn't seem like the smartest solution De Anigh Aurelius " remarks the other casually still clearly pushing against the barrier. The now named De Anigh Aurelius (a far better name than just sixth gate in all present deities opinions) crosses his arms over his chest and states in a casual drawl "like I'll let it down just because you say so you want the sixth gate out of the way bypass it yourself Kurayami~" challenges De Anigh cocking a perfect white eyebrow, who knows for as bad of a state he's in Kurayami is not fairing any better his hold of the sixth gate is shaky at best but it's still there for now he doesn't know necessarily how much force Kurayami can put into trying to bypass the passive sixth gate in his current state but he knows it's not a lot all he needs to do is hold out for a little while until another solution presents itself.
Nobody else present understands the mixture of emotions pouring off these two anomaly individuals Aurelius De Anigh and Kurayami seem to be quite inexplicable. The sixth gate or rather De Anigh's fists clench tightly as his energy spikes ominously alongside the other anomaly Kurayami's energy those energies shouldn't blend together as well as they do it's a terrifying concept their combined energies they were bad enough separately but became so much worse when they blended into one looming all encompassing energy that hangs over everyone present a crushing presence to those who knew what to look for.
Kurayami pushes against the passive sixth gate teeth grit into a wide feral smile he can feel it faltering and De Anigh straining to reaffirm his hold on his technique sixth gate is exhausted they both are a sort of bone deep exhaustion that follows an impossible fight and the unsurvivable but they're both still going because they refuse to concede when they are both still among the living and even maybe beyond that. "Are you gonna concede sixth gate you look about ready to drop in a dead faint" De Anigh scoffs cheerily "in your dream's Kurayami you're not looking so stellar yourself how's your arm doing" De Anigh asks raising a perfect white eyebrow in challenge a fierce smirk painting his lips as he stares at Kurayami whose arm was painstakingly slowly reforming from De Anigh's last explosion of pure energy "touché sixth gate touché" states Kurayami a pleased smirk curving his lips.
They once more lunge towards each other only for someone to crash down in between them grand wings flared out separating them as the other states while looking at an elegant scroll "the grand war of fate's beginning is on the rise why have these two not been sent to their designated positions so this grand war of fates can finally begin I see we have the invokee and his deity finally…?. The individual with strange wings fluttering on his heels, back and temples stares between De Anigh and Kurayami incredulity and intrigue dancing in his gaze "wait a mortal invoked the grand war of fate's! why by the universe would he do that it's not like he can survive…!? and why does the closest thing to a deity in his world feel more omen than god?!
"No,no,no,nonononono this is all wrong" says this currently nameless individual veering closer to De Anigh staring him down or well attempting to because he flinches back from the bright glow and chilling iciness of the realm that his gateways hold that glitters in De Anigh's fractal gaze the burning feeling of fractal sunburst gold irises studying him dissecting him slowly he swallows nervously and continues speaking "beings more than 30% mortal aren't meant to be able to invoke this grand war of fates what you've done is impossible an anathema to all we know". Kurayami raises an eyebrow a blank look of disbelief in his eyes "did you not know about him destabilising the balance of power in the world just by being born" he says nudging his head in De Anigh's direction the still nameless individual stares at De Anigh in horror "you did what?!" He stutters De Anigh shrugs stating uncaringly "eh two of my families main bloodline abilities had never quite been combined like they had before I attained them at birth I'm the most complex powered individual of my era you know…" De Anigh remarks conversationally.
And him…" stutters the nameless half deity with wings "he's an anomaly like you more omen than god like he should be who is he?!" "oh, he's Kurayami the undisputed ruler of the dark spirit realm the strongest in history originating from deep into the history of our realms past" replies De Anigh casually. The winged still nameless being looks rapidly between them more fear in their darting gaze than there had been prior both De Anigh and Kurayami feel a tug in their naval region and with a last look of displeasure shot towards the multi winged being they are transported away to their so-called designated positions.
Kurayami finds himself in a rather grandiose setting of an observation room elegant and gilded with high ceilings and a large set of panoramic windows which are the only thing that really catch his attention he walks forward glancing out of said windows around to see what looks like a clear perfect blue sky he then looks down to see a rather large land mass spanning the entire lower view of the window and more judging by how it disappears into the distance what was going on… and more importantly where the hell was sixth gate…?!
De Anigh once more makes harsh contact with a solid surface pushing himself up into a sitting position, he sighs well at least he's away from Kurayami again he ruminates but where exactly was he…? His gaze darts around rapidly his sixth gate methodically dissecting his surroundings and the new odd buzzing energies around him but they still land to prominently focus on Kurayami's faint yet familiar energy as an anchor alongside his own energy in this realm full of new unknowns. That's a terrible thought for him only being able to sense Kurayami as a familiar energy he misses the feeling of his students energies Brandon's energised stubborn energy that endearingly romps around like a retriever puppy, Nalia's sparking twisting energy that tasted metallic …. Ryan's calming shaded energy that ebbed and flowed like a river.
Sixth gate curls back into him in his despondency not wanting to just feel Kurayami as his anchor in this new unfamiliar sea of energies De Anigh pulls his intact right eyepatch from his pocket and puts it on hoping to reduce the flow of energies so he won't have to feel Kurayami (and the faintest hints of Ryan's energy straining but unable to do anything growing ever weaker…) so clearly any more… De Anigh pulls himself to his feet he has to continue on after all he made a vow and like he said for his students anything…
Aurelius dusts himself down and briefly takes stock of all that he has physically available to him at this point he has his eyepatch, a package of cigarettes, a silver engraved lighter, some trinkets gifted to him by his students before the battle (for luck they had said but to Aurelius now it was more a memento of why he needs to keep going what he's going to be fighting to get back to), an old silver charm bracelet he didn't wear anymore (it was a gift from Hashino one he couldn't bare to part with even after everything but could never bring himself to wear again) tucked close to his heart in a hidden pocket of his uniform, A letter he'd written months ago for Ryan in case something ever happened to him one that he didn't have the heart to give Ryan when he'd written it, it explained everything Aurelius hadn't been able to tell his blessing or the things that Ryan had told him not to tell him about Jahin, the sixth gate incident, the Patrial family and their want of him and how deep it went, his own childhood or lack thereof because of his nature and why he was so defensive of the students that came into his care, his wish of being seen as something other than a monster an aberration and making sure that no one especially Ryan would ever be put in the same position he had in which to be treated with even a modicum of decency he had to give everything he was and then more burn the candle at both ends until there was nothing left.
The only compensation he got was that they paid him well for his services as was mandated they couldn't shortchange him in this regard because it was the law and deeply ingrained into their society but in every other regard his life was made a living hell by those around him that weren't his students or tentative allies their were even those within the boundaries of the academy that treated him as inhuman and he was used to this treatment towards himself but never allowed it towards anyone else deemed under his care or in alliance with him. The letter was folded up and placed in his inner pocket along with the charm bracelet those are all the sentimentals he currently has. Delving into the sixth gate informs him he has all his usual inventory and that his use of his technique at least his innate one doesn't seem impeded in anyway he should probably check on his bloodline abilities in a moment as those might have been affected by this little realm switch. Thankfully that doesn't seem to be the case eternal/endless are active and chrono-gaze still sparks when prod.
After some more recovery sixth gate starts to strengthen the fractures in it from Kurayami repairing as Aurelius carefully assigns threat levels to the energies surrounding him currently basing the rankings off of intensity and malignance meaning Kurayami as distant as he was, was still registered as the highest-ranking threat to the sixth gate technique.
There were new blips popping up on the outer scope of his sight the sixth gate having finally adjusted to this new strange realm's energy sense that was rather similar to arcana energy in a lot of ways it seems the general principle seems to be the same though there is also something else looming that doesn't feel quite right because it's not close to the Arcana energy he's spent all his life feeling so sixth gate is still adjusting to it and can't quite track it accurately it's very touch and go at the moment so Aurelius having learnt his lesson with Jahin and later Helios has carefully and painstakingly reinstated his iron clad control of his abilities especially the passive ability of the sixth gate that made him nigh untouchable.
Right well if he was going to get out of here he has to win this War of Fates by any means and that meant in this realm to be the victor everyone else has to be dead he had to be the final and only survivor to attain the divine arc and get his wish to travel back to the past before the Armus Demonicus is invoked, his allies are slain… His students traumatised, killed, depowered or in the case of poor Ryan torn into three distinct states mind body and soul Kurayami then wanting him at his most unstable and unhinged had taken up Ryan's soul (which was the heart of his power) into the core of his own being trapping Ryan in a horrific limbo state between life and death, existence and non-existence the worst kind of purgatory as he was all alone and would remain that way for eternity if not pieced back together and Aurelius had then vowed he would rip Kurayami asunder removing Ryan from his soul's hold before taking him apart one atom at a time breaking him down eviscerating him until nothing would remain not even ashes or a smear of blood and viscera on the ground below.
Cracking his knuckles, a feeling of numbness settles over him well he might as well start right now. The sooner he starts the sooner he can finish and be done with this place and the beings that loom over it. Eternities eye's burns when he looks upon them as it takes in more and more supposed to be unknown and forbidden knowledge, he's still in an adjustment period for this new realm and its oddities.
G