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TO Rewrite: B3 — 6. Victory Is With Me
🕑 Added 2024-08-20 22:51:26 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Rachel (Our Lunar Hare!)
2. ???? (Who Is This?)
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Rachel stepped into the familiar white platform of her Soul Expanse, her breath steadying as the tranquil silence wrapped around her. The endless black expanse outside of the spotlight stretched out as a blank canvas awaiting her desires to shape it.
For a moment, she let herself enjoy the stillness, closing her eyes and listening to the endless silence. It was different now, though. She knew a lot more about herself and the powers that revolved around their Seeds, yet it still wasn’t enough.
Her thoughts were pulled to the single door leading to Big Nia’s area. Now that she was in her matured state, with Nike awake and able to answer questions, she reevaluated her actions moving forward. The Personification of Victory could provide her with answers she needed. If the recovering woman was willing to share, that was.
Clasping her hands behind her back on her way toward the door, she pressed down on the base of her tail, considering how far they’d come since rescuing the winged holy being. Nia and her had come so far—evolved in ways Rachel hadn’t expected. The bun was a part of her soul, but was Nike, as well? Perhaps there were some things she should bring up while discussing Nia’s potential growth options.
A soft sigh escaped her lips as she decided to bring Nike into the conversation. She approached the door that led to Nia’s room. Her knuckles tapped against the smooth surface, and she waited. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Nia’s bright eyes and a curious smile.
“Mmm. Why’re you knocking, Major?” Nia asked, stepping aside to let her in. “Trying not to bug us or are you actually setting up boundaries?”
“Can’t I do both?” Rachel chuckled, proceeding inside the tranquil grove.
The nighttime space was warm, filled with soft light and the comforting presence of Nike’s Positive influence. Although, the Negative vibe of the hellish triplets provided a good contrast, not that they appeared like the vicious wolves of the underworld that they truly were.
Nike looked up from her spot on the bed, a serene smile on her lips, while the teenage wolf girls giggled quietly amongst themselves. Rachel waved at them on her approach, Nia by her side, yet her gaze lingering on Nike for a moment.
She’s looking better.
“How well have you—Nike, is that wise?”
Rachel paused as the divine figure threw off her covers, revealing a gown she wore instead of being naked, as she’d been before. It shimmered with a golden hue in the soft lights of the overhead moons, a flowing white fabric that complimented her elegant figure.
“Yeah, don’t push yourself,” Thalia advised, her blue-flaming tail stopping with her sisters’ as they observed the woman..
The hellhounds straightened, watching with wide eyes as the Personification of Victory stretched her arms above her head, a quiet sigh of relief escaping her. A soft chuckle shook her frame while reaching around to delicately brush her fingers over her stubby, still-growing wings, now fluffy with short golden feathers.
“Perhaps,” she whispered, her feathers fluttering slightly at the touch, soft and downy. “Movement is a sign of victory, and I intend to push forward because winning always comes with sacrifice, be it blood or time. One must always strive to return to their feet if one hopes to win, no matter the pain.”
Nia crossed her arms, a smile on her lips as she glanced to the side, where comfortable armchairs materialized, with a sofa for the triplets. “I’m guessing you expect to join in the conversation Rachel no doubt wants to have with me. She more or less telegraphed it with that look on her face, didn’t she?”
Rachel gave her captain a small smirk as Nike lifted a hand to refuse Irida’s help to get over to her armchair, obviously meant for the winged woman due to the back having a hole in it.
“Nice to see someone is paying attention. I’m sure our linked souls have nothing to do with you understanding me to this level. And can I assume your mysterious guest and healer brought you that robe, Nike?” she asked, keeping her gaze on the personification’s open gown back to see each painful twitch her wings made, yet the woman only radiated elegance.
“Indeed. No need to hold back, Rachel. Ask your blunt questions. I am only alive because of you, after all,” she cheerfully stated, her electric-blue eyes showing gratitude when sinking into her comfy chair. She adjusted her gown, moved her braided white hair over her shoulder, and gestured to the chairs opposite her. “I welcome a genuine conversation involving the future. The future excites me! My, am I making myself too at home?”
“Not at all,” Nia snickered, casually taking the chair as Rachel sat beside her. “The Major is a lot kinder than she appears on the surface, especially with those who are more direct or maybe that’s just my bias of my leader.”
Rachel gave her a playful glare as the triplets hopped onto their sofa to listen, tails wagging again. “I usually match whatever energy I’m met with. That being said…I wanted to talk about what’s next, now that you’re starting to move around.”
She leaned against the armrest and watched the woman close. “How are you feeling? I mean…really feeling. You’ve been through a lot, and I’m trying to understand what you plan to do now that you’re starting to recover. I mainly snatched you out of Dionysus’ claws to snatch victory to my side, so to speak. I realize you’re your own woman, though.”
A soft chuckle escaped Nike’s lips, and Rachel couldn’t help but notice a grateful warmth in her eyes. “Can I move? Just barely. I’m far from fully restored, Rachel, and I appreciate the backhanded concern. As you can see, my wings are still in their infancy, and I am…how should I put this? I’m currently at your mercy. My connection to this space between your soul and Nia’s keeps me anchored, but I’m not quite as free as you might think.”
She leaned back to smile up at the golden Greater Moon of Abundance. “Think of you and Nia as an intertwined rope with me tied in the center—grounded, you could say. Without you, I’d be yanked back into 5th-dimensional space and left to the mercy of others that might use me for their own gain.”
Her gentle face lowered to look between them. “I must say, despite me describing this as a prison, where I can be harmed by mortals or used in whatever experiment they might have, I am far safer here with you, Rachel, than anywhere else…even at Athena’s side. Isn’t that tragic?” she said with a melancholy giggle. “Never have I felt so…exposed.”
Extracting what the woman was saying between the lines, Rachel’s gaze drifted to Nia as her mirror crossed her legs, saying, “As I understand it, Dionysus captured you right after you won your battle against all the other Personifications of Victory, when you were in your weakened state, and I’m not trying to be rude, but surely there were stronger versions of you—beings in the 6th or 7th dimensions, for instance.”
“It’s a valid question,” Nike tilted her head to the side, glancing off to the side while looking into her past at the battle against many versions of herself. “Victory is an interesting phenomenon to personify. To you mortals, you might think of my battle as one with sword and shield, a battlefield of hundreds or thousands of versions of myself in open combat…”
“Was it not?” Aleka blurted out, her green fire flickering with anxious agitation. “Lady Persephone and Lord Hades had to battle all sorts of versions of themselves to win a place for our Hades… Well, maybe not our Lady Persephone,” she mumbled, ears folding back, “but she sacrificed herself for the new Lady Persephone, which our Lord respects.”
Nike’s focus became distant. “When determining victory between personifications of it, we do not conduct warfare based on who is the strongest. It is a recognition of who has the most likely chance of victory.”
The white-haired woman’s vibrant eyes lifted to stare right into Rachel’s. “Essentially, even though I was one of the weaker versions of myself, within my weakness was victory.”
“Me?” Rachel hummed, considering the unorthodox angle as a thoughtful gleam lit in her eclipsed irises. “In a battlefield of countless Divine and Infernal adversaries of differing pantheons, your greatest method of victory was by stepping outside of the game entirely, or by taking on a role on the most important stage…the 3rd dimension, where much of the influence lies. The roles have been reversed.”
“In a sense,” Nike nodded with a chime in her voice. “Defeat was temporary and victory assured by making myself a tortured and pitiful figure to be rescued by one ambitious lunar hare. Your misfortune is potent enough to affect things on a grand scale, especially with the support you’ve already gathered, which turns into a snowball effect.”
Her words hung in the air, and Rachel felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension at the prospects that line of thinking brought. “So, what are your plans then? You can’t go back right now, and by protecting you, I do gain some support from the higher realms. That being said, what can you offer us while you’re here?”
Nike copied Nia, crossing her legs in a fluid manner that belied her delicate constitution. She looked contemplative, her gaze drifting toward the soft glow of the glade around them.
“For now, I’ll offer whatever support I can. I’ve been doing so in small portions already, helping to tune your sense of misfortune with my sense of victory. Also, I’m willing to help you channel the energy within your soul more effectively. However,” she paused, her gaze locking onto Rachel’s, “there’s something else I’ve been considering.”
Rachel’s curiosity piqued, somewhat derailed from her initial intent to bring in Nia’s expanding abilities and the lunar buns; she hadn’t anticipated the personification to be so talkative compared to all the other deities she’d dealt with.
“What’s that?”
Nike’s bright smile widened, and she gestured to the serene landscape outside. “Examining the effects that have taken place inside your souls, I noticed one particular event of note that your mother facilitated.”
Ears rising at the topic, Rachel glanced at Nia, who returned her stare before the bun inquired further. “You’re talking about the time Molly bridged the gap between Moongmor, Lady Mei, and Lord Tintreach?”
“I am. I could create a sanctified space within your united soul, a sort of audience chamber, if you will,” she added with the excitement of a bored woman, looking for something to occupy her time with. “Think of it as an interior design sort of project. It will cost a bit of your soul space, but I believe it will be worth it.”
“Okay…” Rachel rested her knuckles against her cheek, dissecting the advantages that might bring. “How is that possible and what are the limitations? Who could I meet with, and how drained would I be from such a visit since my mother absorbed the brunt of that exhaustion previously. You’re saying you’ll have to use some of the points I’ve collected from my Seed?”
“You have a sharp mind, Rachel,” Nike chortled. “I like that. I know you also want to get into the topic of Seeds and their types. I’m more than happy to discuss everything I’ve learned to add to your own knowledge. You’ve already scratched the surface as to what these Seeds are meant to do.”
She gestured at the moons above. “To answer your previous question, your mother provided a Positive Energy Field that is capable of providing a suitable space that bridges your weak soul to be in the presence of higher beings within the higher 3rd dimension. Think of it as a place where beings of more refined, pure spiritual entities reside, having a more…sanctified form, for a lack of a better word in English.”
A smirk touched Rachel’s mouth while recalling the antics between Mei and Moongmor or Yseress’ no doubt confined form here on the mortal plane. “More in touch with the power within our own souls is what I’m getting from that. These Seeds are refining us into unlocking what we could always access but lacked the experience, becoming more like…well, you.”
“In a way,” the woman happily stated, her tone becoming more reflective. “Personally, from my point of view, and the reason many others have also zeroed in on you or other key mortals, it is you who is more refined than us, which is why the Seeds chose you and not us.”
Rachel’s ears tilted to the side. “Interesting take… I have wondered about that after the bits and pieces I remember from Seed Scarlet’s awakening. She’s still there, only slumbering now with Scarlet taking more control of her own powers and life.
“This ‘audience chamber’ would allow higher beings—gods and goddesses—to enter and speak with me more directly. True. Your addition will provide a balancing act that will allow for longer visitations and less stress on our soul, I’m guessing, but let gods enter my soul? Wouldn’t that be dangerous, considering Mystickins?”
Nike’s expression softened, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Only those you invite may enter, Rachel, and you are the arbiter of your own soul. As the trope goes in your history, a Devil cannot take over your soul unless you allow them. This isn’t about opening your soul to just anyone. Think of it as a carefully guarded chamber, where you can hold conversations without the risk of outside interference. It’s a way to gain insight… To ask questions directly to other sources, rather than relying on vague interpretations or the rare occasional vision.”
Rachel leaned back. Direct communication with gods? Eostre is the middle woman between the factions of higher beings and me. Cerridwen is now out of the picture and Athena is supporting me because of Nike. It could also be an attempt for Nike to get in touch with her mistress since the chamber could allow that, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s tempting.
“And what would this…chamber require, other than some of the raw potential I have to use within my soul, or my points?”
Nike’s gaze remained steady, her voice calm. “A small sacrifice of energy from both you and Nia for the space. Nothing you both can’t afford—a Feat Point from Nia and a simple Feat Extension from you would be enough potential to generate the required zone, added with some Negative, Positive, and Neutral Energy that will split the area in three for each type of entity.”
Nia changed the environment with a thought, the glade vanishing to illustrate what she was describing. An extravagant stone chamber with high ceilings and several comfortable chairs on each of the three sides of the room materialized.
“A Feat from me since it will be the primary defense, similar to [Less is More]. So, we’re talking about the red side here, being filled with some of our more potent Negative Energy—the [Hell Moon: Yomi] being the strongest in that category. The white side would be Neutral, or…the [Blood Moon]? And, lastly, the [Greater Abundance] for the Positive side?”
Nike drew in her mouth and gently shook her head while looking up at the open ceiling, showing the three overhead spheres, the golden light was dwarfed by the ruby and crimson globes. “They have to be in balance, and an Event Moon could never stand beside Unique. It could certainly be more potent and allow deities like Izanami and Selene to enter this chamber, but I’m afraid you do not have a Positive Sphere capable of matching them yet.”
A rumble shook in Rachel’s throat. “Chang’e’s [Graceful Moon]. I’m guessing if I went with the Unique Moon route, it would require a lot more of Nia and my points, which was why you suggested this compromise. I have to point out that I don't have an Event Neutral Moon, though.”
Nike nodded. “Not a problem. So long as the Positive and Negative are balanced, then a normal Neutral moon can mediate—as you call it, the [White Moon]. Would you allow me to support you in this? At most, at this stage, it might allow Eostre to visit you for a short period of time without it taking a lot out of her to bridge the gap. Moongmor and Mei could make frequent visits, as well.”
Rachel’s thoughts churned as she considered the offer. She had faced gods before, but always on their terms. This could be a way to level the playing field and force them to meet her on a plane where she had more of an advantage, to gain knowledge that might otherwise be out of reach. She had to make sure of one thing, though.
Vision rising to stare into the personification’s illuminated irises, she asked, “Will this allow you to talk to anyone without me or Nia present? Can you talk to Athena or any of her followers?”
Nike’s mouth bunched to the side, thinking for a moment. “Could…I go behind your back and have private meetings as I did with my benefactor and associate that helped my recovery along? No. If anything, this tightens the grip over my prison and makes it where others will need to breach this barrier created by this sanctified ground around the outer edges of your soul. It is like erecting a wall out of the three energies and the only way in is through this one door and audience chamber.”
“Done.” Rachel grinned. “You should have led with that. I’d gladly give a Feat Extension to strengthen my soul defense against intruders. It’s better than anything else I could use it for, really, which I take it has to do with your adept hands crafting it unlike my unskilled fumbled soul knowledge.”
Her probing reply got exactly what she wanted as Nike chuckled and folded her legs the opposite direction to Nia’s, yet the personification still saw past the veiled question. “Always looking for more information. I respect it. Yes, as you learn more about yourself and your soul, you should have more options at your disposal to enhance your soul. Do you want me to go into what I know about each of the types of Seeds and their differences in how they affect you mortals…or are you mortals?” she asked with a playful gleam in her eye that made Rachel sit a tad straighter.
“You’ll actually give that to me?” she laughed. “I guess Eostre was always limited on time so she had to give me limited information that was immediately important, but this seems like it’s too good to be true.”
“Not really,” Nike shrugged, seeming to enjoy herself while looking between the patient hell pups and Nia, listening intently. “As I understand it, there are two variations of Seeds—Lesser and Greater, as some have called it. However, for all intents and purposes, they’re all the same. They’re all a machine designed to refine your souls, providing numbers and paths for you to advance as if you were children, needing your hands held.”
Rachel’s tail stiffened at the comment but knew Nike wasn’t trying to insult them; it was a blunt reality from her perspective. “If the Seeds are just machines, as your suggestion, and the Greater are just better at it than the Lesser, then the difference is…us?”
“Precisely.” Nike glanced at Nia and pointed in the air to their right. “Can you make a little chart for us as I explain the differences? It should help to consolidate things.”
“On it,” Nia said with a cheery salute. “Any preferred color?”
“I always loved a good golden hue. Now…
“Mythickin have a lot more refined soul power than any other type that these Seeds have from their hosts. There is some hidden multiplicative mechanism deep within people like you, Rachel, who provide this unique enhancement to further bolster other souls you interact with, which brings me to the topic of partying.
“Partying is when Seeds are tied together when in close vicinity, working in unison to uplift one another. The Mythickin have the greatest effect on others, able to bring their output to a heightened state of production when expanding someone’s soul with Neutral Energy that can be converted into any type required to nurture the linked parties.
“Legendkin have the unique addition of broken universes, or perhaps something larger, as can be inferred from Conner’s Legend Quest, which provide an area to gather energy to be absorbed and refined. This does not necessarily come from combat but in a way that your soul can best incorporate the environmental energy.”
She gestured at herself with a glowing smile. “Beings such as myself, who have refined energy, can further amplify it to a degree, similar to Mythickins, but it is a much more static and limited function, which is where your Blessed Feats come into play.
“Legendkin have something special about them that pushes them to accomplish something grand or seek after some dream, looking more externally. Whereas Mythickin tends to internalize. Legendkin requires the external help of their Quests. Mythickin refine their already potent internal energy by working on themselves.”
Nia snickered. “You make the Major sound selfish, not caring about the world, which is kind of true.”
Rachel snorted, brushing her long hair over her shoulder to comb it out, preparing to braid it while listening. “In my eyes, you shouldn’t worry about the world if you can’t keep your own life in order. I work with what I can around me to better the lives of those I care about. I’m not so noble as to care about everyone on the planet or strangers.”
Nike slid right past the comment, keeping her tone positive. “On the other hand, Mystickin have a profound aptitude for faith, and make themselves open for the one they believe in to refine. They are canvases, giving themselves away with their Seeds potential to become avatars of their deity. This gives them a lot of leeway due to being directed by a being who does know how to best optimize their Seed and Soul.”
A scowl darkened Rachel’s brow. “Someone like Relica… A Mystickin and Legendkin. I think Hecate has her own plans now that I know she’s pulling her priestess’ strings. The Scarlet Hand and her being used by Twilight… There’s a bigger game there when dealing with a combination. It’s pretty obvious that Persephone and her have a…strained relationship since she killed Persephone’s best friend.”
The triplet’s ears drew back, Irida’s red, flaming hair flickering with agitation. “Not entirely wrong. She did save your ass against Seed Scarlet, though.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed while creating a fake image of the dark-haired goddess of witchcraft and the underworld. “She’s in the 6th-dimensional sphere, which means she has to play ball with the creation deities above her. I trust her about as much as I trust Relica. Go on,” she sighed, dismissing the construct.
“That’s fair,” Nike laughed. “I do not trust most of the higher entities since they all have their own grudges and backgrounds that are almost entirely divorced from my own understanding of them. Yet…”
The personification’s blue eyes showed a bit of pity. “Mystickin, on their own, don’t have the benefit of Quests, like Legendkin, nor the hidden amplifying effect of Mythickin. Therefore, they require a lot more work and activity to keep relevant, which is why they tend to infiltrate other organizations to leech off them, using their patrons’ higher knowledge.”
Nia created an image of a certain thirteen-year-old angel magical girl, making Nike hum with a thoughtful crease to her eye while studying the girl.
“Metakin, which is a new one, as I understand it. From what I’ve been able to observe, these Dormant Seeds have the possibility of becoming them. It is also possible that they are Legends or Myths awaiting a trigger effect, which my secret benefactor pointed out to me in their one-sided ramblings… They seemed lonely and happy to meet someone they knew from before… Well, before the merger.”
She cleared her throat and regained her positive vibe. “I would classify Dormant and Hidden Seeds as different categories. Dormant are inside their intended target, while Hidden…”
Rachel finished the thought, thinking back to her mother’s mysterious confession. “Weren’t meant to have the Seeds, yet, by some happenstance, the Seed was blocked from entering their main target. That’s interesting how you describe it,” she went on, pondering what it meant for her big brother.
“Even if our mom blocked the Greater Seed, he still gained a Lesser one. And, if what you say is right about the Seeds only bringing out what is already within our souls, then Nam may advance slower, but he can still refine his soul, just at a slower pace. She only delayed the inevitable.”
Nia scratched her left ear and shifted in her chair to look at her. “We know your mom wanted to prevent you and him from going down this path due to this Black Rabbit person she’s terrified of—the Onyx Rabbit, she called it in the tales she told you as a little girl. Should we leave that be? I’m shocked you haven’t dug deeper into it, Major.”
Rachel rubbed between her eyes, letting out a short hiss. “I’m shelving it for now due to how many other things we have on our plate… Plus, it’s my mom, and she’s asked me not to push the topic. It’s hard for a daughter in a way I don’t know if you’d understand…maybe with me, but yeah. It feels…wrong to try and push something that makes her uncomfortable, and it isn’t like I don’t have many other things to focus on.”
“Okay, I guess I can see that,” the bun mumbled, glancing away with a small frown. “It’s the first time I’ve heard you back down, though. It’s just…surprising. My kid-self would totally do the same, to be fair. One mention of clothes and my brain goes out the window. Sorry, I didn’t mean to derail you, Nike. What about Fablekin, like Red and Black?”
“No. No. I enjoy the back and forth,” she whispered, a soft look on her face as the rat and wolf lady materialized in Alexa’s place. “Hmm. Fablekin are a more complicated topic, I’d say. They are perhaps one of the more interesting developments. Fablekin used to have Lesser Seeds, which have since evolved.”
Rachel sat a little straighter, remembering back to Aurora’s taunts to Black when on their way to Elizabeth’s gathering, revealing how they were created. “They must kill specific Legends and Myths in order to advance their Seed by taking in their specific energy type?”
“In a way,” Nike mumbled, studying the two images of the Fables, Red with her ax and red cloak and Black with her book and flute. “Fables are a bit of a mix between Legend and Myth, due to their reaction, I’d speculate.
“Something they might not realize themselves, but the fairytale worlds within them are the cannibalized versions of Legends universes while the power to sustain them were taken by the Myths. As such, they are unstable. I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of them faded away over time, as fables often do. It isn’t a natural process as the other Seeds are.”
Rachel’s vision dropped to the grass between them during the explanation, still seeing the two Fables from the corner of her eye. “The Scarlet Hand was using them to prune the field, knowing the whole time they’d likely not survive long. If Aurora was telling the truth and not just trying to get under Black’s skin, they wanted to use them as fodder for something bigger, which White, their leader, rebelled against. I’ll need to bring that up to them.”
The white-haired personification’s mouth tilted. “It might be possible to save them, if they were able to find a way to stabilize their makeshift Greater Seeds. Right now, they’re a combination of Greater Seed parts that don’t quite fit in their Lesser Seeds, which will eventually burn out, trying to operate at that level.
“On that topic, diving into the final aspect of the Lesser Seeds,” she redirected, “I can say that they function in a way we higher beings below the 7th dimension can better understand, unlike the Greater Seeds. So…I guess you could say they bore us, to be frank,” she chortled. “The bigger, shinier ones draw us in like bees to flowers. The mystery of Legend and Myth individuals, more precisely, since it is the people that attracted the Seed, not the Seed itself that are the important part.”
Nike paused, head tilting to the side while considering something. “I have wondered how many people on this planet went through a more…subtle version of The Coalescence. What if everyone here only came into being at the same time we higher beings were brought into this Maelstrom, a century ago? No, but that is just speculation on my part,” she laughed, waving it off. “It’s not like I have any evidence of that but I am certain the mortals of my universe are not here.”
Rachel’s brow furrowed, her mind drifting into a rather unusual direction. “As I understand it, at least from what Scarlet described to me from her talk with Twilight, the Intelligence of active beings with agency cannot be fully destroyed but can be rewritten…”
The personification’s closed fist came up to her lips, vision dropping to her lap. “True, so far as I am aware from discussions I had amongst my siblings and the Greek Pantheon. If so, then it may be worth considering that all of those souls…may still be alive within Scarlet’s Red Sea, kept safe for some future purpose…or maintaining the required power needed to sustain this giant machine she created.”
Her eyes widened, Rachel completing the thought. “If so, perhaps the deities you thought you merged with are still out there, at least in Intelligence, and you merely absorbed their powers, in a similar way to our Seeds?”
“Hmm. It certainly is something to consider,” the young woman whispered, her countenance brightening. “I look forward to hearing her explanation, if we will get one, when we get to the World Tree, and the other deities hear what Scarlet has to say.
“However, back to the immediate topic…I will say that many of the Lesser Seeds seem to have a certain…touch to them,” she finished, pulling Rachel’s gaze back to her radiant blue eyes.”
“Touch?”
“Mhm. It’s as if they were designed to go after certain individuals that exhibited the characteristics rather than at random. Yes, the Lesser acts in a similar way as the Greater Seeds, at least enough to fool us beings lower than the 7th dimension, only with more of a…design to them. I wonder if Izanami, Hades, and Persephone know more than they’re letting on.”
She held a fist to her mouth again and giggled. “Then again, maybe it’s because I can better get a grasp on them than the Greater that makes me paranoid.
“In short, the Greater are all the same to me, and it is the person that matters—no variance. Meaning Legendkin somehow already had a universe inside of them that the Seed was able to connect to, acting as a restorative machine. How is that possible? I do not know! It certainly speaks about a design, perhaps from Scarlet herself… I would like to ask her at some point why she forced this fate of The Coalescence onto the higher beings, even if our other versions are still safely tucked away somewhere else.”
Rachel’s brow furrowed at the angle she hadn’t considered, allowing a moment of silence as Nike reflected on her lost home, family, and friends. Scarlet’s true, awakened side, when all of her memories return… How much of this was to her design and how much of it was others’ influence. She’s playing a huge cosmic game that spans a scope I can’t hope to comprehend at this point. The Eldritch have their part in it, as well, and there has to be many more.
“…Hmm.” The woman straightened her back and pressed on, pulling Rachel’s gaze again as the wolf pups whispered to one another. “While the Lesser Seeds may keep up with Greater Seeds due to their nourished beginnings, the Greater, if added with a Mythickin enhancement and Legendkin Quests, can easily outstrip them. I think you’ve already discovered that by connecting the dots between your abilities. That is it! Anything more you want to inquire about?” she asked, blue eyes beaming and waiting to be helpful.
“You’ve actually given me a lot to think about,” Rachel mumbled. “I will ask one more thing I’d really like an answer to.”
“Name it. I am in your debt more than I can relay,” she chimed.
Rachel’s features softened at how pure and forward the winged personification was. Perhaps it was instinct on her side or just her state of being as embodying victory and taking the path that would most take her to the victorious side but it was helpful nonetheless.
“I’ve been trying to puzzle out if I should save my Feats for a higher level after discovering our soul’s next big evolution at Level 25, unlocking our Soul Expansion. In your opinion, should I wait to add my points?”
Nike shifted in her chair to lean against the opposite armrest, a thoughtful tilt moving her lips while studying her intently. “A hard question, really. I’m sure you’re trying to gauge your sense of misfortune to figure it out but the gravity of this blazing star-like field of conquest we are moving toward is blinding you of the future outcome.”
Rachel sat straighter, Nia meeting her glance before returning to the recovering higher being. “You can sense it too? Something dealing with the Montana Crystal is throwing off all of the threads of misfortune I can sense.”
“Yes, I feel it,” she whispered, holding a hand to her breast and looking internally. “It is why most other deities have retreated to watch from afar…Izanami included. Chang’e has put her trust in you, as I understand it, and has chosen to support you. It is brave of her, considering what I feel we are up against, but I also feel as if you have the capability to make the right choices to skirt certain domination.”
Adjusting her robe’s position, her smile returned. “That is not what you wish to know, though. As for my opinion on your levels. Use your stats, as needed, keep your Feats open to adapt when reaching Level 20, would be my advice. If we are using Scarlet’s logic, then there is a soft breaking point at Level 20, and another at 25.”
Rachel nodded slowly. “I can see that. It feels right, anyway.”
Redirecting her thoughts with a small smirk after getting the personification’s advice, she looked at Nia and pointed at the sleeping Coral on her head, phased through her ears.
“Actually, I wanted to get your and Nia’s opinion on new buns. It kind of falls in-line with what you were saying about the Positive and Negative Energies with this new meeting room.”
Ears rising slightly, she brought their attention above them, showing the White, Greater Abundance, and Greater Harvest Moons. “Little Nia can’t handle Coral. Event Moons are too potent for us, even now, and she can be rebellious even with me. It takes 50% of a Pool’s energy to create a bun. I can’t do it right now with the Normal White until we land, especially if we make these sanctified and corrupted zones, but I think balancing that out is critical.”
“I’m down,” Nia grinned, her ears perking up. “Coral and the new bun might fight a bit when they get up, but it shouldn’t take us long to get enough energy to make a Normal mediator bun. They’ll need to have a strong personality, but I think if they’re modeled after you, then it shouldn’t be a problem to whip them into shape.”
Nike held up her hands. “Honestly, I have no opinion on it but will confirm that if you create this balanced space, then it will take almost all of your current Neutral Energy, which is only 52% at the moment.”
“What about the Crimson and Greater Abundance Moons tainting the pool?” Nia chimed in, frowning up at the spheres that moved into orbit. “We still need to purge it. Won’t it mess things up?”
The personification shook her head, motioning to the symbols on the ground. “The design does matter, and there is a reason why the eastern religions use the yin and yang symbol, however there should be one difference. The white should be gold, for the Positive Force, and the white should be Neutral and be placed as the buffer between them. That is the pattern for the room I would suggest, which will pull the respective Negative and Positive to their own types. It won’t be a problem.”
Rachel nodded, figuring they’d be drawn into their own style or be eradicated. “Alright. Let’s do it. What do we do?” she asked, enjoying having another ally in her little hare den to provide her a personal divine coach. The thought made her want to reach out and connect with her old trainer to see how he was faring.
Nike folded her hands in her lap, a happy smile on her lips. “Do not think I will not get anything out of this, despite me saying I will be more caged. It opens the door for me to be able to have more people to talk to, given you or Nia open the door for me to chat with others. A safe place for me to gather more information for us all.”
“Hey, a team effort is fine by me,” Rachel mused, glancing at Nia with a small smirk. “I used to be the lone hare, but I’ve learned to open up to teamwork as I’ve branched out to bigger things. Scarlet and others have helped me see the benefits in having a group at my back…so long as I do most of the heavy lifting.”
Nia’s chest shook with quiet mirth. “And there’s the selfish Major I know. Always needing to be the one in charge, but you do have command of this ship, Ma’am.”
“In that case,” the white-haired girl showed a relieved face of someone in isolation seeking some form of other social interaction, “all you must do is open your status window and select what I have suggested. The blueprint was already stored by your Seed. All you must do is accept it.”
Rachel opened her menu and swapped to a new option that appeared, the requirements listed:
[Soul Sanctum Upgrade - Yin-Yang Shell: By utilizing equal parts Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy, the user’s soul will be guarded by a unified defensive wall to repel all invader types under those categories. Requirements: 1x Feat Point, 30% Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy.]
[Yin-Yang Audience Chamber: By utilizing equal parts Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy, the user will create a dualistic sanctified and corrupted zone to meet with entities in those fields. Requirements: 1x Feat Extension, 20% Positive, Negative, and Neutral Energy.]
Rachel’s lips became a line while studying the upgrades, and Nia opened her own and used her Synchro Point on [Bun Soldiers] to advance it in order to create their already discussed jello bunny’s.
“Why is Nia’s point required for one and mine the other?” She looked up and took an educated guess. “Is it because her soul guards mine on the outer layer as my Living Denier, and mine is the core, which her soul enshrouds?”
“Correct,” Nike confirmed. “The overall shell also contributes and feeds into the chamber, so it is better to have it stronger than the chamber itself. Plus, I take it you want a stronger wall rather than an extra ten minutes or so with a deity before you kick them out.”
Rachel couldn’t help but smile at the internal image of Eostre inside her Soul Sanctum and then she revokes her privilege, or basically hangs up the call on her. She really did have all the power, which was wild given the scope these deities could affect the universe and planet had not Scarlet’s power been restraining them.
“Alright. Let’s do it,” she lifted her finger, and pressed the accept button.
* — * — *
The hum of the magitech engines pulsed through the deck beneath Thomas Jefferson’s feet. The airship, a marvel of this new-age engineering, sliced through the clouds with a smooth, almost ethereal grace. He stood near the bow, hands clasped behind his back, watching the horizon with enhanced glasses perched on his nose, allowing him to zoom in with incredible detail.
The turbulent skies through the transparent magical barrier rumbled with thunder and lightning as the shield’s blocked the ship from the weather and debris.
Incredible, he mused, sharp eyes scanning the shifting currents and shifting to pick apart the sleek, enchanted pieces and unique magical artifacts that had gone into making parts of this giant vessel, as large as a battleship. Not two months ago, this kind of innovation would have been a dream. Now, here we are—Mexico rising from its knees, shedding the weight of its past corruption like a snake sheds its skin. Who could have predicted this? Polk, you old bastard.
Thomas tilted his head slightly as a group of technicians adjusted the energy flow to the engines. Magical conduits glowed with a soft, azure light, maintaining the delicate balance that kept the ship aloft. Theoretically, this ship could fall out of the sky out of nowhere; it had two practice flights before this, yet the call for action and eagerness to test it out had spurred the Mexican government to green-light the company that designed it to send it off to Montana, in part to advertise.
A thousand people, working round the clock with Legends suppliers and scientists working together to create this vision in less than two months is phenomenal. None of it would have happened had not their congress taken quick action after their President went on a power trip and stripped him of powers…
The barrier flickered momentarily, absorbing a gust of updraft wind with no more effort than swatting a fly. He couldn’t help but marvel at how far things had come since the Oscillation.
The airship had been designed for both transport and combat, equipped with magical artillery that could fend off aerial threats and protect the ship from the more dangerous elements of the skies. It was the pride of Mexico’s Magitech Development Corporation, a rebrand from a previous auto manufacturing plant. A new symbol of the country’s resurgence on the world stage. How would it actually fair in combat? Well, to put it lightly, they’d had five fires, went through two overloaded power cores, lost two engines so far, and they were just passing Texas.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice called from behind him. Thomas turned to see Rafael Ortega step forward, the vice-president of the company that had overseen the airship’s creation. Ortega was an unassuming man, average in height, with dark hair streaked with silver at the temples, but his eyes sparkled with the kind of passion that only a true visionary could possess—he was a normal man with no powers.
“Indeed,” Thomas replied, his gaze returning to the clouds parting around them. “I’m one to dabble in inventions myself, and this has certainly inspired me to strengthen our defense programs. President Polk was right to bring our attention to Mexico. To think, this is only the beginning, as well… It’s almost as if you’re receiving help elsewhere. What you’ve achieved here is…I’d say of Divine providence, Rafael.”
Ortega chuckled, a hint of humility in his tone. “Perhaps you are right. I couldn’t say. Thank you, though, if that was a complement. But I’m just the executor of someone else’s dream. Our founder of the Magitech Development Corporation had this vision—I’m merely following in his instructions and designs.”
They stood in silence for a few moments, the soft hum of the ship’s engines the only sound as they soared above the landscape. Behind him, the four combat Legends related to the Mexican military were joking and discussing their recent Legend Quests, some more fearsome than the last, but Thomas had heard about far worse. Below, patches of land occasionally peeked through the dark cloud cover and rain, a patchwork of green and brown stretching into the distance with his magical glasses that he’d invented himself.
Thomas’ thoughts drifted back to the rapidly changing political landscape. The cartels were losing ground, and with Mexico’s economy slowly stabilizing, the nation had become an unexpected player in the world’s technological race with their congress putting more support onto their new leader.
The provisional president, a Legendkin—the Legend of Benito Juárez to be exact—who had been working tirelessly to rebuild from the chaos that swept through Mexico. It was inspirational, really, and Thomas had high standards. A descendant of Benito Juárez, Manuel Juárez was as pragmatic as his ancestor, and his focus on economic development had already started bearing fruit…and attracting enemies.
Ortega broke the silence, his voice thoughtful and somewhat melancholy compared to their previous conversations. He’d heard this question multiple times in Mexico, though, and it was a real concern for his countrymen.
“Do you think…that normal humans have a future in this world? With people like you and President Maunuel Juárez creating these advancements—things like magitech, do you think we can level the playing field and come together?”
Thomas looked at the man beside him, sensing the weight behind the question. Rafael’s eyes remained fixed on the horizon as they cleared the storm, but Thomas could see the concern etched in his aged features.
“You’re rightly worried,” Thomas said quietly. “Despite everything you’re building, it’ll never be enough to compete with the powers that have awakened since The Oscillation. I’ve heard it voiced in my own government. Less than 1% of the world population changed…yet that change is significant.”
Rafael nodded slowly, his hands gripping the railing. “Yes. We’re living in a world where people have become living weapons. Gods and legends walk among us. I want to believe that magitech can bring power back to the average person…so that we aren't just relying on the whims of the superpowered. These Crystals and the threat of past villains or new legends bent on conquest… I want to hope we can grow as a species. But sometimes, I wonder…”
Thomas breathed out a long sigh, his gaze following the streaks of sunlight breaking through the clouds. “I can’t say for sure, Rafael. There are a lot of hidden factors we have yet to explore regarding our changing world. But if you’ve managed to create this airship using the resources you’ve gathered from Legendkin Quests and those weaker Crystals you’ve managed to overcome in your country, then maybe…just maybe, there is hope.”
He clasped the man on the back with a short laugh before turning his gaze back to the landscape as they continued to Montana, US F22s becoming visible as escorts around them.
“If there’s one thing I know about humans, when we have a common enemy, we can put up a hell of a fight, and these Crystals provide that for us. Personally, I see them more as a benefit than a risk since it helps us put our differences behind us. We grow in the fires of war.”
Silence ensued, leaving Thomas to consider how the world had changed, and with it, so had the balance of power. Underground organizations were making moves, but the US, along with her allies, had support in the shadows, as well. Support that the public would never see.
The Council of Presidents had their hands full. With James K. Polk back in Mexico City negotiating on behalf of the US, there were political maneuvers being made that could shift the tides of power in North America. China was still a giant question mark, but recently, the most pressing news was the resurgence of the USSR.
Russia was going through its own revolution with multiple powers that be, and there were spies within the states. The question was, what were their plans? Obviously, they didn’t want the UN or US getting involved with their internal affairs, and they’d be willing to sabotage things in their homelands to keep their eyes elsewhere.
It wasn’t just about military might anymore; it was about alliances, technology, and information, especially the latter. Luckily, they’d had a rather helpful little hare running about, operating on a smaller scale but with much larger implications and discovering things that helped to stabilize many fields of combat for her country. Apparently, there would be more news shared soon enough with her return from Elizabeth’s Legend Quest. Abraham had quite a few words about that adventure already… Especially this new organization, Babel.
Rafael gave him a thoughtful side-long look that made him chuckle, and he asked the question he’d been given a few times. Few knew his real identity as a Legend except for select high officials.
“I’ve meant to ask but…who really runs the US with all you Legendkin presidents running around?”
“The US needs strong leadership,” Thomas said after a moment, his voice low but firm and without humor. “Leaders that the people can believe in—ones that aren’t just puppets of the system. The Council of Presidents can guide from the shadows, but we need someone who can stand at the helm, visible to the public, who they voted for, and who makes them feel safe. President Leo Capell is that man right now.”
Ortega nodded, but the unease lingered in his expression. “And if he doesn’t live up to your expectations? What then?”
Thomas glanced at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “We are a republic, Rafael. The Council of Presidents runs under the direction of President Capell. If he fails, then we have failed him and our nation. He is the current head of the US, chosen by the electorate and people. We are merely his hands to go where he currently cannot. We keep building. We keep pushing forward. Vigilance—that’s what will keep us going. We can’t predict everything, but we can make damn sure we’re prepared for whatever comes next. Mexico is a part of that vision. You needn’t worry.”
The wind shifted slightly, and the airship adjusted course, banking gently to the left with the F22s performing maneuvers around the vessel, keeping in contact with US military command. Ahead, the sky was beginning to darken again, storm clouds gathering on the horizon. These didn’t appear natural, and putting his hand to his ear, he got confirmation something odd was happening with the weather.
Is it fortune we are flying by or is this misfortune at play? I suppose we’ll see.
“Proceed with caution,” he said over the radio. “Get more information from ground-side reporters and locals. We may have stumbled onto some trouble…or this was planned. It’s not like we’ve tried to keep a low profile.”
As they stood side by side, watching the storm clouds roll in and receiving more reports, Thomas couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. He hadn’t seen much active combat yet, and he needed to test some of his inventions. The world was shifting, and they were standing at the precipice of something new.
“Every hill we climb, there’s something fresh to keep things interesting,” he chuckled while zooming in with his glasses spotting the creature the size of a diesel truck within the small vortex of dark clouds, listening to reports that were only just now hitting their airways and military channels.
“A small unknown Crystal that broke in Big Thicket National Preserve, hmm?” Thomas commented to the anxious vice-president beside him. “From what a local camper said, it was tetrahedron-shaped, which means weaker than the High Rolls and Montana. Fifteen-meters tall, implies a limit of 200 people can enter the battle. Purple is the same as High Rolls, so that is a bit of a concern… At least it gives us a new baseline.”
He paused, listening to further details that fed in regarding the singular monster that had emerged. “We need to improve our communication and detection network. It seems we have a small calamity that came through… A giant bat creature. Well, we’ll get to see what your Legends and this airship are made of, Rafael. That is, if it can survive our F22s. Lure it over the park, boys. You have clearance to engage. Take it out of the sky as cleanly as you can,” he ordered, a smile coming on as the jets hit supersonic, accelerating to meet the monster.
This is what we’re hoping to avoid in Montana… Something tells me missiles might do the trick… Might. Let’s hope.
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