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BlazBlue:Phase Shift 2 Chapter 5

2017-11-13T00:46:29Z

87.113.194.35: /* Chapter 5: Black Beast, Reappears */

==Chapter 5: Black Beast, Reappears==

===Part 1===

December 31st, 2107 AD.

A night that felt unpleasant; with a strange warm wind blowing.

Although the sky was mostly deprived of clouds, the view of the stars and moon had grown hazy as they were covered by thick seithr.

But the moon, shining dully, appeared oddly close. It shone its stagnant light upon the ground that was about to become ruined by battle, as if giving sympathy.

The surroundings were a plain wasteland; brown desert, no grass or water was present for miles.

If today would be the day of apocalypse for humanity, the scenery here surely would need no changes.

...Nine surveyed the battlefield, taking a deep breath, having confirmed the situation with all the units of the Mage's Guild.

The day and the year would end very soon. A whole year had passed since then. It was time for its revival. Just thinking about it would give anyone shivers.

Of course, the preparations had been sufficiently arranged. As everything that could be done had been dealt with, there was no anxiety or fear regarding that part.

What had been concerning Nine was Celica.

"Nine. The deployment of the foreign armies has been completed without problems."

Trinity jogged up to Nine. She was among the same units as Nine and her role was to support all of the armies.

Every functioning country was participating in this strategy.

The armies even included the countries that had previously refused to cooperate with The Mage's Guild.

Presently, several hundred thousand units had been positioned around various cauldrons that had a high rate of seithr discharge. The units also included volunteers who were ordinary people.

It was still unclear which cauldron the Black Beast would emerge from. But once its arrival had been confirmed, the attack and mobilization would commence immediately.

Among the armies that had been stationed at the cauldrons... was Celica. She had positioned herself in the centre of a group of cauldrons, so as to be as to be able to get to a number of them as quickly as possible.

"...Are you worried about Celica-san?"

Trinity asked her in a whisper as she saw a deep sorrow in Nine's expression that was masked in calmness.

Finally noticing that her mind was completely filled with Celica, Nine lightly bit her lip to reprimand herself.

"...Of course I'm worried."

She could have dodged the question, but Nine chose to speak her mind. Trinity was her companion. She could immediately see through Nine's pressure no matter how many words she used to coat it.

Plus she couldn't keep making a calm face like it was nothing when it came to that matter.

"Don't joke like that! Do you even understand what you're saying!?"

The first moment Celica said that she wanted to be a decoy, Nine had let her anger burst out, as if on reflex.

Nine's shout would make her classmates from the academy tremble. But it wasn't a big deal for Celica. Instead she retorted with an even louder voice.

"I said I do. I wouldn't say something like this as a joke."

"That makes it even worse! Celica, didn't you hear me in our preparations for this battle!?"

"Of course I remember. But this is different from our talk about Seven-san and Eight-san. I won't be dying. And if I can lure the Black Beast, won't it be good for the strategy?"

The more Nine resisted, the more that the stubborn Celica stood her ground.

No matter how many times they had this argument, Celica wouldn't back down once she had decided on something. Nine knew from experience that she was like a dog with a bone.

At that time, she could have predicted yield in the end.

"Please! I want to do it no matter what! I'll run away when it gets dangerous. I'll obey your instruction. So please…!"

The sisters continued throwing their demands for a further 30 minutes.

But then Celica joined her hands and kneeled in front of Nine, prostrating herself like a beggar before a king. The excessively direct request left Nine at a loss for words.

She understood about it. About what kind of a sister Celica was and how earnest her heart was.

Nine gave a big sigh and scratched her head in annoyance.

"…Aaah, okay! You have a comeback for everything I said!"

"…Then… you get it!?"

"I get it, I get it! You're such a stubborn kid. You must have thought tons of excuses to persuade me."

Actually, even if the theories she lined up against Nine might seem all over the place, they needed a little more accuracy in pin pointing Black Beast's arrival in order to intercept it.

There weren't many alternatives that would go smoothly even when the certainty wasn't in 100% percent, or even if they had to rely on the vampire girl's prophecy. In fact, there were only a few of them.

If the Black Beast would get drawn to Celica, then it would greatly helped the proceeding of the plan.

Nine wouldn't have any complain if Celica didn't do it.

"…But remember, your duty is just to lure out that monster. You absolutely cannot participate in the battle. Get to a safe place after that. You hear?"

"Yes! Thanks, Onee-chan!"

With her confidence to not lose to Nine went away, Celica put her usual bright, carefree smile. Then she gripped her sister's hands.

Nine didn't have the slightest idea about what she should feel when looking at her smile.

…The day of the decisive battle approached. Although the arrangement had been finished at this point, Nine was in violent remorse. She couldn't resist to think that it might be better if she had dismissed Celica's opinion using whatever means necessary.

Nine crushed the deployment scheme of the foreign armies in her hand. She immediately switched her long gaze to the direction where Celica was supposed to be.

"Truth to be told, I want to send her to Ishana immediately. Having Celica to be a bait to lure the Black Beast is ludicrous… If I could, I wanted to at least be right beside and protect her now."

"You have to take command of the Armagus unit, you know. No one but you are able to do it."

The Armagus unit was organized from the candidates around the world that had been tested for their aptitude. Today would be their first combat.

Even with their skill, the armies had insufficient combat experience. Commanding them required someone who grasped the understanding of Armagus better than anyone. In other word, Nine.

"I know about that."

Trinity was to give support and direct the supportive magic unit from headquarters. Jubei, Terumi, and Valkenhayn were participating in the units which are located near their respective cauldrons. Even with someone else's assistance, there was no other choice for Nine.

But it was because she precisely knew about it that the absurd irritation within the helpless situation struck her nerves.

The cause of annoyance didn't just come from the Black Beast. Seven and Eight's movement was still in her mind.

Nine thrust her disarranged long hair with her hand. Trinity put her hand to Nine's shoulder and gently smiled.

"Didn't you create Nirvana and have her beside Celica-san? And that gentleman is also there."

"…Ugh. Oh, well. I guess I don't have a problem with him being her guard at the very least, considering his war potential."

Combing the tangled hair in her hand, Nine took a deep breath to shake off the ill feeling in her chest. Though the burden in her chest hadn't disappeared, she had to forcibly convince herself for now.

"Anyway, let's beat up the monster before it reach Celica."

"Fufu, that's the spirit~. ...But please don't do anything reckless."

"I know. You too, Trinity. I can't do anything without you after all."

"Oh my. You're making me embarrassed."

Trinity covered her girlish mouth with the fingertips that came out from the sleeve of her robe. Nine replied with a daring smile.

But time was ticking. No matter how many words she spoke of, the pressuring anxiety hadn't yet to disappear from Nine's chest.

===Part 2===

The midwinter wind blew, making her cheeks lukewarm. There was smell of cloud dust around.

The night somehow had gotten stagnant. The stars and moon became so much farther away. The air which was filled with seithr appeared like a pretty thin silk curtain. It gave the impression of vague feelings.

It had been a while since she felt the air outside the island. Celica sat down on top of a rugged hill within the everlasting wasteland while inhaling the dusty air of the night deep into her lungs.

Nirvana stood just next to her. The smooth and brilliant glass spheres that were her eyes appeared as if they were gazing at the distant scenery.

Following her gaze, Celica also looked at the distance.

The scenery she was staring at seemed desolate.

Once, this region had suffered damage from Black Beast. The demon appeared suddenly as usual, transformed the buildings and road into wasteland, and disappeared abruptly as before.

But a small town barely survived thanks to that whim. It was located on the other side of the rocky mountain west from here. If the Black Beast appeared on this territory tonight, the town would surely disappear and turned into a wasteland like here.

It was truly a dreadful thing.

Thinking about it made Celica couldn't help but think that she was a complete fool for being here.

It was like being in a dream. Sure, she was fully conscious, but some part of her mind couldn't believe the situation that was about to approach before her eyes.

Although the wind wasn't chilly, it was mysteriously cold. Sitting on top of a rock, Celica hugged her knees and placed her chin on top of them.

The dusty wind fluttered her tied hair like a sash.

Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps behind.

Snapped, Nirvana put her guard on. Celica turned around in panic, but seeing the person there slackened her cheeks.

"Hakumen-san."

There, a tall man wearing white clothing and white mask with long sword on his back stood silently.

There was no unit near Celica. During the strategy meeting, she had emphasized the possibility that the Black Beast might not be able to find her if she was included in a unit.

Of course, Nine opposed to it. But she was eventually outmatched by Celica's unyielding spirit once she had decided on something. Then she arranged for Celica to be stationed in the middle of the wasteland. Yet she would allow it only if Nirvana and Hakumen were near her. It all led to now.

After Celica calmly called out to her, Nirvana ceased her cautious attitude.

Hakumen stood beside Celica. His white mask turned toward the air as if gazing at the wasteland.

"...Are you scared?"

A low, muffled voice questioned.

Celica looked up and stared at Hakumen's face. His words were unexpected. Shrugging her shoulders, she broke down her expression with a bashful smile.

"Aha... A little."

While giving a reply, Celica got surprised by something other than Hakumen's remark. For the first time, she noticed that she was trembling a bit when she heard her own answer.

She had never expected to be so terrified. But now that she had realized it, she found out that there was a fear laying deep inside. Comparing it like a small pebble sinking to the bottom of a lake was accurate.

Celica drew her knees close and hugged herself tightly. She felt a bit relief from getting enveloped by her own body heat.

"But I'm not so sure what could be so terrifying. Because I feel safe as much as I feel scared. This one year, Onee-chan and the others has really done their best. It should be fine when the Black Beast come."

It weren't just Nine and Hakumen. Everyone around the world had done what they could.

There were some quarrels among fellow countries, a reorganization that had to be done to the collapsing economy, and insufficient goods. The world had to go forward while burdened by loads of problem, but plenty of people had worked hard from each of their place. And it finally came to today.

Celica believed that there wasn't any pointless part within there.

While staying in small posture, Celica straightened her back and raised her face up straight. Her big eyes reflected a distant scene.

"Onee-chan with everyone will surely win the battle. A world where everybody lives in peace without conflict is coming. And I'm glad I can lend my hand to achieve it. That's why right now I don't have any regret nor a single thought to stop. But you know, it's just… "

As she thought, being in the middle of an empty wasteland alone was frightening. A terribly simple reason that made her shivering.

"…A world where everybody lives in peace. Without conflict…"

Hakumen muttered in deep voice and slightly made the parched sky vibrated. It was like he was thinking of a distant wish that was vanishing. Faint and weak, swept away by the rough wind.

Hearing his voice which seemed like he was pondering of fleeting thoughts, Celica pulled her head and made a wry smile. When she heard Hakumen repeating her words, she became embarrassed. Because it felt like her naivety and inexperience were exposed.

"A-Ahaha. It's weird, isn’t it? I got scared despite thinking about all that. It seems I'm more confused than I thought."

"…There is nothing to fear."

Hakumen looked straight forward and spoke, looking like he didn’t even have a slight hesitation. Clenching the dangling hands beside his body, his feet which were previously spread shoulder-wide stepped firmly on the hard ground without a hint of retreating.

"I will slay the Dark One. Your only task is to see it with your eyes from here."

Hakumen's voice was like a single swing of sword. Unwarped, unclouded.

His standing figure reminded her of a dear feeling… Celica slowly caught her breath.

"Ragna…"

Hearing the name she unintentionally spoke, Hakumen turned his head toward her.

When he did, Celica finally noticed that she had been muttering. She quickly waved both hands in front of her face.

"Ah, no, excuse me. I just thought that you look like someone right now."

While speaking, Celica wondered in her mind about what made her did that.

She shouldn't be recalling Ragna when she looked at Hakumen somehow. It was okay if it only happened once or twice, but continuing to remember somebody else's image like this was really impolite. Even if Celica was a dull in etiquette, she could sympathize in that.

She had to be careful. While staring at Celica as she was controlling herself, Hakumen leisurely asked a question a moment later.

"…Do I have any resemblance to him?"

This time, Celica gasped in surprise.

She had never considered that she was getting questioned for it. He usually would have averted his face without speaking a word. She thought he would stay silent while looking at a distance with his white face.

Celica nodded twice afterward.

"I'm sure I told you about this before. That time, I was searching for his resemblance with you… but now I found various clear similarities."

"Hm."

His groan urged her to continue. She might have misunderstood it, but Celica went along with her intuition.

"He's blunt and has bad manner. He also tends to get in a fight with Onee-chan. But somehow, he's good at taking care of people. And… I didn't know where he was coming from or anything about himself at all."

With good mood, Celica spoke about him one by one while counting on her fingers. But her hands immediately opened up and she smiled while squinting her eyes in happiness.

She pressed her chest with both hands as if a warm light had been lit inside.

"But I guess it's your air that's similar to his. When I look at you, I recall Ragna."

In no way that was a painful feeling. Her feeling toward Ragna was more like the same feeling when she was basked with sunlight filtering through trees, back in the academy's courtyard.

"…Do you wish to meet him?"

It was a miracle for a day to come when Celica was given a question filled with such emotion from Hakumen. Still spontaneously smiling looking for answer, Celica lifted her eyelids and looked at Hakumen.

She didn't know where was the location of his eyes and mouth on that white and flat face. He might not have one in the first place. It was unclear whether Hakumen was living while relying on five senses like a human would.

However, Celica followed the feelings from Hakumen's gaze and stared back at him.

"Yup, I want to."

Her pupils and voice struck directly through and through. She never doubted her wish to meet him.

"The talk about me luring the Black Beast is also because I thought I might be able to meet Ragna. Ah, of course I'm doing to help Onee-chan, too. But… when I thought about meeting him, I just couldn't hold myself."

"The Dark One is still the Dark One. It appears with oblivion as its purpose. …The ''Ragna'' you spoke of who is being inside of it might not necessarily be the ''Ragna'' you are wishing for."

The flowing low tone of voice struck the reality without reservation.

However, his words instead made Celica glad.

"Aha. I'd been told the same thing by Ragna in the past."

She was talking about when she found her missing father. She had been told that she might regret it if she found him.

Celica's feeling was close to that time.

"But I still wish to meet him."

Releasing the knees she had been hugging, Celica leaped and stood up. She stretched her body, puffed out her chest, and took a deep breath.

"I want to meet him. Talk to him. It'd be great if we can do things like in the past, but… it's fine even if we couldn't. I mean, there's a lot of specific things I want to do it makes my head spin. I want to meet Ragna. And if I do, it's enough to make me really happy."

It was strange. She should have been trembling enough to make her tripped. But now, that feeling was completely fading.

It must have been Hakumen, Celica thought. When Hakumen was there, she felt that she would get her harmony back whenever she had unsettling thought.

She wanted to meet Ragna. That feeling had made her push herself to stand here. She was made to remember it.

"…I see."

Hakumen sighed. It was no longer a hint. His voice obviously had sensitivity in it.

Astonished, Celica stared hard at Hakumen. She couldn't help but have a hunch that there was a gentle yet sad face of a man under the white mask.

Between his breaths, Hakumen continued to talk as if speaking to himself.

"I, too, recalled a person whenever I looked at you. Someone in the distant side who I have grown to forget."

"I look like someone?"

Celica asked a question to draw him in. Hakumen's past. It was like a glasswork that shouldn't be carelessly handled. It made her heart throbbed a little.

But betraying the faint feeling of expectation Celica held, Hakumen flatly shook his head.

"There is no similarity."

"Hey. Just now, I get a feeling like you're making fun of me."

"I wonder."

Even his counter of feigning ignorance was as sharp as ever.

…But Hakumen soon spoke gently.

"…It is simply because she had the same boldness as you do. A girl who would charge ahead once she saw her goal."

Hakumen was staring ahead. It was a mystery whether the white mask was looking at the dull wasteland or a dearest face of someone. Looking at his face from the side, Celica guessed the latter.

"Is that girl someone you love?"

The question was mixed with the wind.

Hakumen didn't answer. But the warmth feeling that had lasted until his silence was probably not just her imagination. Pushing her hair that was blown by the wind, Celica smiled while scratching her ear.

"I have a feeling that you'll definitely meet her again… I just know it."

She didn't know when, where, and what kind of situation that reunion will occur. But the encounter would surely bring happiness. Celica hoped from the bottom of her heart that such reunion would truly happen to Hakumen.

A long sigh that was clearly different than a simple one was heard coming from Hakumen.

"It is an odd conversation. You see the image of Ragna the Bloodedge in me. And I see the image of someone unforgettable in you."

Perhaps he was smiling right now. Perhaps his lack of smile was his way to smile.

The white mask might not only have snatched his expression. When she suddenly thought about that, Celica let a small voice out as she chuckled. Hakumen couldn't speak it out smoothly, but he had intended to smile at each other along with his words.

Led by the sound of Celica's laugh, Hakumen took a step forward.

His long, silver hair swayed.

"Celica A. Mercury. If it is true that you see the image of that man in me, then I will bear the image itself as many times as it takes. He has protected you. Then I shall protect you at once."

"Protect me? I'm happy but… It's somehow strange hearing Hakumen-san saying it formally. What's wrong?"

Searching for the hidden thoughts inside those words, Celica tilted her head to the side. She tried to take a peek to his face, but she was hindered by the silver hair which was blown by the wind.

Though, there was no expression that could be seen even if she saw his face.

"…I am someone who is seeing an image within you, too. I wield my sword for that foolish purpose. I shall not repeat the same mistake. Hence, I must protect you for that very reason."

It was like the voice that went across her back was hardened by a firm determination. After taking a short pause, Hakumen slightly looked over his shoulder to his back.

"Cease your curiosity. This is of no concern with you."

It was not a manner to push her aside. But what was being grasped tightly by Hakumen's hands must be something precious to him.

Because of that hunch, Celica stopped giving a deep thought like she had been told to.

It was enough for her since it was true that the words Hakumen spoke of had made her happy, whatever his circumstances might be.

"Hakumen-san, you're a kind person. Just as I thought."

"Alrighty," said Celica as she hopped to Hakumen's side. She gazed at the borderline of the sky in the wasteland while smiling.

Hakumen kept quiet as if his previous talkativeness was a lie. He lifted his chin and looked at a distance.

The gesture made it looked like he getting emotional or possibly just turning his face away. When she looked at him, Celica made a mischievous face.

"Hmm? Perhaps you're getting embarrassed?"

Every single part of her upper body peeked at Hakumen, but his white mask still kept silence without a slight movement.

It was hard to imagine, but he might be getting embarrassed for real, Celica thought. The childish emotion within Celica's mind was getting ticklish. She was thinking to push him a little more. But that thought only lasted for a moment.

Somehow, Celica realized that Hakumen's appearance gave her uncomfortable feelings. This time, a circumstance was glanced from his straight face.

"Hakumen-san? What's wrong?"

He didn't move even when he got addressed. Hakumen kept focusing at his front while holding his breath.

As she thought, the situation was strange. It happened when she thought about it.

As if enshrouded with thick heat, the air around Hakumen changed.

Killing intent.

The dangerous sensation even made Celica, who was still far inexperienced, instantly frozen and stopped breathing.

At the same time, Celica had a thought. What kind of opponent could make Hakumen take out so much killing intent?

A strong breeze blew from the front. Celica turned around to brush off the wind. She only did that, yet it felt sluggish and really hard to move.

Immediately, a thick fog sprouted out like a geyser in front of Celica's eyes. Celica screamed a little and sprung to a jump. From her side, Nirvana used her arms to hold Celica and stepped back while carrying her.

In the meantime, the gushing mist from the ground distinctly multiplied to two, three bursts. As if aiming at a spot, the eruption drew a dotted line on its own.

It was the direction where Celica and Hakumen were staring at. The location of a barren and uncovered wasteland.

After the small openings of the bursts gathered from around there, it was followed by a vast amount of black mist that began to overflow from the ground. A tremor violently shook the ground as if something was pushing up.

Conspicuously, the large opening of the burst eventually made a crooked neck and created cracks everywhere. It ripped the dry wasteland as it pleased.

"MOVE!"

Hakumen shouted an order.

But Celica couldn't separate her eyes from the scene. Rather than the scenery, all of her senses couldn't run from the sensation she felt on her skin.

It was the same as that time. The atmosphere she had felt just before she parted with Ragna one year ago.

The wind that was polluted with seithr advanced and surrounded Celica's whole body. The earthquake was so violent it pushed her feet off the ground.

Nirvana supported Celica as she was staggering.

Celica raised her face up toward while trying to oppose the devastating wind.

Toward something enormous which tore the cracked earth and raised the ground level.

It was as black as a solidified darkness, had many red veins running on its figure, and had the shape of serpent head. The number of simple ways to speak of its size and potential limit were unimaginable.

But Celica immediately realized.

The number of the creeping head was just one.

Instantly, another head of the same scale crawled out one by one.

With a total of eight necks dragged out, a large torso which far surpassed the heads appeared on the desolated ground.

Meanwhile with the Armagus unit near the headquarters, Nine's chest was gasping for breath as her breath had gone ragged unconsciously. She stared at it with hostility floating in her eyes.

"This is… the real deal…"

What made her breathing went unnoticed was not because of the seithr that went thick all of a sudden.

She held down her body with her judgment. That sensation made her stayed obediently while still trembling a little.

At the main unit, Trinity fell to her knees. Strength was sapped from the waist to her legs. Soon, she wasn't able to stand anymore.

Her brain couldn't accept what her eyes were seeing. It felt like the insides of her skull were firing off warnings as they couldn't comprehend anything. …She could only stay in blank with eyes opened wide.

At the assault unit leading various demi-human that was pioneered by the beastkins, Jubei tormented his body and desperately resisted the rejection in his mind. It has begun, he thought. At the same time, he felt it was also strangely the end of things.

Once, there was a time when he was near to it. That moment was also dreadful. He was unable to move as his feet had frozen.

But it was even bigger now that its shadow couldn't grow anymore.

Meanwhile at the massive assault unit, Valkenhayn spontaneously averted his eyes from the figure that appeared from the ground. It was like he had witnessed the world's demise itself.

He had the courage to bear it within his field of vision again. While speaking the name of the person he gave his loyalty to, he encouraged himself up.

However, his body was already frozen in fright.

At Ishana's magician unit, Terumi looked up at the soaring silhouette high in the sky. His throat vibrated as he laughed. It was not because of joy nor composure. It was a laugh that happened because he couldn't hold it.

He softly muttered under the hood.

"This guy's nasty... He's even bigger than the last time…"

The Black Beast.

It was simply an overwhelming fear.

Who could have imagined it?

The dark red nightmare was squirming right there.

===Part 3===

The Black Beast loudly roared. Its paralyzing howls combined into one and would give terror to animal instinct.

The destructive voice struck and was enough to shake the ground. It was giving the vibes of despair to the world.

The black mass which trampled the common sense within people and couldn't just be treated as phenomenon. The shadow monster. The Black Beast.

Its eight heads were raised and the ominous red eyes were lit up. It moved around like it was searching for something.

Several red lines of its veins were running on its large body. It looked like the wiring of an artificial device and also the blood vessels that were spread out in the whole body of living things. It was pulsing lights as if it was beating. It went beyond fear as to being repulsive.

The eight heads roamed about until they made a discovery all at once. A young girl standing alone in the wasteland… Celica.

Its red eyes were glaring as if some kind of emotion passed by.

However, the color was nothing but sinister. The sensation was far from the emotion a human could have.

Her eyes met the Black Beast's. She realized about that, but Celica wasn't able to take off her gaze nor stared back.

Her body was frozen in place from the beginning of her head to the end of her feet. With even her gaze solidified, Celica was at her wit's end as she trembled in fear.

(This is… the Black Beast…)

Her throat was stuck. Voice wouldn't come out.

She was afraid. It was different from the vague fear she had a while ago as it made Celica withered in pain.

The eight crooked necks bent like a whip and moved. Fitting its large size, the black giant moved ahead in grandiose manner.

Several steps more, the eight snakes would reach Celica. She might get eaten. Or else, she might get crushed. Either way, that moment would be the end for her.

Although that thought constantly came to her mind, there was nothing that would tell her what to do. She could only tremble and stood petrified unable to do anything, like a baby…

(…But Ragna…)

For an instant, the precious color of an eye went past her terrified, shivering mind.

It was clear green. A warm and gentle color of green, like a summer that was full of leaf. But probably because of his wound, only the left side of his eyes was fine. He was always astonished, angry, and laughing with only one part of his eyes.

A transparent wind blew through Celica's chest. Her panic disappeared like it was a lie.

(Ragna… faced this alone.)

Thanks to it, Celica didn't lose her life.

Humanity obtained one year of time that was both short and long.

And Ragna had not yet to come back.

''——mise.''

The words she heard exactly one year ago were echoing in her ears.

"…na."

As if the feeling pushed her back, Celica took a step forward.

''——Yeah, I promise.''

Yes, he promised.

Ragna had promised to return. To take back the red coat he had entrusted to Celica.

Celica held onto it, awaiting for Ragna to return... She promised.

Then if Ragna was somewhere inside the black mass in front of her eyes…

(I want to meet him——!)

The previously stepping foot immediately sent out the next foot. Celica ran off toward the Black Beast. While running, she let all of her voice out.

"RAGNA——————————————————!"

The next moment.

A swift, silver light flew and tore the sky. It cut apart the head of the approaching black snake in a flash.

[[Image:BB_PS2_179.jpg|thumb]]

"…!?"

Celica halted her feet in her surprise.

It threw its whole body to the black giant without a slight hesitation.

For an instant, that figure was overlapped with a nostalgic silhouette.

(No, that's wrong. It's not Ragna.)

It was Hakumen.

After he landed on top of the cleaved snakehead, Hakumen flipped his sword without unnecessary movement and ruthlessly pierced the head, making a vertical line.

The head took almost all of the long blade, and then it violently struggled. But before it did, Hakumen pulled the sword and leaped to a dodge. Next, he gave a slash to the neck part.

The sharp noise of the slash was vividly audible. It sliced the part under the jaw in a straight line.

Nonetheless, there was a drastic mass difference between Black Beast and Hakumen.

Even the eye-snatching white gleam of the long sword was unable to completely chop off the demon's neck. Perhaps the wounds of the squirming neck had finally healed since it calmly began to brush Hakumen away.

But still not minding it, Hakumen jumped high and didn’t even stop his hands from moving the sword.

The strokes of the sword were many and the blows were deep.

While keeping the jaw that had received blows in check with his brute strength, he slashed it from bottom up.

Altering the recoil with a jump, he kept going around just below the jaw and stabbed the sword to the monster's throat. Then he sliced it by falling down, leaving it to gravity.

The beast shrieked dreadfully in rage.

Hakumen's body was knocked and struck the ground. The shock hollowed the earth. But before the soaring cloud of dust even settled, the white warrior was already standing up.

In response to the gallant figure of Hakumen, white lightning was casted from one part of the battlefield like a rain.

It was the Armagus unit led by Nine.

There was numerous lightning bolt as it was casted repeatedly. It made explosions while at the time resounded thunderous roar that wasn't inferior to the Black Beast's howl.

Subsequently, Jubei's unit approached with great speed from behind the Black Beast. They were aiming for the its feet. The alchemistical weapons that Trinity had prepared disturbed its movement occasionally by repelling the giant's feet from the ground.

Various offensive magic were fired off from the dotted magician unit. The military forces from many nations also commenced their attack simultaneously.

Celica was watching on how the battlefield had become intensive in a blink of an eye from the hill of the mountain side.

It was a ghastly spectacle.

It couldn't be more obvious that it was a struggle which humanity had concentrated the power they had at.

The one which had superior accomplishment among them was Armagus.

The number of users that had been assembled spanned several times of Ishana's inhabitants. The average offensive ability from the Armagus couldn't be compared with the magician unit.

Because Nine was giving the command, the raining impact of the Armagus didn't get jumbled. It clinched the legs which were the means for the Black Beast to advance. It even reacted like it was taken aback.

It was effective. That conviction felt like humanity was drawing a victory for the first time.

…But when the hands that were used to attack repeatedly stopped for a moment, the Black Beast cried its ferocious voice and swung its eight necks.

When the long necks brushed off the sky, the thick fog roared and gouged the earth like a whip. Along with a howl, the descending mass of seithr crushed the earth and living beings like a lump of iron.

Then after stopping one moment, it resumed its advance. This time it slid on the ground, imposingly moving forward.

It was aiming for Celica.

"It’s coming to my location…?"

The distance was no longer mattered. The seithr would blow around violently whenever the Black Beast was near. The following rampage of wind toyed with her hair and mantle annoyingly.

Even while squinting her eyes from the head wind, Celica couldn't take off her eyes from the approaching black mass that caused the quake.

It wasn't because she was terrified. She was searching for a presence inside this dreadful and grotesque of a giant.

Celica had a thought. The monster kept walking to Celica's direction even while withstanding the fierce attack. There might be a part within it that remembered the promise to 'return'.

A foolishly optimistic thought that might get laughed at by anyone else if they had heard about it. But once she gave it a thought, Celica couldn't stop her feeling.

"I must go!"

With this much distance, Celica's legs could run until she got close. Taking a resolve, Celica dashed off of the ocher soil. …However, someone suddenly caught her arm.

"Wha… Nirvana?"

When she turned around, Nirvana, who had been standing motionlessly beside Celica, used her large, weaponized hand to grab Celica's wrist.

The beautiful artificial eyes were staring at Celica silently.

She had judged that it would be dangerous for Celica to go any further. Celica struggled, shaking her arm to loosen Nirvana's hand, but she was undaunted as if she was a tough restraint.

"Let me go, Nirvana! I want to go there. I might be able to meet Ragna. So ple…"

Her desperate objection was cut midway.

Under Celica's feet, veins of light were appearing.

As if in the middle of drawing a pattern, it crawled on the ground with constant speed and adding complexity to the line.

She didn't know its purpose, but Celica soon realized what the light was drawing.

It spread wide with Celica on its center. Furthermore, it pulled along small magic circles as if they were connected somewhere, making a strange shape.

"Trinity, what is that magic circle!?"

After she entrusted the Armagus unit to another person, Nine teleported to the headquarters. While yelling, she walked at quick pace to her friend who was wearing yellow robe.

The location of the headquarters was a little higher than other places. Trinity who had been watching over the battlefield got in a panic from Nine's voice. After she lifted her face, she shook her head with complicated face.

"I don’t know. I was just looking at the user now."

"Where?"

"Somewhere around the dispatched magicians who are on Celica-san's left and right sides. There's a chant of unusual spell… Found it! There!"

Trinity probed for the stream of magic power while manipulating her hearing. She pointed at the magician unit gathered within the shade of a few rock within the wasteland. Simultaneously, Nine amplified her vision.

With her telescopic eyes, Nine saw a pair of magicians she recognized well.

"Seven, Eight…!"

Crushing her anger, Nine groaned.

Beside her, Trinity's voice screamed.

"NINE, PLEASE LOOK AT THAT!"

At the same time of the shrieking voice, Nine turned her sight back to normal.

What had burst in to her regular sight was a drawing of huge magic circle like a geoglyph that appeared behind Celica.

A magic circle unknown to Nine. But it was easy to decipher by looking at the magic circles that had been used as foundation, the objects that were added, and its gigantic size.

But it was something that gave Nine a tremendously bad feeling.

"Summoning magic? …It can't be!"

Faster than the transformation of her surprise to anger, the expanded magic circle on the ground began to emit a sinister light.

The large magic circle that appeared all of a sudden began to shine. After realizing it, Celica was shaking in confusion while looking behind.

"Huh? W-What's this!?"

Even the magic circle below her feet began to glow after a bit of delay.

She couldn't understand what was happening. Celica tried to get away from that place.

But for some reason, she wasn't able to go outside the magic circle. It was like she got imprisoned within a cylinder glass bottle.

She hit the invisible wall with both hands. There was no sound, but the sensation blocked Celica from getting out.

(What should I do… I somehow got a very bad feeling…)

As if confirming that ominous hunch, a lukewarm chill brushed against Celica's spine.

To shake it off, Nirvana stretched her arms and hugged Celica tightly. Both of the hard, inhuman arms covered Celica to protect her from everything.

At the same time outside of Celica's sight, Nirvana's back opened. Something like a rod was pushing up and went toward the empty sky. The object that looked like an antenna and lighting rod engraved a violet crest. It wore light as if acting in agreement with something.

"Nirvana…"

Question and relief. With a voice mixed with both, Celica whispered to Nirvana.

Before her sigh ended, an unusual phenomenon happened.

The light from the magic circle suspiciously started to flicker strongly. After the noise and shock diminished like they were sinking furiously, it tried to drag Celica from everything else and knock her down.

"Wh… what's going on… Why's this happening…"

Still getting taken to the bottom of the ground by the force, Celica desperately clung to Nirvana and endured it.

But soon, the circulating chill stroke her spine and went inside her skin. The cold touch of ice snatched strength from Celica's whole body.

Body heat, sensation, emotion. Everything that dwelled within her warmth was seized, frozen, and unfolded.

(No…)

She put strength into the arm that was clinging to Nirvana. But all of that strength were turning to liquid, making it meaningless.

Celica's knees crumbled, light enough to make the illusion of noise.

Her consciousness became distant like it was absorbed.

(No… if I faint… I can't meet… Ragna…)

The hand that was supposed to grab Nirvana slipped and dangled beside her body. While she was relying on the neck that couldn't support her head, her sight went around and couldn't see anything but the night sky.

(Ragna…)

She wondered if this was what dying felt like. With her back still could only feel the stiff hands of Nirvana who was supporting her… Celica lost her consciousness as if she went sleeping.

——Celica didn't know what happened afterward.

Delivering what had been extracted from Celica, the extended magic circle connected its light to the main part of the magic circle which was lying in wait behind.

The gigantic magic square that appeared on the sloppy ruin of hill received it. It was gushing out a light that had the color of flame. The light was spreading to the jet black figure within the circle.

The figure immediately grew large and began to crawl out from the circle.

Its huge arms were stretched before placing both hands on the wasteland. Then it pulled its body like it was crawling out of a swamp.

It had a really vague depiction of a man's features. It had one head, two arms, one torso, and two feet.

Its whole body was black like it was built by molding solidified darkness. Like it was split by cracks, the skin had some kind of blood vessels that were like red veins circulating as they pleased.

Its appearance… resembled the Black Beast.

The titan that appeared from the magic circle made deep noises and waved its long arms. It moved its clutched fists forward to grasp the Black Beast, which had been confined by the Armagus attack, from the side. With unbelievable strength, it knocked off the beast's large build.

Making a violent roar that shook the earth, the Black Beast forcefully gained a distance.

Everyone was watching over that scene in blank.

It was no longer a battle of humanity. It was the clash between absurdity with absurdity, monster with monster.

When the black titan's stance changed to crawling on all fours on the ground, it widely opened it mouth with compulsory movement like a machine.

A white magic circle was unfolded within the mouth cavity that had transformed into a black cave. The magic circle rotated like the gears of watch that had gone awry. It made the red veins that covered the titan's body to swell slowly.

The next moment.

A straight, white flash was fired from the black titan toward the Black Beast.

The ear-piercing roar and shriek robbed the owners of their sense of hearing to hear all noises for several seconds. The powerfully strong light burnt every shadow, fading their sense of sight.

But everyone heard and saw it.

The sound when the beam fired by the titan penetrated the Black Beast's abdomen, and its condition.

As the spear of light vanished, the world regained its colors and sounds. Then the black titan once again submerged into the swamp of magic circle as if it had accomplished its duty.

What remained afterward was the Black Beast. But the gaping hole in its body didn't get healed.

The light which the titan had fired even burnt and wiped the seithr around the Black Beast. The Black Beast would cease to exist if there were no seithr.

The snake demon that was the embodiment of nightmare roared to the distant moon with a shriek. Then its large build trembled once.

And like a bag stuffed with sand that was released at once, its form crumbled. While still crumbling, it ran away to underground.

The rasping noise was getting absorbed by the earth.

The vast amount of black was getting swallowed.

Then without taking a long time, the Black Beast vanished from that place.

…After its gigantic body was gone, the remaining scenery could be seen clearly.

Toward the location where the Black Beast was, the ground was greatly demolished in a straight line. The beam which the titan had fired had burnt it.

The tall cliff that existed above the titan and beast lost its contour as if scooped by spoon like ice cream. A part had transformed into a gentle plain.

It was a tremendous power.

That abnormal strength had repelled an abnormal apparition.

It was the very first moment for humanity to succeed in repelling the Black Beast.

No one knew where it had originated from, but the desolated battlefield was engulfed in cheers.

It seemed like the cheers within the wasteland was done to celebrate posterity and the act of god as it went across the deep traces of the attack. The soldiers who shouted their joy were competing to assemble at the disfigured terrain.

It was like they had witnessed the act of god. At any rate, it repelled the Black Beast with a blow. Toward the monster that couldn't be stopped for an instant even if they had concentrated their own energy.

But that wasn't the case for Nine.

"CELICA!!"

Making a sorrowful voice that split her throat, Nine ran at the top of the hill that bad footing.

Nine usually didn't think of them as obstructing, but she had thrown away the high heels and Ten Sages hat somewhere. Getting covered with cloud of dust, she stumbled and came into a stop.

Nirvana was standing there. She was holding Celica on her arms.

Her tawny hair was completely disarrayed. Her head was supported by the chest of the feeble Nirvana while her limbs were stretched out like a puppet that was snapped of its thread and broke its joints.

Even the fingertip that she would took out to immediately meddle in everything, the cheeks that usually dyed in slight pink, the lips that fit her lovely smile. All was so pale it would make anyone shuddered.

Nine's hands tucked in her sister's cheeks. Then as if to support them, she pressed her own forehead to Celica's forehead. The forehead she touched was cold.

"Nine, how's Celica-sa… n…!?"

Trinity who was running late pinned her bursting chest and asked a question while still breathing roughly. Before she finished her question, Jubei who had arrived just before muttered with a sharp voice.

"She's okay, ain't she?"

Nine's shoulders slightly trembled. But there was no tear flowing. When Nine raised her face, she brushed off bits of dirt on Celica's cheeks with her fingers while replying with the kind of voice like she had crushed her emotions.

"She just fainted. It was thanks to Nirvana who was beside her. …But her magic power got sucked out, so she won't wake up for a while."

"The Black Beast's… dead yet?"

"No. It was only running away. It seems the strength of the finishing blow was lacking."

While calmly answering another question from Jubei, Nine untangled Celica's bangs with her fingers.

Hakumen walked with undisturbed pace and stopped at a separated place. His emotionless face stared at Celica and Nirvana.

Valkenhayn, who was among the largest army of the allied countries, joined them with the appearance of wolf that he wouldn't normally expose. Still in that appearance, he bared his fangs and groaned a question.

"Nine. Tell us if you know about it. What on earth was that?"

"…Artificial Causality Weapon."

Nine spoke quietly. After letting go of her hands from Celica who looked more like a doll than Nirvana, she used the hand to tightly grip the chest part of her own clothes.

Looking over Nirvana's shoulder, Nine glared at the location where the titan had appeared. Her pupils were shaking in fury. Directing her burning gaze to the wasteland that was presently empty, Nine squeezed her stomach and continued to speak.

[[Image:BB_PS2_193.jpg|thumb]]

"That was Nox Nyctores… Gigant: Takemikazuchi. …Something I created."

Exactly at that time, he stood alone at a separated location.

The excited crowd were cheering while swarming the scar from the overwhelming destruction that had carved the earth. Looking over from the position where he could see them, his long coat was fluttered by the dry wind. Putting both hands to the pockets, a glint in his eyes was shining dully under the hood he wore low over his eyes.

"Khukuku… Nice, real nice. You're really some extraordinary geniuses…"

He laughed, shaking his thin shoulders.

"Thanks to you, looks like I might get what I want faster than expected… Guess I have to give a gratitude, HYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The joyful voice that didn't reach anyone's voice silently thickened the color of darkness.

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| Back to [[BlazBlue:Phase Shift 2 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
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| Forward to [[BlazBlue:Phase Shift 2 Afterword|Afterword]]
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</noinclude>

BlazBlue:Phase Shift 2 Chapter 4

2017-11-12T23:12:30Z

87.113.194.35: /* Chapter 4: Indigo Heart, the Conception */

==Chapter 4: Indigo Heart, the Conception==

===Part 1===

Where might the proof that one is oneself be?

Where might the significance that one is oneself be?

This is the memory of a man who bears the name ''Hakumen''.

The memory of when he began this new life as himself.

And the memory of when he chose his fate to fight——.

——An old castle nestled in eternal night. The residence of an old vampire who had lived a thousand years.

Jin was there, deep underground.

Although there was nothing but endless night there, the place had a darkened basement in addition. No light was supposed to flow in; only that from the flame inside the lamps which were furnishing the wall. The light from the lamps flickered, warmly shining down on the place eerily.

Between the wavering lights, an old-fashioned wooden door stood still, giving off a dignified air. It looked so heavy as to be immovable with the strength of one man. If he wasn't underground, it would be easy to imagine that a castle's scenery awaited beyond the door. Being indoors, it seemed rather out of place.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Jin looked up at the door.

The last time, he had woke up to the presence of the castle's master, Clavis, before fainting again. Apparently a few days had passed since then. Most of the paralyzing injuries on his body had healed poorly, but it was enough to enable him to sit up on the bed.

Nonetheless, it was impossible to stand on his own. Wearing easily removable sleep-wear, his appearance was unsightly as he was covered in bandages. He was forced to move around in a wheelchair due to his injuries.

Valkenhayn had pushed Jin's wheelchair to this place.

The master of the castle, whom Valkenhayn usually accompanied, Clavis, sat in front of Jin. The old vampire was unable to walk. He moved his own wheelchair with magic.

Standing close to Clavis was Rachel. When the light from the lamps flickered, its color was reflected on the young girl's silhouette. It highlighted her unusual charm.

"All right... We have arrived."

Stopping before the door, Clavis smiled wearily, as if tired from the long journey up to here.

The closed door had been subjected to strict seals.

It had a weathered feel to it, it looked rather like it had been crafted from rock. Clavis held out one wrinkled hand to the surface of the steadfast door.

In response, bluish-white magic circles rose to surface. With a few words, Clavis incited the magic circle to recognize its visitors. After that, a bleak light slowly encircled the hand he held out, to examine it. Before long, it dissolved and vanished.

After a short pause, the door opened by itself without needing to examine anyone else's hands.

"Ugh..."

For a moment, Jin felt a numbness as if a lightning was running across his skin. A side effect of the door's seal.

The locking seal had not been broken, it was unlocked by its key: its master.

Despite that, he still felt unsettled by the residual power of the engraved seal.

''There is something I want to show you.''

Having said that, Clavis led Jin inside.

Jin frowned as he wondered what could possibly need so strict a seal. The discomfort from passing through the door only served to compound that foreboding feeling.

Clavis moved his wheelchair forward with Jin, pushed by Valkenhayn, in tow and Rachel following on foot.

A strange darkness clung to the edges of the door.

In Rachel's tiny hand was held a lamp, similar to those that illuminated the castle. The flickering magical light inside the glass shone with an intensity that did not at all reflect its size as it illuminated the surroundings. Other than the doorframe's eerie shadow, it lit the hallway which stretched far ahead inside.

They slipped into a strange and mysterious space, their surroundings no longer reminiscent of a castle. Other than the path straight ahead, everything was completely drowned in black.

As Clavis advanced, the door behind them closed by itself. As it swung shut, the large door made no sound, as if all noise was being absorbed by the surrounding darkness.

Not just the noise, but the flow of air and time also seemed to stand still.

Clearly, this realm was out of the ordinary.

Clavis proceeded without hesitation, followed by Rachel and Valkenhayn. They must have already known where this place was, its purpose, and what was inside.

Jin felt rather uncomfortable, as the only clueless member here, with no opportunity to ask questions and no ability to halt his own procession down the soundless hall.

"By the way, Sir Jin."

Clavis spoke gently from up ahead.

Glancing back at Jin, the withered face was mellowed by an affection that didn't suit this dark, gloomy place.

"Has your memory recovered at all yet? It seems you have calmed a little."

No sound came from the wheelchair's movement. Despite that, the unheeded voice sounded strange.

Jin took a glance at his soundlessly moving chair before opening his mouth.

"…Your information regarding this world contradicts my memories."

"How so?"

The strained, cracking voice urged him to continue.

"In my memories… the Black Beast was been killed in the distant past. It was a key event in history. The ones who defeated Black Beast were the Six Heroes… As for who they were..."

Jin frowned again. The memories were still murky. He should have known more about them than just that the Six Heroes existed.

But he couldn't remember.

"Is there anything else you can remember?"

Clavis' voice sounded muffled in Jin's ears. The concentration gave him a dull headache, but Jin managed to pick words from his memory, as if tearing fragments of them from cloth.

"…Ragna. My… brother…"

Clavis turned his head slightly, to face Jin.

Jin had dropped his sight while prying through his memories, the small gesture was lost on him.

"And then…"

Inside the hazy memories, there was a face that emerged vividly in Jin's mind. It was awfully nostalgic, and truly warm… but somehow weighed heavy on his heart.

"…Tsubaki."

The moment he spoke the name, an intense headache struck. The pain was like a hot steel had pierced his skull. Jin grimaced, holding back a gasp of pain.

He was struck by a wave of emotions, most of them unpleasant. A mixture of drowning sorrow and burning hatred.

His powerless hands creaked as they formed into tight fists..

Why? How? Rejection, a feeling of helplessness, wrath, fury. Fragments of emotion and unanswerable questions came one by one and burned his brain.

Then, a voice cut straight through his fog of painful memory. A soft and modest voice, it pulled the hot iron from Jin's skull. It suppressed and eliminated the headache that was causing his body to tremble.

"Please, calm down."

Jin raised his eyes. The pain had withdrawn, but a dizziness, born from the headache made his head spin.

Exhausted, Jin sank back into the wheelchair. Clavis squinted as if sympathizing with him.

"More time will be necessary to regain all of your memories. ...It is alright, you certainly will remember. Therefore, you should not tire yourself searching for memories."

Jin rewarded the friendly tone of voice with sharp glare. Sweet words seemed obnoxious to him. Words that somewhat made light of his feelings did not amuse him.

Realizing he had stopped moving, Clavis slowly began to move his wheelchair again.

In the long pathway that was illuminated by the light Rachel held, there were many more seals to take care of. These magic circles weren't on doors, like the first had been, but rather floating in the air, slowing their progress.

While quietly unsealing them one by one, Clavis spoke again.

"I am certain that you came from the future and were washed down the timestream into this age. ...The ''manipulated future''."

"Manipulated future...?"

The feeling of dizziness remained. It wasn't helping Jin to make any sense of this new information.

Clavis' thin shoulders dropped along with a sigh.

"It is an old story. Long before the repeating, barren history of the world... Before the Black Beast materialized. Humanity had come into contact with the Boundary for the first time."

Again, Clavis' hand undid a seal.

Coupled with his narrative tone, it seemed as though the old vampire was unraveling a history which he had been seen with his own eyes.

Proceeding past the now unlocked seal, the group continued moving.

"The world gained a will by the hands of man. In accordance with its will, the world has determined the path on which humanity should tread. There are some disparities, but with the same base state, humanity will repeatedly pursue the same process and be led to the same fate."

"The future... has been determined...?"

"Perhaps it is easier to comprehend when put in that manner."

Gently and slowly, Clavis spoke as if picturing a distant scenery. Although the crimson pair of eyes had deep foresight, they were also brimming with swaying emotions rather than simply being two calm pools of serenity.

"...Let me give you an example, young man. Your coming from some other future, and arriving in our era was also one of the procedure which has been determined by the world."

"Tsk, DON'T MESS WITH ME!!"

Yelling, Jin hit the wheelchair's handrail with his fist.

"To hell with the world's will! Screw determined procedures! Then my brother... Tsubaki... ARE YOU TELLING ME THEY WILL FALL TO ''THAT'' FATE!?"

Filled with vigor, Jin flared at Clavis and tried to push himself out of the chair. But his weak and injured body wouldn't support his weight.

Even so, Jin violently squirmed as if trying to shake off something. Valkenhayn had to pull him back to keep him in his wheelchair.

"Be quiet! Surely you realize that your body is too damaged to move! Be aware of your own situation, kid."

"Ugh..."

The strength left his body and pain and dizziness suddenly came rushing to fill the void its exit had left. He was unable to move again, but Jin's shoulders rose and fell with his ragged breathing. He glared at Clavis.

Paying no mind to Jin's outburst, Clavis' wheelchair continued forward.

Rachel gave Jin a cold stare. In contrast, Clavis' gaze remained warm.

"…It seems you are filled with sorrow."

"I don't know… I can't remember why! But… but…"

Ragna and Tsubaki. A while ago, those names didn't mean anything to him, sunk deep inside the mist of his memory. When his subconscious raised them to the surface for a moment, a whirl of emotions followed.

He couldn't remember even a fragment of the specifics as to what he had gone through with them. Despite that, he felt an awful sorrow, frustration, and agony. His eyes, grown weak and tired, now burned hot with emotion.

Clavis turned to look forward once more; he slowly closed his eyes as if deep in contemplation.

"This world is like a dream seen by god. God has seen the same dream many times over. Its story is a repeating cycle of life and death... The ''dream of fate''."

While listening to Clavis' story, Rachel held the lamp up high. The end of the passage could be seen in the distance; a simple wooden door, surrounded by a magical seal.

"I do not know if you are able to put an end to that dream. Unfortunately, I cannot see through this world's future..."

Clavis' wheelchair drew closer to the door. His bony hand's touch caused the magic circle to fluctuate and ripple. After a few patterns had been drawn on the surface, it gently vanished.

Within the dark room that had muted all sound except voices, the creaking from the wooden door broke the eery silence.

As if stepping aside, the door opened. Another darkness awaited on the other side. But this time, it was quickly revealed that this was a small room.

Valkenhayn wheeled Jin to the entrance of the room.

In the center of the room, something stood alone. Something white. A silhouette.

"What is this...?" Jin inquired, peering at the front of the white frame.

Clavis didn't enter, stopping his wheelchair beside the door. As his red eyes gazed into the room, he sluggishly opened his mouth.

"...It is something humanity attained by chance when they discovered the Boundary in the past. Do you know of the objects named Original Units?"

"Original Unit..."

With a voice that was practically a sigh, Jin murmured.

It was very likely that this wasn't the first time he had spoken those words. He felt a tug at the corner of his memory, but the knowledge slipped from his grasp. He couldn't remember.

"To put it in simple, human terms, perhaps... they are the three gods who created this world."

Even without voicing a reply, Clavis could guess Jin's thoughts by his face. Clavis looked troubled as he continued to speak in a wheeze. Leaning back in his wheelchair, he linked his thin fingers atop his stomach.

"There are three Original Units, the Sankishin. The Master Unit Amaterasu, the Tsukuyomi Unit and this one here is the Susano'o Unit. ...Though, it has nothing inside. It is simply a vessel."

Although he said 'simply', even Jin could easily see that this was far from common sense. Clavis' speech was erratic, and yet his extraordinarily old voice was appropriate; importance and truth could be sensed from it.

Even without a word or presence, the still object was clad in an odd sense of intimidation. It exuded power.

"It has passed through many hands since its discovery. However, I am its owner now. ...Young man. If you believe it to be necessary, then I will hand it over to you."

Even though his gentle voice made it seem like he was telling a fairy-tale, Jin was bewildered. He looked back at the old vampire.

Clavis calmly looked at Jin. As if picking up the thought in Jin's heart; looking at it while carrying affection.

"...Your body is no longer functioning as it should be. If that still does not matter to you, you are welcome to remain in this castle until the day your life meets its end. But if you need legs to stand and an arm to wield a sword... I believe that vessel is appropriate for you."

Jin stared at Clavis again as he spoke. He was looking for the real motive hidden inside that pair of deep crimson eyes. Still, no matter how doubtful he was, there was nothing but honest warmth.

Clavis took a single deep breath. There was a hint in his sigh that he had grown weary.

"...There is still time. Do consider it. You must decide your own future."

"Even if it follows the plot of this god's dream you're talking about...?"

Jin's words held a hint of sarcasm.

Clavis smiled pleasantly. The wrinkles on his face grew deeper.

"What a high spirited young man. However, you are right indeed. You have to choose. No matter how much of it is part of the world's wish, the limit to keep on choosing is none other than your own decision."

While speaking, Clavis moved his wheelchair past Jin and out of the room.

"Well... It seems I have become a little tired. Rachel, is it alright to leave the rest to you?"

"Yes. Please have a good rest, dear Father."

Her eyes, once cold were now bright with faint warmth.

Clavis gave Valkenhayn a look. Understanding what was meant by it, Valkenhayn moved behind Clavis and gently began to push the wheelchair.

Before he left, Clavis stopped his wheelchair for a moment to give Jin a final piece of advice.

"Young man. Please, live true to your own heart."

The old voice held a deep affection.

Clavis looked back at Jin with a worried, strained smile.

"...Once, I said something similar to someone who was very much like you, but... Oh dear, it seems I am not able to remember who the person was. It appears I am being reduced to a part of the repeating dream, too. It has to be my age."

After he spoke, he leaned back into the wheelchair as if sleeping. Valkenhayn walked them both back down the path and out of that place deep underground.

Rachel turned the lamp in her hand toward Jin, while Jin turned his aching body toward The Susano'o Unit.

Rather than worried, the young man's face looked more determined. Rachel interrupted his concentration, her voice chiming out like a ringing bell.

"...By accepting and uniting with the Original Unit, you will cease to be human. There won't be a second chance to return."

"What will I be if it not human?"

Jin whispered like he was asking himself.

Rachel's charming and lovely eyes slowly blinked.

"Who knows. Perhaps you won't become anything. At the very least, you won't be like you are presently."

His current self.

Jin looked at himself, sitting on a wheelchair.

His powerless self. He was no doubt alive, but his body was so impaired that he couldn't do anything by himself. It didn't amount to anything if it couldn't wield a sword to fight.

Where might the proof that one is oneself be?

Where might the significance that one is oneself be?

Jin questioned himself. Those were vague questions, but he arrived at the necessary answer quite easily.

It was natural. It was because Jin already found his resolve long ago.

"I am me. I don't need anything beyond that."

There were only two options.

Live unable to fight, or live to fight.

Only two choices came into his mind.The thought of choosing either of them pierced sharp and deep into his heart like a blade of ice. Cold pain was running through his mind.

[[Image:BB_PS2_137.jpg|thumb]]

The black silhouette he saw inside flames. The Black Beast. Both were something that had to be killed.

The man he called brother. The young girl with the name of a flower. Both were people he had lost repeatedly within the repeating dream.

He must fight.

If the Black Beast was here, then he would follow the wish of his instinct to kill it.

If he wanted to sever the repeating tragedy, then he would follow the protest of his sentimentality to decapitate it.

He could hear a voice from the standing white silhouette.

——''Be the white void. Be the cold steel. Be the just sword. Take blade in hand to reap the sins of this world and cleanse it in the fires of destruction.''

The immovable arm moved. He ended the life of the man named ''Jin'', and chose to tread a new stage.

===Part 2===

Time had passed quickly. Only a four months remained before the black beast would awaken.

A large scale encampment had been set up half a month away from the last day of 2107 AD. They were carrying a plan to ambush the Black Beast as soon as it awoke from its one year sleep.

For that reason, a meeting was being held in the council room in the Mage's Guild of Ishana.

The participants were the warriors who would play a central part in the strategy. Jubei, Valkenhayn, Trinity, Terumi, Hakumen, and Nine.

They were surrounding a floating orb in the center of the room. The orb had unfolded a map which they were staring at with grave looks on their faces.

"As revealed by the previous data, it was certain that the Black Beast made its appearance from the vicinity of Cauldrons. Before that happened, those Cauldron had been discharging intense levels of seithr. In short, there's high possibility that The Black Beast will appear near the Cauldron which is leaking the most seithr."

Nine, acting as the commander, nimbly waved her finger. Then, a great number of tiny lights appeared on the map, functioning as markers.

"We have a specific approximation regarding the location of Cauldrons around the world thanks to Terumi. We've been observing whether there's a change in the influx of seithr from any cauldrons among this data. And here they are."

Several green markers were now glowing red. Their numbers roughly amounted close to twenty.

She had already received and understood the information, but Trinity's face grew dark.

"It's everywhere... We have to start deploying the armies quickly. Besides, even if they arrive before its appearance, I'm not sure if they can make it stay in one place..."

"There's another nature in The Black Beast's appearance. The thing's drawn to life force. It'll sniff out the most abundant and splendid life force and hunt it."

Although he looked unmotivated, Terumi spoke while wiping the map with his hand. Around half of the red markers turned blue. The blue lights were concentrated in Eastern Europe.

"Taking that in mind, the monster will appear from the Cauldrons around here. ...Though, they're not locations that can be easily visited anyway."

Having said that, Terumi chuckled.

Valkenhayn knitted his brows. Jubei shifted his attention as if to calm Valkenhayn. Like usual, Hakumen didn't move nor talk.

Celica was watching the meeting intently, sat on a chair placed alongside the wall of the council room.

She just sat there with nothing to do. Next to her was Nirvana, her long arms dangling.

Celica didn't have any part in the plan. She was here because Nine insisted she not be left alone for even one second.

She wasn't being overprotective. Nine was being cautious in relation to Seven and Eight's proposed plan.

Around a month ago, Nine had left Ishana, but got a report from her confidants that Seven and Eight had taken the opportunity to approach Celica again.

Celica thought they had probably had given up after that occasion, but it seemed Nine was still suspicious of their actions. Nine's excuse was that it would be problematic if they made another pass at Celica in this key stage of planning, so soon before the Beast's awakening.

Although she had Nirvana to protect her, Seven and Eight were Sages. Since she couldn't afford to be negligent, Nine tried to keep Celica with her while she was on the island, one way or another.

Celica felt grateful that her older sister was being protective of her. The feeling alone was very valuable.

But as it was, she had been made to attend this meeting where she was just aimlessly sitting around, unable to do anything. Unnecessary thoughts popped up in her head as a result.

For example, there was an overwhelming difference between her and the six people she shared the room with. She was often seen with them, but she was self-conscious that she wasn't on the same ground as them.

It didn't come out of boredom nor from doing something useless.

But a bit. Just for a bit.

"......"

Celica raised her head, noticing that silence had fallen over the room.

It seemed she had unwarily been leaning on Nirvana's arm. Nirvana, who was standing at her side, looked down at Celica.

"Ah, sorry."

In as quiet a voice as possible so as not to disturb the meeting, Celica apologised to the large doll. Celica straightened her back.

Nirvana's large hand lightly hit her on the head head. The gesture was intended to be more a caress than a scold and it warmed Celica's heart.

(Come to think of it, I used to get this feeling before...)

From that person. From Ragna.

She was surprised to realise that soon it would be one year since their parting. She suddenly realised how much she missed him.

If Ragna were here, she would be able to tell him how she was feeling. And then he would say something. No matter what she told him, he would say 'idiot' and then laugh.

"...It's okay. Thank you, Nirvana."

Both human and doll had a similar personality, both sharing a special kindness. While thinking about it, Celica gripped the hand of her affectionate guardian. The hand was cold. The hand was big. Currently, the hand felt reliable.

After once again explaining that she was fine, Celica turned to the meeting. Straightening herself, she made sure to listen diligently.

It was because her sister and the others were about to begin the discussion of their important fight.

After stealing a quick glance at Celica, Nine once again manipulated the blue markers on the table and changed five of them to white. They were the spot where the location of several cauldrons were comparatively concentrated.

Without hesitation, Trinity relayed detailed information about the spots that had been turned white.

"We could probably get a more definitive specification if the proximities were closer; but considering the required time, we can no longer postpone to notify more countries to deploy their armies. Our discussion this time will be to estimate which is the most likely place where The Black Beast will appear."

"Are ya gonna deploy the armies to all of these points? Even if they all gather at the wrong point, there's a lot of distance between the cauldrons."

Jubei wrinkled his nose.

"I know," nodded Nine.

"That's why as soon as we confir its appearance, we're going to be forced to move a large number of units. It's preferable to teleport each of them, but I can't use teleportation magic strong enough to transport troops. Therefore... can I ask that of you, Valkenhayn?"

With a sigh, Nine folded her arms below her chest and shifted her focus to the grimacing wolf-man.

Valkenhayn frowned deeply.

"Are you requesting Rachel-sama's assistance?"

"Her teleportation is able to transfer whole squads of personnel. If the scattered parties can be teleported to the place where The Black Beast appears..."

"I refuse."

Interrupting Nine's words, a clear, bell-like voice shook the room. At the same time, a faint scent of rose bloomed and a small figure appeared near Celica.

It was so sudden that Celica jumped out of her chair and grabbed Nirvana's arms. Nirvana quickly put herself on guard.

Her black dress was decorated with frills. Her beautiful golden hair was tied into two long tails by big ribbons. Her eyes were a deep crimson colour and her skin was pale as snow. The vampire who lived in a castle surrounded by an endless night, Rachel Alucard.

From the start, her appearance here made Celica's eyes open wide. Rachel had just displayed the teleportation magic that was presently being discussed.

But Ishana was concealed in a secure barrier. Furthermore, the Mage's Guild's council room had a further protective barrier applied. It shouldn't have been possible to directly teleport into this place.

"A-Amazing..." Celica couldn't help but let slip her respect at seeing the Mage Guild's strongest enchantments bested.

It was as one would expect of teleportation magic capable of moving an army as Nine had asserted.

Rachel turned to look at Celica and pointedly looked down her nose at her, as if in contempt.

"Good day. You're very skilled, managing to sit in a chair like that, without dislocating your back."

"Ahaha... You surprised me! Hello, Rachel-san."

Celica replied with a wry smile. Rachel snorted as if in discontent.

"Rachel-sama! Why are you here...!?"

Breaking the circle, Valkenhayn came over in a panic.

Raising her eyes to look first at her butler, Rachel then shifted her gaze to looked towards Nine.

"Why, to give advice, since all of you were so serious about that amusing joke of borrowing my power at the start of humanity's upcoming battle. Discard the absurd idea of involving me, Nine of the Ten Sages."

Rachel spoke in a tone of mockery mixed with the kind of astonishment one would display at a child's imprudence.

Trying not to lose her composure at Rachel's haughty tone but still clearly wanting to say something, Nine scowled. Turning to face the child-like vampire, Nine stood over the girl and looked down at her.

"The year is almost up and the Black Beast will come alive ashortly. You must be aware of this, Rachel Alucard. If the damage from that monster spreads any further, humanity will likely lose their will to fight. At the very least, this strategy will give us the strength to fight. Considering this, our first battle has to bear fruits."

"That's why you're asking for my help? And where are your manners? I'd prefer if you made your request while rubbing your head on the ground."

"Hey... I told you to try to understand the situation, didn't I? Or are you telling me that humanity's life and death are just some game for the daughter of the Alucard Family? You have a lot of screws loose."

If those blood red eyes were sneering and looking down on her, then she in turn would rain down contempt from the shade of her purple hat. Their mutual incompatibility formed an intertwining force of opposition.

But Rachel, who was raising her eyes to look at Nine, chose to drop her gaze without any further resistance.

Celica noticed something when looking at Rachel's face from the side. Rachel usually put on a cold look. But for moment, she saw a glimpse of sorrow.

"...Even if you were to ask while standing on your hands, I will not lend my hand in this battle. No, perhaps you won't understand unless I tell you directly that I cannot help."

"Rachel-sama..."

Other than Valkenhayn, perhaps no one in this place could guess the reason why Rachel wore such a cloudy expression.

Celica couldn't understand the meaning behind that look. Bewildered, she could only blink.

To press her further, Nine instantly frowned hard. When she did that, Rachel continued in scornful voice.

"I am not able to intervene in humanity's decisions. So please, win this fight all by yourselves."

Her manner of speaking made it sound as though Rachel had been continuously watching over hundreds of years of history... Yes, it was like the other vampire who lived no less than a thousand years, Clavis Alucard, was talking to them with his transcendental presence.

In addition to that, Celica had briefly seen sorrow and gloom on her face.

A heavy footstep echoed through the chamber, everybody turned toward the noise.

Hakumen, who until now had been silent, displaying no concern with the meeting, turned toward Rachel.

"...I did not expect any assistance from the likes of you, even before you showed your face."

"Sir Hakumen. I will not forgive any mockery toward Rachel-sama. Even if it comes from you."

Nine's previous words had already made Valkenhayn's face turn grim. It was now smoldering with the flames of resentment.

Jubei stepped in front of him, trying to keep the quarrel from developing further.

Rachel wearily took a breath. Then with a manner of walking that resembled a waltz, she turned to Celica.

"I cannot give my support. However, I can give you advice. The Black Beast will certainly appear before her. Perhaps it is not advice... but a prediction."

Her red eyes locked onto Celica as they blinked frantically.

Nine snapped and looked at Celica.

Trinity, Jubei, and Valkenhayn turned to look at her as well. Terumi and Hakumen were the only exceptions.

While blankly looking back at the staring, deep crimson eyes, Celica pointed at herself, unable to comprehend why.

"W-Why me?"

Again, a sad look passed over in Rachel's red eyes. Her tiny lips gently whispered but those words blew through Celica's chest with the force of sudden gust.

"...''His'' soul is sleeping within the Black Beast."

Who did she mean by 'his'?

Celica was reminded of someone's face in that moment.

Despite their differing agendas, everyone understood who he was.

===Part 3===

That night.

Celica took a shower after finishing dinner with her sister at home. Beginning her night-time routine, Celica went upstairs to her room and changed into her pajamas.

She was sitting on top of her bed, which was positioned beside the window. She squeezed a pillow between her legs and let down her hair.

Nirvana was sitting on top of a sofa beside the bed. The sofa was something Celica had prepared to become Nirvana's default position when she was in the room. Nowadays, she was completely attached to it.

She had already switched off the lights, however, she didn't feel like sleeping at all.

She knew well the reason. It hadn't left her mind. The words she heard today in the council room of the Mage's Guild.

——''His soul is sleeping within the Black Beast.''

Rachel was the head of the Alucard Family who had been watching over all of history. Celica knew that her words must hold some truth. When she had the chance to meet the previous observer, Clavis Alucard, she could see a faint sadness in his eyes and hear it as he spoke in his gentle tones. She thought that Rachel had looked similar back at the meeting.

If she dared to believe it was true...

Rachel's words gradually rekindled the ashes of a fire within Celica. Stoked by thoughts provoked by the day's meeting, that fire immediately flickered bright red, releasing heat, and burned within her chest.

As if she couldn't bear the growing heat, Celica tossed aside the pillow and got off the bed.

She ran up to the closet which stood in one corner of the room.

She opened it to reveal the outer coat and dress of the academy's uniform, as well as several sets of casual clothes, hanging neatly from its railing.

Right at the back of the closet, there was an outfit which clearly did not belong.
A long, bright red coat.

The coat was too long for Celica to wear. It was apparent from the design and shoulder width that this coat was tailored for a man.

Hidden even deeper in the closet, there was a single sword with a thick and bulky blade. It was leaning against the closet's back wall.

When Celica reached in and dragged out the sword from the closet, she fell onto her bottom. The sword was heavy.

Unable to wield it at all, Celica raised her knees to hold it up in her arms and placed the broad body of the sword on her palms.

The sword was cleanly polished without any stain on it. The same was true of the red coat. At first, it had been dirty and torn in some places. Every day, she had mended it little by little until it was completely restored.

The sword and coat had been left in Celica's possession by her important friend.

"Ragna..."

Unconsciously, her lips moved and uttered ''his'' name.

If Rachel was telling the truth. If ''his'' soul was indeed sleeping within the Black Beast.

She might be able to meet him again.

She could meet him again, and then... have a conversation if possible.

She couldn't stop once she thought about it. Celica had that nature since she was little. The recklessness had often made her do things without thinking of the consequences. It must have given her sister Nine trouble.

She surely would give her more problems this time as well.

She knew. In truth, she didn't want to give Nine any more trouble nor worry. However.

"Ragna."

Calling the name out loud again made her chest even warmer and furthered her expectations.

Embracing the bulky sword, Celica's soft lips began to open. She might be able to meet him. Just thinking about it gave her a feeling like she could do anything.

If the owner of the sword could see what Celica was thinking right now, he would be frowning. He would definitely have scolded her and told not to do anything dangerous.

Nine would say the same. Putting Celica's safety first, she had even created Nirvana for her.

But it was no good. Her chest was throbbing. She could only feel a wild and impulsive happiness.

Because none of the options that were born from the possibility Rachel had hinted at would inconvenience Celica, she suddenly felt like she could do anything.

"...I've decided."

Celica looked over to the sofa while still hugging the sword.

Nirvana was sitting bolt upright on the sofa. Her unblinking eyes were staring at Celica.

Celica faced Nirvana and spoke. And as she spoke, the determination within her took a shape.

"Tomorrow, I'll speak to my sister. When the Black Beast revives, I might be able to lure it towards me."

She might get angry. At worst, she might cry. But Celica didn't think she should give up.

"If I can lure the Black Beast, I think my sister's strategy will go a lot smoother. If there's any possibility that I can do something to save somebody, then I would do anything. I'll give it my all."

She wanted to be her sister's, everyone's strength.

Above all, she hoped she would be able to see Ragna.

As her chest gently throbbed, Celica hugged Ragna's sword tightly once again.

She remembered the last time she had this kind of feeling. The warmth from his kindness.

——That night, Celica had a dream. She was standing alone in a white room. There was nothing when she looked around. Not even her own shadow.

Where might this place be?

She was thinking aloud, but even her breath was inaudible, as if the white void was absorbing all sound.

She took a step forward.

The room was so white she couldn't even tell if she was walking on solid ground. However, her feet unexpectedly found solid purchase as she moved forwards.

Then, a mirror, previously unnoticed, appeared before her unnoticed.

It was large enough to reflect Celica's entire person. Furthermore, it was not reflecting anything else around. It was as if the rectangular, full-length mirror had been prepared exclusively for her.

How could there be a mirror here? It was oddly suspicious.

She felt a vague sense of déjà vu, as though she had been in this dream before.

She wondered if the mirror really existed here.

Wanting to touch it, Celica reached out towards it.

In the other side of the rectangular mirror, Celica's reflection also stretched out her hand.

When the fingers of the real and false image were about to touch, Celica was driven out of the bright white room like a fish thrown back into the sea.

The dream ended there.

When she awoke, Celica couldn't even remember a fragment of the dream.

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