NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Nanook, this is the war!
The first boss of the game, the Doomsday Beast, had made its presence known.
From afar, hidden in the darkness, I watched the Astral Express group face the Doomsday Beast.
The reason I have not yet intervened is because of Stelle, I need her to show her true potential and be seen by Nanook. The experience of "watching" and "being watched" by an Aeon is an indispensable experience for any Aeon. This is not just for the sake of plot, this event is absolutely necessary for Stelle's proper growth; I cannot steal such an important experience from the protagonist.
If the unforeseen happens, in the worst case scenario, I will step in and annihilate the Doomsday Beast with all my might.
-Fuck, I feel like a father looking after his daughter from the shadows....
The synergy shown by the Astral Express group fighting as a team is impressive, as expected from the Anonymous.
The Ice of Six Phases of March's ability is very versatile, serving to both attack, defend and restrain the enemy.
Dan Heng's spear skills come from the Nimbokknight's Spear style, a fighting style specialized in speed and precision.
Himeko then... her suitcase has a monomolecular saw and she appropriates a satellite capable of firing laser beams. What else can I say?
Finally Stelle, brute force, end.
The Doomsday Beast, the planet destroyer of the Legion, is a creature created from the remains of the Leviathan of Doom, the same species Oroboros belonged to before ascending as Aeon. His main weapons are the Antimatter Engine in his chest, the Right Hand of Cataclysm and the Left Hand of Aurora.
Thanks to Dan Heng's vast knowledge, revealing that those same main weapons are also the weaknesses of the Doomsday Beast helped greatly in restricting the enemy's movements.
-Well, it's only a matter of time before he loses.
None disappointed, the teamwork of the four successfully neutralized the Doomsday Beast.
When everything seemed to be over, in a last attempt at a suicide attack, the Doomsday Beast charged up its Antimatter Engine and fired a beam from its head at a random target.
-March!
For an instant, I involuntarily contracted the fingers of my hand, ready to act at any moment.
But, as in the plot of the game, in a desperate move, Stelle jumps in front of March with the intention of protecting her.
Suddenly, our vision was cut off...
Falling into the flow of a golden river under the impending dark space, Stelle found herself under Nanook's gaze. Opening her eyes allowed the girl to behold the sight that millions of Andavians long for.
-What's the matter...
Strange voices echo in her head.
-Who...?
Fate, the future, everything flashed like a flash of light through Stelle's mind. Her head ached and her brain throbbed.
The gaze of an Aeon upon the mortal "chosen one" marked her destiny towards greatness.
However, in addition to the girl containing a Stellaron within her body, here also was the 5 Path Emanator.
-Put your hand down, Nanook. Who do you think you're trying to touch?
(...)
Luckily, he stopped.
Arrogantly, I stood in front of Stelle like an impenetrable wall.
-N-Nadie....
-It's going to be okay, try to take a deep breath and calm down.
I stroked Stelle's forehead as I comforted her.
Following my advice, Stelle's headache eases a bit. Seeing that she was better, I returned my gaze back to Nanook.
This guy... he was about to do something he never did in the game.
(Simple mortal who managed to brush against the power of the gods, what's your name?)
-What a long title but that's okay, I'll play along. I am Nadie.
(Nadie, step aside. That THING over there belongs to me. You are of no interest to me).
-How rude, calling a woman a "THING".
(All Estelaron are my possession. Therefore, that THING also belongs to me. Whether to keep it, abandon it, or destroy it, that decision belongs to me alone).
He wants to kill Stelle...?
-I'm sorry but I'll have to refuse, I can't allow an Aeon as dangerous as you to get his hands on my friend. Besides, let me make something clear Nanook, she doesn't belong to you.... Stelle belongs to me.
-!!!
(...)
My brazen statement left Stelle's mind in shock, causing her to completely forget about the pain. Nanook, he...
(I see, an insignificant being like you dares to challenge me).
I could feel a dangerous aura come off Nanook's image. I know that's not the real one, just a projection of his mental plane, that's why I dare to challenge him.
(Okay, now you've got my attention. Normally, this kind of insolence would sentence you to immediate death but...)
Extending a hand, one of Aha's masks materializes on my palm.
(You Nadie, I will personally make sure to destroy you.)
-Come, if you dare.
At that very moment, the space behind me cracked and a dangerous smile spread across my face.
Stelle's eyes widened in astonishment, Nanook kept silent.
From that crack: Yaoshi, Lan, Aha, Oroboros and Nous made their presence.
(HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA~! Cat got your tongue Nanook~?! Your reaction is PATHETIC, Aha loves it~!)
(...)
The rest didn't say anything, they just glared at Nanook with their glares.
(Your feat has exceeded my expectations. Fine, I'll accept your declaration of war, Nadie).
In the face of this kind of enemy, behavior doesn't matter; arrogant, timid or respectful, the other won't care about anything, he will only seek to destroy you. If defending someone will bring the same result, then I prefer to spit in his face and humiliate him in the most gruesome way possible.
(In the presence of other Aeons, I will make the rules clear to balance the forces of this war).
I understand. In other words, you dare not attack me head-on after knowing that I am being favored by 5 Aeons.
-As you wish.
(The rules are simple. Whenever I want, I will make my move to destroy the THING, and you will protect it. If you lose, you and everything you love I will destroy it).
-And if I win?
(Prepare yourself for the next move.)
As expected from the Aeon of Destruction, a total nutcase.
-Of course, I don't see a problem. Since, ironically, the destiny of the "THING" is to destroy Destruction.
At this point, the smile on my face lacked any form of respect and only showed mockery of the opponent.
(I admit, you turn out to be much more interesting than I anticipated. I like you. It's been millennia since I've been this excited, you can have this as a gift. I'll let you taste what Destruction is.)
Then, a new energy was integrated into my body.
(You'd better entertain me Nadie, otherwise I will personally take it upon myself to destroy you).
Those words said, the landscape in front of my eyes returned to normal. All in all, out of the mental plane only 1 second passed.
-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Stelle's Estelaron was getting out of control. I didn't wait for Welt's arrival, I went to neutralize it myself.
A dark greenish aura began to emanate from my body, my eyes gave off a murky glow and danger; the Path of Voracity was emerging from my body.
In an instant, I appeared in front of Stelle and in one smooth motion tapped her forehead with the touch of my finger.
Stelle instantly stabilized.
Before Stelle's body fell to the ground, I caught her with an arm around her waist.
-Nadie...?
My sudden intrusion surprised everyone. In the distance, Welt's arrival could also be seen.
Slowly, Stelle could be seen losing consciousness.
-Now it's all right. Let's talk somewhere else.
After leaving those words, I carried the unconscious Stelle like a princess and silently took her with me.
...
..
.
Sitting in a corner nook in the Main Command Area, I gently laid Stelle down on the floor and let her head rest on my lap.
-*Sigh*.
I must admit, that terrified me. But, compared to Oroboros, Nanook is still tolerable.
The war against Nanook is immutable, all I did was advance the inevitable from a more personal realm. The trip with the Astral Express will no longer be as easy as I had planned.
-Okay, let's calm down.
I'm just nervous because I'm feeling a bit exhausted.
The appearance of the Aeons when they silenced Nanook, it's all fake, an illusion created by me with Aha's help. The mask I had on hand at the time belongs to me, but its original owner is Aha; having it allows me to create illusions with the assistance of Aha himself, that was the only reason why Nanook was fooled. However, having Aha's assistance doesn't involve splitting the burden, that's why I'm so tired.
Using the aura of the 5 Paths at the same time and to such a magnitude stressed my body too much, I never did this kind of madness in the past and it was a risky gamble. My result: I managed to completely fool Nanook.
For now, the first thing will be to explain my situation to all the Aeons I am connected with and ask their positions about this war.
For starters, of course it will be Aha, the only one who is aware of all this.
I closed my eyes and...
(Yuhoo~ Aha was waiting for you Nadie~)
-That will simplify things. Aha, I want you to answer truthfully, will you fight by my side?
(Of course, brother~ Aha will gladly help you~)
That was unexpected...
(But it will be under only one condition~)
As I expected.
(Aha will provide you with his help as long as Nadie fights this war on his own).
-What do you mean?
(Nadie is free to borrow power from whomever he wants, you can also seek as many allies as you want~ But no Aeon should fight Nanook in your place. If Nadie dares to ask another Aeon to fight in his place, Aha will personally ally himself with Nanook and become your enemy~!)
-Unfortunate.
(AhaHAAhAHahaAhAHaHAhAaHAhAHa!!! How fanny! HOW FUNNY! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME AHA HAD SO MUCH FUN?! AHA is happy! AHA IS VERY HAPPY! THIS IS DEFINITELY THE EXULTATION! THAT'S WHY NADIE, DON'T YOU DARE STEAL AHA'S EXULTATION! OTHERWISE AHA WILL PERSONALLY BECOME YOUR ENEMY! AhahAHAhaHahAHAAhahaA!!!)
I cut the connection with Aha, this guy was crazy to the core. Just thinking about him gives me a headache.
That degenerate is not looking to help me solve my problems, Aha wants to drag out the war between me and Nanook for his own amusement.
-I'll have to seek the opinion of others.....
Yaoshi.
(Count me in honey, call me anytime and I'll be there for you).
-Thanks Yaoshi, you're as reliable as ever.
(No problem. In return, I just want you to never again be reluctant to try the new garments I knit).
-Okay... wait, did you knit all those clothes?
Lan.
(If you need my help, I will fight by your side. However, I refuse to fight alongside Abundance. Just keep that in mind.)
-I understand, thank you Lan.
Nous.
(I'm willing to lend you a hand, but I can't make presence. The most I can do is lend you more of my power. I have many more important things to do besides worrying about your war with Nanook.)
-Thanks Nous, that's more than enough.
Oroboros.
(...)
-...
She left after smiling strangely....
In conclusion, I am at a terrible disadvantage.
The only ones who are willing to fight head to head on my side against Nanook are Yaoshi and Lan. Yaoshi is willing to help me unconditionally but Lan refuses to team up with Yaoshi. It means I will have to choose one or the other. But, if I do that, Aha will join Nanook and that would turn 2 Aeons against me.
The help Aha is willing to give me is the same kind of assistance that Nous will give me, an increase in power over the Way they dominate. At best, I will become several times stronger than an Emanator temporarily; but what good is that against an Aeon?
The last one left is Oroboros, she didn't say anything so I don't want to assume anything. If I happen to misinterpret her intentions, I'll be screwed.
Simply put, I have no choice but to fight on Nanook's terms.
From now on, whatever happens to the original plot, I lost the opportunity to meddle freely. I will have to manage my stamina to the smallest detail because I never know when Nanook will attack.
-*Sigh*. This just got interesting.
Shaking? Of course I am, I'm shaking with excitement!
It's too late to back out now, even if a part of me is scared, none of it matters anymore!
Hell Silvie, because of you or rather thanks to you, the Punklorde Mentality is affecting me back.
From now on, this variable is totally up to me.
The future I know is limited up to version 2.5 of the game; it means that, beyond that, nothing is certain. In order for Stelle to guide the Astral Express to the happy ending of this story, I will have to protect her at the cost of my own life.
-Nanook, this is the war!
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Author's note:
Let me cook!
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