Chapter Text
The Gods and Humans came back into the Viewing room after taking a Break and stretching their legs. Many went back to their seats to wait for G4R to show up, but both Hermes and Brunhilde stopped to look at the shelf that contained the Different worlds.
“To think all of this are other worlds like our own” Brunhilde said to herself.
“It is indeed a wondrous sight,” Hermes replied.
They both sat down in their own seats, five minutes pass and instead of G4R arriving it’s A.R.E.S in his place. He walks over to the shelf to grab a world to view. They were all confused since they thought G4R would be the one to show up.
“A.R.E.S, where is G4R?” Asked Goll.
“He is Recovering from sticking his hands into an outlet” He Replied.
“What, why would he do that?” Asked Reginleif confused.
A.R.E.S shrugged and turned to the center and snapped his fingers and there was a flash of light. A group of individuals showed up, Among them were two notable figures Heracles and Hlokk. The last two individuals that were part of the group were both an english man dressed in red and a english woman in common clothes.
“Heracles!!” Both Ares and Goll shouted.
“Huh, Goll, Ares, Father, and Mother” He said, looking at them.
He then Noticed A.R.E.S over by the shelf and readied his mace to attack the dangerous looking figure. But was stopped by Ares as he shook his head no, The other valkyries welcomed their sister Hlokk. But Brunhilde froze when she saw the English man.
“Jack! What is he doing here?” She asked. Turned to look at A.R.E.S.
“He is here to also join the viewing” He told her.
“Why is supposed to be in Hel?” She said,
“You chose him to fight Heracles in Ragnarok” A.R.E.S replied.
They all looked to him then to Brunhilde, most were confused as to why she was making a big deal about the man. The man in question just stood there with a plain look on his face.
“Wait, you said Ragnarok but Humanity died does that mean we lost?” Asked Hrist.
“No, But I can only tell you up to round 9” He said.
“Ragnarok?, I’m sorry but I just got here” The English Woman asked, confused.
A.R.E.S explained to the newcomers everything they have missed and told everyone what happened in Ragnarok. Most were upset about what had happened but a few had different reactions.
“Heracles, Poseidon, and Hades die in Ragnarok” Said Zeus in a defeated state.
“I accept my death if Humanity is fine in the end” Heracles said in acceptance.
“They aren’t fine in the end, the gods couldn’t accept they were defeated so they waged w-war” A.R.E.S said the last part quietly putting a hand to his face.
Many didn’t like this, especially the valkyries who looked towards Zeus in anger but saw him in a defeated state at the loss of his family.
“Interesting that I get to fight the god of justice” Jack smiled to himself
“Jack, please don’t act this way” Anne pleaded with the man. But he was stopped when Heracles patted his back causing the man to cough.
“You defeating me must have shown how skilled you truly are” He smiled in turn. Jack just looked at the God and just laughed.
“Alright so when are we going to watch something” Hlokk asked A.R.E.S
He in turn just turned to her and looked at her, giving everyone a good look at the red skull that was his face plate. This caused her to let out a squeak of fear now seeing his face. A.R.E.S walked over to the pylon and put the orb in and disappeared.
“What is up with him?” asked Heracles.
“He is me and was brutally ripped apart for our pride” Ares replied.
Heracles and Hlokk just turned to him and gave him looks of horror disbelief. But as they were going to ask what he meant and what happened the screen turned on starting the next viewing, they all looked at it in interest to see a new world.
They saw a rough looking man, that wasn’t bad on the eyes, at least some of the older women in the room. He was looking at drawings on the wall when he clenched his head in pain before everything turned gray. He turned to his companions who were a lady with gray hair and a big wolf.
“I wonder who that is,” asked Anne with an interested face. She wasn’t the only one since he caught the attention of Hera, Sif, and Randgriz.
“That is a big Wolf, I want one,” Hrist said.
“That is a nice looking sword,” Kojiro said. His friend also nodded his head looking at the weapon.
“He is just a mere mortal, nothing special” Zeus said, not happy with his wife.
“You better hope so or he might replace you” Hera said slyly.
“He doesn’t look well, I wonder if he is ok” Eve asked worriedly.
“If he is in danger, he has help” Adam calmed her.
He turned and saw a hooded figure which made his head hurt in pain again at seeing him. “You're the second dominant of fire!” He said clenching his head.
“Second what of what” Ampdritie said.
“What does that mean?” Aphrodite said interested as well.
“ You” was what the hooded figure said with a deep echoing voice. The man looked up at the hooded figure who dropped his hood to reveal that they both were the same person.
“That is very unsettlingly” Hermes said not liking the situation
Both Thor and Lu Bu were trying to understand why there were two of them.
“Twins/Twins'' Sif and La Shang said in unison of each other which caused both of them to give each other smiles of pity as both Thor and Lu Bu nodded.
“ We are you ” The Figure said without speaking. Before the screen went dark.
“Nope” was all Cain said. Abel just gripped his seat tighter.
The screen comes back on showing the man on the ground waking with the sound of fire around him. He gets up wondering where he is before comes in front of a burning keep with fire all around.
“That does not look good at all and what caused that fire,” Chen Gong said.
“Don’t know and I think we're about to find out,” Reginleif said.
“I… I’m back," the man said. The man looked up at the sound of screeching as something big slammed next to him. The man jumped back and looked up to see a black demonic figure about the size of a building punching a bird made of fire.
“I.. is that a Phoenix” Hrist said in horror at it being killed.
“Yes, that is indeed a Phoenix,” Hera said in shock.
“But why is it attacking it” Goll asked.
As the demon was attacking the Phoenix the man yelled out “Joshua!” in concern and dread. The demon began ripping the bird apart causing blood to drop everywhere as the man said “Stop it” in dread.
“Please, stop…” The man said in sadness as the Phoenix was being brutally murdered.
“Does he know the Phoenix?” Asked Anne in uneasiness.
“I don’t know but he clearly is deeply worried about it,” Amphdrite said.
The Demon punched it again before grabbing by the neck, the Phoenix tried to attack with a blast of fire but missed and the demon bit down hard on its beak. It slowly lifted it up before trying to stab it through the heart with its claws.
“STOOOP!” The Man yelled out which seemed to cause everything to go still. He was gasping for air while reaching out with a shaking hand.
“I… I did this. I killed him” he said to himself in a shaking voice. The man collapsed to his knees crying.
“But how could he have killed him?” Hlokk said, sad looking at the broken man.
“It’s not uncommon for men to blame themselves for failing to help or protect people,” Kojiro said, knowing the man’s pain.
“Joshua chose me to be his shield” A younger man came walking up to the man’s side. “He gave me his blessing, and asked me to keep him safe”
“But why would a phoenix need protection from a mortal man?” Aphrodite said in wonder.
“I should have protected him that day. It was my duty," the boy said.
“So you were right he blames himself for failing an impossible task” Hrist said in knowing the truth.
“Clive…” they heard a child-like voice callout as the man looked up. A young boy around eight appeared in a burst of flames.
“No…” Sif said, looking in dread and horror.
“The Phoenix was still a child,” Brunhilde said with her hand on her face.
“He couldn’t accept he let a child die and now it haunts him” Heracles said.
“Joshua?” the man said in disbelief. He got up and ran to the boy to embrace him. He started to cry holding the boy, he was holding him tight. “I’m sorry. I failed you” he said to Joshua. The boy started to turn into fire before the fire started to go into the Phoenix.
“I don’t like what is going to happen,” Abel said to his family.
“Me either son” Adam said holding Eve who was crying.
“Joshua died… I killed Him…” Said the Younger Clive.
“It isn’t his fault, there is no way he could have fought that thing” Said Goll who was crying.
“It’s not easy for men to accept they couldn’t perform their duty” Chen Gong.
“Doesn’t mean he has to blame himself,” Said La Shang.
“He watched the child he was supposed to protect be murdered” Anne said looking on with an emotionless stare.
“And I blamed another for what I did…to spare myself the guilt.” Clive told himself.
“...Don’t tell me…” Brunhilde said with a look of disbelief. While everyone looked at her with confusion.
“I feared that by accepting it, I would lose what little was left of me,” Clive said.
“Sister, do you know something?” Randgriz asked her.
“Let's hope I'm wrong,” She replied.
“So I ran. From everything” He told himself.
“And now? Are you ready to accept the truth?” Younger Clive asked.
“I am. I know it won’t be easy, but it’s what I must do” Clive replied. “So that Joshua’s soul can finally rest in peace.” Clive hung his head, as his younger self grabbed his shoulder. Before he turned and held out his hand which caught fire as the same flames that were on the demon. Clive stood up and accepted the flames and absorbed them which caused the demon to move again.
“So that is what you mean brunhilde” Heracles said to her knowing what was truly going on.
“Yes, I realized that if the boy turned into the Phoenix what was stopping him from turning into that demon” She said in sadness.
“What?!” Goll looked at her and Heracles before turning back to the screen with the others.
The demon slowly turned and looked down at clive. “No matter how bitter the truth awaits me, I will press on,” Clive said to himself.
“Come, Ifrit! Show me who you truly are” Clive said drawing his sword to the demon now named Ifrit. Ifrit in turn roared, and prepared to fight.
“So he is the demon, that doesn’t make sense” Said Randgriz.
“This world might have something that causes it” Hrist told her.
“He ran from himself for so long, and now he must face himself,” Poseidon said.
“Yea, and now we get to some fighting” Thor grinned madly.
“I have a feeling this demon isn’t a pushover,” Sif said.
Ifrit charged at Clive in a fiery blitz, Clive in turn dodged out of the way. It slammed its tail in a swiping arc to try and hit him but he jumped to avoid it. It spun around to try and hit him with its claws leaving fire in its wake. Clive jumped up delivering a strong slash towards its chest leaving a big gash that was healing fast. It slammed its arms down causing a blast of inferno to come out of it pushing Clive back.
“How is he supposed to defeat it” Anne said in disbelief.
“It won’t be easy, he doesn’t have a Volund or a holy weapon but I think it's possible if he gives his all” said Reginleif.
“This demon is not normal even by the ones we have seen” Zeus said wondering what it truly was.
Clive dashed in a burst of flames to its head, getting in strong attacks on its head before it stood back up. It slammed its foot down forcing Clive to dodge it or get hit. It went for another sweeping attack but Clive moved between its legs landing slashes on its legs. It jumped back and raised its fist which became empowered by its flames before slamming it down, causing Clive to be hit by a wave of fire. It threw out balls of fire in an attempt to try and slow him but Clive dodged them. It went for another charge but Clive was already out of the way.
“Zeus, The name Ifrit where have we heard it before” Hera asked him, which caused him to ponder about it.
Heimdall was sitting quietly holding his horn, sad that his dream of hosting Ragnarok isn’t going to go over well. Thor looked over at him and gave him a pat on the back, which surprised him but he thanked Thor.
Ifrit threw out more fireballs but Clive was moving faster than them. Ifrit tried to get Clive again with the burst of fire from it but Clive was ready and got out of the area. Clive landed some more hits on its head. It slammed its foot down but missed which gave Clive more time to attack.
“He is learning, and he is surprisingly fire resistant,” said Hrist.
“Sis, he is the demon of fire” Hlokk said facepalming causing her sister to blush in embarrassment.
“He is letting all the pain and hate he formed over the years fuel him to fight,” Kojiro said, understanding why Clive is fighting so hard.
It slammed its fist down but Clive jumped over it dodging it. It went for another claw attack which pushed Clive back. Clive dashed forward and jumped up to hit in the face hard causing it to reel in pain. Clive slammed down hard on its head forcing it back. It began to glow and blue lights surrounded it. It began to disappear in front of him.
“Is that it, did he do it?” asked aphrodite.
“No, it ended too early. Something tells me it is just beginning” Ares told her.
“Your right brother I fear the show is about to begin.” Hermes said.
Clive stood up and turned around to walk away, but was stopped by a Booming explosion of fire behind him. Clive blocked his face from the heat and saw the fire faded and saw himself where it was. But his eyes were that of Ifrit’s.
“No,” Clive said to himself, gripping his sword tightly. “Still you deny it, even when the truth’s staring right at you” He told himself. “Come on, Clive” “Face your fears”
“I don’t understand, how is he the demon and why did it turn into him” Goll said scratching her head.
“I don’t know, maybe we can ask A.R.E.S after” Said Brunhilde.
“What do you mean we?” asked Reginleif.
Clive prepares himself to do battle with his clone, The clone rushes forward going for a horizontal slash at him. Clive dodges out of the way of it and counters with a stronger swipe at the clone. It hits the clone hard he follows up with a burst of fire hitting the clone with it. The clone teleports away and throws a fireball at him but he does it again. The clone teleports away again and summons more fire to throw at him but Clive avoids them running at the clone.
“It seems the clone doesn’t want to get inclose to him,” Said Kojiro with a hand on his chin.
“He is a better swordsman than him so it makes sense” Musashi replied to the man.
The Clone and Clive start to swing their swords at each other getting good hits on each other. The Clone dashes forward trying to hit Clive but misses while Clive tries to hit it as it passes by but misses as well. Clive rushes forward and starts to attack it relentlessly. The clone teleports away for the third time and appears above him and slams his sword down but Clive blocks with his sword. Clive manages to push the attack away, slashes the clone hard, pushing it back. The clone looks back at him before being surrounded by fire and his hair starts to turn white and gains features from the Demon, Ifrit which said parts are covered in a bright red fire.
“What in the hell?!” Anne says, looking at the clone.
“He has an interesting color surrounding him” Jack speaks up with a curious smile which Brunhilde doesn’t like.
“So he can give himself a boost to help him fight,” Heracles said, wondering about the power on display.
The Clone rushes at Clive leaving a trail of fire which has been powered up due to the boost. Clive is doing his best to dodge and attack back, the Clone teleports away and throws a big number of fireballs at him forcing him to dodge more. The Clone teleports in front of him and attacks him with an empowered slash which causes the ground to explore where it hit but Clive dodged in time.
“Now he seems to be able to keep up with him now,” Ares said.
“Yes but how long can it last?” Zeus replied.
“He doesn’t have a choice but to keep fighting,” Hera said.
Clive countered with a flurry of attacks, the Clone turned and dashed in a burst of flames to try and catch him but missed. Clive rushed to it and gave it everything he had. The Clone let out a blast of fire causing Clive to dodge back but the Clone teleported behind him. They clashed with their swords but the Clone kicked Clive in the gut causing him to be thrown back.
“He is losing steam, he is not going to last much longer,” Chen Gong said.
“The thing just won’t back down no matter what he throws at it” Abel says.
“He has to do something quick or he is done for” Hlokk said.
Clive collapsed to his knees breathing heavily, younger Clive walked up to him putting a hand on his shoulder. “No escape, eh?” “It’s alright, I’m done running from you” Clive said to himself. The younger Clive closed his eyes, and slowly turned into fire. “Together, then” Clive says in response to it. Clive stood up and fire appeared on his left arm. “It’s time to find out who we are. Once and for all.” He said. The sound of a heart beating sounded before fire began to engulf Clive. He transformed like the Clone but he didn’t gain white hair, but his eyes are now colored in a bright deep blue.
“So he can do it too,” Adam said in wonder.
“What power does he have, and what is the demon we saw?” Hera asked in confusion.
“Maybe A.R.E.S will explain it” Ares said about himself.
“I hope so because this doesn’t seem normal,” Sif replied.
Clive held his sword in front of himself and said “Show yourself, Ifrit”. He attacks the clone with new fond vigor and strength, it struggles to fend him off. It jumped into the air and tried to hit him with a slam but missed. Clive did the same but hit Clone this time. The Clone tried the cleave again, Clive delivered a strong attack and dodged behind it and struck it again. It jumped up and went for another slam but followed it and smacked it out of the air.
The Gods and Humans watching all had mixed emotions about what they were seeing. Poseidon and Zeus were concerned if humans had this power they might be a real problem for the gods. Thor wondered how strong this man was, Heimdall thought he might cause too much damage if he fought the gods. Most of the Humans were wondering what happened for this to be possible. The valkyries tried to think of what possible connection this Human had to the Demon and Phoenix.
Clive then rushed the clone and delivered a powerful strike which sent it flying back. The clone clenched his hand in anger before a burst of fire surrounded him as he became the Demon again.
“So you were losing now you had to revert back” Sif laughed at the Demon.
“Hey you shouldn’t be taughting that thing” Heimdall told her.
“You do realize it’s not able to hear us right” Heracles questioned.
“Doesn’t mean we can get away with saying everything we want,” Heimdall answered.
“Fair point” Heracles realizing he had a point.
The Demon roared finally back as itself. Clive looked up at it before looking down at his sword saying “Enough”. He looked back up “I know the truth of it now”.
“You are not Ifrit, I AM ” He said, his voice getting deeper as he transformed into the Demon.
“Wait! He was the demon, this doesn’t make sense” Goll trying to wrap her head around it.
“He is quite literally fighting his own demons,” Hrist said.
“Now we know what he truly meant this whole time,” Randgriz said.
“He blocked his memories of that day to deal with the guilty,” Jack said, causing the valkyries to jump, forgetting he was there.
Clive then rushed the clone engaging a round of Punching each other, Both of them delivering powerful blows to one another. They both punched, connecting their fist struggling to deliver their punch to one of them. Clive managed to win, landing a strong punch pushing the clone back. The Clone struck back and hit him in return pushing him back as well. This continued for a bit as they tried to punch the other down. Before Clive delivered a powerful blow to his underjaw causing him to fly up and turn back into human form. He followed up with a strong slash Defeating his evil clone. Clive struggled to stay on his feet, he sheathed his sword before turning around.
“ At last, you accept the truth. You were born to wield limitless power, Embrace it” a loud echoing voice told Clive. Clive clenched his head in pain as the voice laughed. In a cry of pain Clive came back into the real world. With that the viewing ended.
“Damn that is some serious power that boy has,” Kojiro laughed, wondering if he could get something like that.
“I don’t understand how he was able to do this,” Aphrodite wondered to herself.
“Ifrit ifrit ifrit, Oh! Ifrit was a powerful demon that was sealed in hell since Hades couldn’t kill permanently” Hera finally figured it out.
“Hades couldn’t kill something, that was concerning” Sif said.
A.R.E.S shows up and starts to prepare for the next viewing. Many just got up to stretch their legs. Brunhilde was thinking about the viewing, She was wondering about the connection between the human and the demon.
“I can tell you about the worlds your viewing if you want.” A.R.E.S Told her not looking over his shoulder.
“I don’t understand how he was able to become that demon” She asked, catching the others attention.
“Not a demon, Eikon is what they are called,” He replied.
“Eikon, that means summoned beast,” Kojiro said out loud.
“Eikons are powerful, god-like beings that are native to the world of Valisthea. They are both worshiped and feared by the people of the realm as protective deities and used as weapons of war. Each Eikon has a respective Dominant, a human host who can call upon their Eikon's power to do battle.” A.R.E.S explained to them.
“What, how many are there in this world?” Goll asked.
“Nine you meet two of them, Ifrit and Phoenix” He told her.
“So that boy was a Phoenix child, he was his younger brother,” Hera said, placing a hand on her head.
“Who are the other ones?” Eve asked.
“You will find out later but I can tell one, Leviathan” He replied.
“As in the real Leviathan” Reginleif said.
A.R.E.S nodded his head before picking up an Orb and his face plate smiled somehow. The other just looked at him freaked out as he walked over to the Pylon.
