Faded Light (locked)

[holdthefuture]

"Mm..."

Lenore regains her vision gradually. What she sees is still out of focus, but she knows where she is now: a large chamber whose floors and walls are engraved with lines. Lines that have energy flowing through them.

The last thing she remembers before blacking out is coming face to face with her siblings again, and not in the way that she wanted it.

Trying to move her arms and legs, she finds that she's bound by the same living metal that her fellow clones were now part of.

This, and the fact that none of the UG members are present means only one thing: Carina had won.

Not surprisingly, the crazed individual in question appears soon after. She happily gazes up at Lenore, who is suspended in the middle of the space.


"Aha, did you have a good rest? I hope the view is satisfactory from up there."


"...I already hate it."

"Still in the mood to talk back, hmm? But that's alright. I forgive you today, and for everything you've done. Actually, I was a bit skeptical about all of the waiting I had to do to get to this point, but the readings don't lie!"


"What the hell are you talking about?"

In response to that, Carina raises her hand - a large, black sword appears before her, trapped in some sort of energy bubble and floating in the air. It is the artifact that powers the Gatekeeper.

"You already know why I call you the perfect catalyst for this weapon. You and the other subjects were made to carry the same traits as Shahryar - his desire to defend the weak, to be some kind of hero. As a clone, not only did you inherit this, but also the genetic material from his only child, and another Kijin who is very similar."

The woman circles the weapon like a predator who is so very close to her prey.

"This sword was made to respond to Shahryar's desires, so that it can't be used for evil deeds. A while ago, I realized that your escape and exposure to the outside world only strengthened your own desires that match his. Seeing your allies face dangers in the name of greater good, defeats and victories, even fighting so viciously for the sake of the fallen Seta: all of this affects you in more ways than you might think. In the end, it is to my benefit."

And then, she floats up to where the immobilized Lenore is. The black sword follows.

"For the stronger you feel, the stronger the Gatekeeper will become. And the stronger the Gatekeeper becomes, the stronger I will be!"

Lenore just scoffs at that.


"You don't really think you've become unstoppable now, have you? When those guys find us-"

"Find us? Oh, no. I won't do such a thing as sit and wait anymore when I no longer need to. You've already experienced enough of that heroic nonsense, and you're in my hands again now. No, the next time, just like earlier, I will be the one looking for something. I haven't become unstoppable, either..."

Suddenly, the sword's tip is pointed at Lenore, and through some invisible force, Carina drives the weapon through the Kijin's abdomen!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!!"

Lenore's pained scream echoes throughout the chamber. The person responsible ignores it.

Dark colored energy begins to flow from the sword.

"-But now I have. And I will make you a witness to my triumphs in the name of the light that my father showed me - the light that carved into me the true might of the Kijin. Your role is not as short as Kazan's will be - that thing might as well be a cable to jump-start the vehicle that is this Gatekeeper. Now, the real ride begins!"

She grabs the blade's handle, and in a very not-gentle manner, pulls it out from Lenore's body.

Even though the Kijin bleeds heavily, the influence of the liquid metal that holds her in place immediately heals her wounds.


"Ngh...say it however you want. There are people out there who won't stop until you're beaten to a pulp, and they're not going to make it easy for you."


"You actually have a point. But that's why I have a contingency plan."

With her free hand, Carina summons Kazan.

"There is one more thing that needs restarting..."