【Story】(Underground) Chapter 3: After Waking Pompeii Up

Ch. 3　After Waking Pompeii Up

Part 1

“Shadows with Fading Colors”

Enoch and Ingrid, indulging in the music of Schrakh and Zana, did not notice the performance had already ended until Bahamut came. To their surprise, Zana was holding Schrakh, who had fallen onto the ground as the colors on her started fading, as well as her vitality.
Enoch: Schrakh!
Enoch and others hurried over, but they didn’t know how to help Schrakh . In contrast to their remorse expression, Schrakh wore a peaceful smile. Similarly, Zana spoke in a tone without the slightest hint of surprise.
Zana: Schrakh…You knew this would happen, didn’t you?
Schrakh: Guess I can’t hide anything from you…To protect everyone, I’ve already exhausted most of my power, but this can’t atone for my sins… And in order to satisfy my hateful vengefulness, I sent my only daughter to the Eldus. I’m afraid she has already been killed by them—
Enoch: No! She’s not dead. Your daughter Valanthe…she survived.
Schrakh: Valanthe…my dear daughter is still alive…That’s wonderful…Thank you Enoch. To show my gratitude, I’ll grant you my last bit of power…
Schrakh raised her right hand to extract the remaining colors of her body, turned it into a sphere of rainbow at her fingertip, and hit it right into the mark on Enoch’s chest, which added colorful runes to the deep black.
Schrakh: Chosen one, you’ll soon face tremendous difficulties. But please don’t lose your hope. May you proceed to the colorful future…
As Schrakh finished her last words, her body vanished and blended into the stream of elements. Tears fell from Zana’s closed eyes as a crimson figure came over to tap her on the shoulder.
Pompeii: Zana, may she rest in peace in the embrace of Monesis.
Enoch: Pompeii! You awoke!
Pompeii: You’re Enoch, right? This is the first time we have met each other in person.
Ingrid: There’s no time for chit chat. Pompeii, the elements are in disorder. The realm will be destroyed if we don’t fix it now!
Enoch: Right, that’s why we woke you up to release Monesis, so that it will re-arrange the elements— Hmm?
Suddenly, bizarre noises, like roars cursing the world, sounded from above, and it also resembled the cry of a new birth. Before Enoch could figure out the origin of that voice, a violent earthquake happened, bringing countless rocks and metal plates down, almost burying Enoch and his fellows alive.
Enoch: Cough…thank you, Bahamut.
Bahamut: Don’t mention it.
Enoch: …Is everyone alright?
Xilocient: Hmm…
Sonata: It hurts…
Delta:  Ouch…
Under Bahamut’s protection, Enoch was lucky to make it safe while Xilocient, Sonata, and Delta were injured and held down by the heavy rocks and metal.
Stunned, Enoch froze until someone put their hands on his shoulder.
Ingrid: Enoch! Get yourself together! We have to save them now!
Enoch: “Can’t believe I was so shocked that I couldn’t move. I’m so lucky to have her with me. She’s always guiding me …”
Enoch patted his own cheeks to pull himself together and followed Ingrid’s lead to save their fellows. At the same time, Zana, Pompeii, and Behemoth arrived from the other side.
Behemoth: I can break these rocks—
Zana: Don’t! We still don’t know how bad their injuries are. You’ll make the situation even worse if you act recklessly.
Pompeii: Zana has a point. Although it’s time-consuming, it’d be better for us to move those heavy objects away one by one.
Enoch: Alright, let’s split up.
Enoch and his fellows were divided into three groups to remove the heavy objects holding down Xilocient, Sonata, and Delta, while Zana was responsible for treating their wounds.
Zana: Okay, they’re all good, just mild injuries.
Sonata: Are you sure? My body hurts so bad…
Delta:  Well, I can’t feel anything, though.
Sonata: Of course, coz you’re made of metal. I’m just flesh and bone, you idiot!
Xilocient: I’m fine too.
Ingrid: See? Xilocient is alright. So just stop whining! Make yourself useful by thinking about what just happened, okay?
Enoch: Um…Wait! What’s going on over there?
The earthquake cracked a hole in the ceiling, which led straight to the ground surface and revealed the azure sky. However, the cloudless sky was filled with multiple shades of ominous colors, in which the massive shadows of other planets appeared. Visibly, the planets were getting closer.
Pompeii: It’s him…the ominous power is awakening…

Part 2

“Agents Assembled”

???: Enoch!
A childish call that came from afar captured the attention of Enoch and his fellows. They turned their gaze and saw a few figures coming over, with Hong Ai the runedragon taking the lead.
Enoch: Hong Ai! Everyone!
Hong Ai: Enoch! I’ve been waiting for you for so long! And, I defeated the enemies in the Enochian Tower! Isn’t it cool?
Enoch: Yes you’re awesome. And…hmm? Where is Mephibo?
Dagda: …It’s my fault. If I were stronger, Mephibo wouldn’t have been…Darn it!
Enoch: Huh? What happened?
Qingxia: Well…let me explain to you.
Afterwards, Enoch and the others learnt from Qingxia that Mephibo was killed by the infiltrated demons before he made an ambush.
Enoch: How-how could it be possible…Mephibo is dead…No! I won’t believe it! I…I…have to verify in person— Ah! 
Standing before Enoch, who was about to turn around, Ingrid slapped him across the face mercilessly. Calmed by the pain, he held his gaze at Ingrid, the girl exuding such an awe-inspiring aura.
Ingrid: There’s no time for sorrow. Enoch, get yourself together if you don’t want his death to go to waste.
Enoch took a deep breath, holding back the pain and anger, just as he had faced the death of Glauox. Finally, he regained his senses and turned to his companions.
Enoch: …Forgive my manners. What’s the situation?
Madam Heidi: There are shadows of planets in the sky up ahead, suddenly. We can’t be sure of what’s going on. But I can tell it’s really not a good sign.
Pompeii: …I’m afraid that the disorder of the elements has disturbed the balance of the creatures, and the planets will crush onto the continent Tarones.
Enoch: Then what should we do now? If the planets crush on us, not only will Continent Tarones be destroyed, but so will the entire world!
Ingrid: Seems like we only have one choice left.
Enoch: …Release Monesis, the power of creation, so as to reset the order of the elements. Am I right?
Pompeii: Yes, you are.
Hong Ai: But won’t the horrifying power be released too if we do that?
Pompeii: True. Without Monesis, the origin of destruction will reappear… In the past, I decided to guard Monesis with all machinas and keep the destructive origin under control. But the consequence was that the blessings of Monesis diminished, causing the withering of other planets.
Enoch: Hold on. Is this the reason why resources on the home planets of the Holy Gods and Protodemons have drained?
Pompeii: You’ve guessed it. I had but two choices back then: the first one was what I did in the past, the second one was to keep Monesis free and allow the awakening of the destructive origin to take place. But then the world would be doomed…
Pompeii: So I chose the former even though I knew it was at best an expedient measure. Now, things are different— 
Pompeii reached Enoch with his hand in such a solemn manner as if he were handing over the entire world to Enoch.
Pompeii: We have you now, Enoch. You are chosen by destiny, and you possess the power of the destructive origin. You’ll be able to annihilate that creature and save the world from the shackles of the curse.
Hong Ai: Huh? What’re you talking about? I don’t understand a word.
It was indeed hard for Hong Ai to understand, but Enoch knew exactly what Pompeii had meant. He had been to the miraculous dimension where his secret history and mission were revealed to him.
Enoch: Not only me…I’ve received so much help from different people during my journey. I wouldn’t have gone so far without them… I believe in every one of you, and I have faith in those who have always strived to protect the continent. You will all assist me in rewriting the destiny of this world!
Pompeii: “All lives are somehow interdependent… It’s interesting how it is manifested again…”
Ingrid: Let’s not waste time and break the seal now.
With a nod, Pompeii stepped on the stage and placed his hand on the metal wall, his body emitting beams of gentle, crimson light. Phoom! The beams grew stronger and illuminated the Pilgrimage. A cornucopia of elements was dancing in the air.
Pompeii: The Great Monesis, all creatures are vital and lively in your embrace. We are all your children, who shall eventually become one. You have granted us lives, and we live in your glory…
Pompeii poured forth his prayers devoutly as he folded his hands on the kinetic core in his chest. A shimmering stone, which was spinning round and round, gradually became visible. The metal walls of the Pilgrimage started to shrink, and the hidden part of the gigantic puff of light was finally unveiled.
Enoch: “This is… Monesis… It’s beyond description. All I have inside of me is an irresistible urge to worship… and an ineffable affection…”
Overwhelmed by the scene, everyone held their breath as they fixed their eyes on Monesis. Ingrid, who still remained fully rational, was the only exception. A hint of uneasiness flickered across her eyes, and she soon caught sight of the purple shadow that stuck out behind Monesis.
Ingrid: Pompeii, watch out!
Pompeii: Urgh!
But the purple shadow reached Pompeii faster than Ingrid’s warning. It jumped over Monesis and trailed Pompeii like the vines of a tree. Pompeii struggled, but the shadow was simply immovable. Worse still, tentacles emerged out of the shadow, and one of them grabbed the soulstone in Pompeii’s kinetic core.
Enoch: Pompeii—

Part 3

“Getting out of Hand”

Enoch wanted to save Pompeii, but it was all too late— Crack! Pompeii’s soulstone, along with the iridescent power inside, was shattered and engulfed by the purple shadow almost instantly.
???: 
The shadow let out a roar that was imperceivable to humans. It expanded rapidly and generated more limbs. It became so great in size that it eclipsed the brightness of Monesis and dominated the scene.
The enlarging shadow grew into a matter of abysmal blackness; its thin slices eventually formed a three-dimensional sphere. It looked solid, but it could flow as freely as liquid. The noise it made resembled the sound of the movement of a wet, fleshy object. The sounds invaded Enoch’s ears from all directions.
Enoch: “Ugh…! It feels like someone is touching my bones and stirring my brain.”
From the sphere stretched out countless tentacles. They went by the centre of the Pilgrimage and reached the Enochian Tower.
Enoch might not be able to see it from underground, but anyone who looked down from the sky would have noticed that the walls of the Enochian Tower were covered with vein-like violet tentacles. 
Hong Ai: Hmm… Something was excreted by that strange thing!
The dark sphere rotated, dripping thick, inky liquid down onto the floor, which eventually condensed into huge oval eggs. As the eggs cracked open, the species possessed by the tentacles were exposed.
Enoch: They are Saruman, the Solar and Lunar Sirius, and Odin!
Pompeii: He…devoured the Enochian Tower and the lives in it…just to gain more power…
Enoch: Pompeii! Are you alright?
With the help of Delta, Pompeii came near Enoch and turned his face slightly to inspect the sphere. It was simply impossible to look right into the sphere, even for someone as intelligent as Pompeii.
Pompeii: Just now… my seal was broken forcefully, and Monesis couldn’t control the excessive power of destruction—
Hong Ai: Oh no! Will all of us be eaten up?
Bahamut: Fear not. The sphere was just a part of it. Its main body is still in its long slumber underground. As long as we obliterate the sphere and weaken the power of the main body, it’s possible for Monesis to regain control.
Ingrid: But how do we do it? Do we have to demolish the Enochian Tower?
Pompeii: No… We don’t. We simply have to cut the source of the power… 
Enoch: Source of power?… You mean Saruman and the others?
Pompeii: Yes… Before the main body wakes up, we have to destroy the nucleus, extract Saruman’s power, and stop the black sphere from delivering the power to its main body.
Sonata: But they look so powerful, can we really defeat them?
Ingrid: If we can’t, it’ll be our… no, it’ll be the apocalypse for the whole world. As hopeless as the battle may seem, we must fight on!
Madam Heidi: Haha, the valor of Ingrid has always impressed me.
Hong Ai: I’m gonna help too!
Enoch: Everyone… Right, we can achieve anything when we’re united. We’ve been working together like this all along; this time it’s no exception.
Feeling the support of his companions, Enoch’s eyes brightened in confidence.
Ingrid: Let’s split up to defeat them one after another. Enoch, where’re you going?
Enoch: I…
Ingrid: Don’t worry, wherever you go, I’ll go with you… It’s… It’s my responsibility as an agent!
Enoch: Thanks, Ingrid, then I’ll…

Which will you choose