Existensia: TAB: Chapter 2: Two Sabers?!

(Background Music: Soul Calibur IV OST Seize your destiny)

Nero twirled around the cursed blade she had just obtained from the defeated Night Terror.
-To think, that thanks to some random commoners, I have been able to obtain a blade revered by legend!
Saber readied Excalibur and gave Nero a stern glare.
-I ask you, Nero, who is your master?! asked Saber very seriously.
Nero chuckled suddenly.
-Ohohohohoho! Master? Me? Emperor Nero?
This is a simple joke, is it not?
I am an emperor, and I thereby serve no one!
I have the whole world beneath my heel!
Claus looked at Saber, who in turn, started to look really annoyed.
-My dear blue counterpart, did you think that I would have survived in this hell if it wasn't for a special gift?
The only reason that I even bother using my breath to talk to you is that I recognize your surprising capability for battle.
Simply put, I want you and your blade under my banner.
Two beautiful Sabers, tearing through the mightiest armies and kingdoms in Existence, conquering all that is known without ever faltering?
Sounds reasonable enough, yes?

(Background Music: Altelier Series Vocal Collection ~ Volkslied 3 Replicated Angel)

Saber looked suddenly straight into Nero's eyes.
-I thought you were merely a powerful body double, but your heart is as twisted as your hair is golden.
I am Arturia Pendragon, and I will silence the crazed fool that has been trapped in a carcass so foul and shallow! said Saber with malice in her voice.
-Foul?! Shallow?!
You have strong guts to spout such insults!
I am Emperor Nero, the new wielder of the cursed sword, Soul Edge!
And you, my blue Saber, will know why I am simply a superior breed! boated Nero with a scary amount of sincerity in her voice.
-That was the last straw, you crazed diva! shouted Saber as she fiercely held Excalibur ready for a cutting motion.  
Hakumen stood and watched with his arms crossed.
-Claus, watch closely.
Saber shall now demonstrate what you should aspire to become in battle.

Solo Boss!

Emperor Nero!

Quick Info:
She is an fancy-clad woman with an eerily similar similar look as our beloved Saber.
As an supposed Emperor, her and Saber's personalities couldn't clash any worse.

HP: 1,395,923

Equipment:           

Soul Edge (Cursed Sword)
Emperor's Scarlet Dress (Costume)
Alchemy Bangle (Arms)
None
None
None


Both Nero and Saber, with flames in their sight, ran immediately in for the kill!
It was a matter of seconds before the golden blade and the cursed sword clashed.
Saber put her full strength into breaking through Nero's blade lock, but Nero intended to do the same thing!
Nero intentionally gave up the blade clash in the blink of an eye, and she then took a quick step backwards!
-You will see why I, Nero, were chosen to rule all! exclaimed Nero proudly.
Nero smashed Soul Edge into the ground, and debris flew right up!
Thanks to Terrarium's odd gravity, the pieces of earth stayed afloat after Nero had unearthed them.
-Wait, are you trying to shape our battlefield to give you the advantage? asked Saber with confusion.
-Why yes! No other field of battle is as worthy of my presence as one of my own making! said Nero with great pride.
Nero kept jumping up pieces of rock and earth that were floating until she stood on a broken chunk of red rocks, surely a ten-story building height above Saber.
Nero jumped down face first with Soul Edge ready to tear asunder the very earth that held Terrarium together.
Saber quickly jumped towards Nero and swung Excalibur!
-Wha- Nero were smacked away into a floating stone, which then crashed into the ground!
Nero took 291,293 damage!
The smoke quickly cleared away from the crater that the floating rock had created on impact.
-You are not an inadequate adversary, I will have to give you that! said Nero as she rose up and charged towards Saber.
Saber blocked Nero's incoming slash, but she were caught off-guard by Soul Edge's intense weight!
Nero swatted Saber away for quite a long distance!
Saber scrapped into Terrarium's smooth ground, and took 301,293 HP damage!
Hakumen and Claus just spectacled as Saber quickly got back on her feat and jumped into the fray again.

-Saber is so cool... said Claus in awe.
-You should try to follow her footsteps, young one.
It might teach you an important lesson in growing back your spine. mocked Hakumen.
-Will you stop that already?! said Claus, annoyed at Hakumen's insult.

Nero twirled around Soul Edge as Saber ran towards her!
Saber attacked Nero with an overhead slash!
Nero simply took a step back and countered with a heavy slash of her own!
Saber quickly blocked, but she were being pushed down with immense force!
-You are surprisingly good at this, low-born. said Nero, even trough she did not sound surprised at all.
I thought you lot were only good for killing brainless scoundrels, but I am starting to take a liking to your charmingly simple character.
-Hearing that from you shames all the worthy adversaries I have slain! shouted Saber.
Saber suddenly sent Nero and herself into the air with a quick upward swing from Excalibur!
Saber dunked down Nero with Excalibur to the ground!
Nero took 271,273 HP damage!
Saber landed on her two feet and looked at Nero.
-This duel is utterly pointless.
I know next to nothing about you, and you, a self-proclaimed emperor, expect me to honour any of your wishes on a whim?
We could continue this battle, but if I got wounded fighting against a vain dictator, it would be a life greatly wasted.
Nero suddenly twitched and rose up.
-What. Did. You. SAY?!
Me? Vain? DICTATOR? said Nero in disbelief.
Ahahahaha!
Now you are just pushing my buttons on purpose!
The eye on Soul Edge opened up wide when Nero took up the sword again.
Saber felt a cold chill run down her spine.
-That sword... Why do I feel this horrid sensation emanating from it? asked Saber herself.
Nero suddenly hacked away like a demon with a crazed gaze!
Saber blocked with Excalibur, but when Soul Edge hit Excalibur, Saber felt a horrible burn in her hands.
Saber dropped Excalibur in pain!
Nero lifted up Soul Edge towards Saber's throat.
-You will now learn to think before you speak, trash! said Nero with a twisted gaze in her eyes.

-Saber! RUN! shouted Claus.
Saber just looked down.
-Nero,
Even Hakumen were fazed at Saber's cool head before certain death.
Nero begun to raise Soul Edge.
-I don't care any more!
Arturia Pendragon, die already.
Nero swung Soul Edge, and the shredding of flesh could be heard.

(Background Music: Atelier Ayesha [OST] - Terminus for meruru)
(Start at 0:36)  

Hakumen suddenly recoiled from his stoic posture in shock and Claus gasped.

Nero noticed that Soul Edge had gotten stuck in something very solid.
She then looked up and gasped.
-What kind of trickery is this!?
A black ghastly figure stood in front of Saber, using its own hand to stop the cursed sword dead in its tracks.
-Who are you?! shouted Nero with rage.
You are interrupting my subjugation here!
-I am know as the Protector of the Abstract Garden, and my name is Darkrai.
If you value your life, stranger, then I suggest that you throw away the tainted blade you posses, and then leave at once. said Darkrai with his menacing, yet well-meaning voice.
-Darkrai! shouted Claus with joy.
A bead of sweat ran down Nero's face.
-As if! shouted Nero and attacked Darkrai with Soul Edge!
The great cursed sword she had sought after didn't even make a scratch on the black phantom's figure.
-W-what is wrong with you?! shouted Nero with shock and surprise.
Nero swung Soul Edge in an angle that were intense to slice Darkrai diagonally.
Darkrai simply closed his eyes.
-I see that your arrogance have addled your senses. said Darkrai calmly.
If you value your safety, then I have only one thing to say too you.
NEVER. EVER. Harm one of the Inhabitants in the Abstract Garden!
As the great Soul Edge were about to tear through Darkrai a third time, he simply lifted an open right hand and grabbed the sword with a stern grip.

-H-how?! How can an apparition like you be so strong?!
Answer me! shouted Nero in panic.
She felt how a chill ran through her, from her hands to her very spine.
-You tried to hurt one of the pure Garden's denizens.
This time, I will let cold nightmares haunt you for one night. said Darkrai coldly.
He let go of the Soul Edge, but Nero looked mentally scarred from after Darkrai transferred a part of his being through the Soul Edge.
-I won't let you come back until you can communicate properly with words.

Nero just mumbled nervously.
-Fine! I'll surrender just this once!
But remember this, you cretin!
I will come back, and soon I will be strong enough to kill you!
And Saber, you will be mine one of these days, remember that! said Nero with absolute determination.

Nero made a swift escape into the depths of Terrarium, quickly disappearing from everyone's sight.

 
(Background Music: NIER OST - This Dream)

Darkrai took down his haunting clawed hand and turned around.
-Arturia, you had me worried for a few moments. admitted Darkrai.
Saber looked up.
-Darkrai, I thoroughly appreciate your concern, but I had that situation under control, I swear.
Darkrai looked concerned when he heard Saber's response.
-I had no intentions of discrediting your abilities to fend for yourself, Saber, but you have a tendency to sacrifice your own safety ahead of time.
Your had already fought a tough battle before clashing with that red-clothed woman.
She had the clear advantage in this battle.
Saber looked at Darkrai with an apologetic look on her face.
-I apologize for my recklessness.
Will you forgive me?
-Of course. said Darkrai with a pleased look in his eyes.
I just want you to be more careful in the future.

Claus ran over the red fields.
-Darkrai! Why did you come here? asked Claus.
Darkrai seemed to become more relaxed when he saw Claus.
-I became increasingly worried after you three went into the Terrarium monolith, and after some thinking, I decided that the only reasonable course of action was to drag you back to safety.
-Guardian, we could have handled the situation fine without your help. said Hakumen.
Darkrai gave Hakumen a deep stare.
-Then... explain why that woman dressed in red where about to kill Saber... said Darkrai.
-She appeared out of thin air. said Saber, who were as unknowing as anyone else after that battle.
But she did call herself "Emperor Nero"...
Darkrai, does that name ring any bells?
Darkrai looked concerned.
-No. It does not. said Darkrai with a bothered tone.    

But before my memory escapes me, I looked after you three for another reason.
Especially for you two, Claus and Hakumen.
-Huh? Why us? asked Claus curiously.
-There's someone waiting for you, back in the Garden. answered Darkrai.
-...This does not bode well. said Hakumen.
-Let us return together. said Darkrai.

Claus, Saber and Hakumen ventured back through Terrarium with Darkrai until they had reached the monolith that had taken them there.

-A pleasant surprise waits for you on the other side. promised Darkrai.
Claus did not answer, but he were already terribly excited.
All of them headed back through this odd gateway to return to The Dimensional Bridge.

(Background Music: Ar no Surge OST - Lxa ti-cia)

As Claus had went through the monolith's gate, he felt the smell of fresh air.
He, Hakumen and Saber had returned to the small underground Island under the Azure tree in the Abstract Garden.
But this time, the lake that surrounded the small island had started to shine.
And, clearly in the distance, Claus could hear a wondrous song.
Great Rings of light started to take form on the lake's surface, and flowers started to open up on the thousands of buds that once decorated the subterranean garden.
The great vine that led back up to the Abstract Garden had also gotten a more intense colour, and purple flowers had sprouted out.
Hakumen looked around in confusion.
-Only one I know can manipulate with singing... muttered Hakumen.
-Darkrai, this is incredible! said Claus.
What is this, exactly?
Small orbs of light started to rise from the illuminated lake.

-Wonderful, is it not?
This is the final departure of many resting souls, a ritual that cleanses and sends weary souls into the cycle.
Normally, Souls travel to the cycle, one at the time.
But now, millions of unfortunate souls ruined by injustices and despair, get their chances to leave their pasts behind, so that they can with good conscious travel to the Cycle.
But none of this would be possible if it wasn't for...
Wait. I will not spoil that just yet. said Darkrai.

Saber walked over the small bridge with Hakumen following behind.
-Now I must admit that I am intensely curious about who this singer could be... said Saber with a certain fascination.
Claus ventured up the now much livelier spiral vine staircase up to the surface.
The underground garden had looked so dark before, but now it were teeming with life and buzzing activity.
It were nothing compared to what the surface had to offer trough.
As All four of them approached the end of the vine, rays of light had started to pierce trough the surface.
Claus rushed towards the light and jumped out of the big tree's entrance, and into the Abstract garden.

Every single flower were in full bloom at the exact same moment.
Claus saw that almost every single creature in the Abstract Garden had gathered around a big, rolling hill a little further away.
Claus didn't spare one second to ponder WHY all the creatures had gathered there, but he knew he wanted to join them!
Before Saber could stop him, Claus rolled down from the small rolling hill that were in front of the tree, sending small petal flying all over the place, while all of them were emitting a comforting light.
Claus reached the crowd and peeked over a bear with a moon-shape on its head.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
In the middle of the circle that all the animals had created stood a beautiful black-haired woman, dressed in a long-sleeved purple kimono, with elegant dragons and fiery birds embroidered on the sides.
She wore a golden head-piece to keep her small hair cut in shape.
She sung with all of her heart, making powerful gestures in the heavier parts of her performance.
Her long sleeves sailed flawlessly through the air as she moved her arms, and it looked like she had a blue beautiful veil that floated on her back while she sung the incantations.

Lights flew from the garden and slowly dispersed into the great sea of Existence, now ready to face any and all new journeys that awaited them.
After one thoroughly beautiful final twirl, the young woman stopped singing and bowed.

(Background Music: Phantom Brave Wii OST Tenpei Sato Selection - 01. Angel Breath ~ Long Version)

As the young woman opened her emerald eyes, Claus instantly recognized her.
Trough she looked at least three years older then the last time, and that she looked like she had grown a bit and even started to look a little more mature then last time, it was no mistaking here.
Claus broke trough the crowd of creature and ran towards the young woman.
-Suzomina!!! shouted Claus with pure glee.
She opened her eyes wide and looked happily surprised.
Claus jumped towards her in an attempt to hug her, but he ended up tripping and knocking himself and Suzomina over.
-I-I'm sorry! shouted Claus.
Suzomina just hugged Claus tightly.
-Oh, Claus, it has just been way too long, hasn't it! said Suzomina with great joy in her voice.
And I see you are the exactly same little rascal that I knew all those years ago!
Claus ignored that she just said "Years".
Sure, she looked slightly older and more adult then before, but he hadn't quite understood the concept of years yet.
For all he knew, only a few weeks had gone after the Consumer had been defeated.
Suzomina sat down on the small field and looked at Claus.
-Claus, how are things these days?
-Good. answered Claus.
-You say?
Is Hakumen still around, then? asked Suzomina.
-He sure is. said Claus.

Hakumen just stood in disbelief.
-Against all odds, the Priestess had to return.
Unbelievable. said Hakumen while sounding disappointed.
Saber gave Hakumen a light shove forward.
-Really, Hakumen?
Is this "Priestess" someone you genuinely fear? asked Saber almost a little mockingly.
She looks like a very kind person to me.
-I will not take this nonsense from you. said Hakumen.
Suzomina looked towards Hakumen's direction.
-That must be Hakumen. said Suzomina.
She jumped up on her feat with energy to spare.
-Oh, my great masked knight!
I have returned, for that I know how you twitch in agony in my absence! said Suzomina singingly.
-What kind of demon have rotted your mind this time, Priestess?
Suzomina suddenly looked less happy.
-When did I forget about your rudeness?
That must have been one of the things I preferred to not remember.  

-Honestly, I did not mean that to offend you. said Hakumen.
I just find your presence here... perplexing.
I thought that all the visitors, save three, had left the Dimensional Bridge for good.
-Don't be ridiculous!
After we have managed to break down the very laws of space and borders, do you think that I would want to sit idly in my home, and never setting a foot out of it again?
The thought itself is mind-bending.
-I have a question. said Claus.
-Go on, ask away. replied Suzomina more warmly then to Hakumen.
-Where is that purple-haired adventurer girl, Cocona?
You two both live in the same world, right? asked Claus.
-That is true, but Cocona has over the time we spent at our home become a progressively more busy and responsible person.
I asked her myself, but she didn't have the time to come along.
A shame, if I do say so myself. said Suzomina.

-But that makes me curious. said Suzomina.
Have you visited Anomia as of late?
-The dead city? asked Hakumen.
Not at all. What happened there is irrelevant now when the Consumer is gone.
-Do you want to go there? asked Claus.
-That was my intention when I returned here. said Suzomina.
Will you boys do me the honours of being my escorts?
It will be like the good old days.
-Yeah... the old days. said Claus a little saddened.
-And this means I will have to baby-sit you again, then. said Hakumen.
-Baby-sit?! Hakumen, I am now a fully grown person who can pull her own weight just fine!

(Background Music: Sengoku Basara 4 OST- After Seeing the World's Creation)

Claus were determined to go back to Anomia.
The lost city had caused him so much confusion and doubt.
He needed to see it again.

Claus prepared a few things before he would journey from the Abstract Garden.
The friendly sanctuary Mr. Saturn even gave him a free travel package!

Contains:

5 Nachos
5 Fragments of Harmony
3 Bunny Smoke Bombs
3 Bottles of Paneca Water
1 Velvet Key

-Hey, Saber. said Claus when he saw Saber watching the horizon.
Saber shook a brief moment and then turned around.
-I appears I got lost in thought... said Saber with a troubled tone.
Was it something you wanted to bring to my attention?
-Nothing really... said Claus.
I were just wondering if you could come along on mine and Suzomina's journey to Anomia.
Saber just laughed in a clam, friendly matter.
-You excluded Hakumen on purpose. said Saber with a smirk.
-Him too, of course. added Claus.
-As tempting as a journey out on the Dimensional Bride, I sadly cannot come along.
I promised Darkrai once that I would defend the Abstract Garden in exchange for his thrust.
It was an very easy choice.
But as long as that Red Saber, Nero, is at large, I need to be cautious.
Where did she come from?
I never meet her on my previous undertakings on the Dimensional Bridge, and she somehow manage to rival my skill with the sword.
I am sorry, Claus, but I need to stay.
-You don't need to be sorry. said Claus.
That Nero seemed to be a very dangerous person.
-You will have my regards on your trip, trough. added Saber.
Good luck, and stay safe.
Saber walked away with a smile, but Claus could feel much concern and worry from Saber.

Claus also wanted to say farewell to Darkrai.
He walked under the shadows of the great bell-bearing tree.
-Darkrai?
Are you there?
Claus saw Darkrai, sitting in the shade, and he held a small creature he called Sahymin.
-Claus. What brings me the joy to speak to you again? asked Darkrai.
-Well, I just wanted to tell you that I'll be leaving quite soon. said Claus.
-That is completely understandable. said Darkrai.
Your quest for an identity will never be completed by merely sitting in one place.
It do sadden me to see you venture out again.
-You always sound so sad when I say that I'm about to leave. said Claus with concern in his voice.
-It is not sadness. said Darkrai.
Claus, it is time to spread your wings and fly!
I have no obligation to force you to stay in the Abstract Garden any longer.

-Darkrai, will I have your blessings on my journey? asked Claus.
-Of course. said Darkrai.
You will have my best wishes no matter what course in life you decide to follow.
Claus felt... humbled.
Darkrai, for some inexplicable reason, cared for Claus quite a bit.
-And know, Claus, that the Abstract Garden will welcome you back no matter what happens.
Tears welled up in Claus' eyes and he started to run away.

Hakumen just gave Claus an odd look.
-Priestess, are you certain you want to bring this mewling child along? asked Hakumen.
-Well, that "mewling child" managed to defeat you once in a one-on-one duel, fair and square.
I see you are still a sore loser, my dear masked knight. said Suzomina with a smirk.


All three of them finished their preparations and goodbyes, but something very interesting happened at the same time...


(Background Music: Kamen Rider Fourze OST (Volume 2) #26 - Intentional Stubbornness)

Back within the depths of Terrarium...
The emperor in red were in distraught.
Even trough she had gained the legendary sword, Soul Edge, she had also been inflicted with a sense of dread that she was not sure she had faced before.
Nero headed into a cave made out of clusters off clashed rocks, that were formed thanks to gravity fluctuations in Terrarium.
Nero walked towards a small building that looked very out of place in the darkened and unstable cave.
-It's... fine. muttered Nero.
You took one for the team.
Defeat or not, I know much more about the mythical world above now.
That battle was one step backward in my plan, but it gave me the information to skip seven steps forward the next time!
With any luck, I am not the only one who have gathered more information on the world above.
Nero smiled as she entered the small shrine-like house.
It had a small zen-like garden with a oriental stone-lantern.
Nero arrived on a terrace just past the shrine opening where a sliding door were half open.

(Background Music: Strange House - Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 Music Extended)

Nero entered a dark and messy room.
It was not a pleasant first welcome into the already weirdly misplaced building.
Since the building were located on an essentially semi-unstable rock cluster, the interior were make creaking sounds frequently, and the few pieces of furniture in the room made small, unnatural vibrations from time to time.
The floor were littered with sheets of paper, with all of them containing everything from bestiary descriptions on the creatures in Terrarium, to finely drafted maps for undisclosed locations.
-It looks like that peculiar man have not bothered to keep this my temporal quarters clean.
He will soon know that an emperor expects a more hygienic abode then this horrid mess! said Nero with astonishment.

The only thing that lit up the room was small lit candles on shelves and three on a tea table.
Nero trudged trough the stacks of books and scattered miscellaneous unidentified items and reached a door, obscured by the darkness on the over side of the room.
The sliding door gave out a very faint glow when Nero approached it.
She slowly slid it open.

(Background Music: Sword Art Online OST2 Oberon)

As Nero slipped open the sliding door, she felt uneasy immediately.
The quashi-hidden room was dimly lit from a Japanese tea-table in the center.
-...You certainly returned quickly.
I expect that you were unable to gather any significant results from your expedition.
 
Behind the low tea-table sat a rather tall man in his late thirties, dressed in armored leggings and a coat that were split in the middle.
On side was white, and the opposite side were black.
Below the man's waist, the black side tailcoat transitioned into yellow color instead.
His sleeves had the opposite color of the side they were attached to, e.g the black half of his coat had a white sleeve and the white half had a black sleeve.
The light body armor under his coat covered part of his body, down to his feet, which were warped in bandaging instead.          
Except for his bizarrely symmetrical clothing choice, the man's most notable features was his calm and frightening glare.
He had strips of facial hairs on his cheeks and his black hair were set up in a cut-off pony tail, where only a wild ruff of hair came out of the bindings.

-Hisahide Matsunaga... said Nero in a tone that made her sound like she already was disliking the man's company.
-I know that we both suffer in each other's company, so I will get the obligatory questions out of our way. said Hisahide.

His voice was deep and calm, but also quite sinister and scheming.

Firstly, did you find out any information on the world above?
I expect a no, since... I can see horror in your stare that you try to advert from me.
-Not so fast!
I have found out more in this one trip then you and your damn table have done all this time combined! shouted Nero.
-Shhhhh... whispered Hisahide.
We are indoors. It is not necessary for you to yell your opinions.
Nero muttered with her righteous rage.
-FINE. said Nero with frustration seeping for every sound she made.

I have indeed found conformation that the world above is an actual place.
I met a knave who looked like she was trying to impersonate me, but she was not a mere fake.
Together with her men-at-arms, she managed to behead the Night Terror fiend, whose role as a gatekeeper is well know to everyone who is stuck here.
-This woman killed the Night Terror, you say?
Are you able to present any evidence for this statement?
I find that piece of news difficult to fully stomach. said Hisahide.
Nero put Soul Edge on the tea-table.
Hisahide got a faint sparkle of intrigue in his eye when he were laid witness to the cursed blade.
He grabbed Soul Edge by its hilt with his black sleeved hand, which were clad with a black glove with a red spike by each finger.
He react sharply when he came in contact with the sword.
-Most Impressive, Nero.
This blade is cursed to its very core.
There is no doubt that this is the fabled Soul Edge.
No ordinary person could wield this sword for a quarter of a minute.
I could have never imagine that an curse like this would been able to have such a devastating effect by being merely touched... said Hisahide quiet, but clearly.
-That sensation is not just the swords power by itself. informed Nero.
-Really, now? Do you care to explain your statement in more detail? asked Hisahide.

-Fair enough. said Nero.
After I had met that imposter of mine, she suddenly challenged me to a duel, in my interpretation, at least.
She was tired out from her battle against the Night Terror, but she proved to be a worthy experience despite that.  
As the battle continued, it felt like I were blacking out, but I still fought, somehow.
I came to when I were about to, against my own will, execute my opponent.
That must have been caused by the Soul Edge...
But just as I were about to kill her, a twisted apparition appeared out of nowhere.
It spoke to me, but I remember only on thing he said.
"I am the Protector of the Abstract Garden."
Soul edge could even scratch the monster, and when I came in contact with its wretched claw, Soul Edge became unbearable to hold or look at.
Of course, I grew resistant to the new pain after a while, but I were most fortunate to even escape from that encounter.  

-You have surpassed my every expectation. said Hisahide.
Not only have you claimed one of the most infamous blades every forged, but you have also encountered a being who completely brushed away the sword.
We are very weak indeed, if even Soul Edge is a plaything in the eyes of those from the World Above.
Rest Nero.
Now when the night Terror is obliterated, it will be possible for us to break into the heavens...

And find the Truth.



(Background Music: Phantom Brave Original Soundtrack - 104 My Little Garden)

Back in the Dimensional bridge.

Claus and Suzomina looked puzzled at what they saw.
Hakumen, Claus and Suzomina had journeyed from  the Abstract Garden to fin the ruins of the old city, Anomia.
Small pink flowers grew on the flat grass, and a horned beast laid peacefully in sleep by a small lake where water were shot into the air, like the lake in itself were a natural created fountain.
A few pillars stood around the lake, all infested with vegetation.
-Hakumen, are you ABSOLUTELY sure that this is Anomia? asked Suzomina.
The vast lanes of buildings, the palace and all the debris... they are not here.
-I have no doubt in my mind that our exact position RIGHT HERE is where Anomia used located. answered Hakumen.
Claus scratched his hair with confused thoughts.
-To me, this looks like a Sanctuary, just like the Abstract Garden. said Claus.
-Could it be the case that Anomia has disappeared once and for all? asked Suzomina.
-That is a real possibility. said Hakumen.
Ever since Claus defeated the Consumer and we ended Lord Sima Shi's reign, all the negativity that held together those ruins of despair seems to have dispersed.
What ruins we saw are now ashes, and the only thing that remains is the castle garden where we faced Sima Shi and ended his aspirations.
Claus looked like he was lost in thought.
-Could that mean... that the grounds that the city were built on were a Sanctuary to begin with? asked Claus.

Hakumen suddenly noticed that the horned four legged beast had woken up.

(Background Music: Sengoku Basara 4 OST-Genesis)

The creature were covered in a blue armoured hide, and it stood on its four legs proudly.
It started to speak in a low, bellowing voice.
-Young boy, I have heard your thirst for knowlage, and I shall answer.
These grounds are known as the Sanctuary of Unity, since it has the most streams running under it, with the exception of the Abstract Garden.
Claus looked in awe at the stalwart horned beast.
-I never thought our question would have been answered by this Sanctuary's Guardian, itself. said Hakumen.
-...You are this garden's Guardian, correct? asked Suzomina.
-Let me quench your desire for answers. said the beast loudly and clearly.
My only name is Quadratus, and it is my duty to protect the Sanctuary of Unity and its residents! stated Quadratus proudly.
-Amazing... said Claus in awe.
I thought Darkrai was the only guardian on the whole Dimensional Bridge.
-That is a false assumption, young one.
Before we allowed travellers to construct a massive settlement, there was a Guardian for every Sanctuary! informed Quadratus.
Darkrai is one of our most revered, but he is far from our only protector.
42 members strong, we defend the Dimensional Bridge from all threats!
-My, Hakumen!
We have found someone who can match your level of ham. said Suzomina and laughed.

(Background music: 1 - 4. Recollection Hill)

-I let my pride blind my reason! I have frightened honoured friends of Darkrai!  
Now, I am stuck in the void of regret! said Quadratus in a very Shakespearian way.
-It really is no problem here. assured Suzomina.
-But I have to do something before I can earn your gracious forgiveness. said Quadratus anxiously.
-If you want to do us a favour, then I would be satisfied if you let us rest in this Sanctuary. requested Hakumen.
Our journey here has exhausted our strength and willpower.
-That is a reasonable demand, but our Sanctuary is having a problem already.
I let you weary souls rest here if you solve this conundrum...
What kind of problem is it? asked Claus.




Find out, and do stay tuned...



(Background Music: Atelier Rorona ~Alchemist of Arland~ OST Disc 1 Track 21 - Hitori Shizuka)

Existensia: Dimensional Cripples!
Comic Theatre!

Only one thing remained in the Abstract Garden, and that thing were one sad Maes Hughes.
He had missed Claus' heartfelt goodbye, and he didn't get a single scene in this chapter...
Now, he sits and looks at a photo of his beloved wife and daughter, since no one wanted to hear his story.
You don't have to feel too bad about Hughes, trough.
Darkrai  and Saber have heard about Maes' wife and daughter more times then any sane creature would care to remember.
     
Are you waiting for the funny part of this epilogue?
The zinger that's supposed to make you laugh?
There is none of that here.
Seriously.
.
.
.
...Unless you find Maes' loneliness amusing, ya weird bastard.