Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Traces
Protagonist and Antagonist.
These words traced back to the very beginning, when Fantasia was first forged from dreams and stories told around flickering fires.
Long before dimensions learned to dance together, before Reality and Fantasy even knew each other’s names, the Seer had witnessed a vision that still haunted her ethereal existence.
It was a vision of absolute collapse.
Both dimensions crumbling like dry leaves as an overwhelming darkness consumed everything in its path.
The congregation of all evil, the origin of darkness itself - an entity so fundamentally wrong that its very existence threatened to unravel creation.
The Antagonist.
But in that same prophetic nightmare, a saving stellar light had blazed through the consuming void.
Hope made manifest, promises of salvation wrapped in radiant energy that could push back the endless night.
The Protagonist.
Both were fates and manifestations of perfect Yin and Yang, cosmic forces destined to clash in a battle that would determine whether existence itself survived or dissolved into primordial nothingness.
Their fight, and whoever emerged victorious, would decide the fate of both Reality and Fantasia.
No pressure at all for those caught in the middle, indeed.
***
In an unknown location shrouded by shadows so thick they seemed solid, a meeting was taking place that would make most people’s nightmares seem like pleasant dreams.
*Flicker... flicker...*
The chamber was vast and circular, its obsidian walls carved with symbols that hurt to look at directly.
A massive table dominated the center, surrounded by 8 hooded figures whose very presence made the air taste of copper and despair.
Above them, 3 ornate thrones sat elevated on a dais, each one uniquely crafted to reflect its occupant’s nature.
The left throne was carved from what looked like crystallized screams.
The right was made of bones that still twitched occasionally.
The center throne appeared to be constructed from compressed darkness that absorbed light like a hungry void.
All 3 thrones were veiled in shadows so absolute that the figures seated within them seemed more like suggestions of existence rather than actual beings.
*Puff!*
One of the bluish flames hanging from the ornate chandelier suddenly flickered and died, leaving behind only a wisp of acrid smoke.
"3rd Inner Circle Leader Vex’ahlia died."
The voice came from a hooded figure with the number 3 engraved in silver upon their dark robes.
Their tone was completely neutral, neither male nor female, neither young nor old.
Just disappointment wrapped in shadow.
The chamber fell into the kind of silence that made people want to confess sins they’d never committed.
But it didn’t last long.
"But she has fulfilled her purpose."
This voice belonged to the figure marked with the number 5, their tone carrying the cold practicality of someone who’d learned to view people as chess pieces.
"Isn’t that a job well done? I say this is a great success towards our goal!"
The third voice was almost obscenely cheerful, coming from a smaller hooded figure bearing the number 2.
Their enthusiasm was so out of place in the macabre setting that it made the shadows seem to recoil slightly.
"Success?"
Number 8 leaned forward, their posture radiating skepticism.
"We lost a potential powerhouse. In just a few more decades, she could’ve become one of us."
"Potential means nothing if it’s never realized."
Number 7’s voice carried the bitter wisdom of someone who’d watched countless promising individuals fail when it mattered most.
"She was given an opportunity and squandered it through weakness."
"... Weakness?’
Number 3 shook their head slowly but just kept that thought inside their mouth, but the genuine sadness creeped into their distorted voice.
"But what could have killed her? The mission parameters suggested minimal resistance from the survivors."
"Perhaps she encountered an unexpected monster during the dimensional instability," Number 4 suggested with clinical detachment.
"Or made a tactical error that cost her life," Number 1 added with cold authority.
"The world is chaotic right now. Even experienced operatives can fall to unforeseen circumstances," Number 6 observed with pragmatic indifference.
’No. That woman is too cautious and shrewd to fall from just that.’
But Number 3 clearly didn’t agree with those shallow reasons, they didn’t know Vex’ahlia.
Only number 3 knew how capable and cunning Vex’ahlia is... for her to die during this mission...
There’s definitely someone involved, not just some accidents or mishaps in the plan.
"Still, losing someone of her caliber..."
Number 7’s voice carried genuine regret.
"She had such potential for advancement within our ranks."
"Potential that remained unrealized," Number 1 countered harshly.
"In our organization, power determines everything. The strong survive and thrive, the weak become stepping stones. It’s the purest form of natural selection."
"Natural selection doesn’t account for random catastrophes."
Number 4 interjected, their tone suggesting they’d argued this point many times before.
"Sometimes death comes not from weakness, but from circumstances no amount of preparation could predict."
"True strength adapts to any circumstance."
Number 1’s voice carried absolute conviction.
"If Vex’ahlia had achieved genuine power, whatever killed her would have been irrelevant."
"Easy words when we don’t even know what she faced," Number 8 muttered, their voice carrying traces of old pain.
The argument was beginning to escalate when a new voice cut through their debate like a blade through silk.
"... I can sense the faint presence of the Antagonist."
The words came from the right throne, spoken by a figure whose identity remained hidden behind the veil of shadows.
"..."
Every hooded figure around the table immediately fell silent.
The shock among the Grand Elders was so palpable it made the very air taste of electricity and fear.
"Crowned Veritas..."
Number 3 spoke with respectful curiosity.
"How is that possible? The Antagonist has been sealed for–"
"Time means nothing to entities of that caliber."
Crowned Veritas interrupted, their voice carrying the weight of absolute knowledge.
"Seals weaken. Boundaries blur. And certain events can create... opportunities."
A chuckle echoed from the left throne, rich with dark amusement.
"That’s right. It looks like the Antagonist has finally decided to intervene... for better or for worse."
Crowned Oblivion’s voice carried the playful malice of someone who found chaos genuinely entertaining.
The Grand Elders immediately erupted into frantic whispers.
"If the Antagonist is active—"
"Does this change our plans?"
"Should we adjust our timeline?"
"Wait. Doesn’t this mean that our goal is..."
Their excited babbling filled the chamber until another voice cut through the noise.
"That’s besides the point."
The center throne finally spoke with such absolute authority that every other voice instantly ceased.
It looks like Crowned Dominion’s words carried the weight of inevitability itself.
"Whatever the Antagonist wants, and regardless of an inner circle leader’s death, we finally accomplished our goal of advancing this world into the next stage of the 2nd Trial. Chaos has been seeded. Evolution has been accelerated."
They paused, letting the implications settle like dust after an explosion.
"What I’m more intrigued about is the fact that the Protagonist has finally revealed herself."
Every figure except the other Prime Crowned leaned forward with interest and excitement.
"... We found the Protagonist?" Number 3 asked with disbelief and shock.
"We should strike immediately," Number 1 declared with military precision. "Before they can fully awaken to their potential."
"Agreed," Number 6 added with cold calculation. "The Protagonist is still in their developmental phase. Now is our best opportunity to rip the bud before it grows."
"We could also attempt an abduction," Number 4 suggested with clinical detachment. "It would be a good bargain against the counter factions."
But their eager planning was interrupted by Crowned Veritas’s next revelation.
"It’s intriguing that the supposed dead angel is the one who’s destined to be the Protagonist."
"Hm?!"
"What?!"
"!!!"
The words hit the chamber like a meteor strike.
Every Grand Elder fell into stunned silence as the implications sank in.
"Wait... what did Crowned Veritas just say?" Number 8’s voice carried barely contained shock.
"An angel? Which angel? It can’t be... right?" Number 4 demanded with urgent curiosity.
"I can sense the Protagonist’s energy signature emanating from HER," Crowned Veritas continued calmly. "Aurelia. The First Star Valkyrie."
"..."
The name dropped into the chamber’s silence like a stone into still water, creating ripples of disbelief that reached every corner.
"...I–Impossible," Number 1 whispered, their usual authority cracking slightly.
"She died eons ago during the Heavenly Demon War," Number 5 added, their voice tight with confusion.
"The legendary First Captain of the Celestial Cradle..." Number 2’s cheerful demeanor had completely evaporated. "She’s... alive?"
"Not just alive," Crowned Veritas clarified to others with precision. "She’s awakened as the Protagonist. The energy is truly unmistakable."
"..."
The Grand Elders exchanged looks of mounting alarm despite their concealing hoods.
Aurelia wasn’t just any divine being - she was a legend even among legends.
The angel who’d led the charge against the demon armies during the great war.
The warrior whose name was whispered with reverence even in the darkest corners of reality.
"So Vex’ahlia..." Number 3’s voice cracked with sudden understanding. "She encountered the First Star Valkyrie herself."
"That explains it... No wonder she died," Number 8 muttered with newfound respect for their fallen colleague. "Even we might struggle against such an awakened opponent."
"This changes everything," Number 6 observed grimly. "We weren’t planning to face a resurrected legend."
"That’s the other point, what we should worry about is the fact that now the Protagonist has been revealed..."
Crowned Oblivion’s voice carried wicked amusement as they continued,
"... The white birds won’t stay quiet for long. Heh-heh-heh."
"..."
The implication hung in the air heavily.
If Aurelia was truly alive and active, the entire Celestial Heaven would immediately mobilize especially after knowing she’s the fated Protagonist destined to save both dimensions.
And attacking her right now wouldn’t just mean fighting the Protagonist - it would mean war with every divine being who’d ever served under her banner and those willing to protect her to grow.
Even the Grand Elders, for all their power and arrogance, weren’t eager to face those huge odds.
"..."
The silence stretched until Crowned Dominion finally made their pronouncement, "It’s time to advance our plan. It might be ahead of schedule, but circumstances have made it necessary."
Their voice carried the finality of a judge delivering a death sentence.
"Proceed with the gathering for the mass sacrificial ritual. It’s time to double up our own powerhouses."
"!!!"
The Grand Elders reacted with shock, but their surprise quickly transformed into eager anticipation.
If they were accelerating that particular plan, it meant it’s time to make the major next move.
"... It shall be done," Number 1 spoke for the group, their voice filled with dark satisfaction.
"The preparations will begin immediately," Number 5 added with professional efficiency.
One by one, the 8 Grand Elders began to fade from the chamber, their forms dissolving into shadows as they departed to carry out their orders.
"..."
And soon, only the three Prime Crowned remained in the vast space.
"The human beside the Protagonist..."
Crowned Veritas spoke thoughtfully, their voice carrying genuine curiosity, looking at the image protected within their minds.
"He’s an odd being."
"Oh~? What makes you say that?" Crowned Oblivion asked with obvious interest.
"The faint energy signatures of both Antagonist and Protagonist... I can sense them both from him. And there’s something else..."
Veritas paused, as if tasting the air itself.
"He seems to have overcome death itself."
"Hmm..." Oblivion’s voice carried delighted intrigue. "How fascinating..."
"..."
Crowned Dominion remained silent, but their thoughts were clearly occupied.
An anomaly.
That’s what this human represented.
In a cosmic chess game where every piece had a predetermined role, anomalies were either the most dangerous threats or the most valuable assets.
Sometimes both.
It looks like a little bit more observation is needed with this one.
***
Meanwhile, in the ethereal beauty of the Celestial Cradle, two figures stood before the transformed crystal that had once been dark and lifeless.
Captain Sigrid gazed at the massive formation with an expression mixing wonder, relief, and determination.
The crystal’s bluish-silver brilliance had evolved into something even more magnificent - a dreamy starlight radiance that pulsed with the cosmic rhythm of destiny itself.
The signature color and energy of the Protagonist.
Beside her stood Brunhilde, the Winged Crimson, one of the finest warriors in all of Celestial Heaven due to her insane brute strength and rugged fighting style derived from all of her learnings and experience.
Behind them, dozens of other Valkyries prepared for deployment, their divine armor gleaming like captured moonlight.
"The 2nd Trial countdown has accelerated dramatically," Sigrid observed, her gaze shifting to the mystical timer floating in the air above them.
The numbers flickered and changed with disturbing speed, showing how drastically the timeline had compressed.
"The dimensional barriers are unstable due to forced evolution. It creates an opportunity."
She turned to face Brunhilde directly.
"Someone strong enough could slip through by restraining their power to acceptable levels. That’s why all the powerhouses are sending low-level messengers instead of coming themselves."
Brunhilde nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation immediately.
"But with the current chaos..."
"Exactly," Sigrid continued. "Under direct orders from the Heavenly Father, you’re authorized to descend to Earth. Find our long lost comrade... Aurelia."
The words sent shockwaves through every Valkyrie present.
Even they had been stunned when the Heavenly Father himself had sensed the Protagonist’s energy signature.
The revelation that their legendary First Captain was not only alive but had awakened as the prophesied champion had shaken the entire Celestial hierarchy.
"The rest of us will prepare for a potential battle under my leadership during the 2nd Trial," Sigrid continued, her voice carrying the authority of someone who’d stepped into impossible shoes.
"But your mission is reconnaissance and contact. Find our former captain. Assess her situation. Determine what support she needs."
Brunhilde’s response was immediate and filled with emotion.
"I accept this honor gladly, Captain."
Her voice carried the devotion of a student who’d never forgotten her teacher’s lessons.
Throughout the eons, even after Aurelia’s supposed death, Brunhilde had continued training according to the techniques their First Captain had taught her.
Every sword form, every tactical principle, every philosophical approach to combat - all of it had been preserved and practiced in Aurelia’s honor.
Now, impossibly, she would have the chance to see her mentor again.
As Brunhilde made her final preparations, checking weapons, adjusting her power restraints, and reviewing her mission parameters, her fellow Valkyries gathered to see her off.
"Bring her home," one whispered with tears in her eyes.
"Tell her we never forgot," another added softly.
"Let her know the Cradle has been waiting all this time," a third said with quiet reverence.
Sigrid watched the emotional farewell with understanding.
Aurelia hadn’t just been their leader - she’d been their inspiration, their moral compass, their proof that even divine beings could aspire to something greater.
Her loss during the Heavenly Demon War had left scars that still hadn’t fully healed.
"Good luck," Sigrid said simply as Brunhilde prepared to depart.
Their eyes met, and in that moment, both warriors shared the same hope.
That somehow, against all odds, they might be reunited with the legend who’d shaped them both.
As Brunhilde’s form began to shimmer with immense dimensional shifting energy, Sigrid turned back to the transformed crystal.
"..."
The starlight radiance pulsed stronger now, as if responding to their preparations.
As if Aurelia somehow knew they were coming.
’I hope you are doing well, Aurelia.’
The thought drifted through Sigrid’s mind as she watched the light dance within the crystal’s depths.
After eons of believing her dearest friend and greatest inspiration was gone forever, the impossible had happened.
Now all that remained was to bridge the gap between dimensions and bring the very First Captain home, and the only light and hope that can save both dimensions from the inevitable darkness that will consume them all.
***
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