Anima, Ch.16: Salvation

[Anima, Ch.16: Salvation]
--01-- [Scene: Peaca Dungeon (since Albey isn't available)] <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
Having found the ominous black orb, we wasted no time using it to get to where the Goddess was confined.
This place was much darker, and radiated a palpable aura of malice.



--02-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
Every room presented a pitched battle with tough opponents——werewolves, armored skeletons, even gargoyles.
By the time we reached the end, we had all been battered, bruised, and slashed a few times.



--03-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
Our potions, Healing, and first aid had carried us this far. Our recuperative supplies were holding out,
but now, just before the final chamber, we were nearly at the limits of our endurance.



--04-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
"One more room," I gasped.
I was mentally drained and struggling to focus on casting spells, as if a swarm of insects
was buzzing around in my mind. Something about this world's Mana just isn't right.


--05-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
"Just a little more..." Vivian agreed. She winced with every step from lingering pain, after being
pummeled by a werewolf that had just shrugged off her attack.
There's limits to what Healing can do.


--06-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
A minor wound can be literally undone by Healing with no remaining traces. However, while Healing
a serious injury might stop bleeding and mend damage to the tissue, much of the pain lingers.



--07-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
"All right. One more," Devin groaned.
He readied a few of his remaining arrows. At one point, he'd fallen back to using a shortsword,
afraid he'd run out of arrows, and had taken some hard hits.


--08-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
"One moment..." I said. In spite of a pounding headache, and the incessant buzzing in my mind,
I intertwined five Lightning and Icebolt spells around my wand. "Okay. I think I can handle one more."



--09-- <BGM: Unspeakable Evil>
Vivian unlocked the door. Within the vast chamber ahead stood six armored figures.
The armors were *empty*, as if worn by an invisible presence, with a ghastly red glowing orb in their abdomen.



--10-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
One of them...spoke, a hollow male voice echoing within an empty helmet.
"You will meet your end here, humans."
As one, they raised swords and shields, and slowly, menacingly, advanced on us.


--11-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
"Well, don't leave me out," I retorted, blasting one of the animated armors with a combined torrent
of cold and electricity. Its advanced slowed, and the red light within it dimmed.



--12-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
I hit it again with another combined charge of magic, and the blood-red light within it went out.
The armor fell to the ground, inert, as if whatever force that animated it had suddenly vanished.



--13-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
"Aim for the light in their stomach!" Devin shouted, after seeing me take one down.
He fired off five shots rapid-fire, hitting the red glowing orb in another armor.
It went dark and collapsed.


--14-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
Vivian took a defensive stance as a ghostly knight closed in on her. It made a fierce overhead swing,
which she blocked with her shield, and countered by slicing through the light in its midsection.



--15-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
The baleful red light went dark, and the armor fell apart into its individual pieces at her feet.
The remaining armors, undeterred at the defeat of half their number, continued their attack.



--16-- {SFX: explosion}
The last three went down much the same as the first three did. Seconds after the last
animated suit of armor had collapsed into a pile of metal, a low rumbling sound filled the air.



--17-- <BGM: Scene 07> {SFX: explosion}
The ground began to shake.
"What's happening?" I shouted.
"An earthquake?!" Vivian screamed.
"It's not going to collapse on us, is it?" Devin asked.

--18-- <BGM: Scene 03>
The shaking lasted only a few seconds, though it felt much longer.
Distant sounds of cracking walls, falling rocks, and metal scraping on stone echoed through the halls.
Then...silence.


--19-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess> {SFX: huge success}
A brilliant white flash of light filled the room.
Once it faded...there was a woman standing before us.
She was wearing a white dress, had extremely long black hair...and pitch black wings.


--20-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
Thank you...
Your courage and sheer will have brought me freedom after all these years.
We may yet have time to stop a disaster...


--21-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
Just like the statues. Morrighan.
This...is a goddess? I don't know what to think of this...
I sure know what I'm *feeling*, though——an intense presence; overpowering, yet not overbearing.


--22-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
My friends are certainly overawed though.
Devin went all out with a full genuflection, and Vivian bowed deeply.
I show neither deference nor disrespect.


--23-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
"We came to your aid as soon as we could," Devin said, practically grovelling.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.



--24-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
I would like nothing more than to repay you for your efforts, but...we do not have time to do so...
Too long have my pleas fallen on deaf ears and closed minds. The hour is late...



--25-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
The Avatar of Destruction, the legendary giant...
Glas Ghaibhleann draws breath. Its resurrection is complete...
Do you feel the corruption of Mana? It is a warning that the summoning is finished...


--26-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
Glas Ghaibhleann has no will of its own, nor a conscience... Only its body remains.
It is totally under the will of its summoner...and it will destroy everything it encounters.



--27-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
Now, Cichol is trying to open the way for Glas Ghaibhleann to bring ruin to Erinn.
I am doing all I can to prevent this...but I cannot stop him much longer.
I have grown weak...


--28-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
"Then we're too late? What more can *we* do?" I asked, nervously.
Morrighan turned to me, and even through her closed eyes,
I feel her intense stare upon me...the gaze of the infinite.


--29-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
Find Glas Ghaibhleann's will and conscience that was separated from its body.
It has assumed a human form. Tell him that his body has been revived.
Give him the pendant I gave to you.


--30-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
He will help you find the Glas Ghaibhleann...
Then you must locate and slay it, before Cichol can send it to Erinn to begin its onslaught...
It may already be too late, but you must try...!


--31-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
"Dougal," I realized. "He's Glas Ghaibhleann."
"I understand. We'll do what we can," Devin said.
"I don't know what chance we stand against it, but we'll do our best," Vivian added.



--32-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
I will maintain the seal between the worlds for as long as I can, but I cannot hold out against Cichol
for much longer... Until I regain my strength, there is little more I can do for you but this...



--33-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
Morrighan raised her hands, and the air between them began to glow.
Suddenly, I felt...rested, revitalized, all my fatigue and pain gone; like I could run
for a hundred miles without stopping.


--34-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
Go with my blessing.
I will send you to the incarnation of Glas Ghaibhleann's will now...
Please hurry... Erinn faces its final hours...


--35-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
With a mere wave of Morrighan's hand, Devin and Vivian both disappear.
Morrighan turns to me, staring imperiously through closed eyelids.
She seems...afraid...?
Afraid of what? Isn't she a goddess?

--36-- <BGM: Dark-Winged Goddess>
(Morrighan)
I understand that you have...questions...concerning your nature.
Should you prevail over Glas Ghaibhleann, we will speak more of this... Mearaithe Dearg.



--37-- [Scene: Tir Chonaill?]
Without warning, I found myself outdoors, back in front of the abandoned old Chief's house,
with Devin and Vivian at my side.

They don't seem to notice I hadn't been sent here along with them...

--38-- <BGM: O Glorious Sword of Light> {SFX: wind}
The sky had turned as dark as night with a dense cloud cover. It felt like a storm was approaching.
Dougal was standing before us, leaning on his cane. He seems...surprised to see us.



--39-- <BGM: O Glorious Sword of Light>
(Dougal)
Quite a sudden change in the weather. What's happened?




--40-- <BGM: O Glorious Sword of Light> {SFX: thunder}
(Dougal)
...I see. You finally rescued the Goddess.
I'd congratulate you, but unfortunately, we don't have a second to spare.
My true body...is awake.


[chapter end]