Trinity Cluster 4th "The arrival of the Conqueror"

The sky was clear over the Sacred Ruins when, suddenly, a portal tore through the heavens. A figure emerged, sat on the edge of the rift with his feet dangling, and smiled. It was Gill Lapis. His hair fluttered in the wind as he adjusted his gloves.

—It’s a beautiful day. Why don’t we change that a little? —said Gill Lapis.

—Are you going to make us fight in the rain? —Ashwyn asked as she stepped through the portal, stopping beside him.

—A little water never hurt anyone —Gill Lapis replied.

—Do you think they know we’re here? —Ashwyn gestured toward the ruins. There were barely any troops below, and none seemed to have noticed their presence.

—Oh, they know we’ve arrived. It’s only a matter of time —Gill Lapis said.

—I don’t like waiting —Ashwyn muttered.

—Learning to wait is also a matter of time —Gill Lapis said as he stood up—. But you don’t have to learn that today. Let’s begin.

Beneath them, at ground level in the Sacred Ruins, an enormous horizontal portal ripped through the fabric of reality. From within, hordes of abominable creatures emerged. They were cryptids—beings that had once been alive, their bodies blackened by the curse that had twisted them into grotesque versions of themselves. Fire and smoke seeped from the cracks in their flesh. They moved like nightmares, crawling and sprinting toward the nearest living beings, eager to spread their corruption.

The same scene played out across multiple locations in Protopaterpolis. Academy City, the outskirts of Light Castle, the Aradia Forest… Gill Lapis’ forces struck four different locations simultaneously. The Conqueror observed the chaos unfolding below with cold indifference.

—When will they arrive? —Ashwyn asked impatiently.

—Patience, my dear friend, patience. If there’s a portal to Millennia in this world, then the so-called “heroes” must have a powerful sorceress skilled in space-time magic among their ranks. And if not… well, if not, we will go to them ourselves —Gill Lapis said.

In Academy City, all the heroes had gathered. Hachisuka looked at the others and nodded solemnly. They were ready to fight. She embraced her sister, Alex, and, within her arms, finally allowed herself to cry. Hachisuka was far too young to be queen, forced to face the end of the world without even having time to grieve her mother’s death.

—Everything will be okay —Lucie said, trying to comfort her.

—Her Majesty is strong. And she has us by her side. Do not lose heart —Zacky added.

—Sister, Mother would be proud of you —Alex Sansta said.

—I know. Thank you. All three of you, truly —Hachisuka said, pulling herself together. Then, with a slight nod, she gave Utsunes permission to begin.

The witch conjured the skull over her face and began to spin counterclockwise. The air crackled. Utsunes’ magic bent time itself, and with this level of power, it also warped space. She could create portals—not to other worlds, but to different locations within Protopaterpolis. They had rehearsed this beforehand: Zacky had stationed troops in strategic positions so Utsunes could send them where the detective had predicted Gill Lapis would strike.

Portals began to open around them, linking to Light Castle, Academy City’s hospital, the Sacred Ruins, and the Aradia Forest. Alex Sansta extended her hand, placing it at the center. One by one, Hachisuka, Moonglow, Alex, Bianchi, Mi Sung, Wu Xiaohu, Robo Maeda, Goliath, Zacky, Lyka, and Lucie laid their hands over hers in a gesture of unity. This was the true Coalition—Protopaterpolis standing as one. Only Utsunes, Gandennnia, and Wang Sia kept their hands away, watching with aloof smiles.

The portals closed as the last of them passed through.

At the Academy City hospital, the alarm blared like a funeral dirge. Cryptids ran rampant through the streets, chasing students and soldiers alike. It was all part of Zacky’s plan: she had predicted that Gill Lapis would target the heart of the city.

The portal through which Zacky stepped deposited her beside Aideen, who was already clad in his combat suit.

—How’s the new queen holding up? —the doctor asked, slipping on a glove. Across his knuckles, the word “SOON” was etched.

—She’s a good kid. She’ll do fine —Zacky said, adjusting a wristwatch with the HANADA Group logo on its face.

—Together until the end, my friend? —Aideen asked, putting on his helmet and extending a fist toward her.

—With you? —Zacky said, bumping her fist against his— Elementary.

The two stepped outside the building. There, Academy City’s self-defense forces awaited them. It was a civilian army, composed of both humans and automatons, all armed with HANADA Group weaponry. Their mission was not to save the city, but to save its people. They had to evacuate as many civilians as possible while waiting for Goliath’s signal, the one that would mark the beginning of the counteroffensive.

Zacky’s forces numbered around three thousand, but she wasn’t sure it would be enough.

—Gentlemen —Zacky said, exhaling. She pointed forward, where the cryptids were charging toward them at full speed—. Let’s save this city.

Far away, deep within the forest of Aradia, Gandennia and Utsunes unleashed the full extent of their power, knowing there would be no consequences. It had been a long time since the witches had used their magic freely, without restraining themselves. Ancient incantations flowed from their lips, while magical fire, propelled from their fingertips, licked at the cryptids, disintegrating them on contact.

But the witches’ magic was not the only force at work. The forest itself fought back against the invaders. Trees raised their branches and roots, moving as a single collective consciousness, crushing the threats, burying them beneath tons of wood and freshly upturned earth.

—I'd like some tea —said Gandennia, waving her fan. All her servants had answered their mistress’s call. Even some new ones she didn’t recall hiring.

—Not the time for drinks —Utsunes retorted, summoning a massive green skeleton. The colossal creature swept through the cryptids with brutal swings of its arms, but the enemy seemed inexhaustible. Wave after wave poured from the portal.

The witches pressed on with their attack. Powerful as they were, they knew their magic had limits. Utsunes slapped a cryptid across the face, accelerating its time and aging it hundreds of years in an instant, reducing it to dust.

—Gandennia, look —Utsunes said. The arm she had used to strike the creature had blackened. Her kimono’s sleeve remained untouched, but beneath it, her flesh cracked, and red flames seeped from within. Without hesitation, she severed the limb at the elbow.

—It’s an infection —Gandennia declared—. Servants! Do not touch these creatures with anything organic! Do so, and it will be your doom!

Utsunes cast a temporal reversal spell on her arm, and in an instant, her skeleton regenerated. She flexed her newly formed bony fingers, watching them move through sheer force of magic.

—I think using just bone should be fine —Utsunes mused, plunging her skeletal hand into the face of another cryptid. This time, her arm remained untainted—. Ah, see? We've learned something. It must be fully organic, but with non-bony tissues, it seems.

The trees, however, were not as fortunate. Wherever the cryptids fell, their corruption spread. The trees' hues darkened into a sickly shade of gray. The two witches realized they had to prevent the creatures from reaching the heart of the forest, no matter the cost. With renewed effort, they continued their magical onslaught.

At Light Castle, Hugh had been fighting alongside his troops for some time when the arrival of Hachisuka, Moonglow, and Wu Xiaohu was announced. The general received his queen atop a tank, with the entire fleet of ground and aerial tanks lined up behind him.

—Let’s take back the city —Hachisuka declared.

No further orders were needed. The tanks fired, and the troops roared at the sight of their queen leading the army, charging straight through the city's main gate. Inside, soldiers, bandits, and even civilians battled against the invasion with unwavering discipline and ferocity. Hachisuka swung her spear with brutal force, sweeping the legs out from under a cryptid before driving the weapon into its face, ending its existence. Beside her, Moonglow wielded his sword with relentless precision, cutting down dozens of cryptids with ease.

Hachisuka felt her cheeks warm. She liked seeing her betrothed fighting by her side.

Then, the sand came.

A sandstorm engulfed the city. From within it, creatures made of sand emerged, of all shapes and sizes, even divine beasts in the form of sphinxes. Thoth had sent his welcoming committee.

Hachisuka did not retreat. She had prepared for this moment. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small vial and coated her spear with its contents. Then, she struck the sand creatures. Upon impact, the sand changed color and fell to the ground, never rising again.

—It works —Hachisuka said—. Yokoshima’s anti-magic elixir works! Moonglow!

—I saw it! —Moonglow called back.

—Hugh, cover us! —Hachisuka shouted, firing a flare into the sky. She grinned. Ever since Alex Sansta had told her about these flares, she had wanted to try one.

A volley of gunfire carved through the sand enemies, though only for a brief moment. Then, Hachisuka’s aerial tanks released a fine but steady mist of anti-magic elixir across the battlefield. The sand creatures collapsed like insects under poison.

But the cryptids remained.

Hachisuka’s army charged. They had won the first battle, but the city was still occupied, and Thoth himself awaited them in the castle. The real fight had only just begun.

The last portal opened in the Sacred Ruins. That place was the heart of the battle. There, automatons of the HANADA group, sharkfolk, treefolk, the Makoto Cloth Corps, and Skulks stood together as a single force against the cryptids. Though they were winning, the battle did not seem to be tipping in their favor, for a single woman, screaming like a madwoman, was holding back half of the allied forces all by herself.

Kimihe and the Skulks trampled the cryptids, charging into them, harassing them from the flanks, never ceasing their gunfire or their vicious attacks with chains and melee weapons. They were a swift and unstoppable force, though they seemed to inflict little damage on the cryptids. To the north of the battle, the Makoto Cloth Corps danced, enveloped in a storm of crackling energy, taking down cryptids with impeccable discipline and fluid movements. The sharkfolk, led by Rucheel, fought in their own way, wielding long tridents to keep the cryptids at bay. Yggsei and the treefolk were surrounded, yet they had not ceased fighting. It was a titanic battle that had only just begun.

Alex Sansta, Bianchi, Mi Sung, Lyka, and Lucie, the heart of the Coalition, were back at the Sacred Ruins, accompanied by Wang Sia and Robo Maeda. Once enemies or mere strangers, they now stood as friends and allies.

—We must help our friends! —Alex said immediately.

—We have to stick to the plan, princess —Bianchi replied.

Zacky had given them precise instructions. Their group had the hardest mission of all: defeating Gill Lapis and Helen in single combat. Robo Maeda surveyed the battlefield, peering over his glasses.

—I don’t see the Calamity —Robo Maeda said.

—I can feel her magic, but I cannot see her —Wang Sia added.

 —What about the Conqueror? —Alex Sansta asked.

—I’m right here —said Gill Lapis, whispering by her ear.

Everyone jumped in shock. The group scattered, raising their weapons toward Gill Lapis. Alex alone did not move away from him. From deep within her eyes, she could sense Thir’ahmh staring at their enemy, ready to strike. Gill Lapis made a sweeping motion with his hand, gesturing at them.

—Ah, you are a “hero” of this world. How much I despise those who think that are important —said Gill Lapis.

Alex Sansta raised a finger, pointing at him.

—You’re a coward —Alex said to Gill Lapis.

—How brave you are, little princess. You remind me of your mother —Gill Lapis replied.

—You don’t get to talk about my mother —she growled, taking a threatening step toward him.

Bianchi rushed to Alex’s side, machine gun in hand.

—Two against one? That’s not fair —Gill Lapis scoffed—. Why don’t you all try at once? Maybe then it will be a more balanced fight.

—Bastard! —Mi Sung roared, charging at him.

Suddenly, Ashwyn appeared out of nowhere. She delivered a double kick to Mi Sung’s chest, sending her flying backward. Mi Sung landed on her feet like a cat, a wide grin on her face.

—Who is this girl? —Alex claimed.

—He has other allies? —said Lucie.

—That’s a problem —said Bianchi.

—Can I start killing now? —Ashwyn asked. A massive black sword hung from her back.

—Have fun. But don’t dirty my Heteroclite Excalibur —Gill Lapis said, crossing his arms and leaping onto a large rock to sit.

—Your sword thirsts for blood —Ashwyn murmured, launching herself at Mi Sung, blade drawn.

Robo Maeda stepped in. The clash of forces was deafening. Ashwyn’s strength was titanic, enough to overpower Robo Maeda. But the automaton had tricks up his sleeve: he deployed more weaponry than anyone had ever seen from him before and fought Ashwyn on equal footing.

Mi Sung rose and joined the fight, her muscles tensed to their absolute limit. Lightning crackled around her, an aura almost palpable radiating from her form. With a single punch, she sent Ashwyn sprawling. The next strike wrenched the sword from her hands.

—Is that all you’ve got? —Ashwyn sneered.

The Conqueror unleashed the beast within. Hair spread across her shoulders, her muscles grew, and her claws extended into deadly talons. She drooled and howled, bloodlust in her eyes.

A second monster joined the battle. Alex had unleashed Thir’ahmh, but now they were one entity, recognizing each other as equals. Alex Sansta had finally managed to tame the Hound of Eternity. Bianchi activated his combat gauntlets, standing alongside Alex/Thir’ahmh to fight Ashwyn. Together, they managed to push the Conqueror back, but Ashwyn did not look afraid. If anything, she looked thrilled.

—Is this all you have? Send me your most powerful warrior! I want to FIGHT! —Ashwyn roared suddenly.

—What? Aren’t we enough? —Thir’ahmh snarled, slashing at her chest.

They discovered then that Ashwyn’s regenerative power was immense. Blood and flesh tore away with the strike, but the wound closed within seconds.

Both women, in their monstrous forms, launched into a frenzy of bites, slashes, and kicks, neither able to drive the other back. But Ashwyn seemed to be gaining the upper hand—she was taking blows from Mi Sung, Robo Maeda, and Bianchi, yet she ignored them as if they weren’t even there.

—Don’t you want to try your luck? —Gill Lapis asked, looking at Lucie, Lyka, and Wang Sia.

—You’re next —Lyka said.

—Why not now? —Gill Lapis smirked, standing up.

Wang Sia conjured a runic symbol and hurled it at the Conqueror. Gill Lapis shattered it with a mere flick of his hand. The young mage narrowed his eyes at the warlock.

—That was runic magic —Gill Lapis mused—. Who are you?

—Test me and find out —Wang Sia challenged.

—I have a friend who will love meeting you —Gill Lapis chuckled, sitting down again—. Shouldn’t you be helping them?

The witches turned their heads: Thir’ahmh was gone. Instead, Alex Sansta knelt on the ground, clutching her chest. Dark marks spread across her face, a result of the prolonged transformation into Cthulhu. She gasped for breath, her eyes wild, on the verge of collapse.

—Was that all, princess? Is this the best you have?! —Ashwyn roared.

Bianchi and Mi Sung rushed in to fight Ashwyn together, while Robo Maeda tended to Alex’s wounds. The two Coalition protectors tried to keep Ashwyn away from the princess, buying her time to recover.

—Let’s make this more fun. Witches, come at me! —Ashwyn taunted.

But none of the three moved. Zacky’s plan had been for them to conserve their magic to face Helen: Ashwyn was not meant to be part of the fight. They were supposed to be fighting Gill Lapis by now, not a mere minion.

—No? Fine! I'll kill the princess! The one you're so desperate to protect! —Ashwyn said.

The beast-woman moved so fast she was almost invisible. Only Robo Maeda reacted in time, blocking a strike that would have crushed Alex’s skull. But by the time the others moved, the automaton was already on the ground, defeated. Alex ran toward Bianchi and Mi Sung, but Ashwyn traced a runic symbol in the air and fired a beam of light at the princess’s back.

—Runic magic?! —Lucie, Lyka, and Wang Sia gasped in unison.

Gill Lapis burst into laughter.

But the beam never reached Alex. Bianchi had discarded his gauntlets, propelled himself forward, and took the full impact. His torso was burned, his eyes rolled back. He collapsed. Alex fell to his side, checked his pulse, and let out a howl of anguish.

Bianchi was dead.

—NOOOOOO! —Alex screamed. He couldn't stop crying, clutching Bianchi's body.

Ashwyn lunged at the princess, claws raised. Mi Sung rushed to defend her, even knowing he wouldn't make it in time.

But Lucie intervened. She used her magic to block Ashwyn, undoing her transformation, reverting her to her previous state and appearance. Ashwyn let out a strangled cry, unable to move: Lucie was holding her in the air, perfectly positioned for Mi Sung to strike at will.

A black magical beam tore through the air, striking Mi Sung in the chest, knocking the monk down and snuffing the light from his eyes. Mi Sung died instantly.

Everyone turned to Gill Lapis, who merely shrugged, with a magical symbol of a black moon drawn in the air in front of him.

—Did you really expect me to just stand here and watch? —Gill Lapis said—. I wasn’t about to let you hurt my dear Ashwyn.

—You'll pay for this! —Lucie shouted, rising into the air with her elemental magic.

—Lucie, no! —Lyka called out.

—Finally, some action! —Gill Lapis grinned.

Lucie unleashed energy from every element against the Conquerors. Light, fire, water, wind, and darkness merged into dazzling explosions, materializing as tiny floating elementals that swirled around her.

While Gill Lapis dodged effortlessly, Ashwyn had to defend herself, she had spent nearly all her magic in the previous battle.

—Agh! My cryptids! To me! Give me your power so I can unleash the beast within me! —Ashwyn cried.

A group of cryptids rushed toward her, but Lyka, now transformed into an elephant, crushed them without hesitation.

Lucie’s magic raged on. Elemental forces of all kinds hammered at Gill Lapis, who dodged or deflected them, clearly entertained. The Conqueror moved as if dancing through the magic, his gaze distant, occasionally flicking toward the sky.

—Oh no —Wang Sia gasped—. Lucie, finish him! He’s waiting for reinforcements!

Lyka charged at Ashwyn, shifting into an eagle, sinking her talons into her chest. In an instant, she morphed into an armadillo, curled into a ball, and launched herself at the Conqueror’s face, drawing blood. Twisting midair, she transformed again, this time into a tiger, slashing at Ashwyn’s arm, tearing even deeper wounds.

But they weren’t healing.

—Damn, you’re good —Ashwyn gritted her teeth.

—And you’re running out of magic —Lyka smirked.

—Finish them already! —Wang Sia shouted, trembling.

Lyka shifted her focus, charging at Gill Lapis. Every strike from Lucie was a torrent of pure energy, while Lyka attacked with the precision of a predator. Their coordination forced Gill Lapis—finally—onto the defensive. With one final, combined effort, they drove the Conqueror back, forcing him to leap away from them.

—About time! —Gill Lapis yelled.

Above them, a final portal tore opened in the sky. Its depths were red, reeking of ash and death.

A surge of smoke, darkness, and screams poured from it. And at its centre, floating amid the chaos, was the woman Lucie had been searching for all this time.

Helen. The Calamity. Her so-called “mother.”