Strength

Be strong in the Mother...

And in the power of her might...

Put on the whole armor of God...

For you being able to stand against the wiles of the deceiver...

Flynn and Fleur rushed throughout the fields behind the lab, the two clashing and matching each other's might evenly. Flynn parried Fleur's next attack then countered with a flurry of jabs with her spear, but Fleur swiftly evaded each attack before rushing forward with a rising knee, knocking Flynn in the air.

Fleur grabbed Flynn's ankle and yanked her back down, causing Flynn to experience a bit of whiplash and become disoriented then delivered a barrage of swift strikes upon her body. She blasted Flynn away with a burst of holy energy then unloaded her entire magazine toward Flynn.

Flynn recovered onto her feet and looked up, noticing the white bullets flying toward her at high speeds then began rapidly slashing in front of her, deflecting each bullet and sending them flying everywhere. She spun her spear in a circular motion then placed the base of her weapon upon the ground, a soft scoff leaving her mouth.

Fleur flipped her hair and adjusted her sunglasses, an unamused exhale leaving her nose. "I expected nothing less from you...granted you did grow up with two Princes. One of which you falsely accuse, yet you take arms in a lying wrench like Dahlia."

"Lying? What does she have to lie about? Her and Lament showed me the truth of what happened! He killed Zachary, he killed Priest Vince, he slaughtered all of those Nuns! How can you trust him?! Now he's turning Luciel into a Herisee!" Flynn said in deep distress, genuinely believing what she was shown and told.

Fleur exhaled softly at Flynn's testimony, lowering her Gunblade then met Flynn's hostile expression with light sympathy. "You've been led astray. I don't know what they told or showed to you, but it isn't true. I was there, I saved Nox and Luciel's lives two years ago! I witnessed the truth! That entire church was already affected by Lament before Nox and Zachary got there!"

"Liar!" Flynn retorted with a thunderous tone, stomping her foot down with a childlike tantrum, her body shaking as she didn't know what to think. "You lie... if that's the case then why did Merin tell me the same story as them..?"

"What..?" Fleur asked in genuine shock, her gaze averting to make sure she heard Flynn correctly.

Before Fleur could give her response, the sound of an explosion in the distance grabbed their attention, the two of them taking cover from a stray blade beam cleaving through the ground and past them. They looked back once again, noticing me on the defensive, having to dodge and evade Merin's more aggressive pursuit.

"The world is in need of a new Hero, Nox...can you rise to that occasion as Exzodia's Prince?" Merin chuckled lightly as he walked toward me, red lights flashing within his black clouds and firing lasers of red energy toward me.

I quickly dodged the lasers, even deflecting some with a few swipes of my blade, but one loose laser slipped by me and headed straight toward Fleur. She let out a surprise squeaked, my butterflies quickly flying toward Fleur to warp her out of harm's way.

Fleur appeared above me, falling into my arms in a bridal carry and she held onto me tightly, her breathing slightly shaky from the sudden shock. We locked eyes for a moment before turning back toward Merin as he began clapping with mock amusement.

"Simply wonderful performance, Nox... Aware of your Maiden without even having to look in her direction. You must be very attuned to her," Merin probed with a white grin, taking his blade out of the ground and hummed lightly.

I set Fleur down and unsheathed my sword once again then took on my Avenger Stance, my amber eyes flashing brightly and my Plant Materia glowing brightly within my blade. "Hmph, it's just all a part of my training with her..."

"Come then, show me more of your prowess then..." Merin challenged, getting into his stance once again.

I let out a grunt as I lunged toward Merin on the offensive this time, launching a powerful slice which Merin blocked then launched another swift slash, but he blocked the attack once again. I dodged his counter slash then got low on the ground, sweeping Merin off his feet with a kick then launched him backwards with a powerful double kick to his side.

Merin grunted softly as he rolled along the ground then recovered onto one knee, looking up and noticing a dark blue silhouette above him then groaned as I struck him from behind with another slice. As he flew forward, Fleur rushed forward with an assisting kick upon his midsection to knock him back toward me.

I bellowed as I generated floral yellow energy around my body, my butterflies flashing between dark blue and floral yellow. Letting out a powerful roar, I awakened my Deep Roots then landed a swiping whip upon Merin's back with one of my roots.

"Can you keep up with me now..?" I asked, rushing Merin with a barrage of attacks, each attack planting one of my butterflies upon his body.

I knocked him away with a swing of my sword then snapped my fingers, activating Nutrient Absorption, each butterfly glowing brightly and sapping Merin's energy. He grunted loudly in uncomfort as his energy was sapped and drained, allowing the butterflies to become Nature Seeds.

Merin grunted as he was brought down to one knee, wondering how I could've unlocked a new form of my Dark Lord Ability. He chuckled lowly as he slowly rose back to his feet, his Mana recovering exceptionally fast. "Oh, I see...Floria gave you her power huh?"

"Now you've become 13 times stronger with your Nature Seeds, however what good is that power when you know not what to do with it!" Merin laughed, generating pools of light energy around me and Fleur.

I grabbed Fleur's hand, knowing I couldn't teleport anymore due to being in my Nature Mode then threw my sword forward, warping both Fleur and myself out of range of the silver energy blades erupting from the pools of energy. I tossed Fleur in the air, allowing her to find safety in the trees.

Fleur landed on the top of a tree branch then shifted her Gunblade into her Gatling Gauntlet, equipping it onto her left hand and propelled herself back toward the battle. She bellowed as she launched a spinning kick, but Merin ducked under her strike then blocked my slice from behind.

The three of us engaged in a heated dance, the entire field seeming to stop and observe the battle before them. Fleur and I worked tirelessly to find an opening upon Merin, but he was too reactive as if he knew what move we'd make beforehand.

"Fleur, back up!" I warned, diving to the side to avoid a large, thin silver cutting wave headed toward us, the wave cleaving through the ground.

Fleur dodged the cutting wave then glanced backwards, noticing the cutting wave slice through a lone tree in two like it was butter. She gulped lightly and slowly turned back to Merin, slightly afraid of his unnatural strength.

Merin dashed toward Fleur with a grand slice, but she blocked his attack with her Gauntlet, grunting heavily as he began to overpower her. Merin chuckled softly as his blade began to cut through her gauntlet, nearly reaching her skin, but quickly evaded my root at it flew between the two.

"Great reflexes Nox, but let's see how well those reflexes truly work with all 13 seeds," Merin hummed, launching two cutting waves toward me.

I sliced through both cutting waves then stuck my blade into the ground, my eyes beginning to glow with the flames of the Apex Lion. "You're gonna see more than that, 'brother'.."

I smashed my fists together, flames spiralling around my arms to manifest the Lion Gauntlets upon my hands, their golden surface gleaming under the sunlight. Merin grunted softly as he heard Leona's roar in the air, the high winds becoming hotter with each roar I let out.

Roar!

Roar like the voice of Yuvah's Judgement!

I let out a primal roar at the sky, spiralling flames surrounding my body, yet not harming Imogen's land but aligning with it. I got into my low stance then launched myself toward Merin with a spinning kick, but he blocked my attack, grunting heavily at the power behind my attack.

I scanned Merin's body, pinpointing his weak points and locking onto them before striking each weak point with near perfect accuracy. Merin's body began shutting down due to each successful strike landing upon an Mana Point, leaving him open for a crushing Lion's Fist to his chest.

Merin flew backwards, but quickly recovered onto his feet and skidded backwards, finally falling onto one knee. He chuckled as he coughed lightly, light blood leaking from his mouth. He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb, his eyes slowly narrowing up toward me.

"So, the Apex Lion is still alive? How did Leona survive the Great Lamenting?" Merin asked with genuine curiosity, his tone falling more serious upon the topic.

"It was a part of Genesis's will...Just as Terminus will come as a roaring lion, mocking the Apex Lion that Genesis created, the Original will remain because her flame never dies out," I began, watching as Merin stood up on his feet.

"Merin...you bare something that isn't yours. You mock Zachary! Tell Flynn the truth about what truly happened! You were there when it all fell apart...why does Flynn believe I killed the Fosters? Why does she believe I killed Zachary?" I asked, my gaze becoming sharper than ever for answers.

Merin chuckled softly at my question and crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at my increasing anger, seeing my flesh could barely handle Leona's indomitable burning strength. "Oh? Is this what it all comes down to? Flynn...you did ask about it earlier, yes.."

"To answer your question...you simply did it. While Zachary fought tirelessly, you hid...you folded over...then when it came too much to bear, you snapped.." Merin continued, planting more seeds within Flynn, making her remember the day of the Fosters' fall.

"Those chains...your undying hatred for the Daemons. Her parents mistook you for a Commander Type Lament and attacked you...then you killed them in cold blood. The same story with Zachary," Merin finished, a genuine grin stretching across his lips.

My eye twitched with annoyance at his obvious lie, knowing he wasn't telling the full story. Everything he said was true about my awakening...but he altered core moments of my own past. "Liar..."

"You dare still deny it even when—"

Before Flynn could finish speaking, a looming presence appeared behind her, its vines wrapping around her mouth to keep her quiet. She let out surprised muffled yells, struggling within the restraints of the powerful Ent, one of my Nature Seeds diapering and returning as a butterfly.

"I've had enough of you, Flynn...shut your mouth. Dare to speak again, I'll have you meeting Judgement before you even learn the truth," I said with quiet wrath, my burning eyes slowly drifting over to Flynn.

Both Flynn and Fleur flinched at my simple glance, their skins crawling with goosebumps as they only felt the presence of righteous wrath before them. Flynn immediately fell silent, not daring to make a single sound and stood still.

'So this is the true strength of your Spirit...you hid all of this since the day you appeared very well. A righteous Spirit...and a Heart of Justice just like Ragnarok. No doubt...you are He...' Merin thought to himself, amused with how I handled Flynn with minimal effort.

"You are a liar, Merin..." I began, a memory playing in my mind with white static over it. I balled my hands into fists, glaring at Merin with anger rattling in my soul. "You know the truth...so why lie..?"

"Lie? When have I ever lied to you, Nox? All my life I've only told you the truth," Merin shrugged, his demeanor completely casual about the manner. "What I said was the truth...and if it isn't, you tell us what truly happened."

"I will," A voice sounded in the distance, golden and black butterflies fluttering toward us in the distance.

We all turned toward the source of the voice, a figure in a white cloak standing upon a branch of the Tree of Life. The figure jumped down the tree, white clouds forming beneath them to catch their fall. We all watched as they approached us, their presence providing a warm peace for all of us, even Merin and Flynm.

"On the day of the attack...there was a serpent slithering around the Fosters' own land. That serpent walked amongst the survivors, slaying the Daemoms... including the Fosters in the midst of the chaos. All fingers will point to the easiest target," The cloaked figure said, their gaze shifting over to me.

"Serpent..? What do you mean?" Fleur asked, tilting her head with slight confusion.

"A Deceiver slithered amongst the innocent that night, and frames Nox... spreading their lies slowly but surely. Those lies will land, and the people will believe those lies as man are meek..." The figure began, their gaze shifting back toward Fleur.

"Beware of false prophets, teachers, and Herisees... Whatever lie was known truth is now known false, and Nox's name is cleared in the name of Yuvah and His Almighty glory. Now, the rest of the world...shall learn Nox's name...they will deny he is the rightful Prince...yet he is He,"

The figure took one look at Merin, their pupils becoming sharp and vertical within the shadows of their covered face. They turned to speak to Merin both directly and indirectly.

"And all who walks with the Prince of Exzodia...shall declare Nox as their Lord as it is written. Those who deny the name and title of the Son of Yuvah shall perish without knowing the presence of God," The figure finished, their body dispersing into a flock of doves and the presence of Peace leaving with them.

Merin chuckled softly at the figure's message and closed his eyes, his sword dispersing into blessed energy particles. "Well, you all heard it. Nox's name is cleared..."

"Yeah, but only to our ears. The rest of Exzodia doesn't know that and because of you all, his entire reputation is destroyed!" Fleur scoffed in response, her gaze hardening as she looked at Merin.

Merin raised his hands with surrender, lowering his head with a soft exhale. "We were only believing what we were told...now we know the truth.."

I stared at Merin and scoffed lightly at him, my Deep Roots retracting back into my body and my Nature Seeds returning as butterflies. The Ent released Flynn's mouth then disappeared into the ground as roots, Flynn falling onto her knees with heavy pants.

"Let's go Fleur... we're done here," I said, walking off without another word.

"O-Okay," Fleur grunted softly, following after me with quick steps.

Merin watched as we left and let out a soft exhale then turned toward Flynn, noticing she hadn't moved from her spot. He walked toward her and reached down to help her up, but Flynn smacked his hand away with pure anger in her heart.

"You lied to me..! You had me hating my brother for two years, over a lie that was never true!" Flynn cried, tears of regret rolling down her face as she looked up at Merin.

Merin glanced down at Flynn, noticing a small spark of light emitting from her chest in the size of a mustard seed, his eyes twitching with subtle annoyance. "Look, I genuinely believed it as well. We were all mixed in with the chaos, no one knew the truth.."

Flynn shook her head and stood up slowly onto her feet, backing away from Merin and sniffled softly. Her trust in Merin had began to falter, her eyes displaying a look of betrayal. "No... They looked directly at you when they said it! They said it to you! You, Merin! You—"

Merin launched a black cloud at Flynn in the shape of a hand, the cloud covering Flynn's mouth and physically stunning her. He pulled Flynn toward him, his mana blue eyes becoming a corrupt red hue. "You always believed huh..? You always had that spark of doubt in you..."

"Yeah...what that figure said was true. Nox is the true Crowned Prince...the one the Book of April was truly talking about. The person August references multiple times..." Merin continued, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"Zachary needed to die for his prophecy to begin...but due to my two year stall...his prophecy can never begin without the Sword of Spirit ability. Genesis has failed...just as Ragnarok has.." Merin said, his dark clouds engulfing them both and transferring them to the Church of Exzodia, the 13th Haven.

Merin launched Flynn toward the ruined church, her body crashing into the destroyed altar with a loud thud. She grunted as she fell onto the cold floors, her hand holding her aching back for support. She looked up slowly as she heard the metallic sound of her spear landing in front of her, her blurred vision rising to look at her true tormentor.

"This is where his prophecy should've began...where he should've been truly crowned Son of Yuvah, but...due to my interference, Lament found him just in time before the butterflies could completely absorb his grief," Merin said, walking toward Flynn and summoning his masamune in his hand.

Flynn quickly grabbed her spear and lunged at Merin with an upper slice, but her blade phased through his body as if he wasn't there. She grunted in shock then groaned in deep pain as she was blown back by a dark invisible force, her back slamming into the altar again.

"Why..? Why me..? All I've done...is keep my faith in you, Yuvah..! Why...must I suffer for nothing...where are you when I needed you...?" Flynn softly sobbed on the ground, her strength slowly fading in the face of Merin.

"Praying to Genesis won't work... Ragnarok surely will not answer you. And Yuvah...He most definitely will not accept you. You chose me, you're Fallen...a Corrupted... They all hate you," Merin taunted, towering over Flynn like a demon over their sleeping victim.

"Thanks to Laneret foolishly showing me where the Zodiac Cores are, awakening the Zodiacs and obtaining their power will be easier than ever. I will become the new Ascea, the new Nexus...the New God," Merin finished, holding his blade over Flynn's body.

"So...do you accept Nox as the prophesized Savior..? As your Lord?" Merin asked, looking down at her with serpentine eyes and a wicked grin.

Flynn stared at the ground, thinking over her entire life with me and Zachary. She closed her eyes, remembering all the laughs, the times I allowed her to lay her worries upon me, all the times I've been there for her. She opened her eyes again, taking a deep breath and exhaled.

"I do...I do accept Nox. He is the Son of Yuvah," Flynn said under her own volition, looking up at Merin with a renewed gaze, her eyes shifting from blood red to her normal garden hazel color.

Merin shook his head slowly, raising his blade in preparation to execute Flynn. "Witnesses of Nox's anointment...shall perish..."

Merin slashed downward with an executioner force, but white clouds manifested over Flynn's body, protecting her from Merin's strike. Both Merin and Flynn looked surprised, Merin gazing upward and noticing a dove perched upon a large statue of the Nexus behind the choir stand.

Ye who shall have faith in the Mother in tbe size of a mustard seed...

Shall bare wondrous fruits...

Have faith in She, yea..

For Genesis is Yuvah's grace and mercy...

Flynn heard the voice of the dove, her tears still flowing down her cheeks and her heart full of repentance. Merin looked down at Flynn, smirking as she repented for her sins and began backing away from her coolly.

"Have faith, Dragon Slayer... We shall see how long it lasts..." Merin said, vanishing within his black clouds mysteriously.

Flynn was left alone in the same ruined church Zachary died in, crying over her entire life and falling forward on her face with confession. The dove watched over Flynn before slowly shifting into a white snake and slithering toward Flynn.

The snake wrapped around Flynn in a maternal manner, white clouds manifesting over Flynn as she sobbed and weeped. The snake began whispering soft gospels to Flynn, Sephorine Roses sprouting around her one by one.