.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Epitaph Complete ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter Nineteen- Epitaph Completed- The Real World/ The World

 

Two days later, with Jeanne working ten-hour days for them, she pushed the button.

“They are complete.” She said, wearily.

“Excellent.” Jeremie said. Ryo smiled, and Tsukasa held back a whoop.

“But, I found two things that don't fit the context of the books. One is a locked file I can't penetrate, but it appears to be of no consequence. The other, however, is much more interesting. It has Epitaph of some word written as its title. But, oddly enough, it mentions you, Jeremie. Or, at least, the Bearer of Light.”

“Let's see.” Jeremie said.

“It's under the file titled Bearer of Light.” Jeanne said. Jeremie nodded.

“How would you like to be compensated?” He asked Jeanne.

“Compensation?”

“Yeah. Is there anything you need, or would like?”

“Just the fact that I am a help in saving people's lives is enough.” She said.

“Wisely said for a Dothacker.” Ryo commented. Jeremie nodded.

“Is there anything we can do for you? Food, drink, or anything?”

“Nah, I'm fine. I guess I'll go back home.” Jeremie nodded and wrote something down.

“Good idea. Here is my character name. We should make minimal contact here, but in The World feel free to look me up. I mean, you are a Dothacker now, so you should be allowed some of the amenities we have.”

“Like?”

“Running from the Knights before killing them, killing the viruses, and other fun, life-threatening events.” Ryo said, a smile on his face. Jeanne laughed.

“Sounds like my type of crowd.”

“Just look us up sometime.” Jeremie said. Jeanne nodded and laughed. “After this is over, it should be safe for us to meet again. But, until then, ignore us. Especially me.”

“Okay. I will see you all later.”

“See ya on the flip-side.” Tsukasa said.

“Thanks.” Ryo gave her a hearty handshake.

“May the fates smile on you.” Jeremie said in a semi-prayer.

“May Hecate smile upon you all.” Jeanne bobbed her head as she walked out of the room.

 

Jeremie spent the next day reading up on the three books, learning anything that could become an aide to him. He finally finished the third book, his brain aching from reading, and found the folder that Jeanne had put the Epitaph in. He put on his visor and turned on the monitors that surrounded his office so Ryo and Tsukasa could read, along with BT, who sat behind his desk normally, and looked at his screen.

Jeremie looked at the file before opening it.

“Let's hope that this has something that can help.” He double-clicked the icon.

 

“In the realms of The World only Death shall be known.

After the darkening stars,

When the land doth void, the air full of unknown mourning

In the depths of the divided land, past the veil of doom,

Wreaking havoc is Conquest,

Bearing Death's standard, it fights all those who seek it.

The unknown visage, Chaos,

Deceives all with joy and sorrows, brought forth by Possession's Bearer.

The Horsemen shall be raised, only when the Prophet is killed.

A new Prophet shall emerge in his wake,

And shall aid Injustice.

When fighting Injustice,

Power's Bearer shall be destroyed when weighed,

Judged, and found guilty,

Using Light's technique.

When engulfed by peace, the Conglomeration of Horsemen shall rise

And stand against the Bearer of Light.

Deletion's bearer destroyed by the Prophet,

The King of Light remains.

When he learns the truth, he must seek it as well,

Destroy all who stands against him.

For upon the splitting of the Conglomerate, all that remains is the Void and the Veil.

Within is Death, waiting with open arms.”

`END OF FILE'

 

Jeremie laughed as he took off his visor.

“What? King of Light? I am Apeiron? I must ask Helba. Anyhow,” he sighed. “Apparently Casper is the new prophet. Should have figured. Makes sense now, at least. It gives a slightly more detailed version of the present. Basically there is a veil, like we thought, and the spells she and Boragia invoked allowed them to pass through, which raises another question- why can't Death pass through the veil unaided? I mean, Death exists in The World whenever monsters, or players for the matter, die. Is it possible that this veil only exists in the sense that it is their check? Another question is how can Death pass through, now that we have the books?” He asked, not as playful. He looked at Ryo.

“It is possible that there is another way?”

“Way for what?”

“Him to cross over the veil? Is it possible that the void split the veil?”

“Then why hasn't Death made his move?” Tsukasa looked at the Epitaph.

“Because he is waiting.”

“For what?”

“You.” She said, eerily. Jeremie looked at her.

“Waiting?”

“'Within is Death, waiting with open arms'. It's the last line. He's waiting for the final offensive from us.”

“Wait. What if I am the only one who can bring him forth?” Jeremie asked. “Then if I never see him-“

“No.” Ryo said. “That is like starting a story and never finishing it.”

“Simmer.” Jeremie said. “I am thinking of ways I can do this.” He sighed. “I guess that the only way is to nip this in the butt. I am going after Death. But, first, I want to complete this.”

“Sounds like fun. I'll be there.” BT said.

“No. This is my story; I was there at the beginning, I will be there at the end.” He looked at the group. “Besides, the Epitaph said nothing about other people being there.”

“Fair enough.” Ryo said as Jeremie replaced his visor to do some computer work.

“Why the visor?” BT asked.

“It makes it easier to work on the computer. It's much closer.”

“Ah.” Tsukasa said.

“I strike at dawn tomorrow. Now, what I am going to do now is piece together the Epitaph of Ragnarok for my writings.” Jeremie pulled out the USB chip that Helba had given him and smiled.

“This is for the idiots.” He said as he added the final piece to the document. There was a small beep. Jeremie looked closer at his computer, the others at the monitors still scattered around his room.

“What's this?” He looked at the folder that contained the document. There was a new folder, a zipped folder. He looked at it.

“Helba must have left this for me.” He clicked on the button that said to un-zip the file.

The screen turned white. Everyone looked closer at it.

“King of Light,” they heard Helba's voice say, “I grant to you the ultimate power. The power of your own inner strength.” The screen, and the sight within his visor, went black.

 

Sircosgi looked up.

“Wait, I didn't log into The World!” He was not on a normal field. Looking down he appeared to be floating on air. He looked around. It was a vast expanse of a grassy field. He saw in the middle of it a stuffed animal.

“Where am I?”

“This is my new domain.” Sircosgi looked over to see Aura.

“Aura? What's happening? How did I-”

“The final battle has begun.”

“Okay, stating the obvious there. HOW did I get here?”

“You are currently in a hyper-meditative state.”

“But I didn't induce it!”

“Your gift did.”

“And what gift is that?” Sircosgi asked, getting irritated. “I have yet to learn ANYTHING!” Aura waved her hand at him.

“Patience, young one. It will all become clear in a short while.” She pointed her hand at him and a book appeared. “Open it.”

“Beg pardon?”

“Read it. Open it.” The book floated to his chest, where he took hold of it. He looked on the cover and shrugged.

“Whatever.” He opened the book, and read the first line.

“'Hero of Ragnarok, take thine place.'” He stopped reading. “What does THAT mean?” He heard a crackle. “What the fu-?”

His body was levitated into the air. Sigils, symbols, runes, and other items flew out of the book and forced his arms apart, making his body shaped like a `t'. He felt his clothing rip off, baring him nude. His hair grew even longer, then tied itself into a long, thick ponytail, one that extended to his mid-calf before turning a pure white. The infinity marks on his cheeks burnt as they changed from their original color to a rich, deep gold. His eyes went from brown to a piercing blue. He then looked down and saw an intricate symbol being inscribed on his chest. It looked like two circles, with a square and the infinity symbol in the middle. Coming from the center of the infinity symbol was eight lines of light, which was soon covered up by his new clothing, a flowing, loose, white robe. He felt himself growing by at least a foot. He was then set on the ground.

Aura stood there, holding a staff with the sun at the top. She offered it to him, an item he accepted.

“KING of Light, Hero of Ragnarok, are you prepared to go on your mission?”

“As soon as you tell me what my gift is.” Sircosgi declared. Helba appeared.

“Don't you see silly? Your gift was already there. It was your ghost, your ability to adapt, to lead, to fight, to stand. I gave you the ability to wield all weapon types, and the ability that, while in a meditative state you can breach the line of being in The World and the real world simultaneously. However, that wasn't really the gift. When you met Boragia, he saw the infinity marks on your cheeks. Thus, he singled you out, due to a prophecy in those books you now have translated- `From Eternity an end shall come'. Thus, we didn't choose you, he chose you because you chose yourself, because your gift was that to do one thing.

“Your gift is the power inside, your inner strength.” Helba's voice became noticeably choked. “Sircosgi, you are one of the strongest people I know. Look at all you have been through, yet you still fight. Why? Not because it's easy, or because it's convenient, but because it is inside of you to do so. It is your will, your stamina, your drive, your passion, your intellect and objectivity, it is YOU, Jeremie, that is the gift, and that is something no one can take away.” Helba paused to collect herself. “You have realized your potential. Now, put it to the max. You will learn that I added one small gift to you, along with the others. Magic without spells. Just think of the effect you want, and it will happen instantaneously. I just amplified your inner will and desire to make this possible.”

“I still don't understand how to work this.”

“Will the earth to form a pillar.” Sircosgi pointed at the earth. It immediately turned into a crude pillar. “It will be more and more refined with the more thought put into it.” Sircosgi then extended his hands in the air. Immediately fire began to appear with sounds of thunder. He made them shoot into the air, exactly like fireworks that illuminated all that surrounded. He looked at Helba, his blue eyes now showing signs of red.

“We go to Death.”

“You go. I will monitor the situation.”

“I will see you afterwards.” He began walking away.

“Jeremie?”

“Yeah?”

“Be safe. Save us all. You are our, no, you're my only hope.”

“Star Wars?” Sircosgi said, a smile on his face.

“GO!” Helba nearly screamed.

 

Sircosgi stood on the edge of the bridge at Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground. He looked at the void underneath and smiled.

“Ready?” He sighed.

“Steady.” He said, saddened that no one else answered him. He leapt into the air and flipped so that he dove into the void.

“GO!” He shouted as he flew.