~Angelica~
My breath was ragged as I ran back to the hill in where Jaern was last sighted. I leaned forward onto my knees, and continued to gulp in breaths of air.
Even as my lungs cried for oxygen, my chest couldn't help but erupt into the spontaneous convulsions of laughter.
I did that.
I just literally tore apart some people using a power I hardly understood how to use. Viciously. And made it feel so simple.
I continued to laugh maniacally before I began to cough and hack.
I placed a hand on my chest, and I kneeled forward onto one knee. However, this didn't help my fit as I continued to lightly convulse and shake underneath the sudden coughs.
My tongue tasted iron as I brought my hand to cover my mouth. The moment it met my lips, something wet was there.
I nearly instantly pulled my hand back, blue specks of blood left on my thumb, which made my stomach turn.
Uh oh.
I placed my hand back to my lips, and I pulled it back once more. Thankfully, it was only very small specks this time.
Surprisingly, mother offered me no support here as I finally gasped for air one last time, and I swallowed. My tongue no longer held onto the taste of blood, which sent off a pang of confusion and worry through my chest.
I took in a slightly shaking breath, but I stayed put. I took in stabilizing breaths before I looked to the knife in my hand darkly.
Thanks to the deaths of those Sky Cult interlopers being at the hands of magic, my clothes and hands weren't stained with blood.
Though I did stab one of them, so the knife in my hand was stained with the baked, crusted blood of my first victim.
I sighed as I drew my index finger over the blade. Some of the dried blood flaked off easily, so I shrugged lightly.
I lowered my hand, and proceeded to clean the evidence by wiping it off in the grass.
I began to reflect on the deed. The ways I had gotten rid of those cultists was torturous.
It was heinous, but that's what made it exciting.
Especially since I took my new magic for a spin.
Mother had said that I learned quick. She didn't exactly condone what I did to those humans, but she was impressed by my sheer raw magical ability.
I racked my brain for the other short lessons Nyx gave me, just in case I'd need them again.
Surely I would.
I rubbed my chest once more as I finally got to my feet.
Angelica, Jaern was last seen flying near the city you attacked first... Helios. Right now, Ananke just veered him north-western and Tethys is on his tail. He seems to have gone towards your modern... Amphitrite. Ananke is confident that is where you shall trap him.
"Mm. Gotcha." I said. "Then she is right. There is where he will make his last stand as Augur. I will instruct my cultists to help Ananke and Tethys keep him on track to Amphitrite."
Good. However, make sure you have plenty going relentlessly on Jaern's underlings. Surely they'll try to intercept.
"Yeah. That's what most of them should be doing now." I said. "I'll dial up Astelle and see what we can do."
Mother didn't respond, but I took that as the green light as I pulled my phone from my bag.
I sighed as I pressed Astelle's contact, and pressed my phone to my ear.
Astelle didn't pick up immediately. However, on the last ring, I heard her voice come though.
"Angelica! Hey, what's up? Sorry, I'm trying to help Christian take on these cultists! So I'm gonna need this message to be quick! Duchess, Psychic!"
I smiled at the command in my ear.
"I need some of you guys to come help me. We're so close to trapping Jaern in Amphitrite City, and we need to make sure that's where he goes!"
"Dazzling Gleam!! Okay, I gotcha! I'll beat these guys and round up a group!" She responded.
"Great. I'll see you in Amphitrite, then." I said before clicking the end call button.
I sighed as I leaned back against the mound of dirt that was behind me.
Apparently this is where Persephone is supposed to be.
Then lucky me she's not.
I rubbed my temples before I reached back into my bag. I put my phone down before I retrieved Xerneas's capsule.
I stole a look at it for a moment. The thoughts of returning Xerneas before the massacre swirled quickly in my mind's eye.
Surely she'd ask what had happened.
Something in my gut hoped that she wouldn't.
I took in a stabilizing breath as I tossed the Pokéball.
"Xerneas," I said.
Of course, Xerneas appeared before my eyes at my call. She turned to look at me, and she stared for a moment.
Her gaze met mine. I tried to keep my face neutral, but the worry that she's ask kept my stomach swirling. I waited for the question.
And waited.
"... are we going?" Xerneas eventually addressed.
I stared for a moment.
What? No question?
I inflated my cheeks with air before I nodded.
"... yeah. Sorry. I guess I'm lost in thought." I responded. Xerneas obliged by bringing me up to her back. Once I was secure and gave her the signal, we darted off.
✧✧✧
Midna Town passed by in a flash. Xerneas ran as fast as she could, which was pretty quick without her Geomancy, which wore off while I was taking care of business. Xerneas did not ask me what happened.
Part of me believed she was afraid of the answer. Or wouldn't get a straight one.
Honestly... yeah. She wouldn't get a straight one because I'll admit. The act that was performed was vile.
But the sheer strength I felt in that moment. Maybe I should go ahead and start planning the way I should dispose of Jaern.
Route Two came and went nearly as quick as Midna Town did. The water was lovely to look at under the afternoon sun, but the sight was replaced with even more trees as we barreled through the northeast part of the region before turning westward.
I kept an eye out for any... unwanted followers. I rolled my eyes at the previous encounter with Audrey and Wyatt.
It ends in the name of Mother and Father. Bah.
It endures in the name of their work. But I don't give a shit about how the people of Torren view me. The end justifies the means.
After all, they're sitting back on their asses. They have no right to choose who saves them; from a superhero who is righteous and doesn't mind doing these things for people. Or a jaded anti-Heroine who has no problem tearing apart the enemy to silence them.
Literally.
After all, I brought Zenith to his knees. That's nothing to sneeze at. I saved their ungrateful butts from becoming a slave army.
Xerneas continued to stay quiet as she thundered along. I moved my head ever so slightly to the side to view about where I was.
It seemed to be... almost at the Mount Rose Base.
I shot the blasted mountain a look that would shred it to pieces it looks could do that.
Then again, the crater DEFINITELY had to be in shambles. I cringed at the memory of the loud sound of the mountain crumbling as Astelle, Christian, and I escaped.
Arceus, that was loud as hell.
As Xerneas ran on, my mind shifted back to my sworn-childhood enemy.
Mother gave Zenith his powers. So they were connected in some way. And if Zenith was a valuable pawn of the Giratina... Group, I guess with how many times Nyx reinforced that they weren't a cult, why did they let me kill him?
I quieted with these question prevalent, expecting Mother to give me answers.
She stayed silent instead.
I sighed at my head. Gotta be mysterious, I guess. I expect answers later, ma.
Xerneas quickly trotted across the grass as I heard some far-off shouts. I sighed through my nostrils, and I squeezed my legs ever so slightly to encourage Xerneas to not stop. The sky over here was pretty overcast, but I just shrugged it off because I'm like, maybe a few miles away from Amphitrite now.
I grinned at the thought, but that's when I felt it.
The air was cooling.
And fast. Like, plummeting temperatures.
Xerneas nearly skidded to a halt, causing some grass and dirt to fly everywhere as she began to look around, trying to find the source of the air-cooling. The hairs on my body almost instantly flew up in a strange chill; even my bandages arm began to ache strangely.
I almost instantly shuddered, feeling some of my magical aura flow through my hair and escape into the air. I breathed out of my mouth, and I could see my breath.
So I held up a hand, and focused my energy into my fingers.
"Adolebitque." I commanded.
Nearly instantaneously, the familiar, now pretty brutal-capable azure flames burst to life in my hand. I huffed as the warmth almost instantly flowed into the air, making the nearly sub-zero feeling air. I leaned forward onto Xerneas's neck, and held the flame between my now shaking form and Xerneas's neck.
If she could feel the cold she didn't let it show, but I saw an ear flick; a show of appreciation that I cared enough to share the warmth. I cuddled close to Xerneas, trying to absorb the magical heat.
"ANGELICA. LEADER OF THE PROCLAIMED "GENESIS" CULT."
I almost jumped out of my skin, and Xerneas snarled in response to this voice.
Xerneas was looking up, but I didn't need to to know who it was.
Not again. I heard mother growl quietly.
I agreed quietly. Audrey stood on Kyogre once more, over the route leading to Amphitrite City.
I swore in my mind.
"... dammit Audrey, what's your obsession with me?" I asked, not hiding my exasperation. "Move. Please. This is the only time I'll ask you nicely."
Audrey stared at me before she tipped her head back, and laughed. Loudly.
I sighed in irritation. Of course.
"Move? Why should I share the glory of hunting down and ending Jaern with anyone else?" She asked.
I growled at her.
"Your sorry ass had better not have finished him before he gets to Amphitrite. I swear to Arceus." I hissed.
She laughed.
"Arceus No." she said. "Why would I waste my energy chasing him down when you've already done it for me?"
I sighed.
"Whatever. Move your happy ass or I will shove you aside!" I shouted.
"Ha!! What arrogance." She spat. "Your stupid little tricks won't save you this time."
"Shoot. You're going to fight me again?" I asked. "Dammit, can it wait? I'm on a tight schedule here! I promised my people I'd shove a boot in Jaern's arse by the end of the day."
Audrey laughed again.
"I'm afraid you won't get to do that. But I can for you in your stead," she said. "'Cause by the end of this, you'll be in my custody, feeling every pain you've caused me and more."
"Arceus-damn," I said. "Haven't you learned?! You've said that to me already and yet here I am!"
"Bah!! Enough prattle." Audrey bit, clearly having had enough. "Your end is nigh, Angelica. Pick a god and pray, because you'll need them for where I'll be sending you."