Terra woke up in his room...of his own home in Pyjama's only this time...he was not alone. He was on his bed but to his right was Emily in a floor bed prepared for him...looking restless. Terra sighed quite a bit as he looked out his window to what seemed to be a perpetual dull sky, thunder rolling.
As he looked outside, he saw a group of people, a hundred strong, doing a strike march "No More Rulers! No more Rulers! Tear down the foundary! Tear Down the Foundary. Keep Tari Safe! Keep Tari Safe! Get a new Goddess! Get a new Goddess!" Terra shut his window tightly
"They're...still at it?" asked Emily getting up in her own PJ's of a buttoned shirt and a pair of shorts
"Unfortunately so, it's pretty much daily now. People can sense the unease in the air and they want answers...and safety. How did you sleep?" Emily lowered her head
"I'm sorry for...imposing like this, you shouldn't have had to" he walked over and put a hand to her shoulder
"I...actually kinda had to, that's the thing" he said not at all trying to sound sarcastic "Especially since...you...don't have anywhere to sleep right now"
Terra turned on the news to see the female newscaster, and see the headline 'Tari crumbles away' "With every passing day...more of our beloved town continues to crumble and fall to the land below. Less than 55% of the population of Tari remains. Only sectors B2, B3, B1...and C2 truly remain with Sector C3 rapidly being evacuated"
"C3...is where you were staying" said Terra "you stayed there to make things easier on your family moving out...only now they're gone, as was your original house and now this one"
"Scientists and analysts are as we speak" said the Newscaster, her uneasiness easy to see and hear "Trying to estimate the fall...and the current estimation is not a happy one"
The Newscaster put a hand to her ear and her expression fell "I've just being told...both good news and bad. The Good news is Sectors B2 and B1 have the lowest risk of falling due to the core engines which are centred under them...the bad news is...if the estimation is true, Tari's eventually collapse is inevitable"
"Wait what!?" Emily said getting up with Terra now seeming worried as he was about to turn off the TV...but found himself unable to
"Estimated time is...Tari will be lost...in...from right this second..." A visual timer showing the number 23 "in 23 days"
"That's...over 3 weeks. Only...three...weeks" said Terra horrified
"We WILL inform of further details as it develops...and the reasoning behind this counter but...you'd...best make your plans to evacuate while you can"
Terra turned off the TV...dropping the remote "We...have only...23 days to...save Tari, just 23!"
"But how can it be so few?" asked Emily "I mean..."
"Let's go meet...Alexander now" said Terra to her "We...REALLY now do need to decide our future but here's the strangest part, I think that newscaster was telling the truth"
"How do you mean?"
"Can't you feel it? That weird...energy in the air, it's hard to describe but it feels...weak as if...dying"
"I...can feel...that too"
As the pair headed outside, they began making they're way down when "Look...look there they are!" A woman pointed at them "The boy and girl who will save us all!" immediately Terra and Emily were swarmed "Please Save us! Overthrow the Goddess! Save our Town!"
"Emily this way!" Terra yanked her free and ran away from the crowd. The crowd gave chase with Terra focusing his power and Emily the same, easily outstripping the group and even jumping over some obstacles "Come on...engage the power"
"Alright!" Emily eyes glowed blue and they both ran much faster, somewhat faster than human sprinting speed.
They got out of view of the people only to be confronted with another "Look...it's them!" "The wannabee Rulers!" "The reason our town is a misery!" they had run into the Anti-God force a huge group of people rebelling against the Rei RYghts, all wearing Masks and red shirts "They've come to surrender get them!" but Terra forged his blade and sliced at the ground to create a single arc that scattered them
"Behind us!" said Emily seeing the public still chasing them
"Emily take my hand and on my signal jump!" she tightly gripped Terra's hand, as he forced his blade into existence and flowing energy along it, struck the ground coating both in an explosion.
As it settled the public and Anti-God front met eyes...the duo nowhere to be seen. As soon at the groups saw each other, tension immediately built, with both sides firing arguments. Emily and Terra were behind a nearby vehicle and slinked away "This is...getting ridiculous now" said Emily depressed "Everyone knows who we are now"
"Come on...let's get going" he said nodding to her.
The pair made it to the facility which, in its rarity, was in a buzz of activity with workers going back and forth with documents, tools, machines and much more "What's going on?" asked Emily "Everyone seems busy"
"Or much more than usual" Said Terra confused "there either A, speeding up the Soul Ascension Project...or B clearing things out"
"Guys, there you are" said Laura running up and hugging Emily "Thank goodness, are you alright?" Emily nodded sadly, wiping her eyes "Thanks for looking after her" she said to Terra
"It's alright" said Terra shaking his head "Honestly...I...yes it's corny I don't want to be living on my own right now. Not with...how everything's going"
It's then Laura's expression...sharply fell as she stepped away "Emily...Terra, forgive me but...you'll have to do this on your own!"
"Wha...why!?" Emily said hurt by this "Laura"
"I don't have a choice...I...literally don't" Laura rubbed her eyes that cried a couple tears "My family is forcing me to go with them, they refuse to leave me here"
"Which is...natural of a family" said Terra sighing before murmuring "Not that I would...know about that"
"I tried to tell them I couldn't abandon you...but with that announcement yeah no go"
Laura sounded really hurt as she looked ready to cry "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry. I was left with an ultimatum. Five days...that's my limit. Five days at sun down...to which We're leaving to the land below"
"Five days?" asked Terra with Laura nodding before she smiled
"But...there was a compromise. Emily...and ---" Terra's name was silent "My family has offered for you two to come with them, and stay with them until you find your feet"
"That's...nice of them" said Emily happily "but..."
"Before we make ANY plans...let's find Alexander and the Captain" said Terra "We...REALLY do now need to decide on the future"
It took some doing, but they found Alexander working feverishly...with the Captain sat on a chair, dressed in a set of normal long sleeved clothes with what seemed to be a green glowing metal part on her chest "So...it is really true Alexander?" said the Captain tiredly
"Yes...Yoshino" said Alexander in torment as he slammed the table "I keep redoing the figures but it comes out the same"
"What comes out the same?" Alexander turned round to Terra with the girls "Doctor...we need answers now. No doubt you've seen the news"
"How can I not see it? Dam it all" he said sounding beyond guilty or irritated "Tari is truly out of time...all will soon be lost"
"Doctor...why is Tari sinking?" asked Emily "Is the Goddess still tearing the town apart?"
"No...No not anymore" said the Captain "It's due to something...much more natural"
The captain moved the computer closer to her, gasping for air, and after typing in showed a diagram to the trio. It depicted the town and a giant crystal at the centre "The scientists...actively track the health of Tari since...ahhh" she lurched forward beckoning them to worry "Alexander...prepare the capsule, it's time" Alexander nodded and exited the room
"Captain...what's wrong?" asked Laura
"I'll explain but listen carefully. Do any of you know how this town stays afloat? It's not science...it's this" she pointed to the crystal "An item we've dubbed the Faith Crystal"
"The Faith Crystal?" asked Emily
"No idea on the specifics...but we can be sure this crystal is connected to the morale of the world"
The Captain turned to them "We've detected energy spikes...when the people feel happy, particularly to the Goddess, and lows when they feel dulled"
"So...this crystal keeps things going?" asked Terra
"We believe so...but nothing concrete but how else does a big pile of rock fly with no rockets or engines?" all three looked between themselves in doubt while the Captain cringed again "Let's wrap this up. Either way...throughout the whole time we have detected energy readings...but in the last couple weeks they have dwindled...and as of yesterday the readings have died"
"Died?"
"The temperature is cold and no reading. We can only surmise...the energy core has whither. The lowering...energy readings...co-incide...with...the world's...ero...ero.." she outright fell forward, Terra catching her as he saw the corruption now visible on her face
"Captain...your face" said Emily panicking
"Take me...to...the...Emergency...room...2...quickly" Terra nodded with the girls helping to put the Captain to her back.
They hurried to the room, Laura and Emily opening the door to see...an open room but with five tall Capsules, looking state of the art with the apparatus and appearance of them. It was tall and white, the front had shiny smooth light blue glass and the insides padded and had a very padded seat. Alexander was operating a machine pad and pressed the buttons upon seeing them "Place...Yoshino inside the Capsule" Terra nodded and turning around ease her into the capsule, Yoshino helping herself on the seat as the capsule closed.
A Breathing mask dropped down, Yoshino putting it on her face as the capsule filled with a light purple liquid "Right...Question 1" said Terra firmly "Explain this"
"It's a cryogenic chamber" said Alexander "Or the next best thing. It'll help to stall the corruption process and even slowly heal it. We had prepared one for each of you"
"Meaning...you were prepared for us corrupting?" asked Terra "Which means you knew first of all it may happen to us...which I'm annoyed but thankful at. Right Question 2...Alexander is it really true? Is Tari sinking?"
"Yes...it's sinking. It's now only just noticeable but Tari is actually losing altitude as we speak. For now it's barely centimetres but...soon it'll be too much"
Alexander sat on a chair "I thought...honestly we had way more time but...the war between the Goddess and the citizens grew too toxic it seems, degrading the crystal further. The Faith crystal is powered by the morale of the people...and the faith they have in the Goddess"
"Well...it's alright there's still 23 days left" said Emily sounding hopeful "And me, Lauren and ----" Terra's name was unheard "Are super close?"
"She's right" said Lauren chiming in "I mean true I have only five days but still" Terra saw Alexander being rather quiet
"How long...do we actually have?" asked Terra "Until Tari falls"
"The rough estimate is indeed 23 days...but the true estimate is grimmer. With the falling speed predicted to increase and the erosion...Tari has only...seven days, six days until it collapses!"
The look of shock on all of them was VERY easy to see "Only...Only Six...days!?" Emily said falling to her knees
"Are...you kidding me!? Six Days!?" said Lauren "that's all we have left!"
"If predictions are true...yes" said Alexander grimly "I...won't mince my words. The rate of descent speed and erosion will be too great to reverse in six days time. At this point...only something truly inspiration to the people will save this town"
"there won't be anything TO save" said Terra "Six Days!?"
Terra paced back and forth panicking "What's more...I've had a very grim thought" said Lauren speaking up "This crystal runs on faith of the people...well soon there won't be ANY people to give Faith. People are evacuating Every day and no doubt we'll have a mass exodus soon"
"Five Days" said Terra plainly "that's my limit. Lauren...tell your family if that offer is open, I'll accept their offer gladly. I'll join you"
"Terra?" said Emily confused
"That's...literally all the time we have left now Emily. Five days is my limit. From today we will do ALL we can to achieve the Soul Ascension project. If...we don't succeed it by Nightfall of Day 5...I give in"
"No...no you can't!" said Alexander grabbing his arm "You're all that's left to save us!" Terra though threw him off
"Don't you think I know that!? We've done all we can...but by Day 5, it'll be pointless for us to continue. The land will be beyond any hope"
Terra tuned to Emily "I won't force this on you, what are you going to do?"
"I'll...agree with your plan please" Said Emily reluctantly "Five days for me too" Lauren looked a bit hesitant but happy
"Thanks you two. I'll tell my Mom and Dad to get things ready"
"In the meantime...let's go train and get ready" said Terra while Alexander grunted
"We...can't...give up, not yet" he then got out his mobile phone "Prepare the Soul Ascension operation...our saviour...will arrive to help us"
The memory...then oddly went static, the image barely visible but the sounds easy to hear "Hold it still...we can't let him escape!" called a voice
"No, No get off me!" said the panicked voice of Terra as the image showed restraints on me "NO LET ME GO!"
"You will save our Nation!" a distinct purple Gem appeared into view, drawing closer and burning his body "Emerge...our saviour"
"NO...no NOOOOOOOO!"
Terra came to with a start the Crimson room, gasping with the memory fresh in his mind "Well...nothing new got added, but it seems...my world was literally falling apart"
"The threads of fate...cruelly yank at your chains" said Igor plainly "Your chains of justice and duty, sadly common sense and rational thought break them away"
"Well the whole reason for me stepping up...was to save the town...kinda pointless if...you know and then...that ending. That was my voice...it sounded like I was...being forced"
"You are nearing...the true depths of your psyche. Only one crucial memory lays dormant in your soul...but as you draw closer, you will receive threads of that final memory"
Igor sounded a little stern or blunt "Do not be swayed by what you feel or hear...only continue to seek the truth. Only when...the one true friend to your soul comes to your aid, and you accept in kind, will your true memory and the truth of yourself be known to the world"
"But in the meantime...I have to live with all this anger and resentment I feel!?" said Terra irritated
"Do not take your anger on me. My role is purely to observe...the true culprits to your resentment resides in a single being, well previously, but now in two. One who is the cause and the other who shares the knowledge"
"F-fine...not like I have a choice"
"Do not despair...for karma will work itself out. Now then...onto business"
Igor drew four cards from a deck, each one depicting a member of Gold Third "You have travelled the nations, rekindled bonds and freed the Gold Third of their Torment. B-Sha ruled by fear, S-Sha constrained by Duty, K-Sha conquered by jealousy and C-Sha forced to loneliness. The Boundaries between Nations has broken, and the CPU's and Maiden's can reunite"
"At least they can join up" said Terra
"Now your new mission is so. Find the leader of the unseen Enemy that has deep influence in the world, seek him out...to advance the story to regain your true memory"
"Only question is this. Where will...I be exactly? I mean from what I can gather...I think I was in all four Nations, more or less at the same time" Igor chuckled
"How observant of you"
Igor picked up another card and laid it down to show Neptune "Your consciousness will flow to Planeptune, the other ones more akin to echoes. Your actions and memories remain but to the maidens and Goddess you'd have faded from space"
"Great...now I'll have them grilling me" he said face-palming
"Now go forth...and save the world from it's impending doom. The ruin is approaching. You will meet me...only two times more. By our next meeting, the truth will be there for you to see"
"Gotcha"
"One warning though. When the times comes...let go of your anger, and accept what is reaching to you"
"You wanna try speaking a normal sentence at one point? It'd do wonders" Terra stepped into a door and marched through it...leaving Igor alone.
Igor closed his eyes, his smile not leaving "How deep...does your anger go? To think you're dooming the entire world, its innocents and the Gods who protect it. You're even...breaking apart your one true friend, just for your own goal. You say you hate your loneliness but if you don't soon stop...they will be no sympathy left for you"
Terra's eyes awoke but to different room entirely, that of his bedroom in Planeptune. Terra got up...in Neptune's male hoody and pants and thought on it "That end part of the dream...it felt...wrong. I couldn't move and I was...panicking"
"You will learn the truth...my friend" a toneless voice spoke to him "I've been looking for you, for so many years"
"Who...who are you?" he called out
"Do not worry. I'll be there soon...I just need a couple more days, then we can both punish those who wronged us"
"Just...who...or better question what are you?"
"If you truly wish to know, or know a little faster, than gather up some strength...and take down Affimax. Then...it'll give me less time to see you. See you then"
Terra looked around for the voice "Defeat...Affimax? Well...it seems to be what I have to do either way, let's get it done. I've nearly uncovered the truth of my past in Tari, I just hope it's a good one"
END OF CHAPTER
"Well...it's nearly time. It's me Theodore and we now come to the finale of the Hyper G arc, named the Affimax Summit or for the chapters Arc 2E: Affimax simply for short. So what will happen in this grand last bit before the final run of our story. Now there's no Retrospective or reference...only an Outro. For the Outro we move onto S-Sha...who actually asked to do this"
"Do not mis-understand...but I felt my duty as a member of a Gold Third to follow by example, that and E-Sha kept bugging me to do this. So let's get it done. Next time on Neptunia's Second LC: Terra with the Goddess of Planeptune, gathers up the others to finish off the organization that is at the very centre of this new world diversion Affimax. Who is the leader...and what is his purpose? Well only time will find out. Tune into Affimax Chapter 1: The Nations Assembled. See you then"
"Yeah...see you all really soon" E-Sha chimed in.
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