June 1st, OE 102
Somewhere within the World’s Edge
Gigantis
Nothing but the scattered debris of the former continent filled the view of Xifas’ eyes for miles on end. What was once the continent of Crescentia, was now little more than crumbled debris floating on motionless water. In a location where the flow of time ceased, such a pitiful sight was an immortal reminder of their failure two thousand years ago. And yet, the sight invigorated him everytime he saw it. Though the blackened steel of his helmet, Xifas took a deep breath of the stale wind, letting his body take in the atmosphere that surrounded him.
“Xifas, you’ve returned.”
A woman emerged from the stones behind the armored man, moving towards him.
“Kusanagi, it's been some time.”
The man turned around to look at the woman, her lustrous red eye gleaming like a pool of crimson blood, somehow even in the bleak lighting of the World’s Edge.
“You know I don’t use that name anymore.”
She scratched the back of her head and gave a dull laugh.
Xifas gave a brief chuckle before extending his hand to her’s.
“How fare the other two?”
“They’re rallying our forces in the south, the Regis Knights’ new machines have been proving to be quite difficult for our own.”
“Ensure our forces are working with guerrilla tactics, avoid direct conflicts with the Knights; flee if they should appear.”
“Can we win a war of conquest with just guerrilla tactics? It seems with every step forward we take, there is one backward we must also make.”
“Focus not on their troops but their logistics. Supply lines, non-combative units, wear them down then strike. We have the advantage of mobility. As much as they can dominate, they’ve been playing defensively, which is something we can take advantage of.”
“Right… If you don’t mind me asking what did happen that day you pulled the blade from the Saviour? What appeared wasn’t one of the giants, at least, not the ones we’re after.”
She crossed her arms and looked at the man.
“In truth I am not sure what appeared that day, nor is it fair to say it was the outcome I was hoping for. Nonetheless the results of it were more than enough. That thing became a symbol, and a symbol is what our forces need most. If they find truth to the words we have preached to them these past thousand years, it is that truth that will spark their hearts into action and make them move to fight.”
“But it hasn’t appeared since that day, our men are slowly beginning to doubt that it was truly what we were after.”
“Our men needn’t wait much longer, it is only a matter of time now until the Giants break free from the seal. And with your power we will see about speeding up the process.”
“What would you have me do?”
She asked, before Xifas placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Prepare yourself, I will have need of your strength very soon. The young Reine knows little of how unsafe she truly is.”
“Understood.”
From the boundary of nothingness, The dark angel formed from the aether, its tall, monolithic shape peering out over the horizon. Xifas moved to Azrael’s side, placing his hand on the machine’s leg.
“Our quest will soon be at an end, Kusanagi. Stand with me but a little longer. Soon, this will end. All of it.”
The man clenched his hand and gave a scornful look at the view in front of him.
The woman behind him gave a smile to the man’s back.
“Xifas, it's good to have you back.”
Somewhere within the World’s Edge
Gigantis
Nothing but the scattered debris of the former continent filled the view of Xifas’ eyes for miles on end. What was once the continent of Crescentia, was now little more than crumbled debris floating on motionless water. In a location where the flow of time ceased, such a pitiful sight was an immortal reminder of their failure two thousand years ago. And yet, the sight invigorated him everytime he saw it. Though the blackened steel of his helmet, Xifas took a deep breath of the stale wind, letting his body take in the atmosphere that surrounded him.
“Xifas, you’ve returned.”
A woman emerged from the stones behind the armored man, moving towards him.
“Kusanagi, it's been some time.”
The man turned around to look at the woman, her lustrous red eye gleaming like a pool of crimson blood, somehow even in the bleak lighting of the World’s Edge.
“You know I don’t use that name anymore.”
She scratched the back of her head and gave a dull laugh.
Xifas gave a brief chuckle before extending his hand to her’s.
“How fare the other two?”
“They’re rallying our forces in the south, the Regis Knights’ new machines have been proving to be quite difficult for our own.”
“Ensure our forces are working with guerrilla tactics, avoid direct conflicts with the Knights; flee if they should appear.”
“Can we win a war of conquest with just guerrilla tactics? It seems with every step forward we take, there is one backward we must also make.”
“Focus not on their troops but their logistics. Supply lines, non-combative units, wear them down then strike. We have the advantage of mobility. As much as they can dominate, they’ve been playing defensively, which is something we can take advantage of.”
“Right… If you don’t mind me asking what did happen that day you pulled the blade from the Saviour? What appeared wasn’t one of the giants, at least, not the ones we’re after.”
She crossed her arms and looked at the man.
“In truth I am not sure what appeared that day, nor is it fair to say it was the outcome I was hoping for. Nonetheless the results of it were more than enough. That thing became a symbol, and a symbol is what our forces need most. If they find truth to the words we have preached to them these past thousand years, it is that truth that will spark their hearts into action and make them move to fight.”
“But it hasn’t appeared since that day, our men are slowly beginning to doubt that it was truly what we were after.”
“Our men needn’t wait much longer, it is only a matter of time now until the Giants break free from the seal. And with your power we will see about speeding up the process.”
“What would you have me do?”
She asked, before Xifas placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Prepare yourself, I will have need of your strength very soon. The young Reine knows little of how unsafe she truly is.”
“Understood.”
From the boundary of nothingness, The dark angel formed from the aether, its tall, monolithic shape peering out over the horizon. Xifas moved to Azrael’s side, placing his hand on the machine’s leg.
“Our quest will soon be at an end, Kusanagi. Stand with me but a little longer. Soon, this will end. All of it.”
The man clenched his hand and gave a scornful look at the view in front of him.
The woman behind him gave a smile to the man’s back.
“Xifas, it's good to have you back.”