Tenki

“Fire!”

Cannons from the human army overheat as they barrage the tall, nightmare like monsters that spawn from the sky. The screams of civilians engulf the planet as buildings are crushed by the falling monsters; many make a run for safety but escaping from the grounded enemies leaves them at risk of being picked off by those with wings.

“Keep running!”

“It’s the end of the world.”

“Go go!”

As chaos spreads through Earth, the people of Mundi brace as their planet begins to crumble. Aimi’s resistance has protected Earth, but the other side faces consequences from the defenseless impacts that grow stronger.

Aimi watches it all, her powers as the rift bearer giving her sight above the worlds she is in connection with. Now in connection with both Earth and Mundi, the screams and destruction all register as she scratches at her head. She wants to rid herself of the dreadful voices, but doing so would mean losing hold of both worlds.

“Fire!” Cannons aim for the rampaging creature, the same as that which destroyed Okubo.

“Wait! Cato lands in front of a battalion waving his arms, “If you do that it will explode. I’ll create an opening, once it opens its mouth hit it with you all you got. That is its weak spot.”

“You, you’re from that world. How can we trust you?”

“You have no choice! Now do as I say!”

The captain looks to his people that await his order, “Aim for the mouth and hold steady!”

Around the world, people sent from Mundi aid in protecting Earth. Strangers to the land and unaware of how they arrived, they only see people in need of help. But their numbers are not enough as monsters of Mundi continue to rain.

Cato stands above the defeated monster as soldiers of Earth roar in victory, his eyes see the disaster as it is. Tenki remains in combat with Asphoros, but even the remaining heroes cannot save as many as they wish to in a disaster like this.

“Help!”

A woman covers her child as she rushed by a large, horse like monster. Cato lunges forward, only fast enough to reach them and bear the force of the strike to come. He covers them, reenforcing his body but is soon tossed away.

His body enters a portal, transported to a safe location where he can aid in another battle. On the other side of the portal stands a masked individual, a member of the Mundus. The woman and child have also been sent to safety, Cato only nods before leaving to aid once more.

Across both planets, the masked individuals of Mundus appear from portals to aid those in need. Countless portals are opened to allow the clan to travel at blinding speed and save everyone they can reach. For ten minutes, the Mundus run without stop, the pressure of their magic deafening and the pain in their lungs excruciating; yet not enough to disobey the command from their Rift Bearer.

Two of the Mundus clan keep their hands on Aimi’s back. She digs her fingers into the ground, sweat dripping as she continues to open portals for the Mundus, and the hero’s group to aid those in need in both worlds.

She stands, her personal eyesight nothing but a blur as she relies on the vision granted to her by her connection to the portal holding both worlds.

“This will be the last sacrifice. From here on, the Mundus shall be a clan that protects worlds, not destroys them.”

“As you wish, Rift Bearer.”

Aimi raises her hands. “Forgive me. I will end your suffering in an instant, for those I have brought to this world, we shall welcome you.”

Aimi begins once more, creating the portals to tear Mundi apart in unison with the portals she creates to help those of both worlds. Her clothes tear, the amount of magic she uses distorting the area around her. Even the heavens shake, but it is Aimi that can hear all their cries, and the one who can bring them to peace.

Tears fall from Aimi’s eyes, silencing them will not mean forgetting. She will bear the voices she will silence.

Moments away from finishing, a clash between Asphoros and Tenki causes her to lose balance.

“Get out of my way!”

“Fool, you wish to risk both our worlds for your own childish desires! Come here Tenki! Show me that unbreakable will that grants the magic akin to a god!”

Tenki’s magic envelops him in a cloud of red flames, more than Asphoros has ever seen or thought possible. He braces, but Tenki’s next strike is one that sends him into orbit.

Tenki floats, his chest armor destroyed, his left arm has been gashed and continues to bleed. Against a power meant to take over worlds, he never faltered. Not when the worlds he loves were at stake and, even now, he scans for danger and how to help.

Aimi drops her arms.

“Rift Bearer?”

“I can’t do it.” Aimi braces and grabs the rift before her, using her body to absorb more the impacts, but is now bleeding from her mouth because of it, “How could I when he loves both so much. I can’t take that way from him. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Another impact, far stronger than even she can bear, sends Aimi flying. The Mundus rush for the rift, holding it themselves and screeching in pain the moment they make contact.

Aimi attempts to control her body but is exhausted beyond what she believed. Her body is caught however, the embrace she finds herself in all too familiar.

“Tenki.” Aimi looks to find her love smiling at her, “Don’t smile at me. I’ve doomed the worlds. I couldn’t do it.”

“How could I not smile. You’ve helped protect people from both worlds; you even stopped because you thought of me. I’m so happy to be loved by someone like you.” Tenki helps her stand, “Leave the rest to me.”

“No. Please no. If there must be a sacrifice, then it should be me to pay it.”

“I disagree.” Tenki rests his head against Aimi’s, “This world will need you, it’s protecter. Mundi will have the heroes, but together you will be the ones to help it find normalcy once more.”

“But I don’t want to lose you. Please don’t go.”

“I knew this would be the only way. Forgive me.”

Aimi sobs. “I’m sorry. I-“

Tenki presses his finger against Aimi’s lips, “I love you so much. I’ve been lucky enough to protect a world I love, and now I get to protect the one you love.”

Tenki teleports to the portal held by the Mundus guards, tossing them over to Aimi.

He grabs the portal, the cries of both worlds sending him into a craze. Unprepared for such volume, he struggles to regain control of the rift. It’s too much.

Tenki’s mind calms, the embrace he is now in one that brought him comfort for many years.

“I will not let you face this alone.”

Tenki smiles. “Thank you, Aimi.”

The people of Earth look the sky. Monsters no longer fall, the aid from another world has brought momentary safety, but now a new danger approaches. Far larger than any monster, entire continents have appeared in the sky, casting shadows over entire cities.

They rush for cover, only the remaining heroes, and Asphoros, rushing for a quadrant of the planet to help with Tenki’s plan; the merger of both worlds.

Tenki’s body becomes light as he looks to the sky with a smile. To see the worlds he loves become one is like a dream come true, but the pain of doing so has made it difficult for him to think, the concentration he needs to make the merger as safe as possible now pure instinct.

With aid from Alba, the first continent crashes into the sea. It connects with another continent, but Alba does her best to prevent it from encroaching further as Aimi sends the Mundus to save people from the crash.

With the first continent now safe, Tenki’s left arm fades into magic.

“No. No. No. Please.” Aimi grasps at the smoke like magic as it drifts away. Tenki feels nothing, his mind still on the merger, “Guards, please help me!”

The guards bow their heads, “Forgive us, Rift Bearer. There is no remedy for one who becomes one with magic.”

Aimi’s heart breaks as she nods at their answer, returning to Tenki and holding onto his right hand. As each continent lands, deaths are kept to a minimum due to the combined efforts of those helping, but with each safe landing, more of Tenki disappears.

Soon, the last Earth shaking landing is done. More of Tenki’s body begins to fade. His hand is ripped away from Aimi who grasps at the smoke once more.

Tenki’s smile never fades, his body light and painless. The merged world is far more beautiful than he could ever imagine, yet, amongst a dream made reality, his heart yearns for one final vision before he must go.

He looks down, before him is his final wish granted.

“Ah, Aimi, I love you.”

Aimi nods, smiling below her stream of tears. “I love you too.”

Aimi never moves, even as Tenki fades into magic. She wishes to grant him his last wish, even against her own desires. The last she sees of Tenki is his loving eyes, and endearing smile.

Aimi falls. The worlds have been saved, a future uncertain but now a possibility. And, in the silence that has befallen the people of both worlds, it is now her sobs that fill the planet.

A young woman walks amongst the statues of every rift bearer. Soon she will become one with the illustrious title, but she stops at the first to differ from those she has seen so far.

A beautiful woman, but it is the sphere at her palms that catch the eye. It is the start of a different form of sphere. Unlike the grey spheres before, the one she holds is full of color and life. Furthermore, more colorful orbs float around her hands.

“Who is this?”

“That is Aimi, the grace that changed the Mundus. Once we were a people of destruction, but she made the Mundus a people that brought prosperity to many worlds.”

“This is Aimi?! Wow, she has so many planets, even the following statues don’t have as many. She’s beautiful.”

“Aimi’s life was lived with great purpose. She never stopped once she started.”

“May I ask why?”

“For a power even greater than what we wield.”

“Really? I wonder what that was.” The young woman looks to Aimi’s smiling statue once more, spotting another difference on her left hand. There, she wears a ring that bears the name, “Tenki.”

Thanks for reading! - E.F. Veda