✧ Chapter 32 ✧

“Styra, what do you think about your friends?” asked Omnikra in a curious tone.

Styra began to think about the question for a few seconds while they went inside the stone fortress positioned at the center of Fidaliath’s castle. Huge steps accompanied the overall structure of the winding staircase with torches that blew fiercely in the opposite direction from which the sound was emanating. As soon as the noise dimmed down, she started to answer its inquisitive interests at a low volume so they wouldn’t get caught by any unsuspecting visitors.

“They are all really awesome to be around to be honest. Flight is great at maneuvering the Stormstrike Zero and he’s a pretty chill guy once you get to know him. One day, I might actually get some lessons on how to fly it soon. Now, yes I know. I have these powers. Really though, I want to build up my authenticity of skill. If I don’t find a way to prioritize smarter ways to learn it for myself and use it right, then I’ll just get a whole load of knowledge without handling it properly.”

“Flight is the most reliable, so trusting him is a pretty good starting goal,” the weapon remarked as Styra continued the back and forth conversation they were having.

“Hisa is really supportive. I do want to talk to her more, but for the most part, she knows how to take care of herself. I also actually love seeing Flight and her together. It’s adorable. The Tripedyra did their best raising me on Perenorbius and I respect them for that, but after the shower on StarSpace’s defense base, something felt different. Like my hygiene routine could be better. Especially with my hair.”

“Nice. What about Chelbie?”

“Oh, she’s really the kind of person I would want to talk to for hours on end. When we start a conversation, she may mention the most cool and bizarre things she’s ever told anyone. It’s so interesting. You probably already know about the Chelsea secret name thing. I really want to know why she told me that. There has to be a reason.”

“Hmm. That does seem suspicious to me as well, in my opinion at least. I do not suppose you have something for that hunk of junk traveling with us to latch onto as well…”

“C’mon, it’s not even like that. It’s literally a robot. There’s not much it will do that could possibly jeopardize anything right now.”

Omnikra flew off to the side as Compass and Styra stopped dead in their tracks. They looked back to find the weapon floating like it did in Prima; reflecting on more important thoughts. Stumbling through those deep feelings in a hesitant manner, there was a clear attempt being done to try and admit to its own thoughts.

“What… Do you like about… Ah no. I sound foolish.”

The four blades felt a hand stroking atop itself. Styra gave this loving smile that it had never seen her give before.

“Every flaw that was hiding away inside, you showed me I didn’t have to keep it in like that. I can’t imagine a day without you after we met. You’re everything I wished I could see in myself. That’s saying a lot.”

“I feel the same. Ever since I have accepted that you did not want to become The New Guardian, my perspective has changed on who I am. I was never really sure what purpose could be fulfilled of my own decisive importance. Speaking of which, I have been wondering something recently… How did you figure out what you wanted to be?”

A sudden uneasiness began to wrap around her upbeat positivity. She didn’t really think deeply about that yet. Calling herself a Judgment Warrior seemed to have less meaning than she had anticipated at the current moment. Being something that wouldn’t provide as much significance from what happened earlier begged the question. What identity was she going to create for herself that had the most meaning to her and would make up who she really wanted to be?

The three of them stopped right at the entrance of what looked to be a medieval prison room where no outside light could be found. All but one of the cells were empty. It had a crack in the wall that spewed an unidentified white crust out of itself. Styra knew for a fact that this reminded her of something which she encountered awhile back

“That’s interesting… It looks exactly like what formed when I hit Strage using The Kra Force. Very cosmical similarities if you ask me. Same is true when I saw that dark stain burning through the wall in the Zuropa Museum. Do you know what it is Omnikra?”

“Not in the slightest. Although I do suspect it to come from a being named Chaosity based on the unusual behaviors I have heard about it before.”

“Wait, who is—“

A sudden rush of vivid sparks busted through the open fracture, interrupting her line of speech. The overpowered being transformed into a glowing essence of that diamond star symbol which Styra wore on her suit. It flickered through portals of different realities.

“Omnikra, New Guardian Of The Omniverse, your day of awakening has arrived,” stated the mysterious entity.

“Wait… Omnikra is The New Guardian? Can you elaborate on what exactly you are first?” asked Styra with the intent of discussing what this thing’s motives actually were and why.

“I am The Lucid Light. Creator of every conceivable experience that exists in the light. I see you bear the etches of me on your apparel. Tell me. You must be confused, poor child. To be frisked away into a place where you knew nothing about yourself.”

“Okay, so apparently you know about what happened to me. First off, tell me something. How is Omnikra The New Guardian? Second, I don’t necessarily trust you because we were actually past done with collecting The Eternal Lights themselves. Pampering my friend’s ego just to do that again makes no sense.”

“You both have reserved power from four out of the ten. Whether you like it or not, that fate of ruling is approaching soon and cannot be avoided. I suggest you surrender those feelings you have. They have no use when addressing the greater scale of an omnipotent foresight.”

“Bold suggestion, but I’ll pass.”

“If you insist. Omnikra, I am the source from which you were forged. Do not fail my assessment of your authority or what comes later will not be pleasant.”

Without a trace, The Lucid Light disappeared while the weapon was still dwelling deeply on what its creator said. It wasn’t sure whether or not to agree with the claims being presented. Was The New Guardian’s lore always going to be true? Why did The Lucid Light come now of all times just to say something that Omnikra might not want? Everything about choosing between those options felt unnatural. Styra, who figured the same, had become more aware that The Lucid Light appeared exactly when Chaosity’s name was said. She had a residual urge to do it again. The suspicious nature of this self-appointed deity had her intrigued.

“Omnikra, try saying Chaosity again. I have a feeling that thing didn’t just appear for no reason.”

The four blades knew what she meant after listening to her thoughts and proceeded to say the name twice. Unfortunately, the second calling did not garner any significant success. Or the third. Barely on the fourth. Even the fifth attempt made it pretty clear that the interaction in itself was a rare phenomenon.

“Y’know, I don’t really understand why that happened. I’m getting the impression that whatever this Chaosity is, it could be The Lucid Light.”

“Indeed Styra. Chaosity is a being that is said to exist outside the conceptions of this Omniverse and beyond absolute infinity. The Lucid Light already confirmed my fears. I cannot imagine what it plans to do, but it could be a sign.”

“A sign of what?”

“That the entire Omniverse… Is being threatened. It may not end with us. I am unsure. In the end, what we know to be everything can exist as multiple variables separate from its defined intention in one reality. Constructs like that can override and rebuild logical confines and make it a tangible yet extensive function of real existential value.”

“So… In short, nothing is safe.”

“It goes farther than that. Regardless, those are the basics of it.”

“I see… In that case we need to find Amethion some way without using any of The Eternal Lights. I promised to help him if he ended up going missing. For some reason, it’s already a difficult situation because I don’t want to come into contact with Prism. That guy just feels like all types of excuses rolled into one.”

Omnikra knew her bond with The Guardian Of Time held interesting common ground. Searching through those memories, it saw Amethion’s giant index finger being touched by her small hands which shook it around slowly to create a handshake between them. What did the four blades just witness? Being stuck in an unresponsive state, Styra could tell that Omnikra was dazing off. She pet the weapon a second time to wake it up from the trance that was her livelihood.

“C’mon Omnikra. There’s no use in us daydreaming here.”

“Sorry. It is just that… I have been thinking…”

A strange glimpse into her mind made Omnikra want to really try to change. If Styra went from New Guardian to Judgment Warrior, surely it could do something similar. The first thought that came to enact this idea was making a new name for itself. The second? Planning more efficiently to stop the unknown force, Chaosity. In order to do that, they were going to have to get serious and focus on open-minded strategies to take it down. With a deep pause of concise thinking, the four blades finally rose up to deliver the news.

“I will be changing my name from Omnikra to… Eternion. We must adapt if we want to survive against a dangerous force that is scheming something devious in the backgrounds of our own interests. We must fight the assumed fate. In that instance, I propose a new set of objectives for us to achieve.”

“Alright, uhm… Eternion... Okay. That’s going to take some getting used to. Kinda get what you did there with the whole ‘eternalness’ bit but Eternion sounds like a guardian name. What about… Eternika?” asked Styra with a pinch of doubt.

Admittedly, the reason a part of her figured the name wouldn’t work was because of how she remembered just naming a shirokei after a tiny snowflake. She didn’t feel too good at this.

“That sounds better than what I had initially imagined. I am impressed. Thank you, Judgment Warrior,” said the now named, Eternika, with gracious glee.

“Huh?! Wait, that name was actually good? I thought the opposite for a second.”

Amidst her coming to that realization, Eternika proceeded to state the arrangement at play.

“Styra, our venture across the stars to find Amethion will require great sacrifices. There are many important hurdles for us to complete before we do so. First and foremost, are you certain that this ‘Compass’ will be of any use?”

“I’m positive. I will take responsibility for it if that makes you feel better.”

“Fair enough. I hope you keep your word. Another notable issue is The Surreality Shard you took out of Compass. Your friendship between Flight and you is great to hear, however The Guardians Of The Omniverse are connected to things like the Surreality Shards and Reality Orbs. You are steps away from what you said you would do. Us giving back The Surreality Shard means you would have kept that promise.“

Eternika was right. Not only had she taken Compass (which was technically StarSpace’s property), but The Heptarion Force would likely feel betrayed for her taking yet another Surreality Shard. She was going to have to tell Flight the harsh truth. This worried her. What would he say? Would he get mad at her for taking away a gift she gave to him? To Styra, she loved how strong and exceptional Flight was in his own ways. She just saw what he valued and it seemed like he was getting really good with its power. They even nearly gave their best effort in the battle against Sapphirion and Diamondion.

Now, that was all going away.