The Bad End Route
The Infinite Loop
After the incident that had emerged from the uncharted region. It was recently discovered that ‘Katyana Rosaline’ was still alive and well. The false news that was given to Crawford and Ichi were all a plot devised by a hidden organization that infiltrated the psychic academy of Rosenkreuz in order to get rid of them. Their objectives were to resurrect the Demon. Although in her homecoming, Katyana and her team succeeded in capturing the infiltrators and their affiliates, they failed to prevent the Demon’s awakening.
“Ms. Rosaline we are all ready and prepared”
“Are these all the capable psychics we can gather?” Katyana clenched her fist. Anger and disappointment could be seen in her expression.
“Y-yes! These are the very best from around the world and they all loyally swear to follow you against the Demon who threatens this world”
Walking up towards the balcony of the highest floor in Rosenkreuz, Katyana looked down towards the multitude of masses gathering below her. The looks of fear, distrust and discomfort were clearly formed within the disorganized mob below her.
Shutting her eyes in an attempt to steel her resolve, Katyana then reopened them with resolution and bellowed. “Listen up fellow Psychics! Regarding the huge tree that appeared 3 days ago, it has been discovered that the demon has appeared within the vicinity of the tree targeting the tree itself! It is for this very day that we psychics were raised! We who possess powers should wield it to protect others as well. For the sake of the world, please lend me your power!”
After hearing her speech, a moment of silence broke out. Katyana gritted her teeth in frustration at the silence, but it was all broken as suddenly someone from amongst the crowd shouted out. “YEAAAHHHH!!!” Which not long after the whole crowd burst in unison chanting Katyana’s name.
“It seems they are all motivated to go Ms. Rosaline”
Still clenching her fist, a single tear flowed down Katyana’s cheek. “I guess so…are you prepared?”
“I will follow you even to the ends of the world Ms. Rosaline” the person talking with Katyana bowed.
Raising her hand to silence the crowd, Katyana continued. “Our objective for tomorrow’s mission is to retrieve the ‘Guardian’ who is inside the tree. It will be a dangerous task, and there will be a risk to pay. Some of you might not even make it back alive against the lesser Demon’s that follow the Demon. So I will give you your chance to choose! If you wish to step back and excuse yourself from the mission do it now! But know that should we fail the world will end!”
Another silence encroached the crowd once more, faces of filled uncertainty began to show amongst the psychics. It was then the person beside Katyana stepped up and shouted out.
“Listen fellow Psychics! What Ms. Rosaline wishes is the full cooperation and will from everyone present. Should you have doubt in your hearts, you will endanger everyone here. The fate of the world is in your hand…no in all of our hands! If you have it in you to save the world rise up and fight!” The one who stood beside Katyana raised their fist high up in the sky.
Following the person beside Katyana, the crowd followed suit and also raised their fists. Cheering and applauses thundered across the courtyard of Rosenkreuz. Katyana then dispersed them to rest up for tomorrow. Deep down, if she could leave even a moment faster she would. But she had the duty to lead the psychics as the leader of the Psychic Foundation. Thinking of how Ichi’s faring with Crawford in the den of demons, Katyana’s heart unbearably ached.
Inside the huge tree that was mentioned in ancient times as the ‘Genesis Tree’, two figures silently embraced each other. One was female, her body at this point had ceased to be human, unable to suppress her own powers, she had become the core of the tree itself. The other was a male, who in her arms was gently enveloped in a warm light.
“Nnh…What’s going on…” Ichi slowly raised her head. Her eyes felt heavy as she slowly forced them open.
Radiant light met with her eyes blinding her. In the small enclosed space within the tree, spirits who were thought not to exist fluttered around giving her strength and warmth. Ichi then looked down towards Crawford who she held in her arms. Tears started trickling down her eyes seeing the scar that ran across his eyes.
“If…if only I was stronger…” Ichi held Crawford even tighter to her chest.
It was then Ichi heard the faint sounds of people fighting. Focusing her thoughts, the ‘Genesis Tree’ split open allowing her to see the outside world.
Ichi was horrified. “What in the world…” She muttered under her breath.
The view that she saw was that of nightmares. A sea of blood trailed down the roots of the trees. Many psychics she once knew and others she has never seen struggled in a pointless battle against demons.
“Is this the end of the world…” Ichi continued to view the one sided slaughter, despair could clearly be seen in her eyes.
It was then a hand had appeared holding onto the open area that Ichi resided in. Rising up in tatters, the figure extended her open arm towards Ichi.
“Ichi…Come! We need you!” Katyana said with a raspy voice. Her body was on the brink of collapse due to overusing her powers to reach Ichi.
Casting her gaze away from the others, the figure of her step mother before her made Ichi forget about her surroundings.
“M-mama…?” Ichi stammered as she called out to her. “Is it really you?”
“Yes…indeed it’s me Katyana Rosaline. Remember our first meeting at the orphanage? But, now’s not the time for this…we need you to come with us…” Katyana with shaking legs closed in on Ichi caressing her cheek.
Ichi slightly trembled and backed away, looking down towards Crawford she replied. “But…Crawford is…-”
A loud exploding sound rang out nearby as a figure had been blown inside near Katyana’s feet.
Struggling to move, the figure coughed blood as he looked up towards Katyana. “I-I’m sorry Ms. Rosaline…” The light in their eye glimmered before disappearing.
Seeing such a thing happen, Katyana gritted her teeth. “Ichi we need you to tame the demon! There is nothing we can do about Crawford! You need to accept the fact that he is no longer with us…” Tears ran down Katyana’s face, she knew that her words were harsh. But the fate of the world depends on Ichi, and right now, many psychics are risking their life keeping the other demons at bay just to buy her time in order to find Ichi.
Ichi’s reply was ice cold. Memories of Crawford surged within her mind. Her powers once again ran out of control gushing out from all her body. It was the worst possible outcome, Ichi felt that she had no reason to live if Crawford wasn’t there for her. Resonating with her desires, the ‘Genesis Tree’ echoed her single word throughout the world.
“NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO “
Ichi had a choice whether to save the world or abandon it. But, she chose neither. To her a world without Crawford is a world that is undeserving to live on. The choice she chose was the path of destruction.
It was foretold in all stories of a Demon that is capable of destroying the world will always be defeated by a Hero. For someone reveled with the power to defeat the one capable of destroying the world would only mean that person also has the power to destroy the world. With that logic, Ichi who wields the power of ‘Gaia’ as the guardian of the world and can command the ‘Genesis Tree’ also known as the tree of life or the origin tree, destroyed the world itself. The trees roots reached deep down within the world’s core and shattered the whole world from within.
As the inevitable destruction continued, Ichi had a wish in mind. The only wish she wished for was to return back to that time. The day their fate entwined, the day she met the person who changed her life once again. Her memories and thoughts up to that point had been wiped away. As she opened her eyes once more Ichi saw a figure holding out his hand.
“Welcome to Rosenkreuz! Nice to meet you, my name is Crawford. What’s your name?”
End.
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