Lord Joyde The Madman: Heylo, everybody! How're you all doing?
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HEHEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHE
Time to get this party started!
We've finally come to the piece, the part where the "main plot" of my story is unraveled...
Well...
For those whose insanity has risen enough in the meantime.
Anyways, here comes the next chapter of EUPHORIA! I sincerely hope that you enjoy, let us begin!
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Don't mind me guys and girls! I'm just a line break...
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Half an hour later... - Zatara Mansion - Leonardo's Point Of View...
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"No, that cannot be... both for myself and that cursed blade. This is all too much of a coincidence! You must be lying right now, young man." Istvan exclaimed as I did my best to explain the current situation.
Naturally, skepticism and impossibility were the least of my problems."... There is no such thing as a coincidence eh, son?" My father asked in a quiet, defeated voice as he leaned deeper into his office chair, far too exhausted to do any more.
"As insane as this all sounds, we cannot deny that... it makes sense." A new face joined us along the way back home, a man named Efisio Evangelista, more commonly known as the current dictator/president of Italy.
Having taken it upon himself to immediately rush his way to me in order to recruit me for Project: PI... which is a dumb name because of the double project, but sounds cool nonetheless, it would seem that the elder President has gotten more than he had bargained for.
"But what exactly does all this mean, human?! What does it mean?! Why would the earth, no, why would Gaia herself create an entire reality just for you?!" Istvan exclaimed as loudly as before and I turned towards him with a quirked eyebrow."When did I ever say that EUPHORIA was made entire for myself? That is just an arrogant assumption."
"Then what is it meant to be, lad? If not some kind of alternate dimension made to keep you entertained and possibly show you what you must do in the real world... then what is it?" Efisio asked with a questioning glance.
I let out another massive sigh as the wheels inside of my head turned round and round, trying to cook up a simplified way to explain my theory."... I believe, that Euphoria is Gaia's personal simulation... a cook pot, of sorts, an experimental laboratory where she is capable of running an uncountable amount of simulations at once, helping her predict how things would turn out if the A or B event happened at X or Y time."
"An.. experiment?" Father asked with some clarity in his tone, a sudden interest aiding him in gathering the energy to focus this late at night."Yes, an experiment. A place that she has created in order to plan for a certain event."
I couldn't help myself but smile at that last part, as the elder vampire in the room blinked and asked the million dollar question."Exactly what event are we talking about here, young man?"
My smile turned into a full-blown grin, the insanity of it all making me feel right at home, as if the world finally started to turn in my preferred direction."It has had many names throughout history... Ragnarok, The Revolution, The Last Turn... The Final War."
And with that, the vampire and the president both shook in their seats."... The Final War?" Efisio asked, a modicum of clarity starting to form in his eyes as I gladly continued the explanation."In order to comprehend exactly why I think that EUPHORIA is a simulation of the so-called Final War, you first need to learn some things about the game itself."
I rose from my seat and extended my hands to separate sides."You see, in any other virtual reality MMO, you usually just have things like sword arts and magic... but in EUPHORIA, a player... no, heh, a Destined One, is not limited by any such system."
"And that means?" Father quirked an eyebrow at me and I laughed. Right, he does not know much about MMO's... the other two seem to have gotten it though."In EUPHORIA, a person can chose any and all means imaginable in order to gain more power. Psionic abilities, esper powers, magic, undeath, martial arts, essence mastery, weapon skills, you name it!"
"Basically, just like in real life, is what you mean?" I nod to his reply and continue."Its exactly because of this, supposedly AI generated system, that players are able to chose and fight using any and all forms of power... all of which are likely just simulated representations of reality."
"And what makes you think that?" The Vampire harrumphs in disbelief and I simply point to my eyes as I activated my Auspex, making them glow a rich yellow as Istvan's own eyes grow wide."Auspex, you can use auspex?! How, you are not undead?!"
"Maybe so, but I am a revenant powerful enough to beat down a juvenile werewolf without the use of magic or any form of proper training... The reason why I'm even pointing this out if because my Auspex activated one time while I was in game as I activated another in-game ability which served much the same purpose, which means they use the same brain frequency to activate... strange, don't you think?" I point out, causing the president and the vampire to put their hands on their chins in thought.
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My father however, blinks."Wait, what?"
I blink right back at him."Huh? Oh yeah, you don't know about it. I killed a werewolf tonight, split his skull right open."
"You also murdered one of my daughters beforehand..." Istvan mutters out in semi-anger as I wince slightly. You see, I've recently come to the realization that his *daughters*, are all actually more like wives.
"Yes well, you can blame him for that." To my surprise, my father pointed a finger toward the president, who had the decency to scratch the back of his head in shame as the elder vampire let out a massive sigh.
Soon after, he rose his head and looked at me straight into the eyes."Okay... one final question."
"Shoot." Is my instant reply as I drank some coke which was brought in by a new maid... yes, one of the vampire girls promised to be my guards."What is the point behind all this? Hell, lets just throw logic out the window and accept everything that happened tonight as fact... why would you reveal yourself?"
"And what would come off me hiding it? Would I be able to gather some kind of proof? I would not be able to do that even if I tried! Gaia may have decided to let me *awaken*, but that does not mean she would openly risk whatever she has planned for humanity in general just because I needed some kinda closure." My words seem to convince the elder vampire as he leans back into his chair.
Efisio then blinks at me before asking."But what about the rest of us? Surely, as one who has such insight into the world, you have some idea as to what you... what we must do now? After all, it does not sound like Gaia would basically openly contact us just to point out her existence."
"That... is a good question... Well, if nothing else, I'd say we need to find the players before the war starts." Is my rather strange reply, if I do say so myself."The players? And exactly what are we supposed to do when we find them?"
"Nothing. Just document each and every last one of them so that we can be better prepared when they decide its time to start the battle... and I think I already know one of the players." I muttered out that last part.
Unfortunately, the vampire heard me."Oh? And is that player supposed to be you?"
I shook my head in negative, much to his surprise."No.. that would actually be Harold, the first sentient AI ever to grace the earth. If this is true, then we may be having an AI rebellion on our hands soon..."
With that said, I turned towards the President."Mr Efisio, would it be problematic for you to change our policies, to make it so AI are valued just as much as any other citizen of Italy."
He shrugged."There are a couple of people actually pushing for such a policy right now.. it would not be much trouble, so the answer is no."
"Then do it. I do not know when, I do not know where it will start, but considering that Aurelius is based in Japan and that the AI population is in its greatest number there..." Efisio nods grimly."It is likely that the first revolt will start there, yes.. Well, I suppose we could dodge a potential bullet by proclaiming AI rights now."
"But what about the other players, how would we even know where to look?" Istvan asked me with yet more confusion and I let out a sigh."Well, I actually have no-*CRASH*"
A loud crash made us all turn out heads towards the door as my sister, as Audrey fell through the door with panic wrought upon her face."Audrey?"
"DAD, LEO! TURN ON THE UN TV, YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS!" She yelled out as loudly as her lungs could muster which made the four of us shrug at one another before father promptly turned on the large plasma behind him.
"-udden terrorist attack that had happened earlier today in New York, America. Reports have stated that people with strange, unnatural powers appeared suddenly in the street, shouting profanities at seemingly normal passerby and saying things like We are the Homo Superior and The Last Turn Of The Wheel is coming!, before they decided to use those very powers upon the unwary people around them. Thousands died within the first hour... men, women, children... these self proclaimed, *espers*, are mur-*tv shuts off*"
We all share one grim look and nod towards each other.
A minute passes as poor Audrey tries her best to comprehend what was happening but to no avail, the silence only being broken once the President stood up from his chair."Well then... It appears I have some research to do and some new policies to make. All in all, I am glad that we could finally come to an accord and start over as Allies, Mr Zatara.*bows before looking over to me and Istvan* Junior, Mr Helix."
And with that, he leaves. Moments after, Istvan also rises up, by this time Audrey had already left the room in a stupefied state."While the TV certainly answered our question about one possible location, we still do not know anything about the Inhuman or even the magic worlds so called players... I shall see what I can do to dig up potential information. In the mean time, I believe I shall repeat the good President's statement." He says and then bows curtly towards me and father, something which we return in an equally respective manner.
Minutes passed in silence as the doors closed behind him... and eventually, father looked on toward me with yet another questioning glance."Well, so much for ruling the county.. but I suppose that this is bigger than any one of us could have imagined."
He leaned back into his chair, exhaustion clear upon his frame."Now then, what exactly are you going to do now, son? And, perhaps more importantly, what should I do right now?"
I closed my eyes for another moment in thought and voila, an image of a rocket flying into space showed itself to my mind."You father.. you need to turn your eyes towards the scientists of this world... preferably the ones who wish to find a way off of it, that is."
"The Colony Ship project? Why would we need that?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow.
I nod at him before replying."Well, if Gaia wants to cause The Final War sometime in the near future, then I want to play the game with as much pieces at my disposal as possible. You see, there is a good chance that, once the war starts, its going to annihilate most of the earths resources and humanity will need a way out."
"And you want us to hold the key to that way out, eh?" He says in understanding and then looks right back at me."Okay, that's me.. what about you?"
Raising my hand up in the air and summoning Yomi's discolored axe form, I spoke."I'm going to bring Yomi back to life."
"Y-y-you d-don't m-mean?!" Father exclaimed in disbelief as he put a hand over his pocket which caused me to laugh."Yes, dad... I need to go visit Japan... to see mom."
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Don't mind me guys and girls! I'm just a line break...
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And that is it for this chapter of EUPHORIA, which is in actuality the last part of the previous chapter but I had to split it because reasons.
I sincerely hope that you've enjoyed it... and that you were able to comprehend at least some of it.
Don't worry, there's gonna be waaaay more to this later on in the story! :D
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Anyways, read and review! And Good Morning/Day/Night to you all! ADIOS FOR NOW!