revivalproject | [Open] Yet Another Underground Maze

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[Open] Yet Another Underground Maze

WHO: Gladiolus Amicitia, Sephiroth
WHERE: Warrens Maze
WHAT: A Maze Route
WHEN: Mid November
WARNINGS: N/A Yet

In a way all of this is so much like Gladio's personal history that it's scary. An apocalypse caused by a disease that happens to at the same time darken the skies? Check. People having to withdraw to a few beacons of metaphorical light in the darkness, check. Those beacons failing and people pulling back further? Check. Hell, even throwing oneself into an open and attested underground artificial structure to get through it to win an end to the darkness? Yeah, it all checks out.

Perhaps that's why Gladio approached who he did when all of this started. Not one of the kids he was training, not one of the adults that had their own plans, not even someone he's got a lot of experience with.

No, the moment the news comes over the semi-functional network that a new path has been opened and they have options, Gladio goes looking for someone he had seen pass him by a few times in the mines. Someone that came in with people and would head back out. Someone who had proven quite quickly to have a take charge kind of personality.

He looks for the silver haired man.

"Hey," he greets as he approaches Sephiroth. "I have a proposition for you."

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"My friend and I were able to drive them back for a time, but it was much later when I discovered a more permanent way to get rid of them," Sephiroth says. And sadly too late to save Zack from falling off that cliff, so it feels a hollow victory to him at best. But at least he can keep the creatures from infesting worlds now....

A more permanent way. Hopefully it didn't involve fighting god. Because Gladio was planning that. Bahamut was not going to be amused.

"Then your world is pretty lucky. There's only one way to stop the Scourge at this point, and we're going to have to undermine destiny to do it."

So, you know, no guarantees there.

Thankfully nothing so drastic. Sephiroth trained and learned to control the things with the strength of his heart, so he could drive them out of wherever they are.

He frowned a bit. "Really. And how do you go about doing that?"

Definitely risky. But it sounded like the sort of thing he might do himself, if he was told something he hated and couldn't accept was destiny.

"Fight god," Gladio says with a shrug, as if it's that simple. And perhaps, in the comparison to everything else they have to go through, that really does feel simple. "Well, one of them. Only Bahamut. but he deserves it."

"Gods don't typically like when mortals fight them, unless they're amused by it," Sephiroth remarks. His main experiences have been with Greek gods, but he imagines it's the same for most, if not all, gods. "You believe you have enough power to win?"

"I think we do," Gladio says with a nod. "Bahamut needs the king, so we're hoping that helps us. And that the hate of his immortal great-whatever-uncle will help solidify our chances."

Because what other options do they have? The world is doomed either way.

"Hm. Well, I wish you success," Sephiroth says. "They do sometimes respond favorably if they can still get things they want out of it." He doesn't have Bahamut in his world, so he is unfamiliar with what kind of god that is or how reasonable he might be.

"Yeah, but dominance tends to be Bahamut's thing. I don't think he's going to get all of what he wants out of us."

Which will make it the fight of a lifetime. He's... not aching for it.

Sephiroth frowns in concern. "That will make it difficult, to say the least," he agrees. "Dominance and chaos gods are among the hardest to reason with."

"Sounds like you've got a lot of experience," Gladio notes. Man, he wished he could bring that home to help the others. But he doesn't think it works that way.

“I had some … interesting encounters back home,” he admits. “Sometimes people hired me to intervene and negotiate if they were having trouble with the gods.”

Why they thought he would be a good one to help with that would be interesting too.

"Sounds like you're Ramuh blessed with wisdom and a silver tongue. Would that I could take you home to talk Ardyn around to our way of thinking."

Well, they'll just have to have faith in Ignis managing it for them.

Sephiroth nods, pleased by the praise. "I'd already found favor with the gods because of how I performed in the hero trials on that world," he admits, "which was also why they were usually willing to listen."

Not "his" world? Another?

Hero trials? What? There were trials to be a hero?

"I would think being a hero is something you manage on your own through actions, not through a trial."

"One would, wouldn't they," Sephiroth remarks. "And there are those who choose that path. But there are also people who train others to become heroes, teaching them how to perform dangerous rescues, fight monsters, and control their abilities. Sometimes they battle others who also have abilities in tournaments."

"Sounds a lot like training someone for the military to me," Gladio says, though he guesses that tournaments aren't really their goals. "Or maybe the Royal Guard."

Now that had competitions, just to keep them sharp.

"Guess we got a bit in common then."

"Yes, it is similar in many respects," Sephiroth agrees. "I was one of the strongest challengers who stayed and the gods took interest."

He nods. It is nice to speak with someone who's had a similar background in many ways.

Yeah, the guy's a badass. Gladio laughs and nods.

"Well then, that should help us stay alive out here. But if you ever need a sparring partner when things get back to the surface, I'd love to try myself against the strongest challenger the gods were interested in. Seems like a good way for me to improve my own skills for fighting gods."

And honestly, just from the guy's wing he expects he'll get a whole different experience just by fighting him.

Sephiroth smiles. "I would enjoy that. There hasn't been much opportunity for sparring since I arrived." Or anyone who seemed to be a halfway interesting opponent.

He usually holds back to start with, fighting with the Masamune in his right hand and sometimes retracting the lower two wings to just leave the one. His strength even at that level is often too much for people. If he determines the person can handle it, or he has some other reason for doing it, he'll use much more of his strength right at first.

"Wonderful. But first, well, I guess we have this task to work through. Heroic things to achieve."

If only he could say how long that would take. Or not take. This whole place tended to be quite a mystery after all.

"Indeed." Sephiroth looks around warily at their path. He's surprised there haven't been any traps yet. He's pretty sure there'll be some kind of obstacle along the way sooner or later. Whoever set all this up won't just let people waltz in on whatever it is they're trying to protect ... or hide.

And obstacles seemed right. The path before them turned a corner and there was a door.

"Think it's a dead end, or something else?"

Not like they had other paths they could walk.

"Hm. Well, there's only one way to find out," Sephiroth deadpans. He attempts opening the door, while staying on guard for any traps that may happen when he does.

The door automatically opens as Sephiroth steps forward, and on reflex Gladio tries to summon his shield defensively.

Which of course doesn't happen. Something about the door opening takes away his own powers. It leaves him floundering.

"Damn, I could feel the connection to the crystal just a second ago. Guess they're going to be pains about this whole process."

"Why isn't that a surprise?" Sephiroth frowns.

He looks around the room. There is a lot of floor missing. Flying will be required.

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seph's obstacle?

Sure! Do you have something in mind or should I come up with something?

by all means let's start with Sephiroth. Who would be allowed some powers here unlike gladio

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