The Aetherveil glided silently above the clouded skies of this world, its hull reflecting the faint light of the setting sun. Inside the ship, the five crew members—Zack, Aerith, Galuf, Noctis, and Reks—stood tense, each feeling the pull of an unseen force. Aether's calm voice echoed through their synchronizers, breaking the silence.
Master… crew… warning. A very large magical fluctuation detected in the northwest corner of this world.
Zack's eyes narrowed as he turned to Sirius. "Northwest… that's near Cleyra, isn't it?" His tone was cautious, wary of what lay ahead.
Sirius' expression remained unreadable. "There's… a disturbance there. I sense a chaos of power unlike anything we've encountered." He hesitated, then added softly, "It might be the chaos itself who summoned… something immensely powerful."
Aerith's brow furrowed, her voice trembling. "Chaos? But… it feels unnatural… wrong, almost alive."
Galuf leaned on the railing, the muscles in his arms tightening as he looked toward the horizon. "Chaos or not… we need to see it for ourselves. Whatever's causing this, it's affecting everything around it."
Noctis remained silent, his jaw set, hands gripping the edge of the deck. His mind raced, trying to anticipate the magnitude of what lay ahead. Reks, small and nervous, fidgeted beside him. "W-we'll be okay, right? We can handle this, can't we?"
Sirius glanced at them, his gaze unwavering. "Stay alert. Veil on. Let's observe before engaging. This is a reconnaissance mission, not a battle—yet."
Veil active. Dimensional shielding operational. Destination set.
The ship moved like a ghost through the clouds, the faint hum of its engines blending with the distant rumble of elemental energy. As they approached the northwest, a growing sense of dread filled the crew. The sky itself seemed to pulse, shimmering with chaotic magic that set their nerves on edge.
And then, the sight unfolded.
Cleyra… was no more.
The city had been obliterated. A massive crater yawned where the heart of the city had once stood, a jagged wound in the earth. Smoke spiraled into the sky, mingling with ash and debris, while fragments of buildings and trees were scattered across the plains. Towering above the devastation, Bahamut hovered, its immense wings casting shadows across the wreckage. The sheer magnitude of its form made it feel as though the world itself had been compressed beneath its presence.
Zack's sword clattered to the deck. "W-what… what did that?!" His voice was a mixture of disbelief and rage. He clenched his fists, knuckles white.
Aerith pressed her hands to her mouth, tears welling up. "It… it's all… gone…" Her voice cracked as she stared at the smoldering remains, the weight of loss pressing down on her heart.
Galuf's hands clenched around the railing, his voice trembling. "No… no… it can't be… a single strike… nothing I've fought could do this…" The memories of past battles—friends lost, wars survived—only made the devastation before him more unbearable.
Noctis' eyes were pale and focused, his gaze locked on Bahamut. "…This power… impossible…" He felt the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders. This is beyond any army, any magic I've known…
Reks' small frame shook visibly, his voice barely a whisper. "All… all of it… everyone…" He looked to the others for reassurance, finding little solace in their silent horror.
Aether's pulse echoed through their synchronizers, analytical and precise. Confirmed. Magical signature consistent with high-tier summon. Entire city obliterated in one strike.
Sirius rested a hand on the deck, his own expression somber but controlled. "The chaos may be involved, but the scale… this isn't a normal threat. It's a weapon, a summon of unimaginable power."
---
Individual POVs – Emotional Breakdown
Zack:
His mind flashed to Nibelheim, to the lives he couldn't save, and the friends who had fallen beside him. Rage, grief, and helplessness collided within him. All that… all the sacrifices… erased in a heartbeat. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus. "I survived once," he thought. I won't let this break me again. I'll protect what's left.
Aerith:
Her hands trembled as she touched the railing, tears blurring her vision. She saw the city reduced to rubble and felt the lives snuffed out in an instant. So many… so many lives… But seeing Zack, Galuf, Noctis, and Reks standing firm gave her courage. I may cry, but I won't falter. We have to survive—for them.
Galuf:
The memories of his granddaughter, his friends, and the wars he had endured weighed heavily on his heart. He had faced loss before, but this scale was unimaginable. "I've fought… I've lost… but never like this…" His voice cracked, yet a fire ignited within him. If anyone survives this… it will be because I fight for it.
Noctis:
Even as a prince and king, Noctis had learned to mask his emotions, but the sight of a city annihilated left him pale and silent. Power like this… is beyond my kingdom's defenses. Yet he clenched his fists, jaw tight. I'll rise to this challenge. No one else will die if I can stop it.
Reks:
The youngest of the group, he was overwhelmed by the scale and loss, struggling to comprehend what had happened. "Everyone… gone… my brother… my home…" He glanced at the others, drawing strength from their presence. I may be inexperienced, but I can stand. I can fight. I will fight.
---
Sirius broke the silence, his voice calm but grave. "This is the scale of what we're dealing with. Not soldiers, not monsters… but forces that can erase everything in an instant. We learn. We prepare. We prevent the next Cleyra."
Zack let out a low growl, his fists trembling. "I've faced death… but this… this feels… unfair."
Aerith's sobs quieted, replaced by resolve. "We're alive… we still have a chance to make a difference. We have to do something."
Galuf's hands relaxed slightly, though his eyes remained locked on the distant crater. "We've been given a second chance. Let's make sure we don't waste it."
Noctis' voice was steady now, though the weight of the event lingered. "We'll prepare. We'll adapt. Nothing will catch us off guard again."
Reks nodded vigorously, determination overtaking fear. "We'll fight… and we'll protect everyone we can."
---
As the Aetherveil drifted away from the ruins, Sirius' gaze lingered on the crater. He had already known the magnitude of Bahamut's power, but seeing it firsthand with his crew's reactions confirmed the stakes. These were not just battles of strength—they were battles of survival, strategy, and resilience.
The crew's expressions were a mix of grief, awe, and determination. Each had processed the horror in their own way, but one thing was clear: the next step they took would not be just about fighting—it would be about ensuring that no other world suffered the same fate.
Sirius finally spoke, breaking the tense silence. "We've seen the cost of unchecked power. We've felt the consequences of destruction. But we're not powerless. We learn, we adapt, and we act. That is how we survive. That is how we protect the future."
A silence followed, heavy but resolute. The wind whistled around the ship, carrying with it the scent of smoke, ash, and a future yet unwritten. The Aetherveil moved on, carrying the five crew members forward—toward challenges that would test not just their strength, but their courage, their hearts, and their bonds.
The horizon was tinged with the glow of the setting sun, and though the devastation lingered in their minds, one truth remained: together, they could face even the impossible.