Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Beyond Fate

Its all real...

I'm in Aionios...
As I say those words, I look around and war stricken land, full of holes, mud and...dead bodies or "husks" of dead soldiers of Keves and Agnus.

First Person POV

I walk around the area, taking in everything that I see and hear. It's all real...my surroundings, what I hear, smell, feel. This isn't a game, it's my reality now.

Me: Holy hell...this is how war is? In any world?

I have never been to any battlefield before, only from what I've seen and read from videos and history books. I don't even know how to-

Me: Why do I sound different?

I actually do sound different, as if my voice is a bit softer now and feel as if I'm not as fat as before.
I notice a fallen Levnis and head towards it and see my reflection. To say I was stunned was an understatement.

Me: What the hell?! Im actually younger now?!...Wait a minute...I'm 18, aren't I?...

I lift up my shirt and notice my stomach is a bit smaller now.

Me: At least there's a bonus. Still fat though.

I put my shirt down as I look closely at the Levnis and notice it's the same one from the beginning of the game.

Me: This is where the tutorial was for the combat, where Noah and his group fought-

I cut myself off as I realize what I just said. "Noah and his group"... I'm in the beginning of the game.

Me: Before everyone met each other. Before everything started for them. Before they became Ouro-

My collar starts to beep, surprising me and as I stop talking about the subject.

Me: Ok then...weird. Why is it beeping? What did Terumi do?
???: Someone...help...

I hear someone calling for help as I start to run to where it's coming from. It's where the first battle of the game is, right after Noah and his group defeat the Levnis. I find an injured soldier from Kevesi and I go to them.

Me: Holy shit, you okay?!
Kevesi Soldier: Well I'm bleeding pretty bad so I'd say I'm doing swell...hehehe

I kneel down and hold them in my arms.

Me: The fact you can joke about this is insane, you know that?
Kevesi Soldier: I know...Say, I don't recognize you. Are you Kevesi or Agnes?
Me: I'm neither. Long story, but that's not important.
KS (I'm shortening it): sounds pretty important to me...I'm hurt pretty bad, you know?

I look at their body and their right. Their injured beyond belief, bleeding almost everywhere as I notice their armor is torn.

KS: Do me a favor? Take off my helmet.

Without saying anything, I remove their helmet. It's a Kevesi woman, black hair with little wings in her head.

KS: You really aren't Kevesi or Agnian...
Me: Told you.
KS: I'm not gonna make it, aren't I?...

I look away, unable to look her in the eyes. It's the truth, with the amount of blood she's lost and the state her body is in...

Me: ...I'm sorry.
KS: Don't be...what could you do anyway? Your giving me company, stranger.

I notice particles flowing out of her body. I know what this is and I'm saddened by it immensely. My voice got quieter as I look at her.

Me: ...Do you...want to keep talking?
KS: Not really...I'm tired...but thank you for being here... thank you...

At that moment, all the particles come out her body and she becomes the same as the others...she becomes a husk, the same as dying in my world. I lay her body down but notice the amount of blood on my hands.

Me: ...

I look around again. The battlefield, the carnage, the husks, the damage... This is all real.

Me: Its all real... holy shit, it's real... she died in my arms...

It all starts to hit me all at once, a living person had just died in my arms, her blood still on my hands. My hands shake as I start to breath heavily but only for a moment. I take a deep breath, stand up and start heading north.

Me: This is my reality now...

I climb up a rock and look out to my surroundings. I only see death and destruction. I look further ahead, remembering where I need to go from the game.

Me: I'll survive...and I'll get back home. And when I do...I'm coming for you Terumi...

I stay there, just watching for a bit until I climb down and start heading north again, determined, yet scared for what happens next for me as the scene fades to black.

———————————————————————————
Third Person POV

The scene fades back in but it's not the battlefield. It appears to be some kind of theater. In it, lies a screen with a projector being played and a two men sitting down, watching it.

???: He's finally here...I must say, I was beginning to suspect he was not coming.
???2: You trust the words of a madman, Z. Terumi has spouted nonsense many times but this may be the only time he spouted the truth.

The man known as Z nods as he continues to watch the screen as it shows Y/N walking through the battlefield.

Z: I know, Consul N. But tell me, why stay and watch? You have business to attend to at Keves Castle.

The man known as Consul N, the Golden Consul, looks at the screen with a smile on his face, a genuine smile.

Consul N: I wanted to see him. He is...very important to me. You should already know why.

Z: I know. With his arrival to our world, this game will start. Our world will be different but the end will be the same, Man of Fate or not. The Never Ending Now will continue on.

Consul N gets up and starts heading towards the exit, only to stop and greet a masked man leaning on the wall, as if waiting for him.

Consul N: I kept you waiting, did I
Masked Man: You did, my consul.
Consul N: Hehe...my apologies. I did not mean to make you wait like this, my Squire.
Squire?: No worries, N. I was waiting anyway.

He looks at the screen and although he is wearing a mask, you can tell he's angry.

Squire?: So he's finally here...
Consul N: Yes he is...Come, if things are going to play out like you said they would, then we need to prepare.
Squire?: I know, Consul M is already waiting for us.
Consul N: One more thing. Can we trust the other Squires?
Squire?: Who knows?...All that matters to me right now is making him understand how much affects everything and everyone just be being here.

They both walk off, leaving Z by himself as he stays and watches the screen.

Z: This boy...I do not see where his fate lies... will you be a problem for the Never Ending Now? Or will you fall before your journey truly begins, Man of Fate?