Undertale: Aleph Null

Dealing With A Traitor

None of them moved, just stood there and witnessed. I was a God, I could do anything. But what fun would that be? I needed to be stronger, and beat Sans, but by my own power. I lifted into the sky, thinking about what to do.

First, I gave myself my life back. The hundreds of years worth of experience gathered, now able to be called upon instead of being out of reach. And, for once in a while, I finally knew my name: Chara.

Second, a device to hold the SOUL's power. They weren't happy to be used by Azriel in his first fight, so I need something to contain and silence them. I made a chest plate of sorts, having six containers to hold them, but giving me access to their abilities. I renewed my body and put the SOULs into their containers, giving up my power for new ones.

I dropped to the ground and looked at the sixty or so people still waiting. I turned back on my shield, and charged. Some charged me, and soon they all joined in. With all the SOUL's abilities, now I can test what they can really do.

*** * ***

I stood in a field of blood and broken bodies. With the glass containers breaking their voice and control, the SOULs gave no resistance; I was able to switch between much easier, and the powers even seemed to follow my will with less effort, if even by a little bit.

I looked across the bodies all around one final time, with no SOULs being over them. I crushed them all as to not leave that power hanging around. I dusted myself off, leaving the battlefield without a spot of blood on me thanks to the shield, heading to my village.

It was going to be a long walk. The sun was still high in the sky, not even noon yet. It would take a few hours at least to walk all the way to the village, but I don't have anything better to do. I started my journey, leaving my shield up as the level I have it at doesn't waste much power at all, and there's nothing to test more of the abilities on.

*** * ***

I arrived around 2 hours later, seeing the small village around the mountain. A bundle of the same style house lined up in two rows. Eventually each path bent outwards, rounding off into a circle where a certain flower patch laid. The more I walked up, the more I noticed the place was empty.

There wasn't a sound except for the wind carried down the mountain blowing through the empty vast beyond the other side of the village. I walked into the town, down the lane the houses created. The doors were unlocked, and everything felt untouched since an hour or so ago. Of course, Sans would be the one to evacuate the village before I arrived. He probably couldn't get the army to back down either way. I walked around for a few more minutes, walking to the border of the city before I see someone walking up.

That man. He was walking up slowly, hands in his light jacket pockets, and even from far away, I could see confusion in his eyes, before he turned his gaze to me. "You really clean up nice, don't you?"

If only he saw the battleground of the army. "I didn't do any of this. Sans must have evacuated the town, something I thought he would have told you."

He relaxed as he chuckled to himself. "Please, you of all people should know that Sans never really answers any questions you have unless he wants to."

True, but why wouldn't Sans tell him something like that? "Where is Sans? You told me to come here, but why?"

"Well Sans told me to be here in about five minutes from now. He should be here in ten or so."

"Why the five minute difference to when you two should have arrived?"

"Well what point would there be to come in the middle of a battle?" he said casually, like I should know what he's going on about. He saw my confused look and continued, "With how high of a pedestal you put him on, I'm surprised you haven't already guessed he's figured out he has a traitor in his midst."

So Sans wasn't fooled. "He's giving me time to kill you."

"Bingo." He took his hands out of his pockets and started to stretch.

"I still have more questions." I started thinking about everything he's done, trying to answer a question I've had for a while. "You're a Perseverance SOUL, aren't you?" He was able to hold back my knife without flinching, and is already dead set on fighting me, however much pain it might cause.

He froze in the middle of a stretch for a second."Yeah. Why?"

At least now I have his attention. "Do you think that will give you the advantage you need, or are you just ready to die without any attempt to change your fate?"

"If I'm going to be honest, I'd rather fight you than Sans. Besides, I'm not ready to die by any means. I'm prepared to die if I can't beat you, something I've already come to terms with. If Sans thinks you can beat me, I can't help but be a little skeptical."

"And how much of that was true and not just you trying to egg me on?"

He finished stretching and look at me with a snarky grin, "All of it's true. But I'm not going to say I didn't say any of it without the intent to make you want to fight me. Now enough talk, but here's the thing. How about I give you a deal?" he said as he finished stretching and started getting into a proper stance, with a smile I recognized as my own before starting a fight. "If you want me to tell you anything, you'll have to kill me first."