Final Fantasy XV - The Light Of Dawn

Chapter 7: True Callings

Ardyn was transported to the heart of the crystal by the might dragon king himself as his sword retracted. Ardyn reacted with anger as Bahamut hovered before him in the astral realm.

"Why...? Why must the gods and the cursed angels deny me my revenge?!"

"Because thou hast been chosen to serve a different purpose." Bahamut calmly explained to the man before him, getting a gasp in response.. "To spread darkness throughout the world is thy true calling."

"Darkness?" Ardyn was confused.

"Soon, the True King will be born unto Lucis. He shall lead the people as their beacon of hope and drive away the darkness. In turn, thou shalt be his sacrifice, the limitless shadow that ushers in the light."

Ardyn reacted with shock and resentment, he had had enough. "Why must I continue to suffer? Have I not already sacrificed enough?!"

Bahamut did not listen to Ardyn's angry response and instead continued on with the prophecy he himself had ordained. "When the True King awakens, summoning the power of his forebears, he shall at last relieve thee of thy suffering. Then the line of Lucis shall come to and end. and the revenge thou seekest shall finally be found. So it is ordained, and so shall it be."

"You say, I am not the saviour of man, but his sacrificial lamb..and that I live only to die by the hand of the heir to an ill-gotten throne. That is the fate the gods have chosen to bestow upon me?!" Ardyn screamed out to the god before him, actually believing that he was chosen to do good by healing those who ailed.

"The very same. Defy thy destiny if thou dare, but know that it would grant thee a life of darkness unending, devoid of death's reprieve. What say thee, Adagium?" Bahamut asked, thoroughly explaining the best he could of what was to come.

Ardyn, however, was having none of it. Why should he have to die to make the gods happy? Realising this, he walked towards Bahamut with a growl. "Not once have I begged the gods for such a blessing and I do not intend to kneel before you now!"

"Thine impudence shall prove thine undoing, foolish mortal."

"Oh, I'm no "mortal"." Ardyn chuckled. "I'm a Monster. The path men tread was never meant for me. Mine is paved with blood and darkness!"

"Pitiful creature. If thou wilt fight against fate, so shall it be." Bahamut calmly stated as he struck Ardyn with a phantom sword then proceeded to trap the man he had once blessed.

Ardyn struggled against his restraints as he saw his beloved appear before him, only it wasn't Aera but it was Bahamut taking the form of Aera. "Ghosts do naught but haunt my tortured soul." he looked to the fake Aera, believing it to really be her. "Please, Aera. Won't you free me from this curse?" The fake Aera said nothing but instead stabbed Ardyn with the Trident of the oracle twice. "Pierce my heart if you must, but you will never kill my resolve."

This caused Bahamut to use Aera to stab Ardyn once more before speaking through her. "The gods who rule above and the men who reign below shall lend their strength to the King of Kings. Only a fool would defy such opposition. Like the angel had warned thee; everything in this world is preordained, even though mankind may not realize. Man exists solely by the grace of the gods and cannot live without. Resist if thou must, but know that thy struggles are in vain."

In the waking world, Ardyn returned only to end up back on Angelgard. "Am I alive?" He panted slightly. "Oh, does it matter?" He sat up. "Perhaps not." Ardyn sat there for a moment then got to his feet. "Nothing matters, none of it." Ardyn growl as he walked to the door. "Not the "blessed" gods above, nor the accursed kings below. To hell with them all!"

As he took a wander outside Ardyn entered his own little world..his own little fantasy you could say, Here, Naomi, Somnus and Aera were chatting as he thought to himself. 'All that matters is that I have my revenge. I will spread this scourge across the earth, lure out this "King of Light," and kill him.' He Re-joined his old friends who welcomed him with a smile. 'Then, the entire world of Eos will be drenched in the darkness of despair for time eternal.'

They had all seemed to have enjoyed a moment of smiles and joy before suddenly, they dropped dead without Ardyn touching them. Aera fell first, then Somnus and finally, Naomi fell last, and in turn, Ardyn let out a menacing cackle, finally losing it altogether, and it was here where it had begun. Ardyn became the rising darkness of which the prophecy speaks but this story is far from over for 2 years later, the King of Light was finally born unto Lucis as the Draconian told Ardyn all thanks to the vision Naomi once had to inform him of this chosen one. Who is to say this is where the story ends? What else was Niflheim hiding? All shall be revealed in due time.

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Authors note: wow! short chappy i know but theres a reason for it. This is where we close the book on Ardyns story for now and shift the focus to another. Find out in the next chapter!