-Basic Info-
Name: Dias Blade (Pronounced: D-S Blade)
Nickname(s): The Fox, the Divine Knight, the Major, the Legendary Swordsman, the Humanoid Typhoon, Blue Bomber, Blue Boy, the Vagrant, the God Slayer, Hand of God, Demon Hammer, and the most common of them all…”Bastard.”
Theme: “Ume Shoryu"- Zaid Tabani
Title(s): The Hero of Ditreland, the Last Human of Narria, Savior of the Tyril Kingdom, Lieutenant Major (Azure Knight Squad, Tyril Kingdom Foreign Legion), Champion of the 1st Tournament of Ages, Winner of the 5th Annual Dark Tournament, Undefeated of the East 1st Place Champion, Successor of Shinmei Ryu Kenjutsu Style, Successor of Mujuushin Kenjutsu Style and Hero of the Wiccan Realms. (and the Effigy of Eidolon Uruha)
Nationality: Narrian (The Human Federation of Arik)
Accent: English
Gender: Male
Race: Human (Azure Child)
Innate Element: Water
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Favorite Food(s): Seafood, Pasta, Rice, Veggies and Fruit
Personal Hobbies: Training and Exercise, Wood Carving, Metalworking and Reading (Manga)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Class: Blade Master (Expert with any kind of bladed weapon; Swords, Axes, Spears, Halberds, Scythes, Daggers, Knives, Chakram, Glaive, Kunai, Shuriken, etc.)
Sub Class: Martial Artist (Skilled at hand-to-hand combat)
Advanced Class: Arms Meister (Proficient with any kind of firearm)
Fighting Style: “Custom, Unique”- Over many years, Dias has studied a number of different fighting styles from various sources. Combining the techniques and philosophy of each, he has created his own unique style that reflects upon his acquired skills. An open ended mix of martial arts and sword play, Dias’ versatility makes him dangerous on the battlefield even with the odds stacked against him. Known for attacking multiple opponents at once, he approaches encounters in a rather unorthodox manner, using anything or practically everything as a weapon.
During his service in the Tyril Military with the Azure Knight Squad, he became familiar with the general concept and use of firearms, picking up the rudimentary skills required to handle most any gun you might come across as well as honing his marksmanship to that of an elite sniper.
His specialty with swords leads others to make the mistake in assuming he can’t fight while unarmed, as seen in past incidents when forced into giving up his weapons. Contrary to this misconception, they are quick to see for themselves that Dias is just as threatening bare handed. Size means very little, proving a match for beasts far larger and with superior strength.
Signature Technique/Skill/Ability:
“Ether Burn” (TZDL Version)- An innate ability all Azure Children are born with. It is the power to perceive the innate energy known as Ether and interact with it in various ways through physical contact. Valued by the Human Federation of Arik, Azures were conscripted into the military where this ability could be harnessed as the ultimate Anti-Mage Weapon. The notion of burning comes from the act of literally erasing the defined attributes, creating unstable energy as a byproduct which an Azure can then manipulate with their imagination.
Due to their nature, Azures are the only Humans who cannot learn or use magic. They must draw upon the Ether from external sources such as the magic of others or the environment itself. An Azure can also theoretically burn the Ether in their own body as well, but this is highly dangerous and physically exhausting.
Once burned, unstable raw Ether which is essentially undefined energy can then be defined using base elements, such as Metal to craft simple weapons like Swords. Of course, the more Ether burned means better results and quality, adhering to the law of equivalent exchange. If too little energy is used for example, a sword could turn out too brittle and shatter like glass. Less complex constructs are easier and quicker to burn compared to more elaborate ones which would require more time. Physical contact must be maintained during the burning process or else it results in failure.
Acquired Arts
-Aetha Family Royal Swordsmanship
The basic and advanced form and stances which can be applied or adapted as needed to most Straight Blade swords. With emphasis placed on registering the footing of your opponent and picking up subtle nuances to predict attacks and respond accordingly, as well as proper breathing control. This was Dias' first introduction to swordsmanship which gave him a firm foundation that was gradually built up and further developed over time.
-Master Florentine
The art of dual wielding, Dias spent years perfecting the skill to master the handling of blades with equal or differing weight and length. Over time he trained himself to become ambidextrous and increase his eye-hand coordination, allowing him to fight multiple opponents from different angles around himself. He often applies this discipline to work in tandem with a metal scabbard or saya, serving as a defensive and offensive implement.
-Fast Draw
Similar to the practice and principles of Iaijutsu, Dias gradually developed this skill to work with swords from other cultures. Essentially, even a sheathed blade can still operate as a reliable and deadly weapon.
-Iaijutsu
The art of drawing the sword, it is an ancient martial art that focuses on how to utilize the potential of the sword while it is in the neutral state. This trains reflexes to respond instantly and deploy the weapon for either offense or defense while minimizing wasteful movement. A single strike can mean the difference between life or death, decided in but a moment...
-Mujuushin Kenjutsu (The Sword of No Abiding Mind)
Taking the battle between two opponents, separating yourself from the act itself and viewing the field from an outside perspective. This style transforms a fight into a game of mental chess, placing more emphasis on training the mind to make it as sharp as a razor's edge. Every action is carefully calculated, planning several moves ahead and commanding the fight to trap your opponent in checkmate.
-Shinmei Ryuu Kenjutsu (God‘s Cry - School of the Divinity Blade)
An ancient style of kenjutsu known to a select few. With its history tied to that of Onmyodo, the God's Cry focuses on training the soul and channeling one's will into their sword. It was originally designed as a means to combat against demonic spirits and other such malevolent forces which plague the lands, evils that haunt the night.
-Aikijutsu
A martial art which teaches one to use their opponent's strength against them. Contains the stances and techniques to not only disarm enemies but also deliver lethal counters to end a fight instantly with but a single strike.
-Aikido
Similar to Aikijutsu, Aikido revolves around peaceful resolution to conflict, manipulating the force of an adversary to safely disarm them without causing injury.
-Kenpo
A form of Kung Fu that is straight forward and to the point. It teaches to harness internal instinct as a weapon, controlling the release of primal fury and emotion. Fists are like knives, Arms are like swords and Legs are like spears. Every motion flows into another, bombarding your opponent's senses as you strike every opening to dominate the enemy.
-Damaru Chikara
The Silent Power, an art invented by Dias' mentor and Squad Captain, Lanford De'Linux. It is a martial discipline which draws forth the hidden potential within, manipulating the flow of energy in the body to serve as a versatile tool. This also teaches one to extend their aura beyond the physical body, expanding your awareness all around you to register the hidden intent of others. In this sense, it can function as a second pair of eyes, making out even the most minute details of your surroundings and all those within it.
-Personal Data-
Age: 60s (But appears to be late 20s, early 30s)
Eye Color: Light Blue
Hair Color: Radiant Blue (Glows) / Jet Black (While wearing Ether Siphon)
Hair Style: Long / Not Brushed
Height: 6‘2”
Weight: 183lbs
Blood Type: AB+
Appearance: Dias is characterized by his tall figure and broad shoulders. However, hist most unique feature is his blue hair which glows with an enchanting light produced from the ether coming off of each strand. The brightness of his hair reflects the intensity of his emotions, a gentle illumination while calm or resting to a very vibrant radiance when excited or angry. In an attempt to hide this, the scientists at Ashrum R&D whipped together a small device called an Ether Siphon which is worn like a hair clip. Its primary component is an experimental Nethicite gem with a Void element, absorbing the raw ethereal particles and causing a side effect of turning his hair color jet black. (It has a tendency to break if Dias' emotions flare up)
After the death of his mother, his hair had lost its mysterious shine akin to any Azure, implicating that he had lost touch with his own heart and grew very detached from feelings. Azures were only ever known to lose their glow after death. This showed that Dias was not that much different on the inside, usually objectifying himself as a simple shell which he controlled like a blade for the protection of others. With having regained this light, he has also restored a missing part of himself, making him complete once again and awakening the true potential of his power.
He’s recently traded up his tattered old traveler clothes for the military uniform of the Aesir Empire’s SOF Crimson Knights; a black attire with a matching coat embroidered in red. Beneath his coat is a thin black tank top and the sky blue sash he was given by Princess Feyli Aetha, which he has now taken to wearing as a scarf. Other than that, Dias typically wears whatever feels comfortable.
Despite being in his 60s, he still appears physically quite young. There are two theories for this. For one, the flow of time for Narrians is much different. Because it is the Realm of Dreams, your mental and spiritual state can influence your outward appearance. The average life span for Humans from Narria is close to double the norm.
The second theory has to do with the fact that Mardias Fir'Veins, another Narrian Human, is still alive to this day despite being thousands of years old. Reasoning for this points to his close proximity to pieces of the Grandis Crystalis, which is known to have all manner of strange effects. Both the Lost Legacy and SoulLink were forged from this material, so its possible that Dias' body simply stopped aging after reaching his prime. The cells in his body show no signs of slowing reproduction as a result of getting older, meaning that he continues to remain young.
-Relations-
Father: Alhazard Blade
Mother: Yue Astontasia-Blade
Grandfather, Father Side: Lord Pesmerga Blade
Grandfather, Mother Side: Imperium Justicar, Cruze Felheim
Grandmother, Father Side: Princess Argetlahm Aetha
Grandmother, Mother Side: Fenix Astontasia, the Hero of Narria
Brother(s): None
Sister(s): None
Love: Ferra
Mentor/Teacher: Prince Azariel Aetha, Captain Lanford De’Linux, Ronin Jin and Sensei Eishun Konoe.
-Weapon Info-
Weapon Name: SoulLink (True Name: The Krydesa)
Weapon Type: Sword
Weapon Class: Knight Sword
Weapon Material: Grandis Crystalis
Weapon Effect: SoulLink can connect whoever wields it to the Spiritual Plane of Narria, normally isolated from the rest of the Omniverse. They can call upon the aid of those they share a bond with that have passed away, gaining access to their knowledge and assistance. Because the sword is forged from Crystalis shards, it is naturally unbreakable and serves as an unlimited reservoir for raw Ether. (NOTE: Dias is not capable of using the sword's power because he is not the Effigy of Manah, unlike when he was able to use the power of Lost Legacy which belonged to Uruha)
Weapon Info: One of the Eidolon Artifacts called 'Antaklas', it was crafted by the legendary blacksmith, Mardias Fir'Veins, the only Human to be allowed to live among the creators. SoulLink is the treasure of Manah, the Eidolon of Life, that was originally given to Fenix Astontasia. After her death, Manah retrieved SoulLink to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. It would later be given to Fenix's closest friend, Serah Elathia, who was tasked to deliver it to Fenix's grandson, Dias.
The sword itself has played a pivotal role in Fenix's family and has been held by each of her descendents. Manah is said to silently watch over the family from a distance, guiding them along the path intended by Ethlos, the Architect.
-Armor Info-
Armor Name: N/A
Armor Type: N/A
Armor Class: N/A
Armor Material: N/A
Armor Effect: N/A
Armor Info: N/A
-Combat Overall-
Strong Points: On his own, Dias has a top athletic physique, the result of many years of persistent training and exercise routines. Through all the wars and battles he has experienced, his body has been shot, cut, maimed and beaten plenty of times. As such, he has gradually developed a deep threshold for pain. With precision aim and being a close quarters mastermind, his warrior prowess on the field has earned him quite the reputation. His Ether Burn ability likewise makes him a menace to Mages, transforming his own imagination into a weapon for both offense and defense.
Weak Points: At the end of the day, Dias is still just Human. He requires air to breathe and there are obvious limits to the kind of punishment his body can endure even with the techniques he has learned. In the vast omniverse where you encounter all manner of creature, he is forced to rely on his wits and quick reflexes to survive.
-Character Theme-
youtube.com/watch?v=15q22JJv9fo&t
-Background Info-
Occupation: For most of his life, Dias wandered around the Omniverse, traveling an untold number of different worlds as a vagabond after the Tyril Kingdom had fallen. Upon first leaving Narria, he quickly found himself smack dab in the middle of a warzone. He spent a number of years as a soldier for the Tyril Military, serving under Knight Captain Lanford De'Linux. The pay was decent and he kept a small cache set aside for emergencies. But eventually that savings ran day and he began taking odd jobs to get by, drifting from one world to the next.
Of course, his primary source of income was from bounty hunting or selling his skills as either a paid bodyguard or mercenary for hire. He was always very picky about the kinds of work he would agree to, however, and never really got involved with any groups since he preferred the freedom of working alone and didn’t care for organizations that were paid to kill. He was always against attacking innocent people as well, and more often than not wound up battling against said companies, bandits and even pirates on occasion.
After defeating Rem’Graf, the Second of MERKAHBAH’s PKers, Dias was recovered by the SOF Crimson Knights after falling unconscious due to using his newfound Soul Burn feat. When he heard from Chief Commander Aeon Ergo about their own run in with the PKers and that they had declared the chaos organization as an enemy, he accepted her offer to join their ranks.
Dias now receives all of his funding from the Aesir Empire along with full access to their information network and other resources.
Personality: Dias’ personality has changed quite a bit since his return from Daemonium. Being reunited with Ferra and having finally achieved his revenge on Rem’Graf has started a new chapter in his life. He seems to appreciate things more now and has become a lot more talkative recently, whereas before he would usually just stay quiet and only speak when spoken to. He still has a flare for righteous indignation and will always be the first to stand up for what’s right, regardless of what kind of trouble that might cause.
The biggest change has been his willingness to actually showcase his emotions now. Before, he was very withdrawn and detached from any kind of feeling. But now he is far more open about things and doesn’t try to hide it anymore, though this is mainly only true with regards to Ferra.
History: Dias hails from Narria, the First World with no beginning and no end. It is not a planet drifting throughout the reaches of space. At night, the sky is devoid of any stars, replaced instead by an enchanting aurora borealis. The world itself is actually flat, progressively expanding as one ventures out further beyond its known reaches. It is for this reason that it has also been known as the Endless World which knows no bounds. The days are regulated using an artificial sun by the Angels who walk the desolate realm of the Creators, the Eidolons who vanished from Narria during its greatest time of need…
Born in the majestic, Capital City Arik, the center of political power for the Human Federation. His mother, Yue Astontasia-Blade, was the daughter of Captain Fenix Astontasia, the hero who saved both the Federation and all of Narria from the Second Dominion War by sacrificing herself. Yue later followed in her footsteps and enlisted in the Federation Army where she quickly rose up through the ranks. During one of her missions, she crossed paths with a rogue Alhazard with no name living by himself. Feeling sorry for this man, she decided to take care of him and eventually the two fell in love.
After Dias was born, Yue took an early retirement from the military after the tragic loss of her aunt; Captain Serah Ethalia, a close friend of the family. She raised Dias by herself, never really getting to know his father who had only been with him once; the day of his birth. The young boy, being the first third generation Azure ever recorded, never required the special training other Azures went through to gain control of their dreams. He had never experienced a night terror nor heard the voice of the Nihilus like others, and as such had never learned to utilize the power of Ether Burn.
Then came that fateful night when the Demons invaded. They came out of nowhere, striking the Federation with waves upon waves of powerful monsters and corrupted Dragons that sided with them to purge humanity from Narria. Greatly outmatched, Arik was soon consumed by flames as the death toll continued to climb. The soldiers could only hope to slow their advance as the streets were flooded with the screams of civilians being torn apart by the vicious beasts. Yue dawned her armor once more and brandished her blade, taking Dias and fighting her way through the hordes.
Once Dias was out of harm’s way, she took him to the Uruha Temple which was still intact. Inside, she entrusted her son to the priestess to make sure he be taken to Elrick and that they both seek refuge with the Angels who had chosen to remain neutral in the war without the guidance of the Eidolons to direct them. Afterwards, Yue returned to Arik to do what she could to help try and push back the invading armies. Cutting a path, she pushed her way towards the Imperial Palace to try and meet up with whatever remaining forces there were who would most likely be protecting Empress Sophia. But upon her arrival, she found all of the Demons and guards brutally murdered, along with the burning corpses of the Endrin royal family.
Standing over them, covered in blood, was her husband, Alhazard. Having been possessed by the Nihilus which was influencing his actions and controlling his body, Yue tried desperately to help return him to normal, only to be killed in the process. The resulting death of his own wife broke the Nihilus’ hold over him, but the sight of her laying lifeless before him drove the cursed man insane and he vanished into the inferno, leaving no trace behind…
The priestess stayed true to her word and snuck away from the temple prior to the enemy reaching it and setting the building ablaze. She traveled all night across the Federation lands to the Angel Fortress City, Elrick. But as she approached, a band of Demons who had been hunting after them managed to catch up and killed the woman. Unable to just simply stand by and watch as a defenseless child be ripped apart, Prince Ariel Aetha flew out from the walls and dispatched them with ease. He brought the human boy past the thresh hold and into the safety of Elrick where he was immediately tended to by Ariel’s sister, Princess Feyli.
Ariel was reprimanded for his decision to interfere, being told that he should have just let the boy be killed to answer for the sins of his ancestors for having created the Demons and Dragons in the first place. Outraged, the Prince stood opposed to his father’s words and argued that the sins of a few should not condemn an entire species to genocide. He then requested to leave Elrick with his forces to try and save any other survivors they could find. The King denied this, telling him to be grateful that he should be allowed to keep the boy as his ward. Ariel then stormed out of the palace and was then confined to Celestia until the war was over…forced to watch events unfold from high above the skies in the ancient city of the Eidolons.
Meanwhile, Feyli was given permission to look after Dias and she became the boy’s guardian until it would be safe enough for him to leave Elrick on his own. A few days passed and the Human Federation was no more, having been utterly destroyed along with any remaining survivors being hunted down like dogs and killed in the worse ways. Humanity, which had once flourished to the far lands of Narria, was now nothing more than an echo through the desolate ruins left behind of the once great nation…
With the war finally over and the Demons returning to their own realm, Ariel was free to return to Elrick though he had grown bitter towards his father. Despite his orders, the Prince put together a team of his strongest warriors to head out to what was left of the human nation. Dias pleaded to be taken along with him to search for his mother. Overcome by regret for not being able to do more to try and prevent the war from going this far, he couldn’t say no. Princess Feyli decided to tag along to keep the child safe while Ariel and his men secured the area.
Once they arrived at Arik, Dias and Feyli separated from the others and began searching on their own. They discovered Yue at what was left standing of the palace in the throne room, her body having been carefully handled and preserved with a blue rose placed in her hands showing that someone else had already found her. Dias didn’t cry or show any sign of sadness. He asked Feyli to help carry Yue to their house on the outskirts of the city. It was there that he asked to be left alone.
Feyli and Ariel watched as the young boy took a shovel and buried his mother, tears streaming down his face the entire time. Building a small memorial for her as he laid her sword over top of the grave, he turned and walked away. That was the last time he ever cried again, the light fading from his hair… No other survivors were ever found. With Dias being the last remnant of humanity in Narria, Ariel took it upon himself to keep the boy protected at all costs.
After returning to Elrick, Dias became very withdrawn and silent. He wouldn’t speak to anyone for weeks and Feyli began to worry about him. Then one day, he walked in on Ariel training. The Prince noticed the boy watching him. It was the first time they had seen him show any interest in anything since they got back from Arik. He gave his sword to Dias, allowing him to hold it and see the blade more closely. Afterwards, he suddenly took Ariel by surprise when he asked to be trained how to fight. It was forbidden, but given his disposition towards the King, Ariel was more than happy to teach the child.
Years of training and physical exercise to hone the skills he had learned seemed like days. It was a good way to distract himself from the memories of his early childhood and the end of those happy times. He would often spar against his mentor to test his abilities. Feyli taught him how to finally access and utilize his Ether Burn power. Eventually, he was able to surpass Ariel in combat and proved himself to be the pinnacle of humanity’s potential. The King saw him more as a threat than anything else and brought him before the royal court.
Ariel and Feyli stood in defiance of their father. But it was Dias who took the court by surprise when he openly accused the King for being at fault for the destruction of Arik and for the genocide of humanity. He then challenged the King to a duel, telling him that if he wanted the last of his race to be killed that he should be the one to do it with his own hands. The King was silenced for a moment before asking him who his parents were. After telling him, everyone was left in shock as it all became clear. The King and both Ariel and Feyli knew there was something familiar about the young man. How he dared to speak out against the King of Narria himself.
Dias was the descendent of Princess Argetlahm Aetha, the King’s eldest daughter who he had sentenced to death for having broken their laws by falling in love with a Demon. Watching his own daughter being put to death by his very own hand as he was demanded to do so by their codes, King Nethor had become apathetic and cold to the rest of the world, even his other children. To think that this boy was actually a Prince of Narria…
Nethor took back what he had said about the human, apologizing for everything he had allowed to let happen. He then offered for Dias to continue living with them, even to be granted access to Celestia where he could live for eternity in immortal youth. The Azure quickly shot down the King’s offer, disgusted by it all and said that all he wanted was to be free to leave Elrick as soon as possible. Nethor did not argue, telling him that he was free to decide whatever he wished.
Afterwards, Dias returned to his room and immediately began making preparations to finally leave the fortress city after being there for 10 years. He met with Ariel one last time who bowed in respect before giving him his sword. Feyli then accompanied Dias to the outer walls where she gave him the blue sash made of moon tears that was a keep sake of her sister, Argetlahm. Dias was never told about his royal lineage as they felt it would be best not to further complicate his life.
With that, Dias ventured out into Narria where he paid a visit back to the remains of Arik to say a few final words at his mother’s grave. The Demon War had long since been over and with it any chances of seeking revenge for his people. There was nothing else left for him in this world. No family, no friends and no home to call his own. He decided to leave Narria altogether, having heard the stories of the mystical Aether Gate of Arik that lead to other worlds within creation. Dropping off the cliff into the spiraling vortex of lights, he vanished without a trace, leaving it all behind…
Dias would later appear in the Tyril Kingdom, a neutral nation that had been swept up in the conflicts between many other forces in a massive galactic war. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Great behemoths made of metal flying through the skies. Their technology was beyond that of the Federation’s back in Narria. More to his amazement, the people there were all human. He arrived at a place called Daven City, the kingdom capital which had suddenly come under attack by an enemy country. Refusing to see another Arik repeat itself, he drew his sword and joined the battle against them which is when he met Captain Lanford De’Linux, leader of the Azure Knight Squad. Together they managed to drive off the invaders and save the city.
After proving his skills against a much stronger enemy force with nothing but simple clothes and a sword, Dias was asked to enlist in the Azure Knights and help defend the country from those who would threaten its peace. Looking to put his abilities to good use and make a difference, he agreed. From there, Dias would go on to fight many battles which took him across a vast number of worlds. He eventually achieved the rank of Lieutenant Major, though everyone just simply referred to him as “The Major.”
He quickly became famous through the known Omniverse and his team won many hard fought victories. Lanford became his closest friend and he would always take time to train Dias in hand-to-hand combat. Unfortunately, it couldn’t last forever. The war was brutal and dragged on for years until finally, while Dias was away on a mission to defend a colony, the kingdom was faced with an all out assault by several of the major military superpowers in the war who had allied against the smaller nation. When he returned, it only reminded him of Arik all over again with everyone either dead or captured. Lanford had gone missing while the rest of the Azure Knights were found killed, having died protecting Daven City which now lay in ruin.
Leaving his uniform and armor behind, Dias adorned his travel clothes from when he had first arrived from Narria and set off, once again leaving everything behind…
The wars continued to rage on, though Dias tried to avoid getting involved in the conflict. He began to work alone, protecting the innocent civilians from getting dragged into the crossfire. He traveled throughout the Omniverse, visiting many worlds where he did all sorts of things which only expanded upon his legend. He became known for seeking out powerful warriors and challenging them to duels, even entering tournaments where the strongest were said to gather. He had become very self-destructive, taking on suicide missions with little to no chance of survival, yet always defying the odds that had been stacked against him. He had met some strange and unique individuals along the way, such as Draco Malefic and Auron Neablis.
It was during this time that he crossed paths with an eco-terrorist group called AVALANCHE that was at war with a corrupt power company known as Shin-Ra Inc. The group caught wind of his presence in town and hired him to help liberate the planet from this evil organization. He agreed to join them and, on his own omission during an operation, went to Shin-Ra Headquarters on his own and stormed the building, slaying squads of 1st Class SOLDIERs during his assault. He eventually came face to face with a man by the name of Reno Cascade who stood in his way. The two clashed and many watched their fierce battle unfold from afar. But fate would intervene as their fight came to an abrupt end without a clear winner. The fighting meanwhile continued elsewhere and Dias was forced to return to help the others from being wiped out.
Afterwards, Dias would have many other encounters with Reno and his group, both of them trying to always kill each other each time they met. Gradually, they began to build a friendship from years spent always being at each other’s throats, developing a kind of mutual respect for one another. He would even come across forces from the U-TIC Organization which saw him as a worthy research subject, taking an interest in his Ether Burn ability. He also ended up crossing paths with a legendary wizard known simply as BelLaser who he went to every so often to pay him a visit and seek his wisdom or engineering expertise.
On more than one occasion, Dias came up against a secret organization hell bent on causing chaos throughout the Omniverse called MERKAHBAH. Their enforcers were powerful beings gathered from the far corners of creation designated as “Pandemonium Knights.” Their goals were a mystery, yet it appeared as though just about every conflict and war throughout the Omniverse had them at the root of it in some way, shape or form. A re-appearing figure that seemed to enjoy stirring up trouble for Dias was their Second in Command, a man with red hair named Rem’Graf.
Eventually, he returned to Daven City which had been rebuilt over the years. The Tyril Kingdom was no more and their lands had been seized by a new reigning power. The city itself had become a slum for slavers, bandits and all other kinds of criminal scum. Most of the original citizens who had lived there that had survived the kingdom’s destruction were reduced to lowly peasants forced to work under harsh conditions with little pay. The monument erected in memory of the Azure Knights that had been left intact was covered in filth with foreign soldiers making a mockery of it; a sign in front with the words “Where are your heroes now?”
Deciding to spend the night, he went to the nearest inn which doubled as a brothel. It was there that he met her for the first time; Ferra, an enslaved Nymph who was captured after being separated from her own kind in the Oakvale. Later that night during a stroll down memory lane, Dias found her in an alleyway being attacked by some of the more violent inn patrons that had managed to corner her while alone. Drawing his sword, he quickly dispatched the thugs and sent their young leader running off with moist pants. Dias then used his cloak to cover the woman up and carried her back to his room at the inn where she could rest.
They became very close after that, Dias using the large sum of money he had earned from his work as a mercenary to pay for her services for an extended period of time much to the dismay of her owner. The gang leader he had allowed to escape before eventually came back with greater numbers and attacked the both of them at the inn, shooting the place up. Dias then emerged from the smoke and proceeded to make short work of them all which set the gears of revolution in motion. He then killed Ferra’s master who had tipped off the thugs about which room they were staying in, freeing her and the other women from captivity.
Afterwards, Dias went on a man hunt, rooting out the soldiers stationed in the city and assaulting their barracks which was set ablaze. The people rallied behind him and soon a rebellion had begun as Daven City was liberated from the tyrants. The Azure Knight Memorial was then cleaned up and restored to its former glory while the citizens began the long road to recovery for their once majestic home. Knowing this wouldn’t be the end of things, Dias made the decision to return to the battlefield again and destroy the evil dictatorship to ensure the independence of the city and its people.
Saying goodbye to Ferra, he promised to return once the fighting was over. On that day, he would give her his answer about their future. With that, he left her behind. True to his word, a year later the hero came back only to find out that Ferra had been killed while he was gone. The woman’s death only brought back memories of his homeland and once again…he felt himself die on the inside.
He left Daven City, having won them their freedom, but in the end he had failed to protect the one that truly mattered to him the most. And with that, he vanished once more never to be heard from again for years to come…
Dias resurfaced sometime later on at a world where a new Shin-Ra Company had appeared. More dangerous and larger than the previous one, he learned of a group of renegades who were working to bring down the organization; a rebel faction known as the Aethera State. An old friend of his from the past, Sir Cort Valeric, tracked down the Narrian to a remote village in the wasteland where a Shin-Ra Research Facility was located. After a few drinks, he finally convinced Dias to tag along and join up with their rag tag crew of freedom fighters.
The Aethera State turned out to be an experimental warship designed by Shin-Ra Inc. R&D Division that had been hijacked by the group. Flying off with it, they left the wastelands and took to the skies, making the ship their personal home and base of operations for months while running covert missions to disrupt Shin-Ra operations. With the company pouring all manner of resources into finding them, the State ship was forced to dock at the Aerial City Nation, Del Ciello.
While at Del Ciello, Dias come across another old friend from his past; Reno Cascade, who was going by the new name of Crim El Furaga, the man now leading a pirate gang and commanding a large ship called the Yggdrasil which had also docked at the city. Little did the Aethera State crew know that the Governor of Del Ciello had sold them out to Shin-Ra who were already amassing a massive fleet to block off all escape routes. Meanwhile, Crim had a run in with one of Dias’ past enemies, Rem’Graf, who had caused a rather fair bit of destruction which was ultimately blamed on the man and the rest of the Yggdrasil group.
The situation only got worse when Shin-Ra began to air drop their newly enhanced SOLDIERs into the city to hunt down the Aethera State members who were already being recalled back to the ship that had come under attack in the hangar. Dias and the others battled their way through the enemies across the city and jumped back onboard the vessel which had to forcibly exit the port to beat a hasty getaway. Flying straight through the blockade, they were suddenly being chased by a massive, black ship that seemed to be generating strange monsters from its hull that latched onto the Aethera. Within moments the decks were being flooded by the creatures that just phased right through the ship like ghosts.
Dias climbed to the top of the Aethera to buy everyone else enough time to evacuate, fending off the rest of the monsters to kept trying to get onboard. It was hard enough dealing with the ones that had already gotten inside. As the crew were boarding the shuttle, Dias found himself starring down Rem’Graf who had suddenly appeared. The two clashed against each other, fighting fiercely despite the ship itself beginning to fall out of the skies. It was then that Remy removed his eye patch, revealing his demonic inverted eye which froze reality itself, opening a rift in the dimensional fabric behind Dias. Before knocking him through it, Rem’Graf confessed to him that he was the one who killed Ferra. Before Dias was about to break free of the hold, he was sent flying back, vanishing into the rift which closed back up.
Afterwards, Remy vanished along with the black ship, the Aethera crew survivors believing that Dias had died in the ship’s explosion…
Far from the truth, Dias had been cast into the abyss of Daemonium, the Realm of Nightmares. It was a world similar to that of Narria that had neither a beginning nor an end, the polar opposite as it consisted of all the evil within creation, a mass accumulation of all the fears from everyone within the Omniverse. The Nightmares became alerted to his presence and within moments, Dias found himself trying to be killed by everything, even the buildings and streets. The place was a true terror, relentlessly obsessed with trying to devour him. For what seemed like days, Dias battled non-stop just to survive; fueled by the hatred of the man who had trapped him here.
Eventually, Dias was saved by a band of Gnosis, others who had been trapped in this horrific dimension just like him that had survived by feeding on the remains of the Nightmares, becoming ones themselves. The Gnosis had established a sanctuary where the Narrian was taken to which is when he unexpectedly became reunited with his former commander, Lanford De’Linux, who was now the leader of this settlement. He explained to his friend that MERKAHBAH was behind the attack on Daven City and that the other countries behind the invasion were nothing more than pawns.
When asked how he found out about this, he told him that he learned about it from one of their own men; Rem’Graf himself. It was Remy who had setup the entire scenario, and trapped Lanford in Daemonium. With both him and Dias not there, it was only a matter of time before Daven City and the Azure Knights were defeated.
Lanford then went on to explain that his body was corrupted now, being forced to become a Gnosis in order to continue living there. Without being able to feed upon Nightmares, any Gnosis would surely die outside of Daemonium. But because Dias was still untainted, it wasn’t too late for him to still return. However, he wasn’t strong enough to defeat Rem’Graf, let alone the rest of MERKAHBAH. Not how he was. Lanford knew for some time that Dias wasn’t using his true potential, limiting himself somehow for some unknown reason. So much had happened to him, yet he still remained as he was when they first met so many years ago when he first left Narria.
This required drastic measures. If he wasn’t able to surpass himself, there was no reason for him to go back. He was better off dead. This was Lanford’s reasoning when he abruptly decided to lead Dias out away from the settlement and began to suddenly attack him. Clearly outmatched by his former teacher who had only become even stronger during his time in Daemonium, Dias was on the brink of death when it finally happened… Faced with utter defeat, never being able to take revenge for anyone that had lost their lives due to MERKAHBAH. Never again to be beside Ferra. It triggered something within him, causing him to unleash his true power as he ignited his own soul.
With the power of Soul Burn, despite his injuries, Dias quickly overwhelmed Lanford and delivered the final fatal blow which brought a swift end to their battle.
Saying his final goodbye, Dias wandered off into the vast reaches of Daemonium, unable to go back to the Gnosis settlement for having killed their leader. Unable to go on any further, Dias sat down in the darkness and used a technique he had never intended to ever use, until now. Detaching himself from his body, his spirit expanded to erect a barrier to repel the corruption of Daemonium as well as shield against the Nightmares that would try to feast on him. He stayed that way for nearly a year…lost within the darkness…
Eventually, Dias was rescued from Daemonium and taken to a world called Nerthus where his broken body was treated and cared for in Rei’s Palace within the Manah Tree. Rei was the Keeper of the Magus in the Magisterium where the colossal tree was at the center of a vast, lush forest that had sprouted up around its giant roots. The one who had been tasked with watching over him was none other than a resurrected Ferra. Unfortunately, his time spent in Daemonium for such a long time had degraded his mind. Dias had no memory, no drive or seeming ability to speak. He was alive, but that was it, nothing more than a shell of his former self.
Ferra did everything she could for the man, tending to him day and night. However, time was not on their side. Dias was needed as MERKAHBAH was pushing hard and speeding up their plans elsewhere. With no other options left to them, Ferra made the ultimate sacrifice…merging her mind with his in order to fix the damage caused by Daemonium. It was dangerous to meld their minds without any kind of protection, immediately getting lost in his past. While desperately trying to reconnect the distorted fragments of himself, she came into contact with the traces of Daemonium that still lingered within him. Finally, she managed to succeed and the life returned to Dias’ eyes and his hair lit up brightly once again.
Realizing that none of it was a dream and that Ferra really was there, he would once again know sadness when she looked up at him not knowing who he was. She had lost her memories so that he could regain his. Taken by grief, she brought her arms around him to comfort the man. Though she had lost her memories, somehow she still felt as though she knew him and cared deeply about him. This only strengthened his resolve as Dias met with Rei, the mysterious woman accompanied by a white talking cat who told him that he was needed to stop MERKAHBAH from achieving its goal. Without hesitation, he accepted his supposed fate and allowed the cat to take him through a new Aether Gate.
On the other side, Dias found himself within a dream-like alternate reality resembling Earth, a city that had been torn apart by a great war. MERKAHBAH had appeared and was on the verge of wiping out the Wiccans who were desperate to hold on against the ever increasing numbers. And there, watching the mayhem from a far off distance, was none other than Rem’Graf. Triggering years of hatred and regret, his rage became an unstoppable force as Dias dropped into the city streets and began to massacre the black soldiers.
Crossing blades with Rem’Graf, the two battled in an epic fight that shook the heavens, forcing the war to come to a total stand still as everyone watched in awe. Finally, the battle came to an end with the death of Remy who died with a smile on his face, as if he had planned on this outcome from the very start. The rest of the MERKAHBAH fleet prepared to waste the survivors and cut their losses. To stop them, Dias went to the roof of the building where everyone had gone to seek shelter. As the warships unleashed their hell storm of cannons upon the city, the Narrian single handedly began deflecting every blast. Refusing to surrender, even after his leg was shot out from under him and a hole bore clean through his shoulder, the man remained in open defiance until he let loose a powerful counter attack of his own and ripped the ships apart right out of the atmosphere.
Dias then fell unconscious, passing out from the immense strain. When the dream began to fall apart, Ferra showed up and, with the help of the Wiccans, carried him off. The planet was facing total destruction as its core was about to go critical. It was then that a wave of ships appeared in a grand display of lights baring the crest of the Aesir Empire 9th Orbital Fleet. They were responding to the unknown dimensional disturbance that was affecting the entire universe, causing it to have just mysteriously manifested all of a sudden in real space. Chief General Aeon Ergo who was onboard leading the survey operation personally, gave the order to evacuate as many people as they could.
Only able to save the Wiccans and the Human survivors with them, the fleet pulled back to a safe distance and watched as their world imploded. They then returned back to their own universe, back at Babylon City where the refugees were taken care of and given a temporary living space of their own until better arrangements could be made. Dias woke up after having been asleep for over a month, finding himself stiff but with all of his injuries healed.
Afterwards, Dias had a meeting with Aeon and Adam, the Ruler of the Wiccan people who had marked him as a hero for saving them back in the dream. They were discussing the black soldiers and comparing notes as the Empire had also crossed paths with them. They had all encountered MERKAHBAH at some point and it appeared as though the secret chaos organization was becoming more and more bold with their activities. Something had to be done about them. It was then that Aeon declared that the new prime objective for the SOF Crimson Knights would be to investigate and track down any and all signs of MERKAHBAH throughout the Omniverse and root them out until they were ultimately destroyed.
Dias couldn’t agree more with her sentiments and took the offer to join them in this task. The Narrian then adorned a military uniform for the second time in his life, officially becoming apart of the Crimson Knights.
The time for running was over. Now he would be the one doing the hunting…
[Update - 6/20/2015]
During the first few months staying with Ferra at the apartment provided for them by the Aesir Military, Babylon City soon played host to a failed coup attempt by a man named Relius. Dias fell at the center of this event as it unfolded as assassins attacked the Narrian and his female companion. With the thanks of the robotic bounty hunter, calling herself "Cee", Relius was soundly defeated while the famed "Geister Squad" operated behind the scenes to systematically eliminate each and every traitor of the empire simultaneously, having been aware of their actions for quite some time.
Not long after being reassigned new living accommodations, Aeon requested Dias' assistance for what was supposed to be a covert mission to the war torn planet of Vestusio. The world had become occupied by forces from the Dimensional Federation's 44th Frontier Fleet as part of an operation to root out the Yggdrasil Pirates. Dias was given the task of infiltrating the federation army stationed there to determine whether or not they were working with MERKAHBAH.
Using the distraction provided by the return of Captain Crim El Furaga and his band of space pirates aboard their new Yggdurandal starship, along with another Crimson Knight known as Raikar who came acting as his guide, Dias arrived on Vestusio and managed to get into a U-TIC Organization stronghold formerly used as a base for Crim and the gang. Inside, Dias became separated from Raikar and ended up finding some of his old rival's crew locked up. Freeing the prisoners, he met Vaughn and they quickly made their escape.
However, they encountered the sentient tome called Delabraxias. All the others save for Dias and Vaughn were able to survive the battle and made it outside after defeating the wicked entity. After parting ways with his new found friend, Dias detected the presence of a Pandemonium Knight, the strong arm of MERKAHBAH. Realizing it had appeared where Crim and all the others had gathered, the Narrian rushed off to join the fight. But when he arrived, the group was struggling to defend themselves, beaten badly by the one revealing himself as Malphisto Cichol, the First and dubbed primavera of the elite Real Numbers.
A duel to the death ensued, with Dias unleashing everything that he had upon the man, only to be pushed back at every turn. Just when all hope seemed lost, divine intervention appeared in the form of the Eidolons from Narria Mythology. With their help, Malphisto was quickly reigned in. But before victory could be, another who was referred to as the "Traitor Eidolon" emerged and easily dealt with his kin, actually saving Malphisto. The rogue Eidolon called himself Adayah the Desire and was exposed to all as being the one whom all of MERKAHBAH and the PKers called 'The Master', the one pulling all of the strings. The one responsible for so much destruction and mayhem throughout all of Creation. Finally they knew who it was...
Though it was apparent he could have simply killed them all, Adayah instead chose to leave while taking Malphisto along with him. But in his absence came the looming threat of MERKAHBAH's wrath. An unending horde of Nightmares poured out from Daemonium and infested the planet, attacking anything alive. The unholy alliance between them and U-TIC was revealed as the two forces joined together.
During the onslaught, a miracle came in the form of the young girl who had been in a kind of dimensional stasis, given to the care of Crim years ago. The Eikona, Genesis.
With the heroes knocking on death's door, the secret buried along with Gene came out as she called forth a weapon of mythic proportions, a cosmic device so big that it physically encased the entire galaxy they were in. The ARKOS. It forcibly seized total control of the universe itself and violently purged all traces of MERKAHBAH and Daemonium from the realm, swiftly putting an end to the chaos. Just before it vanished back into the nothing from whence it came, Gene used the godlike powers of this machine to restore the damage inflicted upon Vestusio and all those that were still living.
With the battle finally over, Dias took it upon himself for some personal R&R.
Till next time...
