[center][b]A saint's Alchemy[/b][/center] FIRST PART [i]Faster....faster or they will die, my students, my children.[/i] Visions of tombstones haunted Julie as she firmly planted herself on the ground. [i]I am certain, it has already begun transitioning. Its strength and vitality are all surpassing the preconceived limiters, there really is no other way.[/i] The Chrono couldn't help but fear the worst, it is her students and her comrades that were engaging the Vile and it is their valor and ingenuity that kept the monstrosity at bay. Even so, their "Please keep them alive!" her screams echoed amidst the chaos and destruction, her tone conveying the plea of a weeping soul. A prayer hoping to reach the Angels in heaven to envelop those she cherishes in their protecting embrace. There is no room for hesitation when a Chrono must enter the fray, their resolve must be iron and their hearts barred and thus she silenced her mind. The screams of agony drowned away, the smell of blood it faded and all that was left was a melancholic serenity. The state of mind in which she had ventured was not one of retreat, but rather inciting destruction. The birds had long since seized their chirping but now appeared to be fleeing the Island; howls of disturbed creatures echoed from within the jungles and any alchemist sensitive to the force of alchemy could foresee an unnatural compression in alchemic energy. All alchemists are capable of performing feats of wonder, however few know of how these feats come about. It is hypothesized that alchemists actually harness energy or a force and transmute it into what they desire; they are conduits capable of drawing forth from a pool of ungodly potential. This is what is known as the alchemic drive, an alchemist’s capability to draw from the endless pool of power, as such those that are sensitive to the ripples of alchemic energy can sense a disturbance. What Julie had just begun was no mere ripple, it was a tidal wave that was felt by nearly every other Chrono in the world. [b]My Angel's have fallen[/b] The first verse of the incantation had been spoken and with it nature too began to sway to the rhythm of mayhem, clouds brewed and rain began to pour out of the blue. Wind encircled the island, wailing and shrieking as if a banshee's warning. [b]Their wings, I now feast [/b] The desolate sky soon began to roar and ignite, lightning and thunder manifested through the second verse. The very environment shared in the Chronos emotions, the sky it wept and screamed, the tides they raged and darkness befell. The orchestra and the stage was set, the instruments they hummed and the verses sung and so this elegy neared its climax. [b]Forever ravenous, my hunger knows no peace [/b] The crescendo of this piece had arrived, the final portion before the grand finale. The alchemic power had begun to concentrate in a single spot, the sheer potency of which appeared to draw the Vile's attention. The monstrosity could no longer be distracted; losing its interest in the Asylums it began a mad dash towards the anomaly. However at this stage the Chrono had completed her preparations, something which would have been impossible to do without the brave soldiers that volunteered to aid in her suicidal wishes. [b]Eternally I shall walk starving, EXCEED[/b] The incantation of the 'Chrono's Exceed' was complete. "I pity you," Julie whispered as she gazed upon a lifeless figure mindless charging towards her. "I make it a point to leave something behind to burry; even my enemies don't deserve such a fate." She continued her tone apologetic, a kin to a sinner's repentance. "After this I am afraid.....[b]nothing will be left[/b] not even your ash." The warped image of Ben suddenly drew to a halt mere feet before the Chrono, despite the creatures attempt to get closer its efforts appeared to be in vain. The answer could be seen through any trained Asylum's eyes, the sheer alchemic energy that had accumulated near Julie was serving as a barrier to the mutation in front of her. Simply put, her alchemic drive alone was enough to halt the creature in its tracks. With the Vile stationary the prerequisites had been met, her arms instantly stretched out and her palm slowly converged into a fist. Mimicking the motion, the accumulated energy began to envelop the Vile and form an orb around him, a dome of sorts. After that, the Island itself began to shake asunder. Mountains began to topple and the ground caved in, the Island was sinking all from the escaping energy that could not be contained. Such were the results of meddling with anti matter. This was Julie's true ability and burden, her annihilation alchemy was not restricted to explosions but to convert matter into anti matter and cause a rupture which could theoretically be of biblical proportions. A single gram of anti matter clashing with matter has the potential of causing a nuclear explosion three times greater than the one dropped on Hiroshima. "I have used this alchemy twice before, this is the first time I have created anti matter of such quantity, of course this is the first time I have actually tried to control the backlash." The Chrono thought to herself as the woman began to cough blood, her hands straining to maintain the fist. Cuts and tears slowly began to appear on her body as she screamed and struggled to hold the shield intact. The creature inside moaned and shrieked as its body began to vaporize, despite ungodly regenerative capabilities the Vile could not regenerate if the very matter that composed it was destroying itself. In but a minute not a trace of the Vile remained, only compressed energy that sought release. "Thank god," Julie whispered as she felt her legs finally give out, with the last ounce of energy she could muster, the Chrono redirected the energy to be emitted into space. An immense column of pure energy erupted skywards, as if a divine staircase ushering the soul of Ben to the peaceful place he deserved. While nothing of Ben remained to be buried, he did possess a tombstone or a monument to be remembered by, a tiny speck of spatial distortion which had occurred due to Julie's unfathomable power. After that the Chrono found herself on the ground gasping for breath and clenching her body. Her entire body was a canvas of wounds and while most would heal some are an eternal reminder. Julie's left hand which was clenched in order to control and suppress the alchemic energy had been burnt; the flesh had been seared and turned into a sickening charcoal colour. "Julie, what have you done?" Geko finally appeared before his wife, his breath frantic and his eyes gaping at the horror that was in front of him. "Why damn-it, why did you have to bear it alone. I told you I would help you, I could have shar-" "Are the children alright? Please tell me?" The woman pleaded as she continued to cough blood, the sight alone causing her husband to weep silently. "I evacuated all other areas, only this area remains and we are about to teleport all of the students to safety. You saved them Julie; they are safe because of you." Geko continued with an incoherent tone and tears continuing to trickle down the veteran's face. [i]You idiot why do you have to always harm yourself to protect others[/i] Geko thought to himself as the Lost Number wiped his tears and gently embraced his wife, quietly weeping next to her. "That is an alchemic wound, it will never heal, the pain will never stop. It’s my fault, I left you. I should be the one to bear your pain, I am your shield." The man whispered, his fist clenching till his nails would pierce his flesh such was his fury. "Come now, you will always be my knight in shining armor," Julie consoled her husband as her left hand gently brushed his hair, while her right one lay helpless. "You are a gentle soul, I know Ben was one of you oldest students and I know it had to be me and as such you were the only one who could assist with the evacuation. It’s like you always say, we have to prioritize what A.M.R.O tells u-." She continued only to be suddenly interrupted by her infuriated husband. "Forget A.M.R.O, YOU ARE MY PRIORITY!" Geko screamed, clearly infuriated with his reckless spouse. "We are done with it all; you are done being a weapon. We have given everything and that is enough, there is no more debt left to pay. We can buy a villa in Rio De Janeiro, I know you have always loved that place, let me be the one to take care of you now." The Lost Number continued, concluding with a gentle kiss on his partner's forehead. "You stupid idiot, its about time you said those things!" The Chrono finally replied before beginning to sob, tears dripping down her scarred face. "Now I want to give a hug to the best hubby in the world!" She joyfully exclaimed, her left arm struggling to lift her off the ground and after repetitive tries she finally managed to sit straight and say something she had longed to say. "I love you Mr Varen Gekk, now come here and give this adorable wife of yours a hug and maybe a kiss?" The Chrono chirped playfully before opening her arms to greet her husband to a good morning with sun gently peeking out to see the show as well. [b]How adorable is this? It is rather rare to celebrate when what you experienced was just the prelude, let me show you what comes after."[/b] Before Julie could actually embrace her husband a silhouette of a tall man appeared next to her, clenching her head in his palm. "Who are yo-" Geko found himself soullessly staring at the person in front of him, his expression terrified to death, something that seemed to scare Julie even more. "Please not her, take me plea-" "Let’s make her laugh, shall we? We all laugh when we are a little insane?" The man jeered before an intense burst of energy appeared to emanate from his arm and be forced into the Chrono, causing her to go in a vegetative state for a few seconds. "WHAT DID YOU DO, I WILL KILL YOU!" Geko screamed, rage clouding his judgment. "I will level this entire island, heck half this damn world and bury you beneath the rubble!" The man continued before suddenly freezing at a familiar touch. "Ju-Julie....yo-you're...okay?" He spoke, too frightened to phrase his sentences right. "Do you want me to smile?" "What are you saying Julie....I...I don't understand. Of..of course I like you smiling.." The Lost Number spoke, warping reality behind a layer of denial. [i]She is okay, she is speaking, she is just in shock, nothing is wrong with her.....we will go to Rio....we will live peacefully.....we just have to get of this Island [/i] "Lets...KILL...them..ALL....that would make me smile!" The Chrono shrieked before bursting into laughter, a laugh that sounded like no human but something else, something disgusting and horrid.