Episode 320: Return to the Past

From Accct Wiki

Nothing.

Complete emptiness.

That is what remained after one calling himself the “Ancient Minister” destroyed the entire universe. All that remained was himself, a countless amount of lost, wandering souls, and his “perfect empire” called Subspace.

What were his subjects? He doesn’t have a specific name for these various creatures. They are formed from a lost soul trapped in an artificial darkness-made vessel. The most common and diverse of his creatures, he calls Primid. In any case, these creatures support the Ancient Minister with undying loyalty.

…Actually, another thing endured the universe’s end.

Us. We are a tribe of priests dedicated to the longevity and protection of the universe.

We have failed, yes, but we are trying our best to find a way to undo what the Ancient Minister has done.

We are recognized by the shimmering white gloves we wear. These white gloves are the symbol of our clan.

Also surviving with us were two young boys. They were twin brothers, orphaned at a tender age, and have been raised by us ever since.

Their names are Trasme and Zyrca. Trasme wore only one white glove, on his right hand, and so did Zyrca on his left.

They show great optimism and willpower even in the darkest times. If only we shared that trait…

Interesting thing, actually—when they hit 11, they wanted to train in battle skills. We were surprised, but we allowed them to.

The training shrine involved almost-lifelike holograms of humanoid beings, which come and attack. It was nothing unlike a simple VR combat program.

The older one, Trasme, went in first.

There appeared four of the humanoid holograms, or Fighting Alloy, if that’s what to call them. They went at Trasme…and before anyone knew it, he swished his arms side-to-side, summoning two ripples of energy pulsating up and around him, striking the Wire Frames and knocking them away.

Next, one tried to punch Trasme. He just leaned back, darted away in a back flip, and pointed his index and middle fingers like a gun at it. He was surrounded by an aura image of what looked like a big white glove as those two fingers glowed. Then, the fingers fired a giant fiery plasma shot, which tore through the Wire Frame, sending it flying into the danger boundary, which is the “ring out” walls of the arena.

The other three Wire Frames came charging at him. He crouched to avoid one Wire Frame’s swinging foot, then swung his open right hand forth. The large aura image of the white glove grabbed this one, squeezed it, then slammed it into the other two. He then leapt into all three with his fist forth, smashing into them as if he was rocketing, sending them flying past the danger boundary.

It was incredible! He was almost perfectly balanced on a high scale.

Next, the younger and more docile Zyrca entered.

Once again, four Fighting Wire Frames appeared. When they came charging at him, his eyes widened in fear…

And then he charged at the four and swung his left fist to where it whacked all four.

It seemed when he was confronted by a danger, he would go berserk on enemies, at least until the threat is gone.

In any case, he gained an aura image of a giant white glove around himself. He then ran forth while motioning his left hand like a walking spider. The aura image started spider-walking, trampling the still-weary Wire Frames.

Then, he raised his left hand and waved it about lightly. The aura image lifted up and scattered little round bombs, which pelted the Wire Frames, hammering them with explosion after explosion. He then smashed them all in a swinging kick, knocking them all out of the danger boundary.

It was after that that he caught his breath and resumed his normal, docile state.

We were really amazed with these boys. They were immensely powerful, yet were able to keep their powers under complete control.

Fortunately, since the Ancient Minister and his Subspace Army knew nothing of our existence, the boys were safe. We could hope…And we kept that hope since then, for about 2 years.

One recent day, Trasme and Zyrca met up with each other from their walks.

Trasme: So, how was your walk?

Zyrca: It was fine. But…you won’t believe what happened.

{Zyrca held out a small trophy. It looked like a small round pink puffball with a cute face and red shoes.}

Trasme: Is that a…trophy? Where did you find it?

Zyrca: That’s the thing, Big Bro—see, while I was walking, I saw a small glowing orb in my path. And…when I touched it…it turned into this!

{Trasme was amazed.}

Trasme: Strange…A similar thing happened with me!

{Trasme showed a trophy that he found—it looked like a short plumber, dressed in blue overalls, white gloves, and a red cap.}

Trasme: Actually, I found a lot of other ones, but…well, there were too many. They’re all at home right now.

Zyrca: Same with all my other ones. I must’ve found…I don’t know, about a thousand trophies this way.

Trasme: Me too!…Strange…we touched these glowing orbs, and they become trophies…Why is this?

{they came and asked one of our sages. He looked at the plumber and puffball trophies, and he had this to say to them.}

Sage: Hmmmm…Well, perhaps I should tell you what those glowing orbs are. Shall I?

Trasme: We can handle it.

Zyrca: Yeah.

Sage: Very well…Those orbs are actually lost souls—ones that didn’t survive the end of the universe.

{Trasme and Zyrca almost jumped back.}

Trasme & Zyrca: Really??

Sage: Yes, really. It seems that by coming in contact with the gloves of our clan—like the ones you boys wear—they have gained new bodies…but it seems that due to the curse of Subspace, the most body they can attain is a trophy form.

{He handed the two trophies back to Trasme and Zyrca.}

Trasme: Say…We’ve actually touched a lot of these lost souls and they all became trophies.

Zyrca: We have them all at home, and…well, they’re taking up a lot of space.

{the sage nodded slightly and went through his things, until he found two cases, and gave one to each brother.}

Sage: Here—these cases can hold a great multitude of these trophies. I already have several, so you boys can have these.

Trasme & Zyrca: Thanks!

{The sage nodded.}

Sage: You’re welcome. And do be careful with them! They are still beings, after all.

{The two boys nodded, and walked home. Little did anyone know that a few miles outside our small village, a Primid scout has seen our homes. He got onto his Roader partner and they sped back to the palace of the Ancient Minister.}

{Meanwhile, in the Ancient Minister’s palace in Subspace, the scout ran tiredly to the Minister.}

Ancient Minister: Cody! What has you so worked up?

Primid Scout Cody: Begging your forgiveness, m’lord. You see…erm…how to describe it…

Ancient Minister: Just…tell me what you found.

Primid Scout Cody: Oh! Well…it seems something other than you and this empire survived the universe’s end.

{The Minister was surprised.}

Ancient Minister: Surely you jest…!

Primid Scout Cody: I-I’m afraid I don’t, m’lord.

{The Minister got up from his throne and paced back and forth, worryingly.}

Ancient Minister: Hmmm…this can’t be right…Did you obtain a visual duplicate on them?

Primid Scout Cody: Yes, m’lord. Uploading it now.

{The scout held up a snapshot, and it summoned a larger version of it. It showed the village. The Minister looked carefully at the buildings and constructed styles.}

Ancient Minister: Why these…These are in the architectural styles of…

Primid Scout: Of what…?

Ancient Minister: …of the ütubpupanunu Clan…Yes, a clan trying to ensure the universe’s survival. Tch! I guess I can’t be amazed if they themselves survived…

Primid Scout: I see…What now, m’lord?

{The Minister kept pacing, thinking to himself. He then came to a conclusion.}

Ancient Minister: Scout! Go and report the rest of the Subspace Army. Tell them to launch an all-out attack on this village. Leave no survivors!

Primid Scout: Right away, m’lord! Hail Ancient Minister!

{The scout ran off to alert the rest of the Subspace Army of his orders. The Minister then looked off into the empty distance.}

Ancient Minister: So, you want the universe to live? Hmph. See your consequence!

{Meanwhile, Trasme and Zyrca were at their home. They had just finished putting all their trophies into their cases.}

Zyrca: I hope it’s comfy in these. Even if they’re stiffed up, I doubt they’d like it if they found it hard to rest in.

Trasme: Yeah…Y’know, these trophies were once other people, other beings…you know?

Zyrca: Yep.

Trasme: You ever wonder if we could still revive the universe, so that these guys wouldn’t be stuck like this forever?

Zyrca: Isn’t that what the clan’s trying?

Trasme: Exactly.

Zyrca: Actually, it’s kinda our dream, too. Then none of us would have to look into Subspace’s emptiness all the time.

Trasme: Yep…Well, right now, we can only hope.

{Just then, the brothers heard screaming outside. They grabbed their cases and went outside. There…}

{They saw the Subspace Army, tearing the village apart. Torching it, crushing it, dicing it, every method was being used to try and destroy the village and its inhabitants.}

Trasme: Uh oh. C’mon! We gotta fight them off!

Zyrca: Right! They want crazy? I’ll show ‘em crazy!

{Trasme and Zyrca charged forth. But then Zyrca stopped and looked back to the house.}

Trasme: What?

Zyrca: I just remembered! I forgot a few trophies! Be right back!

Trasme: Alright, but hurry!

{Zyrca ran back home while Trasme went into the battle. Zyrca found on his bed the few trophies he forgot—a tall green-dressed plumber, a fox-like person, a princess wearing a pink dress, a monkey wearing a red cap and shirt, and a few others. Anyway, he got all those into his case, and then hurried back out to aid Trasme.}

{Trasme and his glove image already blasted away a multitude of the Subspace creatures. Zyrca summoned his glove image and joined the fight. They punched, lasered, shot, bombed, slammed, tackled, kicked, chopped, and clobbered these fiends left-and-right.}

{After clearing out a very great number, a lot more of the Subspace Army came in. They’ve already destroyed the whole village. They’ve defeated everybody. All that remained were Trasme, Zyrca, and their trophies.}

Trasme: Great…Looks like this is it…

{Zyrca looked to the sides, then put his case into Trasme’s hands.}

Zyrca: No it isn’t. You gotta get out of here!

Trasme: What do you mean?

Zyrca: There’s no other way to stop these and ensure your survival. Now hang onto those!

Trasme: W-Wait! You don’t mean—

{Zyrca’s glove image grabbed Trasme, and then threw him to a bright corner of the void, past all the Subspace creatures.}

Trasme: No wait! Don’t!!

Zyrca: …Sorry, Big Bro. I have to.

{Zyrca then started glowing wildly in a fiery aura.}

Zyrca: …farewell…

{The next they knew, the Subspace creatures were engulfed in a giant explosion of light energy and fire. This destroyed every single one of them, even freeing the souls that held them captive. Zyrca, however…there was no trace of him left. Not even of the glove on his left hand. He used his whole being and life to defeat this segment of the Subspace Army.}

{At a faraway place, Trasme saw this explosion. He didn’t know how to respond to this. He was traumatized at the destruction of his home, saddened at the loss of his younger brother, and angered at what the Subspace Army did.}

Trasme: I don’t believe this…

{But then, he looked at the two cases. These contained all the trophies that Trasme and Zyrca collected.}

Trasme: Hmph. And I thought that the restoration of the universe was possible…

{At those words, the glove on his right hand glowed like crazy. It radiated with a soulful energy. Parts of it seemed nostalgic to him.}

Trasme: Mementos from the clan…?

{It seemed his glove held in the collective hopes of the clan to continue to longevity of the universe. The glow then transferred from his glove and formed something. It appeared to be a sphere of light. It grew and grew and grew…}

{…until Trasme found himself standing on its surface like a grain of sand on a wide beach. That sphere became a new world.}

Trasme: A world…? I created a world? This…This is amazing!

{He then looked at the cases.}

Trasme: Hmm. This seems to be a perfect world for these trophies. I wonder if that collected hope can bring them to life…

{He opened the cases, and touched each one with his right hand. All the trophies in each one radiated brightly, and they flew out to different sections of the world. Where they wound up at, they grew from their tiny trophy size to their regular sizes from before the universe ended.}

{For some time, the trophies lived normal lives. They even took to a sport of fighting, inherited from Trasme and Zyrca’s combat training. Since their being knocked out involved going immobile, like a trophy, could often be remedied by a tap on the trophy base, it wasn’t so barbaric.}

{Trasme, however…Nobody has ever seen or heard of him. He must be in hiding, watching over the trophies.}

{After some time, at the Ancient Minister’s palace, a Primid scout made a report.}

Ancient Minister: You look breathless, David. Anything wrong…?

Primid Scout David: Y-Yes actually. It…It seems…well…Come look for yourself!

{At the palace’s balcony, the Minister could clearly see it—some sort of world in the brightest corner of the emptiness.}

Ancient Minister: This…doesn’t look right. It seems one of those clan members escaped and managed to make that…

Primid Scout David: I know, m’lord. Won’t this ruin our reputation as the rulers of all that exist?

{The Minister shook his head.}

Ancient Minister: Hmm heh heh heh…Ohhh, they don’t rule anything. We rule everything! We will just have to give its maker the proper punishment…by stealing his new world, piece by piece!

Primid Scout David: Great idea, m’lord!

Ancient Minister: Scout! Report to our research team. Have them design devices that will suck sections of that world into the depths of Subspace.

Primid Scout David: Right away, m’lord! Hail Ancient Minister!

[edit] Taco Taco Hour

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