Valhalla seemed like one of those really surreal worlds that you often read about in books. Just as he was told, this timeless world was still and empty, like a still sleeping kingdom. Nothing moved or seemed to live here, if it wasn't for Caius, Zack would have thought he would be by himself here.
Now that he thought about it, it might have well be Caius and Zack here in Valhalla.
Zack paused from his easy stride down the empty street, between the towering buildings of this surreal city. He looked at the towering castle in the distance, dark and secluded, much like the goddess that sleeps there. For this moment, he ponders what exactly is this Knight he'll be facing. Caius never said what the Knight was. Zack doubted he was facing a human. This Knight had to be some sort of monster, something humanoid.
He grimaced at the thought.
From experience, he learned that humanoids were usually more powerful than animal based beings. They had skill in weaponry, good use of their form, intelligence of some sort, and could be a bit challenging. And with this being the Knight of a goddess, probably more powerful. He considered his options and the possibilities. Caius never told him what this Knight looked like, but he assumed that it was, well, a Knight. It was safe to assume that. This Knight also had to be powerful, powerful enough to be chosen by this goddess to be her protector.
Now, according to Caius, all he had to do was distract the Knight, and not get killed. The man himself declared that he wasn't powerful enough to destroy this Knight, it was blessed by the goddess and almost a god as well. Caius told him that he was also practically a god, and it takes a god to destroy a god. So with him distracting the Knight, Caius would go for the kill on the goddess while she was in her weakened state.
The Knight should die with Etro, and Caius would grant Zack's wish, and get sent to the time and place he desires. So far, he has an idea on where he wants to end up. He wants to return to the spot where he died, just before Cloud finds him, and right after he killed all those soldiers. Then he could reunite with Cloud and be on their way, avoiding Shinra. Maybe find Aerith and see if she could hide them.
He did think about asking Caius if he could help, maybe take Shinra out or something; but that would probably be pushing his luck. Especially since Caius didn't see like the type that gave help freely. But it should be enough, just to get to that specific time, where he should have died, and before Cloud found him in that state. He didn't know what they would do once they got away from that area, but anything would have been fine so long as they both survive. Besides, something should come up to help guide them along, something always did simply because the universe just worked like that. It could either be really piteous and merciful, or be a total bitch and make their life harder. More the latter from his experience.
Actually, most of the time, half of the bad things in his life were his own thoughtless doing, that he usually ends up regretting. Zack mentally went through the list of all the bad things that happened in his life caused by his own actions. Eating ice vream too quickly, forgetting to the Buster sword while still in Angeal's care (that was a scarring memory), accidentally cutting some of Sephiroth's hair in practice (it really was, Genesis was pushing him to his limits), and then running away from home to become a SOLDIER and never seeing his family again...
A distant roar caught his attention, and thankfully, distracting his current thoughts.
Zack jerked back into reality, instinctively ducking close to one of many aged walls. He pressed his body against the cold and dusted wall, leaning out, he sought the area, trying to find the source. He saw it. It was a large, dark and shadowed form, rushing through the air. He heard another deep bellowing cry as it circled, likely seeking, either him so long as it knew about him, which was unlikely; he assumed that it was seeking Caius.
Was this thing the Knight?
Zack grimaced. It would make it harder if it could fly. Damn that man for not giving him details. Caius refused with: This is, originally, not your fight. There is no need or reason for you to understand the situation. Just distract the Knight, and the rest will just be a dream.
Either way, he was at a lost on what's going on and why him all people that had to help this man. If it wasn't for the promise of a second chance at life, he... he really didn't know what he'd do. Zack went stiff as he grimaced darkly. He turned away from the shadow in the air, pressed his back against the wall and slid down, landing on the ground with a huff. Caius had him trapped, he realizes now. He was in a whole new world, with only Caius and a vile goddess and her Knight as the only other living being here. If they could be called living. There was no civilization. No people, and he highly doubted Caius considered himself human.
There was nothing human for him to turn to if Caius was bad news. There was the goddess and that Knight, but would the Knight really let him in? Then again, was this goddess, Etro, really so vile? For now, all he had was Caius's words to guide him along, and his task.
He could try and leave, find a way back, perhaps some people as well.
His chances are slim though, even more so than facing the Knight. He didn't know Valhalla, he didn't know the people (if there were any), and Caius could come after him. Another factor was food and shelter. Shelter, he doubted he would have little problem with. Despite waking up in a small cave outside Valhalla's city, he quickly found that, despite the vast emptiness of these ruins, the buildings were still stable. But food was another matter...
He remembered seeing an ocean. Maybe some fish lived there?
...of maybe a goddess and a summoned Knight would have no reason for food.
...does Caius even eat?
Zack shook his head, sighing as he slumped against the wall.
This wasn't getting him anywhere. He had to go and distract this Knight, the sooner he did the so, the sooner Caius could kill that goddess, and the sooner he could be sent back home, to where things made sense. Mostly. His life was pretty complicated now though...
Zack slumped even more, smearing his face into his gloved hands. Why did things always get to complicated for him?
Etro's castle (he didn't know what else to call it) was an impressive building, especially since there weren't that many castles back on Gaia. But it looked just he thought a castle would. Big, spacious, dark, and creepy. He was starting to see how Etro was a vile goddess if this was her castle. What was obviously supposed to be white walls, were colored dark by the purple sky, encasing everything in shadows. Shadows that Zack made use of. He kept close to the walls, keeping his steps light as he continued to creep forward and down the barren hall.
He's been creeping like this for a while now, and has yet to see any signs of this Knight. Perhaps it was still flying around? But then how was he to get its attention then? He didn't know where it was flying, but he could safely assume that it was looking for Caius. This Knight should only know about Caius and be completely oblivious to his own presence. So he had to purposely catch its attention. How though? It was up in the air, flying who knows where.
Well, he decided then, that the best way to get past obliviousness, is to be painfully obvious.
He boldly stepped out of the shadows, and purposely made his steps loud.
Nothing came.
Taking a deep breath, Zack walked carelessly down this empty and broken hall of Etro's castle, making sure he was in the dim, silver light, and walking loudly under the crumbling part of the ceiling that hung over this walk way. Surely a flying Knight would see him now. All flying being usually had strong senses, especially in their eyes. He just had to capture the attention of those keen eyes, lore the Knight away so the goddess was open for Caius. Live through the experience, and go back home and once again, try to live another day...
That almost makes it sound easy.
The ground shuddered beneath his feet, and Zack froze, staring wide eyed at the ground. Slowly, he turned around, to find the most terrifying winged monsters ever.
That's what he was expecting to see. Instead, he only got the open and empty hall. Zack narrowing his eyes as he tried to see into the blackness down the way. Nothing moved, and he safely assumed that there was nothing behind him. But the ground did move, usually he felt jolts when something big lands in the area. So the Knight had to be here, or close. Just where?
There was a sharp hiss in the air, and Zack's eyes widened. Quickly, he leaped to the side, hissing himself with something sharp brushed and sliced right above his elbow on his right arm. Grunting as his back hit the wall, his gloved hand quickly pressed against he wound on his arm, wincing at the pressure he had to apply as he cradled his arm.
Looking up, he froze.
This must be the Knight he was to distract. It just had to be.
Just like the his first thought on this Knight, it looked like an actual Knight. Standing tall with silver armor, embellished with gold, black, and green; cold green eyes glared down at him, just as its large, curving sword and golden horns gleamed in the light. The only thing missing were wings to allow it to fly.
He immediately shoved that thought down, especially when this Knight turned to face him fully. Zack tore down the hall, his arm pressed firmly against his chest. The Knight went after him, making the ground shudder with its steps. Zack looked over his shoulder, flinching when he saw that the Knight was directly on his tail. Unsure if Caius was aware that Zack had the Knight distracted, Zack decided to make them really noticeable. He ran out through a gap in the wall, and leaped down to the ruined city below, the Knight following him closely.
Hopefully, Caius caught that, Zack thought as he ran and weaved through the city, a dust of destruction following him closely as the Knight carelessly followed. That man better be taking advantage of this, Zack wasn't doing this again.
He grunted as he skid slightly, stumbling when his feet met the ground of the barren street below. Regaining his balance, he ran down a random way, hoping the Knight would follow. Movement above caught his eye, and Zack quickly stopped, jumping back just as the Knight flew down, digging its sword into the ground where Zack was going to be. A large crack crumbled around the spot, making Zack grimace.
"The Buster Sword would be really nice right now," he grumbled as he took a few steps back. But he gave that sword to Cloud, and Caius got him after Cloud left him. He was weaponless, so far...
"Let's see if you can handle a Mako punch," Zack murmured, curling his right hand as he felt the Mako pulse in his veins. Will it be affected by the extra strength, only one way to find out.
The Knight jerked his sword out of the ground, when it was up and ready, it was quickly knocked back when Zack rushed forward, slamming his fist right in its face. The Knight stumbled back, but quickly regained its footing, raising it sword to him again. Zack grinned at it, waving his curled fingers at it. "Not so impossible now, huh?" he mocked.
Electricity sparked and hissed around the Knight's blade, making Zack pale slightly. The Knight swung his sword, sending a curving electrical strike at him. Zack barely avoided it as he ducked under, his hair rising as it went over. His eyes followed it, wincing as it brought down a whole entire building. Another flicker of movement above, and Zack rolled away, just as the large, curving sword sliced into the earth. Zack pushed himself up, only to grunt when he used his wounded arm. A spark of pain flew up and through his shoulder as a sign of protest, making him curse under his breath. A quick glance at it showed thick trails of red slithering around his arm.
He jerked when he heard the Knight shift, and before he could even get a chance to move, much less see what the Knight was doing, he felt the blunt of the sword scrape his chest, sending him across and into another building.
The world went black as soon as he was in the air.