After my titanic battle with Ratul, the whole world shifted, though not one stone was dislodged from Mt. Olympus' roof. However, the force of Ratul's defeat flung me backwards, shattering Excalibur easily, and a massive pillar of fire shot out of the roof, parted the clouds and lit up the sky.
"Colourful." Gerald observed. He was notorious for understatements.
"Thou hast slain this present incarnation, fool." Ratul's voice hissed out from the corpse. "Mark my words in this. I will return, stronger than ever. That will be thy downfall!" Grimly, Ivan drew Kikuichimonji and strode to my side.
"He does not fight alone, accursed one." he grated in a terrible voice. A scornful laugh reverberated around the room.
"If thou desirest to slay me for good, come to the realm of Gondowan. I have built a minor fortress there. Do not expect it to be unguarded." With that, the corpse faded from sight. Roaring in frustration, I drew Excalibur and destroyed an inoffensive wall with it.
A tall, armoured figure strode out of the wreckage. I noticed in passing that he had a golden amulet with a strange device around his neck. Puzzled, we drew our swords and readied our bodies for combat. However, it raised its visor, the traditional sign of peace.
"Hail, my Lord Kokoro." the figure intoned formally. "I am Ryu, the Dragon-adept. You will undoubtedly need my powers before the end. I only possess Dragon-transformation Psynergy, but it devastates foes when it connects."
"Are you at all acquainted with Ratul of Hell?" Gerald inquired, lowering Masamune slightly.
"Indeed. Ratul's new castle is built on the ruins of my ancestral home. I followed him here, hoping to end his infection on the world, but he escaped."
"So be it. This business would be more enjoyable if you became our fifth companion." Kira observed quietly.
"Let it be so then." Ryu replied, completing the interview. He clanged his visor shut again. "Make haste to Gondowan!" he roared.
As we stepped out of Mt. Olympus, I saw a small dagger with its point broken off, Ratul's trademark. Ivan stepped forward, drew Kikuichimonji with a steely rasp, and drove its point through the dagger's hilt. A bloodcurdling scream issued from the distant continent of Gondowan, echoing to the furthest star. Ryu clutched his amulet with his right hand, and his form blurred and changed. Gerald and I reacted immediately, jumping backwards and clawing at our sword hilts. Before long, Ryu had completely vanished, to be replaced by the legendary golden dragon Agni.
"What's wrong? Does this form disquiet thee in some way?" Agni asked.
"What do you think?" Gerald replied sardonically. "Of course it bothers us! Well, more the shock than anything."
"Very well," Agni sighed, spewing out smoke towards the heavens. The magnificent dragon blurred, and then Ryu stood back in its place.
"Never do that again...at least without warning us beforehand." I gasped.
"Very well. Catch a ship at Kalay's harbour. Its monarchs, Layana and Hammet, will understand and let thee pass unobstructed." he replied knowingly.
"Kalay!" Ivan gasped. "Among all my hopes and fears I never dreamt that I would be forced to return to my homeland!"
"Why dost thou not wish to return to thy homeland?" Ryu asked curiously.
"I...don't want to talk about it." Ivan stammered nervously.
"Very well. I wilt not compel thee to talk about things which make thee nervous." Ryu sighed, clearly disappointed by the lack of information.
After several days' travel, we reached Kalay, only to be enclosed by a ring of soldiers levelling spears at their chests. One of them pushed his way through and stood in front of Ivan. Instantly, I drew Excalibur, but the soldier behind me hit my head with the butt of his spear. Barely conscious, I fell to the ground, breathing very fast. I heard a steely rasp as the soldier before Ivan drew his sword.
"Now do you see why I didn't want to return?" Ivan asked Ryu with a wry smile.
However, the soldier in front of Ivan lowered his sword slightly and an expression of disbelief crossed his face.
"Ivan..? Is it really Ivan?" he asked in wonder.
"Yes. I know Layana banished me to the town of Xian, but these fine warriors have to pass through here, and I have joined them against a common foe."
"Art thou referring to Lord Ratul?" the soldier asked, raising his sword again. A terrible certainty passed over Ivan's face.
"Indeed we are." Ivan whispered, half-drawing Kikuichimonji.
Taking their cues, Ryu moved his hand almost to the dragon-amulet, and Gerald drew Masamune, its blade flickering with red flame. Kira became enveloped in Psynergetic light, and it passed to me. For a split second we were connected by the beam of light, and then it broke. I stumbled to my feet, Excalibur in hand.
The soldier laughed; a high, cold, mirthless laugh.
"Dost thou think thy feeble abilities can defend thee against the servant of the greatest lord in the world?" he scorned contemptuously.
Ryu drew his long sword with a steely ring.
"May we have the pleasure of thy name, knave, before I run thee through?" he asked in the most insulting tone possible.
"I am called Jade, first-hand to Ratul, God of Hell itself!" the soldier replied pompously. At the sound of that name, Ryu's face went bleak, and his hand tightened around his sword hilt.
"His reputation doth precede him like a barking dog." Ryu whispered to me. "I have heard rumours to the effect that he can transform into the legendary dark dragon prince Rudra. If it comes down to a fight here, I am the only one who is a match for him in that dread form. Warn my companions not to startle themselves should I transform into Agni. If I do, Jade will also be obliged to transform. Be careful."
I nodded tensely and stood, Excalibur in hand, waiting for Jade to attack. Briefly, I noticed that Ryu's hand was moving inconspicuously towards his amulet, and that my companions were grasping their weapons tightly and cold sweat broke out on my face. Jade smiled, his sword pointing straight between Ryu's eyes. Slowly, Jade removed his right gauntlet and threw it. As all the world knew, it was customary to hurl a gauntlet to the ground as a challenge. Jade's gauntlet however, somehow missed the ground. Ryu stumbled back, spitting blood and teeth and fell. Carefully, Gerald edged round behind Jade, obviously hoping to inflict a surprise blow. Then, a thunderous roar shattered the still air like a thunderclap. Ryu had transformed, and the magnificent form of Agni stood, lightning sizzling around his head. Jade smiled a cold, mirthless smile, and clutched his own amulet. Agni used his vast wings to propel himself into the air, closely followed by another dragon, evil power sizzling around it like waves. Agni snarled, but in the midst of that terrifying sound, words were distinguishable.
"Well, Rudra? Has the time finally come? Wilt thou pit thine will against mine?" Agni asked in a voice so dreadful it could make rocks shrink.
"If need be." Rudra hissed at his immense adversary.
"Then, make an end." Agni roared.
The duel between the titans was too immense and terrifying for the human eye to comprehend. Lightning and flames seethed between the dragons in wave upon wave of pure energy. Ignoring the titanic battle above, our group drew our swords and rushed upon Jade's soldiers. As soon as I started fighting, I realized we were up against vastly superior swordsmen. After a quick round of thrusts and slashes, I retreated and performed my Odyssey Psynergy, which pierced my opponent with a colossal cosmic sword. Gerald stumbled back, sporting a massive gash in his left leg, and performed Pyroclasm, which sent an inexorable wall of flame directly into the heart of the enemy force. Ivan jumped forward, slashing with Kikuichimonji and performing Typhoon simultaneously. In the sky above the battle raging, Agni and Rudra, consumed with their hatred of each other were unleashing forces that could kill us all; both friend and foe. Then, it all changed. Agni unleashed a massive attack involving thunderclaps and earth tremors, and Rudra fell to the ground, transforming into Jade as he landed. The evil sorcerer stood up and performed Ply Well on himself to heal his multiple injuries, then moved his hand to his amulet again...then froze. It was cloven; split right down the middle. Furiously, Jade jumped up and rushed at me, his sword weaving threateningly. A split second before he became wholly engaged, I gathered up my remaining strength and performed Ragnarok. Reeling from that surprise blow, he staggered and immediately countered with Divider. He split his body into four parts. Along with my allies, I used my most powerful multi-target Psynergy; Mother Gaia, which drove all the forces of earth against my enemy. Jade reeled back and fell. Snarling, he got to his feet and summoned all of his different entities into himself again. He stretched forth his hand, closed his eyes, and a massive rider wreathed in flame came charging at me upon a blazing kelpie. He had summoned the mythological god Kirin, and there was no way I could fight that monstrous deity by myself, so I crisply ordered Kira to let loose Boreas, the god of the polar winds. Both Kirin and Boreas stopped halfway as for the first time, they spotted each other. With a terrible roar, both divinities vanished to continue their battle elsewhere. Jade stopped, his eyes widening with a newfound respect. He swept his sword up in front of his face in a quick salute, and continued his onslaught. We battered on each other for a while, and then Jade stepped back.
"Thou hast won my respect, fool!" he hissed in a voice full of suppressed malice. "Not only hast thou grown so strong in such a limited time, but thou hast cloven my amulet of transmutation! Be warned though. I held back this time, but know that I am a far superior swordsman than the one that thou didst fight upon the plains of Angara today! Next time we meet, we shall truly see which one of us deserves world domination!" With that, Jade blurred into nothingness, leaving me standing over a cloven helm with drawn sword. Agni landed beside me and blurred back into Ryu.
"Do not let thyself be dismayed, my ally and companion." Ryu said quietly. "The knave may have escaped from thee this time, but the time will come when thou and Jade will meet again, and in that meeting shalt one of thou obliterate the other."
Heartened, I wrapped my hand around Excalibur high above Jade's cloven amulet.
"Run, Jade, Lord of Shadow! The entire world of Weyard is not big enough for you to find one single hole to hide from me!" My mind shrieked that message to the sky, and Excalibur exulted; blazing with an incandescent white light. From far away, I heard a long, infuriated roar.
"Come then, Kokoro Lord of Light! I await thee at Ratul's fort. Bring all thy strength and all thy pitiful Psynergy with thee, for I am ready for our meeting!" Jade roared in my mind. I raised my glowing sword above Jade's amulet and brought it sharply down in an overhead swing. The second the glowing blade connected with the evil amulet, there was a massive explosion and thousands of tiny fragments flew in all directions like missiles, then, methodically almost, they all withered in a sudden consuming flame. When the cataclysm was over, I saw that Jade's amulet had been destroyed by Excalibur's power. Ryu clapped a hand on my shoulder, and strode off. I rallied my companions and walked after the Dragon-lord.
"Where now?" I asked Ryu nervously. In truth I was slightly in awe of this lord after his titanic battle with Rudra in the sky.
"To Alhafra, through Yampi Desert." he said shortly. "It is a long way." he added. I sheathed Excalibur and followed the dragon-adept at a run. We had not gone far before we were waylaid by Jade's soldiers. I ripped Excalibur from its scabbard and leapt into the middle of the evil horde. I was dimly aware of Gerald's Pyroclasm being used, but all my attention was fixed upon the knight holding the red banner of Ratul. I closed my eyes and summoned Judgment. A massive samurai warrior appeared, wielding a sword of flame, which hurled itself at the captain of Ratul's force. However, the captain drew his sword and deflected the whirring blade in midair. The captain looked at me, his eyes blazing with fury and hatred, and charged; sword aloft. Just before the deadly blade reached me, the knight of Ratul blurred and vanished; reappearing just behind Kira, his sword already descending upon her unprotected back.
"No!" I yelled, and caught the evil warrior's sword just in time. As the sword-edges clanged, the captain of Ratul jumped back, his sword weaving threateningly. "Give me your name, knight of Ratul." I hissed from between clenched teeth.
"I am called Zog, and there is no need to tell me your name, Kokoro." he replied, noting with satisfaction my shock that he knew my name. I refused to let that cloud my guard though, and swung again. Negligently, Zog flicked his sword to parry my blow, and swung again without pause. The song of the blades quickened, and I was grudgingly forced to give ground. Spotting an opening, Zog thrust, and his sword passed smoothly through my right arm. With a yell, I dropped my sword and focused my remaining Psynergy on my wound and performed Cure Well. The wound closed, sealing its blood inside, leaving an ugly purple scar. Tearing my eyes away from this chilling image, I retrieved my sword and looked around. Zog and Kira were fighting hard, but I could see she was beginning to tire. A split second later she was lying on the ground, her strength exhausted. Zog stood over her and raised his sword high above his head.
"Leave her!" I shouted at the evil knight. "Kill me if you wish, but spare her!" In surprise, Zog turned.
"That's twice you've saved her neck in this battle, boy." he said quizzically. "Why?"
I bit my lip. No matter how I twisted to evade the basic truth, it always stared me right in the face no matter where I turned.
"Because...I love her, Zog of Ratul." I confessed harshly. "Let's finish this." I raised Excalibur once more, and brought it down. Zog's sword flew up to parry my strike, but I swung again without pause. Eventually, my sword pierced Zog's shoulder, but not deeply enough to kill. However, it did render his right arm useless. He swept his sword up in a quick salute, and then his sword changed hands. Zog was evidently ambidextrous, but he was not used to wielding a sword with his left hand. Again our blades quickened, but Zog was finding it harder to keep up. He let his guard down for a fatal second, and I saw my chance and thrust. Zog gave a long gurgling sigh and flopped limply to the ground. I wiped my sword on the grass and turned to find Kira's luminous eyes on me. I blushed a deep crimson and hung my head. She smiled a knowing smile and I blushed even more.
For the remainder of the journey to Yampi Desert, I did my best to avoid Kira, striding on ahead with Ryu, discussing our previous battles and other matters. However, she cornered me finally when I was sitting by a campfire and everyone else except her and me were asleep.
"Did you mean what you said back there?" she asked softly.
"Which particular thing are you referring to?" I asked innocently. I was deliberately evading her. I knew exactly what she was referring to. Her eyes flashed instantly.
"You know perfectly well what I mean!" she hissed. Her eyes softened slightly. "You said that you loved me. Did you mean it?" I tried to look away, but her eyes held mine. I blushed. "Well?" she breathed, moving closer. I gulped and beads of sweat broke out on my forehead.
"Umm, yes..." I admitted. She laughed a silvery laugh, and took my shaking hand in a warm grip. After what seemed like hours she looked at me with shining eyes.
"Kokoro..?" she murmured.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to kiss me?"
My heart started to pound so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest as I watched her drawing closer...and closer...and even closer...
When I finally left the campfire, I saw dawn's first light staining the horizon a deep pink. I woke my companions, and strode ahead with Ryu again. It seemed that he had seen Kira and me at the campfire the night before. Wisely, he didn't decide to pursue the matter of what had happened. Instead, he strode back to interrogate Kira about it. He returned ten minutes later.
At the borders of Yampi Desert, Kira caught up with me and unclipped her belt and drew the knife from it. This she offered to me hilt first.
"This was my father's." she murmured. "He bore it himself in the Great War against Ratul's predecessor, Kuwadora. Bear it well, if you will."
"Gladly do I stretch forth my hand and take the dagger of your father." I intoned formally, taking and re-sheathing the gleaming weapon.
"Take this too." she breathed quietly, and leaned up and kissed me; a serious kind of kiss that made the breath catch in my throat and my heart pound.
The minute we stepped into Yampi Desert, we were struck by the immense heat. Sweat was flowing in narrow rivulets from the bodies of each of my companions. Ivan reached inside his belt pouch and took out a white powder. He poured perhaps a teaspoonful of it onto each of our hands.
"Eat it." he advised. I tentatively licked at the powder in my palm and immediately spat.
"Blood and ashes!" I swore. "Salt!" Around me, I saw my allies making similar signs of disgust.
"The sun is baking the salt out of your body." Ivan explained patiently. "Without salt in your blood, you'll die." We all reluctantly ate the salt. After we had gone a few more miles (and several handfuls of salt) we reached the end of the treacherous desert. As soon as we stepped out, Kira collapsed. She had suffered worse than any of us because of the extreme heat. I walked quickly up to her and used Douse. A miniature raincloud appeared over her and began releasing cool, refreshing rain. She jumped to her feet almost instantly, completely healed. She thanked me profusely as we continued to Alhafra.
When we reached the prosperous town of Alhafra, we noticed at once something was wrong. For one thing, a shadow deeper than any we had yet seen was over each person's face. For another, every house was smoking dangerously. Kira's face grew bleak and she performed Drench at exactly the same instant as I performed Douse. The effect of the two Psynergies combined could only be described as spectacular. Both powers shot into the air, joined, and then exploded, pouring vast amounts of water on the burning town. Millions upon millions of tiny sparks flew from each house, coming to rest perhaps two hundred miles away. We had been successful however, because everywhere had stopped smoking. Kira looked at me, nodded in acknowledgement and thanks, and then wrapped her hand about the Crystal Rod. I was about to ask her why she had readied her weapon, but no later than the thought entered my head than the reason became obvious. The villagers were transforming! Their noses elongated into sharp beaks, and they were growing tall beyond belief. I drew Excalibur with a steely rasp and nodded to my companions. My allies all drew their swords, except Ryu, whose hand was hovering just below his Agni amulet. The villagers were now unrecognisable. Their faces had stretched and become reptilian, but their body had become avian. The tallest villager let out a shriek, and leaped to the attack. Ivan willed a platinum shield upon his arm and deflected the monster's first slash. He held his shield above his head, ignoring the blows scoring his shield, and looked for an opening. Eventually, one was displayed, and Ivan thrust with all his strength. However, Kikuichimonji never touched the villager's body. It let out a monstrous howl and a spirit of pure fire leapt from the point and embedded itself in the monster's chest. The monster let out a final shriek and plummeted to the ground. It grew almost pathetically easy after that. My companions and I rushed upon the remaining 'villagers' and slaughtered them.
After the battle was over, we healed ourselves and, at Ryu's suggestion, visited the shipyards. There, we found a massive Gondowan ship with the name 'Lemuria' engraved just below the prow. We boarded the ship and set sail for Gondowan. When we reached the massive continent, we found trouble in the shape of Jade's soldiers watching the dock. As we docked, I performed Quake Sphere from the deck. The effect was devastating. Fully half of Jade's warriors fell into the centre of the earth after the massive earthquake. Ryu nodded to me in acknowledgement, and clutched his Agni-amulet. A tremendous roar shattered the heavens even as we rushed upon the evil warriors. Amidst the clanging of blades being swung and parried, there were Agni-originating thunderclaps shattering the spirits and strategies of the enemy. Before long, the whole enemy party perished or fled. I performed another Quake Sphere to drop the mess underground before helping Kira down from the Gondowan ship. None of us needed to ask which direction to go in, as there was a massive tower seeming to slice its way up through the dense forest of abnormally large trees surrounding it. The tower was obviously Ratul's because a shadow, somehow deeper and darker than the oppressive shadow of night, surrounded and permeated the tower's stone walls.
"So thou hast arrived, Kokoro, Lord of Light!" A scornful voice reverberated around the chambers of my brain. "Perhaps it is time for our destined battle now. Ready thy pathetic sword and Psynergy, and watch thy back!" Immediately, the air in front of me seemed almost to blur, as though caught in a heat haze. Remembering Jade's words, I leapt back from the haze, motioned a quick warning to my allies and drawing Excalibur from its scabbard with a steely ring. Meanwhile, the haze had coalesced into the shape of the tall Rudra-transforming lord of Ratul. As his shape solidified, it became obvious that Jade had vastly improved his equipment. Instead of his basic mail shirt that he had worn last time, he was clad in full armour wrought of gold with his alter-ego, Rudra emblazoned upon the breastplate in silver and ruby. His sword was also improved; instead of a plain working sword he had wielded in the last battle, he now wore a longer, ceremonial golden sword that seemed to emanate a strong shadow even through the leather, jewel-encrusted sheath that enclosed it. Grimly, Jade drew his sword and strode forward. I stepped back, raising Excalibur for battle. The evil lord advanced until we were about five feet apart, and then bowed stiffly and curtly. I also bowed, being careful to keep Excalibur up in defence and defiance. Jade smiled, a cold, mirthless smile, then his arm lashed back and he swung a massive blow at my head. Excalibur came whistling up to meet the sword of shadows just before it struck. Without pause, Jade swung again. Again the swords clanged harmlessly. We continued fighting for several more hours, Jade getting more frenzied in his attack whereas I was becoming calmer with every sword blow we parried and countered. Finally, Jade, so maddened that he seemed to abandon all defence, raised his sword above his head and charged. I made no effort to defend against this blow, but I gripped Excalibur in two hands and lunged. Excalibur, the Sword of Legends, penetrated Jade's chest as easily as a stick passes through water. Jade gasped, trying vainly to keep his sword raised, but his fingers were trembling too violently and he fell to his knees beside his fallen blade.
"Kokoro..." whispered the dying lord."I was wrong to underestimate thee. Thou art a true paladin who hast defeated and slain two lords of Ratul. Why camest thou against me though? I know that thou killed Zog out of love for Kira, but why didst thou come against me? Didst thou want lordship and dominion over the whole of Weyard now I am dead?"
I sank to my knees beside my fallen adversary.
"I didn't want Weyard, Jade." I sighed wearily. "Just a little corner of it. And I came against you because I didn't particularly want you to have it either, because if you did then my little part and the parts of my friends would not have been safe. You fought well, Jade of Ratul. I have respect for you. Hail and farewell." Jade's voice was only a sighing whisper as he replied,
"Hail and farewell, Kokoro." I stood up, surveyed Jade's body and wiped Excalibur on the grass. As soon as it touched the ground a bright blue flame ran up the blade, scorching the undergrowth and polishing the sword to mirror brightness. Sighing, I sheathed the shining blade and turned just in time to be caught in Kira's embrace. Faintly embarrassed by this overt display of affection in front of the others, I awkwardly patted the top of her head, but she would have none of it. Her arms slid up and around my neck. Her grip was surprisingly strong and her fingers locked in my hair.
"You cannot escape what is happening now, hero," she whispered in my ear even as she moved in. I tried to make the inevitable kiss as quick and perfunctory as possible, but Kira had other ideas. The kiss was lingering, in the midst of which my knees began to buckle. "There." she breathed triumphantly when she finally released me.
Face glowing like the setting sun, I rested my hand on Excalibur and glared round at my companions, daring them to laugh or even to comment at all. They didn't, however.
"She would have reached you while you were still fighting Jade." Ivan informed me, smiling. "It was all I could do to keep her from distracting you in the 'normal way' at some vital point in your duel."
"Thanks." I cocked my head to one side then swore. I had heard the trampling of thousands of inhuman feet through the undergrowth. I barked a sharp warning to my allies, and then ripped Excalibur from its sheath. I could discern that Ratul's army was approaching from the west, but I did not particularly want to fight that slavering horde, so we set off again, moving quickly towards Ratul's stronghold in the east. By the time we reached the evil tower of shadow, it was midnight, and we all sensed that Ratul's power was greater than our last battle. A strange nervousness and apprehension seemed to dawn over my companions. Hands trembling slightly, we all drew our weapons, and because of the vast Psynergetic power flowing through them, we straightened up, and looked as if the fear and nervousness had been eroded by the steely sounds our weapons made when they slid out.
"Welcome, Kokoro, Lord of Light!" said a hateful voice in my brain. "Thou hast skilfully slain two of my higher-class subjects. But they were fools, and mere fools alone. Thou shalt not find me quite so easy."
"I have defeated you once before, Lord of Hell." I replied, deliberately pushing all traces of archaic pomposity from my voice. "I can do it again, should I be given the opportunity to meet you in combat again."
"The opportunity that thou hast supposedly been looking for is staring you in the face right now, Light Fool. Make haste to my Tower of Darkness. I wouldst also advise thee to mend or replace the young girl's weapon, it seems to have broken; contended with too great a mind, perhaps." With that a tremendous crack rent the air like a gunshot. I spun to find that the Crystal Rod had snapped halfway up the handle. I handed her Excalibur to replace the Rod, then willed the equally-legendary Sol Blade into my hand. She smiled at me in thanks, then we entered the tower, backs straight and swords out. Ratul was sitting in his massive black throne when we entered. The second he saw me however, he jumped to his feet, wrenched his black sword of shadows out of the empty air and ran at me, slashing his sword of darkness at the empty air as he charged. My companions all ground their weapons and stood, watching the fight grimly. It was not a duel, for there are proprieties in a duel. Ratul and I hacked at each other with an almost elemental brutality, each of us sporting numerous painful, stinging wounds. Ratul moved his sword in an elaborate series of strokes, and I smiled inwardly as I noticed the perfect symmetry of it. The God of Darkness, inadvertently, had shown exactly the same opening that Jade had provided in our fight in the forest outside the Tower of Shadow. Seizing my opportunity, I thrust, and the Sol Blade passed through Ratul's chest as easily as a searing hot knife passes through butter. Ratul gasped and clutched at the sword blade even as it slid out of his body. I stepped back, expecting Ratul to revive himself some way, and come at me again, lusting for blood. However, nothing could have prepared me for what came next. Ratul started chanting words in a strange tongue. I could not comprehend him, but I could feel the utter power that language possessed. It was not long before the effect of these words became obvious. Two shadowy figures seemed to boil up out of the floor, and drew their swords soundlessly. Their faces were hideous, because they had no real eyes, only pale skin drawn tightly over empty sockets. However, where the eyes should have been, that part of skin was melted, and a searing red fire blazed out of their evil faces. I recognized both of them, and I felt fear's icy, paralysing touch on my soul. I knew them, and I also knew that I had killed both of them in battle.
"What wouldst thou have us do, Master?" whispered the ghost of Jade in a terrible voice that echoed throughout the chamber.
"Fuse." whispered Ratul in a dying voice. "Hurry. There is not much time before I join you in the Realm of the Dead."
"So be it, Master." replied Zog in the same evil voice as Jade used. With that, Ratul, Jade and Zog all began to glow with a pale Psynergetic light that ricocheted off their bodies at angles. I looked around to see that my companions were all held by the same cold, numb terror that gripped me. Ivan however, looked slightly more knowing about what was actually happening.
"Wh-what's happening?" asked Gerald in a trembling voice.
"Their Psynergy is overflowing!" Ivan replied tensely, his hand gripping Kikuichimonji so tightly his knuckles had turned white. Their Psynergy had stopped bouncing off them now, but they were glowing with an intense, blinding light. Ratul started hovering, and the spirits of Zog and Jade walked over to their God and the Psynergy of Zog, Jade and Ratul were fusing into one. Instinctively, I jumped back, shoving Kira behind me, shielding her body with mine and holding the Sol Blade aloft. A second later, cracks had appeared in Ratul's body, but each crack was not filled with blood and flesh, but blazing energy. After a few more seconds had passed, the fused entity exploded, and the Psynergy blasted forth in wave upon wave of golden light. The explosion felt like it had cracked the universe, and when the dust settled a massive three-headed dragon was standing in its place. The Sol Blade flashed into dazzling golden flame, and a monstrous being leapt out. It was Megiddo, the power of the cosmos and the Fire Clan of the north. It flew into the air, shattered the roof into pieces, and came down again holding a colossal flaming meteor. This it smashed into the middle head of the Fusion Dragon then vanished in a puff of flame. Taking advantage of the monster's distraction, Ivan ran in and struck a powerful blow at the pit of the Fusion Dragon's stomach. The Dragon roared in pain and fury, then caught Ivan with a tremendous upward slashing blow of its massive claws. Fortunately, the young Wind Adept rolled just as the claws struck, and minimized the damage. Then Gerald dashed in, holding Masamune menacingly low. He dived under the Fusion Dragon's first blow, then buried Masamune to the hilt into the Dragon's stomach. A ear-splitting deafening roar shattered the air like a thunderclap as the dragon keeled over, grasping at its wound, and Jade's head rolled off, bursting into flame as it hit the ground. Filled with fury and agony, the Fusion Dragon performed the complex Cruel Ruin Psynergy. A massive concentrated beam shot over us and flew out of the roof of Ratul's Tower of Shadow. From the sounds and flickering quality of the light coming in through the windows, it had sucked the strength from the forest outside, setting it ablaze in the process. Finally, the beam returned and flew at me even as I slashed the Sol Blade with all my strength.
Sword met Psynergy, and the result was spectacular to say the least. The beam exploded into millions upon millions of tiny Psynergetic sparks which then rebounded upon their originator. The Fusion Dragon roared in terrible frustration and rage when its own Psynergy hit, then doubled up. Zog's head had been killed.
Spurred on to new heights, I dashed in, but jumped back as the Dragon had swung a massive upward ripping blow with its claws, leaving long, deep gashes in my mail shirt.
"Stand down." Ryu hissed warningly. "Now that two of the demon's heads have succumbed to our attacks, it will not allow any of us to get close enough to defeat the third, if we work individually." Ryu then started directing us all to strategic points just out of range of the Dragon. "Kokoro, thou shouldst attack first." he whispered to me. "When this monstrosity is fighting thee, one of us may be able to get in a lucky thrust." I nodded tensely, and readied the Sol Blade. Ryu clapped me on the shoulder, then ran back to his position. I edged carefully around the dragon, keeping its gaze, then without warning I dashed in and aimed a quick slash at the monster's upper body. The demon screamed, and drew its claws back for a counter-attack, but that blow was never delivered. Spotting an opening, Kira ran in, Excalibur held low and swung at the pit of the Fusion Dragon's back. It turned, and I saw my opportunity and stabbed the Sol Blade as hard as I could into the Dragon's back. The monster keeled over sideways, detaching the final head, and lay still. Warily, Ivan walked up to the inert body and drove Kikuichimonji into its chest. It didn't even flinch, confirming that it was dead. The shock that the battle was over was tremendous. But, was the battle over? The Fusion Dragon stirred slightly, and poured some Psynergy into Ratul's head, which flew into the air, hovering about six feet off the ground. I readied the Sol Blade again, and looked into the eyes of Ratul's head. They were blazing with terrible hatred, and a knowledge of defeat. I strode forwards and swung the Sol Blade diagonally down the head. It roared in frustration and agony, then streaked upwards to the furthest star.
The ground underneath our feet trembled, then rose. I noticed that my mind had gone blissfully blank and calm during the fight with the Fusion Dragon, otherwise I would doubtlessly have been paralysed with fear. I also noticed with a smile that Kira had somehow wormed her way into the circle of my arm without my noticing. The tower continued to grow, then with a shock that must have shaken the world to its foundations, a massive circular chasm opened in the centre of the floor; the well of a lighthouse.
"Search the Dark God's throne." came a warm, lilting voice from the ceiling. I gently lifted my arm from Kira's shoulders and strode to Ratul's black throne. I lifted it easily, and saw four brightly-coloured glows coming from its underside. They came from four shining jewels partially-buried in the throne's underside. "Take the jewels." the strong voice commanded. I felt myself powerless to resist, even as the realization came to me in a flash that the glorious voice I was hearing was that of who I had thought to be my future spirit, but who turned out to be the God of Light. I pulled out a golden jewel, a green jewel, a blue jewel, and a red jewel.
"Thou dost now have the Jupiter Star, bound with the wind's fury..." the Light God's voice said. As the voice said the words "Jupiter Star" the green jewel seemed to glow even more intensely. "...the Mercury Star, possessing the power of water's many forms..." It was the blue jewel's time to glow fiercely. "...the Venus Star, holding the might of Earth inside its crystalline radiance..." The gold stone glittered even more brightly than the others had, bathing my hand in a golden light. "...and the Mars Star, glowing red with the fire contained within." Predictably, the red stone gleamed in its turn. "This tower was built by the great civilization of the Adepts of the distant Sol Sanctum, which used to hold all the Elemental Stars, which thou dost now hold. However, Sol Sanctum has long since been destroyed as mankind sought to tear the world apart with their wars. When Sol Sanctum finally succumbed to the earth, four lighthouses rose. One of which, is this tower which thou dost now stand in. Translated from their ancient language, this tower was called Mars Lighthouse, possessing the true power of Fire Psynergy. At the edge of the world, there is an immense waterfall known as Gaia Falls. It is gradually expanding, year by year, century by century, eon by eon until it will eventually erode away all of Weyard. Thou... and thy companions are descended from the Adepts, and are Adepts yourselves. Thou, Kokoro, hope of light, art a Venus Adept, skilled in Earth Psynergy. Thy belle over there is a Mercury Adept, deeply skilled in Water and healing Psynergy. Gerald is a Mars Adept, of Fire Psynergy, and Ivan is a Jupiter Adept, possessing great Wind Psynergy. Thou couldst also call yourselves alchemists, as Alchemy is the foundations of all Psynergy."
"B-but there's got to be some way to save Weyard!" I thought in disbelief and horror.
"The only way that thou canst save Weyard is by lighting the four Elemental Lighthouses by throwing the corresponding Star deep into the well atop their respective aeries." the Light God replied in response to my desperate thought. "Now, throw the Mars Star in the lighthouse's well!" Trembling at the thought of the immensity of the power I had to unleash to save Weyard, I separated the glowing red star from its fellows and walked to the edge of the gaping abyss in the centre of the floor. I tensed my body for a tremendous shockwave, and dropped the Star in. A massive explosion, even more titanic than any one that had rocked the realm at any point of our quest blasted up from the well, closely followed by a pillar of fire shooting from the activated Elemental Star. The pillar of flame shot up to the sky, parted the clouds and came slowly back down, where it congealed itself into a circle and hovered a foot above the well, lighting the chamber with Psynergetic light. "Well done, my champion." the voice of the Light Deity reverberated around my mind. "Jade and Zog may be dead, but thou canst never hope to destroy Ratul, God of Hell, unless all four beacons are lit. The duels thou mayest have with the Darkness may incapacitate him for then, but these respites can only be temporary at best. One other thing, when all four elemental beacons are fired, their light will gather at Sol Sanctum's ruins. Thou must hasten there with all speed once the last Star has found its corresponding lighthouse well. There, thou wilt meet Ratul again, and whichever of thee found Sol Sanctum first will have all the powers of Alchemy to aid them in that dread showdown." the God informed me, possibly inadvertently lapsing into archaic language.
"It shall be as thou dost command, my divine Father." I swore fervently.
"It is well, my Son. Hasten now to Venus Lighthouse, which lieth on the far east of the continent of Atteka, near the village of Prox. The Proxians have long been suffering earthquakes for the simple reason that Venus hath not yet been unleashed to govern its element. Fare thee well, my noble Son, and luck be with thee at thy going and coming!" With that last word, the Spirit's presence disappeared from my mind, leaving a sense of deep contentment. I sighed, and casually putting my arm around Kira's shoulders, our fellowship left Mars Lighthouse, and set off for the eastern continent of Atteka.