Cid's PoV:
It's her. It's Elsa...
But why? Why now, of all times?
It doesn't matter, I still have to know.
I tell her, "Why? Why did you-"
And she told me, "Look at you, you're worthless now. Why? Why did you do nothing?"
I just froze.
Elsword's PoV
Cid looked absolutely horrified. His eyes could not hide the emotional pain that he had. I saw the first tipping of his stoic nature when he told me his story. I could not stand it, he blamed himself for what happened to Elsa despite Elsa saved him on her own will. However, when I stare at my sister, she looked at him with pity, not empathy. That's when I knew what I had to do.
I walked up to my sister, saying only "Sis..."
Cid quickly rose up, shouting, "No! Stay away from her, Elsword! I refuse to-"
Elsa appeared him front of Cid, out of nowhere, the speed even ridiculed Raven despite he had his hand on his blade's hilt. Raven could only be fast enough to shout, "Watch out! Cid!"
Cid was caught off guard, it was explainable, he was too grief-struct to react correctly.
She slammed him into the ground, and started clawing him. Her hands, they weren't the hands I recognized when I grew up with her.
I walked towards her slowly, my hand on my sword's hilt.
Aisha rose up and tried to follow me, only to be stopped by Rena.
Aisha said, "Rena, I'm going to help him. I... I..."
Rena said in reply, "No, Aisha, this is his issue."
Rena smiled at me, I smiled back.
It's my problem.
It was the moment Cid told me his story.
Despite I was pissed off at Cid in general, I could not ignore the duty he gave me.
I shouted again, this time in anger, "Hey! Sis! Stop it, NOW!"
Elsa turned around, no, she doesn't even look like my sister anymore.
Her eyes, they're empty of emotions, they show eyes that are tired.
Those eyes, aren't my sisters.
"Nevermind, I should call you now Elsa"
She looks at me with anger in her eyes,
"Elsword, that's cold. Didn't I teach you to be equally kind to others?"
As she says that, she laughed coldly. It wasn't that warm laugh that I recognized. It was sarcastic, full of anger and insane.
Maybe she broke after waiting all this time for Cid to do something.
Maybe the demons got to her first, maybe she accepted her position as a demon.
That's when I take out my sword.
"Even if I treat you equally, you are not my sister. No, Elsa, I'm going to stop you and get my sister back."
That's when she laughed and appeared suddenly right in front of me, ready to punch me.
...
The pain was unbelievable.
...
It was obvious, she was definitely stronger then me, stronger then Cid. There is no way I can win, however, I still can give time for other's to escape. Elsa reaches for something in her pouch, a dark El crystal, preparing to ram it into my body. If that happens, it's all over. Aisha screams, "Elsword, don't go! Please!" as my friends run towards my aid. They realized what I was doing after all, but it's too late. As the El shard comes...
...
Cid grabs it and tackles Elsa back.
Cid's PoV
That's right, I grabbed the El Shard. The power is unbearable, almost to the point where I can not even breathe. I have headaches that are forming as the fume is getting into my head. I start coughing, but as the boy... The boy?
I'm starting to forget my memories. This crystal...
I put it near my arm, where the weird symbol was, and the shard starts becoming absorbed into my arm.
The pain was unbearable.
I started screaming, the pain, it felt like my whole arm was being skinned or stabbed all over. My arm started lighting on fire, except the fire was black. That kid, who was he? I turned towards the brat... Elsword, yes, his name.
Elsword, he has my task now, I can't even remember what my task was. I know my time is almost up before I...
I shout him this, "Elsword, don't live like me. Be yourself, not your sister".
Then the world went black, but I saw that symbol grow throughout my arm as I blacked out.
Durant's PoV
The assault came heavily, 50% of the Feita Knights already became demons by the time we got organized. I could not even recognize the fellow knights, they were hideous and retching. We were holding them off, as Lento picked off four, he said, "Check up on the El Search Party! They are our last hope!"
El Search Party? Who are they? I only knew Chung was the-
Damnit! Chung! I have to check up on him!
No, if he becomes like father... I will never forget myself.
Some Years Ago
He stood there, knowing his time was up. The defender of Hamel, who every of his people thought was invincible. He was renowned as a hero, but now, he looked even weaker then his son. His armor had taken so much Dark El that it could infected the 5th, 6th and the Royal artillery battalions entirely.
He looked at me, his eyes full of fear, not for himself, but for his people.
He gave me his sidearm, a Silver shooter, I did not even know he brought it out to this mission.
He told me, "Shoot me. Now."
I hesitated,
He shouted back, "Shoot me, Durant! Shoot me now!"
I lifted up the silver shooter, hands shaking...
A shot rang out, but I aimed towards the ground. I was crying.
He looked at me in resignation, and said, "It's okay, Durant, It was inevitable, I realized once I checked my suit last week."
"I was planning on killing myself, but now my strength is gone from this mission. I took in too much."
He smiled as he put on his helmet.
Then came the screams, I was crying, why didn't I end his suffering before his suffering started?
I could just stare, but I gained enough conscience to lift up my pistol...
Just to be rammed towards the wall and slammed into the ground.
That helmet, beyond it, the face, was beyond what I knew about father. It was dark, growing horns and...
He slammed and threw me, then left. That's when the paramedics arrived.
Few Years Later
The war was lost, Chung and I both fled. To have our father face against us, I could not face it.
I knew how Cid felt, having someone you loved and knew turn against you.
We were powerless before our loved one turned into monsters.
The only difference, which adds to my guilt, is that I had a choice to stop this.
He did not, which I envy him for.
Chung's face after losing was of despair, he has emotionally wrecked. I could not bear to see him, he reminded me of his father.
But if I shot his father, how would Chung react? Would be come to kill me? Would I be hated by everyone in Hamel? Those people who loved me like one of their own?
When Chung left to become stronger, I could only feel more guilt. I could not stand myself.
Like Cid, I just disappeared after that mission. I took on missions that were generally dangerous or life-threatening to distract me from that flashback in my past.
Maybe I'm trying to become stronger, maybe I want to die early, but I definitely knew one thing.
I envy Cid for having a choice now.
Sniper Shot!
Three bullets, I shot them towards her wing.
Three shots all miss, due to her agility.
Her agility is nothing like I ever seen, even compared to that Altersian swordsman.
Chung looked at my with horror.
"Why are you scared, Chung?"
"It's... It's... Your brother"
Cid was on the ground.
His arm...
No... No... No... Nononononono
I start shooting her, I don't care about ammunition or accuracy.
Why?! Why him? WHY?!
Why wasn't I with him before this happened?!
An Elf kicks me back and lifts my rifle up.
She looks at me with calmness, I calm down, as I also see Raven prepare his blade.
I asked the Elf, "Do you know Chung? Raven, Where's Chung?!"
Raven says in reply, "Chung was over by the defensive lines, he seemed to be in some pain, he kept clutching his chest for some reason."
Raven then stared at me, "You don't think..."
I ran, told them to look after Cid, and ran off.
Chung depends on me, no, Hamel depends on me.
I cannot afford to stop now! Not like last time!
Chung's PoV
I was checking the armory when they hit.
The Black crystal hit me on my chest before, but it didn't do any harm so I dismissed it.
But after a few hours, my chest started to feel like it was burning. Then when I checked it, I knew something was off.
The skin was turning a little darker, I knew what was happening.
When my father held me by the neck, I could see his skin turned dark due to the Dark El Shard's resonance.
No, it can't be already the end.
If it's going to be my turn, then I'll at least try to help everyone the most
It's best for Hamel...
Hamel...
If I'm to turn to one of them, what will happen to my people?
Will I meet my father and be able to recognize him?
Durant runs in, gasping for air, as he stares at me.
Ara is with him, she seems worried. But she has white hair, she doesn't seem like herself.
Ara says, "Are you sure? It will cause you great pain?"
Durant says in response, "Yes, I've failed Hamel once, I will pay for my crimes as well as Cid did."
I stare at Durant, "Durant, you don't mean..."
Durant looks at me with tears in his eyes, "Chung, I'd like to say few things before I go..."
I punch Durant and shout, "No! I refuse! You can't do this, I refuse!"
He dodges a kick and a punch, takes out his cuffs, and locks me down.
Durant says, "Do it, Ara, Time I repaid his father's debt"
Ara painfully removed something out of me, some dark fragment, and put it gently on Durant's arm.
Durant screams in pain as it becomes a part of him, I can't bear to watch.
Then he screams and jumps towards the forest, Ara shouting, "Durant! Wait!"
I put on my armor, the ancient Deadly Chaser's armor, and take Ara with me.
I need to save him. If I don't, then who?
Elsword's PoV
...
Cid rose up, he didn't give me the impression that he was himself.
"No..."
He takes out his sword and walks toward Elsa, his eyes empty.
She slashes him, then slashes him again and again while his body takes it.
His body is beyond the point of death, I don't know how he's still alive.
Blood is everywhere, I can't stand it. I run towards Cid and Elsa, then Elsa throws a sword towards me.
The sword is made of Dark El also, but before I can do anything...
Aisha blasts it off, and shouts, "Enough! You've done enough!"
She shouts towards Elsa, "If you truly love Elsword as your brother, you would not put him to this! Why would you do this? Just why?!"
Elsa responds, "Because he'll be happy in the end with the power. Don't you want your power back, mage?"
Aisha looks in shock as she looks at her hands, Elsa takes out a shard and puts it on the ground.
No... Aisha, don't go... Ever since Eve sacrificed her emotion systems to save not only me, but you also.
Few months ago
We're almost done... King Nasod had a lucky... Blow.
Too bad that blow broke my leg.
Aisha rushes up to protect me, only to be slapped back. The Altersia affected her deeply, her movement started decreasing.
Then as the finishing beam of laser appears, Eve runs in between Me, Aisha, and the laser.
Aisha said, "Eve! No! What are you doing!"
Eve responds, "Aisha, Elsword, Raven, Rena, Chung, Ara, I had much happiness along with much sadness. The only way to truly defeat him is by using my real limits. Code Battle Seraph. But that will erase all my emotional programs. I have been thinking about you, Elsword, but I'd like to say one more thing to Aisha before I go".
Aisha responds with tears, "Eve...?"
Eve respond, "Aisha, you were like a... What you call a sister. Take care of him, I know you care for him more then I do."
Then Eve released Battle Seraph... And we won. For a price.
Aisha ran towards Eve shouting, "Eve! Eve!"
Eve responds emptily, "Person: Aisha, Ally. Problem report?"
Aisha kneels are cries as everyone else lowers their head.
I put my arm around Aisha and hug her, saying, "She gave herself to protect us, we... have to honor her wishes".
That day was something I never forgot. Because I knew what lost and death really was.
Aisha's PoV
I refused.
She stared at me with shock.
"I... I...
...
I'm in love with your brother, okay!? I care for hiim!"
I stare at Elsword with tears in my eyes.
"Elsword, please, get up! We have to do something for Cid! Remember he gave something up for both of us?!"
...
The Boy smiled and laughed.
The Demon asks him, "Why are you laughing? Have you given up?"
The Boy responds, "No, it's because you've given up"
The Demon says back, "It's okay to say one is at their limit, the demons can provide"
The Boy responds, "No, I don't mean power, I mean humanity"
"I searched for you not because I wanted to see you powerful like you were, I already knew you were powerful"
"I searched for you to search for my sister, my humane sister that sacrificed herself for her protegee."
"However, you're not that sister I knew, so if we fight, I won't hold back. So I'll win"
The Demon laughs, saying, "You are pathetic, brother, your mistake was deciding to reject this great power"
The Girl rushes up behind the Boy, worried, but resolute in helping him.
The Boy smiles, then responds as he takes out his sword,
"And your mistake was in taking my sister, taking my friend and trying to take someone I love!"