Chapter 6: Lurking In The Darkness
Early morning sparring certainly wouldn't be on the agenda for most people, however Blue couldn't deny that it was just the surge of adrenaline needed to quickly wake up.
Tifa's fist, clad in a soft glove suitable for training, jabbed forward at him faster than any punch thrown at him in sparring sessions back home. This time he barely managed to deflect her arm to the side with an open palm slapping against her wrist while his body stepped to the side.
His punch, also clad in a soft glove, came back at her in return but she was already out of its way, her body pivoting as one leg lifted up high and came down as an axe kick.
Both of his arms braced themselves, crossing over above him; shielding his body from the blow. His arms pushed her leg up and he stepped forward to swing his own foot towards her.
She used the momentum of him pushing her back to simply flip backwards over his kick. Blue had kept his own momentum going, letting his body spin with the swing of his foot. The moment it had missed it was already swiftly descending. As that foot touched down, his other foot swung low at hers as they came down upon the mat.
He didn't manage to trip her, although she did stumble on her attempt to move away from it. It was enough for Blue to dart forward, returning upright; his fist jabbed forward at a speed even surprising himself.
Tifa redirected her stumble into an intentional fall, her hands grabbing Blue's arm as it passed by, pulling him into a throw over her. He landed hard on his back on the mat.
Tifa held him there for a moment, kneeling besides him; both breathing out and sweaty from the physical exertion. She let go and smiled down at him, "So, that's three to me. Shall we call it there?"
Blue breathed out some more then relaxed into the mat as he smiled up at her, "Yeah, I guess so. Almost thought I had you there."
Tifa sat down nearby, taking a moment to relax as well, leaning back as she undone and removed her gloves. "Well I won't deny you've got some surprises; this Jigen Haō Style of yours is pretty good in concept," she said as she proceeded to playfully smirk down at him. "But I'm Zangan's best student for a reason."
Blue removed his own gloves and lifted his right hand in front of his face, opening and closing it a few times. "Well, really I can't complain. I'm a normal guy from a normal universe and I get to spar with someone like you? I'm hopeful I can start improving in leaps."
"For starters, your focus doesn't fail anymore when watching my body's movements."
"In my defence!" Blue immediately protested to her light teasing. "I'm only human and you are very….athletic." He felt very strongly that he couldn't be blamed for having moments of distraction. It was Tifa Lockhart after all, not many people would be capable of remaining composed at seeing her for real. Hell, Lucy would have just as much difficulty as me, if not more.
Tifa laughed at his flustered reaction and returned the conversation to its roots. "Point is, you're doing well. It's hard to find decent martial artists to spar with."
Tifa was the one to seem distracted now, looking down at Blue with eyes that seemed to glaze over for a moment, he had seen this look before. She was lost in thought. This time he questioned it, "You and Cloud have done this before?"
"Hm?"
"Looking at me like that," Blue sat up now to look at her directly. "You both have this look like you're thinking of someone."
She looked taken aback for a moment, nervous. It shifted to a warm smile while looking down at the ground; reminiscing, "You're a lot like an old friend of ours from back in Nibelheim. It's hard not to reflect."
Blue looked puzzled as he tried to think back on his knowledge of the game, he was sure Cloud had not really socialised with anyone other than Tifa. Sure, this was real instead of the scripted story of a game, but it still wasn't a change he was expecting.
He was going to question further but knowing everything that went down in Nibelheim…He wasn't sure if it was an old wound he should be having them open up again.
The smell of breakfast cooking faintly entered the dojo, Tifa got to her feet and offered her hand out for Blue; he took it and got to his feet with her help. "Well, let's get some food. You need to recover before your next round of training."
Blue nodded in agreement and followed her out of the training dojo like room attached to the home.
This was Blue's fifth day of being in this world now, three days since the encounter with Laughing Coffin. On the third day of being here; his training had completely been with Tifa. It was decided testing out the levels of his martial arts training was the best starting point.
Much like today, Tifa had the upper hand throughout it, more so on that day. This didn't bother Blue; she was a skilled fighter and had fought dangerous battles. He went into this training knowing it would be a steep learning curve to fight anywhere near the level of this world's heroes.
Day Four had been focused purely on sword based combat, Cloud and Iris both helping him while Iris also used it as an opportunity to further her own.
It wasn't too worrying for Blue. Jigen Haō was predominantly hand-to-hand, an adaptation of various styles but mostly a customised form of Kenpo and Karate. However there had been training in Kendo too.
It gave him somewhat of a head start in learning how to fight with a sword. Iris, thanks to her travels across worlds, had also assisted in helping Blue understand how to channel the innate energy that flowed throughout the universe and its denizens.
He had yet to be able to display any powers or techniques but he at least could feel a sensation of power flowing through him, it would help keep him defended if nothing else.
Now on Day Five he had started the day with three sparring matches against Tifa, one after another. He hadn't won but he was standing his ground and that was a good sign as far as he was concerned.
Nothing had happened with Laughing Coffin yet, though whether that was a good sign or not remained to be seen. Rufus Shinra, Reeve Tuesti and The Turks were still continuing their investigations.
As they left the dojo, the smell of bacon, sausages and eggs got stronger. Blue's stomach rumbled reminding him that he really should've eaten something before the training too.
In the dining and kitchen area, Shelke sat at the table, Barret in a seat next to her that put him also beside his daughter: Marlene. Cloud and Iris were just finishing setting plates full of food down for every chair. Besides Marlene was a young boy: Denzel, Tifa sat down on the other side of him; smiling at him as he greeted her.
With the table set, Cloud sat besides Tifa, and Iris took the remaining seat besides Blue, the group digging into their meal.
Despite his situation, despite the situation on this world currently…these gatherings never changed. Breakfast, Dinner, whatever the occasion; everyone was relaxed and enjoying each other's company in conversation.
Certainly doesn't hurt how good the food tastes too, Blue thought as he took another bite out of his bacon, pausing when he noticed Iris staring at him, lips curled into a smile. He swallowed his food and looked back, "what?"
"You really do feel at peace here, don't you?"
Blue glanced at the rest of the group, and then looked back to Iris with a smile. "I really do. It's not like I'm not worried about back home, and what I'm in for here. But they have such a close found family bond. It's hard not to feel happy just being around this atmosphere, you know what I mean?"
"Yeah," Iris said and glanced back at the group, a soft smile as she spoke. "Yeah, I do."
"So," Cloud spoke up, getting their attention "Slightly different plans for you today."
Blue put down his fork and knife, finishing his breakfast. "What do you have in mind?"
"I have some deliveries I need to run. While I'm doing that, you'll be with our friend Cid Highwind. You know of him right?"
Blue nodded, it was hard not to remember Cid from the game. His mannerisms made an impression.
"Your preferred fighting styles are hand-to-hand and swords," Shelke joined the conversation. "But you will achieve higher rate of success if you learn the way different weapons are fought with."
Tifa nodded in agreement with the decision, "and we figure it doesn't hurt to improve your knowledge of the planet and its technology through him."
If he can speak calmly that is, Blue thought for a moment before answering, "Sounds fine by me. What are your plans, Iris?"
"I'll be accompanying some others and those Turks down below the city of Midgar. The remains of Mako Reactor Zero they said."
"Deepground?" Blue recalled, looking puzzled as he said it. "I thought that whole situation was resolved."
"It is." Barret spoke up, speaking with his mouth full eating a sausage. "All of Deepground was defeated and most of what's left behind down there has been salvaged by Reeve and the rest of the World Regenesis Organisation."
Shelke continued the conversation since Barret seemed occupied taking another large bite of his breakfast, "due to their infiltration of Edge, we suspect Laughing Coffin may have taken refuge in the ruins."
"Shouldn't we all be going?"
Iris shook her head, "it's just simple recon. From what I'm told, these Ex-Shinra employees are specialists at this. I've also had my share of stealth in my travels."
She glanced off to the side, reminiscing with a sigh but a smile afterwards. "Wellllll," she drew the word out, "a lot of running more than anything."
"Well you should be good then," a feeling of relief washed over Blue as he spoke. "I'm sure you're in good hands with whoever else is coming along."
"I am the champion of the earth and the sky!" a cheerful young woman's voice began to boast.
Just under two hours later, they had gathered outside Seventh Heaven to greet those Iris would travel with. Reno, Rude and Cissnei stood nearby. Off to one side, keeping to himself in the shadows was the man known as Vincent Valentine.
Standing there before them, dramatically pointing to the sky with one hand while her other held a large shuriken over one shoulder, was the ninja girl Yuffie Kisaragi. Uninterrupted; she continued her dramatic speech, "the conqueror of evil! The single white rose of Wutai: Yuffie Kisaragi!"
Iris could do little but stare, unsure of how to react to the energetic behaviour, Blue stepped up closer to her and offered his own advice: "Keep a close eye on anything you own."
Overhearing this, Yuffie pouted and pointed the shuriken in his direction "Whaaaat?" her voice rose higher in pitch in protest. "Come on, I don't steal from people I travel with-"
Tifa loudly cleared her throat.
"-Anymore," she flashed a grin over at Cloud, "On a related note, where's my materia?"
"Where it's safe."
"And that location would be?"
"Safe."
"You're no fun."
"We should move on," Vincent said from his spot, interrupting the moment.
"Dude's got a point," Reno agreed, "Tseng and Elena are waiting and boy do I not want to hear complaints." He scratched at his head while beginning to mumble complaints about Tseng and timekeeping.
Wishing them luck and safety, Blue and the others bade them farewell. Iris gave one final reassurance that it would be okay then left with them.
The Game Master turned his attention to Cloud and Tifa, "So, how am I getting to Rocket Town?"
"Reeve has a shipment of parts flying there on an airship; you're essentially escorting the parts there."
After being informed of where to go to meet up with Reeve Tuesti, Blue gave his own temporary farewell and went on his way.
At their height, Shinra had held complete control over the planet; quite literally with the technology of the Mako Reactors. Their control only scratched the surface of the secrets that once lay within the company.
Armies, an arsenal of weapons and machines, the enhanced warriors of SOLDIER, experimentations, training children into living weapons…There was no shortage of rumours and often truths to the lengths the company would go.
Deepground was every single dark act of the company all wrapped up into one. Built at the same time as the headquarters, directly beneath the city itself; originally intended as simply a medical facility for SOLDIER, it became a scientific facility with its prime focus on human experimentation.
Iris, Vincent, Yuffie, Shelke and the Turks had arrived in the ruins of an underground city. Making their way here through the ruins of Midgar above, through a cavern entrance opened up by the previous battles and the clash of Meteor and Holy.
Buildings spread out across the cave system much like the city of Edge as opposed to the multi-tiered nature of Midgar, lights flickering or dimming as they barely functioned from neglect and damage.
The damaged and deactivated ruins of an old Mako Reactor towered over the city, connected to the ruined city above. The metal and stone pathways of the streets still showed signs of the internal war Deepground once waged for control; Cracks and craters, discarded weapons, bullet casings, dried stains of blood.
They stood in an alleyway between one building and another, they had been cautious with their movements while observing the surroundings and windows.
If there were any members of Laughing Coffin here, then they themselves were over-cautious and already hidden.
Tseng peered out into the city then looked back to the gathered group "For now, it seems we are in the clear."
"This place makes Gongaga look like a paradise," Reno threw out casually. Something told the others that he had been dying to make an insulting remark since they got here.
"Reno!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Cissnei. You liked hanging around there, spare me the lecture on sensitivity."
Iris chose to ignore the banter; she was quickly getting an idea on who Reno was as a person. She observed the city herself, searching for anything that looked out of place, sounded different.
No shapes moving in the darkness, no shadowy outlines of figures, mostly silent apart from the sounds of cave dwelling wildlife skittering about in the darkness, and the faint sound of water somewhere down below.
She concentrated and extended her senses to the surrounding area. There was a feeling of death and despair in the air, a presence of malevolence but nothing specific. If there was someone else, then they knew how to mask their power. She quietly sighed at the lack of any positive spiritual presences, not even some form of spirit life or summons to reach out to and gain assistance from.
She had to assume beings such as those avoided a location like this for the danger the Mako Reactors once caused to the life of the planet, likely also the cause for the unsettling vibe in the energy wavelengths of this area.
"That's enough, Reno" Tseng finally ordered, equally tired. It worked at least, Reno did stop bickering. "We'll spread out in teams of two, we'll cover plenty of ground and have our backs guarded. Teams are as follows: Elena, you're with me. Reno and Rude, I wouldn't separate the two of you. Vincent, you and Shelke move out as one. Cissnei, you and… Iris, was it?" Iris nodded at him. "We'll each spread out and see what we can find, if we don't find anything then we'll rendezvous back here in an hour."
"And if we find trouble?"
Tseng looked over to Rude and said back just as bluntly, "then make some noise."
Reno grinned, following Rude with his weapon over his shoulders, "my kind of orders."
Iris sighed; she had to hope that Blue's training would at least be progressing well. He couldn't possibly be around anyone as strangely energetic as this group.
Blue sat, not by choice, in the kitchen of the man known as Cid Highwind, doing little aside from looking at the hot cup of tea placed before him.
Cid lounged about in his own chair, already lifting the cup to his mouth and taking a deep smell of the rich aroma. "Mm-mmm, that is better than ever!"
"Cid, I don't mean to be rude," Blue stood up and leant forward, ignoring his cup. "But I really don't want to waste too much time."
Cid's free hand slammed on the desk, he leant forward himself to stare down the game master. "Shut up, siddown and drink your God! Damn! Tea!"
The further Iris and Cissnei moved into the former territory of Deepground, the more Iris felt unsettled by the facility.
Being attuned to various types of spiritual energies was an easy task for her, travelling and training had honed many abilities for her after all. But for however many bonuses that brought, there was just as much downsides to join it.
A place like this, a home for twisted experiments, it was impossible for it not to leave a lingering effect upon the life of the planet.
The countless deaths in the butchered name of 'science', the despair of those given no freedom, even now Iris could feel the lingering pain in the air, the anguish permeating the ground itself.
Most would feel some level of these sensations to be in a place such as this, no one could step foot into a place tainted with despair and not feel it. However to have senses so open and attuned left a much stronger impression.
"You sure you're going to be okay?"
Iris looked over to Cissnei who had stopped ahead of her; she nodded after a moment's hesitation "I've felt this before; it's just been a while. It's a lot to take in."
Cissnei could only offer a nod in response. The two were now inside the Mako Reactor, well, the ruins of it anyway.
Mako Reactor Zero had been the original power source for Shinra HQ and Deepground itself, also serving as the main facility for Deepground. Now it was barely intact after years of neglect, Deepground rebelling against Shinra, and the final conflicts Vincent himself had played a large role in.
It seemed just as abandoned as the rest of the facility; lights flickering or not functioning at all, not a single working computer, damaged architecture all around. Even the ground itself was broken apart to reveal deeper caverns.
Cissnei sighed as she stood up and moved away from the wrecked computer she had been examining. Her arms crossed over as she glanced around her surroundings, "Well I was hoping we could also grab more data while here but that's not looking likely."
"What kind of information were you hoping to get?"
"Closure."
She led the way and Iris followed, the two traversing down the more stable looking of the pathways available to them. "So tell me, Iris. Why'd you agree to help us out on this?"
"Why'd you ask me to?" Iris hadn't even missed a beat before answering. She had been waiting for a question such as this.
"Oh, now that's a very quick reversal." Cissnei briefly looked over her shoulder; smiling back at her companion. "Very well, I personally made the request. I'm just curious as to why you have the look of someone desperately searching."
"Well, I am an adventurer."
"Yes, so I've been told. An adventurer that got in the way of a military group, one based around spiritual entities." The air of Cissnei's voice changed as she quoted the explanation, was the explanation a joke to her?
Cissnei stopped them at a crossroads, peered into the different hallways available and then took them down the left one. Iris had been frowning in the midst of this; finally speaking up as they continued on their way. "If you met my godfather, you wouldn't be so surprised at this kind of life."
"Oh you misunderstand, I believe it. But you're giving a half-truth. You can't hide it from me: We of the Turks specialise in intelligence, among other less than pleasant skills."
Iris wasn't sure if she really was enjoying where this conversation was going. Cissnei seemed capable of speaking so casually while remaining completely alert, body tensed and ready to spring into action. Iris for her part felt tenser but from the conversation rather than the situation. "So what are you trying to ask?"
"What are you running from?"
Iris stopped, Cissnei heard this and stopped herself; turning to look. Still that pleasant smile on her face, even as Iris herself felt troubled by the question. "I'm not…running."
"Everyone runs, Iris. You don't have to talk to me about your past, we all have secrets." Her smile softened, less of the knowing teasing smile it once was…now more of a sympathetic one. "But I can see it in your eyes, Iris."
"See what?"
"The same look I've seen in my own eyes. Your path hasn't been pleasant either, and if you don't try and understand what you're doing; confront it. It will slowly wear you down. So if you're not running from anything…what are you running to?"
Iris breathed in, that was the problem after all. She wasn't truly sure herself. Cissnei was right, there were plenty of moments in her life she'd rather not think on and yet knew she needed to confront them. There was mysteries she needed to solve, an understanding she had yet to reach…but where and how to begin that? She had no idea.
She frowned again, maybe that wasn't completely true. Her hand moved up to brush some hair back, gently touching one of the hairclips as it moved. That hand lowered before her face, particles of crystal light gently manifested in her palm. Her expression softened ever so slightly as she came to the best answer she could give for now. "I'm running to family and friends, I guess. I don't know what I need to do, but maybe I'll find an answer in the people I can trust."
A comforting hand touched her shoulder; it was soothing and unexpected to her for it to come from Cissnei. "That's why I wanted you with me, Iris. I don't know your pain but I know what it can do to a person. Sometimes all that you need is just the smallest form of help, it's what saved me. Hold on to the people you can trust."
Iris's expression softened further, smiling gratefully at Cissnei. She hadn't been too sure what to expect from the young woman but it was clear that she truly did mean the best intentions.
An overwhelming pressure flashed through Iris's mind. As quick as she gasped, it was already gone but her senses traced the path of the power she sensed. Something was below them.
Cissnei caught the shift in Iris's posture, followed her gaze to the floor beneath them "What do you feel?"
"It feels like…a tear in space and time?" Iris murmured, equal parts concerned and puzzled by the feeling. "But down here?" Another sensation coursed its way through her very being.
The unsettling aura of despair had already been upsetting enough, but the new feeling of darkness she felt from below them dwarfed that.
Her very soul felt endangered just from the mere feeling of it, a corruptive mark on the fabric of reality itself threatening to break all around into despair and submission.
The depths of this despair were so potent that she almost didn't sense the danger; just barely grabbing Cissnei and moving back as the floor they once stood on gave way. No, it was ripped apart by jagged waves of dark energy.
The crystallised light came to Iris's hands and then took the form of daggers, Cissnei held her own shuriken at the ready as they peered into the suddenly unveiled cavern system below.
A flooded cave with pieces of land scattered about between stalactites and stalagmites. Mako energy in the form of crystals scattered the chamber, embedded into the rocks and dirt offering a dim pale green glow throughout.
The only other source of light was cast by a shimmering jagged shape floating barely above the ground of one chunk of land. Dark blue and wavy energy shimmered within but there appeared to be something else, vaguely from this distance they could make out the faint details of an entirely different location within. The anomaly could only be described as a tear in the fabric of reality itself, less of a portal hanging in the air, rather the air itself torn asunder.
Iris leaned forward to get a better look. Cissnei's hand swung forward and pulled her back only to take her place as her other hand raised the shuriken. A blade clashed against it then moved back, reflected by the quick block. A humanoid shape wielding the blade fell back into the depths below.
"Thanks" Iris quickly said to Cissnei even as the two jumped down into the depths themselves. She knew there had been something in that cavern, something to cause that destruction and sensation of power. But to move that fast? She may have been distracted by the space-time distortion but she hadn't expected a threat to emerge instantly from the depths.
The two of them touched down upon a separate part of land, looking over to the tear to see their attacker now standing before it as if some sort of guard. It certainly seemed human, or at least it was at one point.
Seemingly male in appearance, a black suit torn and damaged still adorned the figure, a one-handed sword wielded in its left hand. But there were injuries across its body seen through the damaged clothing: deep cuts from the slashes of bladed weapons, piercing holes from bullets or stabbing motions from other bladed weapons, signs of dried blood, bruised flesh. But they were old injuries, this body was dead.
Un-dead creatures were hardly a new threat to be found upon this world, but Cissnei had never seen an example like this before; because there was more to this appearance than simply the aftermath of a battle. Strange black ooze coated parts of the body, shadowy wisps of smoke; a dark aura manifesting around the creature from the substance.
The ooze was segmented in parts across the body but the head was almost completely consumed offering no accurate look at the face. Small patches of brown hair atop the head in-between pulsing corruptive ooze, the eyes; a deadened expression and turned a reddish-yellow while ooze leaked out of their corners.
It was looking directly at them, as best they could tell, its body swaying slightly on the spot. There were no distinctive muscle movements to read, no conscious decision being made by the long deceased individual. Cissnei glanced over the entity, took in its appearance and the substance upon it. For however confident she had been when reading Iris, for how strong her poker face had been there…there was none of it now. Iris noticed it too; widened eyes, a sharp gasp for air, the Turk's eyes seemed to shake as she analysed the details of their foe.
Cissnei finally broke the silence at the very least though. "Is that…Geostigma? I've never seen it like this before."
The mako crystals flickered, their light dimmer for but a moment. That moment was enough for the creature to move without warning. Iris swung her daggers up and caught the blade between them in time as it swung for her. The creature's sword pushing against the deadlock as it now stood before her. "Is that…A Turk uniform?"
The creature broke the deadlock and jumped back, Cissnei's shuriken passing by the gap it once occupied. It returned to its wielders hand as she stood between Iris and the threat, "Don't dwell on it."
"Cissnei, do you…know who it used to be?"
"I do…It's like I said: I'm here for closure."
It pulled back the sword, the same feeling from before flooded Iris's senses. Despair and corruptive darkness overwhelming as purple and black energy began to spark violently around the blade. With one swing the energy coursed out towards them ripping apart dirt and rocks, the water around their platform pushing away like waves from the pressure.
An energy barrier manifested by Iris intervened, cracking as the energy came down upon it hard. It held just long enough for the energy to dissipate, shattering immediately afterwards.
Cissnei sprinted forward, her shuriken thrown out before her towards the enemy. It deflected it but already was she in motion. Jumping into the air and catching it then bringing it down towards the head. Its right hand rose up and grabbed the shuriken; or rather it let the shuriken embed into the necrotic flesh, blocking the blow to its head at the expense of the weapon piercing through its palm and out the back of its hand.
It made no reaction to the damage, there was no pain for it to be concerned with anymore. Cissnei grit her teeth, frustrated at its action. She pulled out her weapon, the hand cut open so severely in the process that it easily just snapped off the wrist and fell to the ground. She swung again to block its sword and entered a deadlock, eyes narrowing at the creature. "Using any of the dead like this, let alone my family, this is sick."
Iris arrived from its left side, throwing one dagger at its head while stabbing the other towards its left arm. The palm of her hand pushed at the base of the hilt to quicken the force of the thrust. Dark energy lashed out from the deceased warrior, pushing Cissnei out of the deadlock and deflecting the dagger aimed for its head harmlessly into the air.
The creature jumped back, the dagger grazing it but not slowing it down as it followed up by swinging the blade down at the passing by Iris.
The daggers were already disappearing, her own sword replacing them as she quickly swung up. The advantage of higher angle was with the entity and it pushed her down to her knees but she held firm with her defence; pushing back desperately.
A blue aura surrounded Cissnei like the flames of a fire, willpower manifesting in the form of her own limit break. Golden light covered her shuriken with multiple small star shaped particles of light fluttering around it momentarily.
She threw the shuriken at the monster, it moved back to avoid. The shuriken sharply turned and came back at it. The sword deflected it but once again another sharp turn and it came right back.
The creature continued to parry and evade while Cissnei's hands made slight motions, with the skill of a conductor, as she guided the shuriken through her own power.
The creature's speed increased; unnatural in its movements but still some measure of inherited skill as it pushed its remains far past their limits. Cissnei's shuriken however matched its pace, its golden light burning intensely as it took sharper and sharper turns; determined to catch the threat off guard. "You may have some of his speed, may retain a semblance of recklessness, but that's not going to be enough to win."
Evasive actions had ceased, it could only rely upon deflecting with its blade now. Even this was not a defence that would hold out though; the sword had begun to crack and chip. Cissnei's shuriken, powered by her Limit Break she had dubbed 'Lucky Stars,' was sharper and more powerful than normal.
Whatever dark presence was moving this corpse could not keep up with the instincts and conscious thoughts of the living. It swung the blade once more only for the shuriken to go right through it. The hilt remained in its hand while shattered pieces of the blade scattered into the air, falling around it.
Cissnei's gloved hands caught the shuriken, her body already diving forwards to the creature. She pulled the shuriken back, preparing to stab it forward and finish this.
Darkness burst forth around the un-dead warrior, the shockwave pushed Cissnei back and she lost stable footing on the ground; stumbling backwards.
In turn the creature dived forward. Despair of the damned channelled through its dark aura as it reached out its remaining hand, dropping the broken sword in the process.
Iris moved in the direction but it was clear to both of the young women that she was not going to intercept or prevent the attack in time.
Cissnei grit her teeth and moved her shuriken before her as a make-shift shield. The energy rushed forward from the hand towards her, slamming into the shuriken and sending her flying to another piece of land. She hit the ground hard; spine arching in pain as she coughed up saliva from the impact shaking her.
An inhuman roar, the creature's legs bent as it prepared to pounce. Iris jumped in its way, her sword already bearing down on it as she soared through the air.
Its hand grabbed at the blade, the strange ooze and empowerment it brought resisting the same easy damage its other arm had sustained.
This time Iris held her ground, boots digging into the dirt as she pushed back. Brilliant silver steel of her sword cut against a physical corruption that pulsed and shifted in resistance against the attack.
The aura flared upwards and outwards more and more, the lighting of the cavern slowly bathed in a dark purple glow. Red demonic eyes narrowed down at straining green ones, a cold despair slowly chipping away at whatever light of hope she could muster.
From Cissnei's position, it was hard to make out Iris or the creature within the maelstrom of dark energy. It seemed impossible to tell if there even was still a fight occurring or if the corruptive existence had already begun to consume all around it.
Yet a soft golden light began to form within the raging waves of darkness.
Iris glanced at her own hands in surprise as the light manifested around them. Soothing warmth in the nostalgic familiarity it filled her heart with, yet a noticeable white-hot burning to the feel as it surged up around her sword. Little by little the darkness began to subside as the light used her weapon as a medium to reach the target.
The ooze began to burn in the splendour of this holy light, said light enveloping the blade to make direct contact.
She yelled out, one final push on the blade as it cut through smoothly. It may as well have been a lit match touching oil for how rapidly it consumed the entire creature's body. It devastated the un-dead body, purified the malady across its remains. For but a moment in that light, Iris saw completely revealed short brown hair, blue eyes; albeit with a milky-white haze from being deceased, and then the entire creature was gone.
With no strange substance to hold it together, the long-since deceased body faded away in the burning light.
The cavern began to settle, no more trembling ground, the water settling once more, the lighting provided only by the crystals once again.
The light around her hands faded, she released her weapon and let it too fade away; staring at her hands in wonder for a moment before looking over to Cissnei who had begun to pull herself up to her feet, "are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm-" She trailed off, Iris tensed up preparing for new danger...then she took a further look at Cissnei.
The Turk had frozen in place, mid-motion of getting to her feet. She hadn't trailed off; she had completely frozen in time, "Cissnei?"
"There is no hate, only joy."
She almost lost her balance with how quick she turned to find the source of the new voice, masculine sounding but soft; poetic.
"For you are beloved by the Goddess."
She looked to the platform with the strange portal, the tear in space-time. A man stood there now, auburn hair swept to the right, a long red coat over a black uniform, the uniform of the SOLDIER force of this world.
Eyes like Cloud's, glowing with the aura of mako itself, stared across the water at her. He was smiling calmly and yet Iris kept on guard. His poetic voice recited one more line to her, "Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds."
Her eyes briefly widened, her right hand's fingers instinctively twitching slightly as the crystal fragments materialized and flowed around them; they took no form yet but his comments clearly had her on guard. "Who are you? Are you with that creature?"
"No, I share no allegiance with the killers you seek either." He turned away from her to stare at the space-time tear. "Fascinating, truly this is beyond their power."
She took a few steps towards the edge before jumping right over to the same piece of land as the stranger and the distortion. Here she could make out details within the swirling vortex, a forest of unnatural fauna; coral-like in nature.
The man's hand waved before the portal, the energy of the lifestream flowed from his hand to the tear. Bit by bit the energy dissipated, closing up as reality restored itself to normal. "It would appear that daemon was used as a guard and anchor for this pathway, a simple matter to close it now."
A sword levelled itself besides his head, "oh?"
He smiled and glanced back at Iris holding the sword over his shoulder, eyes narrowed as she spoke with more demand, "I said: who are you?"
"I suppose you haven't had much of a history lesson in this world, I am Genesis Rhapsodos."
If his identity was supposed to mean something; Iris had no idea, but she was not going to take any chances until she knew exactly who or what she was dealing with. "What do you want?"
He turned to face her slowly, a calm chuckle, the kind of calm chuckle that made Iris want to cut him just to make him feel a sense of danger. She held back the temptation. "Simply to see that the planet is protected, the goddesses' will was for me to dispatch the daemon if you did not succeed. We must not allow any new traces of the scourge of the stars to infect this planet."
"Then help us with Laughing Coffin, it clearly was being used by them."
Genesis shook his head, "I'm afraid a group of mere killers do not warrant our intervention. Whatever created this rift, whatever created this daemon; they are not on this world anymore."
Iris bitterly pulled the sword away and let it vanish, yet her hostility remained in her mannerisms, "Figures, well the 'clean up' is over so we're done here."
Genesis turned away and took multiple strides off to the other side before looking over his shoulder. "However, if you will accept a small form of help, then the location from that rift is upon the northern continent: The Forgotten City. Your comrades know of it."
A single large black wing emerged from his left shoulder and swung outwards, "Even if the morrow is barren of promises. Nothing shall forestall my return. To become the dew that quenches the land. To spare the sands, the seas, the skies, I offer thee this silent sacrifice." With one final recital; he took off from the ground into the air only to disappear moments after.
Iris sighed at the unneeded dramatic effect and looked back over to Cissnei just before time restored itself.
"-Okay, how are-" this time Cissnei did actually trail off as she blinked and looked over to Iris's new location. "Did I miss something?"
"I'll explain when we're all together, the important thing is I know where we can find Laughing Coffin now."
The Turk was understandably confused but nodded all the same. Her gaze slowly moved over to the broken remains of the creature's sword, whatever professional talent she had for masking her emotions failed as she smiled while her eyes seemed pained.
The hostility in Iris's own expression disappeared, softening into a sympathetic look over to Cissnei. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Cissnei breathed deeply, sighing as she looked back up. "Thank you…I kind of always knew, but…Everyone in the Turks was my family; they saved me, you can't help but hold out hope." She crossed her arms and looked up to the hole they had fallen through, "Let's get back to the others."
The day had passed by rather rapidly but Blue had been impressed just how productive the day had been. Once Cid had got moving; they had been non-stop in their efforts.
Sparring with Cid/Cid showing off various spear based techniques, basic introductions to various parts and functions of his ship: The Shera, information on numerous forms of technology upon this world. It was definitely a beginner's course but Blue couldn't deny he definitely felt like today had been rewarding.
He smiled a little as he thought about how there would've been very little combat training if Lucy was here, she would've kept Cid and his wife busy all day with questions about the ship and technology.
It had gotten pretty late and so they had decided to stay in Rocket Town for the night and return the next day. The game master had not yet been able to get much needed sleep though. He stood out in the backyard of Cid's house, beneath a fairly shoddy wooden gazebo; for the praises that could be said of Cid's mechanical skills, the same could not be said for carpentry.
He stood underneath this barely adequate shelter to remain out of the rain coming down hard. If he wasn't getting sleep then he at least wanted the space of being on his own and the rain certainly provided that, the sound was almost soothing in a way to have as a constant presence.
His right hand was holding onto the sword gifted to him, studying the craftsmanship of it as he focused his senses. It was still a little difficult to wrap his head around the sensation of power dwelling within but he got the general idea. From how Iris had described it; almost all beings in the universe held a sense of power to them, manifesting in different ways across different worlds.
Often it wouldn't develop past much more than that sensation, the will to keep on pushing oneself, a determination. But there would of course be the worlds and individuals who would reach true forms of power: Magic, energy beams, enhancing of body and/or weapons, the list could stretch on forever.
So many worlds, all with their own origins and natures behind the way powers and abilities worked. But still a thin thread between them all that tied them to a core concept across the entire cosmos.
He could feel…something…he had tried to channel it into his blade. The idea was there in his head, writing a character version certainly came in handy for imagining the ideal abilities he'd prefer. If he could manage abilities with his sword, his own versions of Limit Breaks, he could expand further from there. It shouldn't be too much out of the question, he had thought of them before when he first imagined a character version of himself for even this world when it came to writing stories.
But still nothing. The power was there, aching to be used…but he just couldn't understand it enough to tap into it fully, to flow throughout him and into his weapon.
He sighed deeply and looked into the rain, surrendering the focus of his senses to the sound of it beating down on the ground. So fast of a downpour that one would struggle to tell the sound of a single drop from any other.
A single drop of water.
Now that was a sudden rush of nostalgia, he thought back to his martial arts lessons, one in particular. He and Lucy kneeling before a man in his forties, black hair already heavily greying, brown eyes so dark that they pulled you in, pierced through you...but yet they held a warm kind darkness, not the cold so many would assume.
It was easy to remember his words; their master just had such an impact with his voice and words, they hung eagerly on every lesson he taught. "Though your palms are as a raging fire, your mind shall be clear and serene. You feel the flames so now visualise within your mind a rush of water."
As Blue let the memory fill his thoughts, he focused on the sound of the rain; the torrential downpour. "Now focus, you don't need to lose yourself to the intensity of the fight, to struggle until you fall apart." Blue raised his sword and placed it over his right shoulder. "Within the rage of the flood, you'll see it." A soft blue glow began to coat Blue's blade while at the same time small particles of azure light surrounded him like the light of the stars, "A single drop of water."
For but a moment he felt it, not the downpour of the rain…but the sound and sight of one single drop touching the ground. Driven by instinct he leapt forward, innate energy propelling him forward further than he expected as he swung his blade down in a diagonal arc and expelled the energy harmlessly before it faded away.
The rain quickly began to soak him but still he stood there staring in surprise at his outstretched arm and sword. He could feel it more strongly now, a clear and defined sensation of the power burning within him. He really had to find some way to thank his master whenever he made it back home; to think his philosophy would even help Blue tap into powers buried within.
Feeling his clothes starting to stick to him was a good sign it was time to head inside now, Blue sheathed his sword and made his way back into the house.
The following day was when everyone began to gather together. It was decided that the core group of Cloud and his comrades, along with Blue and Iris, would take The Shera to the Northern Continent and head to The Forgotten City.
With the loss of their shortcut into Edge, Laughing Coffin would undoubtedly be expecting them. The safest option would be to land outside the 'Bone Village'; the archaeological dig site, and travel through The Sleeping Forest and Corral Valley to reach the city.
Shelke along with the Turks would remain in the city on the off chance that something went wrong, or if members of Laughing Coffin still came here regardless.
Blue was asked once more if he was sure about taking part in this. They were about to engage in battles with those who had no hesitation in killing and torture. No one would hold it against him if he didn't feel ready physically and mentally for the task ahead, there was after all the certainty that the fights would be to the death in order to stop this group.
He was scared, he didn't deny it. But he remained committed to his decision; determined to make sure that no one else died all because he was the target. If he was going to be stuck in this universe for the near future, take on this warrior role known as a Game Master…then he couldn't back down just because of the danger.
Iris was also given the choice; no one doubted her skill or determination but everyone understood that she had been trying to escape her own dangerous situation. It didn't seem right to just expect her to involve herself. Regardless she joined in too, determined to help new found friends, although she had to admit she was curious to see the abandoned city of the Cetra as well.
The airship had touched down just outside the dig site, already close in time to sunset after they had gathered, planned, and made their way here.
It was quiet; that was the first thing Blue noticed. Cliché as it was: It was too quiet. No sounds of anyone at work digging into the late hours, no sounds of workers ending early for the night; laughing as they enjoyed merry company among drinks and food. There was no one here.
"Did excavations in this area stop?" Blue asked the group hopefully as they took cautious steps further in.
"No, it's still supposed to be going on," Barret's artificial hand was already transformed into its gun form as he spoke.
Blue's grip tightened on his sword while he glanced around their surroundings for anything out of place, "I was afraid you'd say that."
It was difficult for him to take in the surroundings completely. Seeing an area through a video game, an older one at that, was completely different to seeing it for real. The area was much bigger than the restrictions of a game had shown him, more rocky and uneven, more unearthed bones than he expected. Across a particularly tall hill of dirt was even a collection of bones still mostly intact in the shape of a creature lying atop it.
Tifa lightly shook her hands, flexing her fingers as she kept focusing on warming up her body, "Iris, you have sharper senses than us for off-world anomalies. Do you sense anything?"
"There's some kind of spiritual energy around here but I wouldn't say it's a summon spirit or anything along those lines. It's not like that creature I told you about, but there is an aura of-"
"-Death," The lion like beast known as Red XIII finished for her, his own senses somewhat sharpened by his life in Cosmo Canyon.
Riding upon his back was the robotic cat known as Cait Sith, its artificial intelligence in control currently so that Reeve Tuesti could maintain communication with the group when needed. He looked down at Red and then back up at the abandoned dig-site, "Going right for morbid ain't ya?" He looked over to Vincent, "you must be right at home."
Vincent remained quiet and Cait Sith sighed loudly "oy, trying to lighten the mood here."
"You should stick to your day job."
Cait Sith turned over to Yuffie and snapped at her jibe at him "lassie, shut yer mouth!" The ninja girl immediately spun in his direction too; ready to yell back at him before Tifa sighed herself.
"Let's not get at this again, you two. There's a time and a place."
To their credit, Blue appreciated it. It broke up the quiet and it was nice to witness the characters he grew up with interacting like this, a welcome distraction from whatever danger they would be walking into.
He looked up at the large hill of dirt again and the bones atop it. His feet came to a stop so suddenly that he dug into the dirt a little. "Guys?" They all stopped at the urgency in his voice and looked to him. It was right there in front of him, how could he have not seen it?
The bones atop the hill, they shouldn't be there. Yes, this was reality and not the game he was familiar with…but they were perfectly placed upon the hill. They clearly weren't being excavated; pieces weren't rolling down the hill… It was an entire intact creature's skeleton out in the open…right in the direction they needed to go in.
The group stared at the bones then looked to each-other and then to Cloud. Their leader nodded over to Vincent. He raised his triple-barrelled handgun: Cerberus to aim at the skeleton, a moment's pause before he fired and three shots blasted out and slammed into the bones.
They pierced through but almost immediately afterwards the holes closed up; regenerating. With its ambush now foiled, the creature began to stir.
It rose up, crying out an inhuman screech across the dig-site. A demonic skeletal centipede like creature with an elongated skull, there were four red eyes staring down at its prey; glowing like burning candles. Its roar revealing how its mouth of many teeth opened into multiple jaws, its arms like two large scythes as they dug into the ground beneath it. Bones like open rib cages flexed like scythes around it while many bladed skeletal legs shifted the sand and dirt beneath them.
It towered above them, a little higher than the equivalent of two people standing on each other. There on the chest of its body was a large hole allowing one to see through the other side. With its presence fully revealed; all could feel that spiritual sensation of death in the air. A cold fear taking hold over them and yet their weapons rose in resistance.
"Let's move!" Cloud ran and jumped forward first, the combined fusion sword swinging forward at the monster. Its right scythe-arm came down hard at the blade, bone clashing against steel. The force behind it slammed Cloud back onto the ground. He landed on his feet but the impact pushed him into the dirt as he pushed back with all his strength.
Cid jumped up high into the air, stabbing his spear down as he fell. Its left scythe arm had begun to move up at him but was intercepted when Tifa's fist collided with the side of the arm and actually pushed it back. The spear stabbed into the head and brought forth another screech from it.
Vigorous shaking of its head dislodged the spear and sent Cid flying off it; recovering in mid-air to land safely on the ground.
The skeletal monstrosity began to move, its many legs carrying it across the ground fast. The group scattered in time to avoid it running them down with its gargantuan size.
Scythe-arms swung as it moved forcing them to keep on the move, barely staying ahead of attacks as its centipede like body manoeuvred with far more agility than they expected. Dirt and sand were flung up into the air as a scythe-arm carved through it on its way to Vincent, he emerged flying up out of the dust; spinning to aim and fire multiple rounds into the creature's head.
It reared back, its head jerking to the side as Yuffie's shuriken slammed into it before bouncing away to return to her. Red XIII pounced from a mound of dirt towards it, a build up of energy manifesting before him as he soared through the air towards the head.
"MOUTH! TOO CLOSE!" Cait Sith's screams of protest went unheeded by Red as his Sled Fang limit break carried them through the air, narrowly avoiding the mouth as the energy before him pierced a large hole through the shoulder.
The wound was already beginning to regenerate but the injury did not stop it from swinging its tail at Red. Iris's hand stretched out as she stood in the path, a barrier of light appearing and withstanding the blow.
The impact pushed her back, feet digging into the sand to try and hold her ground as the bones continued to grind against the energy, trying to break through. Her other hand joined the first to strengthen the defensive barrier.
Even as it focused on attacking them with its tail, it was still swinging its scythe-arms at the rest of the team. Rapid fire from Barret's gun-arm pierced numerous holes but not fast enough to prevent the regeneration. A scythe came for him next.
Blue bent forward, his stance low to the ground as his blade was held in a parallel manner to his right leg, and then drew the sword back. Rage Spike. A burst of energy propelled him forward and consumed the sword in pale blue light. Ten meters were covered in almost an instant by the energy propelling him, his sword slashing up to counter the scythe-arm.
He dropped to one knee as the scythe crashed down upon his blade; he didn't have the same strength as Cloud to hold this back. Grunting and deeply breathing as he tried desperately to push back the creature's arm. His sword descended lower and lower, the scythe pushing down closer and closer to his shoulder and neck.
Cloud's blade and Tifa's fist slammed against the scythe in a unified assault, pushing it away from Blue and into the ground. Shots enhanced by the power of Chaos within Vincent blasted holes into the tail, Cid's spear drove into its back.
The tail pulled back from Iris's barrier enough to grant her a moment's reprieve and she took the opening. The energy shattered and she jumped through it to land on the monster's back, a greatsword was called to manifest in her hands and she swung it down hard.
Its inhuman screech was a full on scream at this point, everyone had to move back as it began to speed around them before coming to a stop upon higher ground to glare down at them.
"We need to keep it from moving around so much," Cloud said, instructing the team. "Iris, Blue, and I will keep the arms occupied as best I can, everyone else try and trap it from the sides. Tifa, once we have it in that position I need you to blast right through it."
"One Final Heaven coming right up."
The brief few seconds of planning came to an abrupt end as the air began to feel heavier. There was a build up of spiritual energy leaving a noticeable pressure on the air; gathering before the creature. A black sphere formed within its open mouth before it shifted into a crimson colour and began to spark wildly; the energy around it expanding fast.
"Barret! Yuffie!"
The two didn't need any more instruction from Cloud; stepping in front of the group with an orange aura of energy flickering around each of them. Yuffie held her shuriken out vertically before her, her own energy orb began to manifest in front of it; as dark as the night with the outer area tinted purple.
The central barrel of Barret's gun-arm began to fill up with green and white energy; his arm shaking from the build up of power as he tried to keep a steady aim towards the creature.
The creature fired first; ball of energy converting into a beam that rushed down towards the group. Dirt and sand were thrown into the air from the force, the ground beneath their feet trembling. Yuffie fired back before it could reach them, the power she had titled 'All Creation' rushing out as its own beam from the sphere to collide with the opponent's and begin pushing it back.
Everyone else had to brace themselves, keeping a stable stand on the ground as best they could to avoid being blown back by the shockwaves of pressure from the clash. The colours of the energy clash bathed their surroundings in a dark crimson glow.
Barret levelled his gun-arm towards the clash, the power he had simply called 'Big Shot' fired out through the gun; mixed with the weapon's own build up of energy.
The explosive blast of energy tore through the clash and detonated all three attacks in a combined blast. Dust, sand, and dirt scattered into the air from the shockwave. Fast skittering across the ground was heard only moments before a scythe-arm swung through the dust.
Cloud's fusion sword swung in return and actually deflected it away, he knew the strength he was dealing with now; knew how to adjust to deal with it.
The other arm came at his side, not fast enough to prevent Blue and Iris getting in the way and swinging their own blades at it.
The creature roared out as it pushed through the dissipating dust cloud, Cid came down from above and pierced his spear right through its tail; pinning it to the ground as best he could.
The attackers split to either side; Vincent and Yuffie attacking from the right while Barret and Red XIII along with Cait led the assault from the left.
Gunshots and the throwing of the shuriken barraged the skeletal frame, Red assaulting the legs to throw them off balance and steadily weaken them. With its body kept in one spot and its tail kept pinned, all it could do was continually swing its scythe-arms down upon the sword wielders before it.
Together Iris and Blue were able to manage the strength to hold back one arm. Cloud single-handedly keeping the other occupied. Steel clashed against bone again and again; chipping and cracking it before it would regenerate…but the regeneration was beginning to slow, they were wearing it down.
Dark energy burst up around it and threw the groups to the side away, launching Cid up off of the tail to free it as well. Blue and Iris lost their footing. It was only for a moment but it was enough for the scythe-arm to swing again in the direction of Cloud still occupied keeping the other arm busy.
Blue, Iris, and Tifa moved in silent unison. Blue's sword moved to his shoulder as he initiated the same skill he first triggered in Cid's backyard. Sonic Leap. A burst of energy carried him forward and his sword slashed down vertically upon the arm.
Iris's own sword swung down with a small build-up of energy, a partial activation of her Screen Divide technique without the same level of charge.
With the addition of Tifa jumping up and slamming her foot down upon the blade, the three pushed it down to dig through the sand and embed there. Blue and Iris kept the pressure upon the arm, gritting their teeth as their arms strained against the creature's might.
Cloud pushed back and looked over to Tifa, she needed no words from him or to him; only nodding as her right fist pulled back.
Orange energy erupted around her, consuming her fist in burning red power. The creature too decided to disregard a charge-up time for its technique; the same light from before manifesting within its mouth, smaller in power but dangerous all the same.
Blue and Iris pulled back from the arm, it flung up into the air and Tifa used it as a springboard to leap towards the creature's head.
It screeched at her, firing off the blast of crimson destructive energy. Tifa's fist slammed forward and the energy it released was akin to a roar, drowning out the screech.
The explosive force of Final Heaven burst away from her fist and consumed the opponent's attack and then its body in a pillar of destructive light.
Blue breathed out heavy, watching Tifa land nearby Cloud while the rest of the group stood at the ready. His grip tightened on his own weapon as he too stood at the ready. He certainly didn't feel it though. He knew this was going to be rough but they hadn't even got to Laughing Coffin itself yet.
"We can do this," Iris said as she stood besides him. That re-assurance, that confidence, that camaraderie; it was enough to keep him determined to support them all in this even if it meant going far beyond what he thought his own limits were right now.
The dust cleared. Multiple legs were broken, its body seared in energy. Its left arm was completely obliterated along with a large chunk of that shoulder, the left side of its head eradicated while the right cracked and crumbled slightly.
The game master smiled at the extent of the injuries; they could win this. Victory was in the grasp of their hands now.
The sand beneath Blue parted and its cracked tail shot up and wrapped around his waist. It all happened too fast for anyone to react to in time. Even with damaged body and legs, the creature quickly turned and leapt up the hill, its tail pulling out of the sand; dragging Blue with it.
Vincent moved to aim his gun but couldn't get a clear shot with the tail swinging Blue around in the air. The group made to move in pursuit but it was far too late. The creature disappeared from their sight over the hill with Blue captive.
The last thing he had heard was Iris calling out his name before it immediately grew distant. How could something so damaged still move so fast in its evasion? Blue struggled in the grip and tried to swing his sword but couldn't get a decent angle on the tail around him. It tore through The Sleeping Forest, knocking down trees in its way, it travelled down the slope of the ravine with ease; stumbling only slightly with the lack of some legs.
It began to crawl its way through the strange silver crystal-like coral trees around The Forgotten City. He needed to get free right now before it took him right into the heart of Laughing Coffin's territory.
He risked spinning the blade around in his hand; luckily he did not drop it as he switched his grip to have the blade pointing directly at the tail and stabbed into a cracked part.
The crack fractured further, he drove it deeper into the wedge he had created. It split apart and the creature screeched out as it made its way into the darkness of the forest; despite Blue being released and dropping to the floor.
The momentum carried him rolling along the ground a little further until he came to a stop. Slowly and shakily he got to his feet, wary of a further attack.
A few cautious steps, his grip on the sword tight as he scanned the dark environment around him; lit only by the silver light from the crystal flora. It wasn't far, he could tell that much…but it at least wasn't immediately close by. He could have a moment to breath and work on a plan of action.
There was rustling from somewhere in the trees nearby. Well, that was short-lived. Putting his thoughts aside he began to glance around again. There was too much of an echo to tell where the sound was coming from until it was immediately besides him.
He turned just in time to see someone rush out of the trees, looking over their shoulder. They looked back to their front and gasped to see Blue standing there. He had just enough time to see beneath their blue hood a feminine Japanese face and her teal eyes widen before her body crashed into him.
The momentum threw him back onto the ground, rolling once again much to his chagrin though this time he immediately brought himself to his feet.
The sudden arrival fell back too before using her left hand to spring her body to her feet. Her right hand pulled out a Sword Breaker dagger from a sheath at her waist as she ran at Blue.
His own eyes widened, he let out a gasp as he narrowly ducked under a horizontal swing before stepping and leaning back to avoid the follow-up vertical slash. He pushed his own sword out in front of him to deflect a thrust away from him.
The two began to trade blows, sparks from the clash of steel as their swords deflected each other again and again. Her eyes seemed to be studying his outfit; surprising considering he was doing the same even as he pushed himself to defend against the onslaught. That outfit doesn't appear to be Laughing Coffin?
He needed a moment to breath, needed her to stop. He took the offensive and swung his blade in a downwards arc. His opponent's hand switched her blade into a reverse grip and swung it forward to block him, his sword slid between the deep serrated teeth and they entered a dead-lock.
The blades and their hands shook as they both pushed equal might onto the deadlock, and yet the tension seemed to lessen slightly. Her narrowed eyes opening up more as she looked questioningly at him "Who…are you?"
"Me?" He almost shouted. She had the nerve to attack him and then ask him who he was? "Who are you?!"
With a moment to breath he tried to take in her appearance more: Short hair that was brownish-yellow in colour; dandelion. Her clothing seemed to be a tube top of different shades of blue, brown finger-less gloves, a blue arm sleeve on her left arm while a silver-arm guard braced her right. All of this along with the black shorts, black thigh-high socks and brown boots just did not seem anything like the tattered clothing of Xaxa and Johnny Black.
The closest he could possibly see would be the hooded blue cloak but it was also in noticeably much better condition. On another look at her face he could see she was around his age too, maybe not quite in her twenties but definitely over eighteen.
"Are you with Laughing Coffin?" Both spoke at once and then stared at each other upon noticing that.
Nearby trees were pushed aside with enough force to rip them from their roots as a large creature slammed down from above. The skeletal creature stood there once again; still injured but still a threat. "Just one minute to catch my breath, that's all I ask," Blue complained out-loud as he and his opponent pulled their blades away from each other.
It screeched down at them both, swinging its one working scythe-arm down at them.
As they jumped back, Blue looked over to her…it was a risk but he needed to go through with it "Hey! Injured or not we're going to need to work together to take it down!"
Her eyes darted between him and the creature, her fingers tightening on the hilt of her dagger. "Why do you think I'd join forces with-" She trailed off so that she could dart to the side and avoid another swing.
It turned its body and swung what was left of its damaged tail towards her. Blue's sonic leap attack let him intercept it just in time, his blade knocking it to the side and cracking it further. "We can sort out our differences later; right now we need to get through this."
"…Why help me? How do you know I won't just stab you in the back?"
Even as she aired this fact, he turned to face the monster and gave her a clear opening to his back. He spoke over his shoulder to her while keeping a prepared gaze on their real threat, "maybe you will. Honestly have no idea. But I have to assume you want to live and obviously so do I. Only way either of us get the slightest chance of that is to beat this together."
The creature screeched out again. The fact he could hear that was actually a good thing he had to figure though. It meant he was still alive.
The young woman stepped up besides him, sighing in resignation as she prepared her own weapon. "Alright, I'll help you just once."
Blue nodded at her, looking up once more at the towering creature as it screeched down at them; enraged by their continued survival and opposition. This was going to be a long night.
Xaxa hopped across the pillars to a large central platform beneath the City of The Ancients. There stood another man looking down upon the water below, curiously studying the thin traces of lifestream energy flowing within the clear and sacred waters.
The man wore a similar poncho except his was dark green, purple eyes shone from under the hood. His face was handsome yet hardened from years of combat; there was a jagged purple tattoo down the right side of his face and a piercing just above his left eye.
Xaxa chuckled as he adjusted the skull mask upon his face, addressing the hooded man. "Well, Boss. Hikrai's close to taking down the Calavera Segadora. It looks like he's teamed up with that treasure hunter buzzing around too."
PoH, the leader of Laughing Coffin grinned widely. A deep laugh came from him as he turned to face his subordinate… "So they come right to us as predicted."
Xaxa's grin was certainly concerning with the delight in it, matched by the ominous red eyes of his mask. But PoH's wide grin was on a different level. Maniacal, eager for bloodshed, he lived for inflicting suffering. "Shall we move out?" Xaxa said, looking for the go ahead.
PoH's response came just as enthusiastic as the expression on his face, loud and overwhelming like the rapid firing of a machine gun:
"It's Showtime!"
Author's Notes:
Note 1: So Uhhh...11 months since the last update. Hah…let me tell you a tale….Iiiiii don't have anything for this. It was personal stuff that made it difficult to focus on or even enjoy the idea of writing. It's more or less resolved though so hopefully I can finally get to consistent updates, but hey: if you're a long-time reader then this is actually a much better hiatus than the last one.
Note 2: Calavera Segadora is based upon The Skull Reaper from Sword Art Online. Hopefully that translation is correct. I got it from Spanish fan subs so I'm inclined to believe it is, but apologies if not. The reason for the usage of the Spanish name is I have mixed in elements of the Hollows from Bleach into its nature, as evident by its usage of the Cero technique.
Note 3: So I'm not exactly sure what the general belief of fans is when it comes to Cait Sith's nature. Obviously Reeve controls him a lot throughout FF7 but I've always felt like there's also a clear sign of an actual independent artificial intelligence there too for when Reeve isn't operating him. So that's what we're going with.
Note 4: The Turk brought back as an undead monster is not one of the canon Turks from Before Crisis. It's an OC but we'll get back to this another day when we delve further in to that plot point.
Note 5: The character Blue encounters is based upon Philia from Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, the first game in the "gameverse" alternate timeline of that series.
Okay then, one more flashback chapter to come. See you all in a year's time. I kid, see you soon…probably.