Me: Heh, sorry about the month-long wait XD!

Mario: ...I'm not even going to bother anymore. So what happens here?

Me: That's easy, all you have to do is read it for yourself :D!

Crystal: Buuurn!

Mario: QQ Oh fine. And Crystal keep your OOC-ness to yourself.

Me: Anyway let's not waste too much time folks, the two-part conclusion has begun! Chapter 9, START!


Chapter 9: Part 1, Red Stained Knight

Blood glistened and gradually dripped from my sword that pierced it's bond with the previous postmortem Ponggo it last contacted, slowly yet surely coloring the deck of the Black Crow dark red. I, aware of the ominous dark purple aura radiating around me, loomed over the four people inside the lovely bedroom I crash-landed into with this new-found power, courtesy of Infinity and the Dark El.

"Hello my lovely Aisha, long time no see!" I echoed my message once more to my love, immediately narrowing my eyes and glinting them into anger as I noticed the beautiful magician's...colorful company. The two "lovey dovey" couple Chung and Eve. Damn their closeness and reliance with each other, if only Aisha and I could be like that. However much anger witnessing their cutesy act riled me up, nothing came close to the boiling anger nearly spilling out of me at the sight of the last person, the flame-haired woman who noticed me in a visibly more fearful expression than the others. Elsa, my older sister, the one who abandoned me all those years ago. The one who forced me to train at a young age ever since the Wolf Demon incident. And the one responsible for leaving me in solitude for seven long years. I shifted my backpack into a more comfortable position as we stared off for this final battle.

"E-Elsword...?!" Sis nervously called out to me, fearfully shocked at my dark power. Thanks Infinity, about damn time I made her feel how I felt back then: lost, powerless, and no meaning of life, when the gap between our powers were wider than they are now. I took a few moments to bask in the glory of making her experience my hopelessness felt all those years ago then went straight to business, glaring my eyes right at her.

"Oh so you finally pay attention to me after all this time to me, Sis?" I frowned upon her. Why did my most hopeful bliss happen to bring along my worst scarring nightmare? It was the first time Sis actively pursued my attention since before the invasion, and it took her to hear about all this hell breaking loose in order to do so. Flicking the excess blood off my sword onto the deck of the Black Crow, I jumped off the ship and into the bedroom and met the four pairs of fearful eyes gazing at me with immense satisfaction while a violent thunderstorm rages on outdoors.

"So who wants to die first?" With Infinity powering my voice with my near-awakening of the Dark El (what with all this damn purple aura around me), I crushed the flaming rune in my hands with a dark-infused fist. The four of them didn't bat an eye, the girls more visibly scared than Chung who merely looked determined. Despite the measly question I gave them, I wished desperately that my lovely magician wouldn't offer herself as tribute. A few moments pass with nothing except the roar of thunder periodically piercing the deadened silence in this room. I became impatient and advanced towards them until one of them dare step forward.

"I'll do it." To the silver-haired queen's dismay and my amusement, the Deadly Chaser stood in front of them and held his arms out with one Silver Shooter per hand. "Eve, take Aisha and Elsa somewhere safe!" So you still think you can save your girl huh Chung?

"B-But C-Chung! M-My systems detect a-a 5% survival rate against this Elsword with a 2% rate for you to win!" See, even your lover doubts your actions pretty boy.

"I'll manage somehow!" The supposed gunslinger whipped out his "Destroyer" cannon (not the only thing you call the Destroyer, right Prince of Hamel?) in exchange of the revolver in his right hand, holstering it back in place. "Now go!" I smirked at this and readied my sword with one of my arms and a flaming rune with another. Eve hesitantly agreed and led the two outta there. Oh well, I guess I'll push this blade inside Eve and Elsa later.

For now, I'll make do with an appetizer.

"Some kind of reunion this is Elsword?" How stupid does Chung think I am? He's obviously stalling for time.

"You wish! You're just stalling for those three to get away aren't you?" I stated the blatantly obvious.

"Heh I guess I was found out." The supposed "sacrificial hero" admitted with a defeated look on his face. Tch, pulling the pity act while performing a cliched ritual? Someone's trying too hard into becoming one of those main heroes in fairy tales. "But even if I can't stop you, the least I can do is stall you!"

I didn't answer at first, merely smirking while holding my laughter in. Is this guy for real or what?! His idealistic way of thinking is starting to piss me off. I'll just have to wake him up from his blissful dreams with this bloody sword of mine...painfully.

"We'll see about that!" With Knight noting that my eyes became those of a rabid animal when delivering the phrase, I took off with immeasurable speed at the "Deadly" Chaser. Looks like the Dark El Awakening is almost fully complete, purple hues started to flood my vision from the sides (albeit I still have 60% human vision) as I feel my power start to increase.

BANG! He tried to stop me with a graze shot to the leg, but that didn't work. I was faster than that speeding bullet and utilized this momentum to strike that blond scruff of his called a head.

CLANG! My sword and his cannon collided in near equal strength due to the sheer weight of that explosive dildo for a cannon making up for the lack of power my dark-infused sword granted me. The first shot has been fired and a collision of weapons took place shortly after. The final obstacles to overcome for my love Aisha has begun!


"So...still think you'll defeat us Elsword?" The Prince believes he can defeat me, despite obviously being at a disadvantage in this worthless power struggle. "Face it, there's four of us and one of you! Aisha told us all about what you're going to do!" I pricked up my ears and listened amusingly. "But it isn't gonna happen, we're gonna stop you before you kill any one of us! As the Guardian I'll ensure that!"

I couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed in dark chortles as the purplish aura around me grew more radiant. I grinned viciously at the now confused and nervous "Protector of Hamel". "A Guardian you say? Well while you were here lounging off..." Pure delight flooded through me as I came very close to breaking him with these next few words. A few simple words with Infinity's voice driving them over a cliff with no way to recover.

"...Two of your friends were murdered by yours truly!" That seemed to catch him off guard, less power driving through his weapon. Before his disbelieving face could even utter a question I summoned a fire blade out of thin air, launching him through several walls to another room (one I can believe is where the others escaped).

This is your last chance Elsword, just surrender yourself and don't shoulder another body beneath your shoulders. Damn! Looks like Knight and Infinity's voices showed up as I chased the flying Deadly Chaser (ironic that he's the one getting chased) through the vast castle.

Heh, like he ever would. Face it Knight, you'll never understand a human's desires like I do. If he wants to kill them he's gonna kill them. End of story.

I smirked at Infinity's defense. "At least Infinity knows what I want to do, what could a spirit like you possibly know about my motives Knight?"

What you want...is a perfect world where no one can bring harm to you or your "love" with Aisha. Am I right?

"So what of it? If you know what I want, why question how I carry it out?" Tch, guess he isn't my supposed "Good" conscience for nothing.

The goody two-shoes, probably too prideful to even think of committing what he calls "morally questionable" choices and wants you to stop from doing so.

That's exactly what I'm saying, but now it looks like you reached a point of no return. Farewell then Elsword, I'll see you in Hell.

Looks like he finally left for good. The full Dark El Awakening should be ready in about five minutes. I smirked at that, jumping down from a railing at the second floor to catch up to the laying Chung below. The chase was over and so is Knight's interference.

"Bout damn time he left." I muttered to myself, laying my gaze at the three girls now in my vision: Eve worriedly rushing to her "sweetie", Aisha's face full of regret, and Elsa's with horror and sorrow. "Guess we can finally get the show on the road now." I gripped my sword even tighter on my right hand and summoned a purple rune, a side-effect with this Dark El transformation. In just five minutes I'll become powerful enough to easily overcome all those who stand before me and Aisha's way.

Just like that time in the Black Crow against Raven. And the brief fight against Rena in the junkyard remains of Altera Core. I'll swallow the darkness once more and finally end this accursed journey with a happy ending. I got a hold of myself when too much of the purple haze clouded my vision too soon. Not yet, I told myself, in five minutes all my problems will finally be conquered.


"Ch-Chung!" The Battle Seraph shamelessly helped her "sweetheart" back up with a worried look plastered on her face. "A-Are you hurt?" For a machine who discarded her emotions in exchange for more power, Eve's starting to regain a lot of them.

"Y-Yeah." He reassured his lover (that at least I understand, no man wants to show weakness in front of his loved one) and brushed off the dust that stuck on him. "I'd be far worse off if I wasn't wearing my armor." I grunted slightly at that, guess he'll need more punishment than Eve and Elsa. "Now..." Chung glared at me with dark eyes covered by his hair. I was amused by this. "...What did you just say Elsword?"

"Who me?" I feigned innocence, wanting him to reveal it rather than me. I suppose both he and I would get more satisfaction when the truth is uncovered this way. "If you remember, why don't you say it aloud where these three can hear you." I challenged him with a swift gaze at the three girls. I'm sorry that you have to hear this Aisha, but love is about overcoming obstacles together and earning your happy ending right?

"Alright then." Chung faced Eve, also to the magician and the knight further away, and took a deep breath while in thought. I didn't expect him to actually be nervous to spill this out, I mean seriously...hurry up! One minute already passed, with four more until the transformation, and he finally mustered up the guts to say it. "We...didn't make it fast enough." Finally, we're actually making progress! Reveling in the appropriately slowly horror filled expressions on the girls' faces (it's better to have Aisha hear about this sooner rather than later anyway), I slowly removed my backpack while removing the rune on my left palm as the Deadly Chaser hesitated to talk about his dead friends.

"Elsword...he...already killed Raven and Rena." It was his turn to (very nearly, unfortunately) break the three girls. As if on cue I unzipped the portions of my dark red backpack that held their heads and chucked it at Chung.

"Here Chung, catch!" I called him out, knowing he was too remorseful and stunned to oblige. Instead I had the backpack purposely unzipped to the point where the contents fell out on their own. I smiled like a murderer about to delve into insanity (Tch, that might happen when the Dark El Awakening is complete) as dread filled the four to the very core to find Raven's inhumane burnt head and Rena's all splattered from the stunt I pulled before the Ponggo Genocide.

All of their reactions were amusing to watch. From order from least to most we got Chung, Aisha, Eve, and finally Elsa. Chung's was actually quite boring, just the stock Hero acting all pissed and determined to force me to get my comeuppance ("You won't get away with this!" If you were wondering about his exact words). I didn't expect Aisha to show something unique, hell she did the exact same thing Rena did: tear up and puke. Eve's is where things got interesting. She went into total breakdown mode, thinking of the postmortem Elf as a motherly influence in her life and the prissy swordsman as a person she just started liking despite not being a "pure" Nasod and merely a half hybrid in conjunction with being a human. I guess her emotional circuit started working again with these two images, you should thank me for your emotions returning you rust bucket.

However Elsa's is enough to replay over and over for my amusement years from now. What does she do? Swear revenge like Chung? Cry and choke up like Aisha? Breakdown like Eve? None of the above, she just falls to her knees with utter failure practically written on her face. As if she knows what her actions have caused in the long run. How she made me how I am now by abandoning me. How she caused all the hatred and anguish I felt throughout ten years to finally lash out and cause the deaths of two strangers who meant a lot to other people. Her finally recognizing the consequences of her actions and getting her karma lashed right back at her with this horrible truth is, for lack of a better term, immensely satisfying.

Two minutes remain until the Dark El goes into full power as they spent the same amount of time in dead silence. "Why..." Eve, of all people, finally pierced the silence. "Why did you...do it Elsword?"

How much I want to kill the two lovers and Elsa right now, but four against one isn't gonna end well without the Dark El's help. Thanks to this opportunity, the Nasod unintentionally gave me the edge I need to stall for time. I can feel the purplish darkness waiting anxiously to fill inside me and grant me this power, perhaps the transformation's getting started. Luckily I didn't need to say much.

"You really want to know?" Pretty unnecessary as I have more than enough time for the Awakening to be fully complete, but more added suspense can't hurt right? Plus it led to a near breakdown of one of them as they attempted to talk to me, the one person I never expected to be lectured about this whole journey of mine.

"W-Why Elsword..." It saddened me to hear Aisha's rasping voice almost choking in tears. I promised myself to fill her with nothing but happiness and joy once this is all over. "Why...did you kill Raven and Rena?" Again with that pansy of a Blade Master and our Grand Archer, I let it slide this time because you mentioned him my beautiful magician.

One minute left and I can feel myself slowly losing consciousness to the darkness. Purple haze clouded my vision and my body nearly caving in to the dark aura surrounding it. Nevertheless I overcame it to speak with Aisha one last time. The Dark El's influence was stronger than when I killed those two bastards, maybe this is the last transformation Infinity spoke of? I managed to gather up the last of my supposed sanity and humanity and answered Aisha's question.

"Because nothing lasts forever in this world. I...killed t-them and e-everyone else h-here to be w-with you Aisha. I...I didn't want to spend what's l-left of my t-time here a-alone and u-unloved. Y-You were the first person to make me feel real love in a l-long time A-Aisha. I didn't want a-anyone else to h-have you or to d-damage your purity i-in any way." I knew my words were in vain because of my actions, but I tried my best at a genuine smile so at least she knew my true intentions.

"You were the only one I could possibly enjoy life with, Aisha."


Time ran out and the Dark El's power engulfed me. I had no idea of knowing what their reaction was or Aisha's thought about my answer. The only thing I remember is what Infinity told me before we barged at Hamel.

It's easy. The Dark El is at it's fullest at your next Awakening. All you have to do is harness it...and kill them all but your love.

Not a very well-thought plan, but it's what I would've done regardless. I woke up in a dark space with only one figure standing before me. He looked...like me, except in a different outfit and he wielded two swords. This "Elsword" had long crimson spiky hair and dark red eyes gleaming in darkness as he grinned viciously at me. His voice was instantly recognizable.

Well done Elsword. Now it's my turn to take control now!

The figure went higher and higher...or rather I fell lower and lower. Looks like I was right, what happens now is up to Infinity Sword. Despite the fall, I managed to find two bubbles that showed visions of the real world. I sighed while confirming that they are my eyes now in Infinity's possession and played spectator to this next turn of events. I didn't care if or how he would kill the pretty boy, the emotional robot, or my Sis. The only thing that mattered...is that Aisha comes out of this alive.

I proceeded to watch through the eyes of "Infinity" at my changing body and the battle that's about to commence. I didn't know whether any of my physical features looked different, only that my bangs (and possibly my whole hair) are slowly turning purplish black and my sword permanently tainted a dark purplish hue.

Infinity summoned a flaming sword for his left hand and...posed I guess. I assume my sword and this flaming sword together means he plans to fight by dual wielding.

Thanks for that Elsword. Now to show you all what I'm made of!

Even in this dark space, I can hear Infinity's voice and assume I'll be able to see and hear the whole battle through his eyes. I noticed the four snapping out of their shock and preparing their weapons. Normally I would smirk at this front row seat, but in reality I feel indifference at being the spectator instead of one of the combatants.

Now Infinity, you took over my body and "consumed" my soul. Will you fulfill your promise and kill everyone except my lovely Aisha?


Mario: o_o He actually went through with this! Elsword actually caved in to the Dark El!

Elsword: *Smacks* Hey shut up, at least you know my true power fufufu!

Crystal: ...Mind explaining what the hell just happened at the end Fire?

Me: Sure. Since Infinity is now in Elsword's body, some of the ShK/IS skills can now be used while creatively using RS's fire-based magic. The dual wielding with the second sword being a "Fire Sword" should be dead obvious when giving that out XD!

Aisha: ...So I'm not gonna die right :'D!

Chung, Eve, Elsa: Neither will we?

Me: I refuse to answer any of that. You'll all those answers at Chapter 10: where you'll find out who dies and who lives, if Knight is more than just Elsword's good conscience, and how the five will clash in this final battle! Till next time (hopefully soon :P)