Chapter 11: Champions of Darkness


Otherworld, Coliseum


The remaining warriors gathered in the large arena, waiting for the man in charge to return to his usual place atop the stone mound. Most of them were still oblivious to the events that had transpired the previous night. Ichigo stood next to his former teammate. He could tell from the worried expression on her face that she had been one of the few to receive Strength's message. He also noticed Saber, who was standing nearby. Her hands were shaking furiously, most likely about to fly into a revenge fueled rage the instant Steel Wrath appeared. Then, with a flash of light, the man had taken his usual place atop the stone.

"Welcome back, warriors." said Steel Wrath. "Before we begin, I have some important announcements to make. Due to reasons of his own, Rex Owen has withdrawn from the tournament."

Saber barely managed to hold herself back from attacking him.

"Because of this, I have brought in a replacement fighter."

With a snap of his fingers, Strength appeared on the floor along with the other fighters. The others leapt back in surprise, as the small girl was covered in bruises and had landed flat on her back. Shivering a little, Strength slowly opened her luminescent orange eyes.

"This is Strength. I trust you will treat her with the same decency as your fellow warriors."

Strength tried to get up, and nearly stumbled over. She felt someone catch her before she hit the floor. Strength looked up to see Saber holding her. Saber turned toward Steel Wrath.

"What is the meaning of this?" Saber asked.

"Of what?"

"This girl is clearly too injured for combat. Also, it's easy to tell that she's not a blade user. Why have you brought her into this contest?"

"Strength is the only non-blade wielding exception I will call upon, for she is easily as strong as any of you here. As for her injuries, they will heal within mere moments. Do you have anything more to say about it, Saber?"

Saber was about to rush at him, but Strength held her back.

"Don't. If you try to fight him now, you won't be able to avenge your friend." she warned. "I'm alright now, Saber."

Reluctantly, Saber obeyed the small girl. Using her massive arms as anchors, Strength managed to stand up.

"See? Nothing to worry about. Now, in a few moments I will begin the third round. Until then, you may talk amongst yourselves." instructed Steel Wrath.

The room fell completely silent. Everyone either gave Strength a look of accusation or just stood still waiting. They remained like this for the remainder of their grace period.

"Alright, without further ado, let us begin!"

With a wave of his hand, the twelve competitors disappeared.


Resembool, not far from the Rockbell Household


Ed looked around. He was surprised to find himself in the peaceful fields of Resembool. Praying no one he knew was nearby, he began scanning the area for his opponent. It didn't take long to find them. Ed went wide-eyed with shock as his eyes met his opponent's.

"No way…" he said.

Walking toward him was none other than his former partner, the newly awakened Insane Black Rock Shooter. Not only had her appearance changed, but so too had the gargantuan weapon she held in her right hand. Instead of a cannon, a large black blade extended from the magazine-like hilt of her weapon. Purple flame burned furiously out of her left eye as she approached him.

"Dammit, I was afraid this might happen." Ed said as he transmuted his wrist blade.

Insane quickened her pace toward the young alchemist, smilingly wickedly. Ed quickly walked to meet her. When they were about twenty feet away from each other, they both broke into a jog. Now only a few feet apart, Insane slashed at the alchemist. Ed barely managed to duck and slide under the large blade. He swung at the pale girl as he stood up, cutting into her right arm. He leapt back to put himself out of the blade's reach. Insane tried to swing her sword, but her arm wouldn't move.

"Don't bother. If you try to use your arm now, you'll-"

RIIIP!

Ed stared in horror at what had just happened. While he was talking, Insane had reached over with her uninjured arm, and torn off the other arm. Ed noticed a long chain that stretched from her back to her large sword. As if alive, the chain lifted up the large weapon, with the severed arm still gripping it. Summoning a jagged scimitar to her left hand, Insane charged at the alchemist, swinging wildly. Ed was barely able to deflect some of the blows, and was soon covered with gashes and cuts. Seeing an opening, he thrust at the uninjured left arm. To his surprise, Insane discarder her sword and grabbed his arm. Smilingly crazily, Insane tore off Ed's mechanical arm.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" the alchemist cried as he fell to his knees, gripping his shoulder.

Ed looked up to see Insane's large sword swing down at him, still connected by the chain. He felt metal against his neck, then his senses left him. Insane watched the boy's head roll off his shoulders and plummet to the ground, shortly followed by his body. Retracting the chain, Insane reattached her right arm to her shoulder. She glared at the dead alchemist with disappointment before being returned to the coliseum.


Olympus, Coliseum


Two men stood in the center of a large, vacant arena. One had gold hair, red eyes, and wore a suit of golden armor. The other had long silver hair, grey eyes, a black trench coat, and held a 10ft long katana in his left hand. The man in gold gave the other an amused grin.

"Well, isn't this a treat? It looks like I finally get to dispose of you." Gilgamesh taunted.

"Likewise. Now I will no longer have to tolerate your arrogant whining." countered Sephiroth.

"Heh! Alright, peasant, show me what you've got!"

Sephiroth accepted the invitation by charging at Gilgamesh with incredible speed. A golden light appeared behind the servant, and from it Gilgamesh drew forth his own pillar shaped sword in time to meet the blow. Sephiroth's blade met Gilgamesh's, and the sheer momentum of the strike blew the two of them apart from each other. Quickly recovering, Gilgamesh extended his open hand toward Sephiroth. A torrent of blades flew from the golden light at his opponent. Just before the blades struck Sephiroth, he disappeared in a flash of light.

"Eh?" Gilgamesh stated.

Suddenly, he sensed something rapidly approaching from behind. He turned around just in time to dodge a thrust from Sephiroth. The silver haired man slashed with lightning fast speed at Gilgamesh, managing to cut him a few times. Gilgamesh dashed back to catch his breath. Gritting his teeth, the segments of his sword began to spin and glow red with power.

"Enuma…" Gilgamesh started.

Sephiroth went wide-eyed as he realized what was about to come.

"…Elish!" Gilgamesh shouted as he swung his blade in an arc.

A cyclone of red energy burst out of the sword towards Sephiroth. The silver haired man disappeared in the deadly swirling light. Gilgamesh smiled, thinking he'd won.

"Interesting." came a voice behind him.

Surprised, Gilgamesh turned around to see Sephiroth standing behind him, holding his katana only an inch from his throat.

"I haven't seen that before, it must be something you save for strong opponents." Sephiroth continued. "But, it won't matter now."

Gilgamesh swatted the long blade aside and rushed him. In response, Sephiroth jumped high into the air. The silver haired man held out his hand toward the Servant below. Suddenly, blue-white orbs of energy appeared all around Gilgamesh.

"What?!" Gilgamesh stated angrily.

Sephiroth closed his hand, and the orbs all flew toward Gilgamesh. They exploded upon coming in contact with their target. Sephiroth gently landed back on the ground as dust from the explosion began to settle. Gilgamesh stood in the same spot as before, injured and with a mixed look of amusement and rage.

"Now we're talking! Is that the best you've got, peasant?"

Sephiroth looked mildly surprised, but his usual composed expression quickly returned.

"Hmph. It seems your arrogance is without end."

Suddenly, a single large, black, angelic wing sprouted from Sephiroth's back. He readied his katana. Both he and Gilgamesh charged toward each other at the same time. The two evil warriors met, swords clashing. They swung again and again at each other, blocking each other's blows and countering each time. Soon, their blades became locked in place, each warrior trying to force the other back.

"So, is that woman really the object of your desire?" asked Sephiroth.

"Heh, she's just one part of the deal." snickered Gilgamesh. "You and all those other fools who think themselves so great need to be reminded of who the true king is! It's time I took back my place as ruler over the world!"

Sephiroth shoved Gilgamesh backward. He tried to deal a killing blow, but Gilgamesh was able to block it in time. Their blades became locked again.

"You really think someone like you is fit to rule? Pathetic. I will strike you down, and then I will kill that woman. Then, I will take the world as my own."

Gilgamesh smiled wickedly as a golden light appeared behind him.

"In your dreams!"

With a shove, he sent Sephiroth flying backward into the wall of the arena. Standing tall, the light expanded, and the blades of hundreds of weapons protruded from it.

"Gate of…"

Sephiroth struggled to get up, but it was too late.

"…Babylon!"

At Gilgamesh's command, hundreds of blades flew from the miasmic golden light toward Sephiroth. The silver haired man took a stance with his katana and began to deflect the blades. Gilgamesh looked on as he continued to deflect every last one the flying weapons that drew near him. Keeping up the assault, Gilgamesh ran towards Sephiroth. As he drew near, Sephiroth raised his unoccupied hand, allowing some of the blades to cut him. Glowing blue-white orbs appeared around the fighters.

"If I will die, then you will join me."

Before Gilgamesh could react, the orbs slammed into him, exploding on impact. The force of the blast propelled him toward Sephiroth, who was extending the tip of his katana to meet him.

SCHINK!

Gilgamesh stood in front of Sephiroth, with the long blade of the katana protruding from his back. Sephiroth cringed in pain. Several swords were stuck in his chest, and now Gilgamesh had added his own blade to the numbers. Slowly, both men stepped away from each other. Blood ran down both of their bodies from the multitude of injuries they had sustained.

"(pant)…(pant)…hey…(pant) what do you say we (pant) put an end to this?" Gilgamesh wheezed.

"Very…well…" Sephiroth managed to get out.

The warriors readied their swords. After standing for a moment, they both lashed out at each other with incredible speed. They now stood with their backs to each other, swords at the ready. They remained like this for a few moments, until Sephiroth stood up and relaxed his blade.

"What a shame. I was hoping to rid the universe of your ignorance. Perhaps we will meet again." he said.

Then, his strength left him. Sephiroth collapsed to the ground, face first. A pool of crimson began to spread around his body. Gilgamesh turned toward the fallen warrior and scoffed.

"Fool, I am the king. I will always be the king. You never should've thought you stood a chance against me." he declared. He turned toward the dark sky above him. "Well, it doesn't really matter. You're finally out of my way." Then, smiling fiendishly added, "Only two more rounds now, Saber. Two more rounds, and then you'll be mine."

He laughed triumphantly at this as he was transported back to the main coliseum.


A/N: Done a t last! I'm sorry I took so long, I just couldn't find the time to get this done due to being swamped by tons of work. (Ugh) No matter though, even if it takes a while I will still try to upload chapters as soon as I am able. Till next time! DarkNovelist out.