A/N: Heya, back again! The first arc nears the end, at the moment I haven't played Patch 3.56 yet, but I'm looking forward to the last stuff before Stormblood.

To MaxHD2490: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you thought so! I'm still trying to get a feel for fight scenes, so it's good to know it felt intense.

Chapter 10

Anima Bridge – Jaune

The towers of the bridge collapsed under the force of the two attacks, creating a massive shockwave that resounded through the area. The group couldn't see into the rubble that crashed around the two fighters, and Ruby became worried.

"Elway!" Ruby shouted, waiting for a response. She was met with none, and used her semblance to dash back towards the bridge, Jaune reaching out to stop her but only grasping petals.

"It's too dangerous, come back!" Jaune called, but Ruby was already focused on scanning the ruined area. Jaune let out a frustrated groan and looked back to the group. Yugiri, now standing, patted Jaune's shoulder.

"It is okay. The fight is over." Yugiri smiled calmly. Jaune sighed, half relieved and half anxious.

It's good that it's over… but that was incredible. So Elway was even stronger than we thought. Jaune shook his head and his thoughts away, and called out for Ren and Nora to help them search the ruin.

Anima Bridge – Elway

Elway woke up with a jump. He instantly regretted the action and his hands went to his numerous wounds. He felt his armor in tatters, noting that it would be a pain to repair. He located Bravura close by and placed the axe comfortably on his back.

He observed his surroundings. From what it seemed, the bridge was destroyed from the final clash between him and Gilgamesh. Which reminded him…

He stopped Shin-Zantetsuken in the middle of the attack, so the damage was limited to the area. Elway looked to the spot he last remembered Gilgamesh, and sighed in relief.

There lay Zantetsuken, shattered in multiple pieces. Soon, it would dissipate into aether. At least, he hoped that it would. Normally trying to destroy the primal sword wouldn't have worked so smoothly, but since it was so far separated from its home in the Black Shroud, it likely couldn't function well enough without the aether of the area. It would also explain why Gilgamesh wasn't sooner turned into Odin.

"Elway!" The warrior turned at the sound of his name, but only saw collapsed towers of the bridge impeding his vision. He tsk'd at the sight and looked for any open areas to climb through. He heard the flapping of wings and remembered that Enkidu was still around. Then, the sound of rumbling laughter came from under the debris.

"Haha… GWAH HA HA!" A flash of red burst from underneath the rubble, making Elway sigh and pinch at the bridge of his nose. "GREETINGS! It is I, GILGAMESH! Wait, OW!" The huge red swordsman did a grandiose pose at Elway, but doubled over in pain in the process, which Elway could only deadpan at.

"Ugh. Hello, Gilgamesh." Elway waved lightly. "You've caused a lot of trouble you know." He gestured to the surrounding area, and then to the shattered primal sword that lay on the ground.

"Ah, yes! I remember acquiring that! Seeing as how it is now broken, it must be far from the strongest of swords!" Gilgamesh put his hands on his hips, before noticing Enkidu flying near. "My loyal companion! I knew you would come!" Enkidu made a happy gesture, spinning around and lowering itself to Gilgamesh's level.

"Do you even realize wh-" Elway stopped his sentence, deciding that it wasn't worth it. "Ah, it doesn't matter right now. You were possessed, or something of the sort. You were lucky that my target was the sword for the final attack, you know."

"Ah, then I must thank you for saving me!" Gilgamesh shouted boisterously despite Elway looking like he was about to protest. "Enkidu, if you would!" Enkidu raised its wings and a White Wind surrounded both Elway and Gilgamesh, restoring some of their wounds. Gilgamesh bounced up, happy with the result. "HAHA! Good as new!"

"Would you stop shouting? Maybe I should've killed you after all…" Elway grimaced as he rubbed his temples. "That aside, you should probably leave quickly. The group I was with may have had an… unfavorable encounter with you."

"What could you mean? Now that we are both in our right minds, we MUST duel!" Gilgamesh pulled out the golden broadsword from the rubble. "You are my rival, after all! Why, you might even be stronger than Bar-"

Gilgamesh was cut off by Elway swiftly rushing him and landing a punch square in his gut. He doubled over dumbly before being knocked back by a kick to his jaw.

"Damn it, Gilgamesh. I warned you, didn't I?" Elway cracked his knuckles. "Now hurry, please?"

"Guh! That was cheating!" Elway groaned in response, not wanting to bring up Gilgamesh's past streak of unfairness in a fight. "But fine! We shall withdraw for now, Enkidu!"

Gilgamesh planted his feet into the ground, springing up in a huge Jump that Enkidu followed, breaking past the debris and making the already crumbled ruin fall apart even more, revealing the area in full. Elway covered his eyes at the setting sun suddenly assaulting his eyes, and saw Gilgamesh in the distance falling from his jump into the water, Enkidu frantically chasing after him.

"Damned idiot." Elway chuckled. He turned to see Ruby rushing over to him, the rest of Team RNJR and Yugiri in tow. He smiled at the sight of Ruby and Nora jumping happily, Jaune and Ren sighing in genuine relief, looking as if a weight was lifted from them and Yugiri smiling brightly at him.

"Well hello." Elway waved slightly at the group.

"You did all that alone… Truly impressive." Ren bowed his head at Elway, who nodded with a smile.

"Elway, that was amazing! You never said you could summon chainsaws!" Nora shouted giddily. Elway laughed a bit and rubbed the back of his neck.

"She's right, have you been holding out on us?" Jaune nudged Elway slightly. Elway shrugged while rolling his eyes at Jaune mirthfully.

"We're so glad you're okay!" Ruby cried out, hugging Elway. He patted the top of her head softly in response. She let go, and Elway staggered a bit. He fell onto Yugiri, who was at his side in an instant.

"Do you need some help?" Yugiri asked with a giggle. Elway closed his eyes and sighed happily.

"Of course. Thank you for that." Elway leaned a bit onto Yugiri comfortably. She placed a hand on his chest and then he felt something soft on his lips, and blushed intensely upon realizing that Yugiri was kissing him. He opened his eyes slightly when she drew back, slightly panicked to the sight of Team RNJR grinning at the sight, as well as Yugiri giving him a satisfied smile. He opened his mouth to protest, but shook his head in a defeated manner. Their moment was interrupted by a fuming voice.

"Enough of this." Raven cut in with a growl. "I saw what happened. You let him get away!"

"Now now, please calm yourself." Elway held up a patient hand. "I have my reasons."

"I don't care!" Raven spat. "You didn't fulfill the agreement! I wanted that thing DEAD!" Raven pointed her sword at Elway, but Team RNJR stood in front of him defensively.

"Back off, Raven. It's over." Ruby warned, gripping Crescent Rose tightly. She drew back when Elway placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"No, actually. I did honor our agreement." Elway said. "I said I would help your village. Not kill the cause of the situation."

"Bullshit. Don't try to worm your way out of this. You knew each other!" Raven seethed, but her sword dropped to her side. "He killed my people. Why did you let him get away?!"

"Listen carefully." Elway said seriously. "He wasn't in control of his senses. While he is regularly relatively harmless, and held back by his own idiocy, Gilgamesh was possessed by that. As you can see, it no longer poses a threat." Elway pointed to the broken Zantetsuken. "I won't take his life for something he couldn't control."

Raven's hands balled into fists, knuckles turning white. Many of the bodies of her tribe were likely buried under the debris of the bridge now. They had lost so many.

"The weak die, and the strong live…" Raven whispered to herself. She turned around angrily, storming away from the bridge. "Come on then. Let's return to the tribe. We'll discuss the arrangements for the agreement then."

Elway nodded silently, and Ruby sighed in relief, tension leaving her body. The group followed after Raven, exhausted but victorious.

Anima Bridge - ?

A figure in black sneered at the sight of the group leaving the bridge.

If only that damned Gilgamesh could have finished off the Warrior of Light. It was to be expected that he had lost, though. The figure planned to step in after the Warrior of Light was wounded and kill him personally, but that damned Enkidu had healed most of his wounds. Meddlesome monsters. The figure thought upon the nature of this world, Remnant.

Worthless, came to mind when the figure thought of the people in this world. From what he observed, none of them even came close to the prowess of the Warrior of Light. That was good, however. It made the job much easier. However, the girl with silver eyes showed some signs of a power unseen. She would need to be observed more closely, then. Along with that damned servant of Hydaelyn.

It was in the nature of Ascians to snuff of the light, after all.

Chapter 10 – Exhausted but victorious

A/N: And so the final large confrontation of the first arc ends, along with the Ascian behind the curtains to make an appearance (sort of). Hope you enjoyed, next chapter will probably be a conclusion sort of chapter followed by some side stories. Planning out the second arc currently! See you next time, and please leave a review, I love seeing feedback on the story.