The Midnight Clash

Late afternoon at Fu-ma no Sato,

Inside the Flower Hall, Ryuusei sat with severest expression. The others were silent. From the opposite side, the shoji slides and three people came. They immediately knelt before the Fu-ma master. One of them bowed,

"Kage-sama, we've returned. The mission…"

The Master cuts him, "I have already know, Geki! We had underestimated those gajin warriors!" Not for long, he glanced toward Kamikirimusi,

"I think you'd failed to bring Taki here,"

The female Oni objected, "This is just a little setback, next time I will…" With loud but stern voice, Ryuusei rebuked,

"There won't be next time, Kami! It was a mistake to trust you for this. Next time, I myself will handle Taki-chan" The red-haired Oni looks surprised, yet she didn't contest it. Then the shinobi turned to the other,

"What do you get, Yamabushi?"

Excited, the burly man said, "Yamabushi have got the spirit sword! Look!" He quickly unrolled his sack, thus unloading its content to everyone. To their shock, two women came out from the sack. The auburn-haired girl rubbed her bumped head,

"Verdamnt, could you be careful? I am Princess Hilde…" Scheherazade quickly stopped her,

"My Princess, I think we should see first where we are…" They noticed that they were surrounded by unfriendly men and women; some of them wore mask.

"Er…" Hilde smiled sheepishly, "Guten morgen…" The Fu-ma ninjas stared them, unsure what to do.

"You must be Princess of Wolfkrone," Ryuusei spoke with clear, yet accented English, "Welcome to Fu-ma no Sato, Princess Hildegard," Scheherazade was stunned, while Hilde wasted no time to act cockily.

"Ah, so someone knows my name after all! If so, I demand you to let us pass! Unharmed, of course!" The other was unable to understand what she said. Then the chief ninja began to translate the speaking and the entire hall went into the riotous laughter. The Princess asked,

"What? Is that funny? Once again, I ask you to let us go…" With a chuckle, Ryuusei said,

"I am afraid you aren't in the position to make a demand, Your Highness. As you see, I am the master of this place, therefore your authority meant nothing here,"

The elf maiden interjected, "Then we are your prisoners here…"

The kage replied, "It is depends to you…"

"Then what shall you do to us?" Hilde asked defiantly, "Princess of Wolfkrone do not fear death or torture…"

Geki commented, "How about dishonor? I am sure nobody had 'tasted' a royal princess like you,"

"Geki!" Ryuusei reminded, "That's enough. Disarm and take them away! Show them how the Fu-ma clan treat their 'guests' well." Miser, Yamabushi and the others immediately took the women. Hilde rebelled, but Miser held her tightly and quickly disarmed her. Then they were dragged out from the hall. Once they were gone, Kamikirimusi asked,

"What about the kunoichi and her gaijin friends?"

Ryuusei said, "Wait, just wait…Taki-chan will surely come here along with the bearer of the Soul Calibur. We just to be ready when they come!"

The female oni growled, "This time, she won't be escaped from me!"

-#-

Meanwhile at Dejima Island,

Dampierre's ship had finally anchored at the Dutch-controlled harbor. The Italian immediately ordered his sailors to repair the damages from the recent fight. He even hired the Dutch and Japanese shipwright to help, while lamenting the expenses. At the same time, the passengers had gathered at a local inn to discuss their next plan.

-#-

Yun-seong argued, "Why don't we go to…what is the name?"

"Fu-ma no Sato," Taki answered, "It is too dangerous. You've been there, therefore you knew how dangerous the place is?"

Siegfried intervened, "Forgive me to intrude, Miss Taki. But we had to go since they had taken Princess Hilde and Scheherazade as hostages. They need us!"

The kunoichi said, "That wasn't easy as you think, Siegfried-san! Believe me, Fu-ma no Sato was a dangerous place for people like you. We must not unprepared. My senpai, Ryuusei might expected us to come…there might be a trap!"

Yoshimitsu added, "I agree with Taki -san! We shouldn't go blindly into the trap. We need a plan! Beside, some of us were completely strangers in this land,"

"I tend to disagree!" Seong Mi-na spoke, "I am no longer the stranger in this land, since I always go back and fro here!"

Taki merely smiled, "No doubt of that, Mi-na-chan! However, we must exercise caution here. Fu-ma ninjas had already recognized you, Talim, Mitsurugi, Yoshimitsu-san, Yun-seong and me. In other hand, Cassie, Siegfried, Amy and Rock weren't well known. Since some of you are gaijin, we might attract attention of the local magistrate…"

"Ahem!" Mitsurugi interjected, "I had taken care of this problem, since I know well the magistrate here. So he might let us off the hook for a moment," The kunoichi and the Manji nodded only. Then the Greek girl asked,

"What shall we do now? We must hurry, or else Nightmare had found the portal…"

"We need more information before moving." Yoshimitsu explained, "I will meet my Manjitou brethren; perhaps they might have valuable information," Taki responded,

"Thank you, Elder!" When the Manji left, she followed him and the Korean girl asked,

"Where are you going, Taki-chan?"

The kunoichi replied, "I also looking for information with my own way! See you later!" After saying that, she vanished within a puff of smoke. The German knight pondered,

Perhaps I should use this time to train with Master Joda…I must master the Force in preparation of facing Nightmare…

-#-

At the same time on the black clippership,

Isabella Valentine sat with composed posture, as she waited something. Beside him, Starkiller looks impatient. Not for long, Iroha came and brought a tray with cups of tea. She put the tray on the table, and then offered the cup to the older woman. Ivy picked a cup and gave a gentle sip.

"Hmm, it is delicious…you're great, Iroha," she complimented,

"Arigatou, Valentine-san." The warrior maid smiled, "Glad to help you…but of course, I don't do that for free,"

Ivy nodded, "Yes, I will honor our agreement once my quest was done. You shall have your chance!"

Iroha bowed, "If so, would you excuse me? I have to practice my skill…" Once again, the Englishwoman nodded and the maid left. Then the Dark Jedi asked,

"I find it hard to believe that you keep that simpleton around…" The white-haired woman turned and said,

"Have you heard these sayings: 'Keep your friends close, and keep your enemies even closer'?"

"Yes, I know that!" the youth replied brusquely, "But you didn't tell her that your life was numbered…" With a sudden, Ivy turned cold and warned,

"My life wasn't your concern. Whether I waste it or not, you shouldn't concern about that. Beside, you and I have a common goal: track the Soul Edge,"

With soft 'hmph', Starkiller shrugged his shoulder, "You are right! That wasn't my concern!" After that, the door was open. Ashlotte and Angol Fear came inside, while dragging a black-garbed man. The mechanical doll threw the man unceremoniously before the Countess. The Death Incarnate said,

"I have discovered him, spying this ship. Ashlotte and I decide to bring him to you," Ivy didn't reply; she sipped her tea again before turning to the captive.

She asked, "Are you from the Fu-ma clan?" The ninja was silent. Then the Englishwoman explained,

"As I know from my informers, Iga and Koga were busy scurrying favor from Hideyoshi, beside why are they paying attention to a gaijin ship, especially me? The only one who knew my intentions here were the Fu-ma…am I right?"

Once again, there was no answer. Sighing, Ivy said,

"Since you won't talk, I must use another unconventional method…Sir Starkiller"

"At last," Vader's apprentice glanced to the ninja. Slowly, he called the Dark side within and clenched his hand. Suddenly, the ninja felt his windpipe was constricted by unseen force. He began to choke and rolled wildly to relieve himself. Ivy, Ashlotte and Angol Fear watched the event impassively.

When the ninja almost let his last breath, Ivy tapped Starkiller gently at the shoulder,

"That's enough, Sir Starkiller. Let him go!" Starkiller released his clenched hand slowly, while the ninja began to breathe again. However, Ivy quickly pin him on the ground, by kneeling on his chest and revealed his costume.

"Don't feel glad first," she warned him softly and seductively, "I will give you the message for your master. Tell him that Ivy Valentine have information about Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. Make sure they know this! Do you understand?" The fearful ninja merely nodded. Slowly but sure, the Countess rose and ordered Ashlotte,

"Take him out!" Ashlotte obeyed and immediately grabbed the man. Starkiller asked again,

"Now I am confused; what is your plan actually?"

Ivy merely grinned, "Just wait and see…" Then Iroha came with another tray, asking,

"I've seen that we have a guest. Care for couple of tea?"

-#-

Meanwhile at the outskirts of the harbor,

Yoshimitsu waited near the local shrine. He could sense few people speak behind him.

"Greetings, my brethren!" he turned around, greeting those people. The beggar-looked man bowed respectfully,

"Arigatou, Yoshimitsu-sama! We've been waiting for you!"

The Manji commented, "It seems you have been recovered quickly after the massacre,"

"Hai." The Manjitou bowed, "After the tragedy, we've decided to gone underground, waiting your coming. We also recruited new members to active again. May I ask what bring Yoshimitsu -sama come here?"

The ninja said, "Something important, brother. What do you know about the Fu-ma clan?" The Manjitou were stared each others, before their leader spoke,

"We've rarely encounter the clan after the mahou-tsukai's incident, however there was a certain rumor that we heard…"

"Tell me, brother!"

-#-

Back to the inn,

Siegfried Schtauffen confined himself in his room, as he continued the Jedi Training. Master Yoda supervised the training himself. The German knight went into a meditation stance. Not for long, the impish master asked,

"What do you see now?"

The youth answered, "Things to come…I assume it is the future…Master Joda"

Yoda inquired again, "Will you act upon it?"

Siegfried shook his head, "No, Master. Yet the visions were troubling me…"

The Jedi Master continued, "Tell me…"

The knight spoke, "I saw I was fighting a youth who hold the sword made of black light, and then Miss Taki with a white masked woman. I saw Algol himself…he…"

"What do you see about Algol?"

Siegfried gritted his teeth in frustration, "I can't place it…what I saw was…Ivy, Scheherazade and the red-haired, horned girl were lying unconscious, while Princess Hilde…had her gown ripped apart…then everything was gone!" After pondering awhile, Yoda explained,

"Precognition is the Force's greatest gift, but come with it the curse. Even the most experienced Jedi couldn't explain it, while the Sith was led astray by it. Reveal the clearer the time will. The Dark side obscured the future, don't your own judgments trust."

The knight looks uneasily, and then said, "It was hard…but I will try, Master Joda! There was something else; I saw you in the vision too…"

Yoda smiled, "Oh, what do you see?"

Siegfried answered, "I saw you training another youth…he was similar like me,"

"Hmm," The Jedi Master mused, "perhaps we should end our training today. I don't want to know the vision until the time is right. You grew skilled with the Force, though I've sense instability with you."

"However," Yoda continued, "Unsure to know if you face the Dark side…strong is the fear within you," The German knight gulped nervously; he had close encounters twice with the evil sword and knew better. He had failed twice to contain the evil, and the whole world had suffered as the consequences. He must not fail for the third time. Realizing what inside his mind, the Jedi Master said,

"Trust the Light side; don't give up!" Siegfried gave a faint smile upon the advice,

"Thanks, Master Joda!" After all, the hope wasn't lost yet…

-#-

Then at Fu-ma no Sato,

Ryuusei sat silently, after hearing the report from his spy. Miser, Geki and the porcelain-masked woman waited beside him. He finally said,

"So, the gaijin woman claims that she had information about those soul blades. How interesting…"

Miser commented, "She had taunted us, by capture one of our best shinobi. Perhaps, we should teach her the lesson…"

"No!" Ryuusei ordered, "If that what she wants, perhaps we might invite her as well. Taki and her comrades might come as well…"

"Kage, it was too dangerous! Nobody would learn…?" The masked man stopped Geki's concern, and said,

"Who say that she would come unattended here? She might come, with one condition…"

-#-

Outside the Inn,

Cassandra waited outside and saw Seong Mi-na with Talim and Hong Yun-Seong. She joined them in silence. Few hours later, the Korean girl commented restlessly,

"Aah, I tired to wait Taki-chan and Yoshimitsu without doing anything! Why does she ask us to stay?"

The Filipino reminded, "Ate Taki said that the place was dangerous…unfortunately, I was mind-controlled at that time. Hindi ko alam…"

Cassie added, "Perhaps we should wait,"

Mi-na turned to them, "Cassie, you know well that I hate waiting…beside I had been there before! I also know the secret passage that Yuzurai had shown me."

To this, Yun-Seong exclaimed, "If that so, why don't we go now? By then, we can help Princess Hilde and Scheherazade faster!"

"Not so fast, Kuya!" Talim said, "We should ask Kuya Sieg and Dampierre to join us, not to mention about Kuya Rock and Binibining Amy,"

"You're right, Talim," Seong Mi-na noted, "However, if we ask Siegfried he might say to wait Taki-chan or Yoshimitsu first. Dampierre…he was too busy taking care of his ship. For Rock and Amy, it was better for them to not join us! Now I ask you! Who agree with my suggestion, raise your hand!" Simultaneously, she and Yun-Seong raised their hand, while Talim and Cassandra didn't.

"Who are disagreeing with me?" Talim raised her right hand slowly, but the Greek girl was silent. The Korean girl asked,

"So , it means one against two. Cassie, which is your decision? No abstaining here!" Cassandra glanced to Mi-na and Talim. The priestess pleaded with her face. Then Cassandra raised her hand, saying,

"I'm sorry, Talim, but Mi-na was right. The sooner we help Hilde, the better!"

Mi-na clapped her hands, "Bravo, it means three against one! Talim, perhaps you should join us as well…"

"Hindi ko gusto ito," the Filipino girl sighed, "yet, I will accompany Kuya Yun-Seong and Ate Mi-na! I will try to confront my fear there!" Suddenly someone called as well,

"Count us in too!" Everyone turned around, and saw Amy and Rock nearby. Displeased, Mi-na asked,

"How long you had been listening to us?"

The French girl said cheerfully, "Long enough. Let me and Rock join you! I promise I won't bother you…"

"After what you've done to Scheherazade…" Yun-Seong mocked, "No thanks, we can't bring children with us! This is for the grown-ups!"

"I am not a child anymore!" After fuming awhile, Amy said, "Well, since you put it that way, perhaps I will go to Monsieur Siegfried and tell your little venture. He might stop all of you…" Yun-Seong and Mi-na were irritated to hear her 'threat'. Finally, Seoung-Han-Myoung's daughter spoke,

"You're…a little brat…fine, you and Rock can join us! Remember, don't make any ruckus or else, I would spank you both!"

Amy Sorel smiled in return, "That's fine!" she glanced to the Englishman, "You see, Monsieur Rock! I've told you that they would allow us to join!"

-#-

Meanwhile at the open sea,

Slowly but sure, she opened her eyes and awoke. The first words that she uttered was,

"Where am I?" The girl with disheveled black hair rose from the bed. Suddenly, she felt an excruciating pain on her chest. It felt like exploding inside. Gritting her teeth, the girl struggled to get over the pain. She croaked,

"What happened here? Where is everyone? Cassie? Miss Mi-na? Kilik?" The girl was no other than Chai Xianghua who had been comatose for months and now she had awakened inside the Adrian. The Chinese girl tried to recall her memories; romance with Kilik and betrayal of Sophitia. The first thing she felt was anger…angry to be betrayed. Yet, she pondered again,

Miss Sophitia had betrayed and attacked me…but she wouldn't do that unless she had the right reason. She continued to call Nightmare as 'hope of Pyrrha". Could I mistaken? I must tell this to Kilik… Struggling again, Xianghua rose and took any clothes she could find. To his distress, she couldn't find her sword.

"Great, now I feel defenseless…" she muttered within her breath. Without waiting any longer, she opened the door and greeted by…no other than Cervantes de Leon. Before she managed to gasp, the Immortal Pirate choked her with his hand, and commented,

"Well…well…the sleeping beauty had finally awaken…I thought Nightmare had truly finished ye off! What is happened here?" Xianghua struggled violently, but in vain as the pirate brought her to the bed.

The undead pirate spoke, "Since Nightmare did the sloppy job, perhaps I will finish this by consume your soul…" Xianghua's eyes look terrified, imagining her return to the death again…

-#-

Back to the inn,

Heishiro Mitsurugi sat at the empty room; nobody was around. Not for long, Siegfried entered,

The ronin called, "Hey, German!" Slightly offended, the knight replied,

"You could call me politely. Don't call me like that…"

Mitsurugi raised his brow, "Oh, did I offend you? My apologies then…" Siegfried disliked the tone, but he decided to against it. Then the ronin asked again,

"Have you seen the Korean girl and her friends?"

The blond-haired knight said, "You mean Fraulein Mi-na? Nein, I don't see them…I was inside my room," Before their conversation continued, Yoshimitsu had returned with Dampierre.

The Italian exclaimed, "Mamma mia! Finally, my ship had been repaired and we can continue our voyage again…er, where are Signora Sorel and Signor Rock?" Mitsurugi answered by shrugging his shoulder.

The Manji added, "That's strange, I didn't see Yun-Seong, Talim-san and Alexandra-san either. Where are they?" Suddenly, something came to them as they realize. Siegfried was the first, who said,

"Do you think they are go to…I can't remember the name of the place…"

Yoshimitsu spoke, "Fu-ma no Sato…do you think that the place they were heading?"

"Most likely," Mitsurugi nodded, "Damn that girl! Why don't she waiting us…or the kunoichi first?"

"Youths! Always hot-blooded…" Dampierre commented, "Ah, how I miss such days…"

The knight quickly reminded, "This is not the time to fight! We must save them, before the ninja caught them!"

The masked ninja agreed, "I agree with you, Schtauffen-san! Let's go!"

The con man added, "Count me in!" As they went outside, the ronin called again,

"Wait, you go first! I'll follow you later…" When everyone went first, Mitsurugi returned to the inn and went into a room. Inside the room, Setsuka lay unconscious with burn wounds. She still the same after Nightmare struck her with Force Lightning. The Demon came closer, caressing the geisha,

"Setsuka-san, you wait here…I won't be long…" Slowly but sure, he left her, and followed the others.

-#-

Back to the Adrian,

Chai Xianghua was helpless, as Cervantes choked her and lifted the Soul Edge Nirvana to her. She closed her eyes and whispered,

Kilik, I am sorry…I might join you in afterlife. Our love will never die…

"No," the Immortal Pirate muttered, "If I was about to consume ye here, I would not have a bargain position with your boyfriend. He must show me where the portal is…so I could meet Algol guy or…Nightmare…No, you're better off live than dead,"

The Chinese girl spat, "Kilik…won't help you…I would rather dead than live to see him working with scum like you!

"Ooh, what strong words come from beautiful lips!" Cervantes complimented, "I decide to spare you, but…you have to back to nap again," Slowly but sure, Xianghua felt her power was drained, and she felt sleepy again. She managed to see the pirate saying,

"My Nirvana was unable to consume your soul, but it was still useful to drain lifeforce…you just had to sleep again until the proper time…" As her eyes almost closed, she said weakly,

"Kilik…" Then she returned into the darkness again.

-#-

Late afternoon,

Ivy glanced to the Fu-ma emissary, before turning back to her companions. They've received a message from Ryuusei, Master of Fu-ma to come at the appointed place. Once there, they were surrounded by several shinobi and told that they had to be blindfolded. She asked again,

"I see, your leader wanted us to be blindfolded. With that, we couldn't find the way to your lair, am I right?"

The emissary nodded. The Countess turned to Vader's Apprentice, who said,

"A mere shroud won't stop me; I can use the Force to find our way back…" Hearing that, Ivy smiled,

"Good, Sir Starkiller…" She said to the emissary, "Very well, we'll accept your condition! Now shall we go?" The Fu-ma emissary bowed and then gestured his companions to act. They immediately blindfolded Ivy, Ashlotte, Iroha and Angol Fear. At first, Starkiller resisted until the Englishwoman said,

"Don't worry, Starkiller…they won't harm us. Even if they do, they weren't your match…so let them," The youth reluctantly let the ninja blindfolded him. Then the band walked slowly toward Fu-ma no Sato.

-#-

On the Adrian,

Kilik just returned from his business, and immediately went to the room…where Xianghua was asleep. He caressed her hair gently, and then kissed her.

"Don't worry, Xiang…I've discovered whereabouts of Nightmare and Sophitia Alexandra. Soon I shall visit vengeance upon her!" Despite put in comatose-like state, Xianghua's minds still aware and she muttered inwardly,

No! Kilik! You are stupid! Cervantes was using you… Unfortunately, the former monk didn't realize that.

-#-

Inside Fu-ma no Sato at night,

Ryuusei was speaking with the porcelain-masked kunoichi. She reported,

"As you've ordered, the gaijin woman and her friends had been brought here. She would arrive at our doorsteps few minutes later,"

"Good," the Master nodded satisfactorily, "Be ready for them, once they arrive here…"

"Hai, kage!" The masked kunoichi kowtowed again, before left Ryuusei alone. She went back into the quarter and was ready to take off her mask. Suddenly, a ninjato pressed to her throat, and a soft warning came,

"Don't move!" Taki warned, ", or I have to slice your throat!"

Despite the threat, the masked kunoichi asked calmly, "You are the one that kage looked for…"

The raven-haired woman nudged his weapon, "Don't play with me. You can deceive everyone but me! Was I right, Ryuusei-sama?" The porcelain-masked woman was silent. Then she opened her mask. Her face was beautiful, despite lined with wrinkles. The kunoichi who no other than Mistress of Fu-ma, Ryuusei spoke,

"So perceptive, Taki-chan…had I know this I might not join the attack to your ship. You have me on your mercy…"

Taki demanded, "I just want to know, sempai! Why are you used me when I was lost my memories and then sent Miser to get rid of me, when I recovered them?"

The older kunoichi sighed heavily, before she said, "Because you are so easily distracted…by your 'girlfriends'. You are no longer Taki I know…"

-#-

At the same time,

Siegfried and the others went to Fu-ma no Sato through another path. It looks treacherous, but they managed to persist. Once arrived at the open, the ronin was about to comment, "Finally, now we can…"

However, the Manji stopped him, "Wait, something isn't what they seem…"

The German Knight nodded, as he unsheathes his zweihander¸"Elder Yoshimitsu was right! I sense we aren't alone,"

"Huh?" Dampierre confused, "I don't see anything…" He didn't have to wait long; the Fu-ma ninjas appeared from nowhere and surround them. Mitsurugi pulled his katana, while the con man readied his wrist knives,

"This is too early…" the former samurai said, "We can kill these underlings, but by then we would be wasted by the others at the lair. Anyone had suggestions," Siegfried thought hard, until he remembered something from Master Joda,

"The Force can be a harmless weapon…can be used to control or confuse the weak-willed person. We, the Jedi called it 'Mind Trick'…or 'Persuasion'. You simply have to focus to the weak-willed individuals within your foes. Sometimes work…sometimes not

It was not bad to try! Then the knight stood up and called, "Who's your leader here?"

One of the black-garbed ninja said gruffly, "I am! What do you want?"

Siegfried continued, while he concentrates to the man, "I am the bearer of Soul Calibur! You will bring me to your master," Everyone was shocked, even Mitsurugi shouted angrily,

"Are you insane?" The German shushed him; he tried to focus the Force to the leader. The Fu-ma looks confused and undecided. He muttered,

"I…must…bring…you…to…Master,". Siegfried waved his hand, while continuing,

"You will bring us to your Master. Your master doesn't want us to be harmed…because I am very important," Befuddled, the leader unconsciously repeated the instructions,

"Yes, I must bring you all to Master Ryuusei…you won't be harmed…" With that, he gestured his men to hold their weapons. Though confused, nobody dared to question him. Then he said,

"Follow us, I will bring you to Master!" As they departed, Dampierre was amazed,

"How do you do that, Signor Siegfried? I am good in the arts of persuasion, but never to close like that."

"Magics, I guess!" Mitsurugi grumped, "Just your luck!" Whatever that, Siegfried smiled that he managed to put in practice what he learned about the Force.

-#-

Few hours later,

Siegfried's band was escorted to the outer yard of Fu-ma no Sato. To their amazement, the other ninja didn't act upon them. The knight still wondered about the Force Persuasion or 'mind trick'. Yet, Yoshimitsu was quick to remind,

"Keep yourself on guard, Siegfried-san. Your hold upon the man might be wear anytime…and we might well as walk into the trap,"

"Yes, Elder!" he nodded. The ronin watched his surrounding warily, as he steeple upon the pommel of his katana. When they was close to the garden, the German said,

"Tell your Master, while we wait here…"

The ninja nodded, "I will tell Master, that you are here…you shall wait here," Then he went inside the building. At the same time, they saw another band and he spotted…Ivy,

Instinctively, Siegfried called, "Isabella…"

-#-

In other hand,

Ivy Valentine was surprised to see Siegfried inside Fu-ma-no-Sato. She shouted,

"Siegfried? Why are you here?" Everyone, including Starkiller stared to her direction. He noticed the blond knight; he saw him at the ruins of Osthreinsburg. Yet, what disturbed him was…the disturbance in the Force was stronger and closer. While Ashlotte and Angol Fear didn't act, Iroha was the only one who had jumped to the conclusion. She said,

"Is he your foe? Then let me take care of him, Mistress!"

The Englishwoman tried to stop, "Wait, Iroha…he is…" The warrior maid didn't listen to her anymore. She charged toward the other band with her cleaver blades.

-#-

Yoshimitsu , Mitsurugi and Dampierre was about prepare their weapons. Siegfried knew that he must act quickly without shedding the blood inside here. He immediately called upon the Force…brushing his right hand away,

-#-

"Kiaaaaai…" Iroha charged toward them, as she shouted to her lung. All of the sudden, she was thrown against his will into the pool by unseen force. The maid splashed into the pool. Those events weren't escaped from Starkiller.

This must be the disturbance that I felt! The knight was a Jedi too, no doubt of it! Vader's apprentice dashed like a lightning, and simultaneously clicking the lightsaber…

"Starkiller!" Ivy shouted,

-#-

Yoshimitsu sensed the coming killing intent, as Siegfried still preoccupied with another thing. He warned,

"Look out, Siegfried-san!" The German knight glanced to above, and saw his opponent fell upon him like a falling leaf. He instinctively called the Soul Calibur and its crystalline armor. When Starkiller brought his lighsaber vertically, he was blocked by the knight with a crystal-like sword. They impacted violently. As they locked each other, the Dark Jedi felt something familiar. The blade resonated like the disturbance that he followed before. He said,

"This blade…is what she called 'Soul Calibur'?

Siegfried retorted, "How do you know about the Soul Calibur?"

The youth smirked, "So, it is true then!" The knight pushed his opponent away. But Starkiller rolled thrice to avoid the harm. Then they faced each other. Siegfried noticed that this youth…also trained in the Force, but different…

"You are a Jedi too," he asked, "Why are you attack me?

Starkiller replied, "You might be one, but it was clear that you know nothing about the Force," Siegfried then felt the cold, hard and dark sensation upon his young opponent,

This must be the Dark side that Master Joda had told me…similar when I was possessed by the Soul Edge.

He continued, "Since we're the same, I don't want to fight you…"

The Dark Jedi growled, "We have nothing in common! If you don't want to fight, give your sword to me and…I will spare you,"

"This…I can't do," the German answered resolutely; "I must keep the sword…for the world sake!"

"Then die with it!" With an abrupt movement, Starkiller threw his lightsaber toward the shocked Siegfried. At the same time, the knight heard commanding voice inside his mind,

Use the Force…let it work to you, He immediately immersed himself to the Force, and saw the lightsaber's trajectory path in slow motion. He swung the Soul Calibur, batting the weapon back toward its owner.

Vader's Apprentice saw his weapon whirled back toward him. With precise movement, he avoided the lightsaber and caught its pommel unharmed. The youth turned to the blond knight and commented,

"Not bad, now try this…" Starkiller use Force Grip to pull a huge stone and hurled toward Siegfried. The German quickly held the stone with Force Deflect. Before he managed to throw the stone, another stone went toward him with great speed and broke into smithereens. The Dark Jedi used the chance to dash toward his foe. Siegfried was about to block him, when they closed distance and their weapons clashed. At the same time, Force Lightning stung the knight painfully.

This is similar with Nightmare…it means Nightmare know how to use the Force as well…He must threw him off in order to avoid the attack, but how?

I must channel this dark energy to somewhere else… Wasting no time, Siegfried gritted his teeth and brought the crystal sword fast to his right side, along with the lighting. As a result, the lightning went to another part of the courtyard and exploded. Instantly, the entire Fu-ma ninja was alarmed. Seeing this development, Ivy could only shook her head in exasperation. Starkiller merely smug; he didn't expect his attack would be channeled.

He shouted, "How about this?" The Dark Jedi performed a horizontal slash, which he followed with Force Blast. The attack shoved the knight farther and hit the wall very hard. Siegfried's crystalline armor were broken due to the force. The knight himself was disoriented. He could see his opponent walked toward him.

-#-

Starkiller smiled triumphantly as he walked toward his beaten foe, yet the Fu-ma were swarmed around him with their weapons. With a sidelong glance and slightly menacing yellow eyes, he said,

"All of you aren't worthy…" By then, he called the Dark side and unleashed a powerful blast around him. The ninja flew like dried leaves. Ivy, Mitsurugi, Dampierre and Yoshimitsu forced to shield their eyes.

After that, Starkiller turned and saw…nobody at the cracked wall. He glanced to the air and saw…Siegfried pounced upon him…

-#-

Zasalamel felt the violent reverberations and turned below, while standing atop the pagoda. Slowly, smile crept upon his face. He said,

"What a wonderful power…I am looking forward to see the youth again,"

-#-

Author's Note: Sorry for the 8-months break, since I had a business to attend. Finally, the heroes had gone to Fu-ma no Sato and received a mixed reception that culminated with fight between Siegfried and Starkiller. Hilde and Scheherazade's fate was unknown until now. It seems Xianghua had to gone another nap for a while. What will happen next? Wait another chapter, 'Before the Portal'.