Event 13: Raging Dragon

Back where Seiko and Jinta had killed the Hydra, on the largest portion of sand available, Rii and Seiko prepared for their duel. Rii stepped forward, aiming her Dragon Eye at the sand. A symbol, one like a real dragon's eye opening, appeared in the sand.

"Touch that to accept the duel," said Rii, stepping back and raising her fists.

"To death?" asked Seiko, pulling up her hood and hiding her long, black hair.

"To death," said Rii, watching Seiko closely.

Seiko bent down, placing one of her gloved hands into the dragon's eye on the sand. Both she and Rii seemed to half-fade from Jinta's sight, still there but untouchable by anything else but each other. Seiko backed up and the dragon eye closed, disappearing.

"Ready?" asked Rii.

Seiko nodded once.

Rii shot forward like a cannonball, sand exploding from the force of her dash. Jinta, helmet off, widened his eyes in surprise. Seiko must have been surprised as well, since she had no time to counter, holding up an open hand to stop the punch that would have taken her head off. Seiko slid back in the sand, boots sinking into furrows. Rii pulled back her other fist, now right up close, and let another strike fly. Seiko saw, stepping to Rii's right and passed her. Now behind Rii, Seiko palmed a fireball and threw it, still backing away. Rii turned, the fireball just about to strike her, and opened her mouth. In a scream, green flames burst from her mouth and canceled Seiko's Pyromancy. Seiko had seen the reverse from Quelaana, shooting a fireball into a stream of fire to plug it and force it to backfire. This was simple overpowering, however, with the fire that Rii breathed being stronger than the fireball Seiko had thrown.

"Dragon fire," said Rii, explaining no further.

Seiko only narrowed her eyes a bit, mind racing. She hadn't expected someone strong enough to challenge her Pyromancy. But then, Rii wasn't using Pyromancy, and in that fact was where Seiko found her answer. She put her hands together in front of her chest, taking a deep breath and concentrating.

"Too slow!" yelled Rii, bursting forward again with another punch.

Seiko thrust her hands forward and unleashed twin jets of blue flame. Rii flew right into the attack and kept going. Seiko ducked, letting Rii fly over her. Rii rolled, turning, but her outfit trailed smoke and her right bone gauntlet was blackened from being thrust into the fire. Now it was Seiko who dashed forward, striking at Rii's stomach. Rii blocked with her blackened gauntlet, expecting just a normal, human punch. Seiko, born with the strength of Artorias' clan, had far more power behind her punch than just some human. Gloved fist met blackened dragon bone and the dragon bone shattered. Rii's eyes bugged out as she jumped back to avoid that happening to her ribs next.

"What...?!" she started, cutting off when she saw a black chain hanging from Seiko's fist that hadn't been there before. Seiko yanked and Rii hit the floor on her back, the chain connecting to her broken shackles. Seiko yanked again, pulling Rii closer for another punch. Rii blocked with her remaining dragon bone, still strong and clear of any scorch marks. Rii rolled aside after the first punch, letting Seiko hit the ground. Sand jumped in a ring a few meters in diameter, a sign of the sand absorbing the hit out to that point.

"What are you?!" yelled Rii as she got up, her first chance to talk.

Seiko glanced at Jinta, pausing long enough for him to see, then walking toward Rii again, slowly.

"She seems to want me to answer, so I will. Honestly, I never get tired of saying it, since it amazes even me. Your opponent is Seiko, daughter of Lord's Blade Ciaran and Knight Artorias. She has been trained in Pyromancy by Quelaana of Izalith, who named her for the blue flames she possesses. Seiko and Seiko alone commands the power of the Abyss, whether by birth-right, by will, or unknown forces. She is the partner of this worlds Chosen Undead, which would be me, and has traveled all of Lordran, either in my wake or by my side. Perhaps, next time, you should learn your opponent before picking a fight."

Rii looked back to Seiko, who drew ever closer, blue flames in her left hand and black, dancing Abyss in her right. Rii gritted her teeth, determined to see the fight through. It was a duel for her final dragon scale, and even with an opponent she'd have to see to believe, Rii had no intention of losing.

Seiko shook her left hand, a whip of blue flames striking the white sand and leaving glass behind. With her left hand she extended a sword of Abyss. Seiko'd had her fun.

"No choice, then," said Rii, pulling two small stones from her pocket. She squeezed them in her fist and began changing. Her skin gained a green tint, her scelera turning silver, her orange irides disappearing, and scales lifting from her skin. She dropped her dragon bone gauntlet to the sand, claws ripping through her thin gloves. The back of her outfit ripped open for small, leathery wings to extend. Seiko lashed with her fire whip, aiming for Rii's head. Rii opened her mouth, roaring like a dragon despite her thin body, and blowing the flame whip away. Flames began to jet from Rii's mouth, her teeth appearing to be sharpened to points now. Seiko changed her Abyss sword into a large shield and held it up to stop the green fire, crouching to save her boots as well. Heat washed over Seiko, the dragon fire blooming around her shield. Seiko used her free hand to ready a technique she hadn't used since The Four Kings. She pressed a flame to her chest, releasing her Pyromancy into her body, cranking up Power Within. Seiko stood and ran forward, right into the jet of flames to shield bash Rii. Seiko's body trailed mist, venting moisture from the intense heat within. Rii cut off the fire and jumped to avoid Seiko's charge, her small wings allowing her more air-time. She couldn't fly with them, but they were useful to direct jumps and slow descent. Seiko absorbed her Abyss shield, turned on the spot, and jumped like a rocket. In midair, Seiko tackled Rii, much to the latter's surprise. As they fell, the two struggled, Seiko eventually getting her boots to Rii's stomach, turning their landing into a stomping attack. Seiko pulled her hands up in fists, ripping Abyss chains out of the ground and wrapping them around Rii's arms. Seiko pulled back her left fist, her whole body overcharged with Power Within, and punched Rii in the stomach. Without the partial dragon transformation, Seiko's fist would have gone right through Rii into the sand beneath her. Instead, Rii convulsed and spat fire uncontrollably. Seiko punched again, then again, shaking the ground with each blow. Rii finally began spewing dragon fire everywhere, shaking her head to spread them and forcing Seiko to back away or burn. Seiko pulled the Abyss back into herself to avoid corrupting Rii. It was fine for most enemies, but Seiko had no idea if corruption carried over after death, or if it would affect rebirth in any way.

Rii rolled over, stood up, and turned to face Seiko, her breathing labored. Blood trailed out of the corner of her mouth and she gritted her sharp teeth.

"Surrender?" asked Seiko, quite serious.

"Of course not!" said Rii, angered by the offer.

"To death, then," said Seiko, still using Power Within.

"And this is why I'd never duel her," said Jinta to himself, still watching, more impressed with both sides with every clash.

Seiko thrust a hand forward, shooting a cloud of Abyss up around Rii to block her vision. Rii flinched, not expecting such a tactic. Seiko appeared to her left, punching her in the ribs and continuing passed her, back into the black cloud. Rii breathed dragon fire in her direction, only to have Seiko appear in front and hit her in the face. Rii fell to the ground, rolled to stand, then was hit from the left again. Seiko hit the exact same spot as the first time, forcing Rii to convulse again. Rii began to lose her balance from pain alone. Seiko appeared in front of her punching her in the stomach, perfectly in the nerve cluster that would force the air from her lungs. Rii doubled over, blood and air flying from her mouth. Seiko slammed her elbow on the back of Rii's neck, forcing her to the ground. With a wave of her hand, Seiko pulled the Abyss around them back to her hand in the form of a sword. The killing blow was a stab through the head.

Rii collapsed into the sand, not as dust, but just losing shape and sinking away. In her place, a dragon scale rested in the sand. Seiko absorbed her sword, making sure no other Abyss was still in the area. Jinta walked forward, holding his helmet under his arm.

"Now you know why I said I'd never want to fight you," he said, watching Seiko pick up the dragon scale.

"That was down-right brutal. Would you fight the same way if your opponent were just a human, with one chance at life?"

Seiko turned, looking down at the dragon scale.

"With just one chance... Of course not..." said Seiko, feeling a bit guilty for her tactics. She'd won, and it had been decided before the fight that it was to the death, but Jinta had brought up a good point. Fighting that way against a normal person would be cruel and evil. Even for an Undead it was brutal, but at least an Undead opponent would be able to learn from the fight and be restored with new life in three days.

"We should go and wait for her," said Jinta.

Seiko nodded and walked over, taking off her hood and putting the dragon scale she'd earned in the same pocket as the first. She and Jinta returned to the bonfire in front of the Everlasting Dragon, expecting to have to wait for Rii. Instead, the moment they rounded the corner, there she was, in human form and unharmed, her dragon traits gone. Seiko and Jinta approached, Seiko ahead again, and Rii waited. When the two got close, Rii bowed, holding no grudge or anger.

"Thank you for the duel. I've never been beaten so badly. I think I needed that, actually..." said Rii, her face hidden under her hood from the bow.

"Sorry..." said Seiko, "I went too far..."

Rii straightened. "I'd be more insulted if you hadn't. Holding back is worse than any disrespectful thing you could say. Besides, I asked for it when I challenged someone I knew nothing about."

"Good to see such a wise warrior in Lordran," said Jinta.

"How was my challenge wise?" asked Rii, confused.

"Not the challenge. The realization. The acceptance of consequences. Most would blame their opponent, or anything other than themselves. I respect someone who can admit their faults and aim to correct them."

Seiko stepped forward, grabbing one of Rii's hands. She pulled it up and placed a dragon scale in it, then stepped back.

"Hey! No! I told you I-" started Rii.

"You said," interrupted Seiko, "You had to duel... You never said win..."

Rii looked at Jinta, either for his opinion or approval, for what reason she didn't know.

Jinta shrugged and sighed. "She's right, you know. You said whoever won the duel earned a dragon scale, but you also said you couldn't accept one without a duel first. It works both ways if you put it like that."

Seiko bowed, her long hair shifting around her head and falling in front of her.

Rii flinched and bowed in return.

"If you'll excuse me a moment," said Rii, stepping back and straightening.

She walked to the foot of the root throne, at the feet of the Everlasting stone dragon. She knelt, holding the dragon scale over her head in offering. The scale rose into the air, shone brightly, and vanished. Rii looked up at the dragon, one she'd never seen move. It stretched its wings, all four, nodding its head, then returned to its normal position. A glow came from Rii's pocket, where she had stored her two transformation stones. Rii took them out and head the dragon in her head. She stood, replacing the stones in her pocket. Whatever she'd heard, it satisfied her, and she returned to Jinta and Seiko.

"Well, I guess my time in Ash Lake is over. I can leave and still use my powers now. My dragon bone gauntlets are fixed too. I think I'll take this opportunity to visit Lordran again. It's been a long time."

"Are you coming with us?" asked Jinta.

"No," said Rii, smiling, "But thank you for the offer. You two no doubt have important things to do, while I intend on visiting a few places to see if old friends still around. Maybe we'll see each other again, Chosen Undead."

"I'm Jinta, sorry I didn't say so sooner."

"Well, then, Jinta, Seiko, it's been great. But I think I'll be going now."

"Then we should leave as well," said Jinta, looking at Seiko.

Seiko nodded and stepped close to the bonfire. She drank from her Estus Flask, restoring her strength spent in her duel and refilling the Flask. Jinta stood next to her, taking her hand whens she was ready.

"Until next time," said Jinta.

"Stay safe..." said Seiko.

Rii looked confused, wondering exactly what they were doing. Her questions were answered when Jinta reached into the bonfire and they vanished, right before her eyes. Rii got over the initial shock and smiled, turning for the winding sand path to the Great Hollow. She had big plans, and a long trip ahead...

Event 14: Playtime's Over coming soon...

Author Note: Rii'll be back, at some point. For now, though, I'd like you to think of what could possibly be next. Four Kings are dead. Nito's, uhh, dead? Bed Of Chaos is dead. That's three. Nito was weak against fire and holy effects. Demons crumble in the face of miracles. But wait, isn't there something that powers through both fire AND holy energy? Wasn't there someplace like a maze, with creatures that resisted magic? Oh, yeah, and wasn't there a magic tracker put on Seiko a long time ago? I wonder what all that could mean...?