PROJECT D
Chapter Fourteen
As Ziratchi charged, his sword changed from the blood sword into a larger sword made of dark metal with odd symbols all over it. This new blade met the Masamune in a spray of magical light before the two fighters leapt back, then charged
again. I watched in fascination as Sephiroth easily deflected his new foes attacks before twisting to the side and going on the offensive, forcing Ziratchi backwards across the deck, but then he sprang into the air and flipped behind Sephiroth and swung at his head with a one-handed sweep of his sword which the silver haired warrior ducked before spinning with a vicious uprising slash which was deftly blocked by a downward thrust.
"I am confuzzled." I heard Zack say as he scratched his head.
"Yeah." Cloud agreed.
Ziratchi sprang straight up into the air and came back down using the downward force of gravity to add to the power of his swing but Sephiroth met the attack head on and flung Ziratchi backwards with a quick flick of his wrist. The second his
feet hit the ground he sprang back at Sephiroth with a vicious diagonal slash driving it hard against the Masamune with another spray of magical sparks, then they both sprang back, then moved forward trading quick slashes and skilled parries in a deadly dance of steel.
I turned my attention away from the battle, satisfied that the fight was not going to end if i looked away for a minute or two. Instead i tried to poke Cloud in the back, but my finger just passed through him. "Damn it all to hell." I muttered.
A loud crash came from the direction of the fight, i turned to see Ziratchi slowly pulling himself from the ruins of the captains cabin, then stumble back out onto the deck.
Sephiroth smirked as he said "A fine preformance, but you cannot beat me."
"Yes, i must apologize about my lack of preformance there, but i wanted to stretch a bit before i fought seriously." Ziratchi said smiling.
Then he sprang forward much faster than before with a series of furious slashes witch actually pushed Sephiroth back as he blocked them. Sephiroth twisted to the side and lunged but his attack was parried and he was forced into the air as
Ziratchi swung at his knees. Sephiroth's cape flapped drmaticly as he lifted into the air and simply hovered above the ship. Ziratchi lifted unnaturally from the boat, and flew into the air after Sephiroth, then he swung his arm threw the air seding a blast of wind into the air which actually flung Sephiroth backwards, then he rushed forward with a deadly slash which Sephiroth blocked before spinning around with his own slash forcing his foe to back off. My jaw dropped as they began
a duel of areal acrobatics in midair, their blades sending magical bursts of energy outwards each time they met.
"Thats it, i am getting a little annoyed here." I said, then i lifted my hand and focused hard. A blast of lightning shot out and sailed into the air, Sephiroth twisted and slashed it away then looked right at me.
Cloud and Zack whirled and i was quite happy when they showed signs of recognition on their faces. "David! Good to see you man, but how are you here?" Zack said.
"Not a clue!" I said.
A cry of pain came from the air and i whirled to see Sephiroth had impaled Ziratchi on the end of the Masamune. Sephiroth flicked Ziratchi off his blade sending him slamming into the ship so hard he smashed through the upper decks and came
to a stop somewhere below us.
"Uh oh." I said as Sephiroth landed on the edge of the hole, facing us.
"I have had enough, it is time for this to end!" Sephiroth snarled angrily.
"Hey hold on a second, can't we all be friends here!?" I asked, though i was really just trying to buy some more time. Cloud and Zack were tired, and so was i. To tired to beat an enraged Sephiroth. Sephiroth snarled at me then raised the Masamune in one hand and jumped over the hole, or that was the idea at least. The second he was over it a massive torrent of green energy which i recognized as an ultima spell, rushed upwards and slammed into Sephiroth carrying him high
into the air before it subsided, letting Sephiroth fall back down towards the ship.
"Oh shit!" Zack exclaimed as he looked towards the hole. The blast had torn the ship almost in half, but not quite. It was still sinking though.
I threw my arms to my side and yelled "SHIT!!!"
Ziratchi lifted out of the wreckage even as Sephiroth crashed into the water not twenty feet away. "It would seem i am the victor." He said, then with a sinister smirk he shot off into the sky leaving the battered ship floating amongst the waves.
Cloud sighed, then whipped out his cell phone and dialed a number real quick. "Hi, is Cid home? Great, put him on...Cid, don't suppose you'd care to bring the Shera out over the water between Junon and Costa del sol for some search and
rescue. Great, bye." He said after a minute ore two of ringing, then hung up. He turned to us and said "We should have a ride in about an hour, hopefully we will still be aflote then."
"Agreed." Zack said.
We all snapped our attention to the gaping hole in the ship when we heard sudden gasping. We jumped down there real quick to see a badly wounded Sephiroth struggling to drag himself out of the water, but failing.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud said angrily as he whipped out the Tsurugi and prepared to strike.
The silver haired mans head shot up with alarm filling his eyes and he cried out in shock and horror. "That doesn't seem very Sephiroth like." I muttered to Zack, who promptly nodded his head in agreement.
"Don't kill me!!" Sephiroth cried out fearfully as he tried to swim backwards, but in his weakened state the best he could manage was floating.
"Why shouldn't i!?" Cloud demanded angrily.
"WHO ARE YOU!?!?" Sephiroth shouted, then he shouted "WHO AM I!?!?"
Cloud seemed taken aback, silence ruled for a brief second. Then i said "You guys want to tell him or should i." Before it could really matter much he sank below the water as the last of his strength faded away.
Cloud grimaced and said "He'll be back." The he launched himself back onto deck, Zack and myself following. Now we just had to wait for Cid.