Destroy and Rebuild
Chapter Twenty: Adaptability
Disclaimer: I don't own Radiata Stories or any of the characters in the game; they are the property of the brilliant minds at Square Enix.
Authors Note(s): Words in '…' indicate a thought. Words in "…" indicate spoken words. The first thing to note is that this story is a sequel. The characterization and storyline contained here are based on the characters and events that occur in my first story, Sever All Ties. Everything that happens in this story will make a lot more sense if you have read that one, so I recommend reading the first story before reading the sequel. With that in mind, the story picks up where Sever All Ties left off, and tells what happens after Aphelion is defeated and Jack and Ridley return to Radiata. I hope you enjoy.
Deflecting the first attack was important when fighting Gerald. Dodging it allowed the older swordsman to dictate the pace and direction of the battle. Jack focused on parrying this initial attack and immediately spun to avoid the second strike. His counterattack was quickly turned aside, and both swordsmen began to move as their swords clashed again and again. The Deputy Chief attacked quickly and with more aggression than he had in the previous match. Slashing with both swords, his offensive prevented Jack from having the chance to launch his own attacks. Though the younger swordsman was moving fast enough to keep up, he was unable to do more than parry and dodge incoming attacks. Fighting down frustration, he focused all of his energy on countering Gerald's attacks. The older man was attacking in a manner completely different from any that he had in their previous matches. His speed, the pattern of his attacks, all of it was new, and Jack was having a hard time adjusting.
Moving more than usual, the Deputy Chief was slashing with both weapons rather alternating slashes and thrusts. The attacks were faster and more difficult to read, and Jack realized that his teacher's strategy was similar to the one that had personally used to win the first round. The erratic movements that Gerald used were intended to prevent Jack from launching an effective counterattack, and they were working very well. Trying to disrupt his opponent, the former guild sergeant quickened his pace and started making more aggressive moves. Their blades collided, yet it was Gerald who continued to press and create an advantage. The two blades he held sought any opening, and Jack was struggling to keep up with the onslaught. The Arbitrator was a blur as he tried to match the older man's attacks. A powerful strike from the right-hand blade, Oratorio, pushed Jack off-balance and gave Gerald the opening he had been looking for. As Jack tried to spin and attack, he found himself staring at the blade of the Deputy Chief's sword. Exhaling in frustration, he held up his hands.
"I win this time, kid," Gerald's voice tone was always the same, whether he won or lost.
"That wasn't like anything you've shown me before, Deputy Chief," Jack tried to keep the frustration from his voice as he spoke.
"That's the point," the older man lowered his weapons to make a point. "We've fought dozens of rounds in the last week, and I can still show you something new. How many rounds have you fought against the Valkyrie? How many rounds have you fought against the opponents you'll face in the Gods' challenges?"
"None. I don't know how they'll fight," Jack conceded, seeing Gerald's logic. He could only nod his agreement and understanding as his teacher continued.
"You're definitely getting better, but I want to make sure you aren't just getting better at fighting me," the Deputy Chief said in a lecturing tone. He stepped toward Jack as he continued to talk. "You don't get to fight dozens of rounds against your opponent before you fight the one that matters. You have to be willing and able to adapt to different opponents. So, let's try this one more time, and I want to see you really try to beat me. Think you can handle that?"
"Yeah, I think so," Jack took a step back and gave the Arbitrator a flourish. His brown eyes hardened and locked eyes with Gerald's single green one. "Let's find out."
"And now, introducing the two fighters for our third round," Junzaburo had to shout louder than at any other time during the tournament to make himself heard over the cheering crowd. The referee was clearly excited, and his enthusiasm boosted the crowd's energy. "Our first competitor, a trainee leader from the Void Community, Nocturne!"
Though Ridley had heard of Nocturne, she had never seen him in person. A cheer went up from the crowd, though some boos could be heard as the tall man walked into the arena. He strode boldly into the coliseum, with his head held high and a smirk that bordered on arrogance as he walked toward the center of the floor. His brown leather boots and plain pants were a contrast to his green overcoat and maroon cloak. A green cap and leather gauntlets complete his ensemble, and she glimpsed a large, two-handed sword slung over his back beneath the cloak. He had a gruff appearance, and looked as though he hadn't shaved in two or three days. His thick eyebrows were suspended above a pair of empty looking eyes. Nocturne looked like a man who had seen his share of hardships and pain; he smirked confidently, but his eyes remained unchanged as he stopped in the center and offered a slight bow toward the distinguished members of the audience.
"His opponent is the last remaining non-human in the field, the green orc leader, JJ," Junzaburo's voice was bold, but he looked uncomfortable as the big orc came lumbering into the coliseum.
JJ was half again as tall as Nocturne, who was of above-average height, and appeared significantly heavier. His skin was a dark green, and he had bright orange markings on his arms, legs, and face. Plain brown pants of some sort of animal hide covered his legs, and the shoulder pads he wore for armor were made from the shell lizards that lived in the Desneuf Region. The orc's face had a very prominent jaw, and his sharp teeth were accentuated by two large fangs on his lower jaw. Yellow eyes that seemed small in proportion to the rest of his face were set close together, and a pair of pointy ears framed the rest of his face. The pointed horn on top of his bald head looked wicked, as did the weapon that he carried. Though it looked like a club, a second glance let Ridley see that he was carrying a small tree that had been stripped of its branches. She quickly identified it as a guiron tree, commonly found in the Desneuf Region.
The orc was an imposing presence, and a hush fell over the crowd as JJ walked toward the center of the ring. Although some of observers had seen his earlier matches, many of them were still taken aback by his size and appearance. Those who were seeing him for the first time had a range of reactions from shock to awe, and even fear. Ridley was seeing him for the first time, and her immediate reaction was to be relieved that she would not be fighting the green orc. A mixture of cheers and a few boos went up from the crowd, but JJ ignored all of these as he walked toward the center of the ring. Standing next to Junzaburo, he looked up to where King Jiorus and Lord Zane were sitting and bowed slightly. The referee was addressing both fighters, and she inched up to the edge of her seat to see the beginning of the battle. After a moment, Junzaburo stepped back to address the crowd.
"Are you ready to begin the third match," he shouted as the crowd cheered. Nocturne had drawn the sword that was slung across his back, a massive blade that looked every bit as big as JJ's club. The two assumed fighting stances as Junzaburo spoke again. "Third match of the final round: begin!"
Nocturne was a blur as he raced forward, stunning Ridley with his speed. With two hands on his sword, he swung from left to right the moment he got within striking distance of JJ. The green orc blocked the attack, moving only the club in his right hand. The force of Nocturne's blow looked impressive until it hit JJ's weapon and came to a complete stop. Immediately after his attack was neutralized, Nocturne had to jump back avoid a strong left hook from his opponent. The Void warrior charged forward again and found his sword blocked for a second time. Again, he retreated before JJ had the chance to connect with a counterattack. Nocturne continued his strategy of rushing in for quick attacks and retreating before he was open to a counter, but his sword was stopped short of its target every time. Ridley was surprised by his incredible speed, but JJ's defensive abilities were just as impressive. The level of precision and control exhibited by the two fighters was impressive, and she was anxious to see what would happen next.
"You can see why he is known as 'Sprinting Shadow Nocturne' right away," looking to her left, Ridley saw that Elwen had taken the seat next to her.
"When did you get here," she could not keep a little surprise from her voice, the Guild Leader must have been silent as she approached and seated herself.
"You were watching the start of the match, so I didn't say anything," Elwen answered. Her helm was, as always, impenetrable.
"I see. You must have been silent, I didn't hear you coming," Ridley explained. After a moment of silence, she continued. "Sprinting Shadow Nocturne? He's very fast, and he transitions well from offense to defense. The sword he has is big, but he handles it very well. He hasn't done much yet, though."
"Well, fighting JJ is a tall order," Elwen said simply. As if to emphasize this point, Ridley heard their weapons collide again and turned her head to watch the battle. "He is the biggest and strongest green orc, of course, but he is also the smartest and is very dangerous in a fight. I expect Nocturne is trying to feel him out and figure out how to attack effectively."
"The orc's defenses are pretty solid, but he's not really moving much and he hasn't connected with an attack yet," Ridley continued, hoping to show the Guild Leader that she could analyze the fight.
"Both are starting tentatively, trying to figure out how to fight against the other," Elwen was now watching the two fighters as well. "There won't be very many attacks connect in this fight, because both of them are powerful enough to end it very quickly if given the chance."
JJ had become much more active, moving laterally as Nocturne approached and making it harder for the Void warrior to evade the counterattacks. The Void warrior was battling fiercely, but his singular strokes were not penetrating the orc's defenses. While he was trying to step back to evade, Nocturne finally took a hit from JJ. A big punch from the green orc caught his shoulder and he staggered back, swinging the sword to keep his opponent from closing in. Undeterred, JJ charged forward to take advantage of this weakness. Nocturne regained his balance, but he was forced back by a series of attacks from the orc. The big sword in his hands was practically flying as he blocked the orc's club over and over again. Though the wood of the guiron tree was one of the hardest in the world, the force of their blows was causing JJ's weapon to splinter. Their weapons collided over and over, and Nocturne looked to be fighting his way back to even in the fight. Just when it seemed the battle might be turning in his favor, their weapons clashed and the blade of Nocturne's sword became stuck in the hard wood of JJ's club. The Void warrior tried to pull his weapon free, but was unsuccessful. The orc's lips parted and formed a fiendish smile as his fist connected with Nocturne's face.
When Gerald came charging at him, Jack calmly dodged the attack instead of deflecting it. With the Deputy Chief's words fresh in his mind, he was taking a risk and trying a new strategy in their decisive round. His counterattack was parried by the blade in Gerald's left hand, and the young swordsman scrambled quickly to avoid another incoming blow. Their swords clashed, and Jack dove out of the way of the follow-up attack. Gerald was practically on top of him when he got to his feet, ready to attack again. An intricate series of slashes and thrusts aimed at Jack forced him to give ground again, and he was growing frustrated. Quickly parrying the older man's sword, he stepped forward to go on the offensive. The Deputy Chief seemed taken by surprise as Jack's sword flew at him, and he backed away, crossing his blades to keep the Arbitrator from connecting. Jack pressed his advantage, trying to keep Gerald on the defensive.
Though he was continuing to give ground, Gerald's face was calm and determined. His standard move was to parry or deflect Jack's sword with Requiem, his left-handed sword, and attack with the bigger Oratorio in his right hand. Instead, the Deputy Chief surprised his opponent by using his bigger sword to push the Arbitrator aside and quickly moved to slash with the shorter blade. Jack spun out of the way of the attack, but he was knocked off-balance and struggled to hold onto his sword while falling back. Gerald was attacking again an instant later, and Jack swung his sword aggressively to make his opponent relent even slightly. Their match continued, and Jack could feel fatigue beginning to set in. He was still not fully recovered from the Falvern's distortion, and his strength and stamina were beginning to fade. Knowing that he had to end the match before Gerald wore him down, the former knight's intensity increased and he launched a strong offensive. Their blades moved faster than ever as Jack tried to find an opening. When he parried a stroke from the Deputy Chief's bigger sword, he reflexively spun to avoid a follow-up thrust from the sword in his left hand. As he spun, Jack found his opening.
"I win, Deputy Chief," Jack said between breaths. The Arbitrator had stopped an inch away from his opponent's exposed neck.
"Are you sure," Gerald's one eye looked down as he spoke. Jack saw that Oratorio, Gerald's right-handed blade, was pointing directly at his chest. "It looks more like a draw to me."
"I guess it does," frustration was evident in Jack's tone as both men lowered their weapons. He was exhausted, and didn't think he could win another round. "What does that mean?"
"Well, neither of us has won two rounds. What do you think it means," the Deputy Chief fixed Jack with a hard gaze. He responded by raising his weapon.
"All right, if we have to fight again, then let's do it," Jack tried to keep his voice level, though he still hadn't quite caught his breath. He was trying to think of a strategy that he could use effectively.
"Haha, I always admired your guts, kid," Gerald promptly sheathed both of his swords. Jack looked at him in confusion. "We both know you're too worn out to put up a good fight in this round, but I like that you were ready to fight anyway. I wouldn't expect anything less of you. Now, put that sword up and let's go catch the final rounds of the tournament."
Several members of the crowd gasped as Nocturne skidded across the coliseum floor and crashed into the wall with an audible thud. The force of his collision caused a section of the wall to crumble. Ridley craned her neck to see what was happening, but her vision was obscured by dust and debris. While the dust was settling, JJ began walking across the arena toward his opponent. The green orc still held the club in which Nocturne's sword had become embedded. She was just able to make out Nocturne's silhouette before he rushed forward to attack JJ. The Void warrior evaded a swing of the orc's club, attacked with a quick kick, and tried to retrieve his sword. His right hand closed around the hilt, and he pulled as he began to fall back, but the sword remained stuck. JJ swung at Nocturne with his left fist, and he was forced to let go of the sword. A gasp went through the crowd as Nocturne jumped back to avoid the strike.
JJ grabbed the hilt of Nocturne's sword and pulled it free from the guiron tree where it had become stuck. With the sword in his left hand and the club in his right, the green orc was an intimidating foe. Nocturne took a cautious step back, trying to size up his opponent. Ridley saw that his hat had been knocked off his head by the direct hit he had taken, and his face already had a bruise forming. Blood trickled down his chin, and he spit more onto the floor. The orc charged forward, ready to attack, and Nocturne was dove out of the way. The force that he swung both the club and the sword with cracked the great stone tiles on the floor, startling many of the observers. Narrowly evading these attacks, the Void warrior got to his feet and tried to counter. A pair of throwing knives whizzed through the air and struck JJ's right leg and left arm. JJ recoiled slightly as the blades found him, but he charged forward to continue his attack. Though the orc continued to attack with impressive power, Nocturne's speed allowed him to avoid harm again and another throwing knife struck his opponent's left arm. Ridley was impressed that Nocturne was fighting so aggressively without his sword, and surprised to see how effective he was. The green blood from the orc seemed to say that the Void warrior had a chance.
"He still looks like he's the one in control, even without his sword," she commented to Elwen.
"Nocturne is a veteran warrior, and he doesn't rattle easily," the Guild Leader responded without turning her head from the battle. "However, JJ is stronger and Nocturne doesn't have a very good chance of beating him without recovering his primary weapon. JJ is the one who is in control for now."
Nocturne's impressive speed was on display as he focused on staying out of the green orc's reach. He appeared to have thrown the last of his knives and was moving cautiously. Though there were two knives in his right leg and one in his left, JJ had not slowed to a noticeable degree, and he was swinging Nocturne's sword with a great deal of power despite the two knives in his left arm. The Void warrior had a look of intensity in his eyes, and he wore a scowl that seemed to reflect his determination. JJ's eyes reflected excitement, and his smile showed a thirst for battle that startled Ridley. It was not bloodlust, and she had seen the same passion and desire from others, but it somehow looked frightening on the orc's face. Both warriors wanted to win, and their desire was plainly written on their faces. When he rushed in, Nocturne evaded a strike from the guiron tree and pulled the knife from JJ's left leg. Scrambling away, he slashed with the small blade and green blood ran down the orc's right arm. Nocturne had a weapon again but his opponent still seemed to be at the advantage, barely slowed by the wounds he had taken and continuing to attack relentlessly.
Though he was on the defensive, Nocturne was staying close JJ. This strategy prevented the green orc from taking advantage of his long arms and the reach of his weapons, but it also meant he had less time to react. His speed surprised Ridley again as he evaded a series of powerful attacks from such a close distance. Evading an attack from the sword in JJ's left hand, Nocturne managed to grab one of the knives that were stuck in the orc's arm. With a knife in each hand, he continued to avoid the deadly attacks aimed at him, and was able to counter with a few well-placed slashes of his own. JJ continued patiently attacking, not worried about these small cuts and confident he would land the powerful blow needed to end the fight. Nocturne finally found the chance he was looking for when one of the orc's vertical strikes missed and the sword in his left hand struck the floor. When the stone floor cracked from the blow, Nocturne threw the knife in his right hand and buried it in JJ's left. As his opponent recoiled, the Void warrior kicked the orc's left hand and knocked his sword out of it. Nocturne threw the knife in his left hand to create an opportunity to grab his sword, but the small blade was deflected by the orc's club. Though he had recovered his sword, Nocturne took a direct hit from the guiron tree in JJ's right hand and crumpled to the floor.
Despite the punishing blow, Nocturne was able to instinctively roll out of the way of the next strike, and JJ cracked another section of the coliseum floor. Climbing to his feet, the Void warrior staggered a little as he tried to regain his balance, and his opponent quickly took the offensive. Blocking attacks from JJ was better for Nocturne than just dodging, and Ridley saw that the look of determination was still firmly engraved on his face. Whatever was motivating him to fight, Nocturne was not going to give up. He deflected the orc's club and countered with a quick slash across his opponent's right thigh. JJ took a step back, but quickly blocked Nocturne's next strike and looked to counter. Attacks were coming quicker and quicker as both warriors sensed an opportunity to claim victory. Ridley was amazed by the amount of power each of them still had. Nocturne had taken two vicious blows and JJ finally looked as though he was feeling the effects of Nocturne's repeated strikes, but both were maintaining an impressively high level of fighting. An attack from JJ was blocked by Nocturne, and he again found his mark. His sword cut the orc's right arm, and Ridley clearly saw how vulnerable he was to quick counterattacks.
The last attack from the Void warrior had put some distance between the two combatants, and they paused for a moment as each tried to catch his breath. The crowd was roaring with excitement, even as the battle stopped momentarily, and Ridley was sitting on the edge of her seat. Wordlessly, the two fighters raised their weapons again. Their strong, determined gazes were cast across the coliseum floor at one another, and the intensity seemed to go up even more as their eyes locked. Nocturne was the first to have volty flames appear around him, though JJ quickly began his volty blast as well. It seemed as though one final exchange would decide the winner of the fight. They both had tremendous power, and she was anxious to see how they would use it. A frightening look of resolve was etched on Nocturne's face as he put his large sword on his back as he had worn it when the fight began. JJ roared in excitement and readied his club in anticipation. The green orc charged forward to attack.
"Madness Carnival," he shouted in a guttural tone. Holding the guiron tree with both hands, he it against his forehead and seemed to go into a frenzy. JJ rushed toward Nocturne and prepared to attack.
The green orc closed the distance, swinging his club as Nocturne's hand closed on the hilt of his sword. The Void warrior stood firm, and calmly pulled the sword over his right shoulder and swung it diagonally across his body. A wave of bright light came from the blade and shot toward the orc, and he stopped his advance to cover his eyes. Ridley was blinded as well, and the other members of the crowd were shielding their eyes. She heard the sounds of both warriors' weapons striking their intended target, and two bodies hit the ground. Anxious to see what had happened, she tentatively opened her eyes and stared across the arena. After her eyes had readjusted to the normal light of the arena, she saw that Nocturne was on one knee and leaning on his sword for support and JJ was lying on his back. The Void warrior was clutching at the right side of his torso and grimacing as he took labored breaths. There was a horizontal cut running across JJ's chest, and he did not seem like he could get off of the floor. His breaths were slow and sporadic, his chest rising and falling intermittently. Green blood covered the floor around JJ, and the blade of Nocturne's sword. While the Void warrior tried to stand, Ridley looked at Elwen.
"What happened," she asked, certain the Guild Leader would know. "Did you see it?"
"Nocturne's volty blast," Elwen said simply. "The name, Shadow Slash, is fitting for his fighting style. He creates the blinding light and strikes quickly from the shadow it creates while his opponent is stunned. He was able to cut JJ, but Madness Carnival heightens the orc's senses and reaction time, which allowed him to sense Nocturne's approach and strike a powerful blow with his club. The fight is over; JJ managed to break some of Nocturne's ribs, but the cut on his chest is too much for him to continue."
Turning back to look at the warriors in the arena, Ridley saw that Nocturne had managed to stand up and had pointed his sword at JJ. Junzaburo seemed to appear next Nocturne to declare him the winner. The voice of the referee seemed to bring the stunned crowd back to their senses, and a great cheer went up from the observers. Ridley shook her head in wonder as she reflected on the vicious fight she had just watched. Both warriors had given it their all, and Nocturne's speed and strength would make him an excellent addition to their team. On the arena floor, JJ appeared to have lost consciousness, and a group of coliseum staff members were trying to carry him away. Nocturne's broken ribs prevented him from bowing, but he did nod toward the King and acknowledge the crowd before securing his sword on his back and proceeding to the tunnel he had entered through. He looked a little unsteady on his feet, but walked out without any assistance. The crowd was still cheering, but quieted as Junzaburo walked to the middle of the arena.
"What an incredible match we just saw," the referee shouted, inspiring another roar from the crowd. "Unfortunately, the blood on the floor of the arena needs to be cleaned up before we can start the next match. We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back with the exciting final round of action!"
Vegeta26: Three rounds down, and one to go. Sorry, as always, for the delay, but I've been pretty busy and haven't had as much time to write as I would like. Nevertheless, we'll continue making progress. Thanks to everyone who's reading and reviewing, I enjoy getting your comments.
Keyblader-Sleven: Good to hear from you. Here's a character from Void for you, and Jack might get to see a couple more before the group departs. Glad you're still enjoying the story, and I hope to hear from you again.
Zach Fleming: Glad you liked the last chapter, and I hope you liked this one as well. I would think that in two or three chapters the other identity of the non-human taking the second guaranteed spot will be revealed.