Final Fantasy X: Annihilation

Chapter 24: Mortality

"Tidus!"

From the depths of the darkness which had claimed Tidus's mind, Yuna's pleading voice broke through. He struggled to respond, to form words, but his body would not react; it would not budge. Pain was all he acknowledged, an unbearable ache in his muscles. His breath was short from exhaustion.

"Please, wake up!" The distraught Summoner shook her fallen lover, on the verge of hysterics. Her hope was fleeting, to see him so torn and broken, so close to death. His wounds were as serious as they were numerous, leaking his life force in a seemingly endless stream upon the cold surface. "Don't leave me!"

"Yuna." Iiden approached the woman cautiously, clutching his wounded shoulder. "Calm down. His life force is still very much strong."

The addressed woman nodded weakly, hesitantly pulling her hands from Tidus's naked shoulders. She bit her lip, attempting to fight down the surfacing tears. "I'm just so scared," she whispered.

The former SHADOW member nodded in understanding. "It's okay. I know that this is the first time you've seen him in a while." His expression darkened seriously. "However, despite how great of a joy your reunion might be to the two of you, we must seize this opportunity. If Tidus regains his strength, no doubt he will seek to return to Oblivion."

An overbearing shock instilled itself within Yuna's heart. "What?" She gasped, succumbing to the sudden pressure in her chest, and the tears flowed. "Do you really think he would still go back to him? After all of this?"

"Yes," Iiden admitted with apparent regret. "He desires power. Oblivion is a sure and effective way of obtaining it swiftly. What we just witnessed is a prime example. In the brief time you two have been apart, he has obtained strength great enough to fight on even terms with that of a Captain of SHADOW."

"Hasn't he done enough...?"

"He is strong, but against Oblivion he is nothing. I doubt he will be satisfied until he has grown powerful enough to oppose him."

Yuna fixed her gaze upon Tidus's bloodied face, stroking it gently with her cold hands. "Then what should we do?"

Iiden contemplated their next course of action for a moment. "We take him to Bevelle Ruins. There, we will place him under strict guard and attempt to talk some sense into him when he regains consciousness. But if he remains determined to return to Oblivion, none of us will be able to stop him."

The Summoner levelled her gaze with Iiden's own. "You make him sound like some kind of monster!"

"Because that is what he has become."

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Large columns of rock, some more than one hundred feet tall, were situated near the outskirts of the Zanarkand Ruins. They were covered with various forms of vegetation. Husks of shrubs, moss, and vines veiled over the relief sculptures, coiling and spiraling up the enormous lengths until ending near the crowns. Near the base, countless species of exotic flowers bloomed, giving a touch of white, pink, yellow and cherry-red to the profound scenery of jade. Roots coursed over and under protruding sections of the monoliths, while trunks and branches swirled around them, bending inward to its rough and callous embrace.

And within this serene sanctum their came forth a disturbance, one to scar the very world. Upon the bosom of her flesh, a single sphere, argent in hue, appeared soundlessly. It's glossy (and almost metallic resembling) surface reflecting the familiar fruition around it. And for a moment all was still, until the harmless "sphere" expanded. The very earth beneath its wake seared and charred over, sizzling as it was cooked thoroughly down to the mantel. Tendrils of pure energy ripped through the crust of ash and dust, pouring from the person's spiritual reservior and into the prime material; entire plates where dishelfed and disfigured, rising and sinking in sporadic frequincies. Eyes, empty and emotionless, peered forth with an unforgiving resolve - Kane had emerged.

Excessive steam billowed off of his hulking form as he took a thunderous step forward, his boot thudding against the stone walkway decripit from age beneath him. The Captains terrible features were bloodied and bruised from the multiple wounds that had been afflicted upon him, his clothing stained and tattered from battle.

At a slow pace, the titan moved forward, walking leisurely towards the entrance into SHADOW's lair. His eyes briefly ran across the monilithic architect at his sides. The ruins were scattered across the miles. He found himself savoring the sight, as it cradled the truest sense of calamity wrought - merciless obliteration.

Zanarkand was destruction at it's finest.

Suddenly, Alexander's senses were set ablaze as a presence nurturing malicious intent intruded upon his moment of tranquility. The distinct click of a blade drawn from it's scabbard came to his attention- the sound marked the advancement of battle.

Swiftly, he reacted, materializing his battle-worn blade as he turned to confront his unknown assailant. His sword clashed with that of his attacker's, the friction between their steal producing an explosion of sparks that danced around their figures- Kane's eyes levelled with Collust's.

"Ayo," the brute greeted with a wicked smirk, "whadda we ave' here?"

Collust's face scrunched up in a snarl, pure hatred displayed in his amber eyes. "You defied our master! I have grown tiresome of your disrespect!"

Kane met the enraged man's strength with his own, bemused by his aggression. "Yeah? And whatcha gonna do bout it?"

"I'm going to rid your taint of our organization once and for all!" The fiery haired Captain declared.

They broke apart, the two malefic behemoths of power placing themselves at a distance. Their eyes held strong onto the others, both cautiously awaiting even the most meager of changes in posture; seeking out the spark that would initiate their battle.

Collust chose the offensive. Motivated by his anger, he charged forward, drawing the pestilent blade in his grasp above his head. He roared ferociously.

Kane eyed the advancment with little concern. As his opponent struck down, he would step off to the side, effortlessly avoiding the sword's strike area. The patch of ground upon which he had stood a mere second before was obliterated into nothingness as the weapon connected.

Taking advantage of his combatant's open defenses, the titan thrust forward with his left arm, delivering a devastating blow with his massive fist into the man's temple. Collust recoiled in pain as he was forced airborn from the impact, demonstrating his resilence by flipping acrobatically onto his feet. His vision blurred momentarily. The Captain was undeniably astounded by Alexander's herculean might and legerity despite being a behemoth in size.

What sparked his infuriation was that although the man had yet to convalesce from the injuries he'd sustained, he showed no patent signs of debilitation, even in his breathing. It was seemingly as though the battle, the wounds, had not affected him in the slightest.

"You truly are a monster," Collust commented as he brandished his crimson steel, challenging his foe forward once more. "You are a risk to everything Oblivion seeks to accomplish. I will carry out the task Tidus failed to complete! You will perish here, you barbarian!"

Alexander laughed, unthreatened by the warrior's promise. "Ha! Ya gotta be kiddin me. You?" His eyes narrowed as his expression darkened seriously. "I ain't gonna be the one dyin today."

The monstrous man charged forward, his footsteps smacking the ground in rapid succession with his gaining of speed. He held his slayer above his head, channeling his might for the blow. Collust stood at ready.

With a monstrous cry, Kane swung, the resisting wind giving way to the powerful strike. Swiftly, his opponent leapt to the side, evading the terrible blow by a hair's breath as the zone of impact broke into an explosion of stone and dust, producing a vicious shockwave that tore across the vicinity. Collust rolled to his knees, quickly recovering his balance. He concentrated on the aura surrounding him, through sheer will forcing it forward. The energy sharpened, flash-crystalizing into a myriad of crimson, adamant shards that pierced through the current of wind without the slightest alteration to their course.

Alexander observed the advancing pseudo-daggers calmly, offering no resistance to their campaign. One by one, they tore into his flesh, burying themselves within his innards. Blood exploded from the opened wounds, splattering across the ground below him.

"Tch," Kane scoffed, straightening himself upright as he regarded his combatant with evident boredom. "Nifty trick, but I ain't goin down like dat."

The response was not one of what he had expected. Rather than a surprised gasp or angered cry, there came forth a chuckle. A smirk was plastered upon Collust's face. "I know all about you're ability to recieve wounds that would be mortal to another, and pass them off as if they were nothing. I'm very well prepared, barbarian. You'll find that endurance of yours, against me, is ultimately for naught."

The shards of crystalized energy, nestled within Alexander's flesh, would suddenly forfeit their form, discarding their shape as each released their concentrated power in a series of small, yet powerful explosions. Chunks of skin, meat, and bone were incinerated instantaneously. Blood oozed in horrendous quantities from the large holes scattered across his large form.

Kane's eyes widened with surprise, as his legs so harmed from the attacks, gave way, and he collapsed, succumbing to the injuries. "What..?" He breathed, struggling to regain the lost feeling in his lower limbs.

"Do you see?" Collust inquired as he casually approached his fallen foe. "You feel no pain, for your body is dead. You can lose an infinite amount of blood, and it will continue to function, as your insanely large spiritual strength fuels the workings of your innards. But eventually," he paused, drawing himself to a knee, "despite how much energy you feed your physical form, if it is harmed to a certain extent it will collapse. Your legs, for an example, are incapable of supporting your weight, as I've obliterated the majority of muscle and bone in your thighs and ankles."

His eyes fell to his handiwork. "Your are not immortal, Alexander Kane. You have merely created the illusion of immortality."

"You little shit," the fallen Captain managed.

"And now, it is time to open your eyes." Slowly, Collust rose to his feet, his eyes locked upon his opponent's. His Slayer rose, the tip of the blade glistening in the light of the setting sun. "You are inferior. You are the impotency that defiles SHADOW. You are feeble. Kane, you are mortal."

And he struck...

Author's Note: Well, everyone, I finally managed to update. I apologize for the long delay, but I've gotten into a bit of trouble and had to pay for it. I'm back now, and since my options at the moment are limited, I'll be able to finish this story at long last! Excited? I am. Although I've had to forfeit my freedom, writing will help pass the time. I'll have another chapter sometime early on next week. So look forward to it, neh? Happy New Year everyone!