Last time Violet shot and killed Pai-Mey. Then the demon Slan appeared, but was disabled by Saske, then killed by Guts. Now the leader of The God Hand is here. On with the show!
Chapter 25: Victory in Sight
There was a minute or two of silence, and then another red vortex appeared. From this vortex emerged what appeared to be a man completely covered in red leather and wearing a red cape. The leather turned out to be its skin, the cape were wings. From it's red helmet-like head Will could see a pair of deep blue eyes that seemed to pierce directly to her soul. "Hello, Guts," said the demon Femto, also known as Griffith, "It's been so long."
"Not long enough for me, Griffith," said Guts, "So cut the chatter and let's get this over with." "That name," said Femto, "Means nothing to me anymore. The one you know as Griffith died that day in the snow outside the capital of Midland." "I won that duel fair and square," said Guts, "And you were still you, even though I admit that in breaking your sword, I also broke your spirit. I admit that I should have done something instead of just walking away. Things might have turned out differently. But you're right on one thing; the man I knew as Griffith no longer exists, but he didn't die that day, no. The man I called my friend, the man I willingly committed murder for, the man I would have given my life for, he ceased to be when he betrayed The Band of the Hawk to the demons."
"And you're the only one left from The Band of the Hawk who still lives," said Femto, "Today you join your fallen comrades." "They were our comrades!" shouted Guts, "Judeau, Pippin, Ricket, even that idiot Corkus, and especially Casca. We all loved you, we believed in you and your dream, and you threw it all away and for what, a night with the princess? Everyone knew she would have chosen you as her husband, even the king of Midland would have gladly accepted you as his heir."
"That's all in the past," said Femto, "What's done is done. The man you knew as your friend is dead." "Yes," said Guts, "The man I called friend is dead. I'm still calling you Griffith only out of habit. Now all that remains is a demon, a demon I shall destroy." He readied his sword for battle, "Will, you and the others stay out of this, it's between me and the demon."
"And when I destroy you," said Femto as he formed a blood-red rapier of dark energy, "I shall raise your corpse as my servant." "That'll be the day!" said Guts, "DIE!" He charged at Femto. Their blades met in a clash of sparks as they exchanged blows. For the first few minutes of the fight, they seemed evenly matched.
Then Guts drew first blood as she slashed Femto across the left side of his torso. "That was for Judeau," said Guts, "The next one is for Pippin!" He then slashed Femto on the left leg. Yet his cuts seemed to do no serious damage to the demon.
"He's running out of energy," said Will, "I can sense it, he's starting to lose." "Don't say that," said Hay Lin, "He can win, I know he can win." Just then Femto stabbed Guts just above the elbow of his metal arm. "There goes your sword arm," said Femto, "Let's see you fight now."
"You forget, Griffith," said Guts, "I've had a lot of practice using my sword with just my right hand!" He grasped his sword in his right hand and slashed at Femto. The demon barely dodged the blade, the tip scratching him across the face. "That was for Ricket," said Guts, "And this is for that idiot Corkus!" he stabbed at Femto, who narrowly dodged the stroke, yet the blade caught him in his right wing, cutting it off.
Yet Femto used the loss of his wing as a distraction to stab Guts in both legs. Guts fell to the ground, his sword falling form his hand. "You've had a good run, Guts," said Femto as he stood over Guts, "Over four centuries you've survived. But now your time is up, accept your destiny and die."
"Never," said Guts as he grabbed the handle of his sword and tried to stand up, "As long as there is breath in my body, I'll never stop. Not until every single one of you demons are dead by my sword." "Look at yourself," said Femto, "You're a wreck, you can barely stand up, let alone lift your monstrosity of a sword." "Sure I can," said Guts as he staggered to his feet. He began to lift his sword, but then stumbled, dropping the huge blade.
"Oh no!" said Irma, "He's done for!" "I can't watch!" exclaimed Cornelia as she hid her face in Caleb's arms. "You had me worried for a second, Guts," said Femto, "But destiny wins out in the end. I shall make your death quick, but I promise you it shall hurt."
The demon closed the distance between him and Guts for the killing blow. Femto raised his blade to strike, but faltered as Guts stabbed him in the belly with one of his throwing knifes, knifes that Will would later learn belonged to Judeau.
"You were right, Griffith," said Guts he pushed Femto backwards onto the ground, "It did hurt. That was for the rest of The Band of the Hawk put together, all but one." Guts limped over to Femto and kicked the red rapier away from Femto. He then knelt beside Femto, reached down with his metal hand and grabbed hold of the demon's genitals. Femto howled in agony as Guts ripped away the demon's sexual organs. "That was for Casca!" exclaimed Guts, "And this is for me!" He then began to pound away at Femto's face with both hands.
"FOUR-HUNDRED YEARS YOU SON OF A BITCH!" raged Guts as he delivered blow after blow to Femto's head. After about ten minutes Guts was pounding only wet chunks of meat and bone into the ground, so he stopped. "So long, Griffith," panted Guts, "It's been a pleasure."
"You okay?" asked Hay Lin. "I think so," said Guts as he sheathed his sword, "In fact, I feel better than I've ever felt in a long, long time." Yet Gut's feeling of elation didn't last as he clutched at his neck again, blood flowing from the brand of sacrifice.
"Black Swordsman," rumbled a deep voice that come from nowhere, "You, and your comrades, shall die!"
"Oh crap!" exclaimed Nigel. Will looked at where Nigel was pointing at; in the distance there were several red vortexes, with thousands of demons pouring out of each of them, all of them charging towards our heroes.
"That's a lot of demons," said Irma. "I think we've done enough for one day," said Max. "You said it," said Luffy. "You all know I hate running away," said Naruto, "but to stay would lead to certain death, believe it." "Will," said Cornelia, "Do that voodoo that you do so well." "Thought you'd never ask," said Will. She then used The Heart of Candracar to form a huge Fold, "Everyone through, now!"
"Where does that go to?" asked Ed. "Back to your world," said Will, "Now everyone go!" The first to go through the Fold were Luffy and his crew, followed by Max and half the Ramblers. Then the ninjas went through, except Rock Lee. Naruto was the last one to go.
Jill was among the Ramblers who didn't go through with Max. She was extracting a heavy device from her bag. "What are you doing!" exclaimed Violet, for the demons were less than a mile away, "We got to go!" "I'm just leaving a little goodbye gift for the demons," said Jill as she flipped the 'on' switch on the device. "A Stone Burner," said an impressed Martin, "A bomb with the same destructive force as a nuclear warhead but without the radiation."
"I've set the timer," said Jill, "It'll blow in one minute." "Then why are we still hanging around here?" asked Taranee, "Let's go!" She and Nigel went through the Fold, followed by Irma and Martin, Cornelia and Caleb, then Will and Matt. Jill, Violet and the remaining Ramblers then went through.
Only Hay Lin, Rock Lee, Eric, Ed, Al and Guts were left. "Come on!" exclaimed Ed as he pulled at Guts, "We've done enough for one day!" With one last glare at the demons, Guts went through the Fold, followed by Ed, Al, Eric, Rock Lee and Hay Lin. The Fold then closed from the other side just as the demons reached the Stone Burner. It detonated five seconds later, destroying everything in a radius of five miles.
Back on Ed and Al's world, stood waiting Mustang, Armstrong and Winry. "What happened?" asked Mustang. "First of all," said Ed as he and Al saluted Mustang. He and Armstrong saluted back. "Second of all," said Ed, "The demons won't bother us again." "Most important," said Violet, "We've stopped the time/space distortions. The fabric of reality should heal itself over time." "Well that's good news if I ever heard it," said Will.
The end of chapter 25. Next chapter our heroes bid farewell to each other and return to their respective dimensions. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!