*The camera pans inside a large empty theatre, looking around before locating the author and his companion, Infinite Freedom. A few other companions have joined the fray, including Shin'en of the Chaotic Destiny, Swordude, KittyAurionTobi, Kiomori, and CrestofHealing. Massive piles of popcorn, sodas, and various candy and other snacks lay around the entire theatre.*
Raenef: Everyone been to the bathroom? No one else needs to go before we start?
I.F: We can't go anyway; Shin'en broke the toilet when he went last time.
Shin'en: It's not my fault that my beasts found your toilets to be fun chew toys to play with. Then again, they're not exactly house trained...
Raenef: Bah. We don't need a toilet anyway; you'll be too taken with all the action. Oi, Swordude, Kiomori, stop hogging the popcorn! *camera pans to the two characters rummaging around inside a giant pile of popcorn*
Kimori: *muffled due to popcorn*
Raenef: What did you say?
*Swordude pops out*
Swordude: Kio says the popcorn is still fresh and doesn't want to waste one kernel of it.
Raenef: *sigh* don't blame me if you get a stomachache…Crest, Kitty, are you two good?
Crest: I'm all set…but is this in 3-d? Kitty brought a bunch of 3-d glasses with her, so…
Raenef: I would imagine that if it were in 3-d, all of you would be left drooling from thinking you could touch Kratos…
Kitty:*jumps up in seat* we can touch Kratos? I have first dibs! Me! ME!
Raenef: I'm just gonna start the show now…
Welcome to chapter 26 of Tales of Symphonia: Second Chance! We've reached the pinnacle of the first arc of the story, the clash between Dark Lloyd and Lloyd and the group at the Tower of Salvation! How will our heroes fare against their new mysterious foe with a vendetta against Lloyd? Well, that's why you're here, to find out!
Speech-normal speech
Speech-thoughts
Speech-Origin speaking
(Speech) Author speaking
Last time…
Dark Lloyd eyed the sword carefully before laughing. "Ooh, someone's bringing out the big guns, aren't we? I suppose I can take you seriously for a moment, if only for a moment." His humor left him and he became serious. "You see, I'm afraid I need that boy there," he pointed at Lloyd, "And I can't have you whisking him away to do what you will with him. That just won't do. So I'm afraid it's you who has to leave right now." He held up a hand and darkness swirled around it until it formed an orb, which he flicked towards Yggdrasill. Before he could react, it impacted and he vanished, not leaving a trace of his presence save the Eternal Sword. Lloyd and the others were shocked at how he had removed him with so much but a flick of his hand. "Now it's just you…and me…" Dark Lloyd stated with an evil grin on his face again.
Yuan was sweating bullets as he watched the action unfold before him. The plan they had crafted in the beginning had now gone completely awry with the presence of this…dark Lloyd. The fact he had done away with Yggdrasill so easily brought no comfort to Yuan; they could receive the same treatment if they weren't on their guard. "Botta, can you hear me? Botta!" he whispered into his collar mic as he kept his eyes on the newcomer.
No response. Damn. He was on his own in here, and already facing odds he would've backed away from facing. He chose to watch for the moment as Lloyd confronted his dark copy.
"Alright…you've got me here. It's time you gave us some answers, once and for all!" Lloyd exclaimed, stepping forward to meet Dark Lloyd.
"Hmm…A fair final request, I suppose. I can entitle you to some answers before I send you to Niflheim to burn. Ask away." He replied, giving a mock polite bow to Lloyd and the group.
"Just who are you? Why did you come to this world, and why have you done all this? Dorr, the undead monster at Ossa Trail. I know you're no ordinary man, and that that sword you're using is evil. So why do all this?" Lloyd questioned him rapidly.
"So many questions from such a simple human…but then again, you're not a simple person at all, are you, Lloyd Irving?" D.L replied, slowly pacing around the platform as he spoke. "I'll start with why I've done what I did…and oh, how I enjoyed it." He paused in his step and met Lloyd's eyes, a mad gleam visible.
"Dorr was indeed a great military general and a capable leader of Palmacosta. I've no doubt he would've led his people to victory if he hadn't have met a…untimely fate. But I don't believe in unfair odds when a battle is coming. So, I chose to even the standards by eliminating an advantage for Palmacosta."
Lloyd growled at this. "'eliminating an advantage?' You killed an innocent man!" he retorted.
"Innocent? You and I both know he was not innocent. He was a man who commanded others to fight and to kill, to shed blood. And that's what he did on the surface…do you remember his under the table dealings, Lloyd? D.L asked, making Lloyd backtrack.
"He did it because he was looking out for his family! His wife!" Lloyd replied heatedly. He remembered well the anger he had felt the first time he had learned of Dorr's dealings. To know that the leader of the city would so blatantly go against Palmacosta is terrible. But when he learned what his motives were for the sake of his wife, Lloyd understood the struggle that Dorr was dealing with.
"Is that so…I see. He did it for love and therefore, all is forgiven." D.L snorted. "Pathetic. And I suppose that had I told you that Cadell had acted due to her love for her master, Kvar, you would've forgiven her also? But I'm getting beyond the point…you came here for answers, and I'm apparently obligated to provide them." D.L resumed pacing, making his way down to their level.
"Interesting I should bring up Cadell. She was such an amusing person to watch fall. Tell me, summoner," D.L turned to Sheena, who blinked in confusion, "did you enjoy the surprise that Cadell had in store for her prisoners? Transforming them into such beautiful dark creatures like the Psybelua?"
Sheena's eyes narrowed as she thought back to when she infiltrated Cadell's base and witnessed the transformation experiments. "Wait…the Psybeluas were you're doing? You made those monsters?" she exclaimed.
"Made them? No, I couldn't take credit for such a wonderful creation." D.L replied. "I merely nudged her in the right direction, allowed her inquisitive mind to come across an interesting mineral that happened to have adverse effects on an Exbelua, transforming them into a Psybelua." He raised a hand to his chin in thought. "It was a wonderful innovation, don't you think?"
Lloyd's hands balled into fists and he resisted the urge to attack Dark Lloyd straight out. "Why? What did you hope to gain? What was there for you to get from causing so many people pain and conflict?"
"Gain? You ask me what I was to gain from all this?" D.L laughed. "Why, there was nothing for me to gain, my friend. I hold no allegiance to the Desians or to this…Cruxis either. My purpose here is all the simpler." He finally reached the bottom of the stairway and stood before the group. He surveyed them carefully, looking to them each before speaking again.
"The anger coursing through you right now…the urge to fight and to defeat me, a laughable concept…the fear of what I'm capable of…these are my goals, if I am to tell you them. I am here to breed these emotions, to invoke the dark side of life. You all speak of seeking justice and peace, an idea that is completely unattainable in this world. There will always be someone to destroy your peace, your hopes, and your wishes for the good and for joy. That is where I stand: the antagonist to your tale, the opposing wall that blocks your path. And now that I'm unleashed on the world again, there will be none to stop me." He finally finished, a deranged and twisted smile adorning his face.
Kratos stepped forward besides Lloyd, sword drawn at the ready. "If you think we'll allow you to leave this place alive, I suggest you think again." He had faced this foe once before in his lifetime, he reasoned. He can take him once again.
"Don't forget about me as well. I have a stake in this fight just as you do." Yuan walked past Raine and Sheena and approached Lloyd's other side. He threw off his cloak and drew out his dual-blade staff, twirling it once before taking a ready stance.
Lloyd looked to both of the elder fighters and nodded. He drew his own blades out and took his stance as well. The rest of the group followed suit, each drawing off the confidence of the next. D.L watched them prepare and laughed quietly.
(Music Cue: Future World Music- Until Justice Prevails)
"So you choose to try and fight in vain? Pity. But I should expect no less from you bumbling fools." He reached for his blade and slowly drew it out, letting out what sounded like a sigh of relief as he held it before him. "So, Tsukuyomi…shall we show them how it's done?" his voice became much darker and malicious, eyeing the group with a demented glare. "It's been so long since we've had a good warm-up. Let's see if you meet my standards…" His stance was relaxed and casual, Tsukuyomi on his right side, his grip slack.
Everyone was tensed and ready for combat, the seconds ticking by as if an eternity passed with each moment. Genis' eyes shifted from D.L to Lloyd, back and forth quickly. He couldn't tell who would act first. Another few moments passed in silence before Kratos took the initiative, rushing forward and bringing his blade down in a vertical slash. D.L didn't move until the last second possible before meeting Kratos' strike with Tsukuyomi, holding him in place and showing no strain in the process. Yuan followed up behind Kratos and struck out with his staff, but D.L simply ducked under the swing, letting Kratos fall through and strike where he had just been. He slashed at both Seraphim, causing them to leap backwards to avoid being cleaved in two.
Lloyd decided to move in and opened with a Fierce Demon Fang, the ground cracking as the force wave made its way to D.L. He noticed this and grinned before leaping up to dodge. Lloyd pressed his advantage and leapt up to meet him, clashing a few times with D.L before they met at a standstill.
"So you finally joined in…I'd thought you were too scared to fight me. Let's see what you can do!" he growled before attacking, Tsukuyomi moving to strike at Lloyd's arm. Lloyd deflected the blow and the two soon became lost in a flurry of attacks, neither gaining ground nor losing. Every angle Lloyd came in from, D.L would counter or parry and return it, causing Lloyd to either deflect the deadly blade or dodge it. He could feel his heart racing with every blow, adrenaline pumping through him. At one point, Lloyd caught his blade and managed to push D.L back a few feet, only to see him grinning.
"My turn…Demon's Bite!" he yelled as he slammed his sword into the ground and made a sweeping motion in front of him. Dark energy emerged and swept out in a large arc, aimed at taking Lloyd out. Making a quick decision, Lloyd cast Guardian and felt the darkness sweep around him. Lloyd almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the darkness coalesce around his barrier and seep in under it. He released the barrier and leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding being hit as a beast-like maw appeared from the darkness and snapped out where he had stood moments before.
"This is boring…I thought this was supposed to be the strongest fighters on this world. Is this the best you can do against me?" D.L taunted at Lloyd. Lloyd prepared to attack again when he saw movement behind Dark Lloyd and smirked. "Power Seal Absolute!" Sheena's voice rang out as she slammed a seal into D.L's back, causing him to stumble forward in surprise. Light gathered around him as well, and he grimaced as Raine's Photon spell connected. "Who dares…" he growled out as the holy spell struck him.
"Don't forget about me! Icicle!" Genis exclaimed as he cast his magic to freeze around D.L's feet, holding him in place.
"Angel Feathers!" Colette called out as rings of light launched from her wings, striking the dark swordsman with more holy light. "I got him!" She cheered, only to have her joy cut short as her target yelled at them.
"You trifling worms…I actually felt that one!" He roared as he broke free of Genis' ice before turning to face his new attackers. He targeted Sheena first and rushed her with surprising speed, ramming into her with his fist, knocking the wind out of her before kicking her away. "And as for you pests…" He held up his hand and darkness surrounded it before surging forward to them. Genis ducked and moved away, while Colette flew to avoid being caught. Raine, however, was caught by the magic and found she was bound at her legs and arms. She struggled to break free and Genis ran to help her.
"You dare to use holy magic on me? I'll have your head for that, along with the rest of you meddling fools-" He threatened her before turning to block another assault from Kratos, who had returned to the fight in force when he saw his fellow party members under attack. Kratos had brought down most of his strength in that swing, causing D.L to actually hold his blade in two hands to hold him off.
Yuan suddenly appeared from behind Kratos and aimed his strike at his foe's feet, the massive blade singing as it slashed through the air. D.L looks to see where he's aiming and chooses to leap up; still holding Kratos back before aiming a kick for his chest. It connected and Kratos grunted as he was knocked back, only to be replaced with Lloyd, charging forward with a Sonic Thrust. Still in the air, D.L swung his body around to meet Lloyd's strike, deflecting it as he avoided another attempt from Yuan. Kratos soon rejoined the fray and the four became a blur of blades and motion. Every opening they tried to take, D.L either blocked or parried away, though they could tell he was being pushed by their unrelenting assault.
Kratos decided to take it up a notch and made to swing up, causing Dark Lloyd to move his blade to block him. Kratos smirked before breaking off his attack and suddenly changing tactics, coming from the side as light gathered around his sword. "Light Spear!" He called out as he spun and made contact with D.L's body, being lifted by the technique before stabbing forward with his blade.
"Gragh! You-!" D.L grunted as he felt the attack connect. He swung to retaliate, but found him no longer there, and was rewarded with a Fierce Demon Fang from his side. The force was enough to make him stumble and fall back. He grimaced and blinked when he saw only two of his attackers in front of him. His instincts told him to look up, and he was greeted with the sight of Yuan slamming his staff blade where he stood. "Take this!" he yelled as lighting exploded from the impact, knocking D.L back and into the wall.
Yuan pulled out his staff and back-flipped to put some distance between himself and his opponent. Everyone watched as the evil swordsman struggled to stand for a moment before righting himself. "You can't win, monster! This is where you fall!" Yuan declared, preparing to resume the fight. He paused as he heard the low sound of D.L laughing where he stood. "I fail to see what's so funny, fiend."
The chuckling soon became full blown laughter, as D.L threw his head back and laughed, as if he'd discovered the most hilarious thing. He kept going for a minute before finally calming down. Colette blinked and looked closer using her enhanced sight. "His wounds…they're healing!" she exclaimed.
"What? But how?" Lloyd questioned as he watched. Sure enough, the wounds that had been inflicted by Kratos' Light Spear were fading, as if time was moving backwards. The blood that had been spilled that fell to the ground was slowly moving back to him, and before long, no one could see any sign of the damage they had previously inflicted.
"Surprised? I must admit, you did exceed my expectations for this warm-up we've had. You managed to land a hit on me, and even managed to make me bleed. I suppose I should expect no less from two Seraphim as well as that of the Chosen One. But as impressive as your accomplishment is, it is all for naught." He sheathed his blade and held up both of his hands. Darkness engulfed them and spread along his arms and down his body, giving a dark outline to his entire figure. Everyone tensed as they could feel the power radiating off their foe.
"Now…have a taste of what true power really is!" He roared before he released the gathered energy, a massive wave of darkness forming before exploding outwards in all directions. Lloyd and the group immediately cast Guardian, but the spell moved faster than they could react. Genis, Raine, and Colette were sent flying backwards onto the pathway leading out, landing in a heap together. Sheena held her ground for a second before it overwhelmed her and she was blasted back, ramming into a nearby column and falling to the ground. She tried to regain her bearings, her head swimming and vision blurred.
Both Kratos and Yuan called on their strength from their angelic forms and managed to keep their hold on the ground. Kratos felt little strain on himself as he resisted the blast wave while Yuan balanced himself by holding onto his staff that he had rammed into the ground. Yuan managed to glance up and saw Lloyd straining, his feet skidding on the ground against the blast as he covered his eyes and face. He was scooting closer and closer to the edge, but didn't know it. "Lloyd, watch out!"
Kratos turned to see what Yuan was looking at, and saw that Lloyd was dangerously close to being thrown off. "Lloyd!" He exclaimed before pulling out his wings to dash toward him. He lifted himself up, but found himself pushed back down as another wave slammed into him, causing him to land to hold his ground.
Lloyd himself was doing all he could to hold on and not be knocked back. Thinking quickly, he slammed one of his blades into the ground and held onto it, pausing his backtracking. The energy behind D.L's attack was overwhelming, beyond most of what Lloyd had ever faced before, even back in the original timeline. He heard Yuan and Kratos' yells of warning and saw he was precariously close to the edge, the eternal plunge of the Tower of Salvation greeting his eyes ominously.
Lloyd tightened his grip on his sword only to feel the spell suddenly cease. He blinked and felt the energy disappear, only to see D.L appear before him in the next breath. "What-?" Lloyd got out before a fist slammed into his stomach. He lurched over as he heard Dark Lloyd speak to him quietly.
"Aww, did that knock the wind out of you, Lloyd? I'm sorry. Allow me to help you get some air!" D.L exclaimed before kicking Lloyd off the platform and over the edge, vanishing out of everyone's sight. "I would say enjoy the fall, my old friend, but I daresay you'll find it quite terrifying!" he yelled after him before turning to everyone else. "I hate to fight and run, but I have an important engagement currently falling for all eternity. But don't worry, once I…handle… him, I promise to come back and kill you all before you can say 'Exsphere'. Until then!" He gave a mock bow before suddenly leaping after Lloyd, laughing insanely all the way down.
Kratos had watched as Lloyd held his ground during the blast and breathed a sigh of relief. That breath left him when he witnessed the Dark Lloyd slam into him before kicking him off the platform. He flashbacked to when he had been forced to kill Anna when she had turned and became an Exbelua and his oath to never again let Lloyd be threatened so long as he lived. He had sworn it on Anna's own death, and he was not about to break his promise now. His wings extended to their full reach before he dashed immediately to where the two swordsman had fallen off, ignoring Yuan's protests as he dived after his son and his greatest foe.
Yuan groaned as he watched his best friend and ally jump after his son. "Damn you, Kratos…" he muttered before turning to the young mage nearby. "You there, Genis, is it?" It took him a moment before he realized the blue-haired Seraphim was talking to him. He nodded and stood up as Yuan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small transceiver device that he knew connected him to his home base. "I need you to take this and gather your friends here with you. When you push that, it should take you to safety. When you arrive, tell them you arrived on Yuan's orders, and that they need to be ready for the second signal. Do you understand me?"
"But what about Lloyd and-" he started to say, but Yuan cut him off.
"Do you understand me, I said?" he questioned. Genis nodded furiously. "Good. Do exactly as I say and you'll be safe. This is beyond all of you now. Me and Kratos will save Lloyd and get him out of there. Follow my instructions down to the letter, you got that?" He then rushed off and dived after the rest of the swordsmen, hoping he was not too late.
Genis shook for a moment as he was left alone with an unconscious Raine and Colette and a dizzied Sheena. He was scared, well beyond scared and straight into terrified. His best friend had just vanished and fallen to Martel knows where, with that crazy swordsman after him as well as Kratos and the other unknown fighter. What if they didn't make it back? What if Lloyd was hurt or…he shook his head at the idea. No! Lloyd can't die! He won't! Kratos and that blue-haired guy will save him!
He looked down to the device he'd been given and remembered what he had been told to do. The first thing to do was to get Sheena and make sure she was ok. He found the summoner standing up, though her legs were shaking as she made her way from sitting to standing. "Sheena, are you alright?" Genis asked. He looked for any obvious injuries, but couldn't see any.
"I'm ok. Feels like I got run over by Gnome though." She winced as she felt a sore bruise on the back of her head. "What happened?"
"Well, that guy who looked like Lloyd cast some sort of magic field. He pushed all of us back and knocked out Raine and Colette. Kratos and that blue-haired guy held out, but Lloyd got moved to the edge. He held on, but then that guy came up and knocked him off the edge. He dived after Lloyd and Kratos went after them." He paused to take a breath, but Sheena cut him off when her mind caught up with what he was saying.
"Lloyd fell off? We gotta go after him! We got to help him-"she started to move towards where she saw Lloyd last, but fell to her knees when she felt pain shoot through her. She tried to get back up again, but another twinge of pain came from her back, preventing her from moving. Genis came to her and helped her to stand, acting as a crutch for her.
"I know, Sheena, but Kratos is down there with him, and that blue-haired guy too. He was fighting with us, so he's sure to help get Lloyd too. He gave me this," the mini mage held up the transmitter, "and told me to get all of you out of here. And right now, that's all we can do, unless you're telling me you can fly too." He guided her over to the rest of their group and helped her to sit down.
"But…what if they need our help? What if…" Sheena started to say, but fell quiet when she couldn't form a real reason to remain aside from wanting to help Lloyd. "We can't just leave them here…" she looked down at her hands, realizing her powerlessness in this situation.
"I don't want to either, Sheena. But…I believe in him. Lloyd, that is. And I believe in Kratos. They'll be alright." Genis replied. He tried to sound brave for her, to help her feel better.
Sheena looked to the elven mage and nodded in acceptance. "So what do we do now?"
Genis looked down at the device in his hand. "Well…I guess we see just what this does." He pushed the button in the center and heard a small "Bing!" before a bright light came over their bodies. The next they knew, they were being warped away to lands unknown, leaving no trace of their previous presence.
Sylvarant Renegade Base- a few moments later
Genis and Sheena were blinded for a moment before the lights cleared and they could see again. They found themselves in a small room full of computers and magitetechnology that Genis had never seen before. He shook himself when he realized that the rest of the room's occupants had all turned at their arrival, and many already had their hands at their weapons. Genis held up his hands in a placating gesture before anyone could do anything. "Wait! We're not enemies here! I can explain!" 'Why of all places were we sent to a Desian Base? Was I wrong to trust that blue-haired guy who gave me that device?' he thought to himself. Genis looked to Sheena and found she was eyeing the room, her seals in hand. "Sheena, calm down. I can handle this!" Genis whispered to her. Before he could say anymore, another blinding light flashed beside them, causing Genis and Sheena to step back and cover their eyes.
When it cleared, Genis had to blink several times before he realized who he was looking at was really there. "You-you're the guy we fought back in Iselia! And at the Desian base!" he exclaimed as Botta stepped forward.
The man in question turned to Genis and his eyes hardened. "Where are Lloyd and Kratos at? As well as Yuan?" he questioned.
Genis reined in his emotions and focused on what he had been told to do. He quickly deduced that this "Yuan" was the same man who had given him the teleportation device. "I was told to pass along a message from Yuan," Genis states, "That says that we came here on Yuan's orders, and to be ready for the second signal." He recited the message word for word, hoping that this meant protection for his friends.
Botta watched Genis for a moment more before he nodded and turned to the soldiers. "You heard him, men. I want a clear channel and connection to the next teleport signal that Lord Yuan gives. These people are under our protection now, and we're to see to it the rest of their group returns with Lord Yuan as well. Is that understood?" he gave his orders in a firm tone, and soon order was restored to the room as the men resumed operating their stations.
Botta turned to one of the guards stationed at the door for security. "You! Go and retrieve the medical team and have them brought here to check on our unconscious guests for any injuries. Then move them to our guest quarters. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the guard replied before dashing out the door and out of sight. Botta sighed and turned back to Genis. "You don't need to worry. You're safe here, you have my word."
Genis nodded and decided to finally ask a question that had been weighing on his mind the entire time. "Are…are you guys Desians?"
Botta shook his head and replied, "No, we are not. I can't answer all the questions now, but what I can tell you is that we are your allies. For now, I suggest you get some rest. You've just escaped from possibly one of the most dangerous places in the world." He held up a fist. "We'll take it from here. Getting your friends back is now our number one priority."
Genis nodded and felt himself relax slightly. His mind was still buzzing with questions, but they could wait. For now, all he wanted was to know his friends were ok, and to have them back.
Tower of Salvation-void space (1)
Lloyd could feel air rushing past him as he continued to fall. His sense of balance was completely thrown off, considering the fact that he's never really fought in mid-air, let alone fly in it without the help of a Rheaird. He flipped his body around and was greeted with the sight of coffins passing by him left and right, with no end in sight or a ground to expect to meet. 'Then again, I don't think I would want to know if there was a bottom floor…' he thought soberly, as he realized if there was one, it would likely bring about the end of Lloyd Irving.
"Does the sight shock you, Lloyd?" the eternal swordsman turned his head to see his dark copy close behind him, and oddly enough, looking at him from an upside down perspective. He seemed to be completely at ease in such a state. "To see so many Chosen Ones and their bodies, failures that were nothing more than building blocks for a twisted madman's dream?" he questioned Lloyd.
"I would think it pretty crazy of you to follow me down here, since we're obviously going to land at some point. Then again, you probably are just that insane." Lloyd retorted back. His only response was laughter from the evil fighter.
"Insane? Oh, Lloyd…if only you knew the depths of my mind. It would make this eternal fall of ours look like a mere step on a staircase. But that's enough chit-chat for now." He drew his sword again and adopted a manic grin. "I've wasted enough time here, and I've got a world to undo. So it's time to say goodbye, Lloyd Irving."
(Music Cue- Reckoning by Future world Music)
Lloyd gripped his swords and held them in front of him. He may not be in his element, but he'll be damned before he goes down without trying to fight. "Bring it on! Sonic Thrust!" Lloyd cried, pulling his blade back before thrusting it forward. The energy of the attack pulled him forward and towards his opponent, who simply deflected Lloyd and sent him towards the coffins behind him. Thinking quickly, Lloyd rolled himself to his right, building momentum up before he collided with the coffin. Using the momentum, he pushed off it with his feet and bounced back towards D.L, who raised an eyebrow at his sudden return. He righted himself as Lloyd approached.
"Not bad…you're better than I expected…" D.L grinned before blocking Lloyd's attack, holding off Lloyd's force and keeping him in place in front of him. The two began clashing, the fact that they were falling now forgotten as their fight resumed. Lloyd tried for a vertical slash, but D.L dodged, causing Lloyd to flip as the swing carried through. D.L moved to counterattack by striking at his exposed backside, but Lloyd saw his blade move and reacted, shifting his weight to the left and avoiding the impaling thrust. Coming back up, Lloyd lashed out with a Tiger Blade, the upswing ceasing his flip as his swords met with Dark Lloyd's again. On the downswing, Lloyd knocked him beneath him, putting a little distance between the two. D.L quickly returned, however, as they were still falling and Lloyd had to roll again to avoid having his head impaled on Tsukuyomi.
Coming out of the roll, Lloyd raised a sword on reflex to block another attack and countered with a thrust at D.L's side, causing him to strafe right. Lloyd smirked before yelling, "Sonic Sword Rain!" and unleashing a flurry of sword jabs at his opponent. Caught off balance by Lloyd's counterattack, D.L could only block a few of the strikes while others danced across his body. When Lloyd came in for the final strike, however, he decided that enough was enough and parried the strike, holding the two in another stalemate as they tried to overpower one another.
"You can't keep this up forever!" Lloyd growled as he pushed D.L back from him. The wind made his eyes water, but he never tore them away from his opponent.
D.L said nothing for a moment before replying. "You know…you really are worth the trouble of being killed by my own blade. If you were anyone else, I would've simply thrown a minion of mine on you, or simply twisted someone into going after you. But not for you, Lloyd Irving. You deserve a special death, a death that shall come at the hands of me and me alone!" He suddenly broke off his attack and rushed down below Lloyd, diving at a much faster rate than Lloyd was going. He vanished from sight for a moment, causing Lloyd to wonder just what he had in mind.
His question was answered as D.L's figure suddenly came rushing back up towards him at great speed, a fist pulled back and ready to strike. Lloyd rolled to avoid being hit, and felt the immense air blast him aside as D.L flew by. He crashed into another coffin and finally came to a stop, and felt his whole body struggle to hold its grip on the object. The midair combat, as well as the energy he had expended in this battle, was causing him trouble. He managed to pull himself up as he heard D.L's mocking laughter.
"Sneaky little devil, aren't you? Every time I try to finish you off, you just manage to get away. I find that to be very annoying, Lloyd!" He hovered before him, and Lloyd had to restrain himself from gaping. Dark Lloyd had formed two wings out of shadow, formed into the shape of enlarged bat wings that kept flapping every few seconds, keeping him in place. He had a frown on his face as he looked down on his duplicate. "This has lost its entertainment for me now. It's time for your mockery of my existence to end. Goodbye, Lloyd Irving." He held up Tsukuyomi and Lloyd could feel his power building up, and tried to think of a way out. 'Martel, help me…' he thought as he tried to find a way out.
"Lightning Blade!" Lloyd heard a voice ring out, and he looked up to see a vengeful God of War, Kratos himself, appear and swing his blade down at Dark Lloyd. He blocked the attack, but was blasted aside by the shock of lightning that followed after it. Kratos' wings were visible, and he looked every part the Seraphim that Lloyd knew him to be. 'Well, not quite Martel, but I'd say that's pretty close to it!' he thought with relief.
"Lloyd, are you alright?" Kratos asked without turning back. He was hovering between Lloyd and his dark copy. He had finally caught up with the pair, and was relieved immensely to see his son mostly unharmed.
"For the most part, yeah. He's tough, Kratos." Lloyd stood up upon the coffin and dusted himself off lightly. "Don't go easy on him if you want to take him on."
Kratos smirked and gave his patented "humph" in reply. "I'll keep that in mind."
"So the fallen father has come to save the doomed son…how poetic. You should be proud of him. He managed to fight me and is still alive. Granted, I'm not fighting at my best, but I felt like giving him a fair try. It was only fair, after all, for the son to take a try at the father's failure." Dark Lloyd fingered his blade slowly as he looked at his new adversary. "I certainly hope you can provide a better challenge." He raised his unoccupied hand in a beckoning motion at Kratos. It was all he got to do before Kratos was upon him, striking fiercely with the wrath that was carried in his name.
Unlike his fight with Lloyd, D.L found that he was forced to block more than dodge. Kratos was a much swifter and experienced fighter, and showed it in battle. He did not give an opening to exploit, something that irritated D.L to no end. He tried moving into the offensive, feinting a parry and slashing at Kratos' chest. His blade met with his shield, holding him in place as Kratos kneed him in the chest, flinging him back and away. He kept up the assault, rushing him with a Sonic Thrust and scoring a graze against his side. D.L replied with a fist, knocking Kratos back and away. The God of War shook it off and the two resumed fighting.
Lloyd was amazed at the skill his father was showing. He was going toe to toe with the evil swordsman, and holding his ground as well. He realized that right now, he was no match for either of the two. Their swords rang and clashed as the two continued to battle, neither giving any ground up. Kratos gave him a vicious vertical slash that D.L strained to hold back, only to be led into a Light Spear Cannon that blasted him back and away. While stunned from the assault, Kratos began channeling mana for a spell, which didn't go unnoticed by D.L.
"Like hell I'm letting you pull that off!" He growled as he dashed at Kratos, intent on running him through. He had almost reached him when he found himself diverted by a spinning blade, courtesy of Yuan. Dodging left, he turned to face his new attacker, whose blade quickly returned to his hands. "And like hell I'm letting you harm him!" Yuan challenged as he dashed forward. D.L met him and lashed out with Tsukuyomi, only to be blocked by Yuan. Forming a ball of lightning in his hand, Yuan shoved it into D.L's stomach, causing him to lurch forward as electric current raced through him. Yuan pressed his advantage and gave him a roundhouse kick, knocking him into a nearby coffin.
Kratos finally completed his casting and pointed two fingers at D.L before yelling, "Thunder Blade!" Above them, a mass of purple mana took the form of a giant blade and raced at D.L. He looked up and formed darkness in his hand before throwing it toward the incoming attack. The darkness swirled into an orb before colliding with the Thunder Blade, causing the two to clash and push against each other for dominance before exploding.
"It took you long enough to get here, Yuan." Kratos remarked to his partner, though inside he was relieved to have Yuan backing him up.
"I would've been quicker, but I had to see to it that the Chosen One as well as the rest of your group was safe. Not to mention that someone decided to show off and jump first before thinking." Yuan replied, smirking.
Their chatter was cut short as Dark Lloyd lashed out with more dark magic, both Yuan and Kratos having to dodge as dark lances pierced the air they had been in moments before. "I have had enough of this charade!" D.L roared out, rage prominent on his face. "You mock me with idle chatter when you should be trembling! I will enjoy spilling your blood, and displaying your dead bodies for the world to see!" He held up Tsukuyomi pointing straight ahead of him, and everyone felt a large pulse of energy issue from the swordsman. Lloyd could feel a wave of maliciousness wash over him, sending him to his knees as he felt it press against him.
(Music Cue- Dark Side of Power-Immediate Music)
"Darkness…come forth! Consume, devour, and engulf all who oppose you! Let the blood of your enemies carry you to your greatest victory! " D.L's voice rang out, laced with anger and power. "Awaken, Amatsu-mikaboshi!" he finished, and darkness overtook everyone's sight. When it finally faded, Lloyd gasped as he witnessed D.L's new weapon, a blade that was nearly as large as he was tall. Its handle was clearly meant for two hands, though he was holding it in just one. The steel of the blade was glowing with a dark red, and seemed to be shaped in the form of a dragon's head. Lloyd recognized the three sharp spikes on the topside from Neil's description, though he seemed to have missed the jagged teeth design on the side that gleamed in the light. In the center of the blade, Lloyd could make out the runes as well, but was caught off-guard when he could see what looked like an eye staring back at him.
'What is this guy? Wait…isn't that the sword that Kratos told us about before?' Lloyd thought quickly. 'This is bad…if that's what I think it is, then we need to get out of here, and fast!'
Dark Lloyd smiled almost serenely as he felt the new weight of his blade. Both Kratos and Yuan's eyes were wide as they were presented with the same cursed blade they'd fought 4,000 years before. "So it truly is you…I had hoped you would be lost to time forever…" Kratos muttered quietly.
"Lost to time? Foolish Kratos. Not even the force of time can contain the wrath of an avatar of darkness! Now come, my blade hungers for blood, and yours is just the meal it seeks!" D.L's voice growled as he suddenly rocketed forward, appearing in front of Kratos and aiming for a horizontal slash. He parried it and tried to counterattack, only to find that he had moved already and was behind him. He ducked, and narrowly missed having his head removed as D.L cleaved through the air where he had been.
Yuan moved in to assist and struck quickly, only to be blocked. The two began trading blows, with Yuan trying attacks from different angles to throw D.L off balance, while D.L would attack with overwhelming power, making Yuan either dodge or parry the deadly sword. Deciding to try another tactic, Yuan switched his grip to the far end of his blade-staff, and began to spin with it, using his momentum to make up for lack of force. D.L parried each attack, but was being pushed back slightly as Yuan's assault was unrelenting. Finally having enough, D.L blocked the next attack and threw a right hook into Yuan's face, knocking him off balance and throwing him back.
Yuan had to shake his head to get his bearings back, the blow making him see stars. 'I can't let him get close like that again…perhaps a ranged approach?' he thought as he started spinning his staff with both hands, drawing in mana for his next attack.
Meanwhile, D.L had resumed fighting with Kratos, who now had to give it his all in order to stay even with his opponent. His Seraphim enhanced strength matched with D.L's own, but he was having trouble getting into his guard. Amatsu-mikaboshi's size acted as both attacker and defender, leaving little room open for an attack from Kratos. Seeing an opening, Kratos dodged another slash aimed at his midsection and cried "Sonic Thrust!" as he aimed for the small gap between the blade and D.L's arm. He succeeded, and drew a quick slash that drew blood along D.L's underarm.
D.L grimaced and lashed out with his demonic blade, using one hand as he waited for his other to regenerate the muscles damaged from the attack. "You can't win, Seraphim! Sooner or later, you're going to run out of energy, and when you do, I'm going to finish you off, once and for all!" he exclaimed.
Kratos blocked the attack and moved back, keeping his distance. "Large boasts from one who I've beaten before. Do you really think you can win against us all?" Kratos challenged, circling around D.L. He knew Yuan was close to finishing his spell, and needed only a little more time to complete it.
"Beaten me? No, Kratos, you never beat me. You merely delayed the inevitable: your death, as well as many others at my hands!" D.L swung his blade behind him and channeled mana into it, giving it a dark aura that Kratos knew was a bad sign.
"Eclipse Wave!" D.L roared as he swung the massive sword forward, releasing the stored up mana into a large wave of darkness. Thinking quickly, Kratos dove down to avoid being hit, and watched as the attack continued and devoured the coffins that had been floating behind him. "Now, Yuan!" Kratos yelled.
Yuan nodded and pointed at where D.L was. "Thunder Blade!" he called out and another massive purple sword formed, launching it at the dark swordsman. Remembering the last time he cancelled it out, Yuan followed up by firing several lighting orbs after it, the orbs overtaking the larger spell and aiming for D.L. He saw them coming and batted them away with his dark blade, only to see the larger spell arriving too quickly to counter. Left with little choice, D.L waited for the right moment before blocking the Thunder Blade directly with his own sword. The two clashed and held each other in place. D.L fought back until he realized in the back of his mind he'd left his rear guard open.
"Super Lightning Blade!" Kratos yelled as he rushed the opening he'd been given, thrusting his sword into D.L's exposed backside and blasting him with a combination of wind and lightning. The blast was strong enough to throw him off from guarding the Thunder Blade, causing him to be engulfed in a mass of electricity that blasted him down below the pair. Yuan rejoined Kratos and the two looked down to where they could see D.L had fallen to, stunned momentarily by the combined assault.
"We need to get out of here. We can't beat him in this state." Yuan took his eyes off D.L and turned to Kratos, who was keeping an eye on their opponent.
"Agreed. Do you still have another transport device?" Kratos shifted his gaze from D.L to Lloyd, who had taken to kneeling on the coffin while the battle had played out before him.
"Yes, I do. But we'll need to get higher up for the signal to be received. And I don't think our friend here is going to let us go so easily." The two shared a glance and nodded on the same thought they had reached. Both spread away from each other and began channeling the holy magic of their Seraphim sides, calling upon the one spell that would be their only shot to escape.
(Music cue- Fury unleashed by Immediate Music)
Below them, D.L finally shook off the paralysis he had suffered from the combined electrical attack. The massive amount of energy had wiped out his body's nervous system, and had taken a little time to repair. He looked up at the two warriors he had been fighting and laughed. It had been a long time since he had gotten such an enjoyable battle. "Forget killing them…I'm going to mutilate them!" He bellowed aloud, and darkness swirled around him as he launched himself up towards them again, his sword ready to make the killing blow he sought.
"Lloyd! When we complete this spell, I'll grab you and get you out of here. We're leaving!" Kratos yelled to his son, who nodded and looked back down. "He's coming!" Lloyd cried out, and the pair looked down to see a massive wave of darkness ascending towards them, D.L at the head of it, laughing maniacally. His blade was glowing brightly, and Lloyd could feel the rage emanating from the evil being. It was a massive force, as if some large hand was squeezing around Lloyd's very being. It washed over him and he found he could barely move, if at all.
"It ends here, Kratos! It all ends here! Everything and everyone, starting with you!" Dark Lloyd bellowed. Amatsu-Mikaboshi seemed to agree with him, the sword giving him more power as he approached.
"Now!" Yuan yelled, and the two's wings extended to their full reach. "Judgment!" they called out, and two large orbs of light formed above them. Lloyd had to shield his eyes from how bright it was before him. He felt a hand grab him and lift him up off the coffin, and Lloyd could only watch as Kratos carried him upwards towards the platform above them. "Dad, what're you-"
"We have to get out of here, Lloyd! He's beyond us both in that form. If we stayed any longer, we'd only be digging our own graves!" Kratos cut him off and increased his speed, his wings flapping as they moved.
D.L had been confused as to what the two Seraphim were up to when they suddenly broke off and grabbed Lloyd to flee, but his curiosity was soon answered as he noticed the two orbs above him. When they began to disperse into beams of light, he couldn't help but sigh to himself. "They always overdo it…" he muttered before his vision was overcome with radiant light. The double Judgment blast tore through the dark wave and shredded it into pieces, causing the darkness to disperse and leaving D.L alone, who could only watch as he was once again blasted down the eternal fall of the Tower by the holy spell.
Above him, Lloyd, Kratos, and Yuan finally reached the platform, and vanished, finally leaving the Tower of Salvation behind.
Sylvarant Renegade Base-3 hours after escape
Everyone was gathered into a small conference room that Yuan had placed near his main office; each healed and patched up from their injuries they had suffered in the Tower. When Lloyd, Kratos, and Yuan had finally returned, they were taken to the infirmary to check for any injuries or wounds. Arriving there, they were greeted by the rest of Lloyd's group, causing a mini uproar when they all ran up to see their returned friends.
Sheena had been the most emotional of all, running to Lloyd and pulling him into the tightest hug he'd ever felt. Lloyd had a small blush, but smiled and returned the hug, whispering soothing words to calm her down. For Sheena, it was an immense relief to see Lloyd return safe and sound. She gave him a strong swat on the arm and told him to be more careful next time, and to not scare her like that before she composed herself. The rest of the group had been relatively calmer, but nonetheless overjoyed to have their group all return from such a dramatic battle.
After greeting everyone and calming down, questions soon arose about all the words that had been said at the Tower, by those of Remiel, Lloyd, Yggdrasill, and Dark Lloyd as well. Yuan chose to have everyone save their questions for later, leading to where they were now.
"I'm certain many of you have questions to ask of me, as well as Kratos here after what you saw at the Tower of Salvation. I will do my best to answer them, but know that for the sake of the security of my base, as well as my fellow men, I won't be obligated to answer everything." He remarked before sitting back in his seat.
Raine opted to go first, and stood before she spoke. "First and foremost, what did this…Yggdrasill, refer to when he called you Seraphim? And furthermore, how does he know both of you?"
Yuan sighed and closed his eyes to think before answering. "Seraphim are what people like me and Kratos are referred to as in the organization of Cruxis. We're both of high ranking, given to us due to our abilities and our strength. There's more to it than that, but for simplicity's sake, that's all I can tell you at the moment. As for how he knows us…" Yuan glanced at Kratos, who nodded for him to continue.
"…we used to work alongside him as his subordinates. I emphasize the words 'used to', as neither Kratos nor I have any desire to continue going down that path. Too much has changed and happened for us to do that. That's all I wish to say of it for now."
Raine nodded and accepted this for now, choosing to mull over them and their implications. Genis chose to speak next, and acted on the habits he learned in school by raising his hand. When Yuan turned his gaze to him, he asked, "I keep hearing the word Cruxis…in fact, Yggdrasill mentioned it too. I was taught that Cruxis was supposed to be a society of heavenly beings, people who guard the world. He said that he was the leader of the Desians and Cruxis. What does that mean?" Genis asked.
Yuan nodded at the question and replied, "First and foremost, remove any idea in your mind of Cruxis being made up of heavenly people. It is nothing more than a ruse that's been set up by Yggdrasill himself. For all intents and purposes, Cruxis and Desians are one and the same, organizations that seek to control the world through whatever means they need. For the Desians, they control the populace through terror and forced will, as you've no doubt seen."
"Cruxis, however, operates on a different scale. They're the commanding voice behind the Desians and their actions. Whenever the Desians make a move, it is likely motivated by an order from Cruxis. The best example of this I can give you is the Desians wish to capture the Chosen One, that is, Colette here." Yuan gestured to Colette before continuing. "Cruxis needs to keep up the ruse of being a holy organization, ones who support the Chosen One on her journey of World Regeneration. To do this, they have the Desians act as the opposing force for the journey, and place agents like Remiel to guide you and reinforce the idea of being on your side, when in fact, they're not."
"But why? What would they gain from putting me in danger like that?" Colette asked. Her role as the Chosen One was being put under question, and as far as she could tell, the role she had thought she played was something else entirely. "Is there something more to the Journey than what we're told?"
Yuan looked to Kratos again who nodded before closing his eyes. "The reason they do this, Colette, has to do with the goal of Cruxis. While they do manipulate the Desians to enforce their will, Cruxis has a secret goal that Yggdrasill himself is overseeing:" Yuan paused as he considered the ramifications of this knowledge, and decided to throw caution to the wind.
"The revival of Martel, by using the body of the Chosen One through sacrificing her heart and mind, along with the body's senses and ties to the physical world."
Colette gasped along with Raine and Genis at the implications. "You mean…the whole Journey was designed to…sacrifice Colette?" Genis questioned finally, after Yuan's words had had a moment to sink in. Yuan only nodded the confirmation before the little half-elf sat back in his seat.
Raine was not as shocked as Genis was, having known already that Colette's destiny would end with her sacrificing herself in order to regenerate the world. But the underlying ideas of what Yuan had said began to sink in, and she thought back to all the coffins floating within the Tower. And with the knowledge now of what was to become of her student, it didn't take long for her to make a dramatic connection. "But that would mean…all those other Chosen One's who came through before…" she whispered quietly to herself.
"Yes," Kratos remarked, drawing attention to him, "they were all Chosen Ones who were sacrificed and failed. Countless numbers who were lost to a darker lost cause. Yggdrasill seeks to revive Martel for his own purposes, but as for me, it's gone on for long enough. I've seen too much hurt to allow it to continue any further."
"But if that's true, then why don't you just confront him and put a stop to it yourself? If both of you took him on, surely you would win?" Genis asked.
Yuan shook his head to the negative. "I'm afraid that isn't possible at this point. Yggdrasill controls something that we can't match up to, a magical force that he once used to separate the world into two separate worlds. Confronting him with that kind of power in his hands would be catastrophic, and would end in failure. We have to try and use a more indirect means of getting to him, else otherwise our efforts are all for nothing."
"Split into two worlds? What are you talking about? There's never been such an event in Sylvarant's recorded history!" Raine questioned. "If such a thing had happened, we would be well aware of it, considering the level of change it would bring, let alone the devastation!"
"A good point to make. But tell me this, Professor: If Yggdrasill had indeed split the world in two, and trust me when I say he has successfully done so, don't you think it would make sense that in that same instance, he would simply eradicate the memory of there ever being one whole world where Sylvarant and another world were together? And should you accept that, you should also be aware that you've already met two people from the other world, right here in this room." Yuan countered her question.
"W-what? Who?" she looked towards the rest of the group, who all looked back at her before Sheena stood up and spoke. "I never told you where my home village was for a reason, Raine. Had I told you at the time where I was really from, I doubt you would've believed me."
"That's true, but…to come forward and say that you're from another world…" Raine closed her eyes and sighed, regaining some of her composure. "What is the name of your world then, Sheena? Assuming that all this is true?"
"It's Tethe'alla, and I can assure you, it's the real deal, alright. I'm living proof of this. I'm capable of summoning rituals and abilities that have been lost to your world, but kept alive in mine. Traditions that died out in your history still exist in ours, on my world." Sheena explained to her. "I've never lied to you this entire journey, Raine, or to any of you. I give you my word this is true."
Raine sat back down and ran a hand through her snow white hair. A whole other world existing alongside Sylvarant…how could that be possible? And yet, some blanks that had been in the history books began to be filled as she put thought towards it. The Kharlan War, thousands of years ago, where the tale of Mithos originated, spoke of two nations fighting against each other. One was identified as Sylvarant, but the other's name had been forgotten. Yet, if what Sheena said was true, the very answer to that mystery was right before her. 'It seems beyond belief…but it fits. It's too much a coincidence to believe that no one would keep a record of the war, that names would even be forgotten. But it's been hidden from us all this time…why? What was to be gained from separating the two nations into two worlds?'
Yuan could see her mind racing, and began talking again. "I realize this is a lot to take in, but know that all that has been said here is the truth as we know it to be. Over time, you'll come to understand this and much more. But for now, we must turn our attention to another issue. The return of Amatsu-Mikaboshi to the realm of reality." Yuan spared a glance at Lloyd before continuing.
"I'm not entirely sure how or why this blade has returned now, or what its motives are. Judging from what we witnessed in the Tower of Salvation, it is easy to understand that one of its goals is to wreak as much havoc as possible. The nature of the blade is what drives it, and in that, we can understand it." Yuan rose from his seat and began to pace back and forth. "We can also infer that it has a vendetta against you, Lloyd, though for what purpose, I don't know. To take on your own features and to target you like it has means it wants something from you."
Lloyd shrugged in his seat as he looked to Yuan. "I can't say that I would know either. I've never even known about it until Kratos told us the myth behind it at Palmacosta. As much as I would want to know though, I don't want to be anywhere near that thing if it can be helped."
Yuan nodded. "Agreed. It is obvious to me that remaining here would no doubt put you, as well as all the rest of you, in danger. Also, it is my belief that the answer to many of these questions can't be found here, rather elsewhere. Therefore, I'm recommending that you go to Tethe'alla, to find more answers and maybe even a way to combat this new force."
Genis stood up in surprise. "You want us…to go to Tethe'alla? But how?"
"We have ways of getting you there, safe and sound. I wouldn't suggest it if we had another option, but right now; this is the best way I can think of to keep you safe, as well as perhaps find answers that need finding. I have a base in that world as well, so I will keep in contact, as well as provide help when I can. For now, however, I would recommend you all get some rest. You have a long journey ahead of you, and I'm sure you can use it." Yuan stated. When he said this, everyone stood up and made their way for the door to their guest quarters. Lloyd stayed behind, waiting for everyone to leave before speaking again.
"I think you put on a pretty good act there, Yuan. They seemed convinced to me." He remarked as the blue-haired Seraphim walked over to him, joined by Kratos as well.
"Indeed. I had to give them enough knowledge that they would listen to me, but not ask too many questions of it or look into it too far. At least now they have an idea of what they're up against." He nodded towards Kratos. "So what do you make of all this?"
Kratos ran a hand through his hair before answering. "I'm not entirely certain of what to think. To know that that evil blade has returned from its banishment is enough to cause great concern. If he intends to seek us out, I've no doubt he'll do whatever it takes to find us. Going to Tethe'alla is smart, but who knows how long we'll have before he comes after us again once he recovers?"
Yuan shook his head. "There's too little we know right now to be sure. One thing I do know, however, is that we will find more in Tethe'alla than anywhere else. In the meantime, if there's anything else I can do, Lloyd…" he turned to the Eternal swordsman.
Lloyd shook his head and replied, "You've already done more than enough, Yuan. You saved all our lives back at the Tower, and are helping us to solve this puzzle. We'll do our best to stay in touch once we cross over, and try not to cause you any headaches." He stretched and felt a couple of his bones pop. "For now, though, I know there's a bed with my name on it, and I intend to claim it. Take care, guys." He walked off, leaving the two Seraphim to themselves to watch him go.
"He's grown up a lot, hasn't he?" Yuan asked Kratos quietly, not looking to see his reaction.
"More than I would expect, but then again, this is my son we're talking about. There's no doubt he would be destined for great things." Kratos replied, feeling his pride swell for his son. "Now we just have to see it all the way through to the end this time."
Referring to the space underneath the platform when you enter the Tower of Salvation. It really is just an eternal pitfall.
Double the Judgment, double the fun, no? This was the largest fight scene I've done for some time, and believe me when I say I put a lot of work into acting it out and trying to make it as vivid and realistic as possible. I even flipped myself upside down sometimes to simulate falling down like Lloyd did, though the blood rushing to my head made it not so easy, hehe. You've finally gotten to see Dark Lloyd fight in action, and see the amazing Kratos and Yuan fight together with the group, and now you know just where to expect the story to be directed to now. Of course, don't expect to see the same Tethe'alla that you had in the game. It's going to be very, very different. *wicked grin*
I can't believe I've finally made it this far into the story. I never expected it to grow this far, but now that it has, I can't stop myself from continuing to work on it. I do know for certain, though, there won't be a yearlong interlude between updates, that's for sure, hehe.
So what happens now? Well, I'm finishing up my college work for this semester, having only a couple months left before this year ends. Having gotten this far in the story, it's safe to say that I need some time to think about what I'm going to change for the next story arc, Tethe'alla. I've gotten some ideas, but they're gonna take time to think about and form into a plot. Therefore, this chapter will be the last I'll do for some time before I update again, once school's out of the way and I have more free time on my hands.
I'm so thankful for all the reviews and favorites that this story has gotten. It's in writing this story that I keep my inspiration to become a novelist in the future, reading feedback and adjusting my writing style. So I owe a big thanks to all of you for sticking with the story so long, and I promise to keep up the work so as to not disappoint.
Read and Review!