Warning: Contains graphic details.
The storm is coming…
Viola and her group were following the bloody trail Raphael and his two captors left but they quickly found out the traces stopped to some horse's trails that quickly got lost on the road. Viola was upset.
-We lost them…
While Viola tried to gaze into her orb to know more, Cassandra said:
-They are probably in Ostrheinsburg.
-Yes, probably. Answered Kilik who felt there was so much evil energy in the area that he could not sense where the others had been but he added:
-Anyway the others have to meet us there…
-So we head to Ostrheinsburg? Asked Xiba.
Hearing the others speaking together while trying to see something in her orb, Viola thought: Their presence is distracting me… I can't see anything… I don't need them on my side. Why am I stuck with all those strangers? Why did Zwei left me with them? I don't even know them! But she knew Zwei had to lead the others to the fortress. And mostly had to get help from the Schwarzwind which may be useful indeed. Since no one but him knew where the fortress was, they had to split up… Viola glanced at Cassandra and wondered why did that girl offered to come with her since she seemed to not like her father… She didn't like her… But she said nothing and the group then began to walk toward Ostrheinsburg.
Meanwhile Zwei arrived with the others at the fortress. Hilde greeted him.
-Zwei! So did you… Who are those people?
Seeing the wounded girls she added:
-I shall call Franz right away!
After she told a soldier to look for the healer, she turned toward the newcomers again. She stared for a while at the woman wearing green and white clothes.
-Hi, Princess Hilde, said the woman while curtsying.
-… Talim?
-Yes, it's me.
Hilde stared at her with a surprised stare for some seconds before she spoke again.
-Talim! You grew up! And mostly, you're alive! What a great surprise! What happened? Where were you?
-Well… In Astral Chaos. But I'll tell you later.
-Kilik? Is he…? Asked Hilde.
-He's fine. Quickly answered Talim.
-Yeah. Answered Zwei who quickly explained the situation to Hilde but he also asked Hilde:
-And, huh… How come you're here, Princess? Is Siegfried…?
Suddenly Zwei feared Hilde had been called back because Siegfried died from his wound.
-He's alright. He's still resting.
-What is going on? Asked Siegfried coming toward them right at this instant with Franz. He suddenly stared at Talim with a surprised look and a smile illuminated his face.
-Talim?
-Yes. Said Talim smiling. Happy they remembered her. But she suddenly noticed Siegfried's left arm was in a sling with a lot of bandage on the shoulder.
-Oh! What happened to you?
-I've been attacked. But that's not important. What happened? How did you…?
-Well… we don't really have time now… said Talim with an embarrassed look.
And Zwei explained again what happened. Siegfried called some mercenaries to take the two malfested enemies into custody until they are purified. Talim would purify them and Gretel when she would come back since she didn't have time already, she only had time to purify Natsu so that her wound don't worsen with malfestation. Hilde ordered some of her soldiers to come with her while Siegfried called some of his mercenaries.
-Hilde, shouldn't you better not bring any of your soldiers to Ostrheinsburg? Asked Siegfried. If Imperial soldiers found out about it, you could be in some kind of political trouble…
-Well, with all going on there, even if the Emperor found out I went to Ostrheinsburg with my soldiers, I shall tell him I have to go there and destroy this evil place once and for all! It should be his duty to support such an initiative! Answered Hilde on a determined tone until she saw Siegfried also getting prepared and putting some part of his armour.
-Siegfried! You're not coming! You are not in a state to fight!
-Yes, I am. Stated Siegfried while taking some normal one handed sword since with his still wounded arm, he could not use his zweihander.
-You won't be able to fight efficiently, you're too wounded! Continued Hilde, worried for him. You're awfuly pale! You were still in your bed not long ago, you have to rest!
-Nein, I'm okay now. Beside it's too important! I have a feeling something bad will happen! I can't stay and do nothing!
As leader of the Schwarzwind and as responsible for many things in Ostrheinsburg, Siegfried felt he had to go. And he could not let his beloved princess go alone now that they were a couple…
-You sure you're okay for this, captain? Asked Zwei, worried like Hilde.
-Yeah, I'm fine.
-Fine Siegfried, then if you're so stubborn, Gerhilde and Waltraute shall be assigned to your protection! Said Hilde on a decided tone.
-And I'll protect you too, said Zwei.
Before Siegfried could say he needed no special protection, Zwei continued.
-But we got to hurry. Viola is supposed to wait for us but I fear she will not and will try to get into Ostrheinsburg by herself!
-She's stubborn too… like me and like her father… muttered Siegfried.
Viola and the others were now waiting in front of Ostrheinsburg as the rain was beginning to fall down.
-If that Tira hated my father that much for destroying Nightmare, why didn't she kill him on the spot in Astral Chaos? Asked Viola even if she already knew the answer.
Cassandra told her exactly what she was expecting.
-Because she wants to torture him and have fun with him, of course, answered Cassandra who still didn't believe it was Raphael who destroyed Nightmare but said nothing about it.
Cassandra knew Tira was truly evil and may have kept him for some torture or maybe even to sacrifice him to the evil sword…
-She already tortured him for sixteen years… Isn't it enough?
-That woman doesn't know the word enough… But one good thing, if she didn't kill him on the spot, that means we can find him and save him. Added Cassandra, feeling she may have tell Viola a too much harsh truth about the torture thing so she tried to soften things a little.
Viola stared at the Greek woman.
-Why did you volunteer to save my father? You didn't seem to like the 'Vampire'…
-No. I don't really like him indeed. For your information, he may be the one who killed my sister.
Viola said nothing. Indeed her father had made many victims… And she now happened to meet one… Viola could understand why Cassandra would not like him but she didn't understand more why this woman came to help her save her father. Maybe she wanted to get revenge herself on him… Viola didn't trust Cassandra very much… So she asked her again:
-But again, if you hate my father, why do you help?
-I… don't hate him. Answered Cassandra seemingly searching for her words before she added:
-… I'm angry at him but I don't… think I hate him…
She added:
-If he truly regrets what he did. If not, I'll kill him…
-But you say he may have killed your sister… He may? You're not sure?
-Well, most things point to him. Yet I don't have the definite proof. I would like to ask him what happened. He seemed to respect my sister when we first met. He attacked me, bit me and almost killed me, yet when he fought my sister, he called her madame, bowed to her and left when he saw the kids. Sophitia had been touched by this. She had really feared for her children… She always worried for her children… But seeing that your father didn't want to hurt them, and even stopped attacking when he saw them, really relieved Sophitia. As she always said, your father was a poor victim of Soul Edge, not a truly evil man.
-And then again, why did you come to save him? Maybe you don't hate him but you don't like him to the point of risking your life for him…
-You want the truth? It's not for your father that I came but for my niece and my sister. I said he killed my sister yet I haven't had the time to really check if Sophitia was dead while I was in Ostrheinsburg but I found her unconscious, she had lost much blood and she had vampire bite marks on her neck. I also learned your father was in Ostrheinsburg at that time, so it does point to him, don't you think? My niece was abducted by Soul Edge followers… By the girl with a ringblade that also abducted your father, to be precise. And I'm certain of that one. I can really say I hate that girl without a doubt. So we do have a common enemy.
-Your niece was abducted?
-Yes. Pyrrha, my little niece… three years old at the time… Now she would be nineteen… If she…
Cassandra had teary eyes remembering her sweet little niece; Pyrrha was so kind… So cute… How can someone attack a three years old child? And she didn't believe Tira spared her life… Her poor Pyrrha must be dead by now… Cassandra turned her head away and began to cry. Seeing Cassandra's sadness, Viola didn't speak anymore. This family seemed to have suffered a lot… Both their families have suffered at the hands of that despicable Tira…
-Pyrrha, you said your niece was called?
Cassandra nodded and Viola tried to see in her orb for the missing girl. A vision suddenly formed in her orb that only she could see: Some village… Many corpses… Only destruction and crying people… But Viola didn't tell Cassandra about it: That would only pain her and it wasn't very precise: Was the niece among the crying people or among the dead ones? So it was no use telling her.
-Do you see something? asked Cassandra while wiping her tears.
-No. Nothing, said the malfested woman, keeping a neutral face as always, hiding what she saw or felt.
Meanwhile Kilik was speaking to Xiba. He would have liked to ask Xiba about his life, how he was getting along with Xianghua, with Leixia and everything… He wondered if he had the right to tell the truth to Xiba about their tie… Maybe it was better not… Maybe he should… but there was now some priorities so he forgot these questions and showed to his estranged son how to empty the Kali-Yuga from the evil energies accumulated since so many years and how to use it to purify. While explaining, he was proud of his son's quickness to learn until Xiba complained he was hungry and hasn't eat since a while. Xiba seemed unable to listen anymore because of his empty stomach.
-You have to concentrate Xiba. Don't think about your hunger. You know a lot of people will abstain from eating for many days to attain some kind of enlightment. It does helps the soul sometimes not to eat…
-That's disgusting! It doesn't help me at all! I'm starving! I can't do anything with an empty stomach!
Hearing the commotion, Viola went to them. She thought this kid was making such a scene for nothing…
-Here. I got an apple.
Xiba took the apple like if it was the best treasure in the world.
-Thanks!
And he began to eat it. Kilik told Viola.
-Thank you, Amy.
-It's Viola now. said the white-haired woman as she went away.
Kilik did wonder what happened to her but he would ask later now he still had to teach Xiba with the Kali-Yuga.
After a while, Viola was getting impatient sitting on a fallen trunk under the rain that kept falling. She loved rainy days but now was not the time to admire it, they had to save her father. Cassandra, who was sitting beside her, her chin resting on her hand like Viola, was less impatient to go inside the castle since it has been so long her family was missing… Zwei suddenly sneaked on them without making a sound startling Cassandra while Viola was used to his silenced ways and only turned toward him with a relieved expression. Zwei was used to sneak in the woods. He then apologized to Cassandra for startling her even if it was funny and said:
-We're here. The others will soon follow. I took a head start to see if you were fine, continued the werewolf as he now stared at Viola with a concerned and kind smile.
-We are. Said Viola while blushing and lowering her eyes.
Then some time later, a small team arrived. Siegfried, Hilde and her bodyguards, Talim, Maxi and some Schwarzwind mercenaries. When she saw Cassandra, Hilde greeted her warmly, recognizing her old friend and Siegfried and Hilde both greeted Kilik who presented them Xiba. Those who knew each other were happy to see each other but they would really talk together once safely back in the fortress. For now they had to go to Ostrheinsburg.
-Well now that everybody got better acquainted, let's go inside Ostrheinsburg, stated Siegfried.
Once inside, they met some malfested who attacked them but the group easily took care of them. Hilde, who was worried for Siegfried, saw that he was quite skilled with his long sword, more than anybody in the team would have guessed in his condition. But Siegfried would not tell anyone that he was completely exhausted after these fights… It really took all his energy, he was now very dizzy and weak but he had to do it… Anything involving Ostrheinsburg was his responsibility. After they won over the enemies, they quickly went to the torture room and prisons. But they found no one. No living person and no undead either.
-Tira has not come back here… She knew we would come… muttered Siegfried a little upset about this. He would have loved to free Raphael and get rid of Tira, that insane killer.
-Still those spirits… crying for help… muttered Viola.
-Yes, those poor spirits… added Talim who then said to the poor souls:
-Don't worry, we'll free you…
Kilik and Talim began to purify the place from the evil remaining. Cassandra offered to help them purify since she had that power to a lesser degree herself and Talim taught her how to master it during all those years they were stuck in Astral Chaos. Kilik continued teaching Xiba how to use the Kali-Yuga to purify now that it was discharged of its too full of evil. Meanwhile Siegfried, Viola, Zwei, Maxi, Hilde and her bodyguards and some mercenaries got outside and were discussing on the drawbridge among themselves about where Raphael and Tira could be. They rather stay under the rain than inside this evil castle. The sky was now getting uglier; more dark clouds were quickly coming over the area and the wind was getting stronger as a thunderstorm was preparing. Not caring about the sky, Viola was always gazing very intensely in her orb for some hint about her father but nothing useful was coming from it. She was very disappointed. Suddenly Zwei, who was looking at the river, saw some big dark shape quickly moving toward them.
-Guys! Look out! yelled Zwei but before anybody had time to do anything, the naval monster had jumped and hit the drawbridge with a giant bang. Many fell into the water. Siegfried, Hilde and some of her bodyguards, some mercenaries… They were all armoured and could not swim. Kilik, Xiba, Talim and Cassandra suddenly heard the big noise and the screams from the castle.
-What's that? Asked a startled Cassandra.
They quickly ran out to see.
Many people were caught in the big wave the monster made as it swum by. The malfested fish took some people in its mouth and went away. Zwei who had not fallen into the water had quickly dive anyway to save the drowning people. He quickly caught Hilde who was trying desperately to stay above water.
-Save Siegfried! Save Siegfried! I can take care of myself but he is injured! Said the panic-stricken princess.
Zwei tried to see where was Siegfried but saw nothing. Yet there were a lot of people to save. He quickly helped Hilde get to the shore and went toward others to help them. Maxi, who had fallen with the others, was also helping the armoured people to get to the shore since he was a very good swimmer and Viola, who also had jumped into the water after Zwei had done it, was also trying to help. She was glad Zwei taught her how to swim since she had never learned before. Well, not that she remembered… But the current was strong and Viola among others was carried by it. Kilik, Xiba and Cassandra jumped into the water to help their friends and allies while Talim tried to control the wind to calm the water a bit.
After a while, most had been saved except a few who had drowned or were missing, among them, Siegfried and Viola, who were not found.
Siegfried had been dragged by the giant fish for a while until he could free himself contrarily to some others who got swallowed by the monster. The fish had only caught his foot so it was easy to get free. Yet he had been dragged a good distance away from the others and with his injured shoulder and his heavy armour Siegfried couldn't swim and he began to sink. But he suddenly felt hands catching his right arm and pulling on it to get him to the surface. Turning his head, Siegfried saw it was Viola. She somehow had followed in the strong current. But she seemed to be struggling to take them both to the surface so Siegfried wanted her to forget him, he was too heavy with his armour, she was too small yet he couldn't say anything under water and to fight so that she let him go may only hinder her in her attempt to get to the surface. So he also tried to get back to he surface by moving his feet. And after a while of struggle, they miraculously managed to get to the surface. But Siegfried noticed the state Viola was now in. She was tired and they were far from the shore. The current had taken them to a larger part of the river, like a lake. They couldn't see the others. Viola was coughing from all the water she swallowed… She already had difficulties to keep herself afloat. So Siegfried told her while coughing from the water he also swallowed:
-Save yourself, Viola! Cough! Cough! Don't mind me! I'll try to swim too but don't mind me!
Viola gazed at him in a way saying that she could not abandon him and looked at the shore. But noticing the distance, her gaze suddenly turned into one of discouragement. Nevertheless she tried to take Siegfried who was sinking again to the shore. But she got tired and began to sink like him. So her survival instinct taking over, she let go of him as he told her.
Siegfried was now sinking deeper without being able to do anything. Trying to swim with his armour on and only one arm was almost impossible. He was seeing the fishes swimming near him in the river, some normal, some seemingly malfested and he thought he would die here, around Ostrheinsburg. Maybe it was a fitting place… Suddenly as he was losing consciousness from the lack of oxygen, he got caught again by the arm and was brought up.
He woke up on the shore, coughing for air. Someone was gazing at him but it was not Viola. It was the lizardman who had attacked him before. The creature was beside him, looking at him. He didn't seem hostile and Siegfried guessed he must have been the one who saved him. Siegfried suddenly wondered about Viola and sat up. She was nowhere to be seen. The lizardman was now getting up and turning his back at him to go away.
-Wait! Where's my friend? Viola?
Siegfried went to the shore.
-She must still be in the water!
Siegfried turned toward Aeon with a panicked expression.
-My friend! She is in the water! Can you save her? Please!
Aeon stared at him. He had saved him because Siegfried had stopped Hilde from giving him a probably mortal blow. Now he had paid his debt. He owed nothing to the other one. But seeing Siegfried's completely worried expression… And the German knight was not speaking to him in a hostile way… So the lizardman walked to the shore again and dived into the water.
Sometimes later, Siegfried who was worriedly scanning the water while beginning to feel dizzy and weak again, noticed two heads getting out of the water in the middle of the lake. The lizardman was now coming back with the unconscious Viola on his back, looking almost like a crocodile with his tail helping him to swim. But as the lizardman and Viola almost reached the shore, Siegfried noticed some big creature was swimming quickly toward them. Siegfried worried and wondered what could he do to help them and then thought about his Soul Calibur power. He normally used it with his zweihander, not with a normal one-handed sword… So he wondered if it would work. But he then thought that what was important was the energy he could channel through the sword, not the weapon itself. So he quickly unsheathed his sword, driving it into the ground and ice formed in a straight line, on the shore then on water, creating some thick ice on the water and between Viola and Aeon and the monster that was about to attack them. The monster slammed on the ice then backed away while Aeon was now climbing on the shore with Viola on his back. He looked at the water where the ice was and noticed the creature that slammed on the ice. Siegfried had not tried to attack him as he first thought when he noticed the sudden ice near him but had rather saved him. Aeon then turned toward Siegfried who had fallen on his knees, leaning on his sword, almost unconscious from the too big effort he made in his state, and put the unconscious woman on the ground. Viola started coughing and Siegfried was relieved she was not dead.
-Thank you… Thank you… Gratefully said Siegfried to the lizardman as he tried to get up to get to Viola.
Suddenly some big lightning illuminated the sky and both Siegfried and Aeon looked at the sky. The wind was getting even stronger; the big thunderstorm was beginning. Siegfried suddenly felt some pain in his right arm, the one that was deformed when he was Nightmare and wondered if something involving Soul Edge was about to happen. He had a bad feeling…
Meanwhile, in some manor of the area in the dark of night as the strong wind was making the trees tops dance from one side to the other, forecasting the violent thunderstorm beginning, Raphael woke up as he was chained to some table in some dark cellar, illuminated only by some torches. His right wrist was now being tied by Voldo who seemed to take pleasure tightening it too much… Raphael winced in pain as Voldo was pulling on the chain to make it tighter, the chain digging into the vampire's flesh… His already chained left arm was all numb with the lack of blood circulation. But his legs were not tied already so Raphael quickly reacted and gave himself a swing kicking the surprised Voldo away, freeing his right hand by the way.
-Get off me, you beast!
But as Voldo tumbled away, some other Soul Edge followers quickly came to restrain Raphael. His left hand being still tightly chained to the big oak table, Raphael found out he could not really escape. Pulling to try to get his left hand free, he only succeeded in dragging the heavy table along with him toward the stairs, the table making a loud and unpleasant sound as it slid on the floor, while kicking enemies approaching him all through the way.
But after a while, still chained to the table, Raphael finally got immobilized by the Soul Edge followers since he was too weakened by his previous wounds. Raphael cursed as the men held him and put him back on the table again while Voldo came back to finish chaining him. Raphael could feel the strange man was furious at him as he tightened the chains even more brutally. At least, when he tied his ankles, Raphael still had his boots so the fact it was tight didn't hurt like for the wrists. It seemed that while Raphael was unconscious, somebody had taken off his shirt, probably to torture him better, but at least they left him the rest, even his boots. As he was being tied, Raphael then suddenly realized he wasn't in Ostrheinsburg… He was in some cellar, tied to some big oak table… Tira then came by the stairs while eating some bread with cheese on it. She had put some bandages on her own wounds and was now coming back while eating her lunch.
-I heard some noises, what is… Oh! Goody! You're awake, Raphy!
She threw away her lunch and ran to him.
-Welcome back, I missed you!
Raphael gazed at her with a not-so-happy look to see her and coldly asked:
-… Where are we? We are not in Ostrheinsburg…
-You guessed it right, Raphy! We're not in Ostrheinsburg anymore… We had to move… It was getting too crowded around the place… Some people were getting a little too annoying… Coming there uninvited… Breaking all my toys… But I'm sure they had some fun with some of my games at least!
Tira was thinking about all the undead she left there, all animated by Soul Edge essence, and only regretted not having been there to see them attack whoever came. Raphael was upset: he would have hoped they would have been in Ostrheinsburg since he told Siegfried and the others what was going on there… They would have come to his rescue… But now they didn't even know he was captured… Only Maxi and his gang knew it and Raphael wondered if the Asian group even survived… Has Tira killed them all? Raphael suddenly worried for them. He didn't know them that much but there were three kids in it and Raphael appreciated Maxi very much. He now regretted so much having left the fortress… He had everything he needed there… his daughter, safety, blood, even if not really tasty, and even entertainment with the Jeu de paume and card games… and people who seemed to care about him. Why did he left? Oh yes, Tira would never have left this like it was… Like she told him, she was about to come… She may have killed his daughter or any of his friends… Now she killed other friends… And who came to Ostrheinsburg as Tira just said? He now also worried for Viola and the Schwarzwind. Were they the one who got attacked by her toys? Why couldn't she just leave them all alone? But Tira continued explaining to Raphael.
-We are now in some deserted manor… Well, not so deserted since it's full of dismembered corpses but it's our new home now… I hope you'll like it… The authorities won't find out about it already and we'll have enough time to do the ritual on you!
-Humpf! If you think you and your damned Soul Edge can win over me, you're wrong! Your petty ritual won't work! I know how to resist…
A big smile suddenly appeared on Tira's face as she listened to Raphael.
-You know Raphy, it did you some good to run away like this, now you're more alive. It's gonna be more fun to break you now!
-Humpf! Just try…
-See? That's what I mean! You have that fiery determination and that fire in your eyes! You're gonna do such an awesome Nightmare!
-Keep dreaming…
It was only Raphael's pride making him answer so arrogantly to Tira. Even if he tried to hide it, Raphael felt he was suffering since many years from some kind of depression that he hasn't been able to get out from yet. Sixteen years of captivity and torture had taken their tolls on him and even if he escaped, he hasn't been able to fully return to his old self yet. After the first time he became vampire, he had also changed from his old self but in a good way. Because after he had been purified by Kilik and Talim, he had felt much better than before. Noticing all the kindness and concern some people had showed toward him and Amy during this time, he had begun to have faith in human's kindness. He did realize he made many evil actions but he also knew he was a better man, a more compassionate man when they were freed from Walachian custody. Yet Tira's treatments had almost destroyed it all when he experienced what evil humans were also capable of. But as he was captive for all those years, he always had that voice, probably his will, telling him:
Don't give up. Don't give up or you'll fall. Resist for Amy. Think about her.
Even if sometimes faltering, his determination never left him and he had kept going on even if it was harder than before. Mostly his love for Amy kept him going on… But now… it seemed too hard. No use… Amy was fine… She had friends who cared for her… She didn't need him anymore… But he would not show this side of him to Tira… and Tira hasn't noticed indeed.
-I love your replies! It changes so much from the last times when you only let yourself be taken to the torture room and endured everything without a word… It was becoming boring. It really, really was good for you to have a little escapade! So tell me: what happened? Did you have fun? Have you met lots of friends?
-I will not share my precious moments with you! I won't tell you anything from my 'little escapade'…
-Oh, I so love your lively expression! So far away from the mindless zombie you had become before you left! I should have taken you for some little walks sometimes…
Raphael stared at her with a surprised and offended gaze. Take me for some little walk? She speaks to me like I'm some dog! In such a condescending way! But Raphael then tried to ignore her insults and asked her:
-What did you do with the others in Astral Chaos?
-I killed them.
Raphael sighed. She always said that. How could he know what was the truth or not?
-Can't you say anything else?
-I can't do anything else.
-You're pathetic… Amy once told me you began to kill at seven years old… You should get a life…
-Get a life and take a life… Pretty much the same… Anyway what do you want me to do? Marry and have kids?
Tira laughed at the crazy idea.
-I would so be a bad mother! Like you are a bad father, not even knowing where your daughter is…
Raphael suddenly looked bitter. Even if he knew where his daughter was, he still felt guilty not being able to protect her from what she went through. He was a bad father…
-It was your fault, crazy b*tch…
-Ohh… My fault… I feel so sad… But don't worry, I'll find her for you! I will bring her here and kill her in front of you! It will be so much fun!
Yet even if she just made those threats, Tira knew she had to do her duty first… She had to bring Nightmare back… So maybe Raphael would not see his daughter die in front of him… It was sad… But she would kill Amy anyway. Just to finish what she began… The little wench did push her down the waterfall… Oh no! Better! Tira's eyes suddenly glittered with excitement while she clapped her hands and told Raphael while jumping in joy:
-Oh! I have such a nice idea! I'll bring your daughter to you once you will have become Nightmare! Then you'll kill her with your own hands! Isn't great?
-That I become Nightmare or not, the next person I kill shall be you!
Tira leaned on Raphael and caressed his chest sensually while telling him with a sensual voice:
-If you're Nightmare, I will allow you to… But after your daughter… and after a lot of slaughters… A lot and a lot of slaughters…
She then swiftly got up and added on an excited voice while whirling in joy:
-When the world will be drown in blood and darkness! Oh, I can't wait for Nightmare to be reborn!
She then suddenly grabbed Raphael's chin to hold his face toward hers and told him with her raspy voice:
-And he will soon be reborn, right? I don't want any more whims from you! You will submit to Soul Edge now!
She then let go of him and snapped her fingers. Voldo then came bringing her some small casket. Tira took it with an evil smile.
-I went all the way to Japan to get this for you… Voldo? The rest?
Voldo had quickly gone to take another casket that he presented her and also gave her the still incomplete Soul Edge.
-And I even went through Astral Chaos for this! While I collected those in many different places… Such nice gifts… You can't say I don't love you, don't you? As Nightmare, I mean…
She took some shards from the casket that she had collected in many places, the still incomplete Soul Edge and the scroll from the casket she got from Japan and went toward Raphael. As Tira walked toward him with her precious shards, sword and Soul Edge essence in the scroll, Raphael suddenly felt fear. No, not fear, panic, almost uncontrollable panic. Not being able to do anything, he began to breathe faster. He now thought with some nervousness that it was now time to show he was truly better than Siegfried at resisting. But if he was in this state of panic, he would never be able to… He had to calm down and resist. If he had been caught by another person, he would probably have remained more calm but Tira with her never ending harassment had made him nervous when he was near her. He could not be calm and confident like he was with anybody else; only nervous, scared and traumatized even if he always tried to not show it. But now he had to not just not show it but completely calm down to not be possessed by Soul Edge. Feeling the gravity of the situation, he even asked God to help him and began to pray even if it didn't work before… He didn't have much faith: God had not helped him before, he would not now…
-… Notre Père, qui êtes aux cieux… Que votre nom soit sanctifié…
He particularly repeated the last sentences of the prayer where he asks God to not let him fall to temptation and to free him from evil.
-…ne nous laissez pas succomber à la tentation. Mais délivrez-nous du mal. Amen.
-What's that? You're praying? I would never think that from you! Don't you like Soul Edge?
And Tira showed him a shard again, trying to tempt him with it and slidding it on his skin like a loving treasure. But as she slid the shard on him in a caressing way, she suddenly sensed something.
-What is that? You got some Soul Calibur essence in you! Disgusting! But no matter, Soul Edge will destroy it!
As she said that, Tira took out the Soul Edge shard and thrust it violently into Raphael's right arm making the vampire scream in pain. The crazy assassin then cut through the whole length of the arm from shoulder to wrist while black blood poured out from the deep cut and Raphael kept screaming. Then Tira inserted some shards into his wound. The suffering was unbearable and Raphael could not do anything else but beg her to stop even if he knew she wouldn't.
But he also began to ramble again, thinking souls would be great to lighten his sufferings. He wanted souls… If he gave himself up to Soul Edge, all the pain would stop… Those thoughts really troubled Raphael, he was scared he would lose control to Soul Edge… He so wished someone would come now and save him! Amy… Siegfried… Maxi if he was still alive… Imperial soldiers… Anybody! But he knew no one would come to his help. He had hoped someone would come and save him for sixteen years… No one ever came. Why would someone come now? They didn't even know where he was… With the physical pain he was enduring and thinking he would lose to the Evil sword, some tears fell down his eyes. Tira noticed and said:
-Ooh… Big boys don't cry… And Nightmare either.
-Nightmare… can… get lost! Ungh…
-Your futile resistance is funny… What are you looking at? The stairs? You hope someone will come? Too bad I don't think anyone will… I told my men to not answer to strangers, they could be meanies…
After a second of moaning in pain, Raphael answered. He could not let her win even if indeed he hoped for someone but knew he didn't have much chances to see his wish come true.
-So… Someone… will… come….Ungh… They… won't… let me down… Arrgh…
-Who will come?
-… My… friends… Ungh…
But Tira saw Raphael's doubt in his eyes and it made her grin.
-You're doubting?
-… Non… Arrgh… They will come… Oww…
-Aww… Poor you… You're really doubting!
-… I… do doubt… they will find… me… Ungh… now… but they will… find me… soon… Ungh… And then… they'll save me…
-You'll be on my side by then… answered Tira with a wicked smile.
-I… hate you… Hate… you so much!
Raphael felt himself get weaker and insane. All that happened to him was really driving him crazy; he had enough; he could not go on anymore and with his blood loss, he would surely need a lot of blood later… and souls… Souls… Always those damned thoughts coming back… Why are those wretched Soul Edge followers looking at me suffering? Fools! I hate them all! Curse them!
-… Hate you… hate you… all! Arrgh… A-Amy… Sa… save me…
While holding the evil sword, Tira opened the scroll and began to recite incantations so that the essence would be free and would invade Raphael's body. Raphael suddenly felt something inside of him, a painful sensation running throughout all his body. A really painful sensation. The pain lasted for a while and he sometimes thought he had to give in to not die from this horrid and atrocious pain. He was always hearing these words: Stop resisting! Like for the purification sixteen years ago, he was now being encouraged to stop resisting. From this inner voice, from Tira and her followers… But he could not, this time, he really could not! It was not like the purification: Nothing good awaited him if he gave himself up!
The suffering Raphael was feeling was unbearable and Soul Edge was always sending him messages to let go his resistance and the pain would stop. But Raphael would rather endure this pain a hundred times than give himself up to Soul Edge even if he could not endure any more of this. Yet he had too endure! He tried once more to teleport but again it didn't work… He told himself he should not worry about losing a part of his soul since if he became Nightmare, he would lose everything… Siegfried told him he had accepted some kind of deal but with all the Soul Edge essence he already had in him, the one Tira was now inserting again and the fact he had so often succumbed to Soul Edge influence, Raphael now somehow had the feeling his opinion wouldn't be taken into account… Now what remained of his assurance, of his self-confidence all vanished as the pain worsened.
The pain was getting so hard to endure that Raphael screamed from the top of his lungs, hoping the pain would go out with the sound… All the manor resonated with his screams. Tira smiled evilly while her men looked at Raphael with widened eyes wondering if something would happen. After a while of screaming, Raphael suddenly felt warmth into his right arm among his pain: His arm began to turn gradually darker like if the arm was suddenly invaded by gangrene.
-Unghh… Arrggh…
The warm feeling then spread throughout his body while Raphael kept moaning and screaming.
-Oh that's just great! I love to see him squirm! If he dies then we'll be rid of him… Honestly I always hated this host! How many years it took until he finally gave up? I so hate that guy!
One man dared to answer back.
-Yeah but we had to find the shards too… It took many years…
Gloomy Tira turned to him.
-Did I ask you to speak?
-No. Sorry mistress… Sheepishly said the man. He was relieved when Tira's attention was caught once more on Raphael's transformation than on his reply when the vampire let go another atrocious scream, because otherwise he would probably be dead right now but he discreetly backed away hoping Tira would forget about him.
Suddenly as Tira and her men stared at him, Raphael's right arm began to tremble before it began to grow abnormally while Raphael continued screaming. The chains holding his right wrist suddenly broke and Raphael's right hand suddenly transformed: his five fingers turned into a big three digit claw. Some kind of bones grew and overlapped his flesh, his ribs seemed to go out and overlap his skin too. Tira was fascinated by what was happening.
-Wow… This is beautiful… What a sight!
Lightning came forth and entered his arm where the shards were stuck in, leaving luminous patches of evil energy. Was it the souls of all those Tira and her group just killed in the manor? Probably, thought the crazy assassin. She knew that aside from fun, it would be useful to do such carnage.
Tira began to jump in joy and exclaimed:
-The souls are coming to give the master power! They will all merge to form the great Nightmare! He is taking over! Yeah! Oh that's so great! I'm so moved!
As Tira clapped and rejoiced, Raphael continued screaming in pain all along until he suddenly gazed at the ceiling with his eyes all widened then fainted and his breathing stopped. Tira stopped clapping and went near him. She thought he was dead. But after a while, the breathing gradually began again.
Tira approached him even more, staring at him with interest. She was very pleased if what happened was what she thought.
-Master? Are you there?
The crazy girl was moving around the still unconscious body lying down on the table. She was going from one side to another in curiosity when Raphael slowly opened his eyes. He stared at Tira for a while, a while which seemed an eternity for the impatient girl who wished to know if he was now Nightmare or still that snobbish loser. His gaze seemed cold…
Then with a strong movement, he broke the chains still tying his left arm and sat up before he did the same to the chains on his ankles with his new freed arm. He did this with ease even if the chains were very solid. Then he gazed at his deformed arm. An evil and satisfied smile appeared on his face as he observed his giant claw. Nightmare then got up, brutally grabbed some follower who was just beside Tira, brought him toward him and bit the man on the neck to drink his blood without any restraint or refinement. The blood ran down on the Raphael-looking-Nightmare's chin, ran all the way to his neck and bare torso while many drops of blood fell on the floor while the poor man struggled hopelessly for his life. Raphael/Nightmare was now stained with both his own blood from his wounds and the blood of his new victim. After he drained the man of his blood, he quickly wiped his mouth with his normal arm before he lifted his deformed arm still holding the dead man in the air and said with his dark voice.
-Soul come unto me!
And the soul came into the arm while the Raphael-looking Nightmare laughed evilly before he dropped the body to the ground.
Tira thought he must be Nightmare now and began to clap her hands in joy.
-Yeah master! Yeah, you're back! I so missed you!
But Nightmare turned toward her and gazed at her with a cold expression again. Tira realized with dismay that this attitude was openly directed at her! This sudden disdainful welcome diminished her enthusiasm a bit. Nightmare/Raphael then turned his back on her, grabbed the incomplete Soul Edge and started to walk toward the exit of the cellar. Tira was stunned while all the others were terrified.
-He didn't say a thing to me… He didn't thank me…
-I don't like him… muttered gloomy Tira.
-He doesn't like me… whined jolly Tira.
For the description of Nightmare, I took the arm from Nightmare's 2p costume in SCV because it showed more how he is while bare chested. He probably can change the way his arm looks like he wishes between both kinds but for now he had this kind and he seems to have bones overlapping his skin…