Chapter 34: Old and Bitter Rivals

"You!" Ziggy yelled out as the group stood a mere few feet away from the U-TIC commander. He glanced at the group then smirked at them. Shane growled lowly, narrowing her eyes. "I see. No wonder the air defense system was useless," he said looking at the red-haired boy. "Right, U.R.T.V.?" Jr. felt his cheeks turn hot as he took out his handguns. "Don't…don't call me that!" Margulis let out a cold-hearted laugh then looked to Shane. "That Helmer…he's certainly managed to assemble an impressive ensemble. But your coming here now is pointless. We've already accomplished our objective. The Zohar is now under our control. There's nothing you can do. The outcome is already decided."

"What the hell are you thinking? That thing is way beyond anything you can handle. Do you have any idea what's gonna happen?"

"Of course I do." The burgandy haired man held up his sword, unsheathing it and throwing the sheath to the floor. "The annoying Gnosis as well as a few pathetic, weed-like humans, who are arguably even more worthless than the Gnosis, are going to disappear. Just like Ariadne."

"You bastard!" Jr. yelled. "So many people were killed...you killed all of them!" The older man simply chuckled darkly. "And you...the girl who couldn't die. We--no, I rescued you and you repay me like this?" Shane held out her hand as her sword appeared. "Go fuck yourself!"

"Hmph, such foul language...But weak as your position is, we still can't allow anything to interfere with our plans." Margulis' sword began to glow a dark shade of red/orange. He held up his sword and yelled in an sudden outburst, "Time to die!" He launched a fireball from his sword as Shane got in front of everyone, holding up her sword in front of her. "Barrier Shield!" Before the fireball could hit the group along with the barrier the red-haired girl put up, a wave of ice from nearby hit the fireball as the place brightened. Then, the ice wave destroyed the fireball and approached Margulis at amazing speed. However, the burgandy-haired man slashed the ice waves into pieces. Margulis then saw Jin from above the group's level. A smirk came across his face.

"It's been fourteen years, hasn't it, Uzuki?" he asked Jin who held his katana in one hand. "Personally, I would have preferred to never see you again," he replied. Shion and the rest of the group looked up at the black-haired man as the brunette gasped. "Jin!"

"The blade is for carving one's heart, not for turning against the masses. That's what our master once said, was it not?" Margulis laughed out loud at what Jin had said. "This is perfect. I can't believe you're still a part of this, Uzuki. Once again you insist on standing against me." The black-haired man simply shrugged. "There were still a few things I wanted to look into. These people were nice enough to give me a lift." The burgandy-haired man cracked his neck on each side much to the disgust of the group. "And I thought I was bad," Shane muttered to herself. "Absurd…"

"Nothing has changed here. You know, it was careless of you not to erase those records fourteen years ago. Now you can never return to the Federation. Or perhaps, were you a bit too busy to worry about that at the time?"

"I see you still talk too much," Margulis said raising his sword toward Jin. "Very well. If you really want to know… You'll have to use that sword to make me talk!"

"Naturally. That was my intent." Jin jumped down from the platform he was on and landed on the bridge of the Zohar Isolation area. "Do not expect this to end like it did before, Uzuki!" Jin and Margulis began to sword fight. They clashed blades; evaded each other's attack. Then, Margulis' attack caused Jin to get his katana taken by Margulis. The older man tried to strike Jin with his katana, but then, the black-haired man grabbed the sides of the katana with his hands, as Margulis tried to strike him. Jin then made Margulis strike the katana instead and Jin gave Margulis a foot sweep, knocking him far away. Jin got his katana back. As they prepared their weapons, they started clashing and evading again. Then, Margulis jumped on the railing of the bridge, did a flip jump then striked at Jin's katana. It clashed, but the black-haired man fell to the floor with his katana and tried to push the older man's sword away from him.

"It's been for too long, Uzuki. This feeling…of exhilaration!" Margulis exclaimed. He narrowed his eyes, holding back the other man's sword. "I told you. I won't allow a monster like you to inherit my grandfather's technique." He then kicked the burgandy-haired man in the stomach, pushing him back. "Bold words from such a fool!" Jin and Margulis charge at each other with their weapons and then, a bright flash brightened the area briefly. The black-haired man was then thrown back and however; he landed safely on his feet. The other man also landed safely on his feet after the impact. The two of them got up slowly.

"I shouldn't have spent my time running a used bookstore. I regret that now," Jin said. "I'll make sure you die a painful death someday, Uzuki!" Shane brought down the barrier then growled as she narrowed her eyes. "Damnit all, you make it sound like you're ex-lovers or something!" Margulis narrowed his eyes at the girl. "You don't understand a grown-up's battle, girl. With more years of experience, you could--" He felt wind pass by his ear; a cut appearing on his cheek and the side of his ear. Jin's eyes widened then looked back at Shane who had her hand up like a gun.

"You were saying, sir?" Margulis held his cheek as he looked to his hand again to see blood. "You impudent wench...!!" She gripped her sword, rushing at him while he did the same. Jin stood up slowly then shielded his eyes when the two clashed swords. The burgandy-haired man pushed on his sword as Shane growled, holding him back. "Give it up, girl! You don't compare to Uzuki!" She gritted her teeth then punched the man in the face, making him stumble back. "Well, I'm not Uzuki-sama. I'm just a crazy bitch itchin' for a fight!" She clashed swords with Margulis again, kicking him in the side or punching him in the face when there was an opening.

"Geez, Shane's beating the crap outta him," Jr. said in awe at the girl's solo battle. "..Think we should help?" Jin shook his head. "Nope. I believe Miss Shane has it under control." Even though, her sword skills intrigue me... "Like I told chaos, he has a lot cut out for him." chaos simply turned red and shrugged his shoulders. Shane punched Margulis again then slashed at his arm as he hissed in pain. "You're as dangerous as ever," he said. "But no matter how hard you struggle, there's nothing you can do now. I hope you savor your abject despair. You're powerless."

"What was that, you little bitch?" She began to walk over to the older man, swinging her sword. Suddenly, an A.M.W.S. appeared at the scene--Scutum--as Margulis hopped onto the shoulder of the mecha. "Uzuki. If you want to settle this, you'll have to survive first!" The A.M.W.S. with Margulis fled the scene. Shane watched her sword vanish as she turned to the group with a manic grin on her face.

"Shall we go guys?" she asked like nothing had happened. "Shane has got to be one of the most violent women in the universe," Jin stated while the group moved towards her. "You mean the only violent woman in the universe." Shion looked to the Zohar room door as she along with the rest of the group proceeded to the Zohar room where inside the Original lied in wait.

Chapter 34: End

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Nothing much to say here. R&R and you'll get a special at the end of the story!