As Siegfried ran over to Soul Calibur, he was almost expecting to be attacked but to his surprise, the angels didn't even seem to notice him and he made his way to the sword without receiving a single wound. "What are you doing? They're not the enemies!"
Soul Calibur flashed blue but then it calmed down when it realized that it was just him. "Siegfried... my dear boy. Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"What are you doing? Why are you attacking innocent humans?" questioned Siegfried. "Don't you remember that our enemy is Soul Edge?" Seeing Soul Calibur's hesitation, Siegfried dropped to his knees pleadingly. "You saved my life... We've fought many battles together and I know that you're powerful but if there's something I've learned on my journey... it's that power comes with a price. I did not blame you when you took over my body and I did not care if you ended up killing me when we fought against Nightmare because I was willing to give my life to defeat that sword and atone for my sins. So answer me Soul Calibur... why are you attacking the innocents like this?"
Soul Calibur floated in silence for awhile before answering. "I'm only doing this for the sake of salvation. You of all people should understand!"
"Nothing good will come out of what you're doing. I was unconscious but I saw flashes of your ideals and I heard part of the conversations," replied Siegfried, putting a hand to his heart. "Your powers are inside me and some of your feelings is in my heart as well. You mean well but you can't force the world to chage." Taking in a deep breath, he said softly, "This wasn't what I wanted for the world." For a moment, he thought that Soul Calibur would listen to his reasoning... until she struck him with a block of ice.
"I said I would bring peace and salvation to the world Siegfried! If you can't understand me and my ideals, you do not deserve to use my powers! Now begone!"
Rolling rapidly away from the spikes of ice erupting from the ground, he reached for a zweihander from one of the fallen angel and swung at the rest surrounding him. "I do not hate you Soul Calibur!" shouted Siegfried. "But I must do what is right and if that means going against you then I will!"
"Siegfried! Hurry up and get on!" shouted Hilde. The thunderbird carrying her screeched and swooped down low while Hilde reached for Siegfried's hand. As they grabbed onto each other, the thunderbird hurriedly ascended into the air and charged another lightning bolt at Soul Calibur.
"Do you humans think you can actually defeat me?" screamed Soul Calibur. "You fools! If you wish to suffer then let me grant you that wish! Go and rend them apart my soldiers!"
"Though we are human, we have something you don't!" Hilde shouted back, slashing at an angel coming at them. "We have a heart and we have friends who will fight by our side no matter how painful the journey gets!"
"What are we going to do now Tal?" Yun-Seong and Dampierre were both sitting on Maxi's back and they were having difficulty pinning him down. Seong-Mina had rushed over to aid Siegfried and Hilde while Cassandra ran over to her sister.
She was still holding Raphael and she looked around frantically. "I... I don't know," sobbed Talim. Her shoulder shook and she held on to Raphael tightly; her heart broke every time he cried out in pain as he resisted the evil power going rampant inside him. "Raphael, I'm here for you."
"Tal-Talim..." His eyes were feverish and he placed a trembling hand on her cheek. "Ki-kill me. I can't hold back anymore. I don't want you to see me as a monster." He groaned as his gaze slipped to her neck but he immediately forced himself to calm down. In a weak voice, he said, "So many people have seen... and called me a monster. But I don't want you... to-"
Talim shook her head and stared down into the red eyes that were locked onto hers. "From the first time we met, I never saw you as a monster. I love you."
"You always seem to know what to say to comfort me, ma petite." He smiled at her before his body convulsed once more in pain. "Hughhhh!"
"No! Raphael!" Talim sobbed as she hugged him even tighter.
From far away, one of the angels knocked an arrow into it's long bow and took aim at her back without her noticing. Syi Salika and Loka Luha were both trying to contain the fire that was devouring everything in its path and it was only on pure coincidence that Luha noticed. "Priestess! Watch out!" She shot a blast of wind that headed towards the enemy but Luha knew it was too late when he released the string.
The arrow flew through the air and as Talim turned her head, she gasped. The arrow struck her back and penetrated through to the upper part of her right breast and with a cough, blood trickled down her lips. A sudden chill ran through her body and Talim felt as if time had frozen while her mind struggled to accept what had just happened.
As the blood dripped down on Raphael and landed on his lips, his eyes widened and he watched as she fell backward. All of his pain was instantly suppressed as his mind and being was focused solely on her. "Talim!" Grabbing her before she hit the ground, he cradled her and said frantically, "Talim! Hold on!" At the sight of her blood that was soaking her white top, he quickly squeezed his eyes shut. But then something struck him as he tasted her blood on his lips. Her pure blood, would it help him? Since he had absorbed a piece of her soul... her blood may no longer harm him. Touching her wound hesitantly, he licked a small bit of blood off and he felt the energy of Soul Edge in his body calming down.
Talim noticed and she forced a smile on her face. "My blood no longer hurts you, does it?" She felt her breath catch in her throat as ice started to form on her breast.
"Talim!" cried Yun-Seong but he had to quickly return his attention to Maxi when the older man roared and tried to get free.
"Talim no!" Raphael heart stopped as she shivered in his arms. He looked around frantically to try and find a way to save her but everyone was caught up in their own struggles.
Talim held a trembling hand out to him and he quickly grasped it. "Don't leave me."
Raphael's body shook with fear but he struggled to make his voice comforting to her. "Shsshh, stop talking. You need to conserve your strength." He looked at the arrow in her back and debated whether he should take it out. There was risks involved where the wound would tear if he did that but it was making it extremely painful for her. Even little movement such as breathing was causing her great pain. Gently, he pecked her on the forehead and whispered, "Bear this for a second dearest." She nodded and slowly, he took hold of the arrow and swiftly pulled. She screamed in agony into his shirt and her hand tightened around his own. Trying to suppress the fear in his voice, he smiled at her reassuringly. "It's a very shallow wound Talim. There's nothing to worry about."
She shook her head and smiled at him tenderly. "This wound... gnaws at my spirit as well as my body. It's no ordinary arrow."
"I'll save you the same way you saved me so many times before Talim. I promised you that nothing would separate us ever again and that includes death-" The pain was returning, his vision grew red but he used all of his self-control to push his inner beast back. Talim looked down as the ice spread to her collar bone and she closed her eyes as she began to feel sleepy. Her eyes only opened again when Raphael shouted at her. "No! Not yet! Talim! You can't die on me! We've been through so much for you to leave me now! Our journey is almost over! You can't give up yet!"
"I'm scared, I don't want to leave you." Her eyes dimmed and her breathing became more laboured as she said to him softly, "I love you."
"That's it! Run and flee from me!" cried Soul Calibur as it watched her angels attacked Hilde and Siegfried. "That's the fate all of you deserve for rejecting salvation!" With another barrage of ice, Seong-Mina fell and clutched at a bleeding shoulder.
Raphael's eyes shone red as he heard that and slowly, he placed Talim on the ground and stood up. "You will pay for this..." A cold wind whipped around him and his cape billowed back and forth while his sharp fangs slid down. Letting go of his control, waves of anger rippled out from him and he roared, "Soul Calibur! I'll break you into pieces for what you've done!" Quick as lightning, he teleported towards the sword and swiped at it with his sharp nails. Dark energy concentrated at his fingertips and a scratch marred the otherwise perfect blade.
"How dare you!"
"We'll help you!" cried Salika. Murmuring something quickly, she raised her hand and shouted, "Weavenes sucosu! (Heaven's summon!)"
Catching the object that fell down for him, he held the sword and whispered, "Flambert... It's time we end this once and for all my sword." Pointing it at Soul Calibur, dark energy began swirling around his sword and he snarled, "My turn now!"
"Kamikirimusi! Behind you!" shouted Taki.
"How slow," drawled Sophitia. In a flash, her blade swung through the air and stabbed Kamikirimusi through the heart. With a bored look, Sophitia withdrew the blade and kicked the young oni girl away from her. "Your soul is weak. I was expecting more from a demon..."
Throwing a sealing card at Sophitia, Taki didn't look as it exploded in her face as she ran over to the demon girl.
Coughing at the smoke, Sophitia seemed surprised as Cassandra attacked her. "Have you come to offer me your soul just like your sister?"
"You will pay for my sister's death!" screamed Cassandra, putting everything she's got into all of her strikes. "You've ruined my family and you've ruined my sister's life! I will never forgive you!"
"Ahahaha! Actually, that honour should go to my servant Tira," laughed Sophitia. "She was the one who kidnapped your niece which means that she was the one who was responsible for starting all of this."
Cassandra's eyes widened in surprised and she almost dropped her blue eyes quickly snapped over to Tira who was fighting Ivy and she growled, "You monsters! I'll never forgive any of you!"
"You've done well Kamikirimusi," praised the ninja softly, cradling the demon girl in her arms. "Though you are a demon, your heart is not evil.
The oni girl smiled and looked away from her. "Judge us not by who we are, but by what we do, demon hunter. If you can do so, you may save alot of lives... like mine."
Taki bowed her head. "I keep forgetting that your age far surpasses mine. Your words, they ring deeply in my soul."
Kamikirimusi smiled as she heard her demonic friends calling for her. "Thank you for telling me the truth. I can see my friends waiting for me." As she began fading away, she murmured quietly, "I have lived for far too long. Good bye... human." With that, Kamikirimusi faded away and vanished and Taki closed her eyes sorrowfully.
"This can't be!" Soul Calibur watched in horror as Raphael cut and slashed at the throats of her angels. The rage in his eyes came deep from his soul and the dark energy around him became darker and darker as he killed. With a howl, she let loose another volley of ice at him. "Take this!"
Without hesitation, he teleported away from the dangerous crystal and before he could be attacked, he reappeared beside the sword. "Taste my pain and burn!" Flames enveloped his Flambert and with a powerful thrust, he struck Soul Calibur with all his might.
The sword let out a piercing scream as it flew into the air and Siegfried quickly jumped off the bird and grabbed it, wrestling it down with his willpower. "Raphael! We're not done yet! Soul Edge is still moving!"
Raphael spun around and watched Sophitia with crimson eyes and when he spoke, his voice was low and dangerous. "As long as those swords exist...the world Amy and Talim lives in will never be safe. For their happiness, I will destroy them!"
From a short distance away, Kilik reached out weakly towards Raphael as he teleported once more and fought Sophitia while Cassandra laid a short distance away in a critical state judging by her wounds. "He's using too much power..."
Xianghua helped him stand and whispered, "Some things are worth fighting and dying for Kilik."
"Your powers belong to me you wretched human! How dare you fight against me!" Sophitia ducked one of his horizontal attacks and quickly retaliated with a crushing blow from her shield.
But Raphael merely brushed away the attack and countered with two vertical attacks and then he spun to the side. "For all the pain you've caused my daughter, Talim and me to go through, this is not enough to satisfy my vengeance!" With a slash, he cut off her left hand and Sophitia howled as blood gushed from the wound in a scarlet fountain.
"Why aren't you losing control? Madness should have consumed your soul by now!" screeched Sophitia, holding on to the bleeding stump.
Concentrating on the small purity inside his soul from Talim, a blinding white light shone from his Flambert as he focused his last attack. "Because I have a stronger source of power inside me that you can never hope to match! Now die!"
"That power that has defeated Soul Calibur... it shall be mine!" Soul Edge radiated with a black aura as Sophitia launched forth her final attack as well.
The two blades clashed in a impressive display of power and the two wielder stared hatefully in each other's eyes.
"Raphael look out!" shouted Hilde, who spotted Tira running up behind him.
After bending the weakened Soul Calibur to his will, Siegfried held his old weapon in his hand and ran forth to aid Raphael with the shining blue sword in his hand.
Raphael snarled as he shoved Sophitia back and locked weapons with Tira. "You wretched girl... I shall rip your heart out for all the times you've hurt Talim."
"You deserve the most painful death imaginable," retorted Tira, straining all of her muscles against Raphael. "After I rip you into shreds, I'll feed them to my watchers!"
With Sophitia weakened, Siegfried readied the last of his strength to end the nightmare once and for all. "Prepare to die!" Knocking her into the air, he slammed her back down and he held up Soul Calibur into the sky. "This is the final strike!" All of Soul Calibur's remaining power shot upward into the heavens in one clear bright light and he brought it down on her and Soul Edge. Crystals shot out from everywhere and blue flames engulfed Sophitia's possessed body and burned her away.
On the other hand, the attack smashed Soul Edge to pieces and the shards shone with a bloody red light as they flew through the air.
"You will all pay for this! Now fall into the darkness of the abyss!" At that command, the island cracked and trembled and with another shudder, everything fell apart. "The darkness will never end! I shall never die until this whole world suffers what they rightfully deserves!"
Multiple portals opened up everywhere and many of the shards disappeared through them to return back to the human world while the rest headed deeper into the realm and away to safety.
"No!" shouted Salika and Luha. But they could do nothing as the pieces disappeared and they had to save the people who were falling to their deaths. Flying back onto their bird, they gave it a shrill whistle and reached out for Kilik and Xianghua who was the closest.
As Tira screamed and continued struggling to kill Raphael, she gasped in surprise as one of her mutated watcher flew through the portal and came to her rescue. With a shrill caw, it ripped at him with it's beak and then it grabbed him with its talons. As she landed safely on her beloved pet, she screamed out in fury. "I'll kill you all! Mark my words I will tear all of you to pieces for this!" She caught one of the shards and held it tightly in her grip. "He will be back! I will find him a new host! You will all pay for this!"
"Raphael," moaned Talim, reaching out for him as Hilde held her in her arms and Salika struggled to heal her wound. "Raphael... no... no."
"Talim." He reached out for her as well and croaked, "Find Amy... promise me."
A wicked light glinted in Tira's eyes and she switched into her jolly side and cackled, "I will make him suffer.!" Tira put a hand on her cheek and beamed. "You know, the first time I saw you in that kitty costume at that festival, I've always wanted to play with you and... break you! But I'll just have to settle with breaking your heart for now!"
Her words chilled Talim's heart and she shook her head fearfully. "No, please don't."
Tira ignored the pitiful girl and languidly stroked her raven's head. "I'm going to make sure he screams until his vocal cords tear themselves apart."
"Don't hurt him..." Talim pleaded. Her breath was short and her vision grew blurry from the wound but she still did her best to stay awake as she held her hands out beseechingly. "Hate me, hurt me. But please, spare him. I beg you, Tira."
Tira giggled and feigned embarrassment. "Ahhh, the high and mighty wind priestess is begging me? Heheheheee... Since you asked so nicely, I should just let him go with a missing limb or something." But then her eyes flashed. "However, I don't like you or him. By the time I'm finished with him, you won't even recognize the gobs of flesh that he'll be made of."
"Heaven's arrow!" shouted Salika, aiming a purifying arrow at the raven but the bird looked at her with it's sly red eyes and ducked.
With one last laugh, Tira said to her bird, "We return home my pet! Quickly!"
Answering it's mistress orders with another cry, it vanished into one of the portal. Leaving the astral realm of chaos to close itself off.
Talim's eyes finally closed and she said bitterly, "I have failed in everything. Amy, Raphael, wind... please forgive me."
"Tal, you're scaring me." Yun-Seong shook her and held on to her hand painfully. She was one of his closest friend and seeing her like this was tearing him apart. Seong-Mina seemed to notice his distress and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder but he didn't even feel it as he worried for his friend.
Salika then glanced at Talim who had finally fell unconscious and she said to herself quietly, "Forgive us Talim. We should never have led you North to try and find the Ice Coffin of the Sleeping Ancient. If we didn't... you may never have met Raphael and things wouldn't have ended up like this."
"Where do we go now?" asked Hilde, observing the darkness that they were heading for. "And what will we do about Soul Edge and Soul Calibur?"
Siegfried looked at the now dull and lifeless sword in his hand and slowly asked, "And those shards of Soul Edge... what will happen?"
"You will all return home," The twins replied curtly. "And those shards mark the beginning of a dark future. It's an event that has already happened once before."
A horrified expression crossed Kilik's face as he realized what the twins meant. "The day the Evil Seed rained down..."
Back in the human world, the skies turned dark as the moon eclipsed the sun while the borders of the two different worlds merged temporarily. All of the spiritual beings flew down to put things back into place as best as they can but they can sense the destruction that was masked by the darkness and they worried. Red lights darted across the sky and it headed down for the world, bring nothing but pain and darkness.
Blariz, Acool, and the earth warden could hear the cries for salvation from the people below and they quietly closed their eyes. Many of their other comrades held their place over their part of the earth and finally, the time has come. Clapping their hands together, they began chanting.
"Those who were sealed away! Your punishment for escaping and wrecking more havoc will be severe! There is no longer any chance for the forgiveness of your souls!"
In a low voice, the fire warriors murmured, "May the fires below the earth roar and burn away the sins of this world. Judgement of Fire! Reduce my enemies to ashes!"
Bright red light flashed from beneath the ground and all the monsters howled as fire erupted beneath them, leaving the innocents unharmed with their purifying heat. Around the world, volcanoes erupted and lava consumed the vegetation and life all around it.
Acool snapped his fingers and the rest of the water guardians readied themselves. "Our beloved ocean... your sorrow over your children is great. But now, let your wrath be even greater as you take vengeance and bring these demons to the bottom of the oceans floor. Judgement of Water! Take away the breath of life and drown them all!"
The ocean churned and twisted and it swallowed all of the Tainted swimming around its waters with a murderous vengeance. Tidal waves hit the shores of all the beaches and whirlpools materialized in a crazed frenzy as the magic flowed through the waters.
"Let the earth show you her pain. Those who have seeped her soil in the blood of the innocents... now let the earth be your grave! Judgement of Earth! Let's me see you buried alive!"
The earth rumbled and it did just as the earth wardens ordered. As their holy powers gave the earth its strength, the cries of the Tainted was shut off as the ground ate them up. Earthquakes shook the world and its cries rumbled across great distances as the earth cried out for vengeance against the darkness.
From a distance, Ria held out her hands to the skies. The rest of the storm maidens chanted in her place and they said coldly, "The cries of the fallen is carried by the wind and we acknowledge their pain. Now, prepare to pay the price for your crimes and hear the requiem we shall play for you. Judgement of Wind! Listen to your own death screams that we shall carry to the reapers!"
The wind howled and whistled as it cut all of the Tainted to pieces. Twisters and tornadoes materialized and cut its way through the air and land, devouring the fiends who were unfortunate to be caught in its path. When all of their enemies were dead, all of the storm maidens, earth wardens, water guardians, and fire warriors returned home. When the sun returned, nothing remained except for ruins and... the fallen corpses of the people.
No matter how powerful they were, they were bound by rules. Sacrifices could not be avoided and they all prayed that Soul Edge and Soul Calibur will not return to bring about such devastation again. To reseal the line between this world and the spirit world and restore the balance of nature, they had relied on Talim's previous and incomplete sacrifice. The next time she tried it... would definitely be the last. And if she didn't do it properly, then human lives must once more be lost in the scales of power...
At the capital of the spirit realm, the four ancients sat quietly on their thrones. A few stairs led to a higher throne that had a long and transparent white curtain hiding it slightly from view. This seat belonged to the one and only ruler of the spirit world. The Supreme Ruler of the Twelve Heavens who was other wise known as the Grand Creator. This was the central place where the most important matters were discussed and Eden was the capital where their lord stayed.
With a wave of the Ancient of Fire's hands, the lower heavenly beings below bowed and left the great room. The magnificent windows on the walls let in plenty of soft gold light but the atmosphere was tense and not even all the grandeur of the room can distract them from their thoughts. All four ancients stood up when the grand creator appeared and sat down on his throne from behind the veil.
"You may be seated." As they sat down, he said to the Ancient of the Wind, "Daughter... tell me what has transpired."
The Queen of the Winds bowed her head and replied, "Due to Talim's previous ritual to seal the borders up, we have taken advantage of the rules to do it correctly this time as Soul Edge and Soul Calibur return to their dormant states." Her airy white and green robes moved as she made a calm gesture. "As she is my priestess, we of the air were supposed to re-seal the borders. But I've decided that it was best if my fellow brothers and sister joined in. After all, with a failed ritual, there is many loop holes we can go through."
"Hopefully, she will not fail next time," said the Grand Creator.
She averted her eyes and gave a curt nod. "Talim will be hesitant on using that ritual until she finds the missing part her grandfather stole. You can rest assure that the next time she uses it, all evils will be sealed, no humans will be harmed and all will be purified."
The Ancient of Water made a gesture for her to continue. "What happened to the humans that your storm maidens rescued, sister?"
She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair drearily. "Syi Salika and Loka Luha has successfully rescued most of the humans that had managed to make their way to the astral realm of chaos. Some of them were deeply poisoned while in there and a monk by the name of Kilik has done his best to heal his comrades. But he was fatally injured in battle and they did not successfully recover. One was named Maxi and he has left them to try and control his inner lust for death and vengeance. Another one was Isabella and she used something called a manufactured soul. It saved her life but it drained alot of her vitality. Her memory was also slightly affected and she's been out for a month now."
The Ancient of Fire then spoke up and he let his hand rest on the gold arms of his throne as his radiant gold eyes drifted over to her. "What about that girl and that man? Tira and Raphael? I want to know about what happened to those two."
The Ancient of Water spoke up this time. "We don't know. The black powers over them keeps us from being able to see what's happening to them and I'm guessing only the 'wind' would know. Since all that falls under her skies comes under her eyes." He smiled as his sister gave him a tired look.
"They're headed back to Ostrheinsburg and I have no doubt, unpleasant things await Raphael..."
"I'm not done yet," interrupted the Ancient of the Earth, addressing the next statements toward her sister. "Your priestess sent that human girl... Amy, into the Garden of Life. That is my domain." Her brown eyes darkened in anger. "Your priestess must answer for this."
"She has been through alot. Is it not selfish of you to demand even more from her?" The Queen of the Winds eyes were hard and her long green hair began to move from the air surrounding her. She was truly beginning to get angry.
"Rules are rules my daughter," said the Grand Creator. The four ancients immediately became quiet as they listened intently to his voice."Do not think that I didn't know what you did my daughter. You tried to direct Talim to the Ice Coffin of The Sleeping Ancient... If you had not done that, she may not have met Raphael and this tragedy may not have taken place."
"I... forgive me my Lord." The Queen of the Wind bowed her head once more and looked at him with deep regret. "Then what do you have in mind for my priestess?"
"She's in a coma, is she not?" asked The Grand Creator. "Make sure that none of the rituals performed by her family works. She will sleep for the next three years."
The Ancient of the Earth quickly protested. "My Lord! That is not a fitting punishment for the girl. You know that I bear no grudge against her but she cannot-"
With a hand, he quickly silenced her. "I have spoken." Silence followed what he said and after a brief pause, he continued. "Many rules have been broken and many lives have been lost. I shall be more strict with all of you from now on..." Standing up, he raised his head and let out a sigh. "We guide from our place in the spiritual realm but we should not interfere. The world is for the humans and they, are the ones to shape it. Now, return to your homes, my children."
As Ashlotte returned to her home after her long journey, she looked at the people inside questioningly. "Where are my masters?"
One of the hooded figures standing near a crumbling beam snickered. "You take orderssss from usss now doll. Give usss Astaroth's core..."
Ashlotte merely walked in and dragged Astaroth's corpse behind her. "I take orders from no one but my creators."
"Ahahaha, how loyal...No, they've merely done well in creating such a murderous weapon." Kunpaetku, the high priest of the cult laughed and pointed up at the ruined ceiling. "There's your masters doll."
Her eyes glanced upward and she saw the corpses of the two priests who made her. They were hanging by two thick cords tied around their throat and blood dripped down from one of them. Judging by their visage, they had dead for a rather long time.
Kunpaetku smiled and began to walk towards her. "No sadness over their deaths? Well, I guess that's logical since you're just a machine. But let me tell you this my doll... a new cult is now in order. I don't need the old followers who still follows Ares around like dogs. I have a found the one true god to guide us. Behold the glory and power of Palgea! The snake god! It seems that in the beginning he was the one our cult worshipped until Ares showed up. Unlike Ares, he's promised me... much better rewards. He's even helped me climb back from the brink of death!" Stroking his chin, the priest pulled back his hood to reveal a sly face underneath. "I don't know whether I should take you apart and study the way you were created or whether I should just let you live and make you obey me."
"I obey no one but my masters that you have killed," replied Ashlotte. "I've brought back Astaroth as I was ordered and now I have nothing left. Do with me as you wish for I do not care."
The high priest snarled at the way she was speaking to him. "So be it. Men! Take her away and pull her apart bolt by bolt. As for Astaroth," He walked over to the golem and looked down at his creation. "His core will be the key to my rise as a new God..."