Chapter 60

Shulk swung outwards, Virgil's iaijutsu cut repelling the strike. I moved forward, with Virgil guiding the direction of my own slash downward into the sand by drawing the katana and shifting it along my blade as he sidestepped. I growled, bringing my blade back before swinging it outwards, though a swift duck and jab at my body with the sheath forced some distance between the two of us.

A harsh breath came to me as I leapt back to avoid a skewer of Summoned Swords falling on me. ...My movements are too slow and obvious with a two-handed grip. With his ability to teleport and project out slashes... I need to be faster to cut him. "Hah..." I allowed the chainsaws to revert as I slashed outward. "Cross Slash!"

Virgil teleported behind me, forcing his katana through my body. "Hm-!" He tore the blade out my side and swung out to strike at Shulk, who locked swords with him.

"Ugh...!" I fell to my knees, coughing. Damn... "Kh... rrgh!" I gasped, feeling a slight soothing effect wear at my wounds as some ether-infused moisture dripped onto them. This is... I looked at Melia, who nodded at me. Nodding back, I rose to see Shulk cut out, blood spraying from Virgil's shoulder at the attack.

"Tch...!" Summoned Swords surrounded Shulk from all directions as Virgil moved back. He snapped his fingers before turning to face me, slashing his katana out at my general direction, the pale blades circling around, ready to impale Shulk. "Phew..." breathed out Virgil, eyes narrowing.

I rolled along the ground as the first few slashes materialized and sliced the air above me. "Hah...!" I can't get close... Rolling from another siege of cuts, I swung my sword out in Aura Wave and throw a shockwave at him, though the Mirage Edge came within Virgil's grasp, and he used it to sliced the projectile apart. I clicked my tongue as he smirked at me.

"Shield!" I heard Shulk call out, the barrier holding true as the many Swords finally moved in to stab him. "Hah...!"

"Phew..." This is bad... if it becomes a war of attrition, given how worn out we already are, we're dead. "RARGH!" I accessed my Soul Trigger, cutting through another projected slash. So go all out... and kill him in one strike. I darted forward, ascending with the aid of my wings as he slashed out with his katana to project more slashes outward. Now. In the half-second it takes him to sheathe his sword... cut him. I activated Time Slow as I lunged closer, his katana coming out again to meet my charge.

"Slit Edge!" grunted Shulk, with Virgil moving sideways to avoid his Art. "Andrew, go!"

"Tch- unh?!" Virgil flinched, staggering as a burst of lightning struck him. "Ngh-!"

"STAB WAVE: CHAIN!" I roared, forcing my blade to impale his body. My momentum carried the both of us as I slammed into him, the released shockwave from the Art causing blood to jet out from his body in a wave as a hole was punched through him, veins and blood vessels bursting from the sudden pressure forced onto his body.

Virgil threw up blood as I ascended rapidly, still carrying him on my blade, tearing through his internal organs and skyrocketing his bleeding, internal or otherwise. His spine cracked, some of the bones breaking apart as the chainsaws gnawed at the segments on its upward angle. "Not bad... but..." He grabbed onto my body with his left hand as I began to descend, gritting his teeth. "I'm not going to give up that easy." His body glowed white before his massive Mirage Edge came into being, pulling back his hand to plunge the blade into me.

"-!" I tore my sword out his side and kicked him away as he lashed out, his Edge cutting deep into my chest. "Tch...!" I flew back, holding a hand over the wound, which pumped out blood, hot and sticky, over my jacket. I descended and landed, wiping my hand against my sleeve before reverting time and form. Damnit... I couldn't nail him... If only I was faster, then...!

"What...? His wounds... he's healing the damage from Andrew's Art?" spoke Shulk. "No way... even healing Arts don't heal so fast... how is he...?"

Virgil landed a distance in front of us, swinging outwards with his Mirage Edge. Shulk darted forward to deflect it with the Monado, while I ran sideways as Summoned Swords ran to pierce my body. "Hmph!" He flew up over Shulk's Stream Edge Art, and lunged down at him, his sword shining as the sun reflected off it.

"Ugh!" Shulk grunted as he raised his blade to deflect a stab, staggering back. "Shadow Eye...!" he spoke, running behind Virgil, who turned to face me. "Back Slash!" His eyes widened as an assortment of Summoned Swords came into being behind Virgil and slammed into the Monado, nullifying the Art. "Wha...!" He leapt away from Swords falling on him, and Virgil moved to move at me.

"Come forth!" I heard Melia shout, a burst of flame coming up between Virgil and I, though he simply cut the fire apart, without slowing his momentum.

"NGH!" I gritted my teeth, sidestepping his stab so it sliced along my shoulder, but no further. "Damnit..." I swung out, though his Mirage Edge vanished instead of clashing with me. "Ah...!" I staggered as my momentum swept me too far, and Virgil used his knee to knock me back. "Guh!" Damnit... I'm too slow!

"RARGH!" A howl rose from Virgil as he drew his katana, slashes lashing out at Shulk and Melia. A blast of lightning rose in front of Melia, cancelling the attacks out, while the blue glow of Speed surrounded Shulk before he avoided the cuts. Virgil clicked his tongue before a ring of Swords came into being, rotating around him.

"I'm... really feeling it!" Shulk rushed forward, leaping up to avoid the Swords that spread from the ring to strike at him. "Air Slash!" he spoke, clashing with Virgil's katana. "Ngh..." He bounced off, swinging the Monado to destroy the Swords that continued to rush for him. "Shoot..."

"Aura Slash!" I spoke, lashing out, though Virgil shifted away so the Art only destroyed the ring Summoned Swords surrounding him. "Kh!" Gotta pressure him... "Hah..." I hissed, feeling pain flash through my body as I shifted into soul form once more, activating my sword's chainsaw mode as I moved after him. Faster... faster... gotta be faster...!

"Again?" The Outsider's Mirage Edge came out, clashing against me. "Bet you can't maintain it for long." He swung out, forcing a deep cut along my chest as I slid away from him, blood rushing from the wound.

"RRGH!" More... I need more! I roared, the Soul Demon coming up behind me. "RARGH!" I spoke, thrusting my blade forward with the Demon, with Virgil teleporting to land along the Demon's sword, running along it. I growled, flying up and charging at him. "GO DOWN ALREADY!"

"Andrew!" I heard Shulk speak. "Calm down!" He dashed forward, ragged breaths escaping him. "Melia!"

I grunted as ice rose up between Virgil and I, with Virgil cutting the ether apart and projecting additional slashes out with his katana. "HRAH!" The Demon swung out with its blade, with Virgil moving back to evade it as I lashed out and destroyed the projected cuts. "SON OF A...!"

"Don't get too hasty there," spoke Virgil, moving back and settling a hand on his katana, gaze set on me. "Stay focused."

I landed, feeling my form flicker. BE FASTER! "SOUL STAB WAVE: CHAIN!" I howled, speeding forward as fast as I could, using Slow Time as I did so. I blinked as all of a sudden my arm dropped, my sword falling from my grasp onto the ground below. Wait... why did I drop my sword? I looked down at my body and saw blood well up along my arm. I can't... move my arm...?! I blinked, sensing that some of the tendons along the limb were cut. Did he stop time again-

"Don't get too distracted." I grunted, descending swiftly as Virgil rushed at me, unsheathing his katana. The right half of his body was white whilst his left side was black now. His soul is...! "Or you won't like what happens next."

I hissed, willing the gauntlet on my left arm to form, blocking his thrust. "Ugh?" I felt dizzy as Virgil moved slightly and forced his katana through my body, tossing me aside afterwards. "Hah...?" I'm... breathing...? I looked at myself to see that my form was back to normal. The Soul Demon was gone too. "Hah..." I shook as time reverted to normal too. No... damnit, all of it was useless! "Ngh..."

"Monado Purge!" shouted Shulk, with a harsh grunt coming from Virgil as he teleported out of the attack's way. "Melia!" he shouted, without looking back as he chased after Virgil.

"Yes!" Looking over, I saw a yellow aura surround Melia, pointing an outstretched hand toward Virgil. "Mind Blast!"

"...UGH!" A scream rose from Virgil as the blast of ether engulfed him despite his swinging his katana out at it, a long piercing shriek escaping him. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to my exhausted body, the agonized sounds quieted as the ether faded away, revealing Virgil kneeling on the ground, back to normal. "Damn you..." he spoke, slowly rising. His eyes widened, his whole body shaking. "I can't... my soul is gone...?"

"I knew it," panted Shulk, slowly walking closer to Virgil. "After you teleport... it takes time before you can do it again. From what I've seen, only about a couple seconds or so... but still, you can't use it consecutively."

"...Nice, genius," spoke Virgil, standing unsteadily on his feet. "Gh... but it ain't over yet."

"...I see." The Monado's beam, which had retracted some time previously, burst from the blade once more. Shulk sighed. "Light Heal." I gasped as the ether bathed me, feeling my wounds lessen. "I think I'm gonna need you here, Andrew."

"Ngh..." I used my left arm, forcing my body from the ground and staggering over to Shulk. "You say that, but it's not like I can use my sword," I spoke. "Did a number on my arm... 'sides... you and Melia seemed to do really good there."

Shulk glanced at my arm, before concentrating his gaze back on Virgil, who settled into a stance ready to draw his katana. "It'll be fine," he spoke. "We can do this."

We can win. I closed my eyes, breathing out. Yeah... this time Shulk, Mel and Riki have my back. We can do this! I nodded, opening my eyes. "Yeah." I willed my gauntlets to form again. "I got your back, and you have mine... right?"

"Of course," replied Shulk. "I won't let him kill any of us. Now, let's do this!" he spoke.

"Yeah." I nodded, before feeling my right thumb twitch all of a sudden. "Huh?" I can... feel my arm? Looking at the limb, I saw that it was white. Wait... Looking at the rest of my body, I saw that it too was white. "What...?" This is... my Soul Trigger? Like back when we were fighting Egil and Nemesis at Sword Valley...

"Wait... your wounds are healing, Andrew!" spoke Shulk. "Just like before, when he was..."

A smile came to Virgil's face. "I take back what I said earlier," he spoke. "You're pretty scary after all." He darted forward, and I saw Shulk react, slashing out with the Monado, clashing with him. "Agh!" He staggered as Shulk shoved at him, before Stream Edge burst out and cut into Virgil, blood welling along his chest from the Art. "Hah...!" he grunted.

"Come!" spoke Melia, a burst of wind cutting at Virgil, who teleported out of it with a hiss. "Andrew!"

"Right...!" I lunged forward, greave forming as I kicked Virgil, knocking him back. Casting my senses out, I moved over and grasped my sword, resting it on my shoulder. "For real now... this is the end," I spoke.

Virgil laughed. "...Yeah, it is." He wiped some blood away from his mouth with his sleeve. "So come over here and finish me." A rasping breath rattled his chest as Summoned Swords surrounded him.

"...Shulk, Melia," I spoke. "Leave this to me, please?" I started this... I should be the one to end it. He was mostly after me anyway... probably. I looked at Melia, whose eyes were... skeptical, at best. "C'mon... trust me? 'Sides, you and Shulk are here if I actually do get in trouble," I spoke.

"...Alright." A long breath escaped Melia before she gave a curt nod, kneeling down beside Riki. "Don't you dare let your guard down," she spoke. "And if you get in trouble, I will assist you. Understand?"

"Got it," I replied, looking at Shulk, who withdrew the Monado and nodded at me, putting out a fist towards me. "Thanks," I spoke, bumping my fist against his, before settling my gaze on Virgil, taking a few steps towards him. "I..." I stopped in place as he looked at me. "I'm sor..." I shook my head, allowing my form to revert as I felt my wounds finish restoring themselves. No... not sorry. He did attack us, after all. But... "I think... we could've been friends."

"Maybe," replied Virgil. "But that's not here or there. Right now, we're fighting for the right to live." The Swords surrounding him continued to increase in quantity. "This right now is destiny."

"Destiny's a bitch," I spoke.

"That it is," he agreed. "But inescapable all the same, no matter how much you want to run from it." He chuckled lightly, coughing afterwards. "Ugh... wasn't planning on wiping out half of life though..."

"I bet." I dashed forward, a shockwave covering my sword as I did so. The storm of Summoned Swords rushed at me, and I slashed out, unleashing three shockwaves that destroyed the initial ones that came at me, though more followed suit. "Hah..." These Swords... I batted them away with my blade, bringing the chainsaws to life to swing through a particularly thick bunch of Swords, sensing Virgil's presence flicker for a moment. ...In front of me.

Virgil grunted as our blades met, with me managing to force him back. A heavy breath rose from him as he withdrew his katana in favor of his Mirage Edge in both hands, charging forward. "Hrah...!"

"Cross Slash: Chain!" I spoke, my Art forcing him to the ground as our weapons crossed briefly. I leapt up to keep a Sword from embedding itself in my back, bringing my sword down on him, though he teleported away before my blade ever reached him. I clicked my tongue as I turned around, raising my left arm and forming a gauntlet to cause a Sword to shatter to pieces against it. ...No way I'll ever get enough pressure to end it as I am now, even as hurt as he is. "Huh..." Just like before, then. Build up my soul and take him down, then. Fine.

"What's wrong?" spoke Virgil, chest heaving as he struggled for oxygen. "Tired... already?"

"You're one to talk," I spoke, moving forward and swinging my sword at him, though he leapt out of reach. Chasing after him, he used his Mirage Edge to divert my strokes, making it so any strikes that did land on his body were glancing blows at best. "Hah...!" He ducked under a swipe and lashed out at me, gritting his teeth as he did so.

"Ugh!" I grunted, reeling back from a cut to my chest. "Tch." I sensed him thrust his Mirage Edge at me, and I threw out my left hand to catch the stab, clutching my gauntleted-hand around the translucent sword and stopping its momentum. "Stab Strike!" I spoke, readying my sword and lunging forward.

Virgil's eyes widened as I impaled him on my blade, a cough escaping him. Blood spurted from the wound as I let go of his sword and activated my sword's chainsaw mode, cutting out his side. A scream rose from him as I did so, and he vanished, appearing a distance away. "UGH...!" He held a hand to his bloody side, though the blood welled past his hand, dripping down his body, thickly dropping onto the sand. "Hah..."

I breathed out, looking at him. ...I think I have enough energy to go all-out and use my soul now. "Alright. Showtime." I grunted, as a storm of Summoned Swords surrounded me on all sides. "Hunh." As they moved in, I growled, tapping into my white form and rushing out through the prickles of pain that swiftly wore away. "RARGH!" I utilized the black side of my soul, which manifested on the right side of my body. I ascended, swiftly flying up past a series of projected slashes, feeling a small smile come to my face as I avoided projected slashes from his katana, coating the screaming chainsaws of my sword with an aura. I can do this. "AURA SLASH: CHAIN!" I spoke, dipping into a swift dive at the other Outsider.

Virgil grunted, grasping his Mirage Edge and slashing out to meet my Art. "Ah-!" he spoke, as the pale blue sword was cut in two by the released shockwave, fading within his grasp. He gazed at me, and I saw the fear and realization in his eyes-

I lashed out with my blade, the chainsaws digging deep into his chest cavity, ripping his body apart. He fell, breathing ragged and sounding all too loud to me with startling clarity. I panted, feeling as the blood roared in my ears. I reverted to normal, a grunt leaving me as I landed heavily on the ground. "Hah..." I walked over to him slowly, releasing my sword to let the chainsaws retract into the blade.

A groan left Virgil, the large excess of blood forming a rapidly growing pool beneath his body. "Damn... not bad..." he spoke, his whole body trembling as he lay on the sand. "Nice job..."

"I don't wanna be told that when what I've done is murder a person," I spoke, taking a seat beside him. I sensed Shulk and Melia looking over at the two of us. Melia had put her staff away, while Shulk still grasped the Monado in his hands, though he assumed a slightly more relaxed posture now.

Laughter came from the Outsider in front of me, though it turned into a coughing fit quickly. "Ugh... hey..." He moved his hand into his clothing, pulling out his katana. With an arm that seemed to struggle to stay upright, he held it closer to me. "The spoils... of this fight... you wanted it, right...?"

"...Yeah. Thanks." I took it from him and stuffed it into my jacket. Damn these pockets are convenient. I looked up to the blue sky, where Virgil's gaze had settled. Birds of some kind were flying, high above, uncaring as to whatever occurred on the ground below. Their cries, which sounded far away, came down now with the quietness of the beach. "...It's real free and peaceful up there, huh."

"Sure is... sometimes I wonder..." A grimace came across Virgil's face. "What it'd be like... as a bird..." He chuckled, and the sound seemed weaker now. "Though... I'd be free, but... I'd never have known... my friends, family... a lot of stuff, really..."

"That's just the reality of life, ain't it?" I spoke.

"Yeah..." spoke Virgil. "Maybe." He groaned. "Hah... getting sentimental as I'm dying..."

His breathing was growing more shallow. As well, judging from the still growing pool of blood underneath his body, it wouldn't be long before he passed.

...Earlier, didn't he say someone was threatening his friends and family to do this? "Hey," I spoke, with Virgil blinking. Taking it as a sign that he heard me, I continued. "Who was threatening you to come after us?"

Virgil's gaze moved from the sky to me for a moment before he looked back. "...Guess I can tell you," he spoke, a cough escaping him. "He don't care 'bout... killing my loved ones... ngh... now that I'm done for..." A sigh left him. "You remember Zulf?"

I blinked, remembering the sharp metal of a sword embedding itself into my face, the sensation of agony from slashes I couldn't possibly dodge. I swallowed, breathing out slowly. "Is he the one?"

"...Yeah." Virgil grimaced. "Eventually, too... he's gonna come after you again."

Never would have guessed. I felt a slight frown come to my face. Though... the first time, in... Makna Forest, I think, right...? He told me to make him 'regret this', or something, I think... regret leaving me alive, even though he coulda killed me easily...? Huh... hm... I wonder...

"Hey, Andrew..." Virgil's voice grasped my attention, and I looked back at him. "...You believe in an afterlife?"

"Eh... dunno," I spoke. "Life is busy enough as is. Haven't really thought about it."

"Well..." He coughed. "If there is one... and we meet up... wanna start over...? Maybe... actually... as friends this time...?"

"Sure," I spoke. "Sounds good. Tell me 'bout your family when we meet up then, 'kay?"

"Sure..." Virgil smiled, closing his eyes. "See ya... then..."

All at once his body stopped moving, and the ragged sounds arising from the body in front of me faded. The gentle sounds of the receding waves from the ocean nearby seemed quiet and too loud all at once.

A heavy sound came from me as I rose to my feet. Another person dead on my account. The Soul Demon came into being behind me, and it thrust its blade into the ground, shoveling sand away. Within a few scoops enough space had been moved to make for a grave.

"Andrew..." I looked over to see Shulk had made his way beside me. "You okay?"

"No," I replied, willing the Demon to carefully take up Virgil's body with the hand that wasn't carrying the blade, before lowering his corpse into the sandy grave. "But I will be."

I sensed Melia come closer, carrying Riki in her arms. "Would you like some assistance?" she spoke, setting the Heropon nearby. He sounded peaceful now, just snoozing away on the ground.

"...Yeah." I willed the Soul Demon to fade, and we began to shovel with our bare hands. With the three of us in silence, it wasn't long before the sand had been placed back over Virgil's body. "Hah..."

"Are you alright?" I saw Melia draw her weapon, an earth elemental coming into being beside her. "You seem especially fatigued..."

I took a seat beside Riki, watching as the elemental came along the ground, a tall peak made of earthy soil coming up beside the grave as a marker of sorts. Must be magic to get soil here where there's sand...

"Andrew?" spoke Melia, looking back at me.

"...I'm tired of fighting," I spoke. "Tired of killing. Every fight we've been in lately seems to have the odds more stacked against us every time..." I felt a wry smile come to my face. "It's probably pretty selfish to say, but... I'm tired of fighting to the death." I want to go home. As the realization struck me, I felt a twinge in my heart. I miss mom's homemade cooking... playing table tennis with dad... playing video games, going to school, seeing my friends, and generally... living a quiet, uneventful life... where I could reasonably expect to go through day-to-day without having to fight for my survival. I sighed. Isekai protagonists are masochists to want to live in a fantasy world than the modern world they come from. "I... I want to go home," I spoke, feeling my face grow hot at my admittance.

Shulk nodded, kneeling beside me. "...Honestly, I understand. I feel the same, to an extent," he spoke. "But... right now... we have to keep going. If we don't... it's an insult to everyone else who isn't here." He looked away. "Whether they would stand beside us... or against."

Melia bent over, presenting a hand to me. "It's as Shulk says," she spoke. "For everyone who have passed..." I saw her swallow. "For Reyn... father... Dunban..." Her gaze shifted to the grave beside us. "And for Virgil... stopping here and going home, leaving our journey half-finished... it would leave all their passings in vain. Making light of all their convictions and beliefs... that would be the same as insulting their memory." Melia looked back at me, eyes set with determination. "Don't you agree?"

I rubbed my eyes. Right... these two have lost way more than I have... and here I am whining. I breathed out, slapping my cheeks, ignoring the alarmed look Melia sent my way. "Phew... yeah, you're right." Getting my feet under me, I took Melia's offered hand, rising from the ground. "Thanks. Sorry, I was getting negative about all of this," I spoke. For Reyn, Dunban, Virgil, the Emperor... giving up here would be spitting on their graves.

"Don't worry about it," spoke Shulk. "It happens to the best of us."

"Indeed," spoke Melia, nodding. "And if such thoughts come back to you, always know that we are here to listen. Alright?"

I nodded back at her. "Yeah... thanks again," I spoke. Just gotta believe that along this journey... there really is a way to get home, and keep going.

"No need to mention it." Melia gave me a small smile before turning to look at Shulk. "Regardless... now, it would be best for us to return to Fiora and Junks with the Piezoelectric Unit, correct?"

"Yeah," spoke Shulk. "Alright..." He took the lead, breathing out. "Let's go." He picked up Riki in his arms, starting off at a slow, leisurely pace. Melia cast a quick glance at me, nodding before walking after the blonde.

I looked back at the makeshift grave behind us, clasping my hands together for a moment. "Rest in peace," I murmured, bowing my head and closing my eyes. After a moment, I raised my head, turning away and chasing after Shulk and Melia.

Who knows... maybe I really will see you in the next one.

Thank you all for reading.