Author's note: Hi guys :)! I'm back with a new chapter, sorry if it's a bit short, had to get some ideas done, but I hope you will all like this chapter :)! Enjoy.

Glass Warrior

Cloud watched with mild surprise at the mirror image of himself. Though it appeared just like him in shape, the detail was a glassy sheen that obscured the finer details of his appearance.

'So this is whom I have to face to earn my freedom from Chaos..' Cloud thought.

He hefted his sword, ready to fight the glassy doppleganger. The being in question also held its weapon up. A brief silence was left as both eyed each other. Soon, Cloud dashed forward, making the first move with a horizontal swipe. The glassy doppleganger heaped up to the air, dodging the attack.

'Damn.. He dodged it.' Cloud thought.

Soon the doppleganger retaliated with a counter. Taking advantage of being in the air, the tactic it made was a nosedive maneuver. It was performing an overhead dive, aiming its large weapon at Cloud's head.

'Mimic my Braver Limit break, huh? Two can play this Simon's says game', Cloud mocked mentally. He needed a way out of this forbidden place. And he also needed another plan or idea to figure out how to finally escape this war.

Cloud readied himself to attack, awaiting an opening. Holding his sword steady, he attacked with a vertical slash. The doppleganger attempted to block, but was pushed back.

'Got you now. Let's see you handle this.' Cloud thought.

He plunged his sword, making a feint tactic. As expected for Cloud, the doppleganger moved back to dodge. In a fit of surprise, Cloud got to the handle of his sword. He soon lifted himself in a handstand, dragging the sword forward. The doppleganger didn't expect the attack and attempted to block. The force of it forced the doppleganger on his knees. Energy was channeled into the blade, enhancing its cutting power.

'If Braver didn't work, then...' Cloud planned.

A beam of energy soon emitted at the tip. The doppleganger grunted, spewing a glassy fluid.

'So it's possible for them to bleed. Nothing I need to know.' Cloud mused.

The doppleganger stood up, albeit weakly. The aftershock from Cloud's attack was evident enough to affect it.

'Combining Braver with Blade Beam takes a bit out of me.. Still, it should do decent damage.' Cloud thought.

The doppleganger had a trick up its sleeve. It began spinning its sword in a circle above its head.

"Ruin down!" It said with a distorted tone.

Cloud was besieged by a rain of meteors, forcing him to dodge in the air. Grunting from nearly getting singed by the attack, he focused head on to the enemy. Upon landing his sword to his target, the swordsman soon began spinning on his foe. The momentum caused Cloud to slowly rise up in a corkscrew fashion.

"Finishing touch." Cloud shouted mentally.

Numerous cuts were astrew the doppleganger. It made distorted grunts from the new injuries it suffered. It pointed its right palm to Cloud, conjuring a fist-sized fireball.

'Fire Materia.. fire then. Fight fire with fire, then.' Cloud mentally noted.

Fire gathered in Cloud's palm, but it was more concentrated. With his will, Cloud launched the fiery projectile.

"Fira!" He commanded.

A large blazing swirl was created. It did went all the way through, though.

"Burn, you monster!" Cloud shouted.

The doppleganger dashed out of the fire that blanketed its form. This made Cloud click his tongue in response.

'I wasn't this persistent in fighting, even with being burned..' Cloud mused.

He blocked the attacks from the now frantic doppleganger. The onslaught of attacks soon began to numb Cloud's arms and hands. They were starting to go asleep.

'At this rate, I won't take this much longer.. I have to finish while my strength is still prevalent.' Cloud debuted. He wondered if his strength is still in quite yet.

The doppleganger soon performed a powerful plunge, causing Cloud to be pushed back. He grunted in response, feeling his limbs weaken.

"Stubborn.. I won't let you stop me from gaining my freedom from Chaos!" Cloud shouted.

The mark of Chaos began to crack, showing that Chaos's grip was weakening. The fighting prevent Cloud from noticing any changes. He only felt lighter, much to his confusion.

He also wondered about his strength almost coming back to him like magic. Hefting his sword up, Cloud was readying himself to finish his doppleganger. Channeling energy to the blade, Cloud swung another Blade Beam.

'End this... Now!' He thought.

The energy blade was able to cleave through the doppleganger. It screamed for a few seconds, till it fragmented. Shards of the former doppleganger fell with the sound of glass. Cloud soon felt the mark of Chaos fading away. Exhausted, he fainted on the battlefield as a bright light engulfed the area.

Author's note: The next few chapters of this cool story are coming soon :)! Thank you all for reading :)!