There are secrets in the universe that may never be fully explained.
Where there are mysteries, there are always three kinds of people connected to them. One is the kind of people who want to seek the mysteries out to their fullest.
The other are the people who are out to destroy any secret they believe threatens their security or positions of power.
The third type are the defenders of mysteries.
This is the tale of several such defenders.
Outcast Legends: And Outlaw Star fanfic
Final Great Battle
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the original Outlaw Star TV anime. I'll make a list of those characters and concepts I do own at the end of the fic.
Chapter 12: Death's Paradox
Upon turning the corner of the path, Dawn Sword, Suzuka, and the maiden froze in mid-step. There, right before their very eyes, was DragonMage and his black-cloaked companion, standing in front of the open entrance to the Dragon's Tribute. Dawn Sword and Suzuka tensed in preparation for battle, swords ready, as DragonMage scoffed at them both.
"You're late, you know." DragonMage stated coldly but with an odd humor in his eyes. "I was expecting you to get here some time ago, but better late than never, I suppose."
"Stand back and let us handle this." Dawn Sword instructed to the maiden.
"I'll return to the core, and meet you on the other side." The maiden stated, then slowly faded out of existence until she was completely gone.
"Where's Melfina?" Suzuka demanded of DragonMage.
"Right where she should be: integrated momentarily into the superstructure of the galactic leyline." He paused. "Aren't you the least bit curious how I did it?"
"We know all about the Armor of the Dragon, DragonMage, and what you intend to do with it." Dawn Sword challenged.
"Then you should also realize that it would be unfair of me to use the Dragon's Claw to fight you." He smirked. "But since I can't run the risk of you destroying it while my back's turned, I guess I just don't have a choice, do I?"
"Looks like we both have special weapons, then." Dawn Sword stated, pointing his sword at DragonMage.
"… Whatever, Dawn Sword. After all, there is no single greater weapon in the known universe than the Armor of the Dragon, and even just the Dragon's Claw has easily enough power to destroy you weaklings." DragonMage quickly drew out his sword. "I hope you've made amends with 'God', Dawn Sword, because you'll be seeing Him soon."
"Long time ago, DragonMage." Dawn Sword 'reassured'. DragonMage scoffed at that and slowly brought his sword to a battle position.
"It's you and me then, Dawn Sword. One on one, just like it was always meant to be. And when I kill you, I'll claim the full Armor of the Dragon as my prize."
"I suppose that means it's time you and I finished our fight as well, Suzuka." Cerpa stated, throwing off the black cloak. He truly was a cyborg now, far more machine than man. Almost his entire left side, including both legs, was circuitry and steel, although his face and shoulders were still flesh and blood. His weapon of choice had also changed, now a sword much like Suzuka's own except made of deep black metal. Suzuka tightened her grip on her weapon as she looked into the face of one so evil and yet so like herself. Cerpa continued. "I bet you're just dying to fight me again, aren't you Suzuka? Well, I won't keep you waiting. I've been waiting years to get you back for what you did to me."
"How can you say that, when you're the one who butchered my parents?" Suzuka challenged in disgust.
"All's fair in love and war, Suzuka, and in a way, this is both." Cerpa said with a devious smirk.
"Enough talk; let's finish this!" Suzuka challenged, racing into battle. Cerpa dodged her initial strike by inches, then he and Suzuka's swords met in a series of swift and vicious clashes. Dawn Sword and DragonMage were likewise dueling by this time, their swords moving so quick that all could be seen were metallic flashes caused by the artificial sunlight. It seemed all four fighters were making ready use of the Blade Storm technique, and as the battle grew more and more intense, so did it's speed.
"Aren't you the least bit curious" Cerpa asked as he and Suzuka's swords deadlocked for a moment. "Why we are both so alike, my dear Suzuka?"
Both broke from the deadlock in a blur of motion, and just as quickly returned to the zealous combat. When their blades locked again, Suzuka was still silent but Cerpa seemed almost like he wanted to show off.
"It's only right that you know before you die." He stated, the two struggling with all their strength against each other. "My powers once extended far beyond this form."
"A shape shifter, correct?" Suzuka said in an uninterested way. "I figured that out long ago."
"Yes, and ever since you left me for dead over a year ago I've been trapped in this form, unable to revert to any other appearances but those of your own which I formatted for myself so long ago." With a flurry of motion, the two once again broke the deadlock, now standing battle-ready several feet apart. Cerpa continued in a low, ominous voice. "All because of these blasted implants. But once you are dead, the galactic leyline can restore me to my former powers."
"I'll never let you get the chance."
"You don't have a say in it. While these implants are restrictive, they make me ten times as powerful as I used to be. I can kill you with ease; but I want to savor your last few moments of sentience, of that fighting spirit in you that I admire so much."
Suzuka quickly used a secret technique, sending a hundred scattered blasts of red energy at her enemy. Cerpa easily blocked, making use of a light shield that was installed in his left arm. Blades met again but it wasn't hard to see that the tide of battle was slowly turning against Suzuka, while Cerpa's face continually harbored that look of victorious bliss, like a snake coiled around it's victim and slowly squeezing the life out of it.
Meanwhile, the tide of battle was likewise turning against Dawn Sword. DragonMage was moving far quicker that expected, and Dawn Sword's armor was already sliced and scratched in several places. As their swords deadlocked, Dawn Sword quickly played his trump card, sending a current of powerful electricity surging through the sword, conducted through DragonMage's weapon, and then quickly delivering the voltage into DragonMage himself. The dark warrior reeled backwards in pain, but was still able to dodge a sideswipe from Dawn Sword in spite of his injury.
"Most … clever." DragonMage stated, breathing hard and obviously in pain. He then seemed to shake off the inflicted pain for a moment as he added "I would expect nothing less from my most worthy opponent."
"I'm not through with you yet, DragonMage."
"Neither am I finished with you." He said, aiming the Dragon's Claw. "I call upon the Dragon's Breath! Burn and consume my enemy!"
A massive blast of fire erupted from the gauntlet, forcing Dawn Sword to dodge to one side, then dodge again as DragonMage warninglessly brought his sword down at him like a giant battle axe.
"My turn, DragonMage." Dawn Sword stated, quickly getting back to his feet. The blade of his sword began to glow with intense white energy as electricity flared out from the glowing blade. Bringing his Archblade attack to full power, he dashed straight at DragonMage and contacted his foe's sword with a massive surge of electrical power that send DragonMage flying backwards on contact.
As the dust began to clear, it was obvious Dawn Sword was quickly running out of strength; he was breathing hard and beads of sweat were dropping off his forehead and hitting the dry ground. DragonMage, however, looked like he'd just gotten his second wind, the Dragon's Claw glowing slightly red as he somehow used it to revive his strength. Suzuka and Cerpa were still locked in a bitter struggle, but Suzuka appeared to have taken several blows and her clothing was shredded at the edges. DragonMage smirked.
"It seems we're equally matched to a degree. However, my victory is assured, because I can keep this up as long as I wish, whereas you, O' my worthy foe, are quickly losing your strength."
"As can I, Suzuka." Cerpa added coldly. "Machinery does not grow tired."
Jim woke up with a throbbing headache. Slowly opening his eyes, he quickly realized he was in the command room of the Veritas, which at present was rolled over on it's side. Slowly sitting up, he saw that he was alone and that a huge hole had been cut into one wall, leading out onto the open leyline.
"Hey, where'd everybody go?" He wondered out loud, then went over and examined the large hole. "This looks like Suzuka's handiwork. The others must be out tracking down DragonMage…"
After a little pushing aside of debris, Jim was able to locate an intact console that had survived the crash. As he fiddled with the controls, he was able to access the damage control systems.
"Hmm, well, at least the docking bays and engineering aren't too heavily damaged. That means the Outlaw Star an El Dorado must be intact." He then looked back towards the opening. "Great, looks like I got left behind again. While I've been unconscious, they're out saving the universe and all. Why do I always get left out of these adventures?" He then looked back at the damage indicator screen. "Well, since the Outlaw Star and El Dorado are intact,… I guess it's OK if I go out and find Jean and everybody. But first I'd better find out if they've got some of those Strikers stored onboard, just in case I run into trouble."
DragonMage unleashed his Hell Storm attack, sending bolts of black energy careening down like rain all across the battlefield. Dawn Sword and Suzuka dodged as much as they could, but both suffered several direct hits. All his strength exhausted, Dawn Sword was unprepared as DragonMage followed through on his assault with a lethal blast of dark energy, sending him flying onto his back. Before he even knew what was happening, DragonMage had his foot on Dawn Sword's chest and in a single movement knocked the sword out of his hand.
"It's over, fool." DragonMage taunted. "Did you really think that by all this you could keep me from achieving my destiny of becoming the most evolved being in the universe?! HA! Now I'll finish what I started, and this time there won't be anything left of you to resurrect! In that knowledge, despair and die!"
"NO!!" Suzuka exclaimed, seconds before a blow from Cerpa's sword broadsided her, leaving a huge line of blood on her face as she collapsed to the ground. DragonMage, thoroughly enjoying the look of imminent death in his defeated foe's eyes, removed his foot and then unleashed a stream of fire from the Dragon's Claw.
Dawn Sword's death scream was drowned out by the roar of the devouring flames.
Suzuka could only watch; battered, bruised, and powerless, as her only brother was cremated alive by DragonMage's hell-sent powers. Silent tears of tortured agony and despair ran down her cheeks as she realized that it was over. They'd lost, and DragonMage had exacted his revenge on one of the people Suzuka had held most dear.
Looking up with bloodshot, tear-stained eyes, Suzuka watched as Cerpa brought his sword down in a final blow, one that would finish Suzuka off.
Archon was the first to arrive at the scene of the battle, making his entrance only minutes after Suzuka had met her demise. The sight of his leader victorious quickly brought him great pleasure-
-Until a razor-thin beam of energy from Cerpa terminated Archon's life in the blink of an eye. DragonMage, obviously startled, was only barely able to evade a second streak of energy intended by Cerpa to kill him. The cyborg's expression was cold and emotionless as DragonMage glared at him from across the battlefield.
"What do you think you're doing?!! Vile traitor!" DragonMage's voice lacked no tone of outrage.
"I'm only doing what you would have done." Was Cerpa's simple reply. "After all, one must take caution that one's allies don't turn out to be greedier than thy."
"What are you talking about?! Do you realize how easily I can kill you, you scum?"
"Of course I do, that's why I intend to kill you first. Admit it, DragonMage; you would take the first opportunity to kill us all, friend and foe alike, just to make certain that none of us turns on you. Well, it looks like I beat you to the punch, as the expression goes. Once I kill you, I'll be the one who seizes the armor and becomes ultimate. The other warriors I'm not concerned with; I can kill them with such ease that it's laughable, but you and you alone now rival my power. So prepare yourself for the void, 'sir'."
"Fool! I'm more than a match for you!" DragonMage shouted in defiance, sword ready.
The battle was swift and deadly, each warrior pulling out all the stops. It was evident that Cerpa had been holding back somewhat in the battle against Suzuka, because suddenly his speed and power took on a whole new definition. As energy blasts flashed across the field of combat, the two warriors fought with survival intensity, blades meeting in swift and decisive clashes. Back flipping into the air, Cerpa's left arm suddenly split into a mass of swarming, whip-like metal tentacles, which he instantly lashed out at DragonMage with. DragonMage countered with a black energy shield, then with rage in his eyes sent out a giant blast of flame at Cerpa, hitting him dead-on. Before Cerpa could even get back to his feet, DragonMage's twin 'dragon fang' blades found their marks in Cerpa's left arm, pinning him to the ground. DragonMage soon stood over Cerpa, Dragon's Claw ready.
"Cerpa, I honestly thought you were more intelligent than this. You of all people should know that no one is more powerful than I am."
DragonMage, however, was unprepared as compartment in Cerpa's chest slid open, revealing a small plasma cannon. The unexpected blast struck DragonMage square in the chest, sending him flying backwards onto the ground.
"What was that line you used on Dawn Sword?" Cerpa inquired, quickly getting to his feet, knocking away DragonMage's sword, and planting his foot firmly into the warrior's chest. "Oh yes, I remember now. 'Despair and die'!"
With that, Cerpa swiftly drove his sword down into DragonMage's heart, causing a gasp from the fallen warrior as cold metal met warm blood.
"Hm, yes; I'd say 'despair and die' works rather well on you, DragonMage." Cerpa snickered as his opponent lay there, quickly losing consciousness.
With that, Cerpa turned and headed for the inner leyline. A few steps in, however, he realized that he'd need the Dragon's Claw, so he turned back around and went to go retrieve it from DragonMage's corpse.
Squatting down and holding his sword with his left hand momentarily, he attempted to pull the gauntlet off of DragonMage's hand. It wouldn't budge. He pulled harder but still the gauntlet didn't come off. Putting the sword on the ground next to him, he tried pulling with both hands.
It seemed stuck there.
Suddenly, he glanced briefly at DragonMage's face, and what he saw shocked him to the point of being paralyzed with fear.
DragonMage's eyes, fully open and conscious, were glowing with flame-like red energy. Cerpa did a double take and practically tripped over his own feet as he began to stand, but with movements far too incredibly quick for any human being DragonMage soon had a grip on Cerpa's head with the Dragon's Claw. Cerpa didn't even have time to realize what had happened before DragonMage unleashed a blast of flame from the gauntlet, instantly vaporizing Cerpa's head.
The fierce, other-worldly red-flame glow stayed in DragonMage's eyes as he leaned down over the decapitated Cerpa and gently, mockingly whispered
"Yes, I'd say 'despair and die' works rather well on you, Cerpa. Rest in hell, scum."
Pushing his cape aside dramatically, DragonMage quickly made his way into the Dragon's Tribute, leaving the bodies of his victims to rot.