"They've found the Crystal, Cain." I leaned against the wall, slightly amused. "Go and get it from them… or at least, show them where to find us."
"Yes, Master."
He left, boarded the airship, and pulled Cecil toward the tower. I felt the presence of the man as soon as he entered the place.
"So you have the crystal," Cain addressed them through the PA system in the tower.
"Where's Rosa?" of course, the first thing that came to the man's mind.
"Don't be in such a rush," Cain murmured. "Lord Golbeze wants to thank you personally." He laughed.
"Golbez!" the old man Tella spat. "That old bastard!"
"Well, well, well," I chuckled, coming on to the system. "You have the crystal. I'm so proud of all of you."
"Show your face to us, you coward!" Tella shouted.
"My, my, how anxious you all are…" I laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound, evento my ears. "You'll see me soon enough."
"Where are you?" Cecil snarled.
"I'm on the top floor… with your precious Rosa. In gratitude for your saving me the trouble of invading Toroia, I'll give you the girl back."
"You bastard!" Cecil snarled.
"Yes, I believe we've covered that already. And, of course, being the downright horrible, rotten to the core bastard that I am… I can't guarantee that dear little Rosa will survive to see you if you keep me waiting too long."
I sat back in the makeshift throne Cain had built for me and waited for them to arrive. As they reached the fifth floor, standing on the threshold of my room, I called out the three Magus Sisters with a smirk. "Come to me, Dog, Mag, Rag… destroy the intruders." They were there and gone in a moment's time.
I listened to the battle, pleased with the perplexed shouts of Cecil and his followers as the Magus Sisters' Reraise spell was cast again and again, brining them back… from the dead. Or so it seemed. But all too soon the cries of terror became triumph as the last of my Magus Sisters fell and drowned in a pool of her own blood. They crossed the threshold and stood before me, tired, shaken and angry. I approached them, chuckling.
"Well done, gentlemen. You've made it to the top. Aren't you proud of yourselves?"
"Golbez!" Tella spat, shaking with fury.
I clicked my tongue. "Business before pleasure, gentlemen. The crystal, if you please."
"Where's Rosa?" Cecil nearly shouted. "She'd better be all right!"
"Like I said…" I told him icily. "The crystal first. I wouldn't harm my bargaining chip Cecil, I may be a cruel man but I'm not a stupid one."
"All right." He looked as though he'd rather fling himself off a cliff than hand the crystal over to me. He was so stupid to fall in love, an intelligent man would have sacrificed the girl and kept the crystal. Cecil was clearly not an intelligent man, or at best an overly-emotional one. "Here it is."
He handed me the crystal. I stroked it affectionately with my gloved hands.
"Now. Give me Rosa."
"Rosa…?" I chuckled almost inaudibly. "Who's Rosa? I don't know any Rosa. Do you know of this woman he speaks of, Cain?"
"No," Cain said obstinately.
"You!" Cecil spat. "You filthy liar!"
"How low can a man go?" Tella hissed. "Death is too good for you, but it's all I can give!" he lunged at me.
"I have no business with you, old fool."
"But I have some for you!" he snarled. "For Anna! I will show you Anna's pain!"
He lunged, and began to cast spells. Bio… Fire 3…
"Your old body isn't strong enough to defeat me…" I told him, chuckling.
Bolt 3. Ice 3. Did the man never give up?
"It's time…" he gasped, "To call upon the Meteo…"
"Don't!" Cecil cried. "The strain will kill you!"
"Then it must… my life… for this power… I will defeat you, Golbez! For Anna!" he chanted words under his breath. A second later, meteors were flying out of the sky, right at me. Pain blinded me as they struck my armor.
"Me… meteo?" I whispered. "It can't be… but it is." I collapsed, and the old man did too. "You… old bastard… cast Meteo… you thought you could destroy me… but I'm alive. And I have the crystal. Come, Cain. Let's draw back for now."
Cain did not respond. I blinked. "Cain?" still nothing. "So my control's been broken by Meteo. Oh well. You were a sorry excuse for a minion anyway." I began to walk away.
"You're not going anywhere, Golbez!" Cecil snarled.
"Quite the contrary…" I murmured, beginning to regain my composture. "I most certainly am." I flung a spell at him, which cast him to the floor. It didn't kill him. It should have. "Eh? What's that?"
"Why don't you… finish me off…?" he gasped.
I glared at him. "What… what the hell are you?" a wave of pain struck me. "Aack! My head!" I reached under my helmet and rubbed my temples. "What have you done to me, you bastard? I'll warn you fairly… this fight isn't over!" I stalked out the door.
After a bit of a break and a glass of vodka to clear my mind, I snuck into the castle of King Jiott in the underworld and stole his daughter's dolls. I felt like a fool doing it, but it needed to be done. Using the dark magic that Master Zemus himself had taught me, I enchanted them to do my bidding… and kill the warriors who opposed me.
However unfortunately, they failed. They stood, gasping and sweating from the fight when I appeared, black armor glistening, on the pedestal just below the crystal. "Surprise." I laughed. "I'm not dead. But I should really thank you for the other day." They looked dumbstruck. "How could you possibly know that I love having metoers dropped on my head?"
I lost my humor quickly. "But the old bastard who can cast Meteo is dead. And now I'm going to send you to join him. But before I do, would you be so kind as to humor me and listen to why I'm gathering the crystals?" they said nothing, and I continued. "It's said that if the eight crystals are gathered, a pathway to the moon will be opened, and with it will come unlimited power. Can you imagine it? Me, a god. I do so love the idea." I laughed, bitterly. "It's a pity that you won't be around to witness my climb to glory, but… such is life."
They began to attack me, but the few attacks that even connected with me rebounded off of my armor. "Is that the best you can do?" I kept laughing. "Why don't you stay here for a bit?" I cast a quick cursed aura spell on them, paralyzing them.
"Come to me, my Black Dragon," I murmured. Shadow appeared, his red eyes gleaming. "Kill them, Shadow. Kill them all."
Shadow laughed, a strange laugh that only I could understand. His Black Fang attack tore out and into the karate monk's body. He collapsed, badly wounded and unconscious. The girl Rosa was next, so precious to Cecil… Cain had leapt into the air, out of my reach. I couldn't get him. Fool. I'd make him pay for betraying me.
Suddenly, a spray of mist struck Shadow, killing him. What was left of it struck my armor, burning like acid. "Sh-shadow!" I snarled. "The mist dragon killed Shadow! You'll pay for this!" the mist dragon disappeared, and a tall, thin, green-haired woman dashed forward to join Cecil. An Esuna spell appeared out of nowhere and healed the paralysis of those who were still conscious. Meaning Cecil.
Cain landed on me, his spear passing through a chink in my armor and driving deep into my side. I didn't show my pain, but blood, trickled down my side. Cecil lashed out with his sword. It rebounded off my armor but the pain of the echo stung my ears.
And then, the phantom man Ifrit appeared before me, flames dancing around his head. They heated my armor, and it scalded my skin. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. It hurt! I found myself wishing for the hip flask in my armor, but I didn't dare touch it, as it might explode from the head.
Cecil's sword slid between the plates of my armor, into my ribs. Cain launched himself into the air and landed on me, burying his spear in the back of my neck. The green-haired girl murmured some words and cast Bio on me. It hurt so much more than the old man's spell had… I felt my armor, then my body, begin to dissolve.
They stood over me, as I lay there, nearly dead, grinning in triumph. "We've done it! We've defeated Golbez!"
They crowd around the girl. "All because of you!"
"You've changed so much…"
I can't hear all of what they're saying. I don't even want to hear it, the pain is so great. I focus all of my energy into a transformation that I learned from Master Zemus, and turned my body into a great floating hand. "I… do… not… PERISH."
They turned, incredulous to see me as I floated on to the crystal's dais, seized it and teleported out of the room. Back to my palace of crystal… to heal, and to gather the strength to bring Cain back to me.
"Yes, Master."
He left, boarded the airship, and pulled Cecil toward the tower. I felt the presence of the man as soon as he entered the place.
"So you have the crystal," Cain addressed them through the PA system in the tower.
"Where's Rosa?" of course, the first thing that came to the man's mind.
"Don't be in such a rush," Cain murmured. "Lord Golbeze wants to thank you personally." He laughed.
"Golbez!" the old man Tella spat. "That old bastard!"
"Well, well, well," I chuckled, coming on to the system. "You have the crystal. I'm so proud of all of you."
"Show your face to us, you coward!" Tella shouted.
"My, my, how anxious you all are…" I laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound, evento my ears. "You'll see me soon enough."
"Where are you?" Cecil snarled.
"I'm on the top floor… with your precious Rosa. In gratitude for your saving me the trouble of invading Toroia, I'll give you the girl back."
"You bastard!" Cecil snarled.
"Yes, I believe we've covered that already. And, of course, being the downright horrible, rotten to the core bastard that I am… I can't guarantee that dear little Rosa will survive to see you if you keep me waiting too long."
I sat back in the makeshift throne Cain had built for me and waited for them to arrive. As they reached the fifth floor, standing on the threshold of my room, I called out the three Magus Sisters with a smirk. "Come to me, Dog, Mag, Rag… destroy the intruders." They were there and gone in a moment's time.
I listened to the battle, pleased with the perplexed shouts of Cecil and his followers as the Magus Sisters' Reraise spell was cast again and again, brining them back… from the dead. Or so it seemed. But all too soon the cries of terror became triumph as the last of my Magus Sisters fell and drowned in a pool of her own blood. They crossed the threshold and stood before me, tired, shaken and angry. I approached them, chuckling.
"Well done, gentlemen. You've made it to the top. Aren't you proud of yourselves?"
"Golbez!" Tella spat, shaking with fury.
I clicked my tongue. "Business before pleasure, gentlemen. The crystal, if you please."
"Where's Rosa?" Cecil nearly shouted. "She'd better be all right!"
"Like I said…" I told him icily. "The crystal first. I wouldn't harm my bargaining chip Cecil, I may be a cruel man but I'm not a stupid one."
"All right." He looked as though he'd rather fling himself off a cliff than hand the crystal over to me. He was so stupid to fall in love, an intelligent man would have sacrificed the girl and kept the crystal. Cecil was clearly not an intelligent man, or at best an overly-emotional one. "Here it is."
He handed me the crystal. I stroked it affectionately with my gloved hands.
"Now. Give me Rosa."
"Rosa…?" I chuckled almost inaudibly. "Who's Rosa? I don't know any Rosa. Do you know of this woman he speaks of, Cain?"
"No," Cain said obstinately.
"You!" Cecil spat. "You filthy liar!"
"How low can a man go?" Tella hissed. "Death is too good for you, but it's all I can give!" he lunged at me.
"I have no business with you, old fool."
"But I have some for you!" he snarled. "For Anna! I will show you Anna's pain!"
He lunged, and began to cast spells. Bio… Fire 3…
"Your old body isn't strong enough to defeat me…" I told him, chuckling.
Bolt 3. Ice 3. Did the man never give up?
"It's time…" he gasped, "To call upon the Meteo…"
"Don't!" Cecil cried. "The strain will kill you!"
"Then it must… my life… for this power… I will defeat you, Golbez! For Anna!" he chanted words under his breath. A second later, meteors were flying out of the sky, right at me. Pain blinded me as they struck my armor.
"Me… meteo?" I whispered. "It can't be… but it is." I collapsed, and the old man did too. "You… old bastard… cast Meteo… you thought you could destroy me… but I'm alive. And I have the crystal. Come, Cain. Let's draw back for now."
Cain did not respond. I blinked. "Cain?" still nothing. "So my control's been broken by Meteo. Oh well. You were a sorry excuse for a minion anyway." I began to walk away.
"You're not going anywhere, Golbez!" Cecil snarled.
"Quite the contrary…" I murmured, beginning to regain my composture. "I most certainly am." I flung a spell at him, which cast him to the floor. It didn't kill him. It should have. "Eh? What's that?"
"Why don't you… finish me off…?" he gasped.
I glared at him. "What… what the hell are you?" a wave of pain struck me. "Aack! My head!" I reached under my helmet and rubbed my temples. "What have you done to me, you bastard? I'll warn you fairly… this fight isn't over!" I stalked out the door.
After a bit of a break and a glass of vodka to clear my mind, I snuck into the castle of King Jiott in the underworld and stole his daughter's dolls. I felt like a fool doing it, but it needed to be done. Using the dark magic that Master Zemus himself had taught me, I enchanted them to do my bidding… and kill the warriors who opposed me.
However unfortunately, they failed. They stood, gasping and sweating from the fight when I appeared, black armor glistening, on the pedestal just below the crystal. "Surprise." I laughed. "I'm not dead. But I should really thank you for the other day." They looked dumbstruck. "How could you possibly know that I love having metoers dropped on my head?"
I lost my humor quickly. "But the old bastard who can cast Meteo is dead. And now I'm going to send you to join him. But before I do, would you be so kind as to humor me and listen to why I'm gathering the crystals?" they said nothing, and I continued. "It's said that if the eight crystals are gathered, a pathway to the moon will be opened, and with it will come unlimited power. Can you imagine it? Me, a god. I do so love the idea." I laughed, bitterly. "It's a pity that you won't be around to witness my climb to glory, but… such is life."
They began to attack me, but the few attacks that even connected with me rebounded off of my armor. "Is that the best you can do?" I kept laughing. "Why don't you stay here for a bit?" I cast a quick cursed aura spell on them, paralyzing them.
"Come to me, my Black Dragon," I murmured. Shadow appeared, his red eyes gleaming. "Kill them, Shadow. Kill them all."
Shadow laughed, a strange laugh that only I could understand. His Black Fang attack tore out and into the karate monk's body. He collapsed, badly wounded and unconscious. The girl Rosa was next, so precious to Cecil… Cain had leapt into the air, out of my reach. I couldn't get him. Fool. I'd make him pay for betraying me.
Suddenly, a spray of mist struck Shadow, killing him. What was left of it struck my armor, burning like acid. "Sh-shadow!" I snarled. "The mist dragon killed Shadow! You'll pay for this!" the mist dragon disappeared, and a tall, thin, green-haired woman dashed forward to join Cecil. An Esuna spell appeared out of nowhere and healed the paralysis of those who were still conscious. Meaning Cecil.
Cain landed on me, his spear passing through a chink in my armor and driving deep into my side. I didn't show my pain, but blood, trickled down my side. Cecil lashed out with his sword. It rebounded off my armor but the pain of the echo stung my ears.
And then, the phantom man Ifrit appeared before me, flames dancing around his head. They heated my armor, and it scalded my skin. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. It hurt! I found myself wishing for the hip flask in my armor, but I didn't dare touch it, as it might explode from the head.
Cecil's sword slid between the plates of my armor, into my ribs. Cain launched himself into the air and landed on me, burying his spear in the back of my neck. The green-haired girl murmured some words and cast Bio on me. It hurt so much more than the old man's spell had… I felt my armor, then my body, begin to dissolve.
They stood over me, as I lay there, nearly dead, grinning in triumph. "We've done it! We've defeated Golbez!"
They crowd around the girl. "All because of you!"
"You've changed so much…"
I can't hear all of what they're saying. I don't even want to hear it, the pain is so great. I focus all of my energy into a transformation that I learned from Master Zemus, and turned my body into a great floating hand. "I… do… not… PERISH."
They turned, incredulous to see me as I floated on to the crystal's dais, seized it and teleported out of the room. Back to my palace of crystal… to heal, and to gather the strength to bring Cain back to me.