Chapter XXXII: Trials Of The Black Angel.
Phallox Rage, demon of the Kala Sat race, was not pleased by what he saw.
"Vincent Valentine?" He asked, sceptical at the newcomer.
The winged figure answered monotone.
"Yes."
Phallox snorted.
"Welcome to your first trial, a trial by strength."
The man before him snorted.
"Huh, are we going to arm wrestle or something."
Phallox sniggered. He raised a muscled claw, letting his claws point upward loosely.
"I never said ANYTHING about physical strength."
A glowing green spire erupted from his palm. It swirled around, creating walls, floors, and a ceiling.
Phallox closed his hand.
"Get out."
Slowly, he faded into the background.
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"Damn." Was all Vincent could say. And say it he did.
He looked around him, searching for a weak spot in the structure. It seemed to pulsate as he approached. He gingerly poked at a wall with his claw. The green substance seemed to reach out and grab him, trying to pull him in. Vincent pulled his claw away. He was about to sit down and when he remembered the floor was made of the same substance. He turned his crimson eyes to the ground and saw the green stuff crawling up his legs.
He struggled to get loose, but lost his balance and fell down. The floor to drag him into itself, like a hungry mouth.
As Vincent's head was beginning to disappear beneath the shuddering mass of green, his instincts took over. He spat put a word he had never heard before, and watched as his body was enveloped in a fiery blaze. The green substance leapt off him, scorched. Vincent jumped to his feet, spreading his black wings.
He pointed his hand to a wall and watched as the fire obediently flew towards it. The green wall melted under the heat.
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Phallox Rage had seen people explode out of his chamber. He had seen people walk through the chambers walls. He had seen people become encased by the chamber and die. But he had NEVER seen anyone melt the chamber.
Vincent Valentine walked out of the chamber, still burning with that strange fire.
Phallox tried his best not to let his surprise show.
"Vincent Valentine," He furrowed what should have been eyebrows, if he had any. "THAT'S not a demons name!" He snarled.
Vincent sniggered.
"Is that a compliment?"
Phallox Rage had watched Vincent Valentine in life, and he noticed the severe change in death.
"hmmm. . ." Was all he said.
"Do you mind terribly if you made a name for me?" Vincent asked. "I wouldn't know where to start."
Phallox snorted.
"I will do nothing of the sort. All demons make their own names. And if you expect to go on then you'd best make on for yourself."
Vincent put hand on his chin, stroking an imaginary beard.
"How does, Black Angel sound?"
Phallox Rage snorted.
"If you were in a demon society a name like that would be the equivalent to Archibald, and hate to be called Archie." Phallox commented.
Vincent smiled.
"It's a good thing that I'm not in a demon society."
"Hmph. . ."
Vincent lost his smile as he asked his next question.
"Where's the next test?"
Now it was Phallox's turn to smile.
"The test will find you." He said, and turned away.
The demon walked into the spectral mists, not bothering to listen to Vincent anymore.
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"I can't stay here." Yuffie said.
Silence greeted her.
Everyone knew it had been coming, but they didn't expect it so soon. Yuffie had been moping around for the past few days, doing nothing. She couldn't bear to be at Vincent's burial, as it was.
The burial was joke in itself. It had a priest present, despite the obvious fact that Vincent held no faith in any religion. Cloud had said a few words about him, mostly about how he lived in immortal torture, and that his memory would always live on in their hearts. Reeve had also said some words, like "He was a hero to the end." Or "His presence was the least noted but will be the most missed." Yuffie saw past it all. After this was all over they would say his name only when referring to their fight against Sephiroth.
Yuffie knew all this, and she couldn't bear it.
"I'm leaving today."
Cloud put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Yuffie, you can go anywhere you like after the war is over, but we need all the help we can get." He reasoned
"So did Vinnie." She retorted sharply.
Cloud took his hand away.
"There was nothing we could do!" Cloud said loudly.
Yuffie turned away from him.
"Keep telling yourself that." She said spitefully.
Cloud walked away. He held a silent conversation with Tifa for a moment. She nodded, and looked over at Yuffie. Then she tried to talk sense into her.
"Yuffie," She started. "How do you think Cloud felt when Aeris died? Terrible, at the least. And you know what? He kept fighting. So should you."
"That's different." Yuffie said. "Cloud kept fighting for revenge. I'm leaving for a different reason."
Tifa looked at the young woman with her hazel eyes.
"What are you going to do?"
Yuffie gave Tifa a determined look.
"I'm gonna bring Vinnie back!"
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The moon shone its pale light down on the streets of Midgar, where silvery being toiled.
Malice directed the construction of a weapon, while Mech-Head watched. The mechanic demon sat with his steel back against a wall, slightly gloomy.
"What ARE you doing?" He asked suddenly.
The demon turned away from his work.
"IT STRIKES ME THAT IF THE HUMANS ARE SO HELL BENT ON STAYING IN THAT PLACE, THEN WE SHOULD DESTROY IT WHILE THEY ARE INSIDE IT!" He said cruel grin.
Mech-Head answered this quite casually.
"That's what we have the tank for."
Malice turned back to his brainchild weapon.
"THE TANK WAS DESTROYED."
Mech-Head shrugged.
"Then by all means, continue."
These ran through the mind of Malice, and it struck that there wasn't enough resistance in the other demon. He concluded that this wasn't right.
"WHAT IS WRONG?"
Mech-Head shook his steel skull.
"Vincent is dead, but his demons aren't. That was why I wanted Vincent in the first place."
Malice smirked.
"IS THAT ALL?" The beast said, "YOU CAN GET THE CRETINS WHEN THEY TRY TO RESURFACE ON THE WORLD."
Mech-Head sighed, or tried to at least, considering he did not breathe.
"I don't think they'll try though. I think killing Vincent was the greatest mistake I've ever made. My enemies have eluded my grasp once again. And this time it may be for forever."
Malice would have replied to this, if the Highwind hadn't interrupted him as it flew past them.
"WHERE THE HELL IS THAT GOING?!" Malice cursed instead.
Mech-Head leapt to his feet.
"They're trying to resurrect Vincent!" He said happily.
The Highwind thundered away into the horizon. Mech-Head made brief plans.
"Malice, stay here." He said, suddenly flapping his wings.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"
"I'm gonna follow that scrap heap and kill Vincent again, this time killing his demons with him!" Mech-Head yelled as he took to the air.
Malice watched as Mech-Head soared across the skies, in pursuit of his mortal enemies. Malice shrugged and went back to work.
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"Thank you, Cid." Yuffie said as she climbed down the ladder from the Highwind.
Cid smiled
"Don't think anythin' of it." He said. "I was a real ass to Vincent, so the least I could do is help you bring him back."
Yuffie winked at Cid.
"You do realize though, that once you get back Cloud is gonna hang you?"
Cid laughed suddenly.
"You held me hostage."
"That won't help you if I can't get Vinnie back." Yuffie said seriously.
"Since when did you care about the details?" Cid asked. "Just bring the old spook back and everything will be alright."
Yuffie smiled.
"Yes, they will."
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Sorry 'bout the massage I left on the review page earlier, the story isn't on hold anymore (A whole day, OH NO!)
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Phallox Rage, demon of the Kala Sat race, was not pleased by what he saw.
"Vincent Valentine?" He asked, sceptical at the newcomer.
The winged figure answered monotone.
"Yes."
Phallox snorted.
"Welcome to your first trial, a trial by strength."
The man before him snorted.
"Huh, are we going to arm wrestle or something."
Phallox sniggered. He raised a muscled claw, letting his claws point upward loosely.
"I never said ANYTHING about physical strength."
A glowing green spire erupted from his palm. It swirled around, creating walls, floors, and a ceiling.
Phallox closed his hand.
"Get out."
Slowly, he faded into the background.
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"Damn." Was all Vincent could say. And say it he did.
He looked around him, searching for a weak spot in the structure. It seemed to pulsate as he approached. He gingerly poked at a wall with his claw. The green substance seemed to reach out and grab him, trying to pull him in. Vincent pulled his claw away. He was about to sit down and when he remembered the floor was made of the same substance. He turned his crimson eyes to the ground and saw the green stuff crawling up his legs.
He struggled to get loose, but lost his balance and fell down. The floor to drag him into itself, like a hungry mouth.
As Vincent's head was beginning to disappear beneath the shuddering mass of green, his instincts took over. He spat put a word he had never heard before, and watched as his body was enveloped in a fiery blaze. The green substance leapt off him, scorched. Vincent jumped to his feet, spreading his black wings.
He pointed his hand to a wall and watched as the fire obediently flew towards it. The green wall melted under the heat.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Phallox Rage had seen people explode out of his chamber. He had seen people walk through the chambers walls. He had seen people become encased by the chamber and die. But he had NEVER seen anyone melt the chamber.
Vincent Valentine walked out of the chamber, still burning with that strange fire.
Phallox tried his best not to let his surprise show.
"Vincent Valentine," He furrowed what should have been eyebrows, if he had any. "THAT'S not a demons name!" He snarled.
Vincent sniggered.
"Is that a compliment?"
Phallox Rage had watched Vincent Valentine in life, and he noticed the severe change in death.
"hmmm. . ." Was all he said.
"Do you mind terribly if you made a name for me?" Vincent asked. "I wouldn't know where to start."
Phallox snorted.
"I will do nothing of the sort. All demons make their own names. And if you expect to go on then you'd best make on for yourself."
Vincent put hand on his chin, stroking an imaginary beard.
"How does, Black Angel sound?"
Phallox Rage snorted.
"If you were in a demon society a name like that would be the equivalent to Archibald, and hate to be called Archie." Phallox commented.
Vincent smiled.
"It's a good thing that I'm not in a demon society."
"Hmph. . ."
Vincent lost his smile as he asked his next question.
"Where's the next test?"
Now it was Phallox's turn to smile.
"The test will find you." He said, and turned away.
The demon walked into the spectral mists, not bothering to listen to Vincent anymore.
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"I can't stay here." Yuffie said.
Silence greeted her.
Everyone knew it had been coming, but they didn't expect it so soon. Yuffie had been moping around for the past few days, doing nothing. She couldn't bear to be at Vincent's burial, as it was.
The burial was joke in itself. It had a priest present, despite the obvious fact that Vincent held no faith in any religion. Cloud had said a few words about him, mostly about how he lived in immortal torture, and that his memory would always live on in their hearts. Reeve had also said some words, like "He was a hero to the end." Or "His presence was the least noted but will be the most missed." Yuffie saw past it all. After this was all over they would say his name only when referring to their fight against Sephiroth.
Yuffie knew all this, and she couldn't bear it.
"I'm leaving today."
Cloud put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Yuffie, you can go anywhere you like after the war is over, but we need all the help we can get." He reasoned
"So did Vinnie." She retorted sharply.
Cloud took his hand away.
"There was nothing we could do!" Cloud said loudly.
Yuffie turned away from him.
"Keep telling yourself that." She said spitefully.
Cloud walked away. He held a silent conversation with Tifa for a moment. She nodded, and looked over at Yuffie. Then she tried to talk sense into her.
"Yuffie," She started. "How do you think Cloud felt when Aeris died? Terrible, at the least. And you know what? He kept fighting. So should you."
"That's different." Yuffie said. "Cloud kept fighting for revenge. I'm leaving for a different reason."
Tifa looked at the young woman with her hazel eyes.
"What are you going to do?"
Yuffie gave Tifa a determined look.
"I'm gonna bring Vinnie back!"
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The moon shone its pale light down on the streets of Midgar, where silvery being toiled.
Malice directed the construction of a weapon, while Mech-Head watched. The mechanic demon sat with his steel back against a wall, slightly gloomy.
"What ARE you doing?" He asked suddenly.
The demon turned away from his work.
"IT STRIKES ME THAT IF THE HUMANS ARE SO HELL BENT ON STAYING IN THAT PLACE, THEN WE SHOULD DESTROY IT WHILE THEY ARE INSIDE IT!" He said cruel grin.
Mech-Head answered this quite casually.
"That's what we have the tank for."
Malice turned back to his brainchild weapon.
"THE TANK WAS DESTROYED."
Mech-Head shrugged.
"Then by all means, continue."
These ran through the mind of Malice, and it struck that there wasn't enough resistance in the other demon. He concluded that this wasn't right.
"WHAT IS WRONG?"
Mech-Head shook his steel skull.
"Vincent is dead, but his demons aren't. That was why I wanted Vincent in the first place."
Malice smirked.
"IS THAT ALL?" The beast said, "YOU CAN GET THE CRETINS WHEN THEY TRY TO RESURFACE ON THE WORLD."
Mech-Head sighed, or tried to at least, considering he did not breathe.
"I don't think they'll try though. I think killing Vincent was the greatest mistake I've ever made. My enemies have eluded my grasp once again. And this time it may be for forever."
Malice would have replied to this, if the Highwind hadn't interrupted him as it flew past them.
"WHERE THE HELL IS THAT GOING?!" Malice cursed instead.
Mech-Head leapt to his feet.
"They're trying to resurrect Vincent!" He said happily.
The Highwind thundered away into the horizon. Mech-Head made brief plans.
"Malice, stay here." He said, suddenly flapping his wings.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"
"I'm gonna follow that scrap heap and kill Vincent again, this time killing his demons with him!" Mech-Head yelled as he took to the air.
Malice watched as Mech-Head soared across the skies, in pursuit of his mortal enemies. Malice shrugged and went back to work.
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"Thank you, Cid." Yuffie said as she climbed down the ladder from the Highwind.
Cid smiled
"Don't think anythin' of it." He said. "I was a real ass to Vincent, so the least I could do is help you bring him back."
Yuffie winked at Cid.
"You do realize though, that once you get back Cloud is gonna hang you?"
Cid laughed suddenly.
"You held me hostage."
"That won't help you if I can't get Vinnie back." Yuffie said seriously.
"Since when did you care about the details?" Cid asked. "Just bring the old spook back and everything will be alright."
Yuffie smiled.
"Yes, they will."
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Sorry 'bout the massage I left on the review page earlier, the story isn't on hold anymore (A whole day, OH NO!)
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter.