The Legend Will Never Die: Part Thirteen "Mitsurugi the Mercenary"
By: Anita
Mitsurugi the Mercenary
Soul Edge would prove his worth. Mitsurugi knew it. If there was one way he would be back in the favour of his lord, Soul Edge would be it.
Mitsurugi had been quite foolish. He had let his pride get to his judgement and had challenged a warrior to a battle in front of royalty.
Sadly, Mitsurugi lost this battle, and the lord believed that Mitsurugi was now weak. There was no need for him any longer.
Mitsurugi saw the error in his ways. It was too late to turn back on his mistakes, but there was a way to fix them. Soul Edge was the ultimate power, and if Mitsurugi attained it, he would surely be known around the world as a formidable fighter. Few returned alive from their quests for Soul Edge, but Mitsurugi would return, with the sword in hand.
Mitsurugi looked at his weapon, a katana called Shishi-Oh. He had been through a lot with this mighty sword, and he knew that with it, he would not fail in his mission.
Mitsurugi stood and looked at the Takamatsu Castle. This was the area he had been ordered to protect. The fort had been an easy place to guard as it had been surrounded by marshlands, which were impossible to penetrate silently. Unfortunately, Mitsurugi's enemies were smart, and had flooded the marshes causing a large lake around the castle. The fort was infiltrated by many boats, but Mitsurugi and his men did not lose hope.
They fought hard, and the battling came to a stalemate.
Mitsurugi watched as flaming arrows flew back and forth. The battle was far from over, but Mitsurugi had more important things to worry about.
Soul Edge was his new goal.
"Greed is not the way. Stay away from Soul Edge, it is an evil that will turn your greed into hate. The power is not worth your soul." A voice instructed.
Mitsurugi turned around to see a man, a ninja. He held a glowing katana in his hands.
"Who are you?" Mitsurugi growled, angered that someone could see the need he had for Soul Edge. Though he refused to admit it, Mitsurugi knew that what the ninja had said was correct, the greed was taking over his life.
"I am Yoshimitsu, and I have faced Soul Edge myself. The evil sword tried to use my revenge for its own purposes, but I saw that my hateful feelings were as evil as Soul Edge itself, and I gave up any vengeful emotions."
Mitsurugi glared at Yoshimitsu. 'What does this man's revenge mean to me? Soul Edge may be evil, but if I can control its power, I will be unstoppable!' Mitsurugi thought.
"No one can control Soul Edge's power." Yoshimitsu warned, as if he had read Mitsurugi's mind.
"Why are you so sure? Have you seen my skills, my strength? Do you know what I am capable of?" Mitsurugi replied.
Yoshimitsu held up his glowing katana.
"This was my precious weapon, and the evils of Soul Edge tainted it. When my katana clashed with the Soul Edge, a surge of wicked power flew into my sword. It was only a small fragment of Soul Edge's whole power, but I still have had trouble controlling my weapon. The evil within it is slowly trying to corrupt my soul, and it takes all of my willpower to hold myself together." Yoshimitsu explained.
"Your sword...?" Mitsurugi asked in bewilderment.
"If this small amount of power is so hard to control, than the real Soul Edge must be relentless."
"But... the power that your katana gives you, it must be much stronger than it was before. If the power of the sword of legends courses through it, than it must be invincible!" Mitsurugi reasoned.
"Sword of legends? The legends of Soul Edge are only fuelled by people's greed for power. They are blind to the ominous aura that Soul Edge emanates and can only see a force that they wish to have in their hands. My katana is not stronger. Before, it was fuelled by my good intentions, rewarding me for my deeds, now it is only fuelled by my anger. The more good I do, the less strength I feel from my sword." Yoshimitsu looked at his katana sadly. The last artifact of his ninja clan had been usurped by the evils of the world.
"I see." Mitsurugi replied. "The power of Soul Edge is as awesome as the legends say, but the strength is rooted by pure evil..."
"It is unwise to pursue Soul Edge any further. I have encountered the fierce soul sword and survived, a feat which is incredible, but I have also learnt a lesson about the darkness of this world. I must make sure that Soul Edge does not come any closer to taking over our lives." With this last thought, the ninja leaped away from Mitsurugi and was gone.
'Pure evil... a terrifying force that will take over my soul...' Mitsurugi pondered.
Mitsurugi looked at his katana, and then at the Takamatsu Castle.
'That fool Yoshimitsu was unprepared for the overwhelming abilities of Soul Edge, but I will not be so naive. My abilities are unrivalled, and I know that I will be able to overcome Soul Edge's treacherous powers.' Mitsurugi decided.
'Only cowards run from such amazing strength. I will fight until the very end to achieve my goal. Soul Edge will be mine.'
With his thoughts fixed solely on Soul Edge and it's great potential, Mitsurugi gave no heed to his past, nor the wise words of Yoshimitsu.
The greed had already shrouded his soul.
THE END?