The Legend Will Never Die: Part Fifteen "Voldo the Guardian"
By: Anita
Voldo the Guardian
Voldo looked around at the Money Pit. This underground lair had been his master's old hideout for treasure, and Voldo had always stood guard.
Voldo's master, the Italian merchant Vercci, had searched far and wide for the greatest treasure all across the world.
There had been many amazing artifacts that Vercci had found, but the most valuable prize to Voldo's master was the unequalled Soul Edge, the sword of salvation. This was Vercci's main goal.
Sadly, the merchant had passed away before he could fulfill his ultimate wish of owning the most powerful weapon in the world.
Voldo created a tomb for his master's body in the Money Pit so he would be watched over as he secured the Money Pit.
Another calamity befell the Vercci fortune when a flood caused many of the riches in the lower levels to be lost. Voldo tried and succeeded in saving many of the riches, but much was lost as well.
The upper level where Vercci's tomb lay was the where the remaining artifacts stayed, and where Voldo protected the life's work of his master atop a rat-filled platform, surrounded by the water of the flooding.
Voldo lived in solitude as he awaited any disturbances. For many years, things were silent, but one day, Voldo was visited by an unusual stranger.
The woman was armed with an exquisitely designed sword. The moment she entered the tomb, Voldo sensed her presence, and was prepared to fight her off, but she was gone as quickly as she had come. She was not interested in Vercci's old possessions.
Before Voldo could dismiss the intruder as a false alarm, he heard his master voice in his head.
"That woman held the scent of Soul Edge. Find her Voldo, and make my dream a reality. She will lead you to the sword of hope!" Vercci ordered.
'Who was that woman?' Voldo thought to himself.
"Go to the Valentine Mansion. You will find her there."
The Valentine Mansion was an illustrious place where the Valentines had lived. Count Valentine had been exceedingly rich, and had spent large amounts of money to create the perfect palace.
The count later became fixated on owning Soul Edge, and used his vast amounts of money trying to find it. He died, leaving his adopted daughter, Isabella Valentine, to live his legacy and find Soul Edge.
This was the home of Ivy.
"What have you come here for?"
It was the same woman who had trespassed into the Money Pit. This was the woman who knew about Soul Edge. This was Ivy.
Vercci's orders echoed in Voldo's mind.
'She will lead me to Soul Edge.' Voldo decided.
Ivy looked at Voldo with amusement when he did not reply to her question.
"You look familiar. Those Katar on your hand..." Ivy thought out loud as she looked at Voldo's hands curiously.
The Katar were Voldo's weapons. They had been Vercci gifts to him from India. The weapons were like sharp claws, and Voldo was very skilled in battle with them. He had named his weapons Shame and Blame.
"The Italian merchant, Vercci. He had many treasures such as these." Ivy realized.
'She is smarter than I believed.' Voldo thought in amazement.
"You must be the guardian of Vercci's tomb and fortune. You are Voldo. I have heard much about you and your unique fighting style. You must be very loyal to serve your master beyond the grave." Ivy said with a light smirk.
Voldo held up his Katar, preparing for battle.
"I have stolen none of your precious treasure. I have no need for any of it, I am quite well off myself. I have nothing you want." Ivy replied.
Voldo refused to back down and slashed at Ivy, but she quickly dodged the attack.
"If you wish for a fight, you will get one. I will destroy you!" Ivy shouted in anger. She was ready for a fight.
Voldo watched in wonder as Ivy withdrew her sword. The weapon was different from the way it had been when Voldo had first encountered Ivy. Instead of being a solid, regular blade, the weapon was now limp like a whip.
An aura of power very similar to Soul Edge emanated from the sword.
Ivy noticed Voldo's interest in her sword.
"So, you can feel the power of Soul Edge that flows through my cursed weapon?" Ivy deduced.
'Once again, this woman amazes me. She knows so much.'
"It was not me you were after. Vercci was relentless in his search for Soul Edge, much like my father. You, his dedicated servant, must also wish to find it, and believe that I know it's whereabouts."
'Does she know where to find Soul Edge? Her sword... she must have faced Soul Edge in battle!' Voldo thought, still mesmerized by the snake sword.
"I know where to find Soul Edge, but you are not destined to own it, Voldo. Your master's dream will have to wait, for the power of Soul Edge is beyond your strength. It's evil will take over your soul, and you have no chance. I will not help you in this endeavour." Ivy replied sternly.
Voldo was shocked at Ivy's answer, but he knew that there was more than one way to get answers out of her.
Voldo raised his arm to strike again, and this time his assault hit it's mark. Ivy was caught off guard and stumbled backwards.
"No matter what, Voldo, I will not tell you anything about Soul Edge. Greed will take over your life, like it has... my family" Ivy replied in a small, sad voice.
Voldo refused to reason and attacked again, but this time, Ivy blocked with her sword.
Before Voldo had time for another assault, Ivy's whip wrapped around Voldo's body, and he was trapped. It squeezed him tighter and tighter, as Voldo struggled to escape.
"I warned you. You would not listen!" Ivy shouted, and the blade's grip continued to tighten.
Soon, Voldo was gasping for breath. Ivy was slowly sucking the life out of him.
'Master... help me...' Voldo pleaded.
Ivy pulled her sword's grip looser and flung Voldo to the ground, right towards the edge of the platform.
"My power is much weaker than that of the evil Soul Edge. You are lucky you found me first, or else your fate would have been death, or much worse." Ivy explained, and without another word, left Voldo lying in pain.
'Master, I have failed you. Your dream will not be fulfilled.'
Voldo returned to the Money Pit. He had failed to gain any information about Soul Edge, but he had learned that the skills of outsiders were not to be underestimated.
'If I am going to find Soul Edge, which rightfully belongs to my master, I will have to train hard, day and night. I have let my abilities dull over the years. I will polish my weaponry, and soon enough, I will find the sword that plagued my master's life. I will grant his dying wish!' Voldo vowed.
Voldo knew that training would be harsh, he would need to be prepared to fight for the strongest weapon of all time.
But Voldo was not sure if even the toughest training would prepare him against Soul Edge.
THE END?