Disclaimer: Refer to previous chapters for disclaimer.(mumbles sometihng about putting the disclaimer late)
Author's notes: Well, today's the day I update the ficcy! Anyway, I haven't broken my promise, have I? (Obsesses over the damn long word count)Btw, be prepared for a few plot advances in here. Hopefully, this chapter will meet your expectations. Anyways, I am too tired to do a author's blah blah today so it is excluded and I can assure you it was quite rushed. Important note: Everyone review!!!! I need more inspiration! ^_^
Shinji Ikari & Hunter: About the disappearing act Shinji did, he teleported out of there, it in written in chapter 4 maybe you both missed it, no? :P And for Asuka being in a squabbling court, she's a knight there in the plane of dreams so I hope that answers your question...
"Power everyone has, but whether you use it efficiently at all, is the most important point."-Anonymous.
Paths and Choices: Opening of new doors
The gentle breeze danced to a tuneless rhythm around him, the air warm on his skin. The moon shone lucidly upon the wooden decks of the ship. The stars dotted the sky, twinkling every so often. The white rays of moonlight were calming as they shone onto his face, its reflection visible in his eyes.
He took in a breath of air, revitalizing himself slightly.
Most of the ship's crew had already turned in, with the exception of those who were doing their night shift. It was quiet, with a bit of hushed chatter among the sailors and the occasional sound of gentle waves crashing against the ship's hull.
Yes, the scene was peaceful; almost perfect. A good distraction from the task at hand. He had almost forgotten it. Almost.
"Pleasant night, isn't it?" Sargaus asked lightly, looking at the vast body of water, which was now bleak as the skies above, as he leaned on the metal railings, face tilted skywards.
It was amazing how the change in environment could make Sargaus look like an air-headed fool, almost enough to make Shinji lower his guard.
But of course, it took more than that to convince him otherwise.
"Would you kindly explain why we are going to the eastern continent, Sargaus?" He said, his tone demanding an answer, ironically subtle. Though he respected him as a teacher, he couldn't help feeling annoyed, Sargaus had been avoiding the subject long enough to drain all of his patience.
The one in question sighed, knowing it was futile to hide it from his protégé. His gaze turned serious; no longer looking like the 'fool' he had been a few moments ago.
"Wondered why you never reaped any soul yet?" He said quietly, his voice holding no emotion, like a certain blue-haired girl he knew...
Hearing nothing from Shinji, Sargaus continued. "Without it, neither you, I nor anyone else for that matter, would be able to achieve the actions required of us."
Sargaus quickly continued, not wishing the dwell on the subject for longer than he liked. "We are going to collect a sacred weapon which will allow you to complete your original task."
Shinji's curiosity was piqued, as he pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind. He was finally going to get some answers for this ultimately forced trip across the ocean.
"So, what is it like?" Shinji asked hushed voice, his curiosity almost getter the better of him, though he remembered to be mindful of the sailors which were near.
"You will know when you see it. Besides, once you get it, I will retire." Sargaus said, grinning at the prospect of retiring. "Let's spar. I want to see how much power you have gained."
Raising his right hand, he chanted familiar words. Blue energy gently floated from his hand, dissipating lazily into the nearby surroundings. Shinji watched in awe at the sight, fascinated. Sure enough, he could see that the movements of the sailors were slowing, their speed decreasing even more with every passing second.
Within moments, all the sailors finally stopped; frozen in time as they were in the middle of something, be it walking or sleeping.
"We can't have any witnesses, can we?" He said, turning to face Shinji, a wryly smile plastered on his face.
"You are right. We can't." Shinji agreed.
"Well then. Shall we begin?"
Both of them revealed their weapons. Shinji summoned a dark pillar of energy, transforming it into the shape of a sword. Sargaus, on the other hand, unsheathed his long sword.
Glancing at the sword ridiculously, Shinji asked, "Are you sure you want to use a common sword? I mean a non-enchanted sword against an energy blade?"
The sword itself was plain-looking; the hilt was a bit longer than most, albeit it was also a bit thinner. But what which barely caught his eye, were the three jewels encrusted into each side of hilt.
He had not detected any form of magic in the sword, puzzled as to why he chose the sword. It didn't stand a chance against his weapon, as far as he could see. He wondered if Sargaus was actually patronizing him by using an ordinary sword.
Laughing, the one in question confidently replied, "You will see why."
Shinji shrugged his shoulders in disbelief. "It's your call." He got into a battle stance. "Don't complain if you lose." Sargaus merely smiled at the statement.
Without further ado, Sargaus charged; preparing to bring up his blade in an upper cut. Instinctively, Shinji blocked it with unnerving ease, quickly striking back with swift calculated blows. Energy leaked from the blade and into the surrounding air as it met cold steel, adding a tint of darkness to the floor below.
Sargaus shifted his position to allow the blade pass harmlessly into the air which he had so recently occupied.
Once again, metal met energy as both of them exchanged blows in a deadly and graceful dance. Both of them never letting their attacks waver or dropping their guard by even an inch.
However as the fight progressed, Shinji felt a bit...drained. It wasn't the physical type of tiredness; he was barely sweating, but it was more of a spiritual kind of tiredness and he had a sinking suspicion of what is causing it. His intuition was also telling him the same thing.
To test his theory, he swung his blade, expecting the steel sword to clash against his. Sure enough, steel met raw energy once again. But this time, Shinji focused on his and his foe's blade. It was then he noticed large strains of energy were being forced out of his make-shift sword every time his blade struck.
His gut feeling was, indeed, justified; He was being drained from his mana reserves. And if he didn't do anything about it, his energy would be sucked dry. Something he didn't like too well.
That would result in defeat. And he wasn't about to give in without a fight.
Sargaus noticed the sudden lack of attention from Shinji, finally realizing that he had been found out. But he knew that it was too late to change the outcome of the fight. He saw that Shinji had let his temporary weapon to dissipate; thanks to a lack of mana caused by his energy sapping sword.
He threw Shinji a sad smile; a smile he usually kept for opponents worthy of it. "I see you have found out the ability of this sword."
"I didn't expect you will stoop so low as to use a permanent draining enchantment on your sword." Shinji muttered, knowing that the chances of victory for him were now very slim. "Plus, you even made it undetectable..."
"All's fair in love and war." Sargaus quoted, as he renewed his attacks once again.
Shinji blinked, not expecting a reply from his usually cryptic and quiet teacher. He hid a small smile as he dodged the thrusting movements of the sword.
"True." He ducked, using his feet to strike at Sargaus's unguarded legs, almost bringing him down. "Then I suppose that was fair."
His response was an irritated grunt.
"I am surprised that you lasted this long." He mumbled, quickly jumping back, making a good deal of distance between them. "Time to finish this."
Shinji begun to take notice of the gems which were embedded into the sword, were now glowing faintly. Dark energy poured quickly from them, crackles of energy beginning to appear around the blade; the blade itself had begun to glow a faint black, twisting its appearance into an even more sinister manner.
Silently, Sargaus moved, bringing his blade to slice flesh. Expertly, Shinji barely dodged the weapon, but not before getting singed by the sizzling dark energies when the blade passed near him.
Already, he could feel the hopelessness of the situation making his head ache; He had not enough mana to summon up a sword or another weapon for that matter. His mind was already clouded as he moved, barely giving the much needed attention towards his surroundings, his movement were that of a string puppet.
He knew this feeling, since he was particularly familiar with it; he had experienced it when he had defeated the fourth Angel. Yes, despair wasn't a stranger to him. Even now, it was clawing at him, with each passing second; it urged him to give up and that resistance was futile.
Despair had always sapped his will, leaving him to collect the pieces for days to come. But now, the circumstances were a bit different, if not the same. Shinji was beginning to lose control of his senses. Something which was not really desired if one were to fight against him.
He began to glow, blue energy started to flow into him, revitalizing his body. His eyes began to change their color; from azure to red to teal and back again, restarting the cycle. It was as if the colors themselves were fighting for dominance.
At this point, Sargaus had begun to formulate a theory on Shinji's erratic behavior.
It was his hidden power! He always has sensed something from Shinji but he couldn't seem to put a finger on it until now...But he also saw the implications it had. It was a power so great which will eventually destroy its master completely; body, mind and soul. He had seen the side-effects of it, all right; he didn't want the same thing happening again.
By now, Shinji felt light-headed; drowned in the overwhelming surge of energy. It called out to him, offering him everything he ever wanted or desired. He never felt so relaxed in his entire life, he wanted to give in. it was so tempting to let it all go…
No! The thought hit him like a brick, saving him and bringing him to his conscious. Just barely. Wrestling control, Shinji took advantage of his renewed energy by summoning another weapon; this time, a spear.
While he was glad that his student had experienced his first encounter with his power, he couldn't help but feel that something was wrong somewhere. Also, the spear seemed awfully familiar...
He quickly snapped out of his thoughts as he avoided the sharp pointed edge of metal. He made eye contact with him momentarily, glazing into the blighted abyss that was now Shinji. An ability he often disliked.
Within his orbs, he saw a vast amount of control over something....something terrible but it was barely enough to contain it. Sargaus didn't know how he knew; it wouldn't long before Shinji lost whatever restraint he had.
Acting quickly, Sargaus slammed the flat side of his blade into Shinji's stomach, sending him reeling a few feet back before crashing onto the wooden deck. Dark energies began to pour out in excessive amounts, dissolving in the air, freeing Shinji from its grasp. The spear, which was lying uselessly on the deck, had begun to dissolve as well. It vanished completely, but not before Sargaus caught a longer glimpse at the weapon.
Now, turning his attention to panting Shinji, he offered a hand. Gratefully, Shinji grabbed it, instantly getting pulled up to his feet.
Looking at Sargaus with a confused expression, he asked, "What happened? One minute, I was-"
Sargaus cut in, not wishing to him to think anything more from it. "You were lost in the moment. Nothing more." But before any questions were asked, he began to walk off in the direction of his cabin. He stopped a moment.
"You did well, kiddo." He said, before resuming his walk. "Now, get some sleep. We will be busy tomorrow."
Time unfroze, leaving Shinji alone with his thoughts. He knew there were too many secrets, but he confided in his mind that he would find out soon.
~~~~~~
In some plains near some mountainous area, things were looking pretty normal for a grass plain. But it would look normal to a wandering drunkard, given the circumstances, for that was what he thought.
But in reality, things were far from normal.
There were no insects as no chirping was heard, the winds began to pick up in intensity and the area was totally devoid of any animals, scared off by whatever was going to happen. The moon had glowed a soft red, drenching the fields in crimson light. All of which might have been classified under "Demonic and strange happenings.".
But of course, the drunk hadn't took notice of the eerie changes to the landscape and continued to clumsily stagger aimlessly. That is, until his beer-clouded senses picked up a really notable change in the temperature.
The ground was hot, the air was sizzling, the drunkard concluded from his limited state of mind. He was unaware that he was sweating profusely, drenching his rags which he calls a shirt, with sweat.
If given the choice, any man would flee. But the man did not turn and run. In fact, he did the opposite; he sat on the once cool grass, deciding it was here that he would spend the night. Lying on his back, the drunk tried to ignore the heat as he closed his eyes, preparing to fall in a drunken sleep. It wasn't long before he heard whistles of air blowing a screeching melody.
Red ripples and waves of energy pulsated vertically, 200 metres from where he lay.
At first, he shrugged it off as an illusion inducted from the alcohol, but the waves continued, each time slower and brighter than the last. Each wave sending fear into his heart; each one screaming a soundless sentence.
And like an ugly gash, a rift opened, tearing the very fabric of space like it was meant to do. Cackles of white energy formed on the portal, occasionally letting off a bolt at the soft soil around it. Without any warning, the portal became unstable; letting off multiple bolts of energy randomly, scorching the earth.
And as sudden as its violent seizure, the portal stabilized, ceasing to char the earth. It lingered calmly for a moment, much to the relief of the man. But alas, worst things were yet to come. Already, he could hear sounds, horrible and unthinkable sounds, emanating from the ominous portal.
The sounds got closer and closer, when finally they ceased. And like a horde, they came rushing out of the portal. Words cannot describe the foulness of these....beasts. Ready to pee on his pants, the drunkard decided to turn tail and run. To only thing stopping him ,however, was a wraith, holding nasty looking dagger. He could feel the infernal grin on its unseen face as it raised its weapon to strike.
It was the last thing he ever saw.
~~~~~~
For once, Sargaus was glad that he had learnt the secrets of astral projection. The ability to access his library without him actually being there was rather useful, as he had used it on several occasions. The knowledge held there could make every librarian and wizard green with envy for the spells and tomes located there were much ancient and equally powerful.
He started to delve deeper into the mysterious spear Shinji had unknowingly summoned. He knew it was rare. Yes, it was very rare, almost as old as the weapon they were supposed to recover.
Turning over the pages of the tome, he had found what he had been looking for. Looking over his newly acquired information, his expression turned grim. Wasting no time, he began to make notes and an instruction manual especially for Shinji. His fear was growing every minute.
It wasn't very reassuring when he found the wanted information in a old tome called "Forbidden & Nameless weapons". It was even less reassuring as he glanced at the book's graphic and descriptive content.
He had expected that the spear would be connected to whatever they had been looking for, but to his disappointment, it didn't have any connection at all. It had no specific name, but since reading the bad impression tome managed give him, he would rather not learn of its name, but what the spear alone capable of was enough to make him frown; from what little what known, the spear was cursed. The energy spike Shinji experienced just made his suspicions worse.
The spear was definitely a demonic item; making sure that it couldn't be summoned through normal means. But Shinji somehow had pulled it off, and even then, he wasn't aligned to the dark side. Even then, it would require unbelievable amounts of energy to summon; something which Shinji, at that time, barely had. Even he, with his substantial powers, couldn't do it.
And if from what he read was true from the tome's musty pages, then Shinji was in a lot of trouble. He would have to hope it wouldn't turn out the way the tome predicted. Worrying was going to have to wait, he thought.
"Soul corruption is very serious indeed...", he mumbled as scribbling down haste notes here and there. Whatever the thing was, it isn't going to be good, that's for sure.
He would have to trust Shinji on this one.
Already feeling the tugging strains of expending his mana for too long a period, he finished up the last bits of his notes, putting away his books and prepared to return to his physical body.
~~~~~~
Asuka was disgruntled.
Well, she was always disgruntled, but this one was well called for. She had every reason for her current state of attitude. Though, she would have preferred removing the certain organs from the ones responsible to vent her ever increasing amount of anger.
Being half dragged by the Major to the car, Asuka was definitely not in the best of moods. "Misato! What the hell is going on!!!??", she shouted, her eyebrows twitching from frustration. By now, the Major was well on her way towards the Geofront.
"Angel attack." Was the simple reply which came from her lips.
As if to prove her words, the sirens blared once again, signifying the coming of another messenger from god.
There were people racing towards the shelters but the roads were free, a fact which Asuka was glad to know. Misato's driving skills left much to be desired but it did the job. The city lights were on, contrasting against the night sky, giving a nice view of the city. Beyond, she could make out a shadowy silhouette, inching towards the city slowly.
The remainder of the ride was in silence, neither of them wanting to have a verbal match with each other so late in the night. Only the vibrant sounds from the car's motor seem to disrupt the eerie silence. Besides, they got more things to worry about.
They reached the Geofront without much difficulty, despite the large amount of people rushing through. Soon, Asuka was in her Eva, clad in her usual red plug suit. The familiar hum was again heard as she idly started up her Eva as countless techs supervised the process.
She haven't seen wonder girl while she was changing, so it was probably due to the fact that she already was in her Eva. Good, she didn't want to see that doll anytime soon.
Further thoughts were interrupted as a image of Misato popped up. " Asuka, Rei, are you ready?" Asuka merely raised an eyebrow. "Of course, Misato. I am always ready."
A soft 'hai' was emanated from the audio image. It was no doubt her rival's answer. Stoic as always, eh, wonder doll? , she thought, her dislike of the albino again flaring.
"EVA launch!"
The G-forces once again exerted themselves as Unit 02 and 00 were propelled at high speeds towards the surface of Tokyo-3. Asuka didn't pay attention to what Misato was saying about their latest target. She heard the same thing over and over; she knew that whatever happens, the Angel will still be killed regardless of plans.
Reaching the surface, both unit 02 and 00 slumped forward as its bindings were released, making them look as lifeless as a doll. Soon enough, they were moving once again, plugging in their respective umbilical cables to sustain their massive power usage.
Once again, Misato's stern face popped up in a video feed. "All right, we are sending up the pallet rifles. And since we don't know about the Angel's capabilities, you both are going to wait until the Angel comes into the city." Now, Misato's façade took a more motherly aspect. "Play safe, okay?"
On cue, a nearby armament building opened and revealed two fully loaded pallet rifles.
"Consider that Angel dead, Misato!" Asuka beamed; ever eager to prove herself. The location was more or less in the direct part of the Angel's route, thus preventing it from getting past them without a fight. Not that they wouldn't fight to the death, in any case.
"All right, move to these coordinates. Rei, you are the backup."
"Hai." It matter to her whether she took point or not. She would complete her purpose. She rarely cared.
"Both Evangelions are in position." A tech announced, breaking the silence.
From their position, they could see that the Angel was already very near the city. Again, multiple VTOL gun-ships were engaging the Angel in a futile attempt to stall it. Of course, the angelic being paid no heed to the assault as it trudged harmlessly against the rain of missiles and bullets towards its destination.
In the contrast of stark white metallic buildings, the two behemoths stood waiting for their prey to come. Both of them had no words to exchange.
They did not wait long for their target as it came about minutes later.
~~~~~~
Within the busy command centre of NERV, Gendo Ikari was sitting in his chair, already situated in his favorite posture where his hands were covering his mouth as he sat in a slouched manner. Perched high above to overlook the command centre, he naturally felt more superior. Next to him, Sub-commander Fuyutsuki stood passively, his face betraying no emotion. But unlike Gendo, Fuyutsuki was more open with his emotions. Such a time was now.
"Ikari, the scrolls did not predict this..." Fuyutsuki mumbled, as he watched the large display screen showing the battle. He caught a glimpse of Unit 02 getting tossed about. Yes, the situation was going down hill.
Though his features remained stoic, he had a bad feeling on where the battle raged above was going. He also could feel the surprise from him, as he suspected.
"Don't worry, Professor. We will be victorious, like the many times we triumphed against his brothers." Gendo assured; a hint of confidence in his voice.
"But unlike the others, this will be the first of its kind." Fuyutsuki countered. "They were not Adam's spawns, they are...different."
"Ah, yes. The scrolls were, at least, been able to tell us that. How does the translation go?" He asked, again replaying his plans in his mind.
"It is on schedule, it will be completed soon from now. And I applaud your sense of timing for asking these things." Fuyutsuki answered sarcastically.
"What better time to ask when one is facing death in the face?" Gendo stated, letting a small smile visible.
Fuyutsuki merely raised an eyebrow at the comment. "I never thought that such words would be coming out from a man who constantly cheats death. I am shocked." He didn't really expect Gendo to be displaying more emotion than usual; he had a nagging feeling telling him that it was due to something more...insidious.
Immediately, the smile melted from Gendo's face, regaining its earlier composure. The Evangelions were getting thrashed from what he could see. His earlier assumption was right with the understanding of Gendo's next sentence.
"Activate L.E.V.I.A.T.O.N, dear professor."
Fuyutsuki frowned. "Ikari, you got to be joking."
"Do I 'joke', sensei?" He said, the ice factor in his voice was at max.
"We haven't even field-tested the prototypes, Ikari!" Fuyutsuki seethed quietly. "Who knows what might happen!?"
"Then consider this the field test then."
"..."
"Send up weapon #034 and no.#042 to pilots Ayanami and Soryu." Gendo said loudly.
Let's hope your plan works, Ikari. If not, we are all doomed..., Fuyutsuki thought bitterly.
~~~~~~
Often, Asuka would underestimate the strength of one by just looking at him/she. Even if they looked tough. The Angel was no exception to this. It had a fairly humanoid shape, processing the shoulder spikes like the 3rd Angel, except that they were more and was much longer. Unlike previous Angels, she had noticed that it had a lot of thick dull armor positioned at various points of its body. The head almost looked like Unit 03's, except it was made of bone and in the place of eyes, there was only blackness. And of course, a red core located at the mid-section.
They found out earlier that it had no AT field. Piece of cake, she thought. Wrong Answer.
The fight had started off easy, with her and wonder girl kicking its pathetic butt. But once it summoned up that sword...the tables were turned. It didn't look like any sword she seen before, as it had strange wordings engraved on the blade itself. Certainly, cutting through 30 meters of steel made her realize that.
By now, she knew that it was no ordinary Angel, but she was too busy to acknowledge the fact. She willed her Eva to jump, crushing several buildings under the immense weight.
The familiar image feed popped up once again. "Asuka, we will be sending up something for you use. It's supposed to be effective against the Angel!"
"Rei, cover Asuka until she gets the weapon."
"Understood."
Within seconds, a armament building retracted its foils to reveal a sword. It was like out of a fantasy novel, crafted perfectly for maximum efficiency. Immediately, she grabbed it; just in time before the Angel sliced the building apart. Having learnt swordplay, she immediately opened an attack, making the Angel stumble.
Another building opened, revealing a lance. Like Asuka's sword, it too had strange wordings etched on its surface. But unlike the lance of Longinus, it had one end only. Instantly, Unit 00 grabbed it, the strange weapon glowed for a moment. This went unnoticed by Rei as she dodged the painfully sharp blade of the Angel.
It was not long before Asuka destroyed it in an awe inspiring display of skill and grace. Outnumbered, outgunned and flanked on each side, the being known as Dreyil prepared to meet its fate. Immediately, its core became brimming with energy, crackling dangerously.
"Power readings are off the scale! ITS GONNA BLOW!"
"REI! ASUKA! GET OUT OF THERE!"
Unit 00 had already moved a considerable distance, but just as Asuka moved, something within her stirred.
It was then power and bloodlust, made itself known to Asuka. Basked in its influence, she quickly rushed recklessly, slicing the wayward Angel messily. Red organic blood spattered on the street, painting it a painting the street crimson.
The Angel staggered for a moment, letting out a blood curling roar, before exploding in bright ball of fire. Unit 02 was thrown back by the explosion , knocking the wind out of Asuka.
She panted heavily, all the power and bloodlust gone the second she defeated the Angel. She did not know what came over her,
"Good job, Asuka." Misato said, thankful that her remaining charge was still alive. She didn't want to lose both of them. "I will treat you to steak sometime."
"Misato?" She asked, hoping that Misato would grant her request.
"Yes, Asuka?"
"Can I skip school today?" She asked before slipping into darkness. But deep within her mind, her thoughts were saying other things, 'The fight was too easy..."
~~~~~~
Despite the apparent timing, Gendo Ikari sat in his office, reviewing the combat data on his personal laptop. The door hissed as it opened, footsteps echoing through the sinister room.
"You were right, Ikari." Fuyutsuki slumped into the seat in front of the desk. "I suppose L.E.V.I.A.T.O.N was a success, then."
"Yes, but I noticed that Soryu's psycho-graph fluctuated during the final moments of the battle. It must be the effects of the prototype..." He switched off the laptop. "No matter, it is where its strength lies."
"..." Silence reigned for a few moments before one of them spoke.
"The scrolls mentioned 'a child will rise up once again, unbound by his former duty', it may mean that we may find another pilot for Unit 01."
"Perhaps...perhaps..."
~~~~~~
To be truthful, ever since we departed for this desolate continent, I have been feeling...dreadful. For what reason, I am not sure. Ignoring it as I would a cold, things went normally as they could. The once-current agenda of asking about the purpose of sudden trip gave my mind something to focus on, subsequently blocking it out. It worked for a while as the feeling disappeared. But being close to land now, made the feeling resurface, now constantly plaguing me with worry. It was as if my instincts were urging to give up this quest. My feelings on yesterday's incident didn't help much either.
I talked to Sargaus about it; all he gave me was a pat on the shoulder and said that it was normal. I didn't really find reassurance in his words though....I wish I could. Still, I thanked him anyways.
We arrived at the docks at night fall, though I wished we had arrived at an earlier time. I never had gotten rid of my childhood fear of dark places, and now's a bad time to be reminded of it. Being observant, I noticed there were not many buildings in town, though the ones that were still standing were in great need of repair or really lacking in being presentable. Beyond that, the port was surrounded by a vast expanse of forest.
"Where are we going, Sargaus?" I asked, sounding more tired than I originally am. Despite my best efforts to calm myself, my doubts were starting to arise again. Heh, I am beginning to sound like a paranoid idiot. He didn't say anything though, but his finger pointing towards the dark green backdrop said as much. Oh well, it was at least worth a try.
He walked down the ramp, I followed. I noticed the inward portion of the small port didn't fare much better than the others, for themselves in need of repair and serious renovating like those I saw before. Though I was no master of the streets, I could see that this place is usually frequented by smugglers and other kinds of people society tries to ignore. I also noticed there were a few taverns around, instantly remembering what Sargaus said about taverns. Seeing a lot of seedy people in around there, however, made me doubtful of following his advice anything soon; I was never really social. The darkness of the night just made it worse.
We began to attract attention to ourselves. The stares of several locals were making me nervous. Unfortunately, Sargaus didn't notice my apparent discomfort and continued on. Either he ignored it or was use to receiving unwanted attention. It seems as though he was searching for something, his eyes browsing each shop we passed. Eventually, he stopped and entered a shop. Soon, he came out with a rather large lamp. And we resumed our journey.
It took a short while before finally we came to the end of the street, there was a considerable clearing in between the last buildings of the small rural city and the unknown depths of the strange and seemingly fear inspiring forest. It looked to me liked a no mans land, caught between the last traces on humanity on the continent and the unnatural roots of nature. At this point, the feeling began worsen, its icy clutch gripping me intensely. I began to find it more difficult for me to breath. Thankfully, Sargaus lighted the lamp. And for some reason unknown to me, the choking sensation faded, but still the feeling still lingered on. Openly, I let out a sigh of relief. I was fairly certain that he was going to go in there without a light source.
Sargaus noticed the sigh, idly asking, "What's the sigh for?"
"I didn't think you would use the lamp for light. I had expected you would use it for something other than a light." I answered dryly.
"HEY! I have common sense you know!" He countered indignantly. Yeah, but your behavior states otherwise, I thought.
Though I wanted to say something along the lines of "Well, I was beginning to doubt you have one at all.", I instead settled for, "With you, one can never too sure."
At that, he gave a hearty laugh before gesturing towards the dark abyss in front. "Let's go, we have much to do. And don't you stress over your condition; your worry spells will be gone once we get that artifact."
By now, I knew that he wouldn't turn back just because he thought I feared the forest but nonetheless, I followed him into the night, pushing tree branches or brushing off fallen leaves. The only sounds around me were the rustling of leaves and footsteps. It was too quiet for my taste. I am guessing that silence gives me a time for reflection for what I have chosen, it maybe probably why I fear it. It may be guilt or it may be a sense of lost, I do not know. The old Shinji died when he passed in his sleep, and the new arises to greet the world. I may have seen it as a chance of redemption to myself, and that alone shows that I have changed, for better or worse. But I know I have a duty and obligation to fulfill, and I do not regret my decision, no matter how selfish it may seem.
That declaration to myself strengthened my already shaky resolve and weakened the effect of dread on me. Sargaus seems to be scanning the area, despite lacking a map. While I do not doubt his abilities, walking through uncharted soil through a vastly thick forest does not really stick into my category of 'safe'.
To say that the vegetation around was thick was already an understatement itself. From the huge 10m oak tree from the beginning of our walk to the unbelievably large 60m trees of unknown species to me at our current position, I couldn't really see the thick overgrowth. I already realized it was futile to try to catch a glimpse of the night sky.
Though I gain courage quickly, I also lost it as quick as I gained it, for with every step I take, every passing second, I could not help but feel something dreadful nearby. Somehow, I knew that our destination would cross paths with it.
And as if to confirm my fear, Sargaus stopped a few metres in front of me. "We are here." He stated, lacking any type of reassurance that I would need now.
I came beside him, sharing the view of the long ruined and forgotten city. We were standing on a small hill, though it was high enough to see it. It was not huge in size but it was definitely not small, its walls were worn and battered, a few sections already broken, leaving huge gaps. Its buildings were pristine white, small and large cracks were present on them and weeds were present on them, adding green shades to some. In the center of the lost city, a tall citadel stood, as if mocking and daring those who would enter. The moon was, surprisingly, present, lighting the already pure white buildings further.
I was surprised to find that the feeling from before was gone, just as Sargaus said. Despite this, the scene before me gave more anxiety than comfort, as we moved down the hill and into a city, long forgotten.
~~~~~~
As they made their way into the city, Shinji could not help but feel...disturbed. It was as if the area was unclean, filled with souls which were clinging on desperately, not coming to terms with their own demise. Apparently, his sensitive training paid off. But he would rather give them up as he heard ungodly howls, in every creak ,hole and place.
The interior of the city showed signs of destruction and decay, as building had black patches, shattered roofs and walls or simply reduced to rubble.
This place is starting to give me the creeps, he thought. He saw several shadows moving, but he simply dismissed it as imaginary, though he knew it was far from the truth.
Though his companion didn't directly say it, he knew that they were going to the ominous tower that stood out in the center. He knew it was their final destination.
He hoped nothing would await them in that tower.
~~~~~~
For over a millennium, no one has ever set foot upon this room. That is, until five hundred years ago. The screech of metal against stone was heard in the immense room, with a final push and moonlight entered. The second time in five hundred years. The figures entered the dark room; however, it became bright as the lamp from one poured forth and lighted the room.
"Its here." Sargaus announced, walking towards the altar, his foot steps echoing in the surprisingly sparse room.
"Really? I don't see anything here..." Shinji asked dubiously.
Pushing a stone head of a figurine, the altar shifted nosily to reveal a stairwell below. The stairwell was of simple make, though the dark gap which would meant for traverse gave Shinji very little reason for him to actually enter the dark pit itself.
"You were saying?" Sargaus smirked, before continuing. "It's around here somewhere..."
Shinji was speechless. "How...did you know?"
Sargaus turned around to regard Shinji seriously before breaking into a chuckle, his emerald green eyes saying the same. "It's been five hundred years since I last been here. Of course, I know where to go!"
He turned back and started walking into the bleak stair-well, Shinji followed hesitantly, unsure of what lurks below. They descended in silence; only sounds were those of foot steps. The only light which gave Shinji comfort was the light of the lamp. Though it took minutes to reach the end, it seemed like a eternity to him, walking endlessly in a bottomless pit.
On the outer end, Sargaus's lamp lighted the dark abyss for them to see. Shinji was awed by the interior architecture. The height of the hallway was no less that 20 metres and the width, at least, was 10 metres wide. But what made him impressed were the seemingly perfect and life-like cravings on the side wall and above. Sargaus saw the bewildered face of Shinji and grinned. "I had the same reaction as you when I first saw this place."
"Well, I had no doubt you did. This place is perfect!" He exclaimed, though in a soft voice. "But what is this place exactly?"
Sargaus then reverted back into his cold, humorless attitude. "Like many places in this continent before, this city was once a populous city, rich and prosperous. But then, they discovered a force known as magic; the driving power in all planes. And not long after, they began experimenting; almost all their studies were devoted to it. And they strove not to make the life's of others better but instead they created a weapon of war. All the nobles tried to wield it, but they all failed miserably. The did not let the commoners to partake, for they feared that they would use its power to undermine their control over the city. They saw the effects of their folly as terrible creatures that were not of this realm, began to lay siege to other cities, in search of the weapon which calls to them. They resisted with some success but eventually they failed. One by one, the magnificent cities fell and they continued on until this place was the last remaining stronghold for humanity on this continent. And a last act of desperation, they built this citadel in hope that it will trap the energies that it emitted, but alas since it was the perfect weapon, the plan failed and in fact strengthened its call, making the demons more frenzied in their raids."
"It didn't take long before the city buckled under the demonic might, and soon, the last remaining inhabitants were forced into this place; trapped within their own creation and were going to be destroyed due to another of their countless creations. It was sheer irony, I might say."
The way Sargaus spoke so....callously, ignited fear in Shinji, making him shiver involuntarily. He hoped that his state of mind was only temporary. They descended once again down a narrow stairwell, only this time though, it was not hidden. They went deeper and deeper until the stairs ended and they arrived at a massive iron gate at the foot of the stairs.
"And this is where it was mastered and where it was put to rest." He gestured towards the imposing iron door. Immediately, the door opened; making screeching noises as it scratched the stone floor below.
"But in a final act of desperation, one man grasped the powers the weapon gave. Unable to control his powers, he let out a decimating wave of destruction. Gone were the demons and gone also were the remaining survivors. That man was the first of our line and the founder of The Order Of the Passing. The first one to be Death."
Like the previous rooms they had been to, this was no different as it was bare but it had burning candles. Shinji suspected that were magic ones for they gave off particles of energy as they burned. At the end of the huge room, stood an altar, and upon that, laid a scythe. It's appearance was rusty, it was obvious that it had been there for a long time. But Shinji wasn't one to judge a book by its cover. He felt a longing to hold it; even now he could a green aura of energy warping it around it.
Both of them neared the altar, but Sargaus stopped to observe him as Shinji proceeded further until he was in front of it.
"Now, Shinji, I present you the legendary weapon, Thanatos." He said calmly.
Shinji seemed hesitant, unsure about touching it. Sargaus saw this and said, "It will be your own choice. I will not force you."
For a moment, Shinji stood, before reaching out to grasp the scythe. He took a forced intake of air as the world around him went black.
He found himself floating, darkness was everywhere. It took him a few moments before he realized that he was in a dream. A cloaked figure appeared in front of him. Shinji couldn't see his face for his hood covered it in darkness.
Before he could have done anything, the figure spoke in a chilly voice. "This weapon gives whoever who wields it great power. Just as power rends your foes, so must it taint your soul. Plagued for eternity by its power, you shall, be it day or night and forever more."
"Now choose. Will you bear the burden or run away?"
Those words struck home, but he took in them, now more hesitant than ever. The figure noticed this and said, "Don't worry. Take your time."
He soon took his choice. Confidently, he said, "I accept. I will not run away!"
Shinji could feel the figure smile but was not certain if he did. He snapped out of his musings as the figure spoke once again.
"Then be reborn, Shinji Ikari, the Apprentice of Death. Now arise Shinji Ikari, the Twilight Bringer."
He felt a surge of energy pass through him, before the world faded from his view once again. Within moments, he was back in the dim lighted room. He felt different, it was as if he had more senses than he had.
"You did well, Shinji."
The voice sounded strangely familiar to him. He cocked his head to the side to see Sargaus leaning against a pillar of stone.
"Thank yo-" But he was cut off.
Sargaus glanced up, frowning the whole time. "They are here." He turned to the puzzled Shinji and said, "Shinji, get out. Now."
Seeing no response, he growled. Summoning a ball of energy, he hurled it at Shinji, immediately teleporting Shinji to their realm.
He waited before finally saying, "How long have you been there?"
A figure stepped out from the shadows, revealing himself to the being who was formerly Death. He wore black robes, unreadable symbols at certain areas of the outfit. A sword was buckled to his belt, located at his waist. His dirty blonde hair was messy, probably due to lack of care or attention to it. His eyes had the same color as Sargaus, emerald green. But it had a tint of black in his. His skin was of a pale quality, it was as if he never walked in the sun before in his entire existence.
"My, my. Is this how you treat an old friend?"
"Shut up, you corrupted bastard." He unsheathed his sword, positioning it towards the unwanted intruder.
The one in question, simply shrugged. He gave a menacing smile. "Such big words from a little person. Now, where is the boy?"
He smiled confidently. "You will not find him here, Kelein. And if you want to find him, you are going to have to kill me."
The one known as Kelein stared in mock horror, his eyes dramatically . "Oh, that's too bad. I would have given you another chance to prove yourself worthy but...oh well, I can interrogate your corpse later when I finish with you."
"So, I am safe to assume that you are still a pawn to that dog?" Sargaus's smiled widened as he said that. He knew he hit a sore spot.
Kelein's facial expression darkened considerably upon hearing those words. "I serve a greater power; One that shall let your soul rot eternally!"
Immediately, the pleasantries were over as he drew out his weapon to strike out suddenly to catch his foe off guard. Of course, Sargaus was prepared and parried the blow.
"I see that your swordplay hasn't degraded over these long years." Kelein commented as he avoided Sargaus's sword. Countering in a series of fast movements, he lashed out brutally and cried, "Of course, I am better than you after all!"
Kelein was repelled back by the intensity of the attack, his face was flush was embarrassment and rage. "That's it! Play time is over! I will make sure that you will suffer forever once we killed you!"
With that, he screamed a high pitched note. Within moments, moaning and groaning was heard from the stairwell.
Sargaus's face was filled with an emotion he not usually shown.Rage. "You! How could you!?" He pointed an accusing finger at the now smirking Kelein. "Even though you turned, you should have some honor left! Do you now rely on mindless servants to do your work? You disgraced teachings of the Passing. I was a fool to have any hope for you!"
Kelein merely smiled at Sargaus, as he was surrounded by his undead minions.
Sargaus hoped that it would not come to this. He did rather not resort to use this spell but he had been left was no options. Outnumbered and unable to teleport, it has come to this. It was time..., he thought.
An undead ghoul raised his axe to strike Sargaus, but as it came 50 centimeters about his body, the axe was repulsed back by an invisible force shield. The air glowed white at where the axe struck before returning to normal.
Kelein laughed. "So what if you have erected a force shield, Sargaus? After a certain time, it will fail and you will have no time to recast it again. You are merely delaying your doom."
Sargaus smiled creepily at him. "What makes you so certain?" He began mumbling soft words at first, gradually it became louder. He had raised his arms in front of him as if to catch something.
"Acerbus angelus , accipio thy citatio."
Angel of Darkness, heed my call.
Kelein blinked, before laughing. "Trying to put a curse on me, eh? Nice try!" Sargaus ignored it as he continued.
"Pensio permaximum pluris, quantuslibet."
Paying the ultimate price, I will.
"Thy animus desparatus exitium."
My soul for Destruction.
At this point, Kelein frowned as he couldn't recall any curse relating to this one his foe was currently chanting. Hmm....I may have heard this somewhere, but where?, he thought as he racked his brain.
"Sino obitus annullare balatro audere opposui nobis."
Let Death ravage the fools who dare oppose us.
Sargaus had a hint of a smile as he knew that his foe wouldn't expect this coming.
"Ego advoco incoho tibi."
I call upon thee.
Suddenly, it clicked within Kilein's mind. No! It can't be! He couldn't have perfected that!, he thought as fear was already cracking on his expression. It was confirmed as a large ball of dark energy gathered, held in between his hands.
"Facio mihi interfectum inferi thy illac."
Help me slay those in my path.
For a moment, Sargaus opened up a telepathetic link to the frightened necromancer. "You were saying, Kelein?" His words were laced with venomous innocence.
He features already took on an insane victory smile. And he knew he would win this small contest. It was a small price to pay to get his final laugh. But it was worth it.
"ETERNAL DOOM!"
He laughed sadistically as he saw Kelein's frightened face as the energy released engulfed him and himself and the rest of Kelein's creations; erasing them from existence.
TBC....