Man it's been a while since I updated this and it's my pride and joy too.
Oh well I guess we just got to keep rolling no biggie best things in life
are worth waiting for right? Well without further ado Chapter 11 of Dark
Souls. ~thought~
Chapter 11: For Those Who Dream: A Battle and Unrequited Limit.
Marlene kept her trigger focused on Stephen's head. He didn't move he was still trying to absorb what she said until he laughed slightly.
"So this was the best huh? I guess I should have seen it coming no matter what we are we still have to fight in the end that's just the way it is isn't it?"
Marlene didn't say a word and instead cocked her gun. The wind blew past them both as Marlene's beautiful silky brown hair flowed with the wind her outfit slowly tilting with it. The way the wind played with her was like a work of art a thing of pure beauty that only the angels themselves have.
Stephen was a different story it seemed as if the wind didn't even reach him before the black flames engulfed it. As if even the elements themselves had forsaken him. But Marlene didn't have time to worry about that now she had to focus on the battle at hand.
For as she were to find out, the element had a different ideal then Marlene's sight portrayed.
"We'll aren't you going to shoot?"
Marlene kept her first gun at aim towards Stephen's head the other at her hip but at such an angle that if she were to use it she would shoot Stephen's left calf.
"I'll shoot after you draw your sword!"
The battle hadn't even started and Marlene had already started to sweat. Though she loved Stephen with all her heart she still feared him. No matter what she thought of him that black flame always entered her vision it haunted her stalked her yet intrigued her at the same time.
Stephen took out his sword and turned it sideways took out a yellow materia and placed it in his gloves then to her surprise he sheathed his sword once again.
"C'mon fight me!!"
Despite her fear Marlene still managed to say it with a fire in her eyes.
Stephen laughed slightly.
"Marlene I'm surprised I thought after all these years you would know me a little better. I thought you would know that I don't need a sword to fight."
Marlene couldn't hold her fear for the moment he said that the flames just jumped from their outlined state to a huge flame as Stephens eyes met Marlene's with a simple look yet it might as well have been a cold stare as if his dark eyes pierced her very soul. She could barely breath as if the stare was suffocating her; she barely even heard Stephen finish the sentence.
"I don't need a sword to fight, it's just easier to kill with. I just needed the sense materia so as not to go to far in this fight."
Marlene couldn't stand it any longer she knew if she didn't fight him now she'd never find the nerve to do it again.
This wasn't just for him to help those in need, but it was for her-own piece of mind as well.
Maybe if she had know what she'd be up against she would have been smart enough to back down.
Stephen lifted his fists to his face and went into his stance his materia glowed with the touch of his skin.
"Well then let us begin."
With that Stephen ran forward as expected Marlene shot the gun aimed at Stephen's head.
Stephen rolled out of the way just in time for the gun to miss him by a hair as it hit the wall it exploded in a fiery blast.
"Fire 3?"
Stephen laughed once more.
"Of course it would only be natural that the Cetra would enhance your bullets it's all they can do; magic that's why I won't train them it's pointless unless I find some physical talent amongst these people."
Marlene stomped her foot she was beginning to wonder if they would ever actually fight instead of talking.
"It's not about that!! You're the one who said we needed their help to begin with why not start an army we could use all the help we could get!"
"You don't get it do you? I'm a weapon Marlene Ryo even said so I won't lead others to their deaths I have and will kill enough people as it is! I've committed sins I could never atone for the only difference is I'm not foolish enough to try and atone for them!!!"
Marlene only looked for a moment then looked down.
"Stephen."
"Enough!!!"
Stephen's voice was low and dark much darker then Marlene had ever heard before. However that wasn't what surprised her. What surprised her was his eyes flashed a light blue when he spoke and the black fire almost shifted towards that color as well.
Marlene lost her nerve it was easy to tell at this point she wasn't afraid anymore.
She was worried.
~Now I have to win! Ok my first goal is to get him off his feet otherwise he'll dodge my attacks without any problem~
After that thought Stephen charged at her once again Marlene this time shot her bullet at the ground towards Stephen's foot. The explosion the bullet caused Stephen to jump in the air to avoid the debris the bullet caused.
~Good now to finish this~
Marlene then shot two of her bullets into the air one to Stephen's left and one to his right and two more in the blind spots of the first round of bullets. She let the first bullets pass as Stephen dodged them with ease; flipping in the air in a 45-degree angel then as the second set reached him and he went to shift his weight Marlene then went for her newly acquired power.
"PHOENIX"
The bird of fire flew at full speed towards Stephen's position and flapped its mighty wings as the flames they emitted struck Stephen dead on.
"Phoenix?"
~How did she learn to summon in such a short amount of time? Are the Cetra that powerful in the arts of magic?~
Before Stephen could think any further into his questioning the fired got to the dangerous point where Stephen then braced himself for impact. The fire missed him completely as Stephen front flipped dodging most of the attack. The rest of it hit him knocking him in the air slightly considering he had nothing to base his balance on.
The fire that had hit him sent him flying directly into the bullets, which had passed him, only seconds earlier. As the flames he had dodged hit all four bullets they all detonated with fire 3 knocking him in every direction in a huge force of air and inferno. Phoenix then satisfied with its job disappeared in a whirlwind of fire returning to the heavens from whence it came.
Stephen then crashed into the hard ground as Marlene came to his side gun pointed directly at his head.
What she saw next gave her a mixture of fear and relief all at the same time.
Every attack had hit perfectly she had planned it all out and it had succeeded without fail yet Stephen was on the floor unscathed in fact he was laughing.
"Man I never saw that coming heheh you've gotten a lot better and your strategy hasn't changed one bit your good."
A spiral of wind formed around Stephen's body knocking Marlene back and cutting her slightly she yelped slightly at the pain it caused as Stephen got up. He looked at her once more his dark eyes flashing.
"Your just not good enough."
With that the wind broke off spreading in all directions cutting into everything in its path Marlene rolled out of the way just in time to see the a boulder behind her cut directly in half.
Marlene stared in amazement.
"What was that?"
Stephen laughed slightly.
"Aero obviously."
"But how did you focus it around your body like that?"
"Simple everyone has limit breaks what you have all depends on your magical and physical skills. Since my father mastered the buster sword his moves were all sword based and because he was a clone of Sephiroth he could manipulate the elements slightly."
"I'm a different story because I have mastered more then one art I can use more then one skill and the meteor effect allowed me to use limit breaks of those skills at any time."
"I know that but how? I've seen you use your limit breaks in battle tons of times how can you use that it's not a limit break you know."
Stephen stared at Marlene and cracked a small smirk his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Who said those limit breaks were mine."
Marlene stared wide-eyed at Stephen's smile and braced herself.
"You should be proud Marlene other then you only one person has seen my limit breaks.
Stephen lifted a finger into the air and waved it slightly side to side.
"Level one is all you get to see."
Stephen then focused his energy as the whirlwind formed around him once again this time around his legs and fists rather then his whole body.
Stephen's voice was now anxious and raspy
"Let's end this now shall we?"
Stephen then rushed forward at incredible speed so fast that a sort of blur was left where he has stood. Marlene focused casting wall and sense to find Stephen. She then cast haste as to be able to track him slightly and slow on Stephen.
This caused Stephen's movement to halt for a split second as his immunity towards the magic kicked in.
This split second was all Marlene needed.
Marlene immediately cast reflect on herself then shot four black bullets.
Each bullet struck Stephen dead on casting Demi 3 and forcing him to the ground Marlene cast Ultima several times, Flare 4 times, and shot every bullet she had at him in rapid succession.
Stephen was hit blow for blow each attack of Flare and Ultima were doubled in power due to reflect as each bullet barraged him with attacks of Demi 3, Fire 3, Ice 3, and Bolt 3 each one ripping up the earth that Stephen was stuck to as if the god's themselves were ripping the area apart with vengeance.
In fact the sight gave Marlene a good idea.
Marlene focused until her eyes glowed a light yellow as the ground rose up into a sort of mountain from behind her.
"RAMAH!!"
In a moment an old man with a long beard lifted a golden staff into the air as lightning emitted from it striking with all its might at the area where the magic reaction Marlene had made was still taking effect.
As almost and eternity passed Marlene cocked her gun once more exhausted from her onslaught. She had only 2 regular bullets left and they wouldn't be enough to win the battle and she new her onslaught would not be enough to stop him but she probably caused him serious injury.
Then the attacks finally stopped and Marlene turned to see Stephen once more she dropped her bullets in shock and lowered her arms slightly.
There Stephen stood panting heavily his wrists and hands were the only things injured the rest of his body was fine it was as if the attacks hadn't hit those area's at all he wrists were bleeding badly and his hands were stained and red as the blood from his wrists flowed freely into his hands and he clenched it.
That wasn't anything new to Marlene but what she saw next intrigued and scared her to no end.
His fists were glowing.
"Ok it ends now!"
Stephen then held his hands out in front of him as they started to glow and blink slowly at first then faster and faster.
"DEMON'S MIRROR!"
Stephen's hands then shot out a blast that emitted both red blue yellow and green auras swirling all around each other.
Marlene just managed to roll out of the way but the sheer force of the combined auras forced Marlene hard into the side of the mountain the rest his the wall adjacent to Marlene and almost completely decimated it. Fortunately it was enforced with Cetra magic and immediately reformed back to its former state.
Marlene got up dazed just as Stephen appeared in a flash of light behind her he sword pressed gently around her neck her guns a few feet from where she landed to weak to cast another spell as Stephen smiled his blood dripping slightly on her shoulder.
"Checkmate"
Well there is chapter 11 I hoped you like it things are kind of going to get a bit gory after the next few chapters so I might amp up the rating to R I'll have the next chapter up by Christmas if I have time as always hope you liked the chapter sorry for making you wait so long and please review. Also forgive me for any grammatical errors but I don't have anyone to beta read this for me and I think you guys have waiting long enough for the next chapter. If it gets to the point where you can't read it then I pity you well I'm done next up Chapter 12: Round Two Shera's Hatred hope you enjoy.
Chapter 11: For Those Who Dream: A Battle and Unrequited Limit.
Marlene kept her trigger focused on Stephen's head. He didn't move he was still trying to absorb what she said until he laughed slightly.
"So this was the best huh? I guess I should have seen it coming no matter what we are we still have to fight in the end that's just the way it is isn't it?"
Marlene didn't say a word and instead cocked her gun. The wind blew past them both as Marlene's beautiful silky brown hair flowed with the wind her outfit slowly tilting with it. The way the wind played with her was like a work of art a thing of pure beauty that only the angels themselves have.
Stephen was a different story it seemed as if the wind didn't even reach him before the black flames engulfed it. As if even the elements themselves had forsaken him. But Marlene didn't have time to worry about that now she had to focus on the battle at hand.
For as she were to find out, the element had a different ideal then Marlene's sight portrayed.
"We'll aren't you going to shoot?"
Marlene kept her first gun at aim towards Stephen's head the other at her hip but at such an angle that if she were to use it she would shoot Stephen's left calf.
"I'll shoot after you draw your sword!"
The battle hadn't even started and Marlene had already started to sweat. Though she loved Stephen with all her heart she still feared him. No matter what she thought of him that black flame always entered her vision it haunted her stalked her yet intrigued her at the same time.
Stephen took out his sword and turned it sideways took out a yellow materia and placed it in his gloves then to her surprise he sheathed his sword once again.
"C'mon fight me!!"
Despite her fear Marlene still managed to say it with a fire in her eyes.
Stephen laughed slightly.
"Marlene I'm surprised I thought after all these years you would know me a little better. I thought you would know that I don't need a sword to fight."
Marlene couldn't hold her fear for the moment he said that the flames just jumped from their outlined state to a huge flame as Stephens eyes met Marlene's with a simple look yet it might as well have been a cold stare as if his dark eyes pierced her very soul. She could barely breath as if the stare was suffocating her; she barely even heard Stephen finish the sentence.
"I don't need a sword to fight, it's just easier to kill with. I just needed the sense materia so as not to go to far in this fight."
Marlene couldn't stand it any longer she knew if she didn't fight him now she'd never find the nerve to do it again.
This wasn't just for him to help those in need, but it was for her-own piece of mind as well.
Maybe if she had know what she'd be up against she would have been smart enough to back down.
Stephen lifted his fists to his face and went into his stance his materia glowed with the touch of his skin.
"Well then let us begin."
With that Stephen ran forward as expected Marlene shot the gun aimed at Stephen's head.
Stephen rolled out of the way just in time for the gun to miss him by a hair as it hit the wall it exploded in a fiery blast.
"Fire 3?"
Stephen laughed once more.
"Of course it would only be natural that the Cetra would enhance your bullets it's all they can do; magic that's why I won't train them it's pointless unless I find some physical talent amongst these people."
Marlene stomped her foot she was beginning to wonder if they would ever actually fight instead of talking.
"It's not about that!! You're the one who said we needed their help to begin with why not start an army we could use all the help we could get!"
"You don't get it do you? I'm a weapon Marlene Ryo even said so I won't lead others to their deaths I have and will kill enough people as it is! I've committed sins I could never atone for the only difference is I'm not foolish enough to try and atone for them!!!"
Marlene only looked for a moment then looked down.
"Stephen."
"Enough!!!"
Stephen's voice was low and dark much darker then Marlene had ever heard before. However that wasn't what surprised her. What surprised her was his eyes flashed a light blue when he spoke and the black fire almost shifted towards that color as well.
Marlene lost her nerve it was easy to tell at this point she wasn't afraid anymore.
She was worried.
~Now I have to win! Ok my first goal is to get him off his feet otherwise he'll dodge my attacks without any problem~
After that thought Stephen charged at her once again Marlene this time shot her bullet at the ground towards Stephen's foot. The explosion the bullet caused Stephen to jump in the air to avoid the debris the bullet caused.
~Good now to finish this~
Marlene then shot two of her bullets into the air one to Stephen's left and one to his right and two more in the blind spots of the first round of bullets. She let the first bullets pass as Stephen dodged them with ease; flipping in the air in a 45-degree angel then as the second set reached him and he went to shift his weight Marlene then went for her newly acquired power.
"PHOENIX"
The bird of fire flew at full speed towards Stephen's position and flapped its mighty wings as the flames they emitted struck Stephen dead on.
"Phoenix?"
~How did she learn to summon in such a short amount of time? Are the Cetra that powerful in the arts of magic?~
Before Stephen could think any further into his questioning the fired got to the dangerous point where Stephen then braced himself for impact. The fire missed him completely as Stephen front flipped dodging most of the attack. The rest of it hit him knocking him in the air slightly considering he had nothing to base his balance on.
The fire that had hit him sent him flying directly into the bullets, which had passed him, only seconds earlier. As the flames he had dodged hit all four bullets they all detonated with fire 3 knocking him in every direction in a huge force of air and inferno. Phoenix then satisfied with its job disappeared in a whirlwind of fire returning to the heavens from whence it came.
Stephen then crashed into the hard ground as Marlene came to his side gun pointed directly at his head.
What she saw next gave her a mixture of fear and relief all at the same time.
Every attack had hit perfectly she had planned it all out and it had succeeded without fail yet Stephen was on the floor unscathed in fact he was laughing.
"Man I never saw that coming heheh you've gotten a lot better and your strategy hasn't changed one bit your good."
A spiral of wind formed around Stephen's body knocking Marlene back and cutting her slightly she yelped slightly at the pain it caused as Stephen got up. He looked at her once more his dark eyes flashing.
"Your just not good enough."
With that the wind broke off spreading in all directions cutting into everything in its path Marlene rolled out of the way just in time to see the a boulder behind her cut directly in half.
Marlene stared in amazement.
"What was that?"
Stephen laughed slightly.
"Aero obviously."
"But how did you focus it around your body like that?"
"Simple everyone has limit breaks what you have all depends on your magical and physical skills. Since my father mastered the buster sword his moves were all sword based and because he was a clone of Sephiroth he could manipulate the elements slightly."
"I'm a different story because I have mastered more then one art I can use more then one skill and the meteor effect allowed me to use limit breaks of those skills at any time."
"I know that but how? I've seen you use your limit breaks in battle tons of times how can you use that it's not a limit break you know."
Stephen stared at Marlene and cracked a small smirk his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Who said those limit breaks were mine."
Marlene stared wide-eyed at Stephen's smile and braced herself.
"You should be proud Marlene other then you only one person has seen my limit breaks.
Stephen lifted a finger into the air and waved it slightly side to side.
"Level one is all you get to see."
Stephen then focused his energy as the whirlwind formed around him once again this time around his legs and fists rather then his whole body.
Stephen's voice was now anxious and raspy
"Let's end this now shall we?"
Stephen then rushed forward at incredible speed so fast that a sort of blur was left where he has stood. Marlene focused casting wall and sense to find Stephen. She then cast haste as to be able to track him slightly and slow on Stephen.
This caused Stephen's movement to halt for a split second as his immunity towards the magic kicked in.
This split second was all Marlene needed.
Marlene immediately cast reflect on herself then shot four black bullets.
Each bullet struck Stephen dead on casting Demi 3 and forcing him to the ground Marlene cast Ultima several times, Flare 4 times, and shot every bullet she had at him in rapid succession.
Stephen was hit blow for blow each attack of Flare and Ultima were doubled in power due to reflect as each bullet barraged him with attacks of Demi 3, Fire 3, Ice 3, and Bolt 3 each one ripping up the earth that Stephen was stuck to as if the god's themselves were ripping the area apart with vengeance.
In fact the sight gave Marlene a good idea.
Marlene focused until her eyes glowed a light yellow as the ground rose up into a sort of mountain from behind her.
"RAMAH!!"
In a moment an old man with a long beard lifted a golden staff into the air as lightning emitted from it striking with all its might at the area where the magic reaction Marlene had made was still taking effect.
As almost and eternity passed Marlene cocked her gun once more exhausted from her onslaught. She had only 2 regular bullets left and they wouldn't be enough to win the battle and she new her onslaught would not be enough to stop him but she probably caused him serious injury.
Then the attacks finally stopped and Marlene turned to see Stephen once more she dropped her bullets in shock and lowered her arms slightly.
There Stephen stood panting heavily his wrists and hands were the only things injured the rest of his body was fine it was as if the attacks hadn't hit those area's at all he wrists were bleeding badly and his hands were stained and red as the blood from his wrists flowed freely into his hands and he clenched it.
That wasn't anything new to Marlene but what she saw next intrigued and scared her to no end.
His fists were glowing.
"Ok it ends now!"
Stephen then held his hands out in front of him as they started to glow and blink slowly at first then faster and faster.
"DEMON'S MIRROR!"
Stephen's hands then shot out a blast that emitted both red blue yellow and green auras swirling all around each other.
Marlene just managed to roll out of the way but the sheer force of the combined auras forced Marlene hard into the side of the mountain the rest his the wall adjacent to Marlene and almost completely decimated it. Fortunately it was enforced with Cetra magic and immediately reformed back to its former state.
Marlene got up dazed just as Stephen appeared in a flash of light behind her he sword pressed gently around her neck her guns a few feet from where she landed to weak to cast another spell as Stephen smiled his blood dripping slightly on her shoulder.
"Checkmate"
Well there is chapter 11 I hoped you like it things are kind of going to get a bit gory after the next few chapters so I might amp up the rating to R I'll have the next chapter up by Christmas if I have time as always hope you liked the chapter sorry for making you wait so long and please review. Also forgive me for any grammatical errors but I don't have anyone to beta read this for me and I think you guys have waiting long enough for the next chapter. If it gets to the point where you can't read it then I pity you well I'm done next up Chapter 12: Round Two Shera's Hatred hope you enjoy.