Chapter 3:Arena.
Raphael stepped onto the dock and felt surprised at how wobbly he was. Captain Omen had said it was because he didn't have his 'land legs' back yet. Raphael decided to find a tavern to stay at before doing anything else.
The tavern he found was run by a european, thank God. He used the last of his francs to get a room and food. He realised that he would have to get some more money if he wanted to continue his journey. After a night that was less comfortable than the eclipse's bunks and a half-cooked breakfast, Raphael left and began his journey towards Soul edge once again.
"But I have no money." Raphael said to himself. Transportation would be difficult to get for free. As he walked by though, he saw the crowd gradually thicken until there was a large number of people huddled around what seemed to be a large circular ring.
"And victory again goes to the amazing Yunsung!" someone cried.
"Excuse me." Raphael said, turning to one of the audience. "Would you be so kind as to tell me what's going on?"
"Oh yeah." the person said. "That guy in the ring, Yunsung, is unbeatable. Anybody who can force him out of that ring wins five hundred gold!"
"Indeed?" Raphael said, his face turning to a smirk. "Excuse me!" Raphael cried, getting the crowd's attention. "Tell this good sir Yunsung that I shall defeat him within five minutes."
Raphael then saw a boy with only half a shirt and hair so red that it seemed to be on fire. Raphael assumed that this was Yunsung. "Oh please." he said. "I'm not going to lose to fools like you. You westerners think you're so much better, but you're always on the ground before you know what happens."
Raphael merely glared at the impudent who dared to criticize the civilized world. He pulled out his rapier and pointed it at Yunsung. "Save your chatter for after you lose to me." Raphael said. "You cannot go against my blade."
"Allright." Yunsung said as he walked into the ring, swing his sword. "Let's do this!"
Yunsung charged forward with his sword and Raphael blocked it effortlessly. Yunsung continued furiously attacking, and Raphael blocked each move simply. Raphael then made a quick horizantal slice, nicking Yunsung's chest.
"You telegraph your moves so badly a blind man could see your next move." Raphael said, blocking more of the moves.
"Shut up, you!" Yunsung said, continuing to swing the sword wildly. Raphael continued to block the moves effortlessly. Raphael then bent low and swung his sword upwards.
"En garde!" Raphael cried with a hint of sarcasm in his voice as the upthrust knocked Yunsung to his feet. Yunsung got up again defiantly. "That's what I like to see." Raphael then began a merciless barage of attacks which Yunsung could barely defend against. Before Yunsung could comprehend what was going on, Raphael had swung the sword, hitting Yunsung's hand.
"Ow!" Yunsung said, dropping his sword. "Oh shit!" Before Yunsung could dive for the sword, Raphael grabbed him by the shoulder and began rapidly stabbing him in the stomach. As Raphael let go, Yunsung fell to the floor, and Raphael kicked Yunsung's sword from the ring.
"Okay, you win!" Yunsung said, pressing a hand against his bleeding stomach. "Now let me go-" Yunsung was interuppted as Raphael's sword struck against his cheek very hard.
"Don't think you can flee." Raphael said, pointing flambert at the fallen boy.
"What are you doing?" Yunsung demanded. "You already won!"
"I'm teaching you a lesson, boy." Raphael said, kicking Yunsung in the face. "for thinking yourself worthy to insult those of us who are actually civilized enough to fully cover our bodies." He then picked Yunsung up by the neck and sneered. "You're not even worth killing." Raphael then kicked Yunsung in the stomach who fell out of the ring.
Yunsung moaned in pain. Raphael heard whispers all around. 'And he was the best fighter!' 'That westerner fights like a demon!'
"I believe that I am owed a denomination of money." Raphael said.
The trip from Hong Kong to Peking was uneventful enough. (Writer's note:Peking is modern-day Beijing) He had purchased a horse-carriage to bring him and managed to have no more fighting or adventures.
On the other hand, it also meant that there were no clues to the wherabouts of Soul edge either. That would change in Peking hopefully, however.
"Thank you for the ride." Raphael said cordually. He then looked at the place. People walked around the place casually, looking at stores and houses. servants carried the richer residents on rickshaws. All in all, a big chinese town. "There must be some person in this city that knows about Soul edge."
"Soul edge?" an old man looked at him. "Did you say Soul edge, sir?"
He looked at the old man. "You know of it?" the old man certainly did not seem to be a warrior of any kind. If anything, he seemed to be a beggar.
"Me? No, no. I'm afraid that I'm just an old man." the man said with a shrug. "But that Killik. He knows. He lives up in the mountains. He fought Soul edge before. Don't know why though."
Raphael nodded. "Can you take to him?"
The old man grinned and Raphael winced when he noticed that several teeth were missing. "For the right price, sure."
Raphael scowled. This man would try to cheat him. He had five hundred gold pieces from the trip. "How much would it charge?" he inquired.
"How much do you have?" the old man asked slyly.
"One hundred gold pieces." Raphael lied. Lying well was a talent he had developed during his political career in France. After the backstabbers and sycophants of the royal court, this petty conartist was no challenge. "Now, where is this Killik?"
"You'll be needing a guide." the old man explained. "Long journey into the mountains it is."
"I don't care about how long it is, you peasant." Raphael replied. "Just tell me where he is!"
The man gave another half-toothed grin. "Can do, Sir."
The mountain was in the north-eastern part of China and a good seven day trek to where this Killik person supposedly lived. Raphael had no problem keeping up with the man, who was obviously on his last legs as far as lifespan went. The true problem was not to lose the decrepit figure in his enthusiasm for finding out the location of Soul edge.
"Don't slow down (cough) on my (wheeze) account." the corpse of a guide would often say.
"Idiot." Raphael muttered to himself. Without the man, his journey would be endless wandering through the mountains until starvation of suicide took his life.
Suicide. Now there was an odd thought. He had heard many times that people faced with the prospect of death by starvation would often kill themselves to save themselves from the pain. The idea never struck Raphael personally, but he had finally viewed it as a prospect that could be possible for him. Raphael simply vowed at that point that he would not lose his guide.
"Almost there, youngster." the man said, several days later. Raphael had to admit that he was impressed by this elder's knowledge if not by his physical abilities. The trip had been shorted by three days by taking a shortcut he had told about. "Ah, here we are." Only twenty yards away was a small cavern. "That's where you'll find the warrior Killik. Well, hope to see you again some time, stranger."
"Oh no you don't." Raphael warned. "First, I'm making sure this is really the house of such a warrior as you speak. Second, I will need a guide back down." the man said something about having to charge another fee, but that was when flambert came out. "I shall let you have your life. Saavy?" Raphael's question was returned with a fearful nod. "Good. Now come with me."
The cavern was certainly inhabited. Raphael's eyes darted as he saw a rug made of some animal Raphael knew not, a small fire at the end, and Raphael's eyes widened when he saw who Killik was.
It was the man who had destroyed Soul edge in his dreams! He even had the same red tattered coat. "Wang." Killik said. "I told you I did not want to be disturbed."
It took Raphael a few moments to register that 'Wang' was his guide. He had been calling him 'old man' or 'guide' the entire time.
"Yes, Killik-san." Wang said, nervously. "But you see...this man...he wanted to see you quite badly."
Killik opened his eyes and looked at Raphael. Raphael thought for a moment that a fight might be in store, but resisted any urge to grab at his sword. Such an action would be viewed hostile and jepordize the point of coming. He didn't want to fight this man if circumstance didn't call for it. "What do you want?"
Raphael decided that, just like Killik, it was better not to beat around the bush. "Do you know the location of the legendary blade, Soul edge?" He saw Killik's eyes widen at the mention of the sword. He obviously knew something about it.
"What do you want of that sword?" Killik demanded.
"What I want of it is my own buisness." Raphael answered, feeling a flicker of anger. "Do you know where it is or not?"
"I used to." Killik replied. "Before it was shattered by me. I know now know not where it lies."
"Would you be able to find it again?" Raphael asked desperately. He had come a long way to meet this man, and did not want the journey to be in vain.
"I could." Killik confirmed. Raphael's heart rose. "but not for you." Killik turned away from him. "The malignant chi in you is so blatantly obvious. I don't know what you plan to do with that sword, but stop your quest immeadiately. No matter the good intentions, you will be lead to ruin. Nothing will come of hate."
"What are you proposing?" Raphael demanded.
"If you do not renounce your quest, I will be forced to stop you." Killik said.
"You're quite the rude one." Raphael commented, whipping flambert out.
"Here." Killik said, taking his rod. "Come on!" Raphael gave a forward thrust which Killik batted away with his staff. Raphael noted the length of the rod. Killik obviously had an advantage in range. However, it had twice the blindspots Raphael's rapier did. Raphael would have to find a way to use this to his advantage.
"C'mon, now." Wang said nervously. "Can't we all just get along?" He was ignored as Raphael began thrusting forward and Killik parried and countered.
Raphael duck the counter, taking the move to his advantage to give an upthrust to Killik. Killik staggered back several steps and regained his bearings. He then began spinning his staff, hitting Raphael in the ribs. Fortunately, Raphael didn't feel anything crack. Raphael charged again, but Killik batted the rapier away and kicked Rahael in the face.
The former aristocrat fell to the ground. "You're not bad, I'll give you that, Raphael said, wiping the blood from his now broken nose. Raphael fixed it back into alignment. "but you won't be able to defeat me." Killik moved on the defensive, and Raphael backed out of the cave, while parrying. He rolled to the side, coming out of the cave.
"Thanks." Killik said, climbing up the pole as though he were a monkey. and than pushed himself off of the rod and slammed it at Raphael who barely managed to move out of the way. "Out here, I've got more room to move around in than the cave. I can now use my Kali-Yuga to it's full extent." Raphael dodged several more blows and parried another blow.
Killik forgot one important factor. Here in the rocky and slippery mountains, it all came down to footwork. And no one in the world was better at footwork than Raphael Sorel. He quickly moved and dodged, twisted and spun, forcing Killik to make similar moves. Killik, with his larger weapon, was having trouble keeping up with Raphael's constant twirling and twisting.
"There's no escape!" Raphael cried, putting the rapier to Killik's chin. Killik however, jabbed his rod into Raphael's stomach. Raphael keeled and stepped back. Killik took advantage of the hesitation to hit Raphael in the head. Raphael fell to the floor. Killik slammed Kali-yuga on the ground again, but Raphael rolled out of the way and got up with an upthrust lightly cutting Killik's chest. Killik ignored the pain and charged. Raphael blocked and grabbed Killik by the shoulder. He then threw the rod wielder down and jumped onto his stomach. Killik then grabbed Raphael by his ankles and tossed him off. Raphael managed to land on his feet and regained his dueling pose.
Raphael then twirled himself around, spinning his sword with him, impacting against Killik's rod twice. Killik blocked both but didn't see Raphael's foot coming in high. The impact threw Killik back, falling off the mountain path. Raphael looked down, unable to see the fighter.
"Merde." he said to himself. The trip had been a waste and his only lead was now dead. On top of that, he now had a minor concussion from Killik blow to the head maybe internal injuries from the blow to the stomach. Slowly going back to the cave, he saw Wang sitting there nervously. "Guide. Take me back."
"Uhhh....sure thing." Wang said. "Where's Killik-san?"
Raphael glared. "He's...delayed."
Wang nodded understandingly. "Kay then. Back to Peking."
End Chapter 3.
Raphael stepped onto the dock and felt surprised at how wobbly he was. Captain Omen had said it was because he didn't have his 'land legs' back yet. Raphael decided to find a tavern to stay at before doing anything else.
The tavern he found was run by a european, thank God. He used the last of his francs to get a room and food. He realised that he would have to get some more money if he wanted to continue his journey. After a night that was less comfortable than the eclipse's bunks and a half-cooked breakfast, Raphael left and began his journey towards Soul edge once again.
"But I have no money." Raphael said to himself. Transportation would be difficult to get for free. As he walked by though, he saw the crowd gradually thicken until there was a large number of people huddled around what seemed to be a large circular ring.
"And victory again goes to the amazing Yunsung!" someone cried.
"Excuse me." Raphael said, turning to one of the audience. "Would you be so kind as to tell me what's going on?"
"Oh yeah." the person said. "That guy in the ring, Yunsung, is unbeatable. Anybody who can force him out of that ring wins five hundred gold!"
"Indeed?" Raphael said, his face turning to a smirk. "Excuse me!" Raphael cried, getting the crowd's attention. "Tell this good sir Yunsung that I shall defeat him within five minutes."
Raphael then saw a boy with only half a shirt and hair so red that it seemed to be on fire. Raphael assumed that this was Yunsung. "Oh please." he said. "I'm not going to lose to fools like you. You westerners think you're so much better, but you're always on the ground before you know what happens."
Raphael merely glared at the impudent who dared to criticize the civilized world. He pulled out his rapier and pointed it at Yunsung. "Save your chatter for after you lose to me." Raphael said. "You cannot go against my blade."
"Allright." Yunsung said as he walked into the ring, swing his sword. "Let's do this!"
Yunsung charged forward with his sword and Raphael blocked it effortlessly. Yunsung continued furiously attacking, and Raphael blocked each move simply. Raphael then made a quick horizantal slice, nicking Yunsung's chest.
"You telegraph your moves so badly a blind man could see your next move." Raphael said, blocking more of the moves.
"Shut up, you!" Yunsung said, continuing to swing the sword wildly. Raphael continued to block the moves effortlessly. Raphael then bent low and swung his sword upwards.
"En garde!" Raphael cried with a hint of sarcasm in his voice as the upthrust knocked Yunsung to his feet. Yunsung got up again defiantly. "That's what I like to see." Raphael then began a merciless barage of attacks which Yunsung could barely defend against. Before Yunsung could comprehend what was going on, Raphael had swung the sword, hitting Yunsung's hand.
"Ow!" Yunsung said, dropping his sword. "Oh shit!" Before Yunsung could dive for the sword, Raphael grabbed him by the shoulder and began rapidly stabbing him in the stomach. As Raphael let go, Yunsung fell to the floor, and Raphael kicked Yunsung's sword from the ring.
"Okay, you win!" Yunsung said, pressing a hand against his bleeding stomach. "Now let me go-" Yunsung was interuppted as Raphael's sword struck against his cheek very hard.
"Don't think you can flee." Raphael said, pointing flambert at the fallen boy.
"What are you doing?" Yunsung demanded. "You already won!"
"I'm teaching you a lesson, boy." Raphael said, kicking Yunsung in the face. "for thinking yourself worthy to insult those of us who are actually civilized enough to fully cover our bodies." He then picked Yunsung up by the neck and sneered. "You're not even worth killing." Raphael then kicked Yunsung in the stomach who fell out of the ring.
Yunsung moaned in pain. Raphael heard whispers all around. 'And he was the best fighter!' 'That westerner fights like a demon!'
"I believe that I am owed a denomination of money." Raphael said.
The trip from Hong Kong to Peking was uneventful enough. (Writer's note:Peking is modern-day Beijing) He had purchased a horse-carriage to bring him and managed to have no more fighting or adventures.
On the other hand, it also meant that there were no clues to the wherabouts of Soul edge either. That would change in Peking hopefully, however.
"Thank you for the ride." Raphael said cordually. He then looked at the place. People walked around the place casually, looking at stores and houses. servants carried the richer residents on rickshaws. All in all, a big chinese town. "There must be some person in this city that knows about Soul edge."
"Soul edge?" an old man looked at him. "Did you say Soul edge, sir?"
He looked at the old man. "You know of it?" the old man certainly did not seem to be a warrior of any kind. If anything, he seemed to be a beggar.
"Me? No, no. I'm afraid that I'm just an old man." the man said with a shrug. "But that Killik. He knows. He lives up in the mountains. He fought Soul edge before. Don't know why though."
Raphael nodded. "Can you take to him?"
The old man grinned and Raphael winced when he noticed that several teeth were missing. "For the right price, sure."
Raphael scowled. This man would try to cheat him. He had five hundred gold pieces from the trip. "How much would it charge?" he inquired.
"How much do you have?" the old man asked slyly.
"One hundred gold pieces." Raphael lied. Lying well was a talent he had developed during his political career in France. After the backstabbers and sycophants of the royal court, this petty conartist was no challenge. "Now, where is this Killik?"
"You'll be needing a guide." the old man explained. "Long journey into the mountains it is."
"I don't care about how long it is, you peasant." Raphael replied. "Just tell me where he is!"
The man gave another half-toothed grin. "Can do, Sir."
The mountain was in the north-eastern part of China and a good seven day trek to where this Killik person supposedly lived. Raphael had no problem keeping up with the man, who was obviously on his last legs as far as lifespan went. The true problem was not to lose the decrepit figure in his enthusiasm for finding out the location of Soul edge.
"Don't slow down (cough) on my (wheeze) account." the corpse of a guide would often say.
"Idiot." Raphael muttered to himself. Without the man, his journey would be endless wandering through the mountains until starvation of suicide took his life.
Suicide. Now there was an odd thought. He had heard many times that people faced with the prospect of death by starvation would often kill themselves to save themselves from the pain. The idea never struck Raphael personally, but he had finally viewed it as a prospect that could be possible for him. Raphael simply vowed at that point that he would not lose his guide.
"Almost there, youngster." the man said, several days later. Raphael had to admit that he was impressed by this elder's knowledge if not by his physical abilities. The trip had been shorted by three days by taking a shortcut he had told about. "Ah, here we are." Only twenty yards away was a small cavern. "That's where you'll find the warrior Killik. Well, hope to see you again some time, stranger."
"Oh no you don't." Raphael warned. "First, I'm making sure this is really the house of such a warrior as you speak. Second, I will need a guide back down." the man said something about having to charge another fee, but that was when flambert came out. "I shall let you have your life. Saavy?" Raphael's question was returned with a fearful nod. "Good. Now come with me."
The cavern was certainly inhabited. Raphael's eyes darted as he saw a rug made of some animal Raphael knew not, a small fire at the end, and Raphael's eyes widened when he saw who Killik was.
It was the man who had destroyed Soul edge in his dreams! He even had the same red tattered coat. "Wang." Killik said. "I told you I did not want to be disturbed."
It took Raphael a few moments to register that 'Wang' was his guide. He had been calling him 'old man' or 'guide' the entire time.
"Yes, Killik-san." Wang said, nervously. "But you see...this man...he wanted to see you quite badly."
Killik opened his eyes and looked at Raphael. Raphael thought for a moment that a fight might be in store, but resisted any urge to grab at his sword. Such an action would be viewed hostile and jepordize the point of coming. He didn't want to fight this man if circumstance didn't call for it. "What do you want?"
Raphael decided that, just like Killik, it was better not to beat around the bush. "Do you know the location of the legendary blade, Soul edge?" He saw Killik's eyes widen at the mention of the sword. He obviously knew something about it.
"What do you want of that sword?" Killik demanded.
"What I want of it is my own buisness." Raphael answered, feeling a flicker of anger. "Do you know where it is or not?"
"I used to." Killik replied. "Before it was shattered by me. I know now know not where it lies."
"Would you be able to find it again?" Raphael asked desperately. He had come a long way to meet this man, and did not want the journey to be in vain.
"I could." Killik confirmed. Raphael's heart rose. "but not for you." Killik turned away from him. "The malignant chi in you is so blatantly obvious. I don't know what you plan to do with that sword, but stop your quest immeadiately. No matter the good intentions, you will be lead to ruin. Nothing will come of hate."
"What are you proposing?" Raphael demanded.
"If you do not renounce your quest, I will be forced to stop you." Killik said.
"You're quite the rude one." Raphael commented, whipping flambert out.
"Here." Killik said, taking his rod. "Come on!" Raphael gave a forward thrust which Killik batted away with his staff. Raphael noted the length of the rod. Killik obviously had an advantage in range. However, it had twice the blindspots Raphael's rapier did. Raphael would have to find a way to use this to his advantage.
"C'mon, now." Wang said nervously. "Can't we all just get along?" He was ignored as Raphael began thrusting forward and Killik parried and countered.
Raphael duck the counter, taking the move to his advantage to give an upthrust to Killik. Killik staggered back several steps and regained his bearings. He then began spinning his staff, hitting Raphael in the ribs. Fortunately, Raphael didn't feel anything crack. Raphael charged again, but Killik batted the rapier away and kicked Rahael in the face.
The former aristocrat fell to the ground. "You're not bad, I'll give you that, Raphael said, wiping the blood from his now broken nose. Raphael fixed it back into alignment. "but you won't be able to defeat me." Killik moved on the defensive, and Raphael backed out of the cave, while parrying. He rolled to the side, coming out of the cave.
"Thanks." Killik said, climbing up the pole as though he were a monkey. and than pushed himself off of the rod and slammed it at Raphael who barely managed to move out of the way. "Out here, I've got more room to move around in than the cave. I can now use my Kali-Yuga to it's full extent." Raphael dodged several more blows and parried another blow.
Killik forgot one important factor. Here in the rocky and slippery mountains, it all came down to footwork. And no one in the world was better at footwork than Raphael Sorel. He quickly moved and dodged, twisted and spun, forcing Killik to make similar moves. Killik, with his larger weapon, was having trouble keeping up with Raphael's constant twirling and twisting.
"There's no escape!" Raphael cried, putting the rapier to Killik's chin. Killik however, jabbed his rod into Raphael's stomach. Raphael keeled and stepped back. Killik took advantage of the hesitation to hit Raphael in the head. Raphael fell to the floor. Killik slammed Kali-yuga on the ground again, but Raphael rolled out of the way and got up with an upthrust lightly cutting Killik's chest. Killik ignored the pain and charged. Raphael blocked and grabbed Killik by the shoulder. He then threw the rod wielder down and jumped onto his stomach. Killik then grabbed Raphael by his ankles and tossed him off. Raphael managed to land on his feet and regained his dueling pose.
Raphael then twirled himself around, spinning his sword with him, impacting against Killik's rod twice. Killik blocked both but didn't see Raphael's foot coming in high. The impact threw Killik back, falling off the mountain path. Raphael looked down, unable to see the fighter.
"Merde." he said to himself. The trip had been a waste and his only lead was now dead. On top of that, he now had a minor concussion from Killik blow to the head maybe internal injuries from the blow to the stomach. Slowly going back to the cave, he saw Wang sitting there nervously. "Guide. Take me back."
"Uhhh....sure thing." Wang said. "Where's Killik-san?"
Raphael glared. "He's...delayed."
Wang nodded understandingly. "Kay then. Back to Peking."
End Chapter 3.