Chapter 7:Church on a hill
Ostenheinburg, Germany. The end of his journey. It was such an irony in his life. The closer he came to the end of his journey, the closer he came to its beginning. He stepped into the german town and looked around. As he continued to walke, he saw it.
On a large hill sat the destroyed cathedral. His ultimate destiny. His mind told him that it would be more practical to wait and rest. His heart, however, could not wait. He ran at top speed to the cathedral, drawing attention from the city. It mattered little, however. He was almost at the end of his journey.
At his final steps, he stood outside the cathedral, walking in. The will of God overwhelmed. "Thank you, my lord." he said as he stepped.
The cathedral itself had obviously finished it's work for the lord. Half of the roof had collapsed, and much of the stained glass had been shattered, giving an odd feeling as though lights were being mixed. Rubble and broken glass was scattered all over the floor. It seemed to be the arena of the great satan Lucifer and the archangel Gabriel themselves.
"To the victors go the spoils." Raphael said to himself.
"I couldn't agree more." a rough voice said. Raphael turned and was shocked to see who had adressed him.
The Azure Nightmare himself! He had no armor or clothing from the waist up, but the arm and sword were immeadiately recognizable. Kneeling in front of his flamberge, Raphael knew what the plans of this man was. He was trying to summon Soul Edge.
"You're too weak for that," Raphael interjected. "aren't you?"
The Nightmare growled at the comment. "You conceited, wretched human!" He lifted his Flamberge and swung it toward Raphael. "I shall have your head for that!"
Raphael quickly stepped out of the flamberge's way. Raphael then swung his sword to hit Nightmare, but the incredibly strong swordsman swung his sword to knock the rapier from its path. Raphael stepped back to avoid another swing of the sword.
Raphael immeadiately saw his advantages and disadvantages. Because of its mass, the flamberge Nightmare held had limited and predictable movements. Also, because of its weight, the sword was slow to move. However, one clean hit would end the conflict....as well as his life.
Raphael dodged another swing of Nightmare's sword and swerved his sword against Nightmare's demonic arm. The blow did little if anything to stop Nightmare's sword, however. His sword rose and stabbed forward. Raphael moved to dodge, but the flamberge nicked his right arm. Surprisingly, there was no blood from the wound.
"Don't tell me." Raphael said. "Your weapon is composed of fragmentes of Soul Edge as well, is it not?"
"It is." Nightmare said. "As a learned man you obviously are, you could tell me. Don't you find it ironic that I have to use the sword I crave to reclaim it?"
"I find it all rather academic, because Soul Edge shall be mine!" Raphael declared.
At those words, Nightmare began to chuckle. "You are insane." he said. "Your insanity! Show it to me!"
Raphael jumped from another blow and kicked him in the face. "Do not assume I share your illnesses, demon!"
Nightmare swung his huge flamberge wildly, trying to intercept Raphael's flawless footwork. "Liar! I sense it! You are a monster as I! We are alike!" Nightmare then grunted as he felt something sharp protrude through his chest. Nightmare looked down to see the end of Flambert sticking from his chest.
"We are different in one way." Raphael said from behind Nightmare. He pulled his sword out of Nightmare's chest as he fell to the ground. Raphael began twirling Flambert in his hand. "You have failed. But I will not."
Raphael's victory was stolen as he heard a voice. He turned to see a man...no, a boy with a sword and shield on his back. As he got closer, Raphael saw that he had pointed ears. This man was an elf! There could be no other reason that such a warrior would come here. This boy wanted Soul Edge.
Well, damned if Raphael was going to let that happen. As the elven boy came near Raphael, the more seasoned swordsman turned his rapier on the boy with deadly and quick moves. To Raphael's surprise, the elven boy moved with flips and jumps that rivaled that of the best acrobats.
"I've no quarrel with you, swordsman." the elf said. "Please let me pass, for a great evil lies here."
"That is why I reside here." Raphael replied. "Now makes yourself gone, elf."
"If you hope to control Soul Edge, then for the safety of Hyrule, I must stop you." the elf said.
"What is your name, elf?" Raphael asked.
"I am a hylian." he corrected. "My name is Link. And I am here to destroy the evil here."
"I am Raphael, and I am here to reform the world." Raphael said. "Watch quietly and learn."
Link quickly pulled his sword and shield out to block the first attack from Raphael's rapier. He blocked several more strikes as well. Link then used his shield to make Flambert veer off course, leaving Raphael wide open. Link attacked with a half-moon swipe intended to cut Raphael down the middle. Raphael managed to sidestep the sword and kick Link in the shin.
Link grunted in pain and then felt the butt of Flambert slammed against his head. Link fell to the floor quickly.
"You're decent, I'll give you that." Raphael said. "However, nowhere near enough to defeat me."
"I've just started." Link rolled over and threw something small and black at Raphael. It exploded upon impact and Raphael went flying back and hit the wall.
"Bombs." Raphael said. "I'm amazed that you'd have something like that."
"We all have our dark little secrets." Link replied.
"You have no idea." Raphael replied. Raphael then jumped up towars Link and feinted an upper slash. Link took the bait, and Raphael slammed his knee into Link's groin. Raphael then moved for another blow, but Link brought his sword to block. They both began trading wild blows again and again, their swords clashing repeatedly.
Link threw his boomerang at Raphael. Link was surprised to see it go into two pieces as Raphael sliced through the boomerang with one blow. Raphael then continued his vicious assault. Link managed to take almost all the blows and return them full force.
This elf was better than Raphael had first suspected. A boy who shouldn't have skills past the intermediate level was moving his sword with skill beyond those of the king's musketeers.
Raphael could beat him, of course.
Raphael blocked a series of thrusts, and pressed an attack towards Link. Link blocked it with his shield and used his shield arm to grab Raphael. Link then twisted Raphael's arm and slammed his own sword against Raphael's back. Raphael staggered back several feet. Link then came foreward and kicked Raphael in the face. Raphael managed to dodge another swipe from the sword, but came to close to the edge and fell. Raphael barely managed to catch the edge with his hands, hanging onto his life by a thread.
Link loomed over him as though he were the Grim Reaper. Raphael realized at that moment that he was going to die. This novice had knocked him over and was going to apply the finishing blow. His only regret now was Amy. Amy would never know the glorious future he had planned for her.
"Go ahead and kill me!" Raphael cried to Link. "I do not fear death."
"And I do not fear killing." Link said. Then to Raphael's surprise, his hands were not cut off, but rather grabbed, as Link pulled him up. "However, to strike down a defenseless foe is unhonorable."
"True." Raphael said. Then, with lightning speed, his sword struck forward. Link barely managed to block it with his shield. Raphael then gave a sidekick, throwing the elven swordsman over the edge. "It is also a smart thing." Raphael did not even bother to look at the dead man falling. "You really think you're right? How pathetic." Raphael looked to see a small flame in the corner start to spread.
Then all hell broke loose.