Mega man X 8: Rondo of Blood.

Last chapter the final battle against the dark one was on.

The final battle was against Dark Zero. Zero was not able to handle him by himself. So Frogashi Slash who was keeping his identity in secret showed up to help Zero against his old master.

The battle was intense and Frogashi was taken out easily.

Dark Zero used a Twin Dream attack creating three illusions of himself and multiply his attacks by four.

Zero was able to determine the attack pattern of the Dark Zeros and made a turn attack eliminating three Dark Zeros.

Dark Zero drew a second sword-attacking Zero with both. Zero was barely able to block those attacks. And he got severely injured by the sword.

When Dark Zero was about to finish Zero, Frogashi grabbed Dark Zero's foot. Dark Zero made a quick move to strangle Frogashi. But Frogashi stabbed himself in his heart also stabbing Dark Zero's.

Dark Zero now very weak left the tower to complete the final step of the Rondo of Blood.

Now X, Zero and Axl are about to have the greatest battle of all. And the hardest one...

Chapter 12: The protector.

The central barrier sealing the central tower from the world has been now unsealed.

X, Zero and Axl now know that they have to hurry and prevent the resurrection of Sigma.

Maverick Hunter HQ.

Commander Signas and the rest of the hunters keep monitoring the area of the dark castle. They get surprised as the signal of the barrier fades away.

Alia: Sir!

Signas: What's wrong?

Midi: We got an update! It looks like that the central barrier is down!

Douglas: Way to go!

Signas: It is not time yet to relax... I feel that this will be not over for a while...

Alia: Yes... I can feel it too... Something's gonna happen...

Midi: Let's just pray for the best.

Dark Castle.

X, Zero and Axl are still walking up the infinite stairs. Floors and floors, but still no sign of a top.

X: How long are we gonna keep walking?

Zero: The enough to save Iris...

Axl: Zero... You really ready for this?

Zero: Of course I am.

X: I feel something bad is about to happen...

Axl: X's right dude. I feel something bad coming...

Zero: I don't care if something bad happens. I just have to save Iris...

X: Zero...

The hunters finally get to a room. It is not the top of the tower, but it is close. The room is big filled of inscriptions and a big black coffin. X, Zero and Axl look at the creepy place.

X: Is this the central room?

Zero: There are markings everywhere... And all say about Sigma...

Axl: I don't get this. Why would anybody want a decoration like this?

Dark Zero: Because this is the place where lord Sigma rests...

Dark Zero reveals himself from the darkness covering the bloody hole on his chest. It is still bleeding with blood leaking on the ground.

Zero: You're gonna fight us now? I don't think you stand a chance with that injure.

Dark Zero: I'm not the one fighting now... The one that will destroy you three is the protector. The one chosen to protect the chosen one until her duty of resurrecting Lord Sigma is complete...

X: So... Where is he?

Dark Zero: He he he... Right behind you...

The three hunters turn back as they see a familiar silhouette. The figure looks tough and white. A tiny symbol on the right side of his chest reveals who is the person. The symbol is the one used by Repliforce before the Repliforce attack. Zero's shocked after realizing who's the Protector...

Zero: This can't be... Colonel!?

It is indeed the Colonel of the Repliforce and Iris' brother. But the look on his face is like Iris' when she was the angel, a dark and emotionless expression. His body was resurrected. But his soul was still sleeping.

Zero: Colonel! Listen to me! You have to wake up!

Dark Zero: Silence! He only listens to me!

Zero: Colonel please! You have to wake up!

Dark Zero: That's enough! Protector! Attack them now!

The puppet Colonel lifts his sword as he teleports.

Zero: Guys! Scatter!

The hunters scatter as the colonel reappears behind Axl. The colonel swings his sword, but Axl stops the raging blade with his guns.

Axl: X! Now!

X fires a charged shot as Axl releases his guns and jumps away. The shot hits the colonel.

Zero: Wait!

The colonel emerges from the blinding smoke. Not even a scratch. He walks slowly out of the smoke like if nothing happened.

Axl: Dang! He's tough!

X: No wonder why he was the colonel. The colonel lifts his powerful arm as his blade gains power.

Zero: X! Axl! Move!

The colonel swings his blade releasing energy waves traveling thru the air. X and Axl dodge the waves easily.

Zero rushes behind the colonel as he tries to deal a blow. But the colonel blocks the attack. While they're close, Zero tries to make the colonel think.

Zero: Listen Colonel! Iris is in danger! You need to wake up and save her!

The colonel repulses the blade as both jump away.

Dark Zero: That's enough play! Now Protector! Destroy them!

The colonel lays his sword down as he leaps in the air.

Zero: Guys! Jump on my count and fire all you got!

X: Understood!

Axl: Got it!

The colonel lands waving his sword on the ground producing a deadly ground cutter.

Zero: Now!

The three hunters jump as Axl fires his guns, X fires a charged shot and Zero unleashes his Z-Buster. All three shots hit the colonel causing him to lose balance.

Dark Zero: Dang. They're pretty good. I better put the chosen one on the coffin!

Dark Zero places Iris on the coffin ready to finish the Rondo of blood.

Zero: What? Iris!

Dark Zero: Now protector! Finish you fate!

The colonel teleports to where Iris is. Zero's anger explodes as he tries to reach them on time.

Zero: NO! The Rondo of Blood!

X: We can't stop them in time!

Dark Zero: Oh lord Sigma! Please accept the blood of the chosen one and return to this world! Now! Protector! Make this girl bleed!

The colonel lifts his sword as he increases his grip to cut Iris. Zero sees that he suddenly stops. The colonel's soul is awakening.

Zero: Colonel! Can you hear me? You know that you don't want to do this! You don't wanna harm your sister!

From the darkness within the colonel, a light of hope shines within as his voice is heard whispering from his mouth

Colonel: ............ I............. I............. I can't.................

Zero's face changes from anger to relief as he hears the colonel speak.

Zero: Yes! The colonel is back!

Dark Zero: You fool! I'll handle this!

Dark Zero takes his sword as he pus it up ready to take aim on Iris.

Zero: NO!!!

Colonel: Iris!

Dark Zero stabs his blade on Iris belly. From her sleep, she wakes up due to the pain she's feeling.

Iris: HAAAAA!

Zero: IRIS!!!

X: No! The Rondo of Blood!

Axl: No!!!

Colonel: IRIS!

The colonel grabs the weak Dark Zero as he throws him away. He removes the saber from Iris' body and picks her up.

Colonel: Oh Iris... What have I done?

Iris: It's okay brother... Now we're together again...

Zero: Iris!

Iris: Zero...

Zero: Iris! You're bleeding!

Iris: I don't know if I'll be okay... But...

Suddenly the ground shakes up interrupting their conversation.

Zero: What happened?

X: Zero! Look!

Axl: The coffin!

Zero and the colonel turn to the big black coffin. The blood that was spilled from Iris fills the hollow carvings breaking the seal that contained Sigma. This only could mean one thing.

X: We failed... Sigma will be back at any second!

Zero: Colonel! Take Iris out of here!

Iris: Zero... I was the one who brought him... Maybe I can return him to where he was...

Zero: Listen Iris. You are injured. And you need to get out of here. Let me handle this.

Iris: But Zero...

Zero: Colonel. Take her out of here.

Colonel: Yes.

The colonel turns to the stairs as he runs down with Iris. Iris' screams are hearable from the distance.

Iris: But Zero!!!.........

Zero and the hunters stand ready for anything that might happen. A ray of light comes out of the coffin as it disintegrates the lid. A big hand comes out followed by a big tough body and a face with two scars on the eyes with an evil smile.

Zero: Sigma...

Dark Zero: Lord Sigma! You're finally back!

Everything has gotten very very complicated. Now Sigma is back and with the power of a god.

The situation is getting a lot more complicated for the hunters. Now they'll have to fight Sigma... And it will be a long battle...

Next Chapter: Sigma returns.

Author's corner.

This chapter was quite interesting. Now Sigma is back. And I have some tricks planned for him. Even the fight will take like 3 or maybe 4 chapters if I get inspired. After that, the ending to Mega man X 8: Rondo of Blood. And if you're thinking it will end like every Mega man X. (X defeats Sigma and everyone lived happy after) then you're expecting wrong. This is gonna be a complete different ending. So expect something good.

See ya in Sigma Returns.