The Heart Of A SeeD

by Juno Altaeus Libgood

Something that concerns new heroes, Squall and the gang, a new sorceress, Griever, and world domination. Not good at summaries, but you won't be dissapointed if you read.R&R The third chapter is up! I've also taken the liberty of correcting some errors I'

2. Death and Destiny

Note to all the readers: Sorry if the installment took long; school's tough if you don't concentrate. If you guys liked the first part, read this, I bet you'll be pleased…

Recap of Part I: The following text is a recap of the previous chapter's ending: After heading into the Ragnarok, Julius received a general view of what his "special mission" was about from none other than Squall himself. After seeing Nathan and his friends, reuniting, and introducing Mei to his buddies, he took a well-deserved nap. In that nap, he found out his true destiny…

PART II: Death and Destiny

Chapter IV: Fury

-My predicament is quite harsh in this moment in time. The whole of this world's continuing existence lies inside of me. ME – the field commander who lost over twenty troops, the man who was supposed to destroy any O2 in that battlefield…and had to be saved from utter decimation…by my superiors. How am I supposed to destroy the darkest force in the universe if I couldn't even be strong enough to defend myself, I couldn't defend those I was responsible for, those I cared about, those I love-

Ragnarok:

After hearing about the mission, we were headed for Esthar to meet with Dr. Odine. Joseph was getting air sick, and Nath and Mary Ann were outside…doing something I wasn't supposed to be nosy about…arghh! (If Nathan and Mei have a special bond, or mutual friendship, that's fine with me. But after a girl kisses you on the dancefloor, tells you "you're the sweetest, most considerate, modest, and reliable man I've ever met"…you kinda believe she's head over heels or something. Maybe she didn't like my reply to that…girls do love poetic replies…arrgh!) "Why the hell am I having problems with this! I'm not even supposed to be in love! I'm supposed to be a loner! The ronin samurai! The lone wolf! What's up with me!"

I then felt a tap on my shoulder…"Well if you ask me," the voice (which particularly sounded like Al) said, "you're either a complete moron for saying your problems out loud, or you are another member of the heartbreak hotel!"

After turning around and seeing the stupid, idiotic, gloatingly happy faces, I didn't know whether or not I would decimate the room with my limit break…or die from acting like a complete idiot and thinking out loud. "You guys," I said with an extremely difficult smile kept up, while the gravity of the moment dragging my lips down. "I didn't just…say that out loud did I?"

After a long silence, my bunch of so-called friends were either on their backs or trying their best, pathetically just to keep balance, laughing like the three hyenas from lion king. "Hehehe…that was rich! The ronin, hahaha! The samurai, hehoho!" Miks said shouted mockingly. "Boy oh boy if I said it once I'll say it again, you must be the biggest uptight moron this side of the world."

"Alright, alright," I said. "Now shut the hell up will ya!"

Suddenly, Nath and Mei Ann came through the door giggling. It was like the whole room got to fifty degrees below zero, and the intensity of jealousy burning like a rising phoenix spreading its fiery wings in the darkness that was the insides of my being. "Hey guys," Mei began, "what's with all the laughing and screaming?"

"Julius was thinking out loud, boy you should have seen it…" Miks began before Selphie and Rinoa came in. "Yo," Selphie said sticking her tongue out. "We're near the proximity of Esthar Lunar Cry – WHOAAA!"

There was a loud bump that came with an uncontrolled spinning of the Ragnarok. The speakers began to sound: "Heyyyy!" Quistis' voice sounded, "Were being drawn into an immense gravity field! WHOA!…OWWW!…Fuck! I mean get down, hold on to something…prepare for an emergency…CRASH!"

Esthar, The Lunar Cry:

"Whoa," I said with my eyes closed and pinned to the floor by a seemingly immovable force. "Wild ride…"

After the crash, the feeling of trying to get up was quite difficult when you feel there's over 100 pounds of weight pulling you down.

"By the by…" I began, "Who's on top of me?"

The ton of weight got up and said in the sweetest of voices, "Oh, sorry, sorry…"

I kind of expected it to be a guy but…it was Mei. "It's quite alright…" I said. "Let's just find out what's up."

Everyone in the room was down except Mei and I. Rinoa was under a chair, Mikhail was on top of Al, and Selphie was literally on top of Joseph. Nathan on the other hand, was already sitting up. It took a while before we got everyone onto their feet particularly Rinoa. It took Squall and the guys to come down from the cockpit. After we saw a dust cloud at a distance, we thought they were some Esthar troops, and so we thought of going out to greet them - before we found out we were three stories high, after crashing into the Lunar Cry statue. It wasn't the height that scared us, but the dust cloud that was actually a large number of Iron Giants and Mesmerizes that were drawn by the explosion. "Um Irvy," Selphie said, "SHOOT 'EM DEAD!"

Commander Irvine got to shooting them, and so did Mei, but when you see an immense number of highly armored Iron Giants that only AP bullets could dent, you think of the only other way of decimating them…hacking, hewing, smashing, bashing, and of course, LIMIT BREAKS. I jumped into the horde of ferocious monsters, unsheathed my blade in mid-air, and slashed an Iron Giant in half. After which, I saw Squall do the same with and extremely effective Fated Circle, killing scores of Mesmerizes with one swing. As Squall and I attacked the embodiment of furious primal fury and insanity, I felt - no…we felt our auras rising to the point of infinite power...primal instinct took over our strength. It was only a matter of time before everyone jumped into the battlefield and began finishing numerous beasts with our Limit Breaks. Iron Giants and Mesmerizes that attacked the women were literally incinerated by laser blasts and rockets from Quistis. They were riddled with holes by Mei's pistol assaults, and anything that tried to even lay a finger on Selphie was either sniped with AP bullets or fast hitting shots from Irvine's Exeter, or destroyed with numerous Magic Blasts from Selphie's Limit Break. Rinoa and her pet dog and GF Angelo smashed scores of Iron Giants to the ground. Zell beat any type of opposing force into the dust, kicking them into the air, and cracking skulls using every body part he had that included his own head. Squall ravaged through them jumping and hacking waves of beasts with his ever-gleaming Lionheart, I on the other hand stormed through the numbers of beasts like a gust of wind, severing heads and slashing armored chests clean in half. The battle lasted for around thirty minutes, with blood from monsters being absorbed into the sands below. When the dust began to settle, there were scores of armor pieces and bodies on the floor, and all of us were on our butts, sweaty and tired. There was about three more mesmerizes and one Iron Giant. The gigantic beast swung his sword through the air and directed it to Rinoa. In instant of Rinoa's sharp scream that pierced the dusty air and the destructive attack that was to crush her in a matter of milliseconds, another scream was heard in that tense moment in time. As Rinoa closed her eyes in fear of her death, a clang of great sound resonated in her ears. And as she looked to see what saved her, she was relieved to see her sweaty knight dressed in the same black jacket that she hugged warmly, which even she knew not how many times. His eyes seemed to burn with rage, seeing the demonic force that dared to strike his beloved. In the instant of the Iron Giants scream and his, we all saw Squall smash, slice, break and bash its body into a hundred pieces as he unleashed his Lionheart Limit Break. The last of the Mesmerizes would have gotten away, but I cut them off at the exit and destroyed the accursed beasts that tried to murder us. I went back tired as a running pig. The next thing I knew I was on my back, bloody Katana in one hand, and a thumbs up directed to Mei on the other. I was smiling and winking to everyone else and I would've continued, but an immense flying ship the size of the island of Balamb started to hover before us, falling from dark skies that stood above our heads. I expected the worst, but there was this beautiful lady that came gliding on air, coming down before us. "Well, well, well," Said she. "If it isn't the accursed SeeDs. Feast your eyes on the greatest sorceress in the world…Behold my glory! I am Sorceress Alexia."

"Alexia!" Zell exclaimed. "Let's see how great you are!" He said jumping at her and pounding her inside in one tremendous and loud shot to her guts.

"Pathetic," Alexia said, shooting a blast of blue energy at Zell. "Hahaha…"

She was not all hot gas. Commander Zell's single punch was able to break a wall once, and this one couldn't even make her flinch. Not only that, as I looked to see the Commander, he was on his knees. He was quite tough to withstand a magical blast of that magnitude, but even Commander Zell was squirming to get up from such an intense assault. "Damn you bitch," he said as blood began to ensue from his hands and trickling down from his mouth. "HYIAAA!"

Again, seemingly in futility the overzealous Commander Zell threw a 360-degree spin kick at her with all his strength and speed, but this time he - much to his own amazement – instead of her side, threw it to her face and at least this time, Alexia was thrown to the floor after a loud crack that sounded like shattered bone. Zell fell out of the sky and onto his knees, and after which the man fell flat on his back out of exhaustion. Selphie went to help Zell up, so did Irvine and Quistis. Moments after, Alexia got up and dusted herself off. "Magnificent strength," she said clapping in her mockery. "But utterly useless! Though his blow, dented me and knock me down, I'm sure it will take time before his bones heal. Is there nobody who is worth destroying?" She asked us in an intonation of obvious boredom. She then cast a beam of light on us, and like a drain spell we were deprived of our strength to stand, to talk, and if she did not cease, it would have been the mere strength to breath!

"Hey!" Rinoa called out. "You wanna try bitch-slapping another sorceress with your bullshit magic!"

All of a sudden, Rinoa released blue aura that emanated from her whole bode, and sprouted shining white wings, flying like a rising blue phoenix into the air. Sorceress Alexia seemed surprised. "Another sorceress? Let me see your caliber in magic."

"Take this!" Rinoa shouted as she casted Meteor.

"Ho…Blizzard Spike!" Alexia shouted a large spear of ice flew to meet the falling meteors.

"Bitch…" Rinoa said casting Flare.

The blow hit her in the chest, and the flame made her scream like an injured dog. "That hurt," Alexia said as she gripped the burn marks on her chest. "I believe I owe you an apology but…"

In a flash she shot a long sharp-ended tentacle from her hand that went into Rinoa's chest. The conduit to the spearhead began to shine, seemingly sucking magical energy from Rinoa's soul. Just like that, Rinoa fell unconscious. "She's a sorceress with endless power," Alexia began. "I think I'll keep her for now."

Squall saw this and mustered the last of his inner strength and ran to them as the two ascended back to the sky and into Alexia's airship. As the airship flew back and disappeared into the clouds above, Squall fell to his knees and screamed out into the desert sand. For a moment I thought I saw a glint of tears in his eyes. He looked very pitiful, very much like a wounded lion as he screamed into the skies; which began to send the coldest rain since…since that day…

Chapter V: Love and Friendship

-The rain fell on us, we sad few that survived the furious blaze that was Alexia. She was an intense wave of darkness that swept through us as quick and mysterious as she appeared. The rain was falling on our powerless bodies, and the last thing I saw before I passed out along with everyone else was Squall falling on his back from his incessant screaming and ranting in pain-

Tribia Garden, my memory of leaving:

Once again I find myself reminiscing the day I left Tribia Garden that fateful rainy day, three years back. I was dressed in my SeeDs male blue field cadet uniform, hugging my– yes don't be alarmed – girlfriend. (I didn't have these looks for nothing you know) I kissed her for the last time that day. I remember her so clearly, just as I remember her red hair flying in the cold winds of Tribia, and the many snow squalls that came on our dates. I always put my Jacket around her when those days were on us…her green eyes, and her smile...I remember telling her, "I'll call you everyday, and I'm sure you'll pass the SeeDs written exam. We'll see each other in Balamb."

"Yes baby I'll see you there…oh look," she replied as she looked to the sky. "It's beginning to rain."

She gripped my hand and hugged me as close as she could. After that, the sound of the airship's horn signaled all of us to get in, and she tried his best to smile as she let go of her grip in my hand. She waved goodbye to me, and the last moment at that time which I remember was the airship being fifty feet away and sixty feet in the air. I was still looking to her through my binoculars as she turned to see the rockets whistling and crashing clearly behind her in a chain of explosions, decimating her in an instant… "NOOOOOOOO!"

"Calm down Julius, calm down!" Joseph said as he tried his best to restrain me.

Sweat was dripping down my neck, and my head was pounding with the pain of the nightmare…or should I say dream…incessant dreams…dreams, which happen to me every night since…dreams of the last glimpses of my love…

"Man are you alright?" Miks asked me. "You were restless man!"

"You sick or something holmes?" Al asked.

I looked to see where we were, and saw metallic walls that surrounded us. Mei, Joseph, Al, Mikhail, and Nathan were watching me. "Are we in Esthar?" I asked.

"Yep," was Nathan's reply.

"Mary Ann, where are the others?"

"They're all in the other room. They're with Doctor Odine."

"Well then," I said. "Let's meet the dude."

We all got up and got into the next room. We saw a short haired brunette in a sleeveless shirt and a long, green tight-fit skirt, a really bald man in an um, eccentric outfit, two guys in a green and silver bug outfit, a guy in a plain blue polo and khaki pants, a slim and fat guy in the same long robes, and of course, Squall and the guys. We saluted them and a silent, cold Squall who was sulking on a sofa, stood up and saluted us back. He said, "at ease SeeDs, Julius, step forward…" before falling back into his pitiful stupor. The man in the plain blue polo came up to me, shook my hand and said, "hello Julius. I'm Laguna, Squall's biological father and president of Esthar. These are my friends, Kiros and Ward" – pointing to the long robed fellows. – "This is my adopted daughter, Ellone" – directing his hands to the short-haired brunette – "And of course, Dr. Odine." – pointing to the bald man in the eccentric clothes.

Dr. Odine, who – regardless of his old age – walked faster than any person I knew, came up to me and said, "Julius I presume," were the first words he uttered. "Eh, Squall my boy, Iz this the boy wiz ze Omega Gene?"

"(Sigh) Whatever…" was Squalls reply.

"Well zen," he said. "Do you know vat I am talking about, Julius?"

"Ze, I mean The Omega Gene?" I replied.

"Zummon your two GF's if you please…"

"Sure," I said as I took the two out.

Sacred and Forbidden were back to back after I summoned them both, before they became meshed in a flash of pure white light.

"I am Omega…" the GF said.

"I know…" was the old man's reply. "Would I be correct in zaying zat zis boy iz of the anzestral race of ze Omega tribe?"

"Yes…"

"Well zen, am I correct in zaying that it iz through ze Omega Gene that runz thru hiz veins that allowz him to zummon you from his zlumber?"

"Yes…"
"No furzer questionz zen. Pleaze, return to elyzium."

In a flash, Omega retreated. "Julius," Dr. Odine said. "You've heard of ze written text in ze ancient scrolls?"

"I haven't heard the whole of it…"

"Zen let me read it to you." He said, getting a large scroll on the table across Squall. "Ehehem…"

He was then interrupted by, Laguna who took the scroll from him. "Hehehe…I'll read it to Julius." He said to Dr. Odine who seemed angry before hearing the explanation.

"Ehehem…'When the blood of the dark sorceress has been spilled wholly by the dark knight, the lion of darkness shall quench his thirst with her fallen blood. The dark one shall find the dark lion, tame it, and band together to destroy the future that men have created. But when it seems all hope is lost, like a phoenix, the last knight shall rise, clothed in darkness, and slay the dark one and the wounded lion of darkness, and lay waste to theirs and all evil in the world of the future with the Lance of Justice.' So, what do you think?"

"I think that you guys have the wrong person, but unfortunately…you have the right one…" I said, unsheathing the gleaming Katana at my side.

"Ohhh…ze sword of ze ancients…Oni-Ken!" Dr. Odine exclaimed.

"That is one sweet katana," Irvine said as he whistled in bewilderment.

"So uh…I have to slay this foul beast before she destroys us right?" I asked.

"Uhm, no, not yet…" Laguna said. "Facing her in your current condition will be certain suicide. You must hone your powers in a test…"

"Test…?"

"Yes, test. You see…"

"You zee," Dr. Odine interrupted. "If Mr. Laguna doez not mind…in ze ancient timez, zose of ze Omega tribe had to accomplish ze task of acquiring star fragmentz from ze great ruby dragonz from ze dark crater. Next, zey had to make ze star helmet, ze star greaves, and glovez. Next, zey had to gazer mythril from ze mythril minez in ze island of Balamb, and make ze mythril mail, completing ze legendary Omega Family Lezhendary armor."

"Why don't I just take an old set from some archeologic site?" I asked.

"Vell, in tradition of ze Omega Tribe's practice, they must be buries wiz zeir own armor and zords. Furzermore, zis practice waz ended wen ze Omega tribe'z original homeland waz ravaged by calamity three millennia ago. Only a branch from ze orizinal bloodline zervived. After zey migrated to the ozer side of ze world, zey continued zer existence, and of courze their legacy and blood. Ze same one zat flows through your veinz, ze same old blood line that links zem to zeir great anceztry and of courze, to you. Zo you must ztart from zcratch."

It was then that I stood up. "It seems that we must start now then, if we want to beat Alexia and get Commander Heartilly back."

"I like his spunk." Laguna said as he went to Squall's crowd. "First of all, you guys need to gather at least fifty star fragments from the great ruby dragons in the dark crater."

"What in the world is the dark crater?" I asked them.

"I…have no Idea myself." Laguna confessed.

"It was the original land of the Omega tribe, before a GF destroyed it with dark matter…Legend has it that the GF can still be found there...or at least used to be." Squall explained.

In all bewilderment, we gasped agape hearing the vast knowledge that Squall had imparted to us. Zell was even annoyed that he didn't get to be 'Mr. Know-it-all Zell' for once. "Ho did you know this all son?" Laguna asked him.

"Library reading when I was a junior cadet did wonders for stock knowledge. Mostly on ancient artifacts and legends."

"Impressive…what was the GF called?"

"…Griever"

"What! It can do that much in one sweep?"

"No, it has to be summoned by a high class summoner, or a god."

"Then Alexia can destroy us in one strike then…why didn't she?"

"She can't…she's a sorceress, not a summoner.

"What's the difference?"

"A sorceress or sorcerer is a mistress or master of the magical arts, while summoners are those that are born with the natural capacity to wield extraordinary strengths that Guardian Forces alone cannot use." Zell said out loud confidently before Squall could utter another word.

"Are we done with this chatter?" Squall said in an annoyed tone of voice. "Let's get this over with."

"No no no child, Julius must do zis alone, or else hiz training of wielding the Omega force will be incomplete." Dr. Odine told us.

"Omega force?" I asked.

"Ancient writings speak of an unbeatable force inside a soul, one that can only be unlocked by a chosen few, like the Omega tribe. If we help, you will not progress, but if you do this alone, you will be practically invincible in the field of combat." Zell said.

"Invincible?" I asked. "Enough to beat all of you?"

"Of course," he said in reply. "If you don't wear down."

Chaper VI: The Prophecy

-I thought that people would always stand behind me; I thought that there would always be people who would care. But as I walked down the black path that stank of rancid animal skins and oil, I found myself overshadowed by the bleak sundown that rained on me like a crimson blanket of light that almost looked like spattered blood on the sides of the inner crater as it was cast through the rocks and holes on the upper surface. As I turned on the blue flashlights on my shoulder pads to light the shadowy grave that was before me, I looked to my soul and sighed…once more I was made to go back to the long spiral path to the tomb I had always feared return. The valley devoid of light, the path of darkness that was once again before me…to trod upon in silence…solemnity…the path I knew better than any other, the path…of solitude-

Dark Crater:

The lights that were strapped on my back did no good as I walked down a stretch of mud that was apparent from the morning rain. The first few monsters that fell to my blade were more difficult to mow down in darkness that could only be lit by one measly flashlight. I had sustained ten different blows, the last, destroying the flashlight as I swung to sever the beast's core. I had resorted to my newly acquired night-vision goggles…well, night vision shades. I figured using the flashlight was more logical than the shades because not only was the path long, but batteries for something as small as the shades, could only last ten times lesser than the flashlights that ran on super charged dry-cells. It wasn't long before hordes of red dragons began to attack me. Not one of them could touch me though; I dodged all their fireballs and smashed multiple skulls into dust with the hilt of the Oni-Ken alone. I also was able to immobilize some of the dragons and monsters with my Blizzaga spell. The troublesome thing was, only one out of five dragons had star fragments. So far, I had defeated thirty, but six star fragments could not suffice for all the time, sweat, magical force, and blood I wasted slashing at the dragons. I nearly dropped to the floor as I reached a hundred kills. Sweat dripped from my crown to the insides of shirt. Of course, after about three hour of spilling dragon's blood, my knees were wobbling, my hands shaking, and to my disappointment, the shades began to lose the energy charge. I sat down as I stared up to the moon that stood above the crater that I had traveled down around a hundred something feet below the Ragnarok and the team. I took off the shades and for a while, my sight was green, but when I looked to the stone, which was emanating a blue light, I thought that my mind was playing tricks on me. But to both my nuisance and my relief, the light was real. And it wasn't just one stone, but the whole of the past thirty feet of soil was filled with the same stone. It seemed to release light, only as light from the moon – small as the amount – struck it. I was sure only as I put my hand over it and the stone lost its luster. It was an annoying thought because I've been wasting the night-vision shades' battery. But it was nice to know that I didn't need the shades to see. The intensity of the lights lit up the darkness like fluorescent light bulbs. So I drank up, ate a light snack, rested in my blanketed sleeping bag, and lay down for about one hour stargazing. After that, I got up with renewed energy, and killed more dragons with ease. With each cut, slice, and stab to the dragons I had killed, my primal instinct seemed to take over me. My speed, strength, charisma, dexterity, and agility had increased, as I learned to do back flips, hand springs, jump kicks, even screw jumps with ease and efficiency. But replacing my cunning, wit, and calm, as I began to notice with the growing number of blows I started to sustain. It was as though the very thought of killing was all I needed to survive I thought to myself, beginning to feel the lust for blood as I decapitated three beasts in two strikes. But as the blows I received began to number up, my hand had let go of the sword. It was at that moment that my sense had come back to me. My speed, and all the other skills I obtained whilst I used the Oni-Ken were still intact and clear, but I was in fear of losing my sense and cunning if I held the Oni-Ken again; Leaving me to use my sub-dagger. After I cleared the area of the dragons, I went to pick up the Oni-Ken. Holding it in hand, I closed my eyes, holding the very sword that clearly would have been my demise. In search for reason, I summoned Omega. He appeared to me in a cool and gentle breeze. For some reason, he no longer seemed intimidating. He looked to me and said, "I was watching you."

"If you were, then you knew this would have happened!" I said angrily. "Why did you give me this sword when you knew it would have killed me?"
"This was your test. It was to see whether you could learn to use it, learn its secrets, and fight without it. Your prophecy was to learn to be skillful as the demon in that sword, and not need the Blood thirst and Evil it possessed."

"Need it? Whenever I used it, my veins surged with limitless power and speed, and I admit I enjoyed that…but to need something which takes my sense is of no use to me. I could've died!"

"(Laughs) Do you even know the meaning of that swords name?"

"Oni-Ken? That's in some language I don't know."

"It is from the Yamato. Oni, means demon, Ken, means sword."

"DEMON SWORD!"
"Exactly. It gives you all the attributes of a demon as you give it blood. It tells you how to kill, but only as long as you use it. The bigger and stronger the beast, the better you become."

"And how is that good for my training?"

"(Laughs) Do you think those moves you got comes from any other weapon?"

"…"
"(Laughs) Julius, the reason this sword was used for training was to see whether or not you had the spirit, and not merely the strength and skill. Evil is sometimes resilient and seemingly invincible, but even your ancestors knew that while there is a will, there is a way. The force of Evil is always predictable because we have fought with it since the beginning of our existence. For centuries your ancestors fought and studied the arts of Darkness, the main power of evil. They learned that Light may be used to battle it at best, but they knew that using Light would be something clearly expected, so they thought of fighting fire with fire…using darkness to suppress Darkness. Perfecting this would be a difficult task so they figured they ought to learn from the force of Evil itself. Thusly, the Oni-Ken was forged, the sword that converts human instincts in war into demonic capability. The thin line between evil and good? Learning to wield Darkness and combining it with light Good was a sure-fire way to beat darkness. This was how they created the unbeatable "Omega Force"."

"Wield Darkness and combining it with Good?"

"Yes. The skills you have learned are from dark origin. But Darkness cannot become evil if you use the spirit of Good. Your skills are naturally good, so the light is with you. The use for this training was to imbue your soul with darkness. You have finished this part of your training for the Ultimate force. The true strength of a hero lies not in the body, but in the spirit…"

"…Then, this part of my training for the Omega force is complete?"

"Training, yes, but not your quest."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have all the star fragments to create the parts for armor. What else is there?"

"That is not meant for armor."

"What!"

"Traditional, heavyweight Armor, is outdated. You weren't trained to fight with armor, so armor will only hinder you by its weight."

"So is this all useless? Was this all for nothing?"

"No Julius, the Oni-Ken is useless. You have learned all you need from it, and now you must make a new Katana."

"How? I have no skill in making Katanas."

"Precisely why you are to return to Balamb. It is there where scale the mountains of Shiva and reach peak Quetzalcotl. You will meet someone who can help you…no, train you. Another task you must accomplish is to gather thirty lodestones of mythril from the mythril caves whence your katana is finished. You then have to forge a mythril chain mail for yourself. It will be as thick as titanium but light as air."

"So, what do I do with this Oni-Ken?"

"Give it back. You have all you need from it. Now get back to your friends. They will meet you at dawn, and I'm sure Mei would like to see you alright."

Chapter VII: The Black Dragon

-The words that Omega had imparted still lingered in my mind, pounding as I walked up to the zenith of the mountainous obstacle before me. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes into hours, and hours into what seemed to be an eternity on this god-forsaken path. Though I was able to bring down any ruby dragons that crossed my path, hunger and fatigue seemed to be relentless at pounding me with punches that felt like ten tons of power per square inch on my weary body. Each blow that I received – though only about two hours after the end of my previous objective – were like steel sticks in my drowse and weary form. The taste of blood that mixed with my spit was a taste that I began to get used to. Crazed as an angry dog, hewing with my lighter, short ranged dagger seemed to be something I enjoyed. If I were to create something like a light-sword – I thought to myself – then perhaps my skills would not be wasted on this battleground-

Leaving the sanctuary of light and returning to darkness was more difficult to accomplish than drinking water at this point, walking higher and higher into the earth. But as usual, fate seemed to bring more fortune than expected. The Oni-Ken had given me sight in darkness. 'Twas eight full days from the eve of one year, that a child was born to this life of tears. Who treads on the jagged, narrow path, fighting off forces of so hellish wrath. Sword in hand, he raises it high, blood trickling down in his moment of sigh. Mountains and skies he shall overcome, even 'til his body be beaten and numb.'

The song of SeeDs…I sing it as my motivating warm-up. Less than eight seconds after I left the blue-lit area below, I saw a silhouette in the dark path that led up to the surface. His form was sleek, and his body built well. Dressed in black, and kept what seemed to be a lance behind him. What puzzled me most though, was he wore an amulet on his chest that looked like a dragon. Though I was in a complete hurry, curiosity got the best of me, so I went to him. He stopped in front of me, looked me in the eye, and for a moment, I believed him to be of no cruel intentions…I was once again mistaken. Like a blaze I was barraged by a furious swarm of thrusts. I didn't know how he did it with such a massive weapon like that lance, but I was nicked several times as I retaliated with my dagger. Knowing that he was more than fit to slay me without a primary weapon, I had to choose my alternative choice…

I ran towards him, feinted to the right as I approached, and as expected he blocked the path I was headed for. I then swerved the other way and I ran up the sloppy crater path, blasting him in the head with a Firaga. It knocked him into tomorrow, but on my way up, I happened to see an un-pretty sight. It seemed as though each corner was a dead end, seeing monsters lurking in the immense bleak light that I saw in at each turn. There were beasts that leapt at me each time I stopped to look. I fought my way to the lit area that dawn had finally touched; but relief was short-lived. At the moment the sunlight had touched my face, I turned back to see a gleaming red eye and screaming monsters being mowed down by a humongous beast. Of all the places, I had to find a fully operational O2. The steam clouds that came from the sides of his face were like steam clouds from a boiling kettle, giving the air around me with a seemingly surreal atmosphere. Of course, alone, I didn't expect to win, moreover with the fact that no ordinary magic could dent it. If only I had a Katana. Well, katana or not, it threw its attack to me all the same. Swerving, evading, and running was all I had, until I took the initiative and jabbed the dagger into its head…or at least I tried. Easier said than done, with its spear that could easily decapitate an arm or leg thrown as an attack directed toward my every direction. I felt like a trapped mouse. As a last resort, I summoned Omega. In the second of his summoning and appearance, I found myself in armor. I tried to speak in my surprise, but I felt both incapable, and finding it useless to do so at the same time. A giant Lance was at my right and great wings were upon the plated backside of this armor. It seemed as though two rivals stood facing each other at that fateful ridge. I willed myself to move yet it was painful just thinking, as my mind began to contradict my own thoughts. Just when my brain began to ache beyond human endurance, I stooped thinking, and my body moved against my will. In a flurry of swift feints and thrusts, the O2 was kneeling after suffering pierce after pierce for around thirty times. It knelt there, seemingly sure of its fate. As my body moved effortlessly but without consent, I flew into the air and drove the entire spear through the O2's head screaming out "Door to Elysium". Beams of light emanated from the spot the spear had driven itself into and the O2 blew up into multiple pieces. As it lay severed on the ground, the contradicting thoughts in my head began to speak yet again. "This is my power Julius; one which you will learn in due time."

"Omega?"

"Yes Julius, 'tis I."

"Please return me to my original state. This may be power, but it feels somewhat appalling to be unable to move by my free will…"

"As you wish…"

At once the armor disappeared. The comfort of the breeze could finally be felt as it passed through my sullen and blood drenched clothes. I felt zephyr's gentleness, but its comfort was short-lived. As wind caressed my face, my joints and muscles felt strain as I had never felt before. My fire so vigorously felt just seconds before had seemingly been stolen; the legs of great balance just moments ago had been degraded to dull lead. My sight left me and I stumbled to the dust below in total exhaustion. The last thing I remember were shadowy figures taking me away. It dawned upon me that in my time of need, omega gave me strength; Just strength that I was not ready for…

TO BE CONTINUED…

Read & Review, please. Tell me if it's good or bad. I need critiques to get better. Thanks y'all and have a nice day!-I AM JUNO ALTAEUS LIBGOOD-