Note to all the readers: Hello again, I hope you enjoy this next installment to my fanfic. Do forgive the long wait for this installment which was due to my computer's breakdown. Thanks for your continuing support. Rock on Final Fantasy 8 fans!
Recap of Part II: After the first encounter with Sorceress Alexia, Julius is tasked to retrieve star fragments and hone his skills in the dark crater. He successfully does so, but is told of the true value and purpose of his actions. Also, the Oni-Ken has been found deadly to Julius, so it is returned. At the last part of the story, Julius encounters a shady figure, and destroys an O2 by summoning Omega.
PART III: The Omega Blade, SD
Chapter VII: The Plan
-Darkness has encased me, and the light on my path has once again been blocked by shadows. If only I could move, yet I feel weak…as weak as a helpless kitten. I know not what time or place I am in, only that I live and breath. I feel my strength magnified and tempered by the hell-forge, the Oni-Ken, but the fire from my arms have been lost. And I still fear the blood lust that lingers in the twilight of my memory. I fear that if when I awake from this void of inner chaos, I will have no recollection of my inner soul-
I was utterly powerless after using Omega's summoning. It was as though my whole body was purged of any trace of anima. Once again, I don't know where I am. I'm falling deeper into nothingness. I see Mei, but she's bloody all over, and for a moment she looks exactly like Anna. Is this a dream, a vision perhaps, an Omen?
"Julius," I heard a voice say. "Are you alright?"
"…Hmmmm…." I said as I began stretching. I looked to see Mei staring down on me. I had been laid on a clinic bed, and I believe I'm back in Balamb. "Mei…"
"How do you feel?"
"Tired,"
"You shocked us a bit back there. When we heard the explosion…we got worried. When we got to you, you were weaponless…and all around were these pieces of O2 armor. My question is how?"
"I guess it's because my level was 75 the last time I checked."
"Really? I don't believe you are. Even a level 100 fighter would have difficulty with his strongest weapon, and you beat it with your bare hands."
"No…just between you and me, I used my GF."
"Omega? Then that explains your loss of energy…"
"Hmm? You've read up on Omega?"
"Yeah, the ancients spoke of a Guardian with the strength to annihilate all worlds. That Guardian was Griever. When all the Guardians saw the desolation a single one of their own kind could cause, their lord summoned his two brothers, Sacred and Forbidden. The two confronted Griever, and the climactic battle of the titans took place. At the last moment of battle, Griever used his Shockwave Pulsar blast and the surging blaze of energy that came forth engulfed the brothers. Griever thought that he had killed the two, until a gleaming warrior spewed forth from the dark depths and plunged a lance to his side, blasting his Guardian soul into a stone. The Guardian became known as Omega, and though the blast from Griever rendered his immortality to nothing, his colossal power still remained intact. Knowing the only way that could return himself to his brethren was to relinquish his status as a spirit. He took off his armor in a valley that came to be known as Omega Valley. He killed himself, and the land that was desolate from the shockwave pulsar became purified by the blood of Omega. In his death, he became two souls once more, but the spirit of Omega still rested in the armor. Legends say that the armor became a summoning gem that could only be completed with the spirits of the two brothers Sacred and Forbidden. Sacred and Forbidden, blessed the people of that land of Omega Valley, and the offspring of the Omega were given the blessing of having Sacred and Forbidden as their Guardian Forces. The land grew prosperous peacefully, until a sorceress found Griever's stone and summoned him out. The revenge of Griever destroyed Omega Valley, and Omega was purged from the armor buried there. He is the only link between the brothers Sacred and Forbidden. This makes the two inseparable, and I think you know the rest of their history. Some ancient scrolls say that summoning Omega would take out one's life-force in an instant, lest the summoner had immense spirit energy and power."
"I think I'm living proof of that. That'll be the last time I summon Omega in a long time."
In the middle of my conversation with Mei, Nathan, Al, Mikhail, and Joseph barged in on us. Nathan came up to me and said, "Julius, are you alright?"
"I looked him in the eye, and said, "Yep."
"Whew…"
"What we need to do now, is go up to Mt. Shiva, get to Quetzalcotl peak…"
Everyone had the most twisted expressions on their faces. Mei looked aloof, Al seemed daunted, and Mikhail's mouth was so wide open you would imagine saliva dripping down the side of his lips. As for Nathan and Joseph, you could poke them at that moment and they wouldn't feel a thing.
"Quetzalcotl peak!" Mikhail exclaimed. "That's going to take us two days."
"I know," I replied, "which is why we start now."
"But how do we scale the mountain? We don't have any clue of what it's like up there?"
"Then we get a guide. If we can't find one here then we'll find one in Balamb. Let's go!"
"Wait," Joseph said. "I know of a guide, just tell me why we need to go."
"I need to replace my katana. A blacksmith who lives there will need to train me to make a sword."
"Why don't you ask him to make it for you?"
"Omega told me it's one of my 'Tests' Ok? Let's just go, alright..."
The next few hours were met with preparation for the hike. When the six of us were ready, the guys and I got on some T-Boards to the fields. (T-Boards are the same kind of contraptions that Zell used to get to the meeting place on the first SeeD mission in Disc 1 of FF8. You can also find one in Zell's room. They're like hover-boards that go really, really, really fast) The speed of the T-Board was fantastic while we went all the way to Balamb. The sunset cast a path of light to shore, which reflected on the pristine seashore of the Balamb Sea, catching our attention as we passed by. When we got to Balamb, it was nightfall. Joseph went into a house and told us to get to sleep. We checked into the Balamb Hotel, and as usual, I couldn't sleep well and I awoke two hours before dawn. I looked to my buddies who were peaceful and probably drifting into dreamland by now. I looked around, and my eyes became affixed on Mei – what's new – and she was smiling. Her hair covered her nose a bit and I moved the locks away. I then closed my eyes, smiled, and turned to go…
I found myself sitting on the dock to the sea, looking to the far stretch of waves, waiting for the first signs of light. The breeze was relaxing…it gave me a feeling that I haven't felt in a long time. As I listened to the waters caress the sandy shore, I heard something I didn't expect to find at this time of the hour. The voice said, "Move over Julius…"
I turned around to see, an angelic figure, dressed in blue, smiling as she sat down next to me. "Mary Ann Hart," said. "I should've guessed…"
We talked for a while, laughing and enjoying each other's company, and soon after, I pointed to the sun, in its russet mantle clad, as it rose slowly like a phoenix rising from the dark ashes of the night. She laid her head on my shoulder, and I laid mine on her hair, wishing that moment would never end…
Joseph went to us during breakfast at the local restaurant. He was bringing a girl with a long ponytail that trailed to her back. "Is this our guide?" I asked.
"Yes, um…babe, meet Julius, Mary Ann, Mikhail, Al, and Nathan. Guys, meet my girlfriend, Jazzy Keaton."
Just then, Nathaniel, one of the surviving Gunblade cadets from the Deling Massacre Battalion that I led, came through the door of the restaurant. He looked around, and it just so happened that we caught his attention. "Hey," he called out. "What's up captain? How are you doing these days?"
I just can't help but remember all of the names and faces from my Cadet Battalion Omega, with all of them being my former classmates and friends in my days as a cadet. Nathaniel was a promising Gunblade cadet, and a handsome one to boot. His prowess in the field of magic is also something I had trouble dealing with in field training. The only thing different about him that I notice is the deep scar he sustained in battle. It's clearly seen on his right arm.
"Hello Nathaniel. How's your arm?" I asked.
"It's fine Captain."
"Does it hinder your skills in any way?"
"No sir. In fact, because of this wound, I've been able to train it properly, and now, I can move my Gunblade faster than before."
"Hey Nathaniel, would you be interested in joining us up the Mountains of Shiva?"
"Sure cap', anything for you. You saved my life you know. If you didn't take that blow from the O2 and bumped me down the mountain, I would've never survived. I would've been dead meat with you guys, with my wounded arm and all."
"Oh, down the mountain? Sorry about that."
" No captain, don't be sorry. I would've never met the love of my life if I didn't fall down that mountain. She was one of the SeeD cadets who were trapped there from summer vacation. She's at my house you know. She's a pretty good Gunblade specialist. You mind if she comes too?"
"No, no, not at all. Just bring some supplies for a week's journey and meet us at the bottom of the mountain. Just go to the Fire Cavern to be sure we haven't left. Well meet you in two hours."
He left us quite quickly, and the guys got talking. "Hey Jul' do you think were getting too numerous?" Asked Mikhail.
"Let's see, there's Mei, me, you, Al, Joseph, Jazzy, Nathie, and now there's Nathaniel and his girlfriend. That makes nine of us. By the way, do you have any idea who his girlfriend is? I'm not really up to date with everyday gossip."
"Oh, Bea?" Jazzy said.
I kind of went blue for a moment? Bea? Anna Gabriella Beatrice, my previous crush? I hope this doesn't get awkward…
Chapter VIII: Past, Present, and Death
-Icy slopes I see clearly from afar. The crystal clear sheets of ice on Shiva Mountain are distinguishable, for no other place on this planet is as beautiful in this manner…or as deadly. As the sun rises slowly into the mid-morn, the landscape is seemingly so full of life. It just doesn't seem possible for nature to conjure such beauty alone. But I must not forget, it is the realm of one of the sexiest Guardian alive-
We finished breakfast, and we rested for a few minutes before actually getting on our T-Boards and riding on to the Fire cavern. We stopped by the beach on the count of Mei's consistent bugging. Of course, I couldn't say no to her...
The early morning cast a glimmering sheet of diamonds, which stayed alit, sparkling on the blue waters of the beach. Though there was beauty, it still hid a dangerous secret, a secret, which sent fish fins coming toward us as quick as we could get ready for a warm-up. They were ugly little critters with sharp, unsightly teeth. This type of beast flew out of the sand as we struck the fins that were visible, as their bodies were embedded in the sand. Though I had encountered many of these creatures and knew their weaknesses, I never expected what came next.
As I put up my arms to fight, having no sword, nor dagger, a black-caped shadow pierced at the creatures sides, skewering them like a steaming fork through butter. As we returned from the initial shock, I looked at the person that was before us, and I noticed the amulet on his chest, I knew than and there that it was the same person I escaped from at the Dark Crater. As he unsheathed the massive lance that he kept behind him, everyone put up their arms. They charged at the armed stranger who covered his face with a steel mouth guard, but were met with swift, powerful counters that left them retreating. He was so fast that Mei's bullet assault did nothing to him. As I looked him in the eye, he knew I was itching to meet him. He stabbed the lance into the ground and attacked me with swarms of punches, which of course I had the pleasure of dodging. As I grew tired of playing punches and sways, I took the liberty of punching the fool in the caped chest cavity, immobilizing him for a few moments. What bothered me was he didn't seem pained, as most people who get hit, scream. I smashed another punch to the upper jaw of his face, and then connecting with a kick to his side. It was only after the last blow that the stranger let out a cry. It shocked me though, for the voice seemed vaguely familiar. I let the thought slip by, and I landed a punch that got clean off the side of her guarded cheek, but breaking my ring in the process. It released the guard and revealed to me a woman. I stood there, shocked beyond recognition, for the face on the woman was one I knew too well – long, red hair, the green eyes that adorned her perfect face, the lips that I had kissed a million times – she looked exactly like my girlfriend back from my days at Tribia, Christy Campbell. But it couldn't it be her, she was killed that day of the bombing. The last thing I recall was a flash of light that swept forward to meet her, but blinding me, leaving me to scream in blinding light before I could see the garden. Could she have survived? Could she have been saved from death? Could this all be a dream?
As all these thoughts raced across my puzzled mind, I was swept back by a Firaga that hit me square in the midsection. I gasped for lost air before looking to her and calling out Christy with all I had. She looked to me with emptiness in her eyes, but as she heard the name called out to her again and again, her eyes seemed to begin recalling, and she held her head in pain. The pain brought her to her knees, and she winced in pain. She looked at me and said my name weakly. It was her!
I got up and drew closer to her before she did the same. She cried, and I cried, as we both held each other in an embrace of tears. "I've missed you…" I said.
She nodded in agreement, crying even harder. But this moment was short-lived as the sunlight turned to darkness, and in the sky was Alexia's ship. I looked to the titanic airship and put Christy behind me before she could be harmed. The dreaded sorceress came out of the airship, flying into the air with an unconscious Rinoa at her side.
She looked to me and Christy, paused in shock, but regained composure and began the sadistic laugh that I had already learned to hate. "Well, well, well, it seems that my undead ghoul has been defeated and revived from her state of mental bondage. No matter…Come to me slave of the darkness!"
From behind me came a piercing scream of unthinkable pain. It was as though the rapture of darkness had spewed forth from Christy's lips. She held her head in pain, stopped, looked at me as though back to the dreary state of emptiness, took her dagger, and stabbed me. Though I was shocked, I looked to my side, and in her hands was my blood, spilled in a gushing of red. I held her hands, said, "Christy, what did you," and pulled the dagger out. As I looked thinking she must be under hypnosis or something, she stabbed me in the gut again and again. The only thing I could see was her smile. I was then surprised…She began to cry.
As tears ran down her face, she said, "Julius, I'm sorry, I can't help it." And she stabbed me again. This time, I fell. "That's right, stab him Christy, spill the blood of your precious little Julius, HAHAHAHAHA!" Alexia gloated in laughter.
As she saw what she had done, she held the dagger up into the air, and stabbed herself. I screamed, agonizingly got up and casted fullcure on myself, then ran to her side.
She looked at me, and cried. "I'm sorry Julius."
"You idiot," I said with tears welling in my eyes. "Why did you do that?"
"Because…I couldn't live if I knew I could only live undead and if I only lived to kill you…"
"Why Christy! You matter most to me than anything…"
"And you matter…(cough)…most to me that…(cough)…anything as well…I love you Julius, and if I have to live this life…(cough)…having the task of unrelentingly killing the one I love most, then I chose death. Please…promise me you'll do anything I ask…"
"Yes," I said, as we cried in unison. "Anything."
"Plunge this into my heart…and I will be set free from the spell…"
"No Christy, there has to be another way!"
"Julius, you promised me…(cough)…you would do anything …"
"Ok…"
As I held the dagger up to strike the final blow, I recalled what I had with Christy, and the next thing I knew, my eyes were sealed shut, and my hands warm with blood. I cried…but as I opened my eyes, I was somewhere else, somewhere else darker than even the Dark Crater. As I cast my eyes side to side, I caught a glimpse of Christy, glimmering in a pale cast of white. She smiled at me, kissed me, and handed me the ring I gave her on the last birthday she had with me. "Take care of it for me," she said. "I will always be with you, close to your heart. Promise two things…"
I nodded in agreement, and she said, "Don't let my memory linger in your heart because I want you to be happy. I love you, and don't you forget that. And oh yeah," she said before going. "Julius, kick that bitch's ass!"
As I saw her turn away, I returned smiling, back to where I last recalled, on the beach, holding the lifeless body of Christy. I looked down fearing the worst, and the dagger was still posed in my hand, in her chest that soaked my hands in a mesh of black and red. Looking back up, I put the ring on my finger, and took her fallen lance. I turned to face Alexia, who was sarcastically crying, saying, "Boo hoo hoo, two lovers, star crossed and pained, with one lover dead, with not a single thing gained."
That lit a fire in me that burned brighter than ever before. It wasn't the rhyming, painful truth that she stated with sarcasm that made me mad, it was that smug grin on her face that she put on. As aura surged through my very veins, I unleashed a torrent of thrusts and slashes before finishing with a Thundaga. A split second after, I lunged at Alexia, and stabbed her right in the heart. She screamed in pain, and let Rinoa go, before looking back at me and unleashing a black wave of death. Christy's lance was melted in an instant. "You'll pay for this you fool!" She said darkly before spitting out a pint of blood. She looked to where I was, and seemed to want to retaliate, but she smiled. It was weird because I would never have expected anyone that powerful smiling in agonizing pain. I soon realized the reason…She casted an obliterating spell on Christy and her lifeless body was decimated, leaving shards of clothing and dark ash. I didn't know what came over me as the ash was carried by the wind. I leapt forth, nearing the bitch before she could go any further. Surprisingly, she twisted her body around and sucker punched my gut before kicking me to the dust…
As I fell around two stories down, I could only see the bloody fingertips of the sorceress I have come to loathe more than anyone. I fell on something soft, and I lost consciousness.
Chapter IX: Shadows, Frost and Lightning
A headache was the least of my problems when I woke up in Balamb Garden. Joseph and Al were staying next to my bed and came closer as I squirmed in pain. My ribcage must have suffered serious bruising and my back was strained beyond my ability to resist pain. Al was stern in then face as usual, but Joseph was a lot gloomier than he usually be in these predicaments. Joseph told me, "Hey Jul', I think you better talk to Mei…"
"Who?" I said with the name vaguely familiar.
"MARY.ANN.HART!" Al replied.
"(Mary Ann…) Oh my God!" I shouted as I ran out the door, forgetting all the pain in my system. The only thing I came back for was to ask where se was.
"She's was in the Secret SeeD's Hangout the last time we left her." Joseph replied.
I went there as fast as my legs could go. My heart began to race, thinking of how much she could hate me right about now after seeing me holding someone else in my arms; how I displayed feelings and said words her ears would've never expected me to utter. I found her looking depressed on a bench. Bottom line, I didn't know what to do. She looked at me, and it felt like a freezing dagger pierced my heart. Her eyes were reddish and on her cheeks were pools of tears. I needed to say something…I said the first thing I could think of. "Hey,"
She looked down, and sighed. I couldn't control myself, I sat down beside her, and before I could utter anything else, she said, "Who was she…"
I summoned all the courage I had, looked up, and said, "She was my girlfriend."
"Was?"
"She died, or at least, I thought she did."
"How?"
So began my tale of over three years past. It was all too clear and fresh in my mind that it seemed ludicrous to call it even a year old. From the last moment I had together with her, until the blinding light, I spilled all the memories I always held in my heart. "Wow…I guess I'm nothing compared to her…" She said.
I took her in my arms and said, "Don't you ever say that…I lost a love once, I lost her twice a while back. I won't lose you."
She cried on my shoulder and she held me closer. "Promise?"
"Yes…" I replied.
It took a while before she stopped crying. I wiped the tears in her eyes and we met the others at the gate of the Training Area. Why is it that women have a problem believing, that they're the most beautiful things on earth? Or at least in men's eyes, they have that constant need for the boys to say that to them…jeez, Oh well, at least she's still interested. We went to the Fire Cavern, in time to meet Nathaniel and Bea mind you. They were both in leather jackets and jeans. Bea wore a white one, and Nathaniel in baby blue. The most annoying feeling in my gut came back. Unfortunately, just when I thought I got over her, it looks as though the feeling of jealousy still has a part in the core of my soul.
Bitter cold was the least you could call the feeling that Shiva set on our spines. The ascent took us a few hours to get up a hundred feet. It seemed that Bea was lingering in my mind again. The only thing that kept me from staring at her all day was the fact that Mei wasn't the best mountain climber. I enjoyed having to climb below her, (though not in the way you'd imagine) because for each time she slipped, I caught her. The climb continued, (and Mei got better at climbing the ice) and on the last hour before sunset, we decided to build camp. The occasional frost wolves and ice titans came to us for the time we put up our camp. The wolves were particularly annoying due to their immense skill and speed. We conquered all of them and were just a minute of setting up sleeping bags away from a perfect camp for the frostbite of the dark eve. It was convenient for the attacking frost titans to bombard us with firewood to last a week, but we might as well use them all up for the night because something seemingly harmless extra dead weight was something fatal in the encumbering frost of Mount Shiva. We all sat down and got to drinking hot chocolate in the snug fireplace outside of our campsite.
The aria of the mountainside kept me awake yet again. I began to think that insomnia was beginning to affect me. The only time I get to sleep is after a long and tiring fight that depletes me of energy. Sitting up in the lightless tent, I cast a minute tongue of fire that lit a path of vision before me. Mei was sleeping above me, her pretty face just above the corner of my sleeping bag. The smell of her hair was sweet as ever, and it calmed me as I lay down on my belly, beginning to stare intently at her beautiful face, amid the long minutes of the sleepless hour I found myself trapped in.
An hour passed, my stillness stirred not, constantly looking at the black strands of her hair, the sweet, sweet sighs I cast as she breathed slowly and surely. It was then that I heard a sound of footsteps. I strapped to my side my dagger, and looked outside. There, half-hidden in the shadow cast by the purple haze of the bright blue air that encased the sky and moon was a luminous flame that came from above the mountainside we were residing in for the night. Slowly, the luminous body drew closer, the strewn path half covered in the pure-white shade of snow. As…'it' came closer, I unsheathed the dagger from my side and threw it from hand to hand as a warm up from the frosty air that crept up the gloves on my fists. Whilst the chill of the night air drew ever closely to my freezing chest, the flame died down approximately a few meters from my sight-range, leaving only a shadowy figure that moved toward the campsite. As it came into view, what met the light of the moon's shine drew forth a steady pain that had lay dormant in some corner in my heart, a corner I had left to rot. At one time I beheld my Angel, Christy, but as she came closer, and the haze of the evening snow left the air, I saw yet another…someone I didn't know. His face was covered by a silver face-guard that shimmered gloriously, even in the stillness of darkness. He was clad in a black cape and feathers that adorned his collar like Headmaster Squall's. His cape hid a white and gray outfit he had on. "Who are you," I asked.
"They call me Rain…The Scarlet Shadow." He replied.
"The Scarlet Shadow? The shadow gives justice, but there's nothing scarlet about you."
"Really now," he said as he brought forth a katana. It was one that gleamed as red as fresh blood.
He sheathed the katana saying, "They call me darkness because I can do this…" He said as he shifted into the form of me. "I dare you to hit me." He said as he returned into the shadowy figure as he once was. I didn't bother to think twice.
Although I had a clean shot, as my dagger/climbing blade neared his heart, he shifted into the form of Christy. This made me subconsciously swerve my dagger to miss. He took this chance to sucker-punch me in the gut. "Is that all you got Omega?" He gloated.
"Dirty swine!" I said as I lunged towards him with rage drawn from the depths within me. This time, I stabbed him, er…her. But as blood spewed forth from her mouth, she bled and looked me in the eyes. "Julius…" she said. "Why…why have you done this…"
"Oh Hyne!" I said, shocked at the familiarity of the dying voice. I took my dagger from her chest and held her in my arms…only to feel hot blood dripping from within me as a blade went through my right side. As I looked to see Christy, she disappeared, and from behind came a treacherous and jackal-like laugh that could only be from the horrid lips of the Crimson Shadow…
Like a mongerel of a dog I squirmed as blood streamed out like a river in my insides. The white of snow began to melt and discolor itself in a slight gleam of crimson. I could only watch as the face-guard shimmered in its brilliance with droplets of my blood dripping slowly from his blade to the white snow below it. I expected death, but he seemed content watching me squirm in agony, bleeding profusely in the dead of night. As my screams which I held back pierced the night air of the mountainside, the tent began to stir with movement. Rain put his face right above mine, beaming darkly whilst frost crept inside, waiting for me to fall unconscious. As my comrades came to aid me, the devil turned and blasted the tent with a flare spell before disappearing into the shadows. As I beckoned to them, outstretching my arms, the heavens screamed with furious bellows of thunder as lightning streamed across the clouded night. Wating no time, they drew closer, and I fell unconscious.
Chapter X: Zenith Rock
-My mind is clouded by many figures, all alight in a swirl of streaming luminescence. Once again my subconscious has returned me to my first home…Tribia-
Tribia Garden, the aftermath:
After the blaze blinded me, the searing flames swept across the sky, and a destructive mass of metal was hurled towards my direction. It knocked us out of the sky, killing half the crew as the crash ensued. I lost ten friends that day. What killed my spirit was when I saw Christy's gun on the ground. It was then that I changed my opinion about rain as it began to pour down profusely. It made me think about a lot of things; life that it nurtures, and how it came at times of great bitterness. I used to enjoy it, but it was a time that I cried. And as tears streamed down my face, I began to hate it. I hated everything. It was a pain I knew would only be loosed by the hands of time…
I awoke in the arms of Mei, crying (yet again), and her tears making a pool by the side of my cheek. I tightened the grip on her hand which clasped my own before opening my eyes. She had a glint of both sadness and gladness in her eyes, seeing me smile at her. I knew not where we were exactly. It was warm, cozy, and not the least bit of snow could be seen. I sat up, with her giving me a vice-grip on my arm, crying as if I'd died or something.
"Easy," I said.
"I thought we'd lose you," she said weakly.
I took her hand, loosed it from the vice-grip from my arm, and kissed her. I then wiped the tears from her eyes, telling her amid her sobbing, "I won't go anywhere. That I promise you."
That at least gave her something to smile about. "Where are we, Mei?"
"This place is called Zenith Rock. It's a house owned by a blacksmith, at Quetzalcotl Peak."
"We're here!"
"Yeah, the owner spotted our campsite, and his wife gave you some herbs to heal you from your wounds. They brought a couple of dragons to drag us here."
"What's his name?"
"His name's Aldrick…"
Through the door barged my friends. Behind them was a tall, fair-skinned, muscular man accompanied by a red-haired lady.
"Welcome," the man said.
"You must be Julius," the lady said. "This is my husband, Aldrick Hershell. I am Sarah."
"Julius, who gave you those wounds?"
"Well, mister Aldrick…"
"Please, call me Aldrick."
"They say you are gifted in the art of forging weaponry."
"They, Julius, who do you speak of?"
"The guardians Sacred, and Forbidden,"
"You! You are the man Omega sent?"
"Yes. That I am. He said you would help me fashion a sword from star fragments."
It was then he fell to a chair. He then said to us, "The Star Dragon is something that will take ten days to create. Are you willing?"
"Yes, I don't have a choice anyway…"
Days passed quickly, and by the tenth day, I had blisters on my hand and a shirt filled with at least a pint of sweat. But as I gazed upon the glory that was the SD, I could only smile at its brilliant gleam. The translucent glow was that of pristine water. It was a long, flawless, light, Katana which you could see through. As I held it, the blue glow shifted into a reddish encasement of lightning. Aldrick led me outside to test it on something. I looked to a large boulder that was half-covered in ice and snow. I never even fathomed its power. In one fair swoop, it cut through the rock effortlessly. Aldrick and the others gasped at the sharpness of it. After a long day's work, we thought of eating, but at a distance, we heard clapping from the roof. We looked to see who, and we loathed at the sight of the "Crimson Shadow."
"Bravo," he said, "I wish I had your strength, but I'd rather have that sword!"
In a split second he teleported behind me, but as he lay but one finger on the blade, he was shocked by lightning.
"You'll pay for that!" He said as he disappeared, limping as though his strength left him. We thought he'd gone for good, but from the sky fell two golems. His voiced echoed from the distance, "I won't go without giving you anything for your damn HOSPITALITY!"
We all came into battle positions as the heaps of walking stone crept closer. Mei shot at it, but when I noticed her bullets not even grazing it, I knew that they were made from one thing only, mythril. "Leave it to me, your weapons can't handle mythril. Get back into the house!"
I led the large golems away from the hut. Lucky for me they were brainless. Their size made it hard for me to evade their immediate rock throwing, with them towering over me and all. I needed an open place, but that remained to be seen. They ended up catching up to me, and with no other option I made a rush to split their massive bodies in half. I swerved to evade their rock throwing, and the larger one fell after I sliced its legs off and pierced the torso. It left behind what seemed to be lodestones of mythril. I quickly scooped them up before the other golem had a chance to hit me. The other one being smaller was unfortunately faster, and it threw off all the rocks on it in an attempt to hit me. It missed me thank Hyne, but as it shed off all the rocks in its body, what was left was a human-sized golem, with a sword at that. It swerved in to slash me, and I retaliated. Each of the times I struck the edge of the golem's sword, it broke off rock fragments. In due time what was left was a golem with a minute stone tool. It caught me off guard as it threw it towards my direction. I dodged, but it lunged at me, pinning me down with its massive weight. It constantly hit me with staggering blows to my arms as I tried to block his stone fists. A water spell I cast levitated it with just enough time for me to grab my sword and slice its head off. I rested afterwards, slowly picking up the fragments of the mythril. I sighed as sweat dripped down my cheek. Sweat! I recalled that was adequate in causing hypothermia! I picked myself up and headed for the house…
Whew! That was loooong! For me anyway…Sorry if you dudes waited too long. My PC was busted for a while. What do you guy's think of the installment? R&R alright! See ya! FF8 Rules Baby!
- I AM JUNO ALTAEUS LIBGOOD