The others had arrived just in time to break up another fight between Cloud and Kratos. Th group entered the tower to find the most unsettling scene in their lives. Coffins, everywhere spiraling above and below them into infinity. Coffins as far as the eye could see in every direction. Kratos seemed unfased by this. The others gasped at the horror of such a thing. Colette buried her face in Lloyd's shoulder and refused to move. Sheena and Genis just stared, with wide horrified looks on their faces. Cloud walked foward, his heart sinking the entire time. Lloyd didn't pay attention, he held Colette close trying to comfort her. Shivers ran down the young pirate's spine. "I've seen mass graves before, but this! This is horrible..." Vyse gasped. "This is why I didn't want Lloyd along," Raine sighed, "those coffins carry the bodies of every Chosen..." "Colette..." Lloyd was so near crying he had to swallow his tears.
Finally reaching the alter, Remiel once again appeared. This time his eyes cast towards Cloud and a glare spread across his face. "Offer your prayers at the alter..." he spoke. Cloud stopped Colette from taking another step. "Think for a moment, child! There's no coming back from this! You do this and everything you love some much about your life will be taken from you! Do you really want to give up your life?" Cloud begged. "It's alright, I'm ready to save everyone, even if it does mean my life..." he heard her voice. She knelt down at the alter, when her eyes opened they were void of all emotion, empty red orbs had taken the place of happy blue gems. Remiel gave an evil laugh, "Now this girl's soul will be drained for Martel's resurrection!" "NOOOOOOOOOO!" Lloyd screamed in heartfelt anguish. Raine looked around noticing that Kratos had vanished.
"I let you so-called 'Angels' take my Tifa away, I won't let you take my daughter!!!" Cloud screamed in anger. Cloud leapt into the air with tremendous power he came down on Remiel with a devastating Braver attack. Remiel had no time to think before the attack brought him down. He turned to Colette. "No please! No! Not my daughter!" Cloud cried. Tears literaly running down his cheeks. "Please, Lord Kratos, help me!" begged the weakened voice of Remiel. "Why should I show mercy to someone who hates humans so much?" Kratos's voice boomed. "Please Lord Kratos..." Remiel's voice sounded again. "You've always hated humans and if you recall I used to be human..." Kratos said holding back his anger. The weakened Remiel's life finally faded away.
"So you think I'm a human, huh Kratos Auron?" Cloud voice asked quite seriously. "That is what you are isn't it?" Kratos inquired. "Not quite..." Cloud replied. "Then what are you? Elf, Half-Elf, Fallen Angel, Half-Angel?" Kratos asked. "I'm insulted that you would even think I'm what you call an 'Angel'. I'm not a being like you... In fact, I'm a creature who has suffered much from you 'Angels'..." Cloud replied. "You're a...?" Kratos said in a half-puzzled, half-purplexed voice. "A Cetra..." Cloud finished. "A Cetra, huh? Yggdrasill has ordered me to kill one on sight..." Kratos responded. "EASIER SAID THAN DONE!" Cloud yelled pulling his Buster Sword from his shieth. "BRING IT ON!" Kratos yelled in response pulling his own Long Sword. "LADIES FIRST, 'ANGEL'!!!" Cloud responded. Kratos rushed at Cloud and attempted to swipe, Cloud easily blocked with his wide blade. "Do you know what Cetra means?" Cloud asked mockingly, "It means I have telepathic powers, I can hear your thoughts and act accordingly..." "So that's why it's taken so long to kill you people!" Kratos griped, "And here I though Sephiroth was just incredibly lazy..." "Sephiroth is a fool!" Cloud yelled.
The swordfight continued for hours on end. "I will take the Chosen to Derris-Kharlan with me, where she will become the new vessel for Martel!" Kratos yelled. "You will not lay a hand on my daughter!!!" Cloud yelled in response. It had become clear to Lloyd now that Kratos could not be trusted. He pulled his twin blades and raced in to help Cloud. "I love Colette, I won't let you take her away!" Lloyd shouted with all his heart. "My brother needs me!" Vyse exclaimed as he rushed in. Eventually the entire group with the exception of Colette was fighting Kratos. Kratos managed to beat the team though. "I'm sorry, Raine," he said to her as he knocked her out. "Cutlass Fury!" Vyse cried out as his swords danced across Kratos.
"Forgive me, Vyse!" Vyse fell down. "VYSE!" Lloyd cried out in worry for his brother's safety. Lloyd ran to his brother and Kratos with no regard for his own safety. Kratos took the opportunity to strike down Lloyd, but swift as lightning a blonde-haired warrior took the blow instead. "CLOUD!" Lloyd exclaimed as he watched Cloud's weakened form drop to the ground. Lloyd glared at Kratos, Genis was crying morning over his sister and scared of what Kratos might do. Kratos finally knocked out Lloyd and he casted a sleep spell on Genis.
At that point Yggdrasill came. "Good work Kratos, now bring the Chosen and kill the Cetra." Kratos began to approach Cloud, but he could bring himself to just kill Cloud. A ball of magic came and knocked Kratos over. Yuan appeared! "Yuan!" Kratos gasped. Yggdrasill had already left. "Take the Chosen and her travel group!" Yuan commanded Several Renegades appeared grabbing Lloyd and the others, including Cloud. They carted the group off. Kratos was so weaked by the magic ball and the fight that he couldn't get back up.
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Because I forgot earlier the Disclaimer for Skies of Arcadia! I don't own Skies of Arcadia the characters here are copywrited to Sega.
