eFull Circle
Part I
Time slowed to a crawl for Maxi. One moment, the warriors had been greeted by Astaroth, the Merciless Destroyer. The next, he was fighting the golem for his revenge and…his life as well. The shouting returned him to reality,
"Begone, you scum!" The swipe wheezed above the pirate's head, crushing the nearby rock. He immediately sent his Pure Soul attacks. The golem quickly deflected it with his uppercut. His opponent crouched, yet another attack had been prepared. Astaroth sideswiped Maxi with the handle of Kulutues, sending the pirate hit the wall. Feeling woozy, Maxi felt his vision blurred and voices ringing inside his ears…
Maxi, are you all right?
Just at the nick of time, he didn't see the golem charging him again. This time, the voice came louder,
Maxi, look out! Instinctively, he whirled Soryujuu and blocked the incoming axe slash. Growled, Astaroth stomped his feet. However, the pirate quickly avoided the stomp by rolling his body on the ground and sprinted to a fair distance. To his surprise, the golem unleashes Poseidon's Tide to close their distance. The axe cut everything that blocked him. Undeterred, Maxi leaped and shouted,
"Falling Heaven Dragon!" Anticipating the attack, Astaroth stopped the whirl and heaved his axe upward. The weapons yanked the nunchaku, practically dragging him. He quickly swung the pirate before threw him hitting another wall. The golem laughed hideously beneath his mask,
"You make me laugh! DAH, HAH, HAHAHAH, HAH, HAH!" Slow but painfully, Maxi lifted himself from the ground. Seeing the golem's invincibility, he almost despaired. In addition, blood trickled from his forehead and his vision almost failed. He was ready to give up;
"I'm sorry, Kyam…I can't avenge you…it's better for me to join you in the afterlife…"
Meanwhile inside Osthreinsburg Chapel, the fight between father and daughter had gone one-sided. Despite the ferocity, Ivy was unable to match Cervantes who were more experienced than her. Her stamina had been depleted slowly. Her breath became labored, yet she stared the Immortal Pirate with renewed fury. Nightmare watched the fight without any expression. The pirate looked little the worse for wear. Facing his estranged daughter, he asked,
"So, are you giving up, child? My wrath is terrible, but my grace can be just as marvelous…" Cervantes De Leon offered his hand to her,
"Come, and we shall become family again…" Ivy didn't answer; her golden eyes burned lightly with fire of hate and madness. Lifting Valentine above her head, she shrieked,
"You're revolting! I'm not your daughter but Duke Valentine's daughter! I am going to beat you if it's the last thing I do! Do you hear that! I'm going to beat you!" The pirate's face hardened again. Without waiting, Ivy immediately unleashes,
"Calamity Symphony!" She sticks Valentine into the ground and the blade began to dig underground toward her opponent. Calmly, Cervantes held his weapon parallel to the ground. When the segments hit his defense, he stepped forward and blasted the hellfire toward the opponent. Ivy knocked backward, yet she still manage to unleash a counterattack,
"Ivy Lick!" She swept Valentine toward Cervantes, causing the pirate went airborne. Before the undead slammed the ground, she quickly pulled and held him at the neck. Strangely, the Immortal Pirate didn't struggle at all.
The Englishwoman shouted, "This is the end! SUMMON SUFFERING!" Like what she did to Talim, the blade broke into segments and surrounded them. Cervantes replied,
"Not so fast! Not so fast, dear daughter! Surprise Wave!" As the segments flew toward them, the pirate held Soul Edge behind his back, while swiping Nirvana in a circular motion. Ivy felt that she held a tornado…a storm!
She whispered fearfully, "This... can't be!"
To her terror, she was spun around by Cervantes and…the segments of Valentine pierced her skins like a swarm of angry wasps. She screamed as her face, trunk and extremities were sliced by those segments. Like realizing its mistake, the segments fell to the ground but the damage had been done. Finished, Cervantes threw her to the ground. She writhed in pain, remembering what she had done to the Filipino three days ago. It seemed the fate had repaid her in the same manner. Then someone stepped upon her chest. She choked and saw the Immortal Pirate above her. She saw Valentine quite far from her reach. Cervantes watched his daughter struggled for air, while he stepped her breast. He watched with utter disappointment and disdain,
"I'm disappointed! What a useless daughter. You even bring shame upon the De Leon's name by adopting the English name…what shall I do to you, ungrateful wench?" He leaned further, increasing the pressure upon his boot. The Englishwoman bit her tongue; she could feel her ribs and sternum almost cracked under the infernal weight. However she allowed a little smile, as she remembered someone in his side: Heihachi! The patriarch would help her when she gave the sign. Coughed, she replied with determination,
"Do what you will…and be done with it! I can't kill you…there is nothing I can do!" The pirate smiled cruelly,
"Glad to comply…" He leaned again, pressing upon her lungs, heart and inner organs. This was not her expectation! Ivy screamed with agony; her lung and throat almost filled with fresh blood and made her unable to call the Iron Fist Champion.
Not far away from the chapel, the warriors also heard the scream,
Xianghua asked, "What is that? Is there someone else fighting Nightmare?" Kilik replied,
"It is likely! Whoever fighting Nightmare, he or she needs our help…" Taki added,
"What if it was Cervantes?" Everyone turned to the nuke-nin with shocked expression; however Yoshimitsu quickly took the situation,
"We have to come fast, before the outcome of the fight can be determined!" Mitsurugi shouted,
"Yosh! Let's go now!" Cassandra and Yunsung nodded, while Necrid watched with stoic posture. They began to speed their pace toward the Osthreinsburg Chapel.
Few moments later, the scream died and Ivy's right hand fell limply beside her. She lost her consciousness without even calling Heihachi. The pirate spat upon her, and then a hoarse voice came,
"You didn't kill her…you couldn't kill your own daughter…" Cervantes stared the Azure Knight sharply, while stepped away from her. Her chest rose slowly as it resumed breathing again. He spoke,
"Plenty of time for that, yet many scores shall be settled before this day is out!" Nightmare replied with pulling out his Zweihander. He whirled the huge blade above his head. The Immortal Pirate spread his arms widely and did something unthinkable. He threw Nirvana away, while keeping Soul Edge Female. The knight was unimpressed,
"You just throw away your chance to win…" The pirate cackled,
"In contrary, I just improve my chance to kill you…" He pulled another blade; this time it was red-bright, fire-like blade.
"No matter how strong are your defenses, Phlegethon will penetrate it…together with Soul Edge…"
"Let's see first! Rook Splitter!" Nightmare immediately sidestepped and delivered a crushing vertical slash toward his opponent. Cervantes attacked with both blades together, countering the attack. At that time, the knight felt a burning sensation when the Zweihander impacted with Phlegethon. The pirate immediately followed up his attack with…
"Eternal Curse!" He pivoted back with one leg and stabbed the Soul Edge toward Nightmare's midsection. The Azure Knight tried to block it, but no avail. The powerful force shoves him to the ground. As he rose, his opponent slammed the hilt of the shorter sword to his breastplate, and followed by roundhouse kick to his head. He felt ringing inside his head, however he immediately sent another attack,
"Midnight Launcher!" Cervantes quickly distanced himself from the whirling uppercut. Suddenly the knight leaped to the air, while lifting the Zweihander very high. Before the attack hits, he already use Shadow Flare to teleport himself out of danger. The floor exploded when Nightmare's vertical slash hit the ground. Even so, the knight was aware of the presence behind him. He immediately spun his sword three times, before…passes it behind his back. Surprised, the Immortal Pirate reversed the attack into stabbing. Three attacks with Phlegeton found its place, while the low hit from Nightmare scraped his armor. Despite the burning pain, the knight pressed his attack by sending a spin kick. The undead pirate quickly crouched and stepped forward, while slashing toward the enemy. The Azure Knight went airborne instantly and hit the nearby wall.
"Little fool!" Cervantes sneered, "Don't you have the sense to die?" As the answer, Nightmare rose again. His azure armor had cracked in some parts, yet he still persisted to fight.
Back to Maxi, who already despaired from his fight with Astaroth. Suddenly something flickered inside his mind…the familiar images…a youth and a girl…
"Kilik…Xiang?" At the same time, the golem was ready to send a lethal strike toward him. Instantly, the pirate's face hardened,
No, I must not die here! I will avenge my crews and Kyam…I will find Kilik and Xianghua for they are my…
The Kulutues whizzed dangerously to him; Maxi quickly gripped his nunchaku and shove upward to block the attack,
FRIENDS! He immediately uses Soul Charge and the sparks showered them as the weapons impacted. Astaroth was startled to see the change upon his prey. Roared, the pirate quickly wrapped Soryujuu to the axe and launched himself close to his hated enemy. Before the golem had his chance to swing him out, he sent a powerful kick to its face. In the suddenness, Astaroth lost his grip on the Kulutues. The axe flew and thudded the ground with its sharp edge facing. Without wasting time, Maxi wrapped his nunchaku around the golem's neck and shouted,
"Dragon Destroyer!" He somersaulted, carrying the huge brute and threw him to the ground very hard. He quickly followed it with Leaving the Dragon Nest. While the golem still stunned, Maxi bashed its head with the nunchaku as hard as he could. He poured what inside him; the hate…the lust for revenge…and the familiar faces returned…Kyam…Kilik…Xianghua…and it's love that finally tears him apart. Soon enough, the mask was wet with fresh blood and slowly but sure, the golem was woozy. For the final coup, the pirate planted his foot to the bloodied face and 'kicked' it, before whipping the Soryujuu for the last time. The hulking body flew…and landed upon the Kulutues! The harsh voice shouted,
"NOOOO!"
Instantly a loud and powerful scream echoed along the ruins. The scream trailed down into moan and finally utter silence. Maxi walked closer to his nemesis, which was impaled with its own weapon. The axe peered from the gaping wound on the Astaroth's chest. Blood gushed like waterfall from the gaping wound. He quickly ripped the mask and saw the bloodied face of the golem. To his surprise, the golem reached out toward him but he evaded it easily. With his own eyes, he saw Astaroth stiffened and gone for good. For the second time in his life, he felt relieved. Then he remembered something,
"Oh, shit! Kilik and Xianghua…they will fight Nightmare! I must help them…" He threw the mask away and ran to other direction.
Return to duel between Cervantes and Nightmare, it seemed the situation became unfavorable to the knight; the pirate once again unleashed his attack,
"Armada Eraser!" He swung both blades, and then spun the Soul Edge toward the knight's breastplate. Nightmare shouted in anticipation,
"Death Claw!" The twirling attack immediately stymied Cervantes' strikes. Afterward, he immediately performed Spinning Retreat, followed with Death Horn Charge. The Immortal Pirate sent his Guard Impact move,
"Dishonest Wave!" Again, the Azure Knight staggered to the nearby wall due to the impact, his breath came out from the visor. Despite his monstrous strength, he was still a human…and his stamina was nearly depleted.
To bring the duel to the end, I must exploit weakness from him… he turned his attention toward the unconscious Ivy and a terrible idea flickered in his mind. Steeled himself, he forced himself to stand. The pirate mocked,
"So you still have strength to continue…" The long, low animalistic growl escaped from the knight's clenched teeth, and then he spoke,
"Not yet! There's no turning back." Suddenly, he sent a spinning sweep toward the undead pirate. Yet the opponent was quick to recognize that; he immediately protects himself with Phlegeton and kicked the knight's flank. Nightmare grunted, but then he already closed his range to the Englishwoman. He shouted,
"Let's see how your daughter loved you to her death as well…" As the Zweihander fell toward Ivy, Cervantes' eyes widened and he quickly went ballistic and shouted,
"Geo Da Ray!" Cervantes charged again and unleashed Dread Slash. At first Nightmare did nothing to stop the attack. At the last instant, he reversed his grip and pivoted his entire body. He was now standing next to a startled pirate, who had nothing between him and the blurred huge sword. It streaked toward his midsection.
"Witch Hunt!" Nightmare's blow hit with the sound of overripe oranges thrown against a stone wall. Cervantes…or his torso for exactly, flew through the air and landed in a bloody heap fifteen feet from where he'd started. Phlegeton and Soul Edge Female sprawled close to the knight. The only word that came out from the Immortal Pirate was…
"What?" Calmly, the Azure Knight picked the accursed blade. This sent the pirate livid with anger and fear at the same time. Dragging his severed body, he shrieked,
"Thief, return my darling to me! I demand it…" The knight disdained,
"I think the result has been decided, Cervantes…your time is over for good this time…" He didn't see the necessity to finish the pirate; he was close to the death throes. With panicked expression, Cervantes turned to the unconscious Ivy and screamed,
"Ivy, help your father…please!" Slowly, the Englishwoman opened her eyes and turned to see the mangled pirate. The strange feeling struggled inside her heart. The pirate begged again,
"Ivy, I was wrong to leave you and your mother…please helps me to get my Soul Edge…and I promise to take care of you…" She sighed and then stared the man who claimed as her father with the most pitying expression,
"Too late…You die first... I will join you some day." Suddenly a spark of flame appeared upon Cervantes. The body of the pirate who once terrorized the Mediterranean Ocean quivered and shook, flopping in the stone floor like a beached fish. The flame quickly covered him with such speed. His scream turned into wail and finally gone forever after the hellfire consumed him completely. Once again, Ivy lost her consciousness.
In another place, Raphael felt his body slammed against the wall. Despite his swordsmanship and the Queen's Guard, the Hellspawn was too powerful for him. Before he moved, the warrior already pushed him back with Agony. He could felt the breath upon his face. Spawn barked,
"Speak or I won't be so kindly…" The Frenchman asked,
"Why do you want Soul Edge?" The warrior from Hell replied,
"I don't want that damned sword…I just want to go back to my time!" The Sorel smiled. At last he'd found the right nerve to tug. He continued,
"If that is the case, you should retrieve Soul Edge first…it is your key to going home…" He sighed,
"And of course, you must fast! Otherwise, the other will come and claim it for themselves…" Spawn pushed him tighter,
"The warriors…they didn't present immediate danger to me!" Choking, the French said,
"But…what…if they…destroy…it instead? You…will…be trapped…here!" Inside his mind, the Hellspawn admitted that Raphael had a point. Yet he also remembered his cunning as well. Turning to the trapped noble, he asked,
"Why do you tell me that?" Raphael said, grinning,
"You and I are the same, though not alike! You want to go home; while I want to give a better future for a girl…I think it is no harm to spill some information…" Suddenly, he fell to the ground and Spawn was nowhere to seen. Smiled slightly, he said,
"Everything will be easier…"
Nightmare savored his victory over the original owner of Soul Edge; now who could stop him to reunite these blades into one and thus bring the completeness? He mused to himself,
I've been waiting for this day for too long! Yes, this is it...
When he was about to merge the smaller sword into his Zweihander, he felt something knocked his head and the familiar voices returned again,
My son, resist the evil! Resist the Soul Edge!
No, fool! You almost succeed! Merge the Soul Edge now! Untold power shall be yours!
My son, are you willing to lose your soul as well? Is it worth for you?
The knight howled like a wounded beast; he let the Zweihander and the other blade fell to the ground, while he writhed. At the same time, the others have arrived on the chapel. Taki immediately spotted Nightmare,
"There is Nightmare!" Talim noticed Ivy was around as well; her visage was darkened slightly,
"Ito siya, ang babae ng puting buhok…ano nangyari sa kanya?" Xianghua asked,
"What is he doing?" Yoshimitsu cut her,
"Forget him, look what lay beside him!" Link exclaimed,
"Soul Edge! The evil sword itself!" Yunsung added,
"Now there is two of it!" Kilik said firmly,
"I shall destroy it!" Suddenly a loud voice echoed,
"None shall touch Soul Edge except me!" Everyone turned to Spawn upon the top of the ruins. Necrid growled in response, while Yoshimitsu and Taki pulled their respective weapons. She warned,
"Stay away from this, Hellspawn or else, we're forced to send you back to Jigoku!" The warrior from Hell instinctively morphed his cape into Agony, while replying,
"Then do it if you can!" The situation became tense as everyone prepared to fight. Nightmare was concerned only to the torturing voices inside her head. To their shock, someone…or something else joined the fray. Talim screamed aloud, pointing,
"Ang halimaw…buhay siya!" Everyone saw…Charade not far from their site. Although severely wounded in fight with Necrid and Cassandra, the spawn of Soul Edge still managed to drag itself. It turned its attention to the Soul Edge Female and Male nearby. With swift movement, the creature landed nearby Nightmare. Despite the pain, the knight learned its presence. He immediately swung his deformed hand, but Charade was faster. Its formed Kali-yuga at its limbs and brushed Nightmare away. The knight broke the wall and fell outside. Cassandra hissed,
"For Sophitia, I can't let you have the Soul Edge!" She charged forward, despite Taki and Link's warning. At the same time, Heihachi appeared from behind, knocking Mitsurugi in process,
"Get lost... YOU'RE IN MY WAY!" Everyone followed them. To their horror, Charade picked the Soul Edge Female and pulled the Zweihander. When the eye upon those blades stared back to him, the core throbbed full of ecstasy. The creature raised both blades above its head triumphantly. Taki and Cassandra shouted simultaneously,
"No!" Instantly the chapel's bell rang aloud with deafening tone. Everyone was forced to close their ears. Heihachi immediately sent his famous Iron Fist. Charade quickly blocked the fist with both Soul Edges. The blinding light shone amidst the place when Maxi was arrived. He immediately raised his hand to cover the eyes. Few moments later, the light vanished along with the others. Maxi turned to the stunned ronin,
"Hey, where are they?" Mitsurugi shrugged his shoulders,
Tartaros, the land where the hellfire burns eternally. Arid and barren, it offered nothing for the living to thrive. Fire surrounded the land, only small parts were untouched. Talim opened her eyes and saw Necrid standing nearby. She noted everyone else were around. The young girl asked Yunsung,
"Kuya, where are we?" Before the Korean answered, Xianghua said,
"One thing that I'm sure is this place is not the Void of the World…" The Chinese turned to Kilik,
"No, it is not!" The young master agreed, "But something else…" After watching the surrounding carefully, Taki commented,
"Jigoku…this place is no other than Jigoku or well known as hell," Yunsung and Talim were stunned to hear her explanation. Cassandra added,
"In our language, Tartaros…place for the condemned souls…" The red-haired youth exclaimed,
"You say…that we're inside the hell…literally…" The priestess followed,
"Pero, bakit hinde namatay tayong lahat?" The nuke-nin replied,
"Because it was the real intention of the evil sword…we're invited here!" Yoshimitsu joined them,
"I didn't see the Hellspawn; he must be around here…" Kilik nodded,
"We should be careful in this strange land, anything can happen," Then Link called them,
"Speaking about the sword, look below there!" The warriors turned their sight and saw Heihachi and Charade were fighting each other. Despite holding two blades, the creature uses them clumsily. It held the Zweihander, but it was too large for the creature to use it effectively in the battle-more a distraction than an aid. The Mishima patriarch dogged the creature tirelessly and mercilessly. He mocked,
"That's all you've got? Not even worth my breath!" Then he sent his Death Fist that almost shook Charade's limbs. The creature tried hard to stand, using the Zweihander as support. Xianghua asked,
"Shall we help him?" Yoshimitsu shook his head,
"Not a chance, the wretched creature is not match to him…" Suddenly Taki silenced all of them; her face bore expression of pain. Talim asked,
"Ate Taki, anong nangyari sa inyo?" The raven-haired woman writhed,
"AHH! I can feel the evil!" Cassandra pointed,
"Look!"
Back to Heihachi and Charade, they still continued their battle. Suddenly the fire around them roared and cracked furiously. Both combatants stopped, waiting what happened next. From the roaring flame, a tongue of fire appeared and went to their place. Slowly but sure, the flame materialized into a human-like form, but much taller. Upon the fire and crackling purple sparks, a skeletal face and the organic-like body armor, including the ribs appeared. The bright light shone when the creature opened its eyes and a cold, terrible voice boomed,
"AHHHHHHGH! At last, the Hellfire of Despair has been freed again! No thanks to you, Hades!" Then the flaming creature stepped lightly, watching Heihachi and Charade calculatingly.
Above, Kilik gripped his Kali-Yuga tightly as he hissed softly, venom in his voice,
"Inferno!" Cassandra remarked,
"What! Is that the manifestation of Soul Edge?"
Yunsung pondered, "That sword is definitely evil!"
Talim whispered in fear, "Grabe…"
Link grunted, "So that is the Soul Edge…I shall destroy it for the peace of Hyrule!"
Only Necrid didn't say anything. The warriors watched them carefully.
Heihachi opened the conversation, "You think you can beat me? That mildly amusing!" The fiery creature didn't say anything to the remark. The patriarch found out that its silence was irritating. He said,
"Let's see what you're made of." He instantly charged toward Inferno who looked disinterested. Instead, the creature merely whirled his right hand, forming a fiery portal. Once their distance closed, he threw the portal toward Heihachi and in a blink of eye; they were vanished into a thin air.
The Present time…
In the hot spring, Kuma was looking for his master. He could smell his scent, but unable to find him. Suddenly, the fiery portal appeared from nowhere; the bear immediately growled upon its appearance. Suddenly something fell into the hot springs with a big splash. Then Heihachi Mishima came out from the water with a loud roar. After shook his body, he found out that he was returned to his familiar time. He grumbled,
"All of this for nothing!" Kuma greeted his master with lick, even though his master seems did not appreciate it. The patriarch saw one of the Tekken Squad waited beside,
"What is that?" The soldier answered nervously,
"Something…important, Master…" Heihachi smiled,
"Never a dull moment…" He raised himself from the spring, leaving the old scroll behind.
Back to Tartaros,
Inferno rasped, "Heh, heh, heh! PATHETIC!" Then he turned to Charade and gave a toothy grin,
"How about you? Will you give those swords to me?" The skeletal creature pondered its options, while the Hellfire of Despair waited. He spoke,
"Do not test my patience…" In a sudden, Charade lifted both swords and stormed the abomination. Yet Inferno stopped its movements with a mere gesture,
"Wretched creature, do you think I do not know what inside you? You're forgotten that we're one! Now I will fulfill your deepest desire…" To everyone's sight, Charade pointed the Soul Edge Female and Male to its own core. The core was trembled in a panicked expression, while Inferno watched with sadistic glee,
"You want to become one? So be it!" With a single wave, the creature stabbed both blades into its core. However something strange happened; the blades immediately merged with the core; three eyes instantly became one. The skeletal feature of Charade slowly disappeared under a huge, fleshy blob. Inferno watched with satisfaction. Almost suddenly, the fleshy blob was set aflame, turning into a huge fireball. The fiery creature merely opened his mouth and sucked the flame into himself. The fireball slowly receded into nothing as Inferno consumed it completely. As a result, the flame around him burned brighter. Then he turned to the warriors' place slightly, where Xianghua, Talim and Link quickly hide themselves. The flame cracked still, as he walked into the middle of the plain, shouting,
"Come out, all of you there! Don't hide like a rat!" Hearing that, the Chinese girl quipped sheepishly,
"Looks like we got ourselves a fight!"
"Only the strong shall prevail!" Yoshimitsu replied solemnly, "Fight with honor!"
One by one, they came out and went to meet the infernal creature. Inferno watched them one by one, especially Kilik and Xianghua. He noted Necrid among them, yet he ignored the green creature and spoke directly to them,
"So, all of you will challenge me for the possession of Soul Edge?" Yoshimitsu barked,
"No, we'll destroy you for good, evil creature! There will be no mercy!" The Chinese girl followed,
"I guess there's no turning back! I have defeated you once…" To this, Inferno smiled,
"Yes, but you have Soul Calibur at that time. Now you have none!" Kilik argued, while shoving his Kali-Yuga,
"This rod will be your doom!" The Greek girl don't want to lose,
"The sword and shield that Hephaestus gave me shall end your terror…" The fiery creature chuckled, before broke into laughter,
"Fools!" he bellowed, "My power is complete now! You are no more than gnats to me!" Taki responded by pulling Rekki-Maru,
"Ho! I won't hold back! Choose who will be your opponent among us!" With an arrogant stare, Inferno said disdainfully,
"Why don't all of you fight me? It is better than waiting you one by one, beside Hades would be pleased to have the souls of the warriors here…" Everyone stared each other, not answering the challenge. The creature said again; this time full with mocking tone,
"Except all of you have become cowards…" The Manji answered,
"We're not coward, Inferno…since we are giving you the benefit of fair fight! Since you asked for it, there is no choice for us but to accept your challenge!" The creature laughed again,
"Good! GOOD! Do you hear that, Hades? I shall present their souls to you, and you must let me go from this blasted land!" Yoshimitsu turned to his fellows,
"Listen, we might have a chance to end this menace for good!" The young master of Ling-Sheng-Su said,
"Be careful, Elder! From my previous experience, this creature is very cunning and tricky! He alone can imitate Xiang's and my style. Now he already absorbed Charade's memories, only the gods can tell what he has in stores," Taki joined them,
"True, unless we attack him simultaneously! There's no way for him to imitate our styles and weapons at once…" She turned to Necrid, "Besides, we had a trump card here…if he can't stop Inferno, nobody can!" The ninja turned to Cassandra, Link, Yunsung and Talim,
"Look, you may be young for this! But be brave and strong! Cassie, this is the reason why Sophitia have to leave her family. Will you let her down?" The blond-haired girl shook her head. Taki turned to Yunsung,
"I'm sorry for Mina's fate, Yunsung! Now you have seen the true nature of Sword of Salvation…there is nobody here except yourself! Believe in your true strength!" The Korean nodded in understanding.
Talim said, "Alam ko, Ate Taki! Ito ng dahilan bakit ako nandito! I won't regret it, even to my last breath!" She turned to the fiery creature with disgust, "At tsaka tuturuan ko ng leksyon ang mayabang halimaw ito…"
The elf added, "I have come this far for those whom I loved at Hyrule and I won't turn back!" Meanwhile Xianghua tapped Kilik lightly,
"Kilik, there is something I want to say…" Gently, the young master put his finger to her lips,
"Later, Xiang…after we finished this fight…" The Chinese girl held his finger and kissed him at the lips lightly,
"It is better than not…" Kilik's face blushed; he could only say,
"Thanks, Xiang…" Suddenly the creature called,
"I'm tired of waiting, shall we start now?" Everyone nodded to each other before they circled Inferno. Each of them prepared their weapons, ready for anything. Necrid had summoned his Maleficus. The infernal creature watched them with a cold, penetrating stare. He was trying to see which among them is the weakest. Then he clicked his fingers, a tongue of fire appeared from his back and fell to his hands. The flames instantly materialized into a familiar weapon…a chained scythe and morning star. Unlike its original, the scythe was wrapped by something organic while the morning star looked fleshy and had a huge, demonic eye, despite sporting the wicked spikes. The chains that connected them more looked like innards than steels. Taki cursed,
"S$&#!" With a lightning-like speed, Inferno swung the morning star toward Cassandra, Yunsung and Talim, bashing them violently. Those youth were staggered under the heavy and sudden attack. When the others wanted to help, the creature shifted his attack with the scythe. Instantly the circle was broken. Realizing this, the Manji shouted,
"Change of plan!" He immediately unleashes Rapid Gale in rapid succession toward the infernal creature. Anticipating the attack, Inferno quickly morphed his weapons into something else. He blocked Yoshimitsu's katana with…its corrupted version, complete with its banner. The demonic eye stared from the banner. The sparks of fire showered them. The Manji converted his attack into Rebirth of the Demon, yet it was answered by Inferno's Mouthless. The creature spoke,
"Yoshimitsu, you can't hide what inside your heart…you wanted revenge for your clan, do you? Accept me and I will give you untold power…" Gritted his teeth, the ninja answered,
"Ridiculous! I will never join with the likes of you! Rapid Grace!" He slashed overhead, and then followed by an uppercut slash. The fiery creature quickly shifted his attack into defensive one,
"You fool!" However, Yoshimitsu already leaped and ready to split the creature's skull with another uppercut slash. He was shocked when the creature spun his body and vanished into thin air. As he landed, Inferno was behind him. Xianghua shouted,
"Look out!" Instead blocking the incoming attack, the Manji simply sat to the ground and teleported himself out of danger. The creature cursed, and turned to saw the ninja was performing Pogo Stance, rushing toward him. He waited until their distance was close. Yoshimitsu performed Shark Attack right away, shouting,
"Izo izo izo izo izo IIIZOOO!" Inferno swiftly blocked the rolling attack, and…punched the ninja with an uppercut, followed by overhead bash with his fiery hand. He threw his opponent away. Slightly stunned, the Manji managed to comment before lose consciousness,
"Unexpected!"
Before breathed in relief, Inferno sensed another incoming attack to him. The katana and the banner instinctively morphed into a pair of ninja sword, of course, Soul Edge version. He quickly blocked Taki's Shadow Rush. Realizing her disadvantage, the Fu-Ma withdrew to a safe distance. The creature stared her,
"Ah, another soul! Do you want to master me as well?" The raven-haired woman spat,
"Yah! Who do you think you are?" Inferno chuckled,
"I can read everyone's deepest desires, and even fears! Have you heard that your sword is also your heart? Do you think I can only copy your weapons and styles? No, I even know what you think inside!" Taki didn't answer, while the creature continued,
"You wishes to destroy Mekki-maru by impacting it with Soul Edge…yet your desire to master the blade is stronger! That's why the blade is still with you…" Still no answer,
"Oh, by the way…do you know someone named Sophitia? Does the name is familiar to you?" Unable to keep her patience, the nuke-nin screamed in fury,
"I'm through with words! Possession!" She moved faster than any eyes could follow, yet Inferno was unafraid. In a sudden, Taki shifted into Storm Scroll by sidestepping to the opponent's left. She leaped to the right and attacked with high arc. The creature blocked the attack instantaneously. Undeterred, the ninja quickly shifted to her best attack, Exorcism. The Catastrophe saw it, anticipating the attack with his 'Rekki-Maru' using Reaping Hook. The sparks of flame showered them as the blades impacted. Sweat rolled upon Taki's brow. Simultaneously, she pulled Mekki-maru and unleashed,
"Mekki-maru's Darkness!" The evil blade emitted the purplish aura along with streaks of flame. The fiery creature also pulled his own 'Mekki-maru' and the loud clang echoed along Tartaros. Talim shouted,
"ATE TAKI!" At first, Taki felt a relief, but then she frowned after seeing Mekki-maru didn't broke after impacted with the Soul Edge version of it. The flame was roared furiously as both opponents locked its attack. Inferno said,
"This is a good blade, a powerful blade filled with anger and pride. Perhaps it might even cause me harm." To her horror, the creature began to perform Water Kick, kicking her face and midsection before sent a powerful kick toward her. She landed in a pile of stone boulders. Her head snapped backward onto the boulders, and she lays still. Yunsung shouted,
"Taki!"
Inferno was about to laugh, when he sensed a divine aura. Instinctively, the ninja swords morphed into the evil version of Omega Sword and Elk Shield. Cassandra's attack was blocked, yet it did little to deter her. The creature watched her gleefully,
"Ah, the messenger of Hephaesthus! Finally you've come!" The young girl answered bitterly,
"It's time for your punishment! A monster like you must be destroyed!" Inferno pushed her roughly, while watching the Greek,
"The gods are getting desperate, I think! Every now and then, they send a young warrior and you're the youngest…" Cassandra answered with her warcries; she attacked ferociously. At the moment, she managed to insert the sword to the creature's right shoulder. Inferno grunted, yet she shouted,
"Seraphim Blade Twist!" She spun Omega Sword around 360 degrees, before kicking the fiery back with her left leg. The creature was thrown facedown to the ground. Xianghua cheered,
"Good job, Cassie!" The Greek girl brushed her hair, when she saw Inferno was rising back. The creature turned to the inflicted wound; there was a bright light shone out from the wound. Yet, the infernal creature merely brushed the wound and it was closed again. Cassandra put an offensive stance, while her opponent went into a relaxed posture. The creature spoke again,
"You're good, but not good enough to save your big sister…" The young girl gritted her teeth,
"Charade's memories were in my head…" The creature continued, while pointing his head, "I believe that it relishes the moment when your sister met her demise…when her blood spilled to the ground…"
"Sister…" Realizing the implication, Link shouted,
"Miss Cassandra, don't listen the fiend! He tries to distract you…" Turned to the elf, then to the creature, she answered,
"Are you doing this on purpose? If so, it won't work!" Inferno didn't answer, but the eye on his 'Nemea Shield' peered disgustedly. The creature nodded,
"Ah, I see! Do you know the secret between your sister and the nuke-nin? I believe you don't know at all…" Now Cassandra looks shocked and furious at the same time. She immediately charged toward the creature without thinking anymore. She slashed quickly, but the creature evaded it easily. When the Greek tried to smack her shield, it was blocked already by another 'shield'. She shuddered when the 'shield' touched her; it was slick and fleshy,
"EEEK! You're definitely not my type." Cassandra crouched beneath the creature and dashed forward. She leaped to the air and slashed upward, before gone to downward shield spike. Inferno countered the attack with upward shield slap, and then mercilessly bashed the opponent to the opposite side. The young girl dragged few meters from the site.
The infernal creature sensed another attack and morphed his weapons into a corrupted imitation of White Storm. Yunsung frowned when the creature blocked his attack with…the imitation of his weapon. Yet he brushed the attack with kick. With furious attack, he cornered his opponent. Distancing himself, Inferno's cold glare watched the red-haired youth with satisfaction, as he spewed the acerbic words,
"Ah, doing your friend's last will or defending your girlfriend? Which one is true?" The Korean shouted,
"I can't wait to take you down!" Roared to his lung, he leaped and sent a wide horizontal slash. Instead blocking Inferno stormed him with a sudden kick and threw him away. He was about to turn around when he saw a whirling elbow blades. The creature sidestepped Talim instantly and quickly prepares his 'own' elbow blades. The Filipino girl rolled away, and sported Cao Ankana,
"I'm not going to run! I must fight!" Inferno took even more relaxed stance, while commenting,
"Ah, the priestess…driven by desire to heal the world," He glanced sinisterly to the unconscious Yunsung,
"Or swept back and fro by the unanswered passion…am I right?" Talim shouted,
"Sinunggaling ka! Tatapusin kita dito, halimaw!" The fiery creature laughed,
"My dear, you can deceive yourself but there is no way you can deceive Inferno! Your weapons speak for yourself…" As she hesitated, Talim could sense her family was waiting for her. She admitted that she has a crush to Yunsung and jealous to Cassandra…however that was not her objective. Strengthened herself, the priestess answered,
"You will not leave this place!" With a wind-like speed, she lunged to Inferno and punched the creature at his face exactly, backhanding with another blade. While his opponent was slightly blinded, she slipped to the other side and sliced the opponent's neck. Talim swiftly uses Wind Charmer, only to be met by Inferno's Wind Gale. She cursed,
"Walanghiyaka! Hanggang ngayon, mandaraya ka!" The fiery creature only gave her a grin. The incensed girl quickly gifted him with a leaping stab, following the somersault kick to its face. Inferno was knocked back with such attack. She followed with Wind Sault and knocked the creature with uppercut. The next attack would be upward thrust, as she crouched low. The Hellfire of Despair began to send a flip kick stomp to crush the girl, yet she evaded the attack and counterattack with a flying double kick toward her opponent. Shockingly, Inferno grabbed her left leg and she could felt a painful sensation around it. The creature cracked,
"A mistake…a terrible mistake, my dear…" Without waiting anymore, the fire creature dragged the girl and spun her violently, before throwing her to the other direction. Cassandra Alexandra was about to rise from the ground, when Talim hit her squarely and sent both of them sprawled unconscious. Xianghua screamed,
"Cassie! Talim!" She stared Inferno with look of hatred, while gripping her sword tightly. Beside her, Kilik lifted the Kali-Yuga, preparing to fight. In other side, Necrid wielded the Maleficus and Link lifted Hylian Shield and Master Sword. The Hellfire of Despair watched the remaining warriors without any expression and he said,
"Come down…all of you!"
Author's Note: Ok, this is the first part! For your information, the weapons that Inferno uses are the Soul Edge versions of everyone's weapons. I used that since I simply like its organic looks, including the eye. What will be the final result of this battle? What happened later to Nightmare and Ivy? Will the Soul Calibur returned on time? Just wait the second part and all questions will be answered. Send your reviews, reactions, critics (and as usual, flames) See you then.
Note: This is only the revision for the previous. For now, I just wait about Soul Calibur III to make my fanfic fit into the story.
Glossary:
Filipino:
ano nangyari sa kanya? – what happened to her?
Ang halimaw…buhay siya! – the monster…it's alive!
Pero, bakit hinde namatay tayong lahat?- but, why are all of us not die?
anong nangyari sa inyo?"-What happened to you?
Grabe…-Expression, almost equal with 'wow'
Ito ng dahilan bakit ako nandito!-This is the reason why I'm here
tuturuan ko ng leksyon ang mayabang halimaw ito- I'll teach that snobbish monster a lesson
Sinunggaling ka!-You are lying!
Tatapusin kita dito, halimaw-I will finish you here!
Walanghiyaka! Hanggang ngayon, mandaraya ka!- Shame! Until now, you're still cheater!