Epilogue
Few seconds later, the bloodshot eye upon the rapier-like blade throbbed vigorously. Simultaneously, Raphael opened his eyes and stared its surrounding. He noted blood upon his nose, and licked it. Somehow, he liked its taste. The French took the Soul Edge hurriedly, giving the last glance to the unconscious knight and Englishwoman. He almost thinks to finish off them; however his mind urged to abandon the plan since he was drained out after claiming Soul Edge. The image of Amy entered,
I must return to Amy at once…He spat toward them, cursing,
"Both of you are lucky…let's hope this is our last meeting," Then he left, without realizing the white-cloaked figure watched him closely.
Meanwhile at Tartaros, the warriors were tried to get out from the roaring firestorm. Soul Calibur's aura had protected them from the raging flame, but for how long? Yunsung shouted,
"We have to get out from here!"
"I fear," Yoshimitsu replied, "We may not survive that long. The only one who can bring us back, Soul Edge had been destroyed…" Cassandra cut him,
"There must be the way out," She turned to Spawn, who shook his head ruefully,
"Though I'm Hellspawn, I don't have power over this realm…only my Master does,"
Link added, "We're going to burn alive here…" The young master of Ling-Sheng-Su said,
"Don't give up, we had been thorough this…we can return to the Earth!" Xianghua nodded in agreement, though she was perspired heavily while keeping the wave of fire at the bay. Necrid whirled Chaos in form of staff, to swiping the fiery tongues away
Taki ignored them; instead she looked for someone,
"Talim?" She and Yunsung turned to the priestess who stared the firestorm around them. The Filipino spoke clearly,
"Ito hindi ang ordinaryo apoy…sila mga nawawalang kalulua…all of them were killed by Inferno and absorbed into the Soul Edge," Everyone turned to her. She gripped her elbow blade tightly, while gritting her teeth,
"Nararandaman ko ang silang galit at kalungkutan. Ito ang nararandaman ko nakaraan labing-limang taon. Kailangan ko ibalik sila sa kanyang dati!" The girl stabbed her weapon on the ground and sat cross-legged on the arid ground. Yunsung asked,
"Talim, what are you doing?" The priestess didn't answer; instead she spread her arms in a summoning position and chanted in her dialect.
"Diwata ng hangin, narinig mo ng mga kalulua ito…ibalik mo sila sa dating anyo! Ibalik mo sila! Ibalik mo sila! IBALIK MO SILA SA DATING ANYO! IBALIK MO PARA NANAHIMIK SILANG LAHAT!" Suddenly, something strange happened. A strong wind came from nowhere and blew the firestorm away. The raging element tried to fight back, but somehow it was driven back by the wind. Talim focused her mind, using whatever she had learned as the Priestess of the Wind. She must restore those souls back to its former state, or else the balance was threatened. Sweat rolled all around her little body, making her skin slick. At first, the wind managed to keep the firestorm away, however the intense heat of Tartaros and the previous fight with Inferno had sapped her strength. The girl felt she was drained slowly. Then the blaze roared again and began to fell like shooting star around the warriors. Slow but sure, Talim's hand went down. The red-haired youth shouted worriedly,
"Talim! Don't do that, you will kill yourself!" The priestess ignored the warning. Realizing the grave situation, Kilik said,
"She can't do that alone!" He sprang toward the Filipino girl and thudded the Kali-Yuga,
"Master, I won't let you down!" Whirled the staff, the young master chanted the ward of protection and focused his Ki. During his training with Edge Master, he had learned how to unlock the Kali-Yuga's potential. Now it was the right time to put them in practice. He whirled the staff in front of him, before moved in front of Talim. At the same time, a huge wave of fire came toward them. Xianghua shouted,
"Kilik!"
Ivy gasped suddenly and rose from the floor; she saw that the wound above her breast wasn't too fatal. In other hand, the German was severely wounded. The deformed right hand has gone as the evil blood drained out. As he tried to rise, she took Valentine and pointed it to his neck. Startled, Siegfried turned to the Englishwoman, who looks grim and said weakly,
"Ivy…I…" The white-haired woman asked coldly,
"Why did you save me? Talk or I will kill you on the spot…" The youth coughed blood, before he continued to speak,
"It…never…my intention to be…Nightmare, but I had…allowed the Soul Edge to enslave me. For 4 years, I've waited this moment…though not as I expected…" He stared Ivy defiantly,
"If you want to kill me, do it! You want to destroy everything linked with Soul Edge, do you? For me, it was better to die in your hand than others…I'm ready…by then my father's soul would be in peace…" Actually, Ivy wanted to kill him immediately, after what he had done 4 years ago. She grinded her teeth, as she struggled inside. A spark of honor…long forgotten after the revelation. The nuke-nin's words echoed inside,
Your motives may outweigh your deeds, but they will never wash the blood on your hands, Ivy. She had already shedding many blood just to avenge her past, but…this man…she faintly knew…had his blood spilled only to protect her…is truly an another way to redeem her evil past? She wanted to cut Siegfried's head, but she couldn't…slowly Ivy lowered Valentine and said chokingly,
"I want to kill you…" she hissed, "but I do owe you, don't I?" Unthinkably, she lifted the wounded German, much to his shock. He shouted,
"What do you want? You must not…" The Englishwoman glared fiercely, silencing him instantly,
"I am indebted to you for saving me from Raphael- and I detest being obliged to anyone." Without saying another word, she wrapped her arms around Siegfried and lifted with a strength he would not have thought she had. However, the massive azure armor prevented her to carry him further. He said,
"Let me discard my armor first, by then you won't have difficulty to carrying Me.…"Though suspicious, Ivy agreed and allowed him to take off the armor. Few hours later, the German threw the armor at the spot where they had been lying a while ago. Then they left the chapel that had been corrupted by the remaining energy of Soul Edge.
Miraculously, the fire didn't engulf the young master and the priestess; instead it was channeled into Kali-Yuga. Full with determination, Kilik continued his maneuver. The infernal aura was absorbed completely by the holy staff. As the result, the staff glowed into a red-hot light. The warrior felt that his hands were burned slowly, soon or later, he couldn't hold that. Yet, he persisted despite the blistering sensation bit his palms. Cassandra said,
"They won't last longer, if we don't do something!" The Manji nodded,
"We have to help what we can help…we must get out from here together!" Spawn stared with disbelief, while Xianghua replied,
"Elder is right! If we want to get out from this blasted place, we must work together…" The Korean grunted,
"Yes, that's what I want to hear! What are you waiting for?" Taki glanced to Mekki-maru,
"Mekki-maru, it seems you're destined to be with me! Though the Soul Edge fails to destroy you, I swore to use you for the goodness," Yoshimitsu lifted his beloved katana, which glowed blue,
"It seems we have to fight again!" Link, Cassandra and Necrid nodded. With one accord, they moved to aid their friends. Xianghua positioned herself beside Kilik, while Yunsung supported Talim who had already at the edge of exhaustion. The girl said weakly,
"Kuya Yunsung…" The red-haired youth said,
"Don't worry, I will support you! Talim, you're the closest friend I ever have. You are right; I don't need the Soul Edge, because I believe in myself and my friends! With that, I shall help Hwang to protect Choson from the invaders!" Though weakened, she smiled and said,
"Salamat, Kuya Yunsung!" Instantly, she felt energized again and chanted another spell. Meanwhile the young master said to the Chinese girl,
"Xiang…I…"
"Hush, for a long time, you always acted and does everything alone. Now there is someone who willing to lay their lives for you! Stop acting of being yourself!" Once again, the face of Xianglian appeared, but this time she was smiling to him. He returned the smile,
"I will not let anyone down! Thank you, Xianghua!" Ignoring the painful sensation at his hands and blisters, Kilik whirled Kali-Yuga furiously. In other place, Cassandra slashed the splashing flame around them and they dissipated under the divine aura of Hephaestus. Yoshimitsu and Taki caught the remaining blaze and extinguished the evil aura with their own weapons' aura. Link didn't want to lose; he intensified the power of Master Sword to cut the remaining evil. Without his knowledge, a tongue of fire crept toward him. Spawn instantly blocked the attack with his own cloak. The flame broke against the necroplasmic cloak like the surf against a rock and with as little effect. Surprised, the elf mumbled,
"Thanks…" The Hellspawn didn't answer and continued to deflect the remaining flames around them. Slowly, the firestorm was receding. . The evil aura, thought to be limitless in its power, gradually waned and the hellfire lost its sustenance. In the blink of an eye, it changed its form and scattered into the winds. The spiritual energies led astray righted their course and flowed toward this place. Most had been absorbed by Kali-Yuga, while the rest had been transformed into the weak bluish flame. Seeing those bluish flames, Talim smiled. She has succeeded to return those souls to the place where they belong,
Manahimik na kayong lahat ngayon, mga kalulua. Hanggang sa huli…She fell, however Yunsung had caught her.
The danger wasn't over yet; a huge quake shook their place and it started to crack. Cassandra shouted,
"We can't wait any longer! This place is going down…" As the fire around them subsidized, the green creature walked into the middle and shouted,
"HAYAAA! ZEZSO UMAZONS! GEH MOLAH" He morphed Chaos into a huge pointed sword and struck above the air. To everyone's surprise, the sword struck the sky of Tartaros and ripped it. The bright light shone upon the warriors. Xianghua cheered,
"Necrid had opened the way! He did it!" Her cheer was cut by a terrible crack that surrounded them. The place would collapse within a few minutes. At the same time, the green creature turned to the unconscious Talim and remembered something. She reminded him to his past…where his only ambition before was to serve his king and to see his children grew up. His mind screamed,
There is no mistake that cannot be redressed; it is not beyond correction as long as you intend to do what is right! He shouted again, as he poured his strength toward Chaos and connecting it with where he was belong now…the Void,
"DESAWOHE. TERRRRY. OGATSEM! HAYO GETSZSU SEYAHO METZESHIN" The sound of crack above was heard simultaneously with the terrible quake below. Then the bright light flooded into Tartaros, and the warriors faded inside the light. With a monstrous roar, the place was collapsed into an ocean of fire…
In other place, two people were deep in concentration. Their brows were furrowed deeply as they considered every step they will take. Maxi and Mitsurugi stared to a board of go unmoving. Then the ronin moved his piece and took his opponent's. He gloated,
"Well, what do you think?" The pirate instead replied,
"Give more time, I bet you wouldn't smile again…"
"How come? We already play the same game for three days and I won three times…" Maxi sniffed,
"I'm sorry, Mitsurugi-san. My mind still thinking our departed friends…" For this, Mitsurugi was silent. After the blinding light took their friends, they immediately left the chapel, ignoring the unconscious knight and Englishwoman. Yet, they took the particular place nearby the Osthreinsburg Castle for watching whenever their friends would return or not, while playing Go. The pirate continued,
"Three days already passed and we still don't have news about them…had I realized them sooner I don't have to play with this silly game…" The ronin grunted,
"You says playing Go is silly? Nonsense! You say so because you can't win!" Irked, Maxi replied,
"Come on! Let's finish this!" Mitsurugi laughed,
"Don't know when to quit, do you?" Before they continued their game, a red beam came forth through the board of Go, shocking both of them. Instinctively, they distanced themselves from the place and prepared their own weapons. Slowly, the light filled the place. As the light disappeared, several figures appeared among them. Maxi instantly recognized them,
"It's them! They're alive!" The ronin could only startled,
"Huh?" They saw Kilik, Xianghua, Link, Taki, Cassandra, Yoshimitsu, Necrid and Spawn stood, while Yunsung carried the exhausted Talim. The Korean said,
"Talim, do you see that? We have returned to Earth…" The priestess nodded weakly. When the light was completely vanished, the young master of Ling-Sheng-Su dropped his bo immediately and saw his hand blistered. Even so, he was half-satisfied. In other hand, Xianghua turned to her blade…it was no longer Soul Calibur and turned into an old, battered sword. She realized the sword had fulfilled its purpose. She whispered silently,
"Thank you, Mother…" Then someone called them,
"Kilik? Xianghua? Is it really you?" They turned and saw Maxi spreading his hands toward them. The girl shouted,
"Maxi?"
"Of course, old Maxi! Who else?" Kilik smiled,
"You…remember us finally…" The pirate ran toward him and hugged tightly,
"How could I have forgotten? You are my closest friend! Er…Kilik, is there something wrong?" The youth didn't answer as he grimaced in painful expression. It seemed Maxi had hugged his blistered hand as well, thus causing unbearable pain. The pirate immediately realized that as Xianghua gestured panicky. He quickly distanced himself,
"Oh, I don't know you are wounded…I'm terribly sorry!" Kilik answered,
"I'll be fine, Maxi…it's glad to have you back here…"
"Let me bandage your hands…" He turned and saw the Chinese girl tore off some of her garments. She quickly wrapped it to his hand. He said,
"Thank you very much, Xiang!" Then they kissed each other, while Maxi said jokingly,
"Well, if you need me, I will be nearby…or perhaps not…"
Cassandra watched the surrounding with mixed feelings; she truly defeated Inferno and fulfilled her destiny. But with what price? Sophitia was dead and her victory tasted bitter in her lips. She had to break the news to Rothion, Pyrrha and Patroklos. She would missed her sister's sweet voice; tears rolled upon her cheek. Xianghua went closer to her,
"Cassie, are you all right?" Wiping the tears, the Greek girl answered,
"I'm all right, Xiang…I just remembered Sophitia…" Yunsung and Talim came to them. The ninja and the elf also joined them. The red-haired youth lowered his head,
"And…Mina…we'll miss them dearly," Unable to hold her emotion, Cassandra hugged Xianghua and sobbed. Then someone called faraway,
"Cassandra…" The blond-haired girl turned around and saw something that shocked her,
"Sophitia?" She saw Sophitia Alexandra standing not far from her. The woman wore the brown-pink garment with a bandanna. Cassandra was unable to believe, yet she saw the tears on the woman's cheek were real. She ran toward her, staring intently.
"Sophitia? Are you real?" The blond woman replied,
"I am, Cassandra! I'm your sister…when we were small; I always play as Atalanta or Ulysess…" The girl was no longer doubt; the woman standing before her was her sister! She hugged Sophita tightly,
"Sister, I thought…Charade has killed you…" Sophitia wanted to answer, but she saw Link coming,
"Princess Sophitia, I thought you…are…" The woman smiled to him,
"I will tell the story, but not here," Suddenly, Cassandra remembered something. Shyly, she showed the battered sword and shield,
"Sophitia, I'm sorry…" The elder sister hushed,
"Hush, it doesn't matter as long as you are returned safely…I believe you had done it…"
Yunsung stared them numbly, yet he was thinking,
If Ms. Sophitia didn't die, then she must be… A knock in his head stopped the thought abruptly. The youth turned back and saw…a young girl in white-green garment holding a zanbatou. She smug only,
"Great, you had all the fun and not even a greeting for me…" The Korean cheered and instantly hugged Seung Mina,
"Mina, you are alive! Alive!" The black-haired girl brushed him brusquely,
"Of course, what do you think I am? Dead? No way, I'm too young and too tough for die!"
"Whatever! I can't say how I glad to see you here…" Suddenly, Link went to them as well,
"Ms. Mina, you are alive!" Now Mina felt annoyed,
"Wait a minute, I left all of you for 5 days and everyone thought I was dead? Now please give explanation what's going on here!" Taki replied,
"It will be a long story…"
Spawn watched them dejectedly; they already at home but he…how can he return to his own time? Then Necrid tapped her shoulder lightly. At first, he almost instinctively went to defensive. Yet, the creature didn't respond in a hostile manner. The green creature pointed toward the gap and gestured the Hellspawn to go there,
"You mean I can go back to my time through there?" Necrid nodded tartly. Hesitantly, the warrior from Hell moved toward the gap and entered…
New York, present time,
Spawn stared his surrounding; he was standing upon the top of the old church in New York. For the first time after spending time in the 16th century, he felt at home finally.
Necrid walked toward Yunsung and Talim. His massive shade covered both youngsters. The Filipino girl turned to the green creature and gives a forced smile,
"Gusto mo uumuwi?" The creature answered,
"YARS MORS. AHHHOOGH!"
"Sige, uwi ka…pero meron ako regalo para sa inyo," She took something from her leather sack and gave it to Necrid. It was the remaining Evil Seed. The green creature didn't say anything, as Talim said,
"Para sa inyo ito, hindi ko kailangan…wala na ng Soul Edge. Siguro tapos na ang aking palakbay, babalik ako sa mga magulang ko," Necrid nodded with understanding, and then turned back to the gap that he created. He could hear the girl saying,
"Paalam, Necrid…maraming salamat," The creature entered the gap to the Void and immediately vanished along with the closing, bringing with him the Evil Seed.
Above the small hill, the white-cloaked figure watched the departure of Spawn, Link and Necrid. His right eye gleamed slightly, when the green creature entered the Void again. He muttered,
"Good riddance…" As he twisted his huge scythe, his body blurred from the sight.
Quite far from Osthreinsburg Castle,
Voldo tried to wake up, but he couldn't. He was severely wounded during fight with Nightmare. He wanted to carry out his master's last wish, yet his body was broken severely. Then he heard the light steps nearby…someone come toward his direction.
A green-haired young girl came closer to the wounded assassin. She wore green pants and purple gauntlet. Her clothes barely covered her chest, while her pants pulled lower almost to the groin. The purple leather straps wrapped her shoes, while few wrapped around her torso. The girl brandished a huge steel ring with sharp edges; she watched the Italian with mocking stare,
"Ohh, poor creature…who do this to you?" Being mute, Voldo couldn't answer the question. The girl smiled coldly,
"Well, I guess I have to end your suffering now…" With unbelievable strength, the girl lifted the ring and whirled it before she brought it to cut the assassin into two. Yet she stopped in the middle,
"On the second thought, you might be valuable for me alive than dead…and you may have purpose for me…" Thudding her giant weapon, the green-haired girl took the wounded assassin and leaped away from the place.
When Ivy and Siegfried left, something happened. Ivy's blood that pooled nearby suddenly moved toward the discarded armor. Not far from its place, the ashes of Cervantes de Leon flew toward the same place and stick upon the armor. The armor itself began to emit a faint reddish aura…
Meanwhile, Raphael rode his horse back to the mansion. He smiled to himself, as the Soul Edge sheathed beside his waist. Yet, the smile faded as he saw black smoke came from the direction of the mansion. The French jolted in horror,
"No, Amy…" He paced his horse quickly toward the mansion.
Once inside its premise, he found out that the mansion was burned and ransacked. Bodies strewn everywhere, and he recognized one of them,
"Lumiere!" He leaped down from the back of the horse and clutched his butler,
"Lumiere! What happened? Where is Amy?" With dying breath, the butler answered,
"I'm sorry, Monsieur Berthine…I tried but…they're too many…Mademoiselle Amy…" He breathed his last breath. Raphael gritted his teeth furiously and he saw…Comte Duc Salle accompanied by Desgrand and a group of well-armed brigands. The corpulent man said,
"Well, you must be Louis Berthine…or should I say, Raphael Sorel…" The noble rose; he wanted to spoke but what came out from his mouth was almost like a feral growl,
"Duc Salle, you…these people were innocent; they know nothing about me," Duc Salle laughed,
"Yeah, right! I found you just accidentally, when I was looking for Countess Valentine. Then someone saw she went to this place and I have it checked immediately. From the servants, I found out that the master of this house had received a mysterious guest that brandished a huge sword…" Then the conversation was stopped when both of them saw an auburn-haired girl stood between them. Raphael whispered fearfully,
"Amy…" The girl shouted,
"Papa…" She ran toward her adopted father until a loud bang came. The girl felt something painful upon her chest and a red spot appeared upon her blue garment. Desgrand held a smoking flintlock. Seeing that, the young Sorel screamed,
"NOOO!" He ran and took the fallen girl in his hand,
"Amy, hang on…Don't leave me! I will help you! " Amy smiled weakly,
"Papa…I'm glad you are return to me…" Then she fell silent. Raphael felt broken inside; he tried hard to secure Soul Edge for her future, and now she was taken away from him forcibly. He turned to the corpulent man and his stooges. They guffawed and prepared their own rifles to shoot him like a dog. Inside, the evil sword whispered,
Kill them! Give them what they give to your daughter…I…we can save her! Don't spare all of them! Kill them! He unsheathed the Soul Edge menacingly, thus allowing the fearful aura to spread around. He hissed with a terrible voice,
"Gladly!" Braving the bullets, he charged toward them and swung Soul Edge mightily. What could be described later was a bloodbath…
Faraway from France, the warriors trailed from Czech region down to the Balkan until they arrived at Athens. When Sophitia and Cassandra arrived at their home, Rothion and the healed children welcomed them. The others watched from a safe distance, while Taki felt jealous to see the Greek woman with her husband. The Alexandra's sisters invited and introduced them to their family, who more than glad to welcome them. Sophitia prepared the sumptuous meal for them, which welcomed by Mitsurugi. Once her children were away with Rothion, she and Mina told them what happened before,
"As you guessed, Charade had waited us. The creature attacked us mercilessly before we managed to know it," The Korean girl added,
"Actually Sophitia and I were more than enough for that creep, but we're spent after our previous fight. Not mention the creep copied your movements…moreover, we have to fight it in midst of heavy rain. " Cassandra, Link and Yunsung listened carefully, as Sophitia continued,
"At one moment, I managed to corner Charade, even kicked its evil core! Its body skidded across the mud. Thinking we won, Mina stormed through…but it was a trap!" Slightly ashamed, Mina explained,
"I wasn't aware, when the creature produced Voldo's katars. When I use Thrusting Fang, it evaded the attack and bashed me very hard. I was unconscious instantly…luckily it only managed to cut my braid and sent a small scrape" The blond girl said,
"That's what I saw in my dream…"
"I shouted, when Charade slapped Mina. I quickly send shield bash, throwing it quite far. However, it also sent the powerful kick that sent me away from her. Worst, my Omega Sword and Nemea Shield were scattered from me…Before I crawl away, Charade yanked my hairs and put its katar to my neck." Talim blurted,
"Then…"
"Before it managed to land a lethal strike, something or…someone struck the creature away. I was too weak to notice it and thought only of Mina. The fight wasn't long, because before I'm close to Mina, I saw another creature stood in front of me…It brought Xi Sword and Game Shield," Kilik jumped in shock,
"Lizardman!" Xianghua asked,
"Did the creature hurt you?" Sophitia shook her head,
"No, the reptilian creature stared me with humane expression and then spoke to me, 'Ssservant of Hephaessstusss…I have sssaved your life…I am asssshamed to return…' Before it left, I asked what its name is.
It said…'my name wasss Aeon Calcosss…remember that…' The creature vanished amidst the rainfall. Once recovered, I took Mina and drag ourselves to the nearest village. Luckily, her wound isn't serious. Fearing that Charade might attack you, we decided to follow back our trail…" Everyone nodded silently, nobody wanted to give any comment.
At night, the warriors but Link took their nap. Sophitia and Cassandra noted that the elf looks uneasy. They asked,
"What's wrong, Link?" The blond-haired elf spoke haltingly,
"Ms. Sophitia! Ms. Cassandra, I think it is time for us to say goodbye…" The younger girl realized,
"You will go back to Hyrule?" The Hyrule nodded,
"Yes, I'm done. Soul Edge had been destroyed; I believe it would bring Hyrule to peace again…" Sophitia felt a sudden loss; Link had accompanied her during the journey. It was saddened her to lose such good friend like him. Cassandra noted that sadness, prompting to say,
"Link, thank you very much…we wish you can visit us at Athena someday," Link smiled,
"Excuse me. Not now but I will visit you someday…" Finally, the Greek woman wiped her tears and said,
"Good luck for your journey, Link!" He nodded and produced the Ocarina of Time. With a gentle press, the device hummed and bathed him with streams of light. Seeing that, Seung Mina joined them as well, shouting,
"Goodbye, Link! Take care!" Link waved his hand as he slowly disappeared from their sight.
Three days later, Captain Cosseau and his regiment entered the burned mansion and saw the horrible scene. Everyone there were impaled by their rifles or cut into pieces by something sharp. Even Duc Salle wasn't spared at all. His bloated and mutilated body hung on the balcony. Desgrand got the worst treatment…his body were scattered to the four winds. At the same time, there were a row of newly-dug graves nearby. Unable to stomach such scene, Cosseau withdrew only to vomit, but not before ordered his men,
"Remove these body immediately…!"
On the English Channel, a small clipper crossed the sea calmly. The crews worked tirelessly, while the one-legged captain barked orders. When he turned around, Isabella Valentine stood behind him. She wore the purple cloak that covered her body completely. The grizzled man said,
"Don't worry, Countess Valentine! In no time, we will arrive at England…and of course, secretly!" The white-haired woman frowned,
"I hope so, Captain! I don't want they know I have returned, since the Valentine family has plenty of enemy…"
"You can count on me, Countess! They won't know your arrival at all…" She diverted the conversation,
"How is he now?" The captain looks uneasy,
"So far, he's got well…his health returned rapidly. I never see such strong man like him!" Ivy thanked the captain politely, before she turned into the ship. Though the Valentine family had gone derelict, she maintained some connection to the underworld of England. Though suspicious, she was assured that the captain's loyalty is worth of her gilds. With what remaining from her fortune and influence, she established a network of spies all around Europe to found Soul Edge. She had heard what happened to Raphael Sorel, however the noble has vanished from the earth. Slowly, she stepped down and entered a room.
Siegfried Schtauffen awoke from his sleep. His hair had returned to the normal blond color, while a scar crossed his right eye. His shoulder and chest was bandaged heavily, yet he could feel the pain. Instantly, he turned to the woman,
"I don't know whether I have to thank you or not…but I think I'm indebted to you," Ivy smiled and took off her cloak. She wore the revealing costume, but the difference was its color. It was colored white, instead purple. She spoke,
"Raphael has vanished after massacred Comte Duc Salle and his men…however he can't hide for long…" The name pained Siegfried; it was his failure to stop the noble from claiming the Soul Edge, thus creating another monster like himself. He said grimly,
"I'm sure we'll fight each other again, this time to death…" The Englishwoman went closer and caressed his face,
"Neither of us can do this alone, Siegfried…" She continued in a seductive manner, "I suggest you pick up your end and we begin working together." The young knight considered whether this was another test of his resolute,
"Somehow you have forgotten to destroy anything related to Soul Edge…" To this, Ivy replied,
"If I want to achieve my objective, I have to find a suitable ally…beside look what I have brought for you…" Then she produced something, a huge Zweihander. The German gasped,
"Faust…" Unconvinced, he asked her sternly,
"How can I trust you?" She said before kissed him,
"Sometimes mutual suspicion is enough…" Siegfried kissed her back and hugged her to the bed. The ship sailed calmly to its destination.
Few weeks later, the warriors departed from Athens and embarked on a merchant ship toward Arab. Upon there, they would take another ship to India and eventually to Ayutthaya. The seagull flew over the blue skies. As usual, Maxi sat on the deck, sunbathing. This time, his face was beamed. The Chinese girl called him,
"Maxi, good morning!"
"Good morning too, Xiang! Oh, Kilik! How's your hands?" The young master showed his bandaged hands,
"I will be fine; it will take three days," Xianghua went beside the pirate,
"Still thinking Astaroth…" He shook his head,
"Not anymore, I have the peace by letting go my past. Now I was thinking about my present and future…" Kilik joined them,
"What do you have in mind, Maxi?" Maxi thought harder,
"Hmm, probably I would working to earn some money…then I will buy my own ship," He looked distantly,
"Then I will round the ocean to find what the destiny holds for me," He turned to his friends,
"Of course, I will ask you to join me! What do you think?" The girl replied,
"That's nice, Maxi…however I have to return to Your Majesty and explain the truth about Hero's Sword,"
Kilik added, "I have another journey until I can let go my past. I'm sorry, Maxi." The pirate looks dejected, yet he smiled again,
"Oh, well! Anyway, if you changed your mind my offer still open…" All of them laughed instantly.
At the other side of ship, Yunsung stared the blue sea blankly. He was glad that he could prove himself, but at the same thing, he felt at loss. Suddenly Talim came,
"Kuya Yunsung, anong sa inisip mo?" She teased, "Alam ko, nag-iisip si Ate Cassie!" The Korean blushed,
"No, I just…" The girl continued, "Haa, huwag kang sinunggaling! Sabi ko kay Ate Mina…" Then Seung Mina appeared beside him,
"You don't have to tell me, Talim…it's oblivious in his face…" The red-haired youth turned to both of them,
"Are both of you conspiring?" The Korean girl sighed,
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay! Hey, have you seen the Sword of Salvation? Tell me what looks is like." Yunsung turned away from her, teasing,
"I won't tell you; you have to beg to me first, Mina…" Instead, Seung Mina sported a mischievous smile,
"I know how to make you talk…" In a sudden, she jumped to his back and held his neck. Talim was surprised to see that, and he shouted,
"Mina!" She slapped his butt, as he tried to keep balance. Then she shouted,
"Hyaah! Come, Yunsung! I won't stop do this until you tell me…"
"Mina, come on! You embarrassed me in front of Talim!" Despite his protest, Seung Han Myoung's daughter continued to make him a packmule. The Filipino giggled to see such funny things.
In another part of the ship, Taki wandered alone. She thought about Sophitia, yet she had accepted the reality that she had already a family. Then she saw Yoshimitsu and Mitsurugi. While the Manji meditated, the ronin looks restless. The ninja had no lost love to him, but she couldn't help to curious. She went to him and asked,
"Do you have a problem?" Mitsurugi glanced suspiciously, but she weathered it. He answered,
"I still not find where Soul Edge is; that's troubled me very much…" She said,
"I thought you already listening to what Yoshimitsu-san and Xianghua tell about our harrowing experience at Tartaros," Crossing his arms, the ronin nodded curtly,
"True, surely that can't be the sword I've been searching!" He turned to the distant sea,
"But I won't give up; I believe the real Soul Edge is out there…once I found it, I can even defeat Tanegashima," Taki shook her head tiredly. It seems the ronin had a hard time to believe that the sword that Xianghua broke was the same sword that he looked for. If he wanted to find Soul Calibur, his effort would be in vain since the sword had disappeared as well. She didn't say anymore, instead turned to the east…to Japan where his former master Toki also gathered the Evil Seed. She wondered whether it could become a threat like what Nightmare posed before. She whispered carefully,
"It's not over!"
Fu-Ma No Sato, Japan,
Inside the large hall of Fu-Ma clan, the wizened old man sat cross-legged at the center. He wore a kimono with the Fu-Ma mon, signifying he was from the clan. The black-clad ninja accompanied him. He looks severely to the fragments of metal that emitted faint reddish aura. He turned to someone sternly,
"So, can you reveal what secret behind these fragments? My men failed to capture the nuke-nin, I hope you will succeed where they had failed…" The man in front of him wore a terrible Oni mask, while the others wore the kabuki mask. The Oni-masked man answered with a cold tone,
"I'm assured you, Master Toki. We will succeed…that's our promise to you," Toki sighed, yet barely to cover a tone of disgust in his voice,
"I hope I do the wisest thing by trusting you, maho-tsukai!" The masked man bowed,
"You do the right thing by trusting us. Together we shall unlock the secret of these fragments…"
Late midnight, at Carpathia region, Romania,
Raphael Sorel watched the small village from his steed. The village was quite isolated and would be a perfect place for his plan. He turned to his sight to the abandoned castle. The place would be his place… he needs nobody but Soul Edge and Amy. He lifted the single-eyed rapier in front of him, and the bloodshot eye beckoned to him. Someone called,
"Papa, I'm hungry…" The corrupted noble said softly,
"Don't worry, Amy. We shall find our nourishment at that village. This will be our place and nobody would disturb us anymore as in France," Amy peeked from behind him; she also transformed like her adopted father. Her skin was bone-white, and her red eyes watched the village below with a hunger look…
At the same time in Osthreinsburg Chapel,
The white-cloaked figure walked closer to the strewn azure armor. He could felt an evil aura inside as Ivy's cursed blood and Cervantes' ashes stained the armor. He was displeased to learn that Raphael had took Soul Edge and Soul Calibur has vanished from Xianghua's hold. Yet what he found here was enough for his plan. Thudding his huge scythe again, the figure chanted a strange chant upon the abandoned armor. Slowly but sure, the red aura appeared from the armor and got stronger in every succeeding moment. As he continued the chant, something happened. The fleshy form appeared inside the armor and grew into appendages. The right one developed into a huge clawed hand like what Nightmare had, yet it added a vice-like jaw close to the shoulder. The left appendages filled the gauntlet easily and developed its fingers. Not stopping there, it also developed something akin to Zweihander but more bulkier and terrible. The bloodshot eye opened upon. The armor shook in a seizure-like movement until crimson light appeared on its visor. The white-cloaked figure smiled upon this development. The creature in azure armor rose and lifted his huge sword, saying,
"Let them come then! Their souls shall be mine!"
THE END
Author's Note: With this last chapter, I'm ending 'Soul Calibur II: Return of the Soul Edge' for good. You are free to express your reaction in form of critics, reviews (and flame). What do you think with the ending? I took liberty by adding something from L5R. The chapter was based upon SC information that I gleaned from Wikipedia. However, the story may differ far from SC III canon, if you noticed there. I must make some modification to allow the story flow. Yet I hope it didn't lessen your interest to read this fanfic. First of all, I thanked Firestarr who had encouraged me to write this fanfic and Sacharja for the suggestion. I also thanked those who had put their reviews here as well as those who had visited the fanfic. Thanks for to allow me post this fanfic. Once again, thank you very much!
Glossary:
Filipino:
Ito hindi ang ordinaryo apoy-This is not an ordinary fire
sila mga nawawalang kaluluwa-they are the lost souls
Nararandaman ko ang silang galit at kalungkutan-I can feel their anger and sorrow
Ito ang nararandaman ko nakaraan labing-limang taon-This what I feel 15 years ago
Kailangan ko ibalik sila sa kanyang dati-I must return them to their original form
Diwata ng hangin-Goddess of Wind
narinig mo ng mga kalulua ito- Do you hear these souls
ibalik mo sila sa dating anyo- Return them to where they are
ibalik mo para nanahimik silang lahat-Return them , so they can rest in peace
Manahimik na kayong lahat ngayon, mga kalulua- Now all of you are in peace
Hanggang sa uli – See you later
Gusto mo uumuwi?- Do you want to go home?
Sige, uwi ka- Sige, go home
pero meron ako regalo para sa inyo-but I have a gift for you
Para sa inyo ito- this is for you
hindi ko kailangan…- I don't need this
wala na ng Soul Edge- Soul Edge is no more
Siguro tapos na ang aking palakbay- my journey may be over
babalik ako sa mga magulang ko,- I will return to my parents
Paalam- Goodbye
anong sa inisip mo?- What do you think?
Alam ko, nag-iisip si Ate Cassie- I know, thinking Ate Cassie
huwag kang sinunggaling- Don't lie
Sabi ko kay Ate Mina- I tell Ate Mina
Others:
Maho-tsukai- black, blood magic practitioner
Oni-demon (Jap.)