Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Caliber, Tekken or any of it's characters. They all belong to NAMCO. I don't own anybody from the Zelda Series they belong to Nintendo. I do not own Spawn or Necrid either, Todd McFarlane does. And if you want the copyright info on the Original Characters it is in my profile.
Authors Note: Just to clear a few reviews up. Taki's personal life will break into more detail very soon, there will most definately be a complex rivalry between Drake and Yunsung over Talim. And just to let you know, Necrid has just retrieved his first shard from the village. After all that is the only way he thinks he can return to normal.
PROFILES: WEAPON INFORMATION ADDED (See author's profile for the link)
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Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Of Winds and Gales
It was truly a horrible sight everybody that had retreated to the cathedral had been mercilessly torn apart by whatever apparition had invaded this place. Mina stepped around flipping through a few notes, during her first journey she had looked into the writings of the western countries and knew a few things about Arabic. From what she could tell they had been experimenting with the Soul Edge, trying to figure out where it had originated from. The call had obviously prompted whoever had come to do so and take possession of it. Kyle had found a number of people that had all been decapitated and thrown into a back room, obviously those that had been poisoned by the shard during the tests.
Mina gulped as she placed the book down, while only able to pick up a few words what few she could was enough to disturb her "This is the sickest thing I've ever seen." she breathed out slowly, wondering how she or Hwang could have ever wanted the blade for their own. Kyle shook his head as he stepped up picking up the book and looking at the blood stains upon it "A blade to make men monsters. Makes me ask, should I be hating the Soul Edge or the fool that allowed himself to be tainted by it." he says before he placed it down and leaned against the wall.
Mina looked back to her long time friend that had for a long time now carried a powerful grudge against the blade's original owner for the death of his family. Silverbolt looked up lightly from its perch on the far end of the table and looked up as Mina spoke "Kyle..." she breathed out slowly. It had taken him a good while after they originally met to finally tell of his story, he wasn't traveling to claim or destroy the swords, his only purpose in life right now seemed to be to confront Cervantes de Leon and make sure that he did not come back a second time. It was sad that it had become almost an obsession and was taking him over.
Kyle looked at Mina as she stepped over wrapping her arms around his neck warmly, he breathed bringing one arm up over her back "Please be careful Kyle. I don't want anything to happen to you, I have three dead friends who went after that man and so does Hwang. Don't do this alone." she said. Kyle took a breath as he pulled Mina off of him and looked into her eyes "Mina, I am not going to break my original promise. When he dies, he will know that coming back would be a waste of his time. I will not fight at his level." he said. She looked at him and nodded "Alright, just promise me you'll be careful." she begged.
Kyle reached back pulling his long sword from his back and placed it on the ground, the oni blade called the Oblivion was something he considered closer to him than his own soul. He placed his hand over its handle and looked at her "You have my word, Mina." he said in a voice that was plain and slow. Mina nodded and they smiled at one another, suddenly there was a loud impact sound from above and Mina sprung out of their gaze bringing up the Scarlet Thunder "What the...?!" she cursed as Silverbolt flew from the room to inspect it.
Kyle looked at Mina before pulling his blade from the ground and placing it back over his back into its sheath, there was another loud crash "Sounds like big problems." he growled. Mina and Kyle headed back to the main hall, parts of the ceiling had collapsed but Kyle easily cleared away one broken door with a swing of the surprisingly lightweight sword. He then moved on eventually reaching the main lobby, they rushed up the stairs as they heard a few shouts "Is that Yunsung?!" Kyle called. "He must have run into whatever started this!" she shouted.
The creature gave another loud roar as it stood defiantly before the trio of young warriors stepped back and starred it down. Drake tossed his cloak off getting it out of his way and held his twin tantos in the Wind Dance position "Talim. You. Come here." he said. Yunsung looked toward him and crept up as Drake laid down a plan so simple that anybody could understand it "Alright. I'll hold back, the names Yunsung by the way." he said. Drake nodded before he turned back to the monster that stretched out its energy in its hands, suddenly it raised both arms and brought them back as if it was calling something forward.
Yunsung shot to attention as he noticed a glow in the center of them "Move it!" he shouted as electricity flashed. Drake and Talim saw and pushed off running at the monster while Yunsung grunted jumping toward hitting the ground on his chest. There was a loud explosion from behind that seemed to ping in the backs of his ears for a few seconds as a solid hole was blown in the balcony. He looked up as Talim and Drake rushed at the monster as it recovered from its attack and prepared its energy weapon and held it up as they both approached. He swung it as it took that whip shape again, Yunsung held his breath.
Drake and Talim were quick to react each of them respectively jumping or flipping over the attack and lunging at the monster, that was Yunsung's signal and he took off at the monster. Talim let out a hard battle shout as she swung both her blades to cut into the monster's side, Drake meanwhile landed around its left side and twisted to stab both of his blades into the monster's shoulders in hopes of incapacitating its arm. It roared before it gripped Talim up by the leg and tossed her across the balcony, Talim yelped as he lower back brushed the ground but she quickly recovered and brought her hands back to turn a flip and land in a crouch. This however resulted in a pair of scrapped up palms.
Yunsung watched as Talim went by him and growled as he jumped up into the air and came down at the monster with his foot smashing it right into its jaw before coming down with his sword. The White Storm cut into the armor but only left scratches on it "Damn!" Yunsung grunted before he felt the energy weapon which was balled in the monster fist knock him to the side. The burning sensation caused him to grit his teeth hard as he hit the ground holding his hand over his shirt which showed a few burns on it.
Drake rejoined them as the monster became disgruntled and took a breather "Okay. This isn't going well. Any ideas?" Yunsung asked. Drake breathed shaking his head looking back "Aside from kick its ass I'm fresh out." he said as seriously as he could. "What the hell is this thing?!" Yunsung growled in anger. "Necrid." Drake replied as if he had known it the entire time. Talim and Yunsung looked at him as he said this.
Yunsung didn't like this "What the...how do you know its name?" he asked with a great amount of distrust. Drake breathed "The winds call the monster that destroys with the essence of the Soul Edge, Necrid." Yunsung looked at Talim wondering how well they knew each other for real. As he gazed at a recovering Talim, Yunsung suddenly noticed something past the monster toward the dunes, a slight flicker of light the monster roared as it composed itself and raised its arms."Here we go again." Talim murmured but she was interrupted by the most unexpected sound.
A sharp but definite noise went off from over the dunes and there was a sudden wet smacking sound, the monster sniffed before looking down at it's shoulder. Suddenly there was a large amount of blood as it splashed out onto the floor, it roared in agony gripping the solidly pierced shoulder in pain. Talim and Yunsung smiled while Drake was trying to figure out who could possibly be that accurate with a modern day rifle. The monster roared as it raised one arm and chanted to the sky once again in its deep voice.
Jack moved quickly as he took out another one of his specially sharpened bullets, unlike common musket balls they were made to travel a farther distance. Raphael looked up as he held another rifle they had gotten just in case, he held it loaded and ready for Jack as he was never one to rely on a distanced weapon "What is that thing Sorel?!" he shouted. The heir of the named clan shook his head "I've no idea. It certainly is trouble. Think you can make yourself useful and hit it in the head?" suddenly there was a loud roar as the monster bellowed at the moon "I think we pissed it off." Jack shouted at Raphael.
The monster revealed as Necrid, roared before it raised it's strange weapon high in the air and gave another loud roar, Yunsung looked down at the floor of the balcony as the monster summoned power "Oh no...MOVE!!" he shouted. They all jumped off to the side as three respective explosions all went off from the attack the monster had used before, Drake looked at the monster as it prepared itself again "Everybody scatter!" he shouted. They all did so in random directions as three more explosions went off punching holes in the balcony that over looked the village.
Kyle and Mina dashed back down the stairs as they found the entrance to the balcony completely collapsed, nobody was going to get through without the strength of Astaroth but neither had such power in their arm. Having heard the sounds of fighting they had decided to see if they could climb up to the tower however by the time they reached the main entrance they were hearing explosions from above. Both of them stepped out the front doors looking up at where the balcony was and watched in horror as holes were punched into it from out of nowhere, pieces of rock fell as it continued and they were quick to dodge.
Kyle held his beloved sword up "What are they fighting?! I haven't heard of even Nightmare having such power!" Mina growled as a rock nearly hit both of them "Me neither, we have to help them somehow!" she said looking to the climbable looking sides of the cathedral. Kyle however grabbed her by the shoulders holding her back "What are you doing?!" she shouted at him. He pointed up to the eight struts that kept the balcony held up, four of them had been destroyed and the balcony was looking unstable.
Mina shouted in shock as a large corner of it fell right for them, Kyle reacted quickly grabbing her around her waist and jumping off to the side. The rock buried itself in the sand as did his shoulder, Mina looked at the spot where they were both just standing. She looked back at Kyle then down to his arms at where they held her, she stood up and recovered her weapon backing off for two reasons. She knew that the balcony was going to fall within a few moments and she wanted to hide the amount of blush in her face at this point. She looked back "Yunsung! Talim! Its going to fall!" Kyle shouted out to them before he moved to join Mina and an approaching Raphael and Jack.
Drake covered his head as another blast went off near him, Talim found it easy to avoid the blast but Yunsung had a few burns on him by now. Drake looked at the balcony as it looked like a piece of paper after being pierces several times by a pen "Stop it you fool! You'll kill us all!!" he shouted but the monster gave no attempt to yield in his destruction. The sounds of cracking stone entered Drake's ears and the balcony began to move, Yunsung looked up and ran toward the wall as the balcony began to fall. A section fell out under his feet as he jumped grabbing a section of the stone wall.
Drake ran toward Talim as a few more blast went off around him and the whole platform began to tilt. It all fell apart almost instantly as Drake pulled Talim toward the wall, his feet left the ground as it fell out from under him and Talim's scream filled his ears. He grunted as his left hand shot to his sword unsheathing it before stabbing it into the soft stone wall of the chapel. His right hand gripped hard as gravity tried to take Talim along with the balcony, his hand brushed from her shoulder down her arm before they caught one another by the wrist. Talim smiled up at him and he nodded back to her as he watched the destroyed balcony fall, the monster vanishing under them.
Kyle and Mina looked back as Raphael and Jack came up to them from the ridge "Where are the others?" Jack asked with concern. Raphael was more concerned about the monster at this point, Mina pointed up to Yunsung as he climbed down the side of the chapel followed by Talim, whoever the third was he was still up on the wall trying to retrieve his sword. Yunsung let go at about ten feet and touched down on the mix of sand and broken up stone, he ran to the others almost at once. Mina looked at him "What were you thinking?! You could have been killed?!" she shouted.
Yunsung breathed before he spoke "Hey trust me Mina, that thing trapped us out there. I didn't have much of a choice neither did Talim." he said looking back as Talim stepped down from the wall. Raphael looked up as he felt something "I don't think this is over yet." as he said this there was a roar as several pieces of rock were thrown through the air. Kyle grunted as one hit him in the shoulder but it wasn't bad enough to keep him out of the battle, Yunsung without a second thought ran to Talim who was still there.
Necrid gave a mighty roar as he stood there covered in cuts and bruises glaring right at Talim, Yunsung looked up "What does it take to make him fall." Talim murmured. Yunsung swipped his sword as he noticed the monster was looking around for a way of escape "Your going to have to go through me!" he shouted as he found himself standing on the uneven terrain. Talim prepared herself as Drake kicked off of the wall and rushed Necrid weaving around the larger chunks of rock, Yunsung was about to protest but Talim rushed toward the monster as well, he breathed as he waited for his chance to jump in.
Talim ran at the monster again holding up her elbow blades as Drake jumped up kicking the monster in the head before boosting himself up. He then flipped coming down hopping the bring his heel into the monster's neck, if it was human this would take it to the ground. He smirked as his heel made impact on the monster's neck and the other touched onto the ground, Talim stopped as she could hear Drake's boot meeting the monster's flesh. Drake suddenly grunted as if showing signs of pain as the monster looked up "Drake!" Talim screamed as the monster raised back its claw.
Drake winced from the pain in his foot, the monster's bones were as solid as steel. His eyes widened as the monster raised back his claw which held its weapon in the shape of a knife pointed down. He panicked and narrowed his eyes before he tossed himself back, his palms painfully met with the ground as he became completely inverted. The monster swung his arm just missing as Drake's free foot came up to smack him across the face hard enough to send his head off to the side. The monster slowly recovered but as it did noticed Talim from out the corner of his eyes coming almost at once after Drake's actions, it wouldn't be able to stop her.
Talim jumped up into the air as Drake rolled off to the side of the deadly monster, taking in a breath sharply she brought back her first "Strike!" she shouted as the club end of Syi Salika smashed into the side of the monster's face. The monster tumbled and began to fall and Drake looked to Talim seeing she had also gotten better. The monster was barely left conscious before Yunsung rushed up right behind Talim and jumped into the air, his leg shot out to slam right into the monster's forehead. The monster's head flew back a loud cracking sound could be heard as it impacted on a rock. It didn't move anymore, it was finally down.
Yunsung breathed as he supported himself in a kneeling position "Stay down this time!" he shouted. A shadow came over him and he found himself looking at Drake who offered his hand, he took it and was helped to his feet "Not bad." he said as he brushed himself off. He looked up noticing others coming toward them "Friends of yours?" Drake questioned as he sheathed the Northern Wind. Yunsung nodded "Yeah. I'll introduce you." he said. Yunsung then moved to step toward them but then noticed Talim who stood there looking at the mysterious young man. He looked right back at her and Yunsung just watched as Talim stepped toward him.
Her arms and hands, free of her deadly elbow blades both moved to wrap around Drake's chest hugging him tightly "I missed you." she whispered to him. Yunsung's eyes went wide as a pang of jealousy struck him as he watched this, the boys movements were slow but he eventually raised one arm to hug her back. Talim stepped back to look at him "Drake, its been so long. Where have you been all this time?" she asked. Yunsung could hear this and was really confused, for a second it was obvious they were very close but now they were talking like siblings. Drake's hand moved behind his head as he spoke "I've been just about anywhere that can be interesting." he responded. They both laughed.
Seung Mina had stepped up around the same time Talim had embraced him and couldn't help but ask "What exactly did we miss?" she asked. Yunsung looked back to his senior and shrugged "Apparently an old friend of Talim's." he stated trying to fight off the urge to curse Drake's name.
Mina chuckled lightly at this as Yunsung insisted that he was just a friend, she watched as the two of them laughed "You sure that is all? They look a little closer than just friends to me." Raphael had been able to tell that Yunsung had some sort of attraction to Talim and couldn't help himself "I have to agree with Mina on that one." Yunsung rolled his eyes before he and Raphael walked over to Necrid trying to find the shard if it was anywhere on him. Mina and Kyle meanwhile approached Drake and Talim interrupting them.
Talim looked up silencing her conversation with Drake as Mina spoke to her "Talim good to see your alright, you and Yunsung had us worried." Talim shrugged it off telling the older warrior not to judge skill upon age. Mina then looked toward Drake who had his hands resting in his pockets, he looked back at Mina giving a light nod of acknowledgment before turning to look over the horizon at the moon "Who might this be little Talim?" Mina questioned Talim with a chuckle.
Talim looked at Mina before she crossed her arms "We're both from the wind village and yes we were very close in our younger years, though its been over three years since I last saw him." Mina remembered now that she had mentioned that the entire village looked out for one another and were like one large family. Drake looked toward Mina and Kyle nodding his head a few of the amber blond strands falling short of his vision "My name is Drake, I suppose any friends of Talim are friends of mine." Kyle and Mina both introduced themselves and shared a little idle chat until it came down to it.
"So, Drake was it, what are you doing out this far in the middle of nowhere?" she asked. Drake breathed knowing that they were after the same and pointed toward the monster "Because it seems to be such an interesting hobby these days I'm hunting the shards of the Soul swords that are scattered all over this forsaken world." needless to say not one of the three expected this sort of explanation, but then again it seemed to be the only thing that a warrior was to do these days. Kyle looked right at Drake before speaking "Why? What have you to gain?" he asked in a deep seriousness.
Drake crossed his arms as he reached up to his neck breaking the glowing red gem off, the same one that Ivy had given him. "Forgive me if I seem shallow but the Soul Edge is in high demand from several people, some are just collectors. Do you have any clue how much a person is willing to pay for just this little piece, it isn't even strong enough to come near my soul. Of course the only other one I've sold bring doom to the buyers, I ended up destroying them in the end." he explained. Talim was slightly relieved.
Drake chuckled explaining he didn't feel remorse should be felt, after all the man who's death he is responsible for was a would-be tyrant of a southern country. Mina looked at him a little skeptic of his story "Point taken. So do you search for their power, profit or to destroy these shards?" she inquired. Talim looked at him hoping that he truly hadn't decided upon such a thing, after all the blade had done he couldn't have just been a middle man for moving them around.
Drake ran one hand through his hair before he spoke "The Soul Edge is evil, there is no question about it there is no way you could convince me otherwise, no matter how hard you try." Talim had only heard this from Sophitia and looked right at Drake "You've seen the Soul Edge?!" she blurted out. Drake grit his teeth as the fate he couldn't tell them washed over his mind "Yeah, and believe me I regret it. I don't think I'll ever look at a broad sword the same way again. Thats why I decided to just hunt shards." he said. He gave them a short story about Nightmare using its flat end to knock him off a canyon into a river, they seemed to buy it.
"I think we can just lift it out!" Yunsung suddenly called over to them. Raphael slipped his gloves back on his hand as he looked into the strange object on the monsters chest "Be careful Sorel." Jack warned. The swordman took his chance and brought back his gloved left hand to dive into the fiery cloud of the monster's chest. His hand went inside like it was a portal of sorts, he could feel the burn outside his glove but slowly began to lift whatever was inside out, however just as he got to grab onto whatever was there, there was a grunt as the monster's fiery crimson eyes opened.
Necrid brought back his left arm and swung hard just as Raphael pulled his hand free of the void that was contained on the monster's chest. He swiftly moved swinging his arm to strike out at Jack who grunted as he was slapped away by the whip shapped energy weapon. Yunsung jumped back as Necrid held a hand over his chest, he then dropped it going into stance. As he took his hand away two metal plates closed over the light sealing the entrance, Raphael growled as the monster formed in his hand a sword shape and rushed at the others with them in hopes of escape. Kyle stepped in front of Mina along with Drake but they were not Necrid's targets.
He ran to the side suddenly into a cleared out area and the energy glowed down to his hands creating claws of some sort. He then jabbed them out into the air and amazingly they hit something, he tore open a hole in the air as one would tear a hole in fabric. There was a strong amount of wind from the portal the monster had just created, Drake growled as he saw this "The void...damn it." he murmured as the monster looked back once before jumping in, once through he closed it without a hesitation and as long as it took for it to appear, it was gone.
After managing to calm down Yunsung rejoined the group sitting on the rocks left behind by the destroyed balcony. Mina sat on another as the moon rose to the center of the sky, Raphael sat with Jack trying to brush the soot off his glove. Talim sat on one rock and Drake sat at her feet with a hand on his chin. Kyle was the only one standing leaning on his blade which was stabbed into the ground and his hawk on his shoulder "So what do we do now?" he asked with annoyance. Raphael shrugged "There isn't much we can do besides regroup with the White Wind and hope they had better luck than we did." Drake's ears lightly perked up as he heard this.
Mina nodded at this before she stretched out "We can stay the night here and begin moving again in the morning." Mina suddenly noticed Drake standing up and yawning "Well as much as I'd love to stay and impose, time is opportunity these days." he said before he started to move. Talim jumped up and walked up to him "Drake. You could always come with us, it isn't like another blade could hurt. Wherever we're going I'm sure you'll be a lot better off by sea than on foot." she said with a cute smile. Drake breathed as he hated involving her but he didn't have a choice.
Kyle agreed as he could hear them from where he stood "It would be no problem. Between the White Wind and Talim we were beginning to become social repressed." Mina agreed as well though Yunsung didn't answer, he didn't know how to feel about Drake being so close to Talim. Drake smiled "Alright then. If your sure you can put up with me." he stated with a light laugh.
Raphael chuckled as the cheerful nature of Talim and Drake's serious yet carefree spirit reminded him lightly of Amy and one of his better friends back in France. Mina laughed "I've been putting up with Yunsung the last six year of my life, I doubt you can be much worse." Yunsung sent Mina a light glare but even he laughed. If nothing else they would at least have a few entertaining memories from this trip. Drake however couldn't believe it had been this simple, while he failed to get the shard anything he could bring them on the White Wind would be useful. Though it hurt him to use Talim in such a way, but it was all to protect both her and her people.
Next Chapter: Untitled
The White Wind and the Four Blades regroup and head for Venice. Nightmare and the rest of the Black Wind return to the Nemesis and wait for Diablos to retrieve Drake from the desert feeling that the shard has fled. Nightmare takes his frustration out until his attention is taken to another presence one of a darkness that rivals himself. Who is this stranger and what is his connection to the elven that remains immune to Soul Edge?
OOC: Small question. Who should I do next, should I have Heihachi show up again or finally introduce Spawn? Big question. Should I stress myself to put up the next chapter ASAP? (You know you want it)
Authors Note: Just to clear a few reviews up. Taki's personal life will break into more detail very soon, there will most definately be a complex rivalry between Drake and Yunsung over Talim. And just to let you know, Necrid has just retrieved his first shard from the village. After all that is the only way he thinks he can return to normal.
PROFILES: WEAPON INFORMATION ADDED (See author's profile for the link)
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Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Of Winds and Gales
It was truly a horrible sight everybody that had retreated to the cathedral had been mercilessly torn apart by whatever apparition had invaded this place. Mina stepped around flipping through a few notes, during her first journey she had looked into the writings of the western countries and knew a few things about Arabic. From what she could tell they had been experimenting with the Soul Edge, trying to figure out where it had originated from. The call had obviously prompted whoever had come to do so and take possession of it. Kyle had found a number of people that had all been decapitated and thrown into a back room, obviously those that had been poisoned by the shard during the tests.
Mina gulped as she placed the book down, while only able to pick up a few words what few she could was enough to disturb her "This is the sickest thing I've ever seen." she breathed out slowly, wondering how she or Hwang could have ever wanted the blade for their own. Kyle shook his head as he stepped up picking up the book and looking at the blood stains upon it "A blade to make men monsters. Makes me ask, should I be hating the Soul Edge or the fool that allowed himself to be tainted by it." he says before he placed it down and leaned against the wall.
Mina looked back to her long time friend that had for a long time now carried a powerful grudge against the blade's original owner for the death of his family. Silverbolt looked up lightly from its perch on the far end of the table and looked up as Mina spoke "Kyle..." she breathed out slowly. It had taken him a good while after they originally met to finally tell of his story, he wasn't traveling to claim or destroy the swords, his only purpose in life right now seemed to be to confront Cervantes de Leon and make sure that he did not come back a second time. It was sad that it had become almost an obsession and was taking him over.
Kyle looked at Mina as she stepped over wrapping her arms around his neck warmly, he breathed bringing one arm up over her back "Please be careful Kyle. I don't want anything to happen to you, I have three dead friends who went after that man and so does Hwang. Don't do this alone." she said. Kyle took a breath as he pulled Mina off of him and looked into her eyes "Mina, I am not going to break my original promise. When he dies, he will know that coming back would be a waste of his time. I will not fight at his level." he said. She looked at him and nodded "Alright, just promise me you'll be careful." she begged.
Kyle reached back pulling his long sword from his back and placed it on the ground, the oni blade called the Oblivion was something he considered closer to him than his own soul. He placed his hand over its handle and looked at her "You have my word, Mina." he said in a voice that was plain and slow. Mina nodded and they smiled at one another, suddenly there was a loud impact sound from above and Mina sprung out of their gaze bringing up the Scarlet Thunder "What the...?!" she cursed as Silverbolt flew from the room to inspect it.
Kyle looked at Mina before pulling his blade from the ground and placing it back over his back into its sheath, there was another loud crash "Sounds like big problems." he growled. Mina and Kyle headed back to the main hall, parts of the ceiling had collapsed but Kyle easily cleared away one broken door with a swing of the surprisingly lightweight sword. He then moved on eventually reaching the main lobby, they rushed up the stairs as they heard a few shouts "Is that Yunsung?!" Kyle called. "He must have run into whatever started this!" she shouted.
The creature gave another loud roar as it stood defiantly before the trio of young warriors stepped back and starred it down. Drake tossed his cloak off getting it out of his way and held his twin tantos in the Wind Dance position "Talim. You. Come here." he said. Yunsung looked toward him and crept up as Drake laid down a plan so simple that anybody could understand it "Alright. I'll hold back, the names Yunsung by the way." he said. Drake nodded before he turned back to the monster that stretched out its energy in its hands, suddenly it raised both arms and brought them back as if it was calling something forward.
Yunsung shot to attention as he noticed a glow in the center of them "Move it!" he shouted as electricity flashed. Drake and Talim saw and pushed off running at the monster while Yunsung grunted jumping toward hitting the ground on his chest. There was a loud explosion from behind that seemed to ping in the backs of his ears for a few seconds as a solid hole was blown in the balcony. He looked up as Talim and Drake rushed at the monster as it recovered from its attack and prepared its energy weapon and held it up as they both approached. He swung it as it took that whip shape again, Yunsung held his breath.
Drake and Talim were quick to react each of them respectively jumping or flipping over the attack and lunging at the monster, that was Yunsung's signal and he took off at the monster. Talim let out a hard battle shout as she swung both her blades to cut into the monster's side, Drake meanwhile landed around its left side and twisted to stab both of his blades into the monster's shoulders in hopes of incapacitating its arm. It roared before it gripped Talim up by the leg and tossed her across the balcony, Talim yelped as he lower back brushed the ground but she quickly recovered and brought her hands back to turn a flip and land in a crouch. This however resulted in a pair of scrapped up palms.
Yunsung watched as Talim went by him and growled as he jumped up into the air and came down at the monster with his foot smashing it right into its jaw before coming down with his sword. The White Storm cut into the armor but only left scratches on it "Damn!" Yunsung grunted before he felt the energy weapon which was balled in the monster fist knock him to the side. The burning sensation caused him to grit his teeth hard as he hit the ground holding his hand over his shirt which showed a few burns on it.
Drake rejoined them as the monster became disgruntled and took a breather "Okay. This isn't going well. Any ideas?" Yunsung asked. Drake breathed shaking his head looking back "Aside from kick its ass I'm fresh out." he said as seriously as he could. "What the hell is this thing?!" Yunsung growled in anger. "Necrid." Drake replied as if he had known it the entire time. Talim and Yunsung looked at him as he said this.
Yunsung didn't like this "What the...how do you know its name?" he asked with a great amount of distrust. Drake breathed "The winds call the monster that destroys with the essence of the Soul Edge, Necrid." Yunsung looked at Talim wondering how well they knew each other for real. As he gazed at a recovering Talim, Yunsung suddenly noticed something past the monster toward the dunes, a slight flicker of light the monster roared as it composed itself and raised its arms."Here we go again." Talim murmured but she was interrupted by the most unexpected sound.
A sharp but definite noise went off from over the dunes and there was a sudden wet smacking sound, the monster sniffed before looking down at it's shoulder. Suddenly there was a large amount of blood as it splashed out onto the floor, it roared in agony gripping the solidly pierced shoulder in pain. Talim and Yunsung smiled while Drake was trying to figure out who could possibly be that accurate with a modern day rifle. The monster roared as it raised one arm and chanted to the sky once again in its deep voice.
Jack moved quickly as he took out another one of his specially sharpened bullets, unlike common musket balls they were made to travel a farther distance. Raphael looked up as he held another rifle they had gotten just in case, he held it loaded and ready for Jack as he was never one to rely on a distanced weapon "What is that thing Sorel?!" he shouted. The heir of the named clan shook his head "I've no idea. It certainly is trouble. Think you can make yourself useful and hit it in the head?" suddenly there was a loud roar as the monster bellowed at the moon "I think we pissed it off." Jack shouted at Raphael.
The monster revealed as Necrid, roared before it raised it's strange weapon high in the air and gave another loud roar, Yunsung looked down at the floor of the balcony as the monster summoned power "Oh no...MOVE!!" he shouted. They all jumped off to the side as three respective explosions all went off from the attack the monster had used before, Drake looked at the monster as it prepared itself again "Everybody scatter!" he shouted. They all did so in random directions as three more explosions went off punching holes in the balcony that over looked the village.
Kyle and Mina dashed back down the stairs as they found the entrance to the balcony completely collapsed, nobody was going to get through without the strength of Astaroth but neither had such power in their arm. Having heard the sounds of fighting they had decided to see if they could climb up to the tower however by the time they reached the main entrance they were hearing explosions from above. Both of them stepped out the front doors looking up at where the balcony was and watched in horror as holes were punched into it from out of nowhere, pieces of rock fell as it continued and they were quick to dodge.
Kyle held his beloved sword up "What are they fighting?! I haven't heard of even Nightmare having such power!" Mina growled as a rock nearly hit both of them "Me neither, we have to help them somehow!" she said looking to the climbable looking sides of the cathedral. Kyle however grabbed her by the shoulders holding her back "What are you doing?!" she shouted at him. He pointed up to the eight struts that kept the balcony held up, four of them had been destroyed and the balcony was looking unstable.
Mina shouted in shock as a large corner of it fell right for them, Kyle reacted quickly grabbing her around her waist and jumping off to the side. The rock buried itself in the sand as did his shoulder, Mina looked at the spot where they were both just standing. She looked back at Kyle then down to his arms at where they held her, she stood up and recovered her weapon backing off for two reasons. She knew that the balcony was going to fall within a few moments and she wanted to hide the amount of blush in her face at this point. She looked back "Yunsung! Talim! Its going to fall!" Kyle shouted out to them before he moved to join Mina and an approaching Raphael and Jack.
Drake covered his head as another blast went off near him, Talim found it easy to avoid the blast but Yunsung had a few burns on him by now. Drake looked at the balcony as it looked like a piece of paper after being pierces several times by a pen "Stop it you fool! You'll kill us all!!" he shouted but the monster gave no attempt to yield in his destruction. The sounds of cracking stone entered Drake's ears and the balcony began to move, Yunsung looked up and ran toward the wall as the balcony began to fall. A section fell out under his feet as he jumped grabbing a section of the stone wall.
Drake ran toward Talim as a few more blast went off around him and the whole platform began to tilt. It all fell apart almost instantly as Drake pulled Talim toward the wall, his feet left the ground as it fell out from under him and Talim's scream filled his ears. He grunted as his left hand shot to his sword unsheathing it before stabbing it into the soft stone wall of the chapel. His right hand gripped hard as gravity tried to take Talim along with the balcony, his hand brushed from her shoulder down her arm before they caught one another by the wrist. Talim smiled up at him and he nodded back to her as he watched the destroyed balcony fall, the monster vanishing under them.
Kyle and Mina looked back as Raphael and Jack came up to them from the ridge "Where are the others?" Jack asked with concern. Raphael was more concerned about the monster at this point, Mina pointed up to Yunsung as he climbed down the side of the chapel followed by Talim, whoever the third was he was still up on the wall trying to retrieve his sword. Yunsung let go at about ten feet and touched down on the mix of sand and broken up stone, he ran to the others almost at once. Mina looked at him "What were you thinking?! You could have been killed?!" she shouted.
Yunsung breathed before he spoke "Hey trust me Mina, that thing trapped us out there. I didn't have much of a choice neither did Talim." he said looking back as Talim stepped down from the wall. Raphael looked up as he felt something "I don't think this is over yet." as he said this there was a roar as several pieces of rock were thrown through the air. Kyle grunted as one hit him in the shoulder but it wasn't bad enough to keep him out of the battle, Yunsung without a second thought ran to Talim who was still there.
Necrid gave a mighty roar as he stood there covered in cuts and bruises glaring right at Talim, Yunsung looked up "What does it take to make him fall." Talim murmured. Yunsung swipped his sword as he noticed the monster was looking around for a way of escape "Your going to have to go through me!" he shouted as he found himself standing on the uneven terrain. Talim prepared herself as Drake kicked off of the wall and rushed Necrid weaving around the larger chunks of rock, Yunsung was about to protest but Talim rushed toward the monster as well, he breathed as he waited for his chance to jump in.
Talim ran at the monster again holding up her elbow blades as Drake jumped up kicking the monster in the head before boosting himself up. He then flipped coming down hopping the bring his heel into the monster's neck, if it was human this would take it to the ground. He smirked as his heel made impact on the monster's neck and the other touched onto the ground, Talim stopped as she could hear Drake's boot meeting the monster's flesh. Drake suddenly grunted as if showing signs of pain as the monster looked up "Drake!" Talim screamed as the monster raised back its claw.
Drake winced from the pain in his foot, the monster's bones were as solid as steel. His eyes widened as the monster raised back his claw which held its weapon in the shape of a knife pointed down. He panicked and narrowed his eyes before he tossed himself back, his palms painfully met with the ground as he became completely inverted. The monster swung his arm just missing as Drake's free foot came up to smack him across the face hard enough to send his head off to the side. The monster slowly recovered but as it did noticed Talim from out the corner of his eyes coming almost at once after Drake's actions, it wouldn't be able to stop her.
Talim jumped up into the air as Drake rolled off to the side of the deadly monster, taking in a breath sharply she brought back her first "Strike!" she shouted as the club end of Syi Salika smashed into the side of the monster's face. The monster tumbled and began to fall and Drake looked to Talim seeing she had also gotten better. The monster was barely left conscious before Yunsung rushed up right behind Talim and jumped into the air, his leg shot out to slam right into the monster's forehead. The monster's head flew back a loud cracking sound could be heard as it impacted on a rock. It didn't move anymore, it was finally down.
Yunsung breathed as he supported himself in a kneeling position "Stay down this time!" he shouted. A shadow came over him and he found himself looking at Drake who offered his hand, he took it and was helped to his feet "Not bad." he said as he brushed himself off. He looked up noticing others coming toward them "Friends of yours?" Drake questioned as he sheathed the Northern Wind. Yunsung nodded "Yeah. I'll introduce you." he said. Yunsung then moved to step toward them but then noticed Talim who stood there looking at the mysterious young man. He looked right back at her and Yunsung just watched as Talim stepped toward him.
Her arms and hands, free of her deadly elbow blades both moved to wrap around Drake's chest hugging him tightly "I missed you." she whispered to him. Yunsung's eyes went wide as a pang of jealousy struck him as he watched this, the boys movements were slow but he eventually raised one arm to hug her back. Talim stepped back to look at him "Drake, its been so long. Where have you been all this time?" she asked. Yunsung could hear this and was really confused, for a second it was obvious they were very close but now they were talking like siblings. Drake's hand moved behind his head as he spoke "I've been just about anywhere that can be interesting." he responded. They both laughed.
Seung Mina had stepped up around the same time Talim had embraced him and couldn't help but ask "What exactly did we miss?" she asked. Yunsung looked back to his senior and shrugged "Apparently an old friend of Talim's." he stated trying to fight off the urge to curse Drake's name.
Mina chuckled lightly at this as Yunsung insisted that he was just a friend, she watched as the two of them laughed "You sure that is all? They look a little closer than just friends to me." Raphael had been able to tell that Yunsung had some sort of attraction to Talim and couldn't help himself "I have to agree with Mina on that one." Yunsung rolled his eyes before he and Raphael walked over to Necrid trying to find the shard if it was anywhere on him. Mina and Kyle meanwhile approached Drake and Talim interrupting them.
Talim looked up silencing her conversation with Drake as Mina spoke to her "Talim good to see your alright, you and Yunsung had us worried." Talim shrugged it off telling the older warrior not to judge skill upon age. Mina then looked toward Drake who had his hands resting in his pockets, he looked back at Mina giving a light nod of acknowledgment before turning to look over the horizon at the moon "Who might this be little Talim?" Mina questioned Talim with a chuckle.
Talim looked at Mina before she crossed her arms "We're both from the wind village and yes we were very close in our younger years, though its been over three years since I last saw him." Mina remembered now that she had mentioned that the entire village looked out for one another and were like one large family. Drake looked toward Mina and Kyle nodding his head a few of the amber blond strands falling short of his vision "My name is Drake, I suppose any friends of Talim are friends of mine." Kyle and Mina both introduced themselves and shared a little idle chat until it came down to it.
"So, Drake was it, what are you doing out this far in the middle of nowhere?" she asked. Drake breathed knowing that they were after the same and pointed toward the monster "Because it seems to be such an interesting hobby these days I'm hunting the shards of the Soul swords that are scattered all over this forsaken world." needless to say not one of the three expected this sort of explanation, but then again it seemed to be the only thing that a warrior was to do these days. Kyle looked right at Drake before speaking "Why? What have you to gain?" he asked in a deep seriousness.
Drake crossed his arms as he reached up to his neck breaking the glowing red gem off, the same one that Ivy had given him. "Forgive me if I seem shallow but the Soul Edge is in high demand from several people, some are just collectors. Do you have any clue how much a person is willing to pay for just this little piece, it isn't even strong enough to come near my soul. Of course the only other one I've sold bring doom to the buyers, I ended up destroying them in the end." he explained. Talim was slightly relieved.
Drake chuckled explaining he didn't feel remorse should be felt, after all the man who's death he is responsible for was a would-be tyrant of a southern country. Mina looked at him a little skeptic of his story "Point taken. So do you search for their power, profit or to destroy these shards?" she inquired. Talim looked at him hoping that he truly hadn't decided upon such a thing, after all the blade had done he couldn't have just been a middle man for moving them around.
Drake ran one hand through his hair before he spoke "The Soul Edge is evil, there is no question about it there is no way you could convince me otherwise, no matter how hard you try." Talim had only heard this from Sophitia and looked right at Drake "You've seen the Soul Edge?!" she blurted out. Drake grit his teeth as the fate he couldn't tell them washed over his mind "Yeah, and believe me I regret it. I don't think I'll ever look at a broad sword the same way again. Thats why I decided to just hunt shards." he said. He gave them a short story about Nightmare using its flat end to knock him off a canyon into a river, they seemed to buy it.
"I think we can just lift it out!" Yunsung suddenly called over to them. Raphael slipped his gloves back on his hand as he looked into the strange object on the monsters chest "Be careful Sorel." Jack warned. The swordman took his chance and brought back his gloved left hand to dive into the fiery cloud of the monster's chest. His hand went inside like it was a portal of sorts, he could feel the burn outside his glove but slowly began to lift whatever was inside out, however just as he got to grab onto whatever was there, there was a grunt as the monster's fiery crimson eyes opened.
Necrid brought back his left arm and swung hard just as Raphael pulled his hand free of the void that was contained on the monster's chest. He swiftly moved swinging his arm to strike out at Jack who grunted as he was slapped away by the whip shapped energy weapon. Yunsung jumped back as Necrid held a hand over his chest, he then dropped it going into stance. As he took his hand away two metal plates closed over the light sealing the entrance, Raphael growled as the monster formed in his hand a sword shape and rushed at the others with them in hopes of escape. Kyle stepped in front of Mina along with Drake but they were not Necrid's targets.
He ran to the side suddenly into a cleared out area and the energy glowed down to his hands creating claws of some sort. He then jabbed them out into the air and amazingly they hit something, he tore open a hole in the air as one would tear a hole in fabric. There was a strong amount of wind from the portal the monster had just created, Drake growled as he saw this "The void...damn it." he murmured as the monster looked back once before jumping in, once through he closed it without a hesitation and as long as it took for it to appear, it was gone.
After managing to calm down Yunsung rejoined the group sitting on the rocks left behind by the destroyed balcony. Mina sat on another as the moon rose to the center of the sky, Raphael sat with Jack trying to brush the soot off his glove. Talim sat on one rock and Drake sat at her feet with a hand on his chin. Kyle was the only one standing leaning on his blade which was stabbed into the ground and his hawk on his shoulder "So what do we do now?" he asked with annoyance. Raphael shrugged "There isn't much we can do besides regroup with the White Wind and hope they had better luck than we did." Drake's ears lightly perked up as he heard this.
Mina nodded at this before she stretched out "We can stay the night here and begin moving again in the morning." Mina suddenly noticed Drake standing up and yawning "Well as much as I'd love to stay and impose, time is opportunity these days." he said before he started to move. Talim jumped up and walked up to him "Drake. You could always come with us, it isn't like another blade could hurt. Wherever we're going I'm sure you'll be a lot better off by sea than on foot." she said with a cute smile. Drake breathed as he hated involving her but he didn't have a choice.
Kyle agreed as he could hear them from where he stood "It would be no problem. Between the White Wind and Talim we were beginning to become social repressed." Mina agreed as well though Yunsung didn't answer, he didn't know how to feel about Drake being so close to Talim. Drake smiled "Alright then. If your sure you can put up with me." he stated with a light laugh.
Raphael chuckled as the cheerful nature of Talim and Drake's serious yet carefree spirit reminded him lightly of Amy and one of his better friends back in France. Mina laughed "I've been putting up with Yunsung the last six year of my life, I doubt you can be much worse." Yunsung sent Mina a light glare but even he laughed. If nothing else they would at least have a few entertaining memories from this trip. Drake however couldn't believe it had been this simple, while he failed to get the shard anything he could bring them on the White Wind would be useful. Though it hurt him to use Talim in such a way, but it was all to protect both her and her people.
Next Chapter: Untitled
The White Wind and the Four Blades regroup and head for Venice. Nightmare and the rest of the Black Wind return to the Nemesis and wait for Diablos to retrieve Drake from the desert feeling that the shard has fled. Nightmare takes his frustration out until his attention is taken to another presence one of a darkness that rivals himself. Who is this stranger and what is his connection to the elven that remains immune to Soul Edge?
OOC: Small question. Who should I do next, should I have Heihachi show up again or finally introduce Spawn? Big question. Should I stress myself to put up the next chapter ASAP? (You know you want it)