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: Okay I don't know if they had military words like Colonel and General back then but lets just assume that they did. It will make things a lot less complicated. Also it may take a while to get Yoshimitsu or Heihachi into this.
Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Thirty-Three: Through Hell and Back
"WHAT?!" Yunsung suddenly blurted out as he stepped up to the platform but not much further. "Oh no." Kyle and Mina both signed in unison as Yunsung began shouting at the commander of the Defenders.
"Do you mean to tell me that after all that has happened you just going to cut out and call it even?!" Yunsung shouted at Siegfried ignoring Mina's demands to calm down.
Siegfried looked back at the annoyed Korean "Of course. If I felt like going after that forsaken thing I wouldn't be here right now listening to you whine like a newborn." he explained calmly.
Yunsung growled as he waved his arms in the air clearly enraged "I can't believe this! We spend this much time hunting down this great warrior that Nightmare gets all of his skills from and all we find is a coward?!" he shouted, Siegfried however seemed unnerved by this.
"Thats enough Yunsung!" Cassandra shouted at him from her place against one of the pillars. "You have no right to speak about him in such a manner!" Mina shouted in defense along with Sophitia.
"Oh shut up! It can't be said he's anything else!" he retorted. Siegfried looked to the side his eyes closing in withheld sorrow "After spending five years looking through my own eyes at the Azure Nightmare's actions from the back of my own mind, watching his massacres and rampages, I'm not going to risk being taken back into that kind of Hell." he breathed as he flashed back.
Sophitia normally would have gone with Yunsung and insisted he come but found that she couldn't even contemplate his pain. Link lowered his eyes as well, he had been through a lot in his life but he had never been possessed or been forced to murder the innocent, he couldn't even imagine. In fact the very attempt to made him sick to the very pit of his stomach.
Yunsung looked at everybody as they supported Siegfried's decision, he found himself unable to believe that they were taking pity on him "Kyle? Taki?!" he said addressing two of the more serious seekers. The ones that more than likely felt that the Defender's leader was obligated to help them.
Kyle let his hand tilt on his sword as he found himself ashamed of having Yunsung with his group "I've no say or care in this matter. The shard was my only concern, it is after all his life. Which has been robbed from him enough." he said much to the admiration of Mina.
Taki lightly shrugged as she was addressed "It isn't often that I take pity on anybody. But it is not our place to demand his assistance further. Though I would like his help he has been forced through enough." she said showing a rarely seen drop of pity.
Yunsung groaned as he looked up at a seemingly satisfied Siegfried, he moved up the stairs ready to really get in his face. Mina wanted to stop him but Kyle held her back knowing it was pointless. "I can't believe this! Why is it such a big deal to just accept what has happened and move on?! What the Hell is your problem?!" this earned Yunsung a hard blow to the face.
Siegfried without a seconds hesitation shot up from his chair back fisting Yunsung across the face, everybody in the room watched with awe as Yunsung was sent clean of the platform to land on his back near Sophitia who stepped back. Siegfried glared down at the brash young Korean before speaking "Hell? Hell?! You don't even know the meaning of the word you pathetic fool. I might as well have been dragged through that place and back over the roughest terrain, you cannot possibly image what kind of 'Hell' I have seen and experienced." he growled.
Yunsung slowly got to his feet rubbing the fresh bruise on his chin, he was lucky he wasn't missing teeth from such a blow "You wanna try me?!" he shouted in anger going for his sword. This was right before there was the sound of a blade leaving its sheath and he looked to see Mitsurugi standing there with Shishi-Oh right next to his windpipe "Stay down. Shut up and listen." he said before he kicked Yunsung's left hand out from under him.
Siegfried continued as if nothing had happened between Mitsurugi and Yunsung "I feel a crippling pain in my heart and soul every time I close my eyes. Images of the killings, of the massacres have been burned with the sharpest of fires into my mind. I remember every last face, or every last person ever to fall by the blade of the Soul Edge while it was still in my hands. Men, women, children, entire families and I was able to do nothing. Soul Edge has no bounds it just kills and it did it through my God given hands! You honestly think that any sane mortal man has the strength to just bare that kind of Hell?!" he screamed at Yunsung as if he was on the edge of his sanity.
Siegfried breathed before he turned his gaze to look at the wall where his swords were along with a suit of armor that had been recovered a while ago "Not that I blame those that hate me for what happened. For every action there is a consequence. No deed done for oneself goes unpunished. I ignored these warnings and took the Soul Edge and the world suffered for it. I am not sure if I am immune to the blade after managing to escape it but I don't wish to take any chances." he sighed as he fell back into his chair "Please. Let me be alone." he breathed as he looked at the floor.
Yunsung now officially felt like a real jerk, everybody else in the room probably looked at him in a different light after what he had done to this man. Sophitia approached the mourning Siegfried trying to at least get him to talk to her more before they were forced to move on "Siegfried...think about..." she didn't have much time to continue before he slammed his right fist into the chair and looked at them "Just...get...out." he breathed. Sophitia turned, defeated and prepared to order them to move out.
Yunsung slowly stood to his feet removing his hand from his blade as Mitsurugi moved away huffing as he did so. He looked toward Mina and Kyle who both shook their heads and headed for the door, Kilik looked down at him as Xianghua passed still admiring the glistening shard of the Soul Calibur, neither made jestures of disappointment. "Bonehead." he murmured to himself as he followed them, looking back to apologize he found Siegfried heading back toward the balcony to continue his meditation.
Suddenly as Mitsurugi was about to exit the room the doors burst open and Katherine stood there looking a little out of breath "Commander! We have a serious problem down by the docks!" Siegfried only turned his head back to look at his fiery haired Captain "Let Arus deal with it, fights between those drunken traders are not a cause for our concern." he said once again referring to one of his best men, for some reason the one called Link breathed heavier everytime this name was brought up.
Katherine didn't adhere to Siegfried's wishes as she stepped in to the room "Sir this is not the traders or any kind of a riot. As for Colonel Loire he just came from there and claims that some sort of creature is connected to a great deal of fires and explosions." as this was said an image of a flaming skull flashed in the back of his mind, without another word he turned completely around to face the Captain "Where is this creature?" he asked in cold seriousness.
Katherine looked back quickly scanning her own memory before coming up with an answer "According to our scouts he was last spotted on the lower harbor, where most of the civilian ships have been requested to land." Sophitia gasped as she realized exactly where she was speaking of. Siegfried looked up at her requesting to know what was wrong, she quickly looked back to him "Our ship is in that area, we must hurry. Whatever this thing is it might be after the shards we've collected so far." none of this rested well with the Commander obviously.
Siegfried took a breath as he headed out of the roof reaching up with his left hand to snatch the large steel sword from the middle of the collection, the one with the blunt tip. "Beautiful." he growled in response knowing the severity of the situation. He looked back at the group as they watched him prepare to leave "What are you waiting for? This is your fight too isn't it?" he said virtually ordering them to get a move on. They all responded by running past him and toward the stairs, he looked back at Sophitia and nodded. She nodded back and they both moved off.
The creature that was once known as Al Simmons roared as he raised his hand and hurled another fireball at the pirate with the nunchakus, who jumped hard to the side to avoid it at it struck the side of the ship he had been on. He growled as he looked back able to see that the window of Sophitia's room had been blown open, it wouldn't take much effort to fix but then there was money. He was cautious of the man with the rifle that had taken stance while the girl went into the water after the boy he assumed was a friend or something
"Oh good!" Maxi groaned in anger as the monster rushed him again swinging his axe, Maxi swung hard hitting the blade in the side taking it off course before striking the monster in the stomach but like so many times before it was uneffected. Raphael was there but he wasn't much good against such a broad weapon, Maxi jumped to attack again swinging at the monster's head but that is where he made his mistake.
The creature had finally gotten wise to his style and shooting up a free hand through him away by his leg sending him to the wooden ground painfully. "Damn it all. You alright?" Raphael growled as he noticed the monster going toward the shattered window as if it was being called. Maxi slowly sat up holding his side "He's going after the shards...stop him." he groaned in pain his ribs ailing him. Raphael stood up before he raised his rapier and rushed at the hellspawn. The creature turned around right in time to get the blade through the right side of his chest, he let out a growl of pain but hardly flinched.
Raphael locked eyes with the demon, they glowed an eerie green. It was hardly human it was otherworldly and very scary even to the hardened warrior, he knew there was no winning this thing "Phantom! What do you want with the shards?!" he demanded to know. The creature pushed Raphael away causing him to draw back his blade, he spoke "I've been to Hell. I've seen the fires and made a pact that will return me. I don't know what the circumstances are and I really don't give a damn! Just stay out of my way!" Raphael growled.
Just as this was said the creature's head snapped up just as something struck him hard in the chest sending him slamming to the dock's surface. The creature reared as he pulled a barbed arrow from his chest screaming in pain as he did, he looked up to see a young man in a cloak lowering a bow. [I've been hit with arrows before but damn, what kind of power is put behind that one? Feels like I just got hit with a bolt of lightning.] his mind wandered as he felt a light energy coming off of the arrow head he had just removed. He then noticed a blonde man stepping forward who carried a very large sword.
Link lowered his bow breathing heavily as he did, this weapon that he had brought with him was easily the most accurate weapon he possessed but most of the power he could put through it had been drained. Without the ability to utilize his magic in this world he was limited to leeching off his own energy [There has to be a better way...] he breathed mentally as Siegfried walked past him nodding to him. He looked up to see Raphael getting to his feet to get Maxi away from the demon that had proven more than a match for them.
Sophitia looked the demon over from where she stood unable to even start making assumptions as to what it could be. The first thing she noticed was the jet black flesh all across his body, while from where she stood it seemed like a costume but at the same time it like a foreign flesh that refused to leave his own. The monster looked back into the area that was her room eyeing the box that she kept the cursed shards of the Soul Edge and the Soul Blade, normally no mortal could feel their calls from their confines, this ment that this creature must have already had one.
Sophitia could feel no shard on him and began to scan the area and her gaze eventually feel near the Nightwraith where she noticed Talim and Jack pulling an injured Drake from the water. He held a hand clutched around something "Oh no..." Sophitia breathed. He looked back quickly informing Kilik who ran by her followed closely by Xianghua, they were probably the only other two besides herself and Link who were truly immune to the temptations of the Soul Edge. Kilik had of course gone through the long process of purifying the Evil Seed and the Soul Edge more than likely hated Xianghua to a heavy fault for breaking it up.
The creature looked toward the group raising his ax as if to demand the next challenger, Kyle looked toward Raphael and Maxi and was about to step forward when Siegfried raised his arm looking toward the creature. Kyle looked at him, his eyes like that of a wolf who has had his territory violated "What business do you have with this monster?" he asked him before he noticed Siegfried looking at the creature. He had heard of the men who returned to the world with such eyes after horrible, distasteful deaths "How ironic." he said before he began to advance.
Kyle Strife was about to interfere but stood back taking his place back by Mina's side. The lovely Seung Mina looked up at him before speaking "Since when do you heed the wishes of others? Never seen you or Hwang back down from any kind of a challenge." she said pointing out yet another similarity to two of them had, this resulted in a huff of irritated nature from Yunsung.
Kyle looked at her smiling lightly before he admitted that he turned back to the slowly advancing Siegfried "I've heard much about the nameless man that was before he was Nightmare, apparently a great tactician and warrior. With all of Soul Edge's knowledge in his head perhaps he will know how to put this thing down. I'm not going to risk a battle that I may not have to fight, at least not until De Leon." he said with a seriousness that chilled Mina's heart. It almost made her pity him even more.
Spawn looked up as the man approached him. After what that seemingly average archer had done to him he decided to be extra careful and looked the man over. He took note that he unlike the other warriors wore no kind of armor aside from the dark leather boots on his feet and the loose black pants, other than that and the bandages encircling his right arm he was bare. Across his chest was a leather sling for holding a sword, only difference was he carried a much large blade than any other warrior he had encountered. He then noticed the glare of a tortured soul, he looked upon him as if he was his tormentor [What's this guy's problem?] he asked himself.
Siegfried looked up at the former mortal with a pair of icy eyes that surpassed those of any warrior he had ever seen "I don't know who you are, or where you came from. Leave this place at once and I will not be forced to cut you down." he said, this was no idle threat or a bluff he ment every word of it. The creature narrowed his already sharp eyes before he raised his ax and lightning seemed to jump from his body, Siegfried lightly huffed getting ready. This creature's spirit was strong but it was full of hatred and anger, two very big drawbacks in a battle.
The monster followed Siegfried's every movement as she slowly drew his sword with his left hand the weight clearly taking advantage of his mortal limits, he decided to take his chance and rushed the warrior hard holding his ax back with his right hand. Siegfried stood his ground as the titan approached him and slowly brought his right hand to grip the end of his hilt, the monster took no notice of this as he rushed up closing the ten foot mark it would be impossible for any normal man to launch an effective attack at this point with such a weapon. Siegfried however just smiled slightly at the monster's rush.
He gripped the blade's hilt completely with his right arm before swinging up with speed unsurpassed with the weapon, the blade clashed with the ax slapping it aside before the blade came back down to smash into the monster's shoulder hoping to draw him in half. Siegfried's eyes narrowed as he watched his blade only get so far into the flesh before the strange costume suddenly became solid preventing the cut in like an armor. Siegfried quickly retaliated swinging his blade like a club smashing the flat end into the demon's head sending his stumbling back.
Sophitia was shocked, needless to say. During the time she was traveling Siegfried could never hope to swing the blade so well, he could hold his own back then but the blade might as well have been made of a hallow frame. It wasn't long before both of them were at one another's throats again.
Spawn growled before he sprung to his feet rushing at the man swinging his blade hard at him which clashed against the sword, he then raised his free hand and attempted to throw another fireball directly in his face hoping for an instant KO or kill. Siegfried quickly retaliated bringing his right arm up to shield his face, the monster then raised his ax to come down again. Siegfried had not expected such raw power and knew he had to do something, he caught sight of his hand now revealed by the burnt bandages and decided he might as well put such a reminder to good use.
His left hand shot up gripping his blade to ward off the blow deflecting the impact almost completely, he then looked down at the creature's exposed abdomen and took his chance. He brought back his right hand but didn't bring it into a fist instead he headed right at the hell spawn's mid-section as if to grab something.
Spawn grunted as he felt a piercing pain in his abdomen before he was hoisted up into the air and then smashed into the wooden surface of the dock, he quickly recovered rolling away as the large blade came down in the attempt to decapitate him. He looked at the man whom he was fighting to see his own glowing blood coating his fingertips which had been replaced by claws coming from where his finger nail should have been. Scars trailed up his arm parts of his flesh being heavily callused, he now knew that this man was a lot more than a simple knight.
Siegfried looked at his opponent completely ignoring the gasps and stares of the White Wind's present members. He watched as the creature slowly healed up his wounds, he also took notice that the demon was now breathing heavily and Siegfried shook his head lightly "You might be powerful but your to over confident to bother dodging. Healing takes a lot out of you doesn't it?" he asked.
[Damn it Al. This isn't going to work!] the hell spawn shouted mentally at himself as he took a deep breath before looking toward the Nightwraith where his shard was, in the hands of that brat that attacked him earlier. He looked back to the knight that was still ready for him but he knew that if he continued he would not have the energy to heal [Should have figured whoever else had the shards wouldn't be normal. I have to learn more about this body first, then I can continue. I'm sorry Wanda, wait a little longer.] he breathed mentally.
He then looked up as he lowered his ax and it melted back into a cape which appeared back on his shoulders flowing all around his feet, he gathered his thoughts and spoke in his deep voice "Something tells me that we haven't seen the last of one another. Next time, things will be different!" the demon shouted before suddenly the cape wrapped around his body and then he vanished. Little did they know he had slipped into a sub dimension other wise known as the void, at his will he could return to this world in another location but he needed a great deal of energy to pull off such a task which he was lacking.
Siegfried lowered his sword before he stabbed it into the docks having very little idea of what he had just seen, he now remembered exactly what that creature was. It was a hellspawn. A creature that had at some point been a man before something about him caught the attention of one of the underworld's demons. There were many possibilities, but all of it came to the same ends no matter what makes the possibility of their attractive to the devils, to serve the devils of the underworld in exchange for something great. From Soul Edge's knowledge the most often sought is a second chance at life.
So much knowledge placed into Siegfried's mind by the Soul Edge, perhaps it wasn't such a curse after all he now realized that there was something much more grave going on. The Soul Edge was no longer the goal of only humans, he had known for a long time that it was an unholy weapon that could give great power to whoever wielded it and now it seemed that even demonic forces of the realm beyond life sought to claim the sword for their own. [This is really bad.] He growled mentally as he looked back at the group, Sophitia in particular. She was all but ready to beg for his assistance and with such a realization he wasn't so sure of what to do.
Reclaiming his blade he stepped back toward the group a good number of them looking toward either him or the Nightwraith obviously worried about the one Kilik and Xianghua had run after to check on. Maxi however moved over to his check to assess the damage and in his own words: Decide just how long he was going to keep that freak alive. Sophitia looked at him able to see the conflict between the two choices he had "What are you going to do now?" she asked. Siegfried breathed as he placed the flat edge of his sword on his shoulder "Lets check on your friend first." he said. With that the group all headed toward the Nightwraith.
Next Chapter: Heart to Heart (Part One)
After managing to get Drake out of the water and claim the stolen fragment Siegfried makes a discovery that takes much burden from his shoulders. However he still is unsure on if he wants to join their cause or not and decides to take the night to decide. In the meantime a number of the other seekers talk with one another, some sharing deeper issues than others. Cassandra asks Link's opinions on a few things, Sophitia tells Siegfried about her life, Kyle is approached by Mina on a number of things, Talim and Drake flashback to the good old days. More in the next chapter...
GIVE ME REVIEWS OR GIVE ME IDEAS FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!
Authors Note: Okay I don't know if they had military words like Colonel and General back then but lets just assume that they did. It will make things a lot less complicated. Also it may take a while to get Yoshimitsu or Heihachi into this.
Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Thirty-Three: Through Hell and Back
"WHAT?!" Yunsung suddenly blurted out as he stepped up to the platform but not much further. "Oh no." Kyle and Mina both signed in unison as Yunsung began shouting at the commander of the Defenders.
"Do you mean to tell me that after all that has happened you just going to cut out and call it even?!" Yunsung shouted at Siegfried ignoring Mina's demands to calm down.
Siegfried looked back at the annoyed Korean "Of course. If I felt like going after that forsaken thing I wouldn't be here right now listening to you whine like a newborn." he explained calmly.
Yunsung growled as he waved his arms in the air clearly enraged "I can't believe this! We spend this much time hunting down this great warrior that Nightmare gets all of his skills from and all we find is a coward?!" he shouted, Siegfried however seemed unnerved by this.
"Thats enough Yunsung!" Cassandra shouted at him from her place against one of the pillars. "You have no right to speak about him in such a manner!" Mina shouted in defense along with Sophitia.
"Oh shut up! It can't be said he's anything else!" he retorted. Siegfried looked to the side his eyes closing in withheld sorrow "After spending five years looking through my own eyes at the Azure Nightmare's actions from the back of my own mind, watching his massacres and rampages, I'm not going to risk being taken back into that kind of Hell." he breathed as he flashed back.
Sophitia normally would have gone with Yunsung and insisted he come but found that she couldn't even contemplate his pain. Link lowered his eyes as well, he had been through a lot in his life but he had never been possessed or been forced to murder the innocent, he couldn't even imagine. In fact the very attempt to made him sick to the very pit of his stomach.
Yunsung looked at everybody as they supported Siegfried's decision, he found himself unable to believe that they were taking pity on him "Kyle? Taki?!" he said addressing two of the more serious seekers. The ones that more than likely felt that the Defender's leader was obligated to help them.
Kyle let his hand tilt on his sword as he found himself ashamed of having Yunsung with his group "I've no say or care in this matter. The shard was my only concern, it is after all his life. Which has been robbed from him enough." he said much to the admiration of Mina.
Taki lightly shrugged as she was addressed "It isn't often that I take pity on anybody. But it is not our place to demand his assistance further. Though I would like his help he has been forced through enough." she said showing a rarely seen drop of pity.
Yunsung groaned as he looked up at a seemingly satisfied Siegfried, he moved up the stairs ready to really get in his face. Mina wanted to stop him but Kyle held her back knowing it was pointless. "I can't believe this! Why is it such a big deal to just accept what has happened and move on?! What the Hell is your problem?!" this earned Yunsung a hard blow to the face.
Siegfried without a seconds hesitation shot up from his chair back fisting Yunsung across the face, everybody in the room watched with awe as Yunsung was sent clean of the platform to land on his back near Sophitia who stepped back. Siegfried glared down at the brash young Korean before speaking "Hell? Hell?! You don't even know the meaning of the word you pathetic fool. I might as well have been dragged through that place and back over the roughest terrain, you cannot possibly image what kind of 'Hell' I have seen and experienced." he growled.
Yunsung slowly got to his feet rubbing the fresh bruise on his chin, he was lucky he wasn't missing teeth from such a blow "You wanna try me?!" he shouted in anger going for his sword. This was right before there was the sound of a blade leaving its sheath and he looked to see Mitsurugi standing there with Shishi-Oh right next to his windpipe "Stay down. Shut up and listen." he said before he kicked Yunsung's left hand out from under him.
Siegfried continued as if nothing had happened between Mitsurugi and Yunsung "I feel a crippling pain in my heart and soul every time I close my eyes. Images of the killings, of the massacres have been burned with the sharpest of fires into my mind. I remember every last face, or every last person ever to fall by the blade of the Soul Edge while it was still in my hands. Men, women, children, entire families and I was able to do nothing. Soul Edge has no bounds it just kills and it did it through my God given hands! You honestly think that any sane mortal man has the strength to just bare that kind of Hell?!" he screamed at Yunsung as if he was on the edge of his sanity.
Siegfried breathed before he turned his gaze to look at the wall where his swords were along with a suit of armor that had been recovered a while ago "Not that I blame those that hate me for what happened. For every action there is a consequence. No deed done for oneself goes unpunished. I ignored these warnings and took the Soul Edge and the world suffered for it. I am not sure if I am immune to the blade after managing to escape it but I don't wish to take any chances." he sighed as he fell back into his chair "Please. Let me be alone." he breathed as he looked at the floor.
Yunsung now officially felt like a real jerk, everybody else in the room probably looked at him in a different light after what he had done to this man. Sophitia approached the mourning Siegfried trying to at least get him to talk to her more before they were forced to move on "Siegfried...think about..." she didn't have much time to continue before he slammed his right fist into the chair and looked at them "Just...get...out." he breathed. Sophitia turned, defeated and prepared to order them to move out.
Yunsung slowly stood to his feet removing his hand from his blade as Mitsurugi moved away huffing as he did so. He looked toward Mina and Kyle who both shook their heads and headed for the door, Kilik looked down at him as Xianghua passed still admiring the glistening shard of the Soul Calibur, neither made jestures of disappointment. "Bonehead." he murmured to himself as he followed them, looking back to apologize he found Siegfried heading back toward the balcony to continue his meditation.
Suddenly as Mitsurugi was about to exit the room the doors burst open and Katherine stood there looking a little out of breath "Commander! We have a serious problem down by the docks!" Siegfried only turned his head back to look at his fiery haired Captain "Let Arus deal with it, fights between those drunken traders are not a cause for our concern." he said once again referring to one of his best men, for some reason the one called Link breathed heavier everytime this name was brought up.
Katherine didn't adhere to Siegfried's wishes as she stepped in to the room "Sir this is not the traders or any kind of a riot. As for Colonel Loire he just came from there and claims that some sort of creature is connected to a great deal of fires and explosions." as this was said an image of a flaming skull flashed in the back of his mind, without another word he turned completely around to face the Captain "Where is this creature?" he asked in cold seriousness.
Katherine looked back quickly scanning her own memory before coming up with an answer "According to our scouts he was last spotted on the lower harbor, where most of the civilian ships have been requested to land." Sophitia gasped as she realized exactly where she was speaking of. Siegfried looked up at her requesting to know what was wrong, she quickly looked back to him "Our ship is in that area, we must hurry. Whatever this thing is it might be after the shards we've collected so far." none of this rested well with the Commander obviously.
Siegfried took a breath as he headed out of the roof reaching up with his left hand to snatch the large steel sword from the middle of the collection, the one with the blunt tip. "Beautiful." he growled in response knowing the severity of the situation. He looked back at the group as they watched him prepare to leave "What are you waiting for? This is your fight too isn't it?" he said virtually ordering them to get a move on. They all responded by running past him and toward the stairs, he looked back at Sophitia and nodded. She nodded back and they both moved off.
The creature that was once known as Al Simmons roared as he raised his hand and hurled another fireball at the pirate with the nunchakus, who jumped hard to the side to avoid it at it struck the side of the ship he had been on. He growled as he looked back able to see that the window of Sophitia's room had been blown open, it wouldn't take much effort to fix but then there was money. He was cautious of the man with the rifle that had taken stance while the girl went into the water after the boy he assumed was a friend or something
"Oh good!" Maxi groaned in anger as the monster rushed him again swinging his axe, Maxi swung hard hitting the blade in the side taking it off course before striking the monster in the stomach but like so many times before it was uneffected. Raphael was there but he wasn't much good against such a broad weapon, Maxi jumped to attack again swinging at the monster's head but that is where he made his mistake.
The creature had finally gotten wise to his style and shooting up a free hand through him away by his leg sending him to the wooden ground painfully. "Damn it all. You alright?" Raphael growled as he noticed the monster going toward the shattered window as if it was being called. Maxi slowly sat up holding his side "He's going after the shards...stop him." he groaned in pain his ribs ailing him. Raphael stood up before he raised his rapier and rushed at the hellspawn. The creature turned around right in time to get the blade through the right side of his chest, he let out a growl of pain but hardly flinched.
Raphael locked eyes with the demon, they glowed an eerie green. It was hardly human it was otherworldly and very scary even to the hardened warrior, he knew there was no winning this thing "Phantom! What do you want with the shards?!" he demanded to know. The creature pushed Raphael away causing him to draw back his blade, he spoke "I've been to Hell. I've seen the fires and made a pact that will return me. I don't know what the circumstances are and I really don't give a damn! Just stay out of my way!" Raphael growled.
Just as this was said the creature's head snapped up just as something struck him hard in the chest sending him slamming to the dock's surface. The creature reared as he pulled a barbed arrow from his chest screaming in pain as he did, he looked up to see a young man in a cloak lowering a bow. [I've been hit with arrows before but damn, what kind of power is put behind that one? Feels like I just got hit with a bolt of lightning.] his mind wandered as he felt a light energy coming off of the arrow head he had just removed. He then noticed a blonde man stepping forward who carried a very large sword.
Link lowered his bow breathing heavily as he did, this weapon that he had brought with him was easily the most accurate weapon he possessed but most of the power he could put through it had been drained. Without the ability to utilize his magic in this world he was limited to leeching off his own energy [There has to be a better way...] he breathed mentally as Siegfried walked past him nodding to him. He looked up to see Raphael getting to his feet to get Maxi away from the demon that had proven more than a match for them.
Sophitia looked the demon over from where she stood unable to even start making assumptions as to what it could be. The first thing she noticed was the jet black flesh all across his body, while from where she stood it seemed like a costume but at the same time it like a foreign flesh that refused to leave his own. The monster looked back into the area that was her room eyeing the box that she kept the cursed shards of the Soul Edge and the Soul Blade, normally no mortal could feel their calls from their confines, this ment that this creature must have already had one.
Sophitia could feel no shard on him and began to scan the area and her gaze eventually feel near the Nightwraith where she noticed Talim and Jack pulling an injured Drake from the water. He held a hand clutched around something "Oh no..." Sophitia breathed. He looked back quickly informing Kilik who ran by her followed closely by Xianghua, they were probably the only other two besides herself and Link who were truly immune to the temptations of the Soul Edge. Kilik had of course gone through the long process of purifying the Evil Seed and the Soul Edge more than likely hated Xianghua to a heavy fault for breaking it up.
The creature looked toward the group raising his ax as if to demand the next challenger, Kyle looked toward Raphael and Maxi and was about to step forward when Siegfried raised his arm looking toward the creature. Kyle looked at him, his eyes like that of a wolf who has had his territory violated "What business do you have with this monster?" he asked him before he noticed Siegfried looking at the creature. He had heard of the men who returned to the world with such eyes after horrible, distasteful deaths "How ironic." he said before he began to advance.
Kyle Strife was about to interfere but stood back taking his place back by Mina's side. The lovely Seung Mina looked up at him before speaking "Since when do you heed the wishes of others? Never seen you or Hwang back down from any kind of a challenge." she said pointing out yet another similarity to two of them had, this resulted in a huff of irritated nature from Yunsung.
Kyle looked at her smiling lightly before he admitted that he turned back to the slowly advancing Siegfried "I've heard much about the nameless man that was before he was Nightmare, apparently a great tactician and warrior. With all of Soul Edge's knowledge in his head perhaps he will know how to put this thing down. I'm not going to risk a battle that I may not have to fight, at least not until De Leon." he said with a seriousness that chilled Mina's heart. It almost made her pity him even more.
Spawn looked up as the man approached him. After what that seemingly average archer had done to him he decided to be extra careful and looked the man over. He took note that he unlike the other warriors wore no kind of armor aside from the dark leather boots on his feet and the loose black pants, other than that and the bandages encircling his right arm he was bare. Across his chest was a leather sling for holding a sword, only difference was he carried a much large blade than any other warrior he had encountered. He then noticed the glare of a tortured soul, he looked upon him as if he was his tormentor [What's this guy's problem?] he asked himself.
Siegfried looked up at the former mortal with a pair of icy eyes that surpassed those of any warrior he had ever seen "I don't know who you are, or where you came from. Leave this place at once and I will not be forced to cut you down." he said, this was no idle threat or a bluff he ment every word of it. The creature narrowed his already sharp eyes before he raised his ax and lightning seemed to jump from his body, Siegfried lightly huffed getting ready. This creature's spirit was strong but it was full of hatred and anger, two very big drawbacks in a battle.
The monster followed Siegfried's every movement as she slowly drew his sword with his left hand the weight clearly taking advantage of his mortal limits, he decided to take his chance and rushed the warrior hard holding his ax back with his right hand. Siegfried stood his ground as the titan approached him and slowly brought his right hand to grip the end of his hilt, the monster took no notice of this as he rushed up closing the ten foot mark it would be impossible for any normal man to launch an effective attack at this point with such a weapon. Siegfried however just smiled slightly at the monster's rush.
He gripped the blade's hilt completely with his right arm before swinging up with speed unsurpassed with the weapon, the blade clashed with the ax slapping it aside before the blade came back down to smash into the monster's shoulder hoping to draw him in half. Siegfried's eyes narrowed as he watched his blade only get so far into the flesh before the strange costume suddenly became solid preventing the cut in like an armor. Siegfried quickly retaliated swinging his blade like a club smashing the flat end into the demon's head sending his stumbling back.
Sophitia was shocked, needless to say. During the time she was traveling Siegfried could never hope to swing the blade so well, he could hold his own back then but the blade might as well have been made of a hallow frame. It wasn't long before both of them were at one another's throats again.
Spawn growled before he sprung to his feet rushing at the man swinging his blade hard at him which clashed against the sword, he then raised his free hand and attempted to throw another fireball directly in his face hoping for an instant KO or kill. Siegfried quickly retaliated bringing his right arm up to shield his face, the monster then raised his ax to come down again. Siegfried had not expected such raw power and knew he had to do something, he caught sight of his hand now revealed by the burnt bandages and decided he might as well put such a reminder to good use.
His left hand shot up gripping his blade to ward off the blow deflecting the impact almost completely, he then looked down at the creature's exposed abdomen and took his chance. He brought back his right hand but didn't bring it into a fist instead he headed right at the hell spawn's mid-section as if to grab something.
Spawn grunted as he felt a piercing pain in his abdomen before he was hoisted up into the air and then smashed into the wooden surface of the dock, he quickly recovered rolling away as the large blade came down in the attempt to decapitate him. He looked at the man whom he was fighting to see his own glowing blood coating his fingertips which had been replaced by claws coming from where his finger nail should have been. Scars trailed up his arm parts of his flesh being heavily callused, he now knew that this man was a lot more than a simple knight.
Siegfried looked at his opponent completely ignoring the gasps and stares of the White Wind's present members. He watched as the creature slowly healed up his wounds, he also took notice that the demon was now breathing heavily and Siegfried shook his head lightly "You might be powerful but your to over confident to bother dodging. Healing takes a lot out of you doesn't it?" he asked.
[Damn it Al. This isn't going to work!] the hell spawn shouted mentally at himself as he took a deep breath before looking toward the Nightwraith where his shard was, in the hands of that brat that attacked him earlier. He looked back to the knight that was still ready for him but he knew that if he continued he would not have the energy to heal [Should have figured whoever else had the shards wouldn't be normal. I have to learn more about this body first, then I can continue. I'm sorry Wanda, wait a little longer.] he breathed mentally.
He then looked up as he lowered his ax and it melted back into a cape which appeared back on his shoulders flowing all around his feet, he gathered his thoughts and spoke in his deep voice "Something tells me that we haven't seen the last of one another. Next time, things will be different!" the demon shouted before suddenly the cape wrapped around his body and then he vanished. Little did they know he had slipped into a sub dimension other wise known as the void, at his will he could return to this world in another location but he needed a great deal of energy to pull off such a task which he was lacking.
Siegfried lowered his sword before he stabbed it into the docks having very little idea of what he had just seen, he now remembered exactly what that creature was. It was a hellspawn. A creature that had at some point been a man before something about him caught the attention of one of the underworld's demons. There were many possibilities, but all of it came to the same ends no matter what makes the possibility of their attractive to the devils, to serve the devils of the underworld in exchange for something great. From Soul Edge's knowledge the most often sought is a second chance at life.
So much knowledge placed into Siegfried's mind by the Soul Edge, perhaps it wasn't such a curse after all he now realized that there was something much more grave going on. The Soul Edge was no longer the goal of only humans, he had known for a long time that it was an unholy weapon that could give great power to whoever wielded it and now it seemed that even demonic forces of the realm beyond life sought to claim the sword for their own. [This is really bad.] He growled mentally as he looked back at the group, Sophitia in particular. She was all but ready to beg for his assistance and with such a realization he wasn't so sure of what to do.
Reclaiming his blade he stepped back toward the group a good number of them looking toward either him or the Nightwraith obviously worried about the one Kilik and Xianghua had run after to check on. Maxi however moved over to his check to assess the damage and in his own words: Decide just how long he was going to keep that freak alive. Sophitia looked at him able to see the conflict between the two choices he had "What are you going to do now?" she asked. Siegfried breathed as he placed the flat edge of his sword on his shoulder "Lets check on your friend first." he said. With that the group all headed toward the Nightwraith.
Next Chapter: Heart to Heart (Part One)
After managing to get Drake out of the water and claim the stolen fragment Siegfried makes a discovery that takes much burden from his shoulders. However he still is unsure on if he wants to join their cause or not and decides to take the night to decide. In the meantime a number of the other seekers talk with one another, some sharing deeper issues than others. Cassandra asks Link's opinions on a few things, Sophitia tells Siegfried about her life, Kyle is approached by Mina on a number of things, Talim and Drake flashback to the good old days. More in the next chapter...
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