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 people this is it. By the end of this chapter one of the main characters that have been labeled will be taken from the story. I'm not going to tell you here and am going to try to keep people guessing through this chapter. But please if the results don't meet your expectations, don't stop reading because this is all working towards something big. Trust me.
Another Note: For those asking yourself Arus's name is pronounced: R-us nay
Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Frailties of Mortality
As obvious as he might have been none of the seekers that were being forced to fight could believe what was going on all around them. The estate of the Valentine clan had become a battleground and even in the bay the Nightwraith had moved under the cliffs where one of the Black Wind's smaller ships waited. The one that had been carrying the lizardmen and Uruk-hai that now assaulted the place was probably a ship captured from the French armada defeated in the Arabian Sea.
Siegfried swung hard with the large blade known as Requiem cutting down multiple targets and sending whatever was left to the ground. Raphael looked back at him "13!" he shouted "15!" Siegfried shouted back. Essentially keeping a pointless score between strength and speed. Sophitia looked back at them as she side stepped another one of the sluggish Uruk-Hai and stabbed her blade up into its chest getting it off the ground before she slammed her shield into its head forcing it off.
While the three of them along with Kilik and Xianghua fought back the advances of the Black Wind the trio of Yunsung, Talim and Drake found themselves on the perimeter of the mansion taking down any of the wandering Uruk-Hai. This was much to the male wind warrior's dismay, he knew that after being absent for so long from the Black Wind that somebody would attempt to get in touch with him. But as long as he was being followed by those two they would continue to attack him and he would be forced to continue killing them.
The Uruk-Hai being quite literally of infinite amounts were no great deal but for him to kill a Lizardman would greatly change Renzor's thought of him, and once being human the jade scaled terror knew it wouldn't be an accident. Talim had claimed she was still worried about those that had gone missing, the likes of Link, Cassandra, Kyle and Mina. Yunsung didn't have an excuse. His presence seemed as if it wanted the threaten the role of his shadow that was barely visible due to the gathering clouds above. Drake headed for the cliffs in hopes of getting into the catacombs under the house, however they all stopped when they saw it.
Two figures were fighting on side of the rocky cliffs going at one another at the edge as if they had some sort of a death wish. None of them could explain what they saw. They had never seen anything like it. It was Link and he was fighting another Link. But At their distance they had no clue as to which Link was their Link. And which Link was the imposter. Without much warning Talim started to approach before Drake grabbed her as he watched the one in the darker green tunic swing hard and send Link back slightly, Talim didn't stop however and began moving toward them.
Arus'Nei jumped high and brought down his sword barely giving Link the breathing room to raise his own to block it before coming up again. Arus however stepped back just in time to shoulder Link hard sending him back over the cliff, luckily however Link managed to grab onto the edge and begin pulling himself up. "Bastard." he growled lightly as he looked down. A carved pathway lead down to a part of the cliff that was like a platform, a cave was there and it seemed that it would be the best place to fight if they wanted to be left alone.
Link found himself growling as he climbed to his feet. He brought up his sword as Arus'Nei turned to him and pointed his sword to the ground, he then smiled lightly. Link then noticed Yunsung and Talim rushing at him from behind, Link then caught that familiar aura in the air and was now officially scared. Arus possessed something that he did not in this world, this would make all the difference if he wasn't careful. Link braced himself on his ground "NO! GET AWAY!" Link shouted.
"Pathetic." Arus'Nei murmured before he spun around bringing one leg off the ground to rotate on his heel. Crimson energy seemed to eject itself from the shadow sword into a powerful ring that shot out from Arus'Nei. Link winced as the wave smashed into them and sent both Yunsung and Talim flying. The Korean smashed into the ground a few feet away sliding on his chest before falling prone on the ground, Talim struck the ground and rolled quite a bit before coming to a stop. Arus'Nei had turned the sword to its flat end. Would he have swiped it as if cutting, both of them would more than likely be dead.
Arus'Nei stood up from a kneel pose he had fallen into after the attack he then looked to Link just as his lighter side hid what fear he had displayed "Is something amiss Masters?" he asked raising an eyebrow. "Talim!" Link looked up and his shadow turned in time to see Drake of all people step up, he knelt down checking Talim and then looked at her attacker that stood before him. Without hesitation he drew both of his blades and glared at him clearly paying no mind to the resemblance he shared with Link, he was just another obstacle in his way.
Without warning Drake charged at Arus'Nei and swung both of his blades to meet the Shadow Sword, however with only one pulse of its aura Drake found himself being forced him back. Arus'Nei then grabbed Drake by the forehead and in a quick motion hoisted him up into the air, the pressure around his cranium left no room to use his blades. Arus'Nei quickly caught himself as he remembered a request given to him by Ivy "Somebody must speak with you." he said before he swung his sword again the energy raining out.
Drake was sent flying through the air a good number of yards before he smashed through a wall on the second floor of the mansion. Link growled knowing that it was unlikely that Drake would be battle worthy after such an incident. "Leave them out of this Arus!" Link screamed. Very few would ever call him by his first name only, it showed a lack of respect. Arus then stepped away before stepping off the side to head down the carved walkway "Lets finish this." he taunted before Link gave chase.
Drake slowly crawled to his feet ignoring the pieces of wood everywhere he was lucky he had hit a less reinforced part of the house other wise his spine might have been broken over a support beam. His vision blurred, whatever energy powered that sword it was far more devious than that of the Soul Edge if it could cause his to weaken just by pulsing. Link's blade, in the one time he had been privilaged to see it was the exact opposite it almost made you feel a little purer. He wondered if an attribute in such a weapon could wash the impurities away.
He didn't have much time to ponder this as something snapped in his blurred vision and he was send up into the air and slamming back to the floor. He then heard something dig its way into the floor and then come up the other side, something metallic moving its way around his chest securing him before pulling him up along with parts of the floor. Somebody then stepped into the light and he found himself once again ruled by the scenario his own foolishness had caused. A familiar voice spoke out "At least he is prompt. Wouldn't you agree?" Drake breathed as if the razor sharp segment of metal around his body didn't concern him.
Drake looked back at the gapping hole his body had left behind in the wall "I'm willing to bet that he is just as native to this world as Renzo or Karenna." she tilted her head lightly as she looked at him "Sharp as always, but I'm beginning to think you might be dulling little one, your time expired weeks ago." she said pointing out the month time limit that she had placed on him to return from Oman. He had not gotten back before they left and was not at the meeting point, Drake breathed "I can explain what happened, but I have another condition for my cooperation." he said.
Ivy thought before retracting the bladed whip back into the form of a sword, she then casually leaned against the wall as Drake sheathed his own blades "I went to Oman to confront the creature the shard had possessed. It seems it has magnified the power the shard possesses, I would have left but the group traveling with the White Wind presented more opportunity. I just have to wait for a time when the Athenian isn't watching over their collected shards. Just give me a little more time." Ivy looked at him long and hard contemplating if his service was something she could do without.
The fallen heiress to the Valentine clan lowered her weapon before looking at him "If you betray my trust I will not hesitate to order your death. Destroy my trust and I will destroy the object of our trust." he took a deep breath before dropping to one knee and bowing his head once again giving his far from valuable word "Now...what is your condition wind rider?" she said using one of his aliases when he was still a sell sword.
He looked outside and took a breath not knowing how Ivy would take his wish, he had already made a large enough demand "In truth it fits into our original bargain. She is a girl traveling with the seekers that hails from the Wind Village, and like my home I want no harm to come to her if it can at all be helped." the woman before him gave a light chuckle before she leaned forward speaking out smoothly "Agreed. Just don't let your personal feelings get in the way of your orders. Be swift and do not disappoint me again." Drake nodded before the blade moved to wrap around him again much to his shock.
"Forgive me, but I can't let them think you sustained no damage from such an event." she said before she used her weapon to hurl him hard into the nearest wall making quite a mess. Drake fell to the floor and held his shoulder now clearly in pain, Ivy then turned and walked away ignoring the light curses under Drake's breath. She decided to head to the gardens first, with any luck they would be to distracted to notice her and all she needed was a second to take Nightmare's biggest target out of action. Sophitia was that target. She also wondered how her unwanted father was doing...
Kyle screamed again as he brought down the powerful oni blade that smashed hard against the Soul Blade and Turmoil that Cervantes crossed to parry the blow. Once again he failed to throw the blade off as the much younger warrior brought it back and then swung in another attack, the immortal pirate was confused. He had never heard of anybody being able to put so much power behind their attacks and not fatigue themselves, either his entire life had been combat or there truly was something abnormal about the black sword he wielded.
As he brought back his sword Kyle thrust his leg forward and smashed the heel of his right foot into Cervante's exposed chest causing him to stumbled before he jumped up and gave a large roundhouse kick to the side of the undead pirate's head sending him a good dozen feet away. Cervantes couldn't understand what he was going through. Everything he was throwing at his opponent was being thrown right back at him, he was constantly being parried, evaded or blocked and then met with a counterattack which almost always hit home. If was as if the boy was reading his thoughts.
Cervantes stabbed the tip of his own demonic blade into the ground and looked up as Kyle brought his blade up and ran his fingers over the demon skull emblem on the hilt before lowering it and motioning with his hand for him to come. Cervantes growled before he pulled to his feet and rushed at the boy deciding he had to end this quickly, he brought up the Turmoil at the last moment pointing the hilt toward him before pulling the hidden trigger. The hidden pistol in the hilt went off and sent a round ball towards Kyle at near point blank rang.
Cervantes smirked and lowered his arm only to his shock to see that Kyle had moved his head a split second before the trigger was even pulled, Cervantes rushing made him unable to stop and this made it easy for Kyle to run him through with the Oblivion. Cervantes screamed in pain, while truly unable to be killed so easily he could still feel pain to a degree, but when ever a blade or anything else severed a strand of the Soul Blade's energy, the essence that ran through his body...it hurt.
Before Cervantes could make a move he was hurled off of the blade which now dripped with his blood, he now felt either betrayed or jinxed. The pistol hidden within Turmoil, he rarely ever used this sneaky trick and somehow this punk prodigy of a warrior anticipated this before he could pull the trigger. The boy raised his sword and he was amazed by what he saw next, the blade glowed in a very odd way. A black and unholy aura surrounded the stained sword before his blood was absorbed by it melding into the very blade that had pierced him for a second time in the last several years. Kyle chuckled "I told you already. My sword wants your blood, and I want your head." Kyle then cocked his head to the side looking at him with a light smirked "Whats that look? You seemed confused?"
Cervantes snarled at the sarcasm that resembled his daughter's to the point of angering him even more "What kind of trick are you using? How are you reading me? Who in the hell are you?!" he growled expecting Kyle to flash a shard of the Soul Edge or a piece of his own blade. Kyle breathed before he stepped closer to Cervantes a dark resolve behind his eyes before he started speaking "You've allowed yourself to grow weaker Cervantes, expecting that all those who challenge you will be fools wanting to compare style. Ever since you destroyed my life I've been hunting you, but unlike the others I took the time to learn what I was up against."
Cervantes growled as Kyle began to lay everything down "I followed your movements after you vanished and asked everybody who ever came into contact with you and survived. It didn't take me long to find out your base style, in between military men, surviving victims and homeless snitches it was no great task of learning all about your style. Right down to that crummy pistol you customized into the Turmoil. I even knew who Ivy was before we came here, I know everything about you." Cervantes growled as he concentrated into the Soul Blade and gripped both his swords "You...know nothing!!" he shouted before leaping at Kyle.
In mid air he began spinning and his swords went into a whirlwind of death flying right at him, Kyle sharped gasped before he jumped back just as Cervantes came through where he was standing. He turned narrowing his eyes as Cervantes came to a stop sliding on his heels "Nice trick de Leon. Does that grotesque sword do anything else?" he mocked bringing up the Oblivion this time planning to take off his head. Cervantes looked at him "You cannot kill me boy. So long as the Soul Blade exists I cannot be killed." the Oblivion pulsed lightly as he brought it back to stance "We shall see." he said.
Cervantes smirked and then the energy around the Soul Blade snapped and he vanished into thin air, a stream of energy shot straight up above Kyle's head and suddenly Cervantes came down. Kyle on reaction jumped as the force of the Soul Blade came down knocking him off his feet, Cervantes was swift to move and launched a sweep kick at Kyle which sent him up into the air. He then jumped up and hammered his foot into Kyle's side sending him flying across the bare vault smashing him into the wall, despite his studies it was impossible to predict the immortal pirate's strength.
He slowly tried to crawl to his feet disoriented and in pain and looked up just in time to see Cervantes moving toward him. He raised his sword barely gripped in his right hand only to have it knocked away, Kyle flailed attempting to get the inhuman maniac away from him but his attempted were slapped away at the infamous Soul Blade was driven into his side. Kyle screamed as his hands wrapped around the crudely sharpened blade cutting his hands, he could feel the flat side of the blade pushing against a few organs. He had just been sparred. The pirate wanted to torture him.
Kyle growled as he held his side trying to stop the flow of blood around the Soul Edge which continued to pulse, the killer of his people spoke to him "You think I give a care about those I have killed. They are nothing but food to feed my blade. Your kind are no different so don't begin to think your special. Destroying me won't solve a thing. Now..." he grabbed Kyle by the throat squeezing hard "How did you convince Isabella to try and betray us. How have you been corrupting her to follow you?" he demanded to know.
Kyle's right hand fell and his fingers hit the wall as he began losing his strength, he spoke weakly as he felt along the wall hoping to find a loose brick of something "It doesn't involve you. I haven't spoken to her before today, I chased her after she wounded one of our group and then ran off. She lead me to you, if she has hope for me to destroy you they are her own." he said as he felt a good piece of the wall chipped away and the grip of something familiar rested inside. "You've been betrayed by your own blood...accept it." Kyle demanded.
Cervantes growled as he brought back Turmoil in his free hand "You worthless...!!" he shouted as he prepared to take off Kyle's head. Using the breathing room he had Kyle swung the Oblivion through the air taking a large chunk out of Cervantes's raised arm which broke through another strand of energy causing him to release his blade and fall back grasping his hand. Kyle despite blood lose reached down and was about to grab the blade when he stopped...he instead brought up the Oblivion and used the blade to pull the blade from his abdomen.
He quickly then stood it up and brought the Oblivion along side of it as hard as he could which put a goodly sized cut into the blade, Kyle then picked up the blade and hurled it across the chamber toward the door where it clattered hard against the stone wall. Cervantes looked up as Kyle as he stumbled towards him bringing his blade down hard, he held up the Turmoil to hold it off but it broke right through and went into Cervantes's chest. The immortal screamed before shoving Kyle off of him, the weakened warrior stumbled back into the wall.
Cervantes retreated to the doorway holding his chest which had been stabbed twice in the last few minutes leaving him in pain and weak. Fearing that Kyle just might know how to end his existence he picked up the Soul Blade and looked back "Don't expect this fling with lady luck to last boy! Next time will be very different!" he shouted before he ran off back towards the mansion holding his chest.
Kyle breathed as he held his side which he was trying to patch with his jacket "Yeah...next time I'll pin you to the wall." he breathed before he fell forward bracing himself on his own sword "Damn it all." he cursed knowing he was useless for the moment. He could feel his body trying to filter out the energy released by the Soul Blade and with that kind of essence in his body it wasn't a good idea to try to continue an even battle. He could only hope Mina and the others were alright.
Mina breathed as she sent another one of the Lizardmen off the side of the Nightwraith which had effectively punched a hole in the side of the ship that was based at the bottom of the cliffs, the Eternal Wind had moved off to circle around and try to draw fire from the Darkthorne. All the while the Nightwraith had dragged their opposing ship about a quarter of a mile from the shore making them unable to do much to help them.
Taki shouted as she swung both of her swords in an over hand under hand formation and cut into another one of the attacking Uruk-hai. Even as the stolen ship they had rammed was threatened by the seas grasp its crew of orcs, Uruk-hai and Lizardmen continued to attack. Several of them had swam off towards the Darkthorne probably hoping to regroup. Taki could also feel it through Rekki-Maru, her cursed sword. The Soul Blade was there along with Cervantes and she was stranded so far from shore along with Mitsurugi, Mina and Jack.
Naoyuki looked back towards the pennensula as he turned the wheel sharply attempting to get the speedy ship pointed back towards shore. Looking back towards the mansion one could see the ship they had rammed sinking into the sea, smoke rising from the mansion where the exploding cannonballs had hit and the Eternal Wind drawing half of the Eternal Wind's fire. Mitsurugi lowered his blade as they stopped coming and looked at Naoyuki "Hurry!" he shouted knowing that something had gone wrong.
Mina breathed as she stood next to Taki the former Fu-Ma keeping her eyes one the sides of the ship, suddenly without warning Silverbolt opened his wings and left toward the mansion. Jack watched as Strife's hawk took to the wind and headed straight into the battle field "What the heck?" he murmured. Mina breathed as she felt a very uneasy feeling wash over her "Naoyuki! We need to hurry!" she shouted. Naoyuki growled as he got the wheel positioned and then began shouting orders for them to ready the sails.
Siegfried breathed as he struck another one of the Uruk-hai down that charged at him, it was beginning to get much more difficult as the much more talented Lizardmen had moved around from the front and were beginning to interfere with their fighting. Sophitia was holding her ground along with Raphael but being positioned in the center of the garden wasn't exactly suiting his nerves. He didn't worry much however as Sophitia had taken up one of the short swords from a fallen Lizardman and used it in unison with the Omega Sword to keep them at bay.
Siegfried lowered his blade allowing the tip to touch on the ground and breathed as they seemed to stop fighting, several of the Lizardmen suddenly ran away jumping the fense leaving the confused Uruk-hai to be struck down by the ever prepared Raphael. Sophitia dropped the second sword to the ground and lightly paced looking back at the other swordsman "What was that all about?" she asked him adjusting the armor on her shoulders. Raphael looked back "I've never seen such an organized retreat before. Something is wrong." he said turning back towards the entrance.
Ivy watched ready to make her move as the Athenian turned her back towards the mansion and looked at the path her troops had taken their leave on. It was all too perfect for her. Sophitia Alexandra. The woman that shattered the Soul Blade was standing there the upper part of her back almost baring a bulls eye on it. The Valentine lightly pulsed as the energy builting in the lower part of its blade, the gem in the hilt glowed as well as she brought it up feeling that she wouldn't have to go back a failure again. Without any hesitation she hurled the blade towards Sophitia. The coil going hard, more than enough to pierce stone.
Ivy closed her eyes wanting to feel the impact but unseen to her something had taken notice of her actions and had made their move and she could only contemplate this as the blade slowed down and then just plain stopped. Ivy opened her eyes wanting to know just what happened and found herself looking down to see Sophitia and Raphael starring back shocked. She brushed off memories of Raphael as they hit her, it was nothing that she had to place heavily on her mind and focused on the one who had stopped the Valentine...she couldn't believe her eyes.
Holding the tip of the Valentine in his closed right hand while holding a large bladed sword in his other were the first signs. Then she noticed the fact his hair went down to his lower back, he stood around the same height and he was easily of the same build which could be told due to the fact he only wore black cloth. He looked back lightly, the features of his face the exact same but just as she was about to believe that her superior, the master of the Soul Edge had actually come to stop her he gave the blade a sharp pull and dropped her off the side of the balcony.
Getting past her shock she quickly corrected herself and landed on her feet, her free hand falling to brace herself while the other attempted to pull her precious blade back to her. Normally the blade would have retracted with such force it would have torn the man's hand horribly, but it wasn't reacting at all. It was as if her blade was no longer under her command. She looked at the much younger man before her unable to get past how much he looked like the Azure Nightmare who had claimed to having no siblings in his 'past life' and yet this man was the striking image of him. The only difference was the emerald blue eyes he possessed.
Ivy looked towards Raphael thankful that he did not recognize her, probably due to so many years and the multiple changes that had taken place. Turning her attention back towards her commander's look alike she growled "What have you done to my sword?!" she shouted in a mix of confusion and anger. The warrior opened his fist and the blade went back to its hilt "A blade's master and creator are two different things. It offers you its powers, not its loyalty." Siegfried explained.
Ivy narrowed her eyes thinking it as a fluke and then hurled it back at the knight and willed it to something else, it curved around him and went towards Sophitia. He brought his hand down to catch the wire in the middle again. The tip of the blade flailed but still managed to snap and put a thin but deep gasp through her tunic and into her back causing her to drop to one knee in clear pain. The warrior narrowed his eyes at Ivy before he dropped the whip and rushed at her with his blade, Ivy retracted her blade and jumped from the trajectory of his blade.
Valentine then wrapped around him and she pulled sharply hoping to tear him up, she was shocked when the blade swiftly released him and then returned to its hilt without leaving a scratch. He then began stepping toward her, her eyes glanced toward Sophitia. Raphael stood there with his rapier ready to slap the Valentine away, Sophitia was no longer in her range. She looked back as the young warrior approached her "Stay away." she demanded as he neared her but ever so slowly he placed his blade on his back. A hook on a leather strap went on a chain link attached to the blade's hilt "What happened to you Ms. Valentine?" he asked almost saddened.
Isabella stepped back holding up the seemingly useless self named sword "What are you talking about? Who are you?" she breathed. "If you forget we met around six years ago when you were still trying to create a blade to take on the Soul Edge. A young knight appeared and placed his hand on the finest model of a living blade you had and it came to life. That knight later allowed his own darkness to be enhance by that sword into the entity called Nightmare. He was being taken over and he wanted some insurance, somebody he felt could defeat him before he was completely taken..." Ivy was now shaking as things came into view.
The young man who obviously referred to himself breathed running his hand over his forehead "I should have known a weapon powered by Soul Edge would only endanger its user. That sword only serves as the link of taint between you and the Soul Edge. Please don't continue, for your own sake." he said almost begging. Sophitia was confused by these outspoken words and Raphael had an expression of shock at Ivy's identity, which was replaced by anger towards Siegfried.
Ivy thought over all of this and it wasn't long before she realized exactly who he was, Nightmare hadn't expected him to live this long but somehow he had. The Valentine snapped as its energy built up again "I am not a pawn!!" she shouted before sending the blade at the fallen knight. Seigfried held up his hand and the blade curved digging into one of the mansion's stone columns. The blade swiftly retracted and was shot up towards the roof where it retracted pulling Ivy along for the ride, she had escaped them.
Siegfried breathed feeling another sin upon his shoulders before he returned to his two companions, he notice Raphael's expression and was about to explain when the Frenchman shook his head "Explain yourself later. I'm going to find something to patch her with." he said running into the mansion leaving Siegfried with Sophitia. Sophitia looked up at him "With the last of your control you gave her that sword?" she questioned him.
Siegfried lowered his head "Another deed of mine forsakes another." he breathed in sorrow punching his fist into the ground. Despite her pain Sophitia managed to place her hand over his own "We'll find some way to save her, even you were saved there has to be a way." she said hoping to raise his spirits somewhat. "I fear she it is of her own free will..." he said just as the doors to the house burst open. Sophitia looked back to see her sister moved down into the garden and then jump the bushes heading for the cliffs.
Link grunted as the sheer force of his shadow's sword sent his back into the carved stone wall, he had been trying to fight back but it was proving useless. Everything about this was a lost cause, it was hopeless and he knew it. While Arus'Nei had somehow retained the ability to bring out his energy in attacks and magic, with the transition between the two worlds Link had been left without this ability. His body was unable to adapt to the different energies and auras around him making most of his abilities useless.
Arus'Nei looked at him before sighing, while the Master Sword normally did well enough against the Shadow Swords ability to consume energy Link wasn't able to give any fight himself. It had become painfully obvious every since knocking down his friends up on the cliff, Link was truly nothing like he had been before he arrived on Earth. Link moved once again in a vain attempt to attack him and Arus'Nei retaliated by knocking his sword away then pinning him to the wall with his own. An inch of the sword's tip piercing Link's shoulder.
Arus'Nei then grabbed Link and turned to hurl him to the ground next to the cliffs edge, Link painfully got to his feet gripping the Master Sword ready to fight to his end. His body was thrashed from the vain against his darker half. His head ached from the dark swords aura, and the vain attempts at calling forward his own power had left him exhausted. He couldn't even bring himself to stand up straight as his shadow positioned himself over Link holding his sword ready to bring it down and end this once and for all...he hesitated.
"LINK!!" Arus turned his head and jumped back as a short sword cut through the air where he had been. One of Link's obvious companions stepped in front of Link wielding a shield and a sword clearly ready to fight him, Link growled "Cassandra...get away." he almost demanded knowing she couldn't stand against him. Cassandra however refused to move. She couldn't as he legs felt as if they had fallen numb at the sight of this creature that was just ready to finish Link off. He held his sword up the point towards Cassandra, some blood from a cut on his hand catching her eyes. She didn't flinch. She couldn't.
Ivy watched from the top of the cliff knowing that if the shadow of Link didn't do something soon the rest of the White Wind would appear and she would have failed in her mission. But she trusted that the unquenchable urge to destroy Link would lead his shadow into finishing him off and bringing her some glory...her trust was however, betrayed.
Arus'Nei pulled back his sword and in a swift movement replaced it in its sheath before he turned and began walking up the carved cliff. Cassandra looked up "Where are you going?!" she shouted at him feeling insulted that he would so casually walk away. Arus'Nei looked back at her "Link is far from being worth my effort as he is little girl, when I destroy him I want him to be at his peak and ready to go farther. Thanks to the haste Hyrule took in sending him here so much of his power had been numbed and hidden from him. He is not my match." he said before stepping back toward her.
Link growled at him as he stopped about fifteen feet from them, Link jumped up holding one arm in front of Cassandra while the other held the Master Sword out towards his shadow. He breathed heavily clearly exhausted. Arus'Nei stepped toward Link their eyes locking hatefully "You beg for defeat Link. Just look at yourself..." he said as he came closer.
"Your tired..." he came even closer "Your hurt..." even closer "Your weak..." he bridged the gap getting right in Link's face "Your pathetic..." he then struck Link across the face with the back of his fist dropping him to one knee. Link caught himself on his sword his other hand hitting the dirt, he had been completely drained from the extensive battle. Something then fell from Arus'Nei's hand something shiny, blue and beautiful. It appeared to be the hilt of Soul Calibur. Link weakly reached out taking it and placing it in his belt, Arus'Nei then began to walk away "We'll fight again when you've found a way to, as always, fix the mistakes of your 'friends'. Farewell." he said insulting all those Link believed in.
Cassandra couldn't take it. He could walk away from Link but he wasn't going to walk away from her, without a thought toward the consequences Cassandra darted from behind Link and right at Arus'Nei prepared to strike him down while his back was turned. Arus'Nei turned his head one crimson eye looking back at her as it glowed like the setting sun "How reckless..." he said before he turned one hand grabbing his sword and swung. Another forceful blast of his energy went off and sent Cassandra flying back towards the defeated elven hero. Leaving only the Alpha Sword stabbed into the ground. Arus'Nei reached the top and looked back at Ivy who narrowed her eyes before raising her sword once again...
Cassandra's mind blurred. Almost screaming at her as she felt her back make contact with Link and both of them fell out into mid-air, over the side of the cliff. Cassandra let out a scream as she realized how far they had to fall and opened her eyes just in time to see Link bringing up his sword apparently with his energy regained. With a hard overhead stabbing motion the Master Sword pierced the rocks bringing Link to an abrupt stop, luckily for Cassandra his right arm was available to grab her around the wrist. However such momentum cast even more pain on the elven swordsman.
Link screamed out in pain as something came loose in his shoulder from Cassandra's weight, like her in Istanbul his shoulder had been pulled out of place. Link tried to pull her up but the blood seeping from his shoulder where he had been stabbed was just too painful, but he refused to let go. Cassandra looked up at him as he looked down at her with a smile, she returned it as she attempted to find a foot hold in the rocks but to no avail, the high waves had smoothed it away over the years. Cassandra felt somewhat safe as Link endured this pain for her.
CRACK!!
Cassandra looked up as she heard the sound of something piercing both rock and flesh followed by a pained gasp. As her eyes went up to observe Link one was splashed by a warm and thin liquid. Looking away she reached up touching her eye her fingertips coming away with crimson, she looked up just in time to see something metallic retract from his mid-section. This slammed him into the rock wall as he struggled to breath clearly something had been damaged. "Link! Oh no! Link!" she screamed.
Blood seeped lightly from his mouth as he looked down at her the muscles in his arm tightening as he pulled her body up, forcing himself through the pain just enough to get her hands on the Master Sword's hilt. As she was pulled by him she saw that his abdomen had been stabbed. His stomach which soaked his tunic in his Hylian blood. Link choked and grasped as he got her hands on the sword then his own grip began to fail "No!" Cassandra attempted to get her arm around him...
Suddenly there was a deafening sound from the side as several rocks were sent in her direction, the Darkthorne had fired at them. Everything then slowed down for Cassandra as one of the large rocks struck her arm the weight of it sending great pain through her arm as something snapped. The pain over whelmed her as her arm fell limp and Link fell from her grasp, she flailed to get him but it was no use. His face gazed back at her. His eyes without even a spark of life as he fell toward the infinite blue of the ocean. In one splash and crash of the waves below...he was gone. The only thing joining with the waves were Cassandra's screams.
Arus'Nei watched with narrowed eyes as the Valentine retracted itself coated in Link's blood which was dusted by the rocks. Ivy looked at him suddenly fearing for her mortal life before he spoke "Everybody else has retreated correct." he said looking down toward the Darkthorne. Ivy nodded her head as a shadow passed over them, she looked up to see Diablos there in his full demon form and in all his glory. Ivy looked at Arus'Nei "Coming?" she asked. The shadow of Link narrowed his eyes before he turned and stepped away obviously planning to leave on foot.
Within the next half hour everything came to a close. The Black Wind had vanished from the estate, the Darkthorne had vanished behind the sea. The Nightwraith and the Eternal Wind had came to dock on the beach and had managed to pull both a sobbing Cassandra and the Master Sword up from the side of the cliff. It had seemed like a victorious battle, until the grieving Cassandra managed to tell them the horrible truth...Link was gone.
Next Chapter: Post Battle Tension
(Siegfried's Voice) Too many times have I witnessed grieving after a battle won or lost. When knights and soldiers would cry and sob over the loss of a companion. Its isn't often that so many would mourn one such as Link. Those who had been touched by him shed their tears. A man must face the facts about his murderer and cast away his memories. A young man in league with his murderer struggles with himself while the only witness swears an oath of revenge upon his sword. NOTE: holds Hylian Shield over his head Before you cast your stones at me please hear me out! Please allow me to repeat that this had to happen to work towards something. I must insist that you trust me and not review with a flame on my actions or refuse to ever read this story again. This is all working towards something much bigger and trust me when I get there you'll all be happy...
Authors Note: Okay people this is it. By the end of this chapter one of the main characters that have been labeled will be taken from the story. I'm not going to tell you here and am going to try to keep people guessing through this chapter. But please if the results don't meet your expectations, don't stop reading because this is all working towards something big. Trust me.
Another Note: For those asking yourself Arus's name is pronounced: R-us nay
Soul Calibur II: Of Souls And Swords
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Frailties of Mortality
As obvious as he might have been none of the seekers that were being forced to fight could believe what was going on all around them. The estate of the Valentine clan had become a battleground and even in the bay the Nightwraith had moved under the cliffs where one of the Black Wind's smaller ships waited. The one that had been carrying the lizardmen and Uruk-hai that now assaulted the place was probably a ship captured from the French armada defeated in the Arabian Sea.
Siegfried swung hard with the large blade known as Requiem cutting down multiple targets and sending whatever was left to the ground. Raphael looked back at him "13!" he shouted "15!" Siegfried shouted back. Essentially keeping a pointless score between strength and speed. Sophitia looked back at them as she side stepped another one of the sluggish Uruk-Hai and stabbed her blade up into its chest getting it off the ground before she slammed her shield into its head forcing it off.
While the three of them along with Kilik and Xianghua fought back the advances of the Black Wind the trio of Yunsung, Talim and Drake found themselves on the perimeter of the mansion taking down any of the wandering Uruk-Hai. This was much to the male wind warrior's dismay, he knew that after being absent for so long from the Black Wind that somebody would attempt to get in touch with him. But as long as he was being followed by those two they would continue to attack him and he would be forced to continue killing them.
The Uruk-Hai being quite literally of infinite amounts were no great deal but for him to kill a Lizardman would greatly change Renzor's thought of him, and once being human the jade scaled terror knew it wouldn't be an accident. Talim had claimed she was still worried about those that had gone missing, the likes of Link, Cassandra, Kyle and Mina. Yunsung didn't have an excuse. His presence seemed as if it wanted the threaten the role of his shadow that was barely visible due to the gathering clouds above. Drake headed for the cliffs in hopes of getting into the catacombs under the house, however they all stopped when they saw it.
Two figures were fighting on side of the rocky cliffs going at one another at the edge as if they had some sort of a death wish. None of them could explain what they saw. They had never seen anything like it. It was Link and he was fighting another Link. But At their distance they had no clue as to which Link was their Link. And which Link was the imposter. Without much warning Talim started to approach before Drake grabbed her as he watched the one in the darker green tunic swing hard and send Link back slightly, Talim didn't stop however and began moving toward them.
Arus'Nei jumped high and brought down his sword barely giving Link the breathing room to raise his own to block it before coming up again. Arus however stepped back just in time to shoulder Link hard sending him back over the cliff, luckily however Link managed to grab onto the edge and begin pulling himself up. "Bastard." he growled lightly as he looked down. A carved pathway lead down to a part of the cliff that was like a platform, a cave was there and it seemed that it would be the best place to fight if they wanted to be left alone.
Link found himself growling as he climbed to his feet. He brought up his sword as Arus'Nei turned to him and pointed his sword to the ground, he then smiled lightly. Link then noticed Yunsung and Talim rushing at him from behind, Link then caught that familiar aura in the air and was now officially scared. Arus possessed something that he did not in this world, this would make all the difference if he wasn't careful. Link braced himself on his ground "NO! GET AWAY!" Link shouted.
"Pathetic." Arus'Nei murmured before he spun around bringing one leg off the ground to rotate on his heel. Crimson energy seemed to eject itself from the shadow sword into a powerful ring that shot out from Arus'Nei. Link winced as the wave smashed into them and sent both Yunsung and Talim flying. The Korean smashed into the ground a few feet away sliding on his chest before falling prone on the ground, Talim struck the ground and rolled quite a bit before coming to a stop. Arus'Nei had turned the sword to its flat end. Would he have swiped it as if cutting, both of them would more than likely be dead.
Arus'Nei stood up from a kneel pose he had fallen into after the attack he then looked to Link just as his lighter side hid what fear he had displayed "Is something amiss Masters?" he asked raising an eyebrow. "Talim!" Link looked up and his shadow turned in time to see Drake of all people step up, he knelt down checking Talim and then looked at her attacker that stood before him. Without hesitation he drew both of his blades and glared at him clearly paying no mind to the resemblance he shared with Link, he was just another obstacle in his way.
Without warning Drake charged at Arus'Nei and swung both of his blades to meet the Shadow Sword, however with only one pulse of its aura Drake found himself being forced him back. Arus'Nei then grabbed Drake by the forehead and in a quick motion hoisted him up into the air, the pressure around his cranium left no room to use his blades. Arus'Nei quickly caught himself as he remembered a request given to him by Ivy "Somebody must speak with you." he said before he swung his sword again the energy raining out.
Drake was sent flying through the air a good number of yards before he smashed through a wall on the second floor of the mansion. Link growled knowing that it was unlikely that Drake would be battle worthy after such an incident. "Leave them out of this Arus!" Link screamed. Very few would ever call him by his first name only, it showed a lack of respect. Arus then stepped away before stepping off the side to head down the carved walkway "Lets finish this." he taunted before Link gave chase.
Drake slowly crawled to his feet ignoring the pieces of wood everywhere he was lucky he had hit a less reinforced part of the house other wise his spine might have been broken over a support beam. His vision blurred, whatever energy powered that sword it was far more devious than that of the Soul Edge if it could cause his to weaken just by pulsing. Link's blade, in the one time he had been privilaged to see it was the exact opposite it almost made you feel a little purer. He wondered if an attribute in such a weapon could wash the impurities away.
He didn't have much time to ponder this as something snapped in his blurred vision and he was send up into the air and slamming back to the floor. He then heard something dig its way into the floor and then come up the other side, something metallic moving its way around his chest securing him before pulling him up along with parts of the floor. Somebody then stepped into the light and he found himself once again ruled by the scenario his own foolishness had caused. A familiar voice spoke out "At least he is prompt. Wouldn't you agree?" Drake breathed as if the razor sharp segment of metal around his body didn't concern him.
Drake looked back at the gapping hole his body had left behind in the wall "I'm willing to bet that he is just as native to this world as Renzo or Karenna." she tilted her head lightly as she looked at him "Sharp as always, but I'm beginning to think you might be dulling little one, your time expired weeks ago." she said pointing out the month time limit that she had placed on him to return from Oman. He had not gotten back before they left and was not at the meeting point, Drake breathed "I can explain what happened, but I have another condition for my cooperation." he said.
Ivy thought before retracting the bladed whip back into the form of a sword, she then casually leaned against the wall as Drake sheathed his own blades "I went to Oman to confront the creature the shard had possessed. It seems it has magnified the power the shard possesses, I would have left but the group traveling with the White Wind presented more opportunity. I just have to wait for a time when the Athenian isn't watching over their collected shards. Just give me a little more time." Ivy looked at him long and hard contemplating if his service was something she could do without.
The fallen heiress to the Valentine clan lowered her weapon before looking at him "If you betray my trust I will not hesitate to order your death. Destroy my trust and I will destroy the object of our trust." he took a deep breath before dropping to one knee and bowing his head once again giving his far from valuable word "Now...what is your condition wind rider?" she said using one of his aliases when he was still a sell sword.
He looked outside and took a breath not knowing how Ivy would take his wish, he had already made a large enough demand "In truth it fits into our original bargain. She is a girl traveling with the seekers that hails from the Wind Village, and like my home I want no harm to come to her if it can at all be helped." the woman before him gave a light chuckle before she leaned forward speaking out smoothly "Agreed. Just don't let your personal feelings get in the way of your orders. Be swift and do not disappoint me again." Drake nodded before the blade moved to wrap around him again much to his shock.
"Forgive me, but I can't let them think you sustained no damage from such an event." she said before she used her weapon to hurl him hard into the nearest wall making quite a mess. Drake fell to the floor and held his shoulder now clearly in pain, Ivy then turned and walked away ignoring the light curses under Drake's breath. She decided to head to the gardens first, with any luck they would be to distracted to notice her and all she needed was a second to take Nightmare's biggest target out of action. Sophitia was that target. She also wondered how her unwanted father was doing...
Kyle screamed again as he brought down the powerful oni blade that smashed hard against the Soul Blade and Turmoil that Cervantes crossed to parry the blow. Once again he failed to throw the blade off as the much younger warrior brought it back and then swung in another attack, the immortal pirate was confused. He had never heard of anybody being able to put so much power behind their attacks and not fatigue themselves, either his entire life had been combat or there truly was something abnormal about the black sword he wielded.
As he brought back his sword Kyle thrust his leg forward and smashed the heel of his right foot into Cervante's exposed chest causing him to stumbled before he jumped up and gave a large roundhouse kick to the side of the undead pirate's head sending him a good dozen feet away. Cervantes couldn't understand what he was going through. Everything he was throwing at his opponent was being thrown right back at him, he was constantly being parried, evaded or blocked and then met with a counterattack which almost always hit home. If was as if the boy was reading his thoughts.
Cervantes stabbed the tip of his own demonic blade into the ground and looked up as Kyle brought his blade up and ran his fingers over the demon skull emblem on the hilt before lowering it and motioning with his hand for him to come. Cervantes growled before he pulled to his feet and rushed at the boy deciding he had to end this quickly, he brought up the Turmoil at the last moment pointing the hilt toward him before pulling the hidden trigger. The hidden pistol in the hilt went off and sent a round ball towards Kyle at near point blank rang.
Cervantes smirked and lowered his arm only to his shock to see that Kyle had moved his head a split second before the trigger was even pulled, Cervantes rushing made him unable to stop and this made it easy for Kyle to run him through with the Oblivion. Cervantes screamed in pain, while truly unable to be killed so easily he could still feel pain to a degree, but when ever a blade or anything else severed a strand of the Soul Blade's energy, the essence that ran through his body...it hurt.
Before Cervantes could make a move he was hurled off of the blade which now dripped with his blood, he now felt either betrayed or jinxed. The pistol hidden within Turmoil, he rarely ever used this sneaky trick and somehow this punk prodigy of a warrior anticipated this before he could pull the trigger. The boy raised his sword and he was amazed by what he saw next, the blade glowed in a very odd way. A black and unholy aura surrounded the stained sword before his blood was absorbed by it melding into the very blade that had pierced him for a second time in the last several years. Kyle chuckled "I told you already. My sword wants your blood, and I want your head." Kyle then cocked his head to the side looking at him with a light smirked "Whats that look? You seemed confused?"
Cervantes snarled at the sarcasm that resembled his daughter's to the point of angering him even more "What kind of trick are you using? How are you reading me? Who in the hell are you?!" he growled expecting Kyle to flash a shard of the Soul Edge or a piece of his own blade. Kyle breathed before he stepped closer to Cervantes a dark resolve behind his eyes before he started speaking "You've allowed yourself to grow weaker Cervantes, expecting that all those who challenge you will be fools wanting to compare style. Ever since you destroyed my life I've been hunting you, but unlike the others I took the time to learn what I was up against."
Cervantes growled as Kyle began to lay everything down "I followed your movements after you vanished and asked everybody who ever came into contact with you and survived. It didn't take me long to find out your base style, in between military men, surviving victims and homeless snitches it was no great task of learning all about your style. Right down to that crummy pistol you customized into the Turmoil. I even knew who Ivy was before we came here, I know everything about you." Cervantes growled as he concentrated into the Soul Blade and gripped both his swords "You...know nothing!!" he shouted before leaping at Kyle.
In mid air he began spinning and his swords went into a whirlwind of death flying right at him, Kyle sharped gasped before he jumped back just as Cervantes came through where he was standing. He turned narrowing his eyes as Cervantes came to a stop sliding on his heels "Nice trick de Leon. Does that grotesque sword do anything else?" he mocked bringing up the Oblivion this time planning to take off his head. Cervantes looked at him "You cannot kill me boy. So long as the Soul Blade exists I cannot be killed." the Oblivion pulsed lightly as he brought it back to stance "We shall see." he said.
Cervantes smirked and then the energy around the Soul Blade snapped and he vanished into thin air, a stream of energy shot straight up above Kyle's head and suddenly Cervantes came down. Kyle on reaction jumped as the force of the Soul Blade came down knocking him off his feet, Cervantes was swift to move and launched a sweep kick at Kyle which sent him up into the air. He then jumped up and hammered his foot into Kyle's side sending him flying across the bare vault smashing him into the wall, despite his studies it was impossible to predict the immortal pirate's strength.
He slowly tried to crawl to his feet disoriented and in pain and looked up just in time to see Cervantes moving toward him. He raised his sword barely gripped in his right hand only to have it knocked away, Kyle flailed attempting to get the inhuman maniac away from him but his attempted were slapped away at the infamous Soul Blade was driven into his side. Kyle screamed as his hands wrapped around the crudely sharpened blade cutting his hands, he could feel the flat side of the blade pushing against a few organs. He had just been sparred. The pirate wanted to torture him.
Kyle growled as he held his side trying to stop the flow of blood around the Soul Edge which continued to pulse, the killer of his people spoke to him "You think I give a care about those I have killed. They are nothing but food to feed my blade. Your kind are no different so don't begin to think your special. Destroying me won't solve a thing. Now..." he grabbed Kyle by the throat squeezing hard "How did you convince Isabella to try and betray us. How have you been corrupting her to follow you?" he demanded to know.
Kyle's right hand fell and his fingers hit the wall as he began losing his strength, he spoke weakly as he felt along the wall hoping to find a loose brick of something "It doesn't involve you. I haven't spoken to her before today, I chased her after she wounded one of our group and then ran off. She lead me to you, if she has hope for me to destroy you they are her own." he said as he felt a good piece of the wall chipped away and the grip of something familiar rested inside. "You've been betrayed by your own blood...accept it." Kyle demanded.
Cervantes growled as he brought back Turmoil in his free hand "You worthless...!!" he shouted as he prepared to take off Kyle's head. Using the breathing room he had Kyle swung the Oblivion through the air taking a large chunk out of Cervantes's raised arm which broke through another strand of energy causing him to release his blade and fall back grasping his hand. Kyle despite blood lose reached down and was about to grab the blade when he stopped...he instead brought up the Oblivion and used the blade to pull the blade from his abdomen.
He quickly then stood it up and brought the Oblivion along side of it as hard as he could which put a goodly sized cut into the blade, Kyle then picked up the blade and hurled it across the chamber toward the door where it clattered hard against the stone wall. Cervantes looked up as Kyle as he stumbled towards him bringing his blade down hard, he held up the Turmoil to hold it off but it broke right through and went into Cervantes's chest. The immortal screamed before shoving Kyle off of him, the weakened warrior stumbled back into the wall.
Cervantes retreated to the doorway holding his chest which had been stabbed twice in the last few minutes leaving him in pain and weak. Fearing that Kyle just might know how to end his existence he picked up the Soul Blade and looked back "Don't expect this fling with lady luck to last boy! Next time will be very different!" he shouted before he ran off back towards the mansion holding his chest.
Kyle breathed as he held his side which he was trying to patch with his jacket "Yeah...next time I'll pin you to the wall." he breathed before he fell forward bracing himself on his own sword "Damn it all." he cursed knowing he was useless for the moment. He could feel his body trying to filter out the energy released by the Soul Blade and with that kind of essence in his body it wasn't a good idea to try to continue an even battle. He could only hope Mina and the others were alright.
Mina breathed as she sent another one of the Lizardmen off the side of the Nightwraith which had effectively punched a hole in the side of the ship that was based at the bottom of the cliffs, the Eternal Wind had moved off to circle around and try to draw fire from the Darkthorne. All the while the Nightwraith had dragged their opposing ship about a quarter of a mile from the shore making them unable to do much to help them.
Taki shouted as she swung both of her swords in an over hand under hand formation and cut into another one of the attacking Uruk-hai. Even as the stolen ship they had rammed was threatened by the seas grasp its crew of orcs, Uruk-hai and Lizardmen continued to attack. Several of them had swam off towards the Darkthorne probably hoping to regroup. Taki could also feel it through Rekki-Maru, her cursed sword. The Soul Blade was there along with Cervantes and she was stranded so far from shore along with Mitsurugi, Mina and Jack.
Naoyuki looked back towards the pennensula as he turned the wheel sharply attempting to get the speedy ship pointed back towards shore. Looking back towards the mansion one could see the ship they had rammed sinking into the sea, smoke rising from the mansion where the exploding cannonballs had hit and the Eternal Wind drawing half of the Eternal Wind's fire. Mitsurugi lowered his blade as they stopped coming and looked at Naoyuki "Hurry!" he shouted knowing that something had gone wrong.
Mina breathed as she stood next to Taki the former Fu-Ma keeping her eyes one the sides of the ship, suddenly without warning Silverbolt opened his wings and left toward the mansion. Jack watched as Strife's hawk took to the wind and headed straight into the battle field "What the heck?" he murmured. Mina breathed as she felt a very uneasy feeling wash over her "Naoyuki! We need to hurry!" she shouted. Naoyuki growled as he got the wheel positioned and then began shouting orders for them to ready the sails.
Siegfried breathed as he struck another one of the Uruk-hai down that charged at him, it was beginning to get much more difficult as the much more talented Lizardmen had moved around from the front and were beginning to interfere with their fighting. Sophitia was holding her ground along with Raphael but being positioned in the center of the garden wasn't exactly suiting his nerves. He didn't worry much however as Sophitia had taken up one of the short swords from a fallen Lizardman and used it in unison with the Omega Sword to keep them at bay.
Siegfried lowered his blade allowing the tip to touch on the ground and breathed as they seemed to stop fighting, several of the Lizardmen suddenly ran away jumping the fense leaving the confused Uruk-hai to be struck down by the ever prepared Raphael. Sophitia dropped the second sword to the ground and lightly paced looking back at the other swordsman "What was that all about?" she asked him adjusting the armor on her shoulders. Raphael looked back "I've never seen such an organized retreat before. Something is wrong." he said turning back towards the entrance.
Ivy watched ready to make her move as the Athenian turned her back towards the mansion and looked at the path her troops had taken their leave on. It was all too perfect for her. Sophitia Alexandra. The woman that shattered the Soul Blade was standing there the upper part of her back almost baring a bulls eye on it. The Valentine lightly pulsed as the energy builting in the lower part of its blade, the gem in the hilt glowed as well as she brought it up feeling that she wouldn't have to go back a failure again. Without any hesitation she hurled the blade towards Sophitia. The coil going hard, more than enough to pierce stone.
Ivy closed her eyes wanting to feel the impact but unseen to her something had taken notice of her actions and had made their move and she could only contemplate this as the blade slowed down and then just plain stopped. Ivy opened her eyes wanting to know just what happened and found herself looking down to see Sophitia and Raphael starring back shocked. She brushed off memories of Raphael as they hit her, it was nothing that she had to place heavily on her mind and focused on the one who had stopped the Valentine...she couldn't believe her eyes.
Holding the tip of the Valentine in his closed right hand while holding a large bladed sword in his other were the first signs. Then she noticed the fact his hair went down to his lower back, he stood around the same height and he was easily of the same build which could be told due to the fact he only wore black cloth. He looked back lightly, the features of his face the exact same but just as she was about to believe that her superior, the master of the Soul Edge had actually come to stop her he gave the blade a sharp pull and dropped her off the side of the balcony.
Getting past her shock she quickly corrected herself and landed on her feet, her free hand falling to brace herself while the other attempted to pull her precious blade back to her. Normally the blade would have retracted with such force it would have torn the man's hand horribly, but it wasn't reacting at all. It was as if her blade was no longer under her command. She looked at the much younger man before her unable to get past how much he looked like the Azure Nightmare who had claimed to having no siblings in his 'past life' and yet this man was the striking image of him. The only difference was the emerald blue eyes he possessed.
Ivy looked towards Raphael thankful that he did not recognize her, probably due to so many years and the multiple changes that had taken place. Turning her attention back towards her commander's look alike she growled "What have you done to my sword?!" she shouted in a mix of confusion and anger. The warrior opened his fist and the blade went back to its hilt "A blade's master and creator are two different things. It offers you its powers, not its loyalty." Siegfried explained.
Ivy narrowed her eyes thinking it as a fluke and then hurled it back at the knight and willed it to something else, it curved around him and went towards Sophitia. He brought his hand down to catch the wire in the middle again. The tip of the blade flailed but still managed to snap and put a thin but deep gasp through her tunic and into her back causing her to drop to one knee in clear pain. The warrior narrowed his eyes at Ivy before he dropped the whip and rushed at her with his blade, Ivy retracted her blade and jumped from the trajectory of his blade.
Valentine then wrapped around him and she pulled sharply hoping to tear him up, she was shocked when the blade swiftly released him and then returned to its hilt without leaving a scratch. He then began stepping toward her, her eyes glanced toward Sophitia. Raphael stood there with his rapier ready to slap the Valentine away, Sophitia was no longer in her range. She looked back as the young warrior approached her "Stay away." she demanded as he neared her but ever so slowly he placed his blade on his back. A hook on a leather strap went on a chain link attached to the blade's hilt "What happened to you Ms. Valentine?" he asked almost saddened.
Isabella stepped back holding up the seemingly useless self named sword "What are you talking about? Who are you?" she breathed. "If you forget we met around six years ago when you were still trying to create a blade to take on the Soul Edge. A young knight appeared and placed his hand on the finest model of a living blade you had and it came to life. That knight later allowed his own darkness to be enhance by that sword into the entity called Nightmare. He was being taken over and he wanted some insurance, somebody he felt could defeat him before he was completely taken..." Ivy was now shaking as things came into view.
The young man who obviously referred to himself breathed running his hand over his forehead "I should have known a weapon powered by Soul Edge would only endanger its user. That sword only serves as the link of taint between you and the Soul Edge. Please don't continue, for your own sake." he said almost begging. Sophitia was confused by these outspoken words and Raphael had an expression of shock at Ivy's identity, which was replaced by anger towards Siegfried.
Ivy thought over all of this and it wasn't long before she realized exactly who he was, Nightmare hadn't expected him to live this long but somehow he had. The Valentine snapped as its energy built up again "I am not a pawn!!" she shouted before sending the blade at the fallen knight. Seigfried held up his hand and the blade curved digging into one of the mansion's stone columns. The blade swiftly retracted and was shot up towards the roof where it retracted pulling Ivy along for the ride, she had escaped them.
Siegfried breathed feeling another sin upon his shoulders before he returned to his two companions, he notice Raphael's expression and was about to explain when the Frenchman shook his head "Explain yourself later. I'm going to find something to patch her with." he said running into the mansion leaving Siegfried with Sophitia. Sophitia looked up at him "With the last of your control you gave her that sword?" she questioned him.
Siegfried lowered his head "Another deed of mine forsakes another." he breathed in sorrow punching his fist into the ground. Despite her pain Sophitia managed to place her hand over his own "We'll find some way to save her, even you were saved there has to be a way." she said hoping to raise his spirits somewhat. "I fear she it is of her own free will..." he said just as the doors to the house burst open. Sophitia looked back to see her sister moved down into the garden and then jump the bushes heading for the cliffs.
Link grunted as the sheer force of his shadow's sword sent his back into the carved stone wall, he had been trying to fight back but it was proving useless. Everything about this was a lost cause, it was hopeless and he knew it. While Arus'Nei had somehow retained the ability to bring out his energy in attacks and magic, with the transition between the two worlds Link had been left without this ability. His body was unable to adapt to the different energies and auras around him making most of his abilities useless.
Arus'Nei looked at him before sighing, while the Master Sword normally did well enough against the Shadow Swords ability to consume energy Link wasn't able to give any fight himself. It had become painfully obvious every since knocking down his friends up on the cliff, Link was truly nothing like he had been before he arrived on Earth. Link moved once again in a vain attempt to attack him and Arus'Nei retaliated by knocking his sword away then pinning him to the wall with his own. An inch of the sword's tip piercing Link's shoulder.
Arus'Nei then grabbed Link and turned to hurl him to the ground next to the cliffs edge, Link painfully got to his feet gripping the Master Sword ready to fight to his end. His body was thrashed from the vain against his darker half. His head ached from the dark swords aura, and the vain attempts at calling forward his own power had left him exhausted. He couldn't even bring himself to stand up straight as his shadow positioned himself over Link holding his sword ready to bring it down and end this once and for all...he hesitated.
"LINK!!" Arus turned his head and jumped back as a short sword cut through the air where he had been. One of Link's obvious companions stepped in front of Link wielding a shield and a sword clearly ready to fight him, Link growled "Cassandra...get away." he almost demanded knowing she couldn't stand against him. Cassandra however refused to move. She couldn't as he legs felt as if they had fallen numb at the sight of this creature that was just ready to finish Link off. He held his sword up the point towards Cassandra, some blood from a cut on his hand catching her eyes. She didn't flinch. She couldn't.
Ivy watched from the top of the cliff knowing that if the shadow of Link didn't do something soon the rest of the White Wind would appear and she would have failed in her mission. But she trusted that the unquenchable urge to destroy Link would lead his shadow into finishing him off and bringing her some glory...her trust was however, betrayed.
Arus'Nei pulled back his sword and in a swift movement replaced it in its sheath before he turned and began walking up the carved cliff. Cassandra looked up "Where are you going?!" she shouted at him feeling insulted that he would so casually walk away. Arus'Nei looked back at her "Link is far from being worth my effort as he is little girl, when I destroy him I want him to be at his peak and ready to go farther. Thanks to the haste Hyrule took in sending him here so much of his power had been numbed and hidden from him. He is not my match." he said before stepping back toward her.
Link growled at him as he stopped about fifteen feet from them, Link jumped up holding one arm in front of Cassandra while the other held the Master Sword out towards his shadow. He breathed heavily clearly exhausted. Arus'Nei stepped toward Link their eyes locking hatefully "You beg for defeat Link. Just look at yourself..." he said as he came closer.
"Your tired..." he came even closer "Your hurt..." even closer "Your weak..." he bridged the gap getting right in Link's face "Your pathetic..." he then struck Link across the face with the back of his fist dropping him to one knee. Link caught himself on his sword his other hand hitting the dirt, he had been completely drained from the extensive battle. Something then fell from Arus'Nei's hand something shiny, blue and beautiful. It appeared to be the hilt of Soul Calibur. Link weakly reached out taking it and placing it in his belt, Arus'Nei then began to walk away "We'll fight again when you've found a way to, as always, fix the mistakes of your 'friends'. Farewell." he said insulting all those Link believed in.
Cassandra couldn't take it. He could walk away from Link but he wasn't going to walk away from her, without a thought toward the consequences Cassandra darted from behind Link and right at Arus'Nei prepared to strike him down while his back was turned. Arus'Nei turned his head one crimson eye looking back at her as it glowed like the setting sun "How reckless..." he said before he turned one hand grabbing his sword and swung. Another forceful blast of his energy went off and sent Cassandra flying back towards the defeated elven hero. Leaving only the Alpha Sword stabbed into the ground. Arus'Nei reached the top and looked back at Ivy who narrowed her eyes before raising her sword once again...
Cassandra's mind blurred. Almost screaming at her as she felt her back make contact with Link and both of them fell out into mid-air, over the side of the cliff. Cassandra let out a scream as she realized how far they had to fall and opened her eyes just in time to see Link bringing up his sword apparently with his energy regained. With a hard overhead stabbing motion the Master Sword pierced the rocks bringing Link to an abrupt stop, luckily for Cassandra his right arm was available to grab her around the wrist. However such momentum cast even more pain on the elven swordsman.
Link screamed out in pain as something came loose in his shoulder from Cassandra's weight, like her in Istanbul his shoulder had been pulled out of place. Link tried to pull her up but the blood seeping from his shoulder where he had been stabbed was just too painful, but he refused to let go. Cassandra looked up at him as he looked down at her with a smile, she returned it as she attempted to find a foot hold in the rocks but to no avail, the high waves had smoothed it away over the years. Cassandra felt somewhat safe as Link endured this pain for her.
CRACK!!
Cassandra looked up as she heard the sound of something piercing both rock and flesh followed by a pained gasp. As her eyes went up to observe Link one was splashed by a warm and thin liquid. Looking away she reached up touching her eye her fingertips coming away with crimson, she looked up just in time to see something metallic retract from his mid-section. This slammed him into the rock wall as he struggled to breath clearly something had been damaged. "Link! Oh no! Link!" she screamed.
Blood seeped lightly from his mouth as he looked down at her the muscles in his arm tightening as he pulled her body up, forcing himself through the pain just enough to get her hands on the Master Sword's hilt. As she was pulled by him she saw that his abdomen had been stabbed. His stomach which soaked his tunic in his Hylian blood. Link choked and grasped as he got her hands on the sword then his own grip began to fail "No!" Cassandra attempted to get her arm around him...
Suddenly there was a deafening sound from the side as several rocks were sent in her direction, the Darkthorne had fired at them. Everything then slowed down for Cassandra as one of the large rocks struck her arm the weight of it sending great pain through her arm as something snapped. The pain over whelmed her as her arm fell limp and Link fell from her grasp, she flailed to get him but it was no use. His face gazed back at her. His eyes without even a spark of life as he fell toward the infinite blue of the ocean. In one splash and crash of the waves below...he was gone. The only thing joining with the waves were Cassandra's screams.
Arus'Nei watched with narrowed eyes as the Valentine retracted itself coated in Link's blood which was dusted by the rocks. Ivy looked at him suddenly fearing for her mortal life before he spoke "Everybody else has retreated correct." he said looking down toward the Darkthorne. Ivy nodded her head as a shadow passed over them, she looked up to see Diablos there in his full demon form and in all his glory. Ivy looked at Arus'Nei "Coming?" she asked. The shadow of Link narrowed his eyes before he turned and stepped away obviously planning to leave on foot.
Within the next half hour everything came to a close. The Black Wind had vanished from the estate, the Darkthorne had vanished behind the sea. The Nightwraith and the Eternal Wind had came to dock on the beach and had managed to pull both a sobbing Cassandra and the Master Sword up from the side of the cliff. It had seemed like a victorious battle, until the grieving Cassandra managed to tell them the horrible truth...Link was gone.
Next Chapter: Post Battle Tension
(Siegfried's Voice) Too many times have I witnessed grieving after a battle won or lost. When knights and soldiers would cry and sob over the loss of a companion. Its isn't often that so many would mourn one such as Link. Those who had been touched by him shed their tears. A man must face the facts about his murderer and cast away his memories. A young man in league with his murderer struggles with himself while the only witness swears an oath of revenge upon his sword. NOTE: holds Hylian Shield over his head Before you cast your stones at me please hear me out! Please allow me to repeat that this had to happen to work towards something. I must insist that you trust me and not review with a flame on my actions or refuse to ever read this story again. This is all working towards something much bigger and trust me when I get there you'll all be happy...