Wooo crap, sorry for the lack of updatage people...I was in Europeland for these past 3 weeks, but not to worry for I shall update faster now...hopefully, I've been having writers block...especially with this chapter! YAY! No seriously though thank you all for your uhhm what are they called again...REVEIWS! Yes that's the word...I forget sometimes XD anyway enjoy this lovely chapter of BSS haha I'm too lazy to type out my entire title...hahaha! I feel bad for Yuan in this chapter...I'M SORRY! Ahhh I'm so evil, no no Phanos is evil he's a meanie...anywho I'm done...ENJOY! AND REVIEWS PEOPLE! NEED EL REVEIW-O's haha :P
"In this world of pathetic dreams, humans and elves fail to prove their worth. The constant fighting and hatred they share for each other, will only bring about another war, that is why…I must…carry out my masters plans, the one truth which lies in the sky, our only hope for dreams, reality is but a bitter struggle filled with hatred. Malice in the hearts of everyone give me power, for I am…him."
Phanos Pallas
"Yuan…" that voice it's so familiar, yet tainted…tainted with…what?
"Yuan…please! Open your eyes! Please!" a melodious voice of a young woman cried out, Yuan felt her arms wrap around his body, his limp body. This feeling, it's so…nostalgic. Yuan's vision was blurred for a few moments, and then his eyes adjusted to the bright sunny grass covered field. He was looking up ward to the clear crisp blue sky. He then noticed a pair of emerald green eyes peering at him; they were glistened with fresh tears. Yuan bolted upright, and scooted away from the once beautiful Martel.
"M-Martel…" he gasped, as he looked at the woman before him. She was just the same as when they started their journey to stopping the war. Her green hair hung over her right shoulder and her left arm was supporting her as she was sitting both her legs tucked underneath her, and her staff was lying beside her. She looked at the blue haired half elf gawking before her, amusement danced in her clear green eyes. She smirked.
"What's wrong Yuan?" she asked her voice floating through the brisk clean air. Something about this place made Yuan's body feel…uneasy. The amount of mana circulating through his body, it was gigantic, the rustling of leaves sent his head spinning around, his blue ponytail flying in the wind. He stared disbelievingly at the sight before him. The Great…Tree. He saw the ruins that laid strewn about surrounding the massive oak tree. His eyes widened in amazement he was transfixed at the sight before him. The sunlight filtered through the tree's lush green leaves giving it a truly glowing and holy appearance. Yuan turned his back to the woman he knew couldn't possibly be alive, yet was.
"It…it can't be…Martel…is it really, you?" Yuan asked his voice straining not to crack, he was overwhelmed with the raw emotion of…sadness, and he hadn't felt this way since, well the Great War. Martel smiled at him, his eyes were filled with doubt, and confusion, she got up her green outfit rustling in the wind, Yuan moved back slightly, but stopped as the woman Martel bent down and rested a hand on his cheek. Yuan looked at her with amazement.
"It is me Yuan…why are you so afraid of seeing me?" she asked as she ran her hand through his blue silk hair, Yuan put his hand around her thin wrist and held it. She's warm…alive, but…
"How…how can you be alive? You can't be! This must be some sort of an illusion!" Yuan cried out angrily, jumping to his feet, Martel recoiled in fear but stood her ground. Yuan stared at her his eyes burning with anger, and rage. Martel stretched out her hand.
"Yuan, why do you not believe it's me? Am I that forgotten that you don't even want to remember me?" Martel asked in a kind voice, Yuan turned away his bangs falling over his eyes; he bit his lip as he felt warm tears well up in his icy blue eyes.
"You can't be alive Martel…I saw, I witnessed you die…you're not alive anymore…so who are you really?" Yuan asked still looking at the green floor. The figure that was Martel smiled evilly as she watched the blue haired angel.
"Yuan…you fool, the only reason why I'm dead is because of…YOU!" Martel cried out and Yuan looked at her a pained expression on his face. He shook his head feverishly back and forth.
"No! That's not true! It wasn't…" Yuan cried out trying desperately to fight his tears, as he looked at the woman, he once loved, before him. Martel's eyes grew angry.
"It wasn't what? You could've saved me! You could've kept me from dying by those pitiful humans, but you just watched…watched as I gave my life away." Martel yelled out Yuan fell onto his knees, he clutched his head in pain.
"No! It wasn't…I-I tried to help you! You know I would! I loved you Martel! I'd do anything to help you." Yuan said softly as he stared at the ground, his back to the green haired half elven women. Martel's form shifted again and she no longer had green flowing hair, but shorter midnight black hair, her outfit of green and black reformed into a long billowing cape with purple stripes down the middle, and her once kind eyes became red and menacing. The figure was that of the man, who was bringing darkness to the lands of Symphonia…Phanos. He smirked as he walked toward the fallen half elf.
"Then why…why didn't you save her Yuan? Why didn't you try to protect the one, which you loved? Is it because you knew in your cold heart that she would have to sacrifice herself to end the war, or was it because you didn't believe in yourself? Come on Yuan I'm all ears, you can tell me." Phanos said placing his ice cold hand on Yuan's shoulder. Yuan stiffened.
"You…you…BASTARD!" Yuan swirled around knocking Phanos' hand away, he jumped backwards as Yuan slashed downward with his dual bladed sword, Yuan's eyes were filled with pure malice, and anger, but they were also wet, with fresh tears. Phanos smirked; dirt and grass flew through the air around them. Yuan panted one eyed closed, the mana in the area was intoxicating, almost suffocating.
"What's the matter, too much mana for you, oh great angel of Cruxis?" Phanos said jeeringly, Yuan rushed forward his sword in his left hand at his side.
" DIE YOU ABOMINA…" Yuan never finished his sentence, Phanos had dodged his attack, and Yuan never even saw him. Phanos was now holding the half elf by the throat with seemingly not effort at all, or struggle for that matter, his pearl white fingers digging deeper into Yuan's flesh. Yuan's grip on his sword weakened and Phanos kicked it out of his hand, sending the dual blade skidding into the grassy patch nearby. Yuan looked down at the smiling human man, his red eyes dancing with amusement.
"Now Yuan, did you really think you could hurt me…especially like that?" Phanos said tantalizingly. Yuan glared, he couldn't talk his throat was being constricted even more as the man's grip got tighter and tighter. Yuan tried to pry Phanos' hands off his throat but it didn't work. Phanos smiled as he then slammed the angel into a stone slab adjacent to where they were both standing.
"AH!" Yuan cried out as his back hit full force against the stone, he fell onto the grassy floor, he reached for his sword but Phanos stepped on his hand, and Yuan growled looking up at the black covered man. The mana was flowing into him too fast, his wings…they wanted to come out. N-No…I can't I'm not in any condition to let my wings out. Yuan tried to get up but he felt a boot push him back into the grassy earth. The smell of clean damp earth filled his nostrils, he tried to reach for his sword but he couldn't, his fingertips were inches away from the middle hilt.
"Ah…urgh, get…off of me, you…" Yuan whispered as Phanos laughed, the black covered man bent down one knee digging into Yuan's back, the other supporting the man's right arm. Yuan's eyes glanced at Phanos since he couldn't moved his head, he's body became paralyzed. Yuan's eyes widened.
"You…poisoned the mana, surrounding the tree didn't you?" Yuan whispered and Phanos' eyes flashed, he smiled a wicked smile.
"My you are perceptive aren't you? But, it's a little too late for that…and you're the one who poisoned the mana Yuan, you and you alone." Phanos whispered into Yuan's pointed ear, the half elf's blue eyes widened in disbelief.
"No…that can't…be." Yuan croaked his voice going dry, a burst of sparkling light made him crane his neck.
"No…" Yuan stared in disbelief as his angelic wings were now out Phanos smiled wickedly. He chuckled as he saw the look on Yuan's face.
"You see Yuan, with the darkness in you heart, and the hopelessness you felt, I was able to gain enough power to change the type of mana flow, and that is what is going to happen to the entire world!" Phanos cried out Yuan felt the man's hands wrap around his bright light pink wings. Yuan's eyes went wide.
"You're a pitiful angel of Cruxis, Yuan. You betrayed me, and everyone else, a fallen angel you might say." Phanos said as he gave a great tug and with one fell swoop ripped out a few feather on Yuan's back. Yuan's hands closed around clumps of grass his eyes shut tight and fought against the pain that now racked his body, his hands dug into the dirt around him, as another terrific jolt, and he opened an eye to see red, and pink around him, his wings…they were being torn apart.
"A fallen angel, doesn't deserve wings…wingless is most appropriate for those who go against MITHOS!" Phanos cried out his hands were now stained red with the half elf's blood, he wrapped his hand around a mass of the light feathery wings and pulled, he smiled as he heard Yuan gasp, unable to control the effects the pain was having upon him. He's only salvation, was laying not even a foot away yet he couldn't reach, he was so weak, the blood loss, and pain racked every fiber of his being, his wings, which were the most sensitive part on his entire body were being ripped out from his back. A black haze began to cover his vision, the pain dulled a bit but it still was excruciating, Yuan heard the laugh of Phanos as he saw more sprays of blood, and pink feathers fall down around him, he looked up and saw a pure white figure with green hair.
"Martel…I'm, I'm sorry, I, I couldn't protect you…again." Yuan said looking away.
"Yuan, it wasn't your fault, you mustn't listen to what he says, and you have to fight him Yuan." The various voices of the other chosen's spoke out.
"I can't…I'm too…too weak, I'm sorry." Yuan stated as his eyes closed and he was encompassed by a heavy darkness.
:Lake Umacy:Slyvarant:
Kratos just stood there; his last fencer lay on the grassy earth. He couldn't take his eyes off the one he used to love. Anna…it, it can't be. Kratos didn't notice anything around him all that went through his mind was that dreadful night when both Anna and Lloyd fell over that cliff, along with Noishe. Kratos just stared his eyes filled with disbelief he took a step forward.
"Anna…is it really…you?" Kratos whispered his voice no longer cold or uncaring but filled with sadness, and regret. Anna smiled at him, her brown hair billowing in the wind, the leaves on the surround trees rustled.
"It's been so long…dear." Anna whispered as she walked closer to Kratos, who looked at her with sad eyes.
"It…it can't be you, I saw you fall…I saw you…" Kratos whispered his hands balling into fists his eyes for the first time ever became wet with tears, yet he didn't cry. Anna walked forward her arms outstretched she then wrapped them around him, that embrace it brought back such horrid memories, once he tried to bury forever, and yet they resurfaced clear as day. She was warm…alive, Kratos felt her heart thumping against his chest. He closed his eyes trying to stop the welling tears; he gently wrapped his arms around her as well, and pulled her closer to him, in a loving embrace.
"It can't be…you." Kratos whispered.
"Why? Why can't it be me…Kratos." Anna whispered back, her voice ran cold as she said his name. Something wasn't right, would Anna really do this?
"Is it because you failed…Kratos? One of the great angels of Cruxis, couldn't even protect his own wife from certain death. Or maybe it's because of the fact that you felt so lonely afterwards, you don't wish to remember me is that it? Too painful even for you?" Kratos flinched.
"Stop it…that's not…"
"Oh, but it is Kratos…everyday you live your life regretting that you're alive, everyday you wish that you died instead of me, everyday the loneliness in your heart, since that faithful night, has gotten deeper, wider, fuller. The grief and frightening reality of just how pathetic you really are catches up to you doesn't it…dear." Anna stated her voice cutting into Kratos, his memories were returning with overwhelming clarity, the day he first met her, the day Lloyd was born, the day they fled their home from the desians, and the day which lead to the eventual death of the only women he could truly love…his Anna.
"You didn't even bother checking to see if I was alive…did you Kratos." Anna asked her nail digging into Kratos's back; red spots began to form through his purple jacket. Kratos gasped but he didn't pull away, he couldn't his body was limp, and he began to feel tired.
"N-No…that's not…" he began to say his eyes slowly closing.
"You lived with the pain of being alone for too long, Kratos. Leave this dreamless world and join me in Kharlan…there you shall never have to face your past again." Anna's voice, and appearance changed to that of a familiar darker voice, one of a man who was indeed evil. Phanos ran his hand over Kratos's exsphere, which glowed brightly illuminating the surrounding forest brush and trees giving them a glowing appearance. Kratos couldn't move, his entire body was limp, he noticed that the figure was no longer who he once thought it to be, and he knew it never could be her. I'm a fool…to think that she was alive…I killed her it's my fault. Phanos's eyes narrowed as he slowly pulled out a tiny blackish brown seed from his pocket he was inches away from placing it into Kratos's exsphere, when a loud bark and then a sharp tug made Phanos cry out in anger, and Kratos felt himself hit the hard earthen ground. The despicable Phanos had Noishe latched onto his arm, and Phanos' eyes were burning red with hatred and anger. Kratos shook his head, as he saw Phanos toss Noishe effortlessly into the nearby trees, Noishe collided with a tree sending the leaves falling to the floor, but the protozoan dog got to his feet again, a loud growl erupted from the dogs clenched jaws, Noishe's lips curled back into a toothy grin exposing his massive fangs, the dogs eyes glowed with a burning hatred that Kratos had never remembered the dog of having, ever since that day.
"Noishe…" Kratos whispered he glared at the man before him.
"You…how dare you use Anna like that…you shall die!" Kratos cried out grabbing his sword from the ground and with one quick slash cut into Phanos's leg. Phanos smiled as the wound gushed crimson fluid, staining the once pure green earth below him. It resealed itself quickly though only so, that the ground below him had a tiny puddle of red. A loud growl erupted the silence of the forest, sending a flock of birds nearby flying off into the distance. The man turned toward the dog, which was now growling as it sidestepped over to Kratos its eyes never leaving the horrible man before it. Kratos's eyes narrowed.
"Noishe seems to know you all too well…how?" Kratos asked the coldness of his voice piercing into the air with hatred. Phanos smiled.
"How else did you think Anna and your son fell from that cliff…Kratos?" Kratos' eyes widened in realization as Phanos's words struck him.
"You…you're the one that…"Kratos said barely audible. Phanos smiled as he looked at the man before him, to think that a once proud angel of Cruxis reduced to this, and now…he is nothing, barely able to keep his past from haunting him…how pathetic.
"You bastard! I'll make you pay for what you did!" Kratos ran forward his sword extended out before him he slashed at his opponent who grimaced back in pain and he held his now bleeding chest. Kratos looked at him Phanos let out a laugh, which was immediately cut off by him coughing up a red liquid; he fell onto his knees, still smiling. The air was filled with the familiar scent of copper and blood, Kratos looked at the horrid man with disgust. He felt his hands clench and unclench around his sword hilt. Phanos looked at him with his red eyes.
"What's wrong…Kratos?" he asked coughing up more blood, it splashed to the ground with a sickening noise, and Kratos looked away, his emotions clearly on his face.
"Tell me…were you the one who knocked the ridge out from under her…" Phanos just laughed at the auburn man's question. Kratos whirled around his eyes aglow with anger.
"ANSWER ME!" Kratos yelled placing his swords gleaming silver tip to Phanos's neck. Phanos looked up his neck plunged into the tip of Kratos's blade, the auburn haired man looked at him horrified as he pulled away. His sword no longer silver and clean, but red, stained, and putrid with the foul blood of this hideous being before him.
"What do you think…Kratos?" Phanos asked laughing as he staggered to his feet. He coughed and red droplets of blood splattered onto the green landscape below him, he took a few deep breaths before continuing.
"Of course…it was…I." Phanos said in a labored voice, a voice that caused Kratos great pleasure in hearing pain strewn through it. The auburn hired mans eyes narrowed. Phanos laughed again his mirthless laughter echoed through the woods, a deep silence descended as the two men from the past stared at each other.
"I was sent on a mission by Mithos to spy upon you and figure out your whereabouts. It wasn't too difficult your mana signature was so plainly left everywhere even a blind angel could see it. But, as it so happens it began to dissipate every waking moment, and at an alarming rate. You do realize what kind of position that put me into do you not, Kratos? It put me into a position where…my entire being was at stake, and I under no circumstances was going to forfeit my life for your happy little family." Phanos sneered at Kratos.
"Mithos...he was the one who put you up to this…" Kratos whispered anguish pulsing through ever fiber of his being. If only he had known, if only he saw it, that Mithos would never leave him alone after he gave up being part of Cruxis, why…why hadn't he seen the danger he was putting the only woman he loved in? Kratos's grip on his sword's hilt tightened so that his knuckles would have been a pearl white if it were not for his glove. Phanos chuckled.
"Yes, it was Mithos's fault,"
:Welgaia Past:
A half elf with golden blonde hair was bent over a piece of paper. His carefully placed bangs were behind his pointed ears. A silent knock which reverberated through the dimly lit room made the blonde haired leader of Cruxis look up, his carefully placed bangs fell over his dulled yet piercing blue eyes, his eyebrows narrowed at the disturbance. Mithos had a fleeting thought of who it could be, but he was annoyed that he was back already.
"Enter." The leader of Cruxis said in a commanding voice he was so accustomed to using. The door creaked open silently as if all the sound in the world was drained away. A man in a black cape stepped out from the lighted hallway of Welgaia into the more darkly encompassed room. The darkness fell around both figures giving them both a menacing look to them.
"Phanos…what is it, now?" Mithos asked with venom in his voice. Phanos smiled and shrugged.
"I found the whereabouts of Kratos, my liege." Phanos replied unperturbed by Mithos's attitude. Mithos snorted in comtemptment.
"The traitor, you mean." Mithos stated sitting back in his chair, putting his hands together and looking at the still figure of Phanos.
"Indeed my lord, he and Anna. They have a child." Phanos spoke his voice echoing eerily through the quiet room. Mithos's eyes shone with a fiery anger, as he pushed his chair out from him and stood up in one quick motion.
"A child you say?" the Cruxis leader asked pacing across the room, Phanos just watched.
"Indeed, a baby actually." Mithos stopped and turned to the human standing before him.
"You know what you must do…Phanos." Phanos's eyes glowed red for a moment and then he smiled.
"But of course…my lord." Phanos bowed as he walked out of the room, and looked almost as if he melted into the surrounding darkness.
"But you know she was already dead from the start."
"Shut up." Kratos replied curtly. Phanos smirked in amusement.
"It's true isn't it? You knew…from the very start, that once she was put into Kvar's ranch there was no saving her, yet out of sheer hopelessness and infatuation with her you saved her and made her suffer even longer, and harsher, by having her have a child, one in which you didn't even bother to raise yourself, and the same one you betrayed and almost killed." Phanos stopped as he looked at Kratos whose head was bent his auburn hair falling over his eyes, and face, masking the man's expression in a shadow. Phanos smiled as he walked closer. Kratos's head shot up his eyes burning with anger and hatred, his teeth clenched and his grip upon his sword strengthen with newfound energy. Phanos stopped short and looked at the auburn haired man, he smiled.
"You…bastard! Die!" Kratos sprinted forward and before Phanos could do anything, Kratos stuck his sword through his stomach; blood fell to the floor, as Phanos fell backwards. Kratos looked down at him panting, realizing what he'd done.
"Where's Lloyd!" Kratos asked forcefully. Phanos just laughed, and then sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Kratos, Kratos, Kratos, will you never learn? Heh, Lloyd's already dead…you should just not even bother. Not anymore, once it's planted everything will…die." Phanos began talking but towards the end of his sentence his voice was but a whisper. Kratos bent down and grabbed the dying man by his collar, and brought his face close to his.
"What're you talking about! After what's planted!" after no reply Kratos shook him.
"Answer me! Where is Lloyd!" Kratos yelled, Phanos remained silent and then in an almost unintelligible voice he spoke in a language that was not human.
"Qua moenia in divum opportunus Olympus ut est qua fatum specto , pro quondam unleashed duos universitas vadum intereo procul manuum of…" Phanos stopped and closed his eyes; Kratos felt the man's body go limp. Kratos growled under his breath.
"Damn it! What does it mean?" Kratos let go of Phanos's body, and it hit the ground with a sickening thud. What happened next terrified Kratos. Phanos's body began to glow a blackish purple color, and then a gigantic fire erupted around his body engulfing every part of him. His body then began to melt almost into a black blob, which condensed itself into a smaller black blob, it looked almost like the part of shadow which they had to collect in the temple of darkness.
"What the hell?" Kratos whispered his sword in a defensive position, Noishe whimpered nearby as if all his courage and ferocity was drained away. Kratos felt a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach as the air around him and the blob became thick with dark mana. Kratos fell onto one knee and using his sword to lean on, closed his eyes and took deep gaping breaths.
"What…what's happening?" Kratos gasped looking at the blob, which was now moving sluggishly across the forest floor. Everything it touched became blackened and charred, even decayed and then it paused and with a loud pop it disappeared from both Noishe and Kratos's vision. The air got extremely lighter afterwards and Kratos's breathing was no longer labored, he got up and looked around.
"Yuan…where are you." Kratos whispered as a light breeze blew his bangs into his eyes, he brushed them away as he looked out toward where the once mighty Tower of Salvation once stood. Kratos's eyes narrowed. He sheathed his sword and walked out of the canopied forest into the bright sunlight of Sylvarant, Noishe walked out beside him, and gave him a nudge. Kratos looked down, and gave a slight smile.
"Let's go find Lloyd, Noishe…like we used to do it." Kratos said mounting the giant dog, and they galloped toward the tower.
:Derris Kharlan: poison
"Spark Wave!" a voice rang out Lloyd spun around from the figure of Botta who had jumped back, away from the red swordsman, Lloyd's eyes widened, he put his swords up in a defensive motion.
"Guardian!" Lloyd cried out as a green orb surrounded him, blocking the blasts of purple and blue lightning from Kvar's Spark Wave attack. The continuous waves of lightning bounced off Lloyd's shield, which began to dissipate.
"I call upon the hammer of godly thunder. Volt!" Lloyd turned toward Sheena who was aglow with purple light as the mana of Volt surged through her. Just as Lloyd's shield disappeared a wall of electricity surrounded him on all sides bathing him in a purple light, Kvar's Spark Wave was engulfed inside the massive wall of energy, and Lloyd now stood unharmed amidst the ongoing battle. Regal was battling Botta who was swinging his giant curved magenta sword, with its orb in its middle, around.
"Rock Breaker!" the fallen renegade commander cried out slamming his sword into the purple cobbled ground of Derris Kharlan, rocks flew out towards Regal who kicked furiously so as to avoid collision with them. One flew into his shoulder cutting through his thin white shirt, he gasped and held his shoulder as he jumped away from a black tail of the serpent Obsidian. The snake reared up out from the darkness and let out an angry hiss, it's maw agape showing it's rows of sharp pointed teeth and it's two giant fangs which dripped with deadly acid like poison.
"Die!" Presea said swinging her ax into the snakes black scaled flesh. It reared it's head around and glared at the pink haired girl, who ripped her ax out of its flesh and swung it deftly around her back and blocked Botta's sword attack. Presea turned to Botta who swung at her with heavy strikes of his sword; Presea was knocked back with every block of her Ax. Obsidian reared its black-scaled head, eyes flashing.
"I don't think so you monster! I call upon the Heavenly Messengers. Come, Sylph!" a green light erupted through the darkness of Derris Kharlan, sending the surrounding shadows receding into the dark abyss for a few fleeting moments. Obsidian turned toward the three flying fairies of wind, Yutis stayed in the back and fired her bow, and two arrows hit their mark embedding themselves into Obsidian's thick skin. The snake let out a low aggravated hiss as it snapped at the Sylph's who dodged the snake's massive jaws. Fairess flew out in front of Sephie who had her sword drawn out behind her, the two of them cut through the air like bullets, Obsidian's massive jaws crushed down on top on Fairess's shield and Sephie flew out from under the snake's jaws. Obsidian thrashed its head about trying to loosen Fairess's grip, but to no avail. Sephie struck the giant serpent across the eye, blood gushed forth as Obsidian hit Sephie in the back with its massive black tail, sending her colliding, with a loud crash, into the floor of Kharlan. Debris sprayed everywhere Lloyd heard the others coughing as the dust and smoke cleared.
"Agarazium!" Lloyd saw through the thin sheet of dust the figure of the fallen witch of Cruxis with her wand raised, eyes aglow in pure malice and her attack hit into Sheena.
"Ah! Guardian Seal!" Sheena cried bending down as her green orb of defensive mana encompassed her. Pronyma laughed as Presea swung at her, the tip of the ax cut into the half elf's shoulder and she floated away, still smiling as if blind to the pain. Blood ran down her arm and she wiped it away with her left hand and licked some of it off, Pronyma glared at the pink haired girl.
"Such a nasty little girl you are, is that how you were made? Or was it your parents who taught you those manners?" Pronyma asked leering at the expressionless Presea. Regal flew out of nowhere and kicked the dark mana witch in the gut sending her reeling backwards. A dribble of blood was dripping out of the left corner of Pronyma's mouth, she smiled as she straightened, but coughed and red fluid splattered onto the rocky surface. Lloyd heard Colette gasp in horror at the sight. Lloyd's eyes narrowed as Pronyma turned her head to him, her eyes flashing an unnatural red hue.
"It's him…he's the one who made them." Lloyd whispered angrily as his swords shook under the pressure of his grip. Colette looked over at Lloyd concerned. Pronyma laughed as the figures of Botta and Kvar jumped away from their battles and landed next to the witch of Cruxis their backs together as they faced Lloyd's group. Obsidian melted out from the darkness behind the clones its eyes flashed red, as a purple blackish cloud emanated from its body, it coiled around the three figures protectively.
Lloyd… Lloyd blinked at the sound of a familiar but unknown voice.
O-Origin! What is it? Is something wrong? Is Kratos alright! How about Raine, and Genis, are they okay?
Yes…they are all fine, Raine and Genis are at the base of the tower of salvation, and they need a way to get up here. Shall I go and retrieve them?
That would be great Origin! Thank you. Origin appeared and everyone turned to Lloyd, who nodded a grin on his face. Origin disappeared with a swift motion leaving everyone to their standstill once again.
"Calling for back up are we? What's wrong not strong enough without your little friends?" Kvar asked Botta and Pronyma laughed as all three of the clones stared down Lloyd and his friends.
"We're going to finish this once and for all!" Lloyd cried out running forward swords behind him, he slashed upward with his right sword and then with a quick side slash of his left sword, he sent Kvar falling backwards onto a nearby pile of purplish rocks. Botta and Pronyma jumped out of the way, Botta quickly turned around and held up his sword in defense, blocking Presea's Destruction attack. The fallen renegade leader was pushed backwards his pointed boots sliding across the stonework of the city floor. Presea pressed hard and Botta lost his footing more, until he fell onto his back, his sword was sent flying over the edge of the narrow walkway and it was engulfed by the dark expanse. Presea raised her ax high above her head, her emotionless eyes taking in the defiance etched across Botta's face.
"Presea!" the pink haired girl turned around to see a large black serpent it's reptilian eyes widening at the scene before it. It let out a low dangerous hiss as it arched it's back.
"Angel feathers!" tons of glowing chakrams flew into the snake's body, making it toss and turn trying to dodge the light attack. It let out a pained and angry hiss as its focus now turned to the blonde haired girl, her silver angel halo chakrams in hand. She put them up to her face in a defensive position. Obsidian flew forward in a blur of black; it cut a deep grove into the floor sending rocks everywhere.
"I don't think so! Spread!" A huge wall of water encompassed the snake as it flew into the other side of the giant pillar of water. Colette looked around and there standing on top of a ledge was Raine and Genis, his kendama out. Origin flew toward the water pillar his swords drawn. Genis smiled and gave an enthusiastic thumb up. The water disappeared and Obsidian let out a loud hiss shaking it's head back and forth as Colette realized that a blue dog was on top of it, sinking it's fangs into the snakes head. Blood gushed out and covered the dogs mouth as it jumped away landing next to Celsius the summon spirit of ice. Origin flew forward slashing the snake with his four swords, Obsidian dodged the summon spirits attack and with its tail knocked Origin to the ground near Celsius who jumped away to avoid collision. Origin got up and shook him self free of rocky debris his eyes narrowed.
We cannot beat him like this Origin. Celisus spoke, and Origin nodded looking at her as he sheathed his swords. Obsidian let out an angry his then in one quick motion disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.
"Lighting Strike!" Lloyd jumped out of the way as bolts of lighting came crashing down into the floor below, one nearly grazing his arm. He looked back at the figure that was only a clone of Kvar, but had all the same features and characteristics of him. Kvar smirked as he raised his staff once more preparing for another lighting attack, Lloyd ran forward and lashed out at the fallen half elf commander, Kvar blocked Lloyd's first series of attacks but, Presea came up from behind and swatted him in the side with her ax sending the half elf commander rolling onto the floor, his staff lying a few feet away. Lloyd looked around Botta was missing, and he knew Presea had taken care of him, he saw out the corner of his eye a black blob rushing up through the stairs and disappearing.
"That one changed into a blob too." Lloyd whispered and Presea nodded in agreement.
"That's it!" Lloyd whirled around on Kvar, the tip of his Kusanagi Blade at the half elf commander's throat.
"Tell me! What are you! Now!" Lloyd asked angrily, his sword tip drawing blood, Colette looked at him with concerned she'd never seen him this angry before. Kvar's laughter rang through the now quiet battleground. The once majestic Derris Kharlan was now riddled with debris and broken rocks.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Lloyd Irving." Kvar said his voice filled with amusement. Lloyd grabbed him by the collar.
"Liar…tell me." Lloyd whispered his eyes burning with hatred. Kvar laughed as he broke from Lloyd's grip and jumped away. Lloyd rushed forward and in one motion stuck his sword through Kvar's gut. Kvar's eyes widened as a line of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, as he hung impaled on Lloyd sword. His figure disappeared just like the rest, and now laying on the floor where the fallen half elf commander stood seconds before was a black blob. A scream nearby made Lloyd and Presea spin around, the figure of Pronyma fell onto her knees, and she too then turned into a blob. Lloyd saw Raine walk over to Colette and heal her wounds given by the witch.
"Genis…Raine you're alright! Thank the goddess." Lloyd said happily as he ran toward them, giving no attention to the blob.
"What happened to Obsidian?" Sheena asked her brown eyes darting around the shadowed chamber.
"We'll worry about him later, these creatures are quite interesting." Raine stated, her blue eyes aglow with fascination as if the blob like creature was an artifact, she poked the blob with the pointed end of her staff, the blob folded in on itself making weird shapes, it then stretched very high up making itself skinny, the other blob from where Kvar was, formed with it. The two made a black shining mass about the size of a soccer ball, it began to move and everyone stepped away. Lloyd looked at the professor her face showing stunned admiration for the blob. He sighed and looked at Genis who just shrugged and shook his head.
"I guess we should follow it?" Colette suggested everyone nodded silently. Raine turned abruptly making Regal almost crash into her. She held up her staff a bright light erupted around her as healing mana flowed out around her.
"Root of all creation, grant us the breath of life! Revitalize!" Everyone sighed.
"Thanks professor!" Genis and Colette rang out. Raine nodded in acknowledgement and continued onward. Lloyd was at the front both of his hands resting on the hilts of his dual blades.
"Where are Kratos…and Yuan?" Raine asked sounding concerned at the ending part of her question.
"Origin said that Kratos was coming, but he didn't mention anything about Yuan, I'm sure he's alright." Lloyd said turning to look at the silver haired professor; her face was etched with concern.
"Come on we're almost there." Lloyd and group had kept following the blob, its trail ended at the steps of the castle in Derris Kharlan. It squeezed itself through the large golden doors leading into the Great Seed chamber, where they once fought Mithos not too long ago. Lloyd stopped and everyone stopped as well they were all lined up in a neatly orderly fashion, everyone tilted their heads up.
"Never thought we'd find ourselves back here, again." Genis said. Lloyd looked at his friend who had a pained expression on his face. Lloyd understood Genis's pain, Mithos was the only other half elf Genis had ever made friends with, and their friendship wasn't all it was thought to be. Sheena sighed. Then suddenly the golden doors creaked open, everyone pulled out their weapons, their eyes narrowed.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Lloyd cried out, taking a step forward. A cold bone tingling laugh erupted from the doorway; a figure in all black with a hood on only showing his red eyes stepped forward. In his hand the blob that Lloyd and the others had been following was in his right hand. He smiled as he put the blob to his chest, it melted into him and his eyes glowed a bright red, he let out a gasp of pain as the blob reformed with his body, the pain caused him to double over, and then a black fire erupted around him engulfing him in its fiery flames, and then in a split second it was gone, he straighten his red eyes aglow. Phanos let out a cackle as he looked over Lloyd and his friends expressions of pure horror. Phanos's wasn't in his true form though he was now masked as the fallen Cruxis leader his golden hair falling before his right eye both eyes shining in pure malice. Lloyd gripped his sword hilts.
"It…it was you then! You made those clones!" Sheena stammered. Phanos smiled and shrugged.
"That's…how is that possible? Those copies all had minds of their own." Raine stated her eyes narrowing. Phanos laughed.
"Very good professor, yes they indeed did have minds of their own. It was because of this…unnatural power that Mithos assigned me to his most arduous tasks. But he didn't know that when he sealed me that they wouldn't be affected…the fool."
"Sealed…then you're the one Abyssion was talking about!" Lloyd spat out.
"Ah yes, the underworld puppet. Indeed, you see when I was sealed away underneath that horrid tree by Martel my soul was ripped in half so that I was left weak and unable to escape, but I still had my crystal." Phanos stated his hand moving across his now shattered crystal. Lloyd let out a low growl.
"SHOW ME YOUR TRUE FORM YOU FAKE!" Lloyd cried out, Phanos laughed, his shoulders shaking, he turned his head to Lloyd's group, one eye was red the other blue. He took off his cape and there underneath his left side was the man they knew as Phanos, the other, his right side was that of Mithos, his icy blue eye looking toward the stunned group. Half of his hair was black, the other golden blonde. His wings folded out, his left side was black with red tips, the other was of Mithos's rainbow colored wing.
"It can't be…" Sheena whispered. Lloyd let out a growl of anger.
"You can't be Mithos…we killed him! I…I killed him!" Phanos's eyes narrowed.
"YOU IMBECILE I AM MITHOS!" He cried out holding a hand out, a blinding white light erupted through the seed chamber, everyone let out a cry of surprise, and Lloyd's vision was masked in pure white light.
It…it can't be…how?