Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online. This story, however, is completely mine and may not be redistributed or used without my approval.

Chapter 26

In a breathtaking moment, the sword slid out of the rock easily and shone brightly as I held it high. I was confused. Raisu was the one who jumped the wolf. She was the one who stuck her knife in the beast...how come it chose me?

"Hand me the sword, Yui." Tobie said, backing to Raisu. "Hand me the sword."

"Don't touch her villain!" I turned around with rage as I remembered his threat. "Touch her even the slightest bit with that tainted blade and I will not hesitate to cut you in half!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Tobie ran behind Raisu and restrained her, using her as a meat shield. "Attack me, and you'll end up killing her too." He smirked as his men surrounded me. "Give me the sword, Yui." I gripped the handle tightly, debating with myself what to do. "GIVE IT TO ME!" His voice startled some of his men, who were already nervous because of the demonic aura his arm gave out.

Dante, taking this chance, tore apart the ropes that bound him and punched the guard that held him with his brass knuckles. The guards were distracted by this sudden rebellion and were then taken over by Dante's men and Raisu's.

"They can't do anything to me, Hikaru." Tobie's eyes turned insane. "This elf will die with me if they do. What will you do then? Huh? The Duchess of Angels will fall if you dare tamper with the future Emperor!" I panicked. If I gave him the sword, everything will fall apart. More people will die...but I could not loose Raisu. None of us could. Slowly, I loosened my grip on the sword, ready to give it up.

"Don't give him the sword!" Tempest ordered. "If you do, we will all die."

"Give it to me!" Tobie's patience wore out and he threw Raisu onto the floor and lunged at me. The girl choked for air as she was let out of Tobie's suffocating hold.

"Dante! Run!" I tossed the sword to the young commander before I fell to the floor with Tobie.

Blood splattered as we fought. I threw him off me and stood up, wobbling as I wiped the blood from my mouth. I looked at my opponent and noticed change. Dark marks were growing all over his showing flesh and his eyes grew red.

"Hikaru!" Dante and the others were readying to go. "Run! Run for your life! He's lost all humanity!" I turned back to Tobie and witnessed the transformation. Horns grew on his head and his body grew half his usual size. The demonic arm was eating him alive and turning him mutant.

"Tobie!" I yelled helplessly. My feet wouldn't budge. "TOBIE!" The man, no, monster in front of me continued to fight itself for control. It stumbled around in pain as its body looked as if it was going to explode. "TOBIEE! THINK ABOUT FIONA! THE GOOD TIMES!" I yelled desperate to save the guy. No one should suffer such a death. "FOR GOD'S SAKE, TOBIE! FIGHT!" The monster roared in pain and spat black blood.

I heard a clank beside be and looked down. Excalibur was there. Dante had thrown it to me. I looked back, and he rode off. I was alone with the monster.

I gathered what little courage I had left and picked up the Excalibur. I looked at the mutant.

"This is what you get for obsessing over power, Tobie." I muttered. "This is what you get!" Closing my eyes, I forced my legs to carry me forward. In a split second, it was over. I heard a thump behind me and knew he was dead. Tobie had held off the evil and made himself helpless as they fought. It was long enough for me to kill him. I let myself stand there for a long moment in bittersweet victory. No matter what he did...I still grew up with him. A tear gave away my emotions and I walked away towards where Dante lead the group.

---

"We need to go back for them!" I hear Crono argue angrily.

"We will die!" Dante shouted, his fist struck the small table he sat at. "I understand this mission was for him mainly, but I will NOT loose ANYMORE MEN!"

"Calm down!" Raisu sounded irritated. She still shook from the traumatizing events. She took a sip of the herbal tea Miroku had made her. "We-"

"Don't have to lift a finger." I announced weakly. I walked to Raisu putting my hand on her shoulder. "How are you?" I said silently. The others got the point and went back to their business.

"Better now." Raisu embraced me. "Now that you're back." I smiled and pulled away. "The noise stopped, what happened?" I lead her to the back where no one would see and pulled out Tobie's sword from the sheath I flung onto my back.

"I had no choice." I said, holding back tears. "I had to. He was in pain." Gritting my teeth, I laid the sword down. "His armor, everything...eaten away when he transformed. This sword was the only thing left." I unsheathed it again, then pulled out Excalibur. "And this..." I looked up at Raisu. "It should be yours." She pushed the sword back to me.

"I may have jumped recklessly onto the Werewolf's back." She explained with a smile. "But you were the one who shove your sword into the monster's heart." I looked at her, confused. "I merely put it in pain. I guess the Spirit of Anger has...some...uses." She joked and took Tobie's sword from me. "This should be put in the cart. The evil aura is strong; it might attract monsters if we leave it out in the open." I nodded in agreement and headed back to the others.

"Miss me?" I joked as I sat down beside Crono.

"Haha, maybe worried, but only a bit." Crono lied. He did not know I heard him arguing with Dante. "So you killed him did you?"

"Yes." I said simply, laying down and resting. "Though, I feel he was somewhat innocent."

"What?"

"Nothing." I rolled over. "I need to sleep on it, my brain hurts." Crono smirked and shook his head.

"Alright dude. Night."