Clash of the Elements Part 0: The Winds of Days Past

by mewmaster93

2000 years ago, there was a hero of renown called the Elemental Overlord. Many have spoken of his daring feats and accomplishments, but his past has remained unknown...Until now. Hidden within three journals left behind by his wife are the details of his journey from young boy to the hero of legend. Venture to Genestasia, to uncover the many truths hidden in the distant past...

81. Chapter -84

Author's Note:

The following three chapters will contain content from the BlazBlue franchise, including some minor spoilers. You have been warned.

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Chapter -84: Crossing Fate

The war was back on in full, and who else would be up to their old tricks but Colrez Frost?

He was not alone, however, as with Valflame still recovering from sickness, Vermilion seized control of his soldiers and began to march upon Tanglefae.

With a gleeful grin she had fire burning out from behind her eyepatch and prepared to lay waste to the forest until everything was ash.

She stood on the outskirts with the army at her back, every soldier shaken, their grip on their weapons unable to stay stable for long.

Her fearful gaze back made them stiffen up, and with a widening smirk she callously gestured her hand at the trees and told them, "Light it up! I want this whole place pitch black by sundown!"

Half the Canofloe forces were armed with bows and flaming arrows. They took aim skyward and fired, their hesitation a vain attempt to divert the arrows from her target.

Vermilion was grinning with joy as the arrows seemed set to light the horizon ahead of her ablaze with her favorite smell.

But before they hit their mark, a wall of water suddenly rose between them and the forest, making the arrows fizzle out and rustle through the leaves.

"Buh?" Vermilion's expression dropped into a sloppy state of confusion, only for her senses to sharpen as the water was shoved straight at her, where she superheated her body to split it into steam down the middle.

With a quick narrowing of her eye she could make out citizens of Aquamoria standing in the forest.

"An alliance?!" Her expression swiftly shifted between confusion, outrage, and finally delight as she pulled her arms from her sleeves and grinned the widest she ever had so far.

"Fiiine," She hissed, "I'll get to enjoy a hunt then!"

"KEEP FIRING!" She demanded as she tore off chunks of the ground in a magma consumed wake on her way to tackle the interlopers.

Lulu Coraline stood at the center of her citizens and thrust her hand at the incoming demon bathed in a fiery silhouette, "Focus everythin' ya got on that one-eyed freak! We gotta stall her out!"

It took a dozen of them focusing their water together into a single sphere, just to throw out something capable of making the Sage of Fire get pushed back.

The water impacting made Vermilion break the ground beneath her feet to keep her going as soon as possible. Shot for shot she was nudging closer, and the people of Aquamoria had to alternate between her and the arrows.

Her fire discharged ceaselessly and her preying sneer refused to wane. Soon the people of Aquamoria were falling on their knees in exhaustion, leading Lulu to shout with her few breaths left, "Yer up, Sarajin!"

And with a mighty gale in his wake, Sarajin bolted past her out of the forest and rammed Vermilion as she was mere seconds from cutting a swathe through the trees using her bare hands.

While she was stunned he shoved her off with his shoulder and then slashed her diagonally across the chest.

She staggered back a couple inches but only her top had been damaged. She nevertheless brushed her hand over it like there was blood.

She then licked her lips with her eye glowing with an ooze of bloodlust, "Ooooh, so the cowardly bird's finally returned?"

She threw her hands down and drew her needles with a heavy grin, her voice raspy with malice, "Don't try and fly away now, pretty bird, I just want your WINGS!"

She then sprung towards him with a beastly roar and reared her needles to slash. She instead thrust her feet below Sarajin's sword to stagger him in the gut.

Sarajin used this to wobble away from the forest, diverting the focus of her wide-sweeping attacks onto him and the wasteland.

He tried to hold off her attacks as best he could but though he was marginally better than last time, her strength and ferocity bordered on insanity.

Victory was not about beating her today though. It was all about stalling, and thanks to that little extra time he provided, the roar of the Rot Walkers signified victory was close at hand.

The soldiers of Canofloe weighed that the fear of their one-eyed monster's wrath was better than the ravenous appetite of the rotting monsters and proceeded to run away on their mounts.

Meanwhile Vermilion bit her teeth down hard and shouted "Bastards!" before blindly slashing her needles out in an attempt to scratch Sarajin's face.

When she turned to face him full-on she widened her eye and growled, "Keep spoiling my fun with these pussy tactics...? And I'll be sure to make your death a loooong one!"

With a burning hiss, she turned and fled herself, scattering the Rot Walkers in her path everywhere with a huge burst of flame.

And also, to act as a warning of what she was still capable of...

Sarajin breathed a sigh of relief and then turned to give Lulu and the others a thumbs-up. She returned the gesture, and one of the bushes ruffled around as well, Ividae giving his share of thanks.

Sarajin then cocked his head back towards the East and muttered, "I hope Auris is managing on her end..."

At the same time this was happening, Colrez and a force of a hundred soldiers were stampeding towards Pulsa Minoria with the goal of dismantling that place while their weapons were still down.

Standing alone at the gate was Auris, sword and shield drawn, and dragoon visage at her back.

She opened her eyes slowly to the sight of this army marching her way and let out a weightless sigh.

She then twirled the sword around and began marching towards them.

Colrez cocked his brows at this laughable sight and struggled to hold a snicker at bay, "A single brute guards the gates? Ha! What fools do these electrified dolts take me for?"

Only the biggest fool of them all, a title he would soon wear like he did that of the monarch of his lands.

Auris pointed her sword at the army and then put a single slab of aura in their path. Bending down, she lunged forward across the battlefield in the blink of an eye, more than enough time for her to dispel the wall and activate her second Drive.

The frozen army was stunned by a prismatic pillar of light erupting towards the sky midway through her disappearance.

And in the seconds that followed, the soldiers were picked off one-by-one by an invisible blunt force. Armor broke, grunts were gasped, and every bear was dismounted.

Colrez turned around and looked befuddled as his grand army was soon little more than bodies cobbled onto the ground, groaning in pain.

Yet not a single one bled.

A shimmering, rainbow-like trail formed between the bears in a blink and they'd miss it moment, weaving out the path their mysterious assailant took until finally, Colrez was forced to gaze upon them as they stood behind his army.

Auris pointed her back at the man and then thrust her sword up at his face, putting goosebumps on his skin.

"These lands shall not be a victim to your conquest, Colrez Frost. Leave now, or you shall be shown how fruitless your efforts shall be."

Colrez gripped his mighty lance and forced his mount to turn and face her, "I am not scared of a demon who does not know her place on the battlefield!"

Auris smirked and turned around, reverting to her Aegis Dragoon Drive with her eyes burning and her aura flaring up, "Demon, monster, call me what you wish. But this body...shall be the shield that protects these lands!"

Colrez' mount climbed atop its brethren to carry him over to her, beginning what he sought to be a grand battle...

"At least, that's what I presume he thought."

Later on that day, Auris had finished recounting her encounter to Sarajin in her new home. The two were sitting on a rug on the living room floor and enjoying some hot tea she had brewed.

With a bit of a proud smile, she chuckled and told him, "But instead, it was more akin to dangling a banana away from a monkey for a couple minutes."

Sarajin's eyes were lit up in awe and a whisper slipped out laced with a tone of fond admiration, "You're incredible, Auris..."

Auris perked up with delight and a subtle hum of curiosity, upon which Sarajin closed his eyes and grinned, "Colrez has always been hard to fight, but you made it sound so easy."

"Don't undermine yourself, Sarajin," Auris said, resting the tea cup before her knees, "You survived another encounter with Vermilion, and save Tanglefae. All I merely did was stop a small army."

"Merely..." Sarajin whispered with a faint tone of jealousy, then gazed at her face with appreciation, "I'm glad your plan worked though."

"This time, anyways," Auris took upon a more serious attitude, "The element of surprise we jumped on them will hold them at bay for a little while, but no doubt they'll take my presence into consideration for any further invasions."

"Colrez is stubborn..." Sarajin groaned.

"Vermilion too," Auris added onto it, calmly taking a sip of her drink while remarking, "Not to mention father and the other Sages are still moving forward with their plans."

"To kill all the Titans?" Sarajin's question received a nod.

It was shocking to hear that from Auris the first time but in hindsight, he should have realized that was the goal of the Sages.

Sarajin gripped his cup and remarked, "We won't let that happen."

"Absolutely not," Auris said with a smile, "By the way, speaking of plans..."

She turned towards the right a little with a fond look in her eyes, "I was thinking about setting up the kitchen today. Perhaps something styled after the one at your place?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me!" Sarajin finished his last drops of tea and then stood up.

As he took one step forward he found himself stepping onto a white void and his surroundings matching it.

He spun his head around wildly before being welcomed by the sagely voice of Yen Sid, "Sarajin Stratos."

He looked straight ahead and the man stood there alone with a glowing silhouette. He closed his eyes and spoke clearly to him, "After much deliberation between us, we have chosen to accept your request. However, you must first be tested."

Sarajin nodded and though shaken, asked him clearly, "Ok, what do you want me to do?"

Yen Sid raised his hand aside and from it emerged a glowing orb containing a blue and green planet with a murky black stain spreading out of one of the larger land masses.

"This world is currently facing a crisis of apocalyptic proportions. A black beast, birthed from an unholy land of knowledge, has spread a poison known as 'Seithr' across the planet's surface for years now."

"It seeks to expand its influence until the world is consumed whole. However, it's presence has influenced six mighty warriors to band together to stop it."

"History will come to recognize these warriors as the 'Six Heroes', and the Black Beast will be bested after a long, grueling battle."

"But history has shifted off-course. Something has darkened the Black Beast's power and made it stronger. Should it be left unattended, it will wear down the Six Heroes, and end their legend before it begins."

Yen Sid dispelled the orb and tucked his hands into his sleeves, with Sarajin immediately assuming, "Is this the work of a 'Blank'?"

"Perhaps..." Yen Sid uttered in a deep, contemplative tone, "If so, your sudden presence shall prove enough to draw it out."

"And if it isn't?"

"Then your strength will help shift the flow of history back on it's proper course," Yen Sid was speaking on the matter with confidence, "Are you ready, Sarajin Stratos?"

Sarajin's brief moment of hesitation prompted Yen Sid to remark, "If you're not feeling confident, then you're welcome to bring an ally."

Sarajin lit up and immediately jumped to the conclusion of, "Oh! Then can I bring my wife Auris along, she-"

"That...we cannot allow," Yen Sid said with his eyes closing shut, "That mark...may have unforeseen effects on other worlds."

Sarajin was stunned that they knew about that, but that didn't stop him from fighting for who he believed in, "Well I trust her more than anyone in the world. She's not going to harm anything."

"That is not something she can control," Yen Sid uttered, "The risk is too great to take. I am sorry."

Sarajin clenched his fists, grit his teeth, then whispered out respectfully, "Then I'm sorry...You're going to need to give me time to find another ally."

"Unfortunately, time is of the essence," Yen Sid uttered, "I will allow you until the sun sets on your world to decide."

One blink of the eye later and Sarajin resumed where he left off and finished his step back at home, leaving him mildly disoriented.

Auris picked up on this and remarked, "Is something the matter?"

Her voice almost didn't register as he looked on with a partially vacant stare.

He then turned around and said, "Y-Yeah, I had just..."

He looked at her, the position of her cup in her hands, and realized, "Did...you not notice I was gone? Weird."

Before she got even more confused and worried he explained what just happened in exact detail. When he was done she was left crossing her arms under her chest and looking aside with a mildly perturbed expression.

Sarajin placed a timid gesture in her direction and remarked, "I really, really wish you could come with me. It's my first time doing this and, well, I want it to go right...For our planet's sake."

Auris furrowed her brows and remarked in a poignantly unfazed tone, "We'll find a way to make this work."

"Right, right!" Sarajin quickly thought of some ideas, "I could ask Carmine or Brine...no, they probably are busy. Ezekiel?"

Auris closed her eyes and remarked, "I don't think now would be the best time."

"Oh, really?" Sarajin pondered curiously, "Did you see that in the future?"

"I saw..." Auris blushed a bright shade of red, "A few things I wish I hadn't."

Sarajin grew a light brush and then stuttered off, "O-Ok, maybe dad could...no, no I can't risk his life like that."

Suddenly, the two's minds blended into one, and upon looking each other in the eyes they came to the same conclusion.

A few minutes later Sarajin was at the front of the palace speaking things over to a familiar face, "So...will you help?"

Gabriel stood there with his eyes wide awake and his gaze firmly locked somewhere else as he contemplated all this information he was forced to take in.

"I...am flattered that you trust me to such an extent, Sarajin," Gabriel rested his hand upon his sheath and muttered, "But my loyalty lies with the Ten Sages."

"It's not like I'm asking for you to fight for our side in the war. Just one mission to help another world out. That's it." Sarajin stood his ground with his pleasant, respectful tone playing a part in easing Gabriel's hesitation on the matter little by little.

"Hmmm," Gabriel closed his eyes and put on a slight smile, "Let me see if Lord Borealis will grant me permission. Wait right here."

Sarajin lit up with high expectations as Gabriel entered the palace.

The man communicated what was going on to Borealis in his Atelier, upon which that man also had to contemplate things over, but over a much less prolonged period of time.

"Other worlds?" Borealis uttered in mild surprise.

"That's right, Lord Borealis." Gabriel said, laid on his knees behind the man.

Borealis curled his bottom lip and slanted his brows. Facing the plethora of bookcases before him, he tucked his hands behind his back, wiggling his fingers in Gabriel's direction, "This could pose a problem. The knowledge he seeks on other worlds could be utilized against us. Or worse, he may drag back something even worse than that accursed Rot."

Gabriel wanted to speak up, but knew when best to still his tongue.

Borealis peered over his shoulder and muttered, "Gabriel...How confident are you that you could best that boy at this point?"

Gabriel's eyes widened briefly as he spoke up, "His experience grows with every day. Right now, it may be difficult for me, but I feel...confident I could win."

"Then I grant you permission to follow him to this other world. If it appears he may bring back anything that shall bring further damage to this world, then kill him."

Gabriel grimaced, "But, him and your daughter-"

Borealis' gaze was harsh, then turned tender, only to be pulled away at his behest with a forcibly cold remark of, "Follow my orders...Gabriel."

Gabriel steadily bowed and then went to return to Sarajin. In solitude, Borealis craned his head back up towards a ceiling painted by visions of the cosmos. In it, a beast wove through galaxies, and he uttered a sentence in worry, "'Beware the beast with many faces...'"

"...Could it be?"

Once Gabriel was out of the palace, he spoke to Sarajin following a sigh to relieve the weight on his shoulders, "He will allow it."

"Great!" Sarajin extended his hand out and said, "I'm glad to be working alongside you, Gabriel."

Gabriel briefly shook his hand and then asked "So. What do we do from here?"

"...Good question," Sarajin turned to look up at the sky and blindly shouted out, "Sir Yen Sid! I found someone!"

And the next thing the two of them knew they were teleported straight into that white void. Gabriel briefly lost his composure and started sputtering up in disbelief.

By the time he steadied himself it was only to be awed in the presence of the grand wizard floating ethereally in the air before him.

He found himself dropping onto one knee and putting his arm before his chest.

"Stand," The wizard uttered, "You are not in God's presence, guardian."

Gabriel stood up and uttered under his breath "Magnificent" as Sarajin stepped forward and asked the man, "So I just want to make sure: Our goal is to help the Six Heroes overcome the Black Beast and keep history from going wrong?"

"That is correct." Yen Sid nodded.

Gabriel belayed his reverence of the man's sagely light to inquire himself, "But how are we to approach this matter when we know nothing of their world?"

"There shall be time for the Six Heroes to explain the important details." Yen Sid replied.

"So they'll trust us?" Gabriel had his doubts, "Not to state the obvious, but my appearance is not exactly commonplace, I'd imagine."

"That is for you to earn," Yen Sid uttered, "At most, I shall relay a message to the observers of their world, who in turn, shall relay that message to one tied to the Six Heroes."

Sarajin clutched his fist and wondered aloud, "So it's ok to let them know we're from another world?"

"In some instances, yes, it shall be allowed. And I'll be sure to state as much henceforth."

Sarajin smiled and said, "Great! That'll make it a lot easier for all of us!"

Yen Sid closed his eyes and brushed his hand out to summon that orb once more. The black mass had grown to advance towards a lone island west of the largest land.

"The Black Beast is making its way to their final stronghold, a magical city unperceived by the naked eye. I shall bring you as close to it as I can. From there, your lives are in the hands of fate."

Sarajin shivered as he steeled his eyes and remarked, "I-I'm ready. Send us there!"

Yen Sid nodded, and with a mere gesture the orb rapidly expanded in his hand. He vanished from sight as the two found themselves swept through the stars so fast they streaked the blackness of space in pure white.

Then, they landed upon solid ground without any feeling from their incredible journey impacting them.

While Gabriel took a careful look at his surroundings, Sarajin's curiosity guided him out towards the edge of a grassy knoll.

There he stared down and gasped. Surrounded by lush, bright green trees was a massive city full of ivory stone houses and bustling roads that seemed to cover the vast majority of this island.

It ended near the sea, where a series of jagged stone crystals formed a wall to fend off the turbulent tides.

The skies were darkened by sunset and the air remained pure. It was so clean it almost made Sarajin faint from a single whiff.

His smile widened to it's full width and he hopped right off the edge to get closer to the city, sliding down the stony cliff face until he was at the forest near the bottom.

There he craned his head back and saw a castle with a complex and mythical design standing high above the rest of the city.

It was a lot to take in. So many individual and unique pieces, some of which could be grand works of art in his world in their own right.

Gabriel fell down behind him without making a sound and then walked up beside him. Sarajin then wondered aloud before he could say a word, "This place is beautiful...Why would anything want to ruin it?"

Gabriel eyed him with growing interest as he settled himself down, placed a hand on his chest, and then clutched it into a fist to declare, "We're going to save this world, Gabriel. I know it."

The samurai nodded and then calmly brushed his pointer finger towards the horizon, "I sensed a gathering of great power at the bottom of that castle. Perhaps those are the Six Heroes we seek?"

Sarajin nodded back and then took off from the ground. He then paused, turned around, and saw Gabriel staring up at him with a partially clueless expression.

Sarajin then went back down and chuckled quietly to himself, "Right, you can't fly. Stupid..."

He then offered to carry the samurai on his back all the way over to the castle at the peak of the city.

From up high they could see many movements through the roads, as people secured themselves in their houses with a bunch of cloaked figures enforcing seals on the doors through magic.

"They're preparing defensive measures to protect the people." Gabriel noted.

"Hmmm..." Sarajin's humming got the samurai's attention.

"Something the matter?"

"I wonder what the Black Beast looks like?" Sarajin said with marginal concern, "It must be pretty big if it's a threat to this whole island."

Gabriel patted him on the shoulder and remarked, "The size of a beast should never be of concern."

Sarajin nodded slowly, "Anything can be toppled if you know its weak point."

"...But what if something doesn't have a weak point?" Sarajin found himself thinking back to the last encounter he had on another world.

"Everything has one," Gabriel noted humbly, "Even me."

"You? I can't imagine that." Sarajin said sincerely, making the man smile softly.

"Well, either way. Focus is the key. Any warrior can cut down another. It takes a truly skilled one...to deduce a weakness amidst the sounds of clashing steel."

As Sarajin took these words to heart he began their descent towards what appeared to be the front entrance to the castle. More figures in capes and cloaks were mobilizing in preparation of the Black Beast, using runes at their feet to teleport atop the many buildings in the city down below, or apply a healing touch to those who were crawling on the ground already wounded, though there appeared to be very, very few who could do this.

The setting sun painted an ominous light over the mystical landscape, one that emphasized the glowing, oozing scars on the people's bodies.

The figures were so tied up in their own affairs that the sight of two strangers did little to slow them down.

Sarajin walked around and tried to take in all this pain and panic without losing his confidence.

When Gabriel inches in closer his voice startled him, "I've never felt so much magic in one location."

After his heart tried to leap out, Sarajin placed a hand on his chest and breathed deep, "Y-Yeah. Lord Borealis uses this kind of power in his Alchemy, right?"

"Lady Lilith does to a similar extent, albeit with a more light-focused affinity," Gabriel panned his gaze around slowly before muttering aloud, "But none of these folk strike me as hero material."

"We can't tell right away." Sarajin pointed out.

Gabriel smiled his way and remarked, "I suppose you're right. Let us ask around. Perhaps one of these magic users could lead the way."

The two thus split up and tried approaching the mages for leads on the Six Heroes. But either they were too busy or too exhausted to speak up.

Time was being wasted, as there was no doubt the Black Beast was approaching fast.

Eventually, Sarajin's persistence led him towards an ordinary looking girl with auburn hair tied in a ponytail, who was using healing magic to push a dark substance out of a mage's wound.

"It's ok," She spoke in a chipper, comforting tone, "You'll be better soon."

She wore a plain white shirt with bits of gold and red tossed in, along with a short black and yellow skirt with a cape with similar colors tied to her shoulder via a red ribbon.

Behind her stood a tall purple statue with inhuman femininity and lanky arms with sharp claws at the ends.

As the girl finished healing the magic left her hands and the man was able to stand as if he was good as new.

"T-Thank you!" The man gasped with life.

The smile the girl gave was like the sun in the sky, "Please get inside! My sister and I will handle things from here!"

And her demands were listened to, for her voice carried a gentleness that could not be despised.

As the man scurried along towards the castle, Sarajin cautiously approached the girl and gestured his hand out, feeling a little awkward to be in her presence, "E-Excuse me."

"Hmmm?" The girl lit up and paid him her full attention.

Sarajin then asked, "I'm looking for the Six Heroes. Do you know where they are?"

The girl then popped her mouth open and twirled a finger around beside it before answering in a puzzled, but overall merry tone, "You're looking for my sister and her allies? They're busy getting ready to fight the Black Beast. You should probably get somewhere safe yourself!"

"Actually, I'm also here to-" Midway through Sarajin froze and felt cold aggression beaming out of the statue's empty eyes.

The next thing he knew the statue came to life and lunged it's claws out at him, using its arms to shield the girl.

Sarajin pulled away and was ready to go for his sword when the statue did not attack further. The girl it protected proceeded to look surprised as it said, "Ni-Nirvana!"

"CELICA!" A woman close-by.

Before Sarajin knew it his vision was engulfed by a flurry of flames in front of him as the woman teleported into view.

She was a few years older than the girl with vibrant pink hair whose bangs were contoured to cover her left eye. She wore a dark purple pointed witch's hat and cape that was attached to a more elite looking version of the girl's outfit, complete with buttons on the torso and stockings that were cut open at the inner thigh.

She was NOT a presence to be taken lightly, as the ire in her glare at this moment delivered her message clear enough: "Make a wrong move, and die."

She scowled and brandished her right hand out towards Sarajin, "Scoundrel...! The world may end today and yet you'd rather spent your last moments preying on my sister?!"

Sarajin threw his hands up and hastily shouted, "I-I think there's been a huge misunderstanding! I'm just here to help!"

"A likely story!" The woman shouted, igniting a golden fireball in her hand.

The girl, Ceclia, quickly wrapped her hands around the woman's waist, "Sis, please, he didn't do anything! I promise!"

A few seconds later Gabriel approached this ruckus with his hand halfway towards his hilt and a piercing remark towards the pink-haired woman, "We're not your enemies, stay your hand, witch!"

At the sight of the man's green skin the woman lost all concentration of her fireball and blurted out, "W-What are you...?"

Sarajin bravely took a few steps forward and put himself inches from her hand as he asked his question politely, "Are you one of the Six Heroes?"

The woman turned to him with a subtle wide-eyed change in expression that answered the question for him. Sarajin then kept his hands raised, took a deep breath, and remarked, "My name is Sarajin Stratos. My friend Gabriel and I have come to help you stop the Black Beast."

The woman widened her eyes furiously and remarked, "A decent excuse, but I'm not a fool. Nirvana is a guardian unit who can react to those who would cause harm to its master."

Celica remarked, "But sis, I don't sense any aggression from this person. He seems like a nice-"

The woman closed her eyes and groaned, "Celica please, I really don't have time to waste on another argument...!"

She was prepared to create another fireball when another voice called out, "Konoe, it's alright."

They had a rough tone to them with an age that suggested a wise and capable warrior...The last thing either Sarajin or Gabriel expected was for it to have come out of a feline-like figure standing on two legs.

They were elevated in stature by a set of wild black, red and orange samurai armor topped with crimson helm with pointed yellow plates. On his back were two swords in a crossed sheath.

He had one eye covered in an eyepatch and the other was red. He had white fur and two tails with gray fur.

"These are the two Rachel told us about. They're from another world. Reckon that's why Nirvana sprung on him."

Konoe gazed back in Sarajin's general direction and though the fire faded in her hand, her gaze did him no such favors, "This is not time for foolishness. If you're here to help, then don't make moves on my sister again."

"I wasn't..." Sarajin groaned and rubbed the back of his head in silence.

Konoe slipped out of her sister's grasp and turned around to look at her, her gaze giving up an air of kindness and worry, "And Celica, did I not warn you to preserve your magic?"

"The people needed my help sis, I wasn't going to-"

Konoe bit a fingernail through her glove and remarked, "I know. I understand. But there's no guarantee I may make it through this alive, and..."

What she said next was whispered between them both. At best, Sarajin could tell there was a truly selfless kindness in the woman's actions.

"So this is a 'hero'..." Sarajin's smile lasted until the woman stood and made her over to the feline.

There, she took up a more affectionate tone, "Those blades look wonderful on you, Mitsuyoshi."

The feline reached for their hilts with his winding tails and chuckled, "Only cause of yer efforts, Konoe."

He then closed his eye and put on a somewhat dour expression, "This is our last shot, y'know."

"I know," Konoe whispered, her usual confidence strangled in a mire of doubt, "We will make it through this. I swear on my life."

Mitsuyoshi smiled and chuckled, "Then I'll swear on that vow too. Now, let's gather the others. It's almost time. And I reckon the two newcomers need a lil' catchin' up on our plan."

Konoe then turned sideways and struck a pose with her leg stretched out, gleaming at Sarajin across her shoulder, "Do not march out on your own, idiot. We'll be meeting the Black Beast at the shore together."

She then disappeared into fire with a snap of her fingers, leaving Mitsuyoshi behind to approach Sarajin and Gabriel on her behalf.

"She's a real spitfire I'll give ya that, but her heart's in the right place, I can assure ya."

Sarajin took a bow of the head and remarked, "I-It's an honor to meet you, Sir Mitsuyoshi."

"Relax, kid, I ain't gonna bite," The feline chuckled, "And call me Jubei."

He then locked his one eye upon Gabriel, the two matching looks of equal confusion that slowly grew upon a closer examination of each other's bodies.

"Nice sheath," Jubei remarked, "It's seen many battles."

"As have you, feline warrior." Gabriel said, making a subtle gesture towards his right eye.

Jubei smiled in a laid-back manner and remarked, "We all got our scars to bear, eh? Good to have ya with us."

"If you don't mind me asking, Jubei," Sarajin said, "The Black Beast...What is it exactly?"

"I can give ya the basic rundown, but Konoe'd do a better job explaining it all," Jubei closed his eye and explained, "The beast's a giant multi-headed monster born from a high concentration of Seithr. It's sole purpose seems to be to wipe out all life on the planet."

"It appeared outta nowhere ten years ago and has been slowly causing havoc to the world. All our efforts so far to beat it have only slowed it down."

Gabriel put a hand on his chin and remarked, "So the beast has a powerful hide."

"Bordering on invincible," Jubei said all too calmly, "Only magic and seithr based weapons can deal any lasting harm to it."

"Like what Konoe was using?" Sarajin inquired.

"Yep, and the swords on my back? They were forged out of high concentrations of seithr along with seven other objects, Nirvana there included."

Sarajin looked over to Celica and the statue still standing guard and gestured their way while looking at Jubei, "Is Celica another of the Six Heroes?"

"Nah, but that ain't mean she doesn't have an important role to play. Though I'm gonna have to keep that part close to my chest until the others arrive." Jubei said with a somewhat apologetic tone.

"Hmmm." Gabriel rubbed his chin and hummed for a while. At the same time, Sarajin reflected on what little magic he saw coming from Konoe and drew his katana, igniting it with fire.

"So I should be able to harm the Black Beast with my elements then?"

"Hrrrm, I don't see why not." Jubei said with partial confidence.

Gabriel then pivoted towards Sarajin to remark, "My aura should have a great effect on the beast too. I'll lend a bit out to the other warriors to give them the extra aid we need."

Sarajin smiled and sheathed his blade, "Sounds like we're just what's needed to get history back on track!"

"Back on track?" Jubei sputtered up in a somewhat curious tone.

Sarajin bit his teeth down and as a brief panic set in, Gabriel took the lead and asked in a calm tone, "Jubei, have you noticed anything...peculiar, happening with the Black Beast?"

"Hrrmm, now that ya mention it, the color of the beast's been changing over time from red to blue. Our expert on the Black Beast ain't had a clue why, so he claims..."

Gabriel's brows sank and he went deadly silent.

Sarajin then took over the conversation, feeling he couldn't hold back a lie at this juncture, "Whatever change has happened to the Black Beast...It'll cause you to lose the battle here."

Jubei's eye perked open and froze there, with Sarajin clutching his fist against his chest and vowing with determination, "But I'm not going to let that happen, and neither should you! This world is beautiful, and you got to fight to keep that beauty alive!"

For a brief moment Jubei's smile flashed his fangs, and with a smirk he went "Heh" before whispering, "Don'tcha worry kid, I ain't about to let the people who gave their lives for this opportunity down."

The feline then split off to have a lone chat with Celica.

Gabriel turned around and looked out towards the sea with Sarajin following after.

"Do you sense something wrong?" He whispered.

Gabriel put a shaky hand atop his sheath and glared out, looking a little tired, "I wish I could explain this feeling in greater detail, Sarajin."

"But if I'm right..." Gabriel tried to smile through his unease, "Then I pray that the mistress of fate gasps her last breath laughing at my misery."

The lively city of magic was dead with silence as the sunset baked the crystals in a warm orange hue.

It was unknown what form or manner the Black Beast would emerge, only the fear that it would kept Sarajin, Gabriel and Jubei on alert towards the sea.

It was a few minutes' wait, perhaps longer than it needed to be, but the three finally heard a set of footsteps approaching down the castle stairs.

Konoe returned with four figures walking with her.

One was a tall, rugged man with a sharp-dressed appearance and middle-aged gray hair. He was fully clothed and seemed to be a polite man, but as he tugged on his gloves his bone structure pressed against it and cracked, suggesting there was experience carved into that frame.

The second was a woman with yellow hair curled down to her shoulders, where they turned pink around the ribbons that tied them. She wore clothes similar to Konoe but more modest in taste, with a lot of white in her cloak, and a bell attached to her shoulder cloth. She carried around a giant nail on her back with a red ribbon around it, and in her hand was a golden staff bent into a heart near the top with a glass red jewel in the center. She was hardly fighting material at a first glance, but she stood among the others without fear.

The third was a white-clad man who cast the greatest presence with every step. His body exuded winter's chill and his face was shrouded by a sharp mask and a mane of silver-gray hair extending out his back down his feet. He carried a sheath on his back as tall as he, with a sword even bigger and sharper in length inside of it. He seemed more akin to a demon than a warrior...

But it was a hard judgment call to make, when the fourth warrior exuded the most menacing style of them all.

With a yellow hooded coat draping over most of his body, this man strutted forward with his hands lazily tucked into his pockets save for the thumbs. Only one eye poked out from the shadow of his hood and it was yellow with a pupil cut like a snake's. He smiled, but it seemed to widen with fangs when pointed at Sarajin in particular...

"So these are the six who make history," Gabriel whispered, flirting with emotions of awe and respect, "Remarkable."

However, as his gaze hovered towards the snake-eyed man, he uttered in a cold, contemptible tone, "Except..."

The snake-eyed man wasted little time displaying his wonderful personality to the newcomers, "So you're our back-up...Some kid wearing his mama's poncho and the goddamn jolly green giant with a sword."

Konoe glared at him from across her shoulder and he shrugged, making his way over to the stretched out wooden seat and plopping down with his arms and legs spread casually.

The man was unnerving at the surface. Something worse lay deeper within, and it was glaring at Sarajin with a piercing, reddish smile.

Sarajin felt a cold drop of sweat trickle down his face and wanted to have nothing else to do with him as best he could.

He instead focused on the remaining Six Heroes and greeted them with a respectful bow, "I-It's an honor to meet you all. My name is Sarajin Stratos. I hope we can work together to save the world."

The snake-eyed man snickered, "Kiss-ass."

"Terumi!" Konoe lashed out with a snap of her fingers, causing the man to choke for a second and grab the collar of his shirt.

"Khh, bitch..." He grumbled a few other words under his breath.

The lady in the white cloak got the closest to Sarajin and Gabriel and gave them a pleasant smile, "I am Trinity Glassfille, Konoe's friend. Thank you...for aiding us in our time of need."

The rugged man then laid his arm before his chest and appeared a little tense, judging by the snarl of his teeth, "Our final battle approaches. This is our last chance to go over our plan."

"Yer right, Valkenhayn," Jubei remarked, "Our new allies have a few things to impart as well."

Everyone but Teurmi remained standing but gathered in a circle, the white-armored warrior excepted, who kept his distance and leaned against the pole of steel casting light at the top with his arms crossed.

Konoe led this final discussion and her voice commanded respect among every warrior here, with Sarajin getting similar vibes from her that he did with Auris.

"The Black Beast was presumed invincible for the longest time. But thanks to our efforts over this last month, I was able to devise a series of weapons capable of utilizing Seithr against it." It started off as an explanation more for Sarajin and Gabriel's sake, but also served as a reminder to her comrades.

She then drew a flame into her hand and remarked, "My magic can also faze the beast."

She then cocked a tiny scowl at Sarajin and wondered, "Are your weapons able to do the same?"

Sarajin drew his sword and commented, "Not by itself, but..."

He put flames, lightning, ice, and wind around the blade in quick succession, "I think this is similar enough to your magic that it should work."

Konoe smiled, "Well, not bad."

Gabriel gestured his hand up from his chest and remarked, "But can a beast of this nature be killed?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Valkenhayn spoke up, "The beast exists outside of reason, much like myself, and thus the concept of 'death' is not applicable to it."

"But it has a weakness," Sarajin pointed out, begging for a little certainty in their confidence, "Everything has one."

"Right," Jubei commented, "The beast only exists because of its heart holding it together. Kill the heart, and the beast'll crumble."

"But that is easier said than done," Konoe pulled the rim of her hat over her eyes and let out a deep sigh, "That monster's Seithr concentration is deep enough to suffocate anyone who gets close to it. However, my sister..."

She turned towards her with a solemn look in her eye, "She was born with the rare gift to nullify it."

"So we're going to toss her into the beast?! That's crazy!" Sarajin shouted.

Trinity then whispered, "It's risky, we know. But there's a reason we'll believe it works."

Jubei closed his eye and murmured, "A brave warrior by the name of Bloodedge has been inside the monster, fighting it's heart for four years straight. If we get Celica inside to meet up with 'em, he'll be able to do more damage to the heart."

"Amazing..." Gabriel remarked.

Konoe then continued, "That alone will sever the beast's intelligence and make it possible to lure it into a trap set by the Ten Sages-"

"Beg pardon?" Gabriel blurted out to himself.

"-where they will transport the monster to a cavern filled with seithr-neutralizing crystals close by. From there, it will no longer be able to regenerate from the damage we deal to it."

"But at that point we'll need to kill the body and heart at the same time or it won't stay down." Jubei commented.

Sarajin nodded along and then swung his fist out, "So get Celica inside of the Black Beast, lure it into a magic trap, then take out the body and heart at the same time. Alright, I'll do everything I can to make that happen!"

"Eh hee hee hee!" Terumi burst into laughter and slapped his knees in a rhythm.

Then he slithered up from his seat like he lacked a spine and started trotting straight towards Sarajin, "You? Do anything? Puh-lease!"

"You know what you are, you disgusting, smiling upbeat little shit...?" He said in a deep, malicious whisper, prolonging the bite of his words until he was up close and personal, where he bent down, twisted his head, and forced the glow of his eyes to burn into Sarajin's soul.

"You're the first corpse," Terumi smiled wide, "The no-name, overconfident loser that takes the fall at the first signs of a struggle in every tale."

As Sarajin squirmed, the snake licked up his swelling fear and then slipped a knife out from his pocket, twirling it around in the air as he walked around him.

Sarajin's gaze was paralyzed to look his way as he craned his head back, exposing tufts of green hair under his hood, "You'll die here, writhing in agony as the beast devours you whole."

His eye widened and with a sinister whisper he bore his voice deep into Sarajin's spirit until it felt cold, "You don't owe this shitty world anything. So just run. Run run run your little chicken-shit feet all the way back home in your coop where you belong."

Gabriel was about ready to step in when Sarajin feverishly shook his head at him and then turned around, forcing himself to stare the serpentine devil in the eyes without flinching.

"I don't know much about this world. Or it's people, or the struggles you suffered to get to this point," Sarajin gestured his hand out and made it clear that this was something everyone needed to hear, "But my world has suffered war and famine for a long time. When I see how beautiful this world is...It makes me want to fight even harder to help you protect it."

"So if I die, fine. I'll just have to deal with that," His eyes narrowed, and he firmly stated, "But I'm not going to run away anymore."

Terumi snarled, trembling at his knees. With his grin widening like the red specter, he took his knife and attempted to jab it straight up into Sarajin's gut.

A long white blade got in his way, pointed by the armor-clad man standing sideways beside them. Then Konoe snapped her fingers, and with great pain Terumi seemed to be forced to shove his knife back into his pocket.

The armored man then stood there, awing Sarajin with his pristine gaze and unflinching stature, as he spoke in a deep reverb, "He has chosen this fight. That is more than can be said for you, Yuuki Terumi."

"Grrr..." Terumi tucked his hands into his pockets and laughed, "Lighten up, Hakumen. I'm just testing the new flesh."

He then strolled off with his chilling laugh, while Hakumen sheathed his blade and began to walk away himself.

"Thank you." Sarajin whispered out.

The warrior paused, then continued on his way.

The group then reorganized themselves back to their original positions, where Konoe laid her arms under her chest and with a heavy sigh remarked, "Any final questions?"

"Just one," Sarajin spoke up, "Where...did the Black Beast come from anyways?"

As though summoned by this particular utterance of its name, the whole island began to quake intensely.

Konoe then bit her teeth and clutched the rim of her hat, while the others sprung to attention.

"It's here!" Jubei shouted.

The painted sky was stained with a discordant black as the waters boiled with a vile, pus-like ooze. Like blood from a wound, a titanic creature began to seep from the cracks of the planet and shove the water up against the island.

This emergence alone was the first assault, repelled by the mages at the edge of the city using burning magic.

The Six Heroes were on the move with lightning fast reflexes and teleportation in the case of Trinity, Nine and Celica.

Gabriel grabbed hold of his blade and followed the Six Heroes pace, while Sarajin was slower to catch up.

He found a shadow cast on him and looked up atop a crystal spire, where he saw a young lady with blonde pigtails, black dress and crimson eyes observing him in silence.

He locked eyes with her for a few seconds before another tremor forced him to make haste.

Everyone assembled on the crystal rocks jutting out of the side of the island right as the tide waned and the beast began to burst free from the sea.

A towering, twisted amalgamation of a dozen serpentine bodies advanced upon them. Each one was painted deep black and had glowing deep blue outlines highlighting it's all-consuming eyes and rows of sharp fangs that could eat hundreds of humans in a single bite.

There was no humanity to appeal to. No cries of agony of one waiting to be saved. The beast's heads wailed for the destruction of everything, and marched onward without an end in sight.

It's presence invoked the name of the one whom plagued Sarajin's world...Devil.

And standing before it, where all the others were resolute, they remained ignorant to his grip shaking on the hold of his blade.

Coming face-to-face with this harbinger of many deaths brought to light the losses he had suffered these past months.

He was stronger than his youthful days, but even still, every encounter with the violent and uncaring has only led to him narrowly surviving.

But this was not a battle that could be survived. It had to be won, lest this whole beautiful world be torn apart by this unholy abomination.

These Six Heroes had united for the sake of this common goal, and behind them, the last of humanity were standing alongside them.

Basking in the light of their courage, Sarajin felt his grip tightening, even as the Black Beast's gaping maws snarled ever closer.

"No more defeats. I'm sick of not being able to make a big enough difference in the world!" He then steeled his eyes with fire and twisted his grip on the blade, showing the Black Beast the fire of his sword as the others drew their weapons, hands, blades and magic alike to make one final stand.

"We're going to win this!" Sarajin shouted a battle cry from the depths of his heart, "We will save this world!"

Next Time: The Strength of a Hero