The travel agency on the Mii-hen Highroad was full of people trying to help the trapped residents of Luca. Several people were off to one side sharpening axes, one very large Ronso was practicing moves with his spear, and a large group of people were simply hammering nails through pieces of wood to make clubs in their hopes to help. The lady behind the counter was almost as scared by what was happening in Luca as she was by all these people with weaponry surrounding her. She looked out the window and saw one of the transports coming towards the travel agency. She went out to greet it and was met by Rin, who jumped off the side.
"Rin, thank the Al Bhed you're back, I …" she never got a chance to finish her statement as Rin shushed her and led his companions inside.
They went into his office and shut the door. "In case you have not noticed, a large number of people out there want to help liberate Luca. However, they will not be able to do it on their own. They need the help of the High Summoner and her companions," he said.
Everyone was silent for a second. "It's him, isn't it?" asked Tidus. "Yojimbo?"
"One of them," replied Stree. He took the Hasamune off his back, then turned and walked out the door.
"Hey. Where you going?"
Stree ignored Wakka and walked right out into the open plains.
He ignored all of the people on the highroad and walked off in the direction of Luca.
"Quick everyone. Come on!" shouted Tidus, running after Stree. Everyone looked for a second, then followed eagerly.
"I don't need help, you know," said Stree as Tidus followed him, Kam and everyone else trailing slightly further behind.
Tidus laughed. "Sure you don't. How many times have you collapsed now?"
Stree scowled, but continued walking. Kam walked up behind him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"We don't have time for encouraging talks, or anything like that. The people in Luca are going to die if we don't do something quickly."
"Wow. When did you become such a hero?" she asked, shocked at his newfound compassion for others.
"Since I found out that I'm the only hope mankind has. Not much point being a savior if there's no one to save."
The group turned a corner onto the final straight of the highroad. They walked another couple of meters, then stopped dead, staring at the monstrous fiend waiting at the gates to Luca. Stree stopped as well, staring on in shock at how huge the Behemoth was. He had heard tales of giant Behemoths, had even fought one once, but they all paled in comparison to this monstrosity. Cerberus growled softly as they noticed him.
"Something wrong?" asked Stree when he noticed their reaction.
"This one has a long feud with my clan," replied Cerebus.
"You have a clan?" asked Kam. "How many three-headed dogs are there?"
Cerebal growled at her. "The fusing of three Behemoths is a rare thing, and it is an honor for us all."
Cerebur continued. "We would greatly appreciate it if you didn't make light of such a thing."
"Sorry," said Kam, "I didn't know."
"So why does he have such a problem?" asked Stree, pointing to the hulking Behemoth.
"He was passed over as one of those to fuse with us, and he took great offense," explained Cerebus. "He killed many of us that day, and none of us had or has the strength necessary to defeat him."
"Mm hm," said Stree, still staring at the monster. "Does he have a name?"
"Gargant. Stree Kry'tal, you do not have the strength necessary either, I believe," said Cerebus softly.
"Want to put money on that?" asked Stree with a small smile on his face.
"Stree, don't. You don't have to prove yourself."
"I'll put money on it," said Tidus with a grin. "I'll put two thousand gil that you do beat him, but not in five minutes."
"Five minutes to beat something that's never been beaten before? You're on," replied Stree, his smile growing.
He started walking, ignoring the gasps emanating from the rest of the crowd. He walked right up to the huge Behemoth, who stood there laughing.
"One human. This is who they send against me?" he asked through his laughs. "I was promised more blood than you, human. Bring me more."
"Gargant, I'm all you can handle." He turned around. "Time starts now!" he shouted at Tidus, then ducked as Gargant took a huge swipe at him. Stree ducked, drew the Hasamune, and cut it straight through Gargant's left leg. Gargant howled, and dropped to one knee. Stree jumped, and sliced through Gargant's right shoulder. The beast howled, and bent over further, his let arm scraping the ground in pain. Stree landed, then jumped again, right onto Gargant's back. He drew his knife, and stabbed it straight into the back of Gargant's head, causing bolts of electricity to shoot out of the beast's mouth as he screamed in pain. Stree pulled the knife out, grabbed the wound, and stared pulling, ripping the hole in Gargant's head even further apart. Gargant was in so much agony, he didn't even notice as Stree created a huge fireball and slammed it straight into the gaping hole. Gargant's eyes glowed for a second, then a pillar of flames shot out, burning straight through the ground as the gigantic Behemoth dropped to the ground, exploding into Pyreflies.
"Time?" he shouted, in the direction of the shocked group.
"Thirty two seconds!" replied Tidus as he ran up to Stree. "On another note, I'm glad I no longer have to fight you."
"Only for now. We still have to work out our issues," replied Stree as Kam and Cerberus ran up.
"I am glad I was mistaken of your strength, Stree Kry'tal," said Cerebus, bowing his head.
"Nice one," said Paine, running up to him. "Have to say, I was a little worried for the first part."
"Only the first part? I think I'm insulted," said Stree softly. Paine smiled, then walked over to Rikku.
"You ready to go?" he asked Kam. When she nodded, Stree turned to the heavy wooden gate that was blocking the entrance to Luca.
"We can go in as soon as we take this wall down," remarked Tidus.
"I can make a goody-pack in a couple of minutes that should take care of it," said Rikku happily.
"My way's quicker," said Stree, stepping in front of the door. "Stand back."
He closed his eyes and focused; an instant later his hands were immersed in flames that he directed towards the gate. Focusing harder than he had before, he willed the flames on his hand to move and wait by the gate, and quickly stepped back. When he was with the rest of the group, he squeezed his hand closed. The fireball exploded, shooting pieces of fire and wood everywhere, and causing howls and screams from inside.
"Tidus, lead the charge," said Stree. "They like you, they know you, they'll follow you," he quickly said upon seeing the look of shock on the blonde's face. Shrugging, Tidus turned to face the rest of the crowd.
"They took our town! Let's get it back! Move!" he shouted at the top of his voice, then bolted into Luca. He got a few meters, and realized that no one was following him. "Uhh, what's wrong?" he asked. But they wee all looking at Stree.
"He he. Looks like you were wrong, brother," said Kam quietly as they both noticed the looks. "They want to follow you."
"I was afraid of that," said Stree, though he was smiling at Tidus all on his own twenty meters away. "What do I say?"
"What's right," she replied.
Stree stood up slowly and took a good look at the crowd around him.
"When we go in there, a lot of us are going to get hurt. Some of us might even die. I pray that that won't happen, but if it does, I'm willing to pay the price to ensure freedom and life for everyone else. That town belongs to you people! Not the Fiends! We're going to take it back, and if they want to keep it, they'll have to make sure they take down every last one of us!"
He turned and pointed at the gate to Luca with the Hasamune.
"Now let's take them out!" he cried at the top of his voice. The people surrounding his roared in approval, and Stree led the charge through the entrance.
The battle for Luca had begun.