Chapter 21: Escape from Pleroma.
Just as Margulis un-sheathes his sword, Pelligri runs into the area coming up beside Albedo and Liquid.
Pelligri: Sir!
Margulis: I'm busy. What is it?
He says, without looking away from Jin. They were both ready to fight. They had their swords drawn out and had them aimed at each other.
Pelligri: U-DO has been captured, but they still need Albedo to take the Zohar to the Eldrige.
Jr: U-DO…!
Snake: The Eldrige…
He turns to his comrades.
Snake: We gotta get to Old Miltia and try to take the Zohar first. If we can't, we might have to go to this so-called 'Eldrige'.
Margulis: You're not going anywhere. Albedo, go.
Albedo: Damn, I'm gonna miss the rest of the party. And I was so looking forward to this fight. But who knows, maybe I'll have a chance to see a rematch.
Margulis: There won't be a rematch. I'm ending this now.
Jin: Don't be so confident. I am a whole different game than from back then.
Margulis: And so am I.
Albedo: Such a pity to miss it. Oh well.
Liquid: Sucks for you. Heh.
Albedo: Duty calls. Ha ha haa!
He says, as he begins walking back towards the base, where his Simeon is stationed. Pelligri goes back in as well.
Margulis: Now, without any further interruptions.
Jin and Margulis brace themselves. They stare deeply into each other's eyes, a type of ritual that apparently they developed between each other since long ago. It was a look of complete concentration. Everyone was being kept in suspense. Snake wanted to leave and go after the Zohar, but he knew they couldn't simply leave Jin behind, and this fight was inevitable.
Margulis: Arghh!
Margulis thrusts his sword forward at Jin's head. Jin dodges to his right, the blade scrapping right beside his left ear. Margulis quickly retracts his blade and does an upward slash. Jin steps back and quickly does a side slash at Margulis' neck. He ducks under it and gets back up, quickly brings his sword down on Jin with a massive downward motion. Jin blocks it with his blade and pushes him back. Jin quickly moves to him and does a forward thrust-slash attack, his blade moving rightward. Margulis shifts to his right, leaving a remnant of himself that is cut in half by Jin's blade. Margulis grabs Jin by the neck with his left hand before Jin could pull back from his attack. He lifts him up, but Jin kicks him in the face, making Margulis drop him. Jin drops to the floor and lands on his feet. Margulis is pushed back a few steps.
Margulis: Not bad, for someone who has lost the 'light'.
Jin: I have lost nothing. You're the one who has lost his sanity!
Margulis: It isn't too late. You can still join me. We can embrace the 'light'. The 'light' that will lead us to Pleroma!
Jr: Aren't we already in Pleroma?
He asks, as he scratches his head.
Margulis: Pleroma is where we, the ones guided by the 'light', will reach happiness. The place where we rightfully belong.
Jin: You are only lead by darkness. Because of you, countless lives have been lost!
Margulis: Countless worthless lives. They had lost their 'light'. Their entire purpose for existence. Their meaningless deaths are of no real loss.
Jin: Who are you do decide!
Margulis: It is not I who decides. It is the will of God!
Margulis lunges at Jin with a series of furious slashes, each leaving a trail of fire. Jin blocks each attack with his blade, but he is being pushed back. Margulis then brings down his sword on Jin, and again Jin blocks it. This time Margulis keeps pushing down, trying to get through. Margulis' sword was inching near Jin's face. There are sparks and flames coming out from where their sword meet.
Jin: Ahh! Arghh!
Margulis: Urrrhh!
Jin gathers up all of his strength and pushes Margulis away. Margulis falls to the ground, but jumps up while rapidly spinning in mid-air. He appeared to be flying. He spins sideways up to Jin and strikes him with his sword. Jin blocks it, but is knocked down to the floor. Margulis quickly gets up and goes up to Jin, who was a bit dazed.
Margulis: My turn!
Just as Jin begins to get up, Margulis does a downward slash at Jin. He cannot block it and it strikes him in the face.
Shion: Jin!
A splash of blood hits the ground in front of him.
Jin: Arrrghh!
He stands up and staggers backwards, holding his left hand up to his face where he had been cut.
Jin: Damn you!
Margulis: Now I've paid you back for that day.
Margulis didn't move forward to attack Jin. Instead, he holsters his sword.
Margulis: I've changed my mind. We will finish this later. I will then show you all the extent of my power.
He turns his back to him and begins walking back towards his base.
Jin: Don't turn your back to me!
Blood continued running down his face and the arm with which he was trying to stop the bleeding.
Margulis: I'll see you in the Eldrige.
He says as he walks away and into the base.
Jin: Arrgh!
He was angry, but there was nothing he could do at the moment.
Liquid: I'll see you there too, Snake.
He turns around and follows into the base behind Margulis.
Virgil, who had remained observant all this time, begins walking up to the team. Shion was helping Jin stop the bleeding now, which had begun slowing down. The injury wasn't too serious and did not damage his eye. They see Virgil approach them and they brace themselves.
Virgil: Don't get too excited.
He throws a small devise at them, and Snake catches it.
Snake: What is this?
Ziggy: It's a connection gear.
Virgil: Inside you will find the coordinates to the Eldrige. We hope to see you there.
Shion: Why! Why are you giving us this information?
Virgil: Your destiny awaits.
He says, as he turns around and starts walking back towards the base. The team turns around and head towards the Murian. Shion gives Jin first aid inside as they begin to depart.
MOMO: Destination?
Snake: I think we should try to catch up to Albedo. Do you guys agree?
They all nod.
MOMO: To Old Miltia it is.
