CHAPTER LXXI
JENOVA'S WITNESS
"What do you mean, 'another rung'? We've beaten everyone that entered!" Aerith yelled, exasperation shaking her voice.
"True, you have bested everyone else in the competition…but the previous champion still remains…" he lied, trying to rationalize his use for 'insurance'. "This is a one-on-one match," he said, snapping his fingers. Aerith blinked out of the dome in a flash of light, reappearing outside by the bleachers.
Cloud picked up the other half of his Buster sword, clipping it into place with the one in his hand. Setzer started to lower himself back into the floor as the top of the dome opened like a hatch - the arena filled with a blinding white light as a sleek, black shadow descended through the hole in the dome.
"Win this one, and you'll claim your prize…5,000 munny and the precious Boulder Bear. Good luck!" he said smirking, as the hatch above him shut.
The figure was impressive – silhouetted against the white spotlight, it seemed that his body absorbed the light around him…his body remained a dark shadow, eclipsing the light, until he touched down softly on the ground. As the light subsided, the audience caught their first glimpse of the last man that stood in Cloud's way.
Long, platinum hair caressed his shoulders, reaching down to his back. His pale complexion was made even more ghostly by the amount of black clothing he wore - perhaps the most interesting feature of the man was his singular, demonic wing. It extended and showed its dark feathers proudly against the remnants of the white spotlight as the man drew his weapon – a long, silver sword, easily twice as long as Cloud's, but much thinner.
The audience fell deathly silent. Even the announcer was at a loss for words as he said, "The m…match for Underground Grand Showdown Champion begins…Cloud versus…the One-Winged Angel!"
Cloud furrowed his brow as he stared at the so-called angel. He had been right all along – Sephiroth was alive and well. Holding his Buster Sword up to the impressive looking Masamune which Sephiroth wielded, Cloud said nothing as he attacked.
The swords clashed fantastically – a flurry of silver and black shot around the inside of the dome. Sephiroth swung mightily, knocking Cloud backwards. Cloud slid on his knees, steadying himself with his arm, bounding back at Sephiroth. He connected – Sephiroth was juggled upward, barely showing any sign of discomfort. As Cloud prepared to slash his torso, a flash of darkness engulfed Sephiroth. He teleported behind Cloud, swinging his Masamune overhead – pummeling Cloud into the ground below.
In the stands, Mickey and Aerith had to restrain themselves from jumping into the fray and finding some way into the dome. Cloud was at a major disadvantage…he had just fought through some of the toughest matches in the Showdown, and now Sephiroth? Even at his best, Cloud was evenly matched with Sephiroth…
Across the arena, a small group of audience members stood up, watching the battle intently.
"What a bogus rule! Nobody knew about that guy!" Seifer shouted.
"Yeah! Boo! Boooooo!" screamed Hayner, making a rude gesture toward the dome.
"Looks like we've been totally ripped off, bros…" Zell added, cracking his knuckles.
"Mmhmm…even if we won the Showdown, that big blowhard would have just ripped us apart, y'know?" Rai figured.
"Cheaters…" Fuu continued. "Payback."
Cloud wearily looked up at Sephiroth as the Masamune came crashing down in front of him. As he rolled out of the way, Sephiroth's sword stuck deep into the ground – as he yanked it free, a shockwave of rubble and dark energy pulsed along the floor, sending Cloud reeling into a barbed portion of the fence.
"This almost isn't even worth it…" Sephiroth chided, slowly walking toward Cloud. He writhed in agony as he struggled to stand, using his Buster Sword as a crutch. "I wait all this time to finally fight you again, Cloud…and this weak display is all you have to offer?" He cracked Cloud across the jaw with his fist, causing the hero to drop down to one knee.
The rest of the audience couldn't get enough – the man they had just watched decimate hoards of challengers was now at the mercy of the One-Winged Angel. Setzer swiveled triumphantly in his chair, barely even focusing on the fight. The munny was as good as his…he didn't have to pay a soul…
"We'd like to air a personal grievance, you filthy, rotten cheater…" Seifer said, standing in his doorway. Behind him stood Hayner, Zell, Fuu and Rai – all weapons drawn, all looking quite intimidating.
"What? You lost – you have no right to be up here…" Setzer explained, pushing a hidden button beneath his desk console. A large door to the right opened to reveal Thorn, smiling as if he was being rewarded for a job well-done. Next to him stood Rose and Lily, each brandishing a long, electrified staff. Their faces were sullen and mechanical – nothing like they had been at the registration table.
"Rose, Lily, Thorn…deal with this riff-raff, would you?"
Mickey and Aerith tore down the entryway of the Setzer Dome – Vincent slowly walked ahead of them, heading for the door.
"Vincent! Stop," Mickey said, as Vincent slowed, reaching for the door handle leading out into Starsweep Underground.
"Please…Vincent…you've come so far. Don't throw it all away now…" Aerith pleaded.
Vincent spoke with his back to Aerith and Mickey. "Don't tell me what I've accomplished…I've tried…" he seemed to be struggling, "I've tried my hardest…yet, I'm still a heartless…the darkness still consumes me…and it'll consume you too, if you don't stay back…" he said, letting go of the doorknob.
"We can help you, Vincent…" Mickey begged. "Just don't…"
Vincent turned and snarled at Mickey through his Fanged Mask, drawing his Cerberus and pointing it at his head. "Doesn't this look familiar…" he said, shooting three rounds at Mickey in a heartbeat.
"Sorry, Sephiroth…allow me to give you what you came for…" bellowed Cloud, drawing all of his energy inward. He began to glow a bright, glowing blue, as his feet delicately lifted from the ground. The blue aura encased his sword, and his cloak – in a flash, Cloud took off around the dome, flying inches above the ground with his Buster Sword out front. Each pass he took by Sephiroth, he swung heartily – Sephiroth couldn't block these attacks…they pierced his flesh, drawing first blood in the super-final match.
Steadying himself on the opposite side of the dome, Cloud and Sephiroth stared each other down. Sephiroth laughed, wiping a speck of blood from his arm. A harsh, pink glow surrounded him, exactly like Cloud's…faster than anyone in the audience could see, Cloud and Sephiroth dove at each other, weapons over head, igniting a massive clash of pink and blue in the center of the dome. The explosion was fierce – the pink and blue beams of light shot out in a spectacular fireworks display, shaking the foundation of the Setzer Dome. As they held their swords together, unrelenting, the beams grew stronger and faster – ripping chunks of the reinforced steel dome apart, sending them flying.
The audience screamed as they tried to dodge out of the way of the falling dome pieces – Rekka, Zell's chocobo, headbutted a large section before it fell on top of a small group of onlookers. Tidus swung upward and sliced a piece clear in two before it pummeled a group of older gentlemen to bits.
"This match is UNBELIEVABLE! Never have I seen two fighters strong enough to destroy the battle dome! I can't-" but the announcer's voice was cut short – a shard of the dome pierced through the announcer's booth, high above the arena, silencing the loudmouthed know-it-all.
"Another innocent life you've taken, Sephiroth…" Cloud muttered through clenched teeth. Innocent as he was, Cloud couldn't deny that the silence was a relief…
"You're just as much at fault for his demise as I," Sephiroth shot back, flinging Cloud backwards as the pink and blue explosions ceased. Cloud tumbled across the arena floor, no dome left to break his fall, as thousands of audience members watched in awe.
Sephiroth smiled, creating a group of black orbs around Cloud's body…slowly closing them inward, ready to finish this match…
