Vyser: Well now, I'm back!

Skull: Hooray for all of us.

Zeek: Shouldn't you be getting ready?

Skull: Shouldn't you start the disclaimer?

Vyser: Skull is right Zeek.

Skull: You know what, this story has over 400 hits, yet not even half the reviews.

Vyser: That's enough, Zeek start the disclaimer and Skull get ready.

Zeek: Vyser doesn't own Tales of Symphonia or the characters that you the reviewers submitted. He only owns me and the other characters he made like Skull.

Vyser: Enjoy!

Chapter 23: Skull's Last Stand

Kratos was shielding his eyes from the light that had engulfed Skull. Kratos readied his blade as the light died down. As soon as the light disappeared, Skull was standing looking very different. His hair was standing up and was now blood red. The top part of his clothes was gone, his pants were tattered. The dark spirit had moved to Skull's forehead, the Ten-sphere and Arras crystal were on his chest. His skin was now pale, and from the dark spirit on his were black alchemlic symbols that covered his entire body. Skull just stared at his new form and an evil smirk crept upon his face.

"Well now, I was expecting something bigger than this," Skull said to himself as he turned his gaze towards Kratos. "But, I suppose that this more than enough to deal with you."

"I'd like to see try," Replied Kratos as he got into a defensive stance.

"As you wish for death," Skull responded as he disappeared in an instant.

Kratos looked around to try to find Skull, when all of a sudden Skull appeared in front of him with a blood red energy orb in his hands. Kratos bent backward in order to dodge the attack. The attack kept going and crashed through the wall, leaving a huge gapping hole. Kratos then kicked Skull in the stomach and sent him skidding backwards a few feet. Just as Kratos stood up straight, Yuan and the others entered the huge room.

"Get away from here!" Commanded Kratos as Skull noticed Yuan, Raine, Locke, Torii, Genten, Tailys, and Adrain.

"More victims?" Skull Questioned as everyone turned their attention to him.

"What in the? He's hideous!" Yelled Locke as Skull chuckled.

"Flattery will get you no where," Replied Skull as he turned to face the others.

"You can't beat all of us!" Yelled Genten as everyone drew his or her weapons.

"Resistance is a good appetizer," Commented Skull as he held up his left hand and arm and suddenly his scythe flew into his hand. As soon as scythe touched his hand, the massive weapons changed shape. The blade was spiked and curved, the handle became crooked and covered with bones. "Most excellent."

"Take this!" Yelled Raine as she use Photon on Skull.

Smoke filled the air where Skull was standing. When the smoke cleared everyone was shocked to that Skull was standing there picking his ear with his pinky.

"So, when is your attack supposed to happen?" Skull yawned.

"We're stronger than you think!" Yelled Genten as he threw his Kunai but Skull quickly grabbed it with his hand. "Uh oh."

"Pathetic," Said Skull as he dropped the Kunai. "Can't you try something else?"

Adrain then jumped into the air and slashed down towards Skull who simply raised his scythe to block the attack. Adrain kept using his entire strength to just keep Skull's scythe right where it was.

"You've out lived your time here!" Yelled Adrain as Skull just yawned.

"Boring," Skull had commented as he pushed back Adrain. "Kratos is the only one here worth fighting.

Everyone was a little upset from Skull's comment; Kratos had his wings out and began to fly out of the hole that Skull had made. Before Kratos flew out the hole, he turned towards Skull who looked intrigued.

"If you wish to fight me, then follow me," Said Kratos before he flew out the hole.

"Sounds fun," Muttered Skull as he began to concentrate and suddenly two huge blood red bat wings sprouted from back with a little blood dripping from the tips of the wings. "I'll be back! Here I come!"

Skull then flew after Kratos through out the hole and into the sky where they confronted each other. The light outside was gleaming on their weapons.

"My scythe will enjoy tasting your blood," Said Skull as he raised his scythe in front of his face and licked the blade. "I know that I'll enjoy getting the new paint job of blood."

"You are a sick person," Kratos replied as he raised his sword towards Skull. "You have lived long beyond your years."

"I know, it's great," Said Skull. "I haven't changed ever since the first dark spirit was placed upon me."

"Why did you kill all those people?" Asked Kratos as Skull looked shocked and lowered his head.

"You know, only one other person had ever asked me that," Answered Skull as raised his head with his eyes closed. "And I stripped her of her life. I guess that now I'll have to take yours quickly!"

Skull quickly opened his eyes and flew straight towards Kratos with his scythe raised into the air. Skull quickly slashed at Kratos who managed to dodge at the last second. Kratos quickly took a slash at Skull who blocked the sword with his scythe's blade. The two warriors quickly flew away from each other, but then turned and charged at each other at high speed. As Kratos and Skull passed each other, an item fell from air. It was a hand! Skull's left hand to be precise.

"Dang, that was impressive," Complimented Skull as he looked as his bloody arm.

"Now it looks like without your left arm you'll only be able to use half of your power," Kratos replied as Skull started to laugh.

"You're right, I would be at half strength with my left hand gone," Said Skull as he began to concentrate. "But, with these markings come a new power!"

Suddenly, a new hand appeared where Skull's previous hand was. Blood covered his new hand. As Skull whipped the blood off his hand an evil smirk crept upon his face.

"Bet you wish you could do that," Said Skull as he clenching his new hand.

"You only have that power thanks to those crystals," Kratos pointed out as Skull got a little angry.

"There's nothing wrong with making one stronger," Skull replied as a motor sound filled the air.

Kratos and Skull turned to see that Lloyd and the others on the Draco Cycles were a few hundred yards away. Skull then got an evil plan in his head.

"Thanks to you and that traitor Adrain my plan didn't go as plan," Said Skull as he pointed his scythe towards Lloyd's group. "But, then again. Thanks to you, I was able to become this strong, and I'll still take lives!"

Skull quickly flew towards Lloyd's group, but Kratos was faster and flew over Skull. Skull was wondering what Kratos was up to, that was until Kratos quickly slashed off Skull's right wing and sent him falling into the trees. Kratos quickly followed Skull through the trees till he saw Skull laying on the ground struggling to get up.

"What's up with this guy?" Thought Kratos as Skull was breathing heavily.

Before Skull could say anything Kratos flew towards him and slashed the Dark Spirit that was on Skull's forehead. As the Dark Spirit turned into dust in the wind, Skull's eyes all of a sudden went blank, and Skull collapsed to the ground.

"Finally, he's done," Muttered Kratos as Skull was starting to turn into dust.

Skull was finally a pile of dust, which was then scattered through the wind. The only things of Skull that was left was his pants, the Ten-sphere, the crystal of Arras, and Skull's scythe. As Kratos was going to pick up the crystals and the scythe, metallic hands quickly grabbed the crystals and the scythe. Kratos turned to see the hands reconnect with Tech who was standing on one of the tree branches. Tech looked different though, his hair was dark brown and his metallic parts were no longer rusted.

"Finally, someone defeated that incompetent Skull," Said Tech as he put the jewels in his pockets. "So, Kratos, you were the one who finally rid us of Skull. I might actually thank you."

"You must be Tech," Replied Kratos as he raised his sword.

"Relax, I've gotten what I came for here," Said Tech as he stroked his hair. "I just needed to test my new body. You have any idea what it's like to be cooped up in a tube with out talking to anyone or having a magazine getting tuned up?"

"…" Replied Kratos as Tech was stretching.

"Well, I'll be taking my leave, and don't try to follow me, my city is now made to make sure only a few certain individuals can enter," Said Tech as sparks appeared from his right hand. As he slammed his hand on the ground a huge burst of electrical energy surged from it and caused Kratos to cover his eyes. When Kratos uncovered his eyes Tech was gone.

"Great, just great," Said Kratos as he turned to return to the base.

When Kratos returned he found that Lloyd's group was back in the base. When he entered he saw that Lloyd and the others met up with Yuan and the others. They were talking about what had happened with the others. Zeek spotted Kratos.

"Hey, when did Kratos get here?" Asked Zeek as everyone turned towards Kratos.

"Kratos what happened to Skull?" Asked Lloyd as Kratos rubbed his eyes.

"Skull is gone," Answered Kratos as Locke looked relieved. "However, I was unsuccessful in retrieving the summon spirit and Ten-sphere. The person known as Tech managed to get away with the items."

"I'm surprised that Tech made an appearance," Commented Genis.

"Hey Yuan," Said Sane as Yuan turned his attention to Sane. "Where's your hand?"

"I lost it," Answered Yuan. "Not only that, but we lost many Renegades when Skull had attacked. So we're going to have to replace quite a few things."

"I guess I should try to make a new hand for you," Replied Sane as he left to get to the lab.

"Oh, yeah, we managed to get the summon spirits from Drag," Said Zelos as he handed Yuan the spirits.

"Uh, Tailys, could you take the spirits to my office?" Asked Yuan as Tailys took the summon spirits and started to head to the office.

"Now we'll have to figure out what we have to do next," Raine said as she was in deep thought.

"We could try to get the summon spirit from Tech," Sheena suggested.

"That's not going to be happening," Replied Kratos.

"And why is that?" Asked Sera.

"Tech told me himself that entering his city is impossible for those who aren't certain people," Answered Kratos.

"Then there's forest grove," Said Elemmírë.

"I don't think that would be wise," Commented Genten.

"Hey Yuan, you got an armory or something?" Asked Jet.

"Let me take a guess, you broke your swords," Guessed Yuan as Jet and Suzu raised their broken swords.

"Yeah," Said Suzu.

"Up the stairs and to the right," Said Yuan.

"So what are supposed to do anyway?" Asked Colette.

"Right now I think we should get some rest," Said Zeek as everyone agreed.

Everyone went then went to do different things, meanwhile we find Tech back at Techno City with the crystals and Skull's scythe in hand standing in front of a huge screen with Exodus on the screen.

"So Skull was defeated," Said Exodus as he sighed. "Oh well."

"At least he got us the summon spirit and ten sphere," Tech replied as he placed the crystals on a table. "I'll have them transferred to you tomorrow."

"Excellent, and I see you have Skull's scythe," Exodus stated. "Most excellent."

"Yes, I'll be begin the extraction immediately," Said Tech as Exodus cut the link. "Now, its time to start."

Vyser: Well now, Skull is gone, or is he?

Zeek: Don't tell that Skull is still alive.

Vyser: In a sense he isn't alive.

Zeek: What about the other senses?

Vyser: Just say the announcement.

Zeek: Great, Vyser has another chapter choice. Chapter 24: City of the Waters or Chapter 24: Coming to the Bright Flames. Those sound strange.

Vyser: Hey, I'm on vacation, what do you expect of me?

Zeek: Reviewers please review.