Chapter 34

Note: The Soul Trigger also increases pain tolerance.

We moved from the teleporter and were in front of the Tomb. Shulk and Alvis had just finished a very long conversation about the Monado.

"Let's go, guys!" spoke Shulk, moving through the door. "We have to save Melia!"

Dunban, Alvis and I followed.

"Wow..." breathed Shulk. "The design of this place... incredible..."

"Hey, there's a big button," I pointed out. "Probably shouldn't press it."

Shulk hesitated. "Reyn would've pressed this button," he spoke, reaching out to it.

"So you want to push it in memory?" I asked, tilting my head sideways.

"Well... that is true," admitted Shulk. Then he pushed it.

I used my Soul Trigger and began to fly, while the three others fell as a large hole opened up.

"Huh..." I used Whip Slash and cut apart the door in front of me. "See you guys later!" I called. "I'm gonna go ahead! You guys will catch up, right?!"

"Guess so," groaned Shulk. "Wait!" He used Jump and leapt out of the large hole, trying to grab at the ledge. "Ugh!" He fell, landing. "Darn. Fine, go ahead, Andrew! Dunban, Alvis and I will get there!"

"Yeah..." I flew through the air, landing on a platform and reverting to normal. "Phew. This is the path Melia takes in-game," I muttered. "So..." I waited for a brief moment.

From the ceiling a few robotic spheres dropped down, firing lasers.

"Time for some fun," I smiled, as I slowed time.

...

There were loud shouts and screeches beyond the last door, after I had fought several foes on three separate platforms.

"A FILTHY HOMS HALF-BREED HAS NO RIGHT TO THE THRONE!" screamed a voice, before another scream followed.

"Hah!" I used Whip Slash and the door cracked. I slashed again and it fell apart. "Huh? WHOA!" I lunged for the ground as the Telethia screamed for me, heavily scratching me with its claw. "Ow!"

"Andrew?!" exclaimed Melia. "What are you doing here?!"

"Dying very slowly, because I'm not getting any younger," I muttered. "Here to help you." I spoke, louder.

"Help "Her Highness"? laughed the masked High Entian, Tyrea. "I cannot allow that!"

"Like I care!" I replied. "Melia," I spoke, quieting my voice. "You get that Telethia. I'm going to fight her."

Melia grimaced, and I noticed many claw marks covering her body and her clothing. "You cannot. She is too strong for you to fight alone," she replied.

"Wanna bet?" I moved forward, and my blade met the two small blades in the High Entian's grip. "Whoa!" I leapt back as she attacked again. "Time for some fun!"

"And you, a Homs, dare to interfere?!" demanded Tyrea as she rushed in, cutting me several times.

I staggered back as she lunged for my neck, cutting it. Warm blood oozed down my neck and stained my red jacket. Bummer.

"ANDREW!" I heard Melia call out.

"Alright, fine," I muttered. "Time to get serious." I slowed time and used my free left hand to grasp her by the throat, also disarming her at the same time.

Tyrea gasped as I slammed her against a wall. "You dare to touch m-"

"Just so you know, I'm not a Homs," I spoke, before using Stab Strike on her. I then slammed her against the wall again, and she was still, dazed from the brute force.

"AH!"

I turned my head at Melia's scream. The Telethia was literally sitting atop of her.

I grunted as Tyrea forced me backwards. I felt time reverse back to normal.

"Huff..." panted Melia, her mask rusting by the Ether aura the Telethia was giving off.

"Damn it!" I cursed, launching shockwaves. The Telethia took to the air again, dodging the Art. "UGH!" I coughed up blood as Tyrea stabbed me in the back with her dual knives.

"Ah... manifest yourself!" shouted Melia, and a bolt of lightning caused Tyrea to go flying into a wall. "Huff..." She tore her mask off and gasped for air openly. "Huff..."

"Can I kill her?" I asked with a wiping of my mouth. "Ugh..."

"There is no other option if we wish to live," replied the princess.

"MELIA! ANDREW!" Shulk rushed in, using the active and passive Monado Speed Arts at the same time.

"Shulk, you big hero," I smiled. "Get that Telethia! This one's mine."

Shulk activated the Monado's beam. "OK! Melia, let's go!" he shouted. "Huff... Battle Soul! Light Heal!"

"Do you really think someone like you is capable of defeating me?" asked Tyrea.

"Yes," I replied, morphing again. "RAH!" I used Whip Slash, shattering one of her knives as she tried to block. "SEE?!"

"Ugh!" she gasped, and I cut across her throat with a devilish smile going over my face.

Her body fell to the floor with a dull thud.

"I never get tired of killing," I smirked, before turning back to the beast. I flew up as Shulk and Melia came flying back. "Whoa..." I grunted, blocking its claws as they flashed at me. "Ugh?!"

"Ow!" winced Shulk as he got back up. "Ugh..." He was heavily bleeding. "Huff..."

"Where's Dunban and Alvis?" I asked him, floating just above the ground. "Shoot!" I reverted to normal and fell, landing on my feet. "Huh."

"I used Speed as soon as you left," he panted. "They're really back there. I think we're on our own for this one."

"Not to worry," spoke Melia. "Without that troublesome High Entian, we should be able to defeat this beast with ease. Summon Ice!" she declared.

"I don't think so," I muttered, and the Telethia sat on Shulk. Fast...?!

"ARGH!" yelled the Monado's wielder. "Ugh... Purge!" The green Hyper Beam attack struck the Telethia, forcing it away. "Huff..." He arose, shaking. "I'm fine! Guys, we should get it now, while Purge is negating its ability to read our minds!"

"Okay," I responded, leaping in. "WHOA!" I blocked the beast's claws with a grunt. "Melia!" I managed, straining against the Telethia.

"Manifest yourself!" All in one attack, a massive thunderbolt, fireball and icicle pierced the beast and pinned it to the ground. "Huff..." Sweat dripped down her clothes and face. "Huff..."

"Melia... that was amazing!" exclaimed Shulk, running up close to attack with Slit Edge. "UGH!" He went flying as the Telethia whipped him with its tail. "Ow!"

"Shul-"

"Watch the hell out!" I hissed, tackling the princess to make it so she wasn't impaled by the spikes on the beast's tail. "Oh, fudge-doodles," I muttered, rising to my feet again. "Shulk! You okay?!"

He panted, leaning heavily against a wall as he slowly got back to his feet. "Y...yeah," he managed. His eyes were blue for a swift moment that passed much too quickly. "ANDREW!"

"What?" I heard the loud sound of something massive falling. "Oh, g-" I felt several things inside me crack as the Telethia sat on me. "Damn... THIS STUPID BIRD!" I roared, struggling to rise.

The Telethia screeched and shifted, forcing my sword arm to the ground as well as forcing it to slide along the ground.

"Ah! Summon... huff..." Melia's elemental faded out as she was forced to lean against a wall to keep herself on her feet. "Huff..."

"A...Andrew..." Shulk fell over, and the Monado slid along the floor. "G... GRAB THE MONADO!" he screamed.

I could just barely grasp the blade with my left hand, and as soon as my fingers curled around the blade the beam burst outwards.

A stab backwards, and the Telethia let out a loud cry as the Monado pierced it. It also flew away, yanking the sword from my grasp as it flew into the air.

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Shulk. "It took the Monado!"

It was clear to me through the pain that swinging with my right arm would be next tom impossible. I grunted as I grabbed my sword in my right hand regardless, instinctive.

As well, the pain in the middle of my torso was crazy with pain.

I coughed, a cough which made me feel like I was about to throw up my gut. Which didn't happen, but I threw up blood instead.

Melia caught her breath and soon leaning against the wall. "Huff... this is quite the troublesome situation..."

Shulk got out his Junk Sword from somewhere in his likely Legend Of Zelda deep pockets. "Well... the effects of Purge have worn off, as well."

"If we're doing that good without it being able to read our minds... we're screwed," I mused.

"We can't give up, even if that is true," replied Shulk. "There is no way we can give up! Otherwise... what about those... who gave up their lives so we can get to this point?!" Sadness flared up in his eyes.

I sighed. "Damn," I mumbled. "Hey..." Soul me...

"Andrew." In my mind I could see my Soul. "Want my help?" A devilish smile came over his face.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Alright..." He stabbed me with the sword on his back, which looked identical to mine.

I felt something change in me. My form changed with a loud howl, and I could see Soul me rush at the beast.

However, the Telethia easily struck my body with amazing speed, and there was a loud scream coming from me. From my body.

"GAH!"

Suddenly, I was control of my own body again, and back in my normal form. "Huh...?"

"Hey, thanks, Andrew!" Shulk caught the Monado as it fell from the foe's body, putting his Junk Sword away.

I groaned, feeling horribly weakened. My Soul wasn't in me anymore. I could feel it.

My Soul was gone and would be gone forever.

I felt a flicker of power slowly return to my body.

If he's gone... and all I do is assume his form... can I sill morph? But he can't stand in for me if things go badly? I thought. "Huff... well..." I arose as the Telethia lunged at Shulk, who was sent staggering back from the blow.

"Argh!" He gasped, hitting a wall, which cracked behind him. "Huff..." He fell over with a groan. "I... can't move...!"

"Oh, god no," I muttered. "How the hell are we supposed to beat this thing?!" I yelled.

Melia let out a cry as the Telethia let loose a blast of Ether from its mouth, sending her hard into a wall, which cracked behind her like it had with Shulk.

Then I saw the beast fix its eyes on me.

I realized I was shaking again.

I'm scared, was the thought that overwhelmed every other in my mind.

I breathed out, and held my sword in a reverse grip, with the Defensive Reversal Art.

The Telethia spread its wings again and moved at me. I diverted its path and it moved away.

"Ow!" I dropped my sword and held my right hand with my left hand. Something was broken in there, I was sure of it. "Huff...!" I gasped, and the Telethia's claws sunk into me. I felt the pain flare through my entire body, blood pumping from all of my injuries.

"Andrew!" shouted Shulk, slowly starting to get back up. "C'mon..." He groaned. "I have to...! Get up...!"

I slid across the floor again. I was now out of energy. I felt like moving a muscle would be impossible.

"Guh!" Shulk was sent flying through the air, and he landed roughly ten feet away from me.

"Ah!" Melia was also sent flying, and she landed about three and a half meters away from the Monado's wielder.

I somehow turned my face towards the two. Even doing that was a great challenge in itself.

"Huff..." Shulk was still trying to get back on his feet.

The Telethia let out a loud screech, turning back at the three of us.

"It's..." I was out of breath, gasping. "Huff..."

"Don't... don't you dare... say it's impossible!" managed Shulk. "Nothing... is impossible! Not... huff... when I have the power of the Monado!" he roared, on one knee now.

"Shulk..." panted the princess, who was lying on her back.

"Melia... Andrew... we have to fight it!" spoke Shulk, and he looked at me. "Light... Heal!"

I felt the pain in my right hand vanish. But I still didn't have the energy to get back up.

"Give... it up... Shulk..." I managed. "There... GAH!" I felt the Telethia sit on me again. "Argh... AAAAH!" I felt several things in my body break now. "AAAGH!"

"Wha?!" gasped Shulk. "Oh, no...!"

I couldn't move at all. I was exhausted.

The Telethia's claw flashed towards my face in a silver shine.

Thanks for reading!