Chapter 59

A grunt left Riki as he slapped the Mechon with his Biter. It fell, mechanical whirling slowing before it fell silent. "There one!" he called, bouncing over.

"Good one, Riki!" spoke Shulk, swinging the Monado to deflect an attack from another Mechon. With deft steps he maneuvered around to its back, bringing the blade down in a lethal strike. "Back Slash!" He breathed out, wiping some sweat away. "Phew... honestly, there's more Mechon here than I was expecting."

I frowned, kicking a Mechon at my feet to forcibly remove it from my gauntlet fist. ...The beam component hasn't come out at all. Guess he really can't use his Monado Arts right now. I flinched as an icy wind erupted behind me, turning to see a wall of ice encase some Mechon. "Thanks," I spoke.

"Keep an eye out," spoke Melia, a lightning elemental coming into being above her staff as she twirled it. "It's not over yet."

I nodded. "Mm." A breath slipped past my lips as another Mechon lunged at me, to halt as I smashed my gauntlet through its core. "Hmph." I removed it and tossed the corpse to one side, seeing Shulk lash out with the Monado.

All at once, it seemed to be nearly silent, except for our heavy breathing as we put our weapons away. "Alright, good one, guys," spoke Shulk, placing the Monado on his back. "Let's keep it going here." He didn't wait for our response before taking off, pace brisk.

"Hey, Shulk..." Melia quickened her pace to walk alongside the blonde before continuing to speak. I tuned it out as a yawn came over me, stretching as I followed after them, shaking my head.

"Hm... Andrew still tired?" spoke Riki, peering at me.

"Yeah," I replied, cracking my neck. "Kinda sore too..." It's weird though. In actuality I'd expect to be sore like this, especially after everything we've been through up 'til now. But honestly, before Sword Valley and stuff... I didn't feel anything like that. "Uh?" I stopped as we reached some water on the edge of a beach. Looking forward, there seemed to be another beach on the other side of this brief passage of water. "That where we're heading?"

Shulk had assumed a thoughtful position by the time I looked at him. "Based on where Linada said the Piezoelectric Unit is... yeah." Without a word, he began to wade out and swim. "C'mon!" he called back.

"Alright..." Melia took a deep breath before following after him, and Riki and I did the same afterwards, making it to the other side without difficulty.

I inspected my jacket afterwards. Completely dry. If anything... it's absorbing the water? I pressed a sleeve to my shin, where my shorts did not extend. Removing it, my shin was no longer dripping wet. "Hunh... that's interesting," I muttered.

"What is?" asked Shulk, turning to me.

"These clothes," I replied. "They're able to absorb blood and water alike... it's fascinating."

"Eh... it's just from the stuff they're made from," he replied. "Like... generally, Bunniv hides are fairly common for some components of it, which help keep our clothing fairly lightweight. Plus, by mixing in stuff like crushed ether crystals in the fabric, they can gain extra protective qualities with little change in weight. They get more expensive that way though. And there are armour pieces that offer more protection, though are heavier and don't absorb liquids, like what..." Shulk swallowed, gazing at the ground. "...Like what Reyn would wear."

"Mm." Right. To these guys, this stuff is their 'normal'. Though, better distract him or something... "Teach me some more about it later?"

"Yeah, of course." Shulk shook his head, taking in a deep breath. "Alright... all of you, wait a sec." He narrowed his eyes, looking forward, around a nearby rock. "...There it is. A Piezoelectric Unit."

"...Within the midst of roughly a dozen Mechon on alert," noted Melia.

"Well, complaining ain't gonna change the situation." I grasped my sword, though didn't remove it from where it lay on my back. "How do you wanna do this, Shulk?"

"..." He looked thoughtful, pursing his lips. "...The thing is... none of us are really great at taking hits. Well, Riki can, but against that many, not for long. If we just go into it head-first, we're probably gonna struggle a ton." Shulk took a seat on the beach right there, folding his arms.

The rest of us took seats near him. Closing my eyes, I focused my senses outward. The Mechon were indeed surrounding the unit, almost as if protecting it. I sighed, opening my eyes again.

"...Alright. Here's what we'll do." Shulk's eyes held a focused glint to them as he gazed at us. "Melia. Can you conjure up some elementals now, please?"

"Of course." She breathed out, and a trio of fire, water and lightning came to being beside her. "There."

"Thanks." He paused for a moment. "Riki and I will cause a brief distraction. Then, Melia, I want you to use all your elementals, as fast as you can, and cause chaos amongst the Mechon. Then, Andrew. I want you to use that black, winged form you have and retrieve the Piezoelectric Unit. After that... well, depending on how many are left after Melia's attack, we'll either run or just finish them off. Sound good?"

I felt a frown come to my face. At this point... I should have enough energy to use my Soul... "Okay. So, should I just stuff it in a pocket, or...?"

"Yeah. They're pretty deep, so it should fit, no problem," spoke Shulk, rising. I blinked, stuffing my hand into one of the pockets of my shorts, feeling my eyes widen as it easily took in my hand, without me being able to feel at the bottom of it. "See?" He drew the Monado with a breath. "Ready?"

"...Guess so." I removed my hand from the pocket. Probably how they hold all those items for the encyclopedia...

"Heropon Riki ready whenever!" declared the Nopon, grasping at his Biter. Melia nodded from beside him.

"Okay. Then... go!" Shulk darted out from behind the rock, Riki on his heels. Crazed whirling screeched from the Mechon as they spotted the two, immediately moving towards them. "Melia!"

"Yes!" Peering from behind the rock, she breathed out, a blast of fire and lightning engulfing the nearest Mechon. "Andrew," she spoke, this time an ice elemental coming into being beside her.

"Yeah." I breathed out, a growl escaping my teeth as my form morphed. ...It didn't hurt this time. Guess that rest did some good. I shook my head, my wings flapping out as I took to the sky. Casting my senses outward, I dived for the unit and grasped it, stuffing it into a pocket. "Alright!" I turned and whipped out my sword to deflect a Mechon's strike. "Hmpf..." A smirk came to my face as I activated the chainsaws, cutting the Mechon clean in half. "Easy."

"Hah!" Shulk rolled to avoid a Mechon's attempt to stab him, before delivering an Air Slash to send it staggering. "Andrew, it's yours!" he shouted.

A Chain Attack...? "Okay!" I surged forward, tearing my blade into the Mechon's side. Gotta have some kind of distinction suffix with the chainsaws, like Luffy's Gear Second... how about... "Stab Strike: Chain!" I tore the sword out of its side with a harsh grunt. "Riki!"

"Bitey Bitey!" he declared, the Art causing additional oil to spill from the Mechon's wounds. "Melly!"

The princess nodded in turn, a sheer wall of ice encasing the Mechon. "Fall." The ice shattered, leaving the Mechon in probably a dozen pieces. "There... it is done." She breathed out, placing her staff away.

"Phew..." I reverted, a heavy breath leaving me. "Hah..." I stabbed my blade in the ground to hold myself upright as the adrenaline rush left me, wiping some sweat from my forehead. And that's all of them... everyone really made quick work of the Mechon. "Here, Shulk." I handed him the Piezoelectric Unit. "You hold on to it."

He nodded in return. "Alright. Then if there's nothing else, it's probably time to head back to the Machina Village," he spoke, placing the item into some pocket within his clothing.

"Yeah..." I blinked, feeling a shiver run up my spine. This again... what is it?

"Huh..." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shulk's eyes glow blue, before he froze up. "Melia, Riki, get down!" he shouted, diving into them.

I grunted, seeing thin, white lines where Melia and Riki were standing, just as slashes materialized at those spots. This... "..." I watched as someone dropped into place in front of us four. "Virgil."

"Hello." He drew his katana. "Now prepare to die."

"Wha-!" I willed my gauntlets to form, crossing my arms in a guard against his slash. "No build-up or trash talk... kh!" Shoving at him, I managed to force him back. "Just right to it, huh...?"

"Of course. Right now, I have one goal. And that's killing you." He breathed out, settling into a preparatory stance, hand on the hilt of his blade. "No messing around this time... especially with orders like I have."

"Wow. It's like you're a completely different person." Though... I swallowed. I have a bad feeling about this. This oppressive feeling he's giving off is almost suffocating...

"Hm...!" Virgil moved back as a blast of lightning nearly engulfed his being. "The High Entian Princess..."

"Andrew!" spoke Melia. "I am not quite aware of why this man wants to kill you... but I refuse to stand by and let you fight him alone."

"This guy is strong... I don't think any of us alone could take him down," spoke Shulk, drawing the Monado. "But together... we're unstoppable." He nodded as I looked at him. "None of us alone probably could have beaten Mumkhar... but through our combined efforts, we made it through in the end. It'll be no different here."

Virgil nodded slowly. "I see how it is." A smirk came to his face. "Then come." He drew his katana again with a breath.

Above each of our heads came a rain of a dozen or so pale blue, flickering blades. A shell of ice immediately surrounded Melia, causing the swords to shatter against it. I rolled away, whilst Riki smacked them away with his Biter and Shulk dashed out from under the torrent.

"The Nopon first, then!" Virgil projected slashes outward, surrounding Riki. Once he sheathed his katana, the almighty Heropon flattened himself against the sandy ground, seeming to come away nearly unscathed. "Hmph."

My blade crossed his, resounding sounds rushing forth as we slammed our weapons together. "Hngh!" I staggered as he forced me back with a push, to see him turn and deflect Shulk's stab. I lunged forward as Shulk was thrown back. "Stab Strike...!" I froze up a a Summoned Sword found its way into my shin, causing me to fall to a knee before my sword ever reached him. No...!

A wall of flame separated the other Outsider and myself, and I heard a growl from the other side. Forcing the sword from my shin, I nodded my thanks at Melia, who gave a simple nod back as the fire dissipated.

Shulk grunted, the Monado's beam seeming to struggle to materialize as he struck at Virgil. "Gh!" He leapt away, moving his body to one side, avoiding a projected slash. "Stream Edge!" he spoke, with Virgil swinging outwards in what looked like some kind of iaijutsu technique to negate the Art.

I charged at him, hissing and forcing my momentum to a stop as a spinning ring of Summoned Swords surrounded him. Unable to stop completely, I raised my blade to deflect a slash whilst the Swords cut into my flesh. A grimace came across my face as I moved back, though he chased after me as I did so. "Tch...!"

"Hero Time!" declared Riki, a fiery aura surrounding his body as he dashed forward, leaping out at Virgil's back, above the Swords. "And... Sneaky!"

I grunted, sensing that Virgil would shoot out to my left to avoid Riki's Art. I stepped left to follow him, while spinning to my right to prepare a cut. "Whip Slash: Chain!" I spoke out. The Outsider shifted his body to the right, resulting in my Art only destroying his ring of Swords, without making contact with his body. Damnit... huh?

"Hm?!" Virgil stopped in place all of a sudden, eyes widening. "This-!" With a quick glance to his legs, I saw ice reaching up to his knees, keeping him in place.

Chance ball! I leapt forward, concentrating a shockwave around my blade. "Stab Wave!"

"Bitey Bitey!" spoke Riki, charging out after Virgil.

"Back Slash Descent!" shouted Shulk, leaping out to bring the Monado down on Virgil's back, while a blast of lightning streamed down at him from above.

"RARGH!" roared Virgil, darkness seeming to consume him for a moment before a swipe reflected our Arts, whilst a rapid stream of cuts erased the lightning, stopping it from falling on him. He moved back a distance, eyes blue. "...Guess I played around too much." He breathed out, a smirk coming across his face. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't having fun, though."

"...That's...! It's like Andrew's black form!" spoke Shulk.

Huh... wait, have everyone else seen any of the other Outsiders using their soul? I mean powers, probably not... especially since I killed most of them in one-on-one duels... I shook my head. Whatever. Not important now. Right now... "This got tougher."

"It matters not what form our foe takes," spoke Melia. "We shall defeat them all the same."

"You sure about that, princess?" At his words, I felt a shiver run through my whole body at once, sensing an identical shiver drive through Shulk's body as his eyes glowed blue.

"Protect yourself, Melia!" shouted Shulk, while I dashed forward, leaping at him with a punch, willing my gauntlets and greaves to form with the action.

A swift strike repelled my charge, before he stabbed at me with the end of his sheath. Virgil then slashed outward, his blade lunging forward to force a ragged cut at my body. "Ugh...!" Raising an arm, the cut more so glanced off my body, with a follow-up blow forcing me to the ground.

"Ah...!" A wake of water rose up in front of Melia, of which a storm of projected slashes nullified. "Hah..." she breathed out. "Summon Wind!"

"Tch...!" The beam of the Monado seemed to pulse, before retracting into the blade. "Damnit...!" spoke Shulk, raising the sword to clash with Virgil's katana. His eyes glowed blue again with a vision, and he leapt up over a projected swipe, bringing the Monado down. "Hah!"

Virgil vanished for a moment, and when he re-appeared, what looked like a massive Summoned Sword materialized in his grip. "Come to me... Mirage Edge." He slashed out at Shulk as a blast of air surrounded his body, his slash only resulting in a jagged line along Shulk's shin, blood dripping from the wound. Virgil clicked his tongue as Shulk dropped heavily on the ground, using his katana to lash out and force Riki to take a few steps back.

I grunted, taking on my soul form and drawing my sword again, activating the chainsaws. "Wow... scary." This is bad. All of us together are struggling, and he hasn't manipulated time yet.

"I'm just as scary as you are." Virgil lunged at me, using a two-handed grip as we swung our swords against each other. "That is to say..." As I spun around to lash out my blade, he teleported behind me. "...not at all."

"Power Effect!" I heard Melia call out, and I sensed some earth rise up to take some speed away from Virgil's stab, enough to let me escape with a lesser scratch towards my side.

"Thanks!" I spoke, moving back to get some distance. It's useful, but with Melia's elementals, the Ether's wearing at my soul... I probably can't maintain it for too long... wait. I stopped. We're both Outsiders. If it's affecting me... it ought to affect him too, right?

Virgil's form flickered, and he drew his katana, slashes rushing out for me as a result. "Hrah!" he shouted, his continued slew of cuts forcing me to take to the skies to avoid them. "Hm..."

If that's right... then since the Monado's constanting emitting forms of ether, just Shulk being close to him should-! I gasped as Swords flew out to slice at my body, followed with a frenzied string of projected slashes. Did he slow time...? I allowed my form to revert, dropping as the Swords struck through me, wincing at the sensations. "Ugh!" I landed hard, a growl coming out of me. "Ah...?!" Can't move...?! These damn Swords!

I saw Riki move in front of me as Virgil came at me. "Freezinate!" spoke the Nopon, the Art briefly halting the Outsider's momentum as he moved aside to dodge the Art. "Happy Happy!" Riki spoke after, doing a quick little dance before smashing his Biter against Virgil's katana, both sides skidding apart.

"Andrew!" I looked over to see Shulk take a knee beside me. "You OK?" he spoke, pulling out some of the Summoned Swords from my body.

I gritted my teeth as he pulled them from my left arm. Soon as I could move the limb, I used it to force out the other swords embedded within me. "I'm fine, thanks." I took Shulk's offered hand and got to my feet in time to catch Riki as he went flying into me. "Oof... listen, though. If we can flood him with ether, I think we can weaken him," I spoke.

"Ether...? So that means- ugh!" Shulk raised the Monado as the massive Summoned Sword returned to Virgil's grasp, staggering as he blocked a heavy strike. "If Melia gets a direct hit or I can activate the Monado...!"

"Mm." I willed my left gauntlet to form, assuming a blocking position with my blade braced against my arm to endure a slash aimed at me. I slid away a short distance, a harsh breath leaving me. "Phew..."

"Using your head this time, I see." Virgil's form returned to normal as his Mirage Edge faded away, and he took up his katana once again. "Then try it if you can."

I twitched, feeling my senses react as he drew his katana. "Persona!" I shouted, the Soul Demon coming into existence behind me. I saw Virgil vanish, before pain exploded through my torso. Looking down, I saw his katana in my body, with multiple slashes bursting with blood along my chest. "NGH...!" What the... I couldn't even react... I groaned as he ripped his katana out my side, falling to my knees as a result. "Damn...!"

"Hunh!" Virgil vanished again, and sharp sounds rose up as his katana clashed against Riki's Biter and the Monado.

I fell down onto my side, the demon fading as I gingerly held a hand to my wounds. Shit... I didn't notice 'cause I was still feeling the effects of ether from Melia's elementals and the Monado... he stopped time. "Ungh..." The trace exposure from the Monado and Mel's elementals must be affecting him though... looks like he only hurt me, not the others. Didn't have enough energy, maybe...?

"Sorry, but you're not allowed to rest yet, Andrew." Melia pulled my bloody hand away from my body and forcibly pulled me to my feet. "There's still a job for you to do."

"Wha- huh?" I blinked, looking at myself. Just by Melia raising me from the ground, the pain in my body already felt lesser. In fact, some of the cuts stopped bleeding, with the most shallow even closing. ...Guess I was equivalent to being dead? We can't use Chain Attacks now though... "Thanks," I spoke, picking my sword up from the ground.

"No need to thank me," she replied, a fire elemental coming into place near her. "I will never allow a dear comrade to lie on the ground dying if I can help it."

I nodded, wiping my bloody hand on my jacket, allowing it to absorb the blood. I closed my eyes, breathing out. ...I think I can slow time and summon my persona again. Need more to assume soul form again though... okay. I opened my eyes. "Hm?"

"Rrgh!" Shulk was thrown aside from a forceful swipe, skidding away. "Agh!' He staggered as a slash rushed along his right shoulder, holding a hand to it afterwards. "Tch...!" He leapt away from more slashes, the Monado's beam struggling to come forth. "Come on... damnit!" he cursed, as it retracted into the blade. "Ugh...!"

"Ah!" Riki froze for a second as a barrage of slashes surrounded him. "Uhm... HERO TIME!" he shouted as the cuts came to manifest, a grimace coming to his face. "RARGH!" He moved forward and bashed the top of Virgil's head, before a jab with the katana's sheath forced the Heropon back. "Oof!"

I moved forward, coughing as my wounds throbbed. Gotta help... I summoned the Soul Demon again; this time it lunged forward and stabbed its massive sword in the ground, deflecting a slash aimed at Shulk. "Hah... hah..." I watched as Virgil avoided a burst of flames. Melia's elementals aren't gonna clinch it... we need Shulk to get the Monado back in action or we're toast.

"Hah..." Shulk moved back, closer to Melia and I, wiping sweat away. "Hah... Andrew, you okay?" he asked.

"I'm alright," I answered. "More importantly... I think the only way we'll manage to win is if you can get the Monado back, Shulk."

"I know," he spoke, frustration rushing across his tone. "But no matter what, I just can't...!"

"Mm...!" I twitched, sensing Virgil's presence suddenly come near. I maneuvered my blade into chainsaw mode, the Demon's own sword following suit. Sweeping across, the Demon's slash forced some distance between Virgil and Shulk and I. "Hah... hey, Shulk! Remember in Makna Forest, when we fought those Telethia with Alvis?!" As he nodded at me, I continued. "Didn't he say something like... uh... the Monado responds to your will? Wait, no... um..."

The Monado does not control itself. Alvis' voice came into my mind with almost startling clarity. You control it.

"...'The Monado does not control itself'," I repeated. "'You control it'."

Shulk's eyes widened at my words. "I control it... right." He breathed out. "Then... RARGH!" A great yell came from him as the beam came out again, struggling to come out as with the previous times. "Rrgh...!"

"Riki!" I heard Melia cry out, and I looked over to see the princess drop her staff and catch the Nopon as he was thrown into her. "Unh...! Are you alright?" she spoke, as blood from Riki's body fell across Melia's clothing, in worrying amounts considering his tiny body.

I didn't hear Riki's response as my attention was caught by a flash of steely glint from the edge of my vision. "Ah-!" I willed the Demon to cut out at the Outsider, though Virgil disappeared as the translucent blade neared him, appearing in front of me. I whipped my blade out at him, with his own slash repelling my strike, forcing us both back. "Hah..."

I maneuvered the Demon to stab the chainsaw sword down at Virgil, who rolled aside to avoid the blow. Further manipulating the Soul Demon's movements, it swung its sword along the ground, with Virgil jumping upwards and twisting to avoid the blow, whilst sheathing his katana. Wait-

I hissed as slashes tore across my body, causing me to drop my two-handed grip, and thus ending the chainsaws. "Ugh?!" I felt a pain rush through my head as the Demon fell to a burst of projected slashes, fading away as it collapsed. I fell to a knee, holding a hand to my chest where the pain was most eminent. "Geh...!"

"This is the end of the line for you." I felt my eyes widened as I heard Virgil behind me, a sharp sound ringing out as he drew his katana once more. "That is one fascinating sword, though. I'll be taking it."

"Now... COME!" spoke Shulk, assuming a pose akin to Asta before accessing his Black form. Pulsing in his hands, the Monado's beam, which was visibly straining to manifest, suddenly came out fully, the blade itself shining radiant with light. "Yes...! Speed!" he shouted, his body gaining a light blue glow, whilst a blue glow came to his eyes. "Ah..."

"Hm-?!" Virgil grunted as Shulk moved in and knocked him aside with a swing. "Tch..." He drew his katana and placed the sheath somewhere on his person, the large Mirage Edge coming to his free right hand.

I glanced over at Shulk as the aura of Speed faded. Alvis' voice just came into my mind... wonder if he did something. Seems too convenient for a coincidence...

"Light Heal," I heard Shulk call out, a light glow coming to Riki's body. "Good... that should be okay for now." He breathed out, wiping sweat away. His arms were visibly shaking as he held up the Monado, a slight grimace coming to his face. "C'mon, Andrew... I'm gonna need you here with me."

I blinked, before moving up to stand beside him. "Got it, leader."

"..." Virgil took slow steps towards the two of us, his grasp on the translucent blade becoming a reverse grip, while the one holding the katana pointed forward. A smile came to his face. "The two of you are amazing. Truly."

I felt myself twitch at his words. Don't let your guard down... one misstep and he could end me.

"Why did you attack us?" spoke Shulk. "What point is there in this? This fight?"

"Ain't it obvious?" The smile on his face morphed, feeling more sinister despite not physically changing. "The objectives you're looking to achieve are in conflict with those from people I care about. 'Sides, you killed my friends." Virgil pointed the katana at me. "Jake, Tyler... you've broken families, you know."

"...Yeah." Tyler mentioned someone before he died, I think... Lily, right...? I sighed. "You're not wrong."

One more reason why I'm the villain of this story.

"So... part of it is... revenge." Shulk released a long breath, and I saw the beam of the Monado retract into the blade. "I see."

"Indeed. Y'know, part of this is funny," spoke Virgil. "How us humans go do the most sickening, violent things, for reasons that seem so simple. Go on grand journeys, gain power, for something as fleeting, and frankly useless, as vengeance." He chuckled. "A lot of the time we become corrupted, debauched, and stray so damn far from where we started. We live for it... die for it... and condemn a hundred other beings to death for our own selfish reasons." All of a sudden he looked tired, exhausted. Physically, but more so mentally. "Then others come after you, seeking to avenge their loved ones that you killed... and the cycle continues, repeating, never stopping."

"It doesn't have to be that way!" spoke Shulk. "Right here, right now... we can break it." He extended his hand, cautiously taking a step forward. "We don't have to fight. Right now, we can stop this cycle of vengeance."

"Really...? You think that you're able to stop an onslaught of violence and hatred?" spoke Virgil. "Even if I leave, there's still a few others that will come after you. Do you think you'll manage to get through without killing any of them, as well?"

"We don't know unless we try." I flinched as Melia's voice came over. from where she sat. Riki was resting on her lap, apparently unconscious. "I have seen my friends - my comrades - do extraordinary things. Even if the task seems insurmountable, there is no way to truly know what is impossible if you never try."

Virgil closed his eyes, tilting his head skyward. A deep, long breath came through his body before he opened his eyes and looked at me. "Andrew," he spoke. "Do you think you're capable of breaking this vicious cycle of vengeance?"

"Hm... nah, probably not," I spoke. "I'm just one guy, after all. And I've killed a lot just to get to this point." I breathed out, looking out over the water nearby. "But ya know... Mel's right. We don't know until we try. And given what I've done so far, who I've killed, and the faceless people I don't know I've hurt... it would be disrespectful if I didn't at least try." I focused my gaze back on him. Tyler, though... didn't he become a kind of Machina under Egil...? I felt myself stop slightly at my thoughts.

Does that mean... the other Outsiders are all Homs? Not human?

Virgil nodded slowly, his voice breaking my train of thought. "I see." The Mirage Edge faded away from his grasp, and he sheathed his katana. "I misjudged you all, then. My apologies."

"Then-!" Shulk took a step forward, to freeze in place as his eyes flashed blue. A vision...? I thought. "Wha..." His eyes returned to normal and he stared at Virgil. "No..." He swallowed thickly. "Please, no... we can still-"

"But..." A slight smile came to Virgil's face. "I'm petty, foolish, stubborn... and I'm not courageous enough to believe in your belief that you can stop the violence. After all... just to progress on your journey, who knows what'll show up for you to try to kill you, and for you to murder in turn?"

"It is not as though we actively seek out their demise!" spoke Melia.

"True, true. But you still destroy them anyway," spoke Virgil. "I know I'm not being fair with that assessment, and there're times where you save other people with your killing. Juju would almost certainly have been killed back on Gaur Plain if you didn't do anything, after all."

"You... how do you know that...?" spoke Shulk.

"So yeah..." Virgil settled into a drawing stance, left hand ready to grasp his katana. "I'm gonna be a damned idiot... and continue the cycle of violence right here and now."

"Ngh...! Melia, stay back!" shouted Shulk, activating the Monado once again. "Andrew-!"

I looked at Virgil. "You're really sure that you don't wanna try?" I asked.

"...Not when I know my loved ones are being threatened back home for me to do this," he answered. "I'd really like to try breaking it... but who knows if it's possible. And I'm selfish, too, you know? I value my friends and families' lives more than your guys'." Regret flashed through his smile. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be." I placed both hands on the handle of my sword, its exterior shifting into ripping chainsaws. "For me it's the exact same."