Sailor Moon - Rise of the Exalted Knights
by Lisseas
Chapter Thirty: Broken
Posted: 01/02/2019
Rinjirou crashed into the Black Death's back, driving him forward over Justice and into the nearest wall. Still unused to his heavy armour, he landed awkwardly...right on his face. Groaning in pain – and frustration at his own incompetence! – he struggled to his knees. A pair of hate-filled ruby eyes glared down at him from above and, for once, there were no sermons. No snide remarks, nor promises of salvation. Just a hideous, ear-piercing shriek reminiscent of the preacher's master.
"Get down!"
Years of Black Paladin training had ingrained certain commands in his mind, and Rinjirou dropped. A crescent-shaped blast of golden light passed overheard, gouging a deep tear in the Black Death's dark aura and setting his chest alight. A defiant Justice rose up behind Rinjirou, his sword flaming in his hand.
"We'll see whose head's coming off, you son of a bitch."
He blinked away, reappearing mere feet from the Black Death in mid-swing. This time, it was the Hunter who was caught on the back foot. His heavy, coal-black sword was slow, barely getting between them in time. The Guardian Knight continued his onslaught, striking over and over like a man possessed as embers trailed his blade.
It was a welcome sight. Rinjirou wasn't scared, of course; he'd been squaring off against people bigger than him most of his life, so this was nothing new. Justice's regression of earlier had caused some concern, but - with the hulking American going hard at the evil bird-monster preacher...thing - that looked to be over. In fact, the resultant energy discharges from their fight was starting to damage the room around them. Justice wasn't landing many hits, but the Black Death seemed shaken...and that was a start. Not a bad result, really. Rinjirou had always been quite good at inciting actions through words; a useful ability to have.
What he wasn't quite as proud of, however, was his leadership so far. Of the five Exalted Knights to follow them in, three were almost certainly dead…and the other two were hurt badly. Casualties were to be expected when fighting superhumans – or whatever the hell the Black Death was now – but that didn't make it any easier to swallow. Not a particularly illustrious start to his tenure as Knight-Commander, if he was honest. Another confession hurt almost as much: he was a terrible swordsman. Knives and daggers had been his primary weapons for his entire adult life; switching to Solguard now had been a difficult transition. Tradition and necessity both demanded he wield the magical sword, but facing an assortment of Hunters and now this had made it painfully clear that he desperately needed more training.
Enough, he told himself, clutching the sword tight. There's fighting to be done.
Justice had clearly switched to a whole new gear. Blood dribbled down his bicep from a tear in his amour, but he continued to duel the Black Death undaunted. His shield was a blur, popping in and out of existence to block each strike; a faint disc of golden light, yet solid all the same. Rinjirou looked on in envy, just waiting for an opening, and...he saw it! The Black Death went all out, overwhelming Justice with several rapid-fire blasts of negative energy. He was so focused on Justice, in fact, that he'd left his back wide open...and Rinjirou didn't hesitate. Some fighters might have held off in some misguided belief in honour, but not him. He did whatever was necessary to win. With a running start, he leapt up onto the monster's wide shoulders, passing through his aura in the process. It tingled, even stung...but he was now on the Black Death's back, and that led to a moment of realisation: it protected against magical attacks, including weapons...but not people.
With a savage grin, Rinjirou drove Solguard down into the preacher's unprotected back, burying it to the hilt in his armoured hide. The blade erupted, unleashing magical fire into the flesh around it, and the Black Death's reaction was immediate.
He bucked and lurched, spinning in a reflexive attempt to end Rinjirou's assault. A massive clawed hand swiped back, knocking him free and tossing him across the room. He hit the floor hard and immediately glanced about for Justice...but the Guardian Knight was nowhere in sight. "It blocks our attacks! Not us! He can't stop us if we get in close and-"
A huge, taloned foot crashed down on his chest, driving the remaining air from his lungs. Rinjirou felt something give way beneath his chestplate; a rib or two, likely broken? Wheezing, struggling to draw any breath at all, he tried to drag himself free…but the Black Death was just too heavy.
"A valiant effort, Payne, but futile all the same. The two of you are already dead. You just don't know it yet."
"Sailor Moon. Usagi, I…I'm sorry, but…"
Eyes closed, Sailor Moon awaited the inevitable. She couldn't dodge Uranus at this range; there was little point even trying. She couldn't even really blame her this time. Love was a powerful motivator…even if Chaos' promises were lies.
"I'm sorry, but..." Uranus repeated through gritted teeth, "We're all dead if I don't try something!" She whipped around and threw her attack straight into Chaos' smiling face. Megumi's body crashed into the crystalline throne, landing face down on the floor. Dark wisps of smoke curled into the air above her, filling the room with the unpleasant smell of burnt flesh.
"Yes!" Sailor New Moon cheered, punching the air.
Saturn sagged slightly, her Glaive trembling in her grasp. "Haruka-papa…"
Moon was relieved as well, but also ashamed. She'd let herself believe the worst of her friend. Perhaps, given Uranus' past, she could argue it warranted, but that didn't make her feel any better. Yes. Thank you, Haruka.
Uranus stalked forward, closing on the fallen creature. "I've made that mistake before. Far too many times!" She glanced first to Pluto and Saturn, before offering Moon a nod. "She is my princess, yes, but more than that, my friend. I would die before I turn on her again. Mich…" Her breath caught in her throat a moment, her jaw quivering. "Michiru is dead, and I won't dishonour the life we shared, the love we shared...by throwing everything else away. Especially not for you."
At first, there was silence...and then, a laugh. More a giggle, really, that grew in pitch and volume as Megumi's prone form shifted and rose to reveal a thoroughly ruined face. What remained barely counted; an asymmetric mess of bloody flesh and bone, the hair and eyes and nose just...gone. It was a brutal reminder of the damage a Sailor Senshi could do, if she were willing.
Even Pluto seemed taken aback. "Goddess…"
Chaos' voice remained unaffected despite its injuries; more unnecessary proof that Megumi was truly just a long-dead puppet. "Well done. Deceiving me is no easy task."
Moon looked on, unsettled as the flesh began knitting together in a slow march of progress across her face. New violet eyes rolled up into their sockets from within in an eerie and undeniable display of its power.
Megumi's renewed lips stretched out in an icy smirk, and the creature's tone darkened. "So be it, Sailor Uranus. Have your wish. Join your love in death!"
Her hands reached out, and a familiar, terrifying sight stretched out around them to surround her body; a spectral, nine-foot-tall bipedal raven, Chaos' true form in its current incarnation. Darting forward with unbelievable speed, it tackled Uranus, razor-like claws slashing at her body.
"Space Sword Blaster!"
The Senshi's attack was swallowed up instantly, barely able to take form at all. She lurched with every impact as Chaos tore at her, opening multiple bloody tears in her flesh. Moon looked frantically for an opening, her Tiare at the ready, but it was no good; this close, she'd only end up hurting Uranus.
"Hold on!" Pluto leapt to her defence, Saturn right behind her. "Chronos Typhoon!"
"Death Reborn Revolution!"
They unleashed their attacks as close as they dared, more precise in application than Moon's Silver Moon Crystal Power. It was all to no avail, however; Chaos batted both out of its path with one arm, tossing Uranus at them with a chuckle.
"Do you see now, Senshi? This struggle is pointless. I am eternal."
The Outer Senshi fell to the floor, barely catching Uranus' limp form between them. She was bleeding heavily from a dozen different wounds, her skin frighteningly pale. Moon took one look at Chaos, the cackling entity now clear of her friends, and levelled her Tiare.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power!"
The brilliant golden beam erupted from her sceptre, a stream of raw Silver Crystal energy. Something was wrong, though; it didn't feel like it should. A tiny whisper of doubt spoke up within. After watching Uranus fall, after seeing her friends beaten and tortured…she simply wasn't strong enough. She knew it, Chaos knew it…and so did the Silver Crystal. It faltered, and with it went her attack. Withering and waning, it finally collapsed altogether in a hail of dying starlight.
"Come on," she muttered, shaking the Tiare. "Come on! Work!" She glanced about in a panic, short on confidence and any kind of plan. Almost all of her friends were down and out; Jupiter was on her knees and Venus wasn't too far behind, but Mars and Mercury still hadn't moved…and Uranus? Uranus was probably already...
Chaos' monstrous form withdrew again as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind the smiling form of Megumi. "You still insist on these futile efforts to destroy me? Come now, Usagi, see reason. I've won. It took a thousand years of pain and humiliation and planning…but I've finally won."
"Only the foolish declare victory before grasping it in their hands." Even Tuxedo Kamen couldn't quite muster of his typical inspirational brilliance. Moon could hear it in his voice; he was as worried as she was.
"You're broken," Chaos declared, addressing her directly. "You have been since your first glimpse at Crystal Tokyo."
She stared back in silence as it laughed in her face, a haughty mix of glee and pride in itself. Worst of all, she could see its influence in everything now. Everything bad that had happened since the defeat of the Revenant Knight; it was all Chaos...one way or another.
"I've been planting little seeds of doubt around you for years, and now? They've finally come together. I planned it all. Rinjirou and his little band of zealots? The Guardian Knight's betrayal, Small Lady's trip back to your time? You all played into my hands perfectly, eroding your trust in each other and your belief in yourself."
Mamoru shook her gently, even called her name, but she barely heard him. She was transfixed. Only now could she see just how far she'd fallen, and how easily it had all happened.
You don't want this, that same voice whispered inside her mind. You don't want any of it. Why fight for a future you don't want? Why prolong the inevitable?
"No…" she whimpered, realising that the metaphorical piece of Chaos within her might be a little more real than she'd suspected. "No, that isn't how I feel…"
"Most importantly of all, I've taken your self-confidence away." It seemed to be staring into her very soul now, the crimson eyes behind Megumi's burning away like torches. "The source of your power, gone. I've taken it all, Usagi…and soon, I shall take your very life as well."
Rinjirou pushed off with his feet and slid across the floor, but he was too slow. The back of his chestplate gave way with a metallic crunch, rent beneath the Black Death's claws. They sank into his flesh and tore a ragged path up across his shoulder blade. Blood began trickling down his side, the wet, sticky sensation immediately familiar.
Have to end this quick, he told himself, wincing in pain. Before I lose too much blood.
"Now, where have I seen this before?" The preacher's beak snapped shut with a menacing click. "Ah, yes. That's right. Your mother."
Rinjirou's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
"I finally took her down with a similar strike. My sword, of course, rather than my own hands, but…that doesn't really matter, does it?"
"You? You killed her?"
"I ended her for the Black, yes." The Black Death actually backed up a step, his ghastly form adopting an almost irritated stance. "I did my duty, Payne; something you seem to know very little about." His beak opened and closed, like he were considering his words. "She was far more impressive. Really put up a fight. I barely walked away myself." Now, his voice took on a mocking tone meant to hurt. "I remember now. Her only wish, in the end, was that I spare you and your father. I had every intention of doing so, too...until the fool stuck his nose in where it wasn't wanted."
"He…" Rinjirou felt something break inside. "You…?"
The Black Death laughed. A cold, mirthless chuckle born of cruelty and spite. "He died like a dog, you know. A dog. He begged me for mercy; cried at the thought of his poor, darling boy being left all alone."
He still loved me. His entire body coiled and trembled like a spring under tension. He loved me…and this monster took him from me.
"He was absolutely pathetic, Payne. Just like you."
Rinjirou had hated his father for years; blamed him for abandoning him in London with an uncle who didn't want him around. Distant in the wake of his mother's death, he'd finally learned the truth; his father was murdered by the very same Hunters he'd come to hate…and this monster in particular. A rage of a different sort began to grow within him, one such as he'd felt only once before; after trying to absorb a second Chaos Sliver. There was no mystery voice whispering in his head now, though. Only his own...and it was demanding he let the rage flow.
He coughed painfully, spitting a little blood onto the floor. "Tell me…again."
The monster's red eyes narrowed. "What?"
Rinjirou was kicked in the ribs for his trouble, but he used the momentum to roll onto his hands and knees. "Tell me again," he growled, as the rage continued to smoulder in his chest. "Tell me again how you murdered my mother and father!"
Solguard was close. He reached for it as the monster kicked him again, ignoring the crack as another rib gave way. His eyes darted to the preacher, and there…behind him…he saw a blazing figure. A man. Was this Hyperion, come to watch him fail?
Do it.
Rinjirou snatched up the blade and fell away, blocking the beast's deathblow just in time. He pushed back with his feet, creating valuable space between them, and scrambled to his knees. The voice he'd heard; it was familiar. Just like…
End it, Rin. End this miserable creature once and for all!
It was! It was her voice; his mother's voice! She was watching somehow, and he wouldn't disappoint her. He leapt to his feet, channelling all the pain and rage he felt at that moment into Solguard itself. The blade burst into flame as he turned back, confronting the bestial preacher head-on. "Come on!" he roared. "TELL ME AGAIN!"
The burning man was moving now, silver armour peeking out from beneath the flames; Justice! With a muted golden flash, he blinked out mid-stride and reappeared beneath the Black Death's aura. His sword gleamed the purest, brightest white Rinjirou had ever seen as it was driven deep into the monster's neck, sending a gout of blood spraying into the air. It landed on Justice's flame-wreathed armour, bubbling and hissing as it boiled away.
Rinjirou stepped forward with purpose, through the cloudy field of negative energy. It stung his eyes, his face; every fibre of his being. He forced his way through regardless, though, and finally made it; a scant few inches from the oily black feathers. Looking up, he saw those very same ruby eyes that had mocked him earlier. Now, though, he saw only pain, shock…and fear. Never breaking eye contact, he thrust forward with Solguard and buried it to the hilt in the Black Death's chest. The blade exploded, sending flame and ash up and out his beak and eyes, leaving blackened, empty holes in their place.
"My parents are smiling on me, you bastard," he snarled, "But you die alone. A failure."
The Black Death fell to his knees, Justice crashing to the floor beside him. His massive clawed hands scratched at Solguard in a last-ditch, futile display of panic. "But…Her love…" he croaked, a cloud of smoke rising from his throat. "It…sustains…me?" The last of the air left his lungs, and his bird-form collapsed in a cloud of ash. Dead again.
Rinjirou retrieved Solguard from atop it, and limped over to Justice. "Nice tackle."
"Nice thrust," the Guardian Knight retorted, accepting his hand. "Decent form…for an amateur."
"Oh, go to hell." He couldn't resist a brief, humourless laugh; likely the stress bleeding off.
"You did it!" A pair of cats darted out of the shadows; Luna in the lead, with Artemis right on her tail. "You defeated him. Or…it?"
Justice gestured to Rinjirou's bloody armour. "Are you okay, or…?"
"I'm fine." He bent to help one of his surviving Knights; Blain. "On your feet, soldier. We've got more work to do."
"With you, boss." The Texan's usual twang carried an underlying note of pain, but he hurried off to check on their comrades all the same. Truly a professional.
Rinjirou nodded towards the distant stairs as crimson light shone down from above. "Come on. We're ending this tonight. One way or another."
Justice fell in beside him. "I just hope we're not too late."
Pluto and Saturn joined Tuxedo Kamen in front of Sailor Moon. "You'll have to go through us first!"
New Moon squared up beside them, clutching the Spiral Heart Moon Rod tight. "That's right!"
"No, Chibiusa!" Moon cried, reaching for her. "It's too-"
"My name," said the younger Senshi, pulling away, "Is Sailor Moon…and it's my duty to defend the Silver Crystal as much as it is yours!"
"Look at her!" Chaos said with a cackle, stretching almost lazily. "She's braver than you at this point." Once again, its true form faded into view around Megumi's body. "How disappointing. After all that fire earlier, you've regressed entirely. This version of you isn't even worth my time."
Moon had no words. She could feel its presence within her, like it had grown exponentially in the last few minutes. Weighing her down; locking her in place. The doubt was almost tangible; her own voice mocking her from within, reminding her of past failures and a future unwanted.
It's hopeless…
Something struck her hard across the face; Sailor New Moon stared up at her, hand trembling after slapping her. "Snap out of it!" she snarled, eyes blazing with fury. "All my life I've heard stories about 'the mighty Sailor Moon'." Her voice softened slightly, mild regret on her face. "I finally got to meet you. Learn from you. I found a friend in you; my mother, only not...but this? This isn't you!" The pink-haired Senshi toughened up again. "I don't know what happened while I was gone, or why you're acting so…useless, but we're all counting on you and you need to get it together! You're Sailor Moon; start acting like it!"
"Chibiusa…" Mamoru almost sounded impressed.
Rubbing her stinging cheek, Moon stared down at her daughter - her future daughter - and it all fell into place. Maybe she wasn't ready to be queen, but…she had to be. If they fell now, there'd be no Crystal Tokyo. If there was no Crystal Tokyo...what did that mean for Chibiusa? This wasn't just about her. How had she ever forgotten that? If they were going to survive, if she was going to be the mother Chibiusa deserved...she had to stand up and fight.
"You're right." She guided the younger Moon aside and stepped forward, brandishing her Tiare. "I'm Usagi Tsukino. Sailor Moon. Princess Serenity, heir to the throne of the Moon Kingdom…and that is a terrifying thought. The truth is I'm not ready to rule the world. I don't think I even know how, but if the alternative is letting you win? I'll give up my own wants and desires and whatever else I must if it means stopping you." She glanced to New Moon, then to Mamoru. "This world will go on, because it must. I refuse to believe otherwise anymore."
"So, you aren't quite as cowed as I thought." The raven-like form of Chaos spoke now with Megumi's voice, but with an odd chorus of countless other voices both male and female behind it. In a strange turn of a events, it now sounded pleased. "No matter. You'll fall all the same. But first, as promised…your friends."
Moon shook her head, the Chaos within her beginning to weaken. "I won't let you hurt them anymore."
They scattered and attacked; Pluto and Saturn going right while Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, and New Moon went left. They went with their agreed upon 'strategy': split up and try to avoid its bigger attacks.
"Chronos Typhoon!"
"Death Reborn Revolution!"
Chaos took their hits in stride; the tornado-like blast hit it head-on as Saturn's razor-sharp ribbons cut through its form. It continued forward unabated, showing no real signs of damage. Tuxedo Kamen threw a hail of roses one after another that exploded in its chest, yet still it continued on unharmed.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!"
New Moon brought the Spiral Heart Moon Rod down, dropping a truly impressive magical heart on Chaos' head. Larger than anything the elder Moon herself had managed in her time, it remained ineffective; Chaos smashed through it, hands extended. A pair of crimson blasts surged out, curving through the air to target Pluto and Saturn. With a cry of alarm, the younger Senshi brought up her Glaive and leapt out to meet them.
"Silence Wall!"
Pluto began moving too, looking to pull her back. "No, Saturn! It's-"
The first ball struck, obliterating Silence Wall in an instant and enveloping Saturn in blazing negative energy. The second curled around her to hit Pluto; burned and bloodied, they collapsed limply to the floor.
"Let's see your fire!" the evil creature crowed, turning on Sailor New Moon. Its beak snapped open, more crimson light growing within.
Tuxedo Kamen darted in as the blast emerged, perhaps trying to tackle her out of the way…but they were both struck instead. Moon looked on, horrified, as he was propelled back by the impact with their daughter in his arms. A surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins, and she rushed to them in a blind panic. Two fingers to Mamoru's throat confirmed he had a weak pulse, and New Moon's chest rose slowly.
Chaos advanced slowly, methodically. Any trace of Megumi was gone now, swallowed up inside its nightmarish meld of bird, woman, and beast. "I made a promise, Usagi. You won't die until all your friends are gone."
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
Their attacks slammed into its back. It barely reacted, waving a a dismissive arm and sending plumes of violet flame back in response. Moon cringed at their cries of pain, but there was nothing she could do to help them now. She had to focus and wait for an opening. If she could just hurt Chaos a little, perhaps…
"Flame Sniper!"
Still prone herself, Mars received another blast for her trouble. Chaos took flight as she writhed in agony, crashing down on Mercury as she tried to rise.
"Look at you," it growled, turning on them each in turn. "Pathetic, every last one of you! You'd give up your own futures, your own growth and strength as individuals, and for what? Servitude! An eternity doomed as nameless servants; ladies-in-waiting to an ungrateful queen! Unfulfilled. Unimportant. Slaves by any other name! Where is your fire? Your heart? Your drive to be more?!"
There; it had drifted away from the Inner Senshi…and it was distracted! All her hopes for the future, her love for her friends and her family; Sailor Moon put it all into a single, last-ditch effort.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power!"
Her Tiare erupted in a beam of pure, pristine energy that burned away at Chaos' hideous form. For the first time since their arrival, it actually seemed to be struggling…but it was holding firm. She gave it even more, channelling her very soul into the blast, but it wasn't enough, and she eventually fell to her knees over Mamoru and Chibiusa, utterly exhausted.
"Bravo." Chaos returned to her, leaving her friends motionless in its wake. "There's the fire I expected. The defiance. A pity it came so late in the fight, when it really doesn't matter anymore." Its ruby eyes sparkled with obvious glee as it reached for her, a ball of angry, shimmering light growing between its hands. "Now, I'll have the pleasure of breaking you."
"Never," Moon wheezed, pushing back to her feet. She managed a few steps left, making sure to get clear from her downed family. "You can't."
Its beak hung open slightly in a malicious smirk. "I've had a thousand years to prepare for this, Usagi. I built a religion; forged an army and gorged myself on their fear and hatred for you. Now, I am more powerful than you and your little bauble could ever hope to be!" Chaos finally seemed angry, a much easier emotion to understand than its earlier disappointment. "Now, witness my full might, girl…and bow down to my power!"
It thrust its hands forward, unleashing a devastating blast like the one that had destroyed the shrine. It enveloped her completely, tearing away at her uniform and skin and hair. It burned without heat, cut without ever opening her skin; a sheer, intense pain beyond description. Every muscle in her body locked up. Every nerve screamed. Finally, mercifully, it faded away…and Moon fell to her hands and knees, trembling.
"And now, I fulfil my promise. One by one, your friends are going to die…and you're going to watch."
She inched forward, agonisingly slow, reaching for her Tiare. It was so close; frustratingly so! Her fingertips grazed its surface, trying to turn it closer…before Chaos stomped down on them. It took a moment to realise the scream was coming from her own throat, so frazzled was her mind. All the pain and damage done by Chaos' attack; she held up her hand, her index and middle fingers bent at disgusting angles.
"You see?" The evil creature bent slowly to retrieve the sceptre, inspecting it closely…before snapping it like a twig. "Broken. Just…like…you."
AN: Phew. It feels great to get this chapter out so fast after the last one! It helps that I've been planning this whole sequence for YEARS now, even since I started RotEK, but I'm relieved to get it out regardless. This is it, rock bottom for Sailor Moon and her friends. One more chapter to go, in theory...and a possible epilogue. I hope - and plan - to keep up the pace from here on out. A lot of the finale is outlined, but things can always change as I'm writing them! I only hope everything lives up to the story I've built over the last FOUR years, ever since I posted the first chapter of Order of Black back in April 2015.
Many, MANY thanks to everyone still reading, and especially though who have reviewed and otherwise given me feedback over this ridiculous journey. It's hard to believe it's almost over. Stay tuned, folks.
Lisseas