Chapter 7

Light versus Shadow

Part 1

"Black of the West..." Sol whispered his name. She send out a glare directly at the Vampire's crimson red eyes while holding her Gun Del Sol as tight as she could. With her index finger pulling the trigger, the gun produce a yellow colored Solar Shot on its tip. The Solar Shot wasn't moving. Rather, its just gathering more and more energy from the battery and waiting for Sol to release the trigger.

"I already warned you before." He said without any fear on his expression while watching the Solar Shot on the tip of the Gun Del Sol grow. Gripping the hilt of his sword, he pointed it on the direction of the Solar Girl. The metal plating just above the piece of glass moved to the middle of the blade itself. "Now you will pay for everything you have done until today." He continued as the plate of glass glowed in crimson red color as well as the strange mark warping the sword itself.

A small crimson and black colored ball start to form from the tip of his sword. As the ball grew larger and larger, Sol could feel that its starting to suck her in like a black hole. With one arm holding the ground, she pointed her Gun Del Sol at the black hole's direction and finally let go of the trigger.

The gun let out a silent yet noticeable roar after the Solar Shot was fired. The attack pushed Sol one meter behind. The Solar Shot rip the black hole like hot knife through butter before it explode down to countless pieces of amber colored orb with wings. Rising her Gun Del Sol in the air, the amber colored traveled to her direction and absorbed by the gun. She could feel the battery of the gun being refreshed as the amber colored orb enter the tip of the gun.

Sol looked in the front of her and to her surprise, Black is right in the front of her with her sword ready. Using her quick reflexes, she quickly grab her sword and used its blade to shield herself from the upcoming attack. The swords made contact with each other and yellowish sparks appeared due to the force. Sol gritted her teeth. Black push his sword too strong for her to block using just one hand. She then used her other, which is holding the Gun Del Sol, to support the blade. With her full force, she pushed Black making him jump from behind.

Black landed on his feet but quickly charge at her again. The Vampire Prince and the Solar Girl keep on exchanging their attacks and dodging each other's swords with a quick movements. Their attacks never hit even once on the two of them. Everytime their blade met and clash, small yellowish sparks can be seen, signaling that every attack they sent can easily cut one of their misfortunate body parts.

Since Black is a vampire, he got the advantage when it comes to speed and strength. He can easily dodge Sol's blade and Solar Shots by just moving his neck and bending his knees. Meanwhile, Sol's having a hard time to counter. Bullets of sweat were falling from her cheeks and her silent pant can be heard. During this battle, she's using her sword as a shield to block Black's attacks and tries to use the Gun Del Sol everytime she saw an opening. But boy, Black is just too fast that it seems that he can can dodge the Solar Shot before it even left the gun.

Gritting her teeth, she slammed the sword on his direction with all her strength. Of course, Black blocked with his own sword supported only with just one hand. Sparks shoot out from both of their sword as it made contact but there is something wrong. As she look at Black face, she notice something. On her vision, his hair suddenly shifted from chocolate brown to purple and his eyes gets a little lighter.

She quickly stop her attack and they both jumped backwards, making a 20 meters distance between them. Sol rub her eyes using sleeve and looked at Black once again. For some reason, he still maintain his brown hair and crimson red eyes.

'What was that just now?' She asked herself but quickly shake her head, trying to get the thoughts out of the way.

She tried to keep focused on the battle. She stared at Black once more but when her sapphire blue eyes made contact with her, she saw a crimson sonic wave travelling so fast on her way. The crimson sonic wave are way more faster than her reflexes. She tried to dodge the sonic wave but it was too late.

"ARGH!" Her shouting voice echoed in the whole Sol City itself.

The sonic wave hit her right shoulder and her blood squirt out, painting their battle field with her Solar Child Blood. Surprisingly, her body is bleeding but there is not even a single scratch or torn on her leather armor. She fall down to her knees, gripping her shoulder like she's trying to grab the sharp pain away. Glancing her gaze to the Vampire Prince, she gasp after seeing another sonic wave on her way. Forcing herself to stand up, she quickly rolled out of the way, dodging it. She grab the Gun Del Sol and fired another charged Solar Shot at Black's direction. Black use the blade of his sword to shield himself but when he put his sword away from his eye level, he saw Sol already gone.

"Are you running away? You do know that I can smell your blood whenever you go." He said, making sure that the Solar Girl can hear it no matter where she is. Taking a deep breath, he start to walk slowly, trying to locate the source of the strong smell of blood.

Part 2

She keep on running. She doesn't care if she's losing her direction on the maze like interior of the Sol City. All she had in mind is she have to get away. The pain haven't disappear. In fact, she could feel that its getting worse the more she took her step. Unable to take it anymore, she lean on the stone wall right beside her with one of her eyes closed.

Removing her Crimson Scarf out of the way, she found the zipper of her leather armor. Pulling it down, she check her wound that keep on getting on her way. Her eyes widen right after she saw the wound on her body.

"How...?" She asked herself.

The wound on her chest is so darn big. Starting from her right shoulder, all the way down to the left side of her stomach. No wonder it felt so painful. Blood stemming out from her wounds like a river and it keep staining the black shirt she wear underneath her armor.

'His attacks pierce through the body without tearing up the clothes... But it can blow up walls and cut the ground... So this is why he's feared by the civilians...'

Sol removed her long crimson scarf and tried her best to tie it down to her wounds. Everytime the cloth made contact to her wounded skin, she let out a low growl of pain. It may not be the best but at least just now, she have to stop the bleeding. She have to find a way to defeat and purify Black.

After lowering down her shirt, her insides told her to quickly change her location. She don't know why she felt like that but she have to if she wanted to stay alive. Even with all those pain, she force herself to dash out of her current location.

Another crimson colored sonic wave tear off the wall she was leaning earlier. Not only that, it also leave a large hole in the ground, making the rocks fall to the ground. Looking at the source of the attack, she can see Black, holding his sword with both of his hands. Surprise painted the Solar Girl's face before she continue to run away from his sight.

Black only stare at the direction she ran. Then, out of nowhere, black wings made of Dark Matter appeared on his back. Jumping a bit, he dashed on the direction where she ran, ready to stab his own sword to her body. Sol managed to block this by using her own sword as a shield. As their sword let go of each other, the ground Sol was standing start to shake. Turns out, she was stepping on the express elevator. The elevator pull her up, leaving Black from below.

Part 3

Sol gasped for air as she sat on the platform that pull her to the highest part of Sol City. It's a relief that she still managed to escape to him for a short period of time. But the thing that was bothering her is when she got to the top. Black can easily catch up with her without waiting for the elevator and up there, there is no way she could run.

The wind blow can be heard as well as the humming of the platform elevator. But something's bothering her. Why does the wind felt so cold? Wind during the day doesn't feel this cold. Unless...

Raising her head up to meet the light, her eyes widen. The elevator finally stopped and she quickly look at the sky high view of the whole Istrakan. It's already dark. The sun already sets.

'This is bad! The sun sets and there's no way I can defeat him with the Gun Del Sol's remaining battery!' She thought. But that the thought escaped her mind when she felt a presence behind her.

She quickly pulled out her sword and use it to block the incoming attack. Black was there, with his black wings spread wide and still hovering in the air. Because of the sharp pain she felt, she accidentally lowered her guard down, making him gain the upper hand. She use every piece of her remaining strength to push him out of the way, and there, they keep on exchanging attacks.

Like before, non of them were hitting each other. But as their swords clash, Sol was taking one step backwards, until they hit the room near the door of Maria's room. Sol wasn't used to use her left hand when it comes to sword and there is no way for her to use her right arm. Because of this, when Black charged at her, the sword slipped on her hands and stabbed on the wooden door.

'Great...' She cursed inside her head.

She notice Black charging at her for another attack. Forcing herself, she managed to dodge it and pull out her Gun Del Sol. However, she didn't notice another crimson sonic wave at her direction.

Her scream once again echoed on the whole Sol City as she accidentally let go of the gun on her hand and it dropped not to far from her current location. She lie on the puddle of her own blood to the ground, gripping her chest as tight as she could. Tears automatically form on her eyes as it dropped to the ground. Her wound now turned double, and it can form an X mark once it was healed... If she could survive it.

Glancing upward with her tear stained face, she sent out a glare at Black, who was walking near her direction.

"This is it?" He asked "This is the power that killed the two Immortals and two Guardians? You didn't even lay a single scratch at me, but you're already dying there."

She didn't reply and just watching their distance got closer and closer. Is this the end? Will she ever survive? Looking at her left, she still could see her Gun Del Sol lying on the ground. No. There is a way.

Despite the pain, she forced herself to roll to the location of the gun and grab it with her left hand. She pulled the trigger, making a charged shot but when she pointed it at Black, she was immediately welcomed by the tip of his sword pointing at her neck.

"Fire it. Lets see which one is the quicker. That Gun Del Sol of yours or my sword cutting your head." He said.

She didn't reply. All they can hear is her heavy breathing and the sound of the Gun Del Sol while its gathering energy. Her hands start to tremble and her eyes start to close on its own.

'No! Sol, just one shot! Keep it up!' She shouted on her head but her body didn't listen. Her vision went blank because of all the blood she lost. She could feel her body dropped on the cold floor. Before she lost her consciousness, she could hear the sound of her gun slowly fading away.

'I'm sorry, father... It looks like... I can't reach your level after all...'

Part 4

Black stared at the unconscious body of the Solar Girl in the front of her. Her chest still slowly rising and falling as she took her breath. She's still alive. Looking at his sword, he could see a patch of blood on the blade. It was obviously hers. Instead of using a piece of cloth to wipe it away, he just lick the blood staining his sword. But once the red liquid met his taste bud, he quickly pulled out.

It's not like her blood doesn't taste good. Actually, the blood of the Solar Child is considered to be the most delicious blood to all vampires. But for some odd reason, it felt so... Foreign yet familiar.

"Tsk. I can't believe I'm doing this..." He whispered to himself and use one of his sonic wave attack to destroy the roof. The beautiful full moon welcomed both of them like its just taking a peek from above.

Glancing on the Solar Girl, he push her body a little so she could lie on her back and expose her wound in the moonlight. He keep on waiting. And finally, after a minute of waiting, he breath out a sigh of annoyance.

"Do I really need to do everything for you?" He asked again.

Black opened his hand, making sure the moonlight will hit it. Out of nowhere, a green orb with wings form on his hand and it start to examine his whole body.

"No, no, Tsuki, not me." He said and pointed at Sol's unconscious body. "Her."

When the green orb saw Sol's body, it immediately multiply and start healing her wounds. He watched her for a minute before changing on his crow form and leave.

Part 5

Dark... It's way too dark... She couldn't see anything. There is no source of light anywhere. Sol opened her eyes and instead of the stone walls of Sol City, she was welcomed by the eternal darkness. She felt no pain for some odd reason but she is lying on the ground in the same position she fall during the battle with Black a while ago.

"Am I... Dead...?" She asked with a rather terrified voice.

She tried to move her body. She wanted to know where on earth she was. Couple of attempts later, she finally moved her arms. Using her arms, Sol sat up to the ground and look at herself. It's odd... No blood stains, no scar, no nothing. Its like that clash with Black never happen at all. The only thing that bother her is her weapons are gone. Not only that, her leather armor, helmet and boots are also gone, leaving her only with her black sleeveless shirt and the usual grey skirt she wears.

She stood up from her seat and once she took a step, her body suddenly glowed in a bright yellow colored light. She freaked out at first but she noticed that she can use this light to find where she is. Walking a short distance, she start to tell where she is. It looks like she is in some kind of prison. Every cell contain rotting dead bodies of humans. Some of them have missing body parts, some still have some noticeable scar all over their body. But one thing is for sure... They all died all chained up.

She suddenly felt scared on the sight. Were Immortals really treat humans this way? Just imagining what these humans have gone through when they're still alive makes her stomach twist. She lean in to one of the walls and fall on her knees, hugging herself.

'Why...?' She asked herself.

There is no one alive in this place. Only her. Or maybe not. She might just be a spirit the Sun sent to this miserable place. To see what Immortals do to humans before she goes to heaven. She doesn't know anymore who she was. Hugging her knees, she began crying.

'Great... I'm gone. The only one who can stop the Immortals is gone... Because of my stupid failure, everyone is affected... Its all my fault, Damn it!' Sol keep on cursing herself inside her head. More tears flow from her eyes to her knees. But something stopped her.

A sound of rattling chains.

Curious, she stopped crying and wipe her tears away. She stood up from her seat and follow the rattling sound. There, on the western part of this prison, there is one cell that was illuminated with light. Or the only cell illuminated with light. Without having a second thought, Sol ran on the cell's direction.

She stopped running and stared at the person inside it. The sight of that person is enough to make her gasp. A young boy. There is a young boy inside, with both hands and legs chained up. His messy purple hair rest on the cold floor as he lay there unconscious under the light of the full moon. She cannot tell the eye color of the said boy but the light blue torn scarf, which is stained with blood for some reason, is enough for her to recognize who is he even if she only see him once.

"Cressent..." She whispered his name.

Naturally, he didn't reply. His chest keep on rising and falling as he took his breath. She was happy that she finally saw the person she was looking for but for some odd reason... Why Cressent look so... Young? Sure he is three years older than her but on his appearance, he looks like he's still eight years old. She wanted to touch him. But when she does, her hand only went through his body like she's nothing more than a hologram.

"Oh yeah... I'm already dead..." She whispered in a depressed tone.

Suddenly, the same rattling sound that brought her here rang on her ears once again. This time, the sound was so clear and its coming from the cell in the front of this one. Sol slowly turn her head behind, preparing who it was but the darkness wont let her see anything clearer. The only thing that she could see on the other cell is a woman and her long purple bangs. She keep on struggling, trying to break free from the chain on her wrist and her legs. Sol could see her open her mouth and finally she spoke.

"Cressent... Please wake up, my son..." This words made Sol's eyes widen.

She walked on the next cell, trying to use the light of her body to see her mother's face for the very first time. However, even with her light, she still cannot see her face.

"Cressent, please..." She keep on talking to the unconscious boy. "Its been a year already, please wake up..."

"A-a year!?" She gasped. 'Brother is asleep for a year!? What happened?'

Her question never got any answers as the door slammed open, catching her attention. She stood up from her seat and stare at the person who opened the door but once she saw the face of that person, she let out another gasp. Oh how she wish she had the Gun Del Sol to shoot him again in the face!

That someone opened Cressent's cell and remove the chains on his wrist and feet. He grab the young boy through his jacket and his scarf fall on the ground.

"Where are you taking him, Count!?" their mother shouted, watching the Count drag Cressent's body like some sort of garbage.

"A place where you don't have to know." Was his only reply before he walked away.

Sol wanted to chase after him. She wanted to punch him in the face. But when she took her first step, her body lost its light and she began to float in the air.

"No! Wait! Don't!" She keep on shouting but her spirit body still follow light behind her.

Part 6

Her eyes shoot open when the light touched her. She quickly sit up on the ground, panting heavily like she just had a nightmare.

'The Count... He's still alive...?' She thought and grab her forehead. Only to realize the metallic headband on her fore head. 'Huh...?'

Sol looked around her. Its not as dark as before and she's not in the prison. Rather she is inside the Sol City. The exact same place where she collapsed. She quickly examine herself and her surroundings. Dried blood every where, her sword stabbed on the wooden door and her Gun Del Sol rest on her left hand. All of her wounds were gone and there is no single scar on her body. The only thing that prove that the battle with Black does happen is her shirt and crimson scarf covered with dried blood.

"A-a dream...?" She asked and looked above to see the full moon. She smiled on the beautiful view above her. "So I'm still alive! The Lunar Bugs must heal my wounds or something... But... If he is an Immortal, why he doesn't kill me at the first place?"

Sol stood up to get her sword from the wooden door of Maria's room. Upon standing up, a piece of paper fall down to the ground catching her attention. She grab the paper and open it, only to find a letter inside.

'Sol City cannot tell you anything anymore. If you wanted to know everything you want, visit the Dark Castle. A portal in the northern mountains should take you there. I'm warning you again, you'll face someone far stronger than me if you go there. The choices is in your hands. - Black of the West' It was written on it.

"That dream... Don't tell me that's what Count means that I can learn more beside brother?" Sol asked herself while staring at the letter on her hand. Shaking her head a little, she finally decided.

Otenko may not be there by her side. There is no one who can guide her starting from now. Grabbing her sword and her Gun Del Sol once more, she leaved the Sol City and aim for the mountains in the north.

She will go to the Dark Castle.

A/N: sorry for not updating this for a while.

I said in the first chapter it's updated weekly but at this point its like whenever I remembered it...

anyway, trivia time~

- There's supposed to be a part 7 where Solana will use the Solar Leaf and go back to the Solar Tree to say goodbye to Lito. But I got too lazy and i think its another drama...

- on the first manuscript, Black should be joining Solana as a replacement for Otenko but she will never realize that they are siblings until they met the Queen. Changed since I suddenly realized that it would be boring...

Tsuki means "moon" in case you don't know...

anyways, we are like 3 chapters away from the ending. so umm... I still can't say when will I upload the next chapter but I promise I upload it~