Chapter 8
Dark Castle
Part 1
Its been two days since Sol leaved the City of the Solar Children. Accompanied by no one but her living coffin, Elefan, Sol go straight to the Northern Mountains right after she left the Sol City... After washing all those blood stained clothes, of course.
Those two days worth of walking have paid off as she reached the portal Black was talking about. Looking up to the sky without the bright sun hurting her eyes, she saw a castle in the sky. Its much more higher than the Sol City though, but right now, she have to put all those fears away.
"Mother... Brother... I promise, I'll do what Father wanted... To bring you all back home."
And with that said, she raised her hand in the air. The portal below her feet glowed in crimson red color while her body was covered with a light as bright as the sun itself. The next thing she knows, she was flying to the direction of the castle above the sky.
Part 2
A sound of shattering glass covered the whole Dark Castle itself. All of the undead that exist on the said castle tried their best to hide from the angry queen's gaze. Everything on her reach and what she can see flew in the air and shattered in the floor.
"I can't believe this!" She roared while walking back and forth in the front of her throne. "All of the Immortals are gone and I can't reach Black! That pesky little brat!"
She continued her pace, without even bothering about those sharp glass on the floor. Looking down at the transparent floor below her, she could see the earth. But that's not what made her stop.
"I see... So she's still coming after all." Was her final words before a evil grin formed on her face.
Part 3
- Dark Castle -
- May 23, 9:20 AM -
- Time before sunset: 8 hours and 40 minutes -
Sol finally arrived in Dark Castle. To her surprise, the Dark Castle is actually located in the space, like a satellite between the earth and the moon. Because she was much more closer to the moon itself, she could feel her Lunar Child Blood got more stronger than she could imagine. But that's not what's bothering her.
"Why..." She asked herself. "Why this place looks so... Familiar..."
If her memory serves her right, this is the first time she reached a giant castle floating above the earth itself. But for some odd reason, the floor, walls and even the shape of the windows looks so familiar.
Sol tried to ignore all of it and continue walking on until she comes across a strange room. One that leads to a giant elevator and one leads to a stairs that lead to the underground part of the castle. Of course, she took the elevator. But once she took her first step inside, her eyes widen. Her Lunar Child Blood warned her about something. Something about someone who share the same blood as her. Without having a second thought, she ignore the elevator in the front of her and climb down the stairs instead.
Part 4
With continues running, Sol then realized why this place look so familiar. The stairs lead to the prison room, as in the same prison on her dreams where she saw the younger version of her brother and her mother. Upon opening the door, the smell of rotting bodies welcomed her making her cover her nose. She quickly ran on the only cell with light, hoping that her brother is still there.
However, as she take a look at the insides, she fall on her knees. Cressent was not there. The only clue that told her that Cressent do stayed there before is the torn light blue scarf lying in the ground near a violet lens that seems to be a Cloud Property lens. She grab both the scarf and the lens before staring at it for a moment. The scarf send out a faint purple glow like its reacting to her touch and the same feeling she felt in the front of the elevator returned. She cannot be wrong. This scarf is what her Lunar Child Blood detected earlier. The Moon Beauty's Moonlight Scarf.
"Brother..." She whispered, pulling the scarf closer to her chest.
Suddenly, she remember something. The cell in the front of Cressent's belongs to another person who is really important to her. She turned to the other cell and force her eyes to adjust in the darkness.
"Mother?" She called but she received no reply. "Mother, its me, Solana. Don't you remember me?"
There's still no reply behind her questions. But after a minute, she learned why she's not receiving any replies. Gritting her teeth, she stood up from her kneeling position and ran back to the elevator with Cressent's Moonlight Scarf still on her hand.
Both her mother and her brother weren't inside the cell.
Part 5
The elevator stopped humming as Sol faced the woman in the front of her. The woman is pretty tall, with bluish skin and black pointy hair pointing in three different direction. Her crimson red eyes darted at her but Sol still didn't took a step back or show any fear on her face.
"Oh what an unexpected surprise. First Ringo then after 20 years, Solana. Does the Dark Castle really that famous for the Solar Children?" The Queen asked but Sol didn't reply. "Tell me little girl, what to do want?"
"Where's my family?" She asked without removing her angry glare at her.
"Well, I believe Ringo is dead. Do you want to see him?"
"I'm talking about my mother and my brother."
"Oh! Them! Don't worry, I just took the sister that was supposed to be in our side."
"What?" Sol said with her eyes widen.
"You still don't know?" The Queen asked before she let out a loud laughter. "So you reached this far without knowing anything!? Maria is right! You really are a foolish ignorant girl. You just let your 'Father Sun' pull your strings and reach here without knowing a single thing. Tell me, Solar Girl. The Immortals that you defeated on your way up here... Do you really need to kill them?"
Sol didn't reply. That question never entered her thoughts even once. Muspell, Garmr, and Maria... Is it right that she killed them? She can't look at her directly on her face anymore. Rather, she just stared on the moon below the transparent floor.
"As I thought. You never know the answer. What if I say to you that your mother, Moon Beauty Mani, is right in the front of you right now?"
"NO!" Sol shouted and quickly pulled her Gun Del Sol. "I will never believe in that! I know mother. She wont do things like this!"
"Since when? Mani leaved you when you're still an infant, right? What if she doesn't love you that's why she leaved? When she disappeared, the number of undead rise, right? What if she's the one behind all of this Immortal attacks? Tell me, Solar Girl Solana, are my theories correct?"
"STOP IT!" She shouted in anger and fired a charged Solar Shot at the Queen's direction. Her attack, however, dissolve in the thin air when the Queen just touch it with her tentacle like hand. Sol gasped at this and bring her gun down.
"How..."
"There it is! The anger and the fear that I wanted to see in your face. It fits perfectly well to you than your father!" The Queen said with a laughter. "Solar Girl Solana... Your father did bring your name so close to Father Sun, huh? Well then, let me see if you are really worthy to be called in such name."
Without even changing her location, the Queen raised both of her tentacle like hands in the air. Out of nowhere, a familiar crimson colored smoke appeared below Sol's feet. She quickly rolled out of the way in order to dodge the crimson colored pointy rock that appeared below her. She could still remember this attack... In fact, how could she forgot an attack that made her run for her life right on the first day of her journey.
'Is that... Count's-!'
Putting that thoughts away from her mind, she continue to dodge the spiky rock that tried to stab her below while firing multiple Sol powered Solar Shot on the Queen's direction. However, like before, her attacks still dissolved in the air before it made contact with the Queen's skin. Sol gritted her teeth. This battle wont lead her to victory if it stayed like this.
The Queen lowered her right arm and the rocks were replaced by falling fireballs above her head.
'Muspell...'
As the fireball stopped, the temperature suddenly dropped and a strong blizzard blew her away from her location.
'Garmr...' She through while trying to fight the freezing temperature.
As the blizzards stopped, a purple orb shoot out in the front of her. Sol quickly reacted by forcing herself to roll out of the way.
'Maria's... She can use all the abilities of the four Immortals!?'
"Surprising, isn't? Also, I can do this." And with a flick of her arm, vines grew out from the ground and hold her legs, preventing her to escape. Sol used her sword to cut all those vines that hold her down but as she slash some, a new one will appear. "I think I should thank Gaea's Son for that ability."
"You... You thief! You're using the ability of others!"
"Oh... I don't like the choice of your words. How about I teach you a lesson then?" The Queen said and a giant black ball appeared on her arms.
She thrown it on Sol's direction and all the thing that the Solar Girl can do is to close her eyes and prepare herself for the pain.
Part 6
She wait...
She keep on waiting but for some odd reason, she felt no pain. Being curious, she slowly opened her eyes and gasped on what she saw.
On the front of her, there is Black of the West, using the blade of his sword to block the Queen's attack. Straightening his back, he swing the sword to the right side so the giant black ball will change its direction.
"Black...? Why...?"
"I see... Things are really happening like what my predictions told me."
"So you already predicted that I will turn my sword against you but you still made me as your right hand? Hmph! You're really strange for a Queen, Hel." Black said without changing the expression of his face. He reach out for the pocket of his jacket and pull out a purple piece of glass with the same design as the Gun Del Sol's lens. The Luna Lens.
"Wait." Sol finally entered the conversation as she stood up from her seat and watch Black put the lens on his sword "Is that... A lens of the- how did you get your hands on that?"
"Let him explain. He know everything since we met." And with that said, Black opened his hand in the front of Sol without removing his eyes on the Queen. A bright yellow light formed on his hands and when the light disappears, it revealed something or someone she was familiar with.
"Master Otenko!"
"Its good to be back to my old form. I thank you for that, Cress."
"Yeah right."
"Cress? Master Otenko, what's going on!?"
"I guess I should explain it to you then. Solana, I am not a human. I am a mare spirit sent down by Father Sun. When Maria turned me to stone back in Sol City, my spirit were absorbed by Black right after your battle. Black's Lunar Child Blood allow that to happen."
"L-Lunar Child Blood...?"
"Yes. The blood that he inherited from his mother - YOUR mother - Moon Beauty Mani. Black of the West and Moon Beauty Cressent is the same person." This statement made Sol gasp more. The person she's been looking for all the time is just right in the front of her.
"B-brot-"
"Save the reunion for later." Black cut her sentence out. "We still have someone to beat. Otenko, explain what she need to do."
"Right." He said and face quickly faced Sol. "Solana, the Queen of all Immortals, Hel, is not like the other Immortals that you defeat before. Your Gun Del Sol isn't enough so you need the help of the Pile Driver."
"Is that possible? I mean the Sun doesn't rise here and-"
"The sun might not be here but remember we are in space. There are no sunrise and sunsets here. By using the rays of the Pile Driver and my Solar Energy as an added strength to your Solar Gun, the Solar Shot might pierce through her body. We call this attack as Wild Bunch. And that's when Black came handy. He will try his best to protect both of us while we are trying to do the Wild Bunch."
"Hey. Don't talk like I'm a sort of personal security guard or something."
"Right. I get it now. Sorry, brother, but I think you have to bear with it for a bit."
"Alright then. If your ready, lets do this! TAIYOU!" And with that word shout, the transparent floor was covered with the mark of the Pile Driver. The four generators all pointed at Otenko's direction and when Sol pointed the Gun Del Sol on Otenko, the four generators shoot out their solar lasers until its forming a giant ball made of sunlight.
"To give up your title as a right hand of a queen to be a shield of an eleven year old kid. How low can you go, Black of the West?" The Queen, Hel, said with a terrifying glare.
"I do whatever I wanted. And I also don't remember signing as your right hand either." Was his reply without even showing any fear on his face.
Part 7
As the sunlight shoot out of the Pile Driver continue gathering on Otenko's body, Black and Hel continue to fight each other. The spikes on the ground keep on appearing under Black's foot as well as the falling fireballs above. Using his Lunar Child Blood, he tried his best to predict and locate where the attacks are going to land so he dodge it easily.
However, the tides of the battle is not on his side. Sure that he could easily dodge the spikes and fireballs but he cannot send a single attack to Hel. Everytime he dash forward and use his own sword to slash Hel, a vine will appear absorbing the attack or a petrifying ball will force him to cancel his attack. When he use his now purple colored Sonic Waves, the attack will dissolve in the thin air just like what happened to the Solar Shot of the Gun Del Sol.
For someone who surpasses both the Vampire Lord and the Solar Girl to be this powerless in the front of Hel, he sometimes thought if the Wild Bunch is enough to bring her down. But that question remained unanswered until Sol finishes her attack. Until then, he have to do something to buy time.
Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, Black tried to charge at Hel's direction while dodging the fireballs and spikes at the same time. He knew that this is not the first time he tried this attack and he also knew that he can fail once he make a simple mistake. But this time, he have to hit her no matter what.
"Are you really out of ideas that's why you're doing something that reckless?" Hel shouted with her voice echoing in the whole room.
Spreading both of her arms in the air, the blizzard and petrifying balls add up on his problems. Taking a deep breath, he withdraw his sword and transform to his wolf form. Using his new found speed, he can easily dodge the fireballs, spikes and the petrifying balls on his way while his thick fur give him temporary resistance to the blizzard.
He jump in the air and there, he revert back to his normal vampire body. He pulled his purple glowing sword once again and put all of his weight down causing him to land in the front of Hel. His downward slash leave a giant wound on her chest.
The Lens of the Moon, Luna, doesn't really meant to be used in violence. Even when equipped in the Gun Del Sol, it doesn't deal any damage. But when equipped on Black's sword, it can deal some damage but much more weaker than the lens of the Dark he usually use. And he knew that since the start. Her face that doesn't show any pain is a sign that it wasn't enough to beat her.
If he stick on the lens of the Dark, he wont be able to scratch her. But when he use the lens of the Moon, he can deal a very little damage to her. He finally face the truth. There is no way he can defeat the Queen of all Immortals alone. But today, he's not alone.
He could feel it using his heighten senses. There is something strong and warm right behind him. Letting out a small smirk, he quickly move out on the way by transforming into a crow and fly out of the way. Hel just stared at the giant Solar Shot about to fly on her direction.
"Wild Bunch!" Sol shouted and finally released the trigger of the Gun Del Sol.
Otenko released the giant Solar Shot and traveled through the Queen's direction. Hel only sigh and raised her right arm. The next thing Sol know before she bear a sharp pain is another giant crimson colored blast dissolve her Solar Shot.
Part 8
Sol slowly opened her eyes. Rubbing her head, she force herself to stand up. However, the scene in the front of her surprises her once again.
In the front of her there is a purple barrier with a mark that she haven't seen before. Black is right in the front of her like he was leaning on the purple barrier but there's something wrong with him. Black's hair is color chocolate brown however, right now, the front spike of his hair is color purple. Not only that, the color of his left eye seems to be more paler than the right one.
"B-black...?" Sol asked "What's happening to you?"
"Tsk... Looks like... I'm using my Lunar Child power for too much that my appearance even start to revert back." He said with a chuckle. That chuckle was later cut when he felt a sharp pain on his back as well as some strange force trying to break through the barrier. Concerned, Sol look behind her brother to see what is the source of the force.
When she laid her eyes on that something, she suddenly filled by terror. It was Hel but for some reason, her appearance are too different than before. She's in the form of something huge made out of countless bones. There are four giant arms made out of more bones with sharp ends. Sharp fangs stick out from her large mouth that seems to be enough to fit a human inside and her bloody red eyes staring at them.
"So you still can revert back to that form?" Hel asked in a rather deeper and bigger voice than before. The purple barrier behind Black slowly disappear as he faced Hel without any fear on his eyes. He just exchange glares with her while gripping the hilt of his sword tighter.
"I cannot revert back as Cressent as long as this vampire blood still flow inside my veins. And because of this, I cannot use my full power as a Moon Beauty. But this is what I'm going to say to you Hel. This little power I can use is enough for me to beat you."
"Is that so? Well then, show me how strong is that mixture of Solar, Lunar and Vampire blood of yours!"
"Brother..." Sol called not too loud but at the same time not too soft. Just enough for Black to hear. "Are you sure about this? I mean the Wild Bunch doesn't affect her on her first form and now-"
"I know what do you mean." He replied without even looking at her. "You just have to trust me. Start the Wild Bunch again."
"But bro-"
"Do it."
It takes a minute for Sol to reply. She just keep on staring at the mark of the Pile Driver below her foot and keep of listening to the silent hum of the generators. Hel is actually starting to attack them using her giant hands made of bones but Black, still using Cressent's powers, block them all by summoning the same purple shield in the front of them. A minute have pass on, Sol finally rise her head and look directly at his brother's now mismatched eyes. He cannot see the trace of fear on her face anymore. Rather, he sees a strong and determined Vampire Hunter.
"Alright. I'll trust you."
And with that decision made, she ran back to the middle of the Pile Driver and start gathering the sunlight laser the generators shoot using Otenko and her Gun Del Sol.
Part 9
Hearing the humming of the Gun Del Sol, Black swayed his hand to the right, making the purple barrier slowly disappear. With the barrier out of the way, one of Hel's four giant hands prepare to stab him. He didn't move out of the way. He keep on waiting for the sharp ends of those bone hands met his skin. As their distance grew closer and closer, he finally let his sword release a blinding purple light. He slashed the hand that was preparing to stab him. With just simple movement, the giant arm turned to dust.
"W-what the-!?" Hel said in disbelief.
For the first time, someone actually destroyed a part of her body especially on this form of hers right now. No one ever made her body crumble like this. No one... Except for this young 14 years old vampire boy with the blood of both Sun and Moon.
Just how many humans did she already killed? Thousand perhaps? She practically memorized the step on killing a human being. Every single Immortal obey her and no one dared to stand up in the front of her. But that al changed when she saw a certain prediction years ago. She never realized that one of this day, this vampire she ordered to create might turn his sword in the front of her face. When she saw that prediction, she make sure that she can easily beat him when that day arrived.
And today is that day. Black of the West is right in the front of her, using the blood he inherited from his mother, her sister. Glowing in all purple while holding his sword and walking near her in such a relaxed manner. This is not what she expected to be. To be outmatched by someone born in her own orders.
She have to kill him. She don't know how but she have to kill him. Rising her remaining three arms, she used it to stab him or grab him. But before those hands can even touch his skin or even his clothes, he will do an extremely fast movement to cut her hands. In less than a minute, all of her hands made from bones already dissolved in the air. Clicking her tongue, she opened her mouth and a black ball start to form from it. Its just like before but this time, its much more larger. He know there is no way to counter that. Even Sol's Wild Bunch wont pierce through that black hole like attack. Is this the end?
... No. It can't end like this. If that idea work, then they can win using only one bullet of the Wild Bunch. Black quickly ran near Sol and spread his right hand near the tip of the Gun Del Sol itself. This action, of course, made the Solar Girl curious.
"Black? What are you doing?"
"No time to explain. Just don't stop." Was his reply.
Sol had absolutely no idea on what her brother is doing. But once she look at the bullet of the Wild Bunch, she get it why. The purple light that was covering Black's body start to transfer on the bullet itself. The Wild Bunch look more bigger with a color of mixed yellow and purple.
"NOW!" Black shouted at the same time Hel released the black ball from her mouth. Instantly, Sol let go of the trigger and fired the Wild Bunch directly at the black ball.
The two attacks keep pushing themselves back and forth for some time. But in the end, the bullet of the Wild Bunch pierced on the black ball and even on Hel's face.
"Ho- How could this be!?" Hel's voice as well as her scream of pain can be heard. "You... You beat me!?"
"It is not the power of the Solar Girl or the Moon Beauty that defeated you." Otenko started "It is the power of bond. Bond that cannot be broken even many years already pass on. The bond that cannot be broken even if they clash multiple times. The bond of being a family. That bond is what makes even the weakest attack pierce through the strongest enemy. And that bond is forever guided by..."
"Our Sun!" Black and Sol said in unison as they watch Hel's body crumble into dust.
Part 10
As Hel's body disappear, both Sol and Black can see a holographic like image start to form in the front of them. Slowly, the image start to get clearer and clearer. It was in a form of a lady. She had a long purple hair and a pale red eyes wearing a light purple dress. Sol cannot be mistaken. Even if she only see the woman only at her dreams, she's sure about her identity.
"Mother!" Sol called and tried to hug her mother. But like what happened in her dreams, her body just pass through her like she's a hologram.
"Thank you, Solana, Cressent..." Mani said, looking on both of her children."Thank you for correcting my mistakes. Your father, and the good times that we shared together... And the happiness that you children gave me... I never regret anything about it."
"Mother..." Sol softly called without noticing a tear already dropped from her eyes.
"Be strong, Solana. This is only the start of your journey. Cressent, promise me you'll look after your sister, alright?"
"I will."
"I maybe gone. But remember, as long as the moon shines, I'm always there... watching over you two." And with that said, Mani start to fade, leaving the siblings and Otenko alone in the Dark Castle.
Part 11
"So... What's going to happen here now that the Queen is gone?" Sol asked, wiping the tears on her face.
"I don't know. Maybe it just float here in space until someone tries to use it or something." He replied.
"Anyway, brother can I ask a question?"
"What is it?"
"You see… about the Luna lens… where did you get that?"
"This?" Black asked, looking at the purple lens equipped on his sword. "I don't know. I can't recall much memories when I'm still Cressent so I cannot tell you how. But when I first woke up , this lens is already on my sword."
"Wait!" Otenko finally joined the conversation. "That sword… is that… Guardian!?"
"Guar- what again?"
"Guardian weapon! A weapon that can be used by someone who actually reached the 99th floor of Azure Sky Tower and beat the tower's guardian! Black, did you actually climbed that tower?"
"Like I said, I can't remember much when I'm still Cressent so I cannot tell you the answer." He replied while crossing his arms. "Anyway, since the Queen is gone, the portal that we used to arrive here might also stop working. How are we supposed to go back?"
"I got an idea." Sol said as she searched inside her pocket. There, she pulled out a small leaf that for some odd reason, not rotten yet. "Lito gave this to me before I leaved the Solar Tree few days back. He said this will bring us back to the Solar Tree in Istrakan."
"Gaea's Son, huh? I wonder if he will forgive me."
"Don't think that way! I'm sure he will forgive you when I say that you are my brother!" Was her reply before she hold both Otenko and her brother's hands.
"Let's go. Bring us to the Solar Tree!"
With a burst of light, the three where transported back to the Solar Tree in Istrakan.
A/N: Yes! I remembered to update!
We are just one chapter away from the ending!