Chapter 18: Flash of Conviction. The Nails in the Coffin?

No more. No more sleep would sate Logan. His eyes were wide as he was resting on the same white slab of stone. He had a tear roll from his eye. The inky woman came from the dark water and caught the tear off of his cheek. It hurt. The tears that came now and again tormented the young man. He felt stronger yet he never had felt so damn weak. The woman had named herself Oscura. She whispered in his ear,

"What's wrong, my dear? Don't you like me anymore?"

He pushed her away back until she fell back into the water. He looked at her with such detest knowing that Maka was probably giving up on him. He said loud enough to echo,

"Leave me alone. No I don't like you. I'm not in any mood for you to be touching me. I just wish I could see Maka again."

"You are seeing Maka now. Your madness is going to fight her. It was all my doing. She is your greatest weakness. I will use you to kill all of your weakness."

Logan shot up and grabbed her by the throat and pulled her up and out of the water with his eyes enraged at the very thought of a scratch on Maka,

"Don't you DARE! I'll kill you right here and now!"

"You can't kill me. I am a part of you. I am you. Besides you couldn't kill the one you hold so dear to your heart."

Her face and body changed to resemble a form of Maka with black hair. Logan's eyes widened as his grip loosened. With the brief moment, Oscura had grabbed his wrist twisting it behind his back and slamming him into the cold stone with his head just above the dark, infinite liquid. Her new voice was mixed between her own voice and Maka's,

"Now why don't you be a good boy and watch her die? I'll show you every little detail, and if you don't watch, I'll drown you in this black blood."

"Black blood? So that's what you are. You are my madness. You are what I should have avoided. But how? How did you invade my mind?"

"Soul Resonance. Your bond with Maka made her madness spread to you. But with your certain…impurities, I invaded you faster than I had thought. I know everything about you. Even about what really happened to poor little Rose.

"Shut up! Shut up damn you! I swear I'll end yo-"

She plunged his head into the water holding him by his hair. Logan trashed his body around yet couldn't come up from his position. She finally pulled him back up and he couched and coughed while she licked up the side of his neck,

"Now be quiet and look deep into the void that is your darkness."

Maka gazed upon this transformation of Logan. She tried to call out but her whimpering had stopped her voice from coming out. She was glad yet terrified that he was there. Soul was silent and the others were ready for anything that could come. Logan put out his hand and all of his friends created a circle to brace themselves against whatever might come their way. As they blinked he was gone. They searched the room to find him yet no trace of him was found. Maka felt the same safe arms wrap around her as well as warm black feathers.

As she fell into comfort Soul and the others screamed her name. The black sword went for her neck. She used Soul to block him just in time. The group jumped back as he lifted the sword and swung it in a complete circle around his head. The air was still yet with swing the sword only once and not even made contact with a single person the air ripped apart cutting at everyone around Logan multiple times. Stein was able to block most of them but his students weren't prepared for an attack like the one he unleashed. They gathered again in a circle as Kid spoke to the Professor,

"What the hell was that? He barely moved. There is no way he was able to move that fast."

"You're right Kid. He didn't even shift his feet. That was a technique called Soul Shredding. It is a risky technique that only advanced miesters can use. When he swung the sword he struck with his soul turning it into multiple blades throwing it off of a single strike. The reason it is so risky is it throws off the balance of one's wavelength. It can literally tear one's soul apart and kill the user."

Logan was soon jumped by Blackstar, assuming that his wavelength was distorted and it would serve as a great time to counter attack. He swung his ninja blade directly at the young man's throat. Even though he should have been able to hit him, A black spike extended and caught Blackstar's shoulder. A nail coated in black blood was the spike that had pierced Blackstar's skin. Each nail was now another weapon.

Blackstar's arm was limp to his side and bleeding as Tsubaki called to him. Blackstar called his enchanted sword. He joined the others as Stein kept them close,

"We need to get stronger. Soul Link Resonance everyone."

Everyone listened and the souls became one. With all the powerful souls combined Logan Laughed out,

"Now things are getting interesting! Let's see if you can pull through with your attacks. Hit me! Fight me! Hurry! Hurry! Hit me!"

His voice growled as he finished his sentence. Kid was up first.

"Death Cannon: Grim Sever!"

His Death Cannon was now Black and red with chains that shot into the ground keeping him in place,

"I'm sorry Logan. I didn't want to use this against you. Now…fire."

The shot ripped across the ground spiraling together into an energy drill. Logan stood in place as the blast collided with him. Kid detached the chains and twitched as he thought he had killed him. A blaze had engulfed the spot where the energy had exploded. Liz had called out to Kid as he fell to his knees, not feeling Logan's soul anymore,

"He didn't even….move. Damn it, I didn't mean to…Damn it!"

His gaze quickly returned to the flames as they parted when the wings split the blood red fire. He stepped out of the crater laughing. Logan dusted himself off welcoming the next attack. Blackstar stepped up with only one arm he was able to use,

"My turn now. Shadow Star!"

Black whips rose up and wrapped Logan and pulled him out of his stance. Blackstar took his chance,

"Shadow star: Bushido's End!"

He moved in an instant cutting across Logan. With a smile Logan grabbed his throat halfway through the cut,

"You have to put feeling behind your attack. If you aren't ready to kill me, then don't act. That was hesitation I felt when you moved. You didn't even scratch me."

He dug his finger into his shoulder wound twisting and turning it inside. The choking boy wasn't even able to scream as Logan held him suspended in the air.

"You hurt don't you. Nothing you can do to stop me. I'm more than a big man like you can handle. Get out of my sight!"

Blackstar hit the ground hard in front of Crona. He stepped out as he was batted aside as Stein was also thrown aside. The only one left was Maka. Could she really fight the one she loved? She looked him it the eye as the other lay crumpled and beaten on the ground. He lifted his sword and was shot in the side of the face. He turned with a small cloud of smoke flowing from his cheek. Ethan was standing with Patty in his hand and tears rolling down his cheeks,

"They might have second thoughts about killing you. But for what you have become if I have to end you big brother, I will. You are the only family I have left; don't make me put you down."

"Ethan. You can't destroy me. I have always been stronger than you. You lack the CONVICTION! Scream Resonance: Blackout Wave!"

His blade ignited in jet black energy. His wicked laughter erupted and a madness tremor ran through the ground. Ethan resonated with Patty and pointed the gun at Logan.

"Soul Resonance: Flash of Conviction!"

As Logan unleashed his attack Ethan lowered patty and threw her to the side, parting his arms and closing his eyes. Patty transformed back to her normal self and let out a blood curdling shriek,

"ETHAN! NO!"

Ethan was swallowed by the attack in an instant.

Logan hung his head over the black blood weeping and screaming. He couldn't hear himself letting out the noise from his throat, but his throat was vibrating and his mouth was open. The woman held him in place and was laughing in Logan's ear.

Sorrow finally embraced Logan and his scream ended in a heartbreaking sob.