FINAL FANTASY
PATH OF DARKNESS
Chapter Five
Plot Of Atrum
Atrum stood still as a statue, his blade was held firmly in his hand as he faced Sephiroth, who was becoming thoroughly annoyed by his inability to kill Atrum. Sephiroth had anticipated an easy victory. Little had he known that Atrum had also
been holding back. The duel had been fast and furious, for anyone watching the two would have been nothing but a blur. "I thought you were going to end it." Sephiroth taunted. "I did, but not in the way you were expecting." Atrum
said arrogantly.
Sephiroth snarled angrily and rushed forward with a series of thrusts with the Masamune, which Atrum turned aside with several quick parries. Atrum quickly retreated slightly then advanced with a mighty overhead chop that Sephiroth blocked
with only slight difficulty. The two broke apart and faced off.
Atrum suddenly froze, then a frown spread over his face as he merely said "They survived." "Who survived?" Sephiroth asked. Atrum turned his head once more towards Sephiroth and said "Its none of you're concern, we shall meet again."
Then Atrum snapped his fingers and vanished in a swirl of green lights which quickly dispersed. Sephiroth glared hatefuly at the spot where Atrum had stood, but quickly focused on more important things.
Such as finding Rinoa. Without her he would be trapped in this world for a very long time. Sephiroth looked around at the eery trees surrounding him. Then he lifted into the air and flew off.
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Cloud looked around himself quickly as they re-emerged in a somewhat dark setting. They seemed to be inside a medeavil courtyard with stone walls on all sides supported by massive stone pillars. Lightning flashed in the sky as a steady downpour of rain hammered them and dark grey clouds blocked the sun. Squall also looked about, Aeris was the only one who did'nt seem very concerned about the possibility of danger.
"Ok i have only one question that should be relatively easy to anwser. What the hell was that thing that just tried to kill us?" Squall asked in a very impatient tone. Before Cloud or Aeris could anwser a voice said "That was the Omni WEAPON."
The trio whirled towards the voice to find the man who had confronted Cloud and Squall on arrival standing there. "You!" Cloud snarled drawing the Tsurugi and bringing it in front of him. Squall drew his weapon as well and moved
beside Cloud while Aeris stood back casting a confused look on the man. "Atrum Posterus at you're service, though i must admit i am suprised you two are still alive." Atrum droned in an emotionless tone.
Aeris stepped forward and said "That voice seems so familiar, i wonder why."
Atrum inclined his head slightly and said in a respectful tone "A pleasure to meet you, Aeris."
Aeris gasped and asked "You know my name?" Atrum smirked, though it was hard to tell as most of his face was hidden in the shadow of his cloaks hood. He began taking slow casual, even lazy steps forward as he spoke. "I know a great deal about you. I know you were born in Icecicle villiage shortly before you and you're mother were kidnapped by Hojo, and you're father shot. Afterwards you escaped Shinra and was adopted by Elmrya in the sector five slums.
After that you became a flower girl, always on the run from the Turks. I also know you were slain by Sephiroth in the forgotten city. Most importantly i know you are a Cetra." By the time he finished speaking he was only nine feet
away from the group.
Cloud took a quick step forward pointing the tip of his sword at Atrum's face. Atrum stopped walking and eyed the sword in amusement. "You think you can kill me?" He asked. "I do'nt think i can i know i can." Cloud declared feircely.
Atrum chuckled. "You said that it was the Omni WEAPON, how did you know that?" Squall cut in. Atrum turned his head toward Squall and said "I know what it is because i helped to create it, inderectly that is, i also happen to be the
one who set it loose."
Cloud scowled and angrily asked "What was it even doing there?"
Atrum faced him and said "Maybe i'll tell you that later, but for now i think we should be focusing more on why i set it on you. In fact i'm quite suprised that was'nt what you asked."
Aeris rubbed her chin thoughtfuly.
"Why does his question suprise you? It was a perfectly sensible one." Aeris said. Atrum dipped his head slightly as he said "This is not you're buisness, i do not have to tell you a thing! I AM MY OWN PERSON!!!!!!!!" Atrum declared his sword
appearing in his hand, then he charged Cloud with a mighty slash that Cloud met head on. The two blades crashed against each other with a deafening clang with both warriors pushing with all they had, the force of the impact sent a spray of water out in all directions and shockwaves ripped through the rain above them scattering it. "What...do...YOU MEAN!?!?" Cloud demanded in a strained tone, and with his last shout pulled back on his sword slightly and
then shoved forward with all he had forcing Atrum to jump backwards. He landed in a squat twelve feet away with a splash as his impact sent the rain water flying.
Cloud looked towards Atrum. He was tough, already Cloud's arms were aching horribly just from that one clash and he was breathing slightly heavier then normal. Atrum slowly stood and looked at Aeris, and almost as if her presence encouraged him he once again charged Cloud, moving so fast that he seemed to fly and the water beneath him sprayed up into the air as he passed.
Cloud rushed to meet him. Their blades met with a tremendous impact, the force of which sent both of them sliding backwards several feet, water spraying up around them. Cloud moved in with a vicious swing of his sword from right to left, only
for Atrum to block it like it was nothing. This time Cloud broke off instantly backing off out of range of Atrum's sword. "I do'nt get this, he is so familiar. I can feel some of my cells within him, but thats impossible. Only yourself, and Sephiroth
should have any of my cells." Jenova stated in bafflement.
"Lets worry about that later." Cloud snarled back. Squall seeing Cloud wearing down so quickly chose that moment to join the fight, rushing forward with a diaganol slash that Atrum deflected with a rising slash, which he quickly turned into
an overhead chop that Squall blocked with a certain amount of effort. Squall felt his teeth rattle under the vibrations from the impact.
Not good at all.
Cloud jumped into the air and came down upon Atrum in perfect timing with a blast of lightning ripping through the sky. Atrum threw himself backwards and landed on the far side of the courtyard.
"STOP!!" Aeris shouted. Up till now she had adopted a thoughtful posture completely ignoring the battle. Now she had an expresionless look on her face. Suprisingly, Atrum quickly lowered his sword allowing it to vanish as he muttered somethign in a respectful tone, though it was to quiet to make out.
Relunctantly Cloud did the same, though he did not sheath his sword. Squall remained ready for battle.
"You knew they would be there, you released Omni WEAPON to kill them. But you did'nt want it to kill me, thats why you trapped me in that tube with a barrier spell. Am i right?" Aeris said in one breath. "Barrier?" Cloud asked.
"Yes, i would have helped you sooner but someone was using magic to trap me, or as i now think, protect me." Aeris explained.
Atrum merely smiled at her in an almost freindly way, then vanished in swirl of green lights. Just before he vanished he said "Go to Zanarkand, Rinoa is there, as is Sephiroth." Then he was gone.