Disclaimer: Still don't own nothing of SC or the franchise.
Chapter 2: She Said No
Taki vaulted up one of the fractured walls of the castle; pleading desperately under her breath she could beat the Siegfried from reaching Nightmare. He held the power to destroy them all and she couldn't allow him to clash swords again with the Azure Knight. The devastation the two could wrought from the combination of the two swords could destroy everything around them.
Images of the first meeting of the cursed swords flashed in her mind; the massive explosion that rippled across the Lost Cathedral, tearing apart everything in its wake from hardened stone to the ancient forest that surrounded the house of worship. For five hundred yards, the force of the swords reached out across the landscape consuming everything until nothing but charred ash and darkened stone was left. A shallow, but long crater stood in its wake. That had been one of the most terrifying moments in her life. Using every technique she had learned from her ninjutsu training she had barely managed to keep a step ahead of the wave and even then hadn't been able to escape unscathed from it. The heat of the two swords had viciously burned her back, and the sudden expenditure of all of her energy forced her powers into a state of hibernation. For three months she lay wounded in a village in the mountains above the cathedral, slowly regaining her strength and powers. Her back was horribly scarred from her shoulders to her the very small of her back, and at one time caused her great pain in any movement of her body. Thankfully, she soon was able to heal the worst of it as her power came back to her. Now it barely offered her a twinge, but it would never fully heal she knew.
Her power, however, had not come back as quickly as she had hoped. Yes, she was able to heal battle wounds and sense the presence of demons again (which was how she even knew the swords came back) but her offensive abilities had not returned. She could not properly use her seals and spells to their full power. In fact, she found that she had immense difficulty sealing the few weak demons that had wondered the mountain village she had slain to repay them for their kindness. What scared her most is that her sacred armor was probably the only thing that had saved her. Although she was still lightning quick and powerful in the physical sense, it did nothing against ghostly apparitions and demonic energy. She had taken more blows than she had ever received in her entire collection of battles than against those measly demons. Without her spells and energy, she could only slowly cut away at them with painful strokes that taxed her and her failing Rekkimaru. She dared not use Mekkimaru in her current state. The blade would easily overpower and devour her. So she resorted to all of her ninjutsu tricks and deceptions to slay them, and only did so at a cost of many injuries.
Even now, after another month of searching, she had only regained a third of her power, a far cry from the strength she would need to defeat the two swords, but she didn't have a choice. If she didn't do something now then the two would fight across the world until nothing remained. She was the only one that witnessed the strength and raw power they could unleash, and therefore was the only one that could understand how dangerous they were. She didn't have a choice.
Taki landed effortlessly on the lip of a broken stone slab, the wall having been crushed by a massive stone fired from a device she knew was called a trebuchet, and scanned the upper reaches. She squinted as she searched for a way in. The higher she looked up, the less she found she would be able to grasp. The many footholds that had allowed her to reach halfway up the wall were stretching farther apart, having been unscathed from the ancient sieges that had carved the lower sections into splintered and jutting rock. She needed to find a way in now before it became too dangerous for even her. Last thing she needed was to get stuck on some far reaching stump of rock and find that she had nowhere else to go. Climbing up onto ledges that stuck out a foot or so was one thing. Jumping down onto them was an entirely different, and consequently, more dangerous matter.
Her chocolate eyes looked across the smooth stones of the castle wall, catching the faintest of glints on a ledge that hung thirty feet out and across from her. She crouched, her legs tightening like tight, hardened springs, as her arms hung low at her sides, acting as both a balancing mechanism and emergency brakes that would catch her on another nearby ledge. Effortlessly, and with a certain and confident grace, she leaped from her crouched position and easily landed on the ledge with nothing but the light "click" of her wicker sandals. She turned to the window that had glinted against the sun's light and at one time would've surely found it a beautiful piece of art. Although half of it had disappeared either through time or combat, the other half was well crafted with the finer colors of royalty. Blue streaks stretched out across the lower section of the glass. Mixed within it were faint blotches of white, clouds that hung within the blue expanse. Upon the clouds she could see a pair of legs, clad in heavy steel grieves that bore a mark of a wolf upon each knee cap. But that is where the image ended, only jagged pieces of glass showed a few, incomplete pieces.
Taki peaked inside, finding the room or hallway, she couldn't tell which, to be pitch black. The air felt old and stale, leaving an unpleasant odor in her nostrils. She looked around for a way to wiggle her way inside without upsetting the window pane. Her eyes found a small ledge above her, barely enough to wrap her fingers around. Pulling her head back, she grasped the ledge, and with the same strength and confidence, pulled herself up, and through, the opening. She landed with a loud crunch as her feet bit into the remains of the pane scattered about the floor. She stiffened and cursed beneath her breath. Her hands instinctively flew to Rekkimaru and Mekkimaru. However, in the same moment she realized how near her hand was to the dark blade, and instead forced herself to move to another sword tucked beneath one of her spaulders.
For several long seconds Taki stood silently, only moving to escape the reaches of the light passing through the window, and waited. Nothing emerged from the darkness and she soon stood in a relaxed crouch. However, one of her hands still hovered near Rekkimaru. She let out a slow breath and stood.
Using what little she could of her powers, Taki managed to create a small screen of energy between the eye slits of her mask which now amplified what little light was in the room. This, combined with techniques learned in her training, she could move relatively easy in even the darkest of hallways, rooms, or caves. It was how she had managed to defeat the slithering demons that loved to lithe in the darkest of places.
Taki ran through the hall with the kind of silence only a trained ninja could possess, and began her search for the Knights.
******
Siegfried sprinted toward the tortured scream with all the strength his legs could possess, fear gripping his soul as images of another innocent falling to Soul Edge's hunger flashed in his mind. He paid little attention to the revenants and apparitions that attempted to stand in his way, and cut them down by a simple flick of his wrist. Soul Calibur's crystallized steel glinted brilliantly in the torch light, easily slicing through the reanimated bodies. Siegfried spat as he ran through the falling skeletons, missing the extra length his zweihander version of Soul Calibur had given him. Although he wasn't afraid of getting so close to the fiendish reanimations, he didn't like the unfamiliarity of using an old style of swordsmanship he hadn't used in years, but within a castle built for siege, he had little choice.
In preparation of those attempting to storm the castle, the builders had created narrow hallways that only allowed small groups of invaders, no more than two or three across the width of the hall at any given time, into the halls. In turn, this would often give the defender a key advantage as the invaders rushed up the halls and staircases with the rush of battle coursing through them; they often gave little thought to their surroundings. He remembered stories of a single defender halting an advance of a horde of invaders in one such hallway, the men so invigorated and angered that they all tried to rush at once, but were soon caught betwixt another's shoulders and found themselves unable to swing their swords. The defender was able to slaughter a large number of invaders until the dead nearly formed a barricade against anyone else reaching up the stairs.
It was stories, and experience, that had forced him to change Soul Calibur from its traditional zweihander version to the much smaller, but unfamiliar, katzbalger* version. The change left him feeling somewhat vulnerable even though the much smaller weapon could be swung with one hand and with little effort, especially with the added strength Soul Calibur gave him. The blade could slice through the thick stones of the castle with little effort on his part, which he supposed gave him the ability to cut him an entrance or exit if he needed to. However, it left his other hand free, which was what made him feel vulnerable. Without the cool, solid, two-handed grip of Soul Calibur to grasp onto he didn't feel whole. He had spent most of his using a fighting style that allowed him to fall into a variety of stances, based upon the need and strength of an opponent. The style gave him a flexibility and versatility that he had come to rely on, and survive on. The much shorter weapon gave him less to work with. He couldn't play the range game, nor could he use it as an effective defensive weapon. The small width of the blade wouldn't allow him to push against a wall of energy as he had to endure in the past against the skilled, vengeful, relations of those he had killed as Nightmare. Not to mention the energy blasts Nightmare has become so fond of over recent months, often manipulating the power of the darkness within him onto souls, which are then used as catalysts for missiles of his essence. They virtually vaporized and absorbed the souls of the weak when struck, as well as the soul used as the catalyst, basically giving him an infinite supply. Only inanimate objects could deflect them.
So needless to say, he could use the basic inantimacy (and width) of a zweihander version of Soul Calibur. The comfort of his natural style would help a bit too.
Siegfried caught one of the revenant's blades with his free hand and easily tore it from its grasp before smashing the hilt of the blade through its skull. Well, having an extra hand to manipulate things helped a bit too he supposed.
He shrugged off a blow to the shoulder as a revenant's blade harmlessly bounced off his heavy steel and crystal pauldrons before grasping the arm of the reanimation and pulling it free of its socket. He took the creature's head from its shoulders with a quick back handed stroke. A solid right slug into the right cheek bone of another revenant sent its skull flying off its body. The creature sank to the ground, squirming and floundering as if the mind was still sending impulses to its body.
Siegfried grew increasingly frustrated and fearful for the owner of the scream as wave after wave of revenants crashed upon him. He slashed through them effortlessly, but they were taking too much time. He had to get to that pained scream. The person may still be alive, but he couldn't know until he reached him or her.
Only one person needed to die today.
In a sudden burst of rage, Siegfried threw himself into the waves of revenants. His blade bit and ripped the head off one creature, while his hand sliced through the neck of another. Soul Calibur glinted against the pale light as it easily sliced and hacked through the countless monsters that stood in its wake. Manipulating the crystals attached to his gauntlet, Siegfried combined and extended them out a foot from his wrist. The new extension of crystals game together in the shape of a sword about the width of his hand, but it rested on top of his arm, giving him use of his hand to grapple while still maintaining another weapon to cut through the enemy.
With another weapon at his disposal, Siegfried cut through the revenants with incredible speed. His blades whistled through the air, barely stuttering as they impacted hardened steel plates and bone, slicing through them and often times into the figure behind them. In seconds, he carved himself a path through the horde and sprinted up the stairs, only looking back to ensure nothing was trying to stab him in the back.
He could feel Nightmare's aura begin to push against him now the higher up the castle he went. It was so thick he could feel it slither against his face and finger the gaps of his armor as it searched for a way to enter. Without thinking he called out to Soul Calibur, closing his armor with a layer of crystals. At the same time, he pushed against the darkness with his own power. Light shone from his chest and shoulders, projecting out several feet in front of him, covering the walls and the reaches of the ceiling with an almost blinding pure light. Almost immediately he felt Nightmare's presence disappear and could see the shadows that had begun to crowd around him quickly run and claw up against the walls; pushing themselves against the open crevices looking for anyway to escape the biting coolness of the holy light.
As his greaves clattered against the final steps of the staircase he found himself in a large room, the walls worn and broken from the effects of time and the first time Ostrheinsburg was stormed by the three holy warriors. Tattered remains of the old banners hung loosely about the walls, the once bright red emblems of the wolf were now a darkened, dust covered remnant of what they once were. Shadows fell in the darkest corners of the room, scurrying from the light of the sun as it peaked its way in through a series of windows that lined the far wall.
A defiant scream reached his ears. He turned to his left to see a large group of revenants standing near one of the corners of the room, slowly slinking toward something (or someone) like a beast hunting its prey. The movement of the undead creatures looked almost methodical. They swayed slightly from side to side, and he thought he could see a slight toying nature in their sway, like they weren't taking this hunt completely seriously. Or, they knew they had already won. They were merely drawing out the hunt.
"Get away from me!" The voice of a young woman rang out through the room, echoing slightly in the vaulted ceiling. There was the loud thud of a body crashing to the floor as Siegfried caught the glint of a small shield smashing into one of the approaching revenants. Siegfried jumped forward without a second thought.
Soul Calibur lashed out across the backs of four revenants, the sword having returned to its traditional zweihander version, effectively severing them in half. Their bodies fell to the floor as their arms flailed helplessly in the air before crashing to the ground. He crushed their skulls with a strong, swift, kick of his boot. He brought the massive sword back around and with almost effortless strength, cleaved one of the creatures in half from head to groin. He twisted his wrist and swung the blade in a half arc, slicing through the midsections another two before bringing it about above his head and slamming it down through yet another.
It took the revenants a full second to realize he was behind them and by the time they had, he had already buried his blade into another one of them. A split second later, they charged Siegfried with a certain ferocity he had never seen the creatures have before. Like half crazed animals, they attacked him, clawing, hacking, and biting at any part of his body, most especially at his exposed head and neck. Although their blades and heavy blunt maces struck and bounced harmlessly off his crystallized armor, the ferocity at which they attacked caused him to hesitate for a brief moment. In that hesitation, one of the creatures had managed to sneak beneath him, and throw its blade into the backing of one of his greaves. The blade pierced the light armor and embedded itself in his upper calf, just below the knee. He let out a yell and pushed himself away from the revenant, sliding Soul Calibur through its torso as he did so. The blade needed little force behind it to slice through most type of armor.
His hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of the protruding blade and abruptly ripped it out. He let out a small grunt of pain. With a roar, he threw the blade into one of the oncoming reanimations. The width of the blade smacked the creature across the face, lodging itself into one of its eye sockets. As it approached him, Siegfried simply grabbed the hilt and pulled downward with such force that it tore the left cheek bone open.
He thrust the blade through the last remaining revenant.
Siegfried fell to one knee, resting his weight on Soul Calibur, "Dang got sloppy." He turned to the young woman that lay across from him, her chest rising and falling heavily.
He noticed immediately how damaged and broken she looked. On her face alone were two long cuts, one reaching from her left temple to her cheek. The other was a diagonal slash reaching from the edge of her nose to her chin. There were multiple bruises across her face, already beginning to turn into disgusting purple and red splotches ranging from the size of a pebble to one as large as his fist. He never would've noticed one of the cuts if it hadn't been for the blood that trickled off her chin. The bruise covered most of the wound. His eyes travelled down the length of her body. One of her arms hung limply at her side, while he noticed a large laceration across her midsection. The wound was still pouring fresh blood.
Siegfried rushed to the girl's side, worrying about the depth of the injury. Often, stomach wounds were relatively easy to take care of assuming one could get to them in time before it bled out. However, if the cut was deep then there was always the worry that the blade penetrated the intestines, liver, or other major organs. If that happened there was little he could do without having to use Soul Calibur. Of course, with the sword's power he could more than likely save the girl, but it would take energy he could not simply afford to use right now. He couldn't even use it to heal his own wound. He hoped that he could manage her on his own strength and medicinal knowledge.
He rolled her over onto her back causing her to let out a groan. Giving little attention to privacy, he tore off the lower section of her shirt. He cursed. He would have to unlatch her cuirass to get it. He turned the girl over again, muttering an apology as the motion forced pressure on the wound. She let out another groan, "What are you doing? Who are you?" She breathed out.
"Shh, don't talk right now." He pulled on the latches of her armor that rested below the shoulder, the buckles giving away with an audible "click." He slowly lifted the back flap off, but felt it tug against her skin.
"They took her." She cried. "They took her." He could feel her body quiver beneath him. "The damn monsters took her."
Siegfried looked at her questioningly," Took who?"
"My sister. They took Sophitia."
Siegfried eyes widened, his hands stiffening around her cuirass, The Crimson Athenian is her sister? He cringed. He didn't know if it could get any worse. It was bad enough that he would have to kill Sophitia, but she had a sister. A sister that was right here, pure and untainted by the sword who would have to suffer the rest of her life knowing her sister was murdered by the very person that was trying to save her. He didn't want to have another person's suffering on his conscious, but he didn't have a choice. He had to find her.
"Where did they take her?" he asked. His hands tugged gently at her cuirass again, enough to let him see what was sticking to it. "Damn, another one." He said to himself. He pushed his hands against the cut stretching from the top of her neck to the small of her back.
"I don't know. To Nightmare probably. He would probably try to see if he could still suck out her soul." He saw one of her hands bite into the ground.
"She's dead?" He asked quietly.
Her body began to quiver again, "She killed herself…for me."
Siegfried looked at the girl in shock. A spawn of Nightmare had chosen to kill herself rather than take the life of her sister? Had she actually managed to break free of her corruption and protect someone? He shook his head. No, no way was it possible, not after one had already taken life and felt the false, although powerful, feelings of sickening bliss. The raw flood of emotion Soul Edge fed a person was impossible to overcome. No one could break it.
Unless the soul is weak.
The words that echoed from the darkest recesses of his mind cut his soul to the center, releasing brief images of his sins. He sucked in his breath and closed his eyes. Guilt and stabbed his heart, but he didn't have to think about it long. He felt the girl move. He opened his eyes and was caught by a slight surprise. The girl was trying to stand.
"Wait, stop what are you doing?" He asked, grasping her shoulders, trying to find the best position to either support her or push her down. He hadn't decided which he was going to do yet. "You need to rest. I haven't had time to properly dress your wounds."
She glanced at him, one of her emerald eyes locking onto his. Inside he could see her rage, her anguish, her lust for vengeance, and perhaps even the desire for death. Siegfried could imagine the turmoil raging inside the girl; all of the burning, the hopelessness, and grief that swirled inside, fighting to escape their bodily containment. For he had felt it once before. When he had accidentally killed his father. In those moments, those same emotions overwhelmed his sanity as they racked and pillaged their way into his soul, forever burning the images into his mind. They filled his heart with an unquenchable guilt and sorrow and grief that it caused him to lose his humanity, and the result was Nightmare. Part of him feared for her. He didn't want anyone else to experience the same turmoil that drove him insane. He didn't want her to fall into the same trap that he had. He wanted to do something to comfort the girl, to give her some kind of peace, but he knew nothing that could cure the pain of an anguished heart.
"I don't know who you are, but don't get in my way stranger." She picked up a sword that rested next to her side. "I thank you for your kindness, but I don't know why you're here. I don't know if you know exactly where you are or what you're getting yourself into." She poised the blade at his neck with speed he never thought the weakened girl could've possessed. It was only years of restraint that hadn't made him lash out at her in surprise. "But if you're after Soul Edge I have no choice but to kill you." Her eyes blazed, "No one can ever touch that sword. Not again. Now tell me why you're here."
Siegfried's lips twitched into a sad smile, "For the same reason you are, to destroy Soul Edge." He rose to his feet, her blade following him, "You're not the only one that knows the evil that resides in that sword. However, I think that I am in much better condition to handle it than you are."
Her eyes narrowed, "Then take me with you."
"What?"
"I said, take me with you." She forced her sword closer to his neck. He could feel the pressure of its edge press against his skin, threatening to bleed him. "I don't know if you know what you're getting yourself into. I've fought the sword before, and defeated it. I know what to expect. Now take me with you."
His eyes closed, "I'm sorry, I can't do that."
"What?" She hissed.
His eyes softened, "You're goal may still be to destroy Soul Edge, however, I fear that with the death of your sister, it's become a vendetta. And for one who may have fought the sword before I would imagine you know that any hatred you have in your heart will only feed it. Make it stronger. I'm sorry, but it's probably best that you turn back and go home."
"No! You have to take me with you!" She cried her blade cut into his neck. Blood trickled from the wound. "You have to; it's my duty to her. I have to destroy it. Please take me with you." Siegfried could see the flame smolder in her eyes, and instead, could see sorrow fill in the void. Tears gushed from her eyes. "Please."
He shook his head, "I'm sorry. In your condition you would only be a hindrance rather than a help. You'll have to let me avenge your sister's death, and I promise I will." His fingers grabbed the edge of her sword and gently pushed it aside. "I'm sorry for your loss." Their eyes locked for a split second before Siegfried turned away and pulled Soul Calibur from the ground. His footsteps echoed through the room as he entered the adjacent hall.
He heard her sword clatter to the floor, and felt her energy disappear as she lost consciousness.
Something suddenly tugged on his senses. A sense of urgency. His eyes widened as he heard the familiar sound of a blade leaving it's sheathe. Instinctively, Siegfried jumped away, his back colliding into a nearby wall with a loud clank. A glint of metal shot passed him and to where he once stood, a long dagger stuck into the ground. He looked at the direction it came from, but before he could completely turn his head a blade flashed in front of his face. He managed to duck beneath it and rolled to the side, pulling Soul Calibur from his back as he did so.
He faced his attacker to find a tall, slender girl, facing him. The blue, skin tight, suit she wore caused his eyes to drift, and rest upon the curves of her body it so easily encouraged. It took him a second, but he managed to shake it off. He could feel her chocolate eyes bore into him.
"You know, the way you treated that girl actually made me hesitate, but now that you've reminded me why I've come to kill you in the first place, I can hesitate no longer." She knelt low, placing her hands onto a pair of blades that hung around her back.
Siegfried's eyes narrowed, "You, I know you. You look so familiar. Who are you?"
The woman smirked, "My name is Taki. And you should remember me. I'm sure some of Soul Edge's memories still linger in your mind. I, with the help of this woman's sister, managed to seal that cursed sword the first time."
Just as the woman said, images of Soul Edge's battle with Sophitia, and then this woman surfaced in his mind. He could remember Soul Edge's pleasure as it prepared to eat Sophitia's soul, and its anger as Taki had interrupted him. He remembered the two clashing across the port, narrowly managing to avoid the fallen woman's body. Lastly, he could remember Taki had barely managed to defeat the cursed sword, although, not without injury to herself.
"Yes, by the look on your face I see you do remember." She said, "I know what it is you're trying to do. I know you're trying to destroy the cursed sword, but I cannot allow you to do it with the weapon you wield. It is as evil and corrupted as Soul Edge. You remember what happened last time you two clashed blades."
Siegfried let out a grunt, "I don't have a choice. It's the only way to atone for my sins. I have to be the one to stop it. And I think you know as well as I do, that this sword is the best chance at permanently sealing Soul Edge forever." His eyes drifted toward the blade. "Even if the requirements are a bit, extreme."
She scoffed, "I fail to see how endangering the lives of every person on the planet would be any less as dangerous as waiting to find another way to seal the sword. You know the ensuing battle could destroy the world. I can't let you do that. There's another way."
"There's no time. By the time you find the alternative Soul Edge could've consumed everything. There wouldn't be a planet to save."
Taki growled in frustration, "Enough! I'm done arguing with a man who refuses to listen! Siegfried Schtauffen you die!"
Taki closed the distance between them with three strides of her long legs. Siegfried barely managed to back away from one of her quick hands. Her blade whistled through the air as he fought to keep himself up right. He cursed himself for not expecting her to attack so quickly. He hadn't had the time to gain a proper foothold. He rolled to one side narrowly managing to dodge a swift kick that had been aimed at his face. He lifted himself into one of his favorite, and most reliable, stances. He was kneeling on the ground, the blade angled toward the ground as it rested on one of his arms. The blade was in the perfect position to allow him to quickly raise the sword from the ground in a horizontal strike, or a hard hitting vertical. It gave him the advantage because it forced the enemy to make a move while he could simply wait, and keep the pace of battle to his liking.
He saw Taki realize the same thing. She glowered at him before suddenly disappearing from his vision. Siegfried's eyes widened as he tracked the room. His eyes darting back and forth, a slight feeling of panic welling up in his chest. He silently wished he had chosen to place his back against the wall, giving her fewer angles to attack from.
He waited quietly for several, long, seconds, but she had not pressed her advantage. She must have known he could not see her, so why didn't she simple attack and get it over with? Unless she liked toying with her prey of course, but the idea was ridiculous to him. She was ninja. They didn't mess around. No, the opposite. They were deadly quick and efficient. They wouldn't leave pass up an opportunity to take the upper hand. No, it was something else. A trick. But what was she doing?
"You have other senses to use Siegfried. Don't rely on your eyes alone." Soul Calibur whispered into his mind. "Listen. Feel. Smell."
Siegfried took the sword's advice. Siegfried dared not close his eyes, lest his hearing be as unreliable as his vision. Instead, he managed to transfer most of his attention from his eyes to his ears and nose and legs, as they were the only part of him touching the floor. He focused on the different elements of his senses every second, allowing one part of him to become more focused with every passing rotation. Soon he could feel every tremor in the ground, every rotting piece of wood and stank, and hear the soft breathing of the unconscious girl.
It was in that moment that he caught her scent: the light fragrance of Sakura blossoms. He hadn't been able to smell it before beneath all of the musk and stale air of the castle. Her smell permeated the room. In that same moment, he felt, more than heard, the sound of her rapidly approaching footsteps.
With unprecedented speed, Siegfried rose from his crouching position, Soul Calibur whistling through the air. He heard Taki give a grunt of surprise as the sword lashed out across her vision, narrowly avoiding her face. The camouflage, or whatever magic she used to hide herself, faded. He forced her to keep moving, not giving her the opportunity to cast it again.
He slid across the floor, his sword carving out rock as it bore into the ground in long, powerful, strokes. Taki danced to avoid them. She spun and kicked as every swing left her with an opportunity to press her quick attacks into the small openings the large swings had presented. However, she realized the man was far quicker than she first thought. On multiple occasions, when she was sure she had the opportunity to strike a blow, he recovered and pressed against her. Often, she narrowly avoided the large sword, feeling it glance off her demon armor. The man moved with the grace and speed of one of her fellow ninjas, and attacked with the strength of a demon. She cursed. The advantage of speed was not as great as she originally thought. If she were to make a mistake, well, she wouldn't have a lot of time to dwell on it. She wasn't sure she could completely beat the man at her current power level, but then again that's what she expected. And so she was prepared to give it all, including her life, to stop him. Although she may not be able to stop Soul Edge, she would give the world the opportunity to.
Taki leapt into the air, grabbing onto one of the poles strapped across the vaulted ceiling. From a pouch concealed beneath one of her chest straps, she pulled out a handful of shuriken. She darted across the ceiling, launching the sharpened stars. Siegfried easily parried the weapons before commanding Soul Calibur to extend. In a powerful swing, Soul Calibur sliced across the ceiling, hardly meeting any resistance in the hardened stone. Taki's eyes widened, as it cut through the roof so easily it might as well of been butter. Taki leapt from the ceiling, rolling across the floor to lessen the impact. Using the momentum of the roll, she launched herself forward and unsheathed her blades. With blinding speed she closed on Siegfried, her swords whistling through the air around him. He jumped back and twisted his arms around, Soul Calibur swinging in a wide arc. She flipped away, bouncing back toward him in the same motion, her swords again dancing around him. He struggled to dodge her flying blades as they moved so quick he could barely see the glint of steel. His feet slid farther and farther back as she pressed her assault. His arms heaved in response, trying to parrying as many blows as possible, and perhaps even strike his own. But the speed at which she moved was superior to his own. He could not commit himself to a full counter attack because within that one second opening she had already recovered and was pressing against him again. He grew increasingly irritated as he was slowly backed into the wall. He couldn't see it, but he could tell that's what she intended to do.
Siegfried growled, "Enough!" Light coursed through his armor, branching out across him like a blooming flower at the arrival of spring. It swirled inside his armor, reflecting itself back and forth through the changing layers and refractions of the crystal.
Taki's eyes widened.
He let out a yell as it suddenly burst from his body in a blinding flash. Taki quickly shut her eyes, grunting as the light pushed itself painfully against her eyelids. She leapt away from him, one of her arms pressed against her eyes. She could feel the heat he imitated prickling against her skin. She listened intently for the sound of his heavy grieves pounding across the floor. He may have blinded her for the moment, but that did not mean he had taken away her hearing. She listened, but heard nothing but the taxed breaths of the unconscious girl. Her hands clenched in frustration. Where had he gone? Why couldn't she hear his breathing? Her body tensed. He had been nearly destroyed at the Lost Cathedral. Perhaps when the spirit sword revived him, it became his sole life source, so he no longer needed to breath in order to survive. She cursed beneath her breath.
The warmth around her dissipated and she ventured a glance beneath her arm. Siegfried stood in front of her, his face set in grim determination, "You needn't worry. I'm not the kind to attack a defenseless opponent. I just needed to get you to move so I could fight you correctly." He turned his body so that his shoulder faced her, Soul Calibur hanging in front of him. His eyes were fixed on hers. "I know what you want, but like I said before. My way is the only way. I'm sorry, but that's how it is. I won't underestimate you this time either. Now, get out of my way."
Siegfried bolted across the floor, Soul Calibur flying across Taki's vision in a wide arc. She ducked and rolled to the right, Rekkimaru shooting at his exposed side, but much to her surprise his elbow collided with her face. Taki reeled backwards. Pieces of her mask fell to the floor as she looked at him in shock. He had expected her to do that? His eyes glinted at her.
He charged at her again, sliding into a side hold and unleashing a twisting kick aimed at her face. Taki flipped Rekkimaru around, so the blade was parallel with her forearm, and leveraged the kick away from her. She twisted her body around, her other sword flying toward his other leg, but he had already turned back around. It bounced harmlessly off the front of his heavily armored grieve. She rolled to the side, slashing Rekkimaru across his back. It barely bit into his armor. Soul Calibur again flashed across her face as Siegfried swung the massive sword behind him in a sweeping circle. Taki flipped away from him, but he was right on top of her. His blade smashed the ground in front of her, hitting with such force that small bits of stone cut across her arms and chest. She flipped and rolled again, but he still kept pace with her, his sword getting closer with each swing.
She grunted as her back met the wall. Without a second thought she turned the blades in her hand and dug them into the wall. She then threw herself away from Siegfried before rolling onto her feet and leaping onto her swords. Using the leverage they provided her, she twisted her body around and fired a powerful roundhouse across his face. The blow caused Siegfried to stagger, forcing him to shove Soul Calibur into the ground to keep himself up right. Taki pressed her advantage.
She ripped Rekkimaru from the wall and swung it across his face. Siegfried's free hand shot up in time to catch the blow, but he couldn't react fast enough to stop the shuriken hidden in her other hand. The sharpened edge cut across his cheek, burning him, with what he assumed was poison, as it seeped into the wound. He swung a fist at her. She adeptly avoided it before grabbing his arm, and using the shuriken to cut the open latch points of his gauntlets. She then twisted his arm behind his back and forced him low to the ground. As she was about to plunge Rekkimaru into the base of his neck, several sharpened crystals shot from his back. Taki gasped as one of the needle like crystals shot through her midsection, and another through her raised arm, barely below her wrist. They quickly receded as Siegfried wheeled around, Soul Calibur's handle smashing through what was left of her demon mask.
Taki slid until she rested roughly in the middle of the room, her face ached horribly, and she could feel blood gushing from the wound across her wrist. Apparently the spike had penetrated an artery. She would soon bleed to death, and there was nothing she could do. She felt a smirk twitch at her cheek. Well, she had done what she set out to do. The poison that was coursing through Siegfried's veins would kill him in a matter of minutes. She'd given the world hope, though at the cost of her life, but she knew what she was risking when she fought him with only thirty percent of her power. Her eyes travelled to the unconscious girl. She only hoped that she could get out of here alive at least.
Taki heard the sound of Siegfried's grieves clack against the floor. She turned her head, "Well, I guess we both die today. In a matter of minutes we will both be dead." She stared into his eyes, "I'm sorry it had to end this way. I really would've preferred not to kill you. I can sense the desire inside you to repent, to change the world and make sure that no one such as yourself exists ever again, and honestly, I share that desire. But you would not listen to reason. You left me no choice."
"Taki," he hesitated, "I remember what happened at the Lost Cathedral. I remember how my body was torn apart, and I remember the destruction we caused. I remember everything, but as I said before; Soul Calibur is the only way to ensure that Soul Edge is destroyed forever. I'm sorry, but you and I both know that's the truth." He staggered and fell to one knee. His body retched violently, blood splattering onto the floor. "And you should know; only one of us is going to die today." He grasped Taki's wrist.
"Soul Calibur," He called, "save her life. Heal the wound."
"But if I do that, I may not have the power to sustain you." She replied. "You will not have the power to destroy Soul Edge."
"I know, but I will not have another death on my conscious."
"As you wish, Siegfried." Soul Calibur's power shot through his arm like a cold stream, immediately latching itself to the wound. It surged into Taki's body, quickly sealing and repairing the damaged artery and torn ligaments piece by piece. Freezing and solidifying the rushing blood and using it to clot the opening. It then forced the severed ends together and froze them into place, removing the clot as it did. Soul Calibur then flowed down to her stomach, freezing her blood again and using it to clot the edges of the wound before grafting skin from her stomach across the opening and freezing it into place. "It is done."
Taki stared at him in wonder, "Why? Why did you do this?"
Siegfried smiled sadly at her, "Too many people other than me have died this day." He motioned to the girl. "Her sister sacrificed herself for her. I wasn't going to let you die too, even if you were trying to stop me." He coughed again. "But with that said, I can't have you following me." He pressed down on her wrist.
"What?" Taki's eyes widened suddenly, and then something inside them flashed. She moved to pull his hand away, but the movement was slow, lethargic. Her hand latched onto his armored wrist. She pulled and struggled against him, but found the strength in her body withering away. Her breathing began to slow, and her eyes started to close. "What, what are you doing to me?" She slurred.
"I'm sorry." He said, not taking his eyes from hers, "Just sleep." Taki mumbled something incoherently. A second later she slipped into a light slumber.
Siegfried let out a sigh and forced himself to stand, but his legs felt like jelly. They threatened to buckle as he stepped forward. He had to use Soul Calibur as a crutch to stop himself from falling.
"I warned you Siegfried." Soul Calibur's voice echoed in his head. A cool chill ran up his spine.
"I know, but," He grunted as his foot slipped out from under him. His arm shot forward to catch himself. "But, she was worth it."
"How so?"
He lifted himself up and took another step forward, "Every life is worth saving. I won't let another person die because of me. I won't let another person hurt because of me."
The unconscious girl's face flashed in his mind. His heart twinged as the memories of her injuries, and her pained cries, appeared in his mind. After today, she would be the last person to suffer. After today, the world would finally be rid of Soul Edge.
He glanced back at the girl, burning her face into his mind. Every angle, ever curve of her face, and every bruise and scar his deeds had ultimately, even if indirectly, had given her. He wanted it burned into his memory. Even though Taki said the poison would kill him, he wouldn't let it. He was so close now. He would not fail. For the girl, he would not fail.
He turned away from her, "Soul Calibur, keep me alive long enough to get to Nightmare. I promise I'll stop him." The girl's face appeared in his mind again, "I promise."
So that's the end of that chapter. I hope it didn't end too abruptly. As I said before I'm still getting back into writing. Ok so please, please, please pass along some reviews. It would help so much, especially if you offered cc and perhaps just something to keep me motivated. Thanks so much. Until the next chapter (which I will get out faster. I was just having a lot of issues with Taki's and Seig's fight scene).