Hikari and the Soul Edge
Chapter 9: The Mysterious Zasalamel
Hikari, Kenji, Mog, and their new companion, Maria, arrived in Temporus, a town that was famous for having the oldest clock tower in the world. After they got into town, an old man walked up to them.
"I heard a rumor that you were looking for Soul Edge," the old man said.
"You know of it?!" Hikari exclaimed.
The heroes got excited at this new turn of events.
"I don't know much about the weapon personally, but I have heard a rumor," the old man said. "Over there…"
He pointed towards the clock tower.
"I have heard that the famous clock tower of Temporus has information on the two legendary swords," the old man continued. "But only a few adventurers are bold enough to climb it. A curse is said to be put upon the tower. Whoever climbs it is said to disappear forever."
"Are you serious?" Hikari asked.
"Maybe," the old man said. "But that's for you to decide, Hikari Kamai."
The old man then walked into an alley.
"Wait!" Maria shouted.
The four of them ran towards the alley. When they got there, all they saw was a dead end.
"Who was that guy?" Kenji asked.
"Kupo," Mog squeaked.
"And how did he know my name?" Hikari asked. "I don't remember telling him."
Hikari, Kenji, Maria, and Mog made their way to the entrance of the clock tower, which was placed just outside of town.
"Are you serious about going in, Hikari?" Maria asked. "I'm not sure whether we should trust that old man's words or not."
"It's our only lead," Hikari said. "Here's what we'll do: I'll go in first. If I don't come out in an hour, you guys can come in and make sure I'm alright."
"We should all go in together, Hikari," Kenji said.
"If this truly is a trap, then only I will be trapped," Hikari said. "You guys can rescue me later. Just take care of Mog for now."
Hikari opened the door and stepped into the clock tower. Mog cooed sadly as Hikari closed the door.
"Do you think she'll be ok?" Maria asked.
"I'm not sure," Kenji said. "But worrying about her won't help."
Hikari climbed higher and higher up the inside of the clock tower. The staircase inside spiraled higher and higher, making it seem endless. Eventually, Hikari reached the top. At the top was a large slowly spinning cog that she could walk upon. She looked around. She didn't see anything except dozens of clock parts.
"That old man must've been lying," Hikari said. "But why?"
Hikari continued to look around. Above her, the man in the white robe with the staff stepped out of the shadows.
"I cannot allow anyone who knows about the Soul Edge to exist," his voice echoed throughout the tower.
Hikari turned towards where he was standing, but he had disappeared. She kept focused all around her. Eventually, she heard metal clanging against metal. The sound grew louder and louder. She turned around and saw a giant cog rolling towards her. Hikari managed to roll out of the way just in time. After dodging and drawing her sword, the man in the white robe appeared before her.
"Impressive," the man said. "But you still won't go any further."
"So you set this whole thing up!" Hikari shouted. "You said that you know about Soul Edge! Who are you?!"
"I guess I can let you know my name before you die," the man said. "I am Zasalamel. Now you shall die."
He swung his giant scythe towards Hikari. Hikari lifted up her sword to block. She then charged towards Zasalamel. Zasalamel merely pulled his scythe across the ground to trip her. Hikari fell down, but she caught herself as she fell. She then rolled forward and slashed at her opponent as she rose up. Zasalamel barely managed to dodge, getting a light scratch on his right arm. He then kicked Hikari onto her back.
"You are swift," Zasalamel said. "But this will not be enough to defeat me."
"We'll see about that!" Hikari shouted.
She continued to launch attack after attack towards Zasalamel, who blocked every strike. He eventually jumped to the side as Hikari sliced downwards. Faster than Hikari could see, Zasalamel appeared behind her.
"You are not fast enough," Zasalamel said.
He used his scythe to lift Hikari into the air and slammed her into the ground.
"You are years away from ever defeating me," Zasalamel said. "I have had lifetimes of training."
"What?" Hikari groaned.
Zasalamel lifted up his scythe for the final strike.
"FIRA!!" someone shouted.
Zasalamel looked up and saw a fireball flying towards him. He rolled out of the way to dodge. He looked up at his new opponent. Standing at the top of the steps were Kenji, Mog, and Maria.
Maria threw a couple of shuriken towards Zasalamel. Zasalamel blocked the weapons with his scythe. He then ran towards the edge of the cog. Maria and Kenji tried to catch him, but when he reached the edge of the cog, Zasalamel jumped off. Kenji and Maria looked down at where he had jumped.
"Did he survive the fall?" Maria asked.
Kenji looked over at Hikari, who was covered with blood and bruises.
"Hikari!" Kenji shouted.
Kenji ran over to her, with Mog and Maria right behind him. Kenji cast a Cure spell and closed all of Hikari's wounds. He then wiped off the blood.
"You alright?" Kenji asked.
"Did I really spend an hour up here?" Hikari asked weakly.
"We came up as soon as we heard the fighting," Maria said. "Your Moogle wouldn't stop squeaking until we got here."
Mog flew over to Hikari and cuddled against her.
"You're sweet," Hikari said.
She then passed out. When Hikari woke up, she found herself in a bed in the town's inn.
"Morning," Kenji said.
Hikari looked around herself. She saw that Kenji, Mog, and Maria were sitting around her.
"This is exactly why we shouldn't run off on our own," Maria said.
"What exactly happened in there?" Kenji asked.
Hikari began to tell her friends exactly what had happened.
"So he said that he couldn't let anyone who knows about the Soul Edge live?" Kenji asked. "Does that mean he's fought Kilik and Xianghua?"
"If he did and survived, that must mean that he really is strong," Hikari said. "Now I wonder…how did he get that strong? He said something about having lifetimes of training. What did he mean?"
"He's just exaggerating," Maria said. "Nobody can live lifetimes, right?"
Hikari and Maria looked towards their magic expert.
"I have no idea!" Kenji exclaimed. "But I have an idea who might, and we're in luck. His research facility is around here."
"Research facility?" Hikari and Maria asked together.
"Kupo?" Mog asked.
The following day, Kenji led the rest of the group to a large building in a field nearby.
"Why are we here again?" Hikari asked.
"My old friend Kaoru studies ancient magic here," Kenji said. "Maybe he knows something about this."
Kenji knocked on the door of the building.
"Coming!" someone shouted from inside.
When the door opened, a young man with dark-brown hair and brown eyes stood at the door. He wore a red robe, brown boots, and glasses.
"Kenji?!" he exclaimed.
"Kaoru!" Kenji exclaimed.
The two of them shook hands.
"It's been a while," Kaoru said. "I haven't seen you since we graduated from the magic academy."
Kaoru then noticed that Kenji had friends with him.
"I see you brought your traveling partners with you," Kaoru said. "Come in! Come in! Make yourselves at home."
Kaoru prepared tea and snacks for the rest of them and they sat down on couches in a living room.
"So why did you come here?" Kaoru asked. "I doubt it was just for a friendly visit."
"We actually have a question," Kenji said. "Hikari."
"I was wondering if immortality is truly possible," Hikari said.
"I see," Kaoru said.
Kaoru looked deep in thought. Everyone else stared at him with interest.
"I…don't believe that there is a spell for immortality," Kaoru said. "But there is something similar. If you'll excuse me."
Kaoru left the room. When he came back, he was holding a dusty old book. He blew away the dust and peeled back the pages.
"Here it is," Kaoru eventually said. "Here is an ancient spell of reincarnation."
"Reincarnation?" Hikari asked.
"It's an ancient art that is so lost, that I don't know how exactly it is activated," Kaoru said. "Reincarnation is the ability to be reborn again and again."
"Could someone retain their memory when they reincarnate?" Hikari asked.
"I suppose it is possible," Kaoru said.
"Then maybe Zasalamel used the spell," Hikari said. "Why would an immortal being go after Soul Calibur and Soul Edge?"
"Not immortal," Kaoru said. "He still suffers the pain of death, but he cannot find peace afterwards. It's a fate that's worse than death. I cannot imagine why anyone would want such a fate."
"Maybe he wants the swords so he never dies," Kenji suggested.
"Swords?" Kaoru said. "Wait a minute…when you said 'Soul Calibur' and 'Soul Edge'…you're going after the Soul Swords?!"
"Yes," Hikari said.
"That's foolish!" Kaoru said. "Don't you know that the swords are cursed?!"
"Huh?" the rest of them asked.
"Anyone who wields either sword is cursed to continue fighting forever," Kaoru said. "You'll either die in combat or die from exhaustion. And if you wield the darker of the two…"
"Then you'll be possessed by an evil spirit?" Hikari asked.
"Exactly," Kaoru said. "If you know of the blades, why are after them?"
"It is my mission," Hikari said. "Someone who is associated with the Soul Edge attacked my home. I vowed that I would defeat her no matter what."
The whole room was silent.
"I guess I won't be able to change your mind," Kaoru said. "Then at least give you my warning. Do not touch Soul Edge. It might be the last thing you'll ever consciously do."
Hikari's group eventually left the research facility.
"Now we know what we're up against," Hikari said. "Zasalamel won't be easy to beat, but I can't let him wield the swords either."
Hikari and her friends continued onwards to their ultimate destination.