Chapter 7

"Pesmerga, can we really defeat the Sword?" Zerase asked. "It appears that many of the Tenkai stars are on that side."

"Just has a sword is only offense, a shield is only defense. We are impregnable," Pesmerga said. "Just as long as Leknaat does not give up her half of the Gate Rune."

"I'm truly sorry everybody," Leknaat spoke quietly.

"You lost my respect Leknaat, this battle no longer concerns you," Pesmerga shot back. "Riou, Geddoe, Chris, Sasarai, I will rely on your magic the most."

"Do you still need me here?" Viki asked.

"You may leave if you like. I can teleport us from here on out, thank you though," Pesmerga said.

Viki nodded, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

"When will we fight this battle?" Geddoe asked. "I'm still not sure how this all works. When is the battle over?"

"When either Yuber dies or I die," Pesmerga replied. "This is a battle between sword and shield, but the True Runes are the sheath for the sword and the handle for the shield. We need your help in order to end this battle and prevet the Ashen Future."

Albert Silverberg sat on the altar, his head down. "What can I do?"

"Nothing," Pesmerga answered. "You did your part by bringing all the True Runes together. You can leave and see the world of destruction you created if you'd like."

Albert got up and knelt down next to Hikusaak's body. He took out Hikusaak's sword from its sheath and held it up. "I don't know if I can fight."

"Albert, neither of us can fight," Nash said. "We are too weak for the power of the runes."

"Yes, Nash, you must leave if you want to live," Pesmerga said. "It is certain you would die in the collateral damage."

"Albert, I'll take you with me if you want, maybe you can call off Armes and Nether Gate and the Howling Voice Guild, and try to set some things right," Nash offered.

"You can do that yourself, I have already destroyed too much. I was the best tactician the world has ever seen, yet I feel like I did so much wrong. The end was inevitable, but my means did not justify the end. And I went against my grandfather's beliefs. He believed that war needed to be ended as soon as possible no matter what. It seems I instigated more of a war than anything," Albert said sadly as he looked at the sword in his hand. "Please tell Caesar something for me."

"Yes?" Nash asked.

"Tell him... tell him that his actions were better than mine, even if his mind wasn't." And with that, Albert brought the sword down into his upper stomach and drove it through him till it stuck out of the other side. Blood gurgled in his throat has it leaked down his chin. He fell to his knees, slumped over on his side, and died.

Nash had Pesmerga teleport him to the castle walls after he kissed Sierra goodbye. He avoided the Harmonian soldiers, who apparently stopped fighting. He got a horse from a nearby townsman, and rode out into the desert toward Jowstone and Highland. He thought of all the events he'd seen in his lifetime. He had been present through nearly every war and was still alive. Not only that, but he was not a True Rune bearer. This never stopped him though, he could still be useful as a normal mortal. And now, he knew his goal. He had to ride and find the members of the Howling Voice Guild and settle things once and for all.

So Nash set forth to Highland to get to L'Renouille. He assumed Windy would be there, and he assumed he could find the Howling Voice Guild there as well. He slipped into the city. Not many soldiers were around since most of them were down in Jowstone. He eventually tied up his horse somewhere, and head for the palace by foot. It took him nearly three hours, but he eventually found a secret passageway into the castle. It took him deep to the basement. He found a chimney down in the basement and got inside it. Pushing against the sides of the chimney he eventually made it all the way to the top and got to the roof of the castle. On the roof there were windows that looked down into the giant hall below. He peered into the windows and saw three Howling Voice Guild members that he recognized: Clive, Cathari, and Zaj. Three of the best members.

Nash closed his eyes and concentrated on what he'd have to do once he was in there. He opened his eyes and jumped through the glass. He took out the Grosser Flux, extended it like a whip and snapped it toward a balcony in the room. It caught hold, and he swung across the room and landed on the floor, letting the Grosser Flux come back together. He took out a small knife from his belt and whipped it at Cathari, it caught her in the shoulder as she reeled back in pain and surprise.

Nash darted forward and jumped in the air before Clive got his shot off from the Sturm. Nash came down and kicked Zaj in the face. He took out another needle and flung it at Zaj's face, puncturing his cheek. He run forward and swung the Grosser Flux wildly and cut Zaj in half. A shot was fired behind him and it caught him right above his right hip. He turned and saw Cathari aiming her gun at him again.

He raced forward, ignoring the pain and swung the Grosser Flux around again, slicing Cathari's head off. He turned and faced Clive who had Sturm leveled at Nash's head. Clive pulled the trigger but nothing happened.

"Wha?" Clive wondered.

Nash stepped forward and snatched the Sturm out of Clive's hands. He held the gun and pointed it at Clive's stomach. He pulled the triger and a bullet fired into Clive's stomach. Clive clasped his stomach and fell to the ground.

"Why.. why has Sturm rejected me?" Clive asked.

"You killed Elza you bastard," Nash said angrily. "Sturm chose you so that eventually you would find me. Now you're just getting what you deserved. Not only did you kill an innocent Elza, but you have not assassinated and slaughtered many people in this world war. Your time is over Clive."

"No, please," Clive pleaded.

"Don't plead to me, I know you're just going to stab me in the back," Nash replied.

Clive smiled evily, "Then I guess you can kill me. But you'll never find Windy. She has already gone to Yuber. The final battle will begin shortly."

Nash didn't care. He pulled the trigger and show Clive in the head. Nash climbed a stairwell back to the roof with the Grosser Flux and the Sturm and eventually made his way down south to help in Toran.

A couple days had passed since all the commotion as Pesmerga and his followers prepared for the attack from Yuber and his followers. The world was slowly getting back into shape, but attacks from Armes, Tinto, and Nether Gate continued on.

Windy, Pesmerga, Jowy, Luca, Hugo, Tir, Lazlo, Freyjadour, Jeane, and Louis all appeared in the room in the Circle Palace were Pesmerga and his group was. The room itself looked like it was fated for the final battle. The walls were made of marble that rose up nearly 50 feet in the air. At the top the ceiling was domed, and the dome was covered in paint and plates of gold. Long, fifteen foot windows lined the entire room. At the front of the room was a lone podium; surprisingly there were no chairs in there. It was a massive hall left entirely empty.

"Pesmerga, the time has come," Yuber said happily. "The end has come."

Yuber leapt forward toward Pesmerga and the echo of their clattering swords blared through the room. Leknaat looked at Windy and the two of them each sent out Gate Rune magic at each other. Jowy looked for Riou and sent a bolt straight at him, Riou defended it easily though. Hugo just stood at the back of the room, not willing to fight, Louis stood next to him, Melville came over as well.

"I just feel like this isn't our war," Hugo said.

"I agree," Melville replied.

"Is this really the way to prevent the Ashen Future though? We've been lied to so much. Clearly the Ashen Future does not come because of Hikusaak and uniting the 27 True Runes. Does it really come when either Shield or Sword never wins? Must one side truly win for the Ashen Future to never come?" Louis asked.

Hugo.

Flame Champion? Hugo thought.

No. It is I. Hikusaak.

What are you doing. What do you want?

You need to make sure Yuber or Pesmerga loses. I've clearly been fooled, but it is too late for me.

I will not fight Chris or Geddoe.

You do not have to. Join Pesmerga's side, and have everybody gang up on Yuber.

My rune will not allow me to.

I thought you said you were human? Stronger than your Rune?

Shuttup.

Can you not bear it? The power the True Rune has over you? I was the original Hero. I know the power of True Runes more than you can imagine.

Why don't you just die already?

Hugo, listen to me, gang up on Yuber, and end this. Make the shield win.

Hikusaak, you are my enemy. If you want the shield to win, then the shield must be bad.

Hugo, I am not your enemy. I was power hungry.

And you were betrayed by the Sword, and now you want me to fulfill your revenge. I want nothing to do with that.

Suit yourself. I'll just have Luca Blight unleash the Beast Rune on everybody there and you can watch the Shield die.

Wait! No!

Too late Hugo.

Luca Blight leapt forward and swung his sword at Futch. Futch tried to parry the blow but was too slow and was slashed across the chest. Luca Blight kicked him backward and turned to Chris Lightfellow who was using her Water magic to protect Pesmerga. He reared his sword and swung down.

"Chris!" Hugo cried.

Chris looked up with her blue eyes, seeing the bloodied, crazed, Luca Blight. Sierra jumped in front of her as Luca's blade pierced Sierra's chest.

In a fit of rage, Hugo unleashed a shockwave of fire that he embued with passion and anger. The flames hit Luca Blight from behind has Hugo pounced on Luca's falling body, stabbing his two daggers deep into Luca's neck and ripping out his vocal chords and slicing the nerves on his back. He stabbed deep into the back of his neck again and shoved his hand in and yanked at Luca's spinal chord. Luca Blight lay there motionless.

Riou rolled and sent out another magic attack at Jowy.

"Sierra," Chris said kneeling down to the maiden. "Why did you do that?"

"To protect love," Sierra smiled. "I've lived my life with Nash, but you've yet to live yours with Hugo."We transcend time with Eternal Life. The story of Sword and Shield never ends, and love never dies. Live on, Chris."

Sierra released a deep breath of air and her face settles calmly as her eyes rolled back in her head. A tear streamed down Chris' face as she cried into Sierra's bleeding bosom.

Hugo looked up at Yuber. Yuber had a wide grin on his face, his pupils glowing a faint red. Geddoe stood opposite him with Pesmerga firing away magic while Yuber dodged and fired rune magic back. Sasarai was protecting Geddoe with magic now that Chris was distracted. Tir, Lazlo, and Freyjadour were unleashing an array of magic at Pesmerga, desperately trying to defeat him.

"You son of a bitch!" Melville yelled as he jumped at Yuber. "I will not let you take away the lives of all these admirable heroes! You're scum!"

Yuber turned, ready to kill Melville when suddenly Pesmerga flew across the room and parried the swing. He fought Yuber in hand to hand combat.

Yuber looked at Pesmerga and said, "Why not unleash the true power of our runes?"

"You can do what you want, but you know whatever magic you use, I can deflect," Pesmerga replied.

Yuber quickly rose his hands to the sky and out of the ground came what appeared to be massive zombies. Pesmerga threw his hand out in the direction of one of the zombies and the zombie was instantly obliterated in a cloud of dust.

"Whatever you summon Yuber, I can destroy," Pesmerga taunted.

Geddoe unsheathed his sword and ran at Tir. Tir whirled his staff around and blocked the swing of Geddoe's sword. Tir swung the other end of his staff up and landed a blow right at Geddoe's right temple. As Tir was making his motion though, Geddoe brought the butt end of his hilt straight down on the top of Tir's head. Geddoe glanced quickly to his left and saw Jowy charging for him with Riou chasing him.

Jowy swung his own staff like a club at Geddoe. Geddoe nimbly dodged it, but was body slammed by Jowy and hit the floor. Geddoe readied his sword to thrust deep into Jowy's stomach. But at that moment, it was as if a breath of life had come into the temple. Two men walked in. One was dressed in a gold and purple robe with long black hair, the other had green and scarlet robes on with a short black beard. A horde of people followed behind them.

Hugo looked at the two men. Behind them came Viktor, Flik, Georg Prime, Leon Silverberg, Lucia, Lucretia Merces, the other Great Generals, and the other tacticians as well.

"Mazus and Crowley at your service," The one with the short beard smirked. "We have spent hundreds of years learning the ways of the runes and their magical abilities!"

Mazus continued, "Your plan is finished. My master and I have finally figured out the truth behind the runes and their powers. We both have over one hundred runes on our bodies. We've mastered and overcome their temptations, and although not True Runes, they carry remnants of the True Runes in each and every one of them."

"You cannot take the True Runes," Crowley added. "With the 27 True Runes gone, we wondered if the Earth would still remain. And after hundreds of years of fighting and experiementing with the normal runes and their powers, we now know that the world would in fact not end. The True Runes are merely the jewels of the broken Sword and Shield. Without the jewels, the Sword and Shield, Sky and Earth, will still remain."

And with that being said, Mazus and Crowley raised their arms up to the sky and everybody in the room fell to their knees in agony. Even Pesmerga and Yuber. And from all of the bodies in there, the Runes came out of them as small sparkles. The two legendary magicians then brought all 27 sparkles into one conjoined light. In that light, all who looked in it would see the pasts of the Runes, and the people who had once controlled them. Crowley and Mazus then clapped their hands together, and the one sparkle mushroomed into the air, and a boom like thunder echoed throughout the room.

And it was done.

"There are no more runes in this world. No True Runes, no runes from the True Runes, nothing," Mazus said. "The Earth can now go on in eternal peace. The Sword and the Shield will forever be against each other, but never again will they ever disappear or fight the way they have been. Because they cannot fight anymore, the world will not be broken down to nothingness, and the Ashen Future will not come."

"And now that our life's duty has been fulfilled. We are finished. Our bodies were made up of 90 rune material after all our experimenting. And now that it is gone, we are finished," Crowley concluded.

He looked at Mazus, and in an instant their bodies collapsed to nothing but sand on the floor.

The group of heros all stood up and looked at each other in disbelief. Even Yuber and Pesmerga stopped fighting, there seemed to be no will to fight between them. The runes that had controlled them were gone.

Everybody there was speechless.