Disclaimer: See previous chapter

Chap. 11

To say this was unexpected was an understatement...

Ky grimaced as he was shoved back into the stairway by the dark gear. In a flash, Testament charged at him, his crimson scythe soaring through the air. Quickly, Ky ducked; the curved blade just whistling over his head. But Testament didn't stop and brought the weapon around, using its momentum for a faster attack. Seeing this, Ky jumped back toward the stairway, but the scythe caught hold of the front of his uniform, tearing through it.

'He's as fast as ever...'

Reaching the stairway, Ky took a quick glance down. The scythe had managed to get through both the cloth and the light armor underneath, but his skin was untouched. His gaze rising back to his opponent, Ky found the form of the dark gear already coming at him. Midway, Testament launched himself through the air, spinning forward as he did with his scythe following in a blood wheel. With the smaller space, Ky had little place to evade, but dodging wasn't on the officer's mind. Rather, the Fuuraiken glowed and sparked to life and Ky slashed out in a wide arc, just as Testament flew in at him.

Flssshhhh!

The blades clashed in a flash of light and energy. As Testament backed away and down to the ground, Ky took this opportunity to turn and retreat back and up the stairs. Fighting in an enclosed environment was difficult, especially with his long blade. Add to the fact that his opponent was extremely deadly and it didn't make for an optimal situation. At best, Ky could at least take the fight outside in an open area. However, he only made as far as the first step out into the corridor before Testament came at him again, practically flying up the stairs.

"Die..."

Ky wheeled about to meet the dark gear's approach and managed to lift his sword to defend. But the force of the blow propelled Ky upward into the air. As Ky was airborne, the dark gear quickly pulled back his scythe and stabbed forward with the butt end of it, catching Ky in the chest and sending the officer back toward the exit. Groaning in pain, Ky brought himself back up to his feet...

As Testament came at him again...

KRRSSSSHHHHH!

The entrance door practically exploded as Ky was hurled to the outside. Spiraling about in the dirt, Ky somehow managed to roll up to his feet and stop, but his chest was burning in pain. However, he didn't have time to check as Testament emerged from the entryway, glaring coldly at the officer as he approached. Ky took a breath. Although he was probably injured now, he was where he wanted to be and thus could fight to the fullest of abilities.

As could Testament now...

Even still, the young officer fell into stance with his trusted blade sparking with energy at his readiness. Testament was unfazed and rushed at Ky with his scythe cutting the air. But instead of dodging or defending, this time Ky rushed at Testament. Both weapons clashed in a flash of light and Ky pressed on, whirling about and bringing his energized sword about for another attack. Testament too, lashed out with another attack and in a greater clash of light and energy, the two combatants were thrown back by the force.

"You will die..."

Ky didn't respond, knowing the cause of Testament's attacks against him. Not that it would have mattered. Every encounter he had with the dark gear has resulted in a fierce, life-threatening battle. First it was during the end of the Sacred Order tournament when Testament was working to resurrect Justice. Then it was during the time of the bounty on Dizzy, when he opposed him just outside her forest sanctuary.

-"Leave this forest alone. It is her sanctuary for her to live happily ever after."-

-"You should know that seclusion is not happiness"-

Cutting his musings short, Ky followed up his earlier strike with a low sweep. Testament shadowed back and waved out his hand. Ky sensed the burst of energy and recognized the technique used. 'Summoning magic!' Without turning to look, Ky jumped off to the side as a purple ooze of teeth snapped him from behind. The attack missed mostly, but managed to just nip into his leg. His face grimaced, but he felt that the bite wasn't deep enough to draw blood. Even still, it hurt quite a bit.

Moving like a black wind, Testament swooped toward Ky once again. Reacting on instinct, Ky brought his sword in to block, but as the weapons clashed against each other, Ky couldn't help the yelp of pain that came out of his mouth as he felt a stab of pain in his leg and he was shoved down to one knee as a result. 'Guess I'm more hurt than I thought.' Testament noticed this as well and he brought his leg forward, landing a sharp kick on the young man's chin. Ky landed flat on the floor and Testament raised his scythe high to finish him.

'Move!'

With that mental shout, Ky rolled over the ground just as the crimson blade struck down, practically parting the earth. Testament pulled the scythe out of the ground and attacked again while Ky was still down, but Ky was able to kick forward (with his good leg) and force the gear back. Forcing himself up to one knee, Ky brought his sword across. Lightning crackled around it as Ky summoned his own power.

'Stun Edge!'

Whipping the Fuuraiken out, Ky launched a bolt of lightning at the dark gear. Testament spotted it, but the blast came to fast to avoid and the gear could only hold up his scythe and block the projectile, causing streaks of electricity to flow around him. With his opponent momentarily disabled, Ky kicked off the ground and launched himself at Testament. The gear was forced into a defense as Ky savagely struck down at him, clashing heavily with the middle of his scythe.

Ky moved in to press further, but the pain in his leg caused him to falter slightly, enough for Testament to gather enough energy into his body, causing it to flash in red. As a result, when Ky's delayed attack connected, Testament's body dissolved into the ground. Ky stumbled forward, his eyes wide as he realized what had happened and was too late to stop as Testament reemerged from the ground behind him in a burst of violent energy, knocking him away.

"Guah!"

Rolling over on the ground, Ky managed to stagger back up to his feet, but he felt his strength sapping away; an additional effect from Testament's attack. Even as he tried to get back on his feet, he could feel the wobbly of his legs from the toxic energy. Fortunately, the effects were only temporary, so there was no threat of death from it. But it would weaken him enough for Testament to really kill him.

Unless he moved first...

Despite the pain from his injuries and the fatigue he was feeling, Ky forced himself to gather every ounce of magical energy he could at the moment. It happened just as Testament lunged at him, the intent to kill clear. Forcing his mind to focus the energy he had gather, Ky whirled his hand around in a circle, with the lightning energy following it and creating a blue circle around him. With his hand now in front of him and infused with the power, Ky shot it toward the dark gear with a shout.

"Sacred Edge!"

An arrow of pure energy flashed out from the officer's outstretched hand, nailing Testament straight on without any chance of defense or evasion. However, the power of his attack only dazed Testament, buying Ky only a few seconds. Once again, he forced his body into action, rushing toward Testament and concentrating on his lightning once again, this time focusing the energy into his sword.

'Greed Server!'

Fuuraiken surged with the resulting power as Ky leapt forward, spinning in an arch through the air and striking down on Testament's shoulder. The gear let out a gargle of pain and slammed down onto the ground. Ky landed before him, half in pain, but still on his feet. The fatigue from Testament's earlier attack was wearing away, but the young man was still in pain. Aside from the gear doing a number on him, he had been forced to use his magic more strenuously in this fight.

But the blow he landed on Testament would be far more severe, and it would take the gear a long while to recover from it. In fact, Ky felt that he might have gone a little too far. In any case, Testament was disabled, at least for the moment. Fuuraiken sparkled lightly near the fallen gear and Ky considered what to do next. Considering what was happening inside the facility, leaving Testament behind without finishing him could be problematic later on. But that would mean finishing him off, for good this time.

Should he...?

Shaking his head lightly, Ky moved away from Testament and headed back to the facility. A rustle of motion caught his ears and Ky tightened his grip on Fuuraiken. But as he turned his head, he only saw Testament just rising on his hands, crimson eyes glaring at the young officer.

"Why don't...you finish me...?"

Ky didn't reply, but his eyes lowered somewhat in thought. By all rights, he should finish him off. 'No...' He had already decided to spare him. And judging by the way his voice was ragged, Ky knew that he didn't need to do any more than what he had done. Ky began to turn away when he heard Testament growl out.

"I don't want...your pity... human."

"No. It's not that. I just..." His gaze became distant in thought. "...I just don't want to make Dizzy sad."

Testament blinked. 'Dizzy...?' Out loud. "What does...she have to do...with this?"

Again, Ky made no reply and simply turned and walked away. What indeed? That was simple. Dizzy saw Testament as her guardian and an older brother. And even though Dizzy was no longer under his watch, she still cared about him. To hear that Testament had been slain would indeed hurt her, even if it was for the right reasons. And that was something Ky would not do. Ky cared too much about her feelings and if he had to, he would risk further injury.

He...loved her...

There was no denying it now. Probably not ever. Not since she cared for him aboard the Mayship. Not since they spoke to each other and exchanged smiles. Not since...

Not since she kissed him...

But there was more to it than that. It wasn't just the kiss. It was the feeling behind it. Had it been any other woman, he might had dismissed it (not completely anyway). But Dizzy... the woman-gear... He felt for her...

A sudden rumble caught his attention and Ky felt that it came from within the facility. Rushing back inside, Ky raced back down the stairs and through the corridor where he had entered into before. Moving onward, Ky made his way down to the end of the corridor to find several glass-clear doors ending with a thicker metal gate. Making his way through them and opening the gate, Ky found himself in a large circular chamber room. The ground illuminated with energy that flowed toward the center of the chamber, with both Sol and Axl at the side, their weapons drawn and facing a new opponent.

As well as the source to the explosion...

Standing (or rather, hovering) in the center of the chamber was a large, humanoid figure. White armor shrouded the being's form and tail. Flowing from behind was a mane of fiery-colored hair and a strange ring circled around its legs. Ice-blue eyes glowed ominously as Ky looked at the creature he has faced before...

...And that nearly killed him.

Commander-Type Gear - Justice...