Dust fluttered from his steel boots as he stepped, a brick stair way ahead of him, the steps themselves broken and old. He could smell the scents usually associated with old buildings, musty, damp, ancient. He held onto the railing as he began his ascent to the upper levels, its wooden hinges creaking and groaning, having never been touched for years.
He came to the top floor, standing atop a large floor shaped into a giant circle, the clogs and sprockets of the mighty clock jutting from the walls below the windows meshed together as they worked tirelessly to keep it running. He could sense the sorcerer, yet he could not see him, the dark man was hiding from him. Why would he bring him here and not show himself? Siegfried didn't know the answer to this either.
"Sorcerer, why have you brought me here?!" Siegfried yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. He continued to scan the walkways and the stairs, still seeing nothing.
Looking down upon the silver knight, Zasalamel stood up, his golden eye staring down. He smiled, it always amazed him at how easy it was to manipulate the people of this world, it almost seemed to easy. Then he heard a loud crash from far below, the sound of powerful hooves coming up the stairs with speed, the sound of plate armor scraping against its narrow walls. His smile slowly disappeared from his face as the horse came into view, it was a dragon unicorn and only the BlackStorm used them.
Siegfried instantly turned around, hearing the unicorn clattering to the top floor where he stood, its sounds so familiar, yet so distant. He backed up, sensing the evil presence riding the unicorn, his black armor unmistakable, his head completely bald, his pale face hidden by a white porcelain demonic mask, giving him an evil, emotionless grin. It was Heinrich, his most trusted friend.
Darxyde stopped his steed, gazing upon the face he had once served, Siegfried. He had sensed him, his soul was still powerful, yet it was untainted, it was clear, seemingly unblemished. "Siegfried, brother, I have finally found you.." His voice still distorted, sounding raspy, evil.
But Siegfried didn't respond, the look on his face showing distrust. He didn't know what was about to happen next, did the sorcerer plan this? Did he want him to kill his beloved cousin? He pushed the thought away, it was to unbearable to comprehend. Heinrich's appearance hid who he really was, yet he still remembered the horrible things they both had committed together against innocent people, when Siegfried held Soul Edge. He didn't know if Heinrich even remembered who he was. Was he still evil? He had no way of knowing.
"Why have you come?" Siegfried asked sternly. Darxyde dismounted, leaving his great sword attached to his horse. "You are my leader, I had to know if you were still alive." He responded.
"You aren't here to kill me?" Siegfried asked, growing more untrustful. Darxyde instantly stepped forward, kneeling down in front of Siegfried, he bowed his head, horrified Siegfried had asked such a question. "No my lord, I have come to serve with you once again. I thought you were dead, I thought Nightmare had completely consumed you, I thought I'd never see you again." He slowly looked back up, Siegfried's face remained unchanged.
Above them, they heard a crash, the sound of steel smashing against steel. A large shape descended from the ceiling, it fell to the platform they were standing on, causing it to shudder. It was one of the giant cogs and it was still moving, Siegfried was barely able to dodge it as it rolled by. Darxyde on the other hand wasn't as quick, he tried to get out of its way, but it crashed into him, sending him to his back, he landed and managed to roll out of its way, just as it went over the side. He got to his feet, hearing its weight smashing down through the tower, the foundations below moving the platform beneath their feet.
Someone landed at the edge of the platform, where the cog had come from, his robes glistening from the light pouring in from the, now broken, clock. He slowly stood up, a beautiful and deadly looking scythe in his right hand. "Such a nice little reunion, I almost feel sorry I have to interrupt it." He said as he looked up, his golden eye shining. "...Almost."
He dashed toward Siegfried, who instantly unhooked his sword from his back, bringing it around to block a vertical hit from the sorcerer, the giant weapons collided together, sparks flying from their impact points. Siegfried instantly retaliated, he swung his sword side ways, Zasalamel holding up his scythe to block, the blow itself sending him stumbling back.
Zasalamel was about to counter attack when he heard the sound of another giant blade cutting through the air behind him, he instantly moved his scythe to block his back. He was pushed forward as the hit nearly knocked him off his feet yet again, he turned around, eyeing his two opponents.
Darxyde went to Siegfried's side, holding both of their giant swords to their sides, ready to kill. Zasalamel rushed forward, using his reach and speed as best he could, for his weapon was very top heavy and couldn't be wielded precisely unless it was held toward the middle of its shaft, meaning he had to get up close to whoever he was fighting. The two knight's weapons however, had reach and power on their side, but they had nearly no finesse, meaning speed was not their advantage, their weapons were slow and cumbersome, useless to those who hadn't the strength and will to use them. Nonetheless, both Siegfried and Darxyde had the power and ability to fight with them, as they had done so all their lives.
They blocked the first hits, Darxyde rushed forward, shoulder bashing Zasalamel back, Siegfried swinging his sword down vertically, going for a crippling blow. Zasalamel dashed to the right, parrying Darxyde and at the same time, dodging Siegfried's swing, the giant blade of Requiem smashing into the floor, sending wood and metal up into the air. Zasalamel sidestepped, stabbing the pommel of the scythe into Siegfried's chest, it smashed into his chest armor, knocking Siegfried to his back, DarXyde swinging in a wide arc, his blade passing over the downed Siegfried, Zasalamel instantly rushed back, dodging the swings. Darxyde stepped forward, keeping his giant sword moving around him in wide swings, Zasalamel continued to back step, Darxyde pushed him nearly to the edge of the platform.
Zasalamel stopped and brought his scythe up, punch blocking with the shaft, he was able to absorb most of the shock as the great sword slammed against his weapon. He swung sideways with the scythe, Darxyde blocked, back stepped and renewed his swing, this time with force behind each blow. Zasalamel, ducked under the first, and tried to guard impact the second. The weapons collided again, this time it knocked Zasalamel off the edge of the platform, Darxyde losing his grasp on his sword, it fell to the side.
Zasalamel barely managed to hook his blade to the edge of the platform, he dangled above the long drop below. Darxyde rushed forward and kicked the blade of the scythe from where it was locked, Zasalamel fell. Darxyde went to the edge, looking over the side, he could see nothing.
Siegfried stood up, his lungs hurting, his chest plate dented in. Darxyde asked, still looking down at where Zasalamel had disappeared, "A sorcerer, did he draw you here?" He turned around. Siegfried picked his sword back up, dusting his armor off and answered," Yes, he told me he had information for me, pertaining to SoulEdge. I need all the information I can get." He lowered his head," I need all the help I can get..."
Darxyde slowly nodded, he walked to where Siegfried stood and put his hand on his shoulder. "Brother, though things are not the same as when we were children, that doesn't mean I will abandon you. My blood is still tainted, my soul still infected by SoulEdge. I to, need help. I need it to cleanse my self of all the wrongs that I have commited... I know you to are seeking the same redemption." Siegfried looked up, his blue eyes staring into where Heinrich's would have been, hidden behind the evil smile of the mask. They locked their hands together in their warrior's embrace. Siegfried said "Then together, my brother, we shall destroy the sword... or die trying."