I continued climbing the Altar of Naught. The path wasn't too steep, and I felt some otherworldly power flowing through me. It must have been the innate darkness of this world, but maybe it was my inner darkness…
Was this the right path?
I reached the top, where Maleficent stood with her back turned to me. I clomped my boots up the stairs, eventually coming to a stop with a loud stomp. My sword was still drawn, and seemed to be emitting some sort of dark energy.
"Strange. I never expected such a pathetic brat to be able to reach here," Maleficent said, her back still turned to me. "That coward is as useless as ever."
"First off, you could say I'm no ordinary brat," I replied. "Second, you should just be rid of Pete. He's a weak, pathetic excuse for an opponent. Nobody should have a difficult time with him."
"You speak out of line," Maleficent said, turning around. "You may possess some strength and skill, but you're still no match for me, the Mistress of All Evil!"
Green flames erupted around Maleficent.
"Sad…" I muttered.
"What's that, you impudent whelp?" she asked.
"We're more alike than you know. We're both followers of darkness…" I said. "We trust the darkness to show us the path to our own futures, even though we still have some bit of light left in us."
"Hmph. You think you know the darkness?" Maleficent taunted.
"Yeah. I do. Now, let's dance," I said, getting into a fighting stance.
I lowered my blade and walked through the black and green flame flares Maleficent ignited around me. I sneered at her… I couldn't explain it, but it seemed like that Cursed Seal, despite being sealed, was giving me some sort of resistance to her magic. I stood right in her face, looking at her with a sinister smile. Maleficent seemed to be panicking.
"So, is that all you've got? I'm disappointed…" I sneered. "I expected better from the 'Mistress of All Evil.'"
My blade was at her throat.
"Tell me the way into the Realm of Darkness… the real Realm of Darkness, where the legendary blade Illumina lies," I forced. "If you don't, I'll kill you."
"Hah. You really think it's that easy?" Maleficent taunted me. I saw a hint of dark flames brewing in her eyes… "You're not the only one with powers granted by the darkness."
I staggered back as black and green flames enveloped Maleficent. She turned into her monstrous dragon form, causing the Altar to collapse. We fell down into the Hall of Empty Melodies. The dragon roared at me, spewing forth the rotting scent of corpses and black and green flames.
"Still not afraid," I said coldly. I got into the stance again, charging at Maleficent. She snapped her jaws at me, but I wasn't afraid. I just kept walking forward, and sheared one of her teeth in half next time she snapped at me. Maleficent howled in pain, turning to swipe me with her tail. I jumped on, and then ran up her back, driving my blade into her ebon flesh. Maleficent, again, roared in pain.
"I'm not done yet!" I shouted, planting my sword firmly in her back as Maleficent tried to thrash me off. After she'd stopped from exhaustion (that was a massive gash in her back), I stabbed her over and over again. I eventually went for the deathblow, cleaving off Maleficent's head with one deft stroke.
Her body burned to cinders.
"Now how am I supposed to get into the Realm of Darkness?" I thought aloud.
"You good for nothin' pipsqueak! You…" I heard someone say. I turned around to see Pete pointing at me.
"I what…?" I asked with that sinister look.
"Yer not human, are ya…" he muttered. I walked over to him and picked him up by the collar.
"Unless you want to end up like that…" I stressed, using my sword to point at the black robes lying on the ground, "I suggest you tell me how to get to the Realm of Darkness."
"Jes… jes dive off the Brink 'a Despair…" Pete quivered, literally shaking in his boots.
"Fine. Now get out of my sight!" I shouted, throwing him aside. I walked out the Hall, hearing Pete mutter something about how I was worse than Maleficent. I made it to the Brink of Despair, then jumped off, closing my eyes as the bright light surrounded me…