Jake's Epilogue: Throw It All Away

I landed somewhere below, in a dark realm. I wasn't sure of where I was, but one thing was sure; it was wet. I staggered to my feet, without a sword to support me, and looked down. I was standing on a lake of some sort, but the sky was dark, as well as whatever was underwater. There was nothing around to see; all was dark, save the short vision range I had.

So... now you know the truth.

A black-robed woman appeared in front of me.

Amy.

"And you've failed four times. Even with a sacred sword, you couldn't do it..." she taunted me. "You should have known that."

I shook my head.

"He's not the Roy I knew. He's too cold to be Roy," I said. "The Roy I knew was calm and kind, even silly at times. But that guy... he's..."

Amy didn't answer.

"... he's not Roy. He can't be. His power... it's beyond my ability to handle. It's... otherworldly," I finished.

"You're right in saying that," Amy told me. "His power isn't human because HE isn't wholly human anymore."

"If he's not human... then... what is he?" I asked her.

"You could say... that he's a Katayoku no Tenma..." she muttered.

"A One-Winged Demon? He didn't look anything like that..." I said.

"That's because he was still holding back the lion's share of his power," Amy told me. "If he wasn't, you'd be dead, not lost in the Realm of Darkness."

"So he's still far too much for me to take down..." I said, staring at the ground. "Is it even possible to defeat him...?"

"It's very possible," Amy replied.

"How...? His power was impossible even at that 'Aether' level. He matched my Cursed Seal without transforming!" I yelled at her.

"...have you forgotten?" she asked.

"About what?" I asked back.

"The Cursed Seals' second level," Amy replied. "If you advance to that level, you might be able to match Roy's inner demon."

"It would be awakening my inner demon, as well," I said, a little anger rising in my voice.

"You've already thrown everything away," she said with a sinister smile. "If you come with me, I can save you from this abyss. I can show you the way. I can give you the power to defeat Roy!"

A gust of wind blew past us.

"I'll go... but I don't want your darkness," I said to her. "This darkness," I muttered, grasping my Cursed Seal for a moment, "MY darkness, will show me the way!"

"Very well," Amy said, opening a dark portal. "Then show me just what you're made of!"

Amy walked into the dark corridor. I turned around, looking up the waterfall that I had fallen all the way down. The top was nearly invisible; it seemed to symbolize the distance between my power and Roy's.

"I will gain power in my own way!" I shouted up. "I will defeat you in my own way!"

I followed Amy into the darkness.

I don't care if the darkness consumes me! I WILL kill you!