Chapter Fifty Two: Storm of Tears

I chased Jake across the vast expanse of the End of the World, slightly disoriented by the purple sky. I couldn't tell how far I'd come because of the lack of a visible ground. The air was silent, save for Jake's occasional snicker. Eventually I saw some sort of statue rising out of the ground. Another one stood facing it, and a waterfall ran down between them. Upon further inspection, I realized they were... shinobi statues...

Jake kept snickering and running, eventually coming to a rest on the statue opposite where I was. He had his back to me, his orange trenchcoat staying still in the windless air.

"JAKE!!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. He seemed ignorant to my cry, and motioned to take a step forward.

"Are you going to run away from me again?" I asked hoarsely, having a tough time from my maxed-out shout. That seemed to stop him; Jake stopped in mid step, getting back into a standing position. He turned around...

Why...? Why are you doing this...?

"Hey... murderous bastard," Jake said. Some of his face was covered in Cursed Seal lightning bolts, and one of his eyes was completely black with the exception of his iris, which was a dark yellow. "I thought you might have figured it out by now, but I've got to go report to Amy."

"Jake..." I muttered.

"I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish, but you may as well turn back," Jake said. "I'm not going to fool around with you. Not after... last time."

I looked down and smiled to myself.

"Even if I hadn't said or done that... you would have hated me anyway," I said. "After all... I did kill everyone close to you."

"You could have saved them if you wanted, or at least left them alone. You're the worst kind of person," Jake said with disgust.

"And that is...?" I asked. A sharp wind began to blow.

"A cold-blooded murderer," he said with finality.

"Sorry," I said, looking up. "But I'm not cold-blooded. You think the murder of billions doesn't weigh on my conscience?"

He stood starkly.

"Well, you're wrong," I said. "Every action I've taken has been to atone for my sins."

It began to drizzle.

"You're such a fool," I said to him. "You've fallen into shadow for no reason... no, it was your rage and lust for power that did that. Sorry, but what I said before I stand by."

"You... you're evil," he said to me.

"Maybe," I said. "But your life is still wretched, and you're still only clinging to life. You're a mindless soldier, running on adrenaline and hatred. That's... the worst kind of existence."

The rain began to torrent, obscuring my view.

"A mindless one..." I muttered, knowing the battle had begun. "I can't believe what a fool I've been"
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Through the storm that raged within and outside of my heart, Jake and I walked in a circle on the water. We lunged forward, clashing a few times, before we jumped back. Once more we clashed, but I chased him this time, trying to cleave off his head. Jake jumped back, striking at my abdomen with a thrust. I knocked it aside with my own sword, attacking his left arm. He jumped back.

I shouted with effort as I charged at Jake Sephiroth-style. My attack on his neck failed, and he knocked me back with the pommel of his sword. Jake then attempted to cut my legs, but I jumped over that, trying to bash his head. Jake rolled out of the way, trying to cut me in the back. I swiftly moved my sword to block the attack, then jumped forward and turned around at the same time.

It was hard to see Jake because of the torrents of rain. I barely managed to react to a Chidori from my left, grabbing Jake's wrist at the last moment and throwing him down into the waters below.

"Twilight Release: Great Spiraling Sphere!"

I plunged down into the water, using my Great Spiraling Sphere to part it. Jake stood at the bottom, sword drawn. He attacked me, but I used my spare hand to pull out my sword and block it. Jake then jumped up through the dome of water, while I slammed my Great Sprialing Sphere into the riverbed to launch myself up to the top. I was soon back on top of the river, still being drenched by the torrential downpour.

"I think that's enough of a warm-up!" I shouted to Jake, who had once again disappeared. I saw the white aura of my True Form appear around me, then looked down at my hand. I then looked up. The rain was a little easier to see through, but I still coulnd't really see Jake. Regardless, I now had the upper hand.

I tried to use my other senses... hearing and smell... to track him, but because of the rain, it was impossible. Realizing this, I waited for Jake to make a move. He dashed in from behind me, but I quickly ducked and swept his feet. While he was laying on the water, I tried to impale him through the chest, as he had done to me some time ago. Unfortunately, Jake reacted fast enough to use the flat of his sword to block my attack, but his sword had revieved a big crack in the flat of the blade.

After that, I jumped back while Jake jumped up. We charged at each other, clashing our blades once again. Jake hadn't powered up any more, so I was able to push him back. I then lunged at him with a rapid flurry of slashes and thrusts, but he was somehow able to deflect these blows. Then I stopped, stylishly turned around on the water, and brandished my sword.

Shinkogan, eh...? Stupid copycat... does he realize that won't be enough to defeat me?

Jake had disappeared into the torrent again. I closed my eyes, drowning out all of my senses except hearing. It lept exponentially, and now, I could tell loud splashes from quiet ones. Jake's boots splashed loudly against the waters... right... NOW!!!

I swiftly turned around to block an attack to my back. Jake had upped his power a little now, and his entire body was covered by my Cursed Seal. He hadn't upped to Level 2 Cursed Seal... not yet... if he even could.

Regardless, our strengths were about equal now. I was in a disadvantageous position; my sword was pointing down, while Jake's blade was horizontal. I jumped back, getting my sword back into my ready stance, while Jake disappeared again into the torrent.

"Stop hiding!" I shouted. Jake then charged at me out of the torrent, letting out a battle cry as he did so. We clashed our blades again, but mine managed to shear some steel from his sword. I then swung high, but Jake ducked to avoid it. He shot something out of his mouth... it was syrupy... then hopped back. I tried to chase him, but...

"Damn! Can't move!" I muttered to myself. The stuff he had shot out was sticking me to the water! Jake then slowly strode up to me, snickering as he did so.

"Do you like my Syrup Catch Field? It'll stop you in your tracks, so now, I can take my time and kill you however I please," Jake chuckled.

"You think... it's over? You saw my Aether Form before, right...?" I asked.

"Yeah, so? No matter how strong you are, strength is useless if you can't fight back!" Jake sneered at me.

"So... in that form, my aura builds to the point of overflowing!" I shouted. "It'll break through this silly move easily!"

I built my aura while Jake kept walking toward me. At first he looked arrogant, but once my aura had broken through his stupid syrup, he was astonished.

"Is that... your Aether Form's full power? If it is, you'll need another form to take me down," Jake said, allowing his entire body to be enveloped by my Cursed Seal. "You'll need your limitless form... the One-Winged Demon!"

How does he...?

Jake had taken on a monstrous form. His skin was tinted a dark, dark blue, and some sort of blades... they looked like they were made of bone... poked out of his forearms. His other eye had taken on the demonic look of his already-transformed eye. His teeth had grown a little longer and had become pointed.

"Is that how you plan on beating me?" I asked angrily. "By turning yourself into a monster?!"

"Asthetic quality doesn't matter in combat," Jake said, his voice now slightly distorted. "Now that I'm stronger, it's time to finish this before you decide to become the One-Winged Demon."

"Like I'd be beaten by someone as cocky as you!" I shouted, brandishing my sword.

He's fallen so far...

Now that my Aether Form had fully kicked in, the rain obscurity was pretty low. I was able to anticipate Jake's attacks, narrowly dodging slashes from his sword and two arm-blades, though I did take a hit right on the scar he had given me before. It burst open, bleeding a little, but that was nothing. I jumped back and prepared to strike.

It seemed Jake was faster in his new form, though; he came flying up to me, striking at me with all his strength. We were sent into a blaze of attacks and parries, all of which I barely managed to block. I was at a bad disadvantage, though; Jake had three weapons, but I only had one.

I jumped back, dashing at Jake before he could recover. Just as it seemed I was about to stab him in the chest, he disappeared. I then turned around to see him laughing at me.

"What the hell's so funny?" I shouted.

"Did you really think I'd be that easy to beat...?" Jake asked.

"How did you do that?!" I angrily shouted at him. I could feel it; soon, I'd lose my Aether Form.

"See this?" he asked, crouching and pointing down at a small slip of paper adrift in the waters. "It's a Flying Thunder God tag. I can teleport to its location."

"Tricky... I don't think I've ever fought a teleporter," I sneered.

"Well... more appropriately, you've never fought someone with ninja skills," he said.

"Where do you think I learned the Spiraling Sphere?" I asked him, but then my Aether Form failed.

I was standing in zero visibility, still being drenched by the torrential downpour.

Of all the times to fail, why now?!

I could scarcely turn before Jake's hand was stuck through my chest, and I heard the flapping sound of a thousand birds taking flight...

"Pretty... tricky..." I gasped, coughing up blood onto his arm.

"A true warrior fights with all his heart, 'brother'..." Jake sneered, putting emphasis on his last word. "You've been holding back... and this is the result."

I coughed up a little more blood.

"To be honest, I WANTED to see your One-Winged Demon..." he said, still sneering, "but you dying without using it is just as good to me."

"So... you think... koff... I'm finished?" I asked, using what little strength I had to grab his arm. "You... koff... you've got a lot to... koff... to learn about... koff... demons!"

Using what little life force I had left, I released my otherworldly powers. I felt life flowing back into me, and I was able to grip Jake's arm more tightly. Moments later, as Jake looked on in astonishment, I threw him backwards by the arm, pulling it out of my stomach as I did so. I felt my energies increase to the breaking point, which itself was soon broken.

"You're not human... that isn't even a One-Winged Demon!" Jake shouted, staring on. "That's a... a complete demon!"

Now that he mentions it, this time feels different, I thought.

This... this isn't my One-Winged Demon form! What is this...? How's that possible?!

"That's not right! You're supposed to have a white demon wing coming out of your right shoulder!" Jake shouted. "It isn't supposed to play out this way!"

"See, that's why I don't plan things out..." I said, hearing a distortion in my voice. "Plans usually go awry!"

I don't know where this extra power came from... but I have to use it!

I clenched my other fist, then charged at Jake with my sword in Sephiroth's pose. I seemed to fly across the water, parting it and causing waves to crash against the statues. My new form had also completely taken away the obscuring effect of the constant, torrential downpour. Jake barely managed to dodge the move.

"I will not fall!" I shouted, pushing my sword down into his shoulder. It went about halfway through his left shoulder before he released some chakra to stop it. My blade was thrown out, but I stuck him in the stomach. I then jumped back.

"You're more monstrous than me now," Jake said, gasping a little.

"I wouldn't say that," I replied.

We dashed at each other again, furiously attacking and parrying each other's blows. I jumped back and made some hand seals.

"Lightning Blade!"

Red aura surrounded my hand, crackling. The unhealed wound on my hand burst open, leaking blood into the aura. It stained the inside of the Lightning Blade with my blood, some of which was constantly evaporating, filling the air with the scent of blood.

I charged at Jake, blazing across the water at supersonic speeds. Jake managed to sidestep, and my attack hit the wall behind the waterfall. I recovered fast enough, dashing back out to attack Jake. He parried my blow, attacking me back, but I dodged it. I then went for his left shoulder again, but was knocked aside by Jake's sword. Jake stuck me in the stomach, but it didn't seem to hurt at all. I grabbed his sword, breaking it along the fracture I'd made earlier.

The sword shattered into hundreds of pieces.

Jake jumped back, making hand seals. I jumped up and was just about to cleave Jake in two when someone shouted something...

"Stop! That's ENOUGH!" A distantly familiar woman shouted. It wasn't Amy... or Serenity... or Kairi...

Who is that? I think I've seen her a couple times before...

"Aegle...? Is that you?" Jake asked, stepping forward. He then jumped up onto the head of one of the distant shinobi statues. I had no hand in this matter, so I jumped atop the head of the other statue. I could see and hear them perfectly thanks to my new form.

Jake had dropped his Level 2 Cursed Seal form.

I doubt he'll be able to pull out that form again... using aura, or chakra, for that matter, at that level is pretty exhaustive...

"Aegle... how did you..." Jake asked. He was at a loss for words.

"It doesn't matter. We're together again," Aegle said softly.

"Aegle... I..." Jake said, quivering.

"Charon couldn't control Illumina," Aegle told him. "That's why I didn't die. None of that matters now. We have... each other..."

"I can't... I've fallen too far..." Jake said. He seemed to be struggling with himself. Now was the time to intervene. I jumped over, landing next to Aegle. She cringed at my form, but that was to be expected.

"Wh... what are you?" Aegle asked, quivering in fear.

"Let's just say you know me," I said simply. Jake groaned, holding his head.

"Jake! What's wrong?" Aegle asked him. She seemed genuinely concerned.

"He's struggling inside," I told her. "The light, what little fragment of it remains, is fighting his deep darkness. Whichever wins... the result will be forever. But if you push him too far, he'll snap."

"He's fighting inside... just like Riku did..." Aegle said.

Yeah, he's definitly struggling. I'd know...

Jake simply stood there, holding his head and groaning, while Aegle and I looked on. Eventually he let his head go, and let his arms and head hang limp.

"Jake...?" Aegle asked cautiously.

Jake lifted his head up and back, only to laugh maniacally. He let it down.

"So, you thought an illusion would break my resolve, Roy?" Jake asked me.

"An... illusion? Jake, I'm right here!" Aegle shouted, holding her arms open. "It's me!"

"Shut up. You're not even real," Jake said to her coldly. "I saw Aegle die. I don't know if you're a spirit or an illusion, but either way, you're not real."

"Very well, then... you leave me no choice," I said with a steely resolve. I began making hand seals.

"I won't go down so easily! I'll show you my mind isn't that weak!" Jake shouted, pulling out his broken sword. He stabbed it into Aegle's heart.

The last thing I remember about her was that a single tear ran down her cheek, though it was difficult to tell if she really cried because of the torrential downpour.

"Inferno Tempest!"

I held out both of my hands, which spewed forth flames at least as hot as the sun. Jake screamed as he was immolated in a matter of seconds. Then I heard laughing again...

"Did you forget?" Jake asked. I turned around to see him standing on the opposite statue again.

Damn seal...

"Now, I'll show you how far I'm willing to go to defeat you... demon," Jake muttered. I could feel his chakra beginning to skyrocket...

He's... releasing the Inner Gates!

Chakra began to surge around him...

"This is how far... I'm willing to go!" Jake shouted. His chakra surged even more...

Don't tell me... the Eighth Gate?! Will he go that far? Can even I handle someone at that level as I am now?!?

After two more immense chakra bursts, I knew... because I could barely stand in the presence of such overflowing aura...

He's killed himself in an attempt to kill me.

I couldn't move, think, or even blink before I was shot into the air. He began to beat me with impossible to see strikes, even though I was flash stepping to try and avoid what I could.

Not even flash steps allowed me to dodge his blows.

Before I fell to the water, I had been striken at least a dozen dozen times, stabbed numerous times with his broken sword, and had several of my bones completely shattered. Regardless of the pain, I staggered to my feet only to see Jake's body, still overflowing with chakra, fall into the now-still waters.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't save you. I know I promised to protect those that are dear to me... but I failed," I said, dropping my new form. I began to hobble off, nearly unable to stand the pain... both the excruciating pain of my body... and the unbearable pain in my heart...

MORE ON ROY'S 'HOLY DEMON FORM'
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An enhanced version of Roy's One-Winged Demon made complete by his merging with Oryx. While the amount of energy Roy has available in these Hi-Forms is unlimited, there is still a limit to the amount that can be released at any given time. This form, in comparison to his One-Winged Demon form, has a doubled release limit.

MORE ON JAKE'S 'LEVEL 2 CURSED SEAL'
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Jake's Cursed Seal of Lightning (Rai no Juin), possessed a second level like all other Cursed Seals. It caused Jake's skin to turn deep blue, bone blades to grow out of his forearms (attached by two small bones), and his teeth to become sharp, in addition to the characteristic black eyes and yellow irises.