Chapter 4: Torn Souls
"Huff… puff…" Shane breathed heavily. Even with an exsphere the training still was tiring.
It's been nearly two years since he first started. Now after all this time, he would be put too the final test: purifying.
"Now it is time to see how far you progressed." Edge Master announced wielding a long rod.
"Yes master." Shane answered picking up the katana he was training with.
Edge Master held up the small piece of Soul Edge and absorbed the tiny item into his rod.
Soon a dark aura covered Edge Master, and Shane realized he would have to guard himself for true.
Shane knew if he failed this he would have wasted a 2 years worth of training. Kilik and Xianghua were watching to make sure nothing out of the ordinary would interrupt them.
He shouldn't lose. He won't lose.
Shane made the first move, charging at Edge Master and lunching a horizontal attack towards his stomach. Edge Master merely spun the rod clockwise to deflect the coming blow.
Edge Master then took to the skies, jumping above Shane aiming the tip of the rod at him.
"Cue!" And Edge Master launched the rod down like a bullet, much like someone playing pool would.
Shane was faster but only by a short amount for the rod scraped his sleeves and made a blow to the ground he stood on.
When the dust cleared and Edge Master was on the ground, Shane looked in disbelief as the attack left a clean round hole where it impacted.
What the hell? Shane raced through his head. That rod isn't even sharpened!
But in his train of thought Edge Master launched a flurry of horizontal blows
Shane was in desperation. He could barely block and dodge the amount of attacks he was receiving.
Edge Master grinned. He was gaining the advantage and he move in for the kill.
Charging his energy into the rod, red flames and sparks of electricity enveloped the end of the rod as the powerful attack made its contact right on Shane's chest, right on the exsphere.
Unbeknownst to either fighter, dark energy slipped through the rod, into the exphere and down into Shane's soul.
The blow was more painful the Shane thought it would be, he was still standing but his body was numb.
Why can't I move? Shane said in his head. Edge Master was reeling in for another blow.
Only this time Shane was worried it might be the killing blow.
Move damn it!!! He told himself, but his body didn't respond. Move!!!
Then something welled up inside him and said: So shall it be…
Edge Master's blow nearly made contact when all the sudden Shane's body became a blur and dodge the seemingly impossible attack.
In an attempt to throw him off guard, Edge Master resumed his current strategy of multiple blows with the rod.
Only this time Shane was not having a problem guarding them.
In fact he didn't even dodge them. He was parrying every attack with just one katana in one hand.
In frustration Edge Master decide to do the same attack again charging energy into the weapon and plunging it towards Shane.
But the attack was halted. Shane had raised his left arm and grabbed the tip of the rod, stopping it in its tracks.
Kilik and Xianghua from the sidelines realized Shane was now in the same dark aura Edge Master had. Only it was far larger and far more dangerous.
Impossible!!! Edge Master thought He stopped my attack barehanded?
Shane made his move.
He gripped the tip of the rod and caused the entire thing to shatter into pieces. Edge Master was now unarmed and now in trouble.
But Shane did not make a purifying strike. He struck for the kill and sliced through Edge Master's shoulders and chest.
The dark aura surrounding Edge Master vanished as he fell over on the floor mortally wounded.
It was at this time Kilik and Xianghua took the stage blocking Shane from Edge Master's wounded body.
"That's enough." Kilik said to Shane "It's over"
Shane didn't listen, he lunged for Kilik preparing to strike him down as well, but Xianghua got in the way…
The aura surrounding Shane vanished and he then awoke to find himself with Xianghua's sword in his chest.
Unable to speak he soon fell unconscious.
Edge Master's Hermitage
Shane woke up in bed, barely able to move. Aside him was Edge Master who was also bandaged.
"What happened?" Shane asked
"The evil seed within you… awoke." Edge Master said quietly
Shane looked at the wound on Edge Master. It took nearly half his body.
"I did that?" Shane said woefully
"Indeed, but I'm surprised that this wound was not worse. You have passed."
"What?" Shane said, trying to understand
"You pass." Edge Master said once again smiling "I've taught you what I can, but to over come the evil welled within you, you must go on your own journey."
"But where…?" Shane asked
"That is up to your soul, so I suggest you take this." Edge Master picked up and handed Shane a black sheathed Nodachi. (AKA a long katana)
It was Shane's preferred weapon, it was light, long ranged and he could wield it with great precision.
Shane took the blade and looked at Edge Master, almost sadly as he had become fond of him.
"It's time to go" Edge Master said and with that he led Shane out of the cave to the edge of the hermitage.
From there they said their good byes, Edge Master assured him that a time will come when he will return.
With a final word, Shane ran towards the edge, blade in hand and jumped off into the unknown and beyond.