Disclaimer: All of my base are belonging to mine.
I promise you, I will remain by your side, even if you don't know I'm there.
The Crux Road extended for miles as Razyn carried a still-groggy Namine to their destination, Castle Oblivion. According to Razyn, the middle road was right in the center of the invisible room created by the walls. They had already traveled for three days, but Razyn revealed to Namine that they would have to travel across the Valley of Empty Dreams for a few more.
"Hey Razyn." Namine muttered, her chin resting on his shoulder.
"Yes, Namine?" Razyn chimed.
"How come you don't eat hearts?" Namine murmured, fighting sleep. Despite the fact that she was dead-tired from the lack of sleep, she still managed to ask with a firm tone.
Razyn giggled a little. "Who says I don't?"
"Hunh?" Namine said, raising her head by a few millimeters.
Razyn laughed again. "It's best not to think about it, but unlike other Heartless, I can simply filter-feed." Razyn explained, sounding as suave as ever.
Namine let her head go, resting her chin on Razyn's shoulder. "Filter... feed?" She mumbled.
"Yes," Razyn replied. "I used to have control over hearts as a somebody, and that power carried over to my Heartless. All I have to do is search for some free-floating abandoned hearts, and snatch them. Believe me, it's harder than it sounds, and only possible in areas in which hundreds of hearts are floating."
Namine was a little confused, but decided to ask the first thing that came to mind. "So you've been eating hearts this whole time?"
"No," Razyn replied. "I just captured a handful, and have been taking a nibble every time I'm feeling peckish."
Namine didn't respond so much as nuzzle Razyn's neck, trying to get comfortable again.
After a pause Razyn tried to start up a conversation by saying, "We should be there in two days, if nothing happens."
Namine only grunted in response. If only he knew how many times 'nothing' has happened on this journey.
Namine decided to go to sleep. Futile as it was, at least she was still having those dreams from Razyn's past. They proved to be very useful.
oXo
"..."
The Nobody continued to follow the two companions as he waited for the opportunity to enact his plan.
oXo
The interior of Castle Oblivion was the same as it ever was: bleak. Aside from the duo themselves, there was absolutely no color within these condemned corridors.
Just as Namine remembered them. But this visit seemed... different. Walking through the castle under these conditions, with Razyn, no Organization members, her mission with Sora completed, Namine started to feel empowered. The fact that she was actually rested no doubt added to the new-found power as well.
She marched toward the first door with the same vigor she had at the beginning of their journey.
oXo
"..."
The Nobody gazed upon the castle with determination in his eyes.
'This place... feels unholy. I have no idea how I know that, but I just do.'
The Nobody held his blade high, pointing it at the Castle. "Come!" He barked, sword held high. "Gather, souls imbued with powers most foul! Gather to my blade most holy! Forfeit your might, and gain salvation!"
'I don't know how I'm doing this.'
As the Nobody held his sword towards the castle, balls of differing color light began to spiral up from the ground. These lights flew up into the air, spiraling and bouncing against each other. "Come!" The Nobody barked.
'It seems like a tragedy happened here, for so many souls to be trapped in this castle...'
The lights spiraled once more before coming down onto the Nobody, only one of them hitting their mark. The others raced away from him. That one ball of light crashed into the Nobody's blade, being absorbed instantly while causing no impact. The nobody closely examined the weapon, tracing the indent left on both sides by the ball.
'This is a spirit almost soaking with the curse of Pride...' The Nobody held his sword up high, pointing to where the sun would be, if there was one. 'Since this one is so strong, using it's power will alter my blade, giving me an over-all increase in strength, intelligence, and speed.' With a roar, he brought it down as hard as he could, burying it in the earth.
After he pulled the sword from the rock, it's shape had already changed drastically. It was no longer pointed and narrow, but rounded and thick, no part of it save for the hilt thinner than half a foot. It's color had changed as well; once it was a proud gleaming silver, rivaling that of a mirror, now it was a dull blue, a muted reminder of the hair he once sported. Among these alterations there were some aesthetic changes, towards the tip there was a hook of sorts, as well as two holes on the spine towards the tip fashioned for something to be inserted and held in place.
The Nobody swung his sword over his shoulder as he turned to the Castle. 'There seems to be a trend among Nobodies to choose a name for themselves and their weapons, as well as change their weapons to suit the situation.' He thought as he walked toward the entrance, absorbing the information the fallen Nobodies' soul contained.
With a grin that could kill, he slammed the tip of his blade to the ground and roared into the heavens, "With Lucifer's Catalyst in hand, I, Arxzyn, The Virtuous Crusader, shall become the first Nobody to become whole under his own might!"
He returned his gaze to the castle doors. He stared at them for a mere second before kicking them open with one swift motion.
"You can count on it." He muttered to himself as he held his sword ove his right shoulder while he strutted through the castle entrance, the double doors slamming against the walls.
oXo
"Namine, are you sure about this?" Razyn inquired.
"I'm positive." Namine, said with utmost confidence. "I mean, it's not like this is your first time, is it?"
Razyn looked away. "Well, no, I've done this plenty of times before, with many different kinds of people, so I'm not nervous. But are you sure you wish to do this here and now?"
"Of course I do." Namine assured. "Now get down so I can jump on."
"Alright, but don't actually jump, that would be too dangerous; it could hurt like hell if you fell on me."
"Noted. Alright now, here we... Go!"
Razyn groaned as Namine jumped onto his back. She placed her arms under his, while he held her by the legs. "I told you not to jump..." Razyn said as he tried to rub his back without dropping Namine. After failing to palliate his pain, Razyn turned toward the next door. "Alright, what is the plan, my dear?"
"You run at top speed, I open all of the doors, and we look for your Nobody afterwords, undistracted. Simple, right?" Namine replied.
"Sure..." Razyn murmured, not really understanding, but trusting Namine anyway.
"Can you last that long?" Namine asked.
Razyn took a deep breath, and said, "Whenever you're ready."
Namine reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small notepad. She quickly turned to a random page, ripped it out, and held it forward. "I apologize in advance if the rooms after these big doors look weird. I didn't have enough time to sketch out a coherent world. With that said, on my mark. Three."
Razyn leaned forward, shuffling his feet to a proper stance.
"Two."
Razyn tensed himself, ready to run as fast as he could.
"One."
Namine placed the paper between her index and middle finger, so it was sticking out farther than either Razyn or herself.
"Go!" With that, Razyn began running toward the first floor of Castle Oblivion, with Namine sitting comfortably on his back.
oXo
After two seconds, Namine realized that they were already on the second floor, in front of the next door. "Razyn," she whimpered, "have you always been that fast?"
"No," Razyn muttered. "That's my, uh, released form. I don't really like talking about it, but it allows me to move really fast."
Namine gasped in astonishment. "Razyn, that's amazing! That means we'll be able to search the entire castle in a fraction of the time I originally planned!" Namine planted her fists on her hips and gave a triumphant laugh.
She stopped short as a thought popped into her head. "Wait. How long can you use... uh what's it called?
Razyn shifted, trying his best not to drop the overwrought Namine. "Half-Release: Lust." Razyn muttered.
"Uh... Right. How long can you use your Half-Release: Lust?"
Razyn sighed. "Right now, I can do it for seventy-two hours straight; under ideal conditions, I can go for a month or so without stopping."
"Hmm..." Namine contemplated this new information for a few moments. Razyn can run at speeds she couldn't even imagine, the castle was gigantic, and they needed to find his Nobody as soon as possible. Namine grinned. Things are starting to look brighter.
Namine reached into her back pocket and whipped out her notepad. After ripping out a page and holding it outward, she commanded, "Let's go."
oXo
"..." Arxzyn remained silent as he passed through the corridors and rooms of the castle.
'Evading my double whilst he is in this state... It is most difficult, but not impossible.'
Arxzyn instantly melted into the floor as a black blur raced by, coming from the direction opposite him.
'This monster will be confronted in due time. But first, I must acquire the heart of the fallen maiden.'
The Virtuous Crusader arose from the floor, standing fully erect for a moment before running towards the fourth floor doors.
A/N
I really really resisted the urge to make Arxzyn say "Haters gonna hate," instead of "You can count on it."
I would have, too, but that's just not him, you know?
qinop out.