A/N: So i decided on making this chapter a bit longer than the previous ones. I don't know why but my friend said that this chapter should be a bit detailed.
"His stance a while ago, I think I saw that before in one of my battles. Wait! Could he be that one? But it's impossible considering that Cervantes defeated him and claimed Soul Edge. But I know that no other warrior fights in a stance like that and hold a zweihander that big with such ease. Even other knights have struggles in carrying smaller zweihanders in combat. Plus it is quite impossible for that pirate to beat Nightmare alone in his current situation. What if my hunch is right? Could this knight who is so bold, noble and follows his code of honor as a warrior be the Azure Night, Nightmare who slaughtered a lot of innocent back then?" as Mitsurugi analyzes the situation, he then remembered his last encounter with the monster.
FLASHBACK:
"You monster! I will now end your wrath of terror in these lands and test myself to prove that I am one of the best warriors in this planet. With your defeat, I shall avenge the souls of the people that you have taken to fulfill your desires. Now prepare for your end Nightmare!" as the samurai readied his sword for battle.
"HAHAHAHAHA you think that by mere pride and determination that you can defeat me. So what if you are one of the best fighters in this world? I still have the most powerful weapon created, Soul Edge which gives me the strength I need in fighting my battles. The Azure Knight then raised the Soul Edge zweihander and readied for combat. "Now perish and give me your soul!"
The two warriors engaged in combat. Early in the battle, Mitsurugi had the upper hand because of countless battles that he has experienced throughout his entire journey around the world. He even manage to weaken the smaller arm of Nightmare with a barrage of lightning speed strikes. But due to the effect of Soul Edge, he quickly recovered and send out a lot of vicious slashes at the samurai. As fatigue came to Mitsurugi's body, his attacks became slower and are easily paried by the demon. With a charged slash from Nightmare, Mitsurugi's katana was destroyed leaving the samurai opened. Nightmare then, kicked the samurai in the chest and knocking him down to the ground which broke some of his ribs and caused him to cough out blood.
The samurai then laughed. "Nyahahahaha! (coughs) It looks like I need more experience to battle someone like you. It seems this time though, I bit off more than I can chew. Now why not do me a favor and finish me off already." as the samurai coughs out more blood.
"It will be my pleasure. Now, per... ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!" as the demon groans in pain while holding his head. "What are you doing? Don't try and stop me. You will achieve nothing if you will let him live. ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!" as the demon continues to groan in pain.
The actions of the demon somehow confused Mitsurugi on the turn of events. Seeing that the monster would not remove his grip from the sword while holding his head, he immediately run to the door from the top of the castle and ran through the exit below. He regretted running away from battle because he believes that it is more honorable to die in battle with your dignity intact than to ran away because of fear. But he also refused for his soul to be fed to that demon for his own desires. Mitsurugi then vanishes through the mist that surrounds the Ostrheinsburg castle as the Monster continued to groan in pain.
END OF FLASHBACK
The two were in the house of Hwang to wait for Siegfried's armor to be repaired.
"Hey Siegfried can talk to you for a moment?" as the samurai became more serious in his attitude. "Are you certain that you did not see Nightmare when you go to Ostrheinsburg castle?"
With a bit of hesitation, the knight then turned his head to Mitsurugi. "Yes, I''m quite certain. Why did you ask?"
"In his current condition, Cervantes has no chance in fighting the Azure Knight. I know because I have fought those two in the past. Even for me, Cervantes is not that hard to defeat. But Nightmare though is quite impossible to be defeated even by an elite warrior like myself. I manage to ran away during our last encounter as well to live another day though I regret doing that because it is very dishonorable. I said to myself while running away, this would be the last time that I will ever ran away because of fear." explained Mitsurugi.
Fearing that Mitsurugi had now an idea about his past, Siegfried continued to tell him more lies. "I don't know what you are talking about? Nightmare was nowhere to be seen and Cervantes was holding his two swords with Soul Edge fused with them. Because of the effect of the two swords, his power became overwhelming. As I engaged him in combat, I was overwhelemed by the strength that he possessed and eventually I was defeated." as Siegfried became more nervous about their conversation.
As Mitsurugi was ready to ask questions again, Siegfried interrupted him immediately. "Maybe we should rest for a while. After all that fight a while ago really drained some of my energy.
"Alright but one more question. What weapon did you use when you fought the Dreaded Pirate?" asked the samurai in suspicion.
"Why a zweihander of course."
"That's funny because when I found you, you were not holding a weapon or lying in the riverbeds near a weapon." as Mitsurugi objected to the statement of the knight.
"That's be...because... it was destroyed in battle... and was...uh... sent flying of the top of the castle... Yes! That's what happened."
"It looks like your value for the code of honor has make you a very bad liar Schtauffen. It's not normal for a knight who upholds his dignity very much to make a convincing lie. Now one last question. Are you the Azure Knight, Nightmare?"
The last question had shocked Siegfried to his bones. He was mot expecting Mitsurugi to find out who he really was as he stood there in silence when the samurai broke the silence, drew his katana and pointed it to the knight.
"Answer me damn it!" Mitsurugi shouted in rage.
Siegfried then sighed and tell everything to the samurai.
"Seven years ago, my father left home for war and left me alone with my mother, as he deprted, I said to myself that when I grow up, I want to become like my father, a knight who fights for his country, who fights for the people and to fight for what is right. As time passed by, I grew very dissapointed on my father who haven't returned yet and I was so eager to continue in sharpening my skills as a swordsman to become a knight. One day, a friend of mine suggested that we should join this band of mercenaries called the Schwarzwind so that we can harness our skills even further. More months passed by and I became the leader of the group. Then one day, when we were trekking to the forest, we were attacked by a group of knights. It was easy for us to get rid of them. Then as I was looking for my group, a knight came rushing in with his sword pointing towards me. As I hold my sword and pointed it forward as an act of self defense, the knight came rushing down on me and piercing himself in the process. When I removed my helmet, I heard a voice from the knight. "Siegfried forgive me for I have failed you." When I removed his helmet, my whole world collapsed when I saw that it was my father who was the knight whom I killed. I then became mad and convinced myself that I wasn't the one who killed him and it was somebody else. I then got an information that Soul Edge has mystical powers that can resurrect someone back therefore I embarked on the journey on finding the sword. When I arrived in Spain, I saw Cervantes, defeated by two female warriors. Taking advantage of the opportunity, I knocked him out and immediately took hold of the sword. But then as I examined it, the sword quickly took over both my mind and in my body, transforming me into the Azure Knight. For many years, I wreck havoc all over Europe to satisfy the eternal hunger for souls of the cursed sword. But then as I grew older, my conscience became more and more powerful that when Nightmare is about to kill a warrior, he will have a very painful headache. I was the reason behind it. I can no longer let him kill people as he pleases because too many lives have been consumed by it. Then when Cervantes came and was already to be finished by Nightmare, I dug deep, used all the strength that I have and was able to take control again of my body and banish the demon back to the sword. Without me noticing it, Cervantes rushed to Soul Edge and unleashed an attack that sent me flying off the tower and knocked me out into the river. That is when you found me."
The knight then fell down his knees, readied himself for his fate because he knows that Mitsurugi will kill him for the pain that he caused to the samurai and to other people.
"I know that I was not in control when a lot of people were killed throughout the years but It was my blindness to the weapon in resurrecting my father that caused all of this to happen. Now do what you must, I know that my actions are unforgivable."
Instead of his katana piercing his body, a tap to the shoulder was the only thing that the samurai did to the knight.
"A warrior who takes full responsibilities for his actions, no matter what, even though it will cost his life is a person who I believe deserves another chance to amend himself. It is also because of you that I was able to live when I was almost killed that day by Nightmare. So I thank you for that. Now let's finish this quest so that you can atone yourself of the sins that you made." As the samurai held his hand and helped the knight to get up. He had somehow pity the knight on what he had told him.
"Thank you for understanding but please, you must not tell anyone else about my past. It will be unbearable for them to know that Nightmare and I are one."
"Okay then, I'll promise. Oh yeah there's something that I want the both of us to do. This is called a blood bond. It is done hen two warriors considers each other as his brother. As far as I can see it even though we just met a few days ago or rather some months ago which included you as Nightmare, we already have done so much for each other." Mitsurugi then drew his katana and made a cut with his palm. He then gave the katana to Siegfried and asked him to do the same. The two warriors then held the palm of each other meeting the bloodied cut of one another.
"From now on, we are blood brothers reminding us of us as brothers in arms who have each others back and the acts that we have already done for one another as Heishiro Mitsurugi and Siegfried Schtauffen."
"Blood brothers for life!" as Siegfried cut his palm and held it to the samurai's. The two warriors then sealed their bond and their brotherhood by having each other's blood into one another.
(He is really like a brother that I never had. Though he had figure out who I was he still spared my life. He understood the situation I have put myself into like a real brother would do.)
After a while, Hwang entered. "Whew finally it's done. Here take a look for yourself."
"Woah, the armor seemed so light but as hard as any armor will ever be. You truly are one of the best blacksmiths from this country. Thank you for everything." as Siegfried showed his sign of gratitude.
"Well then we better get moving. Thanks for everything old friend. Till we see each other again."
"Same thing here Mitsurugi. Oh by the way, when you reach the City of Zenith, Ostrheinsburg will just 2 weeks away. I bid you two good luck and may you succeed in you journey."
The two then said goodbye to Hwang and continued to travel to the City of Zenith.