Chapter 3
Moving eastward, Xianghua and her group traveled across steep hills and shaky ground as they ventured towards finding the location of Soul Calibur. Along the way, they saw other warriors they had fought over the years, fighting against each other as some that were killed, their souls leaving their bodies and continuing to fight on.
"When are we going to get to Soul Calibur?" Yun-Seong asked.
"I told you when we find the sword and Siegfried as well." Xianghua replied.
As Xianghua's group marched on, there was a growing feeling of doubt, fear, and uncertainty within Kilik. He knew at any moment, Xianghua was going to look to him as someone she could rely on but how could he when he had deserted her for his own personal goals. He also felt guilt in that if she asked him as to why he left her, not only would he have to come up with an answer or a lie, he would also run the risk of losing Xianghua's trust and faith in him.
"Kilik?" Xianghua called out to him.
Kilik stood cold in his tracks when Xianghua called his name. He felt his heart race and his breathing heavy. He was assured that Xianghua wanted to know something from him. Then, he felt a soft hand touch his shoulder, which made him gasp and his hairs on his neck stand up. It was Xianghua.
"How far are we from Soul Calibur?" Xianghua asked him.
Kilik looked at his pendant, the Dvapara-Yuga. It glowed a green aura, indicating that they were on the right path.
"We're not too far from where we have to look." Kilik replied.
"At least we're making progress." said Xianghua.
"Now, where should we head next?" Xianghua asked.
Kilik held out his pendant to see where the Dvapara Yuga could locate where Soul Calibur is. He looked to his left and saw that the green aura was dimming. He looked to his right and as the green aura returned, he nodded assuringly.
"Let's head right." Kilik responded.
As Xianghua's group continued their journey, they came across a young girl with a rapier at her side, sobbing in a fetal position, apparently in fear of her surroundings. Xianghua looked at the young girl and saw how much she was afraid of everything around her, from the clashing of the swords and yelling of the warriors trapped in this world to fallen dead bodies and souls wandering off.
"What's wrong?" Xianghua asked.
The young girl wiped her tears away as she looked at Xianghua and her group.
"My father..." The young girl began.
"Your father?" Xianghua inquired.
The young girl nodded as began to sniffle as she wiped her nose. She stood up on her own, revealing her small and frail frame.
"My father and I got separated from each other and I can't find him." The young girl said.
"Poor thing, I know just how you feel." said Xianghua.
"What's your name?" Talim asked.
"My name is Amy...Amy Sorel." said The young girl.
Talim looked at the girl and saw how vulnerable she was.
"You're hurt, aren't you?" Talim asked.
Amy nodded. Just then, the ground started to shake as loud footsteps were heard.
"What's going on?" Hilde asked
Xianghua and her group looked around to see where the footsteps were coming from.
"Look!" said Yun-Seong.
The warriors looked and saw a gigantic golem heading their way, knocking over other warriors and decapitating their heads with a gigantic axe while a strange looking woman sat on his right shoulder.
"Oh great, it's that freak!" said Maxi.
"Well, hello there, Amy." said the strange looking woman.
"I didn't know you had more friends for us to play with." The strange looking woman continued.
"Leave me alone, Tira!" Amy whimpered.
"Awww, don't like my company?" Tira asked in a jolly tone.
"Well, I hope your friends enjoy misery and lots of it!" Tira added in a harsh tone.
"Kill them, Astaroth!" demanded Tira as she hopped off the golem's shoulder.
As Astaroth charged into battle, head first like a ram, Maxi ran, jumped at the golem and delivered a flying kick. It had no effect on Astaroth, who just bulldozed his way through Maxi.
"Here he comes!" yelled Yun-Seong.
Hilde charged in with her lance at full speed, as she managed to puncture a wound in Astaroth's upper trapezius. Astaroth knocked Hilde aside as he continued charging. Kilik and Yun-Seong also charged in and poked and slashed their way against the golem but Kilik was knocked aside, landing at the feet of Xianghua while Yun-Seong battled on.
"Kilik, are you okay?" Xianghua asked.
"Help me up, Xianghua." groaned Kilik.
As Xianghua helped Kilik up to her feet, she looked at Amy and thought of her safety.
"Talim, I want you to protect Amy while Kilik and I go and fight that monster!" ordered Xianghua.
"Okay." said Talim.
As Kilik and Xianghua joined Yun-Seong in battling against Astaroth, Tira sneaked past the ongoing battle to get to Amy. She maneuvered herself like a snake, inching closer as she did. With Yun-Seong being overwhelmed by the massive Astaroth, Kilik and Xianghua leapt into battle and double teamed the golem with their combine strengths. Kilik saw how brave and strong Xianghua looked during her battle against Astaroth. Normally, Xianghua would just hesitate or standby during these types of battles but there was something in Xianghua that Kilik never noticed, as if she had a raging fire burning within her as she raged on landing strike after strike on the golem's lower body. Kilik was astonished.
"Kilik, are you just gonna sit there and do nothing?" Xianghua yelled
Kilik snapped out of his astonished state and charged into battle, assisting her and Yun-Seong while Maxi and Hilde rejoined the fight as Hilde climbed on Astaroth's back, pulling her lance out of the golem's broad shoulders. Talim was protecting Amy to the best of her ability when Tira appeared in front of them.
"Hand me the girl or I send you to an early grave." demanded Tira.
"I won't let you further corrupt this fragile little girl." said Talim.
"Fine, have it your way then." said Tira as she swung her ring blade, aiming at Talim's neck.
Talim ducked underneath the ring blade and slashed Tira at the shins.
"Damn you!" Tira yelped.
Talim then kicked her, causing her to spurt blood out of her mouth. Tira licked the blood from her lips and smirked at Talim with malicious intent. Talim prepared herself for whatever plans Tira had in store for her. Tira picked herself up and swung her ring blade wildly, causing Talim to back away cautiously. Tira managed to get a cut on Talim, slashing her at her chest, shoulders and right cheek. Talim back peddled a little but didn't seem to back down as she looked at her opponent. As Tira was about to close out on Talim, the wind priestess acrobatically leapt over her foe and unleashed an tonfa bladed flurry, slashing Tira back in her face and chest, causing her to back away and headed for Astaroth, who was starting to become overwhelmed himself.
"Come on, Astaroth, let's get out of here." said Tira.
Astaroth started to back away but was still swinging his axe.
"I want to crush these worthless vermin!" bellowed Astaroth.
"We'll play with them some other time." said Tira.
Tira then turned her attention to the rest of Xianghua's group.
"Your efforts will be all for nothing and your journey in this hellhole will be the testament of such failures!" said Tira.
"We'll kill you next time." Tira added in a jolly tone as she and Astaroth retreated.
As the rest of the warriors caught their breath, they knew their dangers were already ahead of them.
"I don't think we've seen the last of them." said Yun-Seong.
"Ya think?" said Maxi.
As Xianghua observed the aftermath of their battle, she stopped and looked at Kilik. He was still amazed at how bravely and intensely she had fought.
"Kilik, what are you staring at?" Xianghua asked.
He didn't check his Dvapara-Yuga, although it wasn't glowing but he was still amazed at how fierce Xianghua was.
"I...uh..." Kilik began.
"Were you just going to stand idly while the rest of us fight that monster on our own?" Xianghua asked.
"No, Xianghua...I helped." said Kilik in a meek tone.
"I just don't rely on you to be more than just a guide you know." said Xianghua in a forceful tone.
Kilik was dumbfounded. He had never heard Xianghua speak to him like that. Normally, Xianghua would speak to him in a sweet and caring tone with the usual playful banter to lighten even the most serious of moods but this was a totally different Xianghua. She had now became the steely, resilient, and more mature of the two. Was this all because of Kilik leaving her without telling her of his intentions? Was this Xianghua adjusting to her role as the leader of her group? Whatever it was, it was a sign to Kilik to not take Xianghua lightly, let alone for granted, if they were to escape out of Astral Chaos together. As Kilik sighed, Xianghua called out to him.
"Are you coming or what?" she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice
"Yes, Xianghua." said Kilik in a meekly tone.
As Kilik caught up with the group, Yun-Seong and Hilde checked on both Talim and Amy.
"Are you two alright?" Yun-Seong asked.
"I'll be fine." said Talim.
"You got cut pretty bad." said Hilde.
"I have some herbs that will heal my wounds but for now we have to continue on." said Talim.
Yun-Seong nodded assuringly and Hilde did the same. As Xianghua's group continued onward, they knew their journey was going to be perilous but they would also need each other to be a strong link in their resolve to find Soul Calibur, save Siegfried and destroy the sword itself, along with Soul Edge