Chapter 3: Soldier of Evil

Meanwhile…

Kaia flew rapidly over the vast desert of Earl. She had seen the destruction at Aires only moments ago, and realized that other cities may have suffered the same fate. Yet instead of flying towards Windbloom, she flew in the direction of the Black Valley. I can't go home, not yet. First I have to check on Midori and the others. she thought as she flew.

"You would ensure the safety of your enemy before that of your kin? My, you've certainly changed in the time we've been bonded." said the voice of Angheol.

"I have you to blame for that. Maybe if you had left and just let me die, Soul Edge wouldn't be here."

"It would have awakened without my being here. My presence only gives you a fighting chance against the demon sword."

"Aren't you an evil blade yourself? Why would you oppose Soul Edge?"

"I care little for your philosophy of 'good' and 'evil', so long as I am used to take the lives of others, my allegiance does not matter."

Before their mental conversation could continue, Kaia saw the Black Valley lying only a few minutes away.

"We'll continue this later."

Kaia soon arrived at the Black Valley. Landing, she noticed there were no columns of smoke or fires burning. The streets were also devoid of life, neither human nor a monster could be seen.

"Well, it doesn't look like there was an attack. But where is everyone? Are they all hiding from me?" she said to herself, looking around. "Hey! Is anybody here? It's me, Kaia! Boss? Midori? Anyone?"

There was no response. Kaia waited for a moment, then called again, "Dyne? Boss? Anybody?" still there was nothing. Kaia walked around a bit more, calling out as she went. She was about to assume the worst, when a faint voice uttered "Princess…" Kaia turned toward the sound and saw the upper half of a large mechanical man lying a few feet away in front of a house.

"Dyne!" Kaia yelled, running to the injured cyborg. Kneeling down, she asked, "My god, what happened to you?"

"(cough) the boss…something happened to the boss…(cough)"

"Dyne, hang in there. Please try to explain what happened. Where is everyone?"

"A knight…clad in azure armor. He came…killed dozens…" Dyne pointed inside the house. In it lay burnt corpses and a pool of freshly spilt blood.

"He was here? Did Midori fight back?"

"Boss…touched the knight's sword…then, changed…killed everyone…"

"What? Midori did all this? But why?"

"My master needs souls to restore himself. There were plenty for him to take here." a familiar voice said from behind Kaia. Turning around, Kaia saw a woman with long wild hair holding a strangely shaped halberd. The woman had jagged canine teeth, and the entirety of her arms was strewn with spikes and eyes. She had one human leg, and one leg that appeared to belong to some great beast. Even with all these grotesque features, Kaia still recognized the woman.

"Ms.….Midori?"

"Hello, princess. So nice of you to stop by, too bad you missed all the fun."

"What happened to you? Why have you done this? To your own people!"

"My people? Please. I'm not one of them anymore. How could anyone accept someone like me as their ruler?"

"He did this to you, didn't he? The azure knight, the wielder of Soul Edge."

"Yes, he granted me this power. And so I must repay him with your soul!"

Midori lunged at Kaia. Kaia managed to block the halberd, but Midori savagely punch her in her gut. Organs nearly collapsing from the blow, Kaia leapt back. Midori laughed as Kaia coughed up a few drops of blood.

"What's wrong? Aren't you supposed to be stronger than this?"

Kaia wiped the blood from her mouth. "Nice punch. Have you been working out, or was that just your new strength?"

"Grrr…arrogant little brat, I'll show you of what I can do!"

Midori charged at Kaia, enraged. Kaia readied her sword, bracing for the impact. Just as Midori was about to strike, Kaia spun around, causing all four of her wings to slam into Midori. The corrupted being flew into the side of a nearby building. Kaia flew over to inspect the damage she had dealt. She leapt back as an incredibly long blade tipped arm thrust towards her. Even in her current state, Midori was able to fuse with her mighty Slave, Gattenou. Midori's halberd extended, this time too fast for Kaia to dodge it completely. Kaia grunted as the blade severed a few feathers from her upper right wing. Kaia flew back a few feet to evade another strike by the blade arm.

"Hold still! You're only prolonging the inevitable!" Midori commanded as she continuously extended her weapon and blade arm. Realizing two weapons weren't enough to successfully strike her quick opponent, nearly a dozen more blade limbs burst from Midori's body. Surprised by this, Kaia was unable to stop the sudden barrage of limbs, and the blades drove into her. Now pinned against the ground, and with blades stuck in several locations on her chest, Kaia looked up at Midori.

"This is the end for you, princess." Midori said, smiling wickedly. "I had hoped you would put up more of a fight, but your soul shall serve lord Nightmare nonetheless."

Kaia tightened her grip on Angheol. "….shut up…"

"What?"

"I said….SHUT UP!" Kaia raised Angheol to toward the heavens and declared, "Sword! Lend me your power!"

As if in response to her demand, the black sword began to radiate an unholy pale light. The light froze all of the blades that had stuck into Kaia, and they shattered.

Midori stood in shock. "Im…possible…"

A pillar of ice rose behind Kaia, lifting her up. Her body now radiated the same pale light as the sword in her hand, and her eyes had become like those of a wild beast. What looked like silver crystalized armor had formed over her upper body and wings.

"So…where were we?" the godlike being said.

Midori swung at Kaia with her halberd, the only weapon she had left. Kaia halted the blade with her unoccupied hand, and shoved it aside. Midori struck again, and this time Kaia responded by severing Midori's arm. Midori began to fall backward, howling in pain. Kaia's free hand grasped Midori's exposed neck and pulled her close.

"Now, you will die." Kaia said, raising Angheol. Kaia drove the black blade through Midori's heart.

"Ack….at last…I am free of his control…" Midori muttered. "Princess…I'm sorry…please…forgive me…" then, she was still.

Kaia withdrew her sword, and her pale light and crystal armor vanished. She closed her beastly eyes, and when she opened them they had returned to their original state. Kaia looked at Midori's still body in front of her.

"She's…dead. I asked only for the power to free her from Soul Edge."

And I granted your wish. Only death can spare her from an eternity of servitude to the demon sword.

"What did you do to me just now? What was that power I felt?"

That? Oh, nothing really. Just a taste of what you are becoming.

"What do you mean, 'becoming'? Am I…are you doing this to me? Are you changing me even further?"

I cannot force the change nor can I halt it. You may as well face facts, you and the azure knight aren't so different.

"I am nothing like him! I fight to protect, he seeks only to destroy!"

Keep telling yourself that, enjoy that lie while it still holds meaning.

"Shut up! I'll hear no talk of despair while I am your master. Now keep silent, I have a long flight to make."

Where to now?

"Windbloom. It's time I went home." Kaia buried Midori and Dyne's remains on a nearby hill overlooking the desert. Looking back at the graves she whispered, "Be at peace, boss." with that she leapt into the sky, and began her flight to Windbloom.