Chapter 12: Duel of Sinners

"You're heading out?" Verona asked. Though the injury Kaia inflicted was great, Notokishi and the other heroines had still managed to get her medical aid. Verona lay in a hospital bed, with Notokishi and Shizuru standing beside her.

Notokishi nodded. "Yeah. The Archduchess told us there was a region a little ways up north were strange things have been happening recently, so we're going to check it out."

"I feel better now, I'll go with you." Verona tried to stand, but Notokishi held her back.

"No, you're staying here. I don't want you getting hurt anymore."

"But-!"

"Verona, please. I've already lost Kaia, I don't want to lose you too."

Verona hesitated for a moment, then lay back down. "Alright. Please be careful, Notokishi."

Notokishi stood up and made for the door. Opening it to leave, she turned back towards the others. "Ms. Shizuru, I'm trusting you to take care of Verona while I'm gone."

"Leave it to me, princess." Shizuru replied.

"Oh, and one more thing: no funny business. Got it?"

"Whatever you say."

"(sigh) Well, wish us luck. I'll return when I can." With that, she left the room.

Shizuru turned toward Verona. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to take VERY good care of you." she said, smiling somewhat wickedly.

Outside the hospital, Notokishi walked to the edge of the city, where Miyu stood waiting.

"Have you prepared yourself?" the android asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go, Miyu."

Notokishi noticed a hint of concern in Miyu's usually emotionless stare. She knows I'm upset. It's probably written all over my face. She thought as they began to walk. After the city disappeared from view, Notokishi looked at Miyu.

"Hey Miyu, can you check to see if-"

"I do not detect anything around us. Kaia isn't here."

"How did you know I was going to ask?"

"You bear signs of guilt and worry, I thought you were concerned with your sister's whereabouts."

"I see. Thanks for checking, Miyu."

The android simply smiled and turned back towards the glacier in front of them. The two walked for some time until they happened upon a sudden change in their surroundings. Before them was a small crater, with something small glowing red at its center.

"This must be the place." Notokishi observed.

She and Miyu moved closer to the glowing object. When they were a few feet away, its identity became clear. Lying there in the snow was a fragment of a sword blade.

"A sword fragment? But what's it doing out here?"

Notokishi stepped to pick up he small piece, but Miyu grasped her shoulder.

"Do not touch it. Look closely, what blade does that belong to?"

Notokishi looked closely at the shard, then realized what Miyu meant. The fragment gave off an ominous red glow, just like Soul Edge. It was a fragment of the evil sword.

"It's a piece of Soul Edge!"

As if in response to her words, the fragment's light expanded, swallowing up the two. When the light at last faded, Miyu and Notokishi found themselves in a much different place than before. All around them, volcanic rock rose in pillars toward a black sky, and fire burned furiously at the base of those pillars, forming a circle around the two.

"Where the hell are we?" Notokishi yelled.

"I do not know. There are no regions on Earl that are this chaotic and violent."

"ROAAAAAAR!"

Miyu and Notokishi turned toward the sudden outburst. An otherworldly monster now stood before them, with flames raging across it's entire body. Through the flames, they could make out skeletal limbs, a skull, and something that caused them to stare in even greater surprise. Ensnared within the mass of fire, bones, and burnt flesh that comprised the beast, was the weapon they had been searching for: the spirit sword Soul Calibur!

"What the? The sword is inside that monster!" Notokishi said.

The fiery beast roared again, summoning a gargantuan sword to its hands.

"It would seem he is unwilling to part with it. We must take the sword by force." Miyu observed, activating her sword arm. Notokishi drew her own blade, and together they stood ready to face the demon.

The two rushed toward the beast, striking at it as one. The flaming demon blocked their blows, and countered with a 360-degree spin slash that knocked them back. Miyu quickly recovered from the blow, and charged the demon again. Most of her attacks were either blocked or dodged, but she was able to land a powerful stab at the creature's shoulder. The demon roared in pain, fire flying from its wound. Seeing the sudden stagger, Miyu raced forward and went for the demon's head. Her strike was barely deflected, and she instead pierced the monster's chest. Miyu was just about to pull out her chain-gun, when the demon's arm suddenly became a blade just like hers, and sliced at the android's throat. Miyu fell back. Had she been human, the blow would've killed her.

"RRRRAAAAAAAAH!" yelled the demon. The flames that had fallen from its body flew back onto the beast, regenerating its injuries.

"No way… How can we beat this thing?" Notokishi muttered, fear-stricken.

"(cough) princess… I cannot fight any longer. Though I do not feel pain, he has severely damaged my combat systems. I'm afraid you're on your own in this fight now."

"What? There's no way I can kill this thing with a regular sword!"

The demon made a sound that resembled laughter, flames spewing from its mouth with each cackle. Notokishi stared in fear at the demon. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. A sword won't do any good against it, but maybe THAT will… No longer afraid, she cast her sword aside.

"Notokishi, what are you doing? You can't fight it without a weapon!"

"I know that. A sword is no good against him, so I must use my last resort."

"You mean…?"

"I do. Mother, please forgive me for this." Notokishi approached the monster, then standing straight she yelled, "MATERIALISE!"

It took only seconds for her to dawn her blood red Robe, the Eternal Blood Ruby. Her eyes began to glow a bright red as summoned her talon elements. Facing the fiery beast, she proclaimed, "Come, monster. Let me show you a true demon's wrath."

Confused by the sudden change in its opponents form, the flaming beast simply roared and slashed at her in response. The crimson otome dodged the strikes with ease, and countered with a series of lightning fast talon strikes, all of which struck their target. The demon flew back, dropping flames as it went. Getting up, it angrily roared, calling back the fire. Its weapon then took on the form of Notokishi's talons, and it charged at her with great speed. Surprised by the sudden event, Notokishi was barely able to dodge the incoming strikes. She then launched herself at the beast, feet first. The demon halted the attack, and slashed at the unguarded otome. The blades cut at Notokishi as she leapt back. Damn, even though I'm using Robe, it's still not enough! Every time we knock him down, he just gets back up and copies our fighting style. I have to end this now!

Leaping into the air, Notokishi bellowed, "RELEASE MIRYOKU!" at the top of her lungs. Her talons rearranged themselves into a blood red scythe. She flew at near the speed of light towards the monster and shouted, "CRIMSON REAPER'S DANCE!"

She was suddenly behind the beast, and dealt a quick and powerful blow. At almost the same time, she was slicing at his sides. Finally, she appeared in front of the monster and delivered a final, fatal blow. Notokishi now stood behind the demon, still gripping her scythe. The flaming monster stood still for a moment, then magma like blood burst from all over its body. With a low growl, the demon exploded in a burst of flame. Soul Calibur now lay stuck in the ground, freed from the monster.

"Thank you, brave ones. You have released me from the demon sword's soul." a woman's voice spoke.

"Soul… Calibur? You can talk?" said Notokishi, awestruck.

"I can. I will gladly speak to those who bested Inferno."

"Inferno?" Miyu asked.

"Yes. Inferno is the name of the spirit within Soul Edge, and the demon you just destroyed. Now that you have freed me, I shall grant you my power. Tell me what you desire, and I shall become a blade that can fulfill your request."

Notokishi and Miyu looked at each other in slight suspicion.

"I am speaking to both of you. I am capable of fulfilling many dreams."

Notokishi stepped toward the blade. "Soul Calibur, long have we sought you. My younger sister, Kaia, has become the slave of an evil sword much like Soul Edge. I ask you, can you restore her?"

"I do not think so. One who has fallen from the path of light is an agent of evil, and must be destroyed as such."

"What?"

"I will hear the other request now."

"But!"

"Let the other champion step forward."

Angrily, Notokishi stepped back. Miyu now approached the spirit sword.

"Soul Calibur, the one most dear to me has lost her soul to Soul Edge. If I use you to destroy the cursed sword, can her soul be reclaimed?"

"If you wield me in the name of justice and peace and destroy my enemy, I will retrieve what you have lost."

Miyu's eyes widened, and a smile broke out across her face. Grasping Soul Calibur's hilt, she turned to Notokishi.

"We did it, princess! We finally have the sword!"

"Yeah… its just what we were looking for."

Miyu's smile faded. Notokishi was staring at her feet, her hands had clenched into fists.

"Noto…kishi?"

The crimson otome didn't answer. Her Robe suddenly disappeared, and she fell to her knees. Miyu called to her in surprise, but Notokishi heard nothing. I can't believe it. After all we went through, I turned out to be wrong. I'm sorry, Kaia… I've failed you again.