OoO( 42 )OoO

He saw stars explode from his mind as the lightning hit him directly in the chest. He flew backwards and smashed into the wall, the weapon in his hand flying off into the room. He didn't know what happened. One second he was looking at his opponent, then the next his mind blanked out. He looked around through blurred vision at the room before he slowly got to his feet again, his muscles still spasming from the viscious attack. He reached around for the blade that left his hand, but couldn't feel it. Suddenly, he saw stars again as a fist connected with his jaw, sending him to the ground coughing.

The hero stood over Jack holding his sword smiling. "I owe you Hades." he said as he looked down at the small charm hanging from his armor. "Didn't even notice you put it on." he said staring at the charm. Then he looked back down on the ground at Jack. "Looks like the tables have turned Jack." he said as the swordsman got to his knees. Jack glared up at Lyle through hazy eyes. Suddenly, he jumped up and punched Lyle, sending the hero back a few steps. Yelling aloud, he used his power to summon dragonites into the chamber. Light exploded all over the room, causing another of the dragonic creatures to run over towards the hero.

Lyle swung his sword in an arc in front of him, killing one and causing the others to back off a few paces. Jack immediately got to his feet and ran for the Sword of Aeons again. Lyle saw this and ran towards one of the minions. He jumped and planted a foot on its head, then catapulted himself off the beast, flying directly for Jack. The swordsman grabbed the massive sword again and barely stopped Lyle's blade with his own. He kicked out as the hero landed, sending the warrior back. But Lyle ran forward again and swung his sword, clashing with Jack with such force that he had to use great strength to keep it from coming any further. Jack stared at the blade right above his eye cautiously.

Ducking, he moved aside, causing Lyle to lose balance. Reacting quickly, he jumped behind the wall of minions and began to summon dark magic from the depths of the blade. Lyle ran forward and cleaved his sword down the form of one of the creatures, splitting its head and helmet in two. The rest jumped up and attacked Lyle but he rolled back and stabbed another through the chest with his blade. "Let's see you reflect this one hero!" shouted Jack as he fired a ball of dark energy directly at Lyle. The warrior held up his sword to block the attack, but it was too strong. The resulting blast sent Lyle and the minions flying and left a large crater in the stone floor.

Lyle cringed in pain as he hit the ground. He got to his feet and shook the pain off before turning to Jack again. "Should have made that one count Jack, you won't get a second shot." he said. Jack smirked. Lyle focused again and felt his muscles flow with energy as time slowed to a near stop. But, time didn't seem to affect the swordsman. Jack ran as fast as Lyle and they clashed blades again, causing a rupture in time that produced large flashes of light in real time. The minions stared on in disbelief as the two invisible fighters clashed again and again, each trying to get the better of the other. Bursts of energy and light exploded around the room, shaking the chamber.

Finally, they clashed one last time. Both of them jumped away from one another and they dashed across the room again at incredible speed. Lyle hurled his sword at the opponent, but it missed, barely nicking his cloak with the edge of the blade. "That was your fatal move Saber!" shouted Jack as he sped towards Lyle. He stopped right behind the warrior and swung his sword downwards to slash the hero from top to bottom. Lyle smirked as he remembered Talon teaching him a week before.

Jacks eyes suddenly widened. The sword stopped dead in its tracks as the hero clapped his hands over the blade. The warrior stared up at the startled look on Jack's face, when Lyle jerked the sword out of the swordsmans hand. Letting the sword hit the ground, he spun and punched the man dead in the center of his mask, throwing Jack backwards in a daze.

Lyle finished it in an instant.

OoOoO

Talon had searched the guild for Lyle, but couldn't find him anywhere. She finally found the guildmaster and helped him get to a safe area of the guild that wasn't as damaged as the rest. He sat looking at her as she dressed his wound. "What are you doing back here young one? This place isn't safe anymore." he said concerned.

Talon smiled up at him. "Looking out for you pops. And besides, danger is the last thing I am worried about." she said. When she finally finished the dressing, she sat the older man against the wall and looked at him. "Have you seen Lyle around?" she asked.

"Yes...he went to find Jack. Why? You can't possibly be planning to help him!" he said startled. She smirked and nodded. "Child, Lyle is the only person who can defeat Jack of Blades! Your help will only hinder Lyle from finishing this fight." he said.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to get in the way. But if Lyle needs help then I'm not going to sit down and watch." she said as she stood. "Now, where is he?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that." he said looking away.

"Oh really. Well, considering I found you in the corridor to the Chamber, and you said you had seen Lyle, I'm going to assume that he went into the chamber there." she said, smiling at the look of surprise on the guildmasters face. Then, the guildmaster smirked.

"A wise deduction young one. I can only ask that you not stand between the two no matter what. If you do, it could mean your life." he said.

"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to Lyle, or Albion." she said as she patted the mans hand. Standing up, she walked out of the small room and towards the Chamber of the Aeons.

OoOoO

Scythe watched the sky as the battle ran through his mind. He wasn't psychic, but he did have a certain seeing eye that let him see things far away from him. In fact, it was he who invented the Ancient Mirror in the guild. He watched as the battle between light and dark progressed, clashing and retreating over and over again. They had fought throughout the night until finally, it was over. Scythe smiled at the heroes creativness.

"You are either a fool, or a genius boy." he said to himself as he saw the sword leave Jack's hand for the last time. He smiled, then was about to close his thoughts when his mind surged with pain. He held his head and fell to one knee. "W...What is this?" he asked. He continued to watch until his eyes widened beyond the point that anyone had seen before. Never had he looked this terrified. "W...W...We are doomed..." he said.

OoOoO

Talon found the chamber and looked inside what she saw made her cringe. Lyle was smashed against the far wall by a fierce attack. Looking down, she noticed Scarlet laying on the ground and watched as Jack turned his back on her to look at the glowing sword. In an instant, she was in, then back out the door without either of the two in the room noticing she had even been there. She lay the woman down on the ground in the corridor and checked her breathing. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she felt the womans warm breath upon her wrist. She picked her back up and went to walk out of the corridor when she saw someone in front of her. Her first instinct was to draw her weapon, but upon seeing who it was, she sighed.

"Theresa, you scared me. What are you doing here?" she asked.

Theresa stood there, staring into darkness around the girl. "I could ask you the same thing." she said. "Is there someone with you?" she asked.

"Yes, I have your mother here. Lyle managed to rescue her from Jack and I just got her out of the room. She is alive at least." said Talon.

"We owe you then." she said as she walked over to the two. She reached out to help the girl when she accidentally touched Talon's shoulder. Suddenly, a white flash filled her vision. She froze for a moment, then sighed. "I see..." she said. "So it is you..."

Talon looked at her strangely. "What? What's me?" she asked.

"You are one of the ones I have been looking for." she took Scarlet and threw her arm over her shoulder. "Here, let me take my mother. You stay here and watch Lyle. You are the only one who can save him." she said, causing the young girl to look at her strangely.

"Save him? From what?" she asked.

"Please, just stay here and make sure Lyle survives." said the seer as she began to carry her mother away. Talon watched her go, then turned to the doors again and began to watch. What she saw inside filled her with pride. Watching Lyle match Jack's speed by copying her technique made her feel good inside. She watched the battle go on and watched until the end. When she was about to go in and speak to Lyle however, she was thrown out the door by a massive power.

OoOoO

Fire was everywhere. Thousands of souls screamed from the torture of the hellish fires around them, but she ignored it. As she did, she remembered all that had happened in her life. Her life was short, too short. She wasn't even alive now to be truthful. She walked on remembering that fateful day on Hook Coast. Her and Van had distracted the troll from the shop keeper and his daughter long enough for them to get away. But, at a cost. Van tried his magic, but it wasn't strong enough. She tried using her bow, but the arrows were ineffective on its tough skin.

They tried with all their might, but the troll was too much for them to take. Suddenly, Van tired out and was hit hard as the troll grabbed him and smashed him through the nearby shop, renderring him unconscious. She aimed another arrow at the beast, causing it to turn to her. It raised its mighty fists and though she tried to run, silent tears poured down her face as she stared terrified up at the beast, her legs unmoving. It smashed her into the ground, causing her to lose most of her senses. Her vision was blurred as she felt her self lifted from the ground. Then, all she saw was water and sky. Feeling sick, she closed her eyes until she felt the worst pain of her life. Fire swam along her spine as it shattered into pieces upon a large rock jutting out of the ocean. She cried more tears, thinking only of one thing. Thinking of only one person. The man she would never get to see again.

She sank slowly into the see, unable to move, unable to swim, and now unable to think. She died silently in the water as darkness swallowed her beautiful form.

She walked forward through the firey prison, blocking out the sound of all the sinful souls suffering around her. She was not a real living being, just a reincarnation brought by her undying love for one man. But, if she didn't act now, the man she loved would suffer for it. She had to do something now before it was too late. Finally, she approached a large black temple. Stepping inside, she walked straight for the flaming gate in the center of the room. Walking through she appeared in a towering chamber. In the center was a pitch black being standing with its eyes closed. He stood tall, muscular, had large horns growing out of his head. Black smoke swirled around him as his closed eyes concentrated on the overworld.

"I see you have returned. Is there something you needed?" he asked in a dark evil voice.

"Yes master. I know what you intend to do in the overworld. And I intend to stop you." she said in a serious tone.

His eyes opened and glared at her. "You are going back on our deal?" he asked. She nodded.

"It was a mistake for me to ask that of you. I know your twisted ways and knew you would somehow use this to your advantage. I was young and stupid back then, but I am no longer." she said.

"You sold me your soul in a trade for two things. And you plan on going back on that?" he asked her as if it was a joke. "You not only got to see your lover again, but I also kept him safe and alive. What else do you want?" he asked her.

"I will not let you have Albion!" she said as she pulled a long blade from her back. She used the blade to cut her arm open, letting it flow over the razor sharp edge. "I will stop you if it kills me." she said.

Suddenly, the dark beast started laughing aloud. "You are already dead girl. Or did you forget?" he asked. "Fine...I will make you suffer more than any soul in hell! You will know no end to pain!" he shouted.

OoOoO

Lyle finished it in an instant. As soon as Jack was stunned, he flashed like lightning, grabbing the sword of Aeons and appearing behind the man. "This is for Whisper...and my father." he said in a deadly voice. Suddenly, the blade ran through the red cloak and out the front of Jack's chest. He gasped in extreme pain as he stared down at the blade now rooting from his torso.

"N...No..." he mumbled. "Not...here...I...can't...die..." he said as he walked around and took Jack's mask off, looking at the expression of pain and shock on his face. Seeing the expression of failure, of insanity, of ignorance. Many things ran through Jack's mind as he sank to his knees, still staring into the face of the only living man to see under his mask. "You...you...can't..." he gurgled as he grabbed Lyle's armor from his position. Lyle pulled away from him and walked behind him again, still carrying his mask.

"How does it feel to lose everything Jack? How does it feel to have darkness calling you against your will? How does it feel to know that you were beaten by a crying little kid who's village you destroyed, who's father you killed, who's life you destroyed. How does it feel?" he asked. Jack suddenly, started to see something in front of him. It was him, the boy he was looking for. Lyle stood, still dressed in his villager rags, crying over his fathers chest. Reaching out, he tried to take the boy. But he felt massive pain as the warrior ripped the sword from its place causing blood to spray onto the chamber floor. Jack fell to the ground, dead. Lyle looked at the man on the ground, then walked towards the door.

Talon opened the portal wide and stepped inside, smiling at the hero approaching. Lyle looked at her and smiled back. "I see you didn't need my help." she said. Lyle smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Actually, I couldn't have done it without your help." he said. Suddenly, he felt a sharp jab of pain which knocked him backwards. Talon looked at him worriedly.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Another sharp jab drove him to his knees. He held his head and began shouting in agonizing pain. The chamber began to shake with incredible force as a dark form began trying to rip itself from Lyle. His eyes turned red as he shouted louder and louder, the dark beast ripped away from Lyle's form and took flight in the chamber. If flew through the air, leaving Lyle to collapse on the ground until it finally flew inside the dead body of Jack of Blades. Talon ran to check on Lyle, but power exploded from Jack's body, sending her flying into the wall, knocking her out.

Suddenly, Jack's hand raised and planted its palm flat on the floor. Doing the same with its other hand, he stood to his feet and the wound on his chest sealed up. Lyle stood to his feet shakily and stared at the being walking towards him again. "How...how can you?" he asked. Suddenly, the being raised his hand and Lyle was lifted from the ground. The dark creature walked over to the warrior and took the sword from him.

"Finally...freedom." he said looking at the blade. "Lyle...its been a long time." he said smiling. He waved his hand and Lyle flew and smashed against a wall, falling to the ground after. Lyle picked himself up dazedly and looked up at the figure.

"It...It's you..." he said glaring.

"Yes...its me. Now, its time to take what is rightfully mine." he said raising the sword high...