The blue flames from the torches on the holders flickered ominously as a cool wind drifted by. "They're almost here," Talim reported as she read the wind.

Dumas quickly threw the Alice to the ground and exited the cell, with the group following him closely. A clear click rang through as Voldo locked the cell and hissed at Alice before drawing back to his master's side. The group walked down the gloomy corridor of the dungeon. The air was chilly and it bit into them, despite the ethereal blue flames that shone brightly on the stone walls. The stench of death, decay and despair clung to the place and Talim couldn't help but draw inward as she walked. With her own eyes, she had witnessed some of the torture that had went on. An image of a man being pushed into an Iron Maiden made her shuddered and she swallowed hard.

Raphael noticed and he said, "Hmph, not used to being in dungeons I take it?"

She nearly smiled. "I take it you've forgotten that I was thrown into a dungeon the night I helped you escaped Odenburg, Raphael."

Remembering the night she had helped him by holding back Patroklos, he did not say anything further. He only watched as Dumas put a hand around her and pulled her comfortingly towards him. She responded naturally to his touch, keeping close to him as if they were old lovers and Raphael looked away, his hands curling around the piece of metal in his pocket.

Soon, they came to a dead end and Dumas's hand searched the stone. He saw the one with a scratch mark on it and pushed inward. The stone groaned before opening up, to reveal a passageway that went deeper into his dungeons." A putrid smell invaded their nostrils and everyone there felt the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. Talim took a step back apprehensively. "The wind is twisted down there... I can feel that there's something wrong with the air."

Dumas said to Voldo. "Fetch the Edge shard. Be quick about it."

Voldo descended down into the inky darkness and they all stayed there, waiting. Occasionally, someone would peek a glance out of curiosity.

Talim finally spoke up. "Dumas, what are you hiding down there? I can tell... whatever is down there, isn't human."

Hearing that, he chuckled slightly. "Dearest, are any of us here human?"

"None of us here are monsters."

Dumas paused at her words. It was sweet of her, to always see him as someone who at the most, was merely misled. She was far too forgiving and understanding but he valued that about her. It was an innocent charm she carried with her that always gave him pause and think carefully, before choosing his next words. Quietly, he replied, "That is subjective." Finally, he said, "If... the battle was to go badly, then I want you all to escape through this passageway. You have nothing to fear down there. Everything that is down there is either dead and rotting, or it's sitting there and waiting to die."

Talim took a step forward. She held out a hand whispered, "Wind." As soon as the wind told her what was down there and showed her the images, all the color drained from her face and she immediately threw up the small amount of food she eaten earlier. "Don't touch me!" Talim cried as Dumas reached for her before she dry heaved, feeling the acid burning her throat. Standing up, she pointed down and shouted, "Explain yourself! What are those things?!" Her eyes were wide and her chest heaved up and down as she breathed heavily. The people down there were barely humanoid. Some mewled pitifully while others sat there, staring forward with glassy white eyes. Their skin was grey and blue, with patches of hair on their head and their hands were malformed. Some had no legs but strange tentacles and they all sat in their own cages, dying from lack of sunlight, food or drink and being poisoned by the terrible environment as they sat in their own feces. Some were eaten alive by bugs as their skin got inflamed and resembled nothing more than a blob-like nest.

Just then, the guardian of the dungeon came up from the steps. Voldo narrowly avoided the puke and bile that Talim had thrown up before stepping past her.

Dumas held out a hand and Voldo deftly placed a glowing shard into his hand. Holding it up, he examined it carefully. "Everything seems to be in order."

Talim's eyes widened. "That shard... what is it?" The air around it was just as dark as the other shards of Soul Edge but it seemed even more twisted in comparison.

Dumas answered, "A manufactured Edge shard, ma petite." His red eyes met hers and he said, "Soul Edge's shard will eventually malfest you and grant you its powers slowly. I've experimented with them and created an Edge shard. After some time, it becomes a Soul Edge shard."

Ivy's interest was peaked as she heard, while Talim just grew horrified. "What... did you do?"

Dumas could hear the underlying tone of disappointment and said, "The emperor was the one who funded the project." His hand curled over the shard. "I told the emperor that with Soul Edge, he could rule the world and become immortal. He began obsessing over the idea. He wanted power and he wanted to know what he was dealing with." Dumas said, "Some of the malfested were captured by his soldiers. Two of them had the shards in their bodies. I was ordered to experiment with the shards and tell him the results. So I had the shards removed and then placed into normal humans, to test the effects."

Raphael crossed his arms and looked at Dumas from the corner of his eyes. "They became malfested."

"Yes. But what was interesting was the malfested that we originally took the shards from." Dumas narrowed his eyes. "They died when the shards were removed. But when they were cut open, their hearts still beat."

"How is that possible?" Raphael asked with disbelief.

"I couldn't believe it either," replied Dumas, recalling the memory of the experiment. He could remember it clearly. Entranced yet at the same time, almost terrified at what he was seeing. It was like staring an at a dark abyss that went on forever. You wondered what was down there but at the same time, you were too afraid to look. Because somewhere in your heart, you know that nothing you find, could be good. Or at the least, be even remotely normal.

"Their heart was black and it beat," he said finally. "When it was removed, it still beat. There was something alive in there..." He held up the sharp red shard. "I found this. Apparently, Soul Edge had used them as hosts, to create more shards. We took the research farther and in the end, we concluded that only those who are implanted with shards, can create more shards, at the cost of their life. Lastly, we found out an Edge shard will give you powers all at once. This will reduce the shard's power to absolute zero. But given time, it will eventually recover, if it isn't destroyed."

What he said horrified her. "Their bodies won't be able to handle it." Talim put a hand over her mouth. "If a person, a creature, or any living thing was given such a huge amount of power, their lifespan wouldn't last one day. Not only that, the overflow of energy would directly forced them into the last stage!" She stepped back away from him and said accusingly,"You're creating monsters."

Dumas replied curtly, "I'm creating weapons."

Viola thought about his words carefully before saying, "Those sightings of strange monsters in Germany... and the news of your triumph over them. You used them to sow fear and panic and then you come and destroy them, to take on the role of a hero."

Talim looked away in disapproval, her hands tightening around Soul Edge. He had thrown monsters at the people, sacrificed lives and allowed many to get hurt, just for the sake of rising to power. Was power so important to him?

Raphael glanced over at the priestess, noticing how uncomfortable and frustrated she look. He knew she must be upset about what she was hearing, but she was reluctant on speaking up. It must be because she didn't want an argument with the current situation they were in, and that she planned to tell Dumas to stop it later on. Raphael adjusted his red collar and said, "Surely, Rudolf should have received some information or results from the experiment. What did you tell him?"

Dumas said, "What could I tell him? That I was manufacturing Edge shards and it would turn people or beasts into monsters? The only thing I let him know was that Soul Edge's shard will either slow down your age or halt it completely. I didn't let him know that in essence, it made you malfested."

Ivy immediately spoke up. Her beautiful blue eyes glinted icily as she looked at him. "The only way you could show that the subject's ageing had stopped, was through children didn't you?"

Dumas replied in a matter of fact voice, "Children age fast. They're the easiest to make an example of."

"Stop your research," Talim said angrily. Her long air moved slightly from a cold wind that had suddenly turned up around her, as if it was expressing her displeasure as well. His research was vile and it reaches into places that should not be touched. It was twisted, unnatural and evil. If he continued, she feared about how many people would suffer and that he himself, would be his own victim. This was a path that one would never be able to go back from.

Dumas crossed his arms and said, "It's not that easy to stop, ma petite. It's ordered by the Holy Roman Emperor. Besides, this knowledge is useful to me. I will not stop."

"This isn't right. You... you can't just experiment with human lives. They're not animals! You are toying with something that you don't understand. This will not only hurt others, but it will cost you as well."

"Talim, without risk, there is no reward," he answered coldly, feeling slightly irked by her words. He understood that she was worried about him but he this was something that he can't give up upon. He was Nightmare, the wielder of Soul Edge. If he didn't understand the powers and capabilities and use Soul Edge, including its shards, then he was nothing but a fool, trying to be take on the role of a king. He pulled her towards him gently and sighed. "It is the end that matters over the mean, Talim. Sacrifices must be made for the greater good."

Talim's eyes hardened at his words. "When leaders says 'no matter what it takes' good people die for your so called 'greater good'."

His grip tightened slightly. "They are not good people."

She shook his hands off of her. "What did children ever do wrong? Excuses! You've sacrificed innocent children just so you can 'give' your emperor some results. Now, they've been given a burden they'll have to carry for the rest of their lives. "

"I gave them a home," he said impatiently. "They would have died on the streets, if it wasn't for me. I did not simply abandoned them Talim. I have kept them safe, trained them and fed them. I've done nothing wrong!"

"You used them for your own personal gains," Talim replied back. "The charity you offer them afterwards was given out of a cheap sense of guilt. You take care of them the same way you would take care of a weapon!"

Dumas stiffened and looked away from her. Finally, he muttered, "Perhaps you are right. But in the end, ask yourself Talim." He adjusted his mask and said, "They are grateful to me, are they not? They're cared for and happy, are they not? Were my actions so terrible, that you would prefer that they'd be left out on the streets to either die or turn to a miserable existence?"

Talim pointed down into the abyss. "Death would be preferable to that."

"Experiments don't always succeed. Those were unintentional. But now..." He threw the shard up. It rotated in the air before falling back down into the palm of his hand. Dumas said quietly, "I have the necessary knowledge. I will show you the fruit of my research."

Talim's eyes widened. "What are you planning?" When she saw his eyes flicker down the hallway, she gasped. "No! You can't do this Dumas. If you used the shard on her, she'll attack everything and anything on sight. Hilde and the other nobles are bringing-"

"That's precisely why," he answered. "I will unleash that thing and then kill it and perform the usual act of being a hero. This is the only way, we can get out of this mess and the only way, I can still hold on to any shreds of my reputation." He said with a tone of being displeased, "Any culpability, will be put on my shoulders for what happened last night. I have to save our future."

She said thickly, "You're not turning Alice into a monster. You're turning yourself into one." When he didn't reply, she murmured, "You may have done terrible things when you're Nightmare, but you had no control. Now, you're sane and you make these decisions." Finally, she asked, "Will you still do it?"

He looked away from her. "Yes."

She replied slowly, "I don't want to watch." Addressing Ivy, she said, "Come with me, Ivy. We'll take care of the tower."

Dumas smiled. She always knew what had to be done and though she was not happy with him, she still put him ahead of her feelings.

As she walked, she came to a stop beside Alice's cell. "You will experience unbearable pain," she said quietly.

"Don't spite me," hissed the small girl.

"It is the truth... and it is something I would not wish on even the worst of my enemies." With that, she swept away with a heavy heart.

After a few minutes, Dumas and the others re-entered the cell. His lips curled as Alice subconsciously shuffled away from him. When her back hit the wall, she stared up at him with tensely, waiting to see what would happen. Holding out the shard, he said, "I... don't like the look in your eyes."

"Don't come near me!" Alice spat.

Voldo made to come and hold her down but Dumas raised a hand and said, "I will take care of this." When she made to run, he surged forward and pinned the small girl back to the wall by holding on to both of her hands. His lips spread into a wide smile as she struggled. "You have personally earned my attention. I shall enjoy tearing the screams out from your throats." With one hand, he grasped both of hers and held it tightly against the wall. With the other, he held the big gleaming red shard and swiftly jabbed it into her right eye. Gelatinous fluid and blood spurted out from the wound and he shoved the shard in even further, reducing the eyeball to a burst sack of vessels and fluids.

Alice screamed and twisted, trying to escape his grasp. The burning pain seared itself into her mind as Dumas continued scraping at her socket with the shard and his clawed gloves helped as he shoved it as deep as possible. Blood ran down from the socket in rivers and Alice cried loudly.

"IT hurts! Stop! Please stop!"

From the back, Raphael looked away in distaste. He was not unused to torture. He had seen it a few times during his life and had personally conducted it a few times himself, when he owned a castle in Wallachia. The only thing he did not approve of, was having Amy here. He did not want her to see.

The scream reached a crescendo. It was a scream of pure terror and agony that was repeated over and over everytime Dumas stabbed the eye with the shard or his clawed armor gloves.

He crossed his arms and said over the screams, "We don't have time for this, Dumas."

Dumas paused and sighed. "You're correct..." He looked up thoughtfully, as if he was thinking about dinner instead of torturing a girl in his dungeon. "Amy darling, may I borrow your claws?"

Viola walked over to his side and took off the claws she wore on right hand. Dutifully, she took a step back as he held one of the sharp claw in his armored hand.

"I'll just take one moment to take out the other eye before I have Voldo throw her out into the garden." Holding up one of the clawed finger, he said, "This should be alittle easier..."

Alice was half dead from the pain and her one remaining sky-blue eye rolled up in fear. "No... no."

"For every servant and soldier that died, I will stab your next eye by that same amount."

'NOOOOOOOOOO!"

It was a cold night. The chill in the air penetrated through their armor and their breaths came out in mists as they rode towards Dumas's castle, armed and ready. Hilde led the charge as she was the most experienced in battle against the malfested. There was no one there who could dispute her experience or reputation since after all, Wolkfrone had been legendary when it came to dealing with these nightmarish denizens. Most of the nobles lent her their soldiers after they had been rallied up but few of them actually rode into battle with her. Hilde looked down at their cowardice, especially since she was gravely injured from that arrow wound. But for her people, she must fight if she wanted the land that Matthias promised her.

"Tonight, we fight for Wolfkrone's future and we fight for our friend's lives," Hilde said firmly to her guards. "Let's go!" She kicked at her horse to jump over a fallen tree. The impact jarred the wound on her back and she bit down on her tongue at the pain. She was the leader, to show any weakness would mean weakening morale. Hoarsely, she shouted, "Quickly! We need half to the back gates! The others, follow me!" She winced as her horse flailed and kicked upward as they neared the dark castle. The wind was chilly as it howled around them and from the distance, tongues of fire lapped at the highest tower of Dumas's castle. She pulled on her reins and narrowed her eyes behind the silver helmet.

Talim covered her face with a handkerchief as she and Ivy ran away from the roaring inferno they had set up. Once they were halfway down the stairs of the tower, Talim said to Ivy, "Stop the fire here."

"As you wish," Ivy said dryly as she raised her Valentine and whipped three marks at the steps, carving out deep grooves. They glowed once with a pale violet light before a barrier was erected. "It's done. The flames won't get past this line."

"Now then..." Talim held her left hand up and called upon one of the orb Necrid had gifted to her from seventeen years ago. "Those who play with fire will be burned. Come forth, Ignus Fatuus." A brilliant fiery red and orange orb materialized before her, its searing heat bring a rush of warmth to the two woman and its light danced across the stone walls. She motioned for the orb to follow her as they came to the bottom. "Go, and burn up every malfested body that you see. Don't let the fires spread to anything else."

The orb burned wickedly, almost as if it was delighting in the task it had been given. Speedily, it flew away and left the two women in shadows.

Ivy said coldly, "For someone who preaches about being a holy wind priestess, isn't using something so evil abit hypocritical?"

"If you must know, the orb was a gift. The man wanted me to help save the world with them and I can say that I've never disrespected his dying wish." Talim slowly walked towards an open balcony. Flinging open the glass doors, she stepped outside and looked out solemnly. "They have arrived."

"Now what?" asked Ivy, leaning her back against the railing and looking over her shoulders at the large assembly of at least two hundred men.

Talim placed her injured right hand onto the smooth marble stone in front of her and carefully analyzed the battleground below. "I must help."

"Elaborate for me."

"If I can kill that thing now instead of waiting for Dumas to show up and be a hero, I can save many of the soldiers," replied Talim.

Ivy quirked up an eyebrow, surprised at what the priestess was saying. "Aren't you worried he'd be mad at you?"

"I'd rather have him be angry at me than see unnecessary deaths." Talim leaped off the balcony. "He's the king of Hungary and is in Rudolf's favor anyways. He can stand to lose abit of grace." Her hair streamed behind her as she fell and she landed gracefully on the roof below. "Ivy! Go take the stairs and come help me!" she shouted to the alchemist. Taking off, she knew she was at a disadvantage since her right hand was broken. But that wasn't going to stop her from helping Hilde.

From the shadows, Dumas, Raphael and Viola watched. They were up in one of the watchtowers and kept out of sight. The same way an audience watched a play, they kept a close eye on the battle playing out beneath them. Dumas put his hands on the edge of the window and his lips curled. The blind puppeteer had transformed into a true monster. Her hair was snow white and blood ran down her eyeless sockets in rivers. The red frilly little red dress she wore contrasted with her pale skin, and with her size, she resembled a doll that had been unleashed from hell. From her fingers, sharp thin soul string hooked onto the soldier's arms and legs, forcing them to butcher and slaughter their comrades. From the dead, she also did not spare, lifting them back up into a mockery of life and turning his garden into a garden of death. Slowly, her rank increased with both the dead and the living and she shouted into the pouring rain, "Give me back my eyes! Give them back to me!"

Raphael snickered. "At least all of that blood will be good nutrients for your flowers."

Dumas chuckled."Soon... there will be few left standing before I take over and cut her down."

Viola stepped up beside him and looked down. She said coldly, "But it seems someone has come onto the stage at the wrong time."

Dumas looked and he grinded on his teeth. "What?! What is she doing?" She was supposed to take care of the evidence and that was it. In her weakened state, he couldn't possibly believed that she dared even go into battle. "Raphael, Amy, go down there and make sure nothing happens to her." He added, "Kill anyone you see on your way to the gardens. When you get down there, weaken that monster before I come in for the kill. I want you two to look like you're still on their side."

"Clever," Raphael commented. "Come Amy," Raphael said as he took his daughter's hand and they headed out.

Returning to his view, he took in a deep breath before slamming his hand down on the cold hard stone. "Why must you always make things so difficult for me," he said under his breath as he watched her fight. She was clearly having difficulties fighting with one hand and every time one of the manipulated soldier came close to hitting her, he felt his heart tightened up in his chest. He looked to see that few were left standing. Perhaps now would be a good time for him to show himself and just end it. If he left now, he'd only be about fifteen minutes behind his daughter and Raphael. Putting on his helmet, he got ready to head out.

"Dumas!"

At the familiar tone of voice, he glanced back behind him and said, "Hildegard von Krone... what a lovely surprise." He turned around and smirked. She was dripping wet from the rain and her hair was plastered to herself. Her helmet must have fallen off somewhere. Dirt and blood was smeared across the silver armor and her lips were split open. She was breathing heavily from exertion and he said, "I think you're lost, my lady. The monster we need to kill is down there." He gestured behind him at the window. "Shall I have you accompany me into battle? Or would you prefer to rest and recuperate? I can assure you, I am confident that I can handle that disgusting malfested down there by myself."

Hilde stood still before stepping to the side and gesturing for him to go. "I won't rest while good men are fighting. You know your castle best. I'll follow you to get to the gardens."

Dumas couldn't help but sense that something wasn't right. Though as to what, he couldn't really tell. It was just an unexplained sense of dread. Slowly, he began walking past her. "Tell me, how are the men holding-" He stopped when her sword pierced the slit of his armor near the end of his back. With a strong backhand, he hit her hard in the face and sent her flying backwards. But before he could make another move, her elite female guards tossed chains over him and all four yanked on hard from four different directions. He snarled, "How dare you! What do you think you're doing?!"

Hilde's spat out a broken tooth as she stood up. Her eyes blazed as she pointed her spear at him. "I'm here to destroy you, king of the malfested. NIGHTMARE!"

In the main hall of the castle, Ivy leaned against the front doors and looked up as Raphael and Viola appeared. Her crystal blue eyes shined from beneath the white hair and she smirked. "Going somewhere?"

Viola said icily, "It should be obvious where we're headed."

Ivy stood up and said, "I don't think you two will be going anywhere." The doors flew open and soldiers poured in. With a smile, she said, "Tonight, I shall eliminate Soul Edge and Nightmare from this world."

Raphael immediately placed himself in front of his daughter. Baring his fangs, he said, "We should have killed you when we had the chance."

Ivy said. "It wouldn't have mattered if you had killed me or not. This was inevitable once I teleported Matthias to safety." Her sword slowly extended into a whip and she held her hand up. "Come forth!" She stomped her heel down on the ground and carved a mark into the ground with her whip. The black marble rumbled and shuddered before cracks ran through it. Taking the sword to her hand, she sliced open her palm a final third time and threw the blood across it. A circle of light appeared and from it, a clone of Ivy, made up of blood and stone was summoned.

Standing back, Ivy said, "Stay and enjoy. I'm needed elsewhere." With that, she opened the doors and headed for the gardens. The wounds on her back from the previous night stung and ached but she pushed aside her discomfort as stubbornly as always.

Down below, Talim stumbled backward and tripped over a corpse. She fell into a thicket of red roses and winced as the thorns tore through her clothes and cut at her skin. Alice's powers had increased by tenfold and in her current state, she had no hope of winning. All she could do was distract the monster until Alice's lifeforce and soul was completely eaten up by the shard inside her.

She gripped her elbow blade tightly in her left hand and squinted, trying to keep the rain water out of her eyes. The fountain was completely smashed, its pieces strewned around it. Dirt and grass was torn haphazardly from the ground by the soldier's feet and crushed roses and lilies were scattered everywhere, their petals either on the ground or on dying soldiers in some sick sense of humor. Blood rain along with the rain along the decorated pathways and it swirled around her feet. The hedges and pots of flowers were nothing more than mere objects waiting to be destroyed in the battle.

"Where are you?! Where!"

Talim stood still as Alice screamed and shouted, mindlessly moving her puppets around to search. She could see the terrified look of those who were still alive, as their bodies moved without their permission. Stealthily, she moved back and away from the girl before running around to aim for a more vulnerable position. The deep wound on her throat from where she had to rip a metal piece of Valentine was starting to bleed through its bandages and she made a small sound at the back of her throat. Thanks to the rain and thunder that covered the sound of her movement, Alice could not detect her. Talim also knew that taking out Alice's eyes, was a good move on Dumas's part. If he unleashed a monster, he had to be sure he could also take it down by handicapping it.

When she was behind Alice, she charged forward. Leaping into the air and over the soldiers beneath her, she stabbed her blade downward. Unfortunately, Alice caught on at the last second and it sunk into her shoulders instead of her head. Moving fast, Talim used the moment of pain to her advantage. Since she couldn't use her right arm, she lifted her leg up high and brought it down on the girl's head with a sickening crack.

Talim stood still as Alice dropped to the ground with a thud and twitched, on the throe of death as blood leaked out and stained her golden blond curls. All the corpses around them dropped with her, while the living swayed on unsteady legs. The rain hid the tears that leaked out from Talim's eyes as she watched the doll-like girl slowly die. She deserved it. She was responsible for all those deaths in the castle, including her fellow kinswoman, Ligaya. This was her just reward. However, she did not feel any sense of satisfaction from the girl's death. It was just another death. None of the lives lost could be brought back and in the end, the story hasn't changed.

Bending down, Talim took her elbow blade and sliced Alice's throat, granting her a quicker death. She turned the body over and gently reached for right socket. Digging into it, she pulled out the red shard with disgust. A sense of deja-vu washed over her as she remembered the first time she laid eyes on the shard, seventeen years ago when she first left on her journey. Standing up with it in her hand, she said bitterly, "After seventeen years, nothing's changed."

"I see you've taken care of the situation," said Ivy, approaching the priestess with rapid footsteps.

"I did not think I could do it," she said quietly. She restrapped her right elbow blade onto her belt and let out a long breath. "I was lucky. Malfested that have gone into the last stage is a very serious matter and there are few people out there who can win against one." Holding up the glimmering red shard, she bit her lips. "And so... another one falls under Soul Edge's curse."

Ivy held out her hand. "May I see the shard?" When the priestess seemed reluctant, she added, "I merely want to examine it. I have created synthetic Soul Calibur crystals in my own laboratory and I wish to compare it to these manufactured Soul Edge's shards."

"Alright," Talim said hesitantly, placing the shard into Ivy's hand.

The taller woman's hand closed over the shard. With a small grin, she said, "I should tell you, that Hilde is fighting to kill Dumas right at this very moment."

Talim's eyes widened. "What? Why would she do that?" It was then that she noticed the soldiers slowly coming closer to her. "Stay back-" Her voice was cut short as Ivy's whip extended and wrapped around her, efficiently tying her up and cutting deeply into her skin.

Ivy sneered down at the bound priestess. "Did you really think I would help Dumas just to save my own life? Though I should mention, before you even had me captured and threatened, I had already won. I merely played along to bid my time for this moment."

"What are you talking about?" Talim said angrily.

"Perhaps in all the chaos, you forgot that Dumas has sacrificed nearly everyone in his castle to save you. I teleported Matthias away to safety and I guess everyone just assumed I dumped him in some abandoned forest or something," she said wryly. "What I did, was that I got him to Hilde's location, as a way to get him to tell her and everyone the truth about Dumas. The secret is now out, Talim."

Talim shook her head in disbelief. "No..."

Ivy's grin grew wider. "That's right. They're not here to get rid of the monsters and save you, Raphael and Viola. They're here to capture Dumas and bring him in for a public execution. Then, Matthias's worse opponent would be eliminated." She laughed. "And I will have destroyed Nightmare and with the sword in my possession, sooner or later I will find a way to destroy it as well."

Talim's eyes glowed green and the wind howled even more loudly around them. "Did you forget, Ivy Valentine? I can kill you at the same time you kill me."

Ivy pulled harder on the sword. Her voice dropped slightly as she said, "I had always planned to either live out the rest of my live in isolation, or kill myself once I destroyed Soul Edge and all of its traces. Kill me right now if you wish, it won't change anything. Hilde and her guards are most likely already engaged in battle with Dumas and I've commanded the rest to capture Raphael and Viola."

Talim's heart began to pound. This can't be happening. Raphael had just been reunited with his daughter. She had only just found her dear friend again and Dumas had promised her he would become a good king for the world. After seventeen years, they finally have a chance to make things right and be a family again. If they were captured, they would die. Her lips quivered and she shook her head. "No! Let them go!" She said pleadingly, "Ivy, Ivy, I'm begging you. Don't hurt them. Please, spare them and just take Soul Edge." Trying to make up something, she said desperately, "The one who wields the sword is Nightmare. If Dumas surrenders it, he'll just be a normal malfested. Do whatever you want with the sword and let them go. I promise, I'll surrender and work hard on finding a method to heal the malfested. I already have the ability to do so for those who aren't so deeply tainted. I just need alittle more time until I can perfect my technique."

Ivy looked down on the priestess. "Do you think the Archduke would spare Dumas after what he's done and knowing the truth about him? And do you think Matthias would allow such scandalous news to leak out? He will eliminate every witness, besides those who are on his side. As for Soul Edge, I will take that sword and continue my research to find a way to destroy it and Astral Chaos forever."

"What about me?! Why don't you kill me then?" Talim shouted, starting to grow hysterical for her love and Amy's fate.

"Because I can use you, I will ask the Archduke to spare you," Ivy replied simply. A soldier came to her side and said, "Countess Valentine, Graf Dumas and his two other accomplices have been arrested.

"No..." Talim shook her head and looked up into the grey stormy skies. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she remembered Aeon. Opening her mouth, she screamed, "AEON! AEON! I NEED YOU!"

The roar of the giant lizard met her cry for help. The soldiers around them instantly circled around her and Ivy nervously as another hiss and roar met their eyes. Lighting flashed across the stormy grey skies and suddenly, a man was lifted up into the air and blood and white feathers fell downward.

Bleeding and tied in chains, Dumas stumbled on his feet as he was dragged behind Hilde. Her guards kept a tight hold on his bonds and he stared down at the ground as he trailed after the sovereign of Wolfkrone. In her hands, she held his sword and would sometimes shoot it a look of disgust.

Dumas bared his teeth. They had been prepared. Their armor and weapons were heavily doused in holy water but he had been sure that they did that to take care of Aeon and the dead rampaging malfested. He couldn't have known that they were going to use it on him. Unless... he grinded on his teeth. When that alchemist teleported Matthias to safety, he should have inquired where. How could he have been so stupid, to overlook something like that?! There may have been alot of things going on but to make such a fatal mistake like that was all his fault. The Archduke must have been sent to Hilde and he must have told her the truth. They weren't going to be killed here, but most likely dragged back to Prague, the capital, for a public execution. Matthias would use this chance to annouce to the people that he, Graf Dumas, was nothing more than a liar and a monster and that his brother was an idiot to have trust him. Rudolf would be looked at as a failure of a ruler and held responsible and be put aside while he, would be publicly executed. Then, Matthias would be free to take the throne, having eliminated him and taken care of his brother.

Dumas's hand curled. That was NOT going to happen. Listening intently, he finally heard and felt Voldo coming to his aid.

"Tell me Hilde, how did you know I was Nightmare?"

"At your castle, I saw your soldiers true form. They were malfested." She glanced behind her warily. "However, I didn't know you were Nightmare. Matthias told me, once he was safely teleported to my location."

"I see... so then you and those pathetic nobles rallied up against me." Stopping, he said, "Hildegard, I would like to ask you something."

"I don't have time for this." Hilde turned back and glared at him. "And I have nothing to say to a monster such as you."

From beneath his blond hair, Dumas grinned. "We are both rulers of a nation. What should be the traits that a ruler must possess?"

At the question, Hilde paused briefly before saying, "A ruler must be strong to protect their people. They must also be kind and look after them for it is the people who make the nation, and the leader is there to guide it."

"Good answer," Dumas replied. "But you forget one thing."

Hilde narrowed her eyes. "What?"

He smirked and slowly lifted his head, his eyes burning bright red. "A dead ruler is of no help to their people, no matter how good or strong they may be." His grin widened until his teeth showed. "AND YOU'RE A DEAD ONE."

Gerhilde looked up and shouted, "Your highness look out!"

Falling from the ceiling, Voldo slashed down at Hilde's head. She barely managed to duck in time but the sharp katars drew blood as it sliced open her armor and her back. Holding in a cry, she dropped Soul Edge and drew out her sword and stumbled away from him. "How did you get here?!"

Using the distraction, he unleashed all the power in his body. A strong wave of dark energy swept out from him, knocking the guards back and hurling them into the wall. Only Gerhilde managed to keep to her feet and she stepped forward to stop him. He barely looked at her as his right arm transformed and his hand snaked its way to her throat. Lifting her up from the ground, he looked at Hilde and grinned. "It looks like you can't protect this one."

Gerhilde gasped for breath. "Princess..."

"No! Don't!" Hilde screamed.

Without another word, Nightmare snapped her neck before flinging aside the body. He stepped over to his sword and picked it up, while Voldo guarded his back from Hilde's remaining guards.

"Gerhilde..." Siegrune whispered in disbelief.

Waltraute, Schwertleite and Grimgerde were speechless, unable to believe that one of their best had fallen. The five were like sisters and they had served Hilde all their lives. To have her gone from them... brought an unspeakable pain and agony to their hearts. With tears streaming silently down their faces, they stood back up and shouted battle cries before running to avenge their comrade.

Hilde also stood back up and she screamed, "For Gerhilde, I will have your heart!"

Nightmare laughed. "My apologies... my heart already belongs to Talim." He pointed his sword at her and said, "But I'll take your soul, if you don't mind."

Raphael held a hand to the wound on his hip that had reopened. They had barely managed to win. He and Amy had to take on almost twenty soldiers along with a stone Ivy. Voldo had to come help them but before any words were exchanged, the man had bounded right off. Amy helped him stand and he said thickly, "When will it all end?"

Time is ticking... fate is watching... who will survive the night and will the world survive the consequences?