Chapter 21: Capture Zelzangun Fortress! Part 1 of 2: Of Love and Guns
"Everyone! We must win this battle!" Leo shouted as he and Kasibal clashed swords.
"Leo... Do you know this man?" Renee asked, feeling sympathy for her friend because he's fighting someone who was once his ally.
"That'll wait till later! Here they come!" Rei shouted as the goblins and zombies charged at the party.
Ratchet got out his ConsructoBombs and threw them at two goblins and two zombies, blowing them to bits. The zombies' remains burned to ash like when a zombie of Takashi's world dies in Agarest and their skeletal remains is what's left of them, bones of the zombies were found after the remains were burned.
"Holy..." Takashi gawked as he turned to face Ratchet. "Where... in the seven hells did you get such awesome weaponry? I would like to have some of those."
"They don't call me and Clank the universe's greatest heroes for nothing!" Ratchet chuckled as he used his ConstrutoPistol to kill two more goblins.
Kirito got out his twin swords and slashed five more goblins to death. Elaine aided him by shouting "Ruin Thrust!" The former female general of Gridamas thrusts her spear at the goblins and zombies and a whirlwind tornado appeared, slicing the enemies to pieces.
"Now that's what I call girl power!" Gascogne grinned as she punched three more goblins.
Meanwhile, Leo and Kasibal were still clashing, their blades clanged at each slash, Leo managed to get a few slashes at his former comrade, Kasibal did the same.
"Golden Leo... I thought you have died, but somehow... You're still alive... Just... who are you?" Kasibal demanded as he slashed Leo in the chest.
Leo winced as he slashed Kasibal across the chest. "I was brought back by the gods and I will make sure Gridamas follow the path of light again until the day I die!" Leo leaped into the air and shouted "Howling Blade!" Leo slashed, a powerful energy blade was hurled at Kasibal, he was hit by it greatly because he was caught off guard by Leo's surprisingly unnatural strength.
"You..." Kasibal growled as he charged at Leo, but Leo remained silent as the Spirit Vessel slashed his former comrade five times, ending the fight.
Suddenly, Leo heard Meia's cry as he turned to see Meia kneeing, blood from a slash in her arm and a zombie was about to finish her off. Leo, with supernatural speed, got in front of Meia and impaled the zombie in the chest, the zombie moaned as she fell to the ground, dead. Her body burned until her skeleton were remaining.
Meia gasped as this male she has despised saved her life. "W-Why did you save me, male...?" She muttered in shock. She recalled one time during her first battle with the Harvesters, Hibiki saved her life and they worked together to defeat the enemy.
Leo turned to her with a gentle smile and replied with "I do not know why your female race in your universe despises men, but in Agarest, men and women loved each other and give birth to children who will succeed their parents." Leo rushed towards the last remaining goblins and zombies with Renee's help who joined him afterwards to finish them off.
A Gridamas soldier came in to see a wounded Kasibal holding his wound with it bleeding slightly. "What is it?" He gasped.
"Damn it!" Winfield grimaced. "Why must my luck always run out at the most inopportune times?"
The Gridamas soldier came in to check on Kasibal. "Kasibal... What is this?!" He gasped in pure terror.
"The enemy has breached our defenses! Many have been slain by Elaine and her friends, but some have fled... Follow them." Kasibal ordered weakly as he coughed out some blood.
"But, Commander Kasibal..." The Gridamas soldier stammered in pity and fear.
"I have this under control! Attend to your duties, soldier!" Kasibal snapped at him. The Gridamas Soldier nodded hesitantly as he rushed to gather the troops to catch this unknown enemy.
Leo looked at his former friend despondently and whispered "Kasibal..."
Kasibal looked at Leo with depressing eyes and muttered "Leonhardt, forgive me for drawing my sword against you. I do not have your strength. All I have is my life as a soldier, something I lack the courage to abandon. Please, save Gridamas. The Dark Knight is evil. He plans to use his beasts to not only take over Gridamas, but all of Lucreillia... You are the only one who can stop the man who conspires with the Dark Knight- Melchior." He begged.
Leo was silent as he nodded slowly and saying "Very well. Leave this to me."
"Thank... you..." Kasibal smiled weakly for the last time before he fell down and died. The party was silent for a moment. Even Tokai was silent.
Elaine stepped forward and declared "Gather the troops."
But Elaine's captain asked in concern "But what about the enemy's plans...?"
Elaine has a stern look and told him "This is more important. We leave immediately for Zelzagun Fortress. There, we shall fight alongside Rigulus to free the Frontier."
The captain gulped and stuttered "W-Will that not make us traitors to Gridamas?"
"Were you not listening to Kasibal? Our Lord has gone mad, Shall we let Gridamas fall into the hands of Melchior and some strange beast?" Elaine then half shouted "I will assume all responsibility. Those who wish to stay may do so. Do not turn Mudus Gate into a battleground." Elaine ordered, then with a soft smile, she added "It will not be easy, but please see that this ground does not run with blood."
Then Ed got an idea. "Why not spread word that a disease broke out here. No one would dare come here to die by a disease," He suggested.
Elaine's captain thought about it for about 1 minute till he nodded and said "...Very well. Mudus Gate shall close its gates due to a rampaging disease. I would ask, Lady Elaine, that you leave as soon as the troops have been notified of the situation."
"I will. You have my thanks, captain." Elaine bowed in gratitude.
"It seems our business here is concluded. Might I suggest we make for Zelzagun?" Vira-Lorr suggested as she placed one hand on her hip.
"I concur." Luana nodded before adding "Soldiers from Rigulus will be arriving there in about two days. We must make haste."
Leo was silent for a moment until he nodded.
After leaving Mudus Gate, our heroes made camp for the night.
Leo sat down on a log, thinking about what Kasibal said before he died. Is it true that the king of Gridamas has gone mad due to the Dark Knight? He must destroy his foe immediately before it gets out of hand. He then noticed Meia walking up to him and sitting beside him.
"Hey..." Meia said quietly.
"Meia, was it? If you don't mind, what brings you here?" Leo looked at the Dread pilot in concern.
Meia looked away, bashfully before turning to face Leo and smiled at him by saying "I want to thank you for saving my life back at Mudus Gate. You're the first male beside Hibiki who risked his life to save a female."
"I was wondering why you resented males so much... Did your parents taught you that way?" Leo asked, concerned for his companion's well being.
Meia looked down, rather depressed. "...My mom died when I was a little girl. All my life in Mejeiru, I was taught that men are nothing but evil beings who killed women or make them their slaves and they don't even respect little girls. But you... You saved me. Was everything I was taught wrong?" Meia asked, looking at Leo with concern.
"Meia..." Leo smiled slightly as he stood up. "There are some men who you described in this universe, but there are many men who loved and respect women and when a man loves a woman hard enough, they become soul mates and give birth to children who will continue on their legacy. I do not know why your race resented men, but if men and women are separated, it would screw things up. That is why children are born because of their mother and father who loved each other deeply." The former general placed his hand on Meia's shoulder and smiled at her.
"Leo... I... Thank you for teaching me this. Now, I wanna hear your story." Meia smiled slightly as Leo sat down and began telling her his story and the friends he met after he was brought back to life.
(With Kirito)
Kirito was practicing his swordsman skills. He has to prepare for the big battle in Zelzagun Fortress. He may have lost some of his memories, but he knows how to fight. Suddenly, he heard rustling in the bushes. Alarmed, he pointed his swords at the brushes, thinking it may Gridamas or Summerill's army.
However, he was proven wrong when a 17 year old girl came out of the bushes. She has long orange-brownish chestnut hair and hazel eyes, and wore a red and white uniform and wields a rapier.
Both were tensed as they aimed their weapons at each other. But suddenly, their minds began to emit tiny sparks as they looked at each other. Somehow, they knew each other. The sparks were getting more intense as they tried to jump start their memories. Could this girl also have lost her memories? And she is wearing one of Summerill's trinkets which on her left arm is a orange bracelet with a silver gem embedded on it.
Then, without warning, the sparks turn into full scale lightning bolts as Kirito gasped "A-Asuna?!"
The girl known as Asuna gasped as she muttered "Kirito...? It is you!" Asuna ran up to Kirito and embraced him in a tight hug. Kirito did the same. Maybe bits of their memories have returned?
"I can't believe you're here, Asuna." He noticed the bracelet Asuna was wearing and gasped "Don't tell me you too have been cursed by Summerill and lost your memories to boot?"
Asuna nodded slowly as she looked around and asked her boyfriend "This place is weird, Kirito... There are real monsters here..." The girl of Kirito's dreams shivered in fear.
"I know, Asuna... That's why we got to help Leo stop Summerill once and for all and somehow get his trinkets off of our bodies." Kirito nodded.
Suddenly, they heard a click and turned to see a short 16 year old girl.
She has very long strawberry blonde hair tied in two ponytails. Her hair accessories are decorated with pink cone-shaped objects that look like tiny horns, also has camellia-colored irises and wears the standard uniform of Tokyo Butei High School, and wears black thighhighs as well.
The two lovebirds didn't knew how to react since she has two guns and has a pink ring with a red ruby on her finger, meaning she too is cursed with immortality.
To be continued...
Next chapter: Capture Zelzagun Fortress! Part 2 of 2: Capture the Enemy!