Chapter 27: Ending the War: Generation 1: Duel with the Manipulator and Possessed King
After two days, the party with their entire army is standing at Gridamas's castle gates. This is it, the showdown with Melchior and the possessed King Hertzfeldt. There is a good chance that Melchior might sic the Dark Knight on them, but Leo is now stronger, his powers nearly godlike. But something is amiss...
Winfield looked at the deserted city. "Something is not right." He muttered.
"Yeah! Where is that creep who is pulling the strings here?!" Neptune pumped her fist in the air.
Fyuria noticed the gates opened and asked "Are the gates opened?"
Luana then noticed someone approaching them. "Someone approaches..." Luana got her blades ready.
It was Melchior and he doesn't look too happy to see Leo and his friends.
"Melchior..." Leo frowned as he gripped his sword.
"So that's Melchior... the one who took Leo's life before..." Kanonno whispered as she got her sword ready. The otherworlders were meeting the one who killed Leo before for the first time.
Melchior smirked and greeted our heroes with "A pleasure to see you have arrived safely, Leonhardt. Or do you prefer Golden Leo?"
"Shut up!" Noire growled as she transformed, followed by Neptune and Vert. "After what you have done to Leo in the past and bringing war to the Frontier, you think you're buddy buddy with him?!" She added.
Leo held his hand to stop Noire who understands and the Spirit Vessel asked harshly to Melchior "Why have you allied yourself with these beasts? Do you not understand how dangerous they are?"
Melchior frowned and asked "What happened at Pleuron? I did not expect you to defeat so large a force."
"Leo is not the same man you killed before, Melchior!" Kohta grinned as he pointed his gun at the Gridamas general and boasted "He's back and stronger than before!"
Melchior snarled and replied with "You have been a thorn in my side again and again- at Zelzagun, and at Mudus!" He clenched his right fist and added with "And that Dark Knight! How dare he leave me for dead! I plan to use him, but it seems that he plays the game better than I. I am not pleased, to say the least."
"Shame... I was looking forward to fighting him again." Jak muttered as he loaded his Morph Gun.
"Uh, Jak... If the Dark Knight is not here, then where the hell is he?" Daxter asked nervously.
"But at least the ungrateful fiend left me with this..." Melchior snapped his fingers as a few goblins and zombies appeared, ready for battle. "With the help of his gift, I have gathered two armies to me."
Leo shook his head and told Melchior "Melchior, you were being controlled by a magical talisman."
"A talisman, you say? Your words have no meaning to me. It is my own will that drives me, nothing more. Still... Perhaps I was entranced, in a manner of speaking." Melchior smirked darkly.
"King Hertzfeldt ordered the invasion of the Frontier under the control of the Dark Knight." Renee frowned, she was already transformed and ready for battle.
"Even if he was under the control of another being, what he did is unforgivable. However, blame should also be placed on the shoulders of his vassals who made no effort to stop him." Leo frowned as he added in anger "Me, my father, Largen, and you, Melchior. We are also responsible for what happened."
"Leonhardt, we are soldiers in battle. It is our duty to follow orders, even if our king is under the influence of another. The word of our king is absolute. I shall obey him, even if he has gone mad. That is what it means to be a soldier, is it not?" Melchior asked, amused.
"That is why I was compelled to leave, even if doing so branded me a traitor." Leo pointed to his sword and added "This sword is not for the king, it is to protect the lives of all those whose safety we are entrusted with. A true soldier becomes a shield for the weak, even if it means shedding his own blood." Tokai was silent when the Spirit Vessel said that.
Melchior frowned and shouted "I see... Then you and I have decidedly different beliefs! But are we both not soldiers? I challenge you to battle! We shall see who is a true soldier and who is not. Our king would want it this way." Melchior stepped aside for a 45 year old man with red hair, red armor and red cape and a lance on his back, he was in a trance like state. And he has a ring on his right finger.
"Your Majesty..." Leo gasped as his eyes widen.
"That's King Hertzfeldt?!" Fyuria gasped, nearly dropping her daggers.
"He has an overwhelming presence." Luana frowned as she kept her cool, readying her blades.
Ellis shivered as Borgnine shielded her. The high elven girl stammered "He... He frightens me."
"I sense something ominous." Vira-Lorr frowned as she readies her staff.
"He does make the skin crawl, doesn't he..." Winfield gritted his teeth as he loaded his gun.
"Our armies will but watch this battle. I propose that the king and I along with a few soldiers, fight you to decide the victor. This is quite the opportunity for you, is it not?" Melchior proposed.
"Idiot! We outnumbered you!" Barnette shouted as she loaded her gun and readies her Dread Saber.
"And you think you can even the odds with this ridiculus battle?" Ratchet frowned as he readies his Constrotobombs.
"Do not forget we command two armies of our own. How many would die if our forces met on the battlefield." Melchior mused.
"You would approve of this and still proceed with this pointless battle?" Mai frowned as she got her kunai ready.
"It is not pointless. Everything must have a end. Otherwise, there can be no beginnings." Melchior retorted, Leo was silent. Melchior smiled darkly and asked the Spirit Vessel "So, what shall it be? Shall we send our forces in so we can see who can outlast the other?"
Leo frowned as he answered with "It is not my place to solve the problems of Rigulus and Gridamas. Could you not wait at least until we hear from Rigulus?"
"Atta boy, Leo." Renee whispered to herself with a smile.
Melchior frowned that matches Leo's frowned as he asked "I ask you this, Leonhardt, as a soldier. Did you not begin fighting ready to accept responsibility? If this is the case, then what of those who have died? Who did they risk their lives fighting for?"
Leo was silent as he still grips his blade.
Luana got beside Leo and smiled at him by saying "Do not worry about Rigulus, Leo. If the king did not trust you, would he have given you command of his armies? He told me that he trusted whatever decision you might make." Luana closed her eyes and grinned by adding in "Besides, I've no doubt you'll win."
Leo smiled slightly and replied "Yes... you are right. We must win- No, we will win!"
Melchior frowned as he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Leo. "So you have made your decision..."
Zerva readies his scythe and shouted in fury "I could ask for nothing better. Now we shall avenge all of Hovos!"
Elaine stopped him. "Please do not misunderstand, King Hertzfeldt was once a warrior. Perhaps the best in all of Lucrellia."
"Everyone, you must try to destroy his ring." Dyshana pointed out stotically.
"Let me guess, it's one of Summerill's trinkets like the ones we're wearing, right?" Kat guessed as Dusty stood beside her, ready for battle.
"How do you suggest we hit a ring in the midst of battle?" Fyuria asked, readying herself for battle.
"Looks like we have no choice but to cut his finger with the ring in it." Renee suggested as she readies her whip.
"Then this is it... It is time for battle now! Anything else must wait!" Winfield shouted as the party charged at Melchior, Hertzfeldt and their soldiers and monsters.
"Everyone! Me and Renee will focus on Melchior, draw your attention to the ring on His Majesty!" Leo shouted as he and Renee clashed with Melchior.
"Alright, take out the minions first! Then focus on the king!" Neptune urged as she, Noire and Vert charged at Hertzfeldt while Kat used her gravity powers to hurl rocks at Gridamas soldiers and zombies from Takashi's world, killing them in the process.
Leo and Melchior clashed swords and were locked in a power struggle. "I do not know how you survived the Dark Knight's attack when you saved that miserable elf, Golden Leo, but I will make sure to finish the job!" Melchior gritted his teeth as he seems to overpowering him.
"Do not speak ill of Ellis like that, you bastard!" Leo growled as the Spirit Vessel pushed him back and slashed him across the chest.
"You cur! I should have killed you with the help of the other Houses when we overthrown your father! Power Crusher!" Melchior shouted as he slams his sword down, a earthy shockwave was heading towards Leo, he dodged it.
Renee lashed her whip at Melchior, hitting him for some damage. Renee charged at Melchior with mach speed which caught him off guard and punched him in the chest three times. Melchior retaliated by slashing her in the chest, her wound healed instantly.
"Hmm... So you have a magical talisman too..." Melchior mused, Renee remained silent as she leaped up and kicked him in the face, knocking him back a little.
"Leo! Renee! We're here to help!" Ellis shouted as she, Borgnine Fyuria, Luana and Elaine came in, ready to help their friends.
"Such rabble friends you have made, Golden Leo. It's a good thing they're here to witness you to die again!" Melchior smirked as he and Leo clashed swords again.
"Oh no you don't, Melchior!" Fyuria growled as she leaped up and shouted "Dazzle Blade!" Light surrounded Melchior as the syrium charged in at him and slashed him five times.
"Firewall!" Luana shouted as a wall of fire appeared behind Melchior, she charged in at him and punched him towards it, burning him a bit.
Melchior growled as he used a wind attack to knock the two heroines back, but was met by a jab from Elaine's spear.
"I should have known my future wife would betray her country... What would your father say if he saw you like that?!" Melchior growled as he and Elaine countered and block each other's attacks.
"He knows I'm doing the right thing. And I have to cancel our wedding since I really don't like you. Rain Thrust!" Elaine jabs Melchior 10 times with her spear.
"Shine Storm!" "Broken Knuckles!" Ellis and Borgnine combined their attacks to gave Melchior some heavy damage.
Leo saw his chance as he let out a battle war cry as he charged at Melchior, Melchior gasped as Leo slashed him across the chest, hurling him into the staircase leading to the castle, knocking him out, he's not dead, but knocked out for the moment.
"I did it... I avenged you, father..." Leo whispered silently as he sighed and looked up to the sky.
"Hope the others are having much luck as we are..." Fyuria sighed in exhaustion as she sat down on her ass, Leo walked up to her with a smile as he offered her a hand up, Fyuria closed her eyes and smiled as she took it, and hugged the Spirit Vessel.
Back with Neptune, Noire, Vert, Ed, Prinny, Etna and Yuri, Hertzfeldt was giving them a hard time.
"Damn it! He's a tough crack to nut!" Ed panted as he leaned on his metal leg.
"There has to be something we can do to distract him..." Vert got her spear to hold her up.
Etna has an idea, she grinned evilly as she kicked Prinny towards Hertzfeldt, the penguin wailed as he collided with Hertzfeldt, resulting in a small explosion that has him coughing for a little bit while Prinny lay smoked and bruised, such is the way of the Prinnies.
"Now!" Yuri shouted as he charged in at Hertzfeldt and cut the finger holding the cursed ring off, Hertzfeldt groaned in agony as the tiny but almost serious wound bleeds out of where his finger used to be. Hertzfeldt held his head in pain.
Melchior got up and shouted in worry "Your Majesty!" He rushed to His Majesty's aid.
Hertzfeldt shook his head to clear his thoughts. Dyshana walked up to her friends with a calm smile and told them "You have done it." Dyshana turned to King Hertzfeldt and asked him "You were being controlled. Do you remember the Dark Knight?"
"The Dark Knight..." Hertzfeldt muttered as he began to recall the evil dark warrior. "Of course I remember... I remember it all... It... It is still unclear, but... I suppose a finger is a small price to pay for my senses." The king of Gridamas smiled softly.
"So you remember your promise." Dyshana smiled eerily. Hertzfeldt nodded.
Leo turned to Melchior and told him "Melchior, if you have pledged your life to your king, then I ask that you give him your devoted services." Then Leo turned to face King Hertzfeldt and told him "And King Hertzfeldt, I ask that you pledge your life to maintaining the peace of the people. I ask that you vow to maintain peace for everyone, for Gridamas, for Rigulus, and for the Frontier."
"Of course. I swear it on my life." King Hertzfeldt smiled softly.
"And you, Melchior?" Leo asked with a gentle smile.
"You needn't ask. My life is but to serve the king. I would never refuse him." Melchior smiled despontedly. Zerva was impressed by Leo's act of mercy on his enemies, but remained silent. Fyuria turned to Zerva with a concerned look.
"Zerva..." Fyuria said only this word.
Zerva turned to his sister with a smile and told her "I know. This is the end."
Luana walked up to the brother and sister and told them with a motherly tone "Perhaps you cannot forget, but neither can you be sad forever."
"The King Hertzfeldt of Gridamas that was my foe is dead. I am satisfied." Winfield smiled as he sees the burning dead zombies and retreating orcs and goblins.
Hertzfeldt saw the Frontier Warrios and muttered "I see... You are from the Frontier. And those oddly dressed warriors must be from the stars."
Winfield smiled slightly as he did Leo's salute and said "I feel bound to tell you, oh king, that I intended to hold you to your promise."
Hertzfeldt smirked and replied with "I suppose I have much to do before I die, then."
Luana closed her eyes and smiled and replied with "You had best live a long life, the better to carry out your promise."
Vira-Lorr smiled and said "This situation has been resolved. Shall we return to make our report?"
Suddenly, a man wearing silver armor got off his horse and ran up to the party. "A thousand pardons, but I bear an message from King Gunther! Beasts have appeared on the Kaystros Mountains and launched an attack on Mudus Gate. He asks that you returned with his troops immediately once the battle in Gridamas has finished!" He reported.
"Beasts... the Dark Knight!" Leo gasped in shock and anger.
Melchior figured it out. "So that was his plan!" He clenched his right fist in anger.
"What do you mean?" Dita asked, having a bad feeling about this.
"I was used by the Dark Knight, and as such was privy to certain plans of his. He means to take over the entire continent. Head for the Kaystros Mountains. That is where you will find him."
"Why should we trust you?" Jak eyed Melchior suspiciously.
Melchior smiled slightly and told him "I obey the words of my king. If he wishes to reconcile with Rigulus, then it shall be done. I shall not attack you from behind, for that is exactly what the Dark Knight hopes will happen. We will handle things here. You must deal with the Dark Knight."
Elaine bowed lightly with a smile and replied "Thank you, Melchior."
Melchior blushed and told her "Perhaps you were not so mad after all, Elaine. I wish you a safe journey."
Elaine nodded and told Melchior "Melchior, please look after King Hertzfeldt." The party then heads off to the Kaystros Mountains to settle the score with the Dark Knight once and for all, while King Hertzfeldt and Melchior began to help rebuild Gridamas and atone for their sins.
To be continued...
Next chapter: To Settle the Score: Rematch with the Dark Knight
A/N: Only two more chapters to go until the end of Generation 1 and the start of Generation 2. See you next time. And I'm planning an anime ending for the final chapter of Generation 1.