Chapter 23: Weapon of Demise

Link

Deciding that it that was the perfect time to act, I lunged at Ghirahim hitting him just after the first light arrow struck. I managed to get a big blow on him, then another, then another, shifting my stance and mixing up my attacks continually to make it so he couldn't catch my sword, before finally plunging it in his chest before withdrawing it in what I hoped would be a fatal blow. However, I knew it wouldn't as he seemed unfazed by my attempt to end him as I panted from the exertion.

"Are you finished?" he taunted.

Before I could put up an adequate block, he backhanded me using his powers and maybe even using the Triforce of Power to enhance his blow. I flew back across the room, barely holding onto my sword and shield in the process as I tumbled upon landing.

"You still don't get it, do you? None of you get what you're up against. You've done all you could just to try to destroy me."

I got back to my feet with a determined glare as he continued his monologue. I noticed that he was starting to transform, the black that covered where his "wounds" were creeping across his body, covering him like a skin made of stone.

"But I can't be destroyed! You stand before a Demon, boy! Or should I say, a weapon without Mercy,"

As he said this, I briefly saw him as a sword like the Master Sword that I wielded except if it had been forged by demons rather than Goddesses before going back to his now completely black with white markings and hair form. Involuntarily, I looked down at my sword in shock before looking back up at him with a renewed glare.

"Ah, you understand now, and yet here you stand, still in my way. I should be angry, but I've known you for a while, so I'm not surprised."

He snapped his fingers and a sword that looked just like the one that he had used countless times against me appeared.

"And I can't wait to crush both you and your so-called friends beneath my boot."

Revali

Link lunged at him yet again as Mipha came to my side, "Aren't we going to help him? Oh, never mind,"

She had seen that I already had an arrow drawn in the Light Bow and was looking for a clear shot as both figures maneuvered in aggressive sword combat that was as intricate as it was brutal. I briefly considered jumping in with my own blade, but I knew that I would be able to help Link better with a bow, especially with seeing how advanced of a swordfighter Link's foe truly was. Briefly relaxing the string and transferring the bow to my talons, I took flight to increase my range and decrease my ability to be hit by any counterattacks my target would launch. Transferring the bow to my wings, I once more drew and hit Ghirahim with a light arrow, disorienting him enough for Link to once more land a decisive hit, followed by the other Champions hitting him whilst Zelda applied her own sealing power to the fight as she kept her distance from the physical combat. Ghirahim continued to fight back as the 6 of us successfully drove him back one blow or in my case light arrow at a time. Finally fed up with it, he once more teleported away from the fight with a growl. As I hovered in the air, waiting and looking for him to reappear as everyone else in the room did the same,

Link suddenly looked behind me and screamed, "Revali! Behind…!"

He was unable to finish his warning as I turned around to see Ghirahim standing on a glowing platform just before a collection of his projectiles suddenly struck me in the chest, knocking me out of the sky as I landed on my back with a groan. I tried to get up only to be pinned down by my aggressor's foot.

"You know, I should have guessed that you two were related, you are just as insufferable as he is," Ghirahim sneered.

I laughed weakly as I looked up at his ugly sneer, "I guess I have that effect on people, especially wannabe demons,"

That struck a nerve as he stomped on my stomach, pushing me into the floor as I cried out in pain.

"Time to meet your end thief."

I braced myself for a final blow before the whiz of an arrow followed by Ghirahim's cry lifted the weight of him holding me down, I got to my feet quickly and recovered the bow of light before I looked towards Link to thank him. He had his bow out, but he quickly dismissed my thoughts that it was him that had fired the arrow with a firm shake of his head before using his thumb-feather to a different location next to him. I looked over and was shocked to see that Mipha had out her silver bow that I had gifted to her after our training at the flight range with an arrow already drawn and ready to fire. Her posture was calm and in control, with a hint of a scowl on her face.

She issued her threat to Ghirahim, "Try that again and see what happens." Her voice, it had all the same tones of her regular voice minus the fact that it was dripping with contempt.

"Insolent little girl," he growled, "Allow me to show you just how insignificant you are."

He teleported away, in the process dodging Mipha's next arrow before he appeared in front of her, using her water to augment her abilities, she backflipped away as he swung at her, with Ghirahim hitting nothing but water as Mipha quickly exchanged her bow and arrow for her signature trident in midair, pointing it at him menacingly upon landing. I couldn't help but watch with awe as she used the prongs to snatch Ghirahim's sword and push it away as he swung at her, using the point to keep him at a distance, hitting him with either end if he got too close, and often using a small wave of self-made water to keep herself more mobile. Who knew that under that gentle exterior, a Zora warrior was there? And to make things better, she was doing this for me. Sadly though, it appeared that even with all her skill, she was slowly being pushed back, but not if I had anything to say about it. I once more drew a light arrow back and calmed myself as I aimed for the Demon's head. Direct hit, and it got his attention. Mipha tried to attack one more time before being thrown off, the same fate followed Daruk, Urbosa, and to a lesser extent Link as they all tried to take advantage of the openings, allowing me to take yet another shot.

He glared at us, "I don't have time for you worms," he said before teleporting away.

Link

He didn't appear for quite a few minutes, which had me reasonably on edge, where could he be? A female scream of fear finally gave his location as I turned to where Zelda had been standing. She tried to use her powers against him only for him to grab her wing and squeeze it aggressively, disrupting her concentration as she cried out in pain.

"Hello Princess," he sneered as she struggled against his grip. I could feel my temper rising as I ran to help her only to be slightly dazed as I ran into a barrier he put up right in front of me. It was just enough time for him to use his own powers to lift her into the air as she screamed in Agony.

"You have something I want, and you're going to give it to me."

I hit the barrier with my sword pommel only to see that it held, he turned to me.

"Sorry, but you have interfered with my plans one too many times. Don't worry, it will be your turn soon."

Zelda looked at me weakly as Ghirahim continued to torment her, "…Link…"

Revali

At that moment, Link was gone. Well, he was still there, but… I'd never seen him look like that, that much rage, a gaze that could scare Ganon. Instinctively, I took a step back and hoped that he would calm down soon. Link charged with a yell, breaking through the barrier with his sword in one hand and the Sheikah Slate in the other. By the time Ghirahim had turned around, Link was already right in front of him, having strangely put away his sword and shield and only holding the Sheikah Slate. Before Ghirahim could react, Link had his arms wrapped around the Demon Lord and they both began to dissolve into Sheikah Energy as Link activated the Slate. And just like that, they were both gone.

Link

We landed with a roll in the Forgotten Temple, with me quickly getting to my feet and putting away the Sheikah Slate. Now that we were alone, I felt a bit of shock about my anger as I watch Ghirahim climb back up on his feet.

"My, my, my, who knew you had such a temper?"

I said nothing, but instead shifted my stance into one that was a little more aggressive while still remaining on defense.

Ok, Zelda is safe, and hopefully so is the Triforce. Calm down, blind rage never did anything good.

I tried to focus on my training rather than my rage as I remembered how quickly things turned against me the last time that I saw red on Vah Rudania.

Focus Link, Focus

Ok, I felt a little bit more focused as I drew my sword and shield as Ghirahim finished getting back on his feet, laughing like a madman. But my anger still burned a little bit, he had hurt Zelda, he had hurt my brother, and he was intent on hurting all of Hyrule. But I wouldn't let him, not while I still drew breath!

It ends here Ghirahim!

"I see you got me away from your allies. A foolish move, as now it's just you and me and I've already gotten what I wanted from the Princess." He showed me the back of his palm, showing me his glowing two Triforce pieces, "Give me the last piece and I'll spare your life."

Even if he would, what about Ganon?

In response, I simply showed him my Triforce piece with a scowl of defiance.

"Hmm… I don't know why I asked. So close to defeat and yet you still think you can win."

"Let's see how close to defeat I really am," I said.

With that, I readied my shield as I focused all my attention on him in a direct challenge.

"Hmm… insolent to the last moment. Very well, you wish to die? Allow me to help you!"

We once more crossed blades as I stayed on defense hoping to tire him out as I looked for openings, which he found me taking advantage of, finally, I knocked him back. I stood over him, as he tried to get back up onto his feet.

"It's over, you're beaten."

"Yes, over for you." He said, gesturing behind us where I saw a familiar combination of three golden triangles, hovering in the air above the ground.

But how!? I don't remember him…! No!

I couldn't let him win, but with the very thing we had been trying to avoid the whole time had somehow happened. I had to act fast, lest Hyrule be doomed forever.