AN: Ok, I rewrote "Unbridled Killia" in order to fit into my story, so it won't follow exactly how it was in the game. So, yeah, quite a few artistic liberties were taken here. Hope you enjoy reading, nevertheless.

Chapter 16:

Fortress de Gaulle…

Was nothing more smouldering ruins. Killia couldn't tell how it was once. How the residents once used to live. Buildings had been levelled to their foundations. Any and all recognisable structures purposely devastated to ensure that should there be survivors, there would be nothing left for them to return to. Nothing left for them to hold onto.

As the Rebel Army grew in strength, so did the Lost Army's malevolence.

The further they moved into the Netherworld, the more devastating the destruction became. Even the Lost Soldiers themselves were more brutal in their attacks.

They should have been here sooner.

No, they should have confronted Void Dark sooner.

No, Killia should have defeated Void sooner. He had two chances. Two.

But he didn't.

'All of this could have been avoided if you had just unleashed me,' his Other-Self taunted.

Killia curled his hand into a fist in an attempt to ignore his Other-Self's sneer. He refused to acknowledge him. He refused to go back to that way of life. He couldn't…

A hand grasped his shoulder, offering a comforting squeeze. "Killia, are you all right?" Samuel asked him gently.

"It's…nothing."

Samuel squeezed his shoulder again. "Killia."

Killia sighed. He knew he couldn't brush Samuel aside. "…Void has already taken too many lives. We…we should take the fight to him."

"If we do that than it's assured that he would take even more lives," Samuel returned. "We're leading by example. We're gaining ground, Killia."

Were they?

Christo did say that their numbers were beginning to match the numbers of the Lost Army. That they were beginning to inspire other Overlords and demons to fight against the Lost Soldiers, to protect their Netherworlds, to defend their prides as Demons.

But was it enough?

Were they inspiring them to simply throw their lives away? To virtually commit suicide by fighting back?

Killia didn't know anymore.

"Killia, I'm worried about you."

Worried about him.

Samuel was always worried about him.

"You're carrying heavy burdens," Samuel continued. "You don't have to carrying them all on your own."

That was the thing; he should be.

Yet, Samuel literally carried with him a bag on his back. A bag with food in hopes of suppressing his Other-Self. He offered to carry it as Killia's battle techniques required more agility, while Samuel's weapon required more upper body strength, and his elemental magic allowed him to move onto the backline should the need call for it.

It wasn't right.

Samuel was participating in the war for Killia's sake. He had no stakes in it. None. Yet, he was throwing himself into danger constantly for Killia's sake.

That wasn't…

At this rate, he could…

He needed to find a way to get Samuel off the battlefield. The further away Samuel was from him, from his Other-Self, the safer he would be. He needed to find an excuse to get Samuel back to the relative safety of the Pocket Netherworld.

But what? And how? Samuel would never voluntarily leave the battlefield. Leave his side. He was…

His right-hand man, after all.

"Killia," Christo called out to him. "I have been thinking."

"Hm?"

"About a possible way to reveal your true power," Christo revealed. "Zeroken had his master and uncertainty. Red Magnus had his Netherworld and misdirected anger. And Usalia had her parents and her guilt. What of you?"

Killia glanced over toward his teammates before averting his gaze back to the crumbling ruins of Fortress de Gaulle and sighed. "No. There's no secret, special ability. Besides, if there was, it would means opening up your heart. I don't have one. I only have revenge on my mind."

"That's not even close to the truth," Samuel stated. In fact, he almost sounded offended by the mere suggestion.

Killia almost smiled. But it was true. Samuel didn't know what he was like before.

Samuel sighed as he approached him. "Killia, you once told me that she gave you a heart. But in your next breath, claim you don't have one. Which is it?"

Killia's eyes widened, and he turned around to look directly at Samuel. He wanted to say something, to refute him in some way. But he couldn't think of what to say. He did tell Samuel that he credited Lieze for being the one to give him a heart. Yet, he…he couldn't have one.

It was impossible.

But did that mean…?

If he didn't have a heart, then Lieze's impact on his life didn't actually matter…?

No, she did matter. He had changed. For the better. He had been reborn. He wasn't Tyrant Overlord Killidia anymore. He wasn't that blood-thirsty…savage anymore.

So that meant…?

"You may not believe you have a heart, but I know for a fact that you do have one," Samuel continued, resolute in his words. "If you didn't have one, what or who are you seeking revenge for?"

He wanted revenge against Void for what he did to Lieze. For what he did to Goldion. For what he had done to demons and Netherworlds across the Netherverse. For everyone who had ever suffered before of Void and the Lost Army.

That…was the reason, wasn't it?

Samuel…

"'She'?" Seraphina suddenly question, her features marred in a deep frown. "Who is this 'she' that you speak of?"

…That was right. They didn't know about Lieze and his past, did they?

Christo fidgeted with his glasses. "Samuel, I take it you know of Killia's past?"

Samuel looked over his shoulder and nodded. "I do. But don't ask me. I won't tell you."

Loyal to a fault.

"No," Seraphina said firmly, sternly, clearly unwilling to let the subject drop. "I believe I have the right to know what is bothering Sir Killia."

"The middle of the battlefield is hardly the place for it," Samuel was quick to retort.

To be fair, they've had personal discussions out in the field before. So, Samuel's retort wasn't entirely accurate. He was being protective.

Seraphina would not be dissuaded. "That is easy for you to say. You already know. You do not have the right to act superior.

"Act superior?" Samuel baulked at the notion. "It's called being considerate. I know it's something that is foreign to you."

"Enough!" Killia needed to interfere before Seraphina unholstered her guns.

He also couldn't have his teammates fighting over him. They needed to concentrate. They had a Netherworld to save and a Lost Army to defeat. He would…have to consider Samuel's words later. When they returned to the Pocket Netherworld.

"Sorry for worrying everyone," Killia continued. "It's not something I wish to discuss right at this moment. As Samuel said, the battlefield isn't the best place. I'm all right. I just need a moment."

Samuel turned away from Seraphina and shrugged off the bag from his back, readily handing it to Killia.

Christo watched the two of them in curiosity. "A moment to…?"

Killia sat down on the ground and opened the bag, pulling out a few containers of already prepared food, earning himself an audible sigh from Christo.

"Eat. Of course."

They were close to the magical spear. They had already battled their way through several battalions of Lost Soldiers. The leader was just ahead. The Overlord was likely also close by. He needed to be on top of his game.

They had wasted enough time because of him.

"Well, since you are eating, you can also tell us who 'she' is," Seraphina cheerfully insisted.

Samuel shot her a glare. For as long as Killia had known him, he had never seen him look so agitated with someone. To not only look agitated, but to actively reveal how annoyed he was.

The two of them were getting under each other's skin.

The whole situation was troubling everyone, it seemed.

"Would you just relent already? Let's give him a moment to eat something before we proceed. We don't have much time."

"Are you saying that you can't do anything without relying on Killia's reputation and skills?"

"That is a lot coming from you. You didn't even know how to proceed on the battlefield without Killia's guidance."

"Then prove me wrong, Samuel."

And they went straight back to arguing. About him. Over him, really.

'How much longer are you going to let someone else do the fighting for you?' his Other-Self snarled.

Killia answered by shovelling more food into his mouth. He could feel his Other-Self stirring, smirking. Food wasn't enough. Not anymore.

He was also running out of time.

'Go ahead and cling onto that weak heart of yours,' his Other-Self continued to sneer. 'It's only a matter of time. But remember my warning. Lose him, and this Netherverse is done.'

Killia hastily swallowed the rest of his food, pushing aside the abstract fear he felt as his Other-Self's words echoed in his head. His gazed flickered toward Samuel and he tried to ease his worries by observing him silently. He had stopped arguing with Seraphina, likely having him pulled away from her by the others. He knelt on the ground, rustling through the bag to empty the rest of the contents as he spoke with Christo.

It had been a couple of days since his encounter with Void, so his bruises and injuries had naturally faded. Still, Killia's gaze lingered on his arms and throat. Where marks of Void's hands and fingers had once marred his skin.

He soon regretted that line of thought as a wave of intense guilt washed over him. And he remembered a certain question that his Other-Self had asked him last night;

How many times had he nearly gotten Samuel killed?

He didn't know. But once, he was sure of.

"Killia, I believe I have located this Netherworld's Overlord," Christo stated suddenly. "And he appears to be engaging with the Lost in battle."

Killia quickly finished his food and took to his feet. "Then let's hurry."

The others nodded their heads in agreement and without a word, they broke out into a run as they headed toward the broken, crumbling remains of the once grand palace.

If he remembered correctly, the Overlord of Fortress de Gaulle was known as Brave. He could only hope he lived up to his name. If he was still alive, then there was still a chance to save others.

Killia couldn't let anyone else suffer because of Void Dark.

Yet, as they reached steps of the palace, a band of Lost Soldiers appeared behind them suddenly.

An ambush. Since they were protecting the spear, they were likely to be elite soldiers.

"More Lost Soldiers," Christo murmured. "Looks like they're trying for the Pincer Formation."

Samuel glanced at the Lost Soldiers behind them, before he turned his gaze toward the palace, and then back again. He closed his eyes for a brief moment only to open them with an expression of determination on his face.

He walked over to Zeroken and looped an arm around his neck and shoulders as he balanced his axe upon his own shoulder. "Let's go, Wolf Pup. Let's take the initiative. Just you and me. With your Superluminal Wolf, we can take on this Lost Army battalion. And we may be able to find some survivors while we're at."

Wait, what…?

"What are you thinking, Samuel?" Christo was the one to ask.

"This Netherworld can't handle the magical spear for much longer," Samuel returned. "You guys need to reach the spear and help Overlord Brave save his Netherworld. We can't waste any more time. And this is what this is; wasting our time."

He…had a point.

And finding survivors. That was the safer option, wasn't it? Away from the spear. Away from the majority of the Lost Army. Away from the leader of the brigade.

Away from him.

It didn't feel right, however.

"What do you say, Zeroken?"

Zeroken looked up at Samuel before he nodded, filled with determination himself. "You got it, Samuel."

Samuel smiled and ruffled his hair. "Glad to hear it. I'll make you some pork curry when we get back. Let's go."

"…Wait."

Samuel turned around, his gaze colliding with Killia's. For a long, lingering moment their gazes simply locked with one another's before Samuel smiled, comfortingly, reassuringly. "Everyone, keep going forward. We'll be fine. We won't let this band of Lost Soldiers interfere. Find this Netherworld's Overlord. Destroy the magical spear. We'll meet up with you soon."

With that, he turned on his heel, and with axe in hand and Zeroken by his side, they headed straight toward the band of Lost Soldiers. Ready to engage them in battle. For the sake of the Netherworld. For their sake.

For Killia's sake.

"Let's go, Sir Killia," Seraphina insisted. "Samuel has done nothing but cause you trouble lately. About time he proves himself, don't you think?"

That wasn't true. Samuel had proven his worthy plenty of times. He was a talented and skilled fighter. In fact, he had nothing to prove.

Still…

No, he had to trust Samuel and Zeroken.

Steeling himself, Killia turned away and headed into the palace.

Inside was as damaged as the outside, with pillars and support columns broken and toppled. They ignored the debris and destruction, their intent focused on the throne room where the magical spear appeared to be.

And where a Horseman and a Twin Dragon bearing the Lost Army emblem stood over the unmoving form of a Bear.

Overlord Brave had been defeated. Was he…dead?

Damn it, had they been too late?!

"Sir Killia, behind you!"

What-?

Killia whirled around, only to be blinded by a flash of silver steel mixed with the colour of pink.

And red.

Killia stilled, his breath hitching in his throat when he heard the distinct sound of something, rather someone hitting the hard, stone ground at his feet.

A body. A delicate, fragile body.

A sound. One he had heard before.

With wide, unblinking eyes Killia stared down at the ground. Where Seraphina laid, unmoving. With an increasing pool of blood around her body.

Seraphina, she-?

Killia turned his gaze toward the Magic Knight responsible, who stood just a few feet away, smirking. Revelling in her accomplishments. A low growl erupted from Killia's throat and he sprung forward.

The Magic Knight had no time to respond as he delivered a savage Rising Domination to her chin.

Why? Why did others keep sacrificing themselves for him?!

With the threat taken care of, Killia spun back around and dropped to his knees by Seraphina's side. But he knew not to touch her, despite instinct telling him to, as he could cause her more damage. He couldn't afford that. He couldn't be reckless.

He wasn't a healer by any stretch of the imagination. He couldn't…he couldn't hold another in his arms. He couldn't bear to hear her last words again.

He couldn't!

"Christo, hurry up and heal her!" he barked.

"R-right away!"

Still crouched low to the ground, Killia turned around when he heard the footsteps of another approaching. He tensed when he caught the sight of something silver aimed toward him and the sound of metal hitting stone.

He soon realised that an axe had been impeded into the stone close to where he was.

An Armor Knight sauntered into view and casually tossed something else toward Killia. Something soft in material. He paid it no mind, however.

Killia's vision narrowed in on the weapon in front of him. "That…axe…"

He recognised that axe.

"Hm, from a warrior, if I am correct," the Armor Knight practically purred with sadistic delight. "From the Rebel Army. Something about doing this for someone called Killia's sake. You wouldn't happen to know him, would you? With a little werewolf companion. One wearing that black headband, you may recognise. Hm?"

"…Samuel…Zeroken…"

How did…that axe?

Samuel wouldn't have relinquished his grip on that axe. That was his main weapon. Unless…

Unless…

Samuel…

Killia couldn't breathe and his world suddenly turned black.

'Bastard! I warned you. I warned you. Now…I will destroy everything!'

…Go ahead. He didn't care anymore…

Destroy them all.

"Urrraaaaaaaggggggghhhhhh!"

Killia knew that he was screaming. Yelling with a primal rage, and yet he felt…detached. Separated. As though he was able to succumb to a long, deep sleep. Despite the dark, hateful malice surrounding him. Despite the nagging feeling of distress. Despite the feeling of utter emptiness.

His Other-Self had been unleashed.

And he didn't want to stop him.

"That brainless, worthless fool has royally messed up by losing him," his Other-Self hissed with pure hatred. "I'll never forgive him for that. Try to suppress me for this long was bad enough. Now, everyone will pay. But first; you. You will be the first to die."

He just wanted to go to sleep.

To sleep and forget.

… … … … …

Samuel always made sure that he had a tight grip on his axe. But, for some inexplicable reason, his current enemies seem hell-bent on stealing it away from him.

Well, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise. A warrior was only as good as his weapon, after all. And Samuel just lost his.

He grabbed a Lost Soldier by the face and used Mega Fire.

No axe? No matter, he didn't need it!

He spun on his heel, preparing to use another elemental spell when his gaze fell onto another discarded weapon. A bow…?

He…could use it!

Darting forward, he skidded across the stones to scoop the bow and sachet of arrows off the ground. He hitched the sachet onto his shoulder, quickly slipping one into the nook and pulling back the string.

He planted his foot atop of a nearby sludge and fired off an arrow, taking out a Gunner, stopping them from sniping them from a distance. "Hang in there, Zeroken! We need to keep fighting for Killia's sake!"

"You got it!"

Their enemies attempting to use the palace walls to their advantage gave Samuel an idea, however; he could make his own barrier with his Mega Ice and then shower arrows down upon the enemies on the other side.

"Zeroken, backline; I have an idea!"

"Got it!"

As Zeroken darted back to join him, Samuel slung his bow over his shoulders and clapped his hands in front of him before throwing his hands out in front of him, palms out. Several pillars of ice shot up out of the ground, creating an icy barrier that momentarily separated them from their enemies.

They also never expected a warrior to know such skills.

Though, it brought on a bit of a headache.

"Wha-?"

Samuel turned around to face Zeroken. "I'll give you a boost to rain hell fire from above."

Zeroken dutifully nodded his head and didn't hesitate for even a second as he allowed Samuel to launch him into the air. He released a wolfish howl as he released a Hellfire Shot. The flames from the attack may weaken the ice wall, so Samuel needed to move quickly for his own attack.

Stepping to the side, Samuel unholstered his bow and hitched in several arrows in preparations for a Zielregen. The added wind element was sure to surprise their enemies. In fact, he dared say that the wind would cause Zeroken's fire element to flare up, causing more damage.

It also caused damage to the ice wall.

As soon as Zeroken landed from delivering his attacks, Samuel instinctively grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him away from the shattering ice.

At a safer distance, he let him go and they promptly fell back into their attack stances. And waited. Yet, no one appeared. And after a quick glance around the battlefield, Samuel couldn't see anyone else. Nothing.

They appeared to have gotten through the battle. And won.

Samuel took a moment to catch his breath. Whew, that was a lot harder than he had anticipated. Though, that was his fault. He should have expected that the Lost would send their most elite soldiers to protect the magical spear.

"How you doing, Wolf Pup?"

"I'm fine," Zeroken immediately replied, breathless as well. "Is that…all of them?"

"I can't see any more."

Zeroken sighed with obvious relief, his upper body drooping forward with fatigue. "Man, that was tough." He soon righted himself as he smiled, revelling in their success. "We did it, though! With just the two of us!"

They did. That should ease some of Killia's burdens.

Zeroken turned to face him and suddenly pouted, planting his hands on his hips. "You can use a bow, too? How many more skills do you have? If this keeps up, you're going to make me look lazy."

Samuel gave a tired laugh. "Sorry, Wolf Pup. I think that's it. I don't have anything else hidden up my sleeves."

Why did he have so many differing skills?

It was because…the seedlings. When they…when they found a host. And after six minutes. After they…devour a host, they gain their host's skills. When they turned into…into, damn what was it, a…Snap Draingon.

A Snap Draingon was more dangerous than a Seedling.

That was why he needed a range of skills.

If his memories were correct.

"Samuel?"

Samuel shook his head. "Sorry, lost in thought." Rather, lost in memories.

"Hey, Samuel?"

"Hm?"

"Bro is acting strange."

Samuel sighed and nodded. "It's likely war fatigue."

Zeroken wrinkled his nose in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"He's tired," Samuel said as he looked at Zeroken sadly. "Exhausted of being several steps behind Void all the times. Void is depleting the Netherverse of power and energy, while we're running around desperately trying to destroy magical spears. It's times like this that feels like we're fighting a losing battle."

Zeroken lowered downcast eyes to the ground by his feet. "Yeah…You're really knowledgeable on this sort of thing, huh?"

He supposed his was. "Endless fighting tends to drain the spirit."

"Have you done a lot of fighting?"

Samuel's eyes flickered to the space over Zeroken's head as fleeting images of darken, rocky corridors and scurrying noises flickered through his mind. "…I believe so."

Zeroken looked at him curiously before he winced. "Oh right, sorry."

"It's fine," Samuel replied automatically as he plastered a placid smile to his lips. "I forget sometimes, too." He slapped his shoulder and urged him toward the palace. "Come on, we need to meet up with the others."

"Sure." Zeroken walked beside him as he looked up at him with a curious tilt of his head once more. "You and Sis do not get along, huh?"

Samuel bit the inside of his mouth in an attempt to starve off the need to scowl. "No. We have two completely different personalities."

To put it lightly. She despised him, and the feeling was quickly becoming mutual.

Though, it could also be put down to stress. Everything was stressful. Everything was getting to everyone.

But maybe not the resentment between the two of them…

Zeroken scratched his head. His eyes suddenly widened as he clutched his forehead, and he looked around him frantically. "Man, I lost my headband!"

Samuel frowned. He honestly hadn't noticed. "My axe was also stolen."

"I can understand why your axe was stolen, but why my headband?"

"You might have just lost it in the scuffle," Samuel tried to reassure.

But Zeroken wasn't having it. "No, it was definitely stolen."

Samuel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Of course, it was, kiddo.

A powerful wave of unadulterated malice suddenly slammed into Samuel and Zeroken, almost knocking the two of them to their knees. Samuel gasped loudly as he clutched at his chest while Zeroken yelped and darted to bravely hide behind him.

"Wh-what was that?" Zeroken stuttered as he peered out from behind him.

A feeling of unease appeared in the pit of Samuel's stomach.

It was Killia. He didn't know how he knew, but it was Killia.

"…We have to hurry."