The Phantom Of Berseria

by Terraspace81

When a traitor to the Legendary Pokemon is revived by the actions of one man. Arceus prepares to send Pokemon to the man world to stop him. But Giratina has a different idea. Giratina takes a man from Hisui and turns him into the first person with Legendary power. With this power, this man will bring calamity to this world, along with the help of a certain woman.

9. Chapter 9

Hello everyone, sorry for the wait, work and My Korra chapters took a long time to make, plus getting ready for the Scarlet and Violet DLC was also taking some of my time. Now let's get to chapter 9.

Chapter 9

Valley Of Mad Warriors

After walking around for a bit, they found themselves in a valley with many wooden bridges and cave systems all over the place. While talking around, they ran into a man wearing leather armor. To keep things from getting out of control, they returned all their Pokemon to their Pokeball, and Zane was in his human form.

"You there! Got a moment?" Velvet asked the man, getting the man's attention. But the sight of Rokurou, and Eizen made the man flinch. "Ghaaaahh! Are you guys with the Swordbreaker?!" The man asked everyone. "The what?" Velvet asked the man. "G-Get away from me!" The man said to everyone, pulling out a big sword.

Like this, Rokurou pulled out his daggers, and lunged at the man. The man tried to block Rokurou's attack, but Rokurou cut the blade in two. "What?! My sword…!" The man said, looking at his sword.

The man then noticed Rokurou ready to finish him, and dropped to his knees. "Please, mighty daemon. I beg you. I'll do anything! Just spare me!" the man said to Rokurou, begging for his life. This ruined the mood for Rokurou, and he put his blades away.

"I only wanted to ask you something." Velvet said to the man, crossing her arm and tapping in her fingers. "You don't have to worry. This woman here is an exorcist." Laphicet said to the man. "Huh?! R-Right, I'm Eleanor, a praetor exorcist. Please, remain calm and hear our questions." Eleanor said to the man.

"You do look like an exorcist, but… what are you doing with ruffians like these?" The man asked Eleanor. "That would be me. I was on a business trip, and I needed some guards, and a couple exorcists wouldn't hurt. But we lost our map the other day, and we don't know where we are. So care to tell us where we are and the nearest ports?" Zane asked the man.

"What business would you have here? Whatever. You're on Cadnix island in Islegand. The port is at the other end of the ravine." The man said to Zane, pointing to the valley ahead of them.

"I'll send a sylphjay to the Van Eltia." Eizen said to everyone. "Thanks." Velvet said to Eizen. "One more question. Who's this "Swordbreaker"?" Rokurou asked the man. "Ah, he's a daemon. Causes lots of trouble around these parts. He only attacks swordfighters, and he breaks their blades. He's even taken down a number of praetors." The man said to Rokurou.

"Hence the name Swordbreaker." Rokurou said, touching his chin. "He wields a fine sword clearly forged in a foreign land, I tried to find his lair to steal the weapons for myself… but that's when I was attacked." The man said to Rokurou. "A foreign sword…" Rokurou said.

"I'd be careful if I were you. If he spots that sword on your back, you'll be in a world of trouble." The man said to Rokurou. "Sounds like a real nasty fellow." Rokurou said to everyone. "Well, he tires to pull anything on THESE daemons, he's in for one munchie-crunchie or extremely painful surprise." Magilou said to the man, looking at Zane and Velvet.

"You folk are all crazy…" The man said to everyone. "Either way. I'd say this is a blessing in disguise for you. You're lucky to still be alive. Take this chance to abandon your life of crime." Eleanor said to the man. "Let's move on, and find that port." Zane said to everyone, as they started to move.

While walking Lahpicet read the book he stole from the church. "Can you read any of this old writing?" Eleanor asked Laphicet. "No. I've studied many languages, but I've never seen script like this before. Can you read it, Eleanor?" Laphicet asked Eleanor.

"I've never come across this language, either. Where did you find a rare tome like this?" Eleanor asked Laphicet. "Um… W-Well…" Laphicet said to Eleanor, not wanting to tell her he stole it. "It was a lucky find at the capital. What can I say? The kid loves to read." Velvet said to Laphicet.

"I was surprised to see how many malakhim like to read. Bienfu does a lot of reading, too." Eleanor said to Laphicet. "I didn't know that." Laphicet said to Eleanor. "It's true. I'm not sure what he's been reading, though." Eleanor said to Laphicet.

"Did someone call for me?" Bienfu asked everyone, as he appeared. "No we didn't." Zane said to Bienfu. "Bienfu, do you like to read, too?" Lappicet asked Beinfu, feeling great. "Oh, yes! Books are a treasure trove of knowledge! But I'm a great malakhim, so the literature I enjoy might be a bit above your level, Laphicet." Bienfu said to Laphciet, showing a couple books he had on him.

"How to talk a Human Female into Becoming Your Vessel and Physically escalating with cuties." Laphicet said reading the books Bienfu gave him, surprising Eleanor and Velvet. This made Zane grab Beinfu by the throat. "If it wasn't for the fact that Magilou needs you, I would kill you!" Zane said to Bienfu, as he turned into his Giratina form, and the spikes on his wing pointed at Beinfu. "Bein?!" Beinfu screamed.

But Laphicet was still confused by books. "Physically escalating. What does that mean?" Laphicet asked everyone. "You really don't need to know." Eleanor and Velvet to Laphciet at the same time. "A-All right." Laphicet said, getting startled.

"Yeah, I'm confiscating all of these." Velvet said to Laphicet, taking the books. "And I have a better idea for these books." Zane said, as he tossed Beinfu away, and took the books form Velvet, and then tossed them into the air, before shooting them with an ant-mater arrow, hitting the books and completely destroying the books.

"And I have some questions, Bienfu, you'd better be ready for a thorough interrogation." Eleanor said to Bienfu, with Eleanor and Velvet giving him mean looks. "Bieeeeeen!" Beinfu said, fearing for his life and going back into Magilou. Then everyone got back to walking.

While walking along, a large rock suddenly burst into tiny pieces and dust, surprising everyone. "What just happened!" Eleanor asked, as everyone pulled out their weapons. "Magilou, is this another one of your pranks?" Zane asked Magilou. "Just because I'm a witch doesn't mean everything is my fault." Magilou said to Zane.

That's when the the dust cleared and everyone could see a small light blue creature with a large round body, a small neck, stubby arms, stubby legs with two toes, a yellow under jaw and belly, yellow circles on the side of it's head, white fangs on the side of it;s mouth, white eyes, and a dark gray bone helmet-like thing on top of his head, with part of like a back horn on its back.

"Man, I barely stayed in the air for a minute." the creatures said, with a deep male voice, as he rolled his head. "Oh, it's just a Bagon. That explains it." Zane said to everyone. "You know this Pokemon?" Eleanor asked Zane.

"I've heard of Bagon's, The Rock Head Pokemon. A Dragon Type. And how I heard of them, is there's stories of them jumping off cliffs and sometimes they crash right next to or on people. But no one knows why." Zane said to Eleanor.

"I'll ask." Laphicet said to everyone, before walking up to Bagon. "Hello, why did you fall out of the sky?" Laphicet asked Bagon. "How else am I going to learn how to fly?" Bagon said to Laphicet. "Fly? But you don't have wings?" Laphicet said to Bagon.

"I will one day. Until then I must keep jumping off cliffs." Bagon said to Laphicet. "But that's dangerous. What if you get hurt?" Laphicet asked Bagon. "Then I'll get hurt. What's a little pain in achieving not only my dream, but the dream of all Bagons." Bagon said to Laphicet.

"Your dream?" Laphicet asked Bagon, with a quiet voice. "We Bagons see our parents flying the sky above us, we see their might, how they rule their sky. Us Bagons want to be just like them. So we practice, and grow. And in time we'll gain wings and rule the sky like our parents did before us." Bagon said to Laphicet.

"I see, but there has to be a better way than jumping off a cliff?" Laphicet asked Bagon. "Well there isn't for my kind. So if you excuse me, I must get back to jumping." Bagon said to Laphicet, before walking to a nearby edge.

"Wait. It's not safe to do that." Laphicet said to Bagon. "I don't care. And it's not like you can stop me." Bagon said to Laphicet, as he got ready to jump. But before Bagon could jump, Laphicet panicked and threw his last Pokeball at Bagon, hitting Bagon in the back. The Pokeball then opened and sucked Bagon into it. The Pokeball then shook for a bit before letting out steam, meaning Bagon was caught.

"That'll stop him." Zane said to everyone, before Laphicet walked up and picked up the Pokeball and opened it, letting Bagon out. "What did you do?" Bagon asked Laphicet. "I couldn't let you jump, I didn't want to see you get hurt like that." Laphicet said to Bagon. "Well now I'm going to hurt you and get back to my practicing." Bagon said to Laphicet.

But before Bagon could act, Velvet summoned her daemon claw and grabbed Bagon's head. "Listen you little dragon, if you hurt him in any way. Then I'll make sure you fly off a cliff, after I break that rock on your head." Velvet said, as she started to squeeze Bagon's head, hurting Bagon a little.

"Okay, okay, okay. I get it. No hurting the kid." Bagon said to Velvet, before velvet dropped him. "Don't worry Ryu. I'll help you achieve your dream of flying." Laphicet said to Bagon. "I'm sorry? What did you call me?" Bagon asked Laphicet. "Ryu. It's your name. We like giving our Pokemon names." Laphicet said to Bagon. "This is the worst day of my life." Bagon, now Ryu, said, before everyone started to move.

A few minutes later, Rokurou was practicing sword swings with a random stick they found. At the same time, he was seeing how tough Ryu's head really was, by hitting his head with every swing, and both of them were like this. "You look like you and Ryu are having fun." Laphicet said to them.

"Well, I'm a yaksha." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "And I'm hoping this fool will knock me out and you'll leave me behind." Ryu said to Laphicet. "I won't leave you Ryu." Laphicet said to Ryu, with a big smile on his face, making Ryu sigh in despair.

"But Rokurou, if you're a yaksha… Then your a spirit of war right?" Laphicet asked Rokurou. "Yeah. A daemon that lives for combat." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "But this Swordbreaker has cut down exorcists with its foreign blade. Aren't you scared?" Laphicet asked Rokurou.

"Of dying, you mean?" Rokurou asked Laphciet. "Yeah." Laphicet said to Rokurou. "I'm not afraid of dying: it's more that I'm afraid of not being alive." Rokurou said to Laphicet, confusing Laphicet. "He doesn't understand what you are talking about." Ryu said to Rokurou.

"Fighting is my life. It's all I wanted to do. So I fight. That's what living means to me." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "Yeah for me, if I can't learn to fly by jumping off cliffs, then what's the point of doing anything? Everyone should live the life they want to live, even if it is crazy." Ryu said to Laphicet. Laphicet then thought about it.

Living only to kill. And only wanting to jump off a cliff. A daemon is always going to be a daemon. And a crazy beast will always be a crazy beast." Eleanor said to Rokurou and Ryu, making Rokurou smile. "Well, if you're gonna be blunt. Hahaha!" Rokurou said to Eleanor, before they got back to walking.

After a bit of walking, they suddenly stop. "What's wrong?" Laphicet asked everyone. "I think we found the Swordbreaker." Zane said to everyone, making Laphicet look around Velvet and noticed a big man wearing black and orange samurai armor, a monstrous armor helmet over his head, under the armor was black and red energy, and long black katana with the edge of the blade covered in dried blood.

"That sword… Is that Stormquell?" Rokurou asked the monster. "A daemon wielding a foreign-made sword… You must be the Swordbreaker." Velvet said to the Swordbreaker, as everyone got ready to fight.

"Be warned, we're not as easy as some of your past opponents." Zane said to the Swordbreaker, as he let out Aguya, Velvet let out Liz, Magilou let out Cheche, Eizen let out Duncan, Rokurou let out Saber, Eleanor let out Joy, and Laphicet kept Ryu out.

"Aguya use Flame Wheel." Zane said to Aguya, as he fired arrows at the Swordbreaker, at the same time Magilou fired bolts of water at the Swordbreaker. "Right." Aguya said, as she rolled herself into a wheel of fire. Aguya then rolled at the Swordbreaker, with the arrows and water bolts ahead of her.

But the Swordbreaker dodged the arrows and took the water bolts like it was nothing. Then he tried to slam his blade into Aguya. But Aguya dodged the attack at the last second by turning. This caused her to miss her attack, and roll back towards Zane.

"Liz use Dragon Rage." Velvet said to Liz. "Right." Liz said to Velvet, as she let out a steam of blue flames in the shape of a dragon head. The flames bit down on the Swordbreaker, causing a big explosion. But when the dust cleared, the Swordbreaker was unharmed.

"Man, he is sturdy." Magilou said to everyone. "We need something with some real kick or a distraction." Cheche said to everyone. "Ryu, what can you use?" Laphicet asked Ryu. "I can use Headbutt, Iron Defense, Dragon Breath, Crunch." Ryu said to Laphicet. "Then use Dragon Breath." Laphicet said to Ryu, as he cast a fireball spell. "Duncan use Dragon Breath as well." Eizen said to Duncan.

"If you say so." Ryu and Duncan said, as they let out a steam of teal energy, at the same time Laphicet fired the fireball. The teal energy and fireball hit the ground causing a massive explosion, distracting the Swordbreaker. "Now, Cheche use Mega Drain." Magilou said to Cheche. "Okay." Cheche said, as they moved close to the Swordbreaker, and sucked green balls of energy out of the Swordbreaker.

This made the Swordbreaker feel weak, and lowered his sword. "Saber use Slash." Rokurou said to Saber, as he, Velvet, and Eizen charged at the Swordbreaker. "Right." Saber said, as his blade glowed white.

The Swordbreaker noticed Saber coming down at him, and raised his sword to block the attack from Saber. But that's when Rokurou and Velvet rushed past him, and slashed his chest, before Eizen delivered a major punch to the Swordbreaker's chest.

But his armor was too tuff, and he had no trouble taking the hits. He then forced Saber back, and swung his sword around, forcing everyone else back.

"What's it going to take to break his armor?" Magilou asked everyone, as Zane looked at Ryu. "Ryu, didn't you say you know Iron Defense right?" Zane asked Ryu. "Yes. Why?" Ryu asked Zane. "Because I want you to use it!" Zane said to Ryu, as he grabbed the back of Ryu and threw him head first at the Swordbreaker.

"I hate you! Iron Defense!" Ryu said, as the bone on his head turned into steel. The Swordbreaker tried to block Ryu with his blade, but with Ryu's head, he knocked the sword away from the Swordbreaker's body, but he also bounced off the sword when he hit it, and ended up crashing into the canyon wall. "I hate you so much." Ryu said, before he fell from the wall, back onto the ground, and moved back to Laphicet's side.

Before the Swordbreaker could move his sword back to his body, Zane moved through shadows and got up close and personal with the Swordbreaker. Zane used his blade to force the Swordbreaker to move in a circle before tossing him into the canyon wall.

Then they heard clapping. Everyone turned their heads to see a small human-like creature, with a black body, flame armor chest, red stomp feet and hands, a large black helmet for a head, flaming red eyes, and a flame like ponytail with a blue flame in the ponytail flame.

"Very impressive. Such ruthlessness. Using your alley as a distraction to get a major hit in. That's the kind of fighting style I want. My name is Charcadet, the Fire Child Pokemon. A Fire Type. And I would like it, if I could join you." The creature said to Zane, with a male voice, before getting on one knee.

Zane then noticed the Swordbreaker turned to them. "Let's see what you got first." Zane said to Charcadet. "Trial by fire it is." Charcadet said, as he and Zane got ready for the Swordbreaker.

"Flame Charge!" Charcadet said, as he encased himself in fire, and charged at the Swordbreaker. The Swordbreaker tried to slash down onto Charcadet, but Charcadet dodged the sword at the last second, and moved behind the Swordbreaker, ramming into the back of the Swordbreaker's right knee. This made him fall back.

Zane then moved through shadows and appeared in the air above the Swordbreaker, and kicked the Swordbreaker into the ground. Then Zane started to slash the Swordbreaker's chest.

After a few swipes, the Swordbreaker forced Zane off him, and when he got up, he tried swiping off Charcadet's head. But Charcadet jumped back, dodging the attack. "Will-O-Wisp." Charcadet said, as he fired four small purple flames at the Swordbreaker, hitting the Swordbreaker in the hand holding the blade, burning him a little. This made the Swordbreaker flinching in pain.

"Clear Smog." Charcadet said, as he fired a burst of white smoke, and it hit the Swordbreaker in the eyes, and caused the Swordbreaker to rub his eyes. "Now, Take Down!" Charcadet said, before glowing white, and jumping into the Swordbreaker's head, forcing the Swordbreaker to fall backwards and onto the ground. That's when Zane fired an arrow into the Swordbreaker's sword hand, pinning him to the ground.

"Not bad Charcadet. I'll gladly take you with us." Zane said to Charcadet, as they moved back to the others. "Thank you master. I will live up to the praise you have given me." Charcadet said to Zane, before kneeling again. "Master. I could get used to that." Zane said, thinking out loud. "Of course you would." Eleanor said to Zane, as Charcadet stood up.

But then the Swordbreaker ripped out the arrow in his arm, and got up, and was still able to fight. "He's still moving!" Velvet said to everyone. "I can't tell if he's determined or stubborn." Aguya said to everyone. "I'll take this time." Rokurou said to everyone. "Come and get me." Rokurou said to the Swordbreaker.

The Swordbreaker lunged at Rokurou, at the same time Rokurou lunged at the Swordbreaker. The two clashed in the middle, and the Swordbreaker won, knocking Rokurou back.

But Rokurou got up, and his right eye started to glow red. "Good, a challenge." Rokurou said, as the Swordbreaker charged at him. "Look out! Ryu use Dragon Breath!" Laphciet said to Rokurou and Ryu, as he fired a burst of light and dark energy at the Swordbreaker. "If you say so." Ryu said, as he fired a small steam of teal energy from his mouth.

The energies went past Rokurou and hit the Swordbreaker, sending the sword breaker flying. "Don't interfere, brat!" Rokurou said to Laphicet, as he tried to attack Laphicet. But was stopped by Eleanor and Velvet getting in between them and pointing their weapons at Rokurou.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Eleanor asked Rokurou. "Touch him and I'll kill you." Velvet said to Rokurou. Before anyone could do anything, Zane appeared behind Rokurou, and punched the back of Rokurou's head, snapping him out of his blood lust.

"Sorry. I just got a little riled up." Rokurou said to everyone. "It's fine, your battle was ruined by Laphicet. And in that state it's not surprising you got mad with him." Charcadet said to Rokurou, as everyone lowered their weapons.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Swordbreaker is gone." Saber said to everyone, noticing the Swordbreaker was gone. "Do you know that daemon?" Eizen asked Rokurou. "No, but I know his sword. A blade called Stromquell." Rokurou said to everyone, not looking at everyone.

"Stormquell?" Magilou asked Rokurou. "Whatever, it doesn't have anything to do with us. Let's just get to the port already." Velvet said to everyone. "Right. So Alfonso. Ready to join us." Zane said to Charcadet.

"What did you call me master?" Charcadet asked Zane. "If you want to be our Pokemon, you need a name. And I'm going to call you Alfonso, it means ready; prepared." Zane said to Charcadet. "Very well. From now on, I'm Alfonso." Charcadet, now Alfonso, said to everyone.

"Very good." Zane said, before throwing his last Pokeball at Alfonso, and catching him. "Aguya, return. Alfonso come on out." Zane said, as he returned Aguya to her Pokeball, and let out Alfonso.

While walking, Rokurou walked up to Laphicet. "Laphicet, I'm sorry about what happened back there." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "I… thought he was going to kill you…" Laphicet said to Rokurou.

"Yeah. I know. You were just doing what you thought was right." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "Yeah, maybe so." Laphciet said to Rokurou. "That's good, then. I didn't give you a clear enough warning to stay out of it. If it ever happens again I'll give you a proper warning." Rokurou said to Laphicet.

"You really don't want me or Ryu to help you? Even if your life is at risk?" Laphicet asked Rokurou. "Yup." Rokurou said to Laphciet. "Why?" Laphicet asked Rokurou, getting confused. "Actually, I'm not too sure myself." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "Huh?" Laphicet said, still confused, but a little surprised by his words.

"There's somebody out there I need to defeat by my own hand. I want to strike him down. I want to triumph against him. But to do that, I need to be a better swordsman." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "Like how I will keep falling until I can fly. Until that day comes I'll keep doing it." Ryu said to Rokurou.

"Something like that." Rokurou said to Ryu. "Someone you have to defeat?" Laphicet asked Rokurou. "In a swordfight, yeah. And I'll do anything to ensure I come out on trop in the end. No matter how much it costs me, life, limb… Hell, even my heart and soul, I'll pay it. Those feelings have been so central to me for so long… I lost my dang humanity somewhere along the way." Rokurou said to Laphicet.

"Why do you need to win that badly?" Laphicet asked Rokurou. "Hehe… To be honest? Beats me. Maybe it has to do with me being a daemon. Or maybe that's why I became one. Either way, it's more important to me than life itself." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "More important… than life…" Laphicet said to Rokurou.

"But still, I owe you for saving me back there. There's no victory pose in store for me if I'm dead! Rokurou said to Laphicet, lowering himself down to look Laphicet in the eyes. "Uh… OK." Laphicet said to Rokurou, not knowing what to say, before walking away, with Ryu following Laphicet.

That's when Eleanor walked up to Laphicet. "Is that how you thank someone for saving your life!?" Eleanor asked Rokurou. "Huh? I'm just being honest with the little guy. And, no offense an' all, but why do you care?" Rokurou asked Eleanor. "You don't even think it's disrespectful?! You truly are a daemon." Eleanor said to Rokurou. "Yup. Big ol' daemon." Rokurou said to Eleanor.

"Besides, I think you're just used to people growling at your feet after you save them. And you find it odd, Rokurou isn't doing that to Laphciet. Plus you're the only one round here that cares about thank yous. So get over it, and do what you're here for, being Laphicet host." Saber said to Eleanor. Eleanor sighed, and everyone got back to walking.

"Hmm… Now why does that name sound so familiar?" Magilou asked herself, as she thought out loud, while everyone was walking. "Hey, Eleanor? Thanks for stepping in earlier." Laphicet said to Eleanor. "Think nothing of it. My orders are to protect you, so I did." Eleanor said to Laphicet. "Oh… I see." Laphicet said, feeling down.

Realizing she hurt Laphicet's feelings, she tried to make Laphicet feel better. "Of course, order or no orders, I'd save anyone under threat from a daemon." Eleanor said to Laphicet, as Velvet walked up to them. "Well, how noble!" Velvet said to Eleanor.

"OH! I GOT IT!" Magilou yelled, making everyone stop and getting everyone's attention. "Got what?" Velvet asked Magilou. "A way to break our eardrums?" Liz asked Magilou, as she rubbed her head. "No my little Liz. The tragic tale of the sword Stormquell. Gather 'round and listen. O grimy travelers!" Magilou said to Liz before everyone.

"Once, centuries past, there was a sword renowned the world over for its peerlessly sharp edge, its forger shrouded in mystery. So mighty was each swing of the sword, it produced howling winds that could leave mountains! No other sword could match its power. The people, in their superstition, began to call it the God Blade." Magilou said to everyone.

"Cute story, but what does it have to do with that blade's name?" Ryu asked Magilou. "This God Blade… Is it Stromquell?" Eleanor asked Magilou. "Shush! The tale is merely beginning." Magilou said to Eleanor and Ryu.

"Now, there was one man who was truly enamored with the God Blade. His name was Kurogane, a blacksmith of wondrous talent. His heart was set on forging an even greater sword. And he had a name in mind for this sword: Stromquell, the sword to conquer the God Balde's roaring winds." Magilou said to everyone. "And did he make it?" Lahpicet asked Magilou.

"Kurogane forged scores of challengers to the God blade… but each would-be Stormquell was shattered by the implacable howling wind. Some say the wielder of the God Blade chopped off his head. Others say he took his own life. The truth is lost to the dusty cobwebs of history… But perhaps he, and his grudge towards the God Blade, somehow yet live." Magilou said to everyone.

"A grudge that spans centuries." Velvet said, thinking out loud. "It's possible, after all, Eshu kind is from a group of his kind that were driven out of their lands and died in the frozen wastelands. Now the only thing keeping them in the land of the living is these grudges towards people and Pokemon that put them there." Zane said to everyone.

"You hear tall tales like this all the time. That sword and its inscription we saw were probably just inspired by the legend." Eleanor said to everyone. "Perhaps. But if that's the real Stormquell, we should all sleep with one eye open tonight." Magilou said to everyone.

"What makes you say that?" Laphicet asked Magilou. "Because that "God Balde" Kurogane wanted so desperately to top has been passed down through my family for generations. Its name… is Stormhowl." Rokurou said to Laphciet, surprising everyone. "In other words, we could well bump into your armored friend again. Let's hurry." Eizen said to everyone, as they started to move again.

Soon they entered a cave system and started to walk around. While walking Velvet pulled Laphicet to the side. "Listen, Laphciet." Velvet said to Laphicet. "What is it?" Laphicet asked Velvet.

"You can't trust her just because she said she'd protect you, "Orders or no order". Remember, malakhim are just tools to exorcists." Velvet said to Laphicet. "But… she really did protect me." Laphicet said to Velvet. "Because without you she's powerless. So saving you was more an act of selfishness instead of kindness." Liz said to Laphicet.

"I know you feel you owe her for that, but do you have to look so happy about it?" Velvet asked Laphicet. "Sorry." Laphicet said to Velvet. "Leave him alone." Ryu said to Velvet. "I'm not trying to be mean or ask for an apology… I just want her to know that we've all got an eye on her. No matter how close you two get. I want her to understand that I come first." Velvet said to Laphice and Ryu.

"So… what do you want me to do?" Laphciet asked Velvet. "Let's see… To put it simply. I'm number one, and Eleanor is number two. Got it?" Velvet said to Laphciet. "I get it. You're number one, and Eleanor is number two." Laphicet said to Laphicet.

"Right. I'm number one… Wiat. This is kind of stupid, isn't it?" Velvet asked everyone. "Very. It sounds more like you're jealous of Laphicet's affection towards Eleanor than you." Ryu said to Velvet, earning a kick from Velvet, sending him flying into the cave wall.

"It's alright. I understand." Laphicet said to Velvet, making Velvet sigh and put a hand on her head. "That's not what I mean…" Velvet said to Laphicet, before they got back to walking.

After a bit more walking, they heard sword clashing and noticed the Swordbreaker was on the ground, with a creature next to him and his sword broken, a man standing above the Swordbreaker, a creature with the man, and a cat with the man as well.

The creature next to the Swordbreaker, was pile purple human-like creature, with a dark purple face and chest, yellow ovals on its forehead and chest, red eyes, two white toe claws, two purple claws for fingers, three light purple tail fathers, and a long light purple feather for a left ear.

The man was a tall muscular man with golden eyes and long black hair. He dons a unique shirt that simply covers his shoulders and the top portion of his back, leaving his torse mostly exposed, the shirt being connected in the front by a black and orange material that yields an ornamental fang. He also had a full armor gauntlet on his right arm, with which he wields a large sword, and a partial arm gauntlet on his left. His pants mirror the same color motif as his top, being mostly beige and trailing into a combat-oriented pair of black and orange.

The creature next to him was a large blue-purple frog-like creature, standing on two legs, long feet with three toes with the middle toe red, thick thighs, long arms with two fingers and a thumb at the end of it, a long red claw on the back of it's hand, a red throat sack, yellow eyes, and a horn on top of it's head.

And the cat with them, was a large round white cat, with a yellow fur around its neck like it was a scarf, black eyes, and black marks on its face.

Rokurou ran up to the man, and got ready for a fight. "N-No…" The Swordbreaker said, looking at his broken blade. "Well, if you aren't the craziest daemon! Your body's harder than your own sword!" The man said to the Swordbreaker. "The same can be said to you little one. Thinking you could be me with those pathetic claws of yours." The frog creature said to the pale purple creature, with a male voice.

"Who's this?" Velvet asked everyone, as they got ready to fight. "I don't know the man or cat. But I know the pale purple creature is a Sneasel from Hisui, the Sharp Claw Pokemon. A Poison and Fighting Type. And the frog is a Toxicroak, The Toxic Mouth Pokemon. A Poison and Fighting Type. But Toxicroak is a dual type, how can someone from the Abbey control a Pokemon like that." Zane said to everyone.

"That's Lord Shigure- One of the only two legate exorcists in the entire Abbey!" Eleanor said to everyone. "A legate… same as Melchior." Eizen said, as Shigure turned to everyone. "Shigure? Isn't that the guy Rokurou after?" Zane asked everyone.

"Eleanor! Fancy meetin' you here! What the hell happened to you? You get captured by a daemon? Or are you a turncoat?" Shigure asked Eleanor, seething his sword and putting it on his right shoulder. "Uh- I… I'm…" Eleanor said to Shigure, not knowing what to say.

"Eh, don't matter. I do my own thing. I got no standin' to tell you how to live." Shigure said to Eleanor. "Still, today's my lucky day! Never thought I'd encounter the one and only Stromquell!" Shigure said to everyone, looking at the broken blade. "But it's just as bad as this little one." Toxicroak said to everyone, looking at Sneasel.

That's when Liz noticed Toxicroak wasn't sealed like the others. "Wait? You free? Then why are you working with the Abbey?" Liz asked Toxicroak. "The name is Jisnu. And you think I care about the Abbey. I don't. I'm only here because Shigure is a great warrior, and I learned much from him. If you don't believe me ask this Sneasel. He thinks he could beat me." Toxicroak said to Liz, looking at Sneasel with a mock look on his face, and getting a mean look from the Sneasel.

"Shigure, I don't think Jisnu is the only one getting a mean look. There's someone over there that wants your attention. He looks lonely." The cat said to Shigure, with a wise female voice, making Shigure laugh.

"You're right, I'm bein' a jerk. Just can't pass up the chance to tease my little brother." Shigure said to the cat. "Can I, Rokurou?" Shigure asked Rokurou. "Your brother?!" Velvet asked Rokurou. "That one you're after is your brother?" Liz asked Rokurou.

"You haven't changed a bit, Shigure." Rokurou said to Shigure, ignoring Velvet and Liz. "You go blind, stupid? I'm bucketloads stronger now! You're the one who hasn't changed, I bet. You still hung up on tryin' to take me down?" Shigure asked Rokurou.

"The one you want to beat in a fight… That's him?!" Laphicet asked Rokurou. "I;m not who I was that day either… Brother." Rokurou said to Shigure, as he pulled out his blades, and showed his daemon eye.

"Oh? Wait, you're a DAEMON? Haw, now it's gettin' good! But I wonder… has that really changed anything?" Shigure asked Rokurou, as the cat disappeared like the other malakhim, and Shigure drew his blade.

"When my real Stormhowl break your sad reject again, you gonna wet yourself like last time?" Shigure asked Rokurou. Shigure then swung his blade down, blowing a harsh wind at everyone. "I'll handle him." Rokurou said to everyone, as he got ready to attack.

"Laphicet no matter what, I need you to stay out of it." Rokrurou said to Laphicet, as the battle started. "This is my fight as well. So stay out of my way." Sneasel said to Rokurou. "So long as you leave Shigure to me, then you can have Jisnu all to yourself." Rokurou said to Sneasel. "Works for me." Sneasel said to Rokurou, as they charged at Shigure and Jinsu.

"Quick Attack." Sneasel said, as he moved at Jisnu at high speed. "Aerial Ace." Jisnu said, as he disappeared, dodging Sneasel attack. Then reappearing at Sneasel's side, and hit him, sending Sneasel flying. With Rokurou tried to slash Shigure with a flurry of attacks, but Shigure blocked all of his attacks, before swinging his sword, and forcing Rokurou back.

"Poison Jab." Sneasel said, as he and Rokurou charged again, with his claws were covered in purple goo. "Poison Jab." Jisnu said, as his claws were covered in purple goo. Rokurou and Sneasel then clash with Shigure and Jisnu.

"Ha! It's been too long since we crossed swords, brother!" Shigure said to Rokurou. "Shut up! You're dead! I'll make you regret sparing my life last time!" Rokurou said to Shigure. "And I'll make you pay for what you did." Sneasel said to Jisnu. "I like to see you try." Jisnu said to Sneasel, before he and Shigure forced Sneasel and Rokurou back.

"Urg! Brick Break!" Sneasel said, as he and Rokurou charged at Shigure and Jisnu again. "X-Scissor." Jisnu said, as his claws glowed pale green. Then Shigure and Jisnu blocked Rokurou and Sneasel's attack, locking their weapons and claws.

But Shigure and Jisnu forced Rokurou and Sneasel back. But Rokurou and Sneasel put their right foot back, and stood their ground. "Metal Claw." Sneasel said, as his claws turned silver, and he and Rokurou rushed them again, this time with a wild look in their eyes.

"Close Combat." Jisnu said, as he delivered a hundred punches in a few seconds, hitting Sneasel with every punch and sending him flying back, before glowing blue. For Shigure, he countered all of Rokurou's wild attacks, before swinging his blade, forcing Rokurou back.

"You're feisty as a daemon! I like it!" Shigure said to Rokurou, cracking a smile, as Rokurou and Sneasel got ready for another round. "And working together, you made that Sneasel a challenge." Jisnu said to them, as he smiled. Rokurou and Sneasel roared and lunged at them. "Metal Claw." Sneasel said, his claws glowed silver. "X-Scissor." Jisnu said, his claws glowed pale green.

Then all four of them started to clash swords and claws, before locking their swords and claws. But Shigure and Jisnu overpowered them and sent them flying far. And before Rokurou or Sneasel could get up, Shigure and Jinsu ran up to them.

"But alas, I think our fight's over." Shigure said Rokurou, as he pointed his sword at him. "You two made us sweat a little, so take pride in that before you die." Jisnu said to them, as he pointed his claws

"Rokurou, Sneasel." Laphicet said, as he let out a pulse of light. The light went in Eleanor and Zane noticed this, and gave Laphicet a curious look. "What?! My- My body…?!" Eleanor said, as she held up her spear and changed. But Eleanor beary got two feet forward before Rokurou threw one of his daggers at her. Luckly, Znae caught the dagger and stopped Eleanor.

"I said stay out of this!" Rokurou said to everyone, getting really agitated. "Yeah, this is our fight!" Sneasel said to everyone, as they stood up, and Rokurou pulled out his broken sword. "Oh? No backing down for you two this time, eh?" Shigure said to them, cracking a smile. "If you two want to die that badly, we'll gladly kill you." Jisnu said to them.

That's when the cat appeared. "But we're done for today." Shigure said to them. "Yeah, this has been enough for now." Jisnu said to them. "Shigureee!" Rokurou said to Shigure, as he charged at Shigure. "Jisnuuu!" Sneasel said, as he charged at Jisnu.

But Shigure and Jisnu held out their speed and clawed at them. "Oh, calm down, Rokurou. We could have a real fight sometime, if you actually brought a decent sword. Go ask that old loser there to make you one, We'll be waitin'." Shigure said to Rokurou, while pointing to the Swordbreaker. "Same goes for you Sneasel, rest up. When I bet you, I want to know it wasn't because you were tired." Jisnu said to Sneasel.

"Why would he want a sword from the Swordbreaker?" Zane asked Shigure. "Tat daemon in the armor Kurogane." The cat said to Zane. "The blacksmith! From the story!" Laphicet said to everyone. "And you thought it would be impossible for him to live this long." Ryu said to Eleanor.

"I'll be waitin' for you at Port Cadnix. Unless you can beat me and Jisnu, you ain't gettin' off this island." Shigure said to everyone. "Who are you to decide that!?" Velvet asked Shigure, getting ready to attack.

"You got a problem with it, lady?" Shigure asked Velvet, before firing a wind gust at her. But Zane got in front of her, and slashed the wind, impressing Shigure. "Hah-hah-hah-hah, not bad. I wish you the best of luck. You'll need it." Shigure said to Zane, before he walked away, with Jisnu and the cat following him.

"Lord Shigure, Sir! I'm on a high-level mission…" Eleanor said to Shigure, making hsi group stop, but Shigure interrupted her. "Eleanor, babe. I get it. You've gone rogue. Have fun with that. I see you again. I'll kill ya." Shigure said to Eleanor, scaring Eleanor.

"He wasn't even trying yet. You can tell." Eizen said to everyone. "But if we all fight him together…" Velvet said to everyone, but was interrupted by Zane. "Together, like that would happen. You saw Rokurou and Sneasel just now. Chances are they'll kill us for getting in the way. Like it or not this is their fight. And at the moment, one they can't win." Zane said to Velvet

"But there is another way." Kurogane said to everyone. "What are you talking about? What way?" Rokurou asked Kurogane. "Follow me." Kurogane said to everyone, leading Rokurou down a cave, with Saber and Sneasel following them. "Rokurou." Laphciet said to Rokurou. But Rokurou ignored him and kept walking.

"Velvet, Zane, aren't we going after him?" Laphicet asked Velvet and Zane. "Unfortunately, we have to." Zane said to Laphicet. "This is his fight. It has nothing to do with me." Velvet said to Zane.

"But Shigure and Jisnu said they'll be waiting at the port. He may be a nutball, but I don't think he's fool enough to let us slip past." Eizen said to everyone. "Exactly. ANd as a swordsman, he's even more skilled than Artious, and that's saying something." Eleanor said to everyone, looking proud. "You know he wants to kill you right?" Ryu asked Eleanor, making Eleanor lose the proud look on her face.

"We're mice with our tail pinned, and the cat's licking his lips." Magilou said to everyone. "At the very least. Kurogane seems to have some kind of plan." Laphicet said to everyone. "Fine. We'll hear what he has to say." Velvet said to Laphicet, before they went after Rokurou, Kurogane, and the Pokemon.

While walking, Velvet and Zane walked right next to Eleanor. "What was that fat cat creature with Shigure and Jisnu?" Velvet asked Eleanor. "You mean Morgrim? She's a malak. She just looks different." Eleanor said to Velvet. "And?" Velvet asked Eleanor.

"And what? She has all the abilities of a malak. I'm not trying to keep anything from you. All I know is her name and that she's a malak." Eleanor said to Velvet. "Huh." Velvet said.

"There has to be something special about her. She's not like the general malak we see with your grunts. "Lord Shigure is an exorcist legate, but he's also a warrior who can match exorcists or daemon even without the use of malak artes. Since no one has ever seen Shigure use an arte, Morgim is considered one of the seven wonders of the Abbey." Eleanor said to everyone.

"The Seven Wonders of the Abbey." Laphicet said, his face lighting up. "No one knows Morgrim's capabilities, or even the details of Shigure's pact with her." Eleanor said to everyone. "No one! Except me, that is!" Bienfu said, as he appeared, surprising Eleanor.

"This is all highly classified, but… Morgrim is incredibly lazy. The price she demanded of Shigure for making a pact with her was… grooming and defleaing!" Bienfu said to everyone. "Anything else?" Velvet asked Bienfu, not interested.

"Oh, and on a point of sensitivity, she's cubby, not fat. She may be our enemy, but she's also a woman! You should try not to hurt each other's feelings!" Bienfu said to everyone. "Anything else?" Velvet asked Bienfu, still not interested.

"Her thick eyebrows are all the rage with malakhim, so much so that false eyebrowed are expected to be the next big thing!" Bienfu said to everyone. "In other words, you have nothing about her tricks, just her looks and personality." Zane said to Beinfu, making Velvet sigh. "Well, if he's that strong without malak artes, I don't want to see what he's like with them." Velvet said to them, before getting back to walking.

While walking, Velvet was yelling at Eleanor. "What were you thinking, Eleanor? Attacking a legate like that." Velvet asked Eleanor. "Well… I just thought… Rokurou was going to die if I didn't intervene." Eleanor said to Velvet, with Laphicet looking guilty.

"Was it you? Or did Laphciet make you do it?" Zane asked Eleanor, surprising Laphicet and Eleanor. "No. I… I acted without things. Sometimes I'm too soft hearted to a fault…" Eleanor said to Zane, not looking him in the eyes.

"I'd say it's less that and more just stupidity. You're supposed to be protecting Laphicet. Don't get yourself into trouble you don't need." Velvet said to Eleanor. "Even if one of our own is in danger?!" Eleanor asked Velvet. "Even then." Velvet said to Eleanor.

'This kid must be really important to her.' Eleanor thought, looking at Laphicet. " All right, I understand." Eleanor said to Velvet. "Laphciet next time she acts up, stop her, understand? We don't know what she's got up her sleeve." Velvet said to Laphciet, before walking away. "And next time you want to help Rokurou, leave us out of it." Zane said to Laphicet, before walking away.

"O-Ok." Laphicet said to Zane. "Thanks for not telling on me, Eleanor. And I'm sorry I hijacked your body." Laphicet said to Eleanor. "I understand how it feels to want to protect your friends. The problems with those daemons, not you." Eleanor said to Laphicet.

"But I think Velvet and Zane have the capacity to feel the same way too… At least when it comes to how Zane feels about Velvet, and how Velvet feels about her brother." Laphicet said to Eleanor. "Is that why you're staying with them?" Eleanor asked Laphicet.

"I'm… I'm not sure. It's hard to say." Laphicet said to Eleanor. 'I have to figure out what's going on with this group if I ever hope to wrest the child from them.' Eleanor thought, as they kept walking.

A few minutes later, everyone reached a workshop where a bunch of swords were laying around. "Whoa… Look at all those swords!" Laphicet said to everyone. "That's what happens when the Legendary blacksmith Kurogane toils so hard he forgets to die." Rokurou said to everyone. "He hardly does anything but toils." A male voice said to everyone.

Everyone turned to see a large red turtle, three white claws on its legs, with a massive black stone shell, with red spots on it, and smoke coming out of a hole on the top of the shell, sitting in a stone circle.

"Cool a Torkoal. "Or should I say hot. After all, Torkoal is the Coal Pokemon. And a Fire Type. plus it's said they have coal burning in their bodies." Zane said to everyone. "I'm Forger, I've been helping Kurogane work on his sword for protection from the Abbey. But things haven't gone well." Torkoal/Forger said to Zane.

"He's right. I gave you everything, thinking of nothing else but forging a sword that could surpass Stormhowl. And before I knew it…" Kurogane said to everyone, but Rokurou interrupted him. "You had traded your humanity for daemonhood." Rokurou said to Kurogane.

"I see I'm not the only one. So great was your grudge against your brother… the inheritor of Stormhow." Kurogane said to Rokurou. "Well, guess we're not so different. You don't suppose you could hammer me a new sword, do you?" Rokurou asked Kurogane.

"I've forged countless blades over these long years… Yet not one has proven a match for Stormhowl. And yet you still seek a Kurogane sword?" Kurogane asked Rokurou. "I'll put it like this: No matter how much you've failed across the centuries, you've never broken. I'm the same way. If anything can break Shigure and his God Blade, it's the bitterness I carry." Rokurou said to Kurogane, giving Kurogane a serious look.

"Strangely enough, seeing you and your brother has given me an idea that might work. I will forge you a new blade." Kurogane said to Rokurou. "Should we get some brightstone?" Laphicet asked Rokurou and Kurogane. "Nope. No need for that." Rokurou said to Laphicet, as he took a few steps forward. "Huh?" Laphicet asked.

Rokurou stopped in front of Kurogane. "Should I "take it from the top"?" Rokurou asked Kurogane. "If you would. My arms are all I'll be needing." Kurogane said to Rokurou. "Wait? You can't mean…" Forger asked Kurogane, but stopped when his question was answered, by Rokurou slashing off Kurogane's head, making Kurogane fall to his knees.

"What are you doing?!" Eleanor asked Rokurou. "Don't be alarmed. I'm just cutting free some raw materials for the sword." Rokurou said to Eleanor, as Kurogane stood up, picking up his head like it was a rock.

"You see something new every day." Velvet said to everyone. "You need his head to make the sword?!" Laphicet asked everyone. "That's right. With this fine clump of pure resentment, I shall forge your imitation Stormhowl anew!" Kurogane said to Rokurou.

"No. I only keep this imitation as a reminder of how weak-willed I was in the past. To defeat Shigure. I've perfected the art of dual-wielding, a secret Rangestu technique." Rokurou said to Kurogane.

"All right. If that's what you prefer, a pair of short swords it is." Kurogane said to Rokurou. "Forger, help me with this." Kurogane said to Forger, as he put his head on a blacksmith table. "This is crazy. But fine." Forger said to Kurogane, as he lit up Kurogane's head with a steam of fire. Kurogane then summoned a hammer, and they got to work.

"Wh-whoaaa." Laphicet said, as he watched them work. "We'll wait outside." Ezien said, as everyone left, leaving Kurogane, Forger, Rokurou, Saber, and Sneasel to work.

While waiting Zane and Velvet walked around and talked to everyone, with all their Pokemon back in their Pokeballs. The first person they walked to was Eizen. "Eizen, any word on the ship?" Zane asked Eizen.

"The ship is on its way, right on schedule." Eizen said to Zane. "Of course it is. They don't have the reaper on board." Velvet said to Eizen. "One more thing; Apparently Shigure is Artorius' bodyguard." Eizen said to them. "So we'll have to face him down sometime, no matter what." Velvet said to everyone.

"It's in our best interest to get rid of him while he's working alone. The problem is, Rokurou can't beat him by himself" Eizen said to them. "I'm sure Sneasel will help with that." Zane said to Eizen. "But he has Jisnu to counter Sneasel. Whatever advantage Sneasel gives isn't affected with Jisnu around." Eizen said to Zane.

"Agreed. Shigure and Jisnu are not to be trifled with." Velvet said to Eizen. "Certainly. That's why, when Rokurou and Sneasel create an opening, we're going to take Shigure and Jisnu out, but their main focus is Shigure." Eizen said to everyone.

"You want us to meddle in somebody else's private quarrel?" Velvet asked Eizen. "If it affects my own quarrel, yes." Eizen said to Velvet. "I suppose I'm in the same position." Velvet said to Eizen.

"Like Rokurou will let us get away with such a thing. After what he did to Laphicet and Eleanor earlier today, chances are, he'll kill us before we could even touch Shigure. The same could be said for Sneasel. For your plan to work, we might have to kill them along with Shigure and Jisnu." Zane said to everyone.

"No. I can still use him. There's no sense in throwing his life away." Velvet said to Zane. "Rokurou's not really a guy to care about the big picture. He might try to hack your limbs off a bit, but he'll get over it." Eizen said to everyone, before Velvet and Zane walked away.

They then walked to Magilou. "So Magilou what's up?" Zane asked Magilou. "I made Bienfu rush out to the docks to scout the place out. Pretty smart, am I right." Magilou asked them. "I pity that creature sometimes." Velvet said to everyone. "I don't." Zane said to everyone.

"That Kurogane, though- what a character! Giving his own body to forge a sword, like some kind of ritual sacrifice." Magilou said to everyone. "Ritual sacrifice… It's… certainly something only a daemon would do. It was a necessary sacrifice in order to gain power." Velvet said to Magilou.

"A necessary sacrifice… What a vicious turn of phrase." Magilou said to Velvet. "Indeed." Velvet said to Magilou. "Still, I can say I'm not thrilled to see how it all turns out! If what you give is mere meat for a god's morbid lunch, could there be a more trivial sacrifice? But if the offering is one's own body and soul, even a single hair can be portenious. I wonder which he will have been, in the end?" Magilou said to everyone. "Always the philosopher I see." Zane said to Magilou, before he and Velvet walked away.

They then walked up to Eleanor lost in thought. "What's on your mind?" Zane asked Eleanor. "Rokurou, Kurogane… I just do not understand them." Eleanor said to Zane. "You saw them, Daemons. We're crazy." Velvet said to Eleanor.

"Sure, but they go through life with such crystal-clear sense of purpose." Eleanor said to Velvet. "By the sounds of it, their obsession is the cause of them losing their humanity. So it makes scenes that they would have kept that part of them." Zane said to Eleanor.

"Even daemons have things they're not willing to let go. Or do you think us mere animals, running around killing people left and right?" Velvet asked Eleanor. "I know, I know. I understand daemons still have a certain consciousness, but I look at those two, and… They seem passionate. Like normal people." Eleanor said to Velvet.

"But they let that passion run wild and turned into what they are. No matter the purpose, if we let it dominate us, it will lead us to ruin." Zane said to Eleanor. "Do you two have a purpose like they do?" Eleanor asked Zane and Velvet.

"I do, in fact. Ever since Artorius used my brother as a sacrifice." Velvet said to Eleanor. "Typical daemon nonsense! The Abbey exists to protect the people! Yes, sometimes cold, painful decisions need to be made to protect the many… but they'd never stoop to human sacrifice. Besides, as Shepherd, Artoeius will cleanse the world of-." Eleanor said to Velvet, but was interrupted by Zane grabbing her chin and placing his fingers on her cheeks.

"You want to know my purpose. It's to ruin that image you have of Artorius. I wonder what look will be on this face when you learn the truth." Zane said to Eleanor, moving her head around, with Eleanor giving him a mean look. "Oh, and about stooping to human sacrifice. How do you think Artorius made it so you can use Malak?" Zane asked Eleanor, before letting go of her head. "He wouldn't… He'd never." Eleanor said, as Velvet and Zane walked away.

Lastly, Velvet and Zane walked up to Laphicet. "Zane, Velvet can I ask you something?" Laphicet asked them. "Sure." Zane said to Laphicet.

"Rokurou wants to slay his brother, even if it kills him… And Kurogane had his own head lopped off just to forge powerful swords. How do these two find it in themselves to go so far?" Laphicet asked them.

"It's just how they are. They're daemons. Not exactly normal." Velvet said to Laphicet. "Yeah, it's scary… But I also kinda admire it." Laphicet said to them. "May I ask why?" Zane asked Laphicet.

"Me, I don't have anything I'm desperate to accomplish." Laphicet said to Zane. "Not yet, you mean. In time, you'll find something." Velvet said to Laphicet. "You really think so?" Laphicet asked Velvet.

"Almost certainly. But don't feel you have to go and risk your life over it. You're not a daemon, and you should stay that way. You deserve a normal life." Velvet said to Laphicet. "Ok." Laphicet said to Velvet.

"But never mind. Just the foolish ramblings of a daemon-girl." Velvet said to Laphicet. "But when you find what you want to accomplish. Don't go crazy with it, like Rokurou and Kurogane." Zane said to Laphicet.

That's when Bienfu came flying in, crying, and getting everyone's attention. "Bad-bad news! A group of praetors have left the docks and are headed this way! They said they were coming to "purge" Eleanor the traitor!" Bienfu said to everyone.

"Purge?!" Eleanor asked. "What did you expect? You're with us now, and after you did something against logic." Zane said to Eleanor. "Velvet, Zane, what do we do?" Laphicet asked Velvet and Zane. "We take them head on. And you're fighting with us, Eleanor." Velvet said to Laphicet and Eleanor.

"An order, I presume." Eleanor asked Velvet. "It is. Protect Laphicet, and defeat the exorcists." Velvet said to Eleanor. "All right. I understand." Eleanor said to Velvet, before she and Laphicet moved away from Velvet and Zane. That's when Eizen walked up to them.

"Just remember: if we lose Eleanor, Laphicet will turn into a daemon." Eizen said to Velvet and Zane. "I haven't forgotten. But we need to pool all the resources we have. She needs us for her own ends, and we'll use that to our advantage in this fight." Velvet said to Eizen.

"Just don't push your luck too far, Velvet." Eizen said to Velvet. "And so recently was she a noble, upstanding young exorcist! How quickly one falls when entering Velvet and Zane's dark orbit." Magilou said, as she walked up to everyone.

"Ask me, if I care." Velvet said Magilou. "Well, you might care about my plan." Zane said to everyone, as they all turned to him.

A few minutes later, Velvet, Eizen, Laphicet, Eleanor, Magilou, Liz, Duncan, Ryu, Joy, and Ludo walked through the caves, and found four predators. "Praetor Eleanor! You should be ashamed of yourself, cowering to daemons. Your collusion could spell disaster to the Abbey if left unchecked. The only possible atonement is your death!" The leader of the praetors said to Eleanor, with a female voice. Eleanor said nothing and looked away in shame.

But then that's when Zane and Alfonso appeared out of the shadows, and in a second Zane used his blade to slash the heads off of the other praetors, killing them, and making Eleanor gasp in fear. Then the leader of the praetors turned to Zane.

"Flame Charge!" Alfonso said, as he jumped up and grabbed the leader of the praetors' head, and lit himself on fire, burning her head, and setting her clothes on fire, and making her scream in pain. A few seconds later, Alfonso jumped off and the leader of the praetors fell to her knees.

The leader of the praetors looked at Eleanor. "You've betrayed the people and sullied Artorius' ideals!" The leader of the praetors said to Eleanor. "No, that's not-" Eleanor said to the leader of the praetors, but when stop talking, when she saw Zane pick up the leader of the praetors by the back of her clothes. "Eleanor, it's time to prove where your loyalty lies." Zane said to Eleanor, as he tossed the leader of the praetors closer to Eleanor. Eleanor then noticed Velvet giving a look of approval.

'Zane… Velvet… They're testing me. I know I have to fight. My mission calls for it… but any more of this will kill her!' Eleanor thought, as the leader of the praetors got up and drew her weapon. "Time for you to die and be purged!" The leader of the praetors said to Eleanor, as she attacked.

"Eleanor!" Laphicet said, as he tried to join the fight, but Velvet stopped him. "This is her fight." Liz said to Laphicet.

Eleanor pulled out her spear and blocked the leader of the praetors attack. "I got your back Eleanor. Double Kick." Joy said, as she jumped up and kicked the leader of the praetors' head, forcing her back

Eleanor then swung her spear at the leader of the praetors, but stopped before she killed the leader of the praetors. 'I can't do it! I can't kill her!' Eleanor though, as she moved her spear back to her. Then the leader of the praetors attacked, and Eleanor blocked the attack with her spear.

"Eleanor focused. Headbutt." Joy said, as she jumped around the leader of the praetors, before jumping into her gut, forcing the leader of the praetors back again.

"I'm not done yet!" The leader of the praetors said to Eleanor. But that's when Rokurou, Saber, and Sneasel came running up, with Rokurou's daggers now pitch black, Saber's edge glowing white, and Sneasel's claws glowing silver.

The three of them slashed the leader of the praetors, and killed her. "There, now we're even, Eleanor." Rokurou said to Eleanor. "You've got new swords!" Laphicet said, as everyone noticed the new daggers.

"Sinister! I like it." Magilou said, as Rokurou put the daggers away. "I take it you're ready." Eizen asked Rokurou. "Yeah. All that's left is to kill Shigure, as Hui takes care of Jisnu." Rokurou said to Eizen. "Who's Hui?" Duncan asked Rokurou.

"That's me. I'm Rokurou's new Pokemon. He caught me while Kurogane and Forger were working, and as such he named me Hui. Now let's get going. We have a fight to get too." Sneasel, now Hui said to Duncan. "We're coming to witness this battle." Kurogane said, as he and Forger walked up to everyone.

While that was going on, Velvet and Zane looked at Eleanor. "Eleanor, are you okay?" Joy asked Eleanor. "I… I…" Eleanor said to Joy, not knowing what to say. "Keep on fighting like that, and you'll be killed. And if you get killed, Laphicet will lose his vessel." Velvet said to Eleanor.

"Hey! She did her best! She went from fighting with them to fighting against them in a day. Give her time." Joy said to Velvet. "Time isn't something we have. Remember we're being hunted, if she doesn't pull her weight we'll all die. If she can't fight. Then she can hide in the back." Zane said to Joy.

"I can fight. But… I…" Eleanor said to Zane, but lost her words. "Then I'll give you new orders. Fight the exorcists, and you don't have to kill them. But make sure they're out cold so they don't become problems." Velvet said to Eleanor. "Understood." Eleanor said to Velvet, nodding her head.

Zane then walked up to Velvet and Eizen. "I guess that was as far as Eleanor could go." Velvet said to them. "I think so. Push her any further and she's bound to break." Eizen said to Velvet. "And if she breaks, we lose Laphicet along with Eleanor." Zane said to everyone.

"Hmph. Ever the virtuous exorcist." Velvet said to everyone. "That very virtue is what lets her be Laphicet's vessel. Besides, I can't help but admire her commitment. She's enduring total disgrace to accomplish her mission." Eizen said to Velvet.

"How uncommonly pleasant of you." Velvet said to Eizen. "Pleasant folks don't use people the way we do." Eizen said to Velvet. "Yeah… You've got that right." Velvet said to Eizen. "In any case. Let's get a move on. It won't be long before they figure out we killed these guys and send more after us." Zane said to everyone, as they started to walk.

A few minutes later, Laphicet walked up to Rokurou, with Saber back in his Pokeball. "Hey Rokurou… Why did he call you Stormhowl a "reject"?" Laphicet asked Rokurou. "Well, y'see, when blacksmiths make swords, they don't just make one at a time. They make a whole bunch. The best one of 'em all is the one that gets presented to the sword's commissioner, while the rest are tossed aside." Rokurou said to Laphicet.

"Huh, I didn't realize the standards were so high." Laphicet said to Rokurou. "The head of my clan gets the "real" Stormhowl, and his siblings get the reminders." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "So one is real, and the others are imitations?" Laphicet asked Rokurou.

"I guess so. Shigure has the real one, and… yeah, guess that makes mine an imitation." Rokurou said to Laphicet, looking down. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply…" Laphicet said to Rokurou, but was interrupted by Rokurou.

"Don't apologize. You got me to finally realize something… It might just be why I'm so hung on beating him." Rokurou said to Laphicet, before walking away, leaving Laphicet to think. "And to Velvet? Which Laphicet is real, and which is the imitation?" Magilou asked Velvet, surprising Laphicet.

"What are you saying?" Eleanor asked Magilou. "She means my name… It's the same as Velvet's brother's." Laphicet said to Eleanor. "Huh?!" Eleanor asked, getting shocked. "The one who went and got sacrificed by Artorius." Magilou said to Eleanor.

"Surely you are mistaken! Our shepherd would never do such a thing!" Eleanor said to Magilou. "Oh, but he did, right in front of Velvet's eyes. Why do you think she wants to kill him?" Zane asked Eleanor. "I… I don't…" Eleanor said to Zane. "But what would I know? I'm just a human playing daemon after all. Spewing lies with every breath." Zane said to Eleanor, cracking a wicked smile at her.

"So Eleanor has a truth, Zane has a truth, and Velvet has a truth. Now which is the real one, and which is the imitation?" Magilou asked everyone, making Eleanor think hard, as they walked.

A couple minutes later, Laphciet walked up to Hui. "Hui, why do you want to fight Jisnu so badly?" Laphicet asked Hui. "Jisnu is a traitor. He saw Shigure fight, and was enthralled by his power. Shigure made a deal with Jisnu. If he brought Shigure a hundred Pokemon in ten minutes, he'd take him on as a partner, and won't use the binding trick the others use." Hui said to Laphicet.

"Sounds like something Shigure would ask of someone." Rokurou said to everyone. "Anyway. Jisnu did what Shigure asked, and attacked all the wild pokemon he could find, and brought them to Shigure. And he did all of this in 9 minutes." Hui said to everyone.

"What does this have to do with you?" Velvet asked Hui. "I was one of the Pokemon he attacked. But I was number 101, so he let me go. He left me hurt and only able to watch as he dragged away everyone I knew. I vowed to take my revenge for what he did to us. I promise that these claws of mine will break his claws and he'll live his life in shame." Hui said to everyone. "All in the name of revenge. I can get that." Velvet said, as they kept walking.

While walking, Laphicet spoke up. "Rokurou, you and Shigure both use the Rangestus style, but to me it looked like you both fight completely differently. Why is that?" Laphicet asked Rokurou, making everyone stop.

"Our school encompasses two distinct forms. To the outside world, we're known for fighting with a single greatsword, but we also study dual short sword should need arise." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "So Shigure uses the great sword, and you use the short." Velvet said to Rokurou.

"In most schools, wouldn't the secondary technique be used primarily in support of the first?" Eleanor asked Rokurou. "That's true for us as well. We learn the dual short swords to provide sparring partners for those studying the great sword." Rokurou said to Eleanor.

"In other words, your style is used for practice, not real fighting." Zane said to Rokurou. "If that's true. Then why would you handicap yourself against Lord Shigure? He's no mere swordsman." Eleanor asked Rokurou.

"As I'm painfully aware. Shigure is a true master. We trained together since we were small children. I was his sparring partner for ten years." Rokurou said to Eleanor, making Eleanor sigh. "So this battle of yours has been going on for 10 years?" Joy asked Rokurou.

"Yes. And that's how I know his skill with the great sword is godlike. So… in order to beat him, I took up the short blades. To our school, it might be secondary, but it's what I know best." Rokurou said to everyone.

"You're badly disadvantaged in reach." Eizen said to Rokurou. "If I eliminate my fear, I have a chance. If I can control the terror of being split in half, and I can step inside his guard… he'll have two times the trouble." Rokurou said to everyone.

"That sounds like something an idiot would say." Ryu said to Rokurou. "Eliminating fear, huh? A style for someone who's lost his humanity." Velvet said to Rokurou. "Right?" Rokurou said to Velvet, feeling proud. "It's like you two brothers are the very swords you carry." Magilou said to Rokurou, surprising Laphciet.

"Stormhow, a godlike word known to all as the strongest there ever was… Stormquell by the ceaseless struggle to best the other. One, an exorcist who walks in the light. One, a daemon moving through the shadows. The only thing these two polar opposites want…" Magilou said, but was interrupted by Laphicet.

"Is to cut down the other." Laphicet said to Magilou. "Precisely!" Magilou said to Laphicet. "You know, we really need to start having you write books, you have such a way with words." Ludo said to Magilou. "Thank you my kind Ludo." Magilou said to Ludo

"Both are renowned blades… but I don't see what exorcists and daemon have to do with it." Eleanor asked, thinking out loud. "In truth, nothing. We just have brothers wanting to kill each other. The only problem is Rokurou becomes obsessed with it, and Shigure enjoys the fight. If it was the other way, we could have had Shigure and you would call Rokurou lord." Zane to Eleanor, as they got back to walking.

A couple hours later, they reached the port. Where Shigure, Jisnu, Morgrim, and a handful of praetors were waiting for them. "There they are." Shigure said to Jisnu. "Hand here I thought those praetors we sent earlier finished them off." Jisnu said to Shigure. "It would be boring if that was the case." Shigure said to Jisnu, as everyone got ready for the fight.

"Now, how did that sword of your turn out?" Shigure asked Rokurou. Rokurou said nothing. "Fine. I'll find out for myself." Shigure said to Rokurou, as he pulled out his sword, and Morgirm went back into Shigure.

"Rokurou, Hui, we can handle the exorcists. Go and find your victory." Laphicet said to Rokurou. "Thanks." Rokurou said to Laphicet. "You heard the boy, let's clean up the trash." Zane said to everyone. "All right let's get down to business!" Shigure said, as the battle began.

"Ludo use Hypnosis." Magilou said to Ludo, as a praetor charged at them. "Right." Ludo said, as he let out a purple pulse, making the praetor drowsy. This made it easy for Magilou to cast a water bolt right into the praetor's face, killing him.

"Liz use Poison Gas." Velvet said to Liz, as Liz got on Velvet's shoulder. Velvet then charged at a praetor, and locked weapons with him. Liz then moved across Velvet's arm and got closer to the praetor. Then Liz let out a burst of purple gas into the praetor's face. This made the praetor feel weak, and allowed Velvet to not only force the praetor back. But to blast him with a fireball from her daemon claw.

Eleanor then locked weapons with a praetor, and one ran past her, trying to hit Laphicet with his blade. "Iron Defense." Ryu said, as he jumped onto Laphicet's head, and his head turned into steel. The praetor brought down his weapon into Ryu's head, only for his weapon to break on contact with Ryu's head. While looking at his broken weapon, Laphicet had a clear shot, and fired a burst of light and dark energy into the praetor, killing him.

"Double Kick." Joy said, as she moved to the praetor Eleanor locked weapons with, and jumped up into the praetor's gut, and kicked him twice. This caused the praetor to move back, and allowed Eleanor to hit the praetor on the side of the head with the flat side of her spear, knocking out the praetor.

"Duncan use Bite." Eizen said to Duncan, as he calmly walked up to a praetor that was getting scared by everyone. "Right." Duncan said, as he rushed the praetor, with his teeth glowed white, and he bit into the arm of the praetor, forcing the praetor to lower this weapon. Then Eizen reached the praetor, and beat up the praetor, with a flurry of punches.

"Alfonso use Flame Charge." Zane said to Alfonso, as he shot two arrows into the feet of a praetor, pinning him. "As you wish, master." Alfonso said to Zane, as he encased himself in fire and charged at the praetor Zane pined.

Once Alfonso reached the praetor, he jumped up and punched the praetor in the face. This set the praetor's helmet on fire and made him fall to the ground, with Zane firing an arrow into the praetor's heart as the praetor fell to the ground.

For Rokurou and Hui, they went on a wild attacking spree on Shigure and Jisnu. "Metal Claw." Hui said, as he and Rokurou swung their swords and claws at Shigure and Jisnu. "Poison Jab." Jisnu said, as his claws were encased in purple goo, and he and Shigure playfully blocked Rokurou's and Hui's attacks.

Getting annoyed, Rokurou and Hui jumped back a little. "Poison Jab!" Hui said, as his claws were encased in purple goo, and he and Rokurou lunged at Shigure and Jisnu. "X-scissor." Jisnu said, as his claws glow pale green, and he slashed Hui, at the same time Shigure swung his sword at Rokurou. The attack from Shigure and Jisnu sended Rokurou and Hui flying back.

But Rokurou and Hui quickly recovered from those attacks."Quick Attack!" Hui said, as he rushed at Jisnu, with Rokurou rushed Shigure. "Close Combat." Jisnu said, as Hui got close enough for him to deliver a hundred punches in a few seconds, sending Hui flying back. Shigure just swung his sword once, and sent Rokurou flying with that one swing.

Rokurou and Hui growled in rage, as they got back on their feet and charged at Shigure and Jisnu. "Metal Claw!" Hui said, as he and Rokurou tried to take out Shigure and Jisnu's eyes, with Hui claws silver.

"Aerial Ace." Jisnu said, as he disappeared, dogging Hui's attack. Then Jinsu appeared, and hit Hui in the right side. With Shigure, he dodged Rokurou's attack, and hit him away with the side of his blade.

But Rokurou and Hui quickly recovered. And while Rokurou swung his blades at Shigure, Shigure dodged Rokurou's attack at the last second.

"Quick Attack!" Hui said, as he moved at high speed. And with Hui being only a few feet away, Jisnu had no time to react, and Hui slammed into Jisnu's throat. "Metal Claw!" Hui said, as his claws turned silver, and he scratched Jisnu's chest, forcing Jisnu back.

"Not bad at all! But I'm not done yet!" Shigure said, as he swung his blade down into the ground, causing the ground to burst, sending Rokurou flying back. "Nore am I. Close Combat!" Jisnu said, as he lunged at Hui, and delivered a hundred punches in a few seconds, sending Hui flying back, before Jisnu glowed blue.

"You two put up a good fight. I'll give you that. But you're a frickin' daemon and beast. Shouldn't ya bring more to the table than "pretty damn good Rangetsu style"?" Shigure said to them, and asked Rokurou. "Or using random moves." Jisnu said to Hui.

"You don't have what it takes to win against the rightful heir." Shigure said to Rokurou. "Nore do you have what it takes to prove yourself as a better fighter than me." Jisnu said to Hui.

"Don't count us out just yet." Rokurou and Hui said at the same time, as Rokurou tossed one of his daggers away. "We've got something to show you!" Rokurou and Hui said, as they charged at Shigure and Jisnu. "Poison Jab!" Hui said, as his claws became encased in purple goo.

But Shigure and Jisnu dodged their attacks. "X-Scissor." Jisnu said, as his claws glowed pale green, and they all started to clash. But once again, Shigure and Jisnu forced Rokurou and Hui back.

"Quick Attack!" Hui said, as he ran at high speed, with Rokurou right behind him. "Poison Jab." Jisnu said, as his right claw became encased in purple goo, as Hui got close to him. Jisnu slammed his right claw into Hui, smashing him into the ground.

Then, as Rokurou reached them, Shigure held out his sword. But Rokurou made his left hand go right through the blade of the sword and grabbed the guard, surprising Shigure and Jisnu, and making Jisnu let go of Hui, making Hui smirk.

"Take This!" Rokurou and Hui said, as they attacked. "Brick Break!" Hui said, as Rokurou tried to jamb his dagger into Shigure's trought, and Hui's hands claws glowed white and he tried to claw out his eyes.

"Aerial Ace." Jisnu said, as he disappeared, dodging Hui's attack. Then reappearing, and hitting Hui in the side, and sent Hui flying.

For Shigure, he pulled out Rokurou's broken blade out of his sheath, and blocked Rokurou's attack. Then Shigure forced Rokurou back, and forced Rokurou's hand off his sword.

Rokurou and Hui landed near everyone, with Shigure and Jisnu laughing. "Now THAT was clever, giving up one of your own hands to go for my neck!" Shigure said to Rokurou. "And taking my attack, so you can get close, pretty guts." Jisnu said to Hui.

"If we were just a second slower, we'd be dead now! I like it! This is what We've been looking for!" Shigure said to them. "Yeah, you two are starting to be the fight we want." Jisnu said to them, as Shigure tossed Rokurou's blade to Rokurou's feet.

"All right, let's call it good here." Shigure said to everyone. "Sounds good to me." Jisnu said to Shigure. "Listen up! If you all want any hope of beating us, come find us once you're more skilled and better armed!" Shigure said to them, his sword on his shoulder.

"I'll cut you down… No matter how many times I lose, no matter how many years it takes…" Rokurou said to Shiruge, with a big smile on his face. "And I'll bet you one day. No matter how many times I get hurt or I lose. I'll get up and fight you again." Hui said to Jisnu, with a crazy grin on his face

If Kurogane still had a head, he would have given them a serious look. "Sounds like you found your warriors." Forger said to Kurogane.

"There we go, that's the face I'm lookin' for. So vicious. It's perfect!" Shigure said to Rokurou and Hui, before walking away, laughing. "See you all next time." Jisnu said to everyone, before he went after Shigure.

"What is wrong with him?" Eleanor asked, thinking out loud. That's when Morgrim appeared near Eleanor. "Shouldn't you be worrying more about your own skin? The entire Abbey knows by now that you're a traitor." Morgrim said to Eleanor, before running after Shigure and Jisnu.

"That guy and his Pokemon… They're really strong." Laphciet said to everyone. "Yeah, he was. They all are." Eizen said to everyone. "But we will beat him if we must. No matter what it takes." Velvet said to everyone.

"The Van Eltia's here." Eizen said, as everyone noticed the ship coming into port. "Good. Let's get out of this place before Shigure and Jinsu change their mind about letting us leave." Duncan said to everyone, as everyone but Rokurou and Hui moved to the

"Please. Take me with you." Kurogane said to Rokurou, getting Rokurou's attention. "I'll make a sword that surpasses Stormhowl yet. I know I will. But for another blade to beat Stormhowl… its wielder must be a swordsman of unmatched skill." Kurogane said to Rokurou. "And he wants that warrior to be you." Forger said to Rokurou.

"Hey, Eizen. Got any room on this pile of wood-scrap for a suit of armor and his turtle?" Rokurou asked Eizen. "If not, make someone wear it, and you can hold the turtle." Eizen said to Rokurou, not turning to face Rokurou. "Hahah, works for me!" Rokurou said to Eizen.

"You heard him, Kurogane and Forger." Rokurou said to them. "Many thanks!" Kurogane said to Rokurou. "And I'll try not to burn down the ship." Forger said to Rokurou.

"Our little group is getting bigger and bigger every day." Liz said to everyone. "Okay, we're off to find Grimoirh and decipher the book! You know where we're going, right, kiddo?" Magilou said to everyone, as asked Laphciet. "Yeah! We're headed for the Yseult archipelago in southgand!" Laphicet said to Magilou.

Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter. Please follow or review if you like this story. And I gotta say, this chapter was much bigger than I expected, hope you liked it.