It's finally here. The chapter that some of you have been waiting five years to read. It took way too long to reach this point.
Thank you all for your support, and hope you enjoyed this chapter since I really put a lot of work into it.
Chapter 43: Kvar the Fury Tempest
Lloyd groaned awake as he attempted to open his eyes. Everything hurt. What happened to him?
"Aw, I see my little Angelus is finally awake," a cold voice cooed.
Lloyd immediately woke up and glared at Kvar. He tried to move, but found that he couldn't. He looked around and found himself trapped in what looked like some kind of glass tube. It seemed to have a strange energy that paralyzed his entire body.
"As I'm sure you have noticed, the energy waves within this container has halted all your movements," Kvar said as if reading Lloyd's thoughts. "It is a special wave of mana I have been working on for some time. Even an angel would be rendered helpless."
Lloyd growled at him. "What do you want, Kvar!?"
Kvar smirked at him. "I want you, of course. I wanted you for a long time."
Lloyd looked horrified at the Grand Cardinal. "What are you talking about?"
"You're too young to remember, but when you were a child you were a 'special' guest here at my Ranch," Kvar explained. "Although it was short visit, I learned a lot about you. About how your power lies dormant until the time your body is able to handle it."
"Power?" Lloyd repeated in confusion.
"Yggdrasill obviously wanted you to go on the Journey of Regeneration thinking it would awaken your power, much like the Chosen. Which is why he kept you being alive a secret from all of us," Kvar said. "He was right. Your power is slowly awaking through the emotional trials of the Journey of Regeneration which was what allowed you to defeat that fool Magnius even with Kratos' help. That said, however, this process is far too slow for my purposes. At your current rate of growth, you won't be at full power until you reach the Tower of Salvation. So, I'm going to speed the process up." He began to press several buttons on a nearby computer. "I was hoping to avoid this since I wanted you to awakening naturally, but I'm running out of time. If I allowed things to continue, you will fall into Yggdrasill's hands."
"What the hell are you talking about!?" Lloyd yelled as he attempted to move again.
"I have to make sure the energy wave matches your mana signature exactly or else it will kill you," Kvar stated casually. "Although your corpse would help me as well, I am in need of your power now."
Lloyd didn't understand any of this, but he knew he needed to escape. Whatever Kvar had planned for him, it's anything but good.
With Kratos' help, the last of the ECHOES unit was finally defeated. Sheena and Colette were exhausted in covered in cuts and bruisers, but they were relatively unharmed.
Kratos spent several minutes healing Raine and giving her orange gels to recover her mana. Within a matter of minutes, Raine slowly began to regained consciousness.
"Oh...Kratos, what are you doing here?" Raine asked in confusion as she looked around. "Did you defeat Kvar?"
"No," Kratos said bluntly. "Kvar managed to get a way. He took Lloyd with him."
Raine's eyes widened. "Lloyd's been captured!?"
"Afraid so," Kratos said, trying to keep his voice calm. "This was all a trap, just as I feared."
Raine sat up and got another horrifying surprise. "Genis!" she screamed as she ran towards her brother's side. "What happened?"
"He has been poisoned," Kratos explained. "I healed some of the damage, but I can't get rid of the poison since I don't know the necessary spell."
Raine nodded in understanding as she place her hands on Genis' chest. "Restore!"
Green waves of mana poured into Genis, clearing the poison that was affecting his system. She also cast a healing spell to fix any damage the remaining poison has done.
Genis began to slowly stir and opened his eyes. "Raine...?"
Raine smiled. She was closed to tears. "You were careless again."
Genis' eyes shot opened. "Lloyd...that bastard Kvar have him."
"Yes, I was told," Raine said, barely hiding her worry.
"We have to save him," Colette said in fear.
"But we don't even know where they are," Sheena said.
Kratos lowered his head for a moment. "I think I know where to find him."
Raine gave Kratos a curious look.
He knew he was giving himself a way, but he didn't care about that. "Kvar has a laboratory near the back of the Ranch where he does most of his research. I am almost certain that he has taking Lloyd there."
"I see," Raine said more to herself.
"I'm going," Genis volunteered as he stood up. "I owe that bastard Kvar for poisoning me."
"No you won't," Raine said firmly. "You're still very weak."
"But..." Genis started.
"Honestly, you all have been hurt badly," Kratos stated bluntly. "The only person who's in any condition to face Kvar is me."
"Well, you're sure in hell aren't going alone," Sheena said. "You maybe strong, but not even you can fight Kvar by yourself."
Kratos said nothing. Truthful, he could easily kill Kvar, but he couldn't use his full power in front of them.
"Genis, you will come with me," Kratos said, surprising Raine. "The poison should be all gone and caused only minimum damage to his body thanks to the Professor's healing." He then glanced at Raine, Colette, and Sheena. "You all, on the hand, have been through heavy battle."
"But..." Colette started.
"We will go first and you will follow us after waiting ten minutes," Kratos said.
"Why ten minutes?" Sheena asked.
"That will give us time to engage Kvar," Kratos explained. "If he is not dead in that timeframe, he should be severely weaken enough for you three to kill him."
Raine nodded. "I see, although I still don't approve of you taking Genis."
Kratos stood up. "Let's go." He ran out of the room with Genis following behind him.
Colette put her hands together in pray. "Please let them reach Lloyd in time."
Kvar smirked in triumph as he read the readings on the computer. "Finally, it's time."
Lloyd got even more nervous by the look of sheer delight that crossed Kvar's face. "What are you going to do?"
"These energy waves will penetrate you body and will sync with you mana signature," Kvar explained. "These waves will awaken your power through my Angelus Project and strengthen your body. When that happens, you shall finally take your true form as a full fledge Angelus."
"Angelus, what the heck is an Angelus?" Lloyd demanded.
Kvar chose to ignore the question. "Once the process is complete, I shall erase your memory and rebuild you as one of my super soldiers through my ECHOES project. With your power at my command, I shall usurp Yggdrasill himself."
Lloyd struggled to get free. "Dammit, let me go. I want nothing to do with your plans."
"You poor fool, you have no choice," Kvar said coldly as he pressed a couple more buttons. "Now, be reborn from your worthless human shall."
"Stop, what are you doing to Lloyd!?" Genis yelled.
Kvar turned around to see Kratos and Genis standing behind him. "Hmm, I thought that poison gas would at least kill the boy. No matter, you're too late." He pressed the button on the computer.
Several rays of light came shooting out of the tube and Lloyd gave a loud scream of agony as if his body was being ripped apart. Lloyd felt his exsphere burn as his mana went out of control.
"Lloyd!" Genis screamed in horror.
"That's enough, Kvar!" Kratos yelled as he unsheathed his sword.
Kvar smirked at him. "You inferior being. Do you really think you can tell me what to do?"
Kratos ran in to quickly kill the madman, but Kvar blocked the attack with his staff. Within moments, Kratos was shock by two orbs that began to hover around the Grand Cardinal.
Kratos cried in pain as he pulled a way.
"You like my new Energy Stones," Kvar bragged. "They're even better with dealing with maggots like yourself."
"Freeze Lance!" Genis yelled as multiple shards of ice hit Kvar.
Kvar hissed. "How dare you blood traitor."
Genis quickly prepared his next spell, but Kvar was faster. "Thunder Blade!"
Genis shouted in agony as waves of electricity rushed through his body.
Kratos attempted to use this time to blindside Kvar, but was once again shocked his Energy Stones.
"Even if my guard isn't up, you cannot bypass my orbs, foolish human," Kvar mocked. He was surprise, however, when Kratos fought through the pain and managed to stab Kvar on the shoulder, making him pull back.
"Genis, aim for that cylinder and get Lloyd out of there!" Kratos ordered.
Genis nodded in understanding as he began to concentrate.
"I will not let you interfere!" Kvar yelled as sent a wave of mana at Genis using his Energy Stones.
Kratos stepped in front of the attack and blocked it with his shield. The impact was so powerful that the shield actually cracked.
Genis was ready to cast his spell.
"Stop fool, if you release him now, you will kill him!" Kvar yelled.
This caused Genis to immediately stopped in mid-spell.
"The energy waves within the container has already merge with him and is now linked to his very life force," Kvar explained. "Not even I can reverse it."
"Do you expect us to believe such lies?" Kratos asked in a cold voice.
"Believe me or not, it's the truth," Kvar stated arrogantly. "Without the energy within the container to control his mana, he will go out of control if released and his body would destroy itself by the sheer force of his own mana. The only thing you can do is wait until the process is completed."
"Bastard," Kratos hissed.
"Why are you doing this to Lloyd?" Genis asked. "Is it all because of his exsphere?"
Kvar just smiled at him.
Kratos could feel Lloyd's mana growing stronger and his screams becoming more desperate. He had to stop this process now. "Genis, destroy that container!"
Genis looked towards Kratos. "But..."
"Just do it!" Kratos all but screamed.
"You don't listen very well," Kvar said as he threw another lightning attack at Kratos.
"Icicle!" Genis yelled as icicles formed around he cylinder before it exploded. It shook violently, but remained perfectly intact. "Damn, need to use a stronger spell."
"Spark Wave!" Kvar yelled as he hit Kratos. The Energy Stone also shocked him several times, making him reel in pain. "You've gotten soft, Lord Kratos. Perhaps all those years of wallowing in self pity have gotten to you."
Kratos growled at the man.
Lloyd's cries were steadily growing quiet, although neither Genis nor Kratos could tell if it was because he was too tired to scream or the waves were having their deserved effect. In either case, they were running out of time.
Kratos decided to stop waiting for Genis and released a giant wave of mana from his sword. The attack hit dead on, but the cylinder only cracked a little.
"It's pointless," Kvar bragged. "You nor the boy can destroy my chamber."
"Then, I will have to use my full power," Kratos hissed.
Kvar's eyes widen in surprise. "You wouldn't... Not while that half-elf boy is here."
"To free Lloyd, I will happily reveal myself," Kratos growled as he prepared to released his wings and cast Judgment.
He didn't have to, however, as the cylinder began to shake on its own. Lloyd's mana became more focus and his exsphere seemed to flash to life.
"What is this?" Kvar questioned in shock. "This...this was not the expected result."
Genis looked equally surprise. "Is that Lloyd's mana? It...it feels like there's another person with him."
"Anna..." Kratos whispered. For a moment, he thought he saw a visage of his wife's body. It was gone within seconds and Lloyd gave one final scream.
Lloyd's mana erupted as it destroyed the cylinder from the inside, freeing himself.
"Impossible!" Kvar screamed in disbelief. "He should not have been able to do that! Not before his full power emerge!"
Lloyd fall down to the cold steel floor with a hard thug and he began to breath rapidly. His eyes were also blank.
"Lloyd!" Genis yelled as he ran to his friend's side. "Lloyd, are you alright!? Speak to me!"
Lloyd coughed a couple of times before his eyes cleared. "Gen...Genis? What happened?"
"I should be asking you that," Genis said as he sighed in relief. "What was that other mana with you?"
"Other mana?" Lloyd questioned.
"That stupid host body," Kvar hissed. "Even through the grave, she dares interferes."
Lloyd looked at Kvar, completely baffled by recent events.
"It would appear that your mother protected you," Kratos observed, trying to sound neutral. "Before that chamber could harm you any further, your exsphere came to life and shielded you. It was undoubtedly the will of your mother that allowed that to happen."
Lloyd gently touched his exsphere as he sat up. "So, mom's been with me." He gave a small smile. "Thank you, mom."
"Damnit!" Kvar cussed. "A few more minutes and his power would have awakened. Now, I have to start over."
Kratos pointed his sword at Kvar. "I will not give you another chance."
"Like you can stop me," Kvar challenged as he sent his Energy Stones at Kratos again. He was able to dodge the wave of lightning attacks.
"Lloyd, Genis, we have to take out those orbs!" Kratos yelled.
Lloyd nodded as he stood up.
"Lloyd, can you really fight like this?" Genis asked in worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Lloyd said as he removed his swords.
"Fine then, I will just have to take you dead," Kvar said as he casted another Thunder Blade.
Lloyd avoided the spell and ran towards one of the Energy Stones. "Raging Beast!" he yelled as he did a spin slash to draw the Energy Stones within his striking range and blast it back with a wave of mana that took the shaped of a lion's head. Lloyd, however, wasn't finished yet.
"Demonic Thrust!" he shouted as he swung his sword forward and sent a shockwave along the ground, hitting the Energy Stones. He finished the combo by thrusting his sword forward, actually cracking the orb in several places.
Kratos couldn't help smiling in pride. The fruits of Lloyd's training were beginning to show.
"Lighting Strike!" Kvar yelled as a chain of lighting hit Lloyd, sending him trembling into the floor. "Don't get cocky, boy."
Genis finished his own spell during this time. "Grave!" A giant rock appeared from under the Energy Stone Lloyd just attacked and shattered it on impact. Genis gave a wolfish smile. "That's one down."
"Hell Pyre!" Kratos yelled as he attack the last orb. The Energy Stones shocked him several times after he finished his attack.
"Don't think I'll let you get away with this, you inferior beings!" Kvar yelled as he charged another spell. "Guardian Shield!" He thrust his scepter into the ground, creating a magic rune that spread across the entire room.
"Look out!" Kratos yelled in warning, but it was already too late.
The rune reached Genis and he screamed in pain as the wave of electricity ripped through his body.
Lloyd watched in horror as his mind suddenly flashed to a similar scene.
"To hell with Yggdrasill's orders!" Kvar declared as he began to glow a bright blue. "I will kill you all!" The mana flowed through his body and the lightning in the sky seemed to heed to his command. "Guardian Shield!"
Lloyd felt himself fall to his knees as the memory assaulted him.
"Lloyd, pull yourself together!" Kratos shouted as he cast Healing Steam on Genis.
"That spell….." Lloyd whispered in a hoarse voice. Now….he understood why lightning scared him so much. It wasn't because he was found in a storm.
"What's the matter boy?" Kvar mocked before giving a wide smile. "Are you remembering the final moments of your pitiful mother?" He began to laugh. "Yes, I used that same spell to send the remainder of your family to hell. You should have heard your dying mother and father's screams. It was musical."
Lloyd's eyes narrowed in hatred. "You bastard," All those sleepless nights and his dad trying in vain to comfort him came rushing back.
It was because of this monster that he has suffered endless night terrors and nightmares. He was the one who took his family from him and continued to torment him about it in his dreams. Kvar was literally the monster that has been haunting him his entire life.
Well, not anymore. All his fears and nightmares…..they all ended today.
"If you have something to say, then by all means, let it out," Kvar dared as he brought his remaining Energy Stones forward.
"Watch out!" Kratos warned.
"Spark Wave!" Kvar yelled as he used the extra energy from his Energy Stones to greatly increase the power.
The attack hit Kratos, sending him sliding across the floor.
"Genis!" Lloyd yelled as he ran in to help his mentor.
Genis knew by the look Lloyd gave him that he wanted to use a combo attack. He concentrated his mana as red runes appeared under his feet. He then cast a powerful fire spell right at Lloyd's swords and the swordsman appeared to be on fire.
"Fiery Beast!" Lloyd yelled as he hit Kvar head on, burning into the Grand Cardinal.
Kvar screamed in shock and surprise as he was thrown back. "You..."
"Light Spear Cannon!" Kratos yelled as he thrust his sword into the remaining orb, destroying it instantly. "Now you can't do those powered up spells anymore."
"I am still more than capable of killing you inferior beings," Kvar said as runes appeared beneath him.
Kratos, however, was not about to give Kvar the chance to attack again. "Lloyd, move in on my signal!"
Lloyd nodded. "Gotcha!"
Both swordsman charged Kvar just as he finished his spell. "Guardian Shield!"
They jumped out of the way of the seal at the last second and both hovered in the air for a moment.
"Super Sonic Thrust!" Lloyd yelled as he landed and moved in for the kill.
"Hurricane Thrust!" Kratos shouted as he did the same thing.
Before Kvar could move, they both thrust their swords into Kvar's chest at the same time, leaving a 'X' shaped wound. Blood spilled everywhere and Kvar didn't even have the chance to scream as he fell to the ground with a loud thug and did not move.
Lloyd took several deep breaths as he turned around to stared at the fallen Desian. It was finally over.
"I did it, mom," Lloyd whispered as he caressed his exsphere. "You've been avenged."
Genis fall to the floor in exhaustion. "Man, what a tough bastard. I thought we were finished a couple of times there."
Kratos turned towards Lloyd. "Are you alright? What did he do to you?"
Lloyd stopped rubbing his exsphere. "I'm not sure. He kept talking about awakening some hidden power within me. Although I don't feel any different."
Kratos did a quick check of Lloyd's mana and found that little had changed. It was perhaps a little stronger, but it was nothing too noticeable. Whatever Kvar was trying to do seemed to have failed.
It was for the best since nothing good would come from Lloyd awakening into an Angelus.
"Lloyd!" Colette yelled as she ran into the room, followed shortly by Sheena and Raine.
"Colette, you're safe," Lloyd said in relief as she hugged him.
"Hey, you were the one in danger after being capture," Sheena said. "What did that psycho want with you anyway?"
Lloyd tilted his head. "I….I think he wanted to turn me into a weapon or something."
"A weapon?" Raine repeated in confusion.
Lloyd nodded. "He kept talking about an Angelus."
"You mean the Angelus Project?" Raine continued to question.
"I...I don't know, but he made it sound like it was something different," Lloyd said slowly as he rubbed his hair. What was going on around here?
"Oh Lloyd, we found out where Chocolat was taken," Colette said excitedly.
Lloyd's eyes widened. "Really?"
Raine nodded. "She was taking the Iselia Ranch."
As they were talking, no one noticed that Kvar had risen from his spot on the floor. His eyes burnt with hatred as he glared at Lloyd's back. How dare this boy ruined everything. Fine then. If he couldn't have the ultimate being, then no one would.
Colette noticed the movement from behind Lloyd and her eyes widened in horror. "Look out!"
Before Lloyd could turn around, Colette pushed him out of the way and took Kvar's slash directly from behind.
"Colette!" Lloyd screamed as he watched the blood spill from his best friend's back. Colette collapsed, but Lloyd was quickly there to catch her.
"Lloyd…are you okay?" Colette asked in a soft voice.
"Yeah, but you're..." Lloyd couldn't even finish the sentence. If she could feel, she would have undoubtedly passed out from the pain.
Colette gave a weak smile. "I'm fine, really."
"Dammit…." Kvar hissed.
Lloyd's eyes narrowed in fury. "You bastard!" he shouted as he took out one of his swords and plunged it into Kvar's gut.
Kvar barely blinked as he knocked the sword aside and attempted to stab Lloyd again. He was cut off, however, when Kratos ran in and slashed Kvar across the chest, sending more blood flying across the room.
"Kratos…you pathetic, inferior being!" Kvar sneered with the last of his strength. To think these insects could do this to him. He….he was supposed to be the new ruler of Cruxis.
Kratos' eyes hardened in hatred as he raised his sword again. This was something he should have done fourteen years ago.
"Feel the pain..." he hissed as he slashed Kvar again, "…of those inferior beings…" he continued as he slashed Kvar again, "…as you burn in hell!" he shouted as he plunged his sword into Kvar's heart
Kvar gave one last gasped before he fell. Blood pooled on the floor as Kratos stared down at the body of the man who had taking everything from him.
Undoubtedly, Kvar was finally dead.
And that's the end of Kvar. The fight wasn't as long or as brutal as the Magnius fight, but I think the emotional weight was more important than the actual battle, especially for Lloyd. and the fight also couldn't be as long since half the group wasn't in the battle. That and Kvar's chapters were longer than Magnius'. Also hoped you enjoyed some of the changes from the game script, even if things played out the same.
Until next chapter, please take care.
