Luck of the Devil
The irritating skittering sound was getting louder. It was coming from behind a stack of old cardboard boxes tucked in the corner of the dark and dusty basement.
Slowly, Link, Wendy, and Carla tiptoed towards the boxes, approaching the pile from three different angles in hope of cornering the source of their client's distress.
They were investigating a strange noise for a middle-aged woman named Claurice who was too afraid to look into it herself. She claimed a monster was crawling within her walls and wanted someone from the guild to find and exterminate it.
It was supposed to be a quick and easy B Rank job, but it was proving to be more frustrating than any other mission the trio had done over the past month. The elusive creature making a ruckus within the two-storey house was annoyingly very quick. They had been chasing it for over two hours and Link was sure they followed the scuttling noise into every room at least fifty times already.
Carla was convinced there may be more than one creature because it sounded like thousands of little feet were moving together as one mass between the boards and piping. Hearing that brought the worst fear in Wendy for she could only imagine a massive swarm of spiders, which in turn then made Carla squeamish. Having overheard the conversation, Claurice ran out of the house in a screaming panic and locked herself in her garden shed, too afraid to go back home until the (possibly hundreds) of monsters were gone.
Fortunately, with Claurice out of the house, Link was no longer restricted from using only a handful of spells.
It took some planning, coordination, and a lot of shouting, pounding, and stomping on the floors and walls to drive the mysterious creatures into the basement and flush them out in the open, trapping them in a corner.
Out of the periphery of his vision, Link could see Wendy nervously clutching the front of her coat as they carefully closed in on their target. Carla was just as anxious with every hair on her body visibly standing on end. Since they were both scared to find out what ghastly nightmare awaited them, Link had volunteered to take the lead.
Holding his breath, Link held Dragonslayer by his side as he rounded the boxes. He lunged forward with his blade charged with magic, shining some light into the darkness.
He was suddenly met with the gaze of many gleaming black eyes that belonged to not hundreds, but a single enormous monster centipede!
Startled by the light, the huge, brown bug uncoiled itself and whipped to the side to flee, knocking over the stack of boxes with its twenty-foot long, armoured body. Its hundreds of long, hairy legs were flailing wildly as it scuttled towards Wendy and Carla, frantically snapping its sharp mandibles.
The girls shrieked at an ear-piercing volume and ran in the opposite direction, breaking formation and abandoning their plan.
Not wanting the bug to escape and hide back in the walls, Link rushed forward and slashed his fiery-red sword, cleaving the centipede's body in half as easily as cutting through paper. However, to Link's horror, that didn't quite finish it; both halves of the centipede continued to squirm around, carried by their sporadically scurrying legs. They wriggled in seemingly random directions, noisily toppling and breaking everything in their paths with both severed ends gushing dark bodily fluids.
Link quickly jumped back from the thrashing bodies and switched his sword for his Sky Bow. The iron tip of his notched arrow shimmered with a dark blue mist before he shot it at the back half of the centipede. The arrow flashed and bluish ice suddenly burst forth, freezing the body in place.
Link had a second Ice Arrow ready the instant his attention flickered to the head of the centipede. It was clumsily heading towards the stairs. Before it reached the bottom step, it was struck from behind and completely frozen within a flash.
Aside from the crackling of ice and slight ringing in Link's ears, all was finally quiet.
Link let out a sigh of relief before taking a quick glance around. Claurice's basement was a complete disaster with broken furniture, fallen shelves, shattered glass and ceramics, and spilled boxes full of papers and belongings. However, at least the monster terrorizing her house was no more.
"Link! A-Are you okay?!" Wendy called from the doorway at the top of the stairs. She and Carla peeked into the basement only to scream at the nightmarish ice statue waiting at the bottom.
"It's safe!" Link assured, running over to the steps to stand beside the now harmless head of the frozen centipede.
The girls tentatively took one step down the stairs and stayed at the top, too afraid to get any closer to the monster. They cringed when they saw the havoc left in the creature's wake.
"Ah! There were two of them?!" Wendy cried, pointing at the other frozen half, her face as pale as snow.
Link shook his head. "No, I cut it in half, but it kept moving so I froze both parts."
Under her breath, Wendy quietly uttered, "Oh, thank goodness." She frowned apologetically at Link. "I'm sorry for running away and leaving you behind! But I'm so glad you were able to stop it! You're not hurt, are you?"
Again, Link shook his head and smiled at her praise. "I'm okay."
"Is it... dead?" Carla asked, eyeing the bug in disgust.
Link stared at the monster's head and lightly tapped the top of his bow against the steaming ice. "I think so... or maybe not..." he corrected himself when one of the creature's mandibles noticeably twitched within its icy prison.
"Eek! It's still alive?!" Wendy exclaimed, hopping back up to cower behind the doorway. Carla was quick to scramble after her.
"Sorry, I guess I should have used a Fire Arrow instead," said Link, scratching at the back of his hooded head at his mistake.
"N-No," Carla began, peering back down at the boy, "Even though I would have chosen to burn the abomination as my first option, freezing it was the correct choice in this situation. Fire should be used as your very last resort, remember?"
"Right..." Fire spells were forbidden indoors. It was Macao's number one rule for Link and Romeo. Ever since Link started doing jobs with Wendy and Carla, Macao constantly reminded him everyday to "Make profit, not debts!"
"H-How do we get rid of it then?" Wendy asked, shuddering with revulsion.
Link perked up with an idea. He put away his bow in exchange for Libra's Key and summoned the Celestial Spirit.
Libra appeared beside her master in a flash of silvery light. She politely nodded in greeting before making a strange face the moment she saw the frozen centipede right next to her. One quick glance around the room and she understood what had happened. Silently, she awaited her orders.
"Can you crush this bug into dust?" Link asked of her as he pointed to both halves of the monster.
"And please! Try not to damage the floor!" Carla shouted.
"And that," Link quickly added, "Crush the bug and not the floor."
Libra nodded. With a quiet grunt, she tilted her arms and activated her awesome power of gravity. The ice cracked and crumbled as it was compressed from all sides by an incredible pressure. It didn't take long for both halves of the frozen centipede to implode upon themselves, reduced to piles of sparkling dust.
After a word of thanks, Link sent Libra back home. He was joined by Wendy and Carla at the bottom of the stairs, both looking frazzled.
"Aside from this... catastrophe," Carla waved a paw at the mess, "our mission went rather well. Now let's hope Claurice will be understanding when we explain the situation."
Claurice was more than understanding, she was highly ecstatic to finally be free of the torture caused by the monster. "I can finally get some sleep!" the woman cried, weeping tears of joy. She dabbed the corner of her eyes with a pink, frilly handkerchief. "Don't worry about the mess downstairs! Just a bunch of old stuff I wanted to get rid of anyway. To think, I had a revolting, monstrous bug crawling in my house this past week! Aghast! The horror! The horror!" She felt her forehead with the back of her hand and started to sway on her feet.
Wendy quickly grabbed the woman's arm before she could faint and guided her to a nearby chair in her kitchen. Claurice sat down and smiled gratefully at the three of them. "Oh, my lovely dears, thank you! Thank you, for getting rid of that awful, awful thing! Here is your reward and please, take these sweets too!" She held out an envelope and an unopened box of chocolate candy wrapped with a red bow.
Wendy accepted both items and graciously handed the envelope to Link. "I think Link deserves all of the money. He did the hardest part!"
The boy blinked in surprise. He was about to protest, but Claurice interrupted.
"Such bravery!" Claurice placed a hand over her heart and looked fondly at Link. "You'll make a fine, strong member of Fairy Tail in no time, young man. Keep training hard! I'll be rooting for you."
Link was beaming while Wendy and Carla quietly chuckled at their little secret. The team thanked Claurice and headed back to their guild.
The trio sat at their usual table with Wendy and Link sharing the box of sweets while Carla sipped her mug of warm milk.
It was early in the afternoon. There was plenty of time to do another quick and easy request, but Wendy refused.
"I'm sorry, Link, but I'm still a little shaken up after seeing that big, slimy bug..." she said with a shudder.
"It wasn't slimy. Just very hairy," corrected Link.
"Eugh! It was still really gross!" Wendy hugged herself and vigorously rubbed her arms as if brushing away invisible bugs crawling on her. Lightly, she touched the Sleepstone hanging around her neck. "I'm so glad I have this to keep the nightmares away because I know I wouldn't be sleeping tonight without it."
"How fortunate for you..." Carla mumbled out of envy.
"I'll make it up to you tomorrow," Wendy continued, giving Link a gentle pat on the arm; "We can do a couple hopefully less terrifying missions starting in the morning, okay?"
Link was a little disappointed, but he nodded nonetheless.
"Why don't you do some training until supper?" Wendy suggested. "I'm planning to head over to Granny's this afternoon. We can pick out some jobs later tonight."
"Okay," said Link, looking forward to finding something fun for tomorrow.
Wendy grabbed a few chocolates for herself and Granny and left the rest of the box for Link to have. Together with Carla, the pair left the guild.
Link decided to search for either Lucy or Bero. Since Romeo was busy training with his master, Totomaru, and Jellal was still out of town on a job with Erza, it was the perfect opportunity to work on his Celestial Spirit Magic.
He focused his magic sense, sweeping around the hall for Lucy's and Bero's auras. When he couldn't find either, he closed his eyes and concentrated to further extend his reach. The kitchen, the back storage, the pool, the infirmary, the library – there! Both of his masters were together, alongside three other familiar auras. Celestial Spirits. Baffie, Aquarius, and Scorpio.
Link wondered if they were training. With the Training Grounds off-limits due to scheduled repairs for the next few weeks, everyone had to find alternative places to hone their magic and skills.
He picked up his box of candy and hurried to the library. Inside, he was welcomed by the earthly smells of old books and parchments and the spicy aroma of Bero's favourite tea. Most of the reading tables and chairs had been pushed aside to make room for the mages and their spirits to stand in the middle.
All heads turned towards Link as he approached with a smile.
"Hi Link, already done doing jobs with Wendy for the day?" Lucy asked with a friendly wave.
"Yes, because..." He went on to explain what happened as he passed his candy around.
Lucy scrunched her face and violently shivered. "I don't blame Wendy for needing a break... Bugs totally freak me out too," she said before taking a bite of her chocolate.
Aquarius flicked her hair and scoffed derisively at her. "Girl, you need to grow a backbone if bugs scare you off your wits."
"Hey! They're creepy, okay? Especially if they're the size of a fifty foot monster!" Lucy replied in a huff. In a calmer manner, she turned to Link; "Anyway, I'm happy you guys managed to take care of it without too much trouble, not that I would have doubted you. So you're here to join us for some training then?"
Link nodded. "What sort of training are you doing here?"
Winking, Lucy grinned and planted her hands on her hips. "It's too cold to train outside so I wanted to try something new here: Star Dress Mix!"
Wide-eyed with intrigue, Link asked, "What's that?"
Eager to explain, Bero hobbled forward on his gnarled, wooden staff and cleared his throat; "Why, it is an expert level spell for Celestial Spirit Mages, my boy! It's the combination of two Star Dresses into a very powerful new one. Those who have great mastery over Star Dress or Star Suit – and are capable of opening more than one Celestial Spirit Gate at a time – often pursue to learn this next step. However, not very many are successful due to the sheer difficulty of controlling the transformation."
Scorpio laughed heartily as he wrapped an arm around Aquarius's shoulders; "We are going to succeed for Master Lucy no matter what!"
Squealing, Aquarius swooned into his arms. She batted her eyelashes lovingly at him as she traced a heart on his bare chest with a finger. "Only if she," she shot a sideways glare at Lucy, "can handle our undivided love, my darling!"
Lucy quietly groaned and rolled her eyes. "Seeing how you two are perfectly compatible with each other, maybe it won't be too hard to merge your Star Dresses into one?"
"So you've mastered Star Dress already?" Link gawked in amazement.
"No, not quite," Lucy replied as she bashfully ran a hand through her hair. "Two minutes is the longest I can stay in a Star Dress at the moment. Some more endurance training and I can probably extend the time, but today, I just wanted to experiment with Star Dress Mix. See how it works. If it's even possible at my current magic level."
"I know you can do it. I don't think I'll ever be able to though..." Link frowned as he brought out his ring of keys, looking over each of his spirit friends. It didn't feel like he was close to casting Star Suit yet in spite of what Lucy kept on telling him. Each of his attempts had ended in failure and frustration. Not only that, he couldn't even open more than one Celestial Spirit Gate, which he was disappointed to learn was not a common trait for male mages. Star Suit Mix was definitely something he would never achieve.
Lucy gently gripped his shoulder and wore a compassionate smile, easily reading what was bothering him. "Cheer up, Link. You're still very new to this magic. Not everything can be learned in a few short months, but trust me when I say that you're making incredible progress. I know for a fact that you will one day excel at being a Celestial Spirit Mage your own way. Keep working on it! We'll be here to help you at every step of your journey."
Bero nodded and gave Link a meaningful look. "You've come a long way since we first met, my boy. Growing so fast right before my eyes! Why, I believe you'll become a master Celestial Spirit Mage before you'll even know it."
"Agreed," said Lucy, taking a step back to look upon her student with pride.
The kind words of his masters greatly lifted Link's mood.
Seeing he was no longer upset, Lucy brought out her own set of keys. "Let's practice Star Suit together. Do you want to borrow one of my spirits or are you going to keep trying with Libra?"
"I'll try again with Libra," said Link before proceeding to summon the Celestial Spirit. As much as he loved to train with each and every one of Lucy's spirits, fully learning Star Suit with Libra first was important for the both of them. It was an unspoken promise between the two, felt through the strong bond they shared that had been forged and strengthened from the time they spent together.
Son Pisces was a bit envious of not being able to participate in the specific training, but Link made sure to practice and hone their other abilities while they waited patiently for Mother Pisces to fully recover.
There was a silent exchange of nods and smiles as Libra was welcomed to join their session.
Lucy moved to stand beside her spirits and faced Link. "Let's try it together at the same time. What do we do first?" she asked, testing her student's knowledge.
The boy turned to Libra, meeting her calm, dutiful gaze. She already knew what he wanted, but he said it out loud as a part of his lesson; "Let your spirit know you want to use Star Suit."
"Correct. Scorpio, I'd like you to join me on this."
Aquarius tightened her hold on Scorpio and groaned, "Darling, you don't have to listen to her!"
But Scorpio gently pulled away from her and replied, "But we must! We are going to help our Masters however we can."
Lucy slightly flinched from Aquarius's death glare before smiling at Scorpio in thanks. Her attention fell back on Link. "What's the next step?"
"Lend our spirits our magic." More so than usual for the threshold to transform into either Star Suit or Star Dress was high for the inexperienced. Celestial Spirits drew upon their master's magic to keep their Gate open in Earthland, as well as to perform their signature spells, so it was critical for a mage to have plenty of energy to spare. In such circumstances, Porlyusica's special Magic Restore Elixirs were super handy to have on hand, and Link had plenty of them.
"Absolutely. Always make sure you have enough magic beforehand otherwise you will exhaust yourself too quickly, which isn't good when you're in the middle of a tough battle and out of potions. We don't have to worry about that today though!" Lucy patted the small pouch belted by her hip where she kept her own stock of elixirs. "Now, before we can initiate the spell, what is the last, most important thing we need to do?"
"Know what you want from your spirit." Or to put it into Lucy's words: "Fashion your Star Suit to match the look and abilities of your summoned spirit!"
"Right on. Communication with your spirit is key here. When you know how to fully utilize their abilities as your own, you should be able to manifest their power in the form of new clothes, armour, and weapons that suit both of your styles. Give it a try when you're ready."
Taking a deep breath, Link closed his eyes and pictured Libra's Star Suit in his mind. When they first began training together on the new spell, Libra had given him every little detail on how the outfit should look based on what Keaton had once worn.
Gilded armour pieces painted emerald. Thin golden chains. A gleaming armlet on the left arm. Red, knee-length shorts. Green and white silken cloths embroidered with Libra's Celestial symbol. Paired with it was a giant, golden hammer with the incredible power of gravity.
With a subtle nod to Libra, he indicated he was ready. He gave her most of his magic so she would have plenty of energy to manipulate as her own. A warm, gentle breeze surrounded him, caressing his hair and clothes. When he opened his eyes, he saw tendrils of sparkling white smoke weaving around his body, trying to take shape. However, the magic refused to take form and quickly dissipated, bringing only disappointment on Link's and Libra's faces.
"You almost had it," said Lucy, snapping her fingers. Unlike Link, she was able to transform into Scorpio's Star Dress, which resembled the tight-fitting clothes and armour of a ninja, (according to Romeo). Her hair was tied in a high ponytail and her long, front bangs were kept out of her face by a black headband embroidered with Scorpio's crimson symbol. Only for a quick moment did she stay in her Dress before shifting back to her normal outfit to conserve the rest of her magic. "You were so close, I swear!"
Link groaned. He was growing tired of hearing her repeat that over and over again. "Am I doing something wrong? I've tried so many times and that's as far as we ever get!"
Lucy frowned at his frustration. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms. "I don't think so... Everything you've been doing is correct by the book. Master Bero, any advice?"
Eyes narrowed, the old man softly hummed as he stroked the unshaven white whiskers on his chin. "It is true you have the technique down, my boy, but it seems your Star Suit is unable to completely manifest at the last moment. Oftentimes it is due to the caster not having enough magic energy or their Magic Container is not yet fully developed to surpass the limitations. However, as far as we've seen, that is not an issue for you. The only other reason I can think of may be perhaps your heart and mind are not on the same page."
Confused, Link stared. "What does that mean?"
"Hrm... it's like... Now how shall I phrase this?" Bero murmured, tilting his head back and forth. Down by his feet, Baffie lightly patted the man's leg and babbled something that his master could somehow understand. "Oh, yes! That is an excellent suggestion. Link, allow me to ask; for certain, do you really know what you want out of Libra's Celestial abilities? Do you have all the details in your Star Suit? Down to its appearance as well as its powers?"
The boy nodded and looked between Lucy, Libra, and Bero. "Yes, I copied Keaton exactly. Is... Is that wrong to do?"
"It shouldn't be a problem," said Lucy with a slight shrug. "It makes sense why you would want to take after Keaton's version of Libra's Star Suit."
"Ah ha! But that right there may be what is impeding Link's progress," Bero surmised with a raised finger. "You see, my dear boy, it is our life experiences that shape us into who we are. Keaton may be you from the future, but you are not the same as him now that we live within a different world and a different timeline. What you are doing is trying to copy another person's Star Suit instead of making it your very own."
Link deeply furrowed his brow. "So... I shouldn't copy Keaton?"
"There is nothing wrong in wanting to be the same as your future counterpart, but in order to perform Star Suit successfully, it should reflect what's truly in your heart. Some details can be exactly the same. Other parts similar, but unique only to you. In other words, mix it up a little however you like!" Bero chuckled.
Slowly, Link nodded as he thought about it.
"I'm sorry, Master," Libra murmured softly. She looked away, bowing her head in guilt while her arms hung limp by her sides. "It is my fault we have not been successful. I thought I could be helpful to you if you knew how our Star Suit should look. I did not consider asking for your input when I should have..."
Link gently gripped her arm and offered a grateful smile in hope of cheering her up. "Don't worry, Libra, it's not your fault. We know what it looks like thanks to you, but now we can change it a little! We can add more to it, maybe?"
Lucy clapped her hands together excitedly, her eyes wide and shimmering. "Oh! Want to hear some suggestions? We could make some slight adjustments for an adorable outfit that would match you two perfectly!"
Aquarius smirked and raised an eyebrow. "You just want to dress the kid up like a doll, don't you?"
"No..." Lucy grumbled to the side, "I just want him to have fun. And to look stylish..."
"Hmph. If you want stylish, then go for more gold!" suggested Aquarius, sidling around to slip between Link and Libra. She draped her arms around their shoulders and winked at them both. "Pretty shiny jewellery to dazzle your opponents like our dear Libra. How about that, boy?"
Link brightened at that idea. "And a bigger hammer too?"
"Whatever Master wishes," Libra replied with a curt nod, making the boy grin from ear to ear.
Bero wheezed as he tried to suppress his laughter. "'Bigger,' you say? Oh ho! Now I would love to see you wield something so comically large! I had always thought swords were your first weapons of choice!"
"I've used a hammer before... I think?" He was certain of it. Or did he only dream of the moments where he smashed boulders and rusty things with a strong and heavy silver hammer? Nonetheless, Keaton used a hammer with Libra so Link wanted to too.
There was giggling coming from Lucy. "Take a moment to think your outfit over now that we figured out your main problem. In the meantime, I'm going to give Star Dress Mix a try. Aquarius, Scorpio, you two ready?"
"We are always ready for you, Master!" exclaimed Scorpio as he stepped towards her. He was beaming with so much enthusiasm that Aquarius was glowering at Lucy out of envy.
Following Lucy's advice, Link went to sit on one of the chairs pushed against a bookshelf with Libra standing patiently beside him. Together, they quietly discussed every small idea Link had on his mind, all the while watching Lucy try her best at performing Star Dress Mix with Aquarius and Scorpio.
Encouraged by Bero, Baffie, and Scorpio, and constantly taunted by Aquarius, Lucy approached the expert-level spell from every angle, only to fail at each attempt. It was a good hour or so before she ran out of potions and finally gave up.
She sent her spirits back home and took a break next to Link, plopping down in the chair with a weary sigh. "Guess Star Dress Mix won't be happening anytime soon," she said, wiping the sweat off her brow. However, she didn't appear too discouraged.
Bero quietly chuckled and nodded in agreement. "You have exceptional talent, my dear, but even Grandmaster Celestial Spirit Mages in their prime could never succeed on their first try. It will take a great deal of dedication, effort, and most importantly, a substantial amount of magic and precise control to combine two Star Dresses into one. And someday, perhaps even three!"
Lucy smiled and held her right hand before her, staring at her pink crest of Fairy Tail with boundless determination. "Those are definitely some future goals I'll be striving for," she said, forming a tight fist; "I want to be stronger so I can always fight alongside my friends and not have to worry about losing them ever again. Loke, Taurus, Gemini, and Mother Pisces too – I miss them so very much. I can't wait to see them again. July cannot come soon enough."
The seventh of July was the day they were waiting for; the date marked as the anniversary of their spirits' deaths. It was also forever known throughout Fiore as the Night of the Cursed Eclipse, a tragic day the kingdom would never forget.
"Do you think Gemini will be angry when they see me?" Link asked, frowning in guilt for their deaths.
"No, Master," Libra assured, with a slight shake of her head. Her expression was gentle when she met his gaze. "They are more than happy to know they died protecting you, as is the duty of us Celestial Spirits honoured by our King. We can be reborn, but you Celestial Mages sadly cannot... Most of us would do anything to keep our masters safe, so do not feel regretful, but instead, look forward to reuniting with them when the time comes."
Link nodded and Lucy placed a hand over her heart. "I'm glad they're doing okay," said Lucy. "Would you be able to pass on the message that we'll be waiting for their return?"
"There is no need. They already know," said Libra as her eyes fell on Lucy's set of keys, noticeably smiling under her mask.
Leaning back in her chair, Lucy looked between Link and Libra with a hopeful expression. "So have you two finalized your Star Suit?"
Smiling, Link exchanged a meaningful look with Libra and nodded. "Yes, I think so," he said, hopping off his chair and facing his masters. He started to dig into his pouch for an elixir to replenish his magic.
"All right. You got this," said Lucy as she, Bero, and Baffie watched with anticipation.
After downing the awful, bitter potion, Link went through the steps in his head, sensing Libra following along without the need to hear his commands. Link shut his eyes at the last moment, seeing the final form of Libra's Star Suit clear in his mind.
He was enveloped in warmth as magic surrounded his body from head to toe, the energy seemingly fusing with his clothes and brushing through his hair. This felt different than the last attempt, making him confident that he was doing it right.
There was a flash, a brief wave of heat, and a sudden surge in magic. Then he heard sharp gasps in the room followed immediately by triumphant cheers and clapping.
When he snapped his eyes open, he was greeted by Libra's silent joy as she stood proud before him, a hint of a smile in her gaze. She gestured at his outfit with a subtle nod.
Link couldn't be happier the instant he saw his clothes magically changed to Libra's Star Suit! And clutched within his hands was a massive, golden hammer twice his height, with a double-rounded head triple his size, and weighing nearly nothing.
His wide eyes roamed his front and back, marveling at every shiny gold piece that adorned his body. A white cloth embroidered with Libra's symbol covered the bottom half of his face, hiding his broad, joyous grin.
His torso was bare, exposing much of his skin similar to Libra's attire. But unlike her, he was armoured, wearing double-layered pauldrons on his shoulders, ornately painted vambraces on his forearms, golden faulds around his waist, gilded greaves, and gold-plated shoes. Clasped around his chest and hips were thin, golden chains that softly clinked with every movement and, on each of his fingers, he wore gold rings embedded with sparkling emeralds. Instead of an armlet, a silken, green sleeve covered his left arm to hide away the Immalgus Seal from view, keeping it a secret.
Using one hand, Link shifted the light-weight hammer to hold it vertically beside him, resting the blunt end of the long handle on the floor. With his other hand, he felt his neck and forehead, finding thick, solid (likely golden) bands that wrapped around both. Next he touched the top of his head and found his messy hair tied up into a single, short tuft by another, smaller band decorated with gems.
"Link! You did it!" exclaimed Lucy, giving him a congratulatory hug. As she pulled back, she looked him over with admiration. "Wow, you actually took Aquarius's advice and really went all out with the gold. I have to say, it actually looks nice on you. Such a very extravagant Star Suit."
"Truly marvelous. And look at the size of this weapon!" Bero remarked, gaping at the towering hammer seemingly made of solid gold. "You can certainly demolish an entire building with a single swing of this gravity-powered hammer!"
"Oh no, it would take down more than just one building. Believe me, I've seen what it can do!" said Lucy, looking a bit nervous. "Link, you better be careful where you swing that thing, okay? Or else you're going to end up having more fees to pay than Wendy. So how are you feeling?"
Great! he was about to say, but soon found himself swaying forward and the world spinning before his eyes. He was suddenly stricken with exhaustion.
Lucy caught him before he crashed face-first onto the floor. "Whoa! I got you," she said gently, keeping him upright as he dropped to his knees. He was back in his normal clothes and Libra and his hammer were gone.
"Looks like you used up all of your magic at once to transform," Lucy continued, slightly frowning with worry, "but that's no surprise. Star Suit takes a heavy toll the first number of times until you get used to controlling it and build up some endurance. Drink a potion and let's take a break. Or better yet, let's head to the Hall and throw a little celebration for this accomplishment! We'll get Mira to make your favourite dessert!"
Hearing that made Link temporarily forget about his exhaustion as Lucy pulled him onto his feet. He was overjoyed and knew Libra was feeling the same back in the Spirit World.
As he was pulling out another elixir, Lucy started to dig into her own pockets. "Link, before we go, there's something I want to give you. I was going to wait a few more weeks for your birthday, but I think you deserve this now for this very special moment." In her hand was a silver chain necklace with a blue crystal star as a pendant.
"Isn't that...?" Link started to say, recognizing the necklace.
Lucy nodded and gave the star a sharp flick. It shone a bright blue, brighter than any star in the night sky. "The Star of Hope. The very same, but this one is the original from this time. Master Bero surprised me with it the day I first got Star Dress right. And now, it is my gift to you."
"It is an heirloom passed down in my family," said Bero, smiling fondly at the star. "Lucy has spoken of its significance to the both of you and I am more than overjoyed that this keepsake is now yours, my young hero. I know you will take good care of it."
Lucy helped clasped the necklace around Link's neck.
He touched the smooth crystal, fascinated by its brilliant light. He would cherish the gift as much as the Dreamstone he wished he still had.
"Come on, let's go celebrate!" said Lucy cheerfully. "Bet you it'll turn into one heck of a party by the end of the day."
Grinning, Link followed right after her.
He was thrilled to finally be one step closer to having 'full command of the stars'. Someday soon, he hoped to return to the forest where it all began and to meet the one who was waiting for him.
Traveling in the middle of night was awful when the landscape was riddled with craters, trenches, pits, debris, and crumbled ruins of buildings and structures that seemed to stretch on for miles. A harsh wind howled throughout, covering everything in packed layers of snow and ice, freezing all evidence of the brutal conquest that occurred probably no more than a few short months ago. The desolation was made even grimmer with the sky covered in dark, turbulent, ominous clouds that roared with thunder and flashed with lightning.
Silver was stumbling, slipping, and tripping over obstacles he couldn't see in the darkest shadows, making him silently curse Keyes for not giving him better night vision upon resurrection. But perhaps he should be thankful that he was blind to whatever horrors that lay under his feet. He could be trampling over hundreds of frozen, half-devoured bodies for all he knew.
Better not eat any of this ice... Silver mentally grumbled. He shook away the morbid thought and pressed on. Up ahead was Keyes, appearing only as a dark, misty phantom that silently glided over the treacherous terrain unhindered, not caring that Silver was trailing far behind.
It was too risky to bring out a light source, making Silver have to rely on the brief flashes of lightning to light his path every so often. They were moving through the remains of the outer city districts of Nuseptima, the once thriving capital of Seven, known to be the luckiest place in all of Ishgar.
Famous for its hundreds of elaborate, fun-themed casinos and high-stake betting races, sport competitions, and battle arenas, the glorious, neon city built alongside a mountain was no more but a distant memory. It was mostly darkness and ruins now, all under the rule of the Great Evil who likely sat upon the usurped throne of the Royal Palace.
With Keyes naturally suited for stealth and Silver capable of teleporting, the pair were tasked to infiltrate the palace situated somewhere within the enormous stone walls built around the huge, central district.
Or die trying.
Their mission – proposed by none other but the cowardly, selfish Franmalth – was to get Silver inside one of the palace rooms. If he could get a good look at the layout, then it was possible to safely teleport Mard Geer and the rest of the Demon Gates inside, bypassing most of the Great Evil's main defences, most notably his dragons. The rest of Tartaros would then provide a distraction, allowing the Demon Gates to focus on taking down the Great Evil altogether.
A simple, straightforward plan. If it actually worked.
Silver was skeptical that it would go smoothly. There were too many unknown variables thrown into the equation. However, there was no other way to gather more information about the city without sacrificing more of Tartaros's forces. Thus, Silver and Keyes had no other choice but to go along with the plan because Mard Geer – still riled from the confrontation with the phantom – had given the command without even a moment of consideration.
Three days ago, the pair had left Cube and had marched nonstop towards their impending doom. Silver had felt nothing but resentment and dread during the entire journey, seeing the countryside gradually change from snowy fields and forests to unnatural valleys surrounded by broken mountains and cliffs, every inch of land devoid of life. Traces of magic lingered in the dreary wasteland, growing stronger with each passing day as they neared the sources emanating from Nuseptima.
The capital – about thrice the size of Crocus – had been in their sights since yesterday morning. However, it was only just a few hours ago did they finally step foot in the outskirts of the city, choosing to travel under the cover of night as a precaution. Taking it slow and steady was especially important now that they have truly entered their enemy's domain.
So far, Silver counted one dragon out of supposedly three guarding the city. It was hard to miss the giant six-winged shadow slowly circling high above the mountaintops, its monstrous form lit up with every flash of yellow lightning. Even at such a great distance, Silver could tell the beast was the largest living creature he had ever seen. But that may change if Plutogrim was summoned in the upcoming battle.
Matching the dragon's size was its tremendous magical power; so overwhelming that Silver was quivering in his boots. He could see how the scouting parties were easily taken down with that behemoth capable of conjuring up tornadoes and the like.
Silver could only hope the shadows were enough to keep them under the dragon's radar. And every other dragon, wherever they could be lurking. With the amount of noise he was making, he was surprised none had already hunted them down.
Swallowing his nervousness, Silver continued his trek, trying to keep Keyes in his line of sight. Looming in the distance before them were the Seven Fortified Walls that protected the heart of Nuseptima. The incredible structure was half as tall as the nearby mountain and said to form a heptagon when viewed from above. The Royal Palace and businesses and homes of the disgustingly rich used to reside within. But even the strongest walls couldn't stop a couple flying dragons and a maliciously evil demon from invading.
Once he was close enough, Silver could see the severe damage the grand walls had taken. Sections had entirely crumbled, leaving huge gaps large enough to fit a dragon half the size of the one soaring in the sky. The stones had been melted and blasted inward by forces too great for mere men to defend against.
Keyes slowed down for Silver to catch up when they were almost a quarter away from one of the walls. The Necromancer diverted them away from the massive openings and piles of rubble, and instead chose to approach a solid section that still stood intact.
Long ago, I resurrected a man. A fallen knight of this kingdom's army, Keyes began, sounding rather amused in Silver's mind. He boasted of this magnificent stronghold, how it was unyielding to any form of attack. Enchantments and magical barriers from sky to earth, conjured by humans and beastmen. All that effort to protect their precious filth inside. Perhaps not even I could have penetrated these walls when they were whole.
Keyes stopped before the towering stone structure and craned his head upwards. Silver followed his hollow gaze, seeing nothing at first until a flash of lightning allowed him to spot the huge claw marks that raked across the wall.
But look at it now. Countless years of effort, rendered useless in a single moment by a small number of dragons.
Dragons were thought to be long dead, Silver replied, keeping a lookout on said flying lizards; No one expected them to suddenly show up again. Teamed up with an evil demon no less... So, can you get in through here?
We shall find out. Keyes turned his entire body into black mist, practically vanishing right before Silver's eyes.
Silver could sense the Etherious rush towards the wall and effortlessly phase into it. Swiftly, Keyes passed through the thick barricade, reaching the other side without encountering any problems. All the protective enchantments had been completely dispelled.
For several minutes, Keyes was slowly meandering around for a safe location until he gave Silver the command; Come.
The mage warped in a blink, seeing the scenery change from pitch-black darkness to slightly less darkness. Keyes was right beside him, back pressed against the wall of a partially collapsed building. They were standing in a narrow alleyway and there was a faint source of flickering orange light reflecting off the pale brick wall above them.
Silver copied the Etherious the instant he heard sounds other than thunder. Footsteps. Shuffling, dragging feet. Moans, growling, and clacking. The clang of metal armour and weapons. The heavy clop of hooves.
Fascinating creatures roam these streets, said Keyes, answering Silver's unspoken question. Malicious beings born from the very same evil that has taken over this city. And it seems the Great Evil has the power to bring back the dead as well. To a certain degree.
Well, isn't that great...
Footsteps were approaching around the corner, sounding like a hundred men. They brought along another source of flickering light.
Silver flattened himself against the wall as much as he could, hearing the pounding feet and ring of metal steadily grow louder.
He saw flaming torches carried by stark-white skeletons wearing the armour and furs of the Royal Guards and Generals of Seven. Some were humans while others were beastmen of various races. They were armed with a wide range of weapons; swords and shields, spears and javelins, bows, greatswords, battleaxes, and heavy iron chain balls. Their bony sockets shone with an eerie red light, signifying a sinister power in control. The rattling of teeth and bones echoed alongside the noisy clinks of armour as the large group of undead soldiers marched past the hidden members of Tartaros.
Dragons and a skeleton army. What next? Silver grumbled, watching the last torch-bearing skeleton walk by. It fell dark soon after.
You will see soon enough. Keyes silently left the alleyway with Silver keeping in pace right behind.
There were more sources of light inside the Seven Fortified Walls, coming from blazing bonfires and a number of Lacrima streetlamps undamaged during the invasion. Although Silver could now thankfully see every step he was taking, the extra light also slowed down their progress as they tried to remain in the darkest shadows. He also had to tread carefully to avoid leaving footprints in patches of snow.
They cautiously traversed the remnants of the rich and loyal, moving through gutted mansions, toppled multi-storey, high-class businesses, collapsed, extravagant cathedrals, and torn, vast winter gardens. Miles away was their destination, the enormous Royal Palace situated high atop a mountainous hill in the middle of the entire district.
The Royal Palace of Nuseptima looked far more intimidating than Silver had imagined, likely altered by dark magic to suit the Great Evil's image. Needle-pointed towers, a black and gray exterior, vertical slits for windows, and torn fragments of the kingdom's yellow banners flapping in the cold winds; altogether made a very hideous fortress. Adding to the unwelcoming, evil vibe was the epicentre of the twisting storm clouds directly above it and a stone wall armed with metal spikes on top surrounding the perimeter.
And Silver had thought Tartaros's Headquarters was horrendous with its drab design, ugly statues, and big, unsightly thorns for a garden.
The forces of evil certainly weren't a happy, creative bunch.
The closer they went, the colder it felt, and the more anxious and restless Silver became. He could sense the Great Evil's power radiating from within the palace. Even Keyes seemed agitated and he was usually calm and composed in any situation.
Along the way, they spotted more lively skeletons as well as other fearsome, weapon-wielding creatures neither had ever seen elsewhere.
There were hulking, brown-skinned, humanoid beasts with flat, bulldog-like faces. Tall as giants and built just like them, these monsters wore pieces of heavy, spiked armour and carried polearms and spiked clubs. A single one could probably take on an army of men.
Then there were the large, upright walking lizards that were similar to the lizardmen tribe of the beastmen race, but were lacking the same intelligence, judging by their feral, yellow eyes and unintelligible noises. Lightly armoured and wielding swords, the lizards appeared susceptible to the cold for they were only seen near the bonfires.
The last of the new creatures was definitely not the least when Silver and Keyes were nearly found by one of them; large centaur-like monsters with the heads of maned lions instead of men. Strong and fast, the striped, hoofed beasts patrolled alone, each carrying a different weapon of their choice that ranged from wickedly jagged swords to large bows to heavy metal clubs. They had sharp eyes and sharp ears, evident when Silver accidentally kicked a rock down a street, drawing one of the beasts towards the area from half a block away. By some miracle, Silver and Keyes didn't get caught and managed to sneak around the wary creatures without any other incident.
Some time later, they reached the foot of the hill and encountered a spiked, stone wall similar to the one protecting the fortress. The main path led to a locked, barred gate heavily guarded by monsters, but farther down, nearly a third of the way around the wall, the area was empty.
Bathed in shadow, Silver and Keyes silently approached the stone wall. It was a physical obstacle to most unwanted guests, but barely an inconvenience for the both of them. After a quick glance and a sweep of a hand across the stone, Keyes deemed it safe to phase through to the other side. It wasn't long until Silver joined his side.
They ended up in what appeared to be a massive yard full of bare trees, shrubs, and hedges and snow up to Silver's knees. If everything wasn't dead and withered by the touch of evil, the place would have been a lush, beautiful garden during the warmer months.
Now that Silver was closer to the enormous hill, he could see it was carved into multiple terraces with trees planted at almost every level. The only way up on foot was a winding, Lacrima-lit, brick path that was built for horse-drawn carriages and vehicles. But neither Silver nor Keyes required that road to climb to the very top.
It was dark in the garden. Silent too, when ignoring the thunder, wind, and crunch of snow beneath Silver's boots. No monsters roamed around, making their journey across to the first terrace seem relatively easy.
It should be a relief, but Silver was beginning to suspect something was wrong.
The scout spoke of three dragons, he started to share his thoughts, so where are the other two?
It is true they are nowhere to be seen, said Keyes, lifting his head towards the only dragon soaring in the sky. It had yet to change course as it continued to circle over the mountains and the capital, seemingly in control of the spiraling clouds. However, this vile burg is vast. They could be dwelling where we have not been.
Seems odd that we've gotten this far and – Silver abruptly cut himself off when he felt a tingling sensation run across his skin, making every hair on his body stand on end, followed by a strong gust of unnerving wind blowing from directly above.
He was diving to the side before he even knew it, flying head-first into a line of bare shrubs. He broke through the branches and rolled into a deep drift of snow before quickly scrambling back on his feet. Twisting on his heel, his palms were charged with magic as he glared vehemently at the enemy that had suddenly shown itself. He was just in time to see a caped knight, fully armoured in black, drop down where he and Keyes stood a split second ago, plunging a dark blade engulfed in purplish-black fire straight into the snowy ground.
Another electrical sensation danced across Silver's skin when the knight unleashed the energy in its sword.
Silver leapt back even farther to avoid the deadly blades of purple shadow that erupted from the earth in a widespread radius. Trees and shrubs were reduced to splinters and snow and chunks of ice and dirt were thrown high into the air.
Down in his stance, Silver stiffened slightly when he met the red eyes glowing through the dust of snow and falling debris. As the knight rose to its full height, it narrowed its gaze within the twin-horned helm it wore.
At first glance, Silver assumed it was another phantom of the Great Evil, but soon noticed it was smaller in stature and size. A one-handed broadsword and a rounded, black metal shield armed with nasty spikes were its chosen weapons. Compared to the first phantom that appeared before Mard Geer, this one was less imposing; possessing a weaker level of evil that didn't even make Silver shudder.
Weapons poised, the enemy shifted its attention towards Keyes who hovered on the opposite end of the sundered earth. Although the demon's desiccated face lacked emotion, Silver could sense Keyes's aggravation. However, the Necromancer was wise not to confront the enemy. Our mission is compromised. Return us to headquarters at once!
A command Silver was more than willing to comply. He warped next to Keyes, grabbed the Etherious by his thin, bony arm, and warped again, focusing on Tartaros Castle in his mind.
He suddenly slammed face-first into a wall and stumbled backwards, his body numb.
Stunned, it took a few seconds for his senses to return, then a few seconds more to realize they had warped into an actual wall – the inner wall of the garden to be exact. The stone was pulsing with odd purple runes that had just activated and a dark, foggy barrier now surrounded the entire hill, preventing their escape.
Not even Keyes could pass through the wall in the form of mist when he tested with a hand, receiving a jolt in return.
"What is this sorcery?" the Etherious demanded in a hoarse rasp.
"Are we trapped?! Shit! We fell into a goddamn trap, didn't we?!" Silver growled, cursing their luck. He froze, sensing a terribly strong, magical power rapidly closing in from above.
The dragon?! Silver spun around in a panic, wide eyes towards the sky, expecting to find the behemoth diving straight for them.
Instead, it was a person; a man enveloped in a flickering, pale blue aura that vanquished the shadows. He crashed tens of metres from Tartaros with the force and impact of a meteor, blasting away snow, toppling nearby trees, and shattering the ice and rock under his bare feet.
Silver only had time to use his arms to shield his face and brace against the shockwave and flying debris. Through the settling haze, he got a good look at the second fiend that ambushed them.
Burning bright within his newly made crater, the man stood tall, looking close to Silver's height and body size. His skin was darkly tanned and emblazoned with strange markings that shone like his aura. Long, spiky, blue hair flowed down to his waist where he wore a pair of dark pants frayed up to his knees. His muscular torso was bare, partially covered by a ragged black cloak draped around his broad shoulders.
Most prominent were his eyes, possessing the same crimson glow as the armoured knight. He was eyeing Silver and Keyes as if they were prey, his lips twisting into a hungry sneer, baring his inhuman fangs.
When he took a step forward, Silver instinctively tried to step back, only to be rudely reminded of the enchanted wall behind him.
Silver was stunned in utter disbelief, unable to comprehend how a single man was magically as strong – or even stronger – than the huge dragon still circling in the sky. It felt like Silver was being crushed by an incredible pressure just being in the man's presence alone. Engaging in combat would be absolute suicide.
Interesting. A Dragon Slayer if not a dragon. And an extremely powerful one at that, noted Keyes, somehow remaining calm in spite of the adversary marching their way. The Great Evil can control all forms of life and death it seems. We must warn Mard Geer.
Yes, of course. If we can get the hell out of here! Silver snapped, unable to mask the fear in his tone. Gritting his teeth, he hastily grabbed Keyes's arm and instantly warped them back to the very first spot where they entered the garden, not risking to pass through the wall again.
They didn't gain that much distance from the Dragon Slayer, seeing the man's aura flickering through the thin line of trees still standing off to the side. However, their sudden disappearance should at least give them a moment to think of a way out.
Or not. The light suddenly vanished from view.
Silver didn't even get a chance to growl out a curse when he felt his skin tingling. There was a burst of black wind that blasted away the snow in front of them followed by a blinding flash as the armoured knight and the Dragon Slayer appeared.
"Where do you think you're going?" demanded the Dragon Slayer in a deep, snarling voice, his fanged sneer still present on his face. He abruptly pulled away from the smaller knight gripping his upper arm and resumed his advance towards Silver and Keyes. His hands were flexed by his sides; black, scaled, and clawed like a dragon's. "Your Royal Highness was generous to send you two as appetizers before the main course! Allow us to express our gratitude!"
Still clamping onto Keyes, Silver warped again in another attempt to flee. The pair returned to the area where they were first ambushed near the terrace. But not long after that, their two enemies were back in their faces, transported by the same black wind as before.
The Dragon Slayer laughed at their efforts and taunted, "Run wherever you please. No matter where you go, there is no escape! I can follow your foul stench anywhere!"
Keyes made a hissing sound as he slipped out of Silver's iron hold. The Necromancer summoned his golden, ringed staff in his hand in a poof of dark smoke and slowly drifted forward. They must have known we were here from the beginning. Break the seal to allow our escape. I shall bide us some time.
Keyes transformed into dark mist and swarmed at their foes like a cloud of deadly poison.
Silver left the scene a second before Keyes made contact. The mage was back at the start, facing the runed wall with an immense amount of magic gathered in the palm of one hand. He blasted the barricade with an enormous wave of jagged, purple ice that burst from the ground, but the enchantments in place were strong, able to neutralize the spell the instant it touched the stone. His remaining ice shimmered from the pulsing light as if the wall was mocking him.
Fuck. No point in holding back.
Silver tapped into a third of his true power, feeling the darkness surge through his body. A welcoming chill spread across his chest, down his arms and hands, up his neck, and the left side of his face. Layers of purplish ice coated his blackened skin, clothes, and armour, growing into frozen spikes and blades to further add protection. Meanwhile, his hands became weapons with long, icy claws extending from each fingertip. Crackling frost began to rapidly form around him for his aura was far colder than the harsh winter winds.
Right at that moment, the armoured knight decided to interrupt, showing up from behind in a gust of its black wind.
Silver was already in the midst of whipping around when the fiend slashed its shadowy sword down on him. With a clang, the mage caught the blade with his icy, clawed hand and quickly froze it within his grip, bringing a look of surprise to flash across the knight's red eyes.
The armoured fiend was a lot quicker than it appeared to be, abandoning the hilt of its weapon before it was caught in Silver's ice. With a few impressive backward leaps, the knight put some distance between them and glared at the mage, body visibly tense and wary now that it lost its sword. It was noticeably shivering from Silver's chilling aura, its warm breath steaming out of the slits of its helm and its armour turning pale from growing frost.
"You're an annoying little bastard, you know that?" Silver growled, meeting the knight's gaze evenly. He crushed his own ice to free up his hand and snapped the dark sword into pieces in the process, its integrity greatly weakened by his power. As the chunks of metal and ice rained to the ground, his expression darkened into a murderous scowl, wishing he had slain the lowly demon when it first showed up.
There was no time to play around. He took a deep breath, filling his dead lungs with air, and unleashed his strongest attack; "Ice Devil's Rage!"
His breath was like a widespread hurricane of snow and ice, shearing and freezing everything in its path within an instant. The attack struck the side of the terraced hill a mile away and left a trail of wind-swept ridges of ice that were tall and viciously jagged.
Every tree and shrub in front of Silver had been ripped from their roots and yet there was still one thing left standing; a dark purple, diamond-shaped, crystal barrier that was badly cracked and chipping. It soon shattered apart like glass, every glistening piece dissipating like smoke to reveal the knight huddled behind its spiky black shield, the very ground it stood on untouched by ice. With its magical barrier gone, the knight peeked over the top rim of its shield at Silver, completely unfazed by the Devil Slayer's breath.
Outraged, Silver cast aside his caution and summoned more of his dark, inner power, bringing it up to more than half. The chill spread further throughout his body, taking over his back and the rest of his face; a cold more intense than any form of ice. His thoughts became a mantra, telling himself to stay in control as his mind teetered on the brink of madness.
His vision was no longer hindered in the dark. He could see all that hid in the shadows and sense all sources of heat now that his frost has spread far and wide. Anything warmer than his aura, he could easily pick up on its location, the ability similar to Sensory Magic.
Keyes was right where Silver had left him; the Etherious feeling like the flame of a matchstick compared to the inferno that was the Dragon Slayer. Aside from those two, the only other warm, living being within the vicinity was the accursed black knight badly shivering in front of Silver.
Frost was quickly turning into ice all around the Devil Slayer; layers thickening into sharp, purple, crystal thorns. Even the frost on the knight's armour and shield was becoming spiny, which the fiend tried to shake off. But it was futile; the ice would not easily break, especially not for a demon.
Slowed and burdened by the cold and ice, the fiend should be easy to slay.
And Silver wanted to slaughter it in the most brutal manner for getting in his way. He was consumed by the foulest hatred, desiring nothing but death for all who opposed him.
The knight; the Dragon Slayer; the wretched Great Evil in the Palace; he wanted to kill them all!
The wall, Silver, a hoarse voice sharply cut into his rabid thoughts; Breach it and get us out.
Keyes. The Necromancer's command and strong will snapped Silver momentarily back to his own senses.
It was then he heard another voice screaming at him; Hurry and slay the little bastard and destroy the fucking wall!
Once more, Silver soundly drew a deep breath and saw the knight quickly duck behind its half-frozen shield in response. The mage warped. In a blink, Silver stood right behind the crouching fiend. He caught a flash of a purple, crystal barrier before he let loose a second Ice Devil's Rage.
It was nearly twice as strong and fast as the first, ripping through all obstacles, including the enchanted wall. The powerful attack blasted a gaping hole in the stone and continued on, further wrecking the ruined city on the other side and leaving a massive trail of ice and destruction that stretched farther than Silver could see.
The knight was gone from his line of sight, but he could still sense its heat nearby.
Snarling like a beast, Silver twisted to the side and glared at his annoyingly resilient foe.
The knight was still alive, but it did not escape unscathed. Its shield had been blown away resulting in large, shards of ice impaling the right side of its torso and arm. Most of its armour was cracked from the ice and cold and its helm was on the verge of breaking. When the fiend jerked its head to meet Silver's hateful gaze, the fragile helm split to pieces, revealing the knight's true face.
A young man. Only a boy. Messy, snow-white hair, pale skin blemished by frostbite, and long, pointy, elfish ears adorned with a pair of black, ruby-jeweled, hoop earrings that glinted with ominous magic.
Just a kid. But still a demon and an enemy.
Injured and weakened, the boy wouldn't survive another freezing blast of the Devil Slayer's breath.
However, before Silver could even move a muscle, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his chest as if he was stabbed in the heart. He choked and faltered, swaying on his feet. He was overcome with confusion because he was supposed to be immune to all forms of physical pain, which was one of the perks of being undead.
Silver tried to clutch at the agony in his chest, but found his arms heavy and unresponsive as they dangled by his sides. Soon, his whole body went numb and he was hit hard with fatigue, all his power and hatred instantly gone. He started to fall backwards, the ice protecting his body soundly cracking.
The moment he hit the ground was the moment he realized his bond with Keyes had been severed. The Etherious's little flame had been completely snuffed out by the Dragon Slayer. Not even a trace of the demon's soul was left intact, making his revival impossible.
Helpless, Silver stared at the fading dark sky, feeling his consciousness slip away. He couldn't help but smile in his mind. He was no longer bound to Tartaros or the living world. He was finally free.
Mika, I'm coming back home to stay. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long...
Before he was embraced by death, the last thing he saw was the boy kneeling over him, reaching an armoured hand, glowing red eyes full of pity.