Chapter/Tale 7: Fractured Conflicts: Act 6
(Warning: A part of this battle will get a bit more sadistic, brutal and bloody than usual. Prepare yourselves!)
Tale 7 Act 6-4/4?
Level Seven: Zenoxia Castle (The World Stolen By a Finger- Tales of Vesperia)
Taranza's POV: Gaining More Than I Lost
"Good, everybody's distracted at the Square," I informed the others, who were pretty much the runoff of leftovers of the party. "Which means security should be somewhat lax to that extent."
"Yeah, but they should have some guards still lingering about," reminded Dedede. "And by that, I mean the strongest they've got in the ranks. We should hurry before they notice you're not there."
"Okay, let's get this over with already."
Into the heights of the castle, we go. As expected, the castle is massive, easy to get lost in, if you know your way around and through it, that is. Of course, we are here for Spectra herself, so she's most likely to be in the throne room or her private quarters. Either way, the system is rather complex, so it might take a while.
I can get through it just fine. But I'm more worried about Spectra than anything. You know how things turned out the last time, I assume? I've been thinking about that a lot, and sometimes I wonder…
What could I have done differently to avoid this outcome? Would it have made any difference?
Truth be told, I'm ALWAYS thinking about that, even before this encounter with Spectra. And it always makes me feel like a god damn fool, an indecisive little coward, perhaps. All I wanted… was to make her happy, and I screwed that one up as well too, and look what happened.
Why did I ever get her that mirror in the first place? I should've destroyed it or took it back, but I didn't. I should've done something, anything if it meant saving her at all. But I didn't. And it forced me to make a very difficult decision in the end, one I couldn't handle at all but one I knew I had to make.
It was the only thing I could do for her, the one whom I loved. I really wish I could've at least told her how I felt earlier. Now she's gone, but not from my heart. Would that have at least put her at ease? I don't know for sure…
Funny, the castle does look a lot like the one I spent my time with her in Floria. Even the guards I knocked out gave off that same feeling as well. And Spectra… she even has the same aura as her. Maybe I was a bit foolish to give in to Dark Meta's offer, but just seeing her made me at ease for some reason.
And now she may be in danger because of me, regardless of what happened. Her condition seemed tame at the time, but I'd never expected it to be that lethal over time. Just what is going on anymore? Either way, I need to hurry.
Just as we expected, security was lax but was filled with a decent amount of obstacles in our way. With my experience within the castle, I'd say it only took us about five minutes to clear through everything in order to reach the Throne Room. The others were lagging behind, and that was because some people were trying to loot the premise for treasure and other valuables like it was an RPG, especially Dedede, who even got in on the action.
Karly, on the other hand, took only one item, which I suppose no one would mind it being gone because it was another Copy Ability in which she transformed into a mage similar to their Beam ability, but this one was blue and white as well as her rod.
"Ooh, my favorite one of all!" She exclaimed excitedly like a child. "Kirby's gonna love this one!"
You got the Mirror Ability! Reflect attacks right back at 'em and create duplicates to confound your foes! All 12 abilities collected!
"Good for you, then," I sweatdropped, shaking my head. "If you're done being a fangirl, let's get moving already."
"Yeah, I know," huffed Karly. "I mean, we're technically in front of the door leading to it anyway already, so there's nothing to worry about!"
"Only the possibility of putting her six feet under, that is," Saito joked, getting hit on the head by Aege.
"Not cool, man. He's already been through a lot, let's not make it any worse for him," Aege scolded the cupid. "That little hyperresonance thing she has… I think I might know what it is."
"Is that so?" I asked.
"To be fair, it's only a hunch. Chrono Mages can sense anomalies pertaining to time itself, so I can only assume that her condition has some sort of time bound chain. I'll have to see it myself before I can be sure of it. Otherwise, I know for sure that it's anything but normal."
"Well, we shouldn't wait any longer for it to get worse then," Kazela said. "Let's hurry and help her out!"
The young princess had the right idea to not keep procrastinating. For her age, she showed better maturity than any other kid would; that is possible, given her circumstances. Either way, she was right. With everything taken care of, we ventured right through the doors.
Unexpected Encounter (A Boss is Nearby- The Legendary Starfy)
It was indeed the door that leads to the Throne Room, the hallway to be exact. An ominous feeling was seeping out from the door before us, yet no one was going to turn tail at this point anyway the more we came close to it. An aurora-like circle stood nearby in which Kazela immediately stepped on.
Would you like to save your progress? Yes.
Now Saving… Save Complete! Showing Results…
Current Status:
World 7, 7-7: Zenoxia Castle
Lives x 80
All Abilities Collected.
Current Level: Level 45. Next Level in 7500 Experience Points.
Party: Taranza & Friends (Varies on your choice)
Current Location: Hallway to the Throne Room
Now Exiting…
"All done, Tazzy," Kazela teased. "Now let's go help your woman before she inevitably-"
"Kazela, no," Karly quickly silenced the young princess. "Please don't give him any reminders. He's been through enough."
I shook my head. "Don't worry about me right now. It's her that needs our worry more than me."
"True," Dylan said. "But how exactly are we gonna help her? I mean, we don't know the first thing about her kind of constitution much less treating it."
"I thought she had a headache," Dash chimed in. "It just sounds like she's stressed out or something. Yeah, that's it."
"Headaches?" Knuckle Joe repeated. "Usually that goes away with the right treatment, but maybe she's suffering internal damage or something?"
"Not gonna lie," Saito admitted. "I thought she was having a brain tumor." He received deadpan stares in response.
"Just saying… no need to look at me like that…"
"Well, the only way we're gonna know is to find that out ourselves," Dedede declared. "To the throne room, ya casuals!"
The doors suddenly activated it mechanism upon detecting our presence, extending a deathly warm welcome to the fools as an ominous feeling was released upon removal like the sins from Pandora's Box.
"After you, Taranza," Dedede gestured.
"…thanks for that," I sighed, being the first victim to venture into the thick, deadly aura-concentrated room with the rest of the gang trailing behind.
The doors immediately closed behind us. There was no turning back now. As if we could.
? Explicit Encounter
Continuing forward into the room, the air was menacing, passing off goosebumps to all who dare step foot. To me, it was the same grand scale Zealand-style interior of a throne room that I practically lived in. However, something was different.
"Weird…" Bandana Dee slowly gasped. "All of this malice and yet no one is here to show it off. Are you sure her Highness would be here?"
"Of course," I answered. "Or she should be in her room at least. We've searched the entire castle area, so I don't see any reason for her to be in those areas at all."
"Everywhere except her room, that is," Aqua remind us. "She could be lying in bed right now; no one would leave a queen unattended with a sickness like that. I would know that, with me being a mermaid princess and all. Now that I think about it, that may have been the only occasions that Mom took care of me herself, even though she was… unhinged at the moment. Her real self may have been fighting this whole time… maybe it's just all speculation, but I think she really did care about me before she was freed. After this, I want to make up for the lost time with her."
"Aqua…" Bandana Dee softly spoke.
"That's deep, but it makes sense, considering the theory that she may have been afflicted with Dark Matter from the get-go, although we don't have enough information to confirm that theory," Dash replied. "Maybe we can assume that they'll target people with a similar constitution to Arecena?"
"Who knows? Even with all the information we've acquired, we still can't figure out their plans," sighed Dedede. "Not even why they haven't shown up around here at all."
"Well, we can worry about that later. Someone should go see if the queen is still in her room," Jodie suggested.
A sudden sound emerged after that sentence, putting us all on high alert. "Or maybe not."
The sound came from behind the throne, a sound of unlatching tumblers in a safe, it seems. It was the door that leads straight to her private quarters. It swung wide open without any warning, but no sound emitted from the door; what did emit sound was the sensation of a pair of heels clicking harder on the floor.
A shadowy figure sprung to life from the void only I've witnessed, one that I knew right away. A gown of yellow and violet, a pair of golden heels, marble gloves, radiant yet messy hair of gold and silver, and a hint of flora and scarlet mixture of eye color accompanied by soft bubblegum lips… the figure stepping out from beyond the shadows was the one we came in search for.
"Spectra!" I called out to her, rushing to be by her side. "You're okay! Thank goodness!"
"So that's what she looks like?" Aege whistled. "Damn, that woman is fine! A little on the low side compared to Vanja if you know what I mean, but WOW!"
"And that's why you'll never get to experience that yourself," Sirica sweatdropped.
Everyone seemed to be riled up and captivated by Spectra's presence at once. All except for one.
"Hey, is it just me, or there's something about her that I just can't put my finger on," said Dedede, giving a more observant analysis of Spectra as if something was bothering him. "I may sound crazy, but she somehow looks familiar…"
"What do you mean? There's no way you could've known her when you've never met before!" Kazela interjected.
"That's not where I was getting at. I mean that she reminds me of someone else, but I'm not too sure about it though. Other than that, she does look like she's hollow on the inside as much on the outside-" Dedede paused before finishing the sentence. "Wait… hollow? Could it be…?"
"Dedede…?" Bandana Dee's voiced slowly trailed away, locking onto where the king was looking. Only after catching right onto what was truly eating him away in the first place. "Oh crap…"
Whatever it was, I was too preoccupied with Spectra. It was like she was in some sort of trance even though her eyes were perpetually shut, like she was sleepwalking. "Spectra, open your eyes! Can you hear me? What happened to you?!"
"Yo, something ain't right about her," Knuckle Joe warned. "Something strange is emitting from her, I can feel it… I'm not sure what it is, though."
"Oh, I'll tell you all what it is, alright," Dedede suddenly declared. "That's the very embodiment of someone who's been robbed of all emotions in their sleep! Just like I was in 1995."
"But that was when… wait a minute! You don't mean…!" Fololo and Falala gasped when they ended up putting the pieces together.
"Just what are you-?" I started to say.
"TARANZA! BEHIND YOU!" Dedede screamed, lunging forward without a moment's hesitation to pull me away while also jumping back to where he was initially. Followed by his sprung of action, the sound of an unsheathed blade manifested and echoed across the chambers, giving birth to the sound of a blade striking the ground with full force.
I managed to regain my footing after that little scene, only to be angry at the king for his sudden take of action. "Damn it, what's gotten into you, Dedede?! Why'd you pull me away from Spectra like that?!"
"Are you daft or something, lover boy?! If I hadn't pulled you away in time, you would've been in pieces," Dedede answered, then suddenly directing everyone's gaze to where he made me drop Spectra. "And by that, I mean it literally- by your own lover, no less! Look!"
Suddenly, it became clear that Dedede knew what was up, and the fact that he was right to do what he did made me tremble in shock. If he hadn't pulled me away…
I would've had my heart in half. By Spectra herself. The queen was in a striking position, using bejeweled rapiers that she can emerge at will, the rapiers being sheathed into the ground, the very same spot that I was in and the spot I could've been had not someone bailed me out in time.
"…S-Spectra…?! W-why…?!" My voice cracked, revealing shakiness and shock in the tone unwittingly. "Are you still sleeping or what?"
The queen did not utter so much as a single word as she nonchalantly withdrew her blades from the ground, her eyes being casted in darkness so as for us being unable to discern her expression. An eerie aura started to seep from her very presence as if it was miasma being spread abroad from a crack that had just recently formed. Then… something crept from her vocals after an eerie silence.
"Whatever do you mean, my sweet little arachnid?" Her voice sounds like it was altered with someone else's. "I've been awake this entire time. It was such a wasted opportunity as well, considering your idiot friend here interfered before I could give you some of my affection."
"Affection?! Then why did you try to-?"
"It's because I care about you so much, sweetie," Spectra gave a weird smile. "So much that I wanted to kill you as swiftly as possible."
"?!" Everyone was taken aback.
The mistress slowly took her time to approach us. "You just don't know how much pain you've caused me, sweetheart, ever since the day you've fled alongside the band of deranged misfits you dare call your friends. It was like you've gone and cheated on me with another; speaking of which, you did have feelings for another in the past, am I wrong?"
"W-What?!" I gasped. "But that's- gah!" Before I knew it, suddenly, Spectra had me at blade-point, somehow reaching me as if she had erased a few seconds of time. Her eyes were still wearing a mask of darkness.
"I see… in that case," Spectra's face finally began to reveal itself. "Then surely you won't mind if I send you right to where she is… IN HELL!" A crazed expression suddenly mutated her face as if she was an actual demon wearing human skin that went insane like a psychopath.
Before I could move an inch of my body, Spectra already made her aim for my head with one of her rapiers. Luckily, Dedede was the first to respond. "Demon Hammer!" He unleashed a powerful surging shockwave from a different position, forcing Spectra to jump back to avoid the blast.
"Dedede-!"
"Don't thank me yet, we're still in hot water," Dedede interjected, raising his hammer at Spectra. "It's just as I feared. Looks like we've truly got a little puppet problem on our hands after all."
"You can't be serious… so that's why they haven't shown themselves till now!" I growled, hoisting myself up from a helpless state. "That scream I heard… so it was her scream from last night! They got to her!"
"Then does that mean she has possession of the last Gem Star Spirit?! Icesis, can you sense her?" Karly reminded us. At that time, Icesis popped out from within Karly.
"What the-?! That's strange! Diamond isn't within her grasp at all!" Icesis explained, distraught by surprise. "Following how everything else went back then, she should have Diamond with her, but I can't sense her here! That means somebody else is holding her captive instead!"
"Then we better make this one quick!" Meta Knight drew his blade. "It won't be long before things start to escalate for the others at Central Square as well!"
As everyone was prepared to start a battle royale, Dedede wanted to ask me something before that. "Taranza, you might wanna sit this one out. I know it's been hard for you and everything, but to have you fight her of all people, that's a bit too much for you-"
I cut him off. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. It hurts, you're right about that, but to not do anything about this is the same as running away like we did those couple of weeks ago. I'm not going to run away from this one, not when she needs my help!"
The lofty king gave a confident pat on my back. "I'd figured as much. It takes a real man to be able to face their fears and troubles head on after running from them. Don't worry, we'll save her, you can count on it!"
"Right!" I grinned, facing the demon that was manipulating the one I care about like a puppet.
"Feh, you'd dare to lay a hand on your precious after all of this running away nonsense you've been doing? How pathetic of you… Taranza!" Spectra started to laugh maniacally, her eyes becoming demonic red. "But that's what I adore about you, so I'll cherish that quality of yours while I send you and your band of third wheels to hell!"
An enormous amount of dark aura began to emit from Spectra's body, nearly forcing us off the ground in the process. "Tch! Such power! This isn't like anything I've ever felt before!" Dedede grunted. "Yet it somehow feels like I have witnessed this kind of power before…!"
"Somehow, you're right about that!" I gasped. "Whatever it is, we're gonna put a stop to it! We'll save you, Spectra!"
"Save? The only one who'll need saving is you, Taranza!" Spectra cackled, charging straight at us. "MY POWER WILL CRUSH ALL THAT YOU HOLD DEAR! BOW BEFORE MY DIVINE BEAUTY, LOWLIFES!"
Puppets to the Puppeteer- 42nd World Boss Battle (Phase/Act 1)
Party VS Queen Spectralinae Zenoxia, Fractured Ruler of Tempestoria (The Dreadnought- Tales of Destiny 2)
Boss Description: After the apocalypse took place, things were slightly back to normal. The Royal Family took the lead in dealing with this matter by the direction of Queen Spectralinae Blossom Zenoxia (pronounced Zenovia) of Tempestoria. Recently made Queen after the previous ruler succumbed to the deadly disease, she has made quite an impact in restoring order to this forgotten world, and recently was in a relationship with Taranza through various means. However, she was rather "sickly" in a sense due to a phenomenal anomaly referred to as hyperresonance, a condition that causes lethal headaches and sometimes retrograde amnesia as a result. No one knows how or why she even has it, but Spectra has been conflicted spiritually in the end with herself, and now her condition is getting worse, especially since she's been possessed by Dark Matter as well! Somehow, she seems to know Taranza even though they've recently met because of the strange memories she gets as a result of her condition… how is that even possible?
Spectralinae strikes with full force! Save her!
"Here she comes!" I shouted, jumping to avoid the dive attack that Spectra unleashed. A shockwave emitted from the thrust of her rapiers as it implanted itself into the ground, forcing us all backwards.
"Take this! Frostbite Snare!" The spot where Spectra struck her rapiers spurted out hordes of ice needles from the ground, surging around like a snake coming out of a hole.
"Incoming! Demon Hammer!" Dedede swung his hammer again to counter the icicles. The impact caused shards of ice and debris to scatter across the room after the explosion occurred. Some manage to graze me and everyone else in the wake.
Karly, however, took a different approach to this attack as she has the Mirror Ability. "Take this! Reflector!" A luminescent-rainbow colored bubble surrounded her like the shields you see in Smash when you guard. The ice and debris that made surface contact with the bubble immediately turned into crystals that were fired right back at the sender.
Spectra was caught off-guard when the reflected crystals came shooting at her suddenly, a few securing critical strikes in. She winced as the sharp sting of pain kicked in effective immediately, but it wasn't enough to take her down; what did anyone expect?
"There's more where that came from! Mirror Blade!" Karly manifested a blade of energy from her scepter as she was the first to charge in, taking that first chance while Spectra was still vulnerable.
Spectra countered her attack with her rapiers, effortlessly pushing her back with strong force, barely managing to avoid a strike from Meta Knight who struck from behind. As if that wasn't enough, one of Bandana Dee's spears managed to pierce her in the shoulder while she was preoccupied.
"Damn you little- eh?! Agh!" Spectra was instantly flung aside by Aqua who threw her with a roundhouse kick. Spectra, however, quickly recovered from the blow in time to regain her bearings again; Dylan and Dash lunged forward for their combo arte in those open moments.
Dual Arte: Soul Shredder!
"Tear into pieces! Soul Shredder!" They both shouted, their weapons ignited with spiritual energy, releasing powerful shockwave reminiscent of claws. Spectra was forced to defend against the dual arte, suffering lethal damage in the process as the shockwave shoved her back some before it dispelled.
At least, that's how it appeared…
"How foolish… you're only making this more fun for me!" Spectra wickedly beamed, dispelling the dual arte in a flash, seemingly unscathed.
"What?! She didn't get hit by that at all?!" Dash growls in surprise. "Damn, this isn't good!"
"Fufufufu, now let's see how you like it!" Spectra laughed, vanishing instantly and reappearing in front of Dylan and Dash, unleashing a stored assault that invoked a critical strike on both of them the moment she appeared. "Solstice Wrath!"
"AGH!" They were both sent flying straight into a wall before they could even anticipate her attack.
"Frozen Ripple!" Aege manifested a space ripple that caught the two just in time from crashing into the wall before releasing them. The stricken struggled to recover from the attack, blood purging from their mouths and body.
"What the hell?! I knew she was coming but I couldn't get out of the way in time!" Dylan coughed and hacked. "How did she-?!"
"Don't talk, man! Reversal!" Aege emitted a light on the afflicted that cured their wounds by rewinding time on their bodies before they were struck. "You'll be fine- for now! Here she comes again! Saito! Do the thing! Everyone, follow his lead!"
"Got it!" Saito shouted.
"You're dead, kid!"
Spectra charged straight at Aege this time, performing the same move again. This time, Aege was ready for her. "You wish. Distortion Rush!" Time was altered in that scene, Aege has not moved an inch from where he was standing. Spectra was on the opposite side, frozen completely in a ripple in a striker stance.
Snapping his fingers, he released her from the ripple, but not unscathed, that's for sure. It doesn't seem like anything happened from someone who can't control time, but that's what makes time manipulation deadly. Suddenly, Spectra was being bodied by invisible blows at a rapid speed the moment she was released, then proceeded to be slammed to the ground afterwards.
"ACK! You little-!" Spectra growled, her body being unable to respond when she noticed Saito charging in for the kill. "What the-?!"
"Shining Force!" Saito cried out, incapacitating her with a concentrated orb of light that exploded upon contact, sending flying backwards and into a nearby wall.
Spectra struggled to get up, only to leap out of the crater she was smashed in to avoid another incoming energy blast from the others. "Agh, you've gotta be kidding me!"
"We've got her cornered now! Get her!" Kazela shouted, making a pole vault leap towards Spectra.
"I don't think so!" Spectra manifested a golden ring around her arm, enlarging it in a massive size. The gang stopped dead in their tracks upon witnessing this attack of hers. "Perish, mortals! Halo Cutter!"
The Halo Cutter was hurled at us, searing and demolishing the ground as it flies. As expected, everyone was preparing to evade the hurling golden ring. "Pff, a piece of cake!" Aege boasted haughtily.
"Surely you may want to rephrase that last bit, hmm? I wouldn't be so haughty if I were you!" Spectra clenches her fist tightly, triggering something unexpected. The ring that she threw suddenly shattered midway through the hurling, its shards becoming the real threat as they quickly crafted themselves into smaller variants to propel themselves against the ones who were more vulnerable- us.
"The hell!? The massive halo multiplied!" Sirica shouted. "And right at the moment when we were about to evade the bigger one just a while ago!"
"Shit! Gonna have to- gah!" Knuckle Joe coughed a short yell during the ring barrage, the razors gashing and tearing through his body's skin at a speed he couldn't react with; the same went for everybody else. The barrage of rings left them to crash onto the ground in severe condition and for them to get up.
"Everyone! I'm coming- AGH!" I gasped a delayed scream, falling on the floor in the process. Gazing at my leg, I noticed an aurora bind of violet chains locked onto my ankles. "What the-?! When did she-?!"
Spectra laughed as she transformed her rapiers into scepters, conjuring up a massive attack spell. "Insolent worms! You should've stayed out of my kitchen if you couldn't handle the heat in the first place! DISAPPEAR! BLACK THUNDERHAIL!"
With those words, black thunder spewed out from the crystals on the scepters, surging through the ground like serpents slithering to assassinate their prey and inflicting their poison within as well. It took seconds for the lighting to swallow up anyone within their radius and strike them with intense raw power.
"AAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHH!" The screams of the gang were deafening. A brief explosion ignited the area, covering my sight in smoke that cleared quickly in a matter of moments. As it cleared, those who were in the center of it… were gone.
"N-no… it can't be…!" My voice trembled with vocal fear. The fear was deeply ingrained further when the perpetrator revealed herself in front of me.
"Aww, worried about your band of misfits already? Fear not, sweetheart," Spectra licked her lips sadistically. "I've just positioned them in a front row seat for our entertainment where they can witness how badly I'm gonna skin you alive, my dear!"
"What the- gah!?" My words were interrupted by the sight of the other members of the team, stapled straight to the upper regions of the wall, their lights being knocked out of them, their blood being shattered glass as well. "N-no…!"
"Now then, my precious little tarantula," Spectra moaned with questionable pleasure disguised with her tone of bloodlust, grabbing me by the collar. "I'm not gonna let you have any sleep tonight once I MAKE YOU RELEASE EVERY LAST DROP THIS VERY MOMENT! Prepare yourself!"
Phase Two Activate!
"Wait, wait," I stuttered. "What do you mean by-?" Before I could finish my question, the queen decided to show the answer to my question- by a massive swarm of giant ruby emeralds hovering in the background.
"Oh… oh, shi-!" It didn't take long for Spectra to retaliate with those emeralds spinning aggressively like a turbine and diving into the fray like a fighter jet as she tossed me into the air without so much of a care, leaving me open to the emeralds piercing attacks. "AGH!"
The emeralds shattered one by one, grazing and lodging into my skin via exploding. Like a ragdoll, I uncontrollably tumbling and skid all over the floor. "Tch! Damn it! At this rate… gah!"
I nimbly dodged a swift blade swing from Spectra without even noticing that she was trying to decapitate me. "Woah! A close one!"
I somehow managed to avoid another incoming swing from Spectra, although it wasn't a safe dodge without a scratch on my cheek. Her next swing was for my torso, and thinking fast, I crafted a web-esque sword whip to parry her rapid stab away from striking a fatal blow.
This continued for a while, and I was managing to keep myself somewhat in neutral condition as the duel kept going on.
"Damn, a second later and I would've been fatally wounded," I thought. "Just what am I doing, stalling for time we don't even have? I have to stop her somehow!"
…That I kept thinking, yet there's no way I could even harm her in any way. I've already hurt her just by running away before, and I wasn't willing to do the same again. All I could think of is dodging her attacks for now.
An idea began to weave its thread inside my mind. Using the thread whip from before was the key to my alternative. I had to duck and weave myself around her relentless attacks first, though. She manages to make blood marks on me as she continued her onslaught.
"You're mine!" Spectra haughtily laughs, lunging forward for the kill, only for her to be suddenly yanked by something else. "What the- eh?!" The queen gazed below her, noticing that her heels were ensnared by chains of sticky thread spurting from the ground. She tried to struggle and move out of it, flailing her arms to yank free only to notice that her wrists were cuffed with threads as well as her body.
"T-this is-!"
"Geez, can't believe that it worked," I sighed, catching a moment's breath. "Tangled Threads, an arte that binds a foe with reinforced silk threads at will, making it hard for the ensnared to escape from easily. Now you won't be able to move as much as you did before."
"Tch! That explains why you haven't even attempted to attack me from the beginning! You were setting up a snare this whole time! You're quite the sneaky little arachnid, aren't you, Taranza?"
"Don't give me so much credit, I only thought of this trick just a little while ago; consider it my way of paying you back for earlier," I scoffed, my hand ignited with energy, gesturing for a nearby thread. "Now I'm itching to end this as quickly as possible, so give up her body now, Dark Matter!"
Surely, even a dangerous mess such as themselves are capable of common sense, right? I've got them backed into a corner and all tied up- literally. What else could they possibly have up their non-existent sleeves anyway?
"Heh-heh, or else what? You'll hurt us? You know what'll happen to her if you do," The puppets started to illuminate their voices disguised as Spectra's with a distorted, wicked tone. "Then again, you just don't have the stones to hurt the one person you hold dear anyway; you wouldn't dare hurt her, would you?"
"Shut up! Don't give me that crap!" I growled, edging my hand inches closer to the thread. "Release her now! I'm warning you!"
"Pff, as if you could," laughed Dark Matter. "After all, it's laughable how you always have someone else handle your problems, just like you had Kirby put your beloved queen to rest some years ago! Isn't that a shame?!"
My anger suddenly subdued upon digesting that single verse; instead, an unknown burst of guilt managed to escape from the recesses of my memories, forcibly spreading its negativity throughout my head. "…What are you playing at!" I clenched my teeth, out of guilt instead.
"It doesn't matter what you think of it, as long as you acknowledge that. No matter how you slice it, the inevitable truth is that you don't have the guts to hurt your own beloved queen! You're an idiot if you think you can force us out with a weak trap like this!"
"The hell are you on about?!"
"Fool, you didn't trap us…" Dark Matter's voice switches back to Spectra, snapping a menacing cackle on her face. "I'M THE ONE WHO TRAPPED YOU!"
With those words, only then did something felt very wrong with myself, as if something was piercing my body all over. I felt something trickling down my hands and slowly glancing at what it was, dread and adrenaline started to escalate within my body upon seeing a stream of fresh blood pour out from my skin. The palm of my hands, my body, down my legs, everything of my life force was being drained from my systems at this very moment.
"N-no way… ack!" Blood became my cough and vomit instead, the loss of valuable blood caused me to collapse on my knees. "W-what d-did you… w-when d-did y-you-?!"
"Aw, even when you're in agony, your anguish makes you even more charming!" Spectra lustfully drooled like a psycho, effortlessly dicing the threads chaining her body, her presence oozing with dread as her high heels click with every step made towards me. "But the fact that you thought you had the advantage over is very cute, especially since I had this trap made specifically just for you after I took care of your band of dead weights! Hornet's Venom, a poison that I can infuse into any attack I want and without your notice as well, just as when you were grazed by my rubies earlier ago."
"Y-you're kidding me…" I coughed, recalling that specific moment in the battle. Unfortunately, my thoughts were forcefully disrupted by a severe kick to the gut from Spectra, followed by more severe leg barrages made by her, eventually one flinging me across the throne room helplessly on the ground as I started to bleed out, tears forced from my eyes.
"Agh…! C-can't m-move!" I squealed, sure that a few of my ribcages were broken. The relentless assault didn't stop there. Even when I was kicked down, with what little strength I had left, gradually wading from me, I attempted to keep myself standing to evade Spectra's merciless attacks.
The last swing shoved me to the ground for good, now being unable to fathom the unimaginable pain my body was in. "U-urk! Ack…!"
Spectra forces her right leg on my stomach, twisting her heel and grinding out more blood from my wounds sadistically. "What a shame, sweetie. You hardly even put up a fight, and yet, here we are. Lying on the ground so pathetically under my feet, vomiting fresh blood with every move you mutter, not to mention fresh tears as well. You know, you're pretty weak and pathetic, but that's what I love about you; still, it would be better for me if I were to reanimate you into a better puppet instead!"
"Tch…!" Blood soaked one of my eyes whereas the other was witnessing the shine of a rapier positioned in a finishing stance. I couldn't utter any words, my vocals must've been strained by the poison. Uncontrollable tears began pouring out like a waterfall excessively- a sign of yielding to my regrets.
"Are you crying right now?" Spectra passionately spectates my reaction, readying her weapon for the kill, plumping herself on my stomach beforehand. "I'm very sorry dear, but do not fret. I'll release you from your misery at this very moment right now, and soon, I'll reanimate you into a better spider just for me!"
It was at this moment that I knew… I was done for. All I could do was give way to tears and blood beyond my control, most likely giving in to my fate to the rapier…
…Which suddenly came to a halt. I was puzzled as to why I haven't been stabbed a second later in time, only to understand when I felt a drop of water hit my blood-soaked eye, miraculously removing a part of the blood dye from my cornea. Soon, a rain of them came pouring down on me, coming from Spectra herself.
"?" I could only think at the moment. That confusing moment became clear when Spectra started to break down herself, this time as herself.
"T-Taranza…? W-why are you-!" Spectra started to leak like a dam, realizing what has happened. "N-no! D-did I… did I do this to you?! No, I didn't mean to-! I don't-! NO! I'M SO SORRY, TARANZA!"
"What's going on…?" I thought. "Did the real Spectra managed to regain some control over Dark Matter somehow? But if that's so, then how?"
The guilt was evident on her face as she started to hyperventilate and furiously out of guilt and regret clench her head like someone who accidentally just committed a murder. She cried haphazardly, shifting between her possessed persona and her innocent one as her power started to wane from my body of the poison, for one. I heard tons of thuds as well, so it must be the others who were trapped on the wall.
"NO! I DON'T WANT THIS AT ALL! MAKE IT STOP! GET OUT OF MY BODY!" The queen screamed in agony, tumbling and losing her balance all the while.
"Spectra… she's starting to regain control, but I don't know how long she'll be able to do so," I thought, struggling to move with my scarred body. "I… I have to… help her… but how…?"
"ENOUGH, PUPPET! WE'RE IN CONTROL HERE! NOW RELEASE YOURSELF AND BEND TO OUR WILL!" The alternate persona struggled to regain control of her soul. Dark purple streaks of sparks started to discharged all around her body, seemingly like a malfunction; the shell, furiously, snapped around and lifted its finger at me, concentrating energy at the tip. "AS FOR YOU, ARACHNID WEARING HUMAN SKIN, YOUR RESISTANCE IS FUTILE AS WELL AS YOUR USELESS ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THIS PUPPET! THEREFORE- YOU MUST DIE!"
"NO, YOU!" A sudden voice echoed without warning, accompanied by a fleeting shadow that materialized and swung at Spectra in her moment of weakness, flinging her across the room. That shadow revealed itself to be the king.
"Good grief, you've got a lotta nerve, knocking our rear ends with such a cheap tactic," Dedede groaned, standing yet in critical condition. "A little longer in your twisted web and the lethal poison would've offed us for sure."
"What the- DEDEDE?!" I could only think of that scene just now and cough out now non-existent blood as something juicy and sweet was shoved forcefully into my open mouth, my jaws being manipulated by soft hands to dissolve the digestible. "This is… my injuries are healing… must've been a Metamato I've swallowed."
"Taranza! Are you okay?! Speak to me!" It was an injured and frantic Karly and Kazela.
I coughed normally, now being able to motion a couple of limbs. "…yeah, I'm okay now. Thanks." Not all of my injuries were healed. I still had some blood stemming from my forehead.
"Oh, thank goodness! Sorry we took too long to break free from that web! I was scared when I saw her give you a brutal beating after I woke up!" Kazela gave me a relieved hug. I can assume that the others are okay as well, and just as I predicted, they were up and standing too.
"The way she's acting… the real queen's managing to regain control; it's just like with Susie as well!" Sirica pointed out. "And she's on the verge of doing so too!"
"Which means… we have to end this as soon as possible in one blow!" Claimed Knuckle Joe. "That should do the trick!"
"Hey, if anyone's gonna do the deed, it oughta be Taranza himself," suggested Aege. "Y'know, so he can finally stop being a lovesick swimp and all."
"A swimp?"
"A simp and a wimp, if you're wondering," The chrono mage cackled, then turning to me as I was now fully mobile again. "Now, as for you, swimp, I think it's about time for you to man up and take back your woman, and by force! And don't give me that "but there's no way that I can hurt her" crap either! She beat you to a bloody pulp moments ago against her will, and the fact that she was conscious to witness your state must've been soul-crushing to her!"
"I know that, but-!"
"CAN IT, SWIMP!" Aege boomed while at the same time erected a ripple to slow down an incoming needle shard that was hurling our way. "Uh-oh. Must've been a little too loud there."
An unstable, staggering queen, torn between her inner soul and the invaders attempting to take over, limped and motioned like someone suddenly going numb. "YOU DAMN LEECHES! STEP AWAY FROM MY SWEETHEART! HE'S MINE AND ONLY MINE!" The others struggled to keep her busy and to buy us some time.
"Oh no! So anyway," Aege continued. "Taranza! Get your ass together right now! Your woman needs you, so if you really care about her, won't you do what needs to be done instead of letting us do the job for you?!"
Those words, albeit a little disrespectful and brutal, ended up being exactly what I needed to hear after all. At that, I knew what I needed to do; getting up, I prepared to act this time.
"STAND DOWN, WENCHES! TARANZA IS MINE!" Spectra lustfully wails, lunging towards us at a fast speed, seemingly with the biggest amount of energy she's managed to accumulate over the battle.
"TARANZA!" The others shouted, being blocked by a string of webs to prevent them from interfering, those who were trying to keep her busy.
"Well, spider boy," Aege smirked, backing away out of the attack range, also forcing those who were nearby with us out of the way as well. "You know what to do if you really mean it."
"…yeah, of course I do," I grunted. With my fists clenched with energy and the enemy who dares to possess the one I care about charging full force at me, I knew I had to be the one to end this madness. "Spectra…"
"YOU'RE ALL MINE, ARACHNID!" Spectra lunges, rapiers in clutch, with insane speed and it wasn't long before the point of the rapier was almost at my vitals.
"I'm sorry for this… but…" At the last minute, I effortlessly evaded the critical stab while knocking both her weapons out of her hands with my free legs, positioning Spectra exposed for the last strike.
"WHAT?! YOU-!" Spectra gasped, realizing the trap that she's unable to escape from as I lunge forward with both hands as I struck her with full force emitting from my hands, secreted lighting erected from her body, the biggest of them all and with that, the battle was decided.
"PLEASE! WAKE UP!"
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
And just like that, I'm sure you can imagine what the outcome was like- the victim of my final attack being flung once again across the throne room, this time being unable to stand afterwards as darkness began to be exorcised from her body until there was nothing left of the fiend Dark Matter from the puppet's body. It was finally over.
"And this is why you don't screw with spiders, Dark Matter!" I declared boldly.
Spectra has been rescued! Victory! (Victory Dance- Kirby/Perfect Victory- Grandia 1 HD)
Party gained 7500 Experience Points! You are now Level 46!
Health has extended to 4500! All stats rose by 450!
Jeweled Scepters Obtained!
Taranza learned Twin Blossom Blast!
Next Level in 8500 Experience Points.
"Spectra! Wake up!" The bravado I just had quickly turned into fear and concern and even dread as I rushed over to the fallen queen's side, who laid unconscious on the floor. The rest of the cast pulled themselves together, slowly nearing my side as spectators.
"Oh damn," Dedede coughed. "I think you overdid it with that last attack back there, Taranza. Hopefully it wasn't enough to make her die, I hope that ain't the case."
"Yeah, and I didn't even have to step in like the others did," added Icesis. "Other than that, I'm more worried about the queen here."
Spectra's body was severely injured, possibly to the verge of death itself. Deep down, I was starting to break apart what was left of my emotional sanity after the trauma that I had to go through a few years back. The thought of losing her again… how can I even live with my stupid self? I could feel my body starting to tear apart in emotional pain as tears started to stream from my eyes again.
"Taranza…" Karly could only mutter silently. "I'm… I'm so sorry…" The others could look only away in shame; they must've realized that their healing techniques maybe be useless, especially if their condition is solely because of Dark Matter. It seems hopeless…
"Okay, enough of this sorry sobfest you're all having here," Declared Kazela, grabbing everybody's attention. The little lost princess confidently strode towards Spectra, stroking her hand across the queen's face. "Don't worry, Taranza. It's pretty faint, but she's just somewhat conscious. If that's not enough for you, then let me have her for a moment."
"…ok," I nodded, gently lifting Spectra's body over to Kazela without much thought. The young princess sat down with the queen's body in her hands. We all gazed curiously as to what Kazela would do for her.
"Just what is it that you plan on doing, Kazela?" Falala asked.
Kazela had Spectra's upper body slightly exposed, around her neck area, I mean. Her mouth gaped open, revealing fangs from the corners, ready to penetrate something. "Sometimes, it pays to be a daywalking vampire, especially to save the life of someone else."
With those words, those same open fangs were sinking right into the skin of none other than Spectra's herself. A shocked reaction emulated from all of us as we witnessed Kazela sampling the taste of a queen's tender flesh with her blood-sucking fangs, slurping all the while as if she was trying to suck every flavor of a frozen slushie before it becomes tasteless… or that's what it appeared to be.
That didn't stop everyone from reacting the same way. "Kazela, what the hell?!" Karly gasped and stuttered over her words, finding herself dropping to her level to pull her away.
It was only for a while that the young princess pulled away from Spectra, seemingly out of stamina while she flopped onto Karly's lap, lips licked and all; she handed me back Spectra before she flopped.
"Are you okay, Kazela?!" I panicked for her wellbeing after seeing her fall like that. "What did you do that would make you fall like that?!"
"The deed is done, Taranza," Kazela smiled at me, yet seemed out of energy as she said that. "Don't worry about me, I just gave her some of my life force is all. Also, can someone heal me now please?"
It was after Kazela flopped that I glanced back at the unconscious queen when I heard escalating waking moans rising from her lips. Life seemed to be returning to her as her eyelids began to flutter slowly but surely to rise.
"Hey! The queen's starting to wake up!" Aqua beamed. "She's okay after all!" The collective reaction from the others eventually followed suit.
"See?" Kazela exhaled, probably getting comfy on Karly. "Nothing to worry about. I didn't give her much, but it was enough to jumpstart her body again. No need to pay me back, Taranza. Just seeing you have your woman back is enough for me."
"…Thank you, Kazela," I smiled. For some strange reason, the weights placed upon my heart suddenly felt lighter for the first time in years. I wonder why that could be?
"Ngh… ooohhh," After a few moments, Spectralinae finally came to despite the events that had occurred earlier. Her eyelids finally revealed to resuscitated life that was given back to her in her eyes. "Huh…? Taranza…? Is… is that you? What happened? And why does my neck hurt?"
"Well… it's a long story…" I could only say at that point. Spectra's waking up state then suddenly changed to that of a horrified one as she stares down at me for something. "Something wrong?"
"T-Taranza! Y-you're bleeding!" Her hand stretches out for my forehead, revealing the fresh stream of blood from the battle earlier, staining the glove's fingertips by just a little. "And your chest as well! It can't be…!"
"It's nothing new to us anyway, so don't worry about it, Your Highness," Dedede spoke.
She gazes around to see the rest of the gang, who didn't come out of the battle unscathed as well. Her worst fear perhaps intensified when she saw the younger kids all bruised and bodied, especially seeing Kazela resting against Karly after she resuscitated her.
"Even the younger children as well…!" Spectra gasped, her voice shaken as if she was about to cry. "I can't believe it… so it was just as I feared… I really did try to kill you!"
Everyone stood there in silence, recalling the battle earlier in her possessed state. Perhaps they ended up regaining consciousness at the moment she began to struggle with Dark Matter.
"What are you talking about? That wasn't your fault-!"
"-Stop defending me when everything's all my fault!" Spectra tearfully wailed. "My stupid selfish ego put you and your friends through so much unnecessary trouble all for a stupid family heirloom! I should've thought more carefully when I issued out that manhunt, maybe I should've just tried to hear you out if it meant you didn't have to go through all of that in the first place! It's no wonder some people can't stand royals in the first place!"
"Spectra…" I could only say, watching and hearing the freed ruler now in an emotionally broken state.
"Not only that, but I've been suffering from some sort of mental condition my entire life, and it's unbearable for me at this point, it's making me go insane! I don't even know who the hell I am anymore at this point!"
"Just as I thought…" Aege came forward. "Maybe this mental condition must be some sort of Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID for short. Strange, it's unlike anything I'm familiar with though… either way, the mental breakdown that comes with it is undeniable, that's for sure."
Spectra eventually broke down in tears. "It's true what he said! Thanks to that, I've felt as unhinged as ever at certain points! My god, what have I done?! I even tried to kill you a while ago!"
"Hey, calm down! I mean, that last bit wasn't your fault," I tried to console the weeping queen. "You were only being controlled by Dark Matter. If anything, it's actually my fault to begin with since I couldn't get over my weakness."
"Oi, Taranza," spoke Dedede with a tone of concern. "You ain't gotta apologize for nothing if you meant that time. Honestly, I really wish I could've done something for her, you know. I'm sure Kirby feels the same way as well." I could sense the tone of guilt riddled with his words.
Spectra continued to sob her aching, soul-crushed heart. "I'm so sorry, Taranza! For everything I've put you through! It's… it's better for you to just forget about me…"
The mood became dampened with gloom and the bitter taste of melancholy, as no one could even utter the right words to weather the figurative dark clouds within the room. I sighed heavily, being made to recall my greatest traumatic experience in my life, cycling through "what-ifs" and "if-onlys" of outcomes of that situation. As I said before, nothing a single day goes by without thinking of her…
But knowing the true persona of the one I had feeling for before, she would've wanted me to be able to move on through these troublesome days of my life. She was just that kind of person… so for her sake, I will move on.
With no more indecisiveness in my heart, I knew what I should do right here and now. I embraced the weeping queen with a pain filled yet comforting hug, one that brought her tears to an eventual halt.
"W-what… what are you…?"
"A hug. You look like you needed that- no, you really did need one." I softly whispered.
"But… but why? After everything I've done… shouldn't you despise me right now?"
"Why should I or anyone here hold that grudge, especially when it really wasn't your fault?" I softly caressed her head as I spoke, the tone in her voice became warm and starting to be relieved of heartache. "You've been through a lot emotionally more and all by yourself, even though you had people with you. That's why I'm not going to just forget about you like that when you're at your lowest point right now."
Spectra slowly pulls herself away from me to gaze into my face, tears evidently starting to dry up. "You… you really mean it?"
"I swear. Besides, I couldn't live with myself if anything else happened to you and I couldn't do anything for you; I couldn't save her anyway… you remind me so much of her…"
"… so, it's true that you did have feelings for someone else before," Spectra sighed. "She… she didn't make it, did she?"
I only shook my head in response. "Not a day goes by when I haven't thought of her, that I'll admit. Those last few years were nothing but a bullet through the heart, including the time I was on the run here; I regret not at least telling her how I feel. However, before she left this world for good, she told me-"
"Taranza, please… grant me this one wish… find happiness with another and please protect that whom you'll come to fall for. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you anymore, but knowing you'll be able to live for not only my sake but yours will make me happy to leave without any regrets. Grant this foolish queen her one last selfish request… no matter what, I'll always be with you…"
"Goodbye… Taranza… I… love… you…"
"I couldn't comprehend those words in the sorry state that I was in back then, but now I understand. I can't keep myself all chained up in the past my entire life. For her sake, I'll move on, and this time, I'll honor her final wishes by being there for you, Spectra," I smiled. "That I promise."
Spectra's eyes dilated, seemingly the weight placed upon her heart has finally been unveiled and lifted from her at last. Her cheeks flushed cherry red as she manages to erect a heartmelting smile.
"I… I… I don't know what to say… but…" Spectra then leans closer to me, blushing red with gratitude. "Thank you, Taranza." With those words, she gives me the greatest token of appreciation…
The act of tasting my lips with hers. In other words, she stole my first kiss. The group went crazy (most of them) upon seeing the smooch the Queen gave me all too suddenly. My face flushed with excitement and embarrassment all at the same time.
"Aww, so cute!" Aqua blushed in awe, giving her boyfriend Bandana Dee one passionate hug. "Just like when I stole your first time thrice in a row, sweetie!"
"Whoa!" The casuals of the group gasped.
"NICE!" The men of culture in the group grinned.
"That was literally a few weeks ago, Aqua," Bandana Dee blushed. "And did you really have to say it like that? It was just a kiss."
"Aww… boo," The group responded.
"Why are you guys disappointed?!" Bandana Dee sweatdropped.
While that was happening, Spectra's soft lips slowly pulls away from mine as she let out a soft giggle. It seems despair was off her back for good. Her eyes, however, gave off a different persona to her as they shone amethyst purple.
"I'm glad to see you again; you're much better when you're not sad, you know," She giggles. "Thank you, Taranza. Take care of her for us, darling." Her gemstone eyes then faded away to their usual shade of floral pink, reverting to clueless, innocent eyes while she darts her head across the room.
"Taranza, your face is all red," Spectra points out, almost as if she wasn't aware of what just happened in those few seconds. "So are your eyes… oh! Did I made you cry somehow? I'm so sorry…"
"No, that's not it. I'm fine." I awkwardly laughed.
"Did… did she forget that she just stole my first kiss a few seconds ago? Come to think of it, those words she spoke… it didn't seem like something Spectra would say after only knowing her for a short time. It was like someone else was residing within her… could it be a side effect of her condition possibly being DID maybe?" I thought.
While I thought that, Kazela did her usual habit of touching other women's chest again, which didn't startle Spectra much. "Well, glad to see you up and running again, from one royal to another, Your Highness."
"Oh yeah, Spectra. I almost forgot. This here is Princess Kailaine's long lost younger sister, Kazela. Apparently, she was the one who revived you after the battle with Dark Matter, being a vampire and all. Yeah, that apparently never got explained properly, but that doesn't matter now."
"Oh, I see," Spectra smiles, briefly cuddling Kazela with her chest while planting a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, sweetheart. I owe you and your friends my life."
"No problem, and your chest was payment enough. Why? That incident on Aquarius Star definitely awoken something within me, I know that much." Kazela shrugged, then pointing towards the throne doors. "But shouldn't you be stopping your Royal Guards from wreaking unwarranted mass destruction within Central Square right now? Also, I think the townsfolk should know about what's going on, don't ya think?"
Her expression widened at those words. "Oh my-! I completely forgot about them! I must hurry to the Central Square and stop this carnage at once!" But it seems like she's too exhausted from before as she lacks the energy to move on her own. "However, I haven't fully recovered yet, so Taranza, will you carry me there?"
"Sure thing." I easily lifted her up in my arms for a piggyback ride. However, she made quite a fuss about it. "Huh? What's wrong, Spectra?"
"What are you doing, Taranza? I want to be princess-carried over there!" She complained fussily. Everyone sweatdropped. "I'm only queen by title, but I'm a princess by heart, and I want to be carried like one by my spider prince charming! Yes, I'm well aware that what I just said was corny!"
"…you do make a valid point. Well, who am I to complain? Here you go!" I quickly positioned her in my arms as she requested, and her fussiness became sated with ecstasy. "Better now?"
"Much better, sweetie," Spectra giggled while snuggly hugging her arms around at the same time just as a cat rubbing their faces on their owners. "Now take me to the Central Square. It's time to put this matter to rest."
"Alright, let's get going, everyone!" I announced to everyone.
And so, the struggle to free Spectra from Dark Matter ended with her safety now in good hands while we made our way towards the Central Square through the doors in front of us. However, there was one tiny detail that we've failed to cover.
"Ah yes, by the way, everyone," Spectra glances at the rest of the group, pointing towards the piles of unconscious guardsmen/women lying everywhere. "Can any of you care to explain why all of the bodies of my remaining soldiers are lying there all over my property?"
The gang sweatdropped. "Uh… er, hahahaha… we can explain-"
"It was all Dark Matter," Kazela quickly saved their butts from possible punishment with a plausible answer.
"Oh, I see… glad to hear that, because otherwise… I would've assumed that you knocked out those guards and possibly "borrowed" a few of my belongings whilst you were here, no? Surely you're aware of what happens to those who do such a thing, right?" The tone in her voice quickly escalated to bloodlust.
"Yes, Your Highness," The group nervously replied, unbeknownst to her that they were guilty of doing those things because they replied with poker faces.
Spectra's tone changed back to her usual self. "Good, glad to know that you aren't the type to ransack someone's property for rare items. Carry on, then."
Well, that pretty much what makes an RPG truly unique- the fact that you can take items without getting in trouble for it (most of the time).
"Glad to have you back, Spectra," I awkwardly laughed.
"Only because of you and your friends who believed in you, Taranza," Spectra smiled. "I owe you everything. Thank you."
"Heh-heh, don't give me so much praise. Now what do you say we get going?"
"Yes, let's go!"
"YEAH!" The group cheered. And with the struggle for a torn soul marked its conclusion, we make our way towards the Central Square in order for Spectra to settle the matter and put an end to this whole madness.
Now I'm more determined to put those despairing days of my past behind me as I start to move forward, starting with Spectra and the promise to protect her. Thanks to my friends who believed in me… most importantly…
Thank you… Sectonia.
All 3 Scenarios Cleared!
You've completed all the playable scenarios of this act! Bonus rewards will come your way soon!
Flashback Complete! Returning to Central Square… this next part will conclude Fractured Conflicts for good! Just sit back, relax and let the story from here unfold!
Save Your Progress? Yes.
Now Saving… Save Complete!
To be continued…
End of Act 6 Part 4!
Author's Note Summary:
Sorry for the delay. Due to unforeseen circumstances and also Forgotten Land coming out and all, the release had to be put on pause. Also, I just want to get this freaking chapter in already after a few months since the last release. So, because of that, you're gonna have to wait a few weeks or so for the next part to hear my reasons for the delay (if possible). Once again, I apologize, and I'll see you next time! Bye!