[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Terra- Extended [Redux]]
The battle between our heroes and the Deadly 4 has begun. Starting off with a sense of adrenaline, magic spells, and weapons colliding left and right. Sephtis, the mysterious scythe wielder, swung his weapon horizontally, aiming for Sora. But the boy managed to dodge in time, thanks to his backflipping. As he did, Sora landed in front of Eda and Nevareth, causing them to regroup along with Luz, Amity, Willow, and Gus, each ready to continue the fight.
Sora: Team!
They all turned to Sora.
Sora: We need to split 'em up so they don't keep themselves coordinated.
Nevareth: Without their coordination, they lose their advantage.
The rest agreed until Pyron erupted with laughter.
Pyron: And how exactly do you runts plan to do that?
Luz: Good question... How are we going to do that?
Sora: Like this!
Suddenly, Sora's Keyblade begins to glow, and without hesitation, he aims it upwards, shooting a beam of light to create a sphere.
Sora: Team! Turn around!
The heroes do so as the sphere of light then bursts, flashing and blinding the Deadly 4. Sensing the light had faded, the heroes turned around to see the Deadly 4 rubbing their eyes, groaning from the disorientation.
Sora: Ok! This is it! Eda and I will take Sephtis, Luz, and Amity will take Pyron, and Willow and Gus will take on Toxina.
Nevareth: Which leaves Phoebe to me.
Sora: Right! Everyone got that?
Luz/Witches: Got it.
Sora: Alright, let's go!
Each team split up as they charged straight at their assigned opponents. Sora and Eda charged and tackled Sephtis further upstairs, Luz and Amity pinned Pyron down to the floor, remaining in the main lobby, Willow and Gus tackled Toxina outside of the guild, and Nevareth tackled Phoebe into the area designated as the sleeping quarters.
As Phoebe fell on her back, Nevareth readied his sword.
Nevareth: Your defeat is at hand.
Phoebe staggered as she got back up and entered her combat stance.
Phoebe: You think so, Nevareth? Let's see!
Phoebe suddenly bulked up without another word, her body rippling with power. She let out a howl that echoed, summoning two large bat animals to her aid from her, tracing a spell circle. The bats' eyes glow orange, signaling that they are under Phoebe's command.
Phoebe: Attack!
Nevareth wasted no time. He charged forward, his sword gleaming under the light of the chandelier. He moved with the precision and grace of a seasoned warrior, his strikes swift and calculated. The bats did their best to meet him head-on and evade his attacks but to no avail. Nevareth had already slain the bats.
Nevareth: Already, you're testing my patience. That is not all that you can muster.
With another howl, Phoebe summons a large ratworm.
Its body is limbless and resembles those of segmented worms, such as the earthworm. Their defining characteristic is their rat head.
Phoebe ordered the ratworm to attack, and it did so by ramming it at Nevareth, knocking him away. He fell on his back, and the ratworm trailed Nevareth in a bind, preventing him from attacking. The young swordsman struggled to escape, but it was in vain. Phoebe then approached Nevareth, readying her claws to strike.
Phoebe: Good girl, Chewy. Hold him still, I'll make this quick, and then you can eat him!
The ratworm, known as Chewy, squeaked in excitement.
Phoebe: Without your sword, you're powerless. Any last words before I make mincemeat outta you?
Nevareth: Actually, yes. One word, to be exact.
Phoebe: And what is that?
Nevareth: ...Spike!
Within mere seconds, earth spikes erupted and pierced through the ratworm's head and body, instantly killing it. After that, Phoebe snarled in rage.
Phoebe: CHEWY!
With a flick of her wrist, Phoebe sent a surge of magic through the ground, roots bursting forth to entangle Nevareth's feet. He stumbled but quickly regained his footing, cutting through the roots with a powerful swing of his sword.
Phoebe: You...little...BASTARD!
Phoebe unsheathed her claws and vigorously lunged at Nevareth with a feral roar.
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Terra- Extended [Redux]]
Meanwhile, Willow and Gus remain vigilant, looking for Toxina in a wooded area outside of the guild.
Gus: *whispering* You feel that?
Willow: *whispering* Yeah. Magic energy everywhere.
[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -The Encounter- Extended [Redux]]
They continued forward, the forest growing darker and more foreboding with each step. Vines twisted along the ground, and the trees seemed to lean in, their branches forming a tangled canopy that blocked out the last vestiges of light. Willow could feel the magic in the air even more, a deep, pulsating energy that thrummed through the very soil beneath their feet.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and with a sharp crack, the earth split open. Thick, thorn-covered vines shot up from the ground, writhing like serpents. Gus reacted quickly, summoning a powerful gust of wind to blow the vines back, but they kept coming, relentless and unyielding.
From the shadows emerged Toxina. Her eyes glowed with a malevolent light. She summons two long Grass Blades—razor-sharp weapons formed from the very essence of nature itself. She moved with a predatory grace, her lips curling into a cruel smile while purring.
Toxina: Well, well, what do we have here? Two little runts who think they can actually beat me? How cute.
Willow stepped forward, her expression hardening.
Willow: Trust us, we're more than enough to handle you!
Gus: Yeah!
Toxina laughed, a cold, mocking sound.
Toxina: Oh, how precious. Do you think you can stand against the might of the forest? I am nature's wrath made flesh, runt. You will be nothing but fertilizer when I'm done with you!
Without warning, Toxina lashed out with her Grass Blades, the weapons slicing through the air with deadly speed. Willow summoned a wall of thick vines to block the attack, but Toxina's blades cut through them effortlessly, forcing Willow to retreat.
Gus quickly summoned an illusion, creating multiple copies of himself and Willow to confuse Toxina. The demon bounty hunter hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between the illusions. But she quickly recovered her connection to the forest, which allowed her to sense the real Willow and Gus among the fakes.
Toxina: You can't hide from me!
Her Grass Blades whirled as she advanced on the true Willow and Gus.
Willow knew they couldn't win in a direct confrontation. Toxina was too powerful, too in tune with the forest. They needed to outsmart her, to use her own power against her.
Willow *whispers* We need to separate her from the forest. If we can break her connection, she'll lose a lot of her power.
Gus nodded, his mind racing.
Gus: *whispering* My illusions can still catch her off guard. You just need to be ready to strike when she's vulnerable.
Willow's eyes gleamed with determination.
Willow: *whispering* Let's do it!
Gus quickly cast another spell, creating an illusion of the forest thinning out and revealing a clearing up ahead. The illusion was so lifelike that even the forest seemed to believe it, the trees parting to reveal a patch of open ground.
Toxina's eyes narrowed as she saw the illusion and scoffed with a laugh.
Toxina: Seriously? Do you think you can trick me? I am the forest. There is no escape!
But Gus didn't reply. Instead, he used his magic to make it seem like the clearing was growing, the trees were retreating, and the ground was turning barren. Toxina, sensing a threat to her domain, surged forward, her Grass Blades slashing through the illusionary vines.
As Toxina advanced into the illusion, Gus cast a second spell, this time creating an illusory Willow that appeared to be preparing a powerful attack. Toxina, focused on destroying the illusion, didn't notice as the real Willow slipped behind her, using the cover of the illusory clearing to stay hidden.
When Toxina reached the center of the illusory clearing, Willow made her move. With a powerful surge of magic, she called forth the very plants that Toxina had twisted to her will, commanding them to wrap around the demon bounty hunter and bind her in place.
Toxina snarled in anger as the vines she once controlled turned against her, their thorns digging into her skin.
Toxina: You think these weaklings can hold me?!
Toxina roared, struggling against the bindings.
But Willow wasn't done. With a fierce cry, she summoned a massive thorned vine from the ground beneath Toxina, bursting through the earth and wrapping around the demon's legs, pulling her down, trapping her.
Gus: We did it!
Willow: Yes!
The two high-fived until Toxina began laughing.
Toxina: You serious? You actually serious? You actually think you've beaten me?
Gus: Uh, yeah? You're down, and we're up here.
Toxina mischievously giggled.
Toxina: Oh, my dear naive boy.
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -The Encounter- Extended [Redux]]
Suddenly, plant pods of some kind sprouted from behind Toxina. When they opened, a pink gas spewed from them and sprayed Gus, but it missed Willow as she dodged.
Gus: Gah!
Willow: Gus!
Gus began tumbling backward as Willow ran to him to help him stand.
Willow: Are you ok!?
Gus: Huh?
Gus then sees Willow's face up close. Upon doing so, the boy blushed and had a goofy smile.
[Play Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - La Pace]
Gus: Hi...~
Willow: Uh, hi? Gus, you are ok, right?
Gus: *smirked* Oh, I'm more than ok.
Willow: Eh?
Gus: Especially now that you're here.~
Willow paused, trying to process what had just happened.
Willow: ...What?
Willow widened her eyes, finally realizing what just happened, and furiously blushed. As this happened, Toxina managed to pull herself out of the ground and stretched her body, put off by Gus's reaction.
Willow: Oh, hell no! *turns to Toxina* Did you spray him with aphrodisiac pheromones!?
Toxina: ...Whoops. Didn't mean to do that.
Willow: What do you mean "you didn't mean to do that"!?
Toxina: *shrugged* ...I was going for something sedative. You know, make him catch Z's.
Willow's jaw dropped with a deadpan expression.
[End Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - La Pace]
[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Unforgettable- Extended]
Meanwhile, Luz and Amity are doing their best dealing with the blazing bounty hunter, Pyron.
Pyron: Ha ha ha! Come on, runts!
Pyron opened his mouth wide enough, unleashing a massive fire breath directly at them.
Luz/Amity: Oh, crap!
Both girls raised their Keyblades and cast a Reflera spell to block the fire breath. The force was a bit too strong for them, but they successfully held out long enough for the flames to disperse, giving them the chance to let the barrier down.
Luz: Oh, man!
Amity: That was close!
With a swift motion, he raised his hands, and a torrent of fire erupted from his palms, roaring towards Luz and Amity. Luz quickly activated multiple ice glyphs, summoning ice walls that intercepted the flames, steam hissing as the two elements clashed.
Amity, seizing the opportunity, cast a Watera spell, and a stream of water shot from her staff, aiming directly at Pyron. The demon bounty hunter dodged with ease, retaliating with a wave of fire that scorched the ground where Amity had been standing moments before.
Pyron: You'll have to do better than that!
Luz and Amity moved in unison. Luz's glyphs provided protection and distraction, while Amity's spells struck with precision, each attack aimed to exploit any opening in Pyron's defenses. But Pyron was relentless, and his control over fire made him a formidable opponent.
The heat became almost unbearable. Their sweat began to soak them, and the air began to smell like smoke. Pyron's attacks grew fiercer, his flames reaching out like hungry beasts. Luz and Amity were pushed to their limits, their energy waning with each passing moment. To help themselves, they cast Aerora and Blizzara around themselves for a needed cool-down.
Luz: *sigh* That's better.
Amity: But we can't keep this up forever. We need to find a way to bring him down.
Luz's eyes darted around the area, searching for anything they could use to their advantage until she had an idea.
Luz: Amity, can you create a powerful wind spell?
Amity: *nodded* I think so. What's your plan?
Luz: *grinning* We use the wind to fuel his flames and then trap him in a vortex. It may be a long shot, but it might be our best shot.
Amity's eyes glowed with determination.
Amity: Let's do it.
They moved quickly, positioning themselves on opposite sides of the clearing. Luz waved her Keyblade and cast Watera, creating a ring of water around Pyron to limit his movements. Amity then raised hers, casting Aerora. The wind whipped through the clearing, feeding Pyron's flames until they roared higher, creating a fiery whirlwind.
Pyron laughed, the flames growing ever more intense. "You think this will stop me? You're only making me stronger!"
Luz: Heh...you won't be feeling strong after THIS!
Pyron: Eh?
Luz immediately pulls out a potion bottle, one which Amity immediately recognizes with fear.
Amity: Is that an explosive brew!?
Luz: Yes. This small baby should do the trick! Amity, get ready build up a shield!
Amity: On it!
Pyron: WHAT THE F— ARE YOU INSANE!?
Luz: FIRE IN THE HOLE!
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Unforgettable- Extended]
Luz immediately chucks the explosive brew at the fire whirlwind. Luz grabbed hold of Amity, immediately took off to the far end of their side, and quickly summoned a wall made of stone using construction magic.
Luz: NOW!
The girls were just in time as they hid behind the stone wall, which successfully, albeit barely, withstood the force of the explosion that just occurred when the brew made contact with the fire whirlwind. As the force from the explosion finally settled, both girls stood up and looked around at the damage.
Tiny embers lingered, the air slightly smelling like soot, which the girls blew away with Aerora, and the walls seemingly cracked and even broken in some parts here and there, even partially colored black from being burnt. And in front of them lay Pyron, seemingly defeated by a pile of rubble. Feeling proud, Luz cheered and offered Amity a high five.
Luz: Alright, we won! Up top, Amity!
Amity returns it with glee.
Amity: Looks like we won!
Luz: Yeah, we did! Now, then. Let's go find—
[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Rage Awakened - The Origin- Extended]
Suddenly, the ground began rumbling, snapping both girls out of their talk, and looked around in surprise.
Luz: What's that?
Amity: I don't know—
Suddenly, energy erupts beneath the rubble on top of Pyron, and he then bursts free with a powerful aura around him. The entire area continues rumbling as Pyron, now completely surrounded by his dark red aura and flames igniting from his fists and from every step he took behind him, slowly yet furiously walked towards the girls. His expression grew completely feral with a grin that was as wide as hauntingly possible. But it's quite clear to the girls that underneath that feral grin lies Pyron's true emotion, anger.
Pyron: No one's ever gotten a hit like that on me before. It hurts, but it actually hurts.
Pyron's voice was wrathful despite sounding calm. Hearing this actually scared the girls.
Pyron: And for that... I'm going to burn you alive...
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Rage Awakened - The Origin- Extended]
[Play Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - Graceful Assassin]
Meanwhile, Sora and Eda, despite being the strongest members of their team, were having quite a bit of trouble with Sephtis.
Sephtis raised his scythe without warning, and a wave of dark energy surged toward Sora and Eda. Sora leaped into action, his Keyblade glowing with light as he deflected the attack. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but Sora held firm, his resolve unwavering.
Sora: This guy's using the darkness...
Eda: You must be nuts to be using that power.
Sephtis: It is a crude power but effective.
Eda, wasting no time, raised her staff and cast a series of light spells that appeared in the air around her. She then launched them as a barrage attack at Sephtis, each one aimed with deadly precision. But Sephtis merely waved his scythe, and the lights dissipated into nothingness before they could even reach him.
Sephtis: Like so. You'll have to do better than that...
Sora and Eda exchanged a glance, their unspoken understanding clear. They had faced powerful enemies before, but Sephtis was different. The darkness that surrounded him could be comparable to that of Belos.
Sephtis: Shadow Streak!
Leaving behind a trail of darkness, Sephtis moved with unnatural speed, his scythe cutting through the air with lethal precision. Sora then used his Flowmotion to increase his speed to block the strikes with his Keyblade, sparks flying as the two weapons clashed. Each blow sent a jolt through his arms, the darkness in Sephtis's attacks making them feel heavier, more draining.
Using magic to enhance HER agility, Eda darted around the battlefield, sending waves of elemental attacks at Sephtis. She summoned gusts of wind, bolts of lightning, and pillars of earth, trying to find any weakness in his defenses. But Sephtis was relentless, deflecting each attack with ease.
Eda: Yeesh. This guy's really good.
As the battle raged on, it became clear that Sephtis was toying with them, drawing out the fight to wear them down. The darkness around him seemed to grow thicker, more oppressive, as if feeding off their struggle.
Sora: Ok! Time to bring in the big guns!
Sora raised his Keyblade. The minute he did, Sephtis muttered one word to himself silently.
Sora: Stopga!
With that spell, Sora froze Sephtis in place, keeping him from moving. Eda's eyes widened in excitement.
Eda: Ha! That's the ticket! Quick, finish him!
Sora: On it!
Sora rushed in with his Keyblade, ready to land a heavy blow on Sephtis's head. But upon swinging, both Sora and Eda were surprised as the Keyblade simply phased through Sephtis, not hitting anything at all.
Sora: What the!?
Eda: How come that didn't do anything!?
The Stopga spell wore off, allowing Sephtis to move again. As soon as he did, he let out a chuckle.
Sephtis: I figured you had a trick like that up your sleeve.
Eda: How'd you do that?
Sephtis: Intangibility. A special spell exclusive to me and my predecessors. You cannot hope to touch me. Many of my targets have tried, but none have succeeded. In fact, I managed to claim the most bounties in the guild because of this spell.
Both Sora's and Eda's eyes narrowed in frustration.
Sephtis: Sora, I've been in this line of work for a long time. Longer than most men survive. They say I'm the best, and you want to know why? Because I always claim a bounty. No matter how far they run, where they hide, or how much they fight back, I always finish the job.
He takes a slow, deliberate step forward, his gaze never leaving Sora's eyes.
Sephtis: I've hunted down thugs, syndicate leaders, and even traitors of the Isles who thought they could best me. They all thought they could escape their fate. But I only stop once my target is in my hands or dead at my feet. And if that means breaking a few bones, spilling a little blood, or crossing lines that would make lesser men shudder—so be it.
He lets the silence hang in the air as if a sinister smile curled at the corners of his lips.
Sephtis: But what really drives me? What makes me relentless? It's not just the thrill or the credits, though they do keep me motivated. No, it's something much more.
He pauses, eyes narrowing as he leans in slightly.
Sephtis: I don't just hunt my prey, Sora. I hunt everything that matters to them. Family, friends—I'll tear it all apart if that's what it takes to bring them to their knees. And if you think for one second that your loved ones are safe, you're dead wrong.
His voice drops to a deadly whisper.
Sephtis: I'll hunt down every last one of them. Your family, Eda's family, the families of your friends. I'll make them pay the price for your bounty. And when they beg for mercy and scream your name in their final moments, you'll know it was all because of you. Because you thought you could escape your fate.
He straightens, his cold, glowing eyes locking onto Sora's as he points his scythe at him. Both Sora and Eda couldn't believe what they had just heard. Bad enough, they were dealing with Sephtis and his team, but now he was willing to drag innocent people into this. Them being their families even. The tension in the air was daunting as Sora lowered his head, trying to fully contemplate what to do next... That was...until he came to one and only conclusion. He then raised his head with an expression that showed immense determination as he turned to Eda.
Sora: Eda...
Eda: I know...
As it stands, Eda had also come to the same conclusion as Sora.
Eda: We have to.
Both nodded, fully on the same page, as they turned to Sephtis.
Sora: You've made this more personal, Sephtis...
Sephtis: Oh?
Sora: Dragging innocents into this... there's no way I'll allow you to do that. *points his Keyblade at Sephtis* To save those close to me and my friends, you must die!
[End Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - Graceful Assassin]
[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Rage Awakened - The Origin- Extended]
Phoebe lunged at him, ramming her whole body to deal Nevareth a heavy blow as well, with her claws aiming for his throat. Nevareth ducked and rolled to the side, coming up behind her with a swift strike. She howled in pain but quickly retaliated, her movements a blur of fur and fangs. The fight was fierce and relentless, with both combatants pushing their limits.
Nevareth: This ends now!
Nevareth focused his magic, channeling it into his sword. With a deep breath, he unleashed a powerful sword technique, his blade glowing with a brilliant light. He then swung his sword horizontally, releasing a surging, wide-spread light-based energy attack.
The attack connected, hitting the werewolf straight in her gut in a burst of light. Phoebe let out a painful roar, her body spazzing as the magic was rippling throughout her entire body.
Nevareth: *sigh* It's over.
As the effects of the attack wore off, Phoebe twitched before collapsing to the ground on her stomach, but not before uttering her last few words to Nevareth.
Phoebe: D-damn you.
With those words, she collapsed, defeated, ultimately knocked out. Nevareth sheathed his sword, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Nevareth: Finally...
The young swordsman then reached into his pouch, pulled out a potion bottle, popped open the cork, and drank it, healing his battle damage.
Nevareth: I must find the others. They'll perhaps need assistance.
Gus and Willow, feeling staggered, remained locked in the battle against Toxina in the center of the clearing.
Gus, his eyes unfocused and dreamy, couldn't tear his gaze away from Willow. The effects of the aphrodisiac pheromones from before had wrapped his heart in an iron grip, and every fiber of his being was drawn to her. But there was a fight to be won, and the danger they faced demanded all of their attention.
Willow, her eyes sharp and determined, glanced at Gus with a mixture of concern and frustration. She could feel the weight of his gaze, the way his love-stricken heart was tethered to her. But they couldn't afford distractions. Not now.
Toxina: Heh, Gotta hand it to that runt; despite being under the influence of those pheromones, he can still fight.
Gus's heart pounds in juxtaposition to his focus and the overwhelming feeling of being entranced by Willow. Based on the current situation, however, it seems his sense of focus is taking over.
Gus: Willow, just stay close to me. I'll protect you. We'll take her down together!
Or at least it sort of looked like that to Willow when she glanced at Gus with a mixture of concern and determination.
Willow: Gus, focus. This isn't just about me. We have to stop her, or she'll kill us both.
Gus: Right!
Toxina smirks, her fingers twitching as she summons razor-sharp grass blades from the ground. They rise like snakes, ready to strike.
Toxina: You two think you can take me on? A love-struck boy and a plant girl? *scoff* Right.
With a swift motion, Toxina swung the grass blades hurtling toward them. Willow reacts quickly, summoning a wall of thick vines from the ground, intercepting the blades just in time. At that moment, Willow used her vines to push Toxina away far enough to gain room.
Gus: Awesome job, Willow~. Lovely as always~. *shakes head, frowns in Toxina's direction* Now if only this lady would just stay down!
Willow: *gritting her teeth* I know! We can't go on like this forever! We need a way to stop her for good!
From the vines that pushed her away, Toxina emerged, her presence like a creeping poison. Vines slithered and writhed at her feet, responding to her every command. Her dark eyes gleamed with malevolence as she sized up the two witches. She sneered, gesturing to Gus.
Toxina: You really think you can defeat me? With him in this state?
Willow's jaw tightened.
Willow: We won't let you win, Toxina. We have something you don't.
Toxina laughed, a harsh, grating sound.
Toxina: And what's that? A lovesick puppy?
Willow's fingers curled around Gus's wrist, and she leaned in close.
Willow: Gus, focus. I need you to help me link up with Sora. We can't do this alone.
Gus blinked, his gaze finally breaking from Willow's face. Her words cut through the fog in his mind, and he nodded, trying to shake off the haze.
Willow: I'll try… for you, Willow.
Willow took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she began to focus on Sora's power with the D-Link.
Gus joined in, his body shaky but determined. The air around them shimmered with energy as their magic intertwined, searching through the guild for Sora's power.
As they both focused, they remembered one thing that Sora said.
Sora: *voiceover* Try to focus on that feeling and let that flow within you.
Just then, Willow and Gus felt it again and allowed Sora's power to flow within them fully.
Willow/Gus: Sora...give us strength!
Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted between them, and Sora's magic flooded into their bodies. The warmth of his power filled them, pushing back the feeling of unease that Toxina had brought with her. Willow felt Sora's strength, unwavering resolve, and pure light magic coursing through her veins. She could feel Gus beside her, his artificial infatuation for her seemingly now bolstered by Sora's power, grounding him in the moment.
Toxina's eyes narrowed as she saw the shift in their auras. The light was blinding, almost unbearable in its intensity. She lashed out with her vines, sending them snaking towards the two witches.
Toxina: You think light can save you? My plants will choke out your precious magic!
But Willow and Gus were ready.
Willow/Gus: Magic Flash!
Both witchlings cast a flash of pure magic energy that sends the vines flying away. Toxina looked around to see her vines battered and withering.
Toxina: What the!?
Willow/Gus: Flash Step!
Using their increased speed, the two unleashed a guard-piercing attack on Toxina, knocking her away further while keeping up their own guard. Toxina stood her ground, drew out her grass blades again, and charged at the two in pure rage.
Toxina: I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU BRATS! I'LL END YOU RIGHT NOW!
Willow felt the strain of channeling Sora's power, but she held on, pushing the light magic even harder.
Willow: Gus, we have to end this now!
Gus nodded, his grip on her hand tightening.
Gus: Together!
With their free hands, Both witchlings pointed them at Toxina and emitted intense sparkles of light.
Willow/Gus: Sunray Blast!
With a final surge of energy, Willow and Gus hovered in the air and launched a series of light projectiles at Toxina. The number of projectiles was too much for her to handle, and pain engulfed her completely.
The forest was bathed in brilliance, and for a moment, it was as if the night had turned to day.
When the light finally faded, Toxina was found unconscious, ultimately defeated. The forest was silent, the tension broken. Gus and Willow stood there, panting, their hands still clasped together.
The two witches glanced at one another, and Willow found that the effects of the aphrodisiac pheromones still lingered, but it was now tempered by the gravity of what they'd just done.
Gus: Willow… I—
Willow cut him off with a soft smile, squeezing his hand.
Willow: We won, Gus. That's what matters.
Gus paused a bit before grinning.
Gus: Yeah!
Just then, they remembered the others, mainly Sora and Eda.
Willow: Gus!
Gus: Hm?
Willow: We've gotta get to Sora and the others. They might need help.
Gus: Oh, right!
Willow: Let's find Luz and Amity. They're closest to us!
Gus: Right! I'll follow you anywhere!
Willow sighs with a nod and a smile. The two ran back inside the guild to find Luz and Amity. The aphrodisiac effects could wait.
Meanwhile, Luz and Amity were staggering with Pyron, who was close, and his fire magic had already left its mark on the landscape, burning everything behind him.
Pyron: This is it, kids. After I kill you, I'll help Sephtis kill that Sora kid. And we'll make sure you all share a coffin together.
Luz clenched her fists, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts.
Luz: We can't let him pass...
Amity: We won't let him! We'll stop him here!
Luz nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. The current battle confirmed it for her—he was relentless, ruthless, and powerful. Her current feelings reflect that she is barely surviving, especially now that she and Amity are cornered and have no time to retreat or regroup.
As the sounds of crumbling rubble and crackling fire drew nearer, Amity turned to Luz, her expression resolute.
Amity: We have to use it. The D-Link.
Luz hesitated.
Luz: Are you sure? We haven't exactly mastered it yet.
Amity placed a hand on Luz's shoulder.
Amity: We can do this. Together. Sora's power will help us.
With a deep breath, Luz nodded.
Luz: Together.
They clasped hands, and in that moment, the world seemed to be still. The air around them shimmered as they focused, their hearts reaching out across the guild to Sora. A soft, white light enveloped them, growing brighter as their connection strengthened.
Luz: *whispering* Sora...
Amity: *whispering* We need your light...
Far away, as if from another world, they felt a warm presence respond. Sora's magic surged through the link, filling them with a radiant power that made their skin tingle and their hearts race. The light grew stronger, starting to push back Pyron until the two shone like beacons.
Luz/Amity: Sora...give us strength!
The D-Link was complete.
As the light settled, Pyron's eyes gleamed with anger at what he saw. Luz and Amity were now encased in a white aura of light.
Flames then danced around his hands, casting an eerie glow on his enraged face.
Pyron: So, you think you can beat me?
The flames then intensified with eruption.
Pyron: YOU'RE POWERS ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO MY FIREEEEE!
Luz and Amity stood firm, their hands still clasped as the light around them intensified.
Amity: We're not alone!
Luz: And we're not afraid of your fire!
With an echoing roar, Pyron unleashed a torrent of fire, the heat searing the air as it hurtled toward them. But Luz and Amity were ready.
Luz/Amity: Watera!
The light from the D-Link flared, and with a powerful sweep of their hands, they unleashed a torrent of water that snuffed out all the flames around them, leaving them unharmed.
Pyron's: What!?
Luz: Your fire is nothing compared to our power!
Amity: And we'll show you how!
Luz/Amity: Magic Flash!
Both girls cast a flash of pure magic energy that pushed Pyron away.
Pyron: What the!?
Luz/Amity: Flash Step!
Using their increased speed, the two unleashed a guard-piercing attack on Pyron, further knocking him away while keeping up their own guard. Pyron stood his ground.
Pyron: TIME TO DIEEEEE!
Pyron gathered as much fire as he could in his mouth to unleash a massive fire breath.
The girls felt the strain of channeling Sora's power but held on, pushing the light magic even harder.
Luz/Amity: Let's finish this!
With their free hands, Both witchlings pointed them at Pyron and emitted intense sparkles of light.
Luz/Amity: Sunray Blast!
With a final surge of energy, Luz and Amity hovered in the air and launched a series of light projectiles at Pyron, with the number of projectiles being launched at him. It was too much for him to handle, pain engulfing him completely. Ultimately, he was knocked out in the very end.
The D-Link slowly dissolved as the white light faded from the girls. The connection left them drained but victorious. Luz turned to Amity with a tired smile as they caught their breath.
Luz: We did it. We actually did it.
Amity smiled back, her eyes softening.
Amity: Yeah.
Luz: *squeezing Amity's hand* We always make a good team. Don't we?
Amity: *blushed, squeezing Luz's hand* We do.
The battle was won, but they knew the fight was far from over. They figured that Sora and Eda were dealing with Sephtis, Willow and Gus with Toxina, and Nevareth with Phoebe.
Luz: We should find the others.
Amity: Yeah. They might need help. Let's start with Willow and Gus.
And so, the two set off to find and help the others.
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep -Rage Awakened - The Origin- Extended]
Luz and Amity walked out to the center area of the guild, both slightly disheveled but triumphant. Their hands are still crackling with residual magic, and their faces are flushed with victory. Luz grins, her eyes sparkling with excitement
Luz: That was awesome!
Amity chuckles, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Amity: Yeah, it was.
Nevareth walked into the area and caught up to the girls.
Nevareth: Excellent. I see you are victorious.
Luz/Amity: Nevareth!
Luz: We sure are!
Amity: And it looks like you are as well.
Nevareth: Indeed.
The three of them then spotted Willow and Gus on the opposite side, entering through the front door, also victorious. But they also saw something else, Gus clinging tightly to Willow's hand, gazing up at her with dreamy eyes with a goofy smile plastered across his face.
Luz nudges Amity, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
Luz: *whispering* Amity, look! Gus and Willow... they're holding hands!
Amity's eyes widen, and a small, knowing smile tugs at the corner of her lips.
Amity: Oh my Titan, do you think...?
Luz races ahead before Amity can finish her thought, her excitement bubbling over.
[Play Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - La Pace]
Luz: Willow! Gus! Congrats on winning your battle! But, um, *grinning mischievously* Is there something else you two wanna tell us?
Willow rolls her eyes as she tries to pry Gus's hand from hers, but he's latched on tight, his cheeks pink with affection.
Willow: *muttering* Gus, snap out of it already!
Hearing that made Luz and Amity more convinced of their theory. Amity joins Luz, a teasing glint in her eyes.
Amity: You guys make such a cute couple. *nudging Willow with her elbow* It's about time, right?
Luz: I always hoped you two would end up together!
Nevareth: Does love truly bloom on the battlefield?
Luz: Looks like it!
Willow groans in frustration, finally managing to shake Gus free.
Willow: It's not like that! *glares at Luz and Amity* Gus got hit with aphrodisiac pheromones from Toxina. He's not himself right now.
Luz: *blinks* Aphrodisiac—wazzat mean?
Willow: It means he's under a love spell.
Amity: Wait, for real?
Willow lets out a sigh, folding her arms across her chest.
Willow: Yes, for real. *to Luz* While I appreciate your enthusiasm for matchmaking, *to everyone*, we have bigger problems right now. We need to find Sora and Eda and see if they need help with Sephtis.
Luz: Ok. But, if he's under a spell, why didn't you use any Panacea on him?
Willow: I would've, if I had any.
Luz: Oh.
Willow: By the way, you wouldn't have any on you, would you?
Both Luz and Amity searched themselves to see if they had any, but they shrugged their heads and said no, as they didn't, in fact, have any Panacea on them.
Willow: *sigh* Of course.
Luz: Hey, don't worry.
Amity: Yeah. I'm sure Sora has some on him.
Still under the spell's influence, Gus gazes and sighs dreamily at Willow.
Gus: I don't know what's going on, but you're amazing, Willow.~
Luz and Amity couldn't help but desperately try to hold in their laughter, but Willow heard it.
Willow: SILENCE!
Luz and Amity stopped as Willow pointed at the two with her index finger.
Willow: ...I kill you.
Gus: You're beautiful when you're angry.~
Willow rolls her eyes again, but a small, amused smile is on her lips.
Willow: Yeah, yeah, let's go.
With that, the group sets off together to find Sora and Eda.
[End Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - La Pace]
[Play Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - Scythe of Petals]
Meanwhile, Sora and Eda were panting for breath from all their attempts to land a blow on Sephtis, who managed to dodge each of their attacks.
A low, menacing chuckle echoed through the upstairs room, causing Sora and Eda to snap to attention. Sephtis emerged from the shadows, his black robes blending into the night. The only things visible were the glint of his scythe and his glowing white eyes.
Sephtis: You've lasted this far, but this is where your journey ends.
He twirled his scythe with a casual grace, its blade cutting through the air with a whispering sound.
Sephtis: You cannot defeat what you cannot touch.
Sora: *eyes narrowed* We'll see about that.
Sora began to assess their enemy. He knew Sephtis's Intangibility would be difficult, but he needed a plan—one that would require perfect timing and coordination with Eda.
Without another word, Sephtis lunged forward, his scythe slicing through the air in a deadly arc. Standing behind Sora, Eda narrowed her eyes as she focused directly on Sephtis, hoping to find an idea to gain the upper hand. Sora met the attack head-on, parrying the strike with his sword. The force of the impact reverberated through his arms, but he held firm, pushing Sephtis back.
Eda's eyes widened in realization. That clash that she had seen just now was exactly what Sora and Eda needed.
Eda: *thinking* That's it! That's how we'll beat him!
Sephtis chuckled, his form flickering like a shadow as he vanished, becoming intangible. Sora's Keyblade passed through him harmlessly, and Sephtis reappeared behind them, his scythe poised to strike.
Eda's head swiftly turned around as she saw it coming.
Eda: Kiddo, dodge!
Sora and Eda barely managed to dodge the attack, rolling to the side as the scythe cleaved into the ground where they had been standing and stopped next to each other. Sora spun around, slashing at Sephtis, but once again, the assassin became intangible, the blade passing through him without effect.
Sora: *muttering* This is getting old.
Sora's frustration crept into his voice. He needed to find a way to force Sephtis into a vulnerable state, but the assassin's ability to become intangible at will made it nearly impossible.
Eda, her voice calm despite the chaos, called out to Sora.
Eda: *whispering* Kiddo. I got an idea.
Sora: *whispering* What is it?
Eda whispered even more silently to make sure Sephtis didn't hear, yet loud enough for Sora to hear.
Sora: *whispering* Eda, that's genius!
Eda: *whispering, chuckles* Naturally. Remember, we need to time it perfectly.
Sora: *whispering, nodded* Right.
Sora tightened his grip on his Keyblade. He knew what he had to do. Sephtis had a pattern; he couldn't remain intangible forever. There were brief moments when he had to solidify to launch his attacks. Sora needed to bait him into making a mistake, to force him into one of those vulnerable moments.
He darted forward, feinting an attack. Sephtis began to phase out, expecting another futile strike, but Sora anticipated it. Instead of completing the attack, Sora changed his trajectory at the last second, driving Sephtis back toward Eda.
Sephtis: What in the—?
Sephtis, caught off guard by the sudden shift, had to solidify to regain his balance. It was the opening Sora had been waiting for.
Sora: Eda, now!
Eda: Here we go!
Eda, already prepared, unleashed her spell.
Eda: Stopga!
In just a flash, everyone heard the sound of a loud, echoing clock ticking. Time seemed to slow as a ripple of inverted-colored energy emanated from her, enveloping the area in a shimmering aura.
[End Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - Scythe of Petals]
Sephtis: NOO!
Sephtis, realizing too late what was happening, attempted to phase out, but the Stopga spell caught him quicker. His form flickered before being completely trapped in frozen time.
Eda: KIDDO! NOW!
Sora didn't hesitate. He knew this was his best and only chance. Sora aimed his Keyblade at Sephtis and fired a light beam into his chest. Sparkles of purple light began emitting from his chest as a sphere of black light surrounded by purple flames exited from Sephtis and hovered in place in front of Sora and Eda, that being Sephtis's heart. The two glanced at one another and nodded. Sora swung horizontally and slashed at it, tightening his grip on his Keyblade. Sephtis's heart began rumbling a bit before ultimately shattering into pieces and fading away from view. When this happened, Sephtis lowered his head, dropped his scythe, and instantly collapsed onto the floor. And so, it was done. Sephtis is now dead. Sora and Eda could only look at his lifeless body with no emotion. Not even bothering to cheer for their victory. Instead, they could just simply acknowledge it.
Eda: Well, we did it. We won.
Sora: Yeah... No more will he hurt others or drag innocent people into his dirty work.
Eda: Yeah... Let's go find the others.
Sora: *nodded* Hm.
As they both turned around, Sora and Eda paused as they saw Luz, Amity, Willow, Gus, and Nevareth standing there. Their faces showed a mixture of shock and concern.
Luz: S...Sora? E...Eda?
Amity: Did you just...
Willow: W-why?
Both Sora and Eda lowered their heads and sighed deeply.
Eda: Let's head outside. We'll talk.
[Play Kingdom Hearts Ⅲ OST - Night of the Dark Dream]
Everyone slowly walked outside of the guild and gathered with Sora, who used construction magic to build seats for everyone. Luz and the others sat on one side, while Sora and Eda sat opposite.
Eda: Before we start... Yes...
Sora: I killed Sephtis.
The air between them was tense, laden with unspoken questions and a palpable sense of unease. To break the silence, Luz looked between Sora and Eda with a mix of confusion and concern.
Luz: ...Why? I mean...we know this isn't the first time, but still...
Sora glanced at Eda before stepping forward. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
Sora: In the beginning, Eda and I thought that Sephtis was just another bad guy we could knock out. But that wasn't the case this time. It wasn't just about the bounty on my head. He threatened to go after you—after all of you.
Amity's eyes widened, her hand instinctively reaching for Luz's.
Amity: But… why us? What did we ever do to him!?
Eda sighed, her voice laced with bitterness.
Eda: It wasn't about what you did. It was about what we meant to each other. Sephtis knew that coming after us directly might be difficult, so he also threatened to go after our families.
The teens paled at that. The thought of someone hunting down and killing their families made them feel sick to their stomach.
Gus: *tearing up* He was...gonna kill our families?
Eda: *nods* He was going to use that as leverage, to make us surrender, to break us. He didn't care who he hurt in the process.
Nevareth growled.
Nevareth: I always figured Sephtis was rather callous, but this..this was pure evil.
Willow *clenches fists* So, you killed him to protect us and our families?
Eda: That's right. There was no way in hell Sora and I would allow someone to do that.
The teens then look back at Sora with sadness.
Luz: Oh man.
Amity: If that's the case, it had to be done.
Eda: That's right. And remember...
The teens turned to Eda.
Eda: You're all Guardians now. This is what it means to be as such. Yen Sid said we're at war now, and this is what comes with it. You can't doubt yourselves. In times like these, if you lose heart, then how can you hope to survive? Sora has done this before, and you all have to follow his teachings and footsteps.
Eda then faces the teens.
Eda: Take this as a lesson. Sometimes in life, you have to do what you must, not just to survive but to protect those you hold dear.
Nevareth: Of that, I agree.
Everyone turned to Nevareth.
Nevareth: If you may recall, I've seen my fair share of deadly situations, such as those demons who slain and destroyed my home. I took their lives as a result. In my case, it was vengeance, but in this case, it was protection. Either way, it had to be done.
Sora: *nodded solemnly* Nevareth's right. And...this wasn't a choice I made lightly either...
The room fell into a heavy silence. The reality of the situation settled over the group like a thick fog.
Luz broke the silence again, her voice tinged with sadness but also understanding.
Luz: You did it to protect us. I get it. It's just… hard to wrap my head around.
Amity squeezed Luz's hand, her voice soft as she spoke.
Amity: It's hard, but I'm glad you're safe. That we're all safe.
Eda took a step closer to the group, her gaze sweeping over each of them.
Eda: Listen, I know this isn't easy to hear. Killing someone… it's not something to take lightly. But as Sora, Nevareth, and I have said before, it had to be done.
Sora: And someday...you might have to do so yourself, especially with Belos and his team. You all remember how he tried to take me out. So, who knows how far they'll take their revenge on us.
The teens widened their eyes right then and there. This was almost a certainty. They themselves may indeed have to take lives themselves if it came down to a battle with Belos and his men.
[End Kingdom Hearts Ⅲ OST - Night of the Dark Dream]
Sora: But honestly, we shouldn't think about that right now.
Eda: Yeah. It's been a long day.
Willow nodded slowly, her voice calm but resolute.
Willow: We understand. We don't like it, but we understand.
Gus: Definitely a lesson none of us wanted, but what we may have needed.
Sora: But in the end, we won. And they'll never bother us again.
Nevareth: Especially once they find Sephtis's body.
[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep OST - Dearly Beloved]
Sora: Oh, yeah. Nevareth, I can't thank you enough for helping us take down Reaper's Hand.
The rest of the team agreed.
Nevareth: It was my pleasure. But I'm afraid this is where we must part.
Teens: Aw.
Eda: So, what will you do now?
Nevareth: For now, I will travel the Isles. Offering my services exclusively to good people in need. Who knows? Perhaps I will even establish a mercenary guild of my own. But one where honor and dignity guide us.
Sora: Sounds like a great idea to me.
The rest agreed to hear that as Nevareth stood up, ready to go.
Nevareth: It was a pleasure meeting you all and fighting by your side. Hopefully, we will meet again.
The rest agreed to that as well. As Nevareth got ready to leave, Sora stopped him.
Sora: Wait, Nevareth.
Nevareth: Hm?
Sora summoned a rectangular box and a large flask of cold water.
Sora: Here.
Nevareth: Hm?
The young swordsman opened the box and was awed to see it filled with fresh fried shrimp—the same meal he had eaten earlier.
Nevareth: For me?
Sora: Sure. Seeing how you liked it earlier today and that it's already late, I figured you'd like some for the road.
Nevareth was taken back at first, but he was still very grateful.
Nevareth: You truly are compassionate.
Sora folded his arms behind his head in a relaxed manner.
Sora: Anything for a friend.
Nevareth: A friend?
Sora: Sure. If you wanna be.
Nevareth paused, glancing at the others, who smiled and shrugged, signaling that it was his choice. Nevareth lowered his head with a smile before looking back at Sora.
Nevareth: I'd like that very much.
The two then shook hands.
Sora: Good luck to you, Nevareth.
Nevareth: Same to you, Sora.
Nevareth took the food box and water and parted ways from Sora and the others by walking off into a clear path leading into the forest. The others waved goodbye as he left.
Eda: Great job, Mr. Friendly! You made another one.
Sora: Haha.
Luz: Welp. It's time to head home.
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep OST - Dearly Beloved]
Willow: Not yet!
[RECORD SCRATCH]
Luz: Huh?
[Play Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - La Pace]
The rest turned to Willow, who they see with Gus still clinging onto her hand, gazing at her lovingly
Willow: We gotta fix lover boy here!
Gus: I love this girl!
There was a brief pause as Sora and Eda processed the information. They then grinned mischievously.
Eda: No way!
Sora: Alright! Congrats, you two!
Willow: *facepalms* Ugh!
Sora leans in and whispers to Willow.
Sora: *whispering* I told you you'd find a great guy who'd fall for you.
Willow: *whispering* Boy, if you don't...
Willow tried shoving Sora away, but he dodged by hopping backward.
Willow: It's not like that! Gus is under a love spell.
Sora and Eda paused again before bursting into laughter in unison, followed by Luz and Amity. Willow, clearly unamused by their reaction, huffed.
Sora: Sorry. But that's a little funny.
Willow: *irritated* Soraaaaa...
Sora: *waves hands up defensively* Alright, I know what to do. Give me a sec.
From his inventory space, Sora summoned a bottle of Panacea, which resembles a small bronze double-handled chalice, and tossed it to Willow.
Sora: Here you go.
Willow caught the vial and immediately uncorked it, glancing back at Gus, who was now trying to compose a love poem on the spot.
Willow: Gus, you thirsty?
Gus: Ah! I do feel thirsty...thirsty for you—
Willow suddenly force-fed Gus the Panacea, causing him to drink it all in one gulp.
Willow: Sorry, Gus.
Gus blinked, his eyes losing their glassy, lovestruck look. He shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts and then looked around, confused. But as soon as he saw Willow, he blushed immensely. Gus groaned, covering his face with his hands.
Gus: *muffled* Noooo-ho-ho-hoo!
Willow: *sweat dropped* I take it you remember everything.
Gus simply nodded as Sora grinned, nudging him playfully.
Sora: Don't worry, Gus. It's all in good fun. Besides, you gave us a good laugh.
Eda chuckled, slinging an arm around Gus's shoulders.
Eda: You sure can be smooth when you wanna be, kid. Ha ha!
Gus: *muffled* Sora! Can you kill me too? I don't think I can live through this!
Sora: Uhh, no. *grins, pats Gus's shoulder*
Willow: Oh, would you calm down? You weren't yourself, so you shouldn't be THAT embarrassed.
Gus sighed as he uncovered his face, showing he was irritated and tired.
Gus: I wanna go home.
Sora: Sounds good. We'll see each other tomorrow.
Willow/Gus: See ya.
Willow and Gus walk off to head to their own homes.
Sora/Eda/Luz: See ya.
Sora: Time to go. *to Luz and Eda*
Eda: Yup. Time for my beauty sleep.
Luz: Same here.
The three flew off into the sky and back to the Owl House.
Willow and Gus walked to the intersection in the middle of Bonesborough, which led to their home directions.
Gus: Hey, Willow?
Willow: Yeah?
Gus: So, about earlier... I know I said some things...
Willow smirks as Gus talks.
Gus: And I know I was NOT myself... So, I hope you didn't read too much into that... I never thought about you like that—
Willow: *raised an eyebrow* Oh?
Gus: I didn't mean it like that. I'm not saying you're not pretty. I mean, you're not bad looking at all—Wait, I mean—
Willow giggles as she places a hand on Gus's shoulder.
Willow: It's ok. I get it. No harm done.
Gus: *phew*
Willow: ...Though I gotta ask...
Gus: Hm?
Willow: Does this mean no date for us then?~
Gus: *blushes* W-What?! C-come on! Haven't I been teased enough?
Willow: Hmm... Who said I was teasing?
Gus widened his eyes, and he slowly directed his pupils in Willow's direction.
Gus: A-ar-are you serious?
Willow: Yeah. I mean, despite your little "episode" earlier...
Gus slouched.
Willow: Part of me liked the attention, and I guess I kinda wanna see...if we can explore that.
Gus couldn't believe what he was hearing. A date with Willow. Deep in his heart and mind, he never thought about that until now. On the other hand, he and Willow had been friends for a long time, had been through a lot together, and had been good to each other. And it looks as though he's starting to see how pretty she is. So, maybe, just maybe, he could see where this could go.
Gus: Well, in that case, I remember hearing about a little party held by the Bard Class at one of the local parks coming up in a few days. What do you say we go there and check it out?
Willow: *giggles* Sounds great.
Gus: Cool. Well, then. It's a date.
Willow: Yup. Oh, and one more thing.
Gus: Hm?
Willow: *leans in* Under no circumstances do we EVER let the others find out. They'll never let us live it down, especially Luz.
Gus: Good point.
Willow: Welp. See ya tomorrow.
Gus: See ya.
The two waved goodbye before parting ways to their own homes.
[End Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories OST - La Pace]
Meanwhile, at the Reaper's Hand guild, three of the four members of the Deadly 4 gathered around the lifeless body of Sephtis, trying to wake him up for a long while.
Phoebe: Please... Say something...
Pyron: This is...how...why?
Toxina: Wake up! Sephtis, please!
Phoebe: He can't be dead!
Toxina: Sephtis! This isn't funny! Say anything! Tell us you're ok!
[Play Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX -Missing You- Extended]
Pyron placed his hand on Sephtis's chest and wrist to check for a pulse. He found none.
Pyron: No pulse... No heartbeat... I'm afraid... he's dead.
Pyron lowered his head, closing his eyes with a saddened expression.
Phoebe knelt next to Sephtis, placing her hand on his chest where his heart once was. Her tears spilled down her cheeks.
Phoebe: We've been together since the beginning when the guild was first built. We're so sorry. We failed you.
Toxina shedded tears. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Toxina: We were supposed to be strongest team... This wasn't supposed to happen... HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?
The trio stood in silent vigil over their fallen ally, each lost in their own thoughts of guilt and grief. The air around them grew heavier, thick with the oppressive weight of their sorrow. But as they mourned, a dark corridor appeared behind them. Of which, they noticed.
[End Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX -Missing You- Extended]
[Play Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep OST - Xehanort]
They turned around and prepared themselves for what may appear before them. From within the dark corridor stepped a figure clad in black, his presence radiating malevolence. His dark bodysuit glinted menacingly in the faint light—this being Vanitas.
Underneath the mask, the dark Keyblade wielder's smile was cruel, his voice dripping with mockery as he addressed the grieving hunters.
Vanitas: Oh, how touching. Mourning over a worthless corpse, are we?
Pyron's head snapped up, his sorrow quickly morphing into anger. He rose to his feet, fists clenched, flames flickering at his fingertips.
Pyron: You! Who are you!? And how dare you insult our comrade!?
Vanitas chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth.
Vanitas: Ah, yes. We haven't been properly introduced. Name's Vanitas. I take it Sephtis didn't tell you about me at all?
Pyron: No...
Vanitas: Ahh. Well, I was the guy that gave him the tip of Sora coming after you losers. In fact, I was the one who gave him, and by extension, the rest of you, the task of bringing him down in the form of that bounty. And yet, here I find you, not only having failed but crying over this pathetic failure. How disappointing.
Toxina hissed, her body tensing as she prepared to strike.
Toxina: You have no right to talk about Sephtis like that! He fought until his last breath!
Vanitas: Hmmm... I suppose that's true. After all, he must've done so if he were to stand a chance against Sora. Though I gotta say, I didn't expect him to actually be willing to kill Sephtis.
The three bounty hunters widened their eyes in absolute shock.
Pryon: That runt...actually killed Sephtis...?
Phoebe: No way!
Toxina: "NO WAY" IS RIGHT! NO WAY IN HELL WILL WE LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS! PRYON, PHOEBE, LET'S FIND THAT BRAT AND FINISH HIM OFF OURSELVES!
Vanitas raised an eyebrow, his expression one of amused disdain.
Vanitas: And how exactly do you plan to do that? Need I remind you of your incompetence? How the rest of you were bested by Sora's pals? Face it. If you couldn't have handled those chumps, Sephty couldn't have handled Sora, so why bother? You're all just too WEAK! In fact...
Vanitas extended his right hand outward towards the scythe that once belonged to Sephtis and pulled it towards him with a Magnet spell, firmly grasping it.
Vanitas: How about I just put you all out of your misery for good?
Toxina: YOU LITTLE PUNK! HOW ABOUT I SHUT YOU UP FOR GOOD!?
With her grass blades summoned, Toxina roared as she charged at Vanitas.
But before any of them could react, Vanitas moved with blinding speed, with the scythe in his hand. With a twisted chuckle, he lunged at Toxina and slit her throat, instantly killing her as she lifelessly collapsed onto the ground.
Vanitas: That's one...
Pyron: TOXINA!
Pyron attempted to give Vanitas a dose of his fire breath, but Vanitas easily stopped him by casting Graviga, which enveloped Pyron in a miniature event horizon that bound him down in the ground by sheer crushing intense weight upon him.
Vanitas: Magnega!
The Magnega spell hurled Pyron over to Vanitas at high speed, unable to escape. As he got close enough, Vanitas repeated what he had done to Toxina and Pyron.
Vanitas: That's two...
Pheobe's heart raced as she watched her friends fall one by one. Desperation fueled her as she charged at Vanitas with her claws. But before she could have the chance, Vanitas appeared behind her and gave her the last words she would hear. Words that sent shivers down her spine.
Vanitas: *whispering* Look at it this way...you 4 will be together forever...right now.
And with the sound of swinging sharp metal followed by the cutting of flesh, Phoebe let out a loud, blood-curdling yelp.
Phoebe: HURK—!
Phoebe's strength instantly left her as she fell to the ground. And so, the Deadly 4 is no more.
Vanitas looked down at the fallen hunters, his smile widening with sick satisfaction.
Vanitas: And that's three. Like I said... You're all weak. *looks at Sephtis's scythe* Oh yeah. I'm keeping this. And the poor fools didn't even realize that all their negativity fueled my power the second I came here.
Vanitas looked down at the fallen hunters again, realizing something.
Vanitas: *thinking* Hmmm... I see. Sora extracted Sephtis's heart and destroyed it. Xehanort once said that the body, the soul, and the heart are the three factors that comprise a living being. Without all three together in unison, they're no longer alive. Sephtis's case is quite a shame for me. Without his heart, he can't have become heartless. ...But as for the other three... *snaps fingers*
Several Shadow Heartless appear in front of Vanitas as he points toward the three bounty hunters he had slain earlier.
Vanitas: Their hearts still remain. Which means they'll be useful in the long run. Heartless, collect their hearts. And collect the rest of the hunters' hearts of this guild while you're at it.
He stepped back, allowing the Heartless to do their jobs.
Vanitas: *thinking* Since their bodies are destroyed, their Nobodies cannot exist. This means that should their Heartless be destroyed, that's it. Oh well, time for the next idea. Time for Lilith to get to work on that little project of hers.
As Vanitas disappeared into the dark corridor, the Reaper's Hand guild settled into a state of unnatural silence. Thanks to the Heartless, all the low-level bounty hunters vanished without a trace, while The Deadly 4 lay still, their bodies lifeless, and their mission failed. In the end, the Reaper's Hand guild is dead.
[End Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep OST - Xehanort]