Chapter Text
What's this? A new chapter released a few hours after the last one? Has the world gone mad? All joking aside, I still felt the urge to write more even after writing that last chapter. And since I left it on such a huge cliffhanger, I felt that I shouldn't make you guys wait ANOTHER month or so to see what happens next. I can't guarantee how often this will happen as like I've mentioned sometime before (probably in Ashen Wolf) I prefer writing when I'm in the right mood as I feel like I don't put out my best work if I try to force myself to write. Anyway, enjoy this bonus chapter!
Everything had happened so fast. Even the legendary Aegis had difficulty processing how this battle had gone as she saw in horror that her Driver had been impaled by Zarc's blade. Initially she had gone with her Driver to help support Marth, alongside Kirito and Jin, while Kos-Mos and the others provided ranged support, but that hardly even slowed the Greed Lord down. He seemed to have the ability to change the shape of his weapon on the fly, switching the heavy greatsword for a slimmer longsword. His speed was crazy too, far greater than anyone Mythra had seen before. Not even that Julius fellow held a candle compared to Zarc. Any attack they threw at him, he easily repelled, all with that arrogant smirk plastered on his stupid face.
Things really fell through for Marth's team the moment those clay walls went up. The very instant they went up, he had launched a massive counterattack with this earth spike spell. It started by shooting spikes from the ground, which everyone was able to dodge with relative ease, but that was only the first phase of the spell. The next phase had those same spikes fired into the air, constantly trying to run themselves through the fighters. Now that alone was challenging given how fast they moved, but they were also annoyingly sturdy that regular attacks could barely even scratch them. Then you had to factor in Zarc himself, who was constantly on the offensive while his opponents were struggling to even survive this onslaught.
Just to survive, they had to change their strategy by having Marth and Kirito holding back Zarc while Xander and the others dealt with the spears. As much as Mythra hated to admit it, she was lucky to have come out of that ordeal alive. They were constantly attacked from all angles, all directions. Nowhere was safe. Not even the ground which they stood on. The very floor felt sticky, as if it was trying to swallow the Aegis whole. The only solution to deal with it was to constantly be on the move, which is really hard to do while dodging high-speeding spears of stone!
Somehow the three mercenaries managed to destroy a majority of the stone spears, but they were pretty beat up as a result. Mythra's dress and leggings were torn, with blue ether pouring out of her open wounds. The tendon of Jin's right leg was severed, the spear still sticking out of him. He had taken a hit for Xander as such a blow was outright crippling for a human. As a Blade, Jin can heal from any wound so long as his core crystal is intact, but that takes time, time they might not have. As for the Aegis Driver himself, he had few cuts here and there, but they didn't look too serious. It was only thanks to Mythra's Foresight that he managed to get by with just those injuries.
Then there were Marth and Kirito. To put it bluntly, they were covered in injuries too. Despite their coordination, they were only barely getting a few hits on Zarc, leaving only minor gashes in the Greed Lord's armor. They probably could have done better if they didn't have to constantly dodge any earth spikes that got through the trio. The Black Swordsman in particular was even worse for wear. In fact, from all of Mythra's quick glances while dealing with the spikes, it looked like Zarc was deliberately going for the black-garbed Spriggan. Was he trying to get a reaction out of Marth, to force the demon prince into making a mistake? It was hard to say, but possible. Although, speaking of the Dark Swordsman, Mythra once noticed this strange smirk on his face. Was he…enjoying this duel of death?
Things really turned to hell after Kos-Mos's failed long range barrage attack. In just the blink of an eye, Zarc unleashed a barrage of earth magic spells. First he shook the ground to make them lose their balance, then fired another volley of earth spikes which were even harder to dodge. Mythra had to unleash a barrage of Arts alongside her Driver just to protect the two of them. Jin managed to shield himself within a dome of ice, which barely managed to withstand Zarc's magical assault. As for the Darkness Duo, they somehow managed to pull through, having both partners covering each other's backs. That is, until one slipped past Marth's guard and was about to pierce his shoulder had Kirito not taken the blow himself
Mythra could still remember seeing the fountain of blood gushing out from the Black Swordsman's wound. Thankfully Nia and Dromarch had managed to break through and began trying to patch the dual wielder up while Marth covered them. In fact, that was probably the most serious Mythra ever saw the demon prince fight. Kirito's shoulder wound looked serious, with him barely able to move his left arm. Nia was working hard to heal him with her Arts, but it was taking too long to close.
Somehow, they managed to destroy the remaining earth spikes, but while they were distracted with that, Zarc had begun attacking the others in the group. The first to go down was Kos-Mos. He struck so fast the android could barely react in time to block it with her defense barrier. She looked relatively fine, only getting a sprained back and the wind knocked out of her. She managed to recover quickly enough to come to her Driver's aid, allowing the Aegis to switch to a more supportive role.
Then the Greed Lord went after Asuna's team. Thankfully through the combined efforts of Shulk and Reyn, the team of three were safe. However, that's when Mythra noticed that her Driver had disappeared, along with her sword. It was right at the moment where they destroyed the last of spikes, the Aegis turned her head just in time to see Zarc run his sword right through Xander's heart.
"Xander!?" both she and Kos-Mos cried out in anguish.
Panic and worry surged through the Aegis's heart. When a Driver dies, their Blades are reverted to core crystals, and they lose all their memories. As an Aegis, the usual Blade rules don't quite apply to Mythra herself, but that wasn't the case for Kos-Mos. If Xander died, the android would lose all her memories of their time together, of all the times she cared and defended him. If she reverted back into a core crystal and was reawakened, it would be like Xander never existed for her. Truly, a fate worse than death. The curse of being a Blade.
The Light Blades rushed to their shared Driver, despite Jin and the others' warnings. They didn't care. They had to go to Xander. They had to save him before it was too late.
A bloodthirsty rage practically radiated off of Kos-Mos, who was running on fumes given that her resonance to Xander was fading rapidly, parts of her body glowing with blue light. It won't be long before she reverts back into a core crystal and loses all her memories. Right now, that uncharacteristic anger was probably the only thing that was maintaining Kos-Mos's physical form.
Kos-Mos's blaster reverted back into a white sword as she rushed towards the Greed Lord. He saw her reckless charge and simply smiled that sadistic smile. He was enjoying the torment he was causing them. In one swift motion, he pulled his sword out of the Aegis Driver's chest, grabbed him by his coat, and threw them at the Light Blades. In an instant, both girls abandoned their angered pursuit and quickly moved to catch their fatally wounded Driver. It was probably the first time they truly worked together.
Somehow, they managed to catch Xander with no issue and set him gently on the ground. They knelt on either side of him as his lifeblood pooled beneath him, but neither cared. Right now, they were just desperate to keep their Driver alive. He was already starting to fade, if his cloudy eyes were any indication.
"Xander. Xander!" Mythra said desperately as she clutched his right arm. Her heart was pounding against her chest, this foreign feeling of dread and fear overwhelming her. "Don't you dare die on me. We were just starting to know each other. I still haven't told you my wish yet."
Yes, there was a wish that she had. One that she has carried from the moment she went to sleep five hundred years ago, after the Aegis War had ended. She had hoped that Xander would be the one to grant it. But now it seemed like that will not be the case. Was this her punishment by her father, the divine Architect, the one who created the world of Alrest? Was he punishing her for all the lives she destroyed when she killed the Tornan Titan? She was willing to accept punishment for her actions, for all the blood she spilled that terrible day, but why did Xander have to pay for it? He had awakened her by accident. He never intended to become her Driver. He was…Addam's descendent. She failed him, just like how she failed Addam that fateful day. Tears began welling up in her eyes and she wept.
Mythra was so lost in her own grief that she didn't even notice the panic and worry overcoming Kos-Mos. The android was desperately pleading her Driver to hang on, calling him by name than simply "Master".
"Don't die, Xander!" the pastel-blue-haired Blade cried out in haste. Her normally passive red eyes were now filled with worry, small droplets of water dripping down her face. All the while, Xander's breathing was becoming slower and slower. "You can't die. I swore that I'd always protect you. I don't want another master! I don't want to forget you! Please just hang on."
Kos-Mos let out a slight gasp, realizing what she could do to save her beloved Driver. She quickly began gathering up energy within her core crystal, preparing to unleash a specific Art. The Hilbert Effect Refrain. Not only did this Art damage any enemies within the vicinity, but it healed the wounds of anyone Kos-Mos deemed an ally. She was dangerously low on ether, using whatever reserves she had to maintain her physical form. She probably didn't even have the strength to muster any Art, but she didn't care. Her main priority right now is saving her Driver, her partner…her…
Somehow, she managed to gather enough ether within her to muster a Hilbert Effect Refrain. It wasn't enough for a regular one, which can span several meters, but it was enough to save Xander. She quickly unleashed it, its blue waves washing over the Leftherian. However, the wound did not close, and blood just kept pouring from it, making the pool bigger and bigger. His breathing was getting weaker by the second. He didn't have longer to live.
"No," she said in horror, her head shaking in disbelief. "Why isn't it working?"
"I'll tell you why. Because he's already dead."
Both Kos-Mos and Mythra lifted their weary heads up. They were no longer alone as Zarc was now standing before him, retaining that stupid grin on his face. Oh how the girls wanted to clobber him so bad, but Kos-Mos was too weak to move, while Mythra's mental state was just not in the right mind to do any fighting.
"Both my sword and my spells have an added property of reducing the effects of any healing magic, making wounds much more difficult to heal. With a blow like that though, well, not even a god could save him. I'll give you girls some small comfort though," Zarc continued. "It was a clean cut. I could feel his heart split as I ran my blade through. He didn't feel too much pain as I killed him." He chuckled in amusement, as if he had said some kind of joke. "I got to say, that's a rarity for me. I normally draw out a person's suffering before I kill them. I never would have imagined that this so-called 'Aegis Driver' would go down this easily. I guess you really can't expect much from humans after all."
"Don't you dare insult him!" Kos-Mos cried out in outburst, taking both Zarc and Mythra by surprise. "You have no idea what Xander has been through. He suffered so much, lost so much. He fought so hard to prevent people from going what he went through. He never let anyone see him in pain, because they relied on him to be strong, to be a leader. The only one who truly understood him…is me. I say again, don't you dare insult Xander."
"Kos-Mos," Mythra muttered in disbelief.
Just hours before the android barely showed any trace of emotion. She seemed so…artificial. But now, everything was out in the open. Kos-Mos was crying, she was angry, she was desperate. If someone had told Mythra that this would happen to the android, she likely wouldn't have believed them.
Zarc just let out a grunt in response. "Hmph. It matters not to me how a measly human lived his pathetic life. But don't worry, I'll put that life of his to good use with reviving my master. In fact, why don't you two join him?!"
His weapon morphed back into a greatsword. He swung the massive blade horizontally, aiming to kill both girls in a single strike. If either of them was in the right condition, they could easily dodge and potentially land a serious counterattack, but neither of them even flinched. They had simply lost the will to keep fighting. Perhaps they might be reunited with their Driver in whatever afterlife awaited them? They simply braced themselves for death as the blade drew closer and closer.
"Raaa!"
The sudden cry snapped both Blades from their stupor. The sounds of thunder boomed in the air, as was the crackling of electricity. Suddenly a gray blur intercepted the greatsword, creating a shockwave of power that shook the air around them. Mythra's eyes widened when she saw who it was. It was Marth, but something was different about him. In his right hand was still the black sword Lunara, which he had used to stop Zarc's attack. However, it was what was in his left hand that truly shocked her. In fact, even Zarc looked stupefied by what he saw.
Marth was wielding a golden sword in his left hand. But it was not Solaris. It was Excalibur. Kirito's sword.
The Dark Swordsman looked over his best friend as Nia continued to heal him. Dromarch had already patched up the demon prince and was working to help Jin recover. The Gormotti Driver had managed to stop the bleeding, but the wound was still stubborn about closing.
"Curses," Nia spat out in frustration. "This Zarc fellow seems to have a way to limit the potency of healing effect. Even a simple scratch from him could become deadly if that's the case. But I'm still going to close this stupid wound if it's the last thing I do."
Somehow, this all sounded familiar to Marth. Wounds that were difficult to heal, even through magic. He felt like he had been in this situation before, a long time ago. This was meant to counter something, someone. But what was it meant to counter and for what purpose? Sure it was possible Zarc developed it to deal with his enemies easier, but that can't be the only reason he did so. He was trying to find a way to beat something, someone. But who? Gods, he was at the cusp of remembering something important, but the memory refused to resurface. His head was pounding.
"Calm down, Master. Calm down."
He let out a gasp. That voice. It sounded like it came from his own head. It was a voice that sounded familiar, but he couldn't identify it. All he knew was that it was someone important to him. Someone that he trusted absolutely. He found himself gazing at the Lunara, which he noticed was flashing purple.
"Take Excalibur," the voice pleaded. "You must wield it alongside the Lunara. It's the only way."
Wield Excalibur with Lunara? Why did that sound like such a bad idea? Somewhere, deep inside his very being, he knew that he shouldn't attempt such a thing. Excalibur was the ultimate sword of light, while Lunara was a blade of darkness. They are not meant to combine powers. The conflicting energies would lead to total destruction.
"Take it, Marth," Kirito muttered softly, coughing slightly. He was trying to sit up, but it was clearly causing him a lot of pain to do so.
"You lay back down, mister," Nia protested, doing her best to push him back down. "You're in no shape to move. You could make that wound even worse."
"I…don't care," the Black Swordsman replied. Weakly, he grasped the hilt of the holy sword beside him. Somehow, he managed to lift it enough to get the bottom half resting over his chest. The blade, it was flashing with white light, almost paralleling Lunara. "It…wants to be used by you, partner. I'm in no condition to fight right now. Take my sword, my very will, and bring this monster down."
Kirito's eyes were firm and serious, despite all the pain he must be feeling from that shoulder wound. He clearly wanted Marth to wield his best sword, the strongest blade in Alfheim Online. Despite his reservation, he couldn't deny his best friend's wishes. Xander was badly wounded, possibly even dead. Zarc had overcome everything that they threw at him. They were out of options. This was one of the only cards he had left to play.
"Okay," Marth said slowly, forcing himself to smile to bring his best friend some small comfort. "I'll fight on, for both of us. It's you and me, partner."
"And me! It's time for payback."
"I am in agreement as well. Use me well."
That last sentence came from a different voice, another that sounded familiar to him. It must have been the same voice that told Kirito to give Excalibur to him. He'll question that later though. He had to get back into the fight. He needed to end this.
Marth set Solaris down gently before reaching for the holy sword of his partner. The moment he grasped the golden blade, his body suddenly flared with pain. Excalibur engulfed itself within a golden aura while Lunara was surrounded by a black aura. He could feel their conflicting energies tearing him up from the inside. His body screamed at him to let go of the holy sword, but he stubbornly refused. Gathering his strength, he forced himself onto his feet.
It was painful to move, agonizing even. It felt like molten magma was being poured onto his entire body. He slowly worked to catch his breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He would have to reach deep within his being, his very soul, if he wanted to turn this whole battle around. If he fails, then everyone here will die. Kirito, Asuna, Yuuki, Kisara, even Shulk, Reyn and the rest of the Origo Mercenaries. It was because of him that they all got roped into this conflict. Blood was shed that didn't need to be shed. This whole ordeal was his matter, no, an Umbris matter. He didn't know why he felt this way, but he intended to take full responsibility for it. He had family he needed to protect, family that he yearned to return to. While he would gladly give his life for any of his Harbingers, especially for his sister, he had no intention of dying here, at this moment.
"Philia. Rain. Seven. Nautilus. Agil. Argo. Lisbeth. Silica," Marth prayed to himself, thinking of all his friends, those that were in this realm, and those that were left behind. "All my Harbingers. Please, lend me your strength. I can't do this alone."
For a brief moment, the Dark Swordsman felt some sort of link to all his family. It stretched beyond the confines of time and space. Perhaps, even beyond the realm of the living. Long before the SAO Incident, Shiraki once mentioned that some bonds were so strong, not even death could sever their connection. At the time, Marth thought the scientist was just being silly, but perhaps there was truth within those words.
"You are never alone, my master."
A small hand grasped his right hand, the hand that held the Lunara. It was connected to a beautiful young woman with pale white skin. Long lustrous black hair fell behind her back with a few red highlights here and there, tied into a braid. Eyes the color of blood, ones that shone with both light and shadow. She was dressed in a slim black dress that accented her bust, along with exposing parts of her arms and waist, with red accents decorating it, as well as a diamond-cut ruby-like stone that was located just under her collar. Black heeled boots stood underneath the skirt, giving a sense of elegance. Bracelets of silver decorated her wrists.
She was translucent, as if she was merely a hallucination. In fact, Marth wouldn't put it past him with how much pain he was feeling from holding both these swords. However, he had this strange sensation that this girl was really here. She was the voice that came from the Lunara, his most treasured belonging. Without it, there was no Dark Swordsman. It was a part of him. She was a part of him. His most valued partner.
"Sophia," he muttered quietly, a light smile gracing his face. The name just came to him, out of nowhere, but it was one that filled him with nostalgia.
The girl smiled back, placing her other hand upon his cheek. "It has been a long time, Master. As much as I'd love to reminisce and catch up, we have a battle to win," Sophia said gently. "You know what to do. The Lunaris responds to your will alone. Call to it, and it will answer."
"Indeed, as much as I hate to admit it." Marth felt another hand grasp him, this time with his left. He turned to look and saw another translucent young woman beside him. She looked a lot like Sophia, but she had golden blonde hair and deep emerald eyes instead. Her white and yellow dress was more formal and regal, not quite as provocative as Sophia's attire. He knew this girl too. She was the partner of a new friend of his, one he had seven thousand years ago. Her name was…
"Vivian."
The blonde spirit let out a small chuckle. "So you do remember my name. Just so you know, I'm only helping you out of obligation of my mistress. There's no way I'd let my sister's wielder touch me otherwise."
Sophia cracked a mischievous smirk. Even without his memories, Marth knew exactly what dark spirit was planning. "Dear sister, don't you know how provocative that sounds when taken out of context? Just admit it. You wanted to help because you like my master."
Vivian's regal mask broke as her face flashed with pink. "Y-you're being ridiculous, Sophia. Oh, I regret this already."
"Ha-ha. Still so easy to tease, even after seven thousand years. Now then, my master, I believe the hour of twilight…has come. Show that false king what real royalty is."
She was right. As much as he enjoyed seeing the sibling spirits banter, he had a battle to return to. Somehow the pain from wielding both swords lessoned somewhat, as if the two sword spirits were sharing in the burden as well. Steeling himself, Marth turned to face the Greed Lord as the two girls faded. Zarc was right in front of Mythra and Kos-Mos. It looked like he intends to kill them next. Well not if he has anything to say about it.
Gathering his strength, Marth closed his eyes and called upon the raging storm within him. He needed to get there quickly. A normal sprint won't cut it. Luckily, speed happens to be a specialty among wind and lightning magic, and he has a certain technique that would be quite perfect for this occasion.
"Flashing Storm," he muttered quietly.
The very air seemed to vibrate around him, the sounds of thunder booming fiercely. Purple lightning sparked off his body as his two swords flashed with light of the same color. This was the third attack of his Dual Blades style. Flashing Storm was an eight-hit combo with a charge movement. It helped him out in a pinch back in Aincrad when he needed the extra mobility, and it got even stronger when he recreated it in Alfheim. Now it's capable of dealing lightning-based damage, allowing it to bypass the typical defensive walls that certain enemies could be when against physical attacks.
He let out a mighty bellow and kicked off the ground, cracking it beneath his heel, and rushed forward at a speed beyond what any game system could allow. He closed the distance within an instant. The moment he reached his target, he unleashed the first attack to stop Zarc's sword from beheading Mythra.
For the first time in this whole battle, the Greed Lord was truly shocked, speechless even. It left him wide open, which Marth had every intention to exploit. The second hit involved a diagonal slash with the left sword, which was Excalibur. He put everything he had into this strike, and delivered the first real blow against the demon lord, cutting through his armor like a hot knife through butter. Zarc staggered backward as black blood poured from his chest wound. He didn't get much of a chance to recover as Marth continued with his assault.
Despite the agony the Dark Swordsman was in, he never felt stronger. Wielding both Exalibur and Lunara together seemed to have finally helped close the gap in power between him and the Greed Lord. But he was still not done. After all, he had to unleash the true power of his trusted blade. That was when the real fun begins.
Marth managed to land three more attacks before Zarc was able to shrink his sword back to block the remaining four. It was disappointing that he couldn't end the traitor with that last attack, but it was not surprising. If anything, Marth would have been disappointed if that had happened.
There was a reason why he was so feared back in Aincrad, and even to an extent now in Alfheim Online. It wasn't just his cold nature, or the fact that he was a Beater. While he did not seek them, he loved fighting against strong opponents, especially other players. In Aincrad, he never went for the kill, as even he honored the no PK rule as best he could, but that didn't stop him from enjoying the fight. He didn't know why he had this love for duels, especially because it contradicts his normally reserved nature. Perhaps it was because in a duel, he was able to let loose, to unleash any feelings he kept bottled up inside. In some aspects, this side of his personality terrified him. He was worried that he could end up turning his sword against his beloved family, his Harbingers, or worse, that they would leave him because of it. Naturally, they didn't and being with them helped make it easier to manage. In fact, they even claim it helps them improve their combat prowess since they know Marth will never hold back. Honestly, they were too good for him.
Zarc clutched the bleeding wounds on his chest. The healing glow of magic graced his empty palm, and the wounds were closed, as were the gashes in his armor. Normally this would discourage one after finally landing a solid blow on such a difficult opponent, but that wasn't the case for Marth. If anything, it just excited him even more.
"So you can bleed," the Dark Swordsman said slowly. "I was beginning to wonder."
The Greed Lord still looked bewildered at seeing the demon prince. "You're…wielding both Excalibur and Lunara? That shouldn't be possible. There's no way Excalibur would accept someone like you as a master. Not to mention the combined energy of those swords would kill anyone. Light and dark aren't supposed to mix! You should be dead right now."
"And yet, here I am, alive and well." Marth took a few steps forward, Zarc taking one step backward for each step. He then let out a pained grunt. "Well, almost well. Yes this little trick would kill anyone foolish to try. However," he pointed the golden blade right at the Greed Lord, "I should be able to hold out just long enough to kill you. It's just you and me now, Zarc. It's time we settle this."
For the first time Zarc looked nervous. He never would have imagined that the demon prince would do something this bold to turn the tables. He really was Altena's child. Altena? Yes of course. That's how he'll tip scales back into his favor. He'll use that stone against him. Even without his memories, there's no way Marth would want to risk damaging the soul prison of his beloved mother, Altena Umbris.
Zarc reached for the stone that was hidden in one of his pockets, only to grasp nothing but empty air. Panic surged within him. He knew that he had it earlier before Marth and his group reached the spire. So then where did it go? It can't be. Did it fall out during that furious clash he had to protect himself from Marth? He looked around from his current position, trying to locate the familiar green gem, only to find nothing. He couldn't have accidently stepped on it. He would have felt that witch's presence if he did. Even as a spirit, Altena was strong enough to do real damage. However, what he failed to notice that during the furious clash, a certain mysterious figure had willed the gemstone to her the moment Zarc went on the defensive while hiding behind a pillar. She carefully stashed the gem in a small pouch before changing back into a black cat. She didn't to risk Zarc discovering her after all. By all accounts, she had now completed her mission and was free to leave, but she decided to stick around. Something told her this duel was going to be good. A duel the likes of which that hasn't been seen for seven millennia.
After all, she was about to witness a battle between two demon lords, although neither of whom were aware of this fact. Zarc was slain before he learned the truth about Zane, that he was actually the seventh demon lord, the Demon Lord of Wrath. The Wrath Lord position was supposed to be Sinestra's enforcer, the one to keep the other demon lords in line, but due to a mysterious curse that drove the first two lords insane while also increasing their power, they instead became feared as the "Lord of Calamity" and were forced to be destroyed. No one knew how this came to be, but out of fear that the Lord of Calamity could destroy the world, Wrath Lord position became taboo and was erased from history. Only a select few individuals like herself knew about it. Naturally Marth didn't know about this as well, though that was largely because he has yet to regain his memories as Zane. As for how he even became the Wrath Lord despite it being forbidden, well, that's a story for another day.
"Now then, Marth Umbris," she thought to herself mischievously. "I do hope you give me some good entertainment. After all, I am looking after your castle for you."
Zarc had no choice but to give up searching for Altena's soul prison. He didn't know how he lost it, but now wasn't the time to worry about such things. Marth was already a hard opponent to handle even before he wielded Excalibur. Of course, the Greed Lord was holding back during their previous clashes. He didn't think that any of them were at a level where he needed to use his full power. But now, he couldn't afford to hold back.
Marth had just made himself the biggest threat in this tiny realm. If Zarc wanted to survive, he'll have to give this duel everything he's got. He should still be able to win. After all, though a fierce fighter, Marth was still untrained. He was self-taught at best. His slashes didn't have the same bite they did seven thousand years ago. The lack of proper training should be enough for Zarc to overcome this new hurdle.
Satisfied with this mindset, his smirked before rushing at the dual wielder. They exchanged a fierce set of blows, though neither managed to land a hit on the other. Frustrating for Zarc, entertaining for Marth.
"That all you got?" Marth goaded. "I'm just getting started."
This was one of the Dark Swordsman's classic strategies against arrogant opponents. He deliberately taunts them to anger them, potentially causing them to make mistakes. Also, it was really fun to see arrogant people throw a fit over getting insulted. Naturally, he knew that Zarc wouldn't be easily angered, but there was no harm in sowing the seeds. With careful planning, it could be just what he needs to win the duel.
"Tch. Don't get cocky, little boy!"
Another furious exchange of blows echoed across the top of Eclipse Tower. Both swordsmen were constantly on the move, never staying in the same place for more than a second. They moved at speeds that no regular person could ever replicate. It was as if they were in an entirely different world, just the two of them. They fired barrages of spells at each other, resulting in multiple explosions as the attacks collided.
It was just like Marth thought. Wielding both Lunara and Excalibur has granted him enough power to close the gap between him and Zarc. He was now fighting on equal terms with the Greed Lord. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough for him to fully overtake the False King. He needed a bit more power to overcome that hurdle, and he knew just where to get it, but he must time it well, otherwise it could not only lead to his own death, but the deaths of his friends and family. The question is, could he control it long enough to land a final blow?
Each clash of their blades led to a shockwave of power, shaking the entire tower, sparks dancing in the air. Marth focused everything on the fight in front of him. He had to, otherwise he'll be overwhelmed by the Greed Lord's power and subsequently killed. He'll kill this bastard to protect his family and also to avenge Xander. Though they were not friends and were only recently beginning to understand each other, Marth was not going to let his death go unanswered. He swore that he will end this himself, with Zarc's death.
All while he continued to put the pressure on Zarc, the pain in Marth's body refused to go away. It was still tearing up at him, trying to wear him down, but he pressed on. He didn't care how much pain he was feeling. As long as he could swing his swords, as long as he had the strength to fight, he'll keep at it, no matter how long it takes.
Slowly, but surely, injuries began piling up on both demons. Both had serious wounds across their bodies, with black blood gushing out. Marth looked a bit worse off as he had blood staining his face, almost rendering his left eye unusable. One of Zarc's attacks had grazed his forehead, resulting in the wound. Even if he lost his eyesight, that still wouldn't stop him. Marth's senses were in overdrive now. The roar of battle, the disturbance of the very air, he could sense it all and it motivated him to fight even harder, to push himself further.
The time was nearly upon him. Zarc was starting to get more desperate with his attacks, resulting in openings that should not have occurred. He had even stopped trying to heal his own wounds as he just couldn't find time to do so while defending himself from Marth's relentless onslaught. The demon prince's slashes have evolved into a whirlwind of slashes and attacks, moving at speeds impossible to keep up with. It wasn't long until the opening he needed was finally upon him as he repelled Zarc's blade once more.
"Do it now, Brother!" Kisara cried out in desperation. "That man is a threat to me. Hit him with everything you've got."
It was no secret that Marth was very overprotective of his little sister. It wasn't surprising that he was, given their history, but it has caused him to get in trouble on multiple occasions. However, there were times where they weaponized his protective nature, and this was one of those moments. This man was a danger to his beloved sister, and he will not allow him to harm even a hair on her head.
"Release Recollection!" Marth shouted with all his might channeling his power into his right sword.
The Lunara let out a roar as shadows surrounded it, morphing it. The blade grew a bit longer, matching the same length as Excalibur. It gained crimson red accents in both its hilt and its edges. The winged-crossguard grew more ornate while the onyx jewel in its center became a dazzling ruby. This was the Sword of Darkness's true form. It was…
"The Lunaris?!" Zarc cried out in disbelief. "That's not possible. How did you know that technique? This can't be happening!"
Marth could feel the presences of both Sophia and Vivian behind him. They both knew it was time to end this, as did he. Reaching within himself, he tapped into the dark power within him. The familiar black aura surrounded him, changing his hair white and his eyes a pale yellow. This only added to his already demanding burden and this nearly pushed him over the edge, but he was somehow able to maintain control of himself.
"That power? It can't be. How are you still in control? No one has been able to control that curse. No one!"
Marth almost hesitated at that. Did Zarc know the nature of this power, or rather curse as he puts it. He quickly pushed the thought aside. This was his only chance to end this duel. If he stopped now, the backlash of unleashing this power would render him immobile for a short period, leaving him totally at the Greed Lord's mercy.
"You know what to do, Master," Sophia said quickly.
"Yes," Vivian agreed. "Unleash the final Dual Blades technique, one that can only be done while wielding both Excalibur and Lunaris. Show this tyrant the power of twilight!"
There wasn't Dual Blades technique like that. At least, there shouldn't be. Both Marth and Kirito only had seven combos in their Dual Blades styles, outside of the Skill Connect exploit. However, despite his doubt, he could see a brand-new Sword Skill clearly in his mind, most likely given to him by the two sword spirits. He smiled in anticipation. This was going to be fun.
He brought his swords in the preset position to execute the skill. "Millennium," the blades flashed with gold and purple light respectively, "Twilight!"
And with that, he unleashed his new deadly attack. His body moved at a speed even he had trouble keeping up with. He kept slashing over and over. Ten times. Twenty times. Thirty times. Some of the attacks were blocked by Zarc's sword and earth barriers, but the majority managed to break through and inflict devastating damage upon the Greed Lord. Finally the last hit came, the thirty-third attack, which was an x-slash with both swords.
"Farewell, Zarc!" Marth shouted as he unleashed the attack, leaving a fatal blow upon the Greed Lord.
To be continued
Yeah, I know, another cliffhanger but it was getting really long and I felt this was a good stopping point. I know I'd say that I'd provide full context regarding character backstories with Dark Swordsman/Ashen Wolf characters, but what's wrong with a little mystery here and there? Besides if you've read Ashen Wolf, you likely already know how Marth became the Wrath Lord. Anyway, the next chapter should be the last one in the Temporal Island arc. Dear God, I can't believe this arc is over 10 chapters long. I don't even think the original Temporal Island arc was this long. Guess that tends to happen when you have a habit of overwriting like me. Man I can't wait to start covering the events of the actual game again. Don't get me wrong. I'm not disappointed with how this arc turned out, even after that huge rewrite halfway through, but I never could have imagined it turning out this long. Initially I did this arc early since that's part of how it happened in my original Xenoblade story and it gave me an opportunity to get it out of the way so I could focus on the main game's plot. Kind of funny when you want to get a particular arc over with, it ends up becoming one of your longest arcs ever. This isn't the first time this has happened to me as this also occurred while I was writing the original Black Wolf (which is now deleted because it became total crap) as I wanted to get the Seiji arc over with so I could move on, and it ended up being one of that story's longer arcs.
Anyway, that's all I have to say. See you guys next time!