Tui tưởng các bác ngại đọc tiếng Anh chứ ai dè cũng khá nhìu bác biết, zậy lần này cho các bác đọc mệt nghỉ lun. Mà các bác thắc mắc gì thì PM cho tui hay post chỗ khác đừng post vô đây NỘI DUNG : đầu tiên sẽ đưa toàn bộ câu chuyện zề SoulCalibur 1 và câu chuyện về các nhân vật ở Soulcalibur 1. Tiếp theo là câu chuyện về các nhân vật ở SoulCalibur 2, tiếp nữa mí đến chiến thuật, cách đánh, nhận xét, đánh giá điểm yếu và điểm mạnh của từng con v.v.. Nói chung tiếng Anh là chính, thi thoảng tui gõ thì tiếng Việt. Nếu các bác ngại đọc thì cố đợi, sẽ có bản dịch tiếng Việt ở mục Phân tích giới thiệu SOULCALIBUR 2 Nếu bác nào mún zô Web xem thì bấm zô cái hình đó, theo tui thì các bác nên vô đó xem thì tốt hơn vì những chỗ đó họ trình bày đẹp, có cả ảnh minh hoạ. Còn 1 số thứ phải đi kiếm thì tui cop thẳng lên đây, bác nào thích thì PM cho tui rùi tui gửi zô mail cho. Có những chỗ do tui nghĩ ra thì tui viết tiếng Việt, chỗ tui chú thích dành cho những đối tượng nào hổng phải tui khích đâu, nếu các bác mới làm wen cứ cố zô hông hỉu rì là chán đó. Còn nữa, các bác cứ copy zề máy hãy đọc chớ đọc online tốn lắm và đề nghị bác Kenji cho ý kiến (tất nhiên vào chỗ khác) có nên tiếp tục đưa không, nếu bác hông đồng ý là tui sì tốp ngay.( dù seo vẫn câu được mí bài)
Tables of contents : Mục lục kỉu úc SOULCALIBUR -Prologue (Game) History SoulCalibuk 1 History Prology (Phần mở đầu) Kilik history - Awaken Destiny (tạm dịch Sự thức tỉnh định mệnh) Xianghua - Itenerant Flower of the Breeze (cái nè chịu chưa nghĩ ra cái rì hay cả) Maxi - Dandy from the South Sea (Lãng tử của biển cả... hình như hơi chuối) Mitsurugi - Mercenary in a Warlike Age Taki - Dream Shadow of Demon Sealer Voldo - Hell Guardian Sophitia - Second Advent of the Vow Astaroth - A Soldier of the Heretic Nightmare - Azure Nightmare Ivy - Wreathing Blade of Isolation Hwang - Patriot's Burning Soul Yoshimitsu - The First Mechanized Ninja Lizardman/Plumeria - Jasper Scales of Shudder Siegfried - A Soul in Purgatory Rock - The Trembling Earth Seung Mina - Heart and Soul Girl Edge Master - The Master of Blades SOULCALIBUR -Prologue (Game) --- Prologue Chapter 1 The dread pirate Captain Cervantes and his ship the "Adrian" struck fear throughout the entire Atlantic during his reign of terror. It all began when Cervantes obtained the evil twin swords, Soul Edge. Under its demonic influence, Cervantes slew his entire crew and those unfortunate enough to be in a nearby Spanish port town. With Soul Edge's twisted desires temporarily satiated with the feast of souls provided by the bloddy massacre, Cervantes and Soul Edge took to the ruins of the "Black Tail Inn" to enter a long sleep in preparation for the birth of the "Child of the Evil Sword." --- Prologue Chapter 2 Over the course of the next twenty years, tales of the evil swords spread throughout the world and the truth about them was distorted. It was considered by some as the "Sword of Salvation" or even the "Ultimate Weapon" by others. And then there were those destined to seek Soul Edge for their own personal ends. --- Prologue Chapter 3 The chosen few who reached Soul Edge, either by choice or by luck, cursed their misfortune as the evil swords devoured their souls. --- Prologue Chapter 4 However, there was one woman who defied this fate...She was the sacred warrior Sophitia sent by a divine oracle from Hephaestus, the god of fire and smithery. She succeede in shattering one of the evil swords while engaged in a fierce battle to the death with the pirate Cervantes. --- Prologue Chapter 5 Yet her victory came at a price, for she was gravely wounded by fragments of the shattered sword. With the destruction of one half of Soul Edge, Cervantes became enraged as if a part of his body had been destroyed. He was about to take her life when Taki, the "Shadow Huntress of Demons," appeared tp stop him. --- Prologue Chapter 6 Although his equilibrium was broken due to the loss of one blade, Cervantes fought Taki with murderous rage, but lost to the demon hunter in the end. --- Prologue Chapter 7 Taki obtained a fragment of the shattered Soul Edge, and with her mission complete, Departed with the badly injured Sophitia whose life hung by a thread. --- Prologue Chapter 8 Siegfried, the "Innocent Darkside," came to the Spanish port town to seek the legendary "Sword of Vengeance." Yet all that he found there was what appeared to be the corpse of a pirate captain. The sword clutched in the dead pirate's hand caught his attention, and so Siegfried approached the corpse... --- Prologue Chapter 9 ...But then, the corpse suddenly rose amid flames of hellfire. It seemed as if evil itself had possessed Cervantes' body to become corporeal. --- Prologue Chapter 10 Mortal combat ensued. Although the Zweihander was too large to be held by the hands of the boy, he swung the giant sword effortlessly. The eyes of the boy were filled with madness as the sword cut the air with a terrific roar. When the battle was over, only the burned out remains of the pirate's corpse was left. In the bloodstained hands of the boy was his Zweihander, broken at its hilt. The image of Soul Edge enveloped in hellfire burned fiercely in the boy's eyes... --- Prologue Chapter 11 Soul Edge had lost its host and was on the verge of tearing itself apart. As if guided by Soul Edge, the youth with th dark soul reached out to it... --- Prologue Chapter 12 That night, a mysterious light was seen on the Spanish shoreline. A white column of light pierced the clouds and scattered throughout the sky. Witnesses of this event had no idea that the beautiful sight they beheld was the dissemination of the Evil Seed that would ring misfortune to the world. And so history turned its page anew... These tales you are about to witness occured in the sixteenth century. By history a man becomes a soldier, through history a soldier becomes a hero. This is a tale of souls and swords, transcending the world and all it's history, told for all eternity... From a bard's song in the fourteenth century Author unknown The story begins with Captain Cervantes, one of the most dreadful pirates of the era. After he acquired the evil twin swords "Soul Edge", Cervantes and his mighty ship the "Adrian" struck fear into the Atlantic Ocean. Once fully possessed by the demon swords, he slew his entire crew and the residence of his port base in Spain. After the bloodshed, Cervantes rested himself at the remains of what was once known as the "Black Tail Inn". Temporarily satisfied with its twisted desire to consume souls, the evil swords rested and prepared to create the "Child of the Evil Swords"... During the next twenty years, the rumors of the evil swords spread throughout the world. Some believed it was the sword of salvation, while others called it the ultimate weapon. Some, selected by destiny and history, sought Soul Edge for personal reasons. Fortunately, few reached Soul Edge; those that did cursed their fate as the evil swords devoured their souls. However there was one who fought the cursed fate... Sophitia, the sacred fighter of Hephaestus the God of Blacksmiths. During the grueling battle with Cervantes, she succeeded in destroying one of the twin swords. But in doing so, she was wounded as the pieces of the shattered sword rained upon her body. Cervantes, with wrath as if a part of him had been destroyed, was about to end her life when Taki the "Underground Hunter" challenged him. Due to his loss of control from the destruction of one of the blades, the intense battle between Taki and Cervantes ended with the victory of the "Underground Hunter". She completed her mission by gathering a piece of the destroyed Soul Edge and left with the injured Sophitia. Siegfried, the "Innocent Darkside," visited the port town seeking the sword of legend for his vengeance, only to find the corpse of a pirate captain. Attracted by a sword clutched in the dead pirate's hand, Siegfried walked toward it take possession of the blade, but suddenly the corpse rose up enveloped in hell fire. It seemed as if an evil spirit had materialized on earth consuming Cervantes' body. With a flash, mortal combat began. The Zweihander "Faust", roared in the hands of the boy, who seemed too little to bear such a heavy blade, and slashed through the air controlled by the madness in the youth's eyes. When the battle ended, all that remained was the burnt corpse and the boy grasping the now broken Zweihander. His green eyes reflected the Soul Edge bathed in hell fire... The youth's warped spirit extended a hand to Soul Edge, as if being guided by the evil spirit which longed for a new host to maintain its power and control... That night, some people at the Spanish seashore saw a mysterious but beautiful scene of a white column of light piercing the clouds and spreading through the sky. How could they have known, it was the birth of the Evil Seed, which would cause disasters throughout the world? Thus started the next chapter in history. This is a tale from the sixteenth century... =============================================================== 3.1.01 Chapter I: Kilik (Character Exhibit) - Destiny Awakened - Weapon: Rod Weapon Name: Kali-Yuga (rod) Dvapara Yuga (mirror) Style: Secret Art of Ling Sheng Su Style Rod Age: 19 Birth Date: February 9 Family: Unknown Birthplace: Raised in Ling Sheng Su Temple, Ming EMpire Birthplace unknown. Height: 5' 6" Weight: 139 lbs. Blood Type: A Kilik - Awaken Destiny The Ling Sheng Su Temple rested on a quite mountain deep in the interior of China. This temple is considered to be the finest school for the sword and rod arts. Many heroes of history have come from this great temple and to this day the monks here are still strong. Up until 10 years ago the temple had very little communication with the outside world. But one-day, robbers raided the neighboring town and the monks opened their doors and saved the village. Now the great temple accepts anyone regardless of age or gender, so long as they have a strong fighting spirit. Since then it has been customary for the children of soldiers to visit the temple to brush up their skills and the farmers and merchants to come to the temple to learn some basic techniques to protect themselves from robbers. In the main hall of the Ling Sheng Su Temple there were three sacred weapons call the Kali-Yuga, the Krita-Yuga and the Dvapara-Yuga. No one knew why the treasures were kept there, the reasons stretch far beyond recorded history and the monks of the temple have strictly enforced the rules. One winter day a baby was found deserted in front of the Ling Sheng Su Temple. Despite weeks of searching the child's parents could not be found and thus the baby was named "Kilik" and adopted by the temple. Kilik grew up healthy and trained himself with the monks and pupils of the temple in the ways of the rod from a very young age. He also had a sworn elder sister named Xianglian. She too was adopted by the temple and there she studied the art of the sword. She felt close to Kilik since they were both orphans and she loved him as a younger brother. Years passed and Kilik grew into a strong and healthy youth. By natural talent or not Kilik mastered art of the rod taught from Master Han and became one of the school's finest students. With his skill and warm personality he was able to serve as one of the school's teachers. Thus it was natural that he would be nominated to be the successor of the Ling Sheng Su style rod at the succession ceremony held once every 20 years. At the ceremony he would be granted the Kali- Yuga, on of the three scared weapons of the temple. As the successor his status in the temple would be raise atop the rod school as the most skilled student in the temple. The cool wind of the night was gently blowing. Kilik couldn't sleep and sat on the stone wall behind the main hall and looked up into the moon lit sky. This was Kilik's favorite place within the temple. When he was a child he used to come here and look into the stars each time his heart was sad. Suddenly he sensed a new presence behind him, there stood Xianglian. She too was elected to be one of the successors of the treasures, the Dvapara-Yuga. As they talked they remember many old memories; this place was special to both of them. Why did Xianglian, master of the sword, succeed the Dvapara-Yuga and not the Krita-Yuga? Kilik finally asked her the question that had troubled his mind for so long. Xianglian quietly replied that there were only two of three treasures currently in the temple and that the Krita-Yuga had been lost over ten years ago. The scared weapons had been a spiritual goal for the students of the temple. In days of turbulence, such as attacks by robbers, the thought of losing one of the treasures would have been a great moral damage to the temple. Thus the fact that the Krita-Yuga was missing was strictly taboo and only a few of the highest- ranking monks knew about it. They knew they had to hide the fact that the Krita- Yuga was missing and more over the thief was non other than a high ranking monk of temple once nominated to be the successor of the Kali-Yuga! Surprised to hear one of the three treasure had been lost, Kilik stood shocked as Xianglian continued her tale. "Those are not all the facts, I am not worthy the succeed the art of the sword because the thief of the Krita-Yuga is... no other than... my father." She learned of this when she overheard a conversation between the school's masters. Master Han was aware Xianglian had heard and said to her gently, "You have no connection to these facts, cut your own path in life and never let the act of your parents rule you." At the time Xianglian was too young to understand but as she grew she understood the words of the master. However she still felt she had no right to be the successor of the art of the sword. If she did succeed and people discovered the truth they would not except her. And Xianglian herself did not wish to be the successor. This was her decision after long and deep thought on the matter and Master Han understood her choice and nominated her to be the successor of the mirror. The skills need to be the successor of the mirror were not natural fighting talent but the power of a pure soul and a strong mind. In those areas she was more than strong enough. Silence fell on the couple as their thoughts reflected on understanding the other's situation. The cool night breeze grew cold as they began to stand to leave for a good night's rest. They suddenly felt the moonlight grow stronger and looked into the sky and saw a beautiful display of lights covering the sky. But some how the couple sensed the evil within the light and ran to a nearby hall. Deep in the hall lay the shrine for the sacred treasures. Some priests in the hall were preparing for tomorrow's ceremonies when they felt the evil presence and handed Kilik and Xianglian the Kali-Yuga and the Dvapara-Yuga to fight the evil. It all began some hours before in the land of Spain when a young mercenary carelessly touched the forbidden evil sword Soul Edge. At that moment Soul Edge lost it inner balance, expelled its evil will and scattered the Evil Seeds of disaster all over the world! A part of that evil energy reached across the continent to this mountain village and fell upon the temple. It forced pure evil into the people of the temple, driving them mad with rage as they started killing each other. Poisoned by the Evil Seed, Kilik also went berserk with one of the three treasures in his hands. He was so strong he defeated many people and still relentlessly fought on. Only Xianglian with the Dvapara-Yuga on her shoulder could escape the evil influence. Realizing the power of the mirror she tried to get close to Kilik to place the mirror on him but the people of the temple seized by the Evil Seed savagely attacked her. When his senses returned Kilik had no memory of what had happened. Though he remained confused he was forced to fight his attackers in order to survive. His master who rescued and raised him, the friends he had trained with, his own students, everyone attacked Kilik or ruthlessly killed each other. Kilik's words never reach them, tired and confused by the madness Kilik tried to escape from the temple. But just then Kilik sensed a bloodthirsty presence behind him, he raised his rod in defense and saw a sight he had hoped never to see. Xianglian had turned into a puppet of madness; Kilik desperately repelled her attacks that held strength clearly beyond any woman's. He was exhausted, his consciousness was fading and then he closed his eyes and moved without thought. A moment later he felt a pain on his left check and a response in his hands. The something warm trailed down the rod and covered his hands. He opened his eyes reluctantly and in horror gaze upon the Kali-Yuga piecing the heart of Xianglian. "AHHHHHHHHH...!!!!", a sad cry echoed in the darkness of night. He remembered nothing after that. As the sky began to turn gray from the east a figure stood in the now silent temple. The old man remained calm despite the mountains of death and rivers of blood that fell upon his eyes. He found Kilik laying alone unconscious. The old man set fire to the once great temple and carried Kilik to his home. Kilik had been asleep for two days and now awoke in an unfamiliar house. He found his body covered in scares and signs that his wounds had been cared for but he couldn't summon the strength to move. He realized the old man sitting in front of him had taken care of him despite not knowing who he was. The man told Kilik that he was the adviser to the Ling Sheng Su arts of fighting and that he was in charge of teaching the secret arts of the Ling Sheng Su style. He told Kilik that he could never take the Dvapara-Yuga off his shoulder no matter what might happen. The old man told a silent Kilik that he must concentrate on healing his body and nothing more. Time has passed and Kilik recovered the ability to walk. One night he looked up into the southern sky, the nightmare of that night returned to his mind. Kilik couldn't bear his life. Though he had to defend himself he felt the weight of guilt bearing down on him, he who had killed the people that raised him as an orphan, his master, his comrades whom he shared joy and sorrow and most of all his beloved Xianglian. "I do not deserve life..." Kilik wanted to die. But, how strange it was. He fought desperately for the chance to live then and yet the pain of living was more than he could bear. Then Kilik suddenly realized, "Why was the Dvapara-Yuga on me when Xianglian had placed it on her shoulder? If I survived because of the power of the mirror, then Xianglian must have gave her own life to entrust me with the mirror. She gave me life... TELL ME SISTER WHY MUST I LIVE!?" "Time will give you the answer." The old man told an agonized Kilik. From that night the old man broke his silence and began the story. The true source of the tragedy at the temple was known as the "Evil Seed". In fact as they spoke evil spirits possessed both Kilik and the Kail-Yuga, but the power of the Dvapara-Yuga suppressed the evil and protected them. If the mirror was removed from Kilik he would be seized with evil and run berserk just as the people of the temple had. If the Dvapara-Yuga was removed form Kilik's body, Kilik would turn completely evil. If the Kali-Yuga was separated from Kilik it too would cause disasters, therefore Kilik and the two ancient treasures could never be separated. Then the old man told the legend of the evil sword, "Soul Edge". "You must live as I once did." The eyes of the mentor shined deeply as if he could foresee everything. Kilik decided to train himself under the old master. As Kilik trained hard to master the secret arts of the Ling Sheng Su style rod and three years passed quickly. He learned to control himself and the Kali-Yuga to stop the possession. "I order you to your final trial." The final trial was a journey to purify himself in the west. "Everything is waiting for you in the west." With the final word of the master, Kilik left the hermitage to begin his quest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: Despite losing its physical shape the demon blade still burnt violently and prepared to be scatter throughout the world again. Kilik chanted quietly but powerfully, "Om Vajradharma hrih" The instant the Dvapara-Yuga clash the evil flame was sealed. Through his many battles he learned to control the evil within. Despite his great victories Kilik remained unsatisfied and returned to the pure train ground. Here at the end of the earth where the sky begins his eyes reflected the celestial bodies of the farthest heavens. =============================================================== 3.1.02 Chapter II: - Flower in the Breeze - Name: XiangHua Weapon: Chinese Sword Weapon Name: Krita-Yuga Style: Sword arts passed on from her mother. Age: 16 Birthdate: April 2 Family: Father is deceased, according to her mother. Mother passed away 5 years ago. Birthplace: Ming Empire Height: 5' Weight: 101 lbs. Blood Type: B Xianghua - Itenerant Flower of the Breeze The story begins some decades before our heroine was born... The Chai family has been and continues to be a strong family with a lineage of proud soldiers serving the nation. Once the eldest son succeeded his father's estate the remaining sons left the house to search for their independence. The second son of the house settled down in the town were the Ling Sheng Su temple was located since the great school was considered to be the strongest martial arts school in the land. The son was intent on following the traditions of the Chai family and these traditions stated that regardless of man or woman all members of the family must become skilled martial-artists and serve the nation. His daughter, Xiangfei, was born in the town and attended the Ling Sheng Su school to learn the art of swordplay. Due to her bloodline or not her diligent training over the years brought her a level of skill that surpassed even the monks of the great school. If only she had been born a man, then surely she would have been nominated to be the successor of the secret arts of the Ling Sheng Su sword style. After her father passed away she began to train even harder and soon Xiangfei fell in love with one of the monks of the Ling Sheng Su temple. His name was Kong Xiuqiang, the probable candidate to be the successor of the one of the three treasures of the temple; the rod called "Kali-Yuga". Sadly this was a forbidden love. The managed to keep their love secret for many years and not until their daughter named Xianglian was born unto them did the monks know of their relationship. This was Xianglian's second year. A candidate could never sway from the pure path and thus the school drove the lovers apart. The school took little Xianglian. With both her daughter and her lover gone Xiangfei could not bear her sorrow and decided to leave town and never return. Their sworn brother Han Dongxiu heard she was leaving told a penitent and depressed Kong. "How can you just sit here and wait? Leave now! Create your own future with your own strength!" With Han's help Kong was able to sneak away from the temple and down to the town under the vale of darkness. He gave Xiangfei a sword as proof of their love and as a reminder of the hope they would meet again. It was all he could do. Xiangfei left the town and told none her final destination. She left pregnant with her second child but she hoped Kong would soon forget about her and focus on his candidacy for the Kali-Yuga. She returned to her noble family. With the Chai family's long lineage of soldiers in the Ming Empire capitol she was able to join the ranks of the soldiers. There she bore her second daughter Xianghua. Xianghua was brought into the Ming family and her mother never told her about the past. Meanwhile the Ling Sheng Su temple was facing a great crisis. The "Krita-Yuga", one of the three treasures of the temple was missing. Investigations traced the theft back to Kong and he was immediately excommunicated and drove from the temple. Xianglian was left alone and the temple decided to raise her as an orphan. Kong followed traces of Xianglian and discovered her link to the Chai family. However the Chai family told him, "She believes that you are in the temple training hard. She would certainly be sad if she met you. We beg you, please leave here and take no more action." As persuaded Kong left the house without knowing his second daughter had been born. He could never return to the temple and so he left the town and disappeared. Meanwhile the temple's search for the Krita-Yuga continued and the first suspect was Xiangfei. The search party found her but the sword they could not. All they found was little Xianghua playing with an old sword and Xiangfei looking after her daughter. The search party returned to the temple in failure and after many years the temple gave up the large-scale search. How could they have known? No one knew, not little Xianghua, the search party, the Chai family, or even Xiangfei herself knew that the old sword in Xianghua's hands was none other than the Krita-Yuga one of the three treasures of the Ling Sheng Su temple ranking with the Kali-Yuga and the Dvapara-Yuga. To prevent its true power from being abused and in case it was ever separated from the other three treasures the Krita-Yuga would change its shape and sleep in silence. Only Kong, who separated it from the other treasures, knew this secret. Xianghua grew up never knowing she had an elder sister and by her tenth year she had acquired the basic arts of swordplay. Her mother's death drove her to train as hard as her dear mother once had and by her sixteenth year her skill was so renowned she applied for a position in as one of the royal guards of the Ming Emperor. The emperor of the Ming Empire irritated by the lack of progress searching for "Soul Edge" the hero's sword, decided to send his royal guards as the third searching party. Xiangua's best fried Meimei and Ming's Imperial Maid of Honor heard that Xianghua was part of the search party and asked her to look into her brother, Li Long's health. Xianghua agreed to the task. Xianghua had been training herself in martial arts under her mother since she was a child. "You were born to complete an important task... fight you way through your cursed destiny!" were the last words of her tender mother. Xianghua left for the quest, having her keepsake sword in hand. More and more of the members of the search party dispersed chasing various bits of information and rumors. Xianghua left the troop as well chasing a hint of information when she met Kilik. Was it fate? What would happen when the three treasures meet in one place...? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: As if aware of the decisive moment her sword, the Krita-Yuga, revealed its true form. She channeled her pure spirit through the sword and it gave her an unparalleled power. The grueling battle ended as Xianghua stood in victory. Sunlight split the nimbus and showered on her body. "I did the right thing... didn't I mother?" She narrowed her eyes as the sunlight danced on her naive visage and warmed her soul. =============================================================== 3.1.03 Chapter III: Maxi - Dandy of the South Seas - Weapon: Nunchaku Weapon Name: Fatibal Style: Shissen Karihadi Age: 24 Birth Date: May 1 Family: Both parents deceased. Sworn brother Kyam and shipmates. Birthplace: Ryukyu Kingdom Height: 5' 8" Weight: 126 lbs. Blood Type: O Maxi - Dandy from the South Sea Maxi was a pirate from Ryukyu Kingdom who sailed freely like the wind. Maxi had anchored his ship at an Indian port to enjoy the night when Kilik arrived searching for a ship to the west. Kyam, Maxi's sworn brother, was taking care of the ship while Maxi was out. Kyam liked Kilik because he chose their ship among many. "You have a good eye! Be our guest and I'll ask my brother for you!" Kyam laughed. As Kilik was waiting Maxi's return, the weather grew hostile. As a strong wind began to blow, a mysterious ship approached within a thick fog. As soon as the ship moored along Maxi's, a crowd of monsters with dead eyes attacked Kilik. Without knowing their reasons for attacking him, Kilik fought the monsters with Kali-Yuga but the monsters managed to slaughter Maxi's crew. The battle was raging as Maxi returned. "You bastards! Prepare to die!!!" roared Maxi. Maxi and Kilik alone managed to drive the monsters back, but as they did the giant, Astaroth, bearing a huge ax mortally wounded Kyam and pulled the Dvapara- Yuga off Kilik as they withdrew. Without the Dvapara-Yuga Kilik lost control and attacked Maxi. Maxi defended himself and placed the Dvapara-Yuga upon Kilik. The instant he did Kilik lost consciousness. "Brother ... take Kilik west, and see the world for yourself ... on behalf of us.... " Kyam begged Maxi in his last breath. Maxi lost everything in an instant. He decided to travel with Kilik and take revenge on Astaroth for Kyam. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: His fight with the demon blade was all Maxi could bare. "Hehehe... you are too late" "No! Say this isn't... please!!" "I... must... leave..." "Kilik... I..." "MAXI!!!" Kilik hung his head in silence. Xianghua also stood in silence. The wind is blowing, clouds are floating, all unaware of their travels. "Our memories are all..." A windy voice of a cloud whispered in the dandy's tone. =============================================================== 3.1.04 Chapter IV: Mitsurugi - A Mercenary in the Wartime Age - Weapon: Katana Weapon Name: Shishi-oh Style: Tenpu-Kosai-Ryu Kai Age: 25 Birth Date: June 8 Family: Parents and siblings all taken by sickness. Birthplace: Bizen, Japan Height: 5' 7" Weight: 143 lbs. Blood Type: AB Mitsurugi - Mercenary in a Warlike Age Mitsurugi lost all traces of Soul Edge and remained unaware of its true form. Without a weapon superior to the Tanegashima rifle he felt he could never return home. But his irritation drove him mad and he chose to duel against the Tanegashima in front of lords. Despite his skill the Tanegashima bested him and Mitsurugi took a bullet in the chest. Completely defeated, Mitsurugi realized he needed to study additional arts of the sword to match the Tanegashima rifle. After learning new styles he heard the story of a knight named Nightmare and his invincible sword roaming Europe in a trail of blood. "Prepare for my arrival, 'Naito-whatever'! I'll be there to take your sword!" Mitsurugi once again prepared for his journey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: After countless battles the demon blade "Soul Edge" was finally in his hands. While returning to his homeland he was ambushed by pirate ship. The bloodthirsty pirates surrounded Mitsurugi. As he looked down the barrel of their guns he smiled and murmured, "I've had enough of duels... let's play with the sword!" This was the last anyone heard of the samurai who was called "The mercenary in the warlike age". No one knows where his journey ended. =============================================================== 3.1.05 Chapter V: Taki - Shadow Huntress of Demons - Weapon: Ninja Sword Weapon Name: Rekki-Maru & Mekki-Maru Style: Musoh-Battoh-Ryu Age: 25 Birth Date: Unknown Family: Immediate family all felled by sickness. Master Toki Birthplace: Ohmi, Japan Height: 5' 7" Weight: 117 lbs. Blood Type: A Taki - Dream Shadow of Demon Sealer Taki's Journey The battle was beyond imagination. A conflict against a powerful dark energy that made the ghosts she had conquered in the past seem like child's play. Her armor, which she had been improving for years, could not bear the pulse of evil and cracked and her sealing spells proved useless. At last her beloved and proud Rekki-maru cracked as the mad pirate shrieked in death. Carrying the wounded girl that managed to destroy one of the evil blades Taki left the Spanish harbor, and as she left she felt an immense explosion of evil energy behind her, the release of the Evil Seed. Taki removed the shards of the evil sword from Sophitia's wounded body and cured her. After she returned Sophitia to her family she left for her homeland with the shards of the Soul Edge. During her travels she was reminded of the events that unfolded before her departure... ...It all began before Rekki-maru began to resonate with the curse of Soul Edge. Toki, the chief of the clan and Taki's foster father, suddenly summoned all the ninjas of the clan and addressed them, "Hachibei who once lead this great clan with me has stolen the spiritual ninja-to Mekki-maru and ran away with his daughter Chie. The are now nuke-nin!(Ed. Nuke-nin are ninja that leave their clan without permission, usually ninja can not leave the clan until they die because the secrets of their clan and lord. Thus the clan is responsible for the nuke-nin and must execute them as soon as possible. This was one of the tragedies of the ninja, as a nuke-nin if the ninja wanted to live they must kill their friends, kith and kin that now sought their lives.)I order find them and return Mekki-maru dead or alive!" Seeing the pure fury in his eyes Taki began to grow suspicious in Toki for the first time. No one could find Hachibei; his skill in hiding was easily the finest in the clan. Only Taki with her unusual sixth sense and massive intelligence network could even begin to track him down. Eventually after following a trace of Chie, her childhood friend, Taki was able to locate Hachibei. Hachibei and Chie ran a small stall on a vacant road. A man of extraordinary strength lived with them at the time. Taki avoided trouble and contacted Hachibei while the man was out. Hachibei was surprised to find Taki in front of him at first but eventually his face filled with relief. He showed Taki Mekki- maru and began talking through his heavy coughs. "Toki is possessed by madness and has lost his senses. This Mekki-maru controls him now." The ninja-to she took from Hachibei seems quiet and dull even though Hachibei claimed it had extraordinary spiritual powers. "Toki is not the Toki we knew, if he comes in contact with this blade again... I am in my final days. I beg you Taki never let Toki have this blade! Never!" Hachibei was ill and he knew Toki would find him soon. With these new facts Taki's suspicions in Toki grew, she left and decided to let Hachibei and Chie go free. She hid Mekki-maru and returned to her clan to confirm her suspicions. "A Chinese man, Chie's lover, has taken Mekki-maru. Hachibei and Chie have already been killed." In hearing her report Toki grinned and ordered the clan to pursue the Chinese man. Toki was not the Toki Taki had known, his eyes were full of evil and Taki could see the madness behind them. Her suspicions were confirmed. At the same time Mekki-maru suddenly changed, she knew the evil blade was resonating with an unexpected power and she believed the source to be an evil sword in a foreign country. Taki crossed the sea for the first time... Taki returned homeland with a shard of the Soul Edge. She tried to drive the shard into her beloved but broken ninja-to "Rekki-maru", but they were resistant to one another and refused to be joined. Meanwhile, Taki was attacked repeatedly by assassins who seemed to be sent by Toki, her master ninja. It was an easy task for Taki to drive them away, but she found that their purpose was to steal the mysterious spiritual ninja-to "Mekki-maru", which Hachibei had entrusted to Taki. "In Mekki-maru there is sealed a fearful power. Never let Toki have the ninja- to. You are only one that I could entrust..." Reminded of Hachibei's words, Taki tried to fuse the shard of Soul Edge with Mekki-maru. The two were immediately united and began to shed a dark aura. An aura so dark even common people could sense it. Sensing the blade's potential Taki closed it in its sheath and sealed it with magic cards. However even this was not enough power to suppress the power of Mekki-maru. And the instant she ran out of power she was captured by Geki, Toki's right hand man and his highest-ranking ninja. Exhausted from battling Mekki-maru Taki could not resist the strength of Geki as he took Mekki-maru from her hands. "Respectable Taki, I'm sorry to say this ninja-to belongs to Master Toki. You must have thought you deceived us well, but everything was planned from the beginning. Now it is time for you to rest." "No Geki don't release it!" A careless Geki watch in horror as his right arm was blown to bits as the blade shed a dark shock wave upon its release from the sheath. His shriek of pain split the bamboo forest; Taki seized the moment, grabbed Mekki-maru and ran past Geki's assistants Gaki and Doki. "Humans should never have this power... especially Toki..." At the same time, the rumor of the berserker bearing the new evil sword reached Japan. Taki realized that the evil sword must be the remaining Soul Edge, because her Rekki-maru still resonated like before. Taki planned to have the two evil swords, Soul Edge and Mekki-maru, battle each other to offset their evil powers. Thus Taki became a nuke-nin like Hachibei. The assassins under Toki's direct control were powerful and fearful ninja and among them Geki, having lost his right arm, wished to taste her blood most of all. Driving their attacks back with her various skills, the Dream Shadow of Demon Sealer continued her quest west. And now the powerful ghost Gel-o-fury gained enough power from the Evil Seed to break Taki's seals in the bamboo forest. Its direction was mostly likely the Hoko-ji Temple in Kyoto. The great temple of madness constructed by warped ideals would be the final battleground with the ghost. Taki chose to share her fate with Mekki-maru for a while. Often while chasing the Soul Edge, Taki would look at Mekki-maru and think "what terrible powers... but, isn't there any way to control it?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Epilogue: "Spirits born from evil, I command; BEGONE!!!" Mekki-maru channeled Taki's full spiritual power and slashed Inferno. The ninjatou, which bore the same evil spirit as the demon blade, was now under her control. However Mekki-maru still quivered and Taki remained uncertain in the blade. "It still resonates...?" Still, she knew that her mission would be complete... As always her parting words rang out, "The deed is done." =============================================================== 3.1.06 Chapter VI: Voldo - Hell's Guardian - Weapon: Katar x 2 Weapon Name: Shame & Blame Style: Self-taught Age: 46 Birth Date: August 25 Family: Parents and four siblings, all killed through warfare. Birthplace: Palermo, Italy Height: 6' Weight: 185 lbs. Blood Type: A Voldo - Hell Guardian After his unsuccesful search for Soul Edge, Voldo returned to the Money Pit and found the pit flooded by a storm. He took every means to drain and restore the pit but finally gave up as an entire section sunk under water. Meanwhile, a female fighter violated the Money Pit searching for a note Vercci had left about Soul Edge. Voldo allows no one to invade his Master's sanctuary! From darkness the guardian attacked the female fighter, but she was armed with a mysterious weapon and her fighting style troubled him. The battle ended when the female fighter ran away guarding herself with her weapon. Voldo kneeled in front of Master Vercci's coffin, as usual, to report that the invader was cleared. Suddenly, he heard the sweet voice. "Voldo, didn't you feel her dark aura? She had the scent of Soul Edge... Chase her, and bring me Soul Edge! Do you understand? Remember, I trust you... " Hearing the voice of the master, rose colors swept into Voldo's grayish cheeks and hot blood flowed through his veins. Voldo left the Money Pit again to get Soul Edge. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: The instant Voldo's hands touched the blade he writhed in the flood of its twisted energy. "Leave your soul to the sword..." a sweet voice echoed in his mind. Suddenly all his pain disappeared, he regained his youth and his memory returned. His eyes opened widely and reflected the soft smile of his master's face. The master's quest was over. As was his wish. Eternal joy surrounded him within the lonely darkness. =============================================================== 3.1.07 Chapter VII: Sophitia - Renewal of the Vow - Weapon: Short Sword & Small Shield Weapon Name: Omega Sword & Elk Shield Style: Athenian Age: 21 Birth Date: March 12 Family: Father- Achelous Mother- Nike Younger Sister- Cassandra Younger Brother- Lucius Birthplace: Athens, Ottoman Empire Height: 5' 6" Weight: Unknown Blood Type: B Sophitia - Second Advent of the Vow When she recovered her senses she found herself lying in her bed at home. She returned to her life as the daughter of a baker and has spent her days in peace. But one day on her way shopping with her sister, she suddenly lost consciousness. "So many lives... disappearing... Soul Edge?" Sophitia was rescued and carried back home by a youth named Rothion who lived in the next city. Since that day they were attracted to each other so strongly that they decided to become engaged. They were visiting the Temple of Hephaestus to report their engagement to him, when Hephaestus appeared before them. The God of Smiths revealed that the remaining Soul Edge was regaining its power and he needed Sophitia's help once again. "Let me go in place of her", insisted Rothion. "Rothion, you are a smith, aren't you? This time it is you who will forge the armor and weapon to protect Sophitia." Hephaestus gave Rothion a raw chunk of sacred iron and instructed Sophitia that she must completely destroy the Soul Edge. She left home with the sword and shield that Rothion had forged from the iron. She pursued Soul Edge, purifying lands seized by the Evil Seed. Her eyes shined with the light of faith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: With Hephaestus's oracle complete Sophitia returned to her love. "Rothion, I... " "I know Sophie... " The entire city joined them in celebrating their beautiful wedding. As time pasted she gave birth to a new life. "I can no longer hear the voices of the gods, but perhaps this baby can..." Knowing the words or not the baby still returned its mother's smile. =============================================================== 3.1.08 Chapter VIII: Astaroth - A Soldier of the Heretics - Weapon: Giant Ax Weapon Name: Kulutues Style: Gyulkus Age: 3 Birth Date: September 3 Family: None. There are many similiar creatures like him. Birthplace: Unknown Height: 6' 4" Weight: 209 lbs. Blood Type: None Astaroth - A Soldier of the Heretic "Where... here... I... what..." Hot air burned its throat; groaning spells clung to the ears. It opened its eyes. The chants echoed in the grand hall and ceased. It recognized that a man stood high above it muttering, "Creation from nothing..." "What... is... this monster? Is this..? I..." "I made a first step toward a god...", murmured the man in an ecstasy. "Shut up... you don't bother... what?" It felt anger at the moment it was born, then found another feeling behind the man. It stared, but there was nothing. "Agg... Uhrrrggggg... !" It was bombarded with memories. At first it seemed the memories of a warrior who was fighting for something he looked for, but then followed by the chorus of shrieks of death. Fair, despair, flash of blades, pain, and darkness. "Ugrrr......GhrraaaaaAAAAA.......!!!" It cried out in the pain of birth. Deep in the shrine the Grand Priest, Kyumm mrl py eltzk, ordered to the giant he created; "Find the demonic sword 'Soul Edge'!" As the monster, brandishing an ax, was leaving the shrine, Kyumm mrl py eltzk grinned and yelled, "The great power that even god desires... With this power I shall reach the status of a god!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: Astaroth returned to the Grand Priest Kyumm mrl py eltzk with Soul Edge. "Astaroth, you've returned! Now the power surpassing the god will be mine..." "Wha... what are you doing!? Leave me! No... STOP IT!! NOOOOO!!!" "NEED... MORE... SOULS..." The two figures faded away in the scarlet flames. What were Astaroth's true motives? Perhaps beyond even the darkest nightmares. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note - Executioner: What they believe: What they defy The ancient cultic religion's calling translates as "the call of the executioner". The true name of the religion has remained hidden for many centuries. Upper Priest Language -- py argria Parguria Lower Priest Language -- pargia History The cult's origins are deep in history beginning along the coasts of he Black Sea in late BC. However the origins remain confused as some factions before "the Guardian of the Normal Stream" were organized before the religion melded into Greek mythology. These original factions rejected the Greek influence and developed their own desires of destruction to enlightenment and resurrection. The cult's entire existence remained underground and thus it was able to escape the rise of Christianity and the other medieval religions. The religion gradually faded from history but still grows to this day (16th century) and developed many unique ideas that seemed to stem from Asian thought. The cult's central guardian (god) is Ares the god of destruction and war. They believed in harnessing the god's power to control life (resurrection) and sought immortality. During these times the fully body of "the Guardian of the Normal Stream" extended its hands well into the Middle East causing out breaks of war in those regions. The statues of snakes seen in the shrine are the remains of the other gods who controls resurrection. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doctrine: "Everything in the world is merely a repeat destruction and resurrection, even the world itself conforms without exception. If we resist this stream it would mean the destruction of balance throughout the whole universe, and thus the loss of balance would mean the end of all existence. This is the true destruction. Humans are born, and die without question. This theory maintains the existence of the human being. And so it to maintains the control of the world. "Therefore we must destroy the present world stuck in stagnation once and for all." They believe they must place this great destruction on the highest priority. And thus according to the doctrine they too will be destroyed. Unless they perish the great destruction they seek will not complete its cycle. The great destruction will see the death of the gods, but the true gods will be resurrected and then the universe reborn. This is the eternal cycle. However there are a growing number of believers that interpret the doctrine to say that they should create the destruction themselves and so subversive faction are beginning to take root. The has also been a rise in believers that believe they will be saved at the time of destruction. The interpretation of this doctrine is of central debate with in the organization. More and more the arguments among the Arc Priest are becoming violent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization: The Grand Priest: 1 person "The great being who sees everything" Upper Priest Language -- kyumm mrl py eltzk cummail pyelzuk Lower Priest Language -- kun petokoo The Arc Priests: 7 people 7 places of the heavenly bodies: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. The Earth is the center of the universe and fixed. This is the place of the Grand Priest. Priests: Twenty or more priests are confirmed in the entire organization. Some of them serves each Arc Priest. There is some differences in thoughts and factionizm among the Arc Priests. Believers: The numbers of believers can not be confirmed because they do not gather in one place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: There are two general languages throughout the organization. Literary Style and Colloquial Style. The Literary Style (Upper Priest language) is the holy language which the priest use to talk to their lord. Therefore it is only used during high ceremonies. To speak the scared language in any other case is punishable by death. This applies to the written verse as well. In common ceremonies among the lower priest, such as admissions, the Colloquial Style (Lower Priest language) is used. The Colloquial is a simplification of the Literary Style. In high ceremonies such as bring new members in to "the call of the Executioner" the higher Literary Style is used. The history of the languages is long and complex. Present Colloquial Style was born from the need for the ease of understanding and the simplification of the Literary Style. The languages are so complex that typically most priest solely learn the Colloquial Style. Therefore communication between the various priest is almost always in Colloquial Style. Most common believers do not even understand the Colloquial Style. They simply live and believe in the precepts of the religion. "The Guardian of the Normal Stream" Upper Priest Language -- py glkks estes mnz pygluksestes munz Lower Priest Language -- phygle sestems "Defend" (shifting meaning to "The way of defense") Upper Priest Language -- glkks gylucks Lower Priest Language -- gylks "A creature resembling a new human being" Upper Priest Language -- azr ss trzaous as stursa ulous Lower Priest Language -- a sta ros =============================================================== 3.1.09 Chapter IX: Nightmare - Azure Nightmare - Weapon: Soul Edge Weapon Name: Soul Edge Style: Memories of Soul Edge? Age: Unknown Birth Date: Unknown Family: Unknown Birthplace: Unknown Height: 5' 6" Weight: 209 lbs. Blood Type: Unknown Nightmare - Azure Nightmare No one knew where the rumor came from. The blue knight, with the mysterious crimson eyes, bore the huge sword in its malformed right hand. No one who saw the crimson eyes of the knight, from strong fighters to shrieking women, from innocent babies to tiny worms, could escape its blade as it devoured their souls. The single eye of the huge sword looked like it was smiling in enrapturement, as it tasted the blood of living things. Only the creatures of darkness that served its cold blade were exempt from its fevered hunger for new souls. "Rumor, it's only a rumor." "Damn rumors all..." Three years after the Spanish village saw the column of light, a small German village was in for a night of death as a knight with crimson eyes stood atop a cliff with the full moon to his back. It swallowed towns and villages in its path to the Black Woods. It was as if Captain Cervantes returned, but with a dreadfulness and evil far surpassing the original! "We are coming, father..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: The time had come. With countless souls stolen from brave warriors the demon blade transformed into an apparition of his father. "Siegfried, my son..." "Father..." "Pierce me with the sword." "Wha...!?" "I am nothing more than an illusion. Look for the truth within yourself." Kneeling in front of his father's grave he murmured. "Can there be a chance for redemption, after what I have done?" With that he left, carrying the heavy burden of atonement on his back and holding his father's will in his soul. =============================================================== 3.1.10 Chapter X: Isabella Valentine (Ivy) - Twisting Blade of Solitude - Weapon: Snake Sword Weapon Name: Ivy Blade Style: Unrelated Link Age: 28 Birth Date: December 10 Family: Adoptive parents dead through sickness. Birth parents unknown. Birthplace: London, England Height: 5' 10" Weight: 128 lbs. Blood Type: Unknown Ivy - Wreathing Blade of Isolation Isabella Valentine was raised with love as the daughter of the noble English Valentine family. However, her father, Count Valentine, grew obsessed in mystery and drove the rich family into despair. The count died in madness and the famous Valentine family was ruined in a single generation. "You are not our daughter in blood... your true parents are..." said her tender mother, as she followed her husband into death. Devastated with remorse, Isabella could care less about her "true parents". One day, as she was collecting her parent's possessions, she discovered her father's diary. In the diary, she found that the count had become obsessed with alchemy and was investigating a sword named "Soul Edge" which was rumored to be the key to immortality. She became an alchemist to follow her father's dream and pursued the trail of Soul Edge. Vercci an Italian death merchant... Adams an English curio dealer... Captain Cervantes the dreadful Spanish pirate... The more clues she found, the greater her suspicions grew. Once she discovered the true form of Soul Edge, which she believed was the sword of mystery, something in her mind snapped. My father was driven mad by such a loathsome thing... this evil sword!" Despair and rage gave her a new goal in life, destroy the sword and cleanse the Valentine name. To destroy the evil sword, she needed an even more powerful weapon. All her intellect and skill was utilized to create a weapon that could change its shape back and forth from sword to whip. However, the weapon was still just a lifeless tool that could change its shape mechanically, it could never defeat a living demonic blade. In order to use her weapon's true potential, it needed to live! But even giving it her own blood would not bring it to life. Frantically, she tried everything she could think of. Once she found her understanding of alchemy useless, she began to explore ancient sorcery and repeated summoning rituals every midnight. But just like her father, she lost her temper and struggled with rage. One night, her desperate desire finally summoned a malformed arm into the summoning gate. Isabella stared blankly at the arm as it sensed her attachment to her beloved sword and fused itself to it. Then a voice without sound uttered, "I, Cross of the Pledge, shall confer onto thee the Point in the Escutcheon of Destruction - Dexter Purpure." The ceremony ended as the being disappeared. Under frozen moonlight, the embodiment of Isabella's sanity cracked and twisted as it desired something unholy. Her sword was completed beyond her wildest dreams! But Isabella still remains unaware of her true parents... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revelations: Massacre after massacre... devoted souls seeking the truth brought down... in the hands of its host Nightmare, the evil blade's monstrous eye smiled in satisfaction. It used Astaroth and Lizardman as its hands to recover its strength with no risk to itself or its host. Soon it would regain the power it once had. The time had come here in Ostrheinsburg Castle with so many plots racing through each mind. Nightmare's plan was to have the evil blade eat the souls of Astaroth and Lizardman as the final touch since the monsters themselves sought to deprive the sword of its power. Despite the evil air, Ivy walked down the isle to the back gate alone. She wanted to repay Nightmare for helping her create the Ivy Blade and so she helped him in his quest for resurrection. But she has finally reached her limit. These endless massacres left too many victims just for the art of resurrection. What was the true purpose of these tragedies? This was the question that raced in her mind that bore no answer. Moreover she loathed the vile beast that carried out the massacres like cold executioners. The bloodthirsty giant must enjoy the slaughter and Lizardman was clearly not a creature from the earth. The eyes of Lizardman bore no emotion despite its heartless acts. Moreover everyone, including Nightmare, seemed to be plotting something terrible. I can't help anymore. A monster stood watch at the back gate of the castle. Looking for a way out of the castle while avoiding detection Ivy choose a secret underground passage. In the dark narrow isle she felt uneasy as if the eye of Nightmare's sword was gazing upon her. Her steps quicken as she saw the light of the exit in the distance. However as she emerged from the passage on to the ramparts she saw Astaroth and his clay golem subordinates waiting for her. "It's strange that you are using an underground passage. Where are you going in such a hurry?" Astaroth smirked. "I will no longer hold company with brutal creatures like you. I'm leaving this castle to complete my own quest." Ivy replied. Hearing her words Astaroth said, "You stupid bitch, the object of your quest Soul Edge has sat in front of you all this time. Why didn't you feel anything when you gazed upon the eye? Well not that I care and the time is coming so devote your soul to the blade." Dodging a sudden attack from the giant's axe Ivy drew her ever-morphing Ivy Blade. What did he say? That Nightmare's sword was none other than Soul Edge? "I felt the evil aura of the blade but that is not proof enough to call it Soul Edge. Above all if it were the Soul Edge he would have never let me who wants to destroy the blade, near him. Or maybe he thought because I am a mere woman...", Ivy's thoughts raced on. "You are a spare host I've heard"; Astaroth smirked and answered with such confidence that it seemed as if he knew everything. A spare host? What could that mean? Ivy was stunned for a moment with this thought and with out hesitation Astaroth seized the moment. The giant's blade was coming down on her head as she regained her mental focus. Narrowly she dodged the axe's blade but the hilt slammed her against the wall. Astaroth stood in front of a beaten Ivy and smiled. But suddenly the clay golems behind him became noisy. "What's happening? Three... three strong souls? Good." Upon his subordinates' report Astaroth turned his back to Ivy and began to leave. "Are you running away?! Take back the words you said!" "I'm leaving for a more efficient hunt. Worry not, these golems will finish my work and take your soul for the blade." Astaroth replied. The giant left and the clay golems attacked Ivy obeying his orders. A long and hard fight left a breathless Ivy standing is a pool of melted clay. Her beautiful face and body were cover in mud, and strength gone and her consciousness fading. Desperately she made her way back to the passage. She refused to believe Astaroth's words and needed to talk with Nightmare directly. "Stop child of the evil sword," the voice of a young woman rang out from behind Ivy. As Ivy looked back she saw an Asian woman in strange clothing standing there. Ivy wasn't aware of the woman's presence before. Ivy brandished her sword with her last bit of strength but the woman stopped her attack with a short sword drawn from her waist. The moment the blades clashed Ivy Blade wreathed on the short sword as it began to shed a dark and evil aura. Affected by the dark aura the trees surrounding them groaned in pain. "What is happening!?" "This sword bears a crack of Soul Edge," said the woman. "And your sword which resonates with mine is the child of the sword." "The child of the evil sword... it may be. So your words and Astaroth's are true, this sword was completed with the power of Soul Edge. How stupid I am, me who in order to destroy Soul Edge entrusted the very power of the evil sword itself." Ivy replied as she was hit with her own uneasy suspicion. "One more fact, the blood of the evil blade runs in your veins." "Wha...?!" The woman had now called not only her blade the child of the evil sword but Ivy as well. With her last remaining power Ivy attacked the woman. But the woman parried her blade easily and jumped onto the ramparts. "Once I fought with a man who bore an aura similar to yours. That man was the previous owner of the evil sword. Now, farewell." "Wai... wait! What do you mean? You mean that my true father is...!" Captain Cervantes, the immortal pirate? She never said the name but she stared at the rampart where the woman once stood. Ivy then heard a heavy noise from inside the castle. The three trespassers must have been more than Astaroth expected. Ivy drew her exhausted body toward the dark castle with a new will. If it's true I will cut him to pieces. Knowing she was deceived is the only power that moves her now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: "It... Shouldn't..." Through her battles suspicion changed to certainty. Despite the death of the demon her blade still held the breath of life. But now the source of its undead life was cursed blood running through Ivy's body. However she accepted the curse without hesitation. "I have always felt this to be true, but now that I know the truth I am relieved..." Now a new unholy quest calls her soul. =============================================================== 3.1.11 Chapter XI: Hwang Sung Kyung - Burning Patriot - Weapon: Chinese Sword Weapon Name: Blue Thunder Style: Hwang Style Long Blade Age: 28 Birth Date: August 8 Family: Parents deceased. Master Seung Han Myong Birthplace: Chili-san, Lee Dynasty Korea Height: 5' 7" Weight: 137 lb. Blood Type: AB Hwang - Patriot's Burning Soul During his quest for Soul Edge "the sword of salvation"; Hwang heard a terrible rumor that his beloved homeland would soon fall under attack from a neighboring country. He immediately abandoned his honored quest and returned home. During his return he found his master's daughter Seung Mina and brought her home with him. Once home he returned to the Coastal Defense Force and served under the direction command of Navy Admiral Lee Sun Shin. Soon a rumor spread that Mina had run away from home yet again. This troubled Hwang but he knew he could not forsake his duty protecting his beloved country. Burdened with his worries over Mina's safety and his impatience with the attack foe's cowardly tactics he eventually lost his inner calm. At last he made a horrible tactical mistake chasing a small pirate ship and many lives under his command were lost. Admiral Lee Sun Shin summoned Hwang and dismissed Hwang's rank as commander of the Coastal Defense Force. And thus the Admiral returned H
