To each their own battle
Back at the dark fortress…
“So you were a criminal back in the days as well.” Kabuki noted. “We have much in common then. On that note, what’s with that girl who’s been eager to fight you?”
“You mean Sarah? She was the one responsible for releasing me from my seal.”
Kabuki becomes intrigued of his story.
“Your past…care to me fill me in. I came to wonder why you detest Rare so much.”
“Fair enough…hmm but where to begin.”
Auroa begins revealing his dark past. The scene shifts to Rare sitting alone in an empty void. A large chess board on the table.
Mr. Rare… my one and only creator. A manipulator from the shadows. I was one of seven siblings born that very night.
He is seen creating pieces on a board.
His orders were absolute and the rest of my siblings followed without questions. We were ordered to kill whoever was a threat to his goal. But I defied against his will. In fact, he was angry because he didn’t have power over me.
Rare proceeds to smash the chessboard on his table.
From that day, I broke away from his family. I formed my own group of bandits at the time. We did however we pleased. From pillaging, destroying, and even assassinations. In major conflicts we took no sides. We worked only for the highest bidder. I was nearly unstoppable at the time.
Auroa is now leading a group of bandits on a battlefield.
But fate struck and my luck eventually ran dry. A woman in red sealed my fate. Her name was Makoto. Her clan ambushed us one night during a big job. I put up a fight but was sealed within a great tree.
Makoto casts a gilded seal pulling Auroa into a great tree. Auroa’s demon self struggles to break free.
I was under a deep eternal sleep. Till one fateful day. Nearly twenty years ago a little girl removed my seal. That girl was Sarah. In fact, I was reborn into this world. This time as a child.
The scene shows a young Sarah and Auroa staring off.
Her eyes were similar to hers. That’s when I realized Sarah descended from Makoto. And to this day I was grateful for what she did. Allowing me a second chance in this new life.
Auroa’s story ends from there as the scene transitions back to the dark fortress.
“Come to admit. I really dislike Rare.” Kabuki said. “We need to find a way of disposing him soon. Moon was a much better ruler during my time.”
“Be patient my friend. Our time will come.” Auroa promised. “Once our true plan is set, we’ll dispose of Rare. With him gone we’ll shape this world as we please.
Back with Alistor and the party…
Rushing through the next set of stairs, Alistor and the party enter a room filled with solid steel and wall flooring. A fog of mist emanating from the ceiling, they could hear the sound of heavy winds blowing from outside. They made it to the halfway point of the tower. Havok’s voice could be heard from a speaker above.
“Well well, you made it this far. Feeling lucky? The Nova cannon will be ready to fire in twenty minutes. Try and stop me, ha ha ha ha.”
“Damn! We’re running out of time.” Katty said.
“Look out!” Alistor shouted.
From above a massive spiked monster jumps in to crash the party. Katty and the rest avoided its attack. With not much of an introduction the monster starts ramming at the team.
“Whoa! This guy means business… What should we do?” Winoa wondered.
“With not much time I propose we split.” Alistor suggested. One of us will have to stay to fight this one. So who will it be?”
Plasmus stepped in to volunteer.
“Agreed, there’s not much time to waste. I’ll try holding this one off as long as I can.”
The rest of them make their way to the fifth floor as Plasmus stands off against the spiked monster. Fully armored and a scar marked on its left eye.
“Good of your friends to leave you behind. I know all about you ha ha ha. This will be easy.” Spike pestered.
“What do you mean? How?”
“Ha ha ha! You were always playing second hand to any division you served. Not much of a fighter alone. An early Baronia model, you are nothing more than a mere support.”
He begins hesitating from the monsters words.
“You’re wrong! And I’ll prove it!”
Volts of green sparks begin bursting out from the palm of his hands. Ready for battle, he starts charging right in at the monster. General Spike gets into combat position. A keen look is seen in its eyes.
“COME AT ME!”
Meanwhile back with Alistor and the rest. They arrive to the fifth floor; a huge gate stands between them. Control devices and large computer monitors sits across from the room. Vortex soldiers barge in from the shafts of the walls ready to defend the gate to the top.
“Looks like we got company already.” Alistor said.
A big monster materializes from lightning in front of their eyes. Wielding a huge ball and chain, wings sprouted out from its back. The whole gate was now barely even visible overshadowed by the monsters body.
“The gate… He’s walling it off.” Katty noticed.
“I cannot let you go any further.”
“Who the heck are you?” Sarah pointed.
“Skyark! A general of the Crystal Vortex, proud to fight under Havok’s name. You made it this far fast? How? You couldn’t have defeated General Spike this fast.”
Alistor steps in to clarify with the general.
“Our friend right now is handling him below. We have no time to waste with you, so step aside. Havok is waiting at the top.”
The general responded back with his weapon crushing at the floors. Alistor dodged out of the way. The Vortex soldiers draw out their weapons.
“Think it be that easy? Havok can wait! IT IS MY TURN NOW! Vortex troops attack!”
The vortex soldiers charge in as Skyark remains standing strong at the gate. The battle begins with both sides clashing. Katty and Alistor fought back to back as Winoa handled a group on her own. Sarah burns through a row of soldiers bulling them out of her way.
“I had enough with this. I’m going to bring that pile of scrap down.” Sarah said. “Winoa cover for me. I’m gonna make a clear opening for the gate.”
“Got it!”
Sarah went straight directly for the general blockading the way. A huge ball comes at her but she jumps over it. The ball crashes as she uses it to platform high in the air. Fire begins to build around her. Fueling with power in the right fist of her hand, she unleash a heavy stream of fire at the general. Skyark stood his ground covering his face.
“I will not move.” Skyark shouted.
Winoa finishes off the reaming vortex guards by casting a wave of slicing air. Alistor and Katty start firing away at the general.
“We’re gonna break through that gate.” Katty pestered.
Pressure continues to build on at the general holding onto his grounds. Refusing to budge a slight inch. He remains stationary as Sarah starts pounding at him with her fists.
“No matter what! I won’t move.” Skyark repeated.
“Die already!”
A small spark lit within his eyes. His wings spread out pushing Sarah back away as he begins charging something big. Winoa, Alistor, and Katty stood their ground.
“SKYARK BEAM!!!”
A huge ray of purple energy fires out from the general’s chest. All of them now were on the run as the force from his attack sends them flying across. A huge shake can be heard through the floor.
Back on the fourth floor with Plasmus battle…
“It seems Skyark has already begun battle. This is the beginning of your very end.”
The monster readied his spikes.
“Feel my Spike Cannon!”
Spikes shoots out from the monsters body as Plasmus was on the move. Each shot exploded upon impact. He tries retaliating back with bolts but they were ineffective. He trips from the debris left as the monster moved in. He gets body slammed by the monster.
“Ugh…Such weight….”
“Ha ha ha. Your techniques are worthless against me.” Spike laughed.
The monster starts to jump on him consecutively damaging him.
“There must be a way... A gap in your defense. Somehow….”
He continues to hold for his breath as the monster jumps higher in the air. He rolls out of the way to avoid any fatal impact from the monsters slam.
“If you think you can find a gap? Hit me with your best shot.”
The monster provoked Plasmus enough to unleash his best attack at him. A huge ball of green plasma fires away at the monster as he puts his all into this one attack.
“I am not weak. No! I can be more than just a support.”
“Just as expected….”
A glare of confidence in Spikes eyes. Plasmus has fallen straight into his hand. Energy slowly seeps from his body as Spike grabs hold of the ball of plasma. The attack gets absorbed into the monsters hands. Plasmus attack gets sent back at him.
“No…..”
“Ha ha ha that proves it. You’re no threat. Those techniques are harmless to me. Time to end this right now.”
The room begins heating up. Spikes swirling in a circular motion like a wheel across the base of its body. Fire begins to form spinning rapidly. Plasmus begins to make a run as the general was on fire.
“You’re no match for me.”
The general rolls across the room after him. Plasmus gets cut from one of the spikes on the monster’s body. The back of his cape begins catching on fire.
“This fight is hopeless…Maybe he’s right. I’m no good.”
“Say goodbye!” Spike snickered.
The monster was stopped on its tracks, ready to smash down with both hands. Suddenly a force intercepts between them. A wave of dust knocks Spike away from Plasmus. It was none other than Swifter at his side.
“You’re ok!”
“Of course. Don’t ever doubt yourself. Even if things get tough, there is always a way around the situation. Succumbing to the opponent’s hand is a sure way to defeat. Now let’s do this.”
His words got Plasmus back on his feet. The monster got back up, turned around to attack with no hesitation. This time ramming with its arm laced with spikes. The both of them jumped out of harm’s way.
“A two for one? Splendid! Both your powers even combined won’t even make a difference.” Spike said. “Here I come!”
“He’s a very tacky one.” Swifter said.
“I know right? So far everything I throw does nothing.” Plasmus stated.
“There is always a gap somewhere. Just like Umbrella man? No matter how small we’ll find it.”
They avoid the monsters next oncoming ram and begin some planning.
Back upstairs with Alistor and the others battle with Skyark. Lasers continue firing out from the general’s chest. Still stationed at the gate refusing to move. Nearly all the equipment in the room was gone. Piles of dust and debris lies across the floor.
“Gah! He won’t budge. Such a huge fatty!” Katty said.
“We’ll just have to overpower him.” Sarah said.
“What do you mean?” Winoa wondered.
“Just sit back and watch.”
Sarah moves in as Skyark fires away on sight. A blast of flames clashed against his laser.
“I won’t let go! 100%”
Sweat begins pouring from the back of the general’s head. Parts of his wings begin cracking and chipping off. Not long after the laser gets overwhelmed from the force of her fire. Skyark catches on flame and she moves in to deliver a hard punch to the face.
“Get out of my way.”
She punches through Skyark’s vision screen knocking his block off. Losing balance Skyark blindly retaliated back with his ball and chain, but Winoa slices through the chain. The ball is sent flying across the room.
Alistor and Katty moved out of the way as the ball went flying out of the tower. A huge gaping hole is left as cold air came rushing in.
“I can’t lose…..” Skyark muttered.
On fire and with cold air mixing, the general’s body begins to slowly break away like glass. An arm first falls and the next an entire wing. Sarah rushed in for her final attack.
“Kiya!!!”
Skyark gets launched into the air as she breaks through with one flaming fist. A stream of fire cuts through the monsters for his inevitable destruction. A big explosion quickly commenced within the room.
From outside smoke can be seen escaping from the hole left in the tower. Havok waits silently from the top.
Back below with Swifter and Plasmus, spikes and fire rains down upon them. General Spike rapidly spins across the room, flames surrounding them.
“Are you sure its gonna work?” Plasmus asked.
“This might be the only chance we got. Here he comes!” Swifter shouted.
In a matter of seconds the general closed in. They both grabbed hold onto one of his large spikes left on the floor from his previous attacks to plunge into him.
The monster is brought to a sudden stop. The spike exploded away leaving him stunned. An opening is revealed to them at the top of its single spiked forehead.
“Go for it!” Swifter pointed.
Plasmus went in with an electrifying blade to plunge at the monsters opening. Stunned and paralyzed it struggle to move but it was over.
“I refuse to die by the likes of you!”
General Spike fire his spikes causing his attacks to implode on him. Swifter and Plasmus are sent back from the blast.
“That guy is crazy…” Plasmus said.
“At least it’s over. Let’s take a rest.”
Lying back to back on the floor, the both of them went to take a nap.
Back with the rest of the party. They entered through the gate Skyark was guarding. They were now outside on a balcony with a small set of stairs leading to the top.
“The cannon’s Right there!” Winoa pointed. “Let’s destroy it.”
They spot the Nova cannon charging up. Four large pillars power up the device. Havok was nowhere to be seen.
“Nobody around? Havok where are you?” Alistor wondered.
Feeling it was an obvious trap they took no chance to let their guard down. Katty was feeling chilly from the cold breezing air passing. Winoa took a step closer to the cannon. Havok materialize from the air behind her.
“Winoa! Watch out!” Alistor shouted.
Havok swoops down to attack, but Alistor intervened in the nick of time. Alistor clashed his blade with Havok.
“Havok!!!”
The general quickly overwhelms him with his sheer strength. Havok grabs hold of Alistor by the neck.
Sarah goes in to try a fiery punch, but Havok kicks her out of the way while still holding onto Alistor. He looks intensely into Havok’s red glowing eyes.
“Finally I get to have a piece of you. You’ve been meddling far enough with our plans. You should have accepted the offer and gave up.”
Alistor breaks free kicking him off.
“Havok! We get to fight at last.”
“I don't need all of you to tell me my own name. More importantly, tell me what you think of this.”
The both of them pull back for a second before clashing once more. Havok gets the upper hand as he brings the pressure from his blade down at him. Alistor struggle to hold on with his Crown sword.
“What I think? This mad tower of yours has to go down. That Nova Cannon, I can’t let you fire it off.” Alistor said.
“What are we waiting for? Let’s attack.” Katty shouted.
Katty and the rest move in to fight with Havok. He easily catches Katty and Winoa’s attack by the tip of his blade. Alistor and Sarah charged forward but he pushes them both back from a sweep kick.
Winoa went in once more with a wind attack. Havok easily avoids them, and Katty jumps in from behind. Katty try pulling off his quick slices but Havok easily grabs hold of him throwing him back at Winoa.
“Ow…That hurts.” Winoa cried.
Alistor went back in with a charged attack this time but the general merely pulled himself away.
“My your all eager to fight right away. After all the trouble I made you getting here. Why do you think your even here?”
“We have to stop you of course. From firing that cannon.” Winoa said.
“Clever attempt but your off.” Havok nodded.
“Then what was your plan on bringing us here? What’s the point?” Alistor said.
Havok slowly walks across from them. His blade perched gently on his hand. He watched them carefully on every move they make. All calm and cool, not much was worrying for him. Neither Katty nor any of them could see any emotion expressed from the general.
“The world you see here is one potential future should things continue as they are.” Havok spoke.
“This is all a battle isn’t it? Isn’t that what you want?” Alistor said.
“A battle? Hah! Meaningless battles such as this have existed from a distant past. Only by pitting ones pure strength against another do true champions arise.”
Alistor readied his blade.
“I’ll defeat you…Better yet just destroy you.”
The general was merely amused hearing these words out of him. He points his blade towards him.
“Small idle threats ha? I seek such a champion, yes one like you. That Crown Sword you have. You’ve yet to master it completely.”
“Yeah why? Why are you so interested anyway?”
“Save that question for later. To begin you show me your true strength.”
Havok begins the charge of battle. Green and purple energy bursts out from the edge of his blade. They kept their guard strong as he got close. Havok clashes with Alistor and Katty blade to blade. Barely able to hold their own as they are pushed back from his immense strength.
“Storming Gale!!!”
Winoa tries attacking but her attacks barely made a dent as Havok swats her away. Katty gets kicked to the side as Alistor attempts to strike.
“What!? Unreal!”
Alistor’s sword gets stopped in midair crunched by his fist. Havok lifts him up from the tip of his blade tossing him across to Katty.
“Come on? Is this the best you got? I’m barely warming up.”
Havok gets blast from behind by one of Sarah’s flames. Waves of fire impact him, yet Havok held his ground. Havok dashed through her flames.
“What!?”
Havok broke through her fire. She gets knocked back by a blast from his blade. On the floor, she clenched her fist tight.
“No! We can’t lose here.”
“She’s right. Not now! That cannon must not pull through.” Katty said.
They all got up to fire their best shot at Havok. He takes the damage from all their attacks without hesitation. Their attacks explode upon impact leaving a huge smoke.
“Did we get him?” Winoa asked.
The smoke cleared and Havok remained still standing strong.
“My turn!”
Purple and Green energy unleashes from Havok’s blade.
“Metal Shower!”
His attack sends the entire party to the ground. Alistor goes to reach for his blade but it gets kicked aside. The tip of Havok’s sword was at his face.
“So this is the limit of your strength? How pitiful….”
He hoists Alistor from his front once more, the both of them staring face to face. Havok could feel every breathe he takes. Slowly he begins moving Alistor towards the edge of the tower.
“It’s a long drop from up here. And so this is where you fall. All your efforts gone to waste. Say goodbye!”
He gets ready to drop him off but he immediately grasped onto Havok’s cape. A spark of light lit in his eyes. Silver light begins emitting from the Crown Sword.
“What!?”
His sword came to him cutting at Havok’s feet causing him to nearly lose balance. Alistor got back up to deliver a swing like he never did before. From the Crown Sword he unleashes a streak of silver light at the general’s face.
“Rena!”
He pulls Rena’s charm from his pocket. It was glowing as he feels her spirit by his side.
“My power rests with you. Now let’s get him.” She smirked.
Blessed by Rena, Alistor lashes at Havok. His blade nearly slashes through Havok catching him by surprise. Havok tries to parry back as quick he could but his front takes the blunt of the damage. Sparks and energy explodes out from the front of his entire torso.
“What’s going on? Where’s all this power coming from? No way could you have done this all on your own.”
Confused, the general took a few steps back clinging strong to his blade. Holding onto the side of his rib.
“What’s fueling you? Reveal yourself!”
Rena’s spirit appeared at Alistor’s time of need. From the very charm she entrusted to him.
“Rena, she is what keeps me going. The will to never give up.”
“I’m a warrior of honor. I won’t lose easily.”
Katty and the rest went back to attack at Havok again. The weight of their attacks pressures him.
“I’ll destroy you!!!”
Havok attempts to grab Alistor by the neck once more. Rena’s spirit easily repelled him back. Swifter and Plasmus finally make their way into the scene of battle.
“Sorry we’re late guys.”
Fully powered by Rena’s energy, Alistor goes to unleash his Star Breaker at Havok. The general took a glance at his opposing surrounding.
“Six on one? No! Make it seven. Heh…That is hardly even fair. My comrades have fallen, but their effort won’t be left in vain.”
“Star Breaker!”
Havok did not hesitate to move away from Alistor’s final attack. Instead, he focused all his energy in one place. A green and purple aura begins surging across the general’s body.
“I AM HAVOK! General of the Crystal Vortex. Your attack means nothing to me.”
Alistor’s attack impacts Havok, unleashing a grand blast of light in the air. The scene illuminated as Katty and the rest covered their eyes. The light slowly faded. Alistor was seen dropping to the floor.
“Rena, we did it.”
Rena’s spirit returns back to amulet. Havok appeared before their very eyes. Relying on sheer will power at this moment.
“What!? He’s still standing…”
Kabuki’s voice could be heard inside Havok.
“What are you doing? Stop wasting time. The Nova Cannon! Get ready to fire.”
“With pleasure!”
The general makes his way towards the cannon.
“Oh no! We must stop him. Don’t let him press that button.” Winoa said.
Katty was the first to rush in but he gets blasted back. Havok bulls through Alistor and then Sarah making his way towards the cannon. Winoa latches herself onto the general’s back keeping a tight hold on him. Havok struggles to shake her off as Swifter and Plasmus went in to grab a hold of his legs.
“From the push of this button Capital City will fall.”
“NO!!!!”
Havok’s finger was firmly placed on the button. Slowly as it begins to press down. Winoa struggled but finally forced Havok with her to fall onto the control panel. Many buttons got mashed before he could pull her off.
“No! The coordinates!”
The cannon implode causing the tower to shake. Explosions commence across the tower.
“Finish him!” Winoa shouted.
Alistor rush in at Havok with a full powered attack.
“Star Breaker!”
Rena’s energy infused with the Crown Sword to deliver a huge blow to Havok. Alistor’s attack sends Havok falling from the tower. The generals falls to his doom as the tower slowly begins to crumble away.
“Come on let’s get out of here.” Katty said.
In a matter of moments…They escape without any trouble and watched the tower fall from the distance.
The upper half was the first to collapse over. Somewhere down below a blade stuck out from a pile of snow. Still alive Havok emerges out.
“No! I won’t fall that easily!”
He got up, but soon he notices the tower immediately falling over him.
“AHHHHHH!!!!!”
The Nova Tower crashes on the general, leaving nothing but smoke and debris.
Back at the dark fortress…Auroa watch Havok’s tower fall before his eyes.
“All of Havok’s time and effort put in that tower crumbled.” Kabuki sighed.
“Not even he was good enough to stop them. Even with a team of monsters we still lost.” Umbrella Master said.
Havok returned cold but alive.
“Brrr!!!”
They were relieved to see he returned back in one piece.
“Ah you’re still alive! Splendid. We thought we really lost you.”
Coughing, sneezing, and limping across the room Havok reached for a bottle of aspirin.
“Brrr! Let me go at them again. I'll make sure I beat him this time.”
“You don't look so well? Why don't you rest for a while? Kabuki and I will take things from here.” Auroa added.
“What? But I can still fight.”
“Relax we got a new plan ready to set in motion.” Kabuki said.
“Very well then…”
Auroa and Kabuki teleports out from the fortress. The Umbrella master then leaves.
“Ha! Don’t push too hard. See ya around.”
“Ugh, they make me sick. Next time, next time you hear.”
Havok was left alone to watch over the Vortex main base. From a window outside a star shoots past quickly by.