Chapter 15: Souls of Swords

Draco ran up the stair case as fast as his feet would carry him, the feeling of danger growing stronger with each step. Seeing the shattered doorway for the weapons room, he charged in, freezing as soon as he saw Tira’s body on the floor at his feet.
“Tira, no!” he roared as he dropped to his knees and grabbed her in a hug. He felt his sorrow falter as he held her; she was warm, her heart was beating against his chest. Picking her up, he carried her back to the den as the rest of the group searched the castle for Draga and Tela.

Noel and Raven ran through the upper floors with Jynx and Drake while Eagle, Vaihlo and Jet searched the basement with Akari and Zmesasor. Red, Death, Edda and Zax searched the grounds of the castle, and Koaru, Asumi, Zeke, Kirika, and Atom searched the rest of the main castle floor.
Draco looked up at the entrance as Seipher walked in, sword still in hand, blood running off the side of his face. Seeing Tira on the floor, he smirked.
“You find something funny?” Draco asked as his rage rose, his energy spiking, causing his hair to whip around his head. Seipher shook his head, then pointed at Tira.
“Why do you keep her? Look, she is as good as dead in her condition.” He went silent as Faust pointed at his heart, its blade pulsating. Draco’s eyes burned red, and his voice came in as an intimidating growl.
“I will keep her alive. She is my wife, and I love her.”
At this Seipher burst out laughing, but Draco didn’t budge, he just watched the man laugh.
“That right there is why you humans are so weak!” he shouted, pointing his finger at Draco. “Those emotions like love, hate, and confusion make you weak. The elves are no different. Now barbarians are truly powerful. They harbor no emotion, and nor do we Draconians.”
“Then why did your brother clean the floor with your ass?” Draco asked, and Seipher fell silent, his face contorted in rage.
“That was a mistake on my part. I underestimated his battle prowess.”
A sudden roar from the upper floors made both men look up, and Draco felt a chill as the energy swept over him again.

“Get back Noel!” drake shouted as he swept the teen back with his arm and blocked Soul Edge with his scythe. Digging his heels down he pushed back threw the demon into the air. “Now Jynx!” he shouted, and his wife threw the glass spheres he had given to her at the demon. In an explosion it vanished, screaming in agony. With a sweep of its wings the flames vanished, and the demon stood wounded. Drake leapt forward, his scythe arced for the kill. The demon looked up at him, and its face changed into one all too familiar.
“Uncle, don’t...” Draga weakly said, and Drake faltered. Seeing the hesitation, the demon charged with Soul Edge, piercing drake through his left shoulder. Roaring in agony, he dropped his weapon and pulled himself off the sword, leaping back as soon as he touched the ground.
“Drake, are you alright?” Jynx asked as she crouched next to him, examining his wound. The demon slowly walked forward, and Raven stood in front of the others, swords raised.
“Don’t!” Drake yelled, and Raven looked back, confused. “That thing...it’s Draga.”

Draco ran up the stairs, freezing when he saw Draconus in heated combat against a winged demon. His blood chilled as the demon took a swing with Soul Edge and sent the arcanist flying through the air, crashing into a mounted set of demon horns Draco had taken from one of his battles. Both spiked horns pierced through Draconus’ chest, causing him to spit up blood. Grinning through the red stream, he taunted the demon.
“That the best you got, you ugly son of a-”
He was silenced as the demon launched Soul Edge, the blade smashing though his head, obliterating his upper half.
“Ho, Shit!” Seipher yelled as he watched the remains of Draconus fall from the wall.
“Damn it all!” Draco roared as he drew Faust and charged, the blade pulsating as he neared the demon. He froze when the demon spoke in a strained voice.
“Help me...Father...”
Draco stopped and stared in disbelief, but he could suddenly make out Draga from the demon’s features.
“Gods...help me.” He muttered, Faust slipping from his fingers and clanging loudly on the floor.

Nemphis wandered the halls of castle, the sounds of battle above intrging him to enter the fray, though he was more interested in the dark energy emitting from the dungeons. Entering the dark chambers, he smiled at the sight of a black skinned warrior with a large silver scythe.
“Finally, a worthy opponent.” Nemphis spoke, drawing his sword. Charging the black skinned man, he suddenly froze, his hand grasping his gut, the man behind him, a trail of scarlet following the blade of his weapon.
“Worthy? Please, you weren’t even a warm up.” Kouji said before spinning and kicking Nemphis’ upper back, launching his upper torso from his lower torso. Standing over Nemphis’ lower half, Kouji smiled. “My, having full power feels marvelous, especially after the long wait in that useless body. Now, even this warrior dies in one strike, and soon the rest shall follow.”

Draco leapt from side to side, avoiding Soul Edge as Draga swung at him again and again, reluctant to strike back at him. Suddenly Draga vanished in a bright light, and Koaru landed in front of Draco.
“Age is making you stupid.” He said, and Draco had to fight not to hit him in the back of the head. “Get Soul Calibur, you dumb ass!” Koaru shouted, and Draco nodded, realizing that he had been a little slow. Watching Draco run off, Koaru drew his second sword, smiling. “I’ll hold the kid back for you.”

Draco ran into the weapons room, quickly spotting the steel box that he had kept Soul Calibur in and grabbing, ripping the lid off and pulling the slim blade out. Turning to leave, he was thrown back a sting fist slammed into his chest, denting his armor and slamming him into the wall. Looking up, he saw a string, Black skinned warrior holding Soul Calibur, a smile on his face.
“Were you thinking of helping those fools with this, Williams?” Kouji asked, and Draco grabbed two Iron Swords from the wall.
“Give me that sword, you bastard.” He said, and Kouji smiled.
“No, I think that I will keep it, and end this battle!” he yelled as he swung the sword, causing  a bright blue light to swallow the room. Raising his hand to block the light, Draco saw, once the light dimmed, that he was standing in the courtyard of the castle with everyone else, all looking extremely confused.
“The hell happened?” Eagle shouted, looking around, then looking up as Kouji floated out of the tower and rested above them all.
“Attention, all of you fools.” Kouji said, Soul Calibur gleaming in his hand. “I am going to take over this world, so I no longer have the patience for your interference, so, goodbye.” He said, then swung the sword again, and once more they all found themselves swallowed by the bright white light. Kouji watched as the light faded, then laughed when he saw the grounds empty, the warriors all dispersed.

Joshua looked up from the fire as he saw the light. Across from him, Gadies and Strategos both rose to their feet while Kira merely looked up from polishing his blade.
“What is that?” Sara asked nervously, and Joshua shrugged.
“Where is it coming from?” San asked as she rose to her feet.
Hearing those words, Joshua grabbed his sword and headed towards the light.
“What is it?” Kira asked, getting to his feet. Joshua looked over his shoulder at him.
“That light is coming from Ostrheinsburg Castle.” He said, then continued towards the light.