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
