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Culmination	By : Croik Category: +G through L > Guilty Gear Views: 2646 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Guilty Gear, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
Guilty
Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being
used in this fanfiction without permission.
This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains
yaoi material.

Culmination
Chapter
24

Bridget
groaned softly as he was dragged once more into awareness�slowly and painfully,
encouraging him to keep his eyes pressed shut for as long as he could be
allowed. It was the sounds of ringing
battle that coaxed him to ignore that instinct, and he winced when the first
vision of his reclaimed sight was that of brilliant, flashing magic. With another weak murmur he pushed himself
up, rubbing the back of his throbbing skull.
His entire body was aching from the impact he could only barely
remember; he had to wonder if this was how Ky had felt after his original
run-in with the Ninth.

Gradually,
the boy�s gaze was drawn back into clear focus, granting him at last a view of
the swirling combatants. Each was
bloodied, gasping for breath as they launched themselves again and again at
each other. The sharp percussion of
their weapons resounded in the small space and made Bridget�s ears ring.

�Testament�.� Carefully, Bridget began to push to his feet.

*****

Sol
could not believe what he was seeing.
His every instinct rebelled against it, refusing to connect the image to
sense. Ky was standing before him, his
neck and chest awash with the blood from Sol�s injured chest, brow illuminated
by the series of delicate lines that had been previously obscured by hanging
bangs. At least�they had to have
been. Sol would have noticed that
before. Something like that�.

�Ky�.� Sol shook his head. �What�is going on here?� He grimaced as he pressed his hand more
tightly to his wound, trying to slow the flow of blood. He had already spent so much of his magic in
this fight that his body was slow to respond, especially to an injury of this
depth. �Are you fucking Ky or not?�

Ky
continued to stare back at him, face unmoved and posture straight. It was eerie; with the light of the moon
haloing his features Sol could clearly make out the man�s face, the intensity
he had always known and damned himself for not recognizing sooner. And yet it also�looked nothing like Ky. The outfit, the strangely-colored sword, the
unwavering malice in his eyes and attention�the mark of a Gear Sol�s own eyes
were drawn continuously back to.
Something�was very wrong here.

�I
want you to fight me,� he said evenly, and again though the voice was
unmistakably Ky�s, Sol had never heard it quite so cold. �With all your strength.�

�Don�t
be ridiculous,� Sol grunted, though his gaze flickered briefly to his dropped
Fireseal, just beyond his reach. �Just
tell me what the hell is going on here.�

�I
want you to fight me with all your strength,� Ky repeated, �or I will kill
you.�

�Don�t
fuck with me!� Losing his patience, Sol
began to push to his feet. �This isn�t
funny, Ky! Tell me what��

But
by then Ky was already upon him.

*****

Anji gasped suddenly, drawing Baiken�s
attention for a second�more than enough time for Chipp to connect another
pummeling kick to her midsection. This
time she didn�t even cry out as she was thrown into the far wall. Blood was beginning to trickle down the back
of her skull. But Chipp was worse
off�her claw had made a mess of his shoulder, and blood was flowing thickly
down his arm and chest. Though in his
hypnotized state he didn�t seem to notice, soon his body would reach its limit,
and he was sure to collapse. If she
could merely wait that long, it would be over.
She should have stayed where she was and stalled for time. It was the lifting of Anji�s voice nearby
that spurred her to her feet.

He
was screaming�his voice had risen so gradually that for a moment she hadn�t
been able to distinguish it from the ringing in her skull after so many
impacts. When she looked, the Japanese
man was shuddering on the table beneath Leona�s hands, his eyes still glazed
and head thrown back. She had never
heard his voice lift in such a way, and it sent ripples up and down her skin
beneath the layer of cold sweat already covering her. �Anji�.�
She staggered forward. �You�stop
it.�

Leona
didn�t lift her head, and before Baiken could get close enough Chipp was again
barring her way. She growled in
frustration. �Get away from him,� she
hissed to the woman, �or I�ll kill you both.�

Leona
snorted quietly. �No.�

�Get
the fuck away from him!�

Baiken
twisted her body sharply, her claw shooting towards the albino man and digging
again into his shoulder. With all her
strength she turned, her voice spilling in a wrathful cry as she dragged Chipp
clear off his feet in a spinning arch.
The wound across her collar split and sent fresh blood spilling between
her breasts. She didn�t care, screaming
madly as she flung Chipp bodily into Leona and sent them both crashing to the
metal floor.

Anji
trailed off in a whimper, his body growing limp against the table. Panting, Baiken started toward him. She only made it a few steps when there was a
sudden tug on her shoulder; Chipp was climbing upright once more, arm twisted
around the length of her iron chain.
Baiken had just enough time to jump, clearing her of Anji�s table
between them, before Chipp planted his weight and pulled�she was dragged
through the air just as he had been a moment before, and could only yelp weakly
as she struck wall yet again. But as she
slumped she realized that the metal had given way beneath her impact far more
easily than it should have, and a moment later she found herself being rained
upon by several heavy objects that had fallen out of the destroyed cabinet.

�Damnit�.� Chipp was stalking towards her again, his
eyes still empty, and Baiken was just resigning herself to the reality that she
would have to kill him when her knuckles brushed a length of polished
wood. She dropped her gaze and could
have laughed. �Anji�I guess this makes
us even.�

Chipp
ran at her; her hand snatched up the fallen Zessen, and with a sweep of her arm
she sent a wave of powerful magic screaming towards him. The wind howled in the confines of the lab as
it spun and curled, lifting Chipp easily into the air. Equipment was toppled, bits of glass tossed
madly about�Baiken could feel the wind�s pull against her clothes and open
wounds, making her cringe. And suddenly,
it was gone. Baiken didn�t look, but she
heard Chipp�s body drop to the ground with a sickening thud. Breathing hard, for several long moments she
dared not move or lift her gaze. If that
hadn�t ended it, she wasn�t sure how much more she could offer.

Nearly
a full minute passed, and when Baiken finally convinced herself to look the
room was still. Chipp was clear at the
other end of the laboratory on his stomach; there was blood seeping from his
nose and lip but he seemed to be breathing.
Relieved, she then looked for the doctor. Leona was trying to pull herself upright
several feet away, battered but still desperately determined to reach Anji once
more.

Baiken
stood, retrieving her sword as she stumbled toward her. �You mind holding still a minute?�

Leona
turned, and was met with Baiken�s heel in her jaw. She cried softly as she crumbled once more to
the floor, and was there pinned by Baiken�s heavy boot against her
stomach. Wincing, she lifted her
gaze. �You bitch.�

Baiken
watched her, still regaining her breath.
�You used ki on me,� she stated evenly.
�Someone like you hasn�t trained.
Which means there�s Japanese blood in you, somewhere.�

Despite
her defeat, Leona Mariot glared back at her with strict vehemence. �And�?�

�So
why?� Baiken�s eyes narrowed
spitefully. �To your own people?�

�Because�.� Leona closed her eyes, tilting her head back
as if already knowing what end her words would bring her. She was without regret. �Because that man is my father.�

Baiken
was still for a long time, unmoving, feeling the blood slide over her skin and
mix with her sweat. The room was
silent. And then she slit the woman�s
throat.

*****

�You�re
the last one, you know,� the Ninth hissed as he stumbled backwards, running
into overturned desks as he retreated from the advancing Testament. �The rest of them were killed years ago. I killed them! I was not ineffective!�

�Then
there�s no reason you should flee,� Testament replied darkly. He passed a hand over his stomach, erasing
the shallow gash that the Ninth had managed to scrape across his skin. �I�ve wasted enough time with you. Let�s end this.�

He
charged, and the Ninth retreated again�he was breathing hard, and when
Testament�s scythe ripped a long wound down his arm it didn�t heal as quickly as
it should have. His movements were
losing their precision, their speed.
When their blades met, his arm trembled.

�You�re
falling apart, Arthur,� Testament warned, forcing him back.

The
Ninth stumbled, his footing slipping a moment before he could right
himself. �You�ll�all be destroyed. You don�t understand!� His hand flashed, sending an electric charge
along the length of his blade for when he and Testament met again. The Gear barely flinched, even as the magic
burned his fingers. �He�ll come back,
with his Gears. The Crusades will come
again! You�ll only be used by him again,
you pathetic��

�Shut
up!�

Testament
swung at him again, and the pair exchanged several blows. In the flurry of movement the Ninth managed
to twist his sword about, gathering one last burst of speed in his aching
limbs. The handle of his sword smashed
brutally against the side of Testament�s head and sent him reeling. Gasping, Testament managed to catch himself
against the wall and keep from dropping to his knees. He lifted gleaming, crimson eyes to his
enemy. And smirked. �Is that all you have left?�

�I�ll
kill you!� the Ninth raged, falling back as his face contorting madly. �All of you�all the Gears!� Testament charged at him, and he lifted his
hand, drawing to him the last of his ki.
�Damn you all! You should have
never��

The
Ninth never had the chance to unleash his final attack; a thick circle of heavy
iron struck his outstretched hand, distracting him from his spell as his steel
knuckles were snapped beneath the crushing impact. He couldn�t even cry out, as by then his
enemy was just before him, a blaze of red and black as a blade cleaved into his
chest.

Testament�s
eyes narrowed as he felt the resonance of his strike run the length of his
arms, followed by a wash of hot blood over tight fingers. The Ninth�s dark eyes were wide in disbelief
as they stood, suspended together. All
at once blood spilled over the man�s lips, and as he began to fall his hands
scraped against Testament�s shoulders and chest. �No�.�
His legs folded, the dropping of his weight drawing Testament�s scythe
higher up his chest that raised a thick gurgle in his throat. Shaking, he clawed at the blade embedded in
his heart. �No�.�

The
scythe vanished, and its master took a slight step back as then Ninth finally
crumpled to the ground. He shuddered
face down against the metal floor for only a moment longer before jerking
suddenly and then falling silent. Dark,
oily blood seeped out from under the body.

Testament
stared down at him for a long time, and gradually his breath began to return to
normal. But he couldn�t take his eyes
from the slumped and quiet figure, how still he appeared especially in
death. It was eerie, and somehow
mystifying to have to see him this way.
It was pathetic. He wasn�t as
pleased as he imagined he should have been, but he was�relieved. When he took a fresh breath, it came to him
easily.

�Testament�?� Bridget limped over, and arm wrapped around
his bruised ribs as he watched the Gear with concern. �Are you okay?�

Testament
lifted his head, blinking as if having awoken from deep slumber. He was bloodied and exhausted, but he was
still able to answer, �Yes, I�m all right.�

Bridget�s
features broke in a relieved grin, and he trotted over to throw his arms around
Testament. �I�m glad,� he said happily,
leaning against him. �Thank goodness.�

Testament
smiled slightly as he urged the boy back�he was getting the Ninth�s blood on
him. �What about you?� he asked with
concern, and when he glanced up he saw Rael beating her wings
experimentally. �I�m sorry�I wasn�t able
to��

�It�s
all right,� Bridget assured. �I�m
okay. Just a little knocked
around.� He smiled to show he was all
right, but then he paused, glancing around the ruined room. �You totaled everything.�

Testament
blinked and looked for himself. �Yes�we
did.� He sighed. �I suppose that means we won�t be getting any
more information out of these things.�

�Oh
well. We know there�s another factory in
A-Country, right?� Bridget squatted down,
retrieving his yo-yo. �We�ve done
enough�someone else can run the cleanup.�

�Yes,
you�re right.� Testament offered Bridget
a hand in standing once more. �And thank
you,� he added sincerely. �For helping
me, just now.�

Bridget
blushed. �You�re welcome.� Rael swooped forward to land on his shoulder,
and he giggled, giving her a pat on the head.
�And thank you, for protecting me,� he told the raven gratefully. She squawked in reply. �Now let�s get out of here, huh? We should try to find Ky and Baiken.�

�Yes.� Now that the battle had ended Testament�s
senses were free, and he could feel a surge of familiar magic burning in the
distance. Somewhere, Ky was still
fighting. �Yes, let�s hurry.�

*****

Sol
stumbled backwards over another pile of destroyed robots, a string of curses
falling from his lips. As Ky pursued he
rolled, and though the movement ripped free what little of his wound had
managed to close he managed to retrieve his sword. A blaze of fire kept Ky away from him long
enough to regain his balance and a few gulps of air.

This
was madness, as far as Sol was concerned.
No matter what explanation his mind tried to fit to this battle none of
them seemed even remotely plausible.
Either this really was Ky and he�d gone mad, or it was a remarkable
likeness of nearly perfect detail. His
style was flawless, his intensity unwavering, but�Ky had never fought like
this. The strength and precision in him
now seemed to corroborate the paths of light crossing his forehead in the mark
of a Gear. But then, Ky had always been
stronger than most of them, anyway.

�I
don�t want to fight you,� Sol tried reasoning with him as their blades
locked. He grimaced as his shoulder
complained against the strength being forced into it.

�If
you don�t�� Ky started to reply.

�Yeah
I know�you�ll kill me.�

His
careless response was quickly punished; Ky shifted his weight, using his
greater flexibility to twist and plant the toe of his boot directly into Sol�s
open wound. He cried raggedly as he felt
the sole scrape bone, and retreated again�his throbbing pulse momentarily
blocked his senses. �Fuck��

�Fight
me!� Ky shouted at him, the first tainting of real anger showing through his
voice. That, at least, sounded much more
like the officer he knew. �I�m not
playing with you, Sol�this isn�t a game to me!�

�I
should hope not,� Sol growled in reply, �when you carve a hole in my fucking
chest.�

Ky
swung Thunderseal in another round of released magic, and Sol was hard pressed
to defend from the attack with his own weapon.
His expression hardened; Ky was right, at least, he was forced to admit
as he felt the fingers of his left hand growing numb from blood loss. Scowling, he couldn�t help but think that if
he�d know Ky was this powerful before, he might not have teased him so much
when he was younger.

Sol
grunted ironically as he shook his hand to try and get feeling back into
it. �I�ve created a goddamn monster.�

Ky�s
eyes sharpened on him, his posture growing more erect. �If I am a monster,� he replied steely, �then
it is only by my choice.�

His
words caused Sol to hesitate again, a strange chill running the length of his
spine. His own remark had been meant in
jest, but its reply sounded far too serious for his liking. �What�the hell are you talking about now?�

Ky
lifted his sword before him, a few sparks of lightning skating up and down its
surface. �I finally came to understand
what you are, Sol Badguy,� he declared.
�A beast, outside the reach of order.
If the only way to defeat such a creature is to become one, then so be
it.�

Sol�s
eyes widened, dancing from the gleaming sword to the marks that even now were
glowing more brilliantly against Ky�s visage.
The mark of a Gear, of the hundreds of abominations he had slaughtered
in his past�branded on the familiar form of a determined youth he had once
fought alongside. And suddenly he
remembered how he had come to be here at all, the indications of Ky�s capture
by the Bureau. �My God�.� Sol�s entire body grew cold in that
instant. �What have they done to you�?�

*****

�Wait!�
Bridget called suddenly, drawing to an abrupt halt. �Testament, this way!�

Testament
stopped, his bloodied boots skidding a bit on the polished metal as he turned
to see what it was that had caught Bridget�s attention. The boy was heading down a different corridor,
hopping lightly over the bodies of several prone guards and a few robots�their
joints had been severed by a blade.
Testament frowned and quickly followed Bridget to the end of the hall,
where a set of double doors was hanging weakly off its hinges. The pair slipped curiously inside.

The
laboratory inside was a substantial mess, just as great if not more so than the
commotion Testament and the Ninth had created in the upper level. Desks and tables were overturned with
equipment strewn everywhere�a large, liquid-filled tank set against the wall
was covered in spider web cracks and looked close to shattering. The floor was slick with blood in several
places.

Seated
in the center of the room was Baiken, leaning against the supports of a thick
metal table with her eyes closed and legs stretched out in front of her. Chipp was nearby, facedown on the floor, and
slumped awkwardly across her lap was the unconscious form of a half-naked
Anji. Her face was oddly serene, and her
hand, knuckles still white around the handle of her sword, was resting against
his chest.

As
the pair entered Baiken opened her eye, regarding them wearily. She blinked.
�I couldn�t carry them.�

They
rushed forward, Bridget crouching down next to Baiken as Testament moved to
check on Chipp. It was then that the
Gear noticed the dead woman nearby.
�What happened?�

�Long
story,� Baiken breathed, allowing Bridget to take her sword from her and slide
it into its sheath. �The woman is Dr. Mariot,
in case you were wondering.�

�I
see.� Though Testament had been hoping
that they might capture the doctor alive for questioning, one look at Baiken
told him this was probably the best outcome.
He turned Chipp over; he had a serious wound in his shoulder that had
been crudely bandaged with strips of fabric from his own shirt, but otherwise
he seemed all right. �How�s Anji?�

�I�don�t
know.� Baiken closed her eye again. �He�s been breathing all right but�I think
that bitch started the ritual. He hasn�t
woken up.�

Testament
nodded thoughtfully. If what the Ninth
had told him was true, it was the sacrifice that came first�with Anji�s heart
undisturbed, it was unlikely that any of the transformation had been completed. �Can you walk?� he asked seriously. �I�ll carry Anji, if the two of you can take
Chipp�he seems to be the lighter of the two.�

�Yeah. Yeah, I think so.�

With
Bridget�s help Baiken eased Anji off of her and pushed to her feet. She managed to waver only a moment, a hand on
Bridget�s shoulder, before she was able to stand on her own. �I�m all right,� she assured. �Just�get all that stuff over there, will
you? I can get Chipp on my own.�

Bridget
didn�t look convinced but he nodded, hurrying over to the dismantled cabinet to
retrieve Anji�s Zessen and the rest of Baiken�s weapons. Testament, meanwhile, helped Baiken get a
good grip on Chipp�with his right arm draped over her shoulders she was able to
attach her clawed hand to his arm blade, keeping him close while her good arm
wrapped around his waist. �I�ll drag him
if I have to,� she muttered, and already was starting toward the door. �Let�s just get the hell out of here.�

Testament
smiled grimly after her as he hefted Anji�s weight over his shoulder and
followed, Bridget just behind.

*****

Not
like this, Sol Badguy couldn�t help but think over and over as he blocked Ky�s
sword against his own. Never had he
imagined it would come to this.

Somewhere
deep in his mind he knew the explanation for this was false. He was not fighting a Gear. He knew the damned beasts well; Ky simply
didn�t have the smell of a Gear, and he could already see faint bruises
developing on his chest and stomach that a Gear�s magic should have easily and
instinctually erased. But whenever their
blades met, the force of the impact running through him, his mind blurred a
little further. Ky�s attacks were
relentless, and his magic seemed to be everywhere�the electricity leapt from
robot to robot around them, sparking under Sol�s heels as well as along his
sword. It was so overwhelming that even
knowing Thunderseal was the cause it felt as if it were coming in from all
sides, so well manipulated that it might as well have been spreading from Ky�s
own body.

�This
is insane,� Sol hissed, aware suddenly that his hand was shaking around the
grip of his weapon. �What the hell did
they do to you!�

Ky
circled him, like a beast waiting for its opportunity to strike. �You�re going to have to fight as if you mean
to kill me,� he warned lowly. �With all
your strength�as if this actually means something to you!�

�Stop
it!� Sol shifted his weight, watching Ky
carefully for any tensing of muscle that would indicate the attack. It wasn�t until then that he realized he was
already taking this fight with all seriousness.
And still, Ky was overpowering him.
He shook his head. �I can�t�don�t
you understand that yet? I don�t want to
have to kill you!�

Ky
snorted, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
�Such arrogance.�

�Shut
the hell up!� Ky had always been this
stubborn. Always this determined, this
blind to plain reason. �You�re the one
that doesn�t understand! You have no
fucking clue what I��

Ky
attacked, and they exchanged a round of heated blows. Sol grimaced as every shift of movement
fought to tear his wound a little wider.
And though his voice when he spoke was growling, there was a tremor of
desperation behind it. �Don�t make me do
this, boy.�

�I
am not a child!�

Thunderseal
came rushing at him, propelled by a burst of magic. The flat of the powerful blade, to Sol�s
shock, connected heavily to his metal forehead protector like a blow from a
sledgehammer. His head snapped back, and
with little more than a startled gasp his body was tossed. He was flipped completely over, nearly
landing on his head as he crumpled onto his stomach. He�hadn�t felt anything like that in a long
time; the kind of sustained attack that made his entire body ache from the
force, sending his skull into throbbing agony.
�Ky�.�

It
could not have come to this.

*****

Ky
stood back, watching as Sol gasped against the earth with a strange sense of
morbid wonder. His arms were shaking,
they themselves affected by the force of his unexpectedly fierce assault. He had felled the man. And even knowing that Sol had been holding
back all along, that landing a hit against an already wounded and unwilling
enemy was nothing his officer�s pride should have lauded, his insides were
anxiously tight.

It
had all come to this. He could see it
clearly, from somewhere far removed from himself; the sum of so many
experiences was curled, here in the spaces between his gloved palm and his
sword. Bridget and Johnny, Dizzy and May
and Baiken; Rome�s twisted alleys and Sardinia�s golden coast; the rain that
began it all in Genoa; the blackened outline of sharp mountains that was
bringing it to an end. And
Testament. The Gear who had, in the
short span of so few days, come to understand all his shameful motivations. Who had through his own painful history and
ongoing struggle brought Ky to the truth he should have known all along.

Ky
held his sword out before him, tip tilted down, his eyes tracing its familiar
length. She had always served him
well. His fingertips grazed its heated
surface as he drew his weapon back, lifting it over his head in a smooth,
practiced stance of readiness. �Take
your sword, Sol.�

*****

Sol
grimaced as he pushed himself onto one knee, forcing himself to remove the hand
from his wounded chest. It was still
bleeding and he�d lost most of the feeling in the arm. Slowly, he raised his eyes to Ky�s serious
face. Despite everything the sight of
him curled a faint, grim smile in his rough features. It was almost fitting, that he was kneeling here
as if to receive judgment. But then his
gaze fell upon the mark marring Ky�s countenance, and with a heavy breath he
pushed to his feet.

�This
really is what you want.� Sol stabbed
Fireseal into the ground, letting it rest there. The color of his eyes was already beginning
to burn as he reached up, with one smooth motion ripping the dented headband
from his brow to reveal his own gleaming emblem. �So be it.�

*****

Testament
couldn�t help the feeling of uneasiness as he led the way through the
factory. It didn�t help that the Ninth�s
blood was still coating him, filling his senses with its unnatural stench. But his main concern now was on Ky�if the
sparking of magic at the back of his mind was any indication, he seemed to be
outside by now. It shouldn�t have taken
him this long to fight off the robots.
The thought that the Ninth had hidden from them yet another powerful
weapon sped him along.

They
were just reaching the security checkpoint they�d dashed through earlier when a
fresh surge of magic spread against Testament�s senses. It was so powerful that he abruptly halted�his
limbs, as if by instinct, refused to move.
When Bridget questioned him from behind he didn�t reply, eyes wide on
the destroyed entrance in front of him.
He knew that energy. With a curse
he started forward again on long strides.

As
Testament had feared, the group of them emerged from the factory to the sight
of Ky and Sol staring each other down across the broken battlefield. The rise of magic in the air was so great
even Baiken and Bridget flinched away.
Ky�s Thunderseal was flashing, Sol�s head thrown back as his power
amassed. It rose goosebumps up and down
Testament�s skin.

�Ky�?� Bridget started forward hesitantly. �Ky!�

Testament
snatched the back of Bridget�s outfit and drew him back. �No,� he warned. �No, we have to get away from these
robots.� He kicked at a burned carcass
at his feet�Ky�s lightning would certainly spread through them, and there were
enough around that even his allies would be in danger. He pushed Bridget in the other
direction. �Go on! We can�t stay here.�

�But
Ky�s�� Bridget started to protest as Testament took his arm and pulled him
along. �What about Ky?�

�Forget
him,� Baiken said, dragging Chipp with her as she followed Testament�s
lead. �He�ll drag us all into this if
we�re not careful.�

Testament�s
expression hardened as he glanced back, only briefly. It was just then that Ky�s energy began to
spill outward�the robots around him spasmed weakly. He could only pray Ky knew what he was doing.

*****

Ky
gasped softly as he felt the sudden surge in his power�the lightning from
Thunderseal�s tip was spreading among the fallen robots, conducted along their
metal surfaces and imitation swords. The
energy almost seemed to bring them to life, golden eyes gleaming against the
night. Each machine and weapon bore in
it a generator, and with the heat of Ky�s magic many were spurred again to
activation, adding to the already growing mass of striking, jagged
electricity. He could feel that energy
sliding around him in raw currents, and with concentration found swiftly that
he could control it as well. His hands
were shaking. The amount was startling,
and its untamed recklessness reminded him of the night in Genoa, how destructive his
uncontrolled force had been. But this
time�this time he knew he could control that power, and as he strengthened his
posture the lightning began to form, spinning in brilliant flashes around
him. He had to wonder if this feeling of
strength could even compare to that of a Gear�s�this sensation of his body
being merely a conduit, a mold for so much untamed intensity.

*****

Sol
closed his eyes a moment, his breath hissing softly. Though in truth it had not been so long since
he�d been forced to unleash his power like this, it still made his body
ache. His eyes were burning behind his
eyelids, flesh heated so that the robots around him, already charged with Ky�s
lightning, were beginning to melt.

He
had come here expecting to find the boy already dead. He had prepared for that, what he would do to
whomever responsible, where he would take the body. Those were simple things, so unlike this
madness before him. Unlike the hollow
sensation behind his ribs.

�Ky.� Sol lifted his gaze to the younger man with a
scowl. �I hope you�re fucking
satisfied.� With that he snatched
Fireseal from the earth and charged.

*****

Ky
braced himself. A deep breath steeled
his courage, and then he was running as well, bringing his sword about in a
smooth, lateral arch. Their weapons
locked, sending a sharp pain up and down his straining limbs. The impact of Sol�s magic was worse: like a
wave it spread over him, as potent and fierce as any Gear�s aura he�d ever
experienced. It was dizzying and he
nearly feinted back. But he had not lost
himself; he called his own energy to him, and when they combined and mixed both
men where thrown back.

�Sol�.� Ky fell back into his stance as the Gear
barreled toward him, his voice springing from him like the enraged howl of a
beast. Ky stood his ground. �I will become stronger,� he hissed beneath
his breath, drawing his lightning before him to defend from the incoming
attack. �And I�ll defeat you.� His voice rose as his fingers tensed along
his weapon. �Soon, Sol! I will make you recognize me!�

The
Gear charged through his barrier of magic�bolts of lightning streaked across
his face and chest, burning his tanned flesh.
He didn�t seem to notice as he careened headlong toward his
opponent. For an instant Ky was granted
a view of Sol�s face through the sharp illumination and churning heat. He remembered that feeling: Sol�s fire swirling around him, rising like
that night when the war had come to an end, sent a shudder into his chest like
nothing else ever could. His eyes were
glowing and split like a dragon�s mad gaze, his growl deep. And for that instant, Ky felt that he
understood.

Thunderseal
flashed forward in a desperate attempt at repelling him, but it was too late
for that. He felt the blade penetrate
bone and sinew, cleaving again into Sol�s collar. But the Gear kept coming, and Ky only had an
instant to realize that his loss was upon him.
The blow came hard; the impact of a fist against the side of his face
seemed to paralyze him, carried his feet out from under him. Bones broke.
And as Sol�s magic swarmed over him as well, the world tilting crazily,
everything faded swiftly to black.

*****

�Ky!� Testament could only watch, helpless, as the
officer�s body spun several times fully around before smashing hard into the
unyielding earth. He had no time to
consider running to him; the energy of the conflicting weapons was flaring out
of control, spreading like a shockwave from their meeting. Testament lifted his hand in a hastily
prepared barrier to protect himself and the others behind him. But it wouldn�t be enough, even with Rael�s
help�the magic was too much for him, and his seals were already growing dim
from the strain. �Damnit�!�

The
patterns of red before him abruptly strengthened, expanding outward to form a
wider, deeper barrier. Testament gasped
but didn�t let his attention falter as he continued to force his will into the
spell. When he glanced out of the corner
of his eye he caught sight of the man at his side, aiding him. The cool, ancient aura around his magic was
enough to indicate his identity. He
didn�t have time to question; the magic from the battle�s aftermath continued
to pour over them. Testament could only
grimace and close his eyes against the glare.
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Culmination