A year had passed since Askarus and Sallos had crossed swords. The wounds of many battles had healed, and Askarus finally felt at peace. Sitting upon the soft grass which overlooked the fields of wheat below, Askarus slowly smoked his pipe as his wife Cyress skipped around in the fields. This past year with her had been like none other, and Askarus felt a chill run up his back as he thought of her
Cyress was a beautiful gypsy; her dark hair reflected the sunshine as she ran through the fields. Her eyes were deep and pacific, as if all the answers to the mysteries of this life were somehow locked away behind them. This woman had done something nobody else had. She had found the one weakness of Askarus, the protector of mankind. Cyress had been the only person Askarus has let his guard down for. Only she could rest her hands upon him, and not feel the strain of muscles, ready to pounce. This woman was like no other, she was his true love.
Askarus finished his pipe and slowly stood up, raising a hand to get Cyress's attention. Without a second passing, Cyress looked up and saw her lover waving at her. Quickly, she collected her things, and skipped up the hill towards him.
As Cyress approached, Askarus's heartbeat quickened and his breath was taken away. He had seen her countless times, but her very presence made him weak at the knees. His only thoughts were to hold her tightly and not let her go. Cyress skipped over and threw herself into his awaiting arms. "The sun is setting, shall we watch?" Cyress asked, sounding quite excited as if she herself had told the gods to make this one a sunset to remember.
"A sunset with you? What more could I ask for!" Askarus chuckled, causing Cyress to smile slightly and shake her head at him. Still tightly embraced, the couple sat down to watch the daylight slip away. "You know" Askarus whispered. "Without you, I am nothing."
"What do you mean?" Cyress replied, sounding a bit confused and concerned. Askarus looked longingly into her deep beautiful eyes and smiled.
"What I mean is, you are everything that makes me happy. When the morning comes and I awake, I have the strength to carry on; because I know that we are together. When I fight, I know you are there, inside me, and that is what drives me to succeed." Cyress softly stroked Askarus's face, the scars from many battles brushed along her fingers, as he leaned toward her. The two kissed each other deeply, as the sun began to set behind them. As the last of the daylight slipped away, the two lovers fell asleep in each others arms.
Daylight came and Askarus awoke on the grass. Rolling over, he noticed Cyress has already awaken and was nowhere to be found. Askarus stretched and began walking toward the house, egger to see what his gypsy wife had prepared for breakfast. Stepping inside, Askarus froze in his place, dropping his wool cloak on the floor. In the center of his home, a large hole had been created, leading down into darkness. Askarus began to shake, knowing Cyress was down there. Leaning down, Askarus yelled her name. Louder and louder each time. "Damn it!" Askarus yelled to himself, running back into his bedroom. There he pulled a chest out from under the bed and flung it open.
Inside were Askarus's twin tanto, the blue steak which defeated Sallos, and his sacred katana. Without hesitation, he grabbed these blades and ran back toward the common area. Askarus paused at the lip of the hole, taking a deep breathe. "Your one love is down there." Askarus said to himself. "Without her, I'm nothing" his conscience echoed to him. Without another word Askarus gripped his katana tightly and leapt down the hole.
For what seemed like hours Askarus fell. Deeper and deeper the hole went, as the light from above faded, leaving him falling in total darkness. From below Askarus felt a deep rumble as a bright white light began to flood the tunnel, blinding him instantly. Askarus shot out of the tunnel and landed in a magnificent white marble cathedral. Before him stood a large stone statue of the Minotaur, his hands raised his above him, as if he was presenting an offering to the gods. Askarus was about to walk away when he heard the faint rustle of clothing from the hands of the beast. "Cyress!" Askarus shouted. Instantly, Askarus heard a soft whimper from the creatures hands, signaling it was her. Without hesitation, Askarus ran and leapt up towards the hands. Clearing the fingers, Askarus saw his wife bound with leather in the hands of this statue. His view was brief as the Minotaur statue came to life and batted him down to the floor.
Askarus landed hard, cracking the marble floor, and sending bits of debris everywhere. The Minotaur rose off of its throne, tossing Cyress to the ground, and unsheathed a giant glaive. Askarus looked over and saw that Cyress was still breathing. Slowly, he rose from the cold marble and turned to face the creature.
"The war is over!" Askarus screamed. "Sallos is dead, what do you want!"
"You have angered the Gods, Protector" the Minotaur beckoned. "All must be set right again, according to Dio."
"So, God sent you here to get rid of me, I hope you know what you're doing!" Askarus screamed, rushing the monster with his katana. With a quick leap, Askarus kicked the Minotaur in the head, shattering one of its horns. The beast roared in anger, swinging his glaive back, destroying one of the great pillars that held the cathedral up. Askarus rushed the beast again, throwing a volley of shots, which chipped away at the monsters armor. Quickly, the Minotaur swung his glaive around, dragging it along the ground by Askarus, tearing apart the marble floor. Askarus jumped, as the glaive clipped his ankle, tossing him to the ground.
"Had enough, protector?" the Minotaur bellowed. "Time to go home." With that, the Minotaur raised his glaive high and brought it down towards Askarus. Askarus rolled out of the way as the glaive buried itself into the floor. Askarus saw this opportunity and ran up the haft of the glaive. With unseen quickness, Askarus leapt off the glaive and rammed his blade deep into the Minotaur's chest. The beast screamed in agony and tossed Askarus to the floor. Looking up, Askarus watched as the Minotaur tore his blade out from his chest and threw it to the floor. Dark red blood poured out from the gaping hole as the monster charged forward.
Askarus was helpless at this time. As the Minotaur closed in, Askarus drew his twin tanto and readied himself for an attack. The Minotaur raised his glaive and swung low. Askarus, try as he must, threw his tantos up in defense, but to no avail. The massive pole arm crashed through his defense and tossed him into one of the marble pillars, scrambling his insides. Askarus landed hard on the ground, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. His body hurt and his weapons gone, Askarus felt beaten.
"This is the end of your era protector" the Minotaur said. "It has been my pleasure to send you to the other side." With that, the Minotaur raised his glaive high above Askarus, preparing to finish the job. Askarus saw this and with the last of his strength, grabbed the blue stake from his belt and ignited the crackling blade from inside. He swung with the Minotaur, catching the glaive and shattering it into dust. The Minotaur roared in anger as Askarus rose to his feet.
"Tonight, you sleep in hell!" Askarus yelled, leaping one last time and thrusting the blue blade deep inside the skull of the Minotaur. With one final wail, the Minotaur collapsed to the ground and broke apart into small pieces of marble, which rained down upon Askarus.
The protector fell to the ground, landing next to his katana. Slowly, he gripped it in his hand and crawled over to Cyress's body. Still unconscious, the gypsy lay there. Askarus smiled as he gazed at her face. Slowly, his strength left him and he collapsed on the ground next to her. The couple lay there together, with the ruins of the Minotaur scattered around them. There was silence.
Suddenly from behind, a loud bang echoed through the cathedral. Startled, Askarus turned his head to see a hooded figure holding a golden staff. Taking a deep breath, Askarus rose, gripping his katana. Slowly, Askarus walked over toward the figure. As he approached, the hooded man raised his eyes.
"So God sent another one of you peons to finish me off." Askarus said, coughing painfully. "When are you going to learn that I take orders from nobody, not even God himself!" With that, Askarus quickly swung his blade upwards, attempting to gash his opponents face. Surprisingly, the hooded man caught the blade in his hand, sending a blast of energy out from within him. Askarus flew backwards across the cathedral, smashing into the wall. Looking up, Askarus watched as the man lowered his hood to reveal the weathered face of the old man from the Corridor Del guerrieri. Askarus righted himself, shocked at what he was looking at.
"How! This is impossible!" Askarus yelled, with tears in his eyes.
"Nothing is impossible Askarus" the old man retorted. "Haven't you learned that yet?"
"But I killed you!!" Askarus yelled, blood spraying from his lips.
"If it were that easy to kill me, don't you think I would have been dead long before then?" The old man replied slyly. "You have broken the string of prophecy. Killing Lord Sallos, falling for that woman, killing me! None of these events are written; therefore you must not be the protector."
Askarus looked at the old man coldly. "I'm not the protector. That man died a long time ago."
"Not in my eyes he didn't!" the old man said sternly, raising his staff. "In order to fulfill the prophecy, we must destroy you and find a new protector, one who is pure and will obey Dio's command. One that isn't you."
"That's enough" Askarus replied, raising his katana. "Show me this divine power you think you have, you're just another one of Dio's minions." With that, Askarus rushed the old man, throwing a quick cross-over shot followed by a leg sweep. With surprising speed, the old man parried the blade and put his bow into the ground, catching Askarus's ankle as he went for the trip. Askarus felt the bone shatter as he sprung up, coming inches from the old man with his katana, following his attack with a stab at the old mans chest.
Once again, the old man was on top of the attack, dodging the upper cut and parrying Askarus's stab with his staff. Askarus swung again, desperately trying to injure his opponent. His cut sliced the front of the old man's cloak, as he threw a swift kick to the mans chest. The old man fell backwards, holding his chest. Askarus saw this moment of opportunity and leapt high into the air, pulling his katana back over his head. As he descended, the old man quickly spun his staff, blocking Askarus's attack and sending him into a wall. Askarus landed hard on Cyress, waking her from her sleep.
"Don't move" Askarus said softly. "I'm getting us out of here." With that, Askarus ran towards the pillar and leapt high into the air. From his belt he pulled out the blue steak and ignited it. Now holding two blades, Askarus came down at the old man, who stood silent.
"You will burn in hell old man!" Askarus wailed, flying through the air.
"Only a fool would think he could beat me." The old man said slyly. As Askarus neared his target, the old man quickly pulled Cyress off the ground, holding her in front of him as a shield. Askarus saw this and desperately tried to pull out of his attack. Sheathing the dagger and spinning wildly out of control. The old man cackled as Askarus landed hard on the ground, breaking his shoulder.
Looking up, as blood poured out of the several wounds he had received. Askarus watched as the old man stood there with Cyress.
"Time to end this, wouldn't you think?" the old man said calmly. Askarus tried to get himself up, but it was too late. Without warning, the old man shot a blast of energy from his staff through Cyress, tearing a large hole through her chest.
"Cyress! No!" Askarus cried as the blood of his wife hit his face. Askarus lay there in shock as the lifeless corpse of his lover collapsed to the ground, her eyes open, looking blankly at him.
"What do you have to live for now protector!" the old man cackled, bringing his staff down upon Askarus's hands, shattering the fingers. "Without her, you are nothing!"
Askarus heard the old mans comment, but was already thinking the same thing. The protector was beaten, frozen in place, staring through teary eyes at his dead wife. The old man continued to attack him with his staff, shattering ribs, and tearing muscles. Still Askarus would not fight; he just stared at his gypsy wife and remembered their times together.
Finally, the old man noticed what was happening and put his staff into Askarus's face, knocking him backwards, breaking the trance Askarus was in. The protector landed hard on his back, cracking his skull off the ruined marble. As he opened his blood shot eyes, he watched as the old man pulled a thin black katana out from behind his cloak and raised it over Askarus. For the moment, he was ready to die.
As the blade of the old man descended upon Askarus, our hero heard the voice of Cyress in his head.
"My love, get up. We will meet again soon, but not now." She said softly. Askarus, hearing these words, quickly gripped his katana and swung back, parrying the attack. He followed with a sweep kick, knocking the old man to the floor. Askarus righted himself and tore the remnants of his tattered shirt off.
"You have made your final mistake old man. I will destroy you, even if that means taking all of humanity with me!" Askarus yelled, furious at his opponent. Quickly he brought his blade down; catching the old mans sword and pinning him to the ground. The old man shot a burst of energy, blowing Askarus back about ten feet. Askarus landed and rushed the old man again as an incredible fight began. The two warriors exchanged shots for hours, each hacking, slashing, punching and kicking each other around the cathedral. Askarus noticed that for the first time today, the old man looked scared.
Askarus swung low, slicing the old man at the knee, taking him to the ground. He spun and went to behead his opponent but was thwarted by a strong punch to the kidney, which knocked the wind out of him. The old man blew Askarus backwards again, as he righted himself.
"You can not defeat me Askarus," the old man said. "You have no idea who your opponent is." As he readied himself for an attack. Askarus rushed the old man, determined to finish him off.
"The prophecy must be fulfilled" the old man stated, dropping his staff. As Askarus closed in, the old man quickly transformed into a twelve foot tall Spartan warrior, complete with armor, round shield and xiphos. Askarus swung down, unable to stop his attack. Without effort, the Spartan caught the sacred katana in his hand and shattered the blade.
The force from the destruction of the sacred katana sent Askarus back against a pillar, destroying what remained of his legs. Askarus knelt there for a second to catch his breathe, but was stopped when the shattered end of his katana was thrust deeply into his chest. Looking up, Askarus saw the Spartan leaning over him.
"This is the end protector," the Spartan said. "Don't fight it anymore. One of Dio's minions you said? I am Dio!!"
"It doesn't end like this," Askarus said weakly, as his life began to leave him. "It can't!" Quickly, Askarus pulled the blue dagger out of his belt and stabbed himself in the chest, sending a blue wave of energy through his body. The Spartan saw what was happening and tried to stop it by raising his xiphos to behead the protector. As he came down upon our hero, a large hand, gloved in leather caught the Spartan at the wrist and tossed him across the cathedral.
Askarus rose, the blue energy consumed him as his body transformed into a large samurai, towering twelve feel tall.
"It can't be!" The Spartan said, terrified. "There is only one God in this world, and it is me!" The Spartan rushed Askarus he quickly drew a massive katana from his belt. The two godlike figures met head on in the cathedral as their blades clashed. The energy transferred rips a huge crack in the marble below them as the two monsters began throwing shots back and forth.
Askarus threw each swing with all his energy, each time shattering the floor and walls around him. Dio returned the shots with equal ferocity, tearing huge chunks out of Askarus's armor. This battle raged on for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually, Askarus caught one of Dio's swings, twisting and shattering his arm. The God fell to the floor in pain as Askarus kneed him in the face, throwing the bronze helmet to the floor.
"You are beaten Dio!" Askarus bellowed, raising his blade up high. "You will not rule this world anymore." Askarus ran and kicked off a pillar, launching himself high into the air. As he came down upon Dio, the God rose to a knee and prepared for a hit. At the last second, right as Askarus connected with his blade, the Spartan threw an elbow into Askarus's face, shattering the thick leather that protected the mouth.
Stunned for a second, Askarus staggered giving Dio a second to recover. Seeing his opportunity, Dio raised his xiphos and hit the samurai across the face. Instantly, the body of the samurai crumbled into dust as Askarus, human once again, fell to the ground. Looking down, Dio noticed Askarus was missing an eye from the head wound he had received.
Askarus knelt on the floor, his bones broken, muscles torn and body badly damaged. The hero had no fight left in him. Dio, back on his feet again, calmly walked over and picked up the blue steak off the ground, trading in his xiphos.
"You are a formidable warrior Askarus, but all things must end sometime" Dio beckoned, igniting the crackling blade. "I will meet you in hell!" With that, the God rushed at Askarus with the sacred blade. Askarus, unwilling to fight back stayed still, awaiting death.
Looking around the room, taking in the scenery for the last time, Askarus watched his life flash before him. Images of Cyress, his parents, Campo, Nos all flashed before him, like a wave of sorrow and pain. Askarus bowed his head as a tear rolled down his face. Dio closed in, pulling the blade back as he approached.
From nowhere, Askarus suddenly heard Cyress's voice echo in his head. "Lets finish this my love; it's time to come home." Askarus smiled softly as the tears continued to fall to the ground. Watching their path, Askarus noticed his katana, lying shattered on the floor. Picking up the remains, Askarus ran his fingers softly across the lacing. His eyes fell upon the words etched into the blade.
"Can...I...Live" Askarus choked out, smiling with a grateful sigh of relief. Looking once again at the blade, he watched as Cyress's hand appeared over his, gripping the blade with him. "I have" Askarus said softly, smiling once again. Askarus looked up for the last time as Dio's blade came down upon him, quickly he swung at the hilt of the enchanted dagger, cracking the blue stone at the handle.
Instantly Dio stopped in his tracks as a massive explosion erupted from the dagger, consuming both of the two warriors as well as the cathedral around them. Darkness overtook Askarus as he closed his eyes while the wave of fire and energy passed over him.
Opening his eyes, Askarus found himself lying on his back high on a mountain. In a circle around him were figures dressed in black robes. Each was holding a staff as they peered down at him.
"My body won't move" Askarus said weakly. "If this is the end, then take me home." With that, a flock of crows came down and covered Askarus's body, lifting him high in the air. As quickly as they came, the birds dispersed leaving nothing behind.