Duel of the Fates [Zest]

For each step taken, the firm beat of a quickened heart raced. The sense of thrill returned as this distant figure approached with every thrum of Garland’s pulse. The heat and the sand would not take his form as a mere mirage. The soil was golden, demiurgic, and the exhale made was not of regret. A grin of approval would spread behind the ironclad façade that masked his glee, yet belied the cruelty of his heart. With all certainty assured with every step the Warrior took, the would be hero was very much real. As real as the effigies that surrounded the pair, in this strange, foreign world.

Garland’s patience anchored him within the harbors of his motionless form, his breath nearly stilled with anticipation of the first blow. It was as inevitable as the return of the silver maned lion upon his sights, ever prideful within his precious light. Ever predictable were the currents of time, all leading back to repetition upon cycle of glorious conflict. For no matter how deep the paragon’s desire for a conclusion, there was none to exist so long as Garland’s would continue. The former stalwart’s life was an eternity itself, yet wild and unbound as the very chaos that fueled the fires within his soul. A chaos that longed to unleash its grasp upon the worlds once more. It was the destiny of discord to rule all hearts. Only harmony could be brought through it, and yet this champion of its will failed to see it. Then Garland would open his eyes to the truth, as he had done all those times before.

Upon these dead, foreign soils there then existed a new birth; the genesis of a new loop of their inevitable conflict.

The exhilaration upon hearing the Warrior draw that familiar blade to the air, was far too much to contain. The armored behemoth’s grip would tighten upon Rebellion’s hilt further. Garland was not intimidated in the least, by the very sword that had felled him so many times in that other world. Rather it was a welcomed sight if anything. Another reminder of all the grim pleasures they had shared in the thrill of combat. The deep voice returned, bellowing a hearty laugh, echoing across the lifeless valley on the wind. The laughter would soon calm, as the harbinger would raise a clawed gauntlet, rather than sword.

”End!?” repeated the dark stalwart, amused by the Warrior’s persistence to a futile goal. ”Hahaha! Look around you! There is nothing here to end! Far better to rid yourself of such fantasies!” The horned crusader of chaos would right his full height again, freed arm gesturing to the field of keys before it returned to his side. Garland would regard his fated foe, a warrior’s respect for the man’s admirable resolve to continue what they could never truly finish. Truly, the dark knight suspected it was far more than their own destinies that brought them to this world. The ruined terra beneath their feet held far greater significance than merely serving host to their destined bout. Garland wondered whether or not such a notion was lost upon the Warrior during his trek across the sands.

”This place now rests in harmony- destined to be inevitably broken, when desolation comes upon the sky. This moment, suspended in time- may very well be the last this world looks upon peace.” Garland would then indulge the paragon a moment to consider this, the sound of his cape billowing ever faintly within the wind. The silence was thick enough, it could be cut with the very sword now pointed at him. It was then that Rebellion was yanked from the earth, dusting the hole in its wake with a shower sand that fell from the blade. A single step was made as he brought the sword up, a readied defensive stance made as he permitted his rival the first move.

”I have waited long enough! Let us renew this fight.”

The anticipated blow had yet to come, and it was as he expected. The Warrior would take it upon himself to denounce Garland’s claims, with more notions of ending fate, through the power of hope and light. How Garland would desire nothing more than to slay this hope, to finally blot out that precious light with unending darkness. The will of Chaos would eclipse all this foolish paragon so desperately clung to. The return was as inevitable as their meeting here upon these desolate sands, and still The Warrior remained caught within his dream of everlasting peace. Still he carried on in pursuit of this unobtainable goal, his efforts all for naught, as the very source of his never ending struggle still drew breath before him.

Did he truly believe the end? The very idea was laughable to the dark knight.

Garland would retain his guard, yet honor the code of the mutual warrior’s respect shared between them, and listen to the speech of relentless defiance that followed. As Zest’s declarations were made, Garland couldn’t help but feel disappointment for how truly blinded his fated foe was. His resolve had not swayed in the time since their last clash, had not wavered in the slightest as he still desperately clung to that ever present weakness. That undying false hope, which crippled, deluded, and misguided The Warrior time and time again back into this eternal conflict. Were he to simply accept the truth, that the fires of discord would burn eternal, then perhaps he would abandon these fantasies that he could conquer fate. How Garland pitied The Warrior, to never find pleasure, or any sort of joy from all the battles they shared, all the courses of the conflict they had taken. Together.

That was when the time came, as once more the cycle continued as Zest leapt high into the air. As tradition would see itself renewed in the form of a single, yet powerfully delivered downward strike, the mass of Rebellion was brought up to the air, catching the blade of Braveheart in a sturdy guard meant to stall Zest’s momentum. ”Hmph.” As easily as it was defended, there still remained the strength behind the fury of the blow, empowered by that same foolish resolve that refused to abandonment. Garland’s misty blue eyes would narrow behind their furious guise, as the ironclad demon stared back into the furious sapphires of The Warrior.

”Still you persist!?”

The dark knight would mock his foe, before reaching his free hand to Rebellion’s side as a plate shifted, revealing a hidden hilt as he took hold of it. ”You believe you can change fate!?” The blades were pulled apart, before Garland would surge forward, throwing out quadruple strikes with dual wielded swords. ”You cannot end what you cannot kill! I’LL CRUSH YOU!” Sand was thrown to the air in this motion, backdropping Garland’s oncoming form with an amber haze provided by the afternoon sun. Each blow was cast with all the fury Garland could muster. In the sweep of his momentum, the dark knight rejoined Rebellion into one, rounding his stance to follow with his own downward slash. For if the Warrior could not see the predestined path before them, then the dark knight would beat the sight into him! With any fortune, these delusions of altering his own destiny would surely bleed out with the rest of him. Garland would see to it, as he had so many times, through the ever mighty swing of his trusted sword.

Garland HP: 100%
I. Blocks Zest’s strike with a traditional guard!
II. Surges at The Warrior with Twin Swords!
III. Rejoins Rebellion and follows with a simple downward slash

The joyous sound of steel clashing upon steel echoing through the desert, would bring a bloodthirsty sense of glee over the dark knight. Too long had it been since such a sweet symphony filled his ears. As he pushed on, and forward, Garland would feel his heart leap as he witnessed The Warrior’s footing slip. Eyes widened and teeth gritted in a triumphant smile behind the demon, as what would be the final blow, had been cast forward. Garland would only find the return of Zest’s infernal light, as when Rebellion would hit it, the glowing shield would emit a burst of power forward. The strength of the skill was enough to force the dark knight back, his armored heels digging scars into the earth against their volition. A palm was placed to the earth, as Garland was forced to steady himself. As he rose from a brief kneel, he would force his weight and strength into a stab at the earth, calling forth a pillar of water to meet The Warrior when he would predictably charge.

”Still you would cling to this mirage called hope? Even as the very truth lies before us!?” The dark knight would stand to regain his composure, the armor he wore still steaming from the burn of Zest’s attack. Garland paid no mind to the pain, having took on this suffering as penance to his overeagerness. It was carried away by the winds which began to pick up. Possible premonitions of an inbound desert storm. The dark knight simply chuckled, before flourishing his cape to kick up more sand around him to be carried by these winds. As both hands were wrapped tightly around the crimson hilt, Garland would charge forward, with each step toward Zest more forceful than the last.

Each step taken toward destiny.

When the dark knight was close, he would swing the greatsword overhead. ”Foolish Warrior!” he bellowed, plates of Rebellion shifting at the climax of the weapon’s swing. As it transformed into an axe, the heavy weapon was brought down with such force, that the very earth would give way beneath its weight and Garland’s strength. The sands began to quake, as a ring of stone spikes would erupt around the point of impact, as a tremor rang out underneath. Cracks were left at the center of the small crater that formed, along with what would hopefully be the remains of The Warrior. Garland would only find himself disappointed with such a result, were this to happen, expecting far more of a fight from such a capable foe. Though he knew better, he could feel it in his heart, that there was so much more The Warrior had left for Garland to take.

Just as he had stolen Princess Sarah away so many years ago, Garland would rob Zest of all that he held dear before this war concluded.

”Denial of the shackles already bound upon you is meaningless-“ began Garland as he rose in the crater, lifting his weapon from the imprint within the earth. ”As futile as the crusade to which you still blindly pledge your sword!”

Garland HP: 85%
Takes heavy damage from Shield of Light!
I. calls forth a Tsunami to counter Sword Thrust!
II. Garland flourishes his cape to kick up more sand as the winds roll in!
III. The dark knight charges forward to unleash Earthquake!

CDs
Twin Swords [1/2]

A shower of earth and light would rain upon a briefly downed foe. The end briefly lingered in a realm of possibility to Garland, until at last he could hear Zest’s stubborn protests. The grip on Rebellion tightened. The soul of discord within would relish continuance of conflict. Even through the torrents of airborne sand, he could see the persistent champion to harmony rise once more. The dark knight became still as more words came, more declarations of things to come. Things that Garland, no- Chaos, would never allow to pass. It was until a vow to save the nemesis from his own shackles, of a future deemed inevitable, did the armored giant audience Zest with contemplative silence.

So this naïve paragon thought knew Garland- As he knew the faux merits he now placed within this dead world? Was it any better than Garland knew himself? Did Zest truly see his foe? Did he see the different beast before him, now unbound from the cycles of the past? Did The Warrior see the impending clutches of that cycle’s successor closing in around him? The truth of the machine Garland was to become was guaranteed certainty. It was not beyond Garland’s sight, that Zest’s eyes remained clouded to the very truth of it all; the survival of the man before him.

Ever still, the stubborn cur would cling to his precious, fallible light!

The rage of Chaos burned within Garland’s heart at these words. Frail words drifting upon frailer wings! The dark knight would snuff out this pride, and burn this flower that permeated the snow! The former stalwart of Cornelia was no prisoner, as he accepted this fate of endless rebirth; a flame birthed unto a darkened heart. To heed to the hollow salvation of a fool, Garland could never accept such an idea, such a ludicrous dream. He would not! There would be no sooner rest to their quarrel, than the hour of ultimate discord, when it would claim all the worlds. Only when under the heel of his new god, would Zest know peace as his light would be crushed.

These lies to save Garland went unheard.

The shield had been cast, with Rebellion raised to swat it away like a fly. The greatsword would miss its target, as Zest’s weapon would hit its mark. Then much like its persistent wielder, the shield would return evermore. Garland raised a gauntlet in hopes to defend, yet there came a sting from multiple angles. Anger would do their best to blot out the pain, as it soon evolved to a rage given form as a mighty swing was made. A round of a blade upon a chain was swung about in a circle about Garland, as he attempted to hit Zest, and free himself from the shield in one fluid motion. As Rebellion’s blade circled forward, Garland would then yank the chain backwards, before a great display of strength would whip the blade back at The Warrior. It would serve an inbound herald of truth, an opener of the eyes that persisted to remain firmly shut.

Garland HP: 75%
I. Tried to defend against Ultimate Shield Not very effective
Takes moderate damage from multiple hits via Ultimate Shield!
II & III. Uses Chain Cast to attempt to block final strike of Ultimate Shield & attempt to hit Zest with a swing of Rebllion’s flail form!
CDs
Twin Blades [2/2]
Tsunami [1/3]
Earthquake[1/3]

A blast of light would fire through the sky as ethereal blades clashed with Rebellion’s form. A mighty yank would call the blade to return, as Garland flourished his cape to shield his eyes from the brightness of the explosion. Sand was thrown in all directions, Rebellion’s chain flailing wildly about the cloud like a snake beheaded. Faint tinks could be heard as grains of sand would pepper Garland’s armored form. This in turn would fail him any sight of the Warrior’s advance, until the sapphire clad galant would sail over him. Shield fired would hit its mark, Rebellion’s blade returning but a fraction too late, as Garland felt himself drawn upward by the Shield of Light’s momentum.

Steel clashed upon steel as Braveheart let loose its temperament, blow upon blow backed by far too much haste for Garland to block. The stinging pain would continue as Zest’s infernal light left its marks upon Garland’s armor. Release from this brief cycle was found in a punishing final blow, which would knock the dark knight away. Man met earth as the heels of boots dug into it against their volition; Garland being brought to a kneel as he came to a halt. Steam once more rose from where the blows had been successful, testaments to Braveheart’s bite. As the sand began to settle- so too did a silence, broken only in tethered moments of his breath.

A deep chuckle then filled the air.

Those hellish eyes rose to meet The Warrior once more.

For how many times had they shared this battle? For how many bouts had they crossed swords in the name of their respective ideals, their gods? By this unknown year, Garland knew not. This joyous festival of chaos had gone on for so long, it was impossible by this moment to feasibly count. He pitied The Warrior, whom still failed to see the futility in his struggles here on this field. Their battle was naught but a small ripple within the storm of a much larger war. As Garland once again rose to his feet, and looked upon the graveyard of keys, he would come to recognize a truth among the sight of these weapons. They were brought to this land for a purpose, a step of destiny meant to unfold.

Was it then to learn of these…swords, these- keys?

They played a significance to the future, that much Garland was certain. So much in fact, that the dark knight resolved to sate his curiosity behind them. It was in this moment, as Garland readied his sword, did a path etch itself within the chaotic harbinger’s blackened heart. ”If you shall fail to accept, and see the truth as you stand in the light- Then I shall cast you into never ending darkness, so that you may look upon it with opened eyes!” The declaration was made as the dark knight pointed to his foe, before waving it aside to the air at his feet. There was no hope of victory for The Warrior on this field of conflict. This light would be eclipsed, darkened, and snuffed out, just as the same fate lied in store for this deluded swordsman’s comrades. Garland would make certain of such a truth, he would create this reality by the very force which the pargaon fought to end.

The air would slowly begin to cycle about Garland’s form. The dark knight would lift the greatsword over his head, placing a palm upon the flat of the blade. Sand began to rise with the vacuum of air that picked up speed. ”Recall now the wind that makes the forest bend! That which turns black and boils the seas! What causes the earth to fracture, to split and spew flame upon all!” Like a volcano of pure power, ebony and crimson flames would erupt in a violent aura around Garland’s form. The very chaotic fury of this force would create its own push of winds, so fierce that no amount of natural breeze could dare penetrate the plume of eldritch flames. ”THE SOUL OF CHAOS!” The dark knight’s mighty voice would boom with the thundering of power as its symphony.

Garland would surge forward, seemingly gliding across the desert sands as though propelled by an unseen force. Armored behemoth, cloaked in chaotic celestial fire, would bring his hefty sword closer and closer to his foe by the seconds. ”Welcome to a world of pain!” A powerful set of swings in fluid motion, a howl of fire and the metallic shift of plates as the weapon altered forms, all blurred together behind a scene of red and black. Each blow was backed by the strength of Garland’s undying fury- his undying soul, all aimed to crush, smite and fell this armor of confidence and light that protected The Warrior’s will to fight on.

With a finalizing stab to the ground, rather than a swing intended for Zest, the resulting explosion would tear open a fissure in the earth. Terra would rip and tear asunder to and fro, as Garland yanked Rebellion from the splitting earth. The deep rumbling of the protesting sands echoed as they were split apart, as deep within the chasm darkness would be given form as it roared into the makeshift canyon. The dark knight would not let his eyes leave his nemesis, even as he drifted away from him on the moving earth, lavender cape billowing behind his armored form as eldritch fire died out. Even among all this chaos, as lifeless keys fell helplessly into the darkness, Garland remained rooted in a conquering peace. He found pleasure in the sight of this revelry of chaos given form. He would find pleasure in The Warrior’s struggle, as this was only the beginning of things to come.

Of this, Garland would promise The Warrior.

Garland HP: 50%
takes stacked heavy damage from Shield Strike + Bitter End!
I. Garland uses Deranged Soul of Chaos!
II. Final blow of Deranged Soul of Chaos stabs the ground & opens a fissure in the earth!
A rift into the Realm of Darkness has appeared!
III. N/A
CDs
Chain Cast [1/2]
Tsunami [2/3]
Earthquake [2/3]