“So… that’s how it is then. I’m your pawn.”
Remilia narrows her eyes. The battle crashes outside.
“Here you are, safe in your tower, while your loyal Servants put their asses to the fire for you. I suppose I should have known. Feh -- you gave me some fancy new toys to play with, and set me loose on the demons -- that’s fine and all, but I guess, in the end, you took me on just so you could sacrifice me. What do you plan on doing when the demons come back? Find another poor bastard to turn into a rock?”
The tension smolders in the air. Remilia glares at you, abject hatred burning in her eyes.
“Sorry,
Master, but I think China needs some help. See ya.”
“Halt at once!”
“What do you want?” You stand in the doorframe. You can feel Remilia’s gaze digging into your back.
“Guts.” Her voice trembles with rage. “I
command you to give me your blood!”
“No.”
Instantly pain erupts in your hand. You collapse to your knees, clutching it to your chest. Acid, it’s like you stuck your hand into a vat of acid! Argh, Remilia, you bitch…!
“Did you think that mark was just for show?” Remilia’s voice belies a sick joy in this. “I’ve made a decision, and I mean to carry it out.”
“Remilia, stop this!” Patchouli rushes to your side. “You’ll kill him!”
“Good. Such an impudent plaything deserves it.”
You look up at her. “Stop this, Remilia, or so help me I will cut off this hand.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Groping, your free hand grasps Kusanagi. Remilia’s eyes soften in surprise. You raise the blade high. The red crest glows brilliant scarlet.
“Guts, do not!” Patchouli grabs your wrist, futilely trying to overpower you.
The pain in your hand relents for a second. Remilia’s concentration is broken, and in that second you strike. Kusanagi clatters to the floor as you lunge at Remilia, hands closing around her neck like a noose. She claws at your hands, trying to choke out words, but you hang on even against her supernatural strength. Foam rises from her mouth; you’re distantly aware of Patchouli shouting at you.
“So even vampires need to breathe,” you snarl. “Color me shocked. Can’t cast any of your spells with someone’s hands around your throat, can you? Pathetic. You’re a pathetic bitch, Remilia, and I will take great pleasure in ramming a stake through your heart!”
A sudden shockwave slams into your side. Remilia slips out of your fingers as you hit the floor as your vision fogs for a moment. You recover; Patchouli stands with her spellbook open, face drawn with exertion. Figures, she would try to save anyone should reach.
Remilia hacks and coughs, wiping the foam from her mouth.
“I’ve wasted enough time on you.” You grab her by the hand, and the sad, sweet song of her resonance fills your mind. You relax, the slow turning of the song flowing into Kusanagi.
“What… what are you…?” Remilia gasps.
Kusanagi casts a blinding light from the floor as it slowly changes shape... a revolver. The biggest, baddest revolver you’ve ever seen, lined with silver and inlaid with a golden pattern, a cross burned onto the barrel. You break it open: twelve bullets loaded into twelve chambers, ready to exit straight into demon skulls via two barrels. You have no idea where to get more shells, but these rounds are almost half an inch across -- more than enough to kill anything that moves.
You click it shut. “I’m going to help protect this place. Unlike you.”
And with that, you leap out the window. It’s a long drop, but as the wind rushes through your ears, blocking out all but the loudest of explosions, you take the opportunity to think about this. Remilia… she betrayed you to save what she held dear. A category you, apparently, did not fall under. As you land with a loud
thud, you rise up, the ruin of the courtyard all around you.
“GUTS!” Patchouli shouts from above. “Are you insane?!”
“Don’t worry! The devs didn’t put in falling damage!”
“What?!”
“I said--!” You dodge as a barrage of plasma hurtles past your head. Instantly, you raise the Remivolver and pull the trigger.
A thin red line bursts from the barrel and tears down the line. A Baron explodes, his body erupting into a green pulp. His friends close in, roaring for vengeance. You smile and lay down a barrage of bullets, shredding them.
“Guts!” China kicks a Specter out of the way and sprints your side. “I worried you’d miss the big finish!”
“I wouldn’t miss this show--” You dawn your shades “--
for the world!”
“Memes? Now?” Meiling ducks a barrage of fire. “There’s fighting to be done!”
You raise the revolver. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Meiling lunges into corrupt masses, fists flailing. Your resume firing your revolver into the crowd, every shot obliterating ten demons in a row. The light show is a sight to behold: fire, plasma, and magic spiraling through the darkened sky. As you empty the gun, you wonder how to reload. You break the gun open--
--OWW-- Your hand bursts into pain as barbs burst from the grip, straight into your crest-hand. Blood drains into the twelve chambers of the revolver, hardening and congealing into fourteen bullets. Figures. A gun that loaded with blood. You raise it, ignoring the biting pain shooting down your arm.
Together you and Meiling push the initial surge back. The gun’s half empty -- you think -- and you’re not too keen on giving it more blood, but you may have to. As the demons fall back, fire erupts from the back of the line.
Cyberdemon. He rears his ugly head at the back end of the line, killing any who flee. Murderous intent rises through your mind like bile. You aim the revolver and fire.
The bullets rip into his body, but he doesn’t slow down -- not for a second. Rockets blow past your head; You dodge the first two, but the third rips into the ground at your feet. For a second you’re flying, right before you kiss the ground and roll across the blasted earth. You rise to your feet only to find yourself surrounded by imps and zombies.
“Get the fuck out of my way!” The revolver rips into them. As you stand up, surrounded by corpses, Meiling joins you. You raise the gun and pull the trigger --
The barbs rip into your hand. You hiss; Meiling watches in horror. “Keep your head in the game!” you snap.
Your bullets rain down, exploding entire columns. The hellions climb over their dead, growling and slobbering.
“Watch out!” Meiling tackles you to the ground as a rocket flies overhead, blasting the doors of the mansion wide open. Fire licks overhead as the noise blasts your eardrums.
As the smoke and ash clear, China pulls you upright. “We’ll fall back into the mansion,” she says. Blood trickles down her forehead. “Make a stand in there.”
“Right.”
#####################################################################################
You remember the place when you first arrived -- bustling with activity as fairies flittled to and fro, shoring up defenses, grabbing books for Patches, and just doing everyday chores. Now, the halls are silent except for the groan of monsters scattered throughout. You and Meiling sprint through the desolate hallways, China leading the way. She kicks open the door to a small dining room.
The zombies turn on you. You raise the revolver, but Meiling charges in ahead of you. A zombie lunges, only to be met with a swift backhand. The others close only to be met with a similar fate.
You step into the now-clear room, glancing around. “You’ll have to show me how to do that.”
“Huh? Oh, right.” Meiling shrugs. “You seemed pretty good when you sparred with me. Then again, you’re just a human.”
“Yeah.” You put the revolver on the table, letting the blood on the grip drain onto the wood. It hurts like bloody hell -- there are holes in your palm the size of a penny. As you check the wounds, Meiling takes your wounded hand into hers, lightly wiping away the blood.
“This is too horrible,” she murmurs.
“I do what I have to.”
“I’d rather you synchronize with me than keep doing this to yourself…”
“No. Nothing justifies taking you out of the fight.”
“At least let me do this.” Meiling leads you to a sink in the corner. She flicks on the tap -- somehow, water’s still running -- and gentle cleans away the blood from your hand.
“Thanks--”
“I’m not done.” Carefully, Meiling pulls a long ribbon from her hair, letting her red locks fall loose. Carefully, she wraps the sturdy fabric around your palm; it’s a quick dressing, but better than nothing.
“Thank you.” You walk back to the table, where the Remivolver rests with its blood-drenched handle. It’s a beautiful weapon -- stained-wood handle, silver inlays, a golden design running around the outside. But something’s engraved onto the barrel. You draw it closer -- ‘Iter Vehemens ad Necem.’ Sounds… Latiny.
Meiling looks at you thoughtfully.
“What? Do I have something in my teeth?”
“No… I was just wondering how a human survives all this and stays sane.”
“China, I’m not even sure I am sane. Come on -- we’ve got a war to fight.” You head for the door, revolver in your hands.
“Wait!”
You pause. Meiling catches up with you. “Promise not to die, OK? You’re too handsome to die.”
#####################################################################################
Side by side, you enter the antechamber. The Cyberdemon stands ready, a horde at his back. You descend the steps nonchalantly, gun swinging at your side. Meiling copies your coolness, but her fists are clenched tight; she feels the pressure. Honestly, you’ve been fighting demons so long they’re no longer particularly threatening; just targets to be shot down. It’s a grim reminder of your own lacking humanity that she doesn’t feel the same way.
Archviles hiss from the balconies; Barons and Hell Knights roar; Imps growl and zombies groan. Hundreds of them, all about.
But it might as well just be you and him.
The Cybbie gives a roar of recognition.
“Hey dude.” You flick the gun, checking the chambers. “Long time no see.”
He growls, smoke rising from his mouth.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Look… let’s say we finish this right now.”
BGM: Nobody Told Me About Id (kvee remix) --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZyRINXOaYc The Cyberdemon gives a roar and raises his rocket launcher. “China, keep ‘em off me!”
You sprint towards the balcony, explosions trailing your path. All around you, demons die in the fire -- he doesn’t even care who he hits, he’s just gunning for you. As you sprint, you whip out the Remirolver and return fire.
The bullets rip into the tough flesh of the Cybbie’s chest; his agonized roars fill the hall as the bullets shred his flesh. You throw yourself off the balcony as it collapses in a barrage of missiles. Behind you, Meiling beats down the hordes with her fists, driving the demons down the stairway in an unending martial barrage. An Archvile raises his arms high, sparks leap around her -- you snipe its narrow spine, sending his upper half crashing to the ground.
The barbs bite into your hand, sending a storm of pain down your arm. As you recover, a rocket goes off under your feet. You sail through the air -- and slam into a wall, sliding to the ground with a
thud. Dragging yourself upright, you find yourself cornered by the Cybbie, his eyes glowing hellishly. You raise the revolver, ready to go down shooting.
Then you notice her -- Sakuya standing on a still-standing balcony, surrounded by dead demons. She pulls something out of her pocket --
You’re slumped against a wall; you can just hear the groans of the hellions in the distance. As you pull yourself upright, you see Sakuya standing nearby, bandaging a gash on Meiling’s arm. “Ah, Guts. I’ll tend to you in a moment.”
“What did you do?”
“I stopped time. A talent of mine.”
Stopping time? OK then… still not the strangest thing you’ve ever encountered.
You head for the door. The Cyberdemon still looms in your memory.
“Where are you going?”
“To kill him.”
“You’re badly injured!”
“So what?” You push the door open, revealing a dank hallway. “If I finish him, that’ll send the whole lot running. I’ll bleed after that.”
“Guts, you are going to get yourself killed! I say that as your friend!” Hah. How absurd. She works for Remilia.
“Same question. So what?”
“Wait.” Sakuya taps you on the shoulder. You turn around; she clutches a bunch of shotgun shells in her hand. “Lady Remilia requested I bring these to you.”
Heh. Ammo for Vladimir. Did she thing this made things even? Or did she just think this improved the odds seeing the sunrise?
“I… I understand that Lady Remilia betrayed you. But, for my sake, please do not be angry with you forever. She can become… rash… when the situation becomes truly desperate.”
You take the shells and load them into Vladimir, one at a time. The dark signs glow faintly, promising violence. Stuffing the spares into your pocket, you turn for the door. “Meiling. Can you still fight?”
“Duh.”
“Sakuya, how about you?”
“I mean to fight until I die.”
“Then let’s finish this with a bang.”
#####################################################################################
The three of you enter the main hall. The Cyberdemon and his swarm advance toward you. You raise Vladimir, staring down the sights. “Jasta la vista, baby!”
You fire the gun as fast as you can pump free shells into the chamber. The cursed pellets rip into the front line, into the Cyberdemon; they barely dent the master but shred the servants. Rockets fly past your head as you reload, sprinting in a wide semicircle around the swarm. Sakuya rains down knives; Meiling wades into the masses, fists flying. As you resume fire, a small voice cries from above: “Tremble all you weaklings! Cirno has come!”
Shit.
Ice pellets crash onto the demon swarms to minimal effect. A torrent of fire and death rushes towards the blue speck above; she rolls and dodges admirably, but you can’t believe that Cirno can hold up for too long.
“Cirno, get the fuck out of here!” You leap onto a table and sprint down it, mowing down demons on either side. Rockets erupt you, the flames licking your skin. Maybe she doesn’t hear you, maybe she doesn’t care, but the little fairy snakes through the air, hurling sharpened ice down on the mob.
As you sprint, fire blasts around you as a column of Mancubae shamble into the room. You pull the Remivolver and fire it at them, the bullets ripping through their folds and out the back, devastating the line. Imps close in; you level Vladimir and pull the trigger, butchering them with a single shell.
As you crouch behind a column, you take stock of the situation. The lesser demons are being driven back, but the Cybbie is soldiering on, his wounds slowly regenerating. This will all end with him, you know it.
And you’ll be damned if he slips through your fingers again!
You leap from behind cover, emptying your revolver into his chest. Roaring in pain, he swings the rocket launcher around and fires. You sprint along the passage, indifferent to the barbs tearing up your hand. Nothing matters, except killing the Cyberdemon. Then… all of your suffering… will stop.
Suddenly, something small and blue flits past the Cybbie’s face, spraying icicles into his rent flesh. He roars, and with one swift swing bashes Cirno. She sails through the air, a small trail of blood behind her. A broken body rolls to a stop nearby. “Cirno!”
She’s horribly, horribly still.
You raise the Remivolver high, blood dripping your hand. Your arm is numb -- you can barely pull the trigger -- pain is a fact of your existence -- but Cirno’s body keeps flashing through your eyes.
“You!”
And with that, the roof collapses.
#####################################################################################
“SUIKA HAS RETURNED FOR… FINAL JEOPARDY!”
As the dust clears, you see an Oni standing proudly atop the rubble. She takes a long swig of sake, wipes her mouth, and flashes a grin.
“All of demons are
babbies!” she shouts. The hellions climb over their dead, growling viciously.
Cirno! You sprint over to where you saw the girl last. Sure enough, she’s still lying in the alcove. There’s blood, a lot of it. You crouch down to her side, feeling for a pulse. No, no, no.
“Guts...” her voice is almost inaudible. “Did I get… get him?”
Her eyes are glazed; a bit of blood trickles out of her mouth. The horror of the inevitable settles on your chest.
“I won, right… I beat him?”
“Yeah, Cirno. You got him.”
“I told you… I was the strongest…”
Sakuya stands nearby, her hand over her mouth, face drawn in shock. All you can think: no matter how many people you lose, it never hurts any less.
You shut Cirno’s eyes.
#####################################################################################
BGM: The End --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AE4sPc9-fI You don’t know where the Cybbie skulked off to, but you can feel him nearby. You’re both close to death; the sense of death closes in all around you. The premonitions have only been this intense once or twice before. You’re distantly aware of the battle raging around you, of the fire and plasma ripping around your head, of your manifold gashes, burns, and cuts. It all seems so… perfunctory, at this point. None of it bothers you; the Remivolver has drained your body of all feeling. All that’s left is the urge to kill.
But all the same, your promise to Meiling nags you from the back of your mind.
The Cybbie slunk off somewhere. You stalk after him, wondering if you’re still alive or if you’re just a brain dragging a body around, the soul long since gone. Remilia’s crest pulses on your hand; maybe it’s trying to hurt you or help you, you can’t tell or care.
Finally, you emerge into the chapel -- the same one where you, Cirno, and Sakuya made your stand.
Payback time.
You kick the door down only to see the Cyberdemon on the altar -- suffused with a preternatural green glow. A teleportation warp -- he’s trying to run. After what he did… he’s trying to
escape? No. You reject the concept utterly. He turns on you, eyes glowing with pure malice. Every part of his fetid body has taken critical amounts of damage; shouldn’t take too much more to kill him.
If you fire the revolver again, you could die. Maybe. You’ve suffered worse. Probably. But this… coward needs to die. Cirno’s body flickers through your mind, then Meiling’s face… two forces, pulling you in opposite directions.
You…
[ ]…let him run.
[ ]…
finish him.
