.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Digital Edge ( Chapter 21 )

Chapter twenty-one- Digital Edge- The World

 

Death immediately charged towards Sircosgi and swung haphazardly at him, a swing that was easily deflected.

“What the hell was that?” Sircosgi asked.

“A test.” He then jumped backwards and began to swing his halberd at Sircosgi, leaving almost no time between swings to block. He ended with a final swing, one so powerful that it knocked Sircosgi backwards, leaving marks on where his feet had slid. He looked down, then back up, before charging at Death. The two began yet another block, parry, thrust and swing competition, this time Death coming out the loser, with a small cut on his finger. He licked the blood and moaned.

“Exquisite.” He smiled.

“How can you have blood, yet Casper didn't?” Death nicked Sircosgi on the arm, causing a small amount of blood to gush out.

“Same reason you can. A fellow character killed Casper. A non-Horseman wounded me. A Horseman wounded you.”

“So, why don't we bleed when hit by monsters?”

“They're just computer programs.”

“So are you!” Sircosgi argued.

“Can a program do what I am doing?” He indicated the corpses of his friends.

“I guess not.”

“So, am I a program or not.”

“You're a program. No, you are a virus.”

“Very good. That was what allowed me to take a physical form.”

“But, Casper always said it was me.”

“That much is true. However, that was only to show you what you were doing to The World, so that you wouldn't feel proud, because in the end, we won. Look at The World now. A person fighting against other people and guilds are having wars. Chaos reigns during this time, and great Injustice is done by those in power.

“Don't you see? By fighting against us, you are furthering our cause. Do you know why?”

“You have always existed. What I am doing is not destroying. I am balancing. The books, I learned, contain the original data of each Horseman. They are not destroyed. When I kill you, your data will be written into a book of spells. You won't disappear, you will be balanced.”

“That's nice and all, but life isn't a chemical equation.”

“Yes it is. Life is full of Physics, Science, Biology, and other science. Look at one principle- Equivalent Exchange. It is an Alchemy and Chemistry law- you get the same amount as you put in. Matter can neither be created, nor destroyed. Is that not true? And on the same leaf, to gain, you must lose. You must balance it out. THAT is how life is.”

“I only know Death.” The Horseman admitted. “You are an interesting person. But, like all other people you will fade, wither, and die.” Sircosgi laughed.

“That too is a law of life. All things must end. But, that doesn't mean I'm going down without a fight.” He snapped his finger. A pillar of fire formed around Death, engulfing him. Sircosgi laughed. “It does work rather nicely.” Death walked out of the fire, laughing.

“Bravo. I can see there are some surprises still in you.” Sircosgi charged at him, only to find a body blocking his path.

“Plong?”

“Yes. Here's the drill.” Death said in a serious tone. “If they are harmed, their physical body will perish.”

“They will die?” Sircosgi asked.

“Yes.”

“HOW ASININE! YOU ARE BRINGING OTHERS INTO THIS FIGHT THAT WERE INNOCENTS!”

“Death, like life, is blind. Besides, every person that lives one day longer cheats Death. But, until I can pass through this veil I can not kill them entirely.” He admitted. “So, be careful.” He added, mockingly.

“You won't risk those four.” Sircosgi declared. “If you were to I would kill them all.” Death scoffed.

“And what purpose would that serve?”

“I would win.”

“And I would kill you.”

“Lose a battle. Win a war.” Sircosgi said, not knowing where his words were coming from. Death merely yelled as he charged.

“I won't give you that opportunity!” He swung at Sircosgi, who blocked and swung back, only to be forced to stop when a corpse came into the line of fire. Sircosgi leapt backwards, and Death charged him again. Sircosgi swung again, yet another corpse was there. Sircosgi groaned in anger.

“What the hell are you doing? That is so freakin' annoying!”

“Must be.” Death said as he sliced Sircosgi's side.

“Damn it!” Sircosgi shouted. He equipped twin blades, and moved closer to attack Death, who was taken by surprise by the tactic. He was unable to raise corpses to get between them because Sircosgi was right on top of him. Sircosgi managed to get a few decent hits on Death before being hit backwards. He recovered and sent a lightning spell at Death, scoring a direct hit. Death was thrown backwards, and hit the wall. The corpses disappeared, allowing Sircosgi to equip a long-arm weapon. He looked at Death, who was currently frozen from the shock, and smiled.

“Adios.” He swung at Death, who took the full blow. He just laughed.

“Afraid it isn't that easy.” He said, as he stood up, no longer petrified. He pulled the weapon out of him, and Sircosgi's hands, and threw it aside. “And for that impudence, you will surely fail.” Sircosgi merely laughed.

“All talk.” Death leapt into the air and kicked Sircosgi straight in the jaw.

“I think there's more to it than just talk.” Death said.

“But I hurt you earlier, why not now?” Sircosgi thought for a second. “What changed?” He thought for a second. “Duh! You must have allowed me to hurt you, am I correct? You weren't expecting it.” Sircosgi said as he got up from the floor. He shook his head, and when his hair flew all around him, he got an idea. He placed skirmisher gear all in his hair, giving him five deadly limbs. Now, if only he could control the way his hair went. He laughed at that. “So, let's jam.” He spied Death's grunty, a jet black one, nearby. He slashed the air with his finger, and the grunty exploded.

“Was that really necessary?” Death asked. “I think not.”

“Hey, it made me laugh.” Sircosgi said, slightly taunting. Death ran at him and it erupted into another equal match, Death scoring as many hits as he received. He had to take a slight retreat by raising several corpses to separate the two.

“You're good.” Death admitted.

“I am the King of Light.” Sircosgi said as he jumped over the corpses to face Death, who merely swung at Sircosgi upon his landing. The corpses disappeared, giving Sircosgi an opportunity to give a powerful stroke of his sword equipped. The sword gave Death another hard blow, yet it didn't have any outer effect. Sircosgi was bewildered. He stepped two paces back-

-only to find Death waiting there.

“How?” Sircosgi looked in front of him, to see Death was no longer there.

“Death is a fleeting thing.”

“But how?”

“Simple. Death floats as if it were on the wings of a butterfly.” Death said. “It can come and go, or stay and linger. I plan on making your demise as painful as I can.” He said, laughing.

“But-“

“Surprise.” Death said as he slammed his halberd into Sircosgi's back.

Sircosgi collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath.

“Oh. Celeste said to say that's for her.” Death said, laughing.

“Go to hell.” Sircosgi managed to get out.

“Aww. Are you feeling regret for losing? Unplaced anger? Don't worry, other's will soon join you in the abyss of the dead. Be ready to feel its kiss.” Death ripped his halberd out of Sircosgi's back, making him cry out. “Say goodbye.”

Sircosgi gave into the darkness that surrounded him.