February 22, 2009 – Sunday.
In the middle of the forest, Taro, Vincy, and Yukiko stood together, waiting patiently for Ema to arrive.
"Oh come on, where is she?!" Vincy groaned, arms crossed.
"Do you think Ema-chan is ready, Taro?" Yukiko asked curiously.
"I believe in her, just as I believe in both of you," Taro replied with a smile. "Don't worry, she'll be here any minute."
Roughly twenty minutes passed before Ema finally showed up.
"Sheesh, where have you been?" Vincy asked, irritated.
"Sorry, I was in the bathroom. My stomach's been acting up," she answered.
"Are you going to be alright?" Vincy asked, his tone softening.
"Yeah, don't worry about me," she responded. "Actually, I was preparing myself. I even brought the potions I found with Abodo a long time ago."
It's already been five months... time sure flies, Taro thought.
With that, the group prepared themselves. The trio equipped their weapons, and Vincy was ready with his flames.
"This is going to be dangerous, everyone," Taro said. "So take care of yourselves until the very end."
He then pulled out one of the golden keys that Enzo had given him. As he rotated the key in midair, it sparked with dark bolts and summoned a dark purple portal.
Without hesitation, they stepped through the portal. On the other side, they emerged in front of a massive dark castle that resembled a medieval fortress.
"Now this is what I call a castle... not like that abyss before," Vincy replied.
"What are you even talking about?" Yukiko and Ema asked in unison.
"Nothing, just ignore it," he mumbled.
Taro then addressed the group seriously:
"Alright, listen carefully. This castle has thirty floors. We need to eliminate the dark creatures on each floor until we face the Dark Lords. Some of them will likely be waiting for us."
"Then we have to split up," Ema responded quickly.
"Exactly. Yukiko will come with me since Zero is the closest to Armageddon's throne," Taro added.
"Alright then, let's roll!" Vincy shouted without hesitation.
Immediately, Vincy activated his {Berserk Mode} and smashed through the dark steel fences, allowing the others to pass. Ema made her way around to the back, while Taro and Yukiko entered through a secret chamber underground.
Inside, Vincy smashed the front gate wide open and stepped in. Immediately, dark creatures of all shapes and sizes began to surround him. He flicked flames out of his hand and unleashed on all of them.
After clearing the first floor, he rushed upstairs to the next level. Once again, more dark creatures appeared and surrounded him.
"Again? Alright then..." Vincy muttered.
He resumed firing his flames and even began smashing through the monsters with his fists.
Better save my overdrive for later, Vincy thought.
After clearing that wave, He moved forward toward the next floor... only for another wave to appear.
"AH, COME ON!" he shouted in frustration.
Meanwhile, in the underground tunnels, Taro and Yukiko continued to run.
"Where are we now?" Yukiko asked.
"I'm not sure, but we'll probably face a few waves along the way," Taro responded.
Minutes later, dark creatures soon blocked their path.
"Get ready, Yukiko," Taro warned.
They drew their weapons and charged forward, cutting through the enemies. Then, they continued deeper into the tunnel.
Elsewhere, Ema found herself surrounded by a large number of dark creatures. She unleashed a rain of light arrows for several minutes before switching to her daggers.
Tsk, so many of them. Must be that female lord's idea, she thought.
After defeating the creatures, she caught her breath and walked forward.
Back with Vincy, he had just reached the eighth floor.
"I hope... no more waves this time," he said, breathing heavily.
However, more creatures appeared, and they were cyclops this time. Behind them stood a giant cyclops.
"Aw great, it gets worse," Vincy muttered in shock.
He dodged their laser attacks and countered with his flames, but the creatures didn't vanish.
"Are you kidding me? Fire resistance now?!" He exclaimed.
Then, he remembered something.
Oh right! The eye! Vincy thought.
He aimed for their eyes, dodging as he attacked. The smaller cyclops began to fall one by one. He then charged up a {Blazing Strike} and fired it directly into the giant's eye. It collapsed and vanished instantly.
"Hehe, not too shabby!" Vincy said, grinning.
When he reached the ninth floor, he saw Obsidian standing confidently, clenching his fist.
"Look who decided to show up. The blazing boy!" Obsidian said with a smirk.
"I finally found you! I'm done with your hide-and-seek games, you muscled jerk!" Vincy shouted, smashing his fists together.
As he did, a red chaotic energy surged around him.
"Get ready to be beaten up!" Vincy shouted.
Obsidian responded by growing two more arms, yelling:
"I'll crush you with all four of them!"
The two charged at each other and exchanged a series of powerful punches. Obsidian's extra arms blocked many of Vincy's attacks, while Vincy kept dodging his opponent's strikes. Vincy leapt backward and began firing flames at him again. However, it was no use.
"Tsk, flames are still useless," he muttered. "Nothing's working... except another {Berserk Mode}."
Suddenly, Obsidian appeared behind him, preparing a powerful attack.
Gah! So fast!Vincy thought in shock.
He managed to block in time, but he was knocked back. Obsidian launched a flurry of punches with his four arms.
How is he that fast?! Vincy thought.
Then one of Obsidian's arms shifted into a massive hammer, slamming into Vincy and sending him flying.
"Geh... how...?" Vincy gasped.
"Fool! You're no match for me!" Obsidian declared.
Vincy barely got to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth.
This is insane... I need to do something, he thought.
Obsidian jumped and slammed into Vincy's stomach, launching him upward. While on the air, Obsidian punched him several times and finished with a double-fist smash that sent Vincy crashing into the ground.
Vincy stood, barely able to move.
"I... can't lose... YET!" He shouted weakly.
However, he then collapsed, unable to move.
Suddenly, the ring in his pocket began to glow.
"You're in trouble, partner," a voice echoed from the ring. "Put me on, and let's combine our powers!"
Geh... I wanted to save this for later... but I have no choice, Vincy thought, slipping the ring onto his finger.
Instantly, a blazing aura surrounded him. When the flames faded, he stood on his own, smashing both fists together. Then, fire surged from his hands.
"Rise from the abyss, where flames flicker in eternal darkness!" Vincy shouted.
After saying those words, a flaming bird symbol appeared from behind.
"Still alive?! Then I'll make sure you're finished this time!" Obsidian roared.
Obsidian charged again, now with six arms. Vincy's flames burned hotter with every passing second. He dodged Obsidian's punches and retaliated by pounding his stomach repeatedly. Then, he delivered a crushing double-fist strike to his head and kicked him away.
Obsidian stood again, two of his arms vanishing.
"How did you hurt me?!" He asked.
"Hmph. I haven't even started," Vincy said confidently, grinning.
He launched a powerful fireball at him. Obsidian tried blocking with two arms, but they were incinerated.
"H-HOW?!" He screamed, completely shocked.
"That's not an ordinary fire, idiot," Vincy replied. "Thank you, Blazing Phoenix. Now I can finish this."
He continued launching flames. Obsidian dodged and closed the distance. Vincy halted his fire and braced for battle. He crouched under a strike and unleashed a rapid series of punches to Obsidian's face, then knocked him back with a fiery blow.
However, Vincy's energy began to fade.
"W-What's happening?!" He asked.
"My power's at its limit," the phoenix replied. "You won't be able to use me again for a while."
Suddenly before he could react, his heart began pounding wildly... just like before. He fell to his knees, transforming. Obsidian stepped forward, seizing his chance. Vincy stood slowly, head down, and his face hidden. As Obsidian tried to strike, Vincy caught his arm and ripped it clean off.
Vincy looked up. His face twisted into something inhuman, cold and cruel. Two large wings and a fiendish aura surrounded him... just like last time. He burned the severed arm into ash.
"Sorry, I don't think you'll need this anymore," he said coldly, with a wicked grin.
Obsidian attempted another punch, but Vincy repeated the same move... tearing off his second arm. He slammed his fist into Obsidian's chest, sending him crashing down through the floors to the first level.
Vincy followed, landing on his opponent. Before Obsidian could regenerate his arms, Vincy scorched his wounds, destroying his cells.
"W-What ARE you?!" Obsidian screamed in horror.
"Your worst nightmare. Now SUFFER!" Vincy declared.
He began smashing Obsidian's chest with relentless flaming punches. After a few minutes, Obsidian stopped moving, as he was dead.
"Pathetic... pathetic... PATHETIC! No one can stop me!" Vincy roared, laughing maniacally.
It wasn't Vincy anymore...
...It was something far more terrifying!