Chapter 14: A Hawk’s Sacrifice
When Terrias woke up, he felt slightly dizzy. He slowly got up and looked at where he was. The other three looked at him in disappointment. “Terrias, what happened to you last night?” asked Ryo concerned with Terrias’ condition. Terrias was now reminded of what happened between Manna and him. He looked down and said, “I let my emotions get the best of me. I couldn’t control my hatred for Creed.” Valo looked at him and said, “Well, because of him, we are all alive. You nearly destroyed the treaty with Orcus. I know she did you wrong, but when in battle get over it!” Terrias looked up at Saharah who looked away from him. “I’m sorry…” he said falling to the floor on his knees. “Creed actually invited us to Kaio to part take in the Academy Installation, so don’t be so blunt about it.” The three left the door and Terrias got up. He thought about what had happened and why it went the way it did. A familiar voice was heard, “Those who betray should be punished….” Terrias looked all over the room but found no one there. He got scared. Terrias quickly put on his armor and headed out.
As the others went on their way back to the Vivican capital to report on the treaty, Saharah asked if she could stay. “Saharah, how come?” asked Valo. Saharah grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach, “I’m pregnant…” Valo smiled and picked Saharah up from the joy. Ryo smiled at the sight and Terrias seemed to not care. Saharah was left behind with Aikon while the others went to Kaio. Terrias decided to take a quick nap on their way there. He began to dream again. He was placed on an alter. She gazed upon him one last time. “Why? Didn’t you get everything you asked for?” He said looking up with a sad expression of disbelief. She looked down at him and stroked his face, “What I wanted was you to be you.” He was destroyed, but his spirit traveled far. “Those who betray should be punished…”
Terrias woke up scared for he now realized whose voice he heard. The ship began to land and Terrias got a cold feeling. He couldn’t decide if it was from the island or himself. However, he now had a slight feeling of Ultima near by. He thought nothing of it and got up to head outside. Manna was waiting for them. “well ‘bout time you guys got here”, she said in a dull, monotonic way. She escorted them to Kaio Academy where Creed had just barely got on stage. Creed saw the team and began. “People of Kaio. It appears the time has come for all of us to give in…” Terrias felt a sharp pain in his chest. Ultima was definitely near by. Valo and Ryo felt weird too. “I bring you Ultimatias Oaks…” Ultimatias appeared on stage and smiled looking at Terrias. “My fellow followers, its good to be back. I have now assigned you to do one thing for me, give your soul to Creed!” Terrias got up but then couldn’t move. Ryo and Valo were stuck in the same problem. All the people in the audience gave up their soul to Creed and made him glow. After all in the audience have died and given their soul, Creed split into two people. Another man stood beside Creed. He had long red hair and sapphire blue eyes. “Alas, Nucilver has been resurrected”, said Creed. “I have, but don’t expect me to do much for you”, he said cold and cruel. Ultimatias ordered him, “Now it’s time for you to destroy those three over there.” Nucilver looked at him and said no. Ultimatias used a spell that forced Nucilver to begin to transform. Terrias regained his movement and tried to strike, but this time Manna blocked him. “Back to where you two were suppose to kill each other, hahaha”, laughed Ultimatias.
Terrias and Manna had never fought each other since the day of Ultima’s revival. Manna swung with her sword breaking Terrias quickly. “Don’t let your emotions cloud you!” shouted Valo now attacking Creed. Ryo got loose as well and aimed his gun at Ultimatias. Both missed as the villains seemed way to fast for them to follow. Terrias attacked Manna without his blade and hit every blow. Manna was getting weaker and weaker to the point Terrias sent her flying to the wall then picking up her blade and impaling her with it. Manna stopped and looked at Terrias. Her eyes filled with tears and seemed to return to the original amber color they were, “Terrias…. Why?” She passed out and laid there. Terrias could not believe he nearly killed his love. She was under a curse this whole time to mess with Terrias’ emotions. Rage filled him and his UltimaDemon was freed. Creed looked over at Terrias and before he knew it, Terrias was behind him and dug his talons into his back then tore him to pieces. “Hahaha, my, my, vassal, looks like you’re not as useless after all”, said Ultimatias who now had Terrias behind him. Ultimatias jumped out of the way quickly but was hit by Ryo. Ultimatias hit Ryo with Ultima and Ryo was sent flying out through the wall. Valo stepped in and stabbed Ultimatias in the back. Before Ultimatias could make a move Terrias sent him into the wall pinned. “Damn you!!” He got down and made a quick run. Terrias returned to normal and ran to Manna’s aid but was stopped by what seemed to be a large tail. Nucilver! Nucilver had finally fully transformed and knocked both Valo and Terrias against the wall forcing it to collapse on them. Terrias got up and attacked with Ultima but it was reflected and hit both Valo and Terrias sending them flying outside. “Manna!” screamed Terrias trying to get up but couldn’t because of multiple bones broken. Valo got up and stunned Terrias. “Sorry, but if anyone is going to fight that thing and die its going to be me.” Valo then was stunned himself and Ryo came up. “Nope, its me…”
Terrias opened his eyes to see the destruction Nucilver was making. He heard jets from above and looked up. Ryo had the airship set to override and was planning on going kamikaze with it. Ryo set up multiple explosives on the ship including the ship itself. He looked up at the computers and set them to detonate on impact. “Engines at max, explosives set to devastate….” He looked down and Terrias could not believe what was going to happen. Ryo gave a thumbs up and said, “Later, Bro.” He hit the turbo override and crashed into the beast. A blue flash was all Terrias saw and was knocked out before he could get up. He dreamed again. Everyone was back to normal and everything was okay. No more clans. No more worries. It was paradise, but paradise only lasts for so long.
Terrias awoke in a small room. He remembered it, it was the same room he slept in when he was at the capital. Ryo who had lived must have taken him here. Right? Saharah and Aikon walked in to see Terrias alive and well. Saharah’s eyes were swollen from crying as were Aikon’s. “Please, I don’t want to here it…” said Terrias not wanting to know the outcome. “Terrias, Ryo is dead… Manna is too”, said Aikon seriously. Terrias burst into a fit a crying. Hysterical and in denial he cried, “IT’S NOT TRUE!!! I DON’T BELIEVE IT!!!!” “Terrias, Ryo’s body was reduced to ashes and most likely Manna was too. Nucilver was returned to his neutral state and is in the dungeon cell’s right now. Only you and Valo survived. Ultimatias got away….” Said Saharah crying with Terrias. “NO!!! He was my brother…. MY BROTHER…. Manna… NO!!! I… I… I can’t….I…I…I won’t”, Terrias continued.
A funeral procession was held in honor of Ryo and in memory of Manna. Valo cried over Manna’s grave. Terrias was tired of crying and wanted to die, “This is all my fault…. If I had learned to control myself Manna would still be here and Ryo wouldn’t have had to kill himself.” Saharah hugged him, “It’s not your fault, and Ultimatias and Creed are the ones to blame. They controlled Manna manipulating you.” Terrias had never felt such sorrow ever. The two small inscriptions under their portrait said:
Manna Aminus
Gentle Rose of the Winds
Ryo Hawkeye
The Hawk of Life
