Heroes of Cataclysm, Talin Arc, Chapter 1: The Awakening

The Sky was black, Thunder roared, and it rained. Talin, a battle hardened warrior woke up from a deep slumber. He rubbed his eyes and looked confused. "What the? Where am i? Evan? Sir Grantose? Anyone?" He asked as he walked the city and just raised eyebrows. "What is this place? Why is there no life? This isnt adding up." He said as he placed his hand on his chin and began to think.

"Perhaps I can enlighten you, Soldier." A voice said as a rainbow Angel Feather fell from the sky. "C-Commander Raikiri!" Talin said as he had his hand on his blade's hilt. The Angel floated down and had his arms crossed. "I would expect better of you, Talin. You're in unfamiliar territory. Wouldn't it have made more sense to keep your voice shut instead of calling out your friends' names? It lead me to you. Rookie mistake, Fool. You've defied my orders time and time again in our world, and your futile defiance and helping Your god caused the war to come to a stalemate. However, I will overlook this act of transgression. Join me once more, Talin. If you payed attention, there is no life. Everyone you know is gone. But I can help you bring them back." Raikiri said as he held his hand out. Talin shook his head.

{BGM: Night of Tragedy}

"No. I can already tell you're trying to play me like a violin. I don't need your help!" Talin said as he got his sword and shield, and got into a battle stance. Raikiri simply closed his eyes and folded his arms. "To think one of my underlings would speak such a way to me... It's disgusting. If you want to play the vigilante, then so be it. I'll expunge your very existence from this universe!" Raikiri said as he flapped his wings and levitated up and opened his eyes. "If you want to cast your lot with them, then i shall wipe you out here and now!" Raikiri said as he reached his hand out and it shined purple. Suddenly, a Sword appeared in Raikiri's hand.

Raikiri held it close and shined. Talin mirrored him and held his own sword close and shined as well. "O divine spear, run my enemy through! Holy Lance!" Raikiri and Talin shouted in unison as they shot holy spears at one another, cancelling the spells out. Raikiri smirked and warped in front of Talin and striking the air. A Holy Glowing X appeared from the slash. Raikiri warped around Talin, leaving Holy X's aimed at him. He then warped back a bit. "Take this! Terminus!" Raikiri shouted as he reached his hand out, making the X's strike Talin. Talin leaped up to dodge the attack in time. The two knights then clashed again and again. "O holy one, cast thy purifying light on this corrupt soul... Judgment!" Raikiri shouted as he shined bright and made beams of light rain down, striking Talin. Talin took the attacks and winced in pain. He was knocked down. Raikiri then placed his other hand on the hilt of his sword, and split it into two. He rushed in and swung at Talin. Talin couldnt defend in time and got swung into the air. "Grovel!" Raikiri said as he slammed his swords onto Talin, making him slam into the ground. Talin coughed up blood and stood up. "Swear fealty to me, and I will stop attacking." Raikiri said. "Never. I joined Zayne and his friends so I can help them stop you. I refuse to think they are gone. I'm going to strike you down, and then i am going to go find them." Talin said as his overlimit activated. Raikiri smirked as his eyes shined red. He began to glow an ominous Red aura. "Such idiocy." Raikiri said as he shot red Orbs at Talin. Talin gasped and he used his shield to block them. Talin began to pant as his overlimit was still activated. "Grovel!" Raikiri said as he swung his swords in a graceful combo. Raikiri then slammed Talin onto the ground. "Time for you to say good night!" Raikiri shouted as he levitated up and glowed purple. "My consciousness extends to the depths. Thou dwelt in the depths of despair. I command the heavens and earth! Thou art but void and nothingness. Where the heavens shine, there am I! Thou wait at the gates of Hell! Come, thunder of the gods! This is your end! Indignation!" Raikiri shouted as a huge purple lightning bolt struck Talin. Talin managed to hang on but barely. "Give up yet, Soldier?" Raikiri asked as he laughed maniacally. Talin closed his eyes and began to have a short flashback, one of them being where he was accepted by Zayne and the group Some tears fell from Talin's eyes but then he snapped back into it and glared at Raikiri.

{BGM: And thus i can do it}

"I'll never give up. Zayne and the others forgave me for my harsh actions towards them." Talin said. "You once commanded unrivaled power of primordial light, of that of an angel. A shame you locked that divine power away in the end." Raikiri said. "No.. It's not a shame. I'm done listening to you, I'll take you down and save my friends!" Talin said. "Than you know what to do. Set the Light in you free, so you can save your friends." Raikiri said as he held his hand out. "No. I'll not give into that power. Now enough! The real battle begins now!" Talin shouted as he pointed his sword at Raikiri. "Very well then." Raikiri said as he made his sword disappear and he crossed his arms. He levitated off the ground and smirked. Raikiri glowed a bright light as his wings seemed to have detached from himself and went into portals of light. Talin watched as he was prepared. Small portals appeared beneath Talin and the wings struck him. Talin dodge rolled to the side and avoided them. Raikiri then made small bubbles of light appear which then turned into tiny lasers. Talin used his shield to block them. While blocking his Overlimit activated once more. Talin's eyes shined a bright white as he levitated off the ground. "Struggle against these holy chains.... Shining Bind!" Talin yelled out as chains of light wrapped around Raikiri, and a glyph appeared beneath him. It then exploded into light. Raikiri was wounded and on the floor from the attack. Raikiri raised his hand slightly and spoke as the red glow he had faded. "I yield.. I submit." Raikiri said as Talin glared at him. Raikiri made his wings fade away and he stood up. "I have been bested by you. You're free to go." Raikiri said as Talin looked at him. "Commander, I want answers. Explain everything to me. Where is this place? What happened? You know these things. So spill it out." He said.

{BGM: Dark World}

"Very well, I'm in the same fix as you are, So my memory is a bit hazy. From reading Virca's records in the archives, This place matches a passage i read. This place looks to be Dark city, a World full of Humans, and Monsters that blend in. It is led by Governor Harston who hates all monsters. An Incubus hero and his friends thwarted him. You know of him. Look into your memory and recall it." Raikiri said. "An Incubus... Orby..? No not that. Yori? Not even close... Yor..obi? Yorobi?" Talin asked. "Correct. I have a feeling you two will meet up once again. Anyway go find your god." Raikiri said as he was about to leave. "Wait. I want your help in finding a way out of here." Talin said. "Hmph.. Bold of you to demand my help. Very well. We'll find a way out of here together." Raikiri said as he folded his arms. "Stay close to me, Virca's soldiers are in this city. If you are to survive, then you must stick with me." Raikiri added in as he walked up ahead. Talin followed. They entered empty buildings and got a chill. "This place is really sad. It was once full of life, correct? Now it's just a wasteland..." Talin said. Raikiri looked at Talin and spoke. "Yeah... This is a fate that even I wouldnt wish upon the world. I want to instill my order, not wipe out the human race." Raikiri said as he opened doors to find a portal, but had no luck. Thereafter several demons appeared in the room they were in.

"Virca's troops!" Talin said. "A minor setback, nothing two old friends cant handle." Raikiri said as he made his sword form. "I am one of Virca's champions. An attack against me is insubordination. The punishment? Death!" Raikiri said in anger as he got into a stance. "No, Sit this out. you have much at stake if you fight your own troops. I'll take them on." Talin said. "Your funeral, kid." Raikiri said as Talin rushed in towards the demons. "Demon Fang! Tiger Blade! Sonic Thrust! Sword Rain: Alpha!" Talin did those attacks in order and as he finished Sword rain alpha, he spoke. "Rising Falcon! Rising Phoenix!" Talin stabbed the demon and then stabbed him again in fire. His overlimit activated and he threw his shield to the side and gripped his sword with two hands. "This ends now! O brilliant blade of coldest steel, rend the infinite darkness and crush my enemies to nothing! You're dead! Savage Wolf Fury!" Talin shouted as he used his first mystic arte against the demons, destroying them. "Well done, Soldier. Time is of the essence. We have to find a way out before more come our way." Raikiri said as they quickly fled the building and ran the streets.

After an hour, they enter a construction site where they find a brilliantly lit white portal. "That might be it. Take it" Raikiri said. Talin looked back at him and smiled. "Thank you, Commander... I wish things played out differently and that we were on the same side. But.. If i'm to be honest, this is all too much to bear..." Talin said as he looked down. Raikiri took pity on him and placed his hand on Talin's shoulder. "Remember what i said when i found you those years ago in our world? A Lack of resolve will get you killed. Steel your heart, and triumph through anything that gets thrown at you.... I'd expect nothing less from my former student." Raikiri said as he then looked serious. "Next time we meet, I will kill ya. So prepare. This moment where we are equal won't last except in this moment of time." Raikiri said as he disappeared in light. Talin leaped into the portal and went to where it lead to.