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Ch 8: That’s what I call a long sword

Michael stood in the now desolate lot. The tree had withered and the body had been reduced to a pile of bones, not that Michael noticed such things. His attention was on the sleek blade which resembled that of a long sword. He tossed the sword up and caught it with both hands, before swinging it down with enough force to shatter the helmet of an enemy. “Cool.” he said as he gazed at his reflection in the blade, feeling giddy. He swung it several times, each time he could feel it cleave through the air, he finally swung it hard enough to create a displacement of wind that was able to cut the tree, now even more withered, in half.

“Hold on there, wonder boy.” A female voice said dryly behind him, Michael spun around and landed on his but when she lightly pushed him, this got a whine from the demon hunter.

“Who are you?” he asked

“You first.”

“I asked you first.”

“It’s rude not to introduce yourself first.”

“Chivalry is dead.” Michael shrugged.

“Then you wouldn’t mind going first.” She responded, enjoying this.

“You are enjoying this, aren’t you.”

“Very much.”

“I’m Michael.” he introduced himself, giving up.

“And I’m Diamond.” she eyed Nirvana “You’ll be needing this.” she handed him a strap “It’s for the sword, idiot.” she clarified dryly when Michael looked confused.

Michael fixed the strap to two buckles on the side of his coat and put Nirvana through it, so he wasn’t always carrying the sword “Where are we going?” he asked her “And where is Vincent?” he hadn’t noticed Vincent left since he was enamored with the Nirvana. He put his hand on the hilt and registered that the was a perfectly round gem at either side of said hilt.

“We are going to the castle.” she said, not even bothering to address the question about Vincent.

“Are you related to Vincent?” Michael asked and was shut up by a shut up aura radiating off of diamond, not unlike Vincent.

“We’re leaving.” she said, not leaving it up for debate. She grabbed Michael’s hand and dragged him through the inn, though he didn’t resist, in fact he kind of enjoyed it.

Diamond was still leading him by the hand when they reached the castle and Vincent saw them holding hands “Oh.” he said dejectedly, about ready to curl up in a ball and sulk, but for whatever reason, he didn’t.

Michael was awestruck by the castle “It’s amazing.” He marveled at the entire thing.

“Castle Infitiam, gateway to hell.” Diamond introduced it, and let go of his hand “Go up and knock.” she told him and gave him a light shove to get him on his way.

Michael stumbled and got up the courage to approach the door of the castle and knock on the door three times. “Who dares trespass on Forbidden ground?” a booming voice responded.

“Michael.” He said, but just barely “The demon hunter.” he piped up.

The doors swung open to a giant Minotaur holding the mother of all battle axes. “The arms of hell welcome you!” it yelled and swung its axe down on Michael.

He rolled out of the way and slashed at the beast, though its thick hide made any attempts of such nature futile. The minotaur picked him up and began crushing him with both hands. Michael dropped Nirvana and reached for one of his guns, he managed to get one during the crushing pain and shot as soon as it was raised. Whether by luck or divine miracle, the bullet hit the Minotaur is the eye and it dropped Michael in a roar of pain. Its fury returned and it grabbed at Michael in an attempt to crush him again. It was stopped short when Michael threw the Nirvana through its blown out eye, the Minotaur fell over dead and the Nirvana glowed red as it absorbed the demon’s soul.

Michael withdrew the blade and it grew and changed shape until it took the form of a battle axe, he could feel the minotaur’s muscle memory flowing through him “What just happened?” he asked, shaken up by the process.

Vincent was about to chime in but bowed out rather than risk crossing Diamond “The Niravana absorbs the souls of anything it kills for power. If the soul is strong enough, it will make an impression and the nirvana will be able to change form corresponding to the soul.” Diamond told him and sighed in Vincent’s direction.

Michael threw the Nirvana to the ground and backed away from it. The shape went back to that of a long sword “Don’t be like that.” Diamond told him “You’re going to need it anyways.” she sighed.

Michael picked it back up “I’m still not fine with this.” he said, in a ‘for the record’ tone, but put it the sword through the strap at his side. Michael, along with Vincent and Diamond, walked through the gates of hell.