Time passed slowly and eerily as the two soldiers fought on across the Valyti. Blood was spilled, screams were heard. The whole chamber shook and trembled from their never-ending barrage of blows, and the pain of watching was becoming more and more unbearable for the three sisters.
“I can’t watch anymore,” said Remi, feeling sick to her stomach. “It’s too much, I—”
“Wait, look—” said Baelie. “Something’s happening . . .”
Enies and Sakura came to a floating halt in the center of the room, and all became still once again. Maile stirred and opened her eyes, recovering from fainting. With timid eyes, she quickly stood and grabbed Remi’s hand, hiding behind her.
“Is it over?” Maile whispered.
“Doesn’t look like it,” said Remi. “But why did they stop? Baelie?”
“I don’t know,” Baelie muttered. “I honestly have no idea.”
It was clear that Enies was winning, for Sakura had several dark bruises on her arms and legs, and a deep gash under her left eye was dripping blood down her face. But despite her injuries, it was clear in Sakura’s eyes that she had not lost the will to fight. In heart-wrenching contrast, Enies had no visible injuries whatsoever.
“Well, it seems as if we might battle for many passings of night and day,” said Enies in a voice that didn’t betray an ounce of fatigue. Remi turned to find that Arya had moved further away from the fight and was standing alone, observing from a distance.
“It would seem so,” said Sakura, holding her own composure. “But I will not relent, that I will not.”
“Might I make a suggestion then?” Enies’s lip curled into a grin.
Remi sensed that something was wrong by Enies’s tone. Pulling Maile along, she ran over to Arya. Baelie quickly followed, her armor clanking along the way. Enies took notice of them, but said nothing.
“Is something wrong?” Remi asked Arya. “What’s happening?”
Arya had her arms crossed. “One of the problems with these duels is that each fighter has such an enormous reserve of aura, that even if the victor is clear, it could take many, many shades to finish the battle.” Remi looked at Sakura, unsure if that were actually true.
Arya sized up the two fighters, evaluating their current reserves herself. “Sometimes, they can go even longer than a few shades. One of the past duels took nearly an entire rotation of the moons before a victor emerged. Considering that the Soldier Games are in less than a week, it may be irrational for them to be in the midst of such a fight, especially one for the Vice-Captain’s seat. That is why there are other measures that Enies is considering, hastier methods, if you will.”
“Hastier methods?”
Arya pointed to Enies, who spoke loud enough for all to hear.
“I say we skip the countless shades we will waste fighting each other while our aura slowly depletes, young Sakura. There is no glory in a losing fight, my dear, and even less so in a needlessly drawn out one. However, there is still some honor to be won here. Your name can still be etched into the Rings of Chaos, despite your foolish arrogance and, well, your inevitable loss. So, what do you say? Willing to chase some honor before your exile? Willing to make things a little more interesting, Sakura? What, of course, I am referring to is—”
“The End Sphere,” Sakura said. “I should’ve known it would come to this.”
Enies was grinning wickedly. “Exactly.”
“Surely, you wouldn’t subject me, the ninth seat, to such a trial?” Sarcasm dripped off of Sakura’s tongue. “Poor, little old me?” She gave Enies an equally disdainful grin. “What a terror.”
Enies glowered at Sakura. “The End Sphere it is.”
Sakura slung her bow over her shoulder, the string of blue aura vanishing. “So be it.”
“Wait here, princesses. A victor will soon emerge,” Arya said, before walking over towards Aquas and Theresa. Arya, Aquas, and Theresa approached Enies and Sakura. Remi watched them relieve Sakura of her bow and arrows, and remove Enies’s fist wraps. The other members of the Force latched silver chains around each of their wrists, binding their hands together. The moment the links were attached to Sakura, Remi thought she saw her shiver, as though they were icy cold.
“Sakura’s hands have been clenched into fists since they stopped,” whispered Baelie.
“Maybe she knows she is about to die,” Remi answered, her voice faint as could be.
“I don’t know,” muttered Baelie. “Maybe.”
Sakura and Enies faced one another before sitting on the ground and crossing their legs. As the two stared each other down, Arya, Aquas, and Theresa formed a triangle around them. A light of fiery aura came forth from them, blurred together by the jade flame of Aquas, magenta from Arya, and cerulean from Theresa; twisting and seeping amongst one another until a sapphire-colored sphere took form around Enies and Sakura, encasing the two fighters within.
“What is that thing?” Maile asked, still hiding behind Remi. “And what’s that sound coming from it?”
“I don’t know, Maile. But it gives me the chills.”
Flickers of jagged electricity sparked along the outside of the sphere. It grew darker and darker as more energy began to race around it. To Remi, it looked like a thundering torrent of spherical water that could not escape itself. It engulfed the Vice-Captain and Sakura, caging them until they could no longer be seen. Remi could feel a terrible dark energy emanating from it, one that seemed to pull on the very aura of her soul, draining her own life-force. She could see the look of absolute focus in Theresa’s eyes, along with Aquas and Arya, and knew that whatever they were doing was not an easy task.
“There’s something very sickening about that sphere,” said Baelie. “I can’t seem to catch whatever is spiraling around within it. It’s too fast for my eyes. But the scary thing is, when I close my eyes, I can feel them. Whatever they are . . . it feels dead . . . it feels like the souls of the dead are in that thing.”
Remi gulped. “I feel it, too. It’s dreadful.”
***
Past the crashing waves of spiraling aura, beyond the flickers of crackling electricity that illuminated the edges of the sphere, Enies and Sakura sat cross-legged on the cold, hard stone, staring at one another with contemptuous glares. From within, it looked as if they sat beneath a raging tidal wave only a few feet away from crushing their bones to dust. Most of the light had faded, leaving only the random flickers from distant flashes. The sound was so feral that it consumed everything else.
Sakura felt the consciousness of Enies seep into her mind, like poison into her heart. A few seconds later, she heard Enies’s voice speaking to her from a distant space.
“You will die here, Sakura. None have ever survived the End Sphere. However, if you give in now, if you kneel before my feet and beg forgiveness. . . I will spare your life, and your only punishment will be eternal banishment from Risia.”
“I offer you the same, Lady Enies.”
“How, I wonder, are you so confident in your skills, Sakura? To confront me, the Vice-Captain, and honestly expect to survive? None have ever challenged the Vice-Captain from the lowest rank, and for good reason—it is an impossible feat. I am leagues beyond you, Sakura. You know this. You’ve tasted my strength, firsthand.”
“I wonder about that.”
Sakura felt a jab of anger from Enies and tried not to flinch as the force of the Vice-Captain’s wrath left her mind dazed and weary. Sakura slowly opened her eyes. Enies sat mirroring her, yet her arms were lifted with her palms up, as if cradling the rain. From the edges of the End Sphere stretched thin black shadows, creeping across the very air and making their way down and around Enies, absorbing her strength like a bandage over blood.
Sakura froze when she saw them, shutting her eyes. One of the creeping shadows had slithered up and over her shoulder, wrapping its way around the soft skin of her neck. Sakura held her breath. She felt as if hundreds of nightmarish snakes were encased in the sphere with them, waiting for their chance to feed on her life-force. The remaining light within the End Sphere grew darker until only their silhouettes were visible.
“Do you know why this place is called the End Sphere?” Enies asked, her voice calm and tranquil.
Sakura said nothing.
“Many cycles ago, there were two siblings, born purely of evil. They found no higher joy than to sneak into the homes of innocents at night and murder their families one by one, from youngest to eldest. They would then eat their victims and bathe in their blood. Even upon their capture, the only faces they wore were wicked grins, as if their heinous actions had done nothing to mark their subconscious in the way of guilt, remorse, or any other type of sympathy towards those who had been killed.”
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Sakura listened intently, knowing that concentrating primarily on one thing was the best way to maintain her focus, which, in the end, could save her life. She could feel the slithering shadows moving over her body, drawing forth from her the very essence of her soul. Her breathing grew heavy and her limbs weaker as the weight of Enies’s voice pressed down upon her.
“They were captured and imprisoned many times, each time escaping by new means, for they were natural born thieves and outlaws, with an innate gift for finding freedom. After their sixth escape, and after over a hundred sorians had been murdered, the Empress was forced to make a decision—condemn them to death, or force them into a prison that was inescapable. The answer was this, Sakura . . . the End Sphere.”
All the while Sakura sat still, grasping her hands tightly together. She could feel the pressure closing in on her from every angle, torturing her every thought, confining her every movement.
“So it was that the entire Force and Shield Corps gathered together. Silver cuffs were then placed around the criminal’s wrists, the same as we wear, for these cuffs are the object to which the shadows are drawn. You see, Sakura, the End Sphere is a world within a world. Once it is formed, there is no way to enter or exit. . . . The shadows will consume all remnant traces of our aura until one of us completely collapses, or in the highly unlikely event that both of us have equal amounts of aura, we die together. The two siblings, one male and one female, were confined to the End Sphere where the shadows began gnawing away at their energy. The End Sphere eats your memories as well, and slowly but surely, you become a shell of your former self, without thought or previous knowledge of anything. After your mind is wiped clean, it begins to decay, along with your body. The purpose of this trial is to maintain a sense of calm and control, even in the deadliest of conditions . . . And to emerge alive, of course. So now, I must ask you, have you begun to forget, Sakura, who you are?”
Sakura swallowed silently. She knew what Enies was doing, telling the story in an attempt to disrupt her mental clarity, while Enies herself maintained a complete sense of calm. But despite knowing that, it was working. She began to feel shivers of panic pass through her mind as traces of her memory faded away. The faces of her fellow comrades of the Force disappeared one by one into a hazy silver cloud that granted no clarity. She shook her head, struggling to maintain her concentration, but to no avail, it was all slipping away. . . .
Enies continued, feeling Sakura weakening. “The two villains survived the End Sphere, but not without consequence. Their inner will for evil was so strong that they had to lose everything else about themselves before that evil was eradicated. This kept them going, far beyond what a normal sorian would have been capable of, and when they finally emerged, it was as if they had aged a thousand cycles. Their skin was withered and decayed, and strands of their once-brilliant hair fell to the cold ground in tufts, making them even more terrifying to behold. The End Sphere had fulfilled its purpose, for they knew not who, or what they were. Since those days, the End Sphere has not been used in the ways of torture, and was adapted as a technique by the Force and Shield for the ultimate trial of choosing champions. However, it’s not as if there’s a ‘choice’ in this case, Sakura. You will never be champion. You will merely fade beneath the fury and strength of my aura. You will fall and all your memories will dissipate into nothingness until every remnant of your former self is gone. You should be thankful, at least, for after your banishment from Risia, no one will remember you, and you will remember no one.”
Sakura’s eyes snapped open. Enies was staring at her with a glare that burned like fire. The shadows had all but consumed Enies’s entire body, and only small portions of her fair skin could be seen beyond the slithering darkness.
“Lady Enies, your words spin round like a wheel of riddles, that they do,” said Sakura. “Yet, know now, that although you have brought a fit of fear that shivers through my bones, you have yet to uncover my weakness, a fault that will, no doubt, lead to your very own defeat. For I have discovered yours, Lady Enies, that I have.”
Sakura felt the same jagged lance of anger stab into her mind once again. Enies had been expecting to drive her into such a state of fear that she would give up all hope of victory and panic. Sakura could feel her surprise and frustration as if it were her own.
“Do you mock me, Sakura? You have discovered my weakness? Don’t make me laugh! This is a test of aura and mental prowess, and we both know after our little battle in the Valyti, that my energy far surpasses your own. Do not attempt to disturb my consciousness with your hollow threats.”
“The only hollow threat was the silver lining of your story, Lady Enies. For I have discovered that you are blinded by your own power and your craving to become Captain, as well as your uncontrollable wrath. Arrogance will be your downfall, that it will. I was never weaker than you in aura, Lady Enies. I was only giving you the impression that you were winning to draw you into prompting the End Sphere. I have intended on challenging you for the seat of Vice-Captain ever since joining the Force in the first place, under the direct request of Lady Scylla herself. She sees you . . . slipping.”
Sakura felt a sudden change in Enies’s energy.
“What? What did you just say!? You two dare to conspire against me!?”
Enies’s voice snarled like a beast who had been backed into a corner. Then she laughed a cold, sinister laugh. “You speak nothing but lies, Sakura. I know that my aura exceeds yours, and even now, I feel yours weakening. You will soon enter eternal darkness, and I will grasp victory. And after you wither, decay, and die, I will roll your body from the edge of Risia, never to be seen again by our world. After you fall, I will face the God Who Walks Among Us, your beloved Captain Scylla, and her body shall, soon after, meet you in the dark realm of Mortal Aeryx so far below.”
Sakura focused her breathing. “The purpose of the Valyti is to learn how to overcome negative emotions and feelings, Lady Enies. You must learn to be calm, and also guard against wrath and envy, yet your very being emanates such a state of anger that even the greatest of beasts could not look you in the eye. Yet most of all, a sense of humility is a virtue that cannot go unlearned, and today you will learn that very lesson. You will have your time of loss to think about your own weaknesses and how they have shaped your rise and fall, that you will. For I, unlike you, Lady Enies, understand that scare tactics and physical strength are not always the surest path to victory.”
Sakura forced a smile and opened her palms for the first time, revealing something hidden within. In each of her hands was a single golden gem with dark veins, each one having the appearance of swirling water churning beneath their edges. A bright aura that lit up like the sun began to shine from the stones, wrapping around her and freeing Sakura’s body from the shadows.
Enies growled in shock and horror. “You dare bring Sacred into the End Sphere!? Is the honor you have as one of the Force so easily thrown away!?” Enies lashed out in anger. “You will not survive your trickery, Sakura, and you will die by my hand! This is unforgivable! You’re a traitor! A despicable, cold-hearted betrayer! You will die! You hear me!?”
Sakura could feel her own energy fading as she struggled to persevere.
“Lady Enies, I merely did what I had to in order to defeat you.” The breaths in between her words grew heavy as Sakura spoke, as if her lungs were filling with water. “Here, in the End Sphere . . . no one can see or hear what is transpiring. All they will know outside is that, by the time we are done . . . you will have no memory of your time here. I will be victorious, the last one still conscious . . . if not the only one still alive. And I will have your rank, so say farewell to your seat, Lady Enies . . . for, even now, it betrays you for its true master!”
“Well then, Sakura . . . It seems I must kill you here and now.”
“You can never kill me, Lady Enies. I was born to become Vice-Captain, and you were born to give it to me.” The snakes of darkness began twisting around Enies quicker than before, growing more and more disturbed.
“You will die, Sakura! Such treachery as yours will never go unpunished!”
“I am sorry, Lady Enies. You now know that the extra energy given to me from the souls of these Sacred is enough for me to outlive you by three times in here. By the time I am done, you will be nothing but a withered and decayed wretch whose face would not be recognized by even her closest family . . .”
Enies screamed, forcing herself to her feet. She struggled immensely, weighed down by the entirety of that world, her legs shaking violently and her feet struggling to grasp the cold, hard stone. The heel of one of her boots snapped, and she struggled for balance against the uncertainty of the ground. The energy around her grew chaotic, rushing in and grasping her every limb. The shadows slithered faster and tighter around her arms, neck, and chest.
Sakura did not speak. Instead, she focused entirely on her own energy. It was draining fast as could be, as if the plug to her own aura had been pulled out completely.
This is it, Sakura thought. She cracked, but I won’t last much longer. I must . . . maintain the illusion!
“Sakura!!! I will bleed you!!”
“Tell me, Lady Enies, or rather, Enies, now that I needn’t formalize you so . . . How does it feel knowing that you will be the first Vice-Captain in history to lose to the ninth seat? At least, you will never be forgotten!”
The tidal wave of aura crashing around them grew fiercer as Enies forced herself to the brink of death in an attempt to reach Sakura. Shuffling towards her one step at a time, Enies glowered with the most contemptuous face she had ever seen. Sakura shut her eyes, terrified of the sight. Yet still she could see them, glaring at her, piercing through her eyelids. It was the face of one driven purely by madness and hatred.
“Sakura!!!”
Enies’s voice slashed across her face, and Sakura felt her closer than ever. It was the voice of one haunted by their own imminent end, the final shriek of one who could see the shadow of Death upon them. Sakura could feel her steadily bridging the distance between them.
Sakura remained motionless, focusing only on her steady breathing. The darkness threatened to swallow her whole, and the memories of her life flushed out of her until only one memory remained, a fragment of a memory, and the picture drew clear in her mind. A rainy day, and a man she could not remember was covered in blood, lying on dark, wet stone . . . he was holding something up to Sakura as she crawled towards him as a child. Whatever it was, it was bright before the icy rain and the eerie dark of the night. She reached out and felt a surge of emotions as her eyes fell on the dark pink flower in the man’s trembling hand.
“Live, my dear Sakura,” were the man’s last words. “Live.”
Sakura’s eyes snapped open. Standing directly before her was Enies, her expression nothing but a wicked scowl. Her eyes were wide open and wild, her teeth bared sharp. Her hands crept toward Sakura’s neck. Sakura held her breath, unable to move before the terrifying Vice-Captain. Enies’s body was covered by horrific wounds, the shadows feasting on her flesh. Blood splashed the ground as her fingers came within reach of Sakura’s throat. And with one last blood-curdling scream, she seized Sakura’s neck, twisting.
Sakura shut her eyes. She would die here. She had failed. Tears raced down her cheeks.
“Now you die, Sakur—” The words ceased abruptly, and though Sakura sat in the torrent of cutting wind and thundering energy that was the End Sphere, with Enies’s fingers digging into her neck, all seemed to stand still. And then, as if signifying the end, the weight of Enies collapsed on top of her. The warmth of her blood soaked through Sakura’s white cloak until her own skin was reminiscent of the same bloody visage.
Sakura opened her eyes and stared at Enies’s bloodied and tattered body. She didn’t dare move, for any movement at all might cause her own self to give into exhaustion. Everything seemed to move slower, and the roaring sound of the tidal aura surrounding them faded to a distant purr. Her vision grew blurry as she felt the weight of Enies sink onto her even more.
With a soft smile, Sakura looked down at the two dull rocks that no longer glowed gold in her palms. In that instant, the End Sphere shattered as if it were made of glass, and a bright, warm light enveloped her like a blanket.