04-21-2016, 11:52 PM
It was funny how things managed to come back around. It hadn’t been too long ago that Zack stood on that fated cliff in his own world, and was gunned down by the men and women he had once called allies. His only sin had been daring to serve the innocents before the interests of those in power. Now he stood in a caldera near the peak of Death Mountain, committing that same sin once more. This time, however, he was a part of the superior numbers taking on the lone warrior. Yet, he now understood what the grunts he faced in his own last stand must have felt. There may have been strength in numbers, but there was certainly no comfort.
Zack stood near the plague marine that would stop for nothing, not even his own immolation. The former SOLDIER had materialized the rifle given to him by the Koopa Kingdom’s best engineers, and poured bullet after bullet through the barrel and into the flying wyrm that ruled this Verse. Yet, all of his gunfire seemed to be doing nothing. Volvagia was moving just as quickly and striking just as decisively as before. Another magazine ran empty, and Zack decided that enough was enough. This time he didn’t reload, but instead threw the entire gun to the ground.
The weapon never touched the ash covered surface, instead dissipating into Omnilium well before it could complete its fall. Zack had already forgotten the gun, for he had reached back and drew his titanic sword just as soon as he was able. He held the massive weapon ready, watching only for a second as the dragon occupied itself with Thor and Gildarts. With a seemingly effortless jump, his Mako enhanced legs launched the young warrior high into the sky. While Volvagia had its focus on Thor, Zack descended rapidly on the best, stabbing the tip of his blade at its right eye as he closed in.
Volvagia lowered its head and dodged the stab, just as the sword came so close that Zack had already credited himself with the hit. Instead, the warrior had to rapidly switch to the defensive, and positioned the massive Buster Sword between himself and the dragon’s head. Volvagia swung its skull back up, connecting with the massive slab of steel.
Though Zack was spared the blunt impact to his body, he didn’t feel too much better off for it. He was tossed aside just the same, flying completely parallel to the ground beneath himself. Fortunately for him, Volvagia did not pursue as it instead shifted its focus to one of his companions.
Zack landed at a kneel on the very edge of the caldera, and found himself looking out at the Ashen Steppes from this incredible vantage. One simple jump, and he could disappear back into the wasteland of lava. This overpowered monster could be behind him, and he wouldn’t have to worry about experiencing another horrible death. A wise man would probably take that opportunity, but it didn’t tempt him for a second.
Instead, he stood back up and turned to face the battle once more. He couldn’t suppress the grin any longer, so he allowed himself to smile wide. The challenge of this battle was incredible, and he relished the chance to be a part of it. So, against what some might call common sense or a basic self-preservation instinct, Zack raised the Buster Sword and leaped at the dragon once again.
He rapidly approached as Volvagia found itself focused on Gildarts. It certainly wasn’t enjoyable to be the center of the dragon’s focus, but the opportunity it allowed the rest of the team could make it worth the risk, and Zack was grateful for the opening he was presented with. He slammed into the side of the flying monster’s thick, armored skull, blade first. He felt the Buster Sword’s blade sink ever so slightly into the thick armor that surrounded its head, though Volvagia did not seem to be anything more than agitated by the impact. The inertia kept Zack moving forward, and he only stopped himself by rolling onto the beast and catching one of its horns.
He took just a second to steady himself and stand up straight. Not long ago, he’d been on the head of another massive dragon that dominated the landscape of the Ashen Steppes. Drawing his next strategy from experience, Zack raised the Buster Sword high and prepared to drive it directly into the brain of Volvagia, or at least make his best effort at penetrating the rocky exterior of its head.
The chance to do so never came, however. In an instant, Volvagia snapped its head to the right, and just like that Zack’s footing vanished beneath him. As Zack fell, one of the monster’s claws swung at him. He countered with a slash of his own, hearing another disappointing dull sound effect as his sharp weapon impacted the thick, scaly hide of the dragon.
It allowed Zack all the time he needed to land again, however. He immediately proceeded to make several powerful, yet low hops backwards, weaving through the fallen rocks from the avalanche. Zack reached into his back pocket and brandished a glowing green orb, the most powerful of all his Materia. No sense in holding back against this thing.
The battle raged on before him. Spells and bullets collided with the dragon while others closed in for physical attacks. Zack spent this time focusing all of his power into the Materia, causing it’s soothing green shade to transform into a bright, blinding white. The orb let out a shrieking noise, as if some sort of demon was trapped inside and screamed for its own release. Zack was happy to oblige.
“Watch out!” Zack warned his teammates. Familiarity with the super powered beings of this realm caused those near the dragon to heed the advice without hesitation. Unimpeded, Zack was able to swing the orb upwards and release his own spell in Volvagia’s direction.
“Ultima!”
Zack stood near the plague marine that would stop for nothing, not even his own immolation. The former SOLDIER had materialized the rifle given to him by the Koopa Kingdom’s best engineers, and poured bullet after bullet through the barrel and into the flying wyrm that ruled this Verse. Yet, all of his gunfire seemed to be doing nothing. Volvagia was moving just as quickly and striking just as decisively as before. Another magazine ran empty, and Zack decided that enough was enough. This time he didn’t reload, but instead threw the entire gun to the ground.
The weapon never touched the ash covered surface, instead dissipating into Omnilium well before it could complete its fall. Zack had already forgotten the gun, for he had reached back and drew his titanic sword just as soon as he was able. He held the massive weapon ready, watching only for a second as the dragon occupied itself with Thor and Gildarts. With a seemingly effortless jump, his Mako enhanced legs launched the young warrior high into the sky. While Volvagia had its focus on Thor, Zack descended rapidly on the best, stabbing the tip of his blade at its right eye as he closed in.
Volvagia lowered its head and dodged the stab, just as the sword came so close that Zack had already credited himself with the hit. Instead, the warrior had to rapidly switch to the defensive, and positioned the massive Buster Sword between himself and the dragon’s head. Volvagia swung its skull back up, connecting with the massive slab of steel.
Though Zack was spared the blunt impact to his body, he didn’t feel too much better off for it. He was tossed aside just the same, flying completely parallel to the ground beneath himself. Fortunately for him, Volvagia did not pursue as it instead shifted its focus to one of his companions.
Zack landed at a kneel on the very edge of the caldera, and found himself looking out at the Ashen Steppes from this incredible vantage. One simple jump, and he could disappear back into the wasteland of lava. This overpowered monster could be behind him, and he wouldn’t have to worry about experiencing another horrible death. A wise man would probably take that opportunity, but it didn’t tempt him for a second.
Instead, he stood back up and turned to face the battle once more. He couldn’t suppress the grin any longer, so he allowed himself to smile wide. The challenge of this battle was incredible, and he relished the chance to be a part of it. So, against what some might call common sense or a basic self-preservation instinct, Zack raised the Buster Sword and leaped at the dragon once again.
He rapidly approached as Volvagia found itself focused on Gildarts. It certainly wasn’t enjoyable to be the center of the dragon’s focus, but the opportunity it allowed the rest of the team could make it worth the risk, and Zack was grateful for the opening he was presented with. He slammed into the side of the flying monster’s thick, armored skull, blade first. He felt the Buster Sword’s blade sink ever so slightly into the thick armor that surrounded its head, though Volvagia did not seem to be anything more than agitated by the impact. The inertia kept Zack moving forward, and he only stopped himself by rolling onto the beast and catching one of its horns.
He took just a second to steady himself and stand up straight. Not long ago, he’d been on the head of another massive dragon that dominated the landscape of the Ashen Steppes. Drawing his next strategy from experience, Zack raised the Buster Sword high and prepared to drive it directly into the brain of Volvagia, or at least make his best effort at penetrating the rocky exterior of its head.
The chance to do so never came, however. In an instant, Volvagia snapped its head to the right, and just like that Zack’s footing vanished beneath him. As Zack fell, one of the monster’s claws swung at him. He countered with a slash of his own, hearing another disappointing dull sound effect as his sharp weapon impacted the thick, scaly hide of the dragon.
It allowed Zack all the time he needed to land again, however. He immediately proceeded to make several powerful, yet low hops backwards, weaving through the fallen rocks from the avalanche. Zack reached into his back pocket and brandished a glowing green orb, the most powerful of all his Materia. No sense in holding back against this thing.
The battle raged on before him. Spells and bullets collided with the dragon while others closed in for physical attacks. Zack spent this time focusing all of his power into the Materia, causing it’s soothing green shade to transform into a bright, blinding white. The orb let out a shrieking noise, as if some sort of demon was trapped inside and screamed for its own release. Zack was happy to oblige.
“Watch out!” Zack warned his teammates. Familiarity with the super powered beings of this realm caused those near the dragon to heed the advice without hesitation. Unimpeded, Zack was able to swing the orb upwards and release his own spell in Volvagia’s direction.
“Ultima!”
Quote:1020 words, according to the site.
Zack used Ultima (T2 Offensive) - 3/5 SP remaining.