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Chapter Twelve (Continued) - Raziel - Avernus Cathedral

Dark Chronicle - The Transformation Of The Reaver

Raziel successfully activates the Spirit Forge. Ariel appears in front of him, restored to her former beauty.

Ariel:
It is accomplished. The forge summons the spirit of every Balance Guardian to itself, for this final purpose.

Raziel:
Ariel? You?

Ariel:
Yes, Raziel - yet I am much more than I was. The veil is lifted from my sight. My spirit, united with the souls of my predecessors, is drawn here now for the final baptism of the blade. To restore Balance, the sword must be rendered pure by Spirit.

Ariel reaches toward Raziel.

Ariel:
Release me, Raziel - the Soul Reaver has the power. Release us all. For this we were called.

Raziel slowly reaches back, and as their hands meet, Ariel fades and an incandescence flows up his left arm and across to the Reaver, which is transformed.

Ariel V.O.:
You have done well, Raziel. But there is one more trial for you to bear. You must unite what has been set asunder... only then will the Scion of Balance be armed for his true endeavor. Only then...

Ariel's voice fades entirely.

Raziel V.O.:
The Reaver now blazed with purifying flame. But far from being enlightened, I found myself entangled in an even greater web of mysteries. What had Janos expected me to learn? And what of Ariel's cryptic message? If the sword was endowed for the Scion of Balance - for Kain - and he was now dead, what hope remained? I needed to find Janos, and soon. I dreaded to think what these ominous rumblings might portend.

Dark Chronicle - The Pillars Topple

Raziel goes back to the council chamber of the Vampire Citadel. When he re-enters the Material Realm, he finds Janos has returned. He is looking toward the Pillars.

Raziel:
Janos! What is this?!

Janos:
The Binding is failing - all is lost.

Raziel V.O.:
We had arrived at that cataclysmic moment, when a younger Kain faced his fateful dilemma as Balance Guardian. Choosing self-preservation over sacrifice, he doomed the Pillars to eternal ruin.

Janos:
Raziel, there may yet be hope. There is One who will be called; you must seek the Scion of Balance -

A distant explosion - seemingly centered at the Pillars - interrupts him.

Janos:
Dear god...

As Raziel and Janos watch, the Pillars explode in a second, blinding flash of energy. Raziel is knocked backwards by the devastating force of it. When the flash subsides, Janos' eyes glow green, and his wings and body appear to be traced with bright embers. He has been possessed by the Hylden Lord.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
Ah, Raziel, we meet again. You have played your part flawlessly. It is gratifying to attain both freedom and vengeance in a single stroke.

Janos throws off the Hylden Lord's influence momentarily.

Janos:
No - you can not...

The Hylden Lord reasserts control after a brief struggle.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
This one is strong... good. My next move requires a more durable host. Mortals are such fragile vessels.

He addresses Raziel.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
Willing or not, you have provided the instrument of our victory.

Raziel:
I wouldn't celebrate just yet.

Raziel starts moving forward, summoning the wraith-blade.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
You pathetic creature - you haven't got a clue. The seduction of the Circle and possession of Mortanius; Ariel's murder; the corruption and collapse of the Pillars: all orchestrated as a prelude to this moment. We sought an incorruptible vessel, and you provided one. We required the blood of our ancient enemy, and you delivered Janos Audron - having first been lured to the Heart of Darkness. Best of all, you murdered the Scion of Balance to get it. We've already won.

Janos again breaks free. He collapses to one knee, grasping intently at Raziel's arm when the wraith rushes over to him.

Janos: (pleading)
Raziel, you must not allow them to carry out their plan. Kill me, and you end it now.

The Hylden Lord's presence angrily returns, causing Janos to stand abruptly. Raziel takes a step back.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
Suicidal, like the rest of them. Know your place, Raziel. The true hero plays his role, and then steps aside.

He brushes past Raziel but stops, laughing, as Raziel bars his path with the wraith-blade.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
You deluded ghoul. Do you so wish to die a martyr for the Vampires' lost cause?

Raziel:
You're not leaving this chamber. I will destroy Janos if I have to.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
Very well then, I'll indulge you...

Janos/The Hylden Lord takes flight, sweeping the chairs of the council chamber away, and attacks.

Dark Chronicle - The Triumph Of The Hylden Lord

After a lengthy fight, Janos falls to the floor, momentarily free of the Hylden Lord.

Janos: (begging)
Raziel... Finish it - before he returns...

Raziel raises the wraith-blade to strike, but then stops, unable to follow through - and the moment is lost. The Hylden Lord again regains control of Janos, causing the Ancient's body to recover strongly and rise into the air.

Janos/Hylden Lord:
You should have listened to him.

Janos/The Hylden Lord unleashes a green energy bolt at Raziel, hurling him across the room. Landing, he approaches the stunned Raziel and subjects him to another energy bolt, viciously wrenching his body. Raziel is laying on the floor, his physical form damaged beyond sustaining.

Janos/Hylden Lord: (triumphantly)
Now it is finished. And thus a new epoch has its beginning.

Janos/The Hylden Lord flies away as Raziel fades into the Spectral Realm.

Dark Chronicle - No Escape

Raziel is once again facing the Elder God in the Underworld.

Elder God:
Do you see? However far you stray, you will always return to me. Surrender, Raziel.

Raziel attacks the Elder God with the wraith-blade, with no effect.

Raziel:
Never -

Elder God: (laughing)
Your efforts are wasted, Raziel. That weapon you bear, however endowed, remains only a wraith-blade. It cannot touch me.

Raziel:
I will not be your prisoner.

Elder God:
You have no choice. Your task is fulfilled. Kain has been cleared from the board, and this chamber made ready for my more malleable servants. There is nothing more for you to do.

Raziel:
I refuse to bend my will -

Elder God:
It has always been my will you satisfy, never your own.

Raziel:
You parasitic fraud - you're forced to imprison me because I possess free will -

Elder God:
You possess nothing. As you are undying, your soul cannot be returned to the Wheel - but it may console you to abide here in eternity with me.

The Elder God turns its attention elsewhere, effectively dismissing Raziel.

Elder God:
Moebius, my good servant. I call you to the place of our first meeting. Return to me here...

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