"Well," Dodge says, "I suppose I should welcome you. I apologize for the less than inviting atmosphere, but otherwise, welcome."

I have finally arrived in what I assume is the room where the final part of their plan is to be initiated. Much like the laboratory that was destroyed, this room has many different monitors showing different parts of the city. On the majority of them, I see Crystal fighting the policemen and rioters. As for the middle of the room, hanging from the ceiling is the large crystal of all the comatose victims' stolen rhime. And, underneath it, is Chates in some kind of chamber. Rhime from the crystal above seeps into the chamber and gets inhaled by Chates who looks to be in a state of suspended animation.

"While you're here, perhaps we can come to an agreement."

"I have no authority to go against my superior's orders," I coldly state, "and besides, it's too late for that."

Dodge sighs, then looks at the screens.

"I suppose, I cannot deny that."

"So what are you, your brother, and that Selot character really fighting for? As we've implied before, creating a crystal like that must have more to it than revolution."

"I don't wish for Selot to know all the facts. It's best that way, so that the blame is not his. He is a mercenary, not a villain."

I begin to envelope my arms in my darkness rhime.

"Come on, there's no need of fighting just yet. I still haven't answered your question."

He looks at the screens.

"Take a look. What do you see?"

I look at them and say, "A futile struggle that I've seen one too many times."

"Exactly. A futile struggle. Man can attempt to push his boundaries, but history is, in a lot of ways, a cycle, rather than a timeline of progress. Our methods are by no means ideal, but it's the long term that matters. To break the cycle of history, one sometimes has to apply a few unfair cheat codes."

"The only thing I wholeheartedly agree with is the 'unfair' part."

"In the words of Edmund Burke of the First Age: 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' And, according to Thomas Paine: 'Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.' Look around you. Must we continue to suffer while we wait for someone to finally muster up the courage? Our so called 'government' is the cause for my actions, as it is full of egotistical individuals who are as lazy as they are rich and will never provide aid for those less fortunate. They say that, if you want something done right, you should do it yourself. And even if I don't agree with everything I've done, I must concur with this philosophy."

"There are a few rich who do care."

"But can a select few players change an entire party? Unlikely."

"Get back to my question, damn it! What are you really doing? I want to know your actions, not your motives."

Dodge looks at the screens.

"A brute force method."

"And...what's different about your methods compared to those rioters?"

"Mmm...Perhaps they are both 'brute force methods'. You have a point. But ours is on a greater scale. You are aware of my brother's subtone by now, if I recall. He can change into anybody physically, but cannot utilize their rhime. However, through extensive research, I learned that people can, and have in the past, been able to use multiple rhime tones by themselves. Using the rhime from others, Chates should be able to temporarily become an omnipotent being, one who can use all rhime subtones. As you can see on the screens, having a single rhime tone versus a single rhime tone has gotten us nowhere. But one with all rhime tones against those with a single rhime tone should tip the scales. Your friend is quite strong with only one subtone, so imagine what one with many subtones could accomplish?"

"You plan to usurp the power of the rich!?"

"That's one way of putting it. Besides, dynasties in the First Age followed such a procedure, so it is not new."

"Dynasties didn't use what one could consider innocent people's life force to power up their armies!"

"Actually, they did, in a manner of speaking. You should brush up on your First Age history. Still, it's ironic that I'm arguing with a Keisetsu member about power to change things. I've been told that each member is strong enough to take on at least 100 normal people, regardless of their opponent's subtone, yet you not only follow orders blindly, you fail to use your powers for the greater good. If you used your powers to correct this flawed economic system, I wouldn't have to resort to these methods."

(This man...rreeeeaaaaalllllyyyy...PISSES ME OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

"It would seem that I've been talking to a beast all this time."

He jumps in between Chates and me.

"Perhaps we should settle things at your level."

I envelope my hands with even more darkness rhime, causing my claws to get bigger to the point that each hand is larger than the rest of my body.

(Darkness Drive: Fallen Wings!)

My wings of darkness sprout from my back as I jump into the air. As soon as I reach my desired height, I attempt to fly towards Dodge and hit him with both of my hands. He backflips, then somersaults to dodge a horizontal slash I attempt to do after I land.

He pulls out another button from his pocket.

"It would seem that I have to speed things up a bit."

Click!

I hear screams of agony coming from the screens. I look at them and see everyone's rhime being drained. I see the rhime from Crystal's ice beginning to get absorbed. I quickly return my left arm to normal and go for my communication crystal.

"Crystal! Get out of there!"

I look to the screen and, although she seems to be rather weak, she uses her ice rhime to create an icicle to launch herself out of the area. I don't know how strong she will be when she arrives, but I know she'll be coming. Even so, the spectacle is nothing short of horrendous. This bastard! To do this to so many people! To so many people with a similar cause!

I re-engulf my left arm, then continue my barrage. Dodge whips out his gun, then presses another button. It causes the giant crystal to create a barrier of rhime around Chates, preventing me from getting to him.

"If you want my brother, you'll need this," he says, waving the button at me.

(He's screwing with me!)

We continue to play this game of cat and mouse. As I keep attacking him; he dodges, firing at me with his gun. We seem evenly matched at this moment, but with each passing second, more people will lose more of their rhime. I have to hurry!

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I can see every move you make, no matter where you are."

I keep quiet, stop fighting, then calm down.

"." I say.

This statement seems to surprise Dodge. Or, at least as much as he can be "surprised."

"I know somebody with a similar subtone. Yours is , which allows you to not only see vague images of everything around you within a 360 degree area, it allows you to move around while still seeing said images. How's that for a 'beast'?"

Dodge calms himself, and begins to clap.

"I suppose I underestimated you. My humblest apologies."

(I know he's toying with me. He isn't the target that matters.)

I press my hand against my heart. Using the song I recorded for power won't be enough anymore.

"And if I've learned anything from that other asshole, then there's only one way to beat you! Come forth, my hall!"

My darkness rhime whirls around my entire body and rises up in an eruption. It then disperses throughout the room until the screens are difficult to see. Much to my surprise, Dodge seems unfazed. My rhime fills the room and gives it a new shape. The room around us changes to the point that its shape becomes one similar to that of a cathedral. Pillars of pure darkness with gargoyles at the top. The chamber of Chates is the altar. Rows upon rows of vacant seats.

And behind me, is a grand set of doors, decorated with pieces of my past. Abandonment. Finding love. Being turned down. Vengeance. It's all there.

"This song is called 'Darkness with Purpose'. I hope you enjoy. After all..."

"This will be the last song you hear."