Version 0.5
December 19th 2001

SoulEdge/Blade & Soul Calibur History Book

written by: DLG
E-Mail: God@magicaldreamerz.de
ICQ: 119465293

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The purpose of this faq is to tell the history of these great games as it is
written in them,
this way people can enjoy the story without actually having to play the games.

This is a compilation of all the stories as I've found them in Edgemaster Mode
and the Soul Calibur
website any help in checking this faq or rather history book would be greatly
accepted.

This faq should only be found at:

http://www.gamefaqs.com

or my site if I ever get to putting it there:

http://www.magicaldreamerz.de
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1. Legal stuff

2. Edgemaster Books
   2.01 Hwang
   2.02 Rock
   2.03 Taki
   2.04 Sophitia
   2.05 Mitsurugi
   2.06 Siegfried
   2.07 Seung Mina
   2.08 Li Long
   2.09 Voldo
   2.10 Cervantes

3. Weapon Room
   3.01 Hwang
     Blue Storm
     Nippon Blade
     Mountain Breaker
     Thunderous Fire
     Falchion
     Sword of Dawn
     Midas Blade
     Phantom

   3.02 Rock
     Battle Ax
     Stone Club
     Crescent Ax
     War Hammer
     Twin Ax
     Cross Ax
     Double Tomahawk
     Great Ax

   3.03 Taki
     Rekkimaru
     Iron Fan
     Mekkimaru
     Jutte
     Gaea Sword
     Kunai
     Tanto
     Spirit Blade

   3.04 Sophitia
     Omega Sword
     Gaea Sword
     Sword Breaker
     Fire Blade
     Blue Crystal Rod
     Rapier
     Apollo Sword
     Valkyrie

   3.05 Mitsurugi
     Korefuji
     Onimaru
     Iron Slasher
     Kojiro's Sword
     Water Moon
     Two Handed Sword
     Falx
     Murasame

   3.06 Siegfried
     Faust
     Grimblade
     Atlas Sword
     Flamberge
     7 Branch Blade
     Hard Steel Blade
     Claymore
     SoulEdge

   3.07 Seung Mina
     Zanbatoh
     Tiger Fang
     Long Handled Sword
     Nagamaki
     Halbard
     Morning Star
     Sickled Spear
     Spiked Mace

   3.08 Li Long
     Falcon
     Snake Wind
     Titan
     Phoenix
     Steel Dragon
     White Tiger
     Asura
     Twin Thunder

   3.09 Voldo
     Katar
     Full Moon
     Iron Claw
     Guillotine
     Poison Arrow
     Buffalo Horn
     Pata
     SoulEdge

   3.10 Cervantes
     SoulEdge
     Main Gauche
     Defender
     Jirotoh
     Katana
     3 Bladed Edge
     Heavy Lance
     Serpent's Tongue

4. Soul Calibur History
   4.00 Prologue

   4.01 Chapter I: Kilik - Awaken Destiny
        Epilogue

   4.02 Chapter II: Xianghua - Itenerant Flower of the Breeze
        Epilogue

   4.03 Chapter III: Maxi - Dandy from the South Sea
        Epilogue

   4.04 Chapter IV: Mitsurugi - Mercenary in a Warlike Age
        Epilogue

   4.05 Chapter V: Taki - Dream Shadow of Demon Sealer
        Epilogue

   4.06 Chapter VI: Voldo - Hell Guardian
        Epilogue

   4.07 Chapter VII: Sophitia - Second Advent of the Vow
        Epilogue

   4.08 Chapter VIII: Astaroth - A Soldier of the Heretic
        Epilogue
        Notes:
          Beliefs
          Doctrine
          Organization
          Language

   4.09 Chapter IX: Nightmare - Azure Nightmare
        Epilogue

   4.10 Chapter X: Ivy - Wreathing Blade of Isolation
        Revelations
        Epilogue

   4.11 Chapter XI: Hwang - Patriot's Burning Soul
        Epilogue

   4.12 Chapter XII: Yoshimitsu - The First Mechanized Ninja
        Epilogue

   4.13 Chapter XIII: Lizardman/Plumeria - Jasper Scales of Shudder
        Epilogue

   4.14 Chapter XIV: Siegfried - A Soul in Purgatory
        Epilogue

   4.15 Chapter XV: Rock - The Trembling Earth
        Epilogue

   4.16 Chapter XVI: Seung Mina - Heart and Soul Girl
        Epilogue

   4.17 Chapter XVII: Edge Master - The Master of Blades
        Epilogue

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1. Legal stuff

This faq can't be claimed as the work of another except as the authors, you may
not sell this or use it in any way to gain profit. The characters and game are
the property of NAMCO. If you want to host this faq on your site contact me
first.

2. Edgemaster Books

2.1 Hwang

------------------------------
Name:
Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Dec. 14

Height: 171 cm (5'7")
Weight: 60 kg (132 lb)
Blood Type: AB
Family: Parents (deceased).
Seung Han Myong (master)
Weapon:
Longsword "Blue Storm"
Style: Seung's Long Blade


 Hwang Sung Kyung, was born
in a poor, yet peaceful
family. He grew up strong
and healthy despite
the warlike age.

 His childhood memories of
his parents were of brave
people with a strong sense
of justice. However, their
righteousness was their
downfall.

 His parents' death was
a painful experience to
overcome.

 Now, he is a man.

"I was protected by a lot of
people. Now, it is time for
me to protect others."

 He enrolled himself into a
dojo to learn the long blade.

 He had an innate talent for
it. He practiced as much as
possible. It didn't take him
too long to become the best
student. At last, he could
have a private lesson from the
school's master, Seung Han
Myong.

 Master Seung was happy to
have such a talented young
student.
He had a child who was still
small yet very talented.
However, one thing worried
him about his child. It was
a she, instead of a he.

 Master Seung seemed to be
seriously thinking of adopting
Hwang as his son.

 Master Seung didn't get a
chance to talk with Hwang
about it. The world was
plunged into a dreadful
situation. Among the Asian
countries, Japan first
settled its civil war and
started invading the main
land.

 It is not too late! People
rallied under the Sea Force
admiral Le Shun Jin and
prepared to defend their
mother land against the
coming invasion.

 They started building
fortresses along the coast
lines. A Coast Guard was
formed and Hwang was first
to volunteer.

Those who were eager to
devote their lives to the
savior of their mother land,
were fervently talking about
the Legendary Patriot Sword,
"SoulEdge," that they had
heard of from the West.

 When the rumor spread to
every part of the country,
Hwang was ordered to search
for "SoulEdge."
"It is time for me to save
others."

   The Pirate's Castle

 Noto Castle, belongs to
Noto-Murakami and Setonai
Pirates of the Mori Sea Force.
The island itself is formed
as a pirate castle and port.

 It is said that valuable
weapons are gathered and
are stored in this castle.

 As a member of the Coastal
Defense Force, Hwang was
ordered to investigate the
pirates. He stowed away in a
trading ship an d infiltrated
the castle.

 But, when he was leaving,
he was spotted by a samurai
guard.

"Name yourself"

Yelled the samurai as he
drew his sword.

 Hwang recognized the man
and knew he must fight!

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun. 8
Weapon: Korefuji
Style: Mitsurugi

   The Lone Swordsman

 He is a well-known swordsman.
And quite a challenge!

 Beat him quickly before you
run  out of time! Others are
coming!

 Hwang defeated Mitsurugi
with his quick sword attack
and martial arts. He took
Mitsurugi's "Nippon Blade"
and escaped from the castle
before other pursuers came.

   The Old Temple

 The Chii Mountain is located
on the Southern edge of Korean
Peninsula. At the bottom of
the mountain, there is an
historical temple. The temple
was built in the 4th century,
and the huge stage in front of
it has been used for training
by Seung Dojo students.

 Hwang, ordered to search
for the SoulEdge, stopped by
to visit his master Seung Han
Myong before he left for the
west.

 Han Myong said to Hwang,

"I am going to give you the
final lesson."

 Han Myong and Hwang stood on
the stone stage of the temple,
then calmly forced each other.

Seung Han Myong
Age: 46
Born: Mar. 31
Weapon:
Mountain Breaker
Style:
Seung's long blade

 The Master is the expert
of the long blade technique!

 Survive his attack within
the time limit!

 Hwang skillfully defended
himself against Han Myong's
constant attacks.

 "Well done! I've taught
you all I know. Hwang....
Take my sword and carry on
the long blade technique."

 Hwang was given the Seito
Sword "Mountain Breaker"
from his master. He then
left for the west.
He didn't know that Han
Myong's daughter, Mi Na,
would leave her home to
follow him a few days
later.

   The Gorge

 San Kyo is the deep gulch
located in the middle reaches
of the great Chinese river,
Yangtze.

 Hwang, on his trip in China,
reached the great river.

 Hwang was drifting down the
river when an arrow skimmed
his cheek!

"Ow! What the!?"

Hwang looked behind and found
a man standing on the edge of
his raft.

"That was just to weaken you.
Now I'm going to finish you
off!"

 Hwang's body numbed the
arrow's poison. The man drew
his weapon and attacked.

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct. 23
Weapon:
Snake Wind
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 He was an assassin sent by
the Ming Dynasty. To find
the killer of his lover Chie,
he returned to China and
is attacking every single
swordsman who passes through
the gulch.

 Before the poison spreads,
use your throwing techniques
to defeat him!

 After a heavy battle, Hwang
defeated Li and took his Curved
Sword "Thunderous Fire"
which was made in the Toh
period!
Fortunately, the poison soon
wore off.

   The Desert

 The desert area spreads
throughout the middle of Asia.
It is the most dangerous place
for travellers who choose to
travel across the continent.

 You may notice the remains of
an ancient Chinese fortresses.
It is truly a deadly road.

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Dec. 3
Weapon: Halbard
Style:
Seung's long blade

   "Heart & Soul" Girl

 As the only daughter of
Seung Han Myong, she was
eager to find the Legendary
Sword. She didn't listen to
her father who tried to
stop her and left to find
SoulEdge. After months of
following Hwang's trail,
she finally caught up with
him.

 Even though it has been a
long time since they saw
each other, Hwang didn't
look happy to see her.

"Listen to me! Go back to
your father."

"Never! I'll never go back
without the Patriot Sword!"

"Well, if you defeat me,
you can go on!" Hwang said.

"Prepare yourself!" She cried.

 Knock away your enemy's
weapon!

 It was a rigorous battle of
wills, but Hwang's technique
overwhelmed Mi Na.

 The young girl reluctantly
gave up on her dangerous
journey and returned home.

   The Colosseum

 The secret arena has
been rumored to have fighters
gather from all over the
world. It is said that the
winner gets a valuable weapon.

 Hwang went to the Colosseum.

 In front of the Colosseum,
there was a sign that said:

-----------------------------
       TODAY'S BATTLES
       SURVIVAL BATTLE
DEFEAT FOUR FIGHTERS IN A ROW
         WINNER GETS
     AN EXPENSIVE WEAPON
-----------------------------

 Defeat four fighters in a
row!

1st Match
    vs. Heishiro Mitsurugi
2nd Match
    vs. Taki
3rd Match
    vs. Li Long
4th Match
    vs. Rock

 The battles lasted for a
long time but Hawng won all
of the matches.

 Hwang was rewarded with
the weapon "Falchion."

   Eurydice Shrine

 The Shrins is said to be
build by the God Hephaestus.
He was a blacksmith who forged
weapons and armor, among many
things

 Rumor says that a girl
received an oracle and was
given the sacred armor in this
place.

 In the Shrins, Hwang heard
a voice coming from the sky.

"You, the warrior searching
for the evil sword SoulEdge.
Survive my test and prove
your worth."

 A female fighter appeared
in a flash of holy light.

"She is the rumored one!"
Hwang whispered.

Sophitia Alezandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar. 12
Weapon: Gaea Sword
Style: Athena

   Emotional Godess

 The girl who receiver an
oracle from Hephaestus. She
prevents disasters caused by
those who are misled by the
evil sword, and travels the
world with the sword and
shield forged by the God
himself.

 Defeat all enemies with
crushing mid-air combos!

 Hwang, defeated both
Sophitia and his own illusion.
He was given the sword "Sword
Of Dawn" by the God.

 When Hwang held the sword
in his hand, he felt a warm
pulse and the will of
Hephaestus urging him to
"Destroy the evil Soul Edge."

   The Secret Treasury

 The secret treasury is
on an unknown island. The
millionaire Vercci hid his
treasure here. There are 50
meter deep pits, water traps,
and more to guard against
theft. It is the perfect
impregnable treasure island.

 Tales tell that there is a
tremendous amount of treasure
on this remote islan....

 Hwang heard the stories and
travelled to the island. He
was tormented by traps, but
finally reached the bottom of
the lair.

 There was a guardian in
strange armor blocking the
brightly sparkling treasure.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Iron Claw
Style: Own Style

   Hell Guardian

 His only task is guarding the
treasure.

 From living in the dark for
a long time, his eye sight and
sanity have weakened, but he
has killed all who have entered
into the pit with his cruel
assassination techniques.

 Defeat the enemy!

 After a deadly battle, Hwang
defeated the Hell Guardian,
Voldo

 Although "SoulEdge" was not
among the treasure, he found a
solid gold sword, known as the
"Midas Blade" and an important
clue to the whereabouts of
"SoulEdge."

   The Final Battle

 At last Hwang arrived at the
place he believed "Souledge"
was located.
A port harbor in Spain where
the great pirate Cervantes de
Leon was once based. The
pirate ship Adrian lay anchored
in the dock.

"There's evil all around...
I must be close!"

 Hwang prepared himself, then
stepped on the ship.

 On the deck, he found a man
who held ominously shining
swords in his hands.

"Ha Ha Ha! I've been waiting
for you. Your burning soul
will soon belong to my holy
blades!"

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(Immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 The great pirate was feared
by all who sailed the Atlantic
Ocean. Decades ago, he left
on a trip tp find SoulEdge for
the merchant Vercci, but
disappeared, never to be seen
again.

 Defeat the enemy!

 Hwang defeated the ghost and
found "SoulEdge."

 However, in his eyes, the
legendary sword did not look
"patriotic."
"Evil" was perhaps a better
word.

 "How painful to discover the
Patriot Sword I was searching
is actually one of destruction."

 He raised the sword and
threw it away, never to been
seen again.

 However, his brave travels
in search of the Patriot
Sword were still the talk
of Korea.

 Even though he returned
empty handed, he recieved
a warm welcome, What he
had lost in hope he had
gained in strength and
wisdom.

 It was not long before
the war against Japan
finally began. He entered
battle to protect his
mother land displaying
great bravery, justice
and love.
------------------------------

2.02 Rock

------------------------------
Name: Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14

Height: 175 cm (5'8")
Weight: 81 kg (178 lb)
Blood type: unknown
Family: Parents: Whereabouts
unknown.
Bangoo: His orphaned ward.
Weapon: Battle Ax
Style: Own Style

 He it a giant living on the
Savannah of the New World.

 He was born "Nathaniel
William Adams" in England.
He was nicknamed "Rock"
because of his strength. His
father ran a curio store
specializing in rare weapons
and was always taken with
strange antiquities. He had a
loving mother and with it, an
idyllic childhood; until that
fateful day...

"Rock, look at the "SoulEdge."
Isn't it a beauty?"

 His father's wish had finally
been fulfilled. He showed his
son the sword in the ship's
cabin. "At last, "SoulEdge,"
the hero's sword..."

 The storm that buffeted the
ship scared young Rock to the
point of tears. His Father was
too excited to even notice.
His mother, frustrated, led
Rock to the hammock. Just then...

 Cannon fire sounded and the
ship rocked from a direct hit!
Rock screamed in terror. His
Father and Mother held him
tight as the cries of the crew
echoed: "Pirates!"

 The Spanish pirate Cervantes,
confederate of Vercci, the
Italian "Merchant of Death,"
had started his attack. His
goal was none other than
"SoulEdge."

 Father ran to the ship's
storeroom to hide the"Soul
Edge," After another explosion,
Rock's Mother ran after to
stop him.

"Rock, stay here until we
return!"

 His parents never did.
Before they could, the ship
sank.

 Rock awoke on an unfamiliar
shoreline, alone

 At first, Rock cried out,
looking for his parents.
Eventually he learned to live
off the land to survive;
discarding former habits and
language.

It was at this point that he
first came upon other living
people, a tribe native to the
area. Afraid of the "white
giant," they would not approach
him. The child Bangoo, an
orphan of tribl warfare, was
the sole consolation for Rock,
who was now an adult.

 From the natives, Rock
re-learnt about the "people
across the ocean." Faded
memoires of his parents and
even "SoulEdge" returned.

 He remembered having heard
the words "SoulEdge." It was a
word he had heard often as a
child. At bedtime, mealtime,
while being held in someone's
arms ... a hazy image formed
in his mind. If he could find
the "SoulEdge," perhaps he
could recover his own past.
He might even find his
parents!

 With his giant ax in hand,
Rock set out for the land
across the sea.

   The Journey

 Savannah, the New Worl. A
mysterious forest of megaliths
stands in the center of a wide
crater.

 After taking leave of Bangoo,
he set out on his quest to find
"SoulEdge," the key to his
memories. Rockeventualyy came
across something strange.

"What's that?"

 In this sacred site, Rock
caught sight of an inhuman
shadow.

 Suspicious, he climbed to
the top of one of the
monoliths, where he spied a
man holding a strange weapon.

 The man whirled as Rock
approached and assuming a
strange position, suddenly
attacked!

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Katar
Style: Own Style

   Hell Guardian

 Carrying out the will of his
dead master, Vercci, Voldo set
out to find the "SoulEdge."
While his sight and mind have
decayed with long years of
lowless living, he still wields
a quick sword!

 Defeat the enemy!

Rock pushed Voldo from the
edge of the monolith. The
strange man dropped a parchement
as he plunged to his fate.
Rock picked up the piece of
paper.

 At first, the letters
appeared to be meaningless
squiggles...
Finally, he realized that
the letters were a language.

 "S-O-U-L Edge!"

He realized that this note
was an important clue in his
search for the SoulEdge.

 Carrying a "Stone Club,"
chiseled from one of the
monoliths, he immediately
set out in the direction
of the setting sun.

The Shrine of Confined Demons

 A haunted shrine stood in a
bamboo grove. It had been
built by Taki to imprison evil
spirits. A small shrine holds
the ghost's haunted weapon.

 Rock entered the shrine and
found the weapon at the altar,
as he grabbed it, he passed out.

 When he came to, many people
wielding swords stooed before
him.

"Kill them, cut them down!"

A voice echoed in his head.
Rock had become a homicidal
demon.

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon Korefuji
Style: Mitsurugi

 A young warrior who won
fame during the war. He
quells demons.

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:B
Dream-slashed sword

 The female ninja who sealed
the shrine.

 Defeat all who appear!

"What has ... happened to me?"

 After defeating Mitsurugi
and Taki, Rock momentarily
recovered himself. Another
Rock appeared before his eyes.

"Let me become one with myself
again!"

 At the end of the fierce
fighting, Rock was released
from the ghost's spell. He
picked up the "Crescent Ax"
from the shrine's altar.

   The Desert

 A desert region in Central
Asia. For the traveller who
had avoided the perils of the
ocean journey to cross the
continent by land, this was
the most difficult passage.

 The ruins of an ancient
Chinese citadel lay behind,
but nothing else was to be
seen on this desolate road.

 Rock searched for the
legendary weapon in the ruins
of the citadel. However, the
weapon had already been
unearthed by someone else.

 Footprints led from the
excavation site. In the
distance he spied the images
of a man and woman.

Rock yelled.

"I need that weapon!"

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8
Weapon: Blue Storm
Style: Seung's long blade

 Searching for the "Patriot
Sword" to save his homeland.

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3
Weapon: Zanbatoh
Style:
Seung's long blade

 Daughter of a warrior
family, she left home to
follow Hwang.

 Use the throw technique
to defeat them!

 Rock defeated Mi Na and
Hwang, taking the weapon
"War Hammer" which they had
unearthed. But it was not
SoulEdge. Rock travelled on.

   The Arena

 Veteran fighters from all
over the world gather here.
It is said that victors are
awarded with a priceless
weapon. Rock found his way
to the arena and took place
in the contest, hoping
win SoulEdge.

 Defeat all three oponnents!

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon: Steel Dragon
Style:
Matchless Dragon

Sophitia Alexandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon:
Sword Breaker
Style: Athena

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Korefuji
Style: Mitsurugi

 After a fierce fight, Rock
was able to triumph over three
opponents. Li Long who used a
nunchaku; the swordswoman
Sophitia, who mounted a stout
defense with her sacred sword
and shield; and Heishiro
Mitsurugi, with whom he had
crossed swords as a demon at
the Shrine.

 The victorious Rock was
awarded the "Twin Ax" as a
prize.

   Ostrhinesburg Castle

 Castle of the knight Stefan,
at war with Marquis Andre. It
is now the height of battle
and the castle is about to
fall. Apparently, weapons
from around the world are
kept in the castle.

 As a mercenerary of Marquis
Andre. Rock participates in
the siege of Ostrhinesburg
Castle, defended by Sir
Stefan.

 Rock, whose goal is the
weapons stored there, breaks
into the huge castle. Mounting
a furious charge against the
enemy, he heads for the main
tower where the weapons are
stored.
"Barbarian! So the invasion
has come this far!"
Suddenly, a young soldier in
armor blocked Rock's way.

Siegfried
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
Weapon:
Hard Steel Blade
Style: Own Style

 A young mercenary searching
for the "SoulEdge," with which
to defeat his father's enemies.

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon: Snake Wind
Style:
Matchless Dragon

 An assassin searching for
the "SoulEdge" with which to
hunt swordsmen.

 Take down the two foes
within the alloted time!

 Upon defeating the mercenary
castle defender Siegfried
and the assassin Li Long
from the East, who sought
the weapons in the castle;
Rock obtained the weapon
"Cross Ax," just as the castle
fell.

   The Secret Treasury

 A secret storehouse hiding the
treasure of the millionaire
Vercci is located on a nameless,
solitary isle. Booby-traps such
as 50 m deep pits and water
traps are set everywhere to
repel invaders. It is an
impregnable Treasure Island.

 Rock proceeded to the island
to find Vercci who wrote Voldo's
note.

 Following the instructions
in the note, he avoided the
booby-traps, at last arriving
in the Secret Treasury at the
bottom of a pit. In addition
to glittering treasure was a
mountain of rare weapons.

 A sharp pain shot through
him as a woman's voice came
from behind.

"If you leave quietly, I'll
spare your life."

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapn: Kunai
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

   The Underground Hunter

 She, who fought Rock at the
shrine in Japan, had been
secretly tailing him.

 Although wounded, you must
defeat the enemy.

 Rock defeated Taki despite
his wounds. He took up the
"Double Tomahawk" from the
weapons storehouse.

 Rock discovered a journal
kept in the storehouse.

 The journal contained a list
of the people commissioned by
Vercci, the owner of the
storehouse, with the search
for the "SoulEdge."

 The lsit contained the name
of the msot feared pirate in
history, Cervantes.

"Pirates ... "

 He recalled "that night," a
faint memory of which had
remained in the back of his mind.

 A sudden explosion, the jet
black sea, the skull and
crossbones flag approaching
the sinking ship ... "Could
it be the same pirate?"

 He decided to track down
Cervantes.

   The Final Battle

 Cervantes... the pirate who
had terrorized the Atlantic.
While gathering scraps of
information, Rock visited the
Spanish port that had been
the pirate's base in search
of more reliable leads

 The area was quiet, with
no sign of people.

 As he walked around the
port, Rock was overcome by a
strange sensation he had not
experienced before, His mind
became hazy and his body
naturally led him towards a
certain ship ....

 When he camee to his senses,
several ships rocked before
him. Upon seeing a flag on
one ship, Rock's eyes opened
wide.

"Could it be ... THAT flag?"

Rock recalled that nightmare
night he could never forget.

"Could it be, this very ship
... me, my parents ...?"

 Rock climbed onto the deck.
Suddenly, a voice boomed from
behind, seeming to shake the
ground.

"I've been waiting for you.
I'll sacrifice your innocent
soul to my sacred swords!"

 A man grasping a strange
sword in both hands stood
there. In contrast to his
glittereing eyes and sword,
his pallid face showed no
sign of life.

"Pirates ... Cervantes ...
SoulEdge!"

 Rock, with a war-cry,
sprung upon the man!

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 This great pirate was feared
by all who sailed the Atlantic.
Several years ago, after
stealing SoulEdge for Vercci,
the Italian arms dealer, he
disappeared.

 Defeat the enmey!

 The pirate lay dead. His
parents were avenged. As his
large hands grasped SoulEdge,
the memory of a child terrified
by the storm came vividly
back.

 His mother's smiling face,
his father's strong arms.
Warm food and a soft bed.
Memories of his parents'
love.

 His memories melded with
those of the orphan Bangoo.

 Rock remembered the small
hands grasping his fur
sleeves, alleviating his own
sadness. Through the small
child, he had forgotten his
own pain.

 Perhaps his own parents
were still alive somewhere.
But Bangoo's father and
mother were not.

"Bangoo!!"

 Rock chose future happiness
over past memories.

"I must look after him. I must
return to Bangoo!"

 Thinking of his "family,"
Rock started his long journey
back to the New World.
------------------------------

2.03 Taki

------------------------------
Name: Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?

Height 170 cm (5'6")
Weight: 55 kg (121 lb)
Blood Type: A
Family Structure:
Parents & Siblings (deceased)
Teacher: Taki
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

 Taki is a highly skilled
ninja working as a demon
hunter. As an orphan, she was
brought up by a ninja master
named Taki.
She is an expert spy and a
great schemer in this age of
the Civil War. Many military
commanders employed ninjas,
but Taki works for herself.

 Taki does not have a base of
operations for she is one of a
ninja clan now living in
seclusion.

 Among this ninja clan, many
have extraordinary abilities
that have been lost or
forgotten by the general
population.

 Having been blessed with
supernatural powers, Taki
chose to travel throughout
Japan to conquer the evil and
vindictive demons who threaten
ordinary people.

 Taki forged her own weapons
which she did with great love
and care.

 Among all her custom weapons,
her favorite was "Rekkimaru"
which held supernatural powers
within.

 However, "Rekkimaru's" power
had began to weaken and about
this time, rumors concerning an
"Evil Sword" began spreading
from southern countries.

The seal at the shrine which
confined the ancient Fury
demons was weakening. Taki
was called to solve this
problem.

 The shrine was full of evil
spirits, demons, and ghosts.
"Look at them all! Nothing
like a good challenge."

 She drew her faithful
"Rekkimaru" and sliced at
the demon leader.

"What's happened here?"

 The demon still stood before
her. After several attacks,
the spirit vanished. She was
extremely surprised.

"This can't be possible. I usually
kill these things in one
stroke!"

 Her sword "Rekkimaru" was
displaying an unusual loss
of power.

 After sealing the shrine,
Taki began to think about what
was happening. Something was
affecting her beloved sword,
but what could it be?

 She knew there was no such
thing in Japan.

"What of that rumor of the
evil sword, 'SoulEdge'?"

 "The sword must be close.
There's no other explanation
for this strange phenomenon."

 Taki decided to investigate
this evil sword.

 "If there's even the
slightest chance of saving
my favorite sword "Rekkimaru",
I would travel the world for
it."

The Shrine of Confined Demons

 The Shrine of Confined
Demons is surrounded by
bamboo. It now contains
demons nad spirits sealed
in by Taki.

 Taki was told that her
seal had broken.

"So soon?"

"It is unusual for the seal
to be broken so quickly."

 When she returned, Taki saw
a demon different to the ones
she had previously sealed away.

" ... destroy Ninja .... "

 Taki realized that this was
a man manipulated by the evil
spirit which filled the shrine.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Katar
Style: Own Style

   Hell Guardian

 Carrying out the will of
his deceased master, Vercci,
he left on a journey to find
"SoulEdge."

 Upon reaching the shrine,
Voldo was possessed by the
evil spirit, his evilness
being magnified by the
Fury-Demons.

 There is no way of defeating
him inside this shrine. Knock
him out of the Ring!

 After defeating the demon
Voldo, Taki sealed his spirit
inside her "Iron Fan."

 "What the...no wonder!" Taki
noticed that the "Spiritual
Sword" used to seal the
shrine, was missing.

"Without it, those demons
will be released again. I
must recover that sword."

   The Pirate's Castle

 The headquarters, Noto castle,
belongs to Noto-Murakami and
the Setonai pirates (Mouri
sea force).

It is a pirate fortress that
occupies the entire island.
It has naval ports and serves
as a sea barrier.

 Taki heard of a Demon-Slaying
samurai, Mitsurugi. She went
after him, hoping to recover
the "Spiritual Sword."
She arrived at the castle.

"He must be the one!"

The samurai guarding the
castle had Taki's sword at
his belt.

"Who's there? Come out!" he
said.

"You! Heishiro Mitsurugi!

Give me back the sword from
the shrine"

 Taki leapt to the attack.

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Korefuji
Style: Mitsurugi

   The Lone Swordsman

 He is a great samurai with a
taste for collecting swords.
While planning a worldwide
search for "SoulEdge,"
Mitsurugi was hired to guard
the castle in exchange for
using Noto's ship.

 Defeat the enemy within the
time allowed.

 Taki defeated Mitsurugi and
repossessed her sword. The
other guards chased her but
she eluded them and returned
to the empty castle where she
took "Mekkimaru," the treasure
sword with power to break
evil spirits.

 She returned to the shrine
and re-sealed it, then headed
off to find information on the
evil sword.

   The Narrow Gorge

 The deep and narrow gorge
called "San Kyo" is located
in the middle reaches of
Yangtze River, one of the
great rivers of China.

 Arriving on the continent,
Taki heard further rumors of
"SoulEdge."

 Traveling down the river on
a raft, surrounded by sheer
cliffs, she heard a man's
voice echoing in the deep fog.

"You! I heard you're looking
for 'SoulEdge.'"

 The next opponent, a man with
a fearsome smile and strange
looking weapon jumped on the
raft.

"Sorry, but I must find that
sword first!"

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon:
Snake Wind
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 He is a royal assassin who
was sent to Japan.
He returned only to find his
lover, Chie, murdered.
He searches for "SoulEdge"
hoping it will lead him to
her killer.

 Defeat the enemy using the
Throw technique.

 Taki defeated the skillful
Li Long in battle.

"Chie---Chie---."

 Li Long uttered as he threw
himself into the river and
disappeared. "A very skilled
opponent. I guess he was more
than just a thief."

 Taki continued her journey
to find evil sword.

   The Fighting Arena

 This is a secret fighting
arena attracting strong men
from all over the world.

 Taki arrived here during
her journey and entered the
contest.

 Gain victory over every
opponent!

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Iron Slasher
Style: Mitsurugi

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3
Weapon Zanbatoh
Style:
Seung's long blade

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8
Weapon:
Mountain Breaker
Style:
Seung's long blade

More opponents to be announced.

 First match :
    Heishiro Mitsurugi

 Second match :
    Seung Mi Na

 Third match :
    Hwang Sung Kyung

 Forth match :
    Voldo

 Despite the odds, Taki
defeated all the swordsmen
and won the weapon "Jutte."

   Eurydice Shrine

 It is siad that this temple
was built by the God of Forge,
Hephaestus himself.

 There is a rumor that a girl
who received a revelation at a
forest lake was given a "Divine
Weapon" in this temple.

 The temple was tranquil
inside. In the center of
the stage, there was a girl
praying to the heavens.
Taki tried to sneak up on
her without being noticed,
butthe girl caught her.

"You too are searching for
"SoulEdge," aren't you?"

"What if I am?" Taki replied.

"If you want it, you must
challenge me first."

 The girl turned around
and her sword radiated
with powerful rays of light.

Sophitia Alexandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon: Gaea Sword
Style: Athena

   Emotional Goddess

 Sophitia is the girl who
received the divine revelation
from the God of Forge. She
prevents misfortune caused by
the evil sword, and has
received her own sword and
shield tempered by the god
himself for the very
destruction of this evil
thing.

 Defeat the enemy using
the CriticalEdge technique!

 Taki defeated both Sophitia
and her double.

 As taki picked up Sophitia's
"Gaea Sword", she felt the will
of the God of Forge.

"Destroy 'SoulEdge!'"
A voice said.

        Attack on
   Ostrhinesburg Castle

 This is the castle where the
knight Stefan, who has been at
war against Marquis Andre
resides. He had bragged of
his invincibility but is now
suffereing defeat from the
enemy's cannon attack.

 It is siad that he has
collected weaponry from all
over the world.

 As the cannons continued
their bombardment, Taki
snuck into the enormous
Ostrhinesburg castle.

 But, a young swordsman
holding a huge sword blocked
her way from the main tower.

"No one is allowed past this
point!" the knight said.

"I have no time to play with
a kid like you." Taki
remarked.

"Why you impetuous female...!"

Siegfried
   Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
Weapon: Flamberge
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 He is a young mercenary who
participates in one war after
another. He too seeks
"SoulEdge" hoping to avenging
his father's death. He is
currently the mercenary captain
guarding the castle.

 The castle will fall tonight.
Defeat the enemy before sunset.

 After defeating the young
Siegfried, Taki discovered a
weapon traditionally used by
the ninja called "Kunai."

   The Money Pit

 In an isolated island, there
is a secret storage place
where the millionaire Vercci
keeps his fortune. It has a
50 meter deep pit and some
under water traps for
preventing invasions. This is
indeed an impregnable treasure
island.

 Knowing of the island from
Voldo, Taki landed on shore
and penetrated the secret
storage place.

 She was attacked from the
behind and injured. Gradually
she felt her body grow numb.

"What's happening to me?" she
cried.

"Time for you to take a nap."

 There, stood a familiar man.

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon:
Snake Wind
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 After his humiliating defeat
by Taki on the Yangtze
river, Li Long has thought of
nothing but revenge, trailing
her here even past all of the
perilous traps!

 Defeat the enemy before the
poison takes full effect!

 Li Long's attack was more
furious ever. Though poisoned,
Taki still won with her awesome
skills.

 Taki found and took the
antidote. She searched for
"SoulEdge," but found the
weaon "Tanto" instead.
The, she left the accursed
island.

   The New continent

 In a savanna in North
America, there is a huge
crater with a forest of giant
stones in the center. The
natives called it "sacred,"
but were afraid to visit
the place.

 Taki had heard of the story of
the pirate who some thirty
years ago found "SoulEdge"
off the coast of the New World.

 To find out the truth, she
sailed across the Atlantic and
arrived on the continent.

 After wandering about, Taki
encountered a man. He reacted
violently when she uttered the
word, "SoulEdge?"

"--SoulEdge!!"

The man suddenly attacked Taki!

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon: Stone Club
Style: Own Style

   The Reckless Commando

 An orphan, wandering around
the new continent, Rock
learned skills for survival
in the wild. Rock is looking
for "SoulEdge," the key
to regaining his lost memory.

 The enemy's strength is
miraculous. Knock him out
of the ring to win

 Taki used her ninja skills to
knock the giant Rock off the
cliff.

 After talking with the
locals, Taki found that the
pirate had not been seen on
land. She started back for
Europe.

   The Final Battle

 Not finding him in the
New World, Taki decide to
investigate Cervantes' Spanish
port base.

 Taki had never seen
"Rekkimaru" had been growing
more and more fragile.

"This time I must be close!"

 After searching the port,
Taki saw a man holding two
swords on the deck of an
anchored ship.

"You've finally found me!
I'll take your sword's power
and your soul!"

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 He was the pirate once
feared by all shipping on the
entire Atlantic Ocean. He has
not been seen since he uner
took a mission to find
"SoulEdge" on the order of
Vercci, the Italian weapons
merchant.

 This was the cause of the
disturbance. "This man,
Cervantes, doesn;t look alive.
 What an awful smell! If he
is not a mortal man, the what
is he?"

 Defeat the enemy!

 Her sword, "Rekkimaru",
which she created and
dedicated her life to,
shattered into pieces!
Not even a powerful
enemy like a Fury-Demon was
that strong.

 The demons rejoiced
at the destruction of
Taki's sword and swarmed
after her to avenge
their humiliation at
her hands. Taki grabbed
"SoulEdge" and with a
simple wave, the demons
quickly disappeared.

"Now this could be useful!"

 Taki realized that she held
a powerful weapon. But to
wield great power requires
control, lest she become like
Cervantes. Within a half year,
she was able to forge the
weapon into an obedient
servant, melding it with her
beloved "Rekkimaru".

 Not long after, the ultimate
challenge arose as the
Fury-Demons once again tried
to come forth into the mortal's
world.

 Taki, with new weapon in
hand, met them in combat and
destroyed the demons once and
for all!
------------------------------

2.04 Sophitia

------------------------------
Name:
Sophitia Alexandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12

Height: 168 cm (5'5")
Weight: She would not tell us.
Blood Type: B
Family Background:
Father Ataros, Mother Niek,
Sister Kathandra, Brother
Ruches
Weapon: Omega Sword
Style: Athena

 Greece, the birthplace of
Cretaceous culture. The
people's beliefs are starting
to change to the new ways, but
the ancient Gods live on in
their arts and mythologies.

 Sophitia is a tidy girl who
works in a small bakery in
Athens. She cherishes the
mythical world of her
ancestors.

 She often prayed to the
goddess Pallas Athena,
guardian of her town and
embodiment of wisdom and
prudent warfare. Her prayer
have not been ignored.

 One morning, as she bathed
in a forest spring, a dazzling
light shined in front of her.
The light formed the shape of
a man.

 As she stood amazed by the
sight, the man told her that
he was Hephaestus, the god of
Forge. One of the twelve
Olympian Gods.

" I'm only a mere mortal.
What can I do for you? "

" Do not fear. I only want
you to receive my oracle."

 "Among all the weapons that
mankind has created, one sword
has grabbed the attention of
the gods. The sword is true
evil. It was forged blindly
and now sucks up the hatred
and pain of its victims. Many
'deceived' seek this wicked
weapon."

 "If any of them find it,
disaster will surely follow. I
will not let a creation of the
forge such as this ruin my
reputation. I want you to find
that wicked sword before
anybody else and destroy it."

 The importance of this task
was clear and she desired to
undertake it, but still she
was filled with self-doubt.

 "But I'm just a mere mortal.
Can I fulfill such a big task?"

"You are not as weak as you
think. Obtain a mighty weapon
and you can save your kind. I
have heard of you from Pallas
Athena. She says you still
believe in the Olympians.
That's why I chose you. No
other except you can hear our
oracles anymore."

" Do not worry. Come to my
temple. I will grant you the
best arms and Athena will
always be with you."

 Hephaestus then left. Silence
returned to the spring.

 Sophitia went home and
equipped herself for the
journey. She left home before
the rosy-fingereddawn arose.
May she have the protection of
the Goddes of Victory, Nike.

   Eurydice Shrine

 This temple was designed and
constructed by the god of
Forge, Hephaestus, one of
twelve Olympian Gods. It
recently lay in ruin, but due
to the power of Sophitia's
faith it has been restored to
its former glory.

 Sophitia arrived at the temple
and received the blessed sword
and shield from the god of
metalworking.

"Survive your first trial!"

The voice echoed in the temple.
Lightning flashed and another
Sophitia appeared before her!

Simulacrum Sophitia
Weapn: Omega Sword
Style: Athena

 She is a duplicate of Sophitia
created by the god of Forge,
Hephaestus to test her.

 She looks just like Sophitia
down to the armor she wears,
but Hephaestus controls her.

 Defeat her!

 Sophitia overcame the god's
trial.

"Well done, Sophitia."

"You eill travel the world
and waken the deceived with
your sword. Good luck..."

 She realized she had been
transported to a new and
strange land...

   Unknown Land

 A svanna in North America.
In the middle of a gigantic
crater, a mysterious group of
megaliths lie.

 The natives fear the area,
so nobody comes here. Is it a
site of power?

 In this strange place Sophitia
met a man. He gazed at her sword
and shield and then raised his
large ax.

"Put down your weapons!"

At the that momen, she heard
Hephaestus' voice. "Beat him!"

"Yes, Hephaestus..."

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon: Battle Ax
Style: Own Style

   A Reckless Commando

 He was orphaned while a
child. He wandered about the
New World and acquired the
skills to survive in the
wild. He met a foreign female
swordsman and challenged her
to a fight for her beautiful
weapons.

 He has amazing stamina.
Knock him out of the ring!

 Sophitia knocked Rock off
the megalith. The big man
fainted away.
The God spoke again.
"Sophitia, you are getting
better. I shall give you
this..."

 He gave her the "Gaea Sword"
which provides protection
from the goddess of the
earth. She headed West...

The Shrine of Confined Demons

 This shrine is surrounded by
bamboo. It used to hold in
"Fury-Demons." There was once
a ring of protection around
this place but it has since
been broken. These Demons now
prey on passing travellers.

 Sophitia came to this shrine
on Omi Isle to suppress the
evil that lives here.

 As she approached the shrine,
a foul creature materialized
before her. It breathed heavily
and reeked of evil.

"Gods, please protect me."

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Full Moon
Style: Own Style

   Hell Guardian

 To fulfill his dead master
Vercci's will, he searched for
"SoulEdge. As he approached
the shrins, he was possessed
by a Fury-Demon and has now
become one.

 He has incredible recovery
power. Beat him with constant
attacks.

 As Sophitia beat Voldo, he
was freed from the spell. She
gave Voldo's evil weapon to
Hephaestus. As a reward, he
gave her the "Sword Breaker."

   Ancient Temple

 Mount Chii towers over the
southern edge of the Korean
Peninsula. There is a historic
temple at the foot of the
mountain.

 It is said that the temple
was build in the fourth
century. The stage in front
of this temple is used for
training by the students at
Seung's school.

 A girl called out to Sophitia.

"You're not from these parts,
are you? I see you also carry
a sword. Can you use it?"

 The girl challenged her to a
fight with a long sword.

"Is this a trial?"

But the Gods did not answer her.

"I don't wish to fight without
a reason."

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3
Weapon: Tiger Fang
Style:
Seung's long blade

   "Heart & Soul" girl

 She is the only daughter of
the martial art school teacher
and a master swordsman. She
has been in a foul mood since
she was rejected from the
coastal defense force and will
challenge anyone in a fight.

 Survive her attack within
the time limit.

 Though Sophitia was puzzled
by this sudden challenge, she
engaged Seung Mi Na. Then...

" Mi Na! Stop that!"

"Uh-oh. That's my father. Now
I'm in real trouble!"

 Mi Na turned and ran away
from Sophitia. She shouted
back as she ran.
"I'll let you go this time!"

Surprised, Sophitia watched
her leave.

   The Desert

 There is a desert in the
central Asia. It's the hardest
part for the travellers who are
crossing the continent
overland. Nothing but the
ruins of an ancient Chinese
fortresses lay in the sand.

"Bandits?"

 Sophitia entered the ruins
of the fortress. She felt that
someone was sneaking up to her,
so she looked back. "Who are you?"
"Give me back the shrine's
sword." The stranger said.
"What are you talking about?"

 Sophitia was confused as the
stranger pounced upon her without
mercy. "It seem there's no
way to avoid this fight, is
there?"

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:
Demon-slashed sword

   The Underground Hunter

 She is a ninja who kills demons
for a living. She came to this
land following Sophitia to
retrieve ther weapon taken away
from the shrine. (The sword
she gave to Hephaestus.)

 Due to the hard trek across
the desert. Sophitia is
exhausted. Beat Taki with what
little energy you have.

 Sophitia repulsed Taki. She
took the "Fire Blade" that
the ninja dropped as she ran
away.

   Colosseum

 There is a secret colosseum
where fierce warrios gather
from all over the world.
Sophitia arrived at the
colosseum in time for the
contest. "Prove yourself and
win the prize." The God told
her.

 Defeat all three fighters.

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Water Moon
Style: Mitsurugi

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3
Weapon: Morning Star
Style:
Seung's long blade

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8
Weapon: Falchion
Style:
Seung's long blade

 In mortal combat, Sophitia
defeated the following three
fighters.

First match
  Japanese Samurai,
  Heishiro Mitsurugi

Second match
  Tomboy, Seung Mi Na

Third match
  Hwang Sung Kyung, who's
  trained in the same fighting
  style as Mi Na.

 Sophitia got the "Blue
Crystal Rod" as a prize.

   The Secret Treasury

 The secret treasury that
hids the Italiam Vercci's
treasures. It was built on the
unknown isolated island at the
bottom of a huge pit, 50m deep.
It is truly an impregnable
"Treasure Island."

 Sophitia avoided the pit's
traps and arrived at the secret
treasury. Something poked her
from behind.

"Eeek!"

"Hi, long time no see."

Taki, the Japanese Ninja stood
behind her.

 Sophitia realized she had
been poisoned as the strength
left her body. Taki leapt at
her with an unknown weapon.

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Jutte
Style:
Dream Slashed sword

   The Underground Hunter

 She is looking for the
"evil sword" in order to
strengthen her own beloved
sword. She still believes
Sophitia has the evil sword
from Japan.

 Sophitia is poisoned.
Overcome this condition
and beat her.

 Sophitia defeated Taki once
again. The Ninja fled in shame,
leaving Sophitia alone.

 She took the "Rapier" from
the treasury.

      The Capture of
   Ostrhinesburg Castle

 Sir Stefan is at war with
the Marquis Andre.
His "invulnerable" castle
is suffering heavy damage
under the Marquis' modern
cannonade.

"There is a young man here
who has a deep attachment to
the wicked sword. Save him
from being pulled into the
dark side."

 Sophitia was led to the
castle by the god's voice,
where she found Siegfried,
a young swordsmann...

"Listen to me! You are under
the wicked sword's control.
I can wake you!"

"Maybe I don't want to wake
up!"

Siegfried
  Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
Weapon: Faust
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 He is looking for the
invincible sword "SoulEdge"
in order to avenge his
father's death. Presently he
is the chief mercenary of the castle guards.

 Wake him up with a throw.

"Huh, what? ...Fa..father..."

 Siegfried's addled mind
cleared as Sophitia freed him
from the dark side.

 She received the "Apollo
Sword" that grants protection
from the sun god.

   Decisive Battle

 Sophitia tracked down the
location of the wicked sword
"SoulEdge." This Spanish
port is home to the pirate
Cervantes. Ominous silence
reigned all around. The pirate
ship, Adrian, lies anchored
nearby.

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 Once he was the most feared
pirate on the Atlantic. Several
decades ago, he set off towards
the New World in search of
"SoulEdge" as requested
by Vercci the Italian arms
merchant.

 A fould smell hangs in the
air. A thirst for blood can
be felt here.

"It's here as I thought. I
must be right."

 Sophitia felt an evil
presence emanating from the
Adrian.

 She trusted the gods'
protection and climbed
aboard the ship. A strange
man holding two gleaming
swords waited for her on
deck.

"The 'SoulEdge!'"

"I have been awaiting you.
You are the girl who received
the oracle. I can't wait to
feast on your pure soul!"

 Beat Cervantes and destory
the wicked sword SoulEdge!

"Hephaestus!!!"

 Sophitia yelled and lifted
up her Omega Sword high.

 At that moment, a dazzling
light encircled her and a
thunderbolt shattered the
wicked sword "SoulEdge" into
pieces.

 From the light, she could
hear the voice of Hephaestus.

"Than k you for destroying
the evil swords."

 As the light around her
diminished, her armor, shield
and sword shrank to the size
of her palm.

 Then, to the amazed Sophitia
the twelve Gods appeared before
her and thanked her for her
courage. Hephaestus smiled and
they all vanished.

 How long has passed since
then?
Sophitia now bakes bread with
her sisters. The past seems
like a dream.

 But, she can still feel the
loving eyes of ancient gods
upon her.
------------------------------

2.05 Mitsurugi

------------------------------
Name:
Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8

Height: 168 cm (5'7")
Weight: 59 kg (130 lb)
Blood Type: AB
Family: All deceased.
(Natural causes)
Weapon: Korfuji
Style: Mitsurugi

 This young Samurai known as
"The Guardian in this age of
civil war." He is also called
"The Great Swordsman."
Although he is feared for his
fierce fighting, he was born a
farmer's son in Bizen.

 The strong young boy enjoyed
farming, however after many
years of seeing his beloved
farm ravaged by war, he became
angered and discouraged.
"It's better to raid than to
be raided." He said.

 In the winter of his 14th
year, He threw down the hoe
and took up the sword.
Studying swordsmanship under
a powerful clan-lord, he was
eventually hired as a
"mercenary for the advent
of war." It was then when he
took the name "Mitsurugi."

 His original fighting style
and tremendously powerful
attacks during battle made
him quite feared. "He has
been known to mow through
foes as if they were like
a field of wheat." Some say.

 He has a spectacular battle-
field record with several
commendations to the rank of
officer.

 Having rejected his military
commissions, Mitsurugi's only
desire is that of a worthy
adversary.

 Mitsurugi eventually leaves
the Urakami Clan, much to their
regret, to pursue a career as
a freelance mercenary.
He fights in every war in the
land, thus earning his nickname
"The Guardian in an age of
civil war."

 It is during this time that
he hears of a new weapon
"Tanegashima" - a matchlock
rifle.

 "What is this? A firearm?
It cannot be so powerful.
It looks like a pipe!"
Mitsurugi stared in disbelief.

 However, even the mighty
Takeda cavalry was wiped out
by this weapon.

 For Mitsurugi, who has
fought with a single sword,
this is an urgent matter.
"If this weapon is allowed in
the world, wars will not be
won by the strong and I will
lose my job as a mercenary!"

 "I must find a weapon stronger
than that rifle!"

 A rumor about the legendary
sword "SoulEdge" reaches his
ears.

"That's it. This weapon can
overpower the fire arm."

 Without a second thought,
Mitsurugi starts his search to
find the blade. "Somewhere in
the world, this "SoulEdge"
exists!"

The Shrine of Confined Demons

 In Oni, surrounded by bamboo,
lies a haunted temple, inhabited
by a horrible demon.

"A demon. How interesting..."

 Upon hearing this tale,
Mitsurugi heads for the
shrine...

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon: Crescent Ax
Style: Own Style

   A Reckless Commando

 As an orphan on the new
continent, he learned his
skills for survivial in the
wild.

 He was possessed by an
evil spirit upon entering
the shrine and has now
become a demon himself!

 Fight all who enter the
shrine!

 Mitsurugi defeats the
possessed Rock as well as his
malevolent doppleganger.
"I thought one demon was bad
enough!"

 A fter the battle, Mitsurugi
finds a sword lying on the
stone floor. "Could this be
SoulEdge?"

 Mitsurugi picks up
"Onimaru", the life drinker,
which can absorb the vitality
of its owner and convert it
to attacking power.

   The Pirate Fortress

 Noto castle is the head-
quarters of Noto-Murakami and
the Setonnai pirates. (also
known as the Mouri sea force)
The fortress occupies the
entire island. Naval ports
act as a sea barrier and
provide supplies for their
pirate ships.

  Mitsurugi visits Noto castle.
The chief counselor requests
him to guard the castle in
return for his passage tp
the continent.

 That night, He spots a ninja
creeping into the fortress.
"To defeat that ninja would be
quite an accomplishment!"

 Sword in hand, Mitsurugi
intercepts the ninja's flight
throught the darkness.

 "Woman, give up quietly!
I demand your immediate
surrender!"
The woman smiles unexpectecdly.
"Man, you demand too much..."

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

   The Underground Hunter

 Taki is a ninja whose
specialty is demon hunting.
She trailed Mitsurugi to the
castle to tretrieve "Onimaru"
which he had taken from the
shrine.

 Act quickly, for you only
have a limited time to
defeat your enemy!

 Mitsurugi defeats the ninja,
Taki, The chief counselor
recognizes this great deed and
gives hime the sword "Iron
Slasher" as a reward.

 A few days later, Mitsurugi
took a sea force ship to the
continent.

   The old temple

 At the southern tip of the
Korean Peninsula, a historic
temple rests at the foor of
Mount Chii, It was originally
constructed in the 4th century
but has been rebuil several
times.

 It is here that Mitsurugi
was challenged by a girl with
a large weapon.

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3rd
Weapon: Naganaki
Style:
Seung's long blade

   "Heart nad Soul" Girl

 She is the daughter of a
martial arts master and an
expert swordsman. Ever since
she was refused by the coastal
defense force because of her
gender, she has been wasting
her days in frustration and
has taken to challenging any
swordsman she encounters.

 Use a throw technique to
defeat her!

 "You are a good fighter,
but you waste my time!"

 Using a variety of
techniques, Mitsurugi defeats
MiNA. He quickly leaves
while she is still stunned.

 Along his journy, Mitsurugi
hears an intriguing rumor.
A swordsman named Hwang is
searching for a weapon called
the "Patriot Sword."

"Could this be SoulEdge?"

   The Narrow Gorge

 Along China's Yangtze river
is the San Kyo, a deep gorge.
A canal flows through this
gorge providing a means of
transportation for travellers.

 As he travels down the canal
on a raft, Mitsurugi is
suddenly attacked by a stranger,
his fellow traveller.

"I will kill you, Heishiro
Mitsurugi!" shouts the man!

 The man brandishes a strange
weapon and leaps to the attack!

 Mitsurugi avoids what would
be a fatal blow, only receiving
a small scratch. Suddenly,
his limbs grow heavy.

"What!? Am I poisoned?"

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon:
Snake Wind
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   The Rage of the Executor

 Li is an assassin sent from
Ming to Japan. He returned to
his home to find his love
Chie, murdered at the hand of
Mitsurugi. He tracked down
Mitsurugi and waited for the
right time to strike.

 Defeat him before the poison
takes effect.

 Li Long is defeated after a
bitter fight. Uttering
his last words "Chi....Chie!"

He flings himself into the
river and disappears.

"How is it my name is already
known in this country? And
who is Chie?"

 Mitsurugi recalled all the
people who held a grudge
against him. Surprised to find
there were so many, he stopped
counting. "I can't help it if
I fight to win!"

 Upon searching Li Long's
possessions, Mitsurugi finds
an antidote for the poison
and the legendary "Kojiro's
Sword."

   The Desert

 There is a vast desert in
central Asia. This is the
most dangerous part of the
overland passage.

 "Huh? Who is that?"

Mitsurugi spots a swordsman
up ahead. Hwang waits for him
in the ruins of the ancient
fortress.

 KnowingMitsurugi is traling
him, Hwang decides to set up
an ambush.
"Hey you!" says Hwang.
"What do you want from me?"

 "Uh...Um..." At a loss of
words, Mitsurugi draws his
sword to fight!

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8th
Weapon:
Mountain Breaker
Style:
Seung's long blade

   The Hero in a warlike age

 Hwang has been ordered to
find the "Patriot Sword" to
rescue his homeland.

 He had already thwarted
other attempts to stop his
quest for the sword.

 Strike Hwang while in the
air to defeat him.

The two fought even though
they were exhausted from
travel. Mitsurugi, with a
surprising burst of energy,
leapt into the air, struck and
defeated Hwang.

 Mitsurugi steals a map
showing the way to Western
world from Hwang, who lies
unconscious.

   The Fighting Arena

The secret arena attracts
fighters from all over the
world. The victor receives a
valuable weapon as a reward.

 Mitsurugi arrives at the
arena with the help of the
stolen map.

 Defeat every opponent you
encounter!

Rock
Age: 35
Weapon: Twin Ax
Style: Own Style

Sophitia
  Alexandra
18 years old
Weapon: Rapier
Style: Athena

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Weapon: Naganaki
Style:
Seung's long blade

More opponents to be announced.

 Mitsurugi defeated all five
challengers at the arena.

 As his reward, he was given
the supernatural sword
"Water Moon".

 "Water Moon" shines with a
strange blue light and
contained the magical power
to protect its owner.

Attack on Ostrhinesburg Castle

 The castle of the Knight
Stefan is said to contain
weapons from all over the
world. His clams of
invincibility are being hard
pressed as he vainly defends
against a seige by Marquis
Andre and his powerfull
cannons.

 Mitsurugi joined the Marquis'
forces as a mercenary warrior.
Sensing the castle's imminent
fall, he decides to leave the
campaign.

 Under the cover of cannon
fire and amidst the confusion,
Mitsurugi decides to search the
castle for "SoulEdge."

Siegfried
   Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6th
Weapon: Flamberge
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 He is a young mercenary who
wanders from one battle to the
next seeking out "SoulEdge,"
hoping to avenge his father's
death.
As a mercenary captain, He
guards Stefan's castle.

 The castle will soon fall.
 Defeat the enemy within the
 time allowed.

 Mitsurugi defeated the young
mercenary, Siegfried.
"Yu have great skill, but
cannot close in to finsih.
Your concentration is weak."
"Stop talking and just finish
me off!" Siegfried growled.
"Don't have time for that now!"
said Mitsurugi.

He ventured into the castle to
seize the "Two Handed Sword."

   The Secret Treasury

 This secret money pit is
where the millionaire Vercci
stores his fortune. Lying at
the bottom of a 50 meter pit
on a desert island surrounded
by deadly rip-tides, this
treasure island is indeed
impregnable.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Guillotine
Style: Own Style

   The Hell Guardian

 Carrying out the will of
his long-dead master, Vercci,
Voldo has been guarding the
treasure vault for most of
his life. His sight and mind
have deteriorated in the dark
money pit.
However, that does not seem
to have dulled Voldo's talent
for killing, for no intruder
has ever escaped alive!

 Defeat him by using the
CriticalEdge!

 Mitsurugi was almost over-
come by the superhuman Voldo,
but persevered with a relent-
less attack. "Hmm. They don't
seem to have the weapon I
seek."

 As Mitsurugi was leaving he
spotted an aged parchment.
"This is curious..." The note
to Vercci told that the pirate
had captured "SoulEdge" and
held it in his possession.
"This is it!" yelled Mitsurugi
with joy.

 Mitsurugi left the island
with the weapon "Falx" and
the letter revealing the
location of the pirate and
"SoulEdge".

   The Final Battle

 Following the letter,
Mitsurugi arrived at the
Spanish base of the pirate
Cervantes. Cervantes' ship,
Adrian, lay anchored in port.

 Despite his growing
excitement, Mitsurugi could
nopt help but feel the
menacing atmosphere of the
desolate Spanish port.

"I have a strange feelin.
This must be the place."

 Mitsurugi sneaked aboard the
Adrain. The pirate ship reeked
of blood. Sensing someone
behind him. Mitsurugi turned
around...

 There stood a man holding
two swords that pulsed as if
alive. "Ahhhh. I have been
waiting for you. I want you
hot soul for my blades."

"And I have waited long enough
for those hot blades. "
said Mitsurugi. "I will take
them now!"

"Just try boy!" Cervantes
said.

The man's eyes flared with a
strange blue light and with
a roaring sound, his two
evil swords flew to attack
Mitsurugi!

"What evil magic is this!?"

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 He was the pirate once
feared by all who sailed the
Atlantic. Dozens of years
ago, he disappeard while
searching for "SoulEdge"
for Vercci, the Italian
weapons merchant.

 Defeat the enemy!

 Even the fearsome pirate was
not able to defeat Mitsurugi.
He thought his long journey
had finally ended here.
But...

 Once he held the swords, he
knew something was not right,

 "These are indeed powerful
swords, but they are evil."

 Long seconds passed...

Then he cast "SoulEdge" away
without further hesitation.
Turning himself from the evil
swords, he sighed in
frustration.

 "This is not what I wanted.
Never..."
 He realized that "SoulEdge"
was pure evil, not the
weapons of legend.

 "I would refuse them even if
given to me!"


The end of the civil war...

 As the smoke of gunpowder
cleared over the battlefield,
Mitsurugi stood alone with
fresh determination.

 His journey to find a weapon
which can overpower the rifle
continues...
------------------------------

2.06 Siegfried

------------------------------
Name:
Siegfried
  Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6

Height: 157 cm. (5'1")
Weight: 48 kg (105 lb)
Blood Type: A
Family:
Margaret(Mother)
Frederick(Father, murdered)
Weapon:
Zweihander "Faust"
Style: Own Style

 He is the young commander of
mercenary knightsm, who seeks
an invicible sword in order
to avenge the murder of his
father. He has yet to find
the murderer or the weapons,
"SoulEdge."

 "I must find the sword and
have my revenge... I must..."

 In Germany, the oppressed
peasants revolted against the
Holy Roman Empire. With its
forces weakened by the Italian
Wars, the German peasants
finally had a fighting chance.

 One of their champions was
Sir Frederick, a brave knight.
While on campaign, Frederick
met the lovely Margaret and
spent the night in her arms.

 After nine months of battle,
Frederick returned to find
that Margaret had given him
a son.

 Frederick realized his love
for Margaret and named his
son Siegfried, after the famous
hero.

 Several years passed. His
father, known as the "gentle
knight," taught his
son swordsmanship. He embarked
upon a foreign crusade,
promising his return to
Margaret.

 Young Siegfried, without his
father's gentle hand to guide
him, fell into bad company.

He banded together with a
group of outlaws and started
commiting crimes.

 His strength grew and soon he
led a feared group of thieves
known as "Schwarzwind" or
Blackwind. It was then when he
conceived his master plan...

"We will hunt the cowardly
knights who ran away from the
crusades. They carry valuable
armor and loot. We'll all get
rich!"

 That night. as a war-weary
group approached, the thieves
sprang their amubush. The fatigued
knights were no match for the
thieves. They defeated the
knights all too easily.

 Siegfried killed the knight's
commander himself with his
proud "Zweihander."

 He held the commander's
decapitated head up high in
triumph.

 But, as the moonlight shone
down, he let out a horrified
scream.
In his hand was the head of
his father, Frederick!!

The horror caused Siegfried's
mind to snap.

 Yelling in grief and fear he
fled into the forest.

 He plunged deeper into his
insanity, convincing himself
that someone else slew his
father. He grew determined to
find and avenge his father's
death!

 Hearing about the invincible
sword, "SoulEdge," he has
come to believe that his
father's fictitious killer
can only be defeated by this
weapon.

"I can't ease my father's soul
until I find the sword and
slay his murderer!"

    The Conquest of
   Ostrhinesburg Castle

 At the castle of Sir Stefan
a battle rages.
The marquis Andre uses his
cannons to bring down the
once-invulnerable fortress.
Siegfried is the commander if
Stefan's mercenary knights.

 Sir Stefan's legendary sword
was quite well known in the
region. Siegfried sought the
sword and gained employ in
order to steal Stefan's
weapon.

 As the battle became fierce
and the castle was beseiged,
Siegfried steeled himself
against the invaders with his
powerful sword in his hand.

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Korefuji
Style: Mitsurugi

   The Lone Swordsman

 A samurai who travls around
the world looking for a weapon
superior to firearms. He is a
mercenary for Marquise Andre in
the attack on Ostrhinesburg.
He us after the valuable weapons
which are believed to be kept
inside the castle.

 The enemy is as strong as
the devil. Beat him!

 After stopping the foreign
mercenary, Siegfried entered
the blazing castle.

There he killed Stefan and
took his legendary sword,
"Grimblade."

"This is it. With this
sword, I can finally avenge
my father."

 After escaping from the
burning castle, Siegfried
rested in the forest.
He gripped "Grimblade" tight
in his hand and spoke.

"Sword, grant me invincible
power!"

 But the sword was still.

"Damn it! This is not it!"

 Siegfried started feeling
anxious.

"I must find the right sword.."

 The image of his father's
dead face floated before his
haunted eyes/

 He held his head and ran
through the dark forest.

"Father, fatherrr!!!"

His cries echoed into the
valleys beyond.

   Eurydice Shrine

 This temple was supposedly
built by the God Hephaestus
himself. He was the creator
of armor and arms.

 It is said that a young gitl
received a revelation and was
offere holy armor at this
sanctuary.

 Siegfried met a young girl
in a Mediterranean village
and was taken to the temple.

 The sanctuary was tranquil.
After offering prayers, the
girl turned and stared at
Siegfried.

"You're seeking the evil
sword, aren't you? That
sword is too dangerous for
you. Let me help."

"I don't need your help!"

Siegfried yelled.

Sophitia
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon: Fire Blade
Style: Athena

   Emotional Goddess

 This young girl received
the revelation of the God
Hephaestus. With her holy
weapons, she is sworn to save
those who foolishly seek the
evil sword and destroy the
wicked weapon.

 Defeat all your enemies!

 Siegfried defeated Sophitia
and the spectral illusion.

 He shouter at the sky.

"I have defeated your little
girl! Now give me the
invincible sword!"

But the Gods were silent.

Siegfried's voice echoed
in vain.

"Why? Why?"

 Burying himself deeper into
insanity, Siegfried laid waste
to the sanctuary.
In the rubble. he discovered
the long "Atlas Sword" hidden
in a column.

 The sky above the sanctuary
slowly covered with dark mist.
It was as if Siegfried's
insanity had attracted an evil
force.

   The Arena

 This is a secret arena
where strong gather from
all over the world.
The winner is awarded valuable
amrs.

 Siegfried had heard warrior's
tales of this place.

 At the arena's gate, a sign
was posted:

-----------------------------

      SURVIVAL CONTEST
  THOSE WHO CAN DEFEAT FOUR
  CONTESTANTS IN A ROW WILL
    WIN VALUABLE WEAPONS

-----------------------------

 Siegfried entered the contest.

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Korefuji
Style: Mitsurugi

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon: Cross Ax
Style: Own Style

 More opponents to be
announced...

 Defeat all rivals!

 After a long battle,
Siegfried defeated all of his
opponents.

 He won the waved sword
"Flamberge."

   The Desert

 A desert stretches through
central Asia. It is the most
difficult passage for those
whp travel across the continent
to avoid dangerous sea routes.
Ruins of an ancient fortress
can be found buried in the
sands. It is an extremely
cruel passage.

"Who's following me?"

 Although he was exhausted
from crossing the dry desert,
Siegfried could still sense
an enemy at his back.

"Show yourself, Swinehund!"

Siegfried swung his sword as
he turned. It was Rock who
Siegfried had defeated at the
arena.

"That prize shoulde have
been mine. Give it to me!"
Rock yelled.

"Oh, you'll get it..."

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon:
Crescent Ax
Style: Own Style

   Reckless Commando

 He was orphaned as a boy.
He wandered around the New
World and learned means of
survival in the wild. He
started his journy to regain
memory of his lost past. His
pride would not allow him to
take defeat by Siegfried to
easily.

 Triumph in this cruel land
that drains your strength!

 Despite hunger nad thirst,
Siegfried again defeated the
giant Rock and with a thrust
and delivered a mortal blow!

"Ba...Bangoo..."

 The dying Rock stared at
Siegfried, whispered in
delirium and expired.

   The Pirate Castle

 Noto castle belongs to
Noto-Murakami nad the Setonai
pirates. (Mouri sea force)
The entire island is a castle
of pirates and a naval port.

 Siegfried's bravery impressed
the pirates and he was hired
as a castle guard.

 He caught a woman trying to
escape from the castle.
Siegfried followed the woman
and confronted her.

"Surrender yourself!"

 She turned slowly.
Strangely enough, she smiled
at him and said,

"You can't stand in my way."

She plucked the sword off her
back and jumped at Siegfried.

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

   Underground Hunter

 She is a ninja who
exterminates ghosts. She
searched for the "evil sword"
in order to bolster her
magic weapon, "Rekkimaru."

 Defeat her before you run
out of time!

 As a reward for defeating the
female ninja Taki, Siegfried
was given the "7 Branch
Sword" and passage on a Mouri
vessel.

"The sword I seek isn't in this
land, I will seek further..."

 Siegfried's mania grew and
grew...

   The Valley

 San Kyo is a deep valley
located in the middle part
of China's Yangtze River.
Siegfried heard tales of a
river thief who had been
collecting sords.
He decided to investigate.

"Give up your sword!"

 A man dropped from the brifdge
as Siegfried's raft passed by.
This man must be the thief,
Siegfried thought.

"Surrender that sword! It will
make a fine addition."
The man demanded.

"You will get my sword."
Siegfried grinned. "In your
gullet!"

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon: Phoenix
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 He was an assassin for the
Ming Dynasty. His life ruined
after the murderer of his
beloved Chie, he now steals
weapons from every swordsman
that travels the Yangtze
River.

 Defeat him by using
a throwing technique!

 "Chie, Chie..."

As he groaned with pain, Li
Long plunged into the water
and got away.

 After defeating the
mysterious thief Li Long,
Siegfried discovered numerous
stolen swords along the river,
Among them was a big Chinese
weapon, "HardSteel Blade."

   The Secret Treasury

 The wealthy and greedy Vercci
hid his treasure in a vault at
the bottom of a 50 m pit on an
uninhabited island.
It is rumored to be
impregnable.

 Siegfried and his band, the
BlackWind, once planned to
break in to the secret vault.

The attempt failed terribly
and he lsot many of his men.

"Can SoulEdge really be here?"

Though wounded by the traps,
Siegfried finally reached the
pitch-black vault.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Full Moon
Style: Own Style

   The Hell Guardian

 Guarding Vercci's treasure
gives Voldo the only reason
to live. Although he is blind
and insane from his years in
the dark pit, hi
assassination techniques are
fearful and have killed all
those who have attempted
to enter the money pit.

 The traps have left you weak!
Fight with what strength you
have left!

 Siegfried defeated the
guardian Voldo and demanded
the "SoulEdge."

"Where is it foul beast?"

"Not ... here..." Voldo
groaned.

"That's not true! Talk!
Where is SoulEdge? Talk!
Talk!" Siegfried shook him in
rage.

 But Voldo was no longer
responding.

He was already dead.

"The sword must be here.
It must be."

 Seigfried thrashed the money
pit in search of the legendary
sword but to no avail. The
sword was not there. However,
Siegfried would not give up.

 Among the ruin of Vercci's
vault, Siegfried found a
letter which named the
location of "SoulEdge."

"At last. Finally I can
accomplish my revenge."

 He took the "Claymore" and
left.

   The Final Battle

 Siegfried had found the
whereabouts pf "SoulEdge."
The pirate Cervantes de Leon
once used this Spanish port
as a base. His ship was still
anchored nearby.

 Death was thick in the air.

"SoulEdge, is it here?"

 Siegfried tried to control
his excitement, but his body
could not stop shaking as he
climbed aboard the Adrian,
the ship of Cervantes.

A short search turned up
nothing. He heard something
behind him. He turned.

"Who are you?"

"Ahhh. Such a lovely, insane
soul you have. I must possess
it for my own."

"What! Who on earth are you?"

 There stood a man holding a
pair of strange swords in his
hands.

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 A great pirate who was once
feared by all sailors on the
Atlantic Ocean.

He went missing several
decades ago during the search
for SoulEdge as requested by
Vercci.

 Defeat the enemy!

 The great battle is finally
over, Siegfried's destiny
was right in front of him.

 He grasped SoulEdge in his
blood-stained hands.
An incredibly foolish act.

 The history of massacre
within SoulEdge traveled into
Siegfried, consuming his
consciousness!

Anger, sadness, agony, horror...

Siegfried's emotions were
devoured by "SoulEdge."

 He realized too late that
the evil swords had invaded
him and were using him for
its own purpose.
The parasitic swords merged
with him.

 Siegfried screamed as his
body turned as red as blood.
Though, it was no longer
certain he could hear his
own screams.

 Time has passed since then
and the world ahd regained
peace for a while.

 But now, a horror appears on
the cliff high above a quiet
German village.

There, in the moonlight, stands
a red knight clutching two
evil swords...
------------------------------

2.07 Seung Mina

------------------------------
Name:
Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3

Height: 159 cm (5'2")
Weight: 46 kg (101 lb)
Blood Type: A
Family:
Father (Seung Han Myong)
Mother (deceased)
Weapon:
Zanbatoh
Style:
Seung's Long blade

"Leave me alone Father! I am
determined to find the sword."

 Seung Mi Na struggled against
her father's grip as she tried
to leave his school at Chii
mountain in Korea.

 "Stupid girl! Get back inside
now!"

"You treat me like a baby!
I'm doing this for our country!"

 Having been born into a
strict family of martial arts
teachers, Mi Na grew up
surrounded by weapons.

She has excellent knowledge
of martial arts and her horse-
sword technique is superior
to even her father's.

 However, because of her cute
looks, she had been teased by
the neighberhood boys and
treated like a girl.

"If you ever call me 'cutey'
again, I'll beat you with
something harder than this
stick!"

 There were a lot of beaten
boys in Mi Na's neighborhood.

 Her father, Hen Myong taught
her to be well disciplined and
always to be faithful and true.

She grew up healthy and strong.

Han Myong thought "She's
strongwilled, but it's all
right if she stays here and
obeys me."

 However, an independent girl
has other thoughts on her mind.

 The ever-changing political
situation in Korea had become
serious, too serious to be
called peace.
War and invasion was avoided
only by the fact that other
countries were embroiled in
their own problems.
However, neighboring Japan
geared up for outward
expansion and conquest.

 In these troubled times,
suppression was turned to as
a means of control.
Everyone living in that
difficult period knew what
that meant.

"You could be next..."

 In preparation for invasion
from neighboring countries,
the patriotic people of Korea
begin to build fortresses
along their shores.
Their leader is Le Shin Jin,
the admiral of the coastal
defense force.

 Then a rumor emerges of the
"Patriot Sword - SoulEdge".
The rumor spreads faster than
the blink of an eye and
eventually reaches Mi Na's
ears.

Mi Na has grown into a
patriotic young maiden.

Barred from joining the
coastal defense force because
of her gender, she jumped at
this opportunity.

"If I find this sword, I can
save my country. I must look
for it!"

 After packing, she set out
on her journey. But her
father discovered what she
was up to and caught her.

"Hwang has already been sent
after the sword by government
order. What if the rumors are
false?"

 Hwang Sung Kyung was the
best student and swordsman
at her father's school.
He had already started his
search for the weapon.
There was a possibility that
the rumor could be another
scheme, but...

 Mi Na had already decided to
leave. "I am sorry, father!"

   The Old Temple

 At the southern tip of the
Korean Peninsula, a historic
temple rests at the foot of
Mount Chii.
It was originally constructed
in the 4th century but has
been rebuilt several times.

 Running out from her house,
against her father's will,
Mi Na stopped at this temple
to rest.
There she saw a suspicious
swordsman.

 This man was trailing the
student Hwang, who also sought
the "Patriot Sword".

"This man is very suspicious.
But he may have information
on the 'Patriot Sword'."

 Hoping to get to the bottom
of the matter, Mi Na challenged
the man to a fight.

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon: Korefuji
Style:
Mitsurugi

   The Lone Swordsman

 He gained renown as a great
swordsman in the "Age of Civil
Wars". When he discovered the
existence of firearms, he
started a journey to find
"SoulEdge" a weapon he hoped
was greater than the power
of the rifle.

 Mi Na's father and students
are looking for her.
Defeat the enemy in the time
allowed!

 Mi Na overcame Mitsurugi,
but before she could get
information about the
"Patriot Sword" from him...

"Oh! My father approaches!
I can't stay here!"

Leaving Mitsurugi there,
she quickly ran away.

   The Shrine of the
    Confined Demons

 The shrine on Oni Isle is
surrounded by bamboo.
It was built for the purpose
of containing horrible Fury-
demons.

It is said that in the shrine
rests a weapon capable of
manipulating the human spirit.

 "I wonder if it could be the
'Patriot Sword'?"

Travelling to Japan, Mi Na set
off for the shrine.

"There's something here."

 She arrived in Oni and
approached the haunted shrine.
Suddenly, something burst from
the shrine!

"Aaaargh!!!"

Mi Na said, "Yow! What's that?"

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon:
Crescent Ax
Style: Own Style

   Reckless Commando

 As an orphan on the new
continent, he learned his
skille for survival in the
wild. He was possessed by an
evil spirit upon entering the
shrine and has now become a
demon himself!

 Defeat the demon!

 Even though the demon Rock
rose to attack again and
again, Mi Na was able to
finally defeat him.

She retrieved the "Tiger Fang"
from the shrine.

   The Pirate Fortress

 Noto castle is the
headquarters of Noto-Murakami
and the Setonai pirates.
(also known as the
Mouri sea force)
The fortress occupes the
entire island. Navel ports
act as a sea barrier as well
as keeping the pirate ships
well supplied.

 Mi Na planned to sneak aboard
a ship and return to China.

 When she reached Noto castle,
she found the pirates were at
sea. Seeking lodging, she snuck
into the castle.

There she encountered a female
Ninja.

"I want the weapon you stole
from the shrine." The ninja
said.

"Go away. It is mine now."

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

   Underground Hunter

 Taki is a ninja whose
specialty is demon hunting.
She followed Mi Na to castle
Noto in order to retrieve
the "Tiger Fang".

 Defeat her within the time
allowed!

 Mi Na defeated Taki after a
fierce fight.

 She took the "Long Handled
Sword" from Noto castle's
weapons store and jumped on a
ship headed for China.

   The Narrow Gorge

 The gorge, "San Kyo" is
located in the middle reaches
of the Yangtze, one of the
greatest rivers in China.

 Mi Na boarded a raft that
would take her down the
Yangtze.

 As her raft passed under a
bridge, a man dropped down
landing beside her!

"I need to take this raft.
Leave your sword and get off
now." The man said.

"Yeah, right!"

"Then, you leave me no choice!"

 The man leapt to the attack!

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon: Falcon
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 Li is an assassin sent from
Ming to Japan. He returned
home to avenge the death of
his love Chie. Since then he
has attacked swordsmen on the
Yangtze, hoping to find her
killer.

 Use the Throw technique to
defeat him!

 Mi Na defeated Li Long.
Realizing his mistake,
he gave her te weapon
"Naganaki" as an apology
and left.

 She continued her journey
down the river after Hwang.

   The desert

 There is a vast desert in
central Asia. This is the most
dangerous part of the overland
passage.

After three months of trailing
Hwang, she finally caught up
with him in this desolate
area.

 Needless to say, Hwang was
surprised to see Mi Na here.

"Please go home. Your father
must be worried!"

"No. I will never, never go
back until I find the
'Patriot Sword'." Mi Na
replied.

"You're hopeless! All right.
You can come with me if you
prove your fighting is
superior to mine."

She smiled.

"No special treatment!"

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8
Weapon:
Thunderous Fire
Style:
Seung's long blade

   The Hero in a warlike age

 Hwang has been ordered to
find the "Patriot Sword" for
his government.

 He is having a hard time
convincing Mi Na, who ran
away to look for him, to
return home.

 Disarm him to win!

 "How was that?" Mi Na
asked.
"How can I come with you?"

 The two fought to exhaustion,
but Mi Na ended up the victor.

"Continue your search." Hwang
replied. "I'll rest here a while."

   Eurydice Shrine

 It is said that Hephaestus,
the God of forge, built this
temple himself. Rumor had it
that a girl received a
revelation from him in a
nearby pool and a "Divine
Weapon" in this temple.

 At the temple, Mi Na heard
a "Divine Voice".

"You are a strong-willed
woman. Defeat her and you
will receive the sword!"

 As the Voice faded,
a female warrior appeared
in a flash of light!

Sophitia Alexandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon: Fire Blade
Style: Athena

   Emotional Goddess

 Sophitia received the divine
revelation from the God of
forge, Hephaestus.
She received her sword and
shield from the God himself
and travels the globe
preventing misfortune caused
by all those seduced by the
evil sword.

 Defeat your enemy!

 Despite Sophitia's divine
powers, Mi Na won.
The Divine Spear "Halbard"
appeared before her and the
Voice spoke again.

"Take this weapon and destroy
the evil sword!"

      The Capture of
   Ostrhinesburg Castle

 The castle of the Knight
Stefan is said to contain
weapons from all over the
world.
His claims of invulnerability
are being hard pressed as he
vainly defends against a
siege by Marquis Andre and
his powerful cannons.

Mi Na arrived as the Marquis'
forces were assaulting the
castle. Fire balls streaked
through the air as she stormed
the gate.

A soldier blocked her way,
brandisihing his huge sword.

"No one may pass! Not even
a little girl like you!"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Little girl? I'll show you
who's a little girl!"

Siegfried
  Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
Weapon: Atlas Sword
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 He is a young mercenary who
wanders from one battle to the
next seeking out "SoulEdge"
intent on avenging his
father's murder.
As a mercenary captain, He
guards Stefan's castle.

 The castle will soon fall.
Defeat your enemy before the
sun sets.

 Mi Na defeated the young
mercenary as the castle fell.

In the chaos, she grabbed the
weapon "Morning Star" and
a map, then made her escape.

   The Secret Treasury

 This secret money pit is
where the millionaire, Vercci,
stores his fortune. Lying at
the bottom of a 50 meter pit
on a desert island surrounded
by deadly rip-tides, this
treasure island is indeed
impregnable.

 The Ostrhinesburg map
pointed the way to Vercci's
money pit and its treasure.

 After narrowly avoiding the
money pit's numerous traps,
the exhausted Mi Na finally
reached the vault.
From its inky darkness she
heard the sinister breathing
of the pit's guard.

"Oh! Stay away from me!"
Mi Na cried out.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Full Moon
Style: Own Style

   The Hell Guardian

 Carrying out the will of his
long-dead master, Vercci, Voldo
has been quarding the treasure
vault for most of his life.

 His sight and mind have
deteriorated in the dark pit.
However, that does not seem to
have dulled Voldo's talent for
killing, for no intruder has
ever escaped alive!

 With little strength left,
defeat Voldo!

 Although he possessed super-
human strength, Mi Na won.
With a raspy death rattle,
Voldo expired.
"I must get out of this awful
place!"
She happened to find a letter
describing "SoulEdge's"
location. Taking that and the
"Sickled Spear" she left the
island.

   The Final Battle

 Mi Na located the Spanish
port that was the base of the
pirate Cervantes. His ship,
the Adrian, lay anchored in
port. All was still.

 Mi Na's heart pounded as she
made her way through the
desolate port. She could not
stop trembling.

"What is that smell? That
horrible smell?"

 As Mi Na climbed aboard the
Adrian, she was confronted on
deck by a man. He held swords
that shone eerily.

"Ahhhh. I have been waiting for
you. You have guts for such a
little girl." he said.

"Don't call me a little girl!"

"Such fire! Your strong spirit
will feed my swords well!"

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 He was the pirate once feared
by all who sailed the Atlantic.
Dozens of years ago, he
disappeared while searching for
"SoulEdge" on behalf of Vercci,
the Italian weapons merchant.

 Defeat the enemy!

 "I did it, father!"

 The evil stranger lay
defeated at Mi Na's feet/
Trembling with anticipation,
she reached for "SoulEdge"

"This is surely the Patriot
Sword!"

However, the swords were not
easy to lift.

 She lifted the first of
"SoulEdge's" blades and
staggered under its weight.

She tried to lift the other
but fell and was caught
under them. She thought,

"Can these swords really save
my country? Look what
destruction they have caused
here. I don't want it to
happen again!"

 Annoyed, she kicked the
swords away.

"Oh well."

She turned and cheerfully
left the port town.

 But her cheerfulness
diminished as she reached
home.

"My father might be more
fearsome than anyone I've
met on my journey!"

 As expected, her father
stood at the gate, awaiting
her. But contrary to her
fears, he greeted her with
open arms and a smile.
------------------------------

2.08 Li Long

------------------------------
Name: Li Long
Age: 34
Born: Oct.23

Height: 168 cm (5'5")
Weight: 55 kg (121 lb)
Blood Type: B
Family Structure: Parents
deceased, Mimi (sister),
Chie (Lover)
Weapon: Falcon
Style: Matchless Dragon

 After the death of th
great Eirakutei, the Ming
Dynasty suffered plundering
by Southern Japanese pirates
called the "Wakou."

 The emperor finally took
action and sent Li Long to
assassinate the leader of the
pirates. The secret mission
also included an order to
retrieve the valiant sword,
"SoulEdge."

 However, the assassin, Li
Long, did not care about
"SoulEdge." Taking advantage
of war-torn Japan, he decided
to not only target the Wakou
leader, but also the Daimyo
feudal lords.

 This action was, of course,
outside the limits of his
mission, but he had no doubts
as to his success. His iron
will would see him through.

 However, man is not made of
iron. His attack on the head
of a powerful family in Honshu
went awry, leaving him badly
wounded. Fortunately for him,
he was rescued by a beautiful
girl named Chie.

 Chie was a daughter of the
innkeeper Yahei. As a child,
she was traumatized by her
mother's death and lost
her ability to speak.

 Even without words, Chie
is capable of understanding
people's sorrow. She devoted
herself to the care of the
wounded man.

 Li Long gradually opened
his heart to Chie and the
two began to love each other.
Li Long stayed with Chie
even after his injuries
healed.

 But, destiny did not treat
him kindly.

 While he was away, a fight
broke out at the inn. In the
confusion, his lover was
thought to have been killed.
"Who! Who did this? Why?"
The wounded Yahei told
grief-stricken Li Long that
a wandering swordsman had
started it, then fled.

 Eyewitnesses thought it
might be the lone swordsman,
Heishiro Mitsurugi. However,
Mitsurugi was not the only
swordsman wandering the land.

"When I find who did this, I
will show no mercy!"

 Remorse filled Li Long
until he had a revelation.
"I will not rest until I
have hunted down every
single swordsman."

 Li Long discovered that
Heishiro Mitsurugi was
searching for "SoulEdge,"
and decided to follow him.

If I find "SoulEdge," first,
Mitsurugi will come to me and
his death. If Mitsurugi is not
Chie's murderer, I'll just
continue hunting criminal
swordsmen. I will also have
the sword for Eirakutei.

 Li Long started to pack
up for a journey to trace
Mitsurugi hoping to take
revenge for his dead lover
Chie.

The Shrine of Confined Demons

 This Shrine is surrounded
by bamboo. It was built by
people with supernatural power
to seal off the "Fury-demon"
inside.

 Mitsurugi had plans to
exterminate the demon haunting
this shrine.

 Li Long decided ambush
Mitsurugi at the shrine. But
the samurai did not appear.
"Where can he be? Wait!"

 Suddenly, Li Long realized
he wasn't alone!
"Someone's coming. Could it
be...?"

 He reached for his nunchaku
in anticipation.

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon: Crescent Ax
Style: Own Style

   A Reckless Commando

 Rock was possessed by an
evil spirit when he entered
the shrine, and has now turned
into a demon, attacking people
indiscriminately.

 Attack and defeat the
supernatural foe!

 Li Long defeated the demon
Rock and seized his weapon.

 He modified it to make a
new weapon, the poisoned
"Snake Wind."

   The Pirate Castle

 Noto castle, belongs to
Noto-Murakami and the Setonai
pirates (Mouri sea force) It
has naval ports which supply
the pirate ships between
raids. Valuable weapons,
stolen by the pirates, are
kept inside the castle.

 Mitsurugi had already left
this place and has gone to the
new continent.
"I have no business here
anymore." Li Long said.

 Li Long took the weapon
"Titan" from the armory. A
swordsman in a suit of armor
blocked his way.

"I saw you take that! Come
with me! You are under arrest!"
"Never!"

 Li Long raised his weapon
and entered a fighting stance.

Siegfried
  Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
Weapon: Faust
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 He is a young mercenary
lookin to avenge his father's
death. Because of his great
swordsmanship, he was employed
as a mercenary captain
quarding the castle.

 Others are coming. Defeat
him within the time allowed.

 Li Long quickly defeated
Siegfried and with his
"Titan," he left the castle
and escaped his pursuers.

 A few days later, Li Long
boarded a ship for his home
country in pursuit of
Mitsurugi.

   The Narrow Gorge

 The gorge, "San Kyo" is
located in the middle reaches
of the Yangtze, one of China's
great rivers.

 Li Long burned with vengeful
thoughts, concluding that
Mitsurugi would have to
pass this main  section of
the river on his travels.

 Li Long had never seen
Mitsurugi's face.

It was impossible for him to
recognize the samurai. But, Li
Long with his iron will had not
doubts that he could find his
enemy.

"I'll attack every swordsman
traveling on this river!"

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
BornL Nov.3
Weapon: Zanbatoh
Style:
Seung's long blade

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Rekkimaru
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

Sophitia
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon: Gaea Sword
Style: Athena

 Defeat every opponent!

 Li Long fought several
swordsmen, but Mitsurugi did
not appear.

 He crafted the weapons
seized from swordsmen on the
river and made "Phoenix,"
a new nunchaku with shackle
attached. Frustrated by
Mitsurugi's absence, he left
the gorge.

   The Desert

 There is a desert area in
central Asia. For people who
travel across the continent
avoiding the dangerous sea
route, this desert is the most
dangerous part of the overland
route.
Except for the ruin of an
ancient Chinese fortress, the
area is barren.

"You! What do you want from
me?"

 The man addressed Li Long.
His height and size were the
same as Mitsurugi's but this
was not him. He was no Japanese
samurai.

"You are not who I thought you were."

 Li Long readied his nunchaku
and stepped closer to the
man.

"But, I'm not one to turn
down a challenge!"

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8
Weapon:Nippon Blade
Style:
Seung's long blade

   The Hero in a Warlike Age

 Hwang is the swordsman who
was ordered to find the
"Patriot Sword" to save his
country.

 Having already been ambushed
and followed by bandits, Hwang
was constantly vigilant.

 Use an Air-Combination
technique to defeat him.

 Li Long defeated Hwang Sung
Kyung, seized his weapon,
"Steel Dragon" and a map of
the world.

   The Fighting Arena

 This is a secret fighting
arena which attracts warriors
from all over the globe.
"A Japanese samurai is
fighting furiously at the
arena."

 Li Long heard this and
immediately rushed to the
arena.

 At the arena, the following
schedule was posted:

--------------------------
       TODAY's FIGHT
      SURVIVAL MATCH
WINNER RECEIVES A VALUABLE
          WEAPON!
--------------------------

 Li Long applied for the
match at once.

 "I will continue fighting
until I defeat Mitsurugi!"

 After a long fight against
his lover's attacker, Li Long
finally defeated Mitsurugi.
He tried to find out about the
terrible incident by
questioning him. "Confess!
You killed the daughter
of an innkeeper in
Honshu!" Li Long yelled.
"...you are mistaken. I would
never... kill a woman."

 Although Li Long wanted
justice, he did not think
Mitsurugi was lying. The
mortal wound to Chie could
not have been made by
Mitsurugi's sword.
"If not him, then who?"

 That night, Li Long set off
for "SoulEdge" taking the
prize weapon "White Tiger"
with him. The desire for
revenge still burned in his
heart.

"When I get 'SoulEdge' in
my own hands..."

His anger was his only solice.

   Secret Treasury

 In an isolated island,
there is the secret storage
place where the millionaire
Vercci keeps his fortune. It
has a 50 meter deep pit and
some under water traps to
prevent against invasion.
This is truly an impregnable
vault.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon: Guillotine
Style: Own Style

   The Hell Guardian

 Carrying out his dead
master's wishes, Voldo has
been guarding the treasure
in this secret storage
place. His sight and mind
have deteriorated due to
his prolonged seclusion
in the dark pit. However,
thanks to Voldo's great
skill, no man has ever
lived to see Vercci's
treasure.

 Defeat all who enter!

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Jutte
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

   Underground Hunter

 She is a ninja whose
specialty is conquering
demons. She has been looking
for the evil sword hoping to
strengthen her own weapon.
She trailed Li Long into the
vault.

 In the depths of the pit,
Li Long defeated the guard,
Voldo, and the ninja, Taki.
But, could not find "SoulEdge"
among the treasures.

 Taking information from
Vercci's notes, Li Long
seized the weapon "Asura"
and left the island.

   The Pirate Ship

 Li Long traced the location
of "SoulEdge" to a port where
the pirate, Cervantes once had
his base.

 Li Long looked at the pirate
ship, Adrian, at anchor in
the port.
It was a menacing place with
no sign of life.
"I have finally found it."

 Having been unable to find
his lover's attacker, Li Long's
hopes were now pinned on the
heroic sword, "SoulEdge."

 Li Long climbed on board
the Adrian. There stood a
man holding two brightly
glowing swords.

"Come to me! Your soul will
be as sweet as that of your
lover's!"

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 43(immortal)
BornL Jan.1
WeaponL SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Imoortal Pirate

 He was the pirate once feared
by all shipping on the entire
AtlanticOcean. Dozens of years
ago, he disappeared while on a
mission to find "SoulEdge"
as requestd by Vercci, the
Italian weapons merchant.

 Defeat the enemy!

 Falling to his knees, Li
Long saw that the ground was
covered in blood. Losing
consciousness, he did not know
whether the blood was his own
or his enemy's.
He began to realize that the
evil man with "SoulEdge" was
lying dead in front of him.

 With heavy sighs, slowly he
tried to reach "SoulEdge,"
but he was only grabbing the
air.

"Chie----Chie!!"

 At a monastery in Honshu,
Chie slowly opened her eyes.
It was a miracle. There was a
large sword scar on her back,
but she was going to live!

 Since Li Long left on his
journey of revenge, nearly a
month had passed.

 Chie knew in her heart that
Li Long had died. She wept
for months.

 Half a year later, Chie and
Li Long's love was producing a
new life. Dreaming about her
lover, on a continent far
away, Chie whispered her first
words in years...

"Please Li Long, protect our
child...."
------------------------------

2.09 Voldo

------------------------------
Name: Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25

Height: 183 cm (5'11")
Weight: 79 kg (173 lb)
Blood Type: A
Family: All deceased
Weapon: Katar
Style: Own Style

 After the Discovery of the
new world, Europ entered a
new era of trade, art and wars
driven by colonization and
conquest.

 The time was right for
merchants to make a fortune.

 One such Italian merchant
dealt with the invincible
Spanish Armada and grew rich
from supplying weapons. He
became known as "The Merchant
of Death."

"You will bring me the
legendary swords, 'SoulEdge!'"

 This merchant, named Vercci,
heard the whispered rumors of
"an object that would satisfy
every earthly desire." He
started a scheme to find the
mystical weapons.

 Vercci's younger brothers
opposed his plan. Strange how
they were soon recruited into
the army and out of his way.
He promoted his right-hand
man, Voldo, to lead the search
instead.

 Vercci used every means
necessary to track down
"SoulEdge." Mercenary armies
searched the land for him,
and when that didn't work,
cut-throats and pirates
scoured the seven seas; but
to no avail...

 Growing furious with his
aides, Vercci decided to lead
the search himself and took
his fleet to sea.

 He took his fleet around the
Cape of Good Hope and headed
east. Along the way, he
aquiredrare exotic arms and
riches at Easter ports. Then,
he received the news.

"No! This cannot be!"

 In his homeland, war had
broken out between the two
great powers. "The Italian
Wars."

 The flames of war had finally
reached the politically
unstable Italy.
Ironically, the target of these
invaders was the "Merchant
of Death" himself.
To return would be suicide.

 Vercci's home had been seized
and destroyed. All his wealth
was gone. All he had left was
his fleet and their treasures.
His anger turned into real
madness.

"I will not lose my treasure!
They'll never find it!"

 Vercci and his fleet sailed
to an uninhabited island. His
crew dug a massive pit.
A vault, guarded with deadly
traps, housed Vercci's
remaining treasure and
weapons. Voldo then executed
the crew, lest they give away
the vault's location. For his
loyalty, he was sealed alive
inside the vault.

 By the time the vault was
finished and sealed, the
"Italian Wars" had ceased.

 But Vercci never made it back
to Italy alive.

 Voldo went blind and insane
from his years in the pit. His
only reason for being was to
guard Vercci's secret treasury.

 Only Voldo's talent for murder
remained keen after all those
lonely years...

   The Secret Treasury

 This secret money pit is
where the millionaire Vercci
stores his fortune. Lying at
the bottom of a 50 meter pit
on a desert island surrounded
by deadly rip-tides, this
treasure island is indeed
impregnable.

 The ghostly voice of the
long-dead Vercci rung in
Voldo's ears.

"Voldo, protect my treasure!"

Sophitia Alexandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon: Omega Sword
Style: Athena

   Emotional Goddess

 Sophitia received the divine
relevation from the God of
Forge, Hephaestus. She received
her sword and shield from the
God himself.

 Beat her!

 Voldo enjoyed slaying the
intruder Sohpitia. The voice
of his master spoke again.

"Well done, Voldo. Feel free
to use another weapon from my
treasury."

 Voldo selected the razor-sharp
"Full Moon."

   Recollection

 Another foolhardy adventurer
made his way into the Money
Pit.

 Voldo kneeld at Vercci's
throne and uttered a promise.

"Master, I will slay him."

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Aug.8
Weapon: Blue Storm
Style:
Seung's long blade

   The Hero in a warlike Age

 An excellent student in
Seung's school, he has been
commissioned by the coastal
defense force to find the
"Patriot Sword - SoulEdge."
His travels have ended up
here.

 Strike him while in the air
to win!

 The pieces of Hwang had not
cooled when the voice returned
to Voldo's mind.

"S..Soul..Edge"

Even to his addled mind, these
words have great meaning.

 Finally, Voldo recalls
Vercci's vain search for the
powerful weapon.

"Bring  me SoulEdge!"

"Master, I will not fail you.
I will find your 'SoulEdge.'"

 Recalling Vercci's information
on the legendary weapons, he
leaves the pit for the first
time in decades in search of
the swords.

   Capturing Ostrhinesburg
             Castle

 The castle of the Knight
Stefan is being hard pressed
as he vainly defends against a
siege by Marquis Andre and his
powerful cannons.

 The castle is siad to contain
weapons from all over the
world.

 Voldo carved his way through
the enemy's troops as he headed
for the front gate. The castle
shuddered from impacting
fireballs.

 A young swordsman with a huge
sword blocked Voldo's way to
the tower.

"Monster! You may not take a
step further!"

 Voldo snarled and muttered.

"...Kill..."

Siegfried
   Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
WeaponL Faust
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 Seeking revenge for his
father's death, he searches
for "SoulEdge." He presently
is the captain of the Stefan's
mercenaries.

 The castle will fall soon.
Beat him within the time limit.

 After a vicious battle, Voldo
slew Seigfried. Stefan's armory
did not hold "SoulEdge."
Voldo took the "Iron Claw"
instead.

   "Cervantes de Leon"

 The spanish port was once
flourishing but now lies quiet.
Voldo remembered meeting with
Cervantes, a pirate hired by
Vercci to find "SoulEdge."
Maybe he had the swords.

 On the foul ship, Voldo found
a man with a pair of curious
swords and a wicked grin. The
swords glowed intensely.

"Ah, yes. Vercci. I have his
swords. Too bad he is dead.
Now join him!"

"SoulEdge!" Voldo growled and
sprung like a panther to
the attack!

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: poosessed

   The Immortal Pirate

 Once he was the most feared
pirate on the seven seas. Upon
taking up Vercci's search for
"SoulEdge," he was never
heard of again!

 The enemy takes pride in his
invincible strength. Survive
his attack to win!

 Voldo fought Cervantes to a
stalemate.

"If I can't kiil you,"
the pirate said;"I will banish
you to the ends of the earth!"

With a roar and a flash of light
Voldo suddenly disappeared!

   The Unknown Land

 In a savannah in North
America lies a gigantic crater.
Mysterious megaliths cover
the area.

 The locals fear this holy
area. Nobody ever comes here
normally.

 Voldo awoke to find himself
in this strange place. Where
was Cervantes?

 Voldo wandered around and
eventually met a small boy.
The boy led him back to his
home and to a big man.

"Bangoo! Stay away from
him!"

 The man shouted and lunged
at Voldo.

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon: Stone Club
Style: Own Style

   Reckless Commando

 He was orphaned as a child
and grew up in the wilds of
North America. Voldo's strange
appearance with his adopted
son Bangoo filled him with
fear. He lunged instinctively.

 He has amazing stamina. Beat
him with a ring-out.

 Rock plummeted off the edge
of the megalith.

"B..Bangoo..."

Rock groaned and passed out.

"Rock!" The boy ignored Voldo
as he ran to Rock's side.

 Voldo left this strange land
and headed east...

   The Pirate Fortress

 Noto castle is the
headquarters of Noto-Murakami
and the Setonai pirates. (also
known as the Mouri sea force)
The fortress occupies the
entire islan. Naval ports act
as a sea barrier as well as
keeping the pirate ships well
supplied.

 It is said that rare arms
are collected and stored here.

 Voldo arrive by trading ship
and sneaked into the castle
under the cover of night.

 As he left the armory, he was
discovered by the guard.

"Wait!" A samurai leapt out to
block him.

"What kind of monster are you?
I will find out with my sword!"

Heishiro Mitsurugi
Age: 22
Born: Jun.8
Weapon:
Iron Slasher
Style: Mitsurugi

   The Lone Swordsman

 He is a samurai who won fame
as a master swordsman. He was
planning on travelling overseas
in search of "SoulEdge" and
was working as a guard to pay
for his passage.

 Beat him within the time
limit!

 Mitsurugi suffered a defeat
at the hands of Voldo.

 Voldo took the "Guillotine"
from the armory and left.

   The Canyon

 The gorge, "San Kyo" is
located in the middle reaches
of the Yangtze, one of the
greatest rivers in China.

 Voldo traveled down the
Yangtze on a raft.

 A man's voice echoed down.

"Surrender your raft and
weapons!"

 The man leapt down to the
raft, he brandished a strange
weapon.

 Voldo almost avoided the
man's attack, but its blade
nicked his skin. A numbness
started to spread over his
body.

 The man's weapon must be
poisoned!

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct,23
Weapon:
Snake Wind
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 Li is an assassin from the
Ming Dynasty. He was on his
way to Japan to kill Mitsurugi
and avenge the death of his
love, Chie.

 Beat him before the poison
spreads!

 Voldo was weakened by Li
Long's poison, but still over
-came the assassin's attack.

 Defeated, Li Long gave Voldo
the antidote and the weapon
"Poison Arrow."

   Colosseum

 There is a secret arena
where fierce warrios gather
to battle for rare and valuable
weapons.

 Voldo stumbled upon this
hidden place in his travels.

 As Voldo entered the great
colosseum, his blind eyes could
not read the sign:

-----------------------------

       EVENT OF THE DAY
        SURVIVAL MATCH
    WINNER WILL BE AWARDED
          A WEAPON!

-----------------------------

 Beat all enemies!

 Voldo was victorious over
all four combatants.

 The prize was the "Buffalo
Horn."

   The desert

 There is a desert in central
Asia. It is the hardest stretch
fro travelers to cross.

 Voldo stopped to rest at the
ruine of an ancient castle.

 He was suddenly attacked from
behind!

"I was here first! The sword
is mine!"

 Voldo reeled from the powerful
blow as he turned to face a
masked woman.

Taki
Age: 22
Born: ?
Weapon: Kunai
Style:
Dream-slashed sword

   The Underground Hunter

 She is a ninja who kills
demons for a living. She
believes her own magic sword
"Rekkimaru" is being affected
by the evil sword "SoulEdge."
Her search brought her to these
ruins.

 Defeat the enemy in this
desperate situation !

 Against incredible odds,
Voldo still managed to defeat
Taki. The ruins didn't hold
"SoulEdge." but Voldo found
the weapon "Pata."

 Voldo headed for Spain where
Cervantes awaits.

   Decisive Battle

 Voldo, once again arrived at
Cervantes' Spanish port town.

 Nothing but silence greets
his return.

Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48(immortal)
Born: Jan.1
Weapon: SoulEdge
Style: Possessed

   The Immortal Pirate

"Look who is bacl. Vercci's
lap dog. Your devotion to the
Death Merchant will only bring
you death!"

 Defeat him!

 "I was looking for these.
Only these were my regret."
Voldo found the swords at last
and kneeld down slowly.

 He did not remember how to
express joy, but he was sure
his master would.
Holding "SoulEdge" in his
hands, he pressed the swords
to his cheek lovingly.

 When Voldo returned to his
"home," he set "SoulEdge"
into the place of honor. His
master's weapon collection was
completed at last. Voldo
felt a great sense of relief

Deep underground, there is a
throne made of glittering gold
and countless gems. On this
throne, sits Voldo, obedient
to the new command of his
long-dead master.

"Guard SoulEdge until the end
of time!"

 Voldo still sits...
------------------------------

2.10 Cervantes

------------------------------
Name:
Cervantes de Leon
Age: 48
Born: Jan.1

Height: 177 cm (5'9")
Weight: 80 kg (176 lb)
Blood Type: 0
Family:
The "rethen of the sea"
are his family now.
Weapon:
Wicked Sword "SoulEdge"
Style: Possessed

 The mighty Spanish armada
held supremecy over the
Atlantic Ocean. But sometimes
they were not enough. That is
where the privateers came in.

 Phillip Leon was one such
privateer. He commanded a
proud ship with a special
commission from the Spanish
King to loot in the name of
Spain.

He once told his son,
Cervantes:

"A sailor must always be
strong and gentle."

 Young Cervantes was proud of
his father. He was devastated
when his father died at sea.
Phillip's ship had moved
alongside an English ship in
order to plunder it.
Unbeknownst to him, it was a
ruse; an English warship in
disguise.

 Their cannon shells shattered
the Spanish galleon. wiping
Captain Leon from history
forever.

 The young man received his
father's hat,his only remains.
He swore:

"This is where his allegiances
to the crown have gotten him!
I will be against all
countries! I'll become a
pirate!"

 And thus, Captain Cervantes
the pirate, was born.
He started a reigne of terror
across the Atlantic in his
ship, the Adrian, showing no
mercy to anyone, even those
in the invincible armada.

 One day, a messenger of the
"Merchant of Death," Vercci,
entered Cervantes' haunt, an
inn called the Black Tail.

 He told the pirate of Vercci's
search for the legendary
weapons, "SoulEdge."

"This Vercci wants my aid,
does he?"

 The messenger promised an
exceptional reward for the
recovery of the swords. But
the pirate did not like the
idea of working for anyone.
What to do?...

 Cervantes finally accepted
the offer as a lark. For a
year, he searched for Vercci.
Finally, he came across some
information.

 At a secret antiques auction,
an English man made a
successful bid on a "strange
article."

 The ship carrying the man and
the article was setting sail.
Cervantes made plans to
intercept the ship.

 There was no conclusive
evidence that this was
"SoulEdge," but then why
should a pirate pass up
such an oppurtnity?

 The sea was stormy as the
Adrian set sail after the
passenger ship.

"Get ready, me hearties!
There she blows! Helmsman,
hard to port! Ready the
cannons...fire!"

 The boom of cannons echoed
across the stormy sea.
Columns of water surrounded
the passenger ship.

 The Adrian came along side.
Cervantes raised his cutlass,
rallying his bloodthirsty
pirates.

"SoulEdge is our prize!
All else goes to Hades!"

Mysteriously, the pirate
Cervantes has neither been
seen nor heard of since...

   Imitation

 The Adrian, Cervantes' pirate
galleon, lies anchored in a
Spanish port.

 The town is deserted.
Nothing stirs even in the
wind.

 A man appears. Could he be
the pirate Cervantes?
Then who are you?

This is an evil place where
strange things happen. Who
knows where these evil swords
will lead you?

Your double smiles.

"HE has returned. 'SoulEdge'
will at last be mine."

Bogus Cervantes

    No details
     are known

 His mask has yet to be
uncovered. Is he a swordsman
who seeks the "SoulEdge?"

 Tear this imposter apart!

 The battle was short. The
wicked swords drank heavily
on the imposter's soul.
Cervantes took his "Main
Gauche" as a prize.

   Eurydice Shrine

 The shrine was built by
Hephaestus the God of Forge.
He was a sculptor who built
many things.

 Rumor had it a young woman
who received a divine message
in a forest spring was later
given a sacred weapon here.

 Cervantes entered the shrine,
feeling the vibrations from
the sacred weapon.
A Voice boomed out.

"You come to challenge me?
Fine! It shall be champion
against champion."

 Lightning arced and formed
a young woman armed with the
sacred weapon.

Sophitia Alexandra
Age: 18
Born: Mar.12
Weapon: Gaea Sword
Style: Athena

   Emotional Goddess

 Sophitia received the divine
revelation from the God of
Forge, Hephaestus. She battles
disasters caused by those who
were lost to the wicked swords.
Hephaestues himself made weapons
to aid her in battle!

 Crush all your enemies!

 The woman lay crumpled at
his feet.

"Ha! Is this all the mighty
God can do?"

 The shrine became corrupt
with evil energy from the
wicked sword. As a token of
his victory, Cervantes tool
"Defender" with him.

   The Desert

 The desert stretches through
the middle of Asia. Travelers
use it to avoid the dangerous
sea route, but the overland
passage can be just as deadly.

 Along the route lie the ruins
of an ancient Chinese fortress.

 In the past, the wicked sword
had seen blood shed many times
in this place. Cervantes was
led by "SoulEdge" to this
desolate wasteland.

 Today, however, someone is
among the ruins. The swords
sing out and hunger for them!

Cervantes attacks!

Hwang Sung Kyung
Age: 25
Born: Dec.14
Weapon:
Thunderous Fire
Style:
Seung's Long Blade

 He is searching for the
"Patriot Sword - SoulEdge."

Seung Mi Na
Age: 16
Born: Nov.3
Weapon: Naganaki
Style:
Seung's Long Blade

 She snuck away from home
to follow Hwang.

 Beat them!

 They were highly skilled
opponents, but still no match
for Cervantes and the magical
swords.
He too "Jirotoh" from Hwang's
body and left it cooling in
the desert sands...

   The shrine of the
    Confined Demons

 The Shrine on Omi Isle is
surrounded by bamboo.

It was built for the purpose
of containing horrible Fury-
demons.

 It is said that in the shrine
rests a weapon capable of
manipulating the human spirit.

"I feel a kindred spirit here."

"SoulEdge" tells Cervantes
as he arrives at the haunted
shrine.

 A great man, who had been
touched by the evil sword,
stepped into the light, ready
to attack.

Rock
Age: 35
Born: Dec.14
Weapon:
Crescent Ax
Style: Own Style

   Reckless Commando

 Orphaned as a young boy,
he learned to survive in the
wilderness. His body was
possessed as he entered the
shrine for shelter. Now he
is half-man, half-demon,
attacking all who pass by.

 Knock this monster out of the
ring, before your power is
drained by the Fury-demons!

 The battle between the two
possessed men was climatic!
However, Cervantes was "one"
with his swords and eventually
the victor.

As he subdued Rock, the wicked
sword siphoned up the evil
energy swimming in the air.
Rock's evil sword drained
dry, leaving "Katana" behind
for Cervantes.

   The Canyon

 The Yangtze, one of the
greatest rivers in China,
flows down the "San Kyo"
gorge.

 It serves as a watery
passageway for travellers.

 After wandering through the
wildernessm, Cervantes ended up
travelling down the Yangtze.
He was driven onward by the
wicked swords to perform his
next horrible deed.

A man on a bridge above,
spied the unusual swords with
desiring eyes.

"These swords. I must have
them."

Li Long attacked Cervantes
without realizing that he
held the wicked sword
"SoulEdge."

Li Long
Age: 24
Born: Oct.23
Weapon: Titan
Style:
Matchless Dragon

   Rage of the Executor

 Li is an assassin from the
Ming Dynasty. He returned to
find his leve, Chie; dead;
Hoping to trap her murder,
Mitsurugi, Li Long waits in
ambush along the Yangtze.
He cannot resist the lure of
"SoulEdge."

 Use a throw to defeat him!

 Cervantes found li Long's
nunchaku attack curious, but
it was not enough of a novelty
to keep him from destroying
the assassin.

 The "Three Bladed Edge" served
as an adequate reminder of
Li Long's foolish and vain
attack.

   Ostrhinesburg Castle

 The castle of the Knight
Stefan is falling as he vainly
defends against a siege by
Marquis Andre and his powerful
cannons.

 The castle is said to contain
weapons from all over the world.

 Cervantes cam to this land,
attracted by the smell of
blood and warfare. The castle
was on the verge of collapse
as men slew each other in
combat. The fields ran red
with blood. Cervantes looked
truly satisfied.

 He strode through the carnage
to the castle's gate. A young
man in armor barred his way.

"Go no further! It will mean
your doom!"

Cervantes smiled...

Siegfried
  Schtauffen
Age: 16
Born: Feb.6
Weapon: Flamberge
Style: Own Style

   Innocent Darkside

 Seeking revenge for his
father's death, he searches
for "SoulEdge."
He presently is the captain
of the Stefan's mercenaries,
Little does he know he faces
the weapon that he seeks!

 Defeat all enemies within
the time limit!

 Cervantes felt a twinge of
sympathy for the insane young
man as he cut his head from
off his shoulders. But it soon
passed. After searching the
decimated castle, he tool the
"Heavy Lance" with him for
his growing collection.

   The Secret Treasury

 This secret money pit is where
the millionaire Vercci stores
his fortune. Lying at the
bottom of a 50 meter pit on
a desert island surrounded
by deadly rip-tides, this
treasure island is indeed
impregnable.

 "Vercci..." Cervantes thought
about the man who lead him to
this fate. He decided to visit
the treasury of his former
employer.

 The elaborate system of traps
were no challenge to Cervantes
as he reached the vault.
Inside he heard the tortured
gasps of Voldo, Vercci's loyal
quardian.

Voldo
Age: 43
Born: Aug.25
Weapon:Buffalo Horn
Style: Own Style

   The Hell Guardian

 Carrying out the will of his
long-dead mster, Vercci,
Voldo has been guarding the
treasure vault for most of his
life. His sight and mind have
deteriorated in the dark pit.
However, that does not seem to
have dulled Voldo's talent for
killing, for no intruder has
ever escaped alive!

 Strike him in the air to
defea him!

"Mast..er... Ver..cci..."

 The guardian didn't even
make a death cry as Cervantes
finished him off. After a
couple of moans he stopped
moving completely.

 The sight of dead Voldo
caused Cervantes to chuckle
with laughter.

"Vercci!"

He called out.

"I have the swords you and
your servant have been
looking for! Ha Ha Ha!"

 Taking the sickle weapon,
"Serpent's Tongue" with him
Cervantes left the island.

   Hot Soul

 Cervantes returned to the
Spanish port town he had loved
so much. The anchored Adrian
lay waiting for his return.

 Evil energy filled the air
but no one was around to sense
it.

 Cervantes had let the swords
be his guide as he traveled
the world. But now the wicked
swords were calling him home
to Spain. It looked like some
hot-souled men were searching
for him.

"I shall gladly take all their
burning souls!"

 Defeat all enemies!

 "SoulEdge" took their souls,
each and everyone of them, not
even leaving destroyed husks
behind.

 Cervantes felt that he was
regaining himself, the more
souls he took. But he realized
in horror what he had become.

"Must I follow the will of
this cursed sword? No! I must
finally become its master!"

 Cervantes has regained
control. If he is to survive,
he must destroy the wicked
"SoulEdge" who has controlled
his body for so long!

Time and space warped as the
two met for a decisive battle!

SoulEdge

Weapon: Himself

"Ultimate Wicked Sword"

 Everything about him is a
mystery.

 The power of SoulEdge
manifests itself and takes
from. Do not wait long.
Your strength may not last!

 Cervantes was finally freed
of the power of SoulEdge.
He was finally its master now.

"Get ready to sail me
hearties!"

He shouted!

"We shall change this world
into a hellish paradise!"

 As he spoke, the skies split
open, letting in a mighty fleet
crewed by undead pirates,
ready to terrorize the world
with destruction and murder.

 The fleet set sail against
a black wind filled with the
smell of death...
------------------------------

3. Weapon Room

   3.01 Hwang

==============================
Blue Storm

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Nippon Blade

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:------=
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:-----
 A strong defensive
 weapon.

------------------------------
Mountain Breaker

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:--
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:--
 Enables very fast
 attacks.

------------------------------
Thunderous Fire

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:----
 Excellent in both
 attack and defense.

------------------------------
Falchion

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:------====
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:------=
 An extremely strong
 defensive weapon.

------------------------------
Sword of Dawn

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:----
    WEIGHT:---
 Highly defensive
 blade with strength
 recovering effect.
------------------------------
Midas Blade

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:-----
 Extremely high
 attack power.

------------------------------
Phantom

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:----
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:------====
    WEIGHT:----
 Invisible to the
 naked eye.

==============================

   3.02 Rock

==============================
Battle Ax

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Stone Club

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:----
  STRENGTH:------=
DURABILITY:--
    WEIGHT:------====
 Stronmg weapon,
 but consumes energy.

------------------------------
Crescent Ax

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:-
    WEIGHT:---
 Strikes quickly
 but consumes energy.

------------------------------
War Hammer

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:-
  STRENGTH:------====
DURABILITY:------====
    WEIGHT:------====
 An enormously
 powerful weapon.

------------------------------
Twin Ax

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:--
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:----
 A stron defensive
 weapon.

------------------------------
Cross Ax

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------==
    WEIGHT:-----
 Extremely high
attack power.

------------------------------
Double Tomahawk

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------
    WEIGHT:---
 Excellent in speed and
 defense.

------------------------------
Great Ax

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:----
  STRENGTH:------==
DURABILITY:------====
    WEIGHT:----
 Immense attacking
 power, and energy
 reviving effect.
==============================

   3.03 Taki

==============================
Rekkimaru

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Iron Fan

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:----
    WEIGHT:--
 Enables ver fast
 attacks.

------------------------------
Mekkimaru

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:------
 Strong weapon, but
 consumes energy.

------------------------------
Jutte

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:----==
  STRENGTH:------====
DURABILITY:------====
    WEIGHT:---
 Extremely good at
 destroying weapons.

------------------------------
Gaea Sword

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:------==
    WEIGHT:-----
 Recovers energy.


------------------------------
Kunai

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:--
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

------------------------------
Tanto

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:-
    WEIGHT:----
 Excellent in both
 attack and defense.

------------------------------
Spirirt Blade

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:------===
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:---
 An outstanding weapon
 in all aspects.

==============================

   3.04 Sophitia

==============================
Omega Sword

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Gaea Sword

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:------==
    WEIGHT:-----
 Recovers energy.


------------------------------
Sword Breaker

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:--
  STRENGTH:------====
DURABILITY:------====
    WEIGHT:---
 Extremely good at
 destroying weapons.

------------------------------
Fire Blade

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------
    WEIGHT:---
 Strong, but heath
 emitting from the
 sword drains strength.
------------------------------
Blue Crystal Rod

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Highly defensive
 blade with strength
 recovering effect.
------------------------------
Rapier

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:--
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:--
 1.4 times longer than
 OMEGA SWORD.

------------------------------
Apollo Sword

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:------==
    WEIGHT:---
 Immense attacking
power, and energy
reviving effect.
------------------------------
Valkyrie

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:------=
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:---
 Weapon gauge recovers
 withing certain period
 of time.
==============================

   3.05 Mitsurugi

==============================
Korefuji

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Onimaru

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:--
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:--
    WEIGHT:-----
 Strong weapon, but
 consumes energy.

------------------------------
Iron Slasher

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:------==
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:---
 Outstanding weapon
 destruction capability
 and durability.
------------------------------
Kojiro's Sword

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:-----
 Excellent reach
 1.5 times longer than
 KOREFUJI.
------------------------------
Water Moon

     POWER:----
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:----
 Highly defensive
 blade with strength
 recovering effect.
------------------------------
Two Handed Sword

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:----
 Extremely high
 attack power.

------------------------------
Falx

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

------------------------------
Murasame

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:-
    WEIGHT:---
 Renders any defense
 almost ineffective.

==============================

   3.06 Siegfried

==============================
Faust

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Grimblade

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:---
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:---
 Consumes tremendous
 energy when attacking.

------------------------------
Atlas Sword

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:--
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:------=
 Highly defensive
 blade with strength
 recovering effect.
------------------------------
Flamberge

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:--
Enables swift attacks.


------------------------------
7 Branch Blade

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:--
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-
    WEIGHT:----
 Weapon gauge recovers
 within certain period
 of time.
------------------------------
Hard Steel Blade

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:------==
DURABILITY:------==
    WEIGHT:-----
 A tremendously
 powerful sword.

------------------------------
Claymore

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:--
  STRENGTH:---
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

------------------------------
SoulEdge

     POWER:------====*
   DEFENSE:------====*
  STRENGTH:------====*
DURABILITY:------====*
    WEIGHT:------====*
 The ultimate evil
 sword. Dangerously
 powerful.
==============================

   3.07 Seung Mina

==============================
Zanbatoh

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Tiger Fang

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:------==
 Strong weapon, but
 consumes energy.

------------------------------
Long Handled Sword

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:--
 Enables very fast
 attacks.

------------------------------
Nagamaki

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:----
    WEIGHT:---
 Enables swift attacks.


------------------------------
Halbard

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------
    WEIGHT:------=
 Immense attacking
 power, and energy
 reviving effect.
------------------------------
Morning Star

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:------==
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:-----
 A stron defensive
 weapon.

------------------------------
Sickled Spear

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

------------------------------
Spiked Mace

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:------=
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:----
 Weapon gauge recovers
 within certain period
 of time.
==============================

   3.08 Li Long

==============================
Falcon

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Snake Wind

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:--
  STRENGTH:--
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:----
 Inflicts damage
 against opponent's
 defense.
------------------------------
Titan

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:---
 A strong defensive
 weapon.

------------------------------
Phoenix

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:--
 Excellent in speed and
 defense.

------------------------------
Steel Dragon

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:------====
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:-----
 Excellent at
 destroying weapons.

------------------------------
White Tiger

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------==
    WEIGHT:------
 Extremely high
 attack poer.

------------------------------
Asura

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:------
    WEIGHT:---
 Excellent in both
 attack and defense.

------------------------------
Twin Thunder

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:------=
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

==============================

   3.09 Voldo

==============================
Katar

     POWER:-----
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-----
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:-----
 Standard weapon.


------------------------------
Full Moon

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:------=
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:--
 A strong defensive
 weapon.

------------------------------
Iron Claw

     POWER:-
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

------------------------------
Guillotine

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:------====
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:------=
 Heavy, but its weight
 produces outstanding
 power.
------------------------------
Poison Arrow

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:---
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:---
 Inflicts damage
 against opponent's
 defense.
------------------------------
Buffalo Horn

     POWER:------==
   DEFENSE:------
  STRENGTH:---
DURABILITY:-----
    WEIGHT:--
 Recovers energy.


------------------------------
Pata

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------===
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------
    WEIGHT:----
 An extremely strong
 defensive weapon.

------------------------------
SoulEdge

     POWER:------====*
   DEFENSE:------====*
  STRENGTH:------====*
DURABILITY:------====*
    WEIGHT:------====*
 The ultiamte evil
 sword. 2.6 times
 longer than KATAR.
==============================

   3.10 Cervantes

==============================
SoulEdge

     POWER:------====*
   DEFENSE:------====*
  STRENGTH:------====*
DURABILITY:------====*
    WEIGHT:------====*
 The ultimate
 evil sword.

------------------------------
Main Gauche

     POWER:--
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:---
    WEIGHT:--
 Enables swift attacks.


------------------------------
Defender

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:---
 A strong defensive
 weapon.

------------------------------
Jirotoh

     POWER:------=
   DEFENSE:---
  STRENGTH:------==
DURABILITY:------===
    WEIGHT:---
 Extremely good at
 destroying weapons.

------------------------------
Katana

     POWER:---
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:------
DURABILITY:----
    WEIGHT:------
 Inflicts damage
 against opponent's
 defense.
------------------------------
3 Bladed Edge

     POWER:------====
   DEFENSE:-----
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:--
    WEIGHT:---
 Extremely high
 attack power.

------------------------------
Heavy Lance

     POWER:------
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:------==
DURABILITY:------=
    WEIGHT:----
 Excellent at
 destroying weapons.

------------------------------
Serpent's Tongue

     POWER:------===
   DEFENSE:------==
  STRENGTH:-
DURABILITY:------====
    WEIGHT:-
 Enables extremely
 fast attacks.

==============================

4. Soul Calibur History

   4.01 Prologue:

   By history a man becomes a soldier,
through history a soldier becomes a hero.

    This is a tale of souls and swords,
transcending the world and all it's history,
          told for all eternity...

     From a bard's song in the fourteenth century
                                   Author unknown

The story begins with Captain Cervantes, one of the most dreadful pirates of
the era. After he acquired the evil twin swords "Soul Edge", Cervantes and his
mighty ship the "Adrian" struck fear into the Atlantic Ocean. Once fully
possessed by the demon swords, he slew his entire crew and the residence of his
port base in Spain. After the bloodshed, Cervantes rested himself at the
remains of what was once known as the "Black Tail Inn". Temporarily satisfied
with its twisted desire to consume souls, the evil swords rested and prepared
to create the "Child of the Evil Swords"...

During the next twenty years, the rumors of the evil swords spread throughout
the world. Some believed it was the sword of salvation, while others called it
the ultimate weapon. Some, selected by destiny and history, sought Soul Edge
for personal reasons. Fortunately, few reached Soul Edge; those that did cursed
their fate as the evil swords devoured their souls.

However there was one who fought the cursed fate... Sophitia, the sacred
fighter of Hephaestus the God of Blacksmiths. During the grueling battle with
Cervantes, she succeeded in destroying one of the twin swords. But in doing so,
she was wounded as the pieces of the shattered sword rained upon her body.
Cervantes, with wrath as if a part of him had been destroyed, was about to end
her life when Taki the "Underground Hunter" challenged him.

Due to his loss of control from the destruction of one of the blades, the
intense battle between Taki and Cervantes ended with the victory of the
"Underground Hunter". She completed her mission by gathering a piece of the
destroyed Soul Edge and left with the injured Sophitia.

Siegfried, the "Innocent Darkside," visited the port town seeking the sword of
legend for his vengeance, only to find the corpse of a pirate captain.
Attracted by a sword clutched in the dead pirate's hand, Siegfried walked
toward it take possession of the blade, but suddenly the corpse rose up
enveloped in hell fire. It seemed as if an evil spirit had materialized on
earth consuming Cervantes' body.

With a flash, mortal combat began. The Zweihander "Faust", roared in the hands
of the boy, who seemed too little to bear such a heavy blade, and slashed
through the air controlled by the madness in the youth's eyes. When the battle
ended, all that remained was the burnt corpse and the boy grasping the now
broken Zweihander. His green eyes reflected the Soul Edge bathed in hell
fire...

The youth's warped spirit extended a hand to Soul Edge, as if being guided by
the evil spirit which longed for a new host to maintain its power and
control...

That night, some people at the Spanish seashore saw a mysterious but beautiful
scene of a white column of light piercing the clouds and spreading through the
sky. How could they have known, it was the birth of the Evil Seed, which would
cause disasters throughout the world?

   Thus started the next chapter in history.
	        This is a tale from the sixteenth century...

===========================================================================================================================

   4.01 Chapter I:

Kilik - Awaken Destiny

The Ling Sheng Su Temple rested on a quite mountain deep in the interior of
China. This temple is considered to be the finest school for the sword and rod
arts. Many heroes of history have come from this great temple and to this day
the monks here are still strong. Up until 10 years ago the temple had very
little communication with the outside world. But one-day, robbers raided the
neighboring town and the monks opened their doors and saved the village. Now
the great temple accepts anyone regardless of age or gender, so long as they
have a strong fighting spirit. Since then it has been customary for the
children of soldiers to visit the temple to brush up their skills and the
farmers and merchants to come to the temple to learn some basic techniques to
protect themselves from robbers.

In the main hall of the Ling Sheng Su Temple there were three sacred weapons
call the Kali-Yuga, the Krita-Yuga and the Dvapara-Yuga. No one knew why the
treasures were kept there, the reasons stretch far beyond recorded history and
the monks of the temple have strictly enforced the rules.

One winter day a baby was found deserted in front of the Ling Sheng Su Temple.
Despite weeks of searching the child's parents could not be found and thus the
baby was named "Kilik" and adopted by the temple. Kilik grew up healthy and
trained himself with the monks and pupils of the temple in the ways of the rod
from a very young age. He also had a sworn elder sister named Xianglian. She
too was adopted by the temple and there she studied the art of the sword. She
felt close to Kilik since they were both orphans and she loved him as a younger
brother.

Years passed and Kilik grew into a strong and healthy youth. By natural talent
or not Kilik mastered art of the rod taught from Master Han and became one of
the school's finest students. With his skill and warm personality he was able
to serve as one of the school's teachers. Thus it was natural that he would be
nominated to be the successor of the Ling Sheng Su style rod at the succession
ceremony held once every 20 years. At the ceremony he would be granted the
Kali-Yuga, on of the three scared weapons of the temple. As the successor his
status in the temple would be raise atop the rod school as the most skilled
student in the temple.

The cool wind of the night was gently blowing. Kilik couldn't sleep and sat on
the stone wall behind the main hall and looked up into the moon lit sky. This
was Kilik's favorite place within the temple. When he was a child he used to
come here and look into the stars each time his heart was sad. Suddenly he
sensed a new presence behind him, there stood Xianglian. She too was elected to
be one of the successors of the treasures, the Dvapara-Yuga. As they talked
they remember many old memories; this place was special to both of them.

Why did Xianglian, master of the sword, succeed the Dvapara-Yuga and not the
Krita-Yuga?

Kilik finally asked her the question that had troubled his mind for so long.
Xianglian quietly replied that there were only two of three treasures currently
in the temple and that the Krita-Yuga had been lost over ten years ago.

The scared weapons had been a spiritual goal for the students of the temple. In
days of turbulence, such as attacks by robbers, the thought of losing one of
the treasures would have been a great moral damage to the temple. Thus the fact
that the Krita-Yuga was missing was strictly taboo and only a few of the
highest-ranking monks knew about it. They knew they had to hide the fact that
the Krita-Yuga was missing and more over the thief was non other than a high
ranking monk of temple once nominated to be the successor of the Kali-Yuga!

Surprised to hear one of the three treasure had been lost, Kilik stood shocked
as Xianglian continued her tale. "Those are not all the facts, I am not worthy
the succeed the art of the sword because the thief of the Krita-Yuga is no
other than my father."

She learned of this when she overheard a conversation between the school's
masters. Master Han was aware Xianglian had heard and said to her gently, "You
have no connection to these facts, cut your own path in life and never let the
act of your parents rule you."

At the time Xianglian was too young to understand but as she grew she
understood the words of the master. However she still felt she had no right to
be the successor of the art of the sword. If she did succeed and people
discovered the truth they would not except her. And Xianglian herself did not
wish to be the successor. This was her decision after long and deep thought on
the matter and Master Han understood her choice and nominated her to be the
successor of the mirror. The skills need to be the successor of the mirror were
not natural fighting talent but the power of a pure soul and a strong mind. In
those areas she was more than strong enough.

Silence fell on the couple as their thoughts reflected on understanding the
other's situation. The cool night breeze grew cold as they began to stand to
leave for a good night's rest. They suddenly felt the moonlight grow stronger
and looked into the sky and saw a beautiful display of lights covering the sky.
But some how the couple sensed the evil within the light and ran to a nearby
hall. Deep in the hall lay the shrine for the sacred treasures. Some priests in
the hall were preparing for tomorrow's ceremonies when they felt the evil
presence and handed Kilik and Xianglian the Kali-Yuga and the Dvapara-Yuga to
fight the evil.

It all began some hours before in the land of Spain when a young mercenary
carelessly touched the forbidden evil sword Soul Edge. At that moment Soul Edge
lost it inner balance, expelled its evil will and scattered the Evil Seeds of
disaster all over the world!

A part of that evil energy reached across the continent to this mountain
village and fell upon the temple. It forced pure evil into the people of the
temple, driving them mad with rage as they started killing each other.

Poisoned by the Evil Seed, Kilik also went berserk with one of the three
treasures in his hands. He was so strong he defeated many people and still
relentlessly fought on. Only Xianglian with the Dvapara-Yuga on her shoulder
could escape the evil influence. Realizing the power of the mirror she tried to
get close to Kilik to place the mirror on him but the people of the temple
seized by the Evil Seed savagely attacked her.

When his senses returned Kilik had no memory of what had happened. Though he
remained confused he was forced to fight his attackers in order to survive. His
master who rescued and raised him, the friends he had trained with, his own
students, everyone attacked Kilik or ruthlessly killed each other. Kilik's
words never reach them, tired and confused by the madness Kilik tried to escape
from the temple. But just then Kilik sensed a bloodthirsty presence behind him,
he raised his rod in defense and saw a sight he had hoped never to see.
Xianglian had turned into a puppet of madness; Kilik desperately repelled her
attacks that held strength clearly beyond any woman's. He was exhausted, his
consciousness was fading and then he closed his eyes and moved without thought.
A moment later he felt a pain on his left check and a response in his hands.
The something warm trailed down the rod and covered his hands. He opened his
eyes reluctantly and in horror gaze upon the Kali-Yuga piecing the heart of
Xianglian.

"AHHHHHHHHH...!!!!", a sad cry echoed in the darkness of night. He remembered
nothing after that.

As the sky began to turn gray from the east a figure stood in the now silent
temple. The old man remained calm despite the mountains of death and rivers of
blood that fell upon his eyes. He found Kilik laying alone unconscious. The old
man set fire to the once great temple and carried Kilik to his home.

Kilik had been asleep for two days and now awoke in an unfamiliar house. He
found his body covered in scares and signs that his wounds had been cared for
but he couldn't summon the strength to move. He realized the old man sitting in
front of him had taken care of him despite not knowing who he was.

The man told Kilik that he was the adviser to the Ling Sheng Su arts of
fighting and that he was in charge of teaching the secret arts of the Ling
Sheng Su style. He told Kilik that he could never take the Dvapara-Yuga off his
shoulder no matter what might happen. The old man told a silent Kilik that he
must concentrate on healing his body and nothing more.

Time has passed and Kilik recovered the ability to walk. One night he looked up
into the southern sky, the nightmare of that night returned to his mind.

Kilik couldn't bear his life. Though he had to defend himself he felt the
weight of guilt bearing down on him, he who had killed the people that raised
him as an orphan, his master, his comrades whom he shared joy and sorrow and
most of all his beloved Xianglian.

"I do not deserve life..." Kilik wanted to die. But, how strange it was. He
fought desperately for the chance to live then and yet the pain of living was
more than he could bear. Then Kilik suddenly realized, "Why was the
Dvapara-Yuga on me when Xianglian had placed it on her shoulder? If I survived
because of the power of the mirror, then Xianglian must have gave her own life
to entrust me with the mirror. She gave me life... TELL ME SISTER WHY MUST I
LIVE!?"

"Time will give you the answer." The old man told an agonized Kilik.

From that night the old man broke his silence and began the story. The true
source of the tragedy at the temple was known as the "Evil Seed". In fact as
they spoke evil spirits possessed both Kilik and the Kail-Yuga, but the power
of the Dvapara-Yuga suppressed the evil and protected them. If the mirror was
removed from Kilik he would be seized with evil and run berserk just as the
people of the temple had. If the Dvapara-Yuga was removed form Kilik's body,
Kilik would turn completely evil. If the Kali-Yuga was separated from Kilik it
too would cause disasters, therefore Kilik and the two ancient treasures could
never be separated. Then the old man told the legend of the evil sword, "Soul
Edge".

"You must live as I once did." The eyes of the mentor shined deeply as if he
could foresee everything.

Kilik decided to train himself under the old master. As Kilik trained hard to
master the secret arts of the Ling Sheng Su style rod and three years passed
quickly. He learned to control himself and the Kali-Yuga to stop the
possession.

"I order you to your final trial."

The final trial was a journey to purify himself in the west.

"Everything is waiting for you in the west." With the final word of the
master, Kilik left the hermitage to begin his quest.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

Despite losing its physical shape the demon blade still burnt violently and
prepared to be scatter throughout the world again.

Kilik chanted quietly but powerfully, "Om Vajradharma hrih"
The instant the Dvapara-Yuga clash the evil flame was sealed.

Through his many battles he learned to control the evil within. Despite his
great victories Kilik remained unsatisfied and returned to the pure train
ground.

Here at the end of the earth where the sky begins his eyes reflected the
celestial bodies of the farthest heavens.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.02 Chapter II:

Xianghua - Itenerant Flower of the Breeze

The story begins some decades before our heroine was born...

The Chai family has been and continues to be a strong family with a lineage of
proud soldiers serving the nation.

Once the eldest son succeeded his father's estate the remaining sons left the
house to search for their independence. The second son of the house settled
down in the town were the Ling Sheng Su temple was located since the great
school was considered to be the strongest martial arts school in the land. The
son was intent on following the traditions of the Chai family and these
traditions stated that regardless of man or woman all members of the family
must become skilled martial-artists and serve the nation. His daughter,
Xiangfei, was born in the town and attended the Ling Sheng Su school to learn
the art of swordplay. Due to her bloodline or not her diligent training over
the years brought her a level of skill that surpassed even the monks of the
great school. If only she had been born a man, then surely she would have been
nominated to be the successor of the secret arts of the Ling Sheng Su sword
style.

After her father passed away she began to train even harder and soon Xiangfei
fell in love with one of the monks of the Ling Sheng Su temple. His name was
Kong Xiuqiang, the probable candidate to be the successor of the one of the
three treasures of the temple; the rod called "Kali-Yuga". Sadly this was a
forbidden love. The managed to keep their love secret for many years and not
until their daughter named Xianglian was born unto them did the monks know of
their relationship.

This was Xianglian's second year.

A candidate could never sway from the pure path and thus the school drove the
lovers apart. The school took little Xianglian. With both her daughter and her
lover gone Xiangfei could not bear her sorrow and decided to leave town and
never return.

Their sworn brother Han Dongxiu heard she was leaving told a penitent and
depressed Kong. "How can you just sit here and wait? Leave now! Create your own
future with your own strength!"

With Han's help Kong was able to sneak away from the temple and down to the
town under the vale of darkness. He gave Xiangfei a sword as proof of their
love and as a reminder of the hope they would meet again. It was all he could
do.

Xiangfei left the town and told none her final destination. She left pregnant
with her second child but she hoped Kong would soon forget about her and focus
on his candidacy for the Kali-Yuga. She returned to her noble family. With the
Chai family's long lineage of soldiers in the Ming Empire capitol she was able
to join the ranks of the soldiers. There she bore her second daughter Xianghua.
Xianghua was brought into the Ming family and her mother never told her about
the past. Meanwhile the Ling Sheng Su temple was facing a great crisis. The
"Krita-Yuga", one of the three treasures of the temple was missing.
Investigations traced the theft back to Kong and he was immediately
excommunicated and drove from the temple. Xianglian was left alone and the
temple decided to raise her as an orphan.

Kong followed traces of Xianglian and discovered her link to the Chai family.

However the Chai family told him, "She believes that you are in the temple
training hard. She would certainly be sad if she met you. We beg you, please
leave here and take no more action."

As persuaded Kong left the house without knowing his second daughter had been
born. He could never return to the temple and so he left the town and
disappeared.

Meanwhile the temple's search for the Krita-Yuga continued and the first
suspect was Xiangfei. The search party found her but the sword they could not.
All they found was little Xianghua playing with an old sword and Xiangfei
looking after her daughter. The search party returned to the temple in failure
and after many years the temple gave up the large-scale search.

How could they have known? No one knew, not little Xianghua, the search party,
the Chai family, or even Xiangfei herself knew that the old sword in Xianghua's
hands was none other than the Krita-Yuga one of the three treasures of the Ling
Sheng Su temple ranking with the Kali-Yuga and the Dvapara-Yuga. To prevent its
true power from being abused and in case it was ever separated from the other
three treasures the Krita-Yuga would change its shape and sleep in silence.
Only Kong, who separated it from the other treasures, knew this secret.

Xianghua grew up never knowing she had an elder sister and by her tenth year
she had acquired the basic arts of swordplay. Her mother's death drove her to
train as hard as her dear mother once had and by her sixteenth year her skill
was so renowned she applied for a position in as one of the royal guards of the
Ming Emperor.

The emperor of the Ming Empire irritated by the lack of progress searching for
"Soul Edge" the hero's sword, decided to send his royal guards as the third
searching party. Xiangua's best fried Meimei and Ming's Imperial Maid of Honor
heard that Xianghua was part of the search party and asked her to look into her
brother, Li Long's health. Xianghua agreed to the task.

Xianghua had been training herself in martial arts under her mother since she
was a child. "You were born to complete an important task... fight you way
through your cursed destiny!" were the last words of her tender mother.
Xianghua left for the quest, having her keepsake sword in hand. More and more
of the members of the search party dispersed chasing various bits of
information and rumors. Xianghua left the troop as well chasing a hint of
information when she met Kilik. Was it fate? What would happen when the three
treasures meet in one place...?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

As if aware of the decisive moment her sword,
the Krita-Yuga, revealed its true form.

She channeled her pure spirit through the sword and it gave her an unparalleled
power.
The grueling battle ended as Xianghua stood in victory.

Sunlight split the nimbus and showered on her body.
"I did the right thing... didn't I mother?"

She narrowed her eyes as the sunlight danced on her naive visage and warmed her
soul.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.03 Chapter III:

Maxi - Dandy from the South Sea

Maxi was a pirate from Ryukyu Kingdom who sailed freely like the wind. Maxi had
anchored his ship at an Indian port to enjoy the night when Kilik arrived
searching for a ship to the west. Kyam, Maxi's sworn brother, was taking care
of the ship while Maxi was out. Kyam liked Kilik because he chose their ship
among many. "You have a good eye! Be our guest and I'll ask my brother for
you!" Kyam laughed.

As Kilik was waiting Maxi's return, the weather grew hostile. As a strong wind
began to blow, a mysterious ship approached within a thick fog. As soon as the
ship moored along Maxi's, a crowd of monsters with dead eyes attacked Kilik.
Without knowing their reasons for attacking him, Kilik fought the monsters with
Kali-Yuga but the monsters managed to slaughter Maxi's crew.

The battle was raging as Maxi returned. "You bastards! Prepare to die!!!"
roared Maxi.

Maxi and Kilik alone managed to drive the monsters back, but as they did the
giant, Astaroth, bearing a huge ax mortally wounded Kyam and pulled the
Dvapara-Yuga off Kilik as they withdrew. Without the Dvapara-Yuga Kilik lost
control and attacked Maxi. Maxi defended himself and placed the Dvapara-Yuga
upon Kilik. The instant he did Kilik lost consciousness.

"Brother ... take Kilik west, and see the world for yourself ... on behalf of
us.... " Kyam begged Maxi in his last breath. Maxi lost everything in an
instant. He decided to travel with Kilik and take revenge on Astaroth for Kyam.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

His fight with the demon blade was all Maxi could bare.
"Hehehe... you are too late"

"No! Say this isn't... please!!"
"I... must... leave..."
"Kilik... I..."
"MAXI!!!"

Kilik hung his head in silence.
Xianghua also stood in silence.

The wind is blowing, clouds are floating, all unaware of their travels.
"Our memories are all..."
A windy voice of a cloud whispered in the dandy's tone.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.04 Chapter IV:

Mitsurugi - Mercenary in a Warlike Age

Mitsurugi lost all traces of Soul Edge and remained unaware of its true form.
Without a weapon superior to the Tanegashima rifle he felt he could never
return home. But his irritation drove him mad and he chose to duel against the
Tanegashima in front of lords. Despite his skill the Tanegashima bested him and
Mitsurugi took a bullet in the chest.

Completely defeated, Mitsurugi realized he needed to study additional arts of
the sword to match the Tanegashima rifle. After learning new styles he heard
the story of a knight named Nightmare and his invincible sword roaming Europe
in a trail of blood.

"Prepare for my arrival, 'Naito-whatever'! I'll be there to take your sword!"

Mitsurugi once again prepared for his journey.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

After countless battles the demon blade
"Soul Edge" was finally in his hands.

While returning to his homeland
he was ambushed by pirate ship.

The bloodthirsty pirates surrounded Mitsurugi.
As he looked down the barrel of their guns he smiled and murmured,
"I've had enough of duels... let's play with the sword!"
This was the last anyone heard of the samurai who was called
"The mercenary in the warlike age".
No one knows where his journey ended.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.05 Chapter V:

Taki - Dream Shadow of Demon Sealer

Taki's Journey

The battle was beyond imagination. A conflict against a powerful dark energy
that made the ghosts she had conquered in the past seem like child's play. Her
armor, which she had been improving for years, could not bear the pulse of evil
and cracked and her sealing spells proved useless. At last her beloved and
proud Rekki-maru cracked as the mad pirate shrieked in death.

Carrying the wounded girl that managed to destroy one of the evil blades Taki
left the Spanish harbor, and as she left she felt an immense explosion of evil
energy behind her, the release of the Evil Seed. Taki removed the shards of the
evil sword from Sophitia's wounded body and cured her. After she returned
Sophitia to her family she left for her homeland with the shards of the Soul
Edge. During her travels she was reminded of the events that unfolded before
her departure...

...It all began before Rekki-maru began to resonate with the curse of Soul
Edge. Toki, the chief of the clan and Taki's foster father, suddenly summoned
all the ninjas of the clan and addressed them, "Hachibei who once lead this
great clan with me has stolen the spiritual ninja-to Mekki-maru and ran away
with his daughter Chie. The are now nuke-nin!(Ed. Nuke-nin are ninja that leave
their clan without permission, usually ninja can not leave the clan until they
die because the secrets of their clan and lord. Thus the clan is responsible
for the nuke-nin and must execute them as soon as possible. This was one of the
tragedies of the ninja, as a nuke-nin if the ninja wanted to live they must
kill their friends, kith and kin that now sought their lives.)I order find them
and return Mekki-maru dead or alive!"

Seeing the pure fury in his eyes Taki began to grow suspicious in Toki for the
first time.

No one could find Hachibei; his skill in hiding was easily the finest in the
clan. Only Taki with her unusual sixth sense and massive intelligence network
could even begin to track him down. Eventually after following a trace of Chie,
her childhood friend, Taki was able to locate Hachibei.

Hachibei and Chie ran a small stall on a vacant road. A man of extraordinary
strength lived with them at the time. Taki avoided trouble and contacted
Hachibei while the man was out. Hachibei was surprised to find Taki in front of
him at first but eventually his face filled with relief. He showed Taki
Mekki-maru and began talking through his heavy coughs.

"Toki is possessed by madness and has lost his senses. This Mekki-maru
controls him now."

The ninja-to she took from Hachibei seems quiet and dull even though Hachibei
claimed it had extraordinary spiritual powers.

"Toki is not the Toki we knew, if he comes in contact with this blade
again... I am in my final days. I beg you Taki never let Toki have this blade!
Never!"

Hachibei was ill and he knew Toki would find him soon. With these new facts
Taki's suspicions in Toki grew, she left and decided to let Hachibei and Chie
go free. She hid Mekki-maru and returned to her clan to confirm her suspicions.

"A Chinese man, Chie's lover, has taken Mekki-maru. Hachibei and Chie have
already been killed."

In hearing her report Toki grinned and ordered the clan to pursue the Chinese
man. Toki was not the Toki Taki had known, his eyes were full of evil and Taki
could see the madness behind them. Her suspicions were confirmed.

At the same time Mekki-maru suddenly changed, she knew the evil blade was
resonating with an unexpected power and she believed the source to be an evil
sword in a foreign country. Taki crossed the sea for the first time...

Taki returned homeland with a shard of the Soul Edge. She tried to drive the
shard into her beloved but broken ninja-to "Rekki-maru", but they were
resistant to one another and refused to be joined. Meanwhile, Taki was attacked
repeatedly by assassins who seemed to be sent by Toki, her master ninja. It was
an easy task for Taki to drive them away, but she found that their purpose was
to steal the mysterious spiritual ninja-to "Mekki-maru", which Hachibei had
entrusted to Taki.

"In Mekki-maru there is sealed a fearful power. Never let Toki have the
ninja-to. You are only one that I could entrust..."

Reminded of Hachibei's words, Taki tried to fuse the shard of Soul Edge with
Mekki-maru. The two were immediately united and began to shed a dark aura. An
aura so dark even common people could sense it. Sensing the blade's potential
Taki closed it in its sheath and sealed it with magic cards. However even this
was not enough power to suppress the power of Mekki-maru. And the instant she
ran out of power she was captured by Geki, Toki's right hand man and his
highest-ranking ninja. Exhausted from battling Mekki-maru Taki could not resist
the strength of Geki as he took Mekki-maru from her hands.

"Respectable Taki, I'm sorry to say this ninja-to belongs to Master Toki. You
must have thought you deceived us well, but everything was planned from the
beginning. Now it is time for you to rest."

"No Geki don't release it!"

A careless Geki watch in horror as his right arm was blown to bits as the blade
shed a dark shock wave upon its release from the sheath. His shriek of pain
split the bamboo forest; Taki seized the moment, grabbed Mekki-maru and ran
past Geki's assistants Gaki and Doki.

"Humans should never have this power... especially Toki..."

At the same time, the rumor of the berserker bearing the new evil sword reached
Japan. Taki realized that the evil sword must be the remaining Soul Edge,
because her Rekki-maru still resonated like before. Taki planned to have the
two evil swords, Soul Edge and Mekki-maru, battle each other to offset their
evil powers.

Thus Taki became a nuke-nin like Hachibei. The assassins under Toki's direct
control were powerful and fearful ninja and among them Geki, having lost his
right arm, wished to taste her blood most of all. Driving their attacks back
with her various skills, the Dream Shadow of Demon Sealer continued her quest
west.

And now the powerful ghost Gel-o-fury gained enough power from the Evil Seed to
break Taki's seals in the bamboo forest. Its direction was mostly likely the
Hoko-ji Temple in Kyoto. The great temple of madness constructed by warped
ideals would be the final battleground with the ghost.

Taki chose to share her fate with Mekki-maru for a while. Often while chasing
the Soul Edge, Taki would look at Mekki-maru and think "what terrible powers...
but, isn't there any way to control it?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

"Spirits born from evil, I command; BEGONE!!!"
Mekki-maru channeled Taki's full spiritual power
and slashed Inferno.

The ninjatou, which bore the same evil spirit as the demon blade,
was now under her control.
However Mekki-maru still quivered and Taki remained uncertain in the blade.
"It still resonates...?"

Still, she knew that her mission would be complete...
As always her parting words rang out,
"The deed is done."

===========================================================================================================================

   4.06 Chapter VI:

Voldo - Hell Guardian

After his unsuccesful search for Soul Edge, Voldo returned to the Money Pit and
found the pit flooded by a storm. He took every means to drain and restore the
pit but finally gave up as an entire section sunk under water. Meanwhile, a
female fighter violated the Money Pit searching for a note Vercci had left
about Soul Edge.

Voldo allows no one to invade his Master's sanctuary! From darkness the
guardian attacked the female fighter, but she was armed with a mysterious
weapon and her fighting style troubled him. The battle ended when the female
fighter ran away guarding herself with her weapon. Voldo kneeled in front of
Master Vercci's coffin, as usual, to report that the invader was cleared.
Suddenly, he heard the sweet voice.

"Voldo, didn't you feel her dark aura? She had the scent of Soul Edge...
Chase her, and bring me Soul Edge! Do you understand? Remember, I trust you...
"

Hearing the voice of the master, rose colors swept into Voldo's grayish cheeks
and hot blood flowed through his veins. Voldo left the Money Pit again to get
Soul Edge.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

The instant Voldo's hands touched the blade he writhed
in the flood of its twisted energy.

"Leave your soul to the sword..."
a sweet voice echoed in his mind.

Suddenly all his pain disappeared,
he regained his youth and his memory returned.

His eyes opened widely and reflected
the soft smile of his master's face.

The master's quest was over.
As was his wish.

Eternal joy surrounded him within the lonely darkness.

===========================================================================================================================

   Chapter VII:

Sophitia - Second Advent of the Vow

When she recovered her senses she found herself lying in her bed at home. She
returned to her life as the daughter of a baker and has spent her days in
peace. But one day on her way shopping with her sister, she suddenly lost
consciousness.

"So many lives... disappearing... Soul Edge?"

Sophitia was rescued and carried back home by a youth named Rothion who lived
in the next city. Since that day they were attracted to each other so strongly
that they decided to become engaged. They were visiting the Temple of
Hephaestus to report their engagement to him, when Hephaestus appeared before
them. The God of Smiths revealed that the remaining Soul Edge was regaining its
power and he needed Sophitia's help once again.

"Let me go in place of her", insisted Rothion.

"Rothion, you are a smith, aren't you? This time it is you who will forge the
armor and weapon to protect Sophitia."

Hephaestus gave Rothion a raw chunk of sacred iron and instructed Sophitia that
she must completely destroy the Soul Edge. She left home with the sword and
shield that Rothion had forged from the iron. She pursued Soul Edge, purifying
lands seized by the Evil Seed. Her eyes shined with the light of faith.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

With Hephaestus's oracle complete Sophitia returned to her love.
"Rothion, I... " "I know Sophie... "

The entire city joined them in
celebrating their beautiful wedding.

As time pasted she gave birth to a new life.
"I can no longer hear the voices of the gods,
but perhaps this baby can..."

Knowing the words or not the baby still returned its mother's smile.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.08 Chapter VIII:

Astaroth - A Soldier of the Heretic

"Where... here... I... what..."

Hot air burned its throat; groaning spells clung to the ears. It opened its
eyes. The chants echoed in the grand hall and ceased.

It recognized that a man stood high above it muttering, "Creation from
nothing..."

"What... is... this monster? Is this..? I"

"I made a first step toward a god...", murmured the man in an ecstasy.

"Shut up... you don't bother... what?"

It felt anger at the moment it was born, then found another feeling behind the
man. It stared, but there was nothing.

"Agg... Uhrrrggggg... !"

It was bombarded with memories. At first it seemed the memories of a warrior
who was fighting for something he looked for, but then followed by the chorus
of shrieks of death.

Fair, despair, flash of blades, pain, and darkness.

"Ugrrr......GhrraaaaaAAAAA.......!!!"

It cried out in the pain of birth.

Deep in the shrine the Grand Priest, Kyumm mrl py eltzk, ordered to the giant
he created; "Find the demonic sword 'Soul Edge'!"

As the monster, brandishing an ax, was leaving the shrine, Kyumm mrl py eltzk
grinned and yelled, "The great power that even god desires... With this power I
shall reach the status of a god!"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

Astaroth returned to the Grand Priest
Kyumm mrl py eltzk with Soul Edge.

"Astaroth, you've returned!
Now the power surpassing the god will be mine..."

"Wha... what are you doing!?
Leave me! No... STOP IT!! NOOOOO!!!"

"NEED... MORE... SOULS..."

The two figures faded away in the scarlet flames.

What were Astaroth's true motives?
Perhaps beyond even the darkest nightmares.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note - Executioner:

What they believe:

What they defy

The ancient cultic religion's calling translates as "the call of the
executioner". The true name of the religion has remained hidden for many
centuries.

Upper Priest Language -- py argria  Parguria
Lower Priest Language -- pargia

Note: Language in the purple is the pronunciation.

History
The cult's origins are deep in history beginning along the coasts of he Black
Sea in late BC. However the origins remain confused as some factions before
"the Guardian of the Normal Stream" were organized before the religion melded
into Greek mythology. These original factions rejected the Greek influence and
developed their own desires of destruction to enlightenment and resurrection.

The cult's entire existence remained underground and thus it was able to escape
the rise of Christianity and the other medieval religions. The religion
gradually faded from history but still grows to this day (16th century) and
developed many unique ideas that seemed to stem from Asian thought.

The cult's central guardian (god) is Ares the god of destruction and war. They
believed in harnessing the god's power to control life (resurrection) and
sought immortality. During these times the fully body of "the Guardian of the
Normal Stream" extended its hands well into the Middle East causing out breaks
of war in those regions.

The statues of snakes seen in the shrine are the remains of the other gods who
controls resurrection.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doctrine:

  "Everything in the world is merely a repeat destruction and resurrection,
even the world itself conforms without exception.

If we resist this stream it would mean the destruction of balance throughout
the whole universe, and thus the loss of balance would mean the end of all
existence.

This is the true destruction.

Humans are born, and die without question. This theory maintains the existence
of the human being. And so it to maintains the control of the world.

  "Therefore we must destroy the present world stuck in stagnation once and for
all."

They believe they must place this great destruction on the highest priority.
And thus according to the doctrine they too will be destroyed. Unless they
perish the great destruction they seek will not complete its cycle. The great
destruction will see the death of the gods, but the true gods will be
resurrected and then the universe reborn.

This is the eternal cycle.

However there are a growing number of believers that interpret the doctrine to
say that they should create the destruction themselves and so subversive
faction are beginning to take root. The has also been a rise in believers that
believe they will be saved at the time of destruction. The interpretation of
this doctrine is of central debate with in the organization. More and more the
arguments among the Arc Priest are becoming violent.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Organization:

The Grand Priest: 1 person "The great being who sees everything"

Upper Priest Language -- kyumm mrl py eltzk  cummail pyelzuk
Lower Priest Language -- kun petokoo


The Arc Priests: 7 people
7 places of the heavenly bodies: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn.
The Earth is the center of the universe and fixed. This is the place of the
Grand Priest.

Priests:
Twenty or more priests are confirmed in the entire organization. Some of them
serves each Arc Priest.
There is some differences in thoughts and factionizm among the Arc Priests.

Believers:
The numbers of believers can not be confirmed because they do not gather in one
place.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Language:

There are two general languages throughout the organization. Literary Style and
Colloquial Style.

The Literary Style (Upper Priest language) is the holy language which the
priest use to talk to their lord. Therefore it is only used during high
ceremonies. To speak the scared language in any other case is punishable by
death. This applies to the written verse as well.

In common ceremonies among the lower priest, such as admissions, the Colloquial
Style (Lower Priest language) is used. The Colloquial is a simplification of
the Literary Style. In high ceremonies such as bring new members in to "the
call of the Executioner" the higher Literary Style is used.

The history of the languages is long and complex. Present Colloquial Style was
born from the need for the ease of understanding and the simplification of the
Literary Style. The languages are so complex that typically most priest solely
learn the Colloquial Style. Therefore communication between the various priest
is almost always in Colloquial Style. Most common believers do not even
understand the Colloquial Style. They simply live and believe in the precepts
of the religion.

"The Guardian of the Normal Stream"
Upper Priest Language -- py glkks estes mnz  pygluksestes munz
Lower Priest Language -- phygle sestems

"Defend" (shifting meaning to "The way of defense")
Upper Priest Language -- glkks  gylucks
Lower Priest Language -- gylks

"A creature resembling a new human being"
Upper Priest Language -- azr ss trzaous  as stursa ulous
Lower Priest Language -- a sta ros

===========================================================================================================================

   4.09 Chapter IX:

Nightmare - Azure Nightmare

No one knew where the rumor came from.

The blue knight, with the mysterious crimson eyes, bore the huge sword in its
malformed right hand. No one who saw the crimson eyes of the knight, from
strong fighters to shrieking women, from innocent babies to tiny worms, could
escape its blade as it devoured their souls. The single eye of the huge sword
looked like it was smiling in enrapturement, as it tasted the blood of living
things. Only the creatures of darkness that served its cold blade were exempt
from its fevered hunger for new souls.

"Rumor, it's only a rumor." "Damn rumors all..."

Three years after the Spanish village saw the column of light, a small German
village was in for a night of death as a knight with crimson eyes stood atop a
cliff with the full moon to his back. It swallowed towns and villages in its
path to the Black Woods. It was as if Captain Cervantes returned, but with a
dreadfulness and evil far surpassing the original!

"We are coming, father..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

The time had come.
With countless souls stolen from brave warriors
the demon blade transformed
into an apparition of his father.

"Siegfried, my son..." "Father..."

"Pierce me with the sword."
"Wha...!?"

"I am nothing more than an illusion.
Look for the truth within yourself."

Kneeling in front of his father's grave he murmured.
"Can there be a chance for redemption,
after what I have done?"

With that he left,
carrying the heavy burden of atonement on his back and
holding his father's will in his soul.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.10 Chapter X:

Ivy - Wreathing Blade of Isolation

Isabella Valentine was raised with love as the daughter of the noble English
Valentine family. However, her father, Count Valentine, grew obsessed in
mystery and drove the rich family into despair. The count died in madness and
the famous Valentine family was ruined in a single generation.

"You are not our daughter in blood... your true parents are..." said her
tender mother, as she followed her husband into death. Devastated with remorse,
Isabella could care less about her "true parents".

One day, as she was collecting her parent's possessions, she discovered her
father's diary. In the diary, she found that the count had become obsessed with
alchemy and was investigating a sword named "Soul Edge" which was rumored to be
the key to immortality. She became an alchemist to follow her father's dream
and pursued the trail of Soul Edge.

Vercci an Italian death merchant... Adams an English curio dealer... Captain
Cervantes the dreadful Spanish pirate... The more clues she found, the greater
her suspicions grew. Once she discovered the true form of Soul Edge, which she
believed was the sword of mystery, something in her mind snapped.

My father was driven mad by such a loathsome thing... this evil sword!" Despair
and rage gave her a new goal in life, destroy the sword and cleanse the
Valentine name.

To destroy the evil sword, she needed an even more powerful weapon. All her
intellect and skill was utilized to create a weapon that could change its shape
back and forth from sword to whip. However, the weapon was still just a
lifeless tool that could change its shape mechanically, it could never defeat a
living demonic blade. In order to use her weapon's true potential, it needed to
live! But even giving it her own blood would not bring it to life.

Frantically, she tried everything she could think of. Once she found her
understanding of alchemy useless, she began to explore ancient sorcery and
repeated summoning rituals every midnight. But just like her father, she lost
her temper and struggled with rage. One night, her desperate desire finally
summoned a malformed arm into the summoning gate. Isabella stared blankly at
the arm as it sensed her attachment to her beloved sword and fused itself to
it. Then a voice without sound uttered, "I, Cross of the Pledge, shall confer
onto thee the Point in the Escutcheon of Destruction - Dexter Purpure." The
ceremony ended as the being disappeared. Under frozen moonlight, the embodiment
of Isabella's sanity cracked and twisted as it desired something unholy.

Her sword was completed beyond her wildest dreams! But Isabella still remains
unaware of her true parents...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revelations:

Massacre after massacre... devoted souls seeking the truth brought down... in
the hands of its host Nightmare, the evil blade's monstrous eye smiled in
satisfaction.
It used Astaroth and Lizardman as its hands to recover its strength with no
risk to itself or its host. Soon it would regain the power it once had. The
time had come here in Ostrheinsburg Castle with so many plots racing through
each mind. Nightmare's plan was to have the evil blade eat the souls of
Astaroth and Lizardman as the final touch since the monsters themselves sought
to deprive the sword of its power.

Despite the evil air, Ivy walked down the isle to the back gate alone. She
wanted to repay Nightmare for helping her create the Ivy Blade and so she
helped him in his quest for resurrection. But she has finally reached her
limit. These endless massacres left too many victims just for the art of
resurrection. What was the true purpose of these tragedies?

This was the question that raced in her mind that bore no answer. Moreover she
loathed the vile beast that carried out the massacres like cold executioners.
The bloodthirsty giant must enjoy the slaughter and Lizardman was clearly not a
creature from the earth. The eyes of Lizardman bore no emotion despite its
heartless acts. Moreover everyone, including Nightmare, seemed to be plotting
something terrible.

I can't help anymore.

A monster stood watch at the back gate of the castle. Looking for a way out of
the castle while avoiding detection Ivy choose a secret underground passage. In
the dark narrow isle she felt uneasy as if the eye of Nightmare's sword was
gazing upon her. Her steps quicken as she saw the light of the exit in the
distance. However as she emerged from the passage on to the ramparts she saw
Astaroth and his clay golem subordinates waiting for her.

  "It's strange that you are using an underground passage. Where are you going
in such a hurry?" Astaroth smirked.

  "I will no longer hold company with brutal creatures like you. I'm leaving
this castle to complete my own quest." Ivy replied.

Hearing her words Astaroth said, "You stupid bitch, the object of your quest
Soul Edge has sat in front of you all this time. Why didn't you feel anything
when you gazed upon the eye? Well not that I care and the time is coming so
devote your soul to the blade."

Dodging a sudden attack from the giant's axe Ivy drew her ever-morphing Ivy
Blade.

What did he say? That Nightmare's sword was none other than Soul Edge?

  "I felt the evil aura of the blade but that is not proof enough to call it
Soul Edge. Above all if it were the Soul Edge he would have never let me who
wants to destroy the blade, near him. Or maybe he thought because I am a mere
woman...", Ivy's thoughts raced on.

  "You are a spare host I've heard"; Astaroth smirked and answered with such
confidence that it seemed as if he knew everything.

A spare host? What could that mean?

Ivy was stunned for a moment with this thought and with out hesitation Astaroth
seized the moment. The giant's blade was coming down on her head as she
regained her mental focus. Narrowly she dodged the axe's blade but the hilt
slammed her against the wall. Astaroth stood in front of a beaten Ivy and
smiled. But suddenly the clay golems behind him became noisy.

  "What's happening? Three... three strong souls? Good." Upon his subordinates'
report Astaroth turned his back to Ivy and began to leave.

  "Are you running away?! Take back the words you said!"

  "I'm leaving for a more efficient hunt. Worry not, these golems will finish
my work and take your soul for the blade." Astaroth replied.

The giant left and the clay golems attacked Ivy obeying his orders. A long and
hard fight left a breathless Ivy standing is a pool of melted clay. Her
beautiful face and body were cover in mud, and strength gone and her
consciousness fading. Desperately she made her way back to the passage. She
refused to believe Astaroth's words and needed to talk with Nightmare directly.

  "Stop child of the evil sword," the voice of a young woman rang out from
behind Ivy.

As Ivy looked back she saw an Asian woman in strange clothing standing there.
Ivy wasn't aware of the woman's presence before. Ivy brandished her sword with
her last bit of strength but the woman stopped her attack with a short sword
drawn from her waist. The moment the blades clashed Ivy Blade wreathed on the
short sword as it began to shed a dark and evil aura. Affected by the dark aura
the trees surrounding them groaned in pain.

  "What is happening!?"

  "This sword bears a crack of Soul Edge," said the woman. "And your sword
which resonates with mine is the child of the sword."

  "The child of the evil sword... it may be. So your words and Astaroth's are
true, this sword was completed with the power of Soul Edge. How stupid I am, me
who in order to destroy Soul Edge entrusted the very power of the evil sword
itself." Ivy replied as she was hit with her own uneasy suspicion.

  "One more fact, the blood of the evil blade runs in your veins."

  "Wha...?!"

The woman had now called not only her blade the child of the evil sword but Ivy
as well. With her last remaining power Ivy attacked the woman. But the woman
parried her blade easily and jumped onto the ramparts.

  "Once I fought with a man who bore an aura similar to yours. That man was the
previous owner of the evil sword. Now, farewell."

  "Wai... wait! What do you mean? You mean that my true father is...!"

Captain Cervantes, the immortal pirate?

She never said the name but she stared at the rampart where the woman once
stood. Ivy then heard a heavy noise from inside the castle. The three
trespassers must have been more than Astaroth expected. Ivy drew her exhausted
body toward the dark castle with a new will.

If it's true I will cut him to pieces.

Knowing she was deceived is the only power that moves her now.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

"It... Shouldn't..."
Through her battles suspicion changed to certainty. Despite the death of the
demon her blade still held the breath of life.

But now the source of its undead life was cursed blood running through Ivy's
body.

However she accepted the curse without hesitation.
"I have always felt this to be true, but now that I know the truth I am
relieved..."

Now a new unholy quest calls her soul.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.11 Chapter XI:

Hwang - Patriot's Burning Soul

During his quest for Soul Edge "the sword of salvation"; Hwang heard a terrible
rumor that his beloved homeland would soon fall under attack from a neighboring
country.

He immediately abandoned his honored quest and returned home. During his return
he found his master's daughter Seung Mina and brought her home with him. Once
home he returned to the Coastal Defense Force and served under the direction
command of Navy Admiral Lee Sun Shin. Soon a rumor spread that Mina had run
away from home yet again. This troubled Hwang but he knew he could not forsake
his duty protecting his beloved country.

Burdened with his worries over Mina's safety and his impatience with the attack
foe's cowardly tactics he eventually lost his inner calm. At last he made a
horrible tactical mistake chasing a small pirate ship and many lives under his
command were lost.

Admiral Lee Sun Shin summoned Hwang and dismissed Hwang's rank as commander of
the Coastal Defense Force. And thus the Admiral returned Hwang to the honorable
quest of seeking the sword of salvation.

Admiral Lee Sun Shin was a good friend of both Seung Han Myong and Hwang and
sympathized with their concern for Seung Mina. So Admiral Lee Sun Shin
privately requested Hwang search for Mina in the name of "the quest for the
sword of salvation".

Hwang understood the admiral's order and obeyed without the slightest protest.
Once again Hwang's soul leaves for the west.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

The legendary "Sword of Salvation".
The harsh reality was that the blade was pure evil and
drove the soul mad.

Injured during the battle of the
sword's birth Hwang was rescued by Mina.
"I am independent, am I not?"
"Indeed... Thank you."

"We shouldn't rely on the legends. We will defend
our homeland by our own hands."

The incandescent patriots set sail for the sea of battle.
Their people and homeland still needed their protection.
From now unto eternity they
will be the pride of their great nation.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.12 Chapter XII:

Yoshimitsu - The First Mechanized Ninja

In a time forgotten, there was a village of ninja, called the Manji clan,
hidden away in the forests at the base of Mt. Fuji.

One day, a lord who sought the power of the Manji clan invited its chief to his
castle. Due to his advanced age the clan's chief sent the strongest warrior of
the clan on behalf of him. As expected, the lord requested the allegiance of
the Manji clan. But the Manji clan preferred to remain hidden in these troubled
times and refused to join in the era's petty wars. After a few days stay at the
castle, the fighter politely denied the lord's request and returned to his
village.

Upon his return he found his beloved village in ruins. The lord had prepared an
army in anticipation of the clan's refusal to serve him. The reason the lord
had stalled his request and forced Yoshimitsu to stay at the castle was to buy
time for his ruthless ambush.

"Either they shall serve me or I will strike down every last one of them!
They are too powerful to remain uncontrolled. Destroy the survivor as well,
though he may be the clans strongest fighter he is but one alone."

As the only remaining member of his once proud clan, he tried to devise a plan
to avenge the deaths of his beloved clansmen as he fought off attacks from the
lord's men. But he knew he could never match the lord's strength alone. His
plan for revenge failed and in the lord's brutal counter attack he lost his
right hand. All he could manage with his artificial hand was escape into a
secret underground water vein only his clan knew about. Days of drifting in the
cold and dark cavern reminded him of a tale of the ultimate weapon said to
exist across the seas.

"With this weapon of legend I could crush all my enemies! I never believed
this tale in the past, but now I feel it may be the only way left for me!"

Unable to shake the thoughts from his mind, he left to the west in his quest
for the Soul Edge. During his travels, he heard the rumor of the Azure Knight
and saw the remains and tragedies the knight had caused. He felt the despair,
hatred, and desires for revenge born from the knight's evil and thought, "I can
never give up my quest for revenge, but what is the difference between the lord
and I, or the Azure Knight? What will be left after my bloody quest for
revenge? Is this what the souls of my clan desire?"

Something in the man called Yoshimitsu began to change.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

"Taste my blade hell spawn!"
Yoshimitsu's silver blade
brought down the demonic sword.

However a spark from the demon sword
struck Yoshimitsu's blade and it began
to shed a strange aura.
"Has my sword been possessed by evil?
NEVER! IN MY NAME I WILL CONTOL THIS EVIL!"

He gathered money and food
for poor and helpless people.

The good name spread throughout the land.
Many great heroes sought his good name.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.13 Chapter XIII:

Lizardman/Plumeria - Jasper Scales of Shudder

In his worries over the "Man Made Demon" Soul Edge, Hephaestus gave many
mortals sacred oracles and ordered the destruction of the blade. He appointed a
total of twenty-four mortals in order of the Greek alphabet. Each of their
origins were unique, from the captain of the royal knights to the daughter of a
baker, yet each of their spirits were the same. Each was pious with all their
soul and could hear the voices of the gods.

Among the chosen few was a man named Aeon Calcos. Born in Sparta under the
occupation of the Ottoman Empire he was a powerful knight gifted in the art of
swordplay. Once he received the holy oracle he wandered the earth in search of
the "Man Made Demon" Soul Edge.

One day he was wondering a vast desert of death. His sight was fading and the
harsh sands parched his mouth. "My lord, my guardian, the God of War, why do
you abandon me?"

In the sandstorm he lost his sight as his remaining senses began to fade...

When he had recovered his consciousness he found himself lying on a bed in a
dim room. He then learned that a village man of an oasis found him buried in
the sands and saved him from death. Since the village was frequently ravaged by
burglars he chose to repay their kindness by teaching them the art of
swordplay. However, only a week had passed and the village was attacked by the
Evil Seed before he could repay their kindness. The Evil Seed covered the oasis
in a sphere of light and showered pure evil onto the village!

Months had passed and a caravan crossing the desert carried a rumor of an oasis
drenched in blood and a beserker raining terror. In fact, since the mysterious
night of lights, many a caravan had been lost in the desert. The rumor spread
throughout the desert and eventually reached the ears of the Grand Priest,
Kyumm mrl py eltzk "the Guardian of the Normal Stream" (Py glkks estes mnz),
whose shine lay deeply hidden within the earth.

The Grand Priest had plans for the berserker. Soon after losing his soul to the
Evil Seed, Aeon the berserker was captured and brought before the Grand Priest.
The Grand Priest saw that even despite being bound to a huge boulder with
several thick chains the beserker still violently resisted. "Splendid
Material... this will be a royal subject once the synthetic experiment is a
success."

Days of madness had passed and once the ritual was completed Aeon was born
anew. His limbs were given newfound power, his body was covered with scales, a
reptile's tail hung behind him, and the head of a lizard rested on his
shoulders. The madness swept away his memories, but his body remembered how to
fight. The Grand Priest was pleased with the results and decided to "educate"
him thoroughly. And thus Aeon the sacred fighter was transformed into a strong
and loyal slave of the Grand Priest.

When the time came, the Grand Priest ordered Lizardman to search for the demon
sword. And so his three years of living in the shadows came to an end with his
appearance at the port of India. How could one hope to find the affection and
nobility which lay within his soul since it was masked by his present eyes of
emptiness...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

Inferno sank into the abyss with
the weight of the cursed souls.

The flood of power, pure
madness and a passion for destruction...
Wounded in the great battle,
Lizardman approached another nightmare.
He roared in desire, a new quest of destruction and
massacre filled his mind.

As if called by the roar creatures
from the underworld gathered under the moonlight.
He and his cold-blooded minions
began a new hunt.
Soon their prey will...

===========================================================================================================================

   4.14 Chapter XIV:

Siegfried - A Soul in Purgatory

After the Soul Edge devoured a great number of strong souls Siegfried was able
to use it to resurrect his father Frederick. He quickly realized this
resurrection was nothing more than an illusion created by his weak mind.
Perplexed by the illusion he created, he wondered, "Is there any hope for
redemption?"

She lived in a small town in Germany. With both her husband and son missing,
her life was completely barren. But on this day a youth stood in front of her
house. For the first time since he had killed his father, he returned to his
mother Margaret. As his hand raised to knock the door he heard words of prayer
from within the house. His body froze as he listened to the sound of his
mother's voice praying that her son's soul may see peace.

"I am unworthy to see my dear mother now, I cannot return until I have
settled everything," he decided.

"Mom, I met dad," were the only words he muttered as he turned his back and
ran away before his mother could notice.

The boy had now grown into a youth and he left the town of his childhood with a
refreshed will. The knight left to put down the flames of unholy hellfire that
had spread throughout the world. The sun had set and all that remained in front
of him was a dim road of uncertainty.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

Having conquered the evil within,
the knight stared where the wind fell.

Memories of childhood,
an imposing figure of his father,
the beginning of his madness and the black wind...

Sieg, where have you been for the last three years?"
"I'll tell you later... someday."

He found some faces he knew from the past,
and some faces new to him.
He found that the black wind had never lulled.
Demons are attack!" "Sally, men!!"
And now a new wind began to blow.

===========================================================================================================================

   4.15 Chapter XV:

Rock - The Trembling Earth

The battle had ended. They had fought each other in complete misunderstanding.
During their fight they realized this and ceased their conflict.

Lit by the parting beams of sunlight in the fading dusk the female fighter
named Sophitia said, "I felt hesitation in your attacks. You have someone that
needs your protection, don't you?"

He crossed the great ocean to find the past. With no memories of his parents he
searched for Soul Edge, the only possible cure, and continued his quest. Yet
Sophitia's words hit his heart. He longed for his one and only family, the
Native American orphan that he had left behind, Bangoo.

After due consideration Rock chose not past but present. His quest was over.
Rock bid farewell to Sophitia and returned to the west. As he set sail he saw
the light rising into the sky above the continent as if it were bidding
farewell to him. When the light faded the earth was hidden by the darkness of
night.

After a year of travelling the vast earth Rock returned to his life with
Bangoo. He knew he had made the right choice, because he never wanted Bangoo to
experience the loneliness he used to feel. He decided to stay with Bangoo until
Bangoo had become a fully independent man.

One day a rumor that mysterious lizard-like humanoids were wandering the land
disturbed their peaceful existence. Rock tried to avoid the matter and focus on
keeping peace with Bangoo but the monsters attacked Rock without warning on a
moonless night. Their target was non other than Rock "the White Giant" himself!
Rock mowed down every single lizardman with his giant battle-axe. Dimly aware
that their proud hard scales were powerless against Rock's giant axe, the
lizardmen disappeared into the darkness. As the silence grew Rock returned home
and found his home destroyed and Bangoo missing! The lizardmen knew they could
never capture Rock so they kidnapped Bangoo to lure him! Even though he knew it
was a trap, he couldn't avoid falling into the lizardmen's plans. He left on
his quest chasing the trail of the lizardmen, but once he reached the European
continent he lost their trail. Rock now wandered Europe trying to find Bangoo.
"I have one whom I must protect."

It had been three years since he had heard the words that made him decide to be
the boy's guardian.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

Through bloody battles Rock rescued Bangoo and
return to mother nature.

Bangoo lifted Rock's axe and
staggered a little and then smiled,
"Don't worry Rock. Look, I can handle it."

Years have passed and Bangoo had grown up to be a strong youth.

Each time he sees a great cloud in
the sky he remembers Rock's words.
"You will leave someday like me
to go forth for yourself and find
your soul."

===========================================================================================================================

   4.16 Chapter XVI:

Seung Mina - Heart and Soul Girl

Seung Mina was now facing her toughest opponent ever. She left home (by pushing
her father to the side) and chased after the sword of salvation, "Soul Edge"
but before she got anywhere in her quest she was found by Hwang and taken home.
Seung Han Myong, her father and teacher in the ways of the blade, ordered Mina
into rigorous training as punishment. While on the other hand Han Myong took an
even greater liking to Hwang and began arranging a marriage between Hwang and
Mina. But Hwang was never home since his volunteer duty in the Coastal Defense
Force kept him away from Chili-san most of the time. Mina would never be a
quiet girl and after experiencing the freedom from her previous adventure she
felt ill at ease. She finally lost her last shred of patience when the prodigal
son of the wealthy Kim family, a pupil of the Seung School, proposed to her.

"I can't take this anymore!" she screamed and flew from the house again.

"Now where should I go? I want to volunteer for the Coastal Defense Force but
they've flatly denied me because I am a woman. Moreover Hwang and father's best
friend Admiral Lee Sun Shin are members of the Force so the instant I go there
they will be forced to go back home. Then why don't I begin the quest for the
sword of salvation again? Yeah, that seems like a good idea! If I get the sword
surely the Force will accept me! I shall prove my ability by getting the Soul
Edge! The father and Hwang will be forced to recognize my independence." Mina
mused out load. And with this decision she began her renewed quest immediately.

After a few months Mina final reached western soil. One day Mina heard a rumor
about a female fighter in town, who was searching for the Soul Edge, Mina's
natural instincts lead her right to the female fighter. The tall female fighter
was about to leave town but she told Mina she was searching for the demonic
blade Soul Edge and the source of her power. Mina felt uneasy that the female
fighter called the sword of salvation "the demonic blade".

"Oh? If you don't know even that much you should stay away from the blade and
sit at home, pretty baby.", were the words the female fighter taunted Mina
with.

Mina was upset the female fighter called her a baby and she didn't care if she
was in the middle of the street or among a large crowd she challenged the woman
with her Zanbato. Although she wasn't overpowered she was clearly overwhelmed
by her opponent's mysterious wriggling sword. She fought her best against this
strange opponent but the final result was obvious.

After the female fighter left the crowd broke up and left Mina standing alone
in a dim street. The sun set into evening and the windows began reflecting the
warm light within the rooms.

"My art of the blade was useless against her... does this mean I have
neglected my training?" Mina pondered.

The art of the Zanbato was her only confidence in this journey. She stood in
shock as her mind was denied everything by this one defeat.

"Interesting duel! Thanks for amusing me" a voice bellowed in the distance.

The voice hit Mina and she regained her focus. As she looked around she saw an
Asian man standing on the side of the street where the crowd once was. The man
looked in his thirties or forties, perhaps Chinese and very drunk. A rod is the
man's hands drew Mina's attention. At a slight glance it looked like a mere
stick but surely it was a rod and moreover it was very used.

"The sword of that lady was a rare thing indeed. Indeed it was a good lesson
for you to learn not to challenge so boldly wasn't it? Luckily you are young so
you can become stronger, eh' baby?" the man muttered.

After being treated like a child for the second time today she attacked the man
without thinking. However her Zanbato never reached him. He didn't parry it or
guard himself with his rod but instead he simply stopped the blade by grabbing
the Zanbato by the rod section.

"Like I said. You should know your opponent's ability before you attack", the
man smiled.

"You also said since I am young I could become stronger. Will you teach me
how to fight? I don't care if it is the rod or other weapons" Mina rebutted in
what may have been her strongest bluff ever.

The seasons came and went and Mina continued to train herself under the
guidance of the man.

"I know I will encounter strong fighters like that female fighter in my quest
for the Soul Edge. If I seek the blade then I need to become stronger." These
were the words that would race through her mind as she continued her training.

This was her sole motivation to continue to push herself. The man paid little
attention to Mina's application and instead taught her genuinely because of her
strong convictions. Day by day her skill grew. Even though the man was drunk
and his appearance was a terrible mess his fighting style and mastery of the
rod had something very noble and traditional about it.

And now a full year had passed in Mina's training. And then one day the man
went out to buy some alcohol and never returned. A sadden Mina found this note
from the man at midnight:

"I am not worthy to officially teach you the way of the rod. But with your
talent you need not master it fully, just combine what I have taught with your
original art of the long blade. There is nothing more to teach you, go forth
and complete your quest. - From Kong"

"Or so the story goes... at least that is what I remember about her. She
reminded me of a girl from my past... they were both the same age I guess. I
taught her the art of the rod for no real reason but I found myself surprised
at how quickly she mastered it. She needed merely a year to master the basic
techniques. She was an honest girl, so honest that she couldn't keep her
thoughts in her mind. I think you should consider becoming more frank like this
girl... don't you Chief Commander Hwang?" Drunk as usual, Kong both a master of
the rod and new recruit in the Coastal Defense Force, talked with Hwang in a
very frank and casual manner. Hwang's mind was still thinking about his failure
a few days earlier when he had given chase to the Ryukyu pirate ship and lost
many of his men. He heard Kong's tale without truly listening to it until the
girl who Kong instructed in the way of rod drew his attention. This girl
sounded like...

"Pardon me, Chief Commander Hwang. Sir Lee Sun Shin summons you immediately."
Suddenly a voice from outside the room called Hwang. Hwang stood in reply and
forced himself to stop thinking about Mina.

"My duty is to the Coastal Defense Force" he persuaded himself as he went
into Admiral Lee Sun Shin's quarters.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

With her remaining power
Mina brought down her final enemy.
All her strength gone she collapsed from exhaustion.
"You rest before our homeland is saved?"
"Oh, Hwang..."

Mina's face turned red.
Complete exhausted, how could she hope
to escape his strong arms?

A far more dangerous enemy awaited her at home.
A proposal from the prodigal son of the Kim family.
Please marry me."
"Unto you I will give a hundred cows."

"Oops..."
"I can't wait to run away from home again!"

===========================================================================================================================

   4.17 Chapter XVII:

Edge Master - The Master of Blades

Time flows through all, the mind of a single being holds no measure compared to
the long stream of history. There are few that understand this truth

Nobody knows his place of birth, when and how he became the great master of the
Ling Sheng Su Temple or even his true name. Each new chief of the Ling Sheng Su
Temple simply knows he is well versed in weapons and descends from the
mountains to initiate the successors of the three treasures and teach them the
secret arts of the temple. These facts alone show he has lived an extremely
long time but none of the previous chiefs or successors of the treasures and
secret arts know the truth about him since he never talks about himself.

And now a new young successor is training under him. Three years have passed
since the night of horror at the Ling Sheng Su Temple. Kilik is now the
successor of the Kali-Yuga but the Evil Seed possesses both him and the rod.
Kilik has mastered most of the secret arts of the Ling Sheng Su style rod and
the master has prepared a final trial to help Kilik resist the Evil Seed in his
body.

"Go west and find the evil sword "Soul Edge", the seed of all this chaos.
There you will find your purpose and everything will be clear."

After Kilik left the master devoted his mind to deep meditation. When his
thoughts became clear he stood up. It might be worth challenging the stream of
history again. It might be nice to believe one can cut their path through
destiny and create the future. He took his long trained weapons and left for
the west.

He too might rest if the evil sword "Soul Edge" is destroyed; though the real
answer lays well in his mind

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

"Finally, I am back. The journey was painful beyond imagination!"
"Well... Kilik seems to have become strong. I'll try 'that' on him."

"Kilik!" "Yes, Master."
"Wait here a moment."

"Master! What happened to your... body!?"
"I'll teach you the secret art to
control the evil within.
This is 'control the evil by using the evil'."

"Do you think you can defeat me?
Prepare yourself Kilik! Ready? Kyiaaaaah!!"

===========================================================================================================================
