Suikoden VI

Chapter Eight: Part One

Chapter Eight: Part One

—

Neclord's End, Second Edition

The Cast

Narrator: Nigel

Riou: Yuber

Neclord: Nash

Viktor: Fred

Kahn: Surya

Sierra: Sierra

—

The stage lights shined as a spotlight over Nigel, who stood stone-faced at stage right. "It was a dark time," he began solemnly. "Tinto had fallen to the undead army of the evil vampire, Neclord. But his reign of terror would be brought to an end by a mighty hero. Commander of 100,000 forces in Dunan Army. Adopted son of the famous hero Genkaku. A brave, charismatic young man who personally felled Luca Blight, saved the City-State of Jowston, and brought about the end of the Kingdom of Highland. The hero, Lord Riou!"

The spotlight turned off over Nigel and the back stage lights came up. A mural with the seal that had held Neclord hung in the background. Nash stood at middle stage right, and Yuber stood at middle stage left, Fred and Surya standing at either side behind him.

"So you made it all the way here?!" Nash proclaimed loudly, planting his hands on his hips. "You must be Riou, Commander of the Dunan Army!"

Yuber stepped forward, frowning deeply. "This is stupid," he said coldly. "You're not Neclord."

Nash barked out a laugh but quickly slapped a hand over his mouth. "Yuber!" Nāṭaka hissed in alarm from the front row. "That wasn't your line!"

The stage lights dimmed and the spot light shined over Nigel again. "Lord Riou was not alone of course. One of his greatest allies was thrice-time war hero! Hero of the Gate Rune War, Dunan Unification War, and Higheast Rebellion! Lord Riou's right hand man—Vagabond Viktor! And his other close ally! Vampire hunter extraordinaire and future doctorate of mineralogy! Master of the Resurrection Rune—Kahn Marley!"

The back stage lights came up again as Fred stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "I've got you now, Neclord! Fred Maximillian of the Maximillian Knights will dispense justice upon you for every horrible thing you've done!"

"Fred, you're VIKTOR!" Nāṭaka burst out as the audience began laughing. "We rehearsed this, don't use your own name!"

"This is turning into a disaster," Freyr muttered in the audience.

Surya stepped forward, giving a sideways glance at both Yuber and Fred before looking at Nash. "Give it up, Neclord. I swear on my bloodline that you will not leave here alive."

"Woo-how, Prince!" Mokuren cheered in the audience.

Nash was visibly trying not to smile onstage while he continued to look haughty. "So, you think you have me cornered? A prey cannot best a natural hunter like me!" He thrusted his right hand towards the ceiling. "Blue Moon Rune, I call on you!"

The spotlight returned to Nigel. "Though the might of Lord Riou was great, Neclord possessed a terrible power. One of the 27 True Runes that molded our world! The Rune that turns its wielder into a vampire and summons a zombie army! The horrifying and powerful Blue Moon Rune!

"But all was not yet lost," Nigel continued. "For Lord Riou had one more ally to come to his aid. Founder of the Blue Moon Village, the true and proper wielder of the True Rune! A beauty with a heavenly smile and devilish eyes! The young maiden, Lady Sierra Mikain!"

Sierra herself breezed onto stage from stage left, and many in the audience cheered. "Oh Neclord," she said, shaking her head at her husband. "Haven't you learned your lesson already?"