The Story of Victoria Strife

Chapter 29: The Final Stand

Victoria walked slowly through the dimly lit old meeting hall, the eerie silence around her broken only by the sound of her soft footsteps against the cracked, ancient floor. The room had an oppressive atmosphere, thick with the history of plotting and deceit. Dust clung to the air, disturbed by her movements as she navigated the shattered remains of once-grand tables and chairs. Her grip on the weapon Reeve had given her tightened. Her mission was clear: find Genesis and end this madness once and for all.

Her heart raced, her mind on high alert. She couldn't shake the sense that something was wrong—her instincts screaming at her that she wasn't alone. She paused, glancing around the room, her eyes scanning every shadow, every flicker of movement.

And then, out of nowhere, a cold, steel grip seized her throat, lifting her off the ground with terrifying strength. The impact of her back against the wall was sudden and brutal, knocking the wind from her lungs. Her feet dangled just above the floor as her vision came into focus. A pair of glowing, predatory eyes met hers, full of malice and dark amusement.

Sephiroth.

"I've been waiting for this moment, Victoria," he hissed, his lips curling into a cruel smile. His voice was low, taunting, dripping with arrogance. "So fragile. So easily broken."

He pressed her harder against the wall, bringing her face level with his. The pressure on her throat tightened, making it hard for her to breathe. She struggled against him, gasping for air as her hand instinctively reached up to try and pry his fingers away, but it was useless. His strength was otherworldly.

"Look at you," Sephiroth continued, his silver hair brushing against her cheek as he leaned in closer, his voice cold and mocking. "Once so confident, so full of power. And now? Just a shadow of what you were."

Before Victoria could even respond, the flash of Masamune—Sephiroth's impossibly long blade—cut through the air, the sharp sound of metal slicing into her flesh echoing in the hall. The impact was agonizing. She felt the sword drive through her abdomen, the tip protruding out of her back. A choked gasp of pain escaped her lips as her eyes widened in shock. Blood poured from the wound, soaking into her clothes and dripping onto the floor beneath her.

Sephiroth's grip loosened just enough for her body to slump forward, her vision swimming as he ripped the sword free from her body. With a quick, brutal motion, he threw her across the room, sending her crashing through a series of old tables. Her body hit the ground hard, splintered wood flying around her as she collapsed in a heap, the taste of iron filling her mouth. The pain was overwhelming, and for a moment, everything faded into darkness.

But then, from deep within, she heard the voices of the Ancients.

"You are the light, Victoria. Rise."

The light within her, the power of the Ancients she had only just begun to understand, surged through her body. She could feel it, like a warm embrace pulling her back from the brink. Her wounds—grievous as they were—began to heal, the flesh knitting itself back together as her strength returned.

She groaned, pushing herself up to her knees, then to her feet, breathing heavily. Her vision cleared, and as she stood tall once more, Sephiroth was already striding towards her, his blade gleaming menacingly in the faint light.

"You can't escape me," Sephiroth taunted, his voice dripping with superiority. "You are nothing without your darkness. You're broken, shattered."

Victoria's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on the weapon Reeve had given her. "I'm not broken," she whispered, her voice growing stronger as she spoke. "I'm whole. And I'm going to end this—here and now."

In an instant, she leaped into action, meeting Sephiroth head-on.

Their battle was swift and brutal. Masamune clashed against Victoria's blade with a resounding clash of steel that echoed through the hall. Each strike from Sephiroth was powerful, precise, intended to kill, but Victoria's newfound strength, guided by the light within her, allowed her to keep up with him—barely. She spun, dodged, and struck back, forcing him to defend for the first time in their fight.

Sephiroth's speed was blinding, but Victoria's resolve was unwavering. Their blades met again, sparks flying between them as they moved through the hall in a deadly dance of power and precision. With each strike, Victoria could feel herself growing stronger, her connection to the Ancients deepening, the light within her shining brighter.

Sephiroth, realizing he could no longer toy with her, snarled, his strikes becoming more aggressive, more desperate. "You can't defeat me!" he spat, swinging his sword in a deadly arc.

But Victoria was ready.

With a powerful surge of light, she dodged his attack and delivered a devastating blow, disarming him. Masamune clattered to the ground, sliding across the floor, leaving Sephiroth weapon less. For a brief moment, his eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected her to gain the upper hand.

"This ends now," Victoria said, her voice cold and resolute.

Sephiroth's lips curled into a final, defiant sneer. "You think you can kill me? I am eternal. I will return."

"Not this time," she said softly, her eyes burning with determination.

With one swift, fluid motion, she plunged her blade into Sephiroth's chest. His expression froze, disbelief flashing across his features as the light of her weapon overwhelmed him. His body trembled for a moment, and then he crumbled into nothingness—dissolving into the void.

It was over.

Victoria stood still for a moment, catching her breath, the weight of what had just happened settling in. The light within her pulsed softly, but she felt at peace, stronger than ever before. She had ended Sephiroth, once and for all.

But her mission wasn't over yet.

Genesis was next. This would be the end of it all.