"Well, so far so good..." Thancred said once the gate opened. Cleo smiled while looking around from the trolley. Amh Amareng truly looked like Thanalan. The trolley went through the tunnel and when it reached the other side, they saw a figure standing in the way.
"Wait... is that," Thancred said with wide eyes.
"Ran'jit!" Krohman cried. How in the hells was it possible? Didn't he perish back in the Rak'tika woods? Ran'jit took a stance and kicked the trolley away from the track. The four passengers went flying and landed rolling on the ground. Thancred forced himself up facing Ran'jit.
"You're a stubborn old swine, aren't you..." Thancred said with gritting teeth.
"One who has mastered Gukumatz fears not the blackest pits or the fieriest hell." Ran'jit said.
"Your deeds in the east did not go unnoticed. Long have I laid in wait, and sure enough, you did not dissapoint."
Cleo moaned trying to force herself up. Krohman crawled over to Cleo.
"Had you only sworn fealty to Lord Vauthry, you would have no cause to skulk about like frightened animals." Ran'jit said. Minfilia moaned as she got up.
"And you, Minfilia... You will remain as you are, while I dispatch these villains."
"No!" Minfilia cried.
"You can’t! I won't let you!"
"You forget to whom you speak girl!" Ran'jit hissed.
"Who armed you? Trained you? Fought and killed a thousand sin eaters with you!? And when you were inevitably cut down and lay lifeless in my arms─who sought out your successor to carry on the futile struggle again and again!? We seek to bring peace to what is left of this shattered land, while these mad fools would only bring further chaos down upon us! Do not be deceived, child! Only by Lord Vauthry's hand will this dying world know a sliver of salvation!"
"I may don't know anything about the world," Minfilia said before she met Ran'jit's gaze.
"But I never asked to be saved. However much it hurts, and however hard it gets, it's my life, and I want to live it on my own terms!"
Cleo winced while Krohman helped her up. Minfilia heard it, turned around and ran over to Cleo with a worried look. She then looked back at Ran'jit, a fire burnt in her sapphire eyes.
"And those mad 'fools' you want me to abandon? The ones I've traveled with, fought with, and may one day die with─they feel the same. So no, I will not be deceived! No matter what you say, I refuse to believe it's all for nothing! They're everything to me. All I have and all I need. And I would gladly do anything for them."
Minfilia stood in front of Cleo grabbing her daggers, like she was ready to protect Cleo.
"Let us pass, or kill me. I'm not leaving here without them."
"How dare you!" Ran'jit roared.
"Very well─if you would cast your lot with villains, then you shall share their fate!"
Ran'jit clenched his fists and charged toward Minfilia, Krohman and Cleo. Thancred charged and blocked the attack sending Ran'jit away.
"I heard what you said. And I'm sorry for all the things I've left unspoken." Thancred said to Minfilia.
"You have to go. Now!"
"Thancred, no─" Minfilia cried.
"Go! Do what you came here to do. I'll not have you waste that newfound resolve on me." Thancred said to Minfilia. He then looked at Cleo.
"I leave her in your hands. Hurry!"
Cleo didn't want to abandon Thancred. She then looked at Krohman with tears in her eyes.
"Please, help him!" Cleo pleaded.
"You don't have to ask," Krohman said getting in battle stance. Cleo grabbed Minfilias hand as they started running. Ran'jit tried to charge at them only to be blocked by Thancred and Krohman.
"Not another step!" Thancred roared.
"Your fight is with us!"
"You think yourself her protector!? Hah! As if a whelp like you could be a better father to her than me!"
Ran'jit then summoned his serpent.
"Two against two would be fair, wouldn't it?" Ran'jit smirked.
"Kroh, you take the serpent while I take Ran'jit!" Thancred said.
"You'll be killed!" Krohman protested.
"Whatever it takes, I will end him!" Thancred said. He then charged toward Ran'jit. Krohman quickly charged toward the serpent as it tried to grab Thancred with its' teeth.
"You lie to yourself as you lied to her," Ran'jit said kicking Thancred and sent him flying to the ground. Both he and Krohman had to dodge the lightning and fire attacks the serpent came with.
"Aye, I lied," Thancred panted.
"Kept secrets. But no more. She deserves better."
"A life of pain? Od ceaseless conflict and despair?"
The serpent was ready to give a deafening cry, but Krohman punched it right under its' jaw.
"I don't so," he roared to the serpent and grabbed it by the tail. He used all his strength tossing it straight at Ran'jit. Thancred grinned toward Krohman.
"Impressive!" he said to Krohman. The next moment, Ran'jit charged at Thancred from behind, kicking him and sent him flying at Krohman. Both of them were down for the count.
"So you're playing dirty?!" Ran'jit said growling.
"Beast of my blood, answer my call! Rend my foes and ward their blows!"
A red and purpleish aura gathered around Ran'jit and his serpent as they merged. He was then wearing a crimson armor and a red scythe.
"He really is a monster!" Thancred panted blocking the attack.
"Better a monster than a deceiver. A spinner of foolish dreams and false hopes!"
"There is no folly in hope!" Thancred cried. He winced in pain as he got slashed at his shoulder.
"I said as much myself once. I was wrong. Never again."
This time he slashed at Thancreds' chest.
"Dammit!" Thancred hissed using a healing potion. Ran'jit casted both fire and thunder attacks at Thancred and Krohman.
"When will you fools learn?" Ran'jit said. Thancred smirked looking down at the ground.
"When you're dead and buried!" Thancred roared. Like it was some kind of signal, Krohman charged at Ran'jit and punched his jaw. That gave Thancred the oppertunity to use deception.
"What is this foolishness?" Ran'jit asked when he couldn't see Thancred. Krohman moved his ears, he could hear Thancred was wincing in pain. Krohman charged again trying to perform a dragon kick against Ran'jit.
"You're strong indeed," Ran'jit said toward Krohman before he grabbed his tail.
"But not fast enough!"
He tossed Krohman to the ground. Krohman roared in pain and cursed in doman. Ran'jit looked around. Still no signs of Thancred.
"You better yield now and I will give you both a quick death!" Ran'jit said pointing his scythe at Krohman.
"But we've only just begun!" Thancred cried suddenly and striked at Ran'jit. The general was down for the count just a few moments. Thancred panted clutching his hand at his chest.
"The strain is more than I remember..."
"Bloody hells, Thancred!" Krohman cried.
"You're playing with death!"
"My life is just a small price to pay!" Thancred panted.
"Then pay it you shall!" Ran'jit said slashing at both Thancred and Krohman. Thancred got a cut at his cheek.
"Krohman, bid me some time," Thancred said. Krohman growled at Ran'jit.
"How can you call yourself a protecter?" Krohman roared at Ran'jit charging again.
"You're just a wicked swine denying a child a life of her own!"
"A whelp like you could never understand!" Ran'jit cried and slashed his scythe at Krohman. He blocked it with his bare knuckles. Thancred used deception again.
"Hold him still a bit longer..." Thancred winced. His chest started to tighten and his pulse quickened.
"I do understand!" Krohman cried.
"That's why I'll fight to end! So my daughter can be safe!"
Thancred struck from behind again. Thancred was staggering and panting. Krohman tried to use dragon kick again, but Ran'jit grabbed his ancle and tossed him at Thancred. Thancred coughed and spat out blood.
"Were you not struggling to stand I might think you serious!" Ran'jit said as Thancred rose up staggering.
"Oh. I am
deadly serious!" Thancred said. Krohman then tossed the trolley at Ran'jit, giving Thancred time to dissapear again.
"Sorry Magnus," Krohman said wathing the trolley getting destroyed.
"You really think that the shadows will save your friend?" Ran'jit growled. He charged at Krohman who blocked each attack.
"There's no escape! Do you hear me!?"
Thancred winced in pain and held his breath as he snuck up at Ran'jit. It felt like his chest was gonna explode.
Thank you for this precious gift, Minfilia! Thancred thought. He then lept at Ran'jit, his gunblade shining.
"TO HELLS WITH YOU!!!"
Ran'jit fell at his knees, changing back to his normal form.
"You... You would have her suffer and die. I would spare her that fate!" Ran'jit said looking at Thancred and Krohman.
"That is not for you or anyone else to decide - ever again!" Thancred said. Ran'jit reatreated just as Thancred clutched his chest in pain and fell at the ground.
"Thancred!" Krohman cried. Thancred panted heavy.
"Thancred, hang on!"
Thancred just stared at the sky as his sight started to blurry.
"Thancred, stay awake!" Krohman cried slapping Thancred's face.
"Don't you dare dying on Cleo now!"
Krohman moved his ears as he heard Y'shtola calling for him. Alphinaud and Urianger were quickly there and started to heal Thancred and Krohman as well.