As Link enters the clearing where the Master Sword rests, forest creatures hop across the screen. Anyway, he can now use the Writings of Mudora to read the inscription on the pedestal:
ふりかかる時、３つの紋章を
かかげし『勇者』来たりて、
その手で、この剣を引きめくで
あろう。その者ナイトの一族の
血をひく者なり。
doth transpire, the [Hero] shall
come bearing three crests, and
by his hand shall he draw out this
sword. Of the bloodline of the
Knight Clan shall that one be.
Cataclysm's Eve
Wins three symbols of virtue.
The Master Sword he will then
retrieve,
Keeping the Knight's line true.
That's pretty much what everyone else said. Link stands behind the pedestal and places his hands on the hilt of the sword... the crests float around him, glowing... the sword shines mightily... dramatic music plays... and in a burst of light that clears away the mist, Link pulls out the sword and holds it aloft! The bluish sword glints brightly in the sunlight. Suddenly...
どこからとなく ひびいてくる
… … …
リンクよ よくぞ退魔の剣
マスターソードを手に入れた…
そのかがやき全てがお前の力だ
その剣ならば、司祭の魔力をも
うちやぶるはずじゃっ！
この国の運命は、お前に
かかっておる。
頼んだぞ リンクよ …
resounds from out of nowhere.
... ... ...
Link, you have done well to have
acquired the exorcising sword...
All of that radiance is your strength.
That sword should be able to crush
even the priest's diabolic powers!
The fate of this country rests with you.
I'm counting on you, Link ...
you telepathically...
... ... ...
Link, it is extraordinary
that you won the Master Sword
that makes evil retreat...
With this shining sword, I
believe you can deflect the
wizard's evil powers.
The destiny of this land
is in your hands.
Please, Link...
Not only does the Master Sword look more impressive than Link's old sword, it also makes a deeper sound when swung, has slightly better reach, inflicts twice as much damage (usually), and launches damaging (the same power as the original sword) energy bolts on attack as long as Link is at full health.
As Link leaves the clearing...
し、城の兵たちが、教会へ…
キャアァァ～ … … …
Th-the castle guards, at the church...
Kyaaahh! ... ... ...
are coming to Sanctuary!
AIEEEEEEE!
... ... ...
Link rushes to the church, but he's too late. Princess Zelda is gone, and the abbot lies motionless on the ground.
った…。 私がふがいない
ばっかりに、ゼルダ姫を城へ
連れて行かれてしまいました。
お、おそらく城の塔の１ばん上
にある部屋でしょう。
ゼルダ姫が、イケニエにされる
その前に、なんとか…
ひ、姫を頼みま…す…。
late... I was helpless to keep Princess
Zelda from being taken to the castle.
Th-the room in the highest part
of the castle tower, most likely.
Somehow, before Princess Zelda
is sacrificed...
I-I beg of... you...
late. I have failed... Zelda...
The soldiers have
abducted her.
They have taken her to
the castle.
You must find her before the
wizard works his magic.
Please...You are our only hope...
Having uttered his final words the poor fellow disappears. Odd, that.
Well, it's time to go to the castle to save Princess Zelda, again.
Security is tighter, but Link is stronger, and fights past the guards with little difficulty. A single swing of the Master Sword eradicates the tower barrier that had previously seemed unbreakable. Partway up the tower, which is crawling with monsters and guards, Link finds another telepathic tile:
マスターソードといえども、
司祭の体をきる事はできぬ。
やつの魔力をぎゃくに、りよう
するのじゃ。
Though you may have the Master Sword,
you cannot strike the priest's body.
Use his diabolic powers against him.
Even with the Master Sword,
you cannot inflict physical
harm on the wizard.
You must find a way to return
his own evil magic power to him.
Link finally reaches the top of the tower. Princess Zelda is on the sacrificial altar, with Agahnim looming over her.
おまちしておりましたぞ！
クックック…。
あなたの目の前で ゼルダを
消してやろうと思いましてね。
見よ！ゼルダのさいごじゃあ！
I have been awaiting you!
Ku ku ku...
I was thinking that I would get rid
of Zelda before your very eyes.
Watch! This is the end of Zelda!
I have been waiting for you!
Heh heh heh...
I was hoping I could make Zelda
vanish in front of your eyes.
Behold! The last moment of
Princess Zelda!
殿 (dono) is an archaic somewhat respectful name suffix, and ku ku ku is a sinister chuckle.
He does some evil magicky thing and Zelda vanishes.
７賢者の封印も めでたく
とかれたワケですなあ。
魔の力が、この国をおおいつく
すのも時間のもんだいですぞ…
しょせん伝説の『勇者』も
『黄金の力』を持つ、われらが
魔族には、かないませんか。
ホォッホッホッ さらばじゃ！
to say, the seal of the Seven Sages
has been dissolved.
It is now only a matter of time before
diabolic power engulfs this country...
So, in the end, even the legendary
[Hero] is no match for we fiends
who hold the [Golden Power].
Ho, ho ho, farewell!
seal of the seven wise men is
at last broken.
It is now only a matter of time
before evil power covers this
land...
After all, the legendary Hero
cannot defeat us, the tribe of
evil, when we are armed with
the Power of Gold.
Ho ho ho... Now, I must go!
He teleports out of the room through the north wall. Link slashes at the curtains to find an opening, and follows to the tower roof.
と言うのですな…。 では、
そのノゾミ かなえてやろう！
are quite desperate to be done in...
I shall grant your wish, then!
would like to be totally
destroyed? Well, I can make
your wish come true!
This is the first boss where strategy is critical. Agahnim teleports around the room, and has three attacks. One is a lightning spread that randomly covers most of the screen, but never hits the top corners, so is easy to avoid by standing there. One is a homing circle of energy balls that splits into small, non-homing, and blockable (though you have to get your shield back up in time) balls when hit with the Master Sword. The most important one is a large energy ball that the Master Sword knocks away entirely. With a bit of aiming, Link can hit these balls back at Agahnim, inflicting damage. This is the only way to hurt him, since, as Sahasralah indicated, hitting Agahnim directly is ineffective (it actually hurts Link).
Oddly, the bug-catching net affects Agahnim's attacks the same way as the Master Sword, though it's harder to aim with...
Eventually, Agahnim has enough of getting beat up.
しかし、このままにはせぬぞ！
闇世界へ引きずりこんでやる！
But I won't let it go on like this!
I'll drag you into the Dark World!
true Hero that you are...
But I am not ready to admit
defeat yet. I will draw you
into the Dark World!
Agahnim begins spinning around rapidly, and disappears as the screen distorts as it did at the warp tile on Mount Hebra... Link appears on top of a pyramid. In the distance to the north is a mountain similar to Hebra Mountain but more sinister-looking, topped by a tower silhouetted in a foreboding sun. The sky is an unhealthy mix of maroon and brown, adding to the foul feel of the place. Link hears a voice in his head again:
の声がきこえるか？ お前が
今、立っているのは、もとは
聖地とよばれていた世界…
しかし、今では魔族のはびこる
言わば、闇の世界じゃ。
司祭は、封印をとき城の入口に
闇世界とこちら側を結ぶ通り道
を開いてしまったようじゃ。
再び、こちらの世界を救うには
『黄金の力』をとり戻すしか
道は残されておらぬ！
７人の娘達を助けてやってくれ
７賢者の血をひく彼女らの力
必ず、やくにたつであろう！
娘達は、それぞれ魔物のかくれ
家に封じこめられておる。まず
ヤミの神殿へ向かうのじゃ！
頼りは、お前だけ…
このサハスラーラの願いをかな
えてくれ！ 頼むぞリンクよ
hear my voice? Where you now
stand is the world that was once
called the sacred land...
But now, it is thick with fiends.
A world of darkness, so to speak.
It seems the priest has released the seal
and opened a channel at the castle gate
linking the Dark World with this world.
No way now remains to save this
world once again except to take
back the [Golden Power]!
Save the seven maidens.
Their power as those with the blood of
the Seven Sages is sure to be of use!
The maidens are being confined in the
hideouts of various monsters. Head
first for the Temple of Darkness!
You are our only hope...
Grant this wish of mine!
I'm counting on you, Link.
I am communicating to you
across the void through
telepathy... The place where
you now stand was the Golden
Land, but evil power turned it
into the Dark World. The
wizard has broken the wise
men's seal and opened a gate
to link the worlds
at Hyrule Castle. In
order to save this half of the
world, the Light World, you
must win back the Golden
Power. You must also rescue
the seven maidens who Agahnim
sent to the Dark World. As
members of the blood-line of
the seven wise men, they have
power that will surely help you.
The maidens are locked in
hidden dungeons full of evil
creatures and dangerous traps.
The Palace of Darkness should
be your first goal in this world!
Link, I can rely on only
you. Please make this old
man's wishes come true.
I beg you!
Link does his usual victory spin, then begins exploring this strange Dark World...