Blaze the Reds! Dragon and Twintail!
Red Means Warning
(Unknown area, Dark void)
Ugh…. Where am I, Soji Mitsuka, the famed Tailred, thought to himself. He managed to open his eyes, eventually finding himself in a dark void filled with nothingness. His eyes widened and began to move frantically, trying to escape this void of nothingness, to no avail.
"Hello! Anybody here?!" Soji shouted in order to find someone or something to leave the place. He knew it was in vain as it basically is filled with nothing, literally, well save for him as he was there, alone. "Am I dead? No it can't be, I knew before that I was-"
"Defeated, by an easy opponent" A familiar female voice interrupted, finishing the red head hero's sentence.
That voice it sounds like! Soji thought quickly, recognizing the female's voice. He tried to look around to look where the voice came but failed, as the area seemed to make the voice surround Soji from either sides. It was after a few seconds that his answer revealed before him, a certain familiar figure stood before him. Soji looked on baffled to what he was seeing. Tailred, Soji's "twintailed form", stood with her back towards him.
Memories were rushing back, like that time he dreamt when he was assaulted by Dark Grasper as Tailred ran away from him. But that was only a dream, this was far more different than last time but similar as Soji, as Tailred, blacked out due to his battle with the 3 Fallen Angels: Raynare, Dohnaseek and Mittelt. He felt bad when he thought about it, he clearly had the power and strength to defeat them but the experience of defeating 3 fallen angel attacking simultaneously (who were no jokes about the intent of killing them) and the blonde, cute, twintailed, fallen angel was the sole reasons that he was incapable of defeating them (she had twintails for crying out loud!). Adding with him being a devil and his weakness was weapons made of light. It was clear that he was at a disadvantage. A very big disadvantage.
"Look I-" Soji tried to explain before Tailred cut him off, closing his mouth shut.
"First the kiss with Dark Grasper and now the Crimson haired devil?!" Tailred yelled angrily, yet didn't turned her body to face him. "I'm starting to believe that you don't care about twintails anymore."
"No, that's not true! I still love them, I really do! I was just-!" Soji tried explaining once again.
"Distracted? More like not giving a damn about twintails and focusing on her. You once didn't cared about anything but the will to protect twintails but now I'm not too sure" Tailred said. Soji said nothing as he knew it was true. Soji finally realized that once he moved to Kuoh town, he found himself not giving a thought about Twintails and when he became a part of Rias's peerage, he…changed. Soji looked away not wanting to delve on the thought that he 'betrayed' his love of twintails.
After a few moment of silence, Tailred decided to continue to pressure and blame him: "What's even worse is the fact you joined her 'peerage' and became a devil. You knew they're evil and yet you joined them blindly without giving a thought. Look where you are now, you became one of them and have their weaknesses, rendering you less powerful"
"But they said they don't do those 'evil' things anymore! And the bad ones are the Fallen Angels and that crazed priest!" Soji argued however Tailred used this to fuel her blaming Soji.
"Now you are defending them?! Heh I knew it, you don't deserve to be one with the twintails anymore" Tailred sneered. Soji got angered by this and tried to counter his 'other self's' point.
"Sure I am but I realize now that they don't want to kill me and accepted me, coupled with the fact that they saved me from danger" Soji reasoned with Tailred.
"And you sure they aren't using you? You also blindly revealed the secret to your transformation" Tailred countered. Soji replied back:
"I only told Rias and I'm sure she didn't revealed to anyone yet. And besides, better to tell spill the truth before it gets worse later"
Unable to keep her anger, Tailred turned to face Soji. Soji saw the intense fury in her eyes, filled with anger, betrayal and disappointment. Tailred did something that Soji would never believe to think he would see. Tailred touched her ribbons and summoned her sword, the Blazer Blade, and walked towards Soji. "This is farewell" Tailred muttered coldly. Soji, unable to move since he appeared here could only watch in fear as the impending doom of his inevitable death approached him.
Guh! Is this the end of me? But I have so many things I want to do! Soji thought with regret. As Tailred was soon in a capable distance to finish the red head, she took a battle stance where she aimed her Blazer Blade towards Soji's heart.
A few seconds has passed. And soon Tailred went towards the kill, impaling Soji right on the heart. And thus the hero was nevermore.
Or so he believed.
(ORC HQ, night, 6th day and 7:00 pm)
Soji jolted awake on the sofa, sweat trickled down on his face. The first thing the red head realized he was no longer in Tailred. He thought deeply about what happened before he….waked up.
Am I…unable to transform to Tailred any longer or was that a warning? He thought as he was taking heavy breaths, wiping the sweat away from his face. He moved his body so that he was in a sitting position, no longer lying down on the sofa.
"Ahh you're awake" came a voice that belonged to someone who Soji knows of: Rias. Soji turned towards the crimson haired, devil girl with a faint smile. "How did you manage to find me?"
Rias said nothing, her bangs covering her eyes, went towards Soji and slapped him hard. REAL HARD! On the cheek. Soji did nothing but look at her with surprise.
"Do I have to repeat myself? If I told you to not to do something, I expect you to follow it through! I knew she was nothing but trouble. Never forget Soji, you are a member of the House of Gremory" Rias scolded Soji, whom looked away as he remembered the promised he made with the Gremory girl.
"Yes, you're right…" Soji said before taking a breather and continuing "But I can't leave her alone. She's in trouble!"
"Grrr, she sent you towards danger, multiple times Soji! How much times must you risk your life for us to save you?!" Rias yelled back.
"Rias, I know well the dangers are, but I'm not that weak. I can turn into Tailred and besides, I took three of the fallen angels on, I can still fight" Soji reasoned, hoping to get Rias to understand his wanting to save Asia. "A true friend will never leave a friends behind, and I made a promise to Asia to ensure that she will have a better life. Please, at least make me fulfil that promise. I don't want to leave someone in misery. You understand don't you Rias?"
"You promised me that you'll come back safe, if you're unable to keep that promise, then it's not worth to do it" Rias countered, breaking Soji's chances on wanting to save Asia.
Looks like I have no choice, Soji thought. "Rias, release me of this house. That way I can go alone-"
"Not doing it Soji. Like I said before, I'm not allowing you to go face dangers alone" Rias said, annoyed at Soji's requests. Soji tightened his fists and sent Rias a glare. "But… I do care about you so you won't go alone"
This completely shocked Soji's about the way he saw Rias. At first he believed she was an obsessed, selfish, spoilt girl but now…. Is she just jealous or what? Soji sighed. Perhaps it was best he didn't figure that out, so he decided to pry out on what he assumed she meant.
"Are you saying that, you would help me?" Soji said.
"Well perhaps, and besides a pawn like yourself has its gimmicks you know" Rias answered, making Soji looking confused. "Well as a chess piece not like using you type of pawn. Do you know what the capabilities of a pawn in a normal chess game?"
"Yeah, they have Promotio-!" Soji's eyes widened in realization at the thought. "Are you saying that I am capable of-"
"Promotion? Yes you are. The evil pieces works exactly like their actual chess pieces. And thus you are a pawn, therefore going to the enemy territory would mean promoting yourself to any of the pieces save for the king piece…"
"That's great!" Soji exclaimed, smiling at the new piece of information.
"…only if I, the master, sees the place as an enemy territory, like a church for example" Rias finished, smiling at the red head's reaction.
"Yay…That's very nice to…hear" Soji sarcastically said, albeit smiling. Rias laughed and began to sit down with him, holding his hand.
"Anyways, I do care about you, you're mine after all" Rias said towards the red head, who gave a tired sigh.
Oh crap! I realized I don't know where Issei is since I saw Asia being taken away from Kalawarner! Soji thought. As if fate has answered his thoughts the answer revealed to him as both the red head and the crimson haired girl looked to see the door opening.
"Whoa so this is the place huh? I thought this place was hauUUUNNTEE-SSSSoji! What are you doing here?!" a shocked Issei questioned as he saw the hottest and the most popular girl ever of Kuoh academy sitting next to the newbie (and his swore friend!).
"I was going to say the same thing towards you Issei" Soji replied calmly despite being surprised of Issei being in the Occult Research Club Headquarters. However, Soji saw a red scaly gauntlet with a green orb on it. Where on earth did he get that? Soji thought.
"Well let's just say we found him unconscious." Akeno answered, giving Issei a pat on his back before sitting on one of the coaches. Kiba chuckled before taking a seat, with Koneko sitting on another coach. Issei however, decided to stand since he believed this was a "membership" kind of thing.
"So…s-should I like leave or-" Issei started to say before being interrupted.
"Nope, there is something I want to tell you about, Issei" Rias said, looking sternly towards Issei. Issei gulped in fear, unsure what the sexy crimson haired girl had to say or had in mind on what to do with him.
"Now tell me Issei, do you know what that gauntlet is" Rias asked.
"Uhhh something something…. Sacred Gear, something about critical and I think it was creative marker?" Issei answered, albeit trying to remember what that that hot, blue haired fallen angel said to him before he was knocked out.
"Hoh? Looks like you know what it is" Rias said, interested on Issei's knowledge. "Well almost remember what it is, in fact"
"Well a fallen angel told me this" Issei said sheepishly. Causing every member of the ORC to sigh.
"Anyways what does that gauntlet do?" Soji asked, wondering about Issei's gauntlet special abilities, if it ever had one.
"Oh yeah, what even is a Sacred Gear anyways" Issei questioned, agreeing with Soji.
"It is an unusual power residing in certain humans" Akeno answered. "It is said that the greatest people in history possess them"
"Sometimes they have the power great enough to threaten both devils and fallen angels" the crimson beauty added. "Issei raise your hand". The brown haired pervert did what she asked for, wondering what Rias was going to make her do. She then continued "Now, close your eyes and imagine the strongest being that comes to mind"
"Right…the strongest being" Issei said, unsure. He then closed his eyes to do what Rias asked but perverted thoughts came into his mind, making him giggle.
"Issei, focus please" Rias scolded, snapping Issei out of his thoughts. As a few minutes has passed, Issei stopped trying.
"I can't do it, sorry Rias Senpai" Issei said, disappointed.
"That's alright, at least you tried" Kiba said to the pervert boy.
"No matter, we'll take it slow" Rias replied. "It's a fact that the fallen angels fear it and since you have it, they tried to get you killed"
"Oh but I'm weak and I can't do anything so how am I even a threa-" Issei said frantically before being cut off by Rias.
"Your Sacred Gear works according it the power of your feelings. The stronger the feelings are, the more likely it will respond. Keep that in mind" Rias finally ended.
"Power of my own feelings huh…" Issei muttered. Akeno stood up and went to Rias and whispered something in her ear.
"Looks like something's up recently" Rias told everyone else in the room. "Akeno and I will be out for a while. And Soji, remember this: even if a promotion is invoked, fallen angels will not be so weak to be beaten by a single piece" She and Akeno began walking to the door. As soon as they left, the room was quiet, awkward silence could only be the cause of filling the entire room. Issei went up and sit right beside Soji.
Promotion huh? So can I actually boost Tailred's power from using that? Maybe it will keep me in using Riser Chain and Faller Chain even longer, Soji thought wondering what power/abilities/buffs will he gain from this "promotion".
"Piece? What does she mean?" Issei asked, snapping Soji from his thoughts
"It's nothing" Soji lied, not wanting to reveal to Issei that this place is a devil but as well as not wanting to start another conversation.
"Looks like I've entered through a point of no return, right Soji?" Issei asked putting his hand on Soji's soldier, shaking him lightly as he did.
"Yeah, I am too. But still, Asia is in trouble" Soji said, causing Issei eyes to widen in realization.
"Damn you're right about that!" Issei agreed. The both of stood up and tried to leave before Kiba spoke up.
"You sure with the way you are now you can save her?" Kiba questioned them. "It would be foolish to blindly charge in without knowing what to do"
"I won't let her die, me and Issei promised that we will ensure that she lives a happy life" Soji said, determined. Issei nodded and stared at Kiba, who let out a sigh.
"Looks like I can't sway you even if I did anything" Kiba chuckled. "Oh well, in that case I'll help you. Can't let a fellow member die under my watch" This caused Soji and Issei to be surprised.
"Same goes for me. I would feel uneasy with the three of you going alone"
"Thanks Koneko" Issei said.
"But what about Rias, wouldn't she object to this?" Soji questioned, not wanting to let his fellow members be in trouble because he wanted to save Asia.
"Well, she did acknowledge the church as enemy territory" Kiba answered. "Besides, she even said 'even if a promotion is invoked' which was the cue for the rest of us to help you; Soji, Issei"
"He is right" Koneko stated, nodding with the information. "You might need some learning to do, Soji"
Kiba and Issei laughed at Soji's misfortune while the red head could only rub his back in embarrassment.
Thanks you guys. Asia, we'll save you no matter what, until then wait for us, Soji thought as he grinned.
(Church, Kuoh town, time 9:00 pm)
The four teenagers had arrived to what they believed to be the enemy territory, the fallen angel's headquarters.
"There has to be more than a few priests gathering in here" Kiba stated.
"Well this sucks" Issei sighed in frustration. "Can anything go bad from here?"
"Kiba, Koneko, I'm glad you guys were willing to help" Soji said towards his fellow devils/peerage members.
"It was no problem. It's the way I am after all" Kiba replied back, with Koneko nodding in agreement.
"You're welcome" she replied back.
"And besides… I'm not fond of fallen angels and priest anyways" the blonde coldly said, his face becoming serious. Soji and Issei decided to not pry it since it was a bad time.
Suddenly Koneko, Kiba and Soji got in alert mode, sensing something wrong. Issei could only look at them in worry.
"Ehhh guys?"
"Looks like they're expecting us" Koneko muttered. The cute white haired girl looked at Kiba, nodding to each other and went near to the entrance. Soji and Issei went next to them in front of the door and kicked it open with their strength. The four went inside and saw that some things in the church was broken.
"What a dump for a fallen angel place. Looks like they don't like God or somethin" Issei said. Hearing this, the three devils sighed.
Obviously, Kiba, Koneko and Soji thought, while an anime sweatdrop appeared in their heads. Suddenly the four heard footsteps, making them to get into fighting stance since they're in enemy territory. The Masculine figure appeared before them, revealing that he is none other than Freed Sellzen. The three, save for Issei, looked at him with a burning glare.
"Well, well, well look what we have here~!" the lunatic greeted. "Didn't expect you to show up to the party!"
"Tch, that guy from before" Kiba coldly murmured.
"The one who attacked Soji" Koneko coldly stated, clenching her fists.
"Ya know, I never met the same devil trash twice. I'm crazy strong but you red head proved to be a nuisance" He mused before looking at Soji. "I could've killed you back then, if it weren't for the rest of the devil garbage came along to save your sorry butt" Upon hearing this, Soji, Kiba and Koneko stared at him angrily. The mad cleric then got out of his light sword and gun, bringing the gun closer to his face and licking it. "That still pisses me off, and you're gonna pay for that"
Huh? Devil? What does he mean? Issei wondered as he looked towards Kiba, Koneko and Soji. He moved slightly away from them, seeing its best not to interfere with this "standoff".
"You! Where is Asia, you psycho?!" Soji shouted to him, demanding answers. Freed maniacally laughed.
"Oh~ looking for the nun have you?" He looked back before looking at the devils "She's at the basement, only reached by going beneath this altar…"
"Well at least we know where she is" Issei said towards the peerage members, with the three nodding.
…IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH MY FIRST!" Freed yelled, shooting his gun towards the four.
"Well fu-!" The perverted boy was interrupted as Soji grabbed him and dodged the bullets, while Koneko and Kiba dodged as well.
"Find cover Issei" Soji sternly said.
"R-right. I-I got yo-you" Issei shakily replied back before running to find something to hide in. Soji proceeded to do the same, deciding for once he should let his friends deal with the situation first before attacking head on. Koneko held a long church seat and said "I'll crush you", proceeding to throw towards the mad cleric. However Freed sliced it in half with his Light sword causing the halves to go pass him.
"Nice try dwarf. Gotta try better than that" He taunted. Koneko's eye twitched and threw even more seats to him. This time he ran and shoot at Koneko, who dodged the bullets. Kiba proceeded to jump in the air with tremendous speed, allowing him to attack Freed from above in a flash, resulting Freed to block it in time. The two began to engage in a sword fight, clashing swords and dodging slashes and strikes. At the same time however, he shot bullets towards Koneko to ensure she won't strike him when he's dueling with the blond haired devil.
"Bastard, trying to pester me aren't you!" Freed shouted towards his opponent, before clashing once again, fending off Kiba's attack.
"I'll give you that for handling us at the same time" Kiba said.
"Heh, well not if you put it that way…" Kiba maniacally smiled, before deflecting and kicking Kiba away. "A shame that I need you TO DIEE!" The mad cleric began to shoot his gun at Kiba. Kiba who noticed the bullet coming straight at him did a backflip to dodge the bullet in a nick of time.
"Okay I seriously don't want to be in Kiba's bad mood" Issei finally stated.
"Yeah you wouldn't be" Soji replied back to his perverted friend.
"Anyways, aren't you supposed to be helping I mean you can-"
"I will, eventually"
Kiba smirked "Looks like I have to be serious this time". Kiba's sword changed from its usual metal into a dark magic.
Freed laughed as he and Kiba clashed one another. "No matter what, that swords just for show-!" This time, Kiba's sword began to suck the light from Freed's sword.
"W-what?!" he exclaimed at the sudden power the blonde devil sword was doing.
"The Holy Eraser" Kiba confidently said. "A sword that devours light!"
"You have a Sacred Gear too?! Impossible!" The mad cleric could shout in rage at the information.
"Okay what the hell, woman loves him and he has a cool Sacred Gear?" Issei said with irritation, jealous that Kiba outclassed him. Soji chuckled at his friend's misfortune.
"Now Koneko!" Kiba shouted to his fellow devil. Koneko ran quickly, dodging as Freed went to fire his bullets on her, before jumping and landing a hard punch on the crazed priest's face, sending him flying before hitting a wall causing a rubble to fall on top of him.
"Damn you!" Freed got up from the rubble and growled in irritation, today was not his day. He began to look towards the devils and said: "As much as I like to finish you off right here…" He began to go towards the altar and climb it until he reached the top, saying "I do not wish to be killed by devils in here…" He proceeded to get something out of his coat and shouted "Farewell! Until we meet again!" before throwing down the item, beaming an entire light to temporarily blind everyone until he was gone.
"He got away…" Soji stated.
"At least he's no longer to get in our way" Kiba assured.
"Woah that was cool dudes! You guys are like super humans and stuff!" Issei excitedly said towards Koneko and Kiba, which both of them rubbed the back of their heads. "Man, Soji you should've done something like-"
"Helping them I know" Soji finished, giving the 'don't say anything' look on Issei, causing the perverted boy to shut up.
"Now, shall we get going to save your friend?" Kiba asked. Soji and Issei nodded as Koneko began to punch the altar out of the way, revealing staircases that goes down, to the basement. They all headed down to save Asia, no matter what it takes.
As soon as they reached down to where the ritual was taking place in. Raynare, far from them and near Asia, who chained in a black cross while wearing a plain white dress.
Ugh Asia! Both Issei and Soji thought upon seeing Asia like this.
"Well Hello there, devils~ It appears you're late to the ceremony. We're just about to end~" Raynare greeted them.
"ASIA!" Soji and Issei yelled at the same time.
Asia eye's finally opened to try to look upon the people who had yelled her name, recognizing their voices. "Issei-kun… Soji-san…" she said in a weak and weary voice.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out of this mess" Issei assured, trying to not make Asia worry about them.
"A touching reunion" Raynare mused. "Unfortunately, this ritual is almost ending, soon" The cross then glowed green and made Asia scream.
"Damn you! What are you doing to her?!" Soji shouted towards Raynare.
"Kiba suddenly realized what the fallen angels were doing. "Soji, Issei, they plan to extract the Sacred Gear from the nun!" this causes Koneko Issei and Soji to be shocked.
"What does that mean?!" Issei asked.
Kiba looked at them sadly "it means that her life will be…forfeited"
No, it can't be true…we were almost there to save her! Issei thought with bitterness and sorrow, tears dropping in his eyes.
"Then I'll just go and save-!" Soji started before Kiba held him back.
"Soji!" Kiba said, making Soji look at him with confusion. "As you are right now, we can't let you be killed. Your death may be in vain. I'm sorry" Soji just looked at him with sadness and sighed. It might seem too late to save her. The four could only watch helplessly in horror as they saw the ceremony. Kiba let go of the red head as the latter could only watch was happening in front of him.
"So…there's nothing we can do?" Issei asked the three peerage devils. Kiba and Koneko didn't say anything and looked away. It was if all hope was lost until…. Soji began to step forward.
"No…I won't let that happen" Soji said. "Not while I can do this!" the red head made a fist, bringing his right arm towards the left side of his chest.
"What are you doi-" Kiba started before being interrupted.
"You'll see" Soji said, before moving his right arm back in a "hit people with the elbow" motion, making his fist end on front of his chest. "TAIL ON!" And thus a light appeared before him
Issei looked towards Soji and smiled. He realized that in the moment of despair, anyone can forget what to do or just stop doing and give up, but realizing that Soji had a power that the others didn't have was a back-up plan. Maybe that's why Soji didn't use it in the first place. Go get em, Tailred, I know you are able to save Asia, he thought happily.
Kiba and Koneko however, were surprised that something had enveloped Soji and wondered what was Soji doing or what has become of him.
Raynare could only look in anger upon seeing the familiar flash of light that made her taste defeat, twice. "Tailred… and I was this close!" She muttered. "Deal with them now! We can't afford this ceremony to be lost especially since we came this far!' she commanded towards the priests.
The priests nodded and began to throw light spears upon the four intruders. As Kiba and Koneko prepared to deflect/dodge the light spears while Issei tried to hide behind Koneko. As the light spears neared them, they were suddenly deflected, much to the rest of room's shock.
They saw a red blade and as soon as the light died down. Then they saw a short, red haired, armored, twintailed girl standing in place where Soji has been.
"Tailred, the warrior of justice, has arrived!" She shouted towards her opponents.
"What" Koneko started in disbelief to see what Soji has become.
"The" Kiba added, surprised.
"Fuck yeah!" Issei exclaimed.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Raynare muttered. "Why didn't I think of you earlier?!"
The priests were shocked while Raynare looked on in annoyance. Tailred quickly acted and threw her sword, the Blazer Blade, fast towards Raynare, who responded by dodging out of the way. The result, was the Blazer Blade cutting a chain, resulting Asia's right hand to be free. Asia looked surprise that she can manage to finally move her hand.
Raynare look at Tailred in disbelief before saying "Planning to break her free while ensuring I'm far away from her… Don't screw with me!" Summoning a light spear she went head on to attack Tailred, who was a big nuisance to her plans.
Tailred quickly summoned another Blazer Blade by touching her ribbons and pointed it at Raynare. "Raynare, your plan ends here! This time I will defeat you for real this time!" She shouted as she and Raynare charged towards each other.
See you next chapter!
Blaze the Reds! Dragon and Twintail!
