Zero: Hey I'm experimenting with the idea of adding music to my fan fictions, try it out and see how you like it, Leave your opinions in the review section. I would have just left a link but the site isn't letting me so I'll try to make the music as easy to found as possible. And thanks for the support until now. You guys are what really keep me going.
Chapter 9
Protect
[Search Bwanga's Camp Extended on youtube]
"Outrage Break!" Kazen yelled in a voice that echoed throughout the training grounds.
Depth hastily ran under Kazen as the entered the air. He thrust upward grazing Kazen's leg, but that didn't stop the demon god. He continued his attack, Depth directly under his assault. Depth sidesteps narrowly avoiding a direct hit, however the force from the impact sent him flying. "Such power."Depth thought to himself.
Still in the air Depth sunk his Katana deep into the ground below to gain some control over his momentum. It was only a split second but to the Soul Bender it felt like it was all but an eternity as he saw the bright steel of Kazen's sword rush towards his skull. Quickly he pulled his blade out of the ground and used it to guard against Kazen's attack guiding it away from his face. Depth hit the ground then quickly scrambled to his feet, blood dripping from his cheek.
"Not bad." Kazen laughed," You've lasted longer than I've expected considering your situation." Depth said nothing. "What? Finally run out of witty comebacks have we."
"Damn it." Depth thought to himself, "As the situation stands, its taking all that I have just to stay alive. I know that I can still use my slayer techniques without any drawbacks, but that doesn't change the fact that..."
Kazen rushed in bloodthirsty as ever, Depth immediately took a defensive stances. As Kazen's swung his blade, Depth parried all the blows with ease. Kazen may have had power on his side, but his swordsmanship was laughable. No style. No technique. He just moved his weapon though the air as if it were a child's play thing.
Just then an opening. Depth noticed that Kazen had loosened his grip on his blade, probably to do something flashy, but it was the opportunity Depth needed. He immediately swung at Kazen's katana knocking it free from his grasp. Leaving the Ghost with no defense.
"Cross Gore!" Depth screamed as he released the technique on Kazen at point blank range.
With a blank expression on his face Kazen took two steps back, an X craved into his chest. Suddenly Kazen gasped, but it was to small, to insignificant to be noticed. Then Laughter, so much laughter. "Haha! Oh man are you serious?" Kazen said his voice in absolute bliss,"What was that? Don't tell me that was your honest attempt at trying to kill me. Because if you do ,I may die laughing."
Depth placed both his hands on his Sword, frustrated at the situation but still determined to succeed. It was just like he thought, there wasn't one slayer technique meant to seriously injure an opponent and end the fight quickly. If he didn't think of something quickly... The best case scenario he would be chopping away at Kazen until he was forty, and the worst case he tried not to think about.
Quickly Kazen took a step forward and grabbed Depth's chest, as a terrifying grin overtook his face. He whispered," Bloodlust." A surge of the demon ghost's blood went into Depth's body filling him with much suffering and pain.
Kazen Jumped back as the Soul Bender fell to his knees in pain, his free hand striking the dirt beneath him.
"Give it up Azrael." Kazen said in a voice that was calm and clear, rather unlike the demon ghost. "You've lost. You've gave it everything you had, but in the end it just wasn't enough, you can't beat me as you are now."
"Never." Depth said trying to make his way back to his feet. "I'd rather die."
The demon god grabbed the young Soul Bender by the collar and then lifted him to his feet. Then proceed to beat the young man, punch after punch, blow after blow. The face, the gut no place was off limits for the demon. However the expression on his face was different, he show'd no satisfaction as riddled Depth's body with bruises and blood.
"What's with this guy?" Kazen thought to himself as he continued his assault on the young Soul Bender, while Depth was taking steps back seemingly to only remain on his feet.
[Search Bleach OST Soundscape to Ardor Extended Version on youtube]
"He's always been like this" Kazen continued, "I've watch him for so long, from that pathetic whelp of a child, to the enemy whose blood now covers my fists before me. I've seen him face some fearsome opponents, all the time keeping to his true path. Keeping to his beliefs."
Depth falls over, then slowly but surely made his way back to his feet. Then Kazen began to pummel him all over again thinking," Look at him. Back on his feet ready for more, where do people like this come from? Does he know what will happen if he becomes a Soul Reaper. When a slayer becomes a Soul Bender, he does gain control of the ghostly entities within him however, the control is forced and often times rushed, that's why a Soul Bender can still hear our whispers . But, awakening is a much more slow and controlled process. That's why when a Soul Bender becomes a Soul Reaper it is because he has earned the respect of the spirits that dwell within him effectively becoming their master."
Kazen thoughts fueled his rage as he began to sunk his fist deeper and deeper into Depth's body. "If I acknowledge you as my master, the chance that I will be able to take over your body all but doesn't existence. Don't you know what will happen if you become a Soul Reaper? Don't you know that I won't... I won't be able to protect you anymore!"
Slowly blood began to pour from Kazen's eyes as if they were tears, "You were all that I had. For such a long time. It was my job no rather my life's goal to ensure your survival with each encounter. I was there through every significant event in your life, I saw you pick yourself up from situations that would have driven other insane. Why can't I understand you! What makes you so different from every other soul that I've acquired? Than that day when you became a Soul Bender, I saw the fire in your eyes when you told me to back-down. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but I knew that you didn't need me to fight your battles for you anymore. But then you embarked on this journey of yours. Fight after fight, battle after battle you seemed enticed to oppose stronger and stronger opponents. Fated even. And even as I offered you my hand and new powers along with it. You slapped it away and continued to walk down your own path."
Kazen cocked his right hand back, to punch the man in front of him that was the cause of so much hurt. Suddenly Depth raised his demon arm and suffocated Kazen's punch before it was let loose. Kazen looked into the Soul Bender eyes there once again he saw a fire fueled by determination and pain, and a smirk where a black look should be. Kazen couldn't help but think,"What makes a man like this?"
Depth spoke"Appear Hazy-Eyed Bremen." Suddenly a circular green talisman appeared on the ground around the two, a ghostly green figure in the center.
[Search Fairy Tail OST Extended The Last Magic on youtube]
"Why you?" Kazen said as he reached for his blade only now realizing his weapon was out of his reach. "What?" The demon ghost hadn't noticed until now but he and Depth had moved a great distanced from where he had dropped his sword. Then Kazen immediately turned to try and run to grab his blade, only to found Depth hand still gripping his arm for dear life.
"Bremen's powers are the complete opposite of yours rather than increasing the users' power, he decrease the opponent's powers. Your powers." In anger the demon ghost throw a punch with his remaining arm. "Ghost Slash." Depth blade flew right down the center of the X shaped scare that he had craved earlier.
Kazen started to fall back but quickly regained his balance,"Idiot!" he exclaimed,"Haven't you realized that your attacks don't have any effect on me yet."
"Maybe not on their own, but there is another way I can use these attacks." Depth explains. Kazen broke Depth grasp and again tried to exit the circle. Quickly Depth used his triple slash technique to knock the Demon God back into the circle, right where he needed him. Kazen found his way back to his feet only to find the sharp end of a Katana waiting for him. Depth thrust his katana into the air effectively sending the ghost flying he than proceeded to jump after him as he cried,"Moon Slash!" all three swings made contact. As Kazen fell toward the ground head first he heard a voice as it shouted "Neutral Wave!"
The attack and the ground made contact with the demon ghost's body almost simultaneously. Depth landed right outside of the impact radius of the small crater left behind by Kazen's collision with the ground. He looked at the body of the demon ghost, then proceeded to walk away. "Where the hell do you think you're going Azrael? We're only getting started."Kazen said choking on his own blood.
"Its over Kazen. You've lost. You have no weapon and you powers have been weakened. I'll spare you the humiliation of a complete defeat. And end it here." Depth spoke never looking at the demon that lay bleeding behind him.
"Spare me!" Kazen grew frustrated,"I don't remember ever asking you to spare me! You can't beat me! You need me! Don't walk away from me!" with the last his power Kazen called upon one last technique. "Bloody Twister!" Suddenly a twister appear from the Demon God's hand pulling in all in its path, and its next target was a certain Soul Bender.
"Tombstone." Suddenly a great deal of stone burial heads fell from the sky and one after another they were sucked into the berserk ghost's attack. However, one of these stone heads had a certain Soul Bender atop it. Finally when he was within range he leaped off of the tombstone he was standing on. Right behind the Demon Gods defenses. "Ghost slash." he felt his blade sink deep within the flesh of Kazen's back. In a last ditch effort the ghost turned around and opened his arms as if he were preparing to grab on to something or someone. As Depth thrust his blade through the gut of the so-called God of Demons.
"This can't be happening. He needs me." Kazen thought to himself as he felt his power being sucked into the Soul Bender's body once again. He once again glanced into the eyes of his oldest companion. The fire had not died, If anything it was stronger than ever. "Or perhaps it is I who needs him."
A small grin overtook Kazen's face as he grabbed on to Depth demon arm with all that he had left, a crimson light appeared where their skin met. He spoke softly almost as if a whisper,"Damn, I guess I was wrong about you. Fine you defeated me, you have won the fight, for now. I guess I have no choice but to accept you as my master, still I wouldn't want you to forget while you're striding around like a king on his horse that I can take that crown away at any time. I'll keep an eye on you and if I sense the slightest weakness, I'll crush your soul! Oh yeah and there is one more thing before I forget. Whether the chains of fate can be broken. It all depends on your will."
Then there was silent. The crimson light shone one last time on Depth demon-possessed arm as it faded into nothingness. And was replaced by Rune of Kazen.
Depth smiled at his accomplishment, but the battle had taken a lot more out of him then cared to show his opponent at the time. He collapsed and faded into the blackness. Smile ever- present on his face.
