Well this is it, the rescue of Akeno and Gerard has come at last. This chapter is quite a long one so bare with me if you can.
Chapter 10 The rescue
Tall, dark, and menacing was the look the old castle gave off but none within the group showed fear at the building, only anger and determination.
Why? Because within that dreary castle was their friends; Akeno Himejima and Gerard Price.
Hidden within the shadows of the mountains, out of sight of the sentries stationed upon the battlements, and of the moons light was Rias Gremory, Sona Sitri, the servants of their peerage, and the two church agents all preparing themselves for the battle that was to come.
Rias immediately contacted Sona after Koneko picked up Gerard's chakra trail. The small group became a small army, all following the Nekoshou. To their surprise however, Gerard's chakra trail led to the opposite side of the world, to the northwest mountains of Scotland, a suitable place for a magical base of operations to be was what Sona said upon when discovering the castle.
Now they were all in talk to form a battle plan.
"It's obvious a full frontal assault would bring all our enemies upon us. We'd all be dead before we get into the castle." Sona said eyes glancing to the building from time to time hoping their presence wouldn't be noticed. "We should sneak in and hit them from the inside where they'd least expect it."
"With how big our group is it'd be impossible for us all to go in undetected." Rias countered, "Akeno is my Queen and I will search for her wherever she may be. What we need is a distraction to lure the enemy away so a small group can sneak in and look for our friends."
"I agree," Tsubaki said, "it would be wise to have our peerage distract the enemy while Lady Gremory and her group sneak in. Lady Sona, since you have that book you must accompany them to use the spell free Mr. Price. I'll lead the distraction."
"I planned to do so anyway, Tsubaki, I have to help Rias with the spell to free Gerard, but thank you for saying so. If we are to face Hextin we mustn't underestimate, so don't let your pride get the better of you, Rias." Sona said sternly.
Rias puffed out her cheeks at the jab. "I don't let my pride get the better of me. However, you are right, Sona. Hextin has Isengrim's power meaning he may be on pare with Kokabiel so we won't be easy to defeat."
"Then let's not waste any more time, Buchou. We gotta save Akeno, and Gerard." Issei declared readying himself for the fight of his life. Up till now the only major fight he had been in was the Rating Game against Riser but that was a simply game. This however was real life, meaning if he fucked up he'd stay dead. Nevertheless, if he was to save Akeno and Gerard then he'd do everything in his power to do so. "So, how do you plan to get their attention?"
"Leave that to us, Red Dragon Emperor." Xenovia said stepped forward her sword drawn and a confident smirk on her face. "Will assist in causing the distraction."
Rias couldn't hide her smile. These two agents of the church, who despised devil's, offered a truce to help search for her friends to quell hostiles between them and the time searching for Akeno and Gerard the two swordswoman had formed a mutual friendship with her and her servants.
"Kiba!" She called causing the Knight to flinch at her tone. It didn't go unnoticed by her, she saw the dark glares he sent toward the Church agents when they weren't looking. She would not let his personal feelings get in the way of what was about to happen.
When she reached him she took his hand squeezing it gently. "I understand you're angry at the decision to ally with the Church and you every right to be at them for what they did to you. However, I need you to focus tonight, ok? We're here to save Akeno and Gerard not destroy the Holy Swords. What happened in the past is over, you must let it go."
Kiba looked away. He always thought being reincarnated would give him a chance to take revenge on Valper for murdering him all those years ago.
He had waited so long for the chance to destroy Excalibur and kill Valper, just like he killed him, but here he was going on a rescue mission to save his friends. However Rias words were true, he had to let go of the past, he couldn't let it destroy his future but…
"No." He said at last with a sigh still refusing to meet eye contact with her. "I'm sorry, Rias, but I can't. You gave me a second chance at life and I'm grateful for that but what Valper did to me…to my friends…I can't forgive him for that. I should move on but I can't, the horrors of back then still haunt my dreams."
"Kiba, I told everyone here about your history while you were gone." She said without any hesitation, "I told them what you told me; how you were a part of that cruel experiment Valper made you go through. How you were the only survivor and that I reincarnated you as my Knight while you were dying. I did so because they deserve an explanation for your actions from before. If you wish to tell the story, the whole story from your point of view, then do so but not now. Tonight you're to focus on saving our friends. The Excalibur's can wait a little while longer." Her hand trailed up his arms to his face creasing it gently like a mother would to their child.
"I…sure." Kiba answered with a defeated tone, he wasn't please to discover his past was told without his acknowledgement. However, he never did tell anyone other than Rias about it. In fact, she had every right to tell the others after his stupid stunt in abandoning them. She was also his master and had every right to tell them, to make them understand why he was acting this way.
Perhaps when they saved Akeno and Gerard he'd tell his friends everything.
Satisfied with her answer Rias left the blonde swordsman to his thoughts and addressed the two Church agents. "We are very grateful to have your assistant, Xenovia, Irina. This has been an interesting alliance between our factions. If ever you need our help with retrieving the Excalibur's…"
"You'd willingly help us get back the weapons you despise?" Xenovia asked in surprise, was Gremory had suggested was something she least expected. Yet Irina had offered to help the Devil's search for their friends and thought that time either side had tried to kill the other. In fact she and her partner had gotten along with their sworn enemy quite well and that brought an important question to the bluenette's mind; could it truly be possible for peace to be formed between the three factions?
"Will think about it." Irian answered with a smile, "For now we have your friends to rescue."
Rias nodded and cleared her through. "Listen up everyone," She called so all eyes we're on her, "for those who haven't heard we are dividing into two groups. All of you will be led by Tsubaki to create a diversion to get Hextin's attention while Sona and my peerage sneak into the castle undetected to find and rescue our friends. When we have them we will obliterate the castle along with Hextin and go home."
"There are however, problems," Sona added in, "We don't know the strength of their defenses and we have no clue where either Himejima or Price is. So it may take time in our search so you'll have to hold out till we have them both. One last thing, if Hextin himself comes to the battlefield keep your distance and try not avoid him best you can. Questions?"
"…"
"Then if everyone is ready we will begin on my command." Sona said adjusting her glasses and counting the seconds before the rescue operation began. 5 seconds remaining….
4….
Koneko tightened her fists,
3….
Isse summoned his Boosted Gear
2….
Kiba drew his swords
1….
Rias charged up her power of destruction
0….
"Attack!"
On that command the crimson ruin princess unleashed her attack! It zoomed through the black night smashing into the castle walls.
"That'll get their attention. Everyone you know what do you, good luck!" Rias yelled spreading her wings and zoomed to the side of the castle her peerage and Sona following closely. While the Sitri Peerage charged forward firing magical spells.
The rescue of Akeno and Gerard had begun!
Rias and her companions flew fast and flow to the ground to avoid detection from the guards rushing to the battlements. She was lucky they hadn't been spotted yet that would give them time to find a way into the castle and begin searching. Her eyes flickered to the battlements checking for guards, but found none upon them. Either they were short on manpower or every guard was going to the sound of battle at the northern wall. At last Sona's peerage was doing their job to distract the enemy.
She doubled her speed flying up to the battlement and landing lightly on them double checking her surroundings in the processes for guards that may be hiding, their thankfully were none. Spotting a door, she wasted no time in opening it and finding they led to a flight of stairs spiraling downwards.
"Well that was easy." Issei said confidently.
"Too easy." Sona said narrowing her eyes in suspicion, "This could be trap. They may have known we were coming."
"Trap or not we didn't come all this way to leave." With those defiant words Rias marched down the stairs with the stature of a noble, her red hair waving back and forth. She didn't care what opposed her within the castle of Hextin, she was taking back her friends. "Koneko, have you found them?"
"There's a lot of activity going on, Buchou. It appears Hextin has more follows than we thought but they are mostly in the ground levels, where Akeno or Gerard are can't exactly pinpoint."
"I see. Koneko, when exactly did you start using Senjutsu?" She couldn't help asking. She was happy Koneko had overcome her fear and was finally learning to use her Senjutsu but when had she talked with Gerard about it and why hadn't either of them told her anything?
"About five days after the search began. I guess this really started when I found Gerard-senpai reading a book about Senjutsu and accidently let it slip I knew Senjutsu, so I told him half the truth about where I learned Senjutsu and who taught it to me. I confessed my hatred and fear for it waiting for him to say something hurtful. Instead he told me I shouldn't let fear dictate my life, that fear was one's greatest enemy and I should overcome it to unlock my full potential. And…that he'd never judge me because I was his friend." She muttered the last part with a blush but continued, "I tried to learn Senjutsu but my fear was still too great it was only after Hextin's return that I found the resolve to learn it in order to help find my senpai's.
Rias smiled. Gerard truly was a kind man, he had helped her servant overcome a difficult trial. She needed to thank him when this was all over. "Well since we can't find their location will have to do this the-" She stopped speaking and with reflexes like a cat turned to the left and cast a shield spell in front of her friends and not a moment too soon because within the darkness of the hall they were passing was a blast of magic! Her shield held strong against the blast.
"Impressive, you acted much faster than your comrades and managed to block my spell but that was only half my strength." Said a voice within the shadows, it was old but held confidents and order within it. Soon enough the speaker stepped forward to revealed himself. He was old, possibly in his fifties or sixties, with neck length silver hair slicked back wearing emerald robes of and within his hand a great staff. "Ah so you are the famous sisters of Lucifer and Leviathan, Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri, what an honor it is to meet you both. My name is Atlantes." He bowed low showing his respect to both Devils.
"Atlantes, I've never heard of you." Sona questioned, yet something about his robes seemed familiar.
"Ah. My real name isn't known by many, perhaps you know my title as Emerald Guardian of Ireland." At the realizing coming over their faces he nodded, "Yes, I am that very Emerald Guardian."
Rias gritted her teeth, this just got a whole lot worse! The Emerald Guardian was a powerful wizard with the responsibility of protecting Ireland of evil threats. Why was he helping Hextin, did he know what the Fallen Angel was doing? If they were to fight him then…
"Your friend is about to become a corpses if you don't hurry up." Atlantes continued, "Hextin plans is to take all of Akeno's powers, and I mean all of it, even those she absorbed from the Red Dragon Emperor to give him more power. Power that will rival that of an Ultimate class being. However, you'll be too late because I can't let you pass."
"Will see about that!" Kiba exclaimed drawing his sword and rushing the wizard, but the old man was quicker then he looked. The Knights strike was blocked easily by the staff. Kiba growling in frustration but pressed his attack.
"Brave of you boy, but you can't beat be alone" Atlantes replied calmly pushing his opponent away with incredible strength.
Before Kiba could attack again a massive dragon shaped like water shot past him smashing into the ceiling above the wizard, caving it in. The Knight blinked in surprise and before he could question what exactly happened he felt himself grabbed by his collar and pulled along by Issei.
At the front of the group Rias smirked at her friend. "Nice job, Sona. I don't think any of us would stand a chance against the Guardian of Ireland. I can't believe he's sided with Hextin. He's supposes to be protecting Ireland why is he all the way out here in Scotland?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, Rias. I only hope that will stall him and give us time to find Akeno." Replied Sona running through corridor after corridor.
"Buchou, Lady Sona, before leaving I swear I heard him say something to me. I couldn't hear very well over the sound of the ceiling caving in but it sounded like he said "At the very end." What does that mean?"
Everyone looked at one another confused by Kiba's words.
At the very end…What did that mean?
"Koneko, keep using your Senjutsu, try to find something, anything on either Akeno or Gerard and-" Suddenly there came a great shake from above and Rias glanced to the ceiling hoping it wouldn't gave in on them. "If that's from the battle upstairs I hope it doesn't escalate down to here. We'd all be buried alive or smashed to piece."
Rias looked calm but the red heads mind was fill with dread at information the wizards told them. So that was the Fallen Angels plan all along, if he was speaking the truth that meant if they didn't hurry Akeno would die. She quickened her pace in leading the way down corridors, eyes darting all about expecting more enemies to confront them. However there were none, the only been the Guardian of Ireland so far every corridor they entered was empty, how strange, either everyone was too focused on the diversion or there were fewer guards than expected. Nevertheless, they had to find where Akeno was, time was running out.
"I sense something," Koneko called stopped in her tracks and looking down a hall to the right. Indeed she did, what she felt with her Senjutsu was a lot of magical power all in one spot, whatever it was it didn't feel good and she had a good hunch why so many were there… She tightened her first and sprinted down the hall calling to her friends to follow.
She continued down the hall then turned left, then another left, and a right and stopped abruptly concentrating the source of magic and where it was. There definitely was a lot and it was close, very close.
She caught a few words said between Sona and Rias about the progress of Tsubaki's diversion; it seemed they were dealing with quite the resistance. The number of enemies they were fighting numbered in the hundreds, roughly about five to seven hundred rouge magicians, and they were starting to push Tsubaki's peerage back. They to find their friends, otherwise Sona's peerage would be overrun and defeated.
Calling upon Senjutsu once more, she focused on the strongest source of magic within the castle, it wasn't hard to detect with the power radiating from it but where exactly it was coming from was the better question that she hoped to-ah-there it was at last. A large room, how many where in that room was unknown, but it was large and…
At the end of the castle…
So that's what Atlantes meant, Akeno was at the end of the castle! There was no time to waste now, gathering all her strength she punched the wall besides turning it into a new passageway for anyone walking this way. She glanced over to her friends who stared in shock at her action. "I finally found them, let's go save them." She answered and took off as fast as she could.
Like with Gerard's chakra signature, she latched onto one of the many chakra signatures and followed its trail. It led through a corridor to the left, then straight for a good portion, then down a flight of stairs, and into a large dining room. She paused to sniff the air and felt a smelt a familiar sent, one she would never forget, Gerard's. He was in here…and it led to the right towards a door, behind which she probably knew what.
The little girl smashed down without any care in the world and her eyes narrowed. The chakra was stronger now, she could practically feel it flowing down the hall. They were getting closer now, soon they would find Akeno and hopefully Akeno. She said walking down the hall readying to make their foes feel her wrath. She walked, and walked, and walked till at last the hall ended at a large wooden double door with giant iron knockers. "Buchou."
"I know, Koneko, there here." Rias said stepping forward with Sona. This was it, whoever was behind this door, she damn better hope they'd have answers for her. "We've all been preparing for this. Once we go through those doors theirs no turning back, we won't leave without Akeno. Koneko, break it down, let's give them a big hello!"
Smirking at her masters orders, Koneko rushed the doors putting all her strength into the punch that would open them. When it impacted the beautifully crafted doors burst to pieces, splinters flying in every direction and what remained of the doors were sent flying off their hinges. At last, she would make Hextin pay for taking away both her senpai's.
The Devil's marched in unannounced and saw to their surprise a large room, larger than the Gremory mansion itself! There were many stain glass windows depicting Fallen Angels slaying their Angel's and Devil's. At the back of the room were robed people all chanting in Latin at the foot of some stairs that led up to a wall where the Fallen Angel stood an impatient look on his face as his eyes stared at-
"Akeno!" Cried Issei in horror!
It was Akeno Himejima, chained to the wall and looking worse for wear; she still wore the priestess outfit the day she was kidnapped although now it sported tears marks and dirt stains in several places, on her left cheek was a red mark, obviously from either a punch or harsh slap, and her hair was out of its usual ponytail. All in all, she looked like a prisoner kept from eating for months. Her previously downcast eyes shifted to who had called her eyes and they widened at the six individuals. She couldn't believe it but it was true, her friends had finally found her! Two of the six she looked at closely; those being Kiba Yuuto who had been gone since her kidnapping, and Koneko Toujou, who to her surprise had cat ears and tail, meaning she had finally learned to use her Senjutsu and accept her Nekomata heritage.
The priest stopped their chanting to see the commotion and Hextin himself glared at the intruders. His glared grew darker at seeing who exactly it was, "So, the prideful Gremory has come at last to save her bitch. So it was a distraction as Atlantes suspected. A shame he couldn't find you within the castle itself but it's too late. You're just inside you see the bitch of Baraqiel die."
"I won't let you do that you ass! I'm gonna make sure to kill you this time you fucking bastard!" Issei yelled summoning forth his sacred gear, pure hatred etched on his face.
Hextin's glared became a wicked smirk, "Issei Hyoudou, I'm glad you are here because Akeno here had something important to tell you. But ask me this; how much do you hate Fallen Angels?"
"Raynare was only one and I hated her, but after what you did…kidnapping Akeno… I despise them! I hate them all!" Issei answered with gritted teeth.
Hextin's smirk became a sorta of smile seen by those who took pleasure in killing! "Hate Fallen Angels eh? Then you should hate this little bitch I kidnapped because she's no Devil, boy! She's really a half breed; meaning she's the daughter of the Fallen Angel Baraqiel and the human Shuri Himejima!" He took pleasure at the horror on Akeno and Issei's face. "That's right you stupid boy! The bitch of Rias Gremory is indeed part of the same species who dragged you into the supernatural world. She's just like that smug cunt Raynare, myself, and that war mongering idiot Kokabiel! Don't believe me, watch this!" With a blast of magic he lifted Akeno within the air and from her back shot a pair of black feathered wings.
Issei stared at Akeno in horror, the priestess of thunder…a Fallen Angel? It couldn't true…it must be a trick, an illusion! But Hextin stroked them gently his fingers sliding across the feather as if they were really there. "Liar!" He shouted at last.
"Oh am I huh? Why not you tell them Akeno. Tell that pervert the truth."
Akeno glared at the Fallen Angel with great malice. She wanted to rip out his tongue and torture him with a thousand thunder strikes! But what choice did she have; she was chained to the wall and she had no control over herself, except the movement of her wings, her ugly wings! With tears filling the corners of her eyes she spoke, "It's true…I am a Fallen Angel." She flapped her wings to prove they truly were part of her and not an illusion. "What everything Hextin said is true. My farther is a Fallen and mom was a human."
"A human killed by her father's enemies, no less!" Spat Hextin, his sinister smile never leaving, "Because he wasn't there to protect them, to protect his wife! So, now that the truth is out what say you, Hyoudou? Do you hate her for who she is, do you despise this hideous half breed?"
"Enough!" Rias shouted in anger. That bastard, that animal spilled the secrets of Akeno's heritage. He truly was a monster! Her blood boiling like a hot pot of food and her demonic energy flared around her like a wild fire! "I've heard enough from you you filth! I'll make sure nothing remains of you!" She fired her Power of Destruction at the Fallen Angel wishing nothing more but to erase him from existents. However her attack never reached its target, from out of the shadows jumped a figure who cast a large blue magical shield, blocking the attack with little effort.
The caster of the spell was none other than Gerard Price, who stared back at their glares.
Rias gritted her teeth, this was good and bad. With Gerard here they could try to free him from the hex but with the skills displayed in his fight against Issei none of them, especially herself, were a match for the sorcerer. In a one on one fight that is but against two… she glanced at Sona who nodded, she too knew what they had to do. Rias studied Gerard getting a better look at him, noticing his short black hair was a now reaching to his shoulders in a mess of wavy locks, this gave him the look of a punk rock musician.
If this wasn't a serious situation she'd find the look rather comical on him. Clearing her thought she looked to her peerage. "Kiba, Koneko, Issei, stop that ceremony!"
"Right!" Three voices yelled at once and rushed forward each ready for battle, Kiba brandishing his sword, Koneko balling her hands into fists, and Issei transforming into his Mail Scale armor.
Gerard stood before them, ready to ruin their plans to save Akeno. His dodged a strike by Kiba, parried a kick by Koneko, and cast a shield spell against Issei's punch. The hand used to parry the Nekomata's attack summoned a sword to block another strike by Kiba.
"Gerard-san, snap out of it! It's us, your friends!" The blonde said hoping to talk some sense into him.
"We are not your enemies, senpai, try to think!" Yelled Issei beside him trying to smash through the shield.
The sorcerer didn't reply, only flicker his eyes toward each speaker. He kicked out at Kiba, knocking him away to allow his now freed sword hand to strike not as Issei, but at Koneko who came to close for comfort from behind. There was a clang as his sword made contact with the punch Koneko sent but instead of holding her back the first simply smashed through the steel weapon and making contact with his fact.
The force of the attack sent him rolling across the floor, but he quickly recovered and started shooting fireballs at his opponents. Forcing them to keep their distance.
Issei did his best to dodge the fireballs but was always coming close to being roasted by one. A scream to the left force him to loose, his heart filled with dread at seeing Akeno's condition, she squirmed in pain as a faint purple glow started to surround her. The ceremony was starting to take shape, he had to stop it!
He spared a glance at Gerard, seeing him distracted by Kiba's assault gave the moment he needed. With the opening he needed, the Pawn rushed forward hell bent on saving Akeno. As he drew closer he noticed two doors opening on either side and out rushed a group of magician's all charging up spells to use against him.
"None shall pass!" Exclaimed the leader, wearing blue robes and firing spell after spell. "We won't let you stop Lord Hextin's plan."
"Tell that to my fist." Issei roared slamming into him and five others with the force of a freight train. The spells that hit him hurt but were of little concern to the pervert; his will and determination to save Akeno pushed him forward. He wouldn't let it happen again, he wouldn't let another one of those Fallen Angels take away someone precious to him! Hextin would pay for his atrocities, he'd make sure of it! He punched one mage in the face and backhanded another so hard he probably snacked his neck. He didn't care, care, he wanted Hextin to fell his furry!
"Out of my way!" He roared smashing through two more mages! He could see those preforming the ceremony between the gaps of the defending mages. The sinister smiled Hextin had, and Akeno's painful expression.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
BOOST!
Issei's, hate, anger, and power doubled and he barreled through the magicians like they were nothing but paper. Sending three flying with one punch he final broke through, his eyes flickered to Hextin but knew what had to come first.
BOOST!
BOOST!
BOOST!
BOOST!
"Dragon shot!"
"NO!"
A burst of red energy filled the room followed by an explosion and screams. Issei smirked victoriously at his handy work, it worked. It may have been violent, but it had to be done. A handful of magicians lay dead upon the floor and those who survived scattered in terror of being hit. As for Akeno she had gone limp but the rise and fall of her chest indicated she was still alive and that purple glow around her body was gone. Good, she was safe, for now at least. There was one last obstacle to take care of first.
"I've been waiting a long time to kill you, Hextin." Although he had a clear view of Akeno's body he wore no lecherous expression, only unyielding furry at what the Fallen Angel had done. He hexed Gerard, hurt Akeno, and tried to kill her!
"It seems you don't understand the gap between us, boy." Hextin's smile had turned into a frown, this wasn't time to be monkeying around, not after what the Red Dragon Emperor had done to all the work necessary to take Akeno's powers.
Issei tightened his first and lunged at the Fallen Angel! He threw a punch forward, missing due to Hextin backing away and striking back landing a right hook across the perverts face and another punch to his stomach. He glared through the green eyes of the armor, he wasn't going to lose to this bastard! He sent a swift punch to his opponent's unprotected face knocking him back little, this gave Issei the change to dig his knee into his stomach and head butt Hextin! His assault wasn't done yet however, grabbing Hextin's shoulder he threw him to the opposite wall hoping to fuck up his face.
The Fallen Angel was faster than expect however, he spun his body to plant his feet on the wall and use it as a spring board, launch himself right back at Issei, who was more than prepare for it. Issei lunged again at the enemy again slamming his shoulder into his chest while narrowly dodging a punch in the process.
"Partner, don't underestimate him. He's more powerful than you think."
"I know Ddraig," Issei said to the Dragon within his Sacred Gear, blocking a punch and dodging a kick.
The two combatants launched attack after attack at one another, trading blow for blow! However, the younger of the two opponents was taking more damage.
Issei growled after a powerful punch sent him rolling across the floor. His body hurt all over from the bastard's attacks, he was strong, stronger than he expected. Forcing himself back to his feet, he readied to continue fighting, arms raised, eyes narrowed, and power surging through him.
"Come on, Issei, you know you can't beat me." Hextin said frowning with his arms crossed.
"Big words for someone who's also sporting burses and a missing tooth," Issei shot back, "I don't care what you say, I'm going to kill you for what you did."
"Even after learning of Akeno's heritage? Learning of the fact that she is part of my race, who killed you, and forced Rias to turn you into a Devil? What Raynare did was foolish, if it had been me I'd have recruited you and train you to become a powerful warrior, not a lecherous pervert as that slut of a master you have. In fact," His eyes flickered to Akeno who still was unconscious. "She's a bigger slut than Rias is."
Issei shook in anger, teeth gritting, body shaking, "I said I was going to kill you, but after calling them sluts, I'm gonna rip out your tongue first you bastard!" He charged the Fallen Angel, his strength, speed, stamina, and rage, doubled four times. Suddenly he blasted into the wall, he glared at the outstretched hand of Hextin that held a magic circle in it.
"It truly is a shame how you turned out, Issei Hyoudou, you could have been so much more if you weren't a pervert. You waste your potential on perverted dreams and idiotic attacks such as "Dress Breaker" what will you think up next, increasing small girls assets? Don't answer that!" Hextin finished in anger, he did not wish to know was that pervert's ideas for attacks were. "Ddraig, I know you can hear me, how is it that God chosen this pervert to be your host!?"
"Because he, like myself, sense this boy has great potential within him, he just hasn't unlocked it yet."
Issei smiled at the Dragons reply, he knew he could count on the Red Dragon Emperor. "You hear that fuck face? Even Dragon disagrees with you!"
"That still doesn't answer my question about Akeno," Hextin replied, "Do you hate her?"
"Fuck you!" Issei immediately answered, "She may be a little crazy with her sadist but she's a lot kinder than any of the other Fallen Angels I met! I don't care if she is part of you kind, she's my friend and I'll do anything to protect her!"
"Anything to protect her?" The grin forming on Hextin's face meant trouble was brewing within his mind, "Then can you save her from death!" He turned toward Akeno, arm pulled back, magic radiating off it!
Issei tried to move to intercept the attack but was dug too deep within the wall to get free! He all he could do was watch helpless as the fist began to move toward Akeno.
Suddenly the sound of slicing fleshing, blood splattering, and a scream of pain erected through the room, but with all the commotion going on nobody notice, except Issei and-
"Kiba!" The brunette exclaimed.
Indeed it was Kiba, Rias' Knight, who suddenly appeared behind Hextin delivering a powerful strike upon the Fallen Angels cutting deep into his shoulder and down to his back! How had he gotten their so fast was the question that rang through Issei's head.
"Good throw, Koneko!" Kiba called to Koneko, it had been her who threw Kiba at the Fallen Angel when he wasn't looking.
Hextin spun around backhand the blonde in the process, or at least he thought he did! The Knight was too fast for the strike, ducking under and launching another swing but Hextin was ready for it this time. He threw his hand out calling forth a magic shield to block the sword. "Clever move but it won't save you, boy!" He roared changing the defense spell into offense to incinerate the blonde. Before he could release the spell, a large red fist impacted into the side of his face, causing the spell to be canceled and send him skidding across the floor.
"Get Akeno, Hextin's mine!" Issei ordered standing guard over the girl waiting for Kiba to free his senpai. The breaking of chains followed by groaning said Kiba had done so, his speed would get Akeno to Asia faster. Besides, Issei had a Fallen Angel to kill.
"Keep up the attack!" Rias yelled firing spell after spell at the human, her eyes never leaving her opponent. Since the beginning the fight she and Sona had been in an intense magic battle against Gerard and boy was it troublesome! The reason why was because she had to defeat Gerard, not kill him, and that proved harder than she expected. He was dodging their attacks with the movements of a gymnast and firing counter spells when he could.
"Just what exactly did his master teach him?" Sona questioned aloud watching another torrent of water was countered by a fireball!
"I don't think these are his masters teaching, Sona. It must be the hex he's put under, it probably doubles his power, stamina, and agility. That's why we haven't been able to land a hit on him."
"Yet your Rook managed to do so!" Sona argued sending two water dragons at the hexed human, while Rias sent a blast of destruction magic at him. There was no way he'd dodge that an attack on all sides, he'd have to cast a shield spell to-her train of thought was halted when she saw all their attacks pass right through him without doing any harm!
Rias gasped, she had forgot he could go intangible! She had wasted that attack for no reason. However, when he became tangible again she noticed he was breathing heavy, so that spell still deprived him of energy, meaning if they could force him to keep doing that they may they'd be able to wear him down.
"You're thinking what I'm thinking, Rias?" Sona questioned.
"Let's give it our all!" Rias exclaimed firing her twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth spell at Gerard who dodged yet again.
"Buchou, I have Akeno!"
Rias eyes flickered to Kiba, seeing him holding her Queen in his arms. She looked terrible, but there was nothing Twilight Healing could cure. "Asia, get to work, Kiba back us-"
"Agh!"
She looked to the sound and saw Issei go flying through the air, armor rent, right arm broken, and multiple wounds on his body. The poor brunette slammed into the ceiling and crashed back down to the ground into a crated formed by the impact, blood pooling around him. Issei thankfully wasn't in serious danger but he had taken quite a beating. She glared at the Fallen Angel who body was covered in cuts and bruises from his bout with Issei.
"I must admit, Gremory, your pet dragon has skill, but a pervert like him will never have the skills to defeat me."
"So you say, but you've lost Hextin, your castles been breached, Akeno's been saved, and you're outnumber." Indeed it looked as if victory was near, however Hextin still lived, and Gerard was still under his spell, and more importantly, what of Tsubaki's diversion? They hadn't heard from her since their search through the castle. Had they defeated the enemy and were now trying to search for them, or had Atlantes join the battle and kill or capture them? She hoped it was the latter of the two, for she shuddered to think of Sona losing her whole peerage!
"Outnumber?" Parroted the Fallen Angel, his frown turning into his usual confident smirk. With the wave of his hand orange magic circles formed around the corpses that lay about upon the ground. Another way of his outstretched hand and out shot orange lightning bolts from the corpse all flying toward its caster, each one striking his body! With each lighting strike wounds began to heal, bruises faded, and even the missing tooth began to regrow within his mouth. Magic flowed through him like water in a river!
"Outnumber yes, but not out of strength. As I said I learned from Isengrim and all his secrets. You can defeat me!" And with that he released an elemental attack of fire, lightning, and, ice all in the shape of spears at Koneko. He watched her try to dodge but was too late, his spell was faster hit her square in the chest, burning her clothes and flesh and sending her skidding across the floor like a ragdoll being chewed by a dog! Hextin smiled like a madman at his success, "Pathetic, your Rook is so weak, like the rest of you. Now die like the animal you are brat!"
He fired the multi-element attack again at Koneko, but as it neared the girl a full sized mirror suddenly appeared in front of her taking the attack head on and redirected it back at its owner, doubled in power! Hextin casted a massive shield before him to defend against the attack but to his surprise found himself struggling against attack! With a defiance yelled he redirected it to the left obliterating the wall and windows to rock and shattered glass!
Everyone stared at the event and Sona in particular felt a smirk tug at her lips for she knew who cast the spell, whose sacred gear it belonged to. She turned to the hall calling down to it, "Never have I ever been gladder to see you, Tsubaki!"
"Then I too am glad to hear that, President. I'm also glad my Mirror Alice was casted in time." Sure enough from out of the dark came a woman with hair long and black, glasses were upon her face with heterochromia eyes behind them, and a calm expression on the face. The woman was the vice president of the student council, the Queen of Sona Sitri, wielder of Sacred Gear Alice Mirror, Tsubaki Shinra! She wasn't alone either, following her we're Irina and Xenovia along with the rest of Sona's peerage all bearing wounds from their diversion.
The diversion planned by her master and Rias-sama had worked perfectly, however, resistance met at the castle walls was heavier than expected. Getting over the walls themselves was troublesome to begin with, spell after spell was fired by the magicians on the battlements and more kept coming.
In the end however, after a long and exhausting battle the magicians, all six hundred, where defeated.
Hextin scowled at the new arrivals, how was it they were still alive, where was that Atlantes at!? He should be here fighting for him, defending him! Had he abandoned him in his hour of need, possibly! That cowardly old man would suffer for his actions once found! For now he'd have a whole band of brats to kill! They were meaningless to his power, he could crush them all and he had Gerard. Let them try to take him back, they will fail as they had before!
"Do you see, Hextin?" Rias yelled pointing a finger at him, "Use all the power you want because in the end you will fall!
That caused a laugh to be released by Hextin, a long loud one. "No, Gremory, it is you who will fall. Gerard, kill them all!"
With that order the human summoned forth his magic, but just as he was about to fire a wave of attacks came flying toward him.
A shiver ran down everyone's spine the human's stare, it was lifeless. They had seen Gerard fight against Issei and knew couldn't stand a chance against him one on one. But together…
"How's Akeno?" Rias asked Asia with a glance to her Queen, she was already looking better than before. She was so grateful to have Asia here, where would they be without her?
"Remember this fight is to capture Gerard, not kill him, so ensure you minimize your attacks best you can. Gerard, I hope you can forgive us for this." She said fired her power of destruction at him.
The mute human answered with a dive to the left and the casting of lightning bolts from his palms, which were countered by a torrent of water by Sona! He switched from lightning to fireballs in the blink of an eye. The spells erupted in a great explosion of fire, water, and lighting! Gerard wasted no time in trying to get in close to Rias and Sona but his charge was halted by the attacks of Kiba, Irina, Xenovia, and even Tsubaki, who wielded a naginata.
As the four against one sword fight ensure, Sona's Bishops, Reya Kusaka and Momo Hanakai along with her Knight, Tomoe Meguri, made their way over to Issei, and Koneko, dragging out of the battlefield as fast as they could.
The duel was a sight to behold, one man, was holding his own against four skillful swordsman, two of which possessing holy swords and one a sacred gear! But skillful as he was the human wasn't able to escape undamaged, his clothes had tears in them and he was sporting a cut across his left cheek, yet these minor wounds did nothing to stop him from continuing to fight. He blocked Tsubaki's thrust, dodged a shoulder slash by Xenovia, and parried a double swing by Irina and Kiba.
"Shit, how powerful is he!?" Questioned Xenovia struggling to push him back!
"I don't know but he was never this powerful. He seems different." Kiba answered, summoning another sword to try and hit an opening that was somehow blocked by a well-placed kick by the sorcerer. Kiba watched Gerard back off and try to use a spell but like before he couldn't do so, only block and parry attack after attack by the swordsman.
Meanwhile with the gathered ground, Asia began work on healing Issei, his wounds were worse and needed tending to first. While she worked, the remaining members of Sona's peerage formed a powerful barrier around the group to protect them from any danger Hextin might throw at them, and the Kings of the two peerages readied themselves for to perform the counter hex on Gerard.
Unaware to all, a certain black haired girl began to stir awake from the commotion going on. Purple eyes fluttered open trying to make sense of what exactly was going on, last she remember was a large room, preparing to be killed by a ceremony created by Hextin, then-
"Rias!" She exclaimed, the memory of her friends coming to save her resurfacing.
Asia jumped! Relief spread across when she realized who spoke and wanted to embrace the girl after not seeing her for weeks but knew her duties as healer came first, she still had to finish healing Issei. The poor boy had sustained a great number of injuries fighting Hextin such as a broken army and all his ribs being cracked. "Issei-kun, you fought so bravely in saving Akeno-senpai, rest now you've earned it." She thought watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, listening to the soft breaths of air he breathed.
She turned her head to speak to the black haired girl staring at her for a long time. Hextin said she was a Fallen Angel, a half breed to be exact, and there was no lie in it, only truth. But did that change who she was, did Asia judge her senpai for what she truly was?
…
No, she could never hate Akeno-senpai, she was her friend, she along with Rias and her peerage, had proved that not all Devil's weren't bad, and now Akeno herself had proved not all Fallen Angels were bad. Sure the ones they encountered where evil, Raynare, Hextin, and eventually Kokabiel but Akeno wasn't like them, she was kind and loyal to her friends to the end.
Akeno would always still be her senpai, no matter what where she comes from.
Finally the former nun spoke, "Rias-sama is busy with Sona in trying to break the hex on Gerard-san." She knew her senpai would be confused and need explaining, the details could wait after the battle was over.
At those words Akeno's eyes flickered to the sound of battle she could hear and saw to her surprise Gerard fighting Tsubaki, Kiba, and…where those the two church agents from before?
"They offered to help search for you, we formed an alliance with them." Again Asia answered her senior's seeing the confused expression at why Irian and Xenovia were here, "It's truly a blessing from the Lord that ones who were enemy are now friends."
So that's why they were here, what exactly happened after her kidnapping? And why was Kiba here, last she remembered he wasn't among them during the fight against the Strays, and when did Koneko start using her Nekomata powers? Questions needed answering and hopefully she'd get them.
She watched Sona's Queen, Rias' Knight, and the two Church maidens battle it out against the human, sparks flying in all direction at the clashing of steel. Even from his distance she knew Gerard wasn't fighting like the times he had before, normally he'd call out a chant to summon a spell or weapon and use trickery to surprise his opponents, not fight in long periods of swordplay. Was this the effect Hextin's hex had upon him, endless power to fight brutally against his foes, or was it due to fighting so many enemies that he couldn't do such a thing?
Rising to her feet she prepared to join the battle but felt a sting of pain rush through her. Her powers had still been sucked away by those damn chuffs they were bounded in, meaning it was take much needed time to regain her full strength. She wanted to help them so badly, she wanted to save Gerard and punish Hextin for the trouble he brought upon them…and the secrets he spilled about her. She clenched her fist in anger, Hextin, how dare that bastard reveal her past to them!
What would Issei think of her?
What would Gerard think of her?
"Akeno-sama, w-what Hextin said-"
"Don't!" She ordered harshly at Asia who she knew would try to comfort her, "I-I don't wanna talk about it!"
Asia's face contorted to one of pain and sadness, surely she knew everyone here loved her. She loved her like a sister and Issei loved her as a friend, but what about Gerard, what did he feel about Akeno? Did he love her as a friend or was it something more?
A little ways off Rias sighed under her breath as she listened in on the conversation between her now awakened Queen and Bishop. The fear of her past was something she needed to let go, just as Koneko had done, it was unavoidable to keep it secret forever but the way it came out thought…Hextin would pay for his actions!
She read the spell over and over again reciting what had to be done to preform it. Fear griped her heart when Kiba was head-butted and slashed across the chest, and Xenovia stabbed in the shoulder! She threw her hands forwards, now was the time to cast the spell! She spared a passing glance to Sona who also stuck out her hands. They could feel their powers flowing into spell as a large purple magic circles with Merlin's symbol appeared before them. "It's time!" She yelled, the duelist gaining some distance between when heard her.
"It's now or never!" She thought releasing the spell, which fired a large purple bean upon the human. Her fear doubled when saw he was about to move but it vanished at Tsubaki's stab into his leg! That must have hurt a lot!
The spell hit Gerard in the chest and as Rias counted the seconds nothing happened, what was going on, had the spell not worked, was their not enough power to it!? Suddenly a grunt escaped the black haired human's life and he dropped the swords he was holding. "Gerard, can you hear me?"
"Ugh, hmmm. R-Rias?"
"NO!" Roared Hextin throwing a hand out at the firing a yellow beam of magic. "I won't let you take what is mine! Price, you are my servant! Remember your hatred for the Devils, remember the merciless killings you did for them by slaying those innocent Strays!"
"Don't listen to his words, Price-san." Sona shouted, backing up Rias in her battle over Gerard, "You are not his pawn! You're our friend." Acquaintances would be a better description for herself and her peerage seeing as he spent more time around Rias' group, but that wasn't important.
"Listen to us, Gerard! We never meant for you to leave us! I'm sorry for what happened before! We were worried about you, Akeno was worried about you! Please come back to us!"
"Ri-as' can't-ugh!" The yellow beam started to consume him, Hextin's power was too great!
"You see Gremory, Sitri? Your powers are nothing compared to me!" Hextin boasted triumphantly. "Hextin, return to me my slave. Kill these enemies of mine!
"nrgh…no…"
"DO IT!"
"Gerard come back to us! Come back to me!"
Gerard opened an eye seeing a familiar black haired girl with purple eyes filled with worry. "A-ke-no?"
"Gerard, what happened in the past is over! You've done so much for us, for me, you've filled my live with so much happiness! I want you back so we can explore your world with you together! I want you back because you're so nice to me. You make me feel special and for that I…I…" She paused for a moment before bursting out the words she had wanted to say for so long, "I love you!"
Gerard's eye went wide with surprise. He wasn't imagining it when she said that, there was no lie within her word, or facial expression, she truly did love him! Struggling under the two spells he tried to raise his hands. "Akeno…" He growled at the pain filling his head, of the power of Hextin trying to retake his mind over! He remembered now, how that old cook and Hextin ambushed him and used some sorta of spell on him. This must be that same spell, a hex used to take over one's mind! His mind replaying the words of Rias, Hextin, and Akeno over and over.
"Come back to us!" Said Rias.
"Kill them all!" Roared Hextin.
"I love you."
Akeno…
"I love you…"
With a yell of defiance, Gerard release a burst of power caused the two spells bounced off him, and he dropped to the floor, motionless!
End!
(Gasp!) Akeno's been saved and has confessed her love to the human who has dropped like a fly being swat, cheesy I know but whatever, I try. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and bared with its length and haven't gotten confused on who's perspective it was shown through. Now i'm off to bed, I broke my promise to go to bed earlier, 12:43 AM is not earlier!
Read and give your review, till next time, goodnight!