File 10: The Difference Between Us
Inhuman, that is what Irina thought as she saw the battle between Kaya Syokka and her brother even when they haven't gone serious until at this moment.
The two of them are simply incredible as they perform amazing acrobatic feats at speed faster than many devil knights. They fought not just on the floor but on the walls and ceilings as they ran on any surface their feet can touch. Sparks flew each time their blades meet; Kaya with her burning blades and Haruka with his enhanced blades.
The two of them are a match for each other blade for blade. Both seemingly equal in overall strength with neither seemingly holding a distinct advantage. Kaya is faster and more flexible while Haruka is stronger and accurate.
"Onii-sama…"
Irina watched in awe as the two fighters exchange more blows. They both sparred in a level she had never seen before among her fellow exorcists. The closest she had seen someone in their level is when Griselda Quarta, one of their strongest, being serious in a match. She might have expected it from Kaya who is the head Inquisitor but for her own brother to match such high-ranking exorcist in combat means that he is also around her level.
They exchanged blades a few more times until Haruka saw a chance when Kaya landed on some debris that almost made her slip. That short opening was taken mercilessly by Haruka as he increase pressure on Kaya. He managed to break through Kaya's defense with his greater strength and kicked her towards a pillar. The Inquisitor crashed into the pillar, cracking it. But not one second after she crashed, Kaya emerged from the rubles and threw her keys that explode all around Haruka and drew six more.
Haruka jump to avoid the explosion but was met with six more thrown keys that he intercepted with his own. The keys they throw exploded in mid-air and they drew six more. They began a sort of ranged combat using their keys as throwing weapon, constantly moving and throwing while also retrieving previously thrown keys. More damage began to accumulate in the training room as missed keys would explode or heavily impact the walls, floor and ceiling.
"Nee, sister Blanchet, what are those weapons that they use?"
Irina asked Esther who is beside her who is also watching the fight intently to learn how fighters of their caliber fight. Their speed, power, and technique are all incredible to move in three-dimension, not limiting themselves to simply fighting on the ground like most fighters tend to do.
"You do not know? Ahh, that's right! Normal exorcists don't have access to the black keys."
Irina tilted her head at the unfamiliar name.
"Black keys?"
Esther nodded and began explaining about the black keys based on what she remembered from the Professor's own explanation to her.
"The black keys are different from the standard light sword. Exorcist light swords, although effective and easy to use, are not powerful enough to battle the more powerful devils and their effectiveness decrease when fighting enemies not weak to the light element. And since legendary weapons and sacred gear users are limited in number, we need a more effective weapon to replace the light swords in order to handle stronger enemies. The answer is the black keys."
Esther explained. Irina watch as the two fighters seemingly glided on the floor and deliver slashes that seemingly left after-images due to swinging their weapons at high speed. She looked closely at the clashing blades and began to compare it to the light swords she also used most of the time.
Their weapons clashed, producing a sound of steel meeting steel. Kaya threw three keys that Haruka dodged. Her keys explode, demolishing another pillar at its base, almost crushing Haruka if he did not cut them apart. Haruka then threw his keys that Kaya deflected to a wall, cracking it deeply. One of the keys landed in front of Irina. She tried to pick it up and was surprised to find out how heavy it is. She could still pull it out with one hand but it takes quite a bit of an effort.
"The black keys are developed based on the sacred gear Blade Blacksmith and the standard light sword, creating a new weapon for us to use. The blade produced is real steel and its durability is proportionate to the energy supplied by the user. Since it is based on Blade Blacksmith, the black keys carry holy property. Not as powerful as a real holy sword but stronger than the standard light sword and it can be amplified by the user's own power."
Irina looked at the black key in her hand. She had seen how it could easily cut iron and destroy pillars easily like they were butter. The keys are heavy and solid like true steel. The two fighters used theirs to great effects. Haruka had used one of his keys as foothold to jump from while Kaya use the extreme heat produced by her burning keys to cause after image.
There are also more than substantial amount of holy power behind each of Kaya's keys, rivaling the Excalibur fragments. Though Haruka's keys may not carry the same amount of holy power, Irina noticed that its cutting edge is extremely sharp and could leave deep cuts on walls and pillars that his blades even so much as get close too like there is an invisible blade extending from the main blade.
"The keys can also utilize various elements through the use of sacraments to amplify their power, allowing them to use additional elemental attacks. An example would be Inquisitor Syokka's fire sacrament that allows her to cover her blade in holy flame. In Haruka's case, he appears to cover his blade in pure aura that increased its sharpness and length."
There is no pause in their movement. Should any key left their hand, other keys would replace them in the blink of an eye. And not just with keys. The two of them also incorporates martial arts with the occasional kicks and punches when they are not holding their weapons. And judging from the cracks on the floor and walls caused by their kicks, their raw strength is immense.
Kaya and Haruka continue to clash without any sign of being tired even after making so many intense acrobatic movement as well as powerful attacks. Irina is amazed that neither of them appeared even winded, especially with the weight of their weapon which they each use six at a time and placing it in between their knuckles. Irina is sure that she won't be able to fight while wielding the keys like them.
"The black keys have proven to be an effective weapon that can match at least the excalibur fragments and have aided promising exorcists who did not possess holy sword element. But unfortunately, there is a flaw. The keys are heavy and it requires a large magical reserve and high level of control to use, which is why it is only available to the higher rank exorcists who have build up their strength and reserve. It is due to this reason why it is not available to the usual exorcists."
"Hee… but doesn't that mean that it failed to replace the light swords due to this flaw?"
Valerie questioned to which Esther nodded.
"Yes. Due to this flaw, using the keys to replace the light swords is not possible but research is still ongoing to make them more practical to use since the keys have been proven to be a superior weapon. Still, for those who could use the keys and are not in possession of special weapons usually favors them."
Esther finished her explanation. At the same time, Kaya and Haruka also decided to finish their spar with one last attack. Both of them dashed towards each other and spun with a speed that causes wind to blow. They struck with their respective black keys. Before they could inflict any fatal injuries on each other though, they stopped with their blades just inches away from their face and heart.
""Draw.""
The two of them said at the same time. Their blades disappear, leaving only the hilt of their keys and with just a simple flick, their keys went back into their sleeves, surprising Irina because the keys seemingly disappear and there are no indication of them keeping the hilts anywhere in their sleeves. Esther herself is still figuring out how to do that particular trick.
Irina can't believe how far her brother had gone since that day when he disappeared without telling her. She thought he quit and left their family. But now years later she found out that he is part of a special force of exorcist and not only did he know someone like Kaya Syokka but can also match her blade for blade in an intense sparring session that blew her mind away.
What had her brother been doing all these years that he grew into someone so powerful? How did he become so powerful?
-3 days later-
It has been three days since the spar between her brother and the head inquisitor. Irina is currently packing what belongings she had decided to bring home with her to England.
While Vatican is the recognized central seat of power of the Abrahamic religion in the supernatural world, the Abrahamic religion itself is not really unified and is divided into several sects. The division is quite clear among the normal believers, those who are not involved in the supernatural world, while those who are involved in the supernatural side are more unified, though that doesn't mean that all sects are truly unified. They just have a more common enemy to worry about like the devils and other supernatural races.
The reason why Irina is going back to England is because she is part of the Protestant sect. When not specifically called for a mission or continued training, exorcists are generally posted in the territory of each of their sect. Irina had just finished her mission so now she will need to return to London where she is posted until further notice. While Vatican has a special status among the Abrahamic religions, it is still mainly a territory of the Catholic sect, the current largest and most powerful sect in the Abrahamic religion.
Irina is quite looking forward to returning home but she is also unsure. She is looking forward to tell her parents that Haruka is still alive and she had met him but she is unsure how they would feel since Haruka most likely won't come back home, possibly ever, since he is part of an elite group which rank rather highly if it is acknowledged as an elite by the head inquisitor herself. Being part of such group usually means he won't have the time or chance to visit his home.
Irina sighs.
"Why are you sighing? I thought that you would be happy since you're going home."
Xenovia asked. The exorcist of the Catholic sect who had recently become her mission partner for joint missions had decided to see her off. She had hoped to see her brother before her flight home but according to Esther (who she got along easily with despite having only met a few times) he had been sent on a mission by Cardinal Strada. Esther is still in training so she is still sticking around despite being an AX field agent.
"It's just… I don't know what to tell my parents about onii-sama."
"Onii-sama means… your brother, right? That guy from a few days ago?"
Irina nodded. She's a bit surprised that Xenovia didn't remember her brother. She used to beat him in spars rather easily using raw power. Then again, perhaps because she beat him easily back then that Xenovia didn't bother to remember him, though Irina is sure that the current Haruka could beat Xenovia without much trouble.
Her brother remembered Xenovia really well though if the glances he stole when they had lunch that time were of any indication. He didn't strike up a conversation with her but Irina suspect that he wanted to. She just took most of his attention that day.
"Yes. We haven't seen him in years so we were worried."
"You and your parents should be proud if he is good enough to be included in a special group. It's strange that I have never seen him before. I wonder where he trained."
Irina sighs but she won't say anything. It is something between Xenovia and her brother and knowing Haruka, if he is still the same as he was back then, he would want to deal with his problems by himself. Now that she think of it, he must've took his defeats to heart and decided to deal with it by himself which in his case means disappearing to train until his problem, which is his weakness, is dealt with thoroughly.
Irina finished packing. Saying goodbye to Xenovia, she headed to the airport where she will take a plane back to London. During the long flight back home, she wonder how she could catch up to her brother now. Back then they were roughly equal in strength. But she had known sooner or later that her brother will grow stronger than her. He is the kind of person who, despite being quite relaxed, would dedicate his entirety to something he decided to do. And when he does so, he could be frighteningly brilliant. He is a smart one after all, unlike her.
"So this is the difference between us now. Onii-sama, how can I catch up to you if with every step I took, you walk ten steps ahead of me?"
Irina smiled sadly as she watched the sea of clouds outside the window.
Meanwhile, in London, in a cavern buried underneath the city, a certain grail began to shine brightly… and the Thames began to stir.
Damn, this took a while to complete. So here we have the conclusion of Haruka and Kaya's spar with Irina watching. The focus will switch to Irina quite a lot in this story arc which will finally move on to London. I've been waiting for this. Anyway, I guess I have nothing more to say. Just that finally this story arc can finally take off and then we can get on to the Kokabiel arc after this.
Sunfang 193: He is closer to Amakusa Shirou than Kotomine Kirei in style. Of course, added with a bit of Kiritsugu.