Alright people, just two more chapters then I get started on the movie.
LET'S ROCK!
Preparations: Malus. O God! Not this guy!
The air hummed as the cloaked figure entered the wide cave. He had traveled many miles to find this location. He could feel the source of power he sought was somewhere in this room. The only challenges: finding it, and withstand the caves occupant without pulling his hair out.
"YOU WHO HAVE SOUGHT POWER AND GLORY, STEP INTO THE LIGHT!" As Malus pulled his hood down, he didn't need to guess that respect commanding voice , that had just caused the whole cave to shake, emminated from the golden broad sword that waited in its center.
Malus fixed the most respectful smile upon his face and lowered his head in mock good will. "Great Excaliber. I request only a moment of your time." He said remembering how Toya all ways acted when addressing Mori.
The room was suddenly cast into a brilliant golden light. Malus tried his hardest to not shield his eyes, he had that much self respect left.
As the light died down Malus took in his host's form. Now he was trying his hardest not to break down in hysterics. He had heard that the true form of the holy sword had been ridiculous. But they didn't know the half of it.
"Who are you to presume that you are great enough to take up my precious ,eternal time." The small white creature demanded. It wore a white suit top with no pants. It's nose was arrogantly pointed upward and on its head was tall top hat. It twirled a cane as it walked around Malus, apparently taking him in as much as he was it.
"Have we met before?"
Malus cursed internally. Excaliber was often sought out by students of the academy, it would make since that Gabriel had been here at least once.
Malus quickly fixed his smile back on. "I'm afraid not. I am –"
"My legend dates back to the 12th century. Did you know?" The pushy creature interrupted Malus' introduction and was now pointing his cane at his face. Malus tried hard not to summon Fenrir and chop the creature down.
"Yes I am aware. I have read of your exploits often. Now as I was-"
"Quick! What is your favorite number?" He had been interrupted again. And now by such a juvenile question.
"The number 2, because it is whole and perfect."
"FOOL! You have no right to choose." The cane was back in his face.
"But you just asked-." Malus started.
"My legend started in the 12th century." It was becoming painfully clear that the little annoying creature wasn't going to listen to him. Malus sighed, more from relief than exasperation.
"Hrunting." Icy mist began to swirl around his arm. It began to take form, growing up his arm as a long icicle with two horn like guards. He pointed his icy arm blade at the holy sword, which had mistakeningly turned his back on him.
"Loki Fangs!" He slashed out with Hrunting, sending out a shot gun spread of ice shards, heading straight for Excaliber.
Malus heard the satisfying sound of blades cutting through its target. His grin vanished when in place of an impaled holy sword was a torn white top hat.
"FOOL! Do you not understand the regality of such a hat." Malus turned stunned to the sight of Excaliber standing right beside him. It had apparently avoided his attack last minute, leaving its ridiculous top hat behind.
"Did you know that a chef's importance is determined by the size of his hat. Lucky I have a bigger more extravagant looking hat stored away." The white creature began prancing away with an annoyed Malus in hot pursuit.
"Get back here you!" He had completely forgotten why he had come here. He only knew that he wanted to skewer the prancing annoyance. "Come here so I can freeze dry you!"
"Fool I am best served steamed." As he was prancing about he stopped every once in a while to rummage through junk that was lying around the cave and send back a random snide comment. Finally he stopped at one pile imperticular and began fiddling with a closed cylindrical box.
"Ah here it is." He had finally freed his back up hat and it was indeed taller at least twice the size of his old one, that however wasn't what stopped Malus from cutting down the annoying sword. His eyes were locked in on the black and red jewel embedded above its rim.
"Where did you get that?" Malus asked, all rage blown out of him.
"Do you mean this?" The holy sword tapped the gem with his cane. Malus nodded.
"Interesting story that." The holy sword seemed to rub its chin thoughtfully with its stubby arms. "I'm sure you've heard of my many incredible abilities, have you not? Well one of my personal favorites is my ability to slice open holes in the fabric of reality." He didn't notice that his "captive audience" was still captivated by the jewel on his head. "Many a world I've traveled to, and I'm sure that my landing areas have become holy ground in many of them. Anyway, in one particular vacation of mine I happened upon a handsome fellow in black. He really should have worn a larger hat to show off that visage of majesty. He was quite generous as well. He had handed me this jewel telling me that his world could truly be saved as long as I took this jewel as far from there as possible. How could I refuse?"
His story finished he turned to find a white and gold arm pointed directly at his face. "Thanks for the information."
"Sub-Zero Bite!"
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Malus gazed upon his prize as he exited the cave, kicking aside the fairy he had frozen on his way in. He marveled at the craftsmanship of the black Phoenix crest surrounding the red gem. He had no actual idea what he was holding, nor did he care where it came from.
All he knew is that within the crimson gleam of this item was a burning desire for blood lust and conquest, just waiting to get out. He began fastening a chain to the crest, fashioning the evil item as a pendant. He knew just who to give it to.
"Now to commence my plan."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mori sat behind his desk, his head was down, mimicking his spirit.
Akira was dying.
He was their in the operating room. He read Akira's health report. Even though they had cleansed his body of the poison, it was clear that he would not recover. There was just too much internal damage. Even if he didn't die immediately, his body would eventually give out.
No one could hide their dismay. Sho had threatened the doctors to try some other method, he didn't care what. Joe, vainly, tried to pull him back, but it was clear that even she was holding back tears. Beltza hasn't spoken to anyone since and he only leaves his room to go hunting for kishin eggs and to restock on his medication.
And Hikari. Mori's precious daughter. She hasn't left Akira's side and probably doesn't plan to any time soon. Mori would some time come to check on her himself and he would sometimes see her quickly wipe away tears.
All of the Bios were unable to except the loss of their most charismatic member. He was like a son to Mori himself, a brother to Sho, Joe and Beltza and perhaps something even more to Hikari. Mori couldn't but feel helpless, he was about to lose such an important member of his family and he could do nothing to stop it.
"Wallowing in self pity Tachibana?"
Mori swung his chair around quickly. He quickly unsheathed the blade hidden in his Kishin emblem tipped cane and leveled it at the intruder's throat.
"Temper temper." Malus chided wagging his finger. "I come in good faith, the angel that I am. I come bearing the answers to your hopes and dreams."
"I have no patience for your tomfoolery, fiend." Mori said with venom. No one could really forget who was truly to blame for Akira's condition.
"Hear me out. I have viewed some of your older projects and I came upon one to be most interesting." He pulled a black portfolio from his cloak and set it on Mori's desk in front of him.
Mori eyed the portfolio and recognized it as one of his forgotten plans. He kept his blade leveled but used his free hand to open the folder. He ran his eyes over the plans and immediately recognized his work from so many years ago.
"You're mad." He said skeptically. "This plan was doomed to fail then and it will now aswell. And we don't even possess the needed material for the procedure."
In answer Malus pulled out what appeared to be a golden cog with runic symbols written on it. Mori lowered his blade and backed away surprised. "That is-!" He choked up in shock.
"Correct. A Soul Cog." The young witch clarified.
A soul cog was a rare magic tool created by witches decades ago in order to create a new generation of human weapons from scratch. It was crafted through a of combination of alchemy and witch science. The procedure to implant the tool was dangerous and fatal 85% of the time. Only those who have studied the process thoroughly, such as Mori, know how to do it. The surgery involves actually cutting open a small incision into the heart and placing the cog inside. If the surgery was successful and the cog and human were compatible the human's body would go through a complete anatomy overhaul and become weapons.
It was from this very process that Sho, Joe and Hikari were born. The process is best done on young undeveloped souls, and it was for that reason that Mori had his own child, aswell as the children of a few of his compatriots put under the knife. The procedure had at least six participants and only three survived. The realization that he could have lost his only daughter that day still hung heavy in his heart. Was he now forced to do the same now for Akira.
"Think of it." Malus held out the cog. "He would be reborn with a power he could only dream of."
"Where did you get that?" Mori questioned.
"My mother's network runs deep oldman. Don't think you're the only one who is graced with her support. And don't worry about the results. I paid quite well to have this crafted to your specific design. I doubt they failed." Malus clarified.
Mori rubbed his hands over his eyes. Was this the only way?
"Project Tesla. The most dangerous project I ever devised. Stronger than Sho, Joe and Hikari combined. There's no chance that anyone could possibly survive the process at his age." Mori argued. Malus fingered the gem in his pocket.
"Never underestimate ones power to survive when given the correct push."
"You seem well, Ms. Mori." Hikari was startled by the presence of Malus at the door. He leaned on the doorway, taking in the condition of the hospital bed's dying patient.
Akira was hooked up to over a dozen machines, all necessary in order to prolong his continuously fading life. Hikari suddenly stood to block his view of the dying Bio.
"I don't know why you're here but I won't let you near Aki-Kun!" She spread her arms out wide as if believing that would stop him.
Malus held up his hands in peace. "I bear no ill will to your friend. I come offering my most sincere apology and a gift." He held out the Phoenix necklace to the surprised green-haired girl.
"What is this?" She gazed at the jewel warily.
"It's known as a Phoenix pinion." Malus lied. "It's a rare witch artifact crafted from the magical tears of the fire bird. Some believe it contains the healing powers of the phoenix. Myself, I believe it all to be silly superstition, but as a good luck charm, I'm sure you'll find more use for it." He placed it in her hand and began to leave.
"Why?" Hikari asked, this was unusual behavior for the normally cruel Malus.
Malus sighed. "Embassrassing enough to say, I was chided by my mother earlier. She holds your father and your team in high regard, and as your partners in this campaign we should show a common respect." He then left, not sure or caring if the girl believed his lie or not. He was confident though that the girl would place the necklace on Akira, what choice did she have?
"Fool." He chuckled then grimaced in a familiar, comical way. It appears something has rubbed off on him from his previous endeavor.
"Malus-sama." Malus quickly wiped the face away when one of Mori's lower workers walked toward him holding out a piece of folded paper.
"This is a message to you. It was found on the uncounscious Dr. Hausen."
This perked Malus' interest. If he remembered correctly, this had been incommand of the branch of Mori's organization that Malus had tipped off Shibusen about. And he wagered another hunch on who the message was from.
He dismissed the soldier then and unfolded the letter. It had only one word written on it:
Hokkaidou.
Alright! The movies so close I can taste it.