Before all this starts, I better say this, better late than never.
Happy Birthday Monty.
RWBY is own by Rooster Teeth
Chapter 25
"Now that explains why he didn't want to use my ship for the fight." Stated Ironwood with an amused tone after he saw Drake's little stunt.
"That was reckless! He could not just harm himself but Mister Lhant as well."
Stated Glynda not liking one bit Drake's actions, especially the one where he said she was only good for fixing broken things, "Not to mention that the other students."
"I think someone already took care of that Miss Goodwitch."
Glynda looked at the arena once more as Regal said those words to see the smoke start to clear little by little, only to see a set of yellow walls surrounding the arena.
"It looks like Drake knew Flynn would act in defense."
Glynda scowled, "That still does not justify what he just did. He just destroyed the ceiling of the arena!"
She looked at Ozpin as she finished the sentence, "Aren't you going to say anything about this?"
The words that came out of Ozpin were not the ones she was expecting.
"How did Mister Lhant get there? Without a scratch non the less?"
Ozpin's words made everyone else in the room look down to see there was still smoke. But Asbel could still be noticed, although he was a little distanced from the position he was.
"Glynda, could you please show what happened before Mister Aurion's arte?"
Glynda didn't waste a second as she did what Ozpin had asked her.
"… Stop there."
The General sighed as he saw what Ozpin wanted to know, "That family doesn't stop to disappoint me."
The screen showed how a blue glyph appeared before the lighting struck, it made a solid current of water whiplash Drake's so he would let Asbel go and then push the dark red haired Noble away.
"It looks like Mister Oswald decided give a hand to his brother."
Regal nodded, "And it looks like we were not the only one that caught him in the act." Said Regal as he saw where Hubert was sitting.
"Exaggerated much?" growled an annoyed Flynn as he stood up the moment he saw the glyph to create various walls that surrounded the arena before the Indignation struck.
"I would call it something stunning."
Everyone growled at the comment the brawler of RWBY said, "Just hope Drake is ok, he was in the center as well."
"I am sure he is. I can already bet this was the reason he wanted to develop his tolerance against lighting." Said Zelos while Yuri frowned.
'You felt it as well?'
The noble nodded as he heard Celsius question, making Flynn raise an eyebrows as he let walls disappear all the yellow walls.
'What are you talking about?' asked Flynn as he heard Yuri's thoughts thanks to the spirits connections.
Yuri eyed him, 'you didn't felt it because you were busy using your semblance. But I definitely felt the energy of an spirit down there.'
Flynn raised an eyebrow in confusion, as he understood what Yuri was telling him. 'Hubert doesn't think his brother can't win without help. We better make sure he doesn't do it again.'
Yuri put his hand over Flynn's shoulder to stop him from standing up, "Someone is already taking care of that."
Flynn raised an eyebrow to notice what he meant the moment he looked to where Hubert was sitting.
"I don't suppose you came here to give me your pact crystal." Said Hubert as he watched at the arena as Luke sat next to him.
"Just making sure you don't pull the same crap again."
Luke threat did not go empty as crack of electricity ran through his body.
"Do something like that again and I will fry your brain enough so have to eat your food by a tube."
Hubert smiled, "The only reason you are acting tough is for that mute spirit of yours," said Hubert as he looked at the screen; "Drake's bar is already yellow while my brother's is still green. I do not think he needs more of our assistance."
Luke scowled, "If you think this is enough to stop Drake's tactics, then I suggest you to prepare to eat those words."
Luke wasn't entirely sure of what he said, especially since he did not know if Drake's original plan was even ruined, a plan he still did not know in what consisted.
'Fucking Hubert.' Thought the blonde as he carefully stopped in one spot to put something in the cracks on the ground thanks to his Indignation.
He looked at his right hand to see the mark of the whiplash he received. But that did not stop him. Yes, his plan was to use the Indignation, but hitting Asbel was only a bonus, not necessary. The bad thing it was that he did receive the arte, making him unable to take another direct hit of any lighting arte without the use of a Barrier, after all, his training was not complete yet, and even so been able to handle that kind of arte only reduced the damage by 50%. It would have been 75% with a barrier, but since neither his training was complete, or the use of the defensive arte, then it meant he took about 35% damage. But once again, that did not matter.
He took something from out his sleeve and started running again to the next spot before the screen of smoke he was using cleared out.
Asbel Lhant stood patiently in one of the extremes of the destroyed grounds of the arena as he looked around to all the direction.
He didn't want to acknowledge what Hubert did was ok. But it was necessary for the result of their little quest. But above everything, he wanted to end the fight the moment Drake said those words.
'That eye of yours shouldn't be looking there.'
Those words froze Asbel to the core, 'He doesn't know anything.' Thought Asbel trying to calm himself as he heard Drake's voice
"How does it feel to depend in your little brother?"
The eyes of the noble narrowed as he moved his eyes in the smoke to see any indication of the blonde.
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
Drake scowled behind his scarf as he hid in the smoke, "Of course you don't. Always hiding behind words."
Asbel looked at the direction the voice came from, "Lets see how words get you out of the problem that awaits you after all this is over."
The next thing Asbel heard was something similar to the sound one hears when someone flips a coin. At this Asbel eyes widened as he jumped to the side to avoid an explosion that took place on the same position he formerly was.
He stood up a looked surprised at the spot he was in.
"That eye is really useful."
Asbel felt a chill behind him; he instantly unsheathed his sword and gave a full slash behind him, only to meet nothing.
"What? Are your senses failing you?"
Asbel growled as Excalibur was surrounded with a green energy while he slashed the air around him to clear the smoke.
"Bored of hide and seek? I thought it was your favorite game."
Asbel turned around to see Drake standing in the other side of the destroyed arena.
The dark red haired noble looked at the blonde to notice that his eyes were glowing and slit and that he was no longer leaking electricity, which meant that Indignation managed to take care of that.
"That wasn't an arte." Asbel said as he managed to see some kind of device in his left hand.
"No it wasn't."
Asbel jumped from the spot he was standing to avoid another explosion the moment he saw the blonde moving his hand slightly.
"First Indignation and now this!"
Drake only stared blankly at him, "I am a huntsman in training. It is only natural that I use all my resources in a fight, moral or not moral. But you really have no right to say anything, not since Hubert helped you not a while back."
Hubert scowled in the stands at that while everyone that did not saw the water appearing in the arena, wondered what they were talking about.
"Where the hell did you get explosives anyway!?"
Drake smirked behind his scarf, "From the fuck you charity!"
Some stared at Drake wondering if such an association existed. While some knew the real source of the bombs.
"You didn't want to give me an extra rounds from a Crescent Rose but you gave Drake explosives? I can't believe you!" said Ruby as she looked at Weiss because she was the one that made those bombs.
The heiress didn't answer, as a matter of fact she hasn't been paying attention to anything that it wasn't the fight.
The reason? Her talk with Yuri and Drake last night.
Weiss Schnee blinked several times as he looked between Yuri and Drake.
The first looking at the blonde with a serious face, while the second had his eyes closed thinking what they just talk.
"You are seriously not thinking that…do you?"
Yuri looked at the heiress, "He avoided my fastest arte. No one, not even Flynn nor Lloyd had been able to avoid them, block them? Yes. But not avoid them with ease. Especially my Mystic Arte."
Weiss still wasn't sure, "That still does not mean that your hypothesis is try… I mean, there are many incredible semblances, mine being one of them. But that!? I just find it hard to believe."
Yuri sighed as he looked at Drake, who was still thinking, "Listen, remember what happened that night three years ago. He showed indications of it, remember how he looked at Colette that night. That is how he knew! It wasn't his father, it was him!"
Weiss gave a step back in surprise as she saw someone usually calmed show so much rage, then again, it was the second time that day, Drake being the first.
"…"
"Not to mention that would explain how is his family in the eyes of the council, or all the risky and yet successful investments his family had made."
Drake slowly opened his eyes to give him a blank stare, "I believe you…"
Yuri smiled.
"Then lets start planning."
Yuri looks at Weiss.
"Me? What I am suppose to do?" asked Weiss knowing the reason Yuri had call for her.
"Because this dumbass over here,"
He points at Drake who was in deep thought.
"Won't use the other alternative."
Weiss narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow, "Which is?"
Both nobles looked at each other and then at her, "Confidential…"
"Mostly because he is to stubborn."
Drake ignored the comment while Weiss suspicion augmented. She thought perhaps it was related to what Asbel said, Envoy of the Dark Abyss.
"We need your dust."
Weiss looked at Drake.
"…Explain"
"I have a plan… but I need your dust… explosive if possible."
She narrowed her eyes, "Gonna blow another building?"
If it wasn't because of how serious his eyes were, "… Just the arena." She wouldn't have believed him.
Weiss sighed, but then realized something. Drake was very sure of what he was asking, which meant, "You already have a plan?"
The blonde nodded, "What do you think I was doing until now?"
Weiss looked at him in disbelief.
He looked at Yuri, "Yuri's instincts have never been wrong, ever. That is why I am more than willing to prove what he is saying."
Drake revealed his face as she looked at Weiss, "I know you have no reason to help at all. But I am asking this as a personal kind of favor. Please." Said Drake as he slightly bowed his head, something she never expected seeing.
This only meant that he really wished to find the truth, but…
"Tell me something,"
Weiss voice was low but serious, "If what Yuri says is true and you expose him as I think you will… what are you going to do about it?"
She also wanted to find the truth since she was also a victim of that night, not physical, but mentally.
Drake raised his head and looked at her eyes and gave his answer.
Weiss sighed and put her hand on her forehead, "You will be owning a big one for this… what do you need exactly?"
Drake weakly smiled at her as he thanked her.
'Everything until now indicates that Yuri's theory is true… only hope Drake is able to hold his rage.' Thought Weiss as he saw Drake pulling the device she gave him before the fight.
He had asked her for explosive remote dust, very small ones with potent power if possible. The easy part was the power and size of the explosive since she was also a prodigy of dust, just like Zelos.
The hard part was the remote one, which is way she asked Ruby for advices since she was good with weapons.
Unfortunately that was the very same reason all of her team were looking at her with a mixture of surprise of curiosity. But she just ignored them.
"So what? Are you going to use dirty tricks to win this?"
The blonde didn't answer Asbel statement.
Drake sent a Demonic Chaos while Asbel ran and jumped the first wave to meet Drake blade in mid air. He quickly unsheathed Excalibur to parry the blade, not expecting for the blonde to put enough force to made him do the same and parry the blade. That action gave the blonde the opportunity to execute an quick spin kick that Asbel blocked with the sheath of his sword, but was still send away thanks to the force of the kick.
The Noble of Vale saw as the blonde flew the other way as his eyes narrowed, he quickly crossed both of his hands to create a blue Barrier while being airborne as a explosion happened on the ground he was about to land on.
The blonde looked at the area Asbel landed and gave an step forward, but stopped as he saw the smoke being concentrated in the center while a faint red light began to appear.
'A Ground Incineration!' thought Drake as he jumped out of the way barely avoiding the fire beam that came out of the cloud of smoke while noticing something weird, 'The arte was not as powerful as it should had been, which means,'
Drake's thought became true as he raised his head to see Asbel coming from the smoke with a great speed. That kind of arte takes a lot of aura, and even a more time than the one Asbel took just now, not to mention that running at him in such a short time was not possible either, which meant that Asbel had charged only a little before doing it.
'Smart bastard.' Thought Drake as he made another bomb explode, one that was right in front of Asbel.
The bomb exploded. He was able to see Asbel jump back in the last second while Drake kept running to the smoke and do a Sonic Thrust to advance through the smoke to see Asbel was not there.
"Yuri did the same mistake last time."
Drake narrowed his eyes and quickly let his blade go to quickly grab it backwards and move it to block a flaming Excalibur (Infernal Torrent), Asbel then pulled his sword back and quickly changed another stance as the blade changed from fire to ice the moment he gave two consecutive slashes in X motion (Frost Breaker) that Drake tried to block, only to fail miserably as the second attack managed to hit him on his left shoulder.
"I have felt things more colder than this!"
The noble quickly grabbed Excalibur by the edge with the intention of getting Asbel closer and do a Raging Blast as he ignoring the blood coming out of his hand, but all he managed to do was be met by a head-but courtesy of Asbel, "You seriously thought I would fall for that twice!"
Asbel forcedly pulled his sword back to open a big wound in Drake's hand, "There is always plan B."
The blonde quickly made pressure on his own wound and extended his arm with force so the blood of his hand could be shoot out at Asbel who moved his head to side.
'Too slow.' Thought Asbel as he saw the blood pass next to him with both eyes, only to open both wide as he realized his mistake.
"Told you!"
Asbel saw as his vision was forced to look up as he felt pain on the back of his knee.
"That eye!"
Drake quickly stood up after his executed a spin kick and made his way to stab Asbel's head, fully expecting to move his head, which he did.
"Should be looking somewhere else! Guardian Field!"
A blue glyph appeared instantly, making Asbel shout in pain as he tried to stand while Drake shouted as he forced the arte to run for more than his normal period time, making the blonde force his flow of aura causing the blue glyph to turn black, which made Asbel scream more in pain the moment the color changed.
"He got him!" shouted Ruby exited as she saw Drake finally getting an upper hand.
"Yeah, but at what cost."
Pyrrha's words made Ruby look at her as she noticed everyone looking at the screen.
"… oh no." said little red with a worried tone as she saw Drake's yellow bar decreasing more and more.
"He is overusing that arte…" said Blake as she looked at the nobles sitting near them to notice Luke was not longer there, but what got her attention was the face of Yuri's face.
"Why are you smiling?" asked Blake with clear lack of content while the noble just looked at the arena.
"Just a feeling."
"So… what do you think?"
A young man with silver-gray hair only moved his eyes slightly to look at Cinder, "Of who?"
"Both." Said the amber-eyed beauty as she kept looking at the fight as Mercury did the same once again.
"The only thing I am certain for now about Drake is that he is good making strategies, just by looking at what he did with that lighting to made a big cloud of smoke to plant those bombs in the fissures made by said attack."
"Any weakness?" said Cinder hiding her annoyance by the fact she just heard something she already knew.
"He tends to use himself as bait in order for his plans to work, like what he did in the begging of the round so he could get closer to Asbel."
Cinder nodded as she waited for him to pass to Asbel, something that did not happen.
"Mercury… I am waiting,"
Mercury simple inclined his head forward, resting it over both of his hands, which were resting on his knees, something that amused Cinder as she noticed how his eyes were narrowed.
"Don't tell me you got nothing."
The teen simply shook his head, "Remember when you asked me to analyze Yuri Lowell after his little demonstration yesterday?"
The woman didn't do or say anything as she just listened.
"I can tell you just by looking at his demeanor that he relies solemnly on instinct, that is how he is so flexible an carefree while being able to dodge attacks with ease… but this guy… I just cannot say the same thing about him. Which bring me to the question, how is he being able to dodge or have prepared a counter the before Drake makes a move or an arte?"
Cinder knew what he meant, "Not to mention the fact it looks like he knows where and were each bomb is going to explode."
Mercury nodded, "I did come to conclusion about all of that, and thanks to what that blonde friends of you said. And if it about what I am thinking, then Drake has been playing a game of chess until now."
Emerald snorted, "One that he is clearly losing. Just hope he gets more damage than that girl face did."
Cinder sighed at Emerald immaturity while Mercury chuckled, "Someone knows how to hold a grudge."
"And you don't? I am the only one here that remembers being frozen to death?"
The teen rolled his eyes, "That is because you were the only one being frozen to death, and all because you couldn't keep your hands away from trouble oh you great master thief!"
Emerald turned red, but of anger, "Mercury sh-"
"Shut up,"
Both sat frozen as they eyed Cinder giving them a cold glare, "Both of you."
"Yes Cinder." Both said in sync as they simply watched the fight.
"You said Drake was playing a game of chess all this time, I suppose he has a way to win this."
Mercury smirked as he looked up, "Lets just say he didn't destroy the ceiling just for showing."
That was all Mercury said as he continued watching the fight, but at something more specific, Lloyd's blade. The reason? He had seen it before, but he could not remember where, or when.
'The Guardian Field is getting weaker, and my aura levels aren't looking good either.' Thought the blonde panting as he retrieved his blade and jumped back the moment he stopped his arte.
He panted heavily. Not even his aura was healing the wound on his left palm, but not because his aura was not working, but rather because he needed all the aura he could to pull the next card under his sleeve without going red.
"Out… of tricks?"
Drake moved his eyes from his wounded palm to see Asbel standing away while panting.
"Funny you mention that, I was just thinking the same thing." Said the blonde with a neutral voice as he started to circle around Asbel, only to smile behind his scarf as he saw Asbel doing the same.
'I cannot let him get closer.'
Those were the thought of Asbel as he kept his distance from him. Drake had already managed to get into Asbel's personal space not once but twice. He couldn't afford to be in that kind of situation a third time. But he didn't worry too much.
"Your aura is only a little away from going red. And you still have the audacity to try and pull something else."
Asbel sheathed his sword as he continued, "Not to mention that I am starting to see you are harming yourself with every stunt you do. Never thought you were one with suicidal tendencies."
Drake laughed lowly, "And since when do you care for my well being?"
"I don't. I am simply pointing out how little self preservation you have."
Drake stopped walking after those words were said, "Perhaps… it is truth… I do have little self preservation… but that is the little difference between you and I."
The other noble of Vale narrowed his eyes.
"Contrary to you Asbel, I take risks with my choices in order to get something."
The red haired noble scowled at that, "You don't know anything Aurion."
"Oh! Looks like I touched a nerve. Come on then Asbel," the blonde said as he raised his left hand and did a motion of 'Bring it.', "Prove me I am wrong."
Asbel didn't move, instead he reached for the hilt of hos breath once his breathing stopped being erratic.
'An arte, that is all I need to end this. You shouldn't have done so many reckless moves.'
"Aurora Lotus."
Asbel hand stopped the moment he heard the name of his signature arte.
"That is the arte you are planning to do, isn't it? It the best, I admit it. I am at long range and weak, that arte is the perfect one to end this but…"
The blonde raised his left arm again as an small device came from under his sleeve, "How are you going to do it after a blow the small bomb behind the collar of your coat?"
Everyone who was listened froze at that moment, even Hubert.
"When did-"
"Plant it? You can't add bad memory to your problems."
Asbel was practically grinding his teeth at this as he remembered how he heard Drake's voice behind him while after the Indignation, "Why then?! Why keep the fight this long?"
Drake smirked behind his scarf, "Come and find out." Said Drake as his eyes became slit the moment he took a stance, but not the one everyone was used to see.
"No way…"
"Pyrrha?" asked Jaune as she saw the emerald eyed Spartan looking at the stance as if a ghost was in front of her.
"That is his stance…"
"is…?" asked her partner one more time as she looked at Zelos, "Is that?"
The male red head nodded as he saw Drake putting his right foot one step ahead while his blade was on the same level as his chin in an horizontal way with the hand that held it in front of his left shoulder.
"That is the same stance used in the match you two had in that tournament, Lloyd's signature arte."
"What do you mean by you know that stance?" asked Cinder as she saw Asbel's doubt in moving, she did have to admit, pulling that kind of threat of blowing your neck was something she did not expect.
"You asked me to get al the information in Nikos. There was this freak that fought her and actually managed to almost beat her, until he surrendered after doing that stance."
Emerald blinked, "You mean the guy that was wearing the uniform of the mascot that belonged to that horrible cereal."
Mercury simply nodded, "The one and only. Which was also the person that was using the blade."
Cinder immediately assembled the pieces together; she now knew that the person that fought and almost defeated the Pyrrha Nikos was none other than Lloyd Aurion.
'Lets see what is so especial about that arte.'
"How do I know you are not going to blow the bomb?"
The blonde chuckled, "You don't."
Asbel looked at him for a second before smiling, "You lying son of bitch!" shouted Asbel as he charged at the blonde, only to stop for a moment as an explosion took place, but not behind him, but rather at four different points surrounding him, which created yet another cloud of smoke.
"I am really starting to get tired of this bullshit Drake!" shouted Asbel as he felt a familiar current of wind coming from the direction Drake had been standing, 'Overlimit!' thought Asbel as he heard Drake's voice.
"You and me both!"
Asbel heard the voice coming from the left as he smirked, "That is not going to work!"
Asbel prepared to unsheathe his sword to the right instead of the left to see Drake entering the cloud of smoke while been surrounded by the familiar reddish pink light. Asbel smirked as he saw that he would be able to draw his sword before Drake could land a strike.
He was confident, this was his chance to end the battle, he was confident. But that was his mistake as his left eye widened unconsciously, which was then followed by hiss blue one.
'Damn it' thought Asbel as he quickly turned his head to the direction he heard the voice of the blonde the first time to see he was coming also from that direction.
'An after image!'
The noble clenched his sword as he prepared to draw it once again, but…
"You have got to be kidding me!"
There was already an image of Drake coming from the right and the left, but now there was a third one coming from the center between the two, all of them with Overlimit, so there was no way to know which was the real one, but it did not matter to him.
He kneeled and prepared his sword to draw in one of those three directions, but instead his aim went,
"Up!" shouted Asbel as two opposite weapons clashed.
"Impossible." Muttered Pyrrha as she saw what just happened.
Drake had detonated the four bombs that surrounded Asbel and activated what the other had called Overlimit. What happened next made her wonder what would have been the outcome of fight with Lloyd all those ears ago, if he had used that arte.
The blonde the suddenly disappeared from a second to another and reaper a few feet from where he was standing, but instead of one there were three of him, all of them charging at Asbel from a different direction. But what surprised them the most part of everything was when another Drake, the real Drake, appeared above doing a full vertical attack.
The time slowed for as the image of the fight was replaced with the one he had with Lloyd, she saw the move would have gone, 'I would have lost.' Thought Pyrrha as a sigh of relief escaped her mouth, because she no longer would think in all the possible what ifs about the outcome of that fight.
*SWASH!*
The sound of clashing swords brought her back to reality to see something impossible as the smoke around Asbel and Drake disappeared thanks to the shockwave that both swords generated.
"Impossible!" shouted Zelos as he saw Excalibur over Asbel's neck while the wielder looked at the three figures around him pass through him and disappear.
"Nice try."
Asbel smiled as he parried the blade and put his hand over in him in defense to avoid what it was going to be a kick, but the blonde only used so he could jump away.
"How the hell did he know? Only us have seen that arte." Said Flynn with narrowed eyes as he looked at Zelos who had narrowed eyes.
'Could it be?'
"He couldn't have."
The red head's train of thought stopped as he heard Pyrrha's words, "He couldn't have been able to do that. The smoke around him was making sure that he did not saw Drake before he did that arte, and even more impossible because he shouldn't have been able to know he was going to appear from above. It is just impossible."
"It isn't."
Pyrrha and everyone else around looked at Weiss with surprise, "It isn't impossible to avoid something, if you already know what and how is going to happen."
"Weiss…" said Zelos as he looked at her while she eyed Yuri.
"I suppose you were right, this is more than enough prove."
Longhaired noble nodded as everyone wondered what they were talking about as Drake's Overlimit disappeared.
"Say Asbel," said Drake as he put his blade over his shoulder while his hair covered his eyes as an ominous feeling returned to Asbel once more, the same one he got in his fight with Yuri.
"Does that eye allows you to see more than 8 seconds in the future?"
Drake raised his head slightly to reveal they were not only slit, but also more glowing than ever.
"Or far enough to see Colette dying that night 4 years ago."
Asbel didn't say anything, nor did Drake to know that his accusation was true, because Asbel's face said everything, a face full of fear.
"I see."
The blonde slowly raised his left hand, "All this time I thought it was your father who knew of the attack in the first place,"
The stopped his hand over the hilt of the katana behind him, "It was only natural to do so after all."
"So that is how your family have become so successful." Said Luke as he made contact with Luke's skin in case he decided to do something, but he wouldn't because he was shocked the secret him and his family had been keeping for so long was brought to light.
"But… how?" asked Blake as she saw Yuri expecting for an answer, but it was Weiss who decided to answer her.
"I am sorry… what?" asked Emerald not having the slightest idea what she just heard. Well, she did understood. What she did not understand was how Drake was able to reach that conclusion.
"Mercury, if you would please?" asked Cinder wanting to know how exactly Drake thought in this.
"With pleasure. Lets start with what happened yesterday. As I said before, Yuri Lowell relies in both instinct and speed for his fighting style while Asbel doesn't. That is why I found so hard to believe that there were so many attacks based in outstanding speed that he was able block or dodge Yuri's attack, especially the last one."
Mercury looked at the destroyed ceiling, "Which brings us to today. I am going to guess Aurion wanted to either expose Asbel, or find the weaknesses and the way his semblance works, and judging by all he had done until know, I guess it is the former one. First, remember that he reacted before those Glyphs appeared; he knew that Drake was going to use that lighting arte, even if he did not do the chant. Then there is the thing about the explosions; he knew where was each one, even with this last one where. Not to mention what just happened, it was impossible to know which Drake was the real one, and even more if he didn't know the real one was above him."
Emerald rubbed the part between her eyes, "Time up. How exactly did he know that was a bluff."
"First Person Future View?" asked Ruby as she heard the name while Flynn sighed, "I don't need to ask to know it was you who came up with that name for a semblance."
Yuri simply shrugged his shoulders.
"I didn't think in a better name for it because I didn't believe it." Said Weiss as she looked at the arena, "We came to the conclusion that Asbel's left eye allows him to see what his future self is seeing. Yuri proposed that whatever Asbel was thinking in the present would show the kind of movement his future self would do, therefore showing the present one that, which would explain how he knew Drake's threat was a bluff, he probably put his future self to do something that would let the present Asbel see what Drake was truly planning."
"Not to mention that his reaction before each move showed a lot of surprise for what whatever his future self was seeing. That was what got me to think in this."
"But that still doesn't explain what just happened? He shouldn't have done something like that, if he already foretold the first image of Drake."
Weiss looked at Pyrrha ready to answer her question, but it was Yuri who answered.
"Probably by instinct… we haven't been able to prove all the theories, but I am sure that one just now is related with how he knew of the attack of the White Fang."
Blake tensed as she felt a cold wind behind her back as she heard that, "We will only have to wait and see."
"Wait a second,"
Everyone looked at Coco, who decided to speak for the first time.
"What did Drake said he was going to do, if he found out the truth."
Weiss tensed as she looked away, "I am going to tell you the same thing he told me… I don't know."
Coco didn't say anything; all she did was sigh as she looked at the arena, "well shit."
"I don't want to hear you excuses. I don't want to hear you nor see you." Said Drake as he slowly started to unsheathe Yang, "All I want to do now"
(Play Gintama OST 3 - Rules are meant to be broken, AN: fitting since Drake is breaking again the rule about both blades.)An explosion of energy happened the moment he unsheathed Yang, "IS RIPPING YOU APART!" shouted Drake as his hair started to glow as did both swords while the wound on his left palm healed instantly, "AND THERE IS NO PERSON OF DEITY HERE SAVE YOU."
"Someone take the time."
"Way ahead of you." Said Yuri who already had his scroll out, "Lets see what his counter plan was."
No one said anything, because they were questioning what just happened.
"Did he just pulled a Yang?" asked Ruby as he Drake slashed with Yang the air in front of him once to create a green slash made of air.
"That is my-!"
Yuri's words were cut short as Drake charged a Marian with Yin and slashed again, only this time it was looking up, "Marian Gale!"
The X mark made of wind and darkness flew up spinning faster and faster until it passed through the clouds, making them split in an X motion so the sunlight could enter.
"Or not."
The blonde didn't waste a moment as he charged at Asbel who activated his semblance, only to see his left eye been forced to shut itself thanks to the reflection of the light of the sun being reflected by the white blade.
"Smartass." Said Zelos as Drake used Sonic thrust once he forced Asbel to close both eyes, "He is using the reflection of the sun to blind him."
"I suppose that lighting was not for show." Said Yang with a grim face as Asbel was sent back after receiving a solid strike on Asbel's chest, 'Just hope this doesn't end in Drake killing him.'
The blonde instantly jumped in the air as Asbel stood up. He quickly moved Yang once again to blind his left eye again, but that was not going to stop him. He quickly closed his left eye and ran in Drake's direction unsheathing his blade and quickly stabbing it on the ground to make 6 blue aura dragons appear from the ground and charge at the blonde (Shatterteel Swarm).
"Now you are fighting without tricks!" shouted Drake as he shot an Azure Edge with one blade to use the recoil to avoid some of the dragons as he shot another one to move down and instantly do a Rising Falcon.
"You are the last person I want to hear that from!"
Asbel jumped in the air with his sword pointing at the blonde for all the blades to clash. But that did not ended there as Asbel was surrounded by a dark purple aura while he delivered a series of consecutive slash (Abyssal Seal).
"Not fast enough."
Drake parried the last one with both swords and then inclined forward, "Ghost wolf."
Drake phased through Asbel in mid air to deliver not two slashes of the arte, but four.
"What exactly do both weapons?! He is not only stronger and faster, but also his aura level is rising again! That is simply the best weapon so far made by Lloyd!" Said Ruby as Yang held her on her sit.
"Time?"
"2 minutes thirty seconds." Said Yuri as Asbel fell on the ground and instantly be hit by a Demonic Chaos.
"I have seen what… whatever Drake is using will do to him, but how does it happen?" Said Yang as she noticed that Drake was becoming stronger with every attack he did.
"Have you ever heard of the never ending cycle?"
Yang raised an eyebrow, but it was not her who said the next words.
"You have to be joking," said Weiss with a face full of surprise as the blonde fighting down avoided a series of Demon Fangs made by Asbel, "You are telling me Lloyd managed to put in weapons one of the world's first laws!?"
"So that explains why you said those weapons were only meant for tag battles."
"Ren… how exactly do you know that?" asked Jaune who got just a simple and plain response, "I read."
Drake used Marian to clash with Excalibur as Asbel painted over and over while being overpowered.
"It consist in the cycle of Yin and Yang in which one is constantly giving energy to the other and vice versa,"
Drake gave Asbel a head but the moment the blonde saw he was trying to open his left eye again.
"It is say that the gain of each it is endless, which is the reason it is so powerful."
"Then why is it so dangerous? Something like that is clearly something good." Said Jaune thinking in all he could achieve with that kind of weapon.
"I am going to guess Drake's aura is dark based, which is the reason why he passes the energy to the white blade and then back to the black one. But by doing that he is putting light based aura in himself, the natural enemy of the darkness." Said Ren as he looked at Zelos, "Am I wrong?"
Zelos shook his head, "You pretty much summarized what it does."
Asbel slowly stood up as he activated Overlimit to block another strike of one of the blades; Drake really wasn't giving him any time to use his eye.
"How much before he starts showing any kind of symptoms?" asked Ruby worried as she recalled the state he was in the day of the breach.
"1 minute and 7 seconds."
"You relied to much in that eye of yours Lhant,"
Drake used Sword Rain with sword while Asbel tried to avoid all of the attacks while blocking some thinking in what to do before the Overlimit ended, to bad his thinking stopped as he received a fast Sonic Thrust without realizing it.
"You are nothing without that eye,"
The angry blonde walked to Asbel who was starting to stand up, "… It wasn't my fault…"
The blonde stopped in anger at what he said, "What did you just say?"
"Her death was not my fault… please, I didn't want that to happen… that is why I told my dad the moment I saw it."
Drake gritted his teeth as he clenched both blades, "Then why the hell didn't you do anything!?" Drake shouted as he charged with both blades behind him, "I lost my sister because you said nothing!"
Asbel looked as he was about to pass out, but in reality, "I am sorry…"
Asbel's body inclined forward almost as if he was falling, "But I did my job that night." Said Asbel in a tone that lacked any emotion as he raised his head slightly to reveal his purple eye is open, something Drake did not see for the anger he was feeling.
Asbel ducked down the two horizontal slashes and quickly turned around, "I didn't do anything."
He quickly sheathed his sword with enough force so the recoil would hit Drake on the chest as Asbel kneeled (Sparrow Seal).
"And that is because this eye is something that shows what it is meant to happen. I am sorry." Said Asbel once more time as he quickly turned around and hit Drake with the sheath of his sword to send him in the air and then quickly do a full vertical kick down that was followed by an strong spin kick that send Drake flying.
"No one can escape fate Drake," Asbel charged as he unleashed his sword to make thousands of blue slashed that hit Drake, "You should know that better than anyone." Said as Asbel as he finished his Mystic Arte and heard Drake crashing against the ground. (Expunging Sword).
"And… that is match. All that for nothing, really?" said Emerald as he saw the blonde hitting the ground, but her face quickly changed to one full of surprise.
"How…"
"Look at his bar Emerald. Whatever those swords do, really gives one hell of a boost." Said Mercury as he read the words that were under Drake's green bar was full.
IMMEASURABLE
"Time!?" asked Weiss as she read Drake's bar while he stood up and Asbel just looked in disbelief.
"He has 38 seconds before he cannot let go of the swords." Said Yuri.
"Impossible." Muttered Asbel in disbelief, Lloyd had told him what the swords could do the first time he went to his home, but he didn't thought the power of both together was this amazing, it was almost like if,
"You say that if you were a god / You say that if you were a god."
Asbel's widened as he saw not only Drake, but also Lloyd standing next to him in a similar stance. It was just like he thought, it was like if both brother were fighting together to beat him.
"But all I see, is nothing but a mortal/ But all I see, is nothing but a mortal"
Both brothers raised their blade their blades and pointed at him as both entered in Overlimit, "But if you truly like to act like one/ But if you truly like to act like one"
'A second Overlimit in less than 4 minutes!?' thought Asbel as both jumped high in the air.
"Then I will remind that you are nothing than a mortal/ Then I will remind that you are nothing than a mortal."
'I don't know what you are trying to pull,' thought Asbel as he closed his blue eye and raised his head while he put his arm in front of him so he could just look at the sun a little, 'I already know your trick Drake. The sun won't help you in this occasion.' Thought Asbel as a smirk appeared on his face the moment his future self saw a black shadow coming.
'All I need to do is wait until he can not longer all the power of light and darkness.' Thought Asbel as he moved to the side to avoid Drake and his blade in the last second. But the thing was, he didn't saw the blonde.
What passed him was the white blade been help by Lloyd. He quickly looked back to see where the sword was stabbed behind him. No one else.
"You never learn do you?!"
Asbel eyes widened as he looked up without realizing he looked straight up at the sun with both eyes, "Damn it!" shouted the Noble as he closed his eyes instantly, only to feel pain after.
"Marian!"
A full vertical slash of the arte harmed Asbel, but that did not end there.
"What the hell?" asked Zelos as he saw darkness forming around them until it formed a dome of darkness that surrounded them.
Yang looked in panic as she shivered at what she saw, because she had felt it before, the day they last sparred together.
Darkness.
That was all Asbel saw, endless and infinite darkness.
He looked around and so nothingness, not even Drake. Even all his purple eye saw was darkness.
At least that was until he saw until felt something cold behind him.
"You said nothing."
Asbel's eyes grew wide as he turned around to not only meet Drake, but also Lloyd behind him.
"Just disappear already!" shouted Asbel as he unsheathed the blade to attack both brothers, only for both to fade the moment the sword made contact.
"You talked earlier like if you were some kind deity, watching everything and only doing what you saw fit."
The Noble of Vale looked around to see no one once again, and yet the voice kept talking.
"Lets see what the almighty god does now."
Asbel looked around attacking the air with his sword in panic as s dreaded feeling invaded him.
"Memento Mori."
The screams of pain could be heard inside the dome as they saw that what remained of Asbel's bar went down beyond of the normal red.
"Stop this now!" shouted Hubert as Luke allowed him to stand and run to the first row.
"Flynn." Said Yuri as he looked at his friend.
'Aska says he cannot feel anything that is happening inside, that is like Shadow's realm.'
Yuri scowled as he heard those words.
'This is what you call fix everything?!'
Both nobles of Mistral looked at each other before scowling, 'This is a private chat Hubert, so fuck up.' Thought Yuri as he and Flynn looked at Hubert who walking at them with a gun pulled from his sleeve.
"Wow wow." Said Zelos as Yuri also stood up and prepared to fight until,
"Look!"
Yang's shout made everyone look to see the dome disappearing to reveal Asbel, who was on his knees and weapon on the ground while he was covered with cuts in various parts of his body while looking at the ground. And Drake standing in front of him with his blade pointing at him.
Hubert raised his gun and prepared to shoot, only for a wall of ice appear in front of him.
"You son of a-" said Hubert as he looked at Yuri who was looking at him with a similar face, "That should be my line you lying son of a bitch."
He pointed at Hubert, "All of this years you knew the truth and kept shut. Not to mention that a lot of people could had been killed that night."
Hubert growled, "This again?! No one important was hurt that night. That pick up shouldn't even have-"
Hubert's words were cut short as he received a punch from Zelos.
"Buddy remember you cannot get-"
"You shut up." Said Zelos as he grabbed Hubert by the face while a red energy covered his hand.
Yuri only nodded a shrugged, "Ok, go ahead get angry and release your semblance and screw everything your choice."
"Yuri!" shouted Flynn who tried to calm Zelos.
"That girl was my sister, my sister!"
Zelos hair started to turn orange, "Call her a pick up more time and I am going to make sure you will need more than just a fucking pair of glasses to see well!"
Zelos breathed erratically as someone put a hand over his shoulder, "calm down."
Zelos closed his eyes and opened again to reveal they had returned to their normal blue.
He let Hubert go and turned his head to look at Luke, "Recover that damn thing quick." Said Zelos as he walked away with flows of his aura leaking.
'That explains that orange dot we saw coming out of the building.' Thought Weiss has she put two and two together since Zelos was not with Drake and Yuri that night.
"Pathetic."
Luke scowled as he looked at Hubert standing up, "His sister hates him and then decides to call a pick up one."
"Why you little?!"
Yang walked to him with her Ember Celica and prepared to punch him, only to be stop by Yuri who sighed, "Don't, getting into trouble with the councils for him is not worth it."
Yang looked at him with anger as she looked then at Hubert with an smug smirk.
"… fine."
Ruby sighed in relief as Yang put her weapons down.
"Are you seriously gonna let him bad mouth you friend just like that?"
Yang's red angry eyes looked at Yuri's calm and bored ones as he sighed and ran his hand through his head.
"Zelos is a big boy. He can made his words worth by himself…"
Yuri yawned lazily as he looked at Hubert and then at Yang in an easygoing manner, "Although speaking of the death,"
Sakura petals appeared in the instance he turned to look at Hubert once again to instantly punch him through the ice he had previously formed.
"Insulting a death friend, that is a different story."
Luke sighed, "At this rate none of you is going to leave anything for me."
Yuri chuckled, "Consider it our little help."
"Umm guys,"
Everyone looked at Coco, "Where is our angry blonde?" asked the fashionista as she looked at the arena to see the arena was empty.
"I am blaming you for this." Said Flynn while Yuri just answered with a sigh, "I know."
"Raise your head."
Drake's voice had never sounded as colder as now.
He didn't acknowledge anything that was happening around him. Not the commotion that was happening in the stands, the fact that Goodwitch already declared him the winner, or the fact that the darkness that surrounded him disappeared.
All he acknowledged was the person in front of him kneeling, and the black sword that was pointing at him.
"I said raise your head." Repeated the blonde calmly with the same coldness as before, but Asbel didn't do as said, all he did was mutter a simpler word.
"-t see-"
the voice of the person in front of the blonde sounded in panic.
"I-! I can't see!"
Asbel slightly raised his head to reveal that the pupils in both eyes were gone, all there was left was the blue and purple in their respective eyes.
But frankly, the blonde didn't care, "And here I was about to rip of that eye…"
The Noble raised his blade, "And I will do it anyway."
The Asbel shivered at the declaration as he moved his body back, "Please! I didn't want to. I just did what I was asked! I thought he would call for help right after! I swear!"
The blonde didn't show any emotion not cared of what Asbel had to say, "Your excuses mean nothing."
He moved his blade in a clean swing the moment his words were heard, only to suddenly stop millimeters away from Asbel's eye, but not because he wanted to.
He didn't notice it instantly, but the color of everything with the exception of himself changed to a tone of grey. But what really got his attention was the hand that was currently holding his right hand from reaching the purple eye.
"If this is the form my consciousness takes… then I know I am really messed."
The hand of the person that was holding his, was none other than Lloyd Aurion, his brother.
"…"
"… You aren't going to say anything?"
The figure that resembled his brother only looked at Asbel, "You think you are right in what you are doing. And fully agree with you."
He looked at Drake, "If you really care for your brother… you will do what he would do in this kind of situation."
Drake only stared at the figure in front of him. He was angry, so angry that a quarter of Yang's hair could be cut and would not even reach the half of the rage he was feeling. But as much as he wanted to deny it, he was right.
"You don't need me to tell you, do you?" asked 'Lloyd' with a cheeky smile, the same one Drake used to see whenever his brother was right about something important.
"What are you a retard? Of course I know."
Drake's answer was an automatic one, since it was the kind of thing he would say to Lloyd in this kind of situation.
"You do realized you just called yourself retard."
The blonde internally twitched at the comment as the person holding his arm disappeared.
'Smartass bastard.' Thought the blonde as the color of everything returned.
He looked at Asbel for a second and then walked to were his brother's blade was as he said something to Asbel, "Stand up."
"Wh… what?"
Asbel said in fear of the blindness while Drake ignored him as he put Yang in the sheath and rested Yin over his shoulder.
"What are you going to do?"
The voice of Asbel asked as a more calmed one trying to sound everything but scare.
"I said stand up."
The blind novel heard the voice of the blonde behind him as he felt the pain of having his hair pulled and then dragged.
"Wha- what are you doing?"
Drake didn't let go of his hair knowing it would be problematic thank to Asbel's blindness, "What Lloyd would do."
Giving him the benefit of the doubt.
An cut.
Once again a chapter that should only have around 5500 words and turns about 9287, damn it!
Dont think Drake was being OP without repercussion, even if the time limit was not reach, the conversion of energy still wounds his soul.
I usually don't ask for reviews about chapter (they are REALLY appreciated btw.), but I really want your opinion about this fight since I put my mind in trying to find a way in how to beat someone with that kind of see the future power, so I would like to know your thought or if there is any confusion at all.
Memento Mori… the original Mystic Arte that Drake almost used on Yang. It was inspired by one of the moves from the final boss of an RPG, and attack that had the exact same name and also caused negative stats… although that one also had meteors. What do you think.
Now one more chapter before the end of what I call the… thinking in a name, to then move to the Cruxis arte and then to do a personal war with the WF…spoilers.
Artes used or mentioned in this chapter:
Indignation: the caster calls a massive bolt of lightning that creates a large dome of energy around its impact point, dealing Lightning-elemental damage. It is the highest-level and most powerful spell of its element that can be learned.
Marian (Drake's signature arte): When this arte is used, the user gathers energy in his sword before thrusting forward at the enemy, engulfing his blade with dark energy to extend its range.
Barrier: a green crystal barrier surrounds the caster, and their magical defense is raised by a moderate amount.
Demonic Chaos: this arte allows users to release three projectile waves at the enemy, with the third projectile dealing more damage and hits while passing through the target to hit any other enemies behind it.
Infernal Torrent: The blade of the user is set of fire to give Two diagonal strikes.
Ground Incineration (AN: the real name is incineration wave, but i changed it for… reasons): the weapon of the user slashed the blade close to the ground with the intention of sending a big fire beam.
Sonic Thrust: When using this arte, the user thrusts the weapon at the target, pushing it slightly backward. It is difficult to use this arte during a combo because it might force the enemy away, breaking the combo and giving the enemy a chance to retaliate
Frost Breaker: The user makes an X of ice that slashes the enemy.
Raging Blast: the user reaches forward at the target and gathers explosive energy in their palm, causing any nearby enemies to be blasted away and knocked to the ground. Although this attack does not have a wide blast radius, it is useful to clear away small groups of enemies. It shall never be used in both hands while being close to each other, otherwise it will also affect the user.
Guardian Field: When the arte is activated, a field of light is summoned around or near the user, damaging all enemies within and pushing them away. Guardian Field is slow to execute, making it extremely impractical for combo purposes, but it can be useful to help protect and heal party members.
Aurora Lotus (Asbel's Signature Arte (Fuck this arte.)): The user stab the sword in the ground to instantly disappear and then re-appear as four black figures that start to attack the target with lightings falling with each strike.
Sparrow Seal: The user sheathes his sword with outstanding speed and strength as gives a 180 degree spin to hit the target with the tip of the sheath thanks to it's recoil.
Marian Gale: The user does the first slash of the X of the Final Gale and uses Marian for the second one, making this arte more power with an effect of spin.
Final Gale (Yuri's Signature Arte): he users slashes twice, hurling an X-shaped Wind-elemental projectile toward the enemy.
Expunging Sword (Asbel's Mystic Arte): When the arte is used, Asbel thrusts his sheathed sword into his foes, slashes them into the air, kicks them back to the ground, then kicks them once more knocking them back. Afterward, he charges toward the enemies, then unleashes his sword from its scabbard, forming thousands of slashes.
Rising Falcon: The user jumps into the air and then dives downward at an angle toward the enemy. This arte is capable of covering a far distance of the battlefield, enabling it to be used as a tactic for mobility while also dealing damage to a distant target. It can also be used with a kick instead of a sword
Ghost Wolf: The user slashes the enemy from the front, then phases behind them nearly instantly, striking them once again with another slash. It can be used easily to avoid an enemy's attack, but it is hard to link combos with it until it is used many times.
Memento Mori (Drake's Mystic Arte): Drake's aura manifests as a dome of darkness. Inside of it Drake has perfect control of the environment were darkness cuts and consumes the target. Might cause blindness.