Hey there everyone I´m not dead just yet even if the world has been trying for some time now
I´m really sorry that it took me this took so long but with my new job I have barely any time to write with my other responsibilities.
Thanks to Killroy122496 and AdmiralJ for helping me with this chapter and the story in general
that is all I have to say for now
Takeoff everyone!
Chapter 26: An angel shall rise from the Ashes
The Fifteenth June of the year 1947
The last battle between humanity and their mostly unknown enemies the neuroi had started on this day however over the day several other things happened as well.
For one a group of six witches revealed themselves to be the reincarnations of three clan members and three guardians of the Atari clan.
This clan was only spoken about in rumors and legends today but the battle of today showed that most of the rumors and legends were true after all, at first a massive force of neuroi had attacked and everything seemed to go in the united armies favor seeing as a lot of the enemy forces were being destroyed.
However a second attack came from a different direction but the six witches that claimed to be part of the Atari clan fought with several joint fighter wings to destroy it the six members of the Atari clan fought the leader of the neuroi and five witches that were under the control of the enemy.
The battle between the six Atari clan members and the six neuroi was decided quickly however what happened afterwards is unclear as the force that fought against the second attack of neuroi seemed to disappear for several hours in which the united armies had to fight against an even larger force of neuroi as the remains of both attack forces joined together.
But once the battle seemed lost for the united armies three witches descended from the sky one of them wearing a black Fuso style assassin uniform used some unknown magic to cover the camp full of wounded with blue white smoke while simultaneously healing as many as she could the other two one wearing a red and gold Fuso samurai armor fought with the ground forces destroying enemies right left and center while the one in white and silver robes destroyed the neuroi in the sky with black and gold lightning from her blade with the few witches and planes that were still able to fight.
A few minutes after those three arrived several joint fighter wings joined the battle the Freedom witches, the Strike witches and the Brave witches fought with the witch in white and silver in the sky while the 31st fighter squadron Africa assisted the ground forces and the witch in red and gold samurai armor but regardless of how many enemies all of them destroyed there were even more replacing those that had been destroyed just moments ago.
The ground forces were being pushed back further and further and it looked as if everything was lost but that was the moment all fighting stopped as an angle of death descended from the sky the person seemed to be a Fuso witch but the white golden feathered wings on her back told a different story.
As for why many called her an angle of death that was because of the black and crimson red flames that covered both of her blades and her hair, this angle of death single handedly destroyed any neuroi that was remaining on the ground or in the sky but in the process she completely destroyed the land as well.
After the neuroi were destroyed the angel of death called on five other witches that joined her but two neurois remained the two leaders Xerox and Xarax but before the angel of death could attack the neuroi showed them something that was inside six other neuroi whatever was inside those six neuroi prevented the angel of death and the others from attacking and for some reason the neuroi called Xerox wanted to fight the Kurimuzon no shi no tenshi.
What happened next could only described as betrayal Kitano Keiko stabbed the angel of death in the back with her Fuso style blade but the reaction of the neuroi was strange as the leader of the neuroi Xerox did something to Kitano Keiko and two other witches of the 31st before taking to the sky again.
From the clouds a massive green black ring that surrounded a black core descended and started spinning Xerox yelled that the Kurimuzon no shi no tenshi had been the last hope of humanity for survival but before he could fire a witch in white and red robes took two blades from the hands of the fallen angel of death.
And this is where we return to the POV of one Takami Karibuchi or as those close to her know her Kikyo Atari:
Kikyo wanted to scream in rage but no sound left her mouth as she looked towards where her younger sister Kari was bleeding out on the ground while the youngest sister Karen ran towards Xerox with two weapons in hand that had been only seen once before in the past in a war that had been thankfully forgotten as it had been nothing short of genocide.
The clashing of Xerox´s blade and Alyssa´s weapon woke Takami and everyone else from their trance Hikari and Sakura were the first by Yoshikas side followed closely by Takami, Ayami and Jeanne and everyone else with a few watching Keiko and the other two who betrayed them "oh god please no Yoshika stay with us" Sakura yelled as she started healing Yoshika with Hikari helping her.
They were able to slow down the bleeding but once Yoshika grabbed Sakuras and Hikaris hands they stopped in surprise "don´t waste your time on me you have bigger problems" Yoshika wheezed as Takami turned her around "Kari what are you talking about?" Jeanne asked with tears in her eyes.
Yoshika started coughing badly for a moment before she replied as blood covered the edges of her mouth and hand "once Karen defeats Xerox you have to get that weapon away from her otherwise she will kill all of you" Yoshika hissed in pain "my blade the Hakai no ha is the vessel that was used to seal away the emotions and memories of the three Atari sisters but if anyone else than me wields it they will be corrupted until the blades kills them" Yoshika explained with a weak voice as she looked towards where Xerox and Alyssa were fighting against each other.
Hikari, Sakura and everyone else wanted to help Yoshika but it was Takami who told the bitter truth "what will happen to you once we leave and try to take the weapon away from her?" she asked getting a sad sigh from Yoshika "I won´t make it but I know that there will be a day that we all will see each other again" Yoshika smiled as her hand brushed away the tears on Takamis face before falling to the ground Takami grabbed it as Yoshikas eyes closed halfway before her head fell to the side.
Takami cried tears of loss and sadness as did many others but Takami was the one who calmed down the fastest "we shall meet again one day Kari" she whispered sadly before closing Yoshikas eyes with her hand before placing her on the ground and covering her with her silver robe "what now?" Ayami asked her voice holding true and unshackled rage as everyone looked at Takami "once Alyssa defeats Xerox we will take that weapon away from her and once me and my guardians have it I will be able to take it apart once more while everyone else needs to keep Alyssa away from us" Takami explained as she looked towards the battle between Xerox and Alyssa.
Xerox was surprised not only had he never seen this weapon before that Karen Atari was using but the ease in which this witch had managed to force him into a corner was even more so as he tried to strike her again only to dodge one of the orange half moon like blades that came from his side.
Xerox bashed the smaller blade away with his own blade but he was barely able to avoid the second orange moon like blade that came towards him but it still managed to almost slice of his arm at the shoulder "this is a surprise I never would have imagined that there would be someone who was able to fight me like this other than the Kurimuzon no shi no tenshi" Xerox cackled as he moved towards Alyssa at speed again his weapon raised high into the air.
Alyssa patiently waited for Xerox to close the distance and once he was about two meters away from her Alyssa dropped low to the ground while holding one blade behind her back with the other right before her, Xerox was able to deflect the first blade from Alyssa but the other wrapped around Xerox´s blade like a snake with its chain before burying the blade into the ground "you are done" Alyssa yelled as the chain around Xerox´s blade allowed Alyssa to get around him to strike at his back.
Xerox made no move but somehow he moved his blade despite the chain and Alyssa almost ran straight into it as he held it in a reverse grip pointing the blade behind him "to close" Alyssa growled as she backed away from Xerox while still having the chain around his blade "you have amused me thus far but now I should end it as it is getting rather boring" Xerox seemed to easily unravel his blade from Alyssa´s chain before he seemed to disappear.
[Where the hell did he go?] Alyssa thought before she threw both of her blades into the sky getting a satisfying sound of breaking glass as well as a frustrated yell from Xerox "found you" Alyssa grinned as she retracted the chain of one of her blades before catching the blade itself and throwing it out a bit before she started to spin the blade in a circle behind her as the other landed in the ground behind Xerox who had a massive crack on his face.
Xerox made no move so Alyssa did instead "Inazuma" Alyssa whispered as her entire body was covered in silver lightning "what´s this?" Xerox mumbled but in the next instant Alyssa was on him burying one of her blades into his shoulder while the other was right through his hand that held his blade "clever little witch" Xerox growled but Alyssa disappeared again.
Xerox picked up his blade with his other hand but the next thing he knew both of his arms were separated from his body as well as one of his legs "seems you have won witch" Xerox sighed as he feel to the ground but as he was falling Alyssa rammed both of her blades into his back and twisted them around until the sound of a core breaking was heard and Xerox fell apart into white shards.
Alyssa was breathing hard as she slowly got up again she whispered "Raikiri" and the silver lightning disappeared but what Alyssa didn´t notice was the silver black silicone body like structure that was replacing her skin under her clothing "Kari wasn´t kidding that this technique takes a lot out of you" Alyssa mumbled as she sat down on the ground as she slowly turned her head towards the sound of running feet but for some reason her vision started to get blurry before everything went black.
Hikari was the first to find Alyssa leaning against a tree with her eyes closed "she is over here" she yelled and a few seconds later everyone else was running with her towards Alyssa but Takami stopped them once she saw Alyssa clearly.
Alyssa´s body was now a silverish black silicone body like structure with twelve black wing spike like appendages on her back that had glowing golden lines going down the middle of each one. She was wearing a silver black and golden white skintight bodysuit with a silver and golden neuroi core in the center of her chest and on her hands were also black gloves that each had a single whitish golden color marking on the palms of each hand, and the gloves also had five small holes each at the top of the hands that were all too familiar with Takami. Alyssa´s hair changed to a bright golden yellow with red and white streaks going down from the middle to the tips of her hair.
Alyssa slowly opened her eyes but now they were a deep golden red with two whitish silver crystals in the center of her eyes. In the center of her forehead was a multi-colored diamond with the colors blood red, silverish white, golden yellow, midnight black, emerald green and oceanic blue.
Takami hated it not only had she lost a sister today already but now the same corruption from ages ago was trying to take away her other one as well "do not hold back as long as we are able to take her weapon and keep her busy for a while we can still win this" Mina assured everyone and like that everyone either took to the sky or in the case of the five ex neuroi hybrid witches and the others of the Atari clan they drew their weapons.
Alyssa seemed to be confused as her head tilted slightly to the side but Takami attacked but was forced back as Alyssa swung her blade on a chain around herself "watch out we don´t know what else she is capable of right now" Ayami yelled before blocking a golden white beam with her magic shield that was fired by one of the twelve drones that had launched from Alyssa´s back "not these things again" Hikari yelled as she bashed away a beam with her Odachi.
But Alyssa stopped with her attacks for just a moment but what she spoke next revealed something that none of them had know until then "It's has always been about you Kikyo and Kari it has never been about Karen. Thank you Kikyo for doing your duty Thank you Kari for saving and protecting my village. Thank you Kikyo and Kari for being the daughters that I never had. It was never about me I never got any thanks in return either for saving your lives protecting the family, or for being the daughter of the Atari clan. I have always been in your fucking shadows and never once have I ever gotten any thanks in return or been recognized as a member or daughter of the clan. No one ever came to celebrate my birthday with me you know how I felt that I was so lonely and depressed I just wanted to kill myself I felt like a disgrace to the family but no more I will prove to everyone that you both are nothing compared to me since I am life and death, I am creation and destruction. I am your end and it is time for both of you my dearest sisters and your guardians to meet your death. I will be the only one of the Atari clan and this world will bow before my feet and worship me as their goddess so now sister, friends, family, and comrades I have only one thing to say just die, die, die and disappear you miserable specks into oblivion" Alyssa yelled the last part before she attacked.
None of the witches fighting against Karen noticed anything as a cloud of red and black feathers appeared where the body of Kari Atari was lying before it started to disperse into the air fading from view right after as the silver robe fell to the ground.
Yoshika had no idea what was going on one moment she was telling Takami and everyone else something before everything went black for her she could no longer feel her body as everything started to get cold "I guess this is the end for me" Yoshika whispered as her eyes started to close however there was a single light.
The next thing Yoshika found when she opened her eyes was herself standing before two massive doors in a white hallway one door was a pitch black with two skulls as door handles while the other door was pure gold with two wings as door handles "so you have returned sooner than we thought you would" Yoshika saw two figures both of them stood on one of the doors while looking down at her.
Yoshika had no idea what to say until she remembered where she had seen these two before "if I´m here it means I have failed to change the future yet again haven´t I?" Yoshika sighed as she simply sat down on the ground.
The two figures on top of the doors landed before the doors before speaking again "you did what we have asked of you but yet you wish to return and we cannot see why that is?" the figure in gold and white asked "so I may keep my promise to my father" Yoshika simply replied to that.
The room stayed silent for several minutes until the person in black robes spoke once more "you have a choice once more but before you decide there is someone here who wishes to see you" he explained before disappearing with the person in white and gold "what do you mean?" Yoshika asked confused looking up at where the two had just been.
That is until someone embraced her from behind "my little Yoshika it is good to see you again even if it is like this" Ichiro Miyafuji spoke his voice soft "Otōsan" Yoshika whispered in shook as tears gathered in her eyes before she broke down while returning the hug of her father who shed several tears as well.
The two stayed like that for a long time but how long it had been neither of them cared "Yoshika I have watched you since the day you took the Hakai no ha from Yoshiko and left to Europe. I watched as you fought to protect even when so many where working against you know this I will be watching you even as you continue on your own path" Ichiro´s voice was barely above a whisper but it held a warmth that was unlike anything Yoshika had felt for a long time.
Yoshika had her eyes closed as she slowly nodded "only you can decide what is next for you and never let anyone tell you otherwise" Ichiro spoke before he started to fall apart into particles of golden light "I will and thank you Otōsan" Yoshika whispered as she found herself sitting on a cliff overlooking a village with a cherry blossom tree standing nearby.
Yoshika whipped away the tears still on her cheeks before turning around "I will do what I have to even if it means that many might see me as their enemy I will protect everyone with my power" Yoshika yelled the last part as she got up.
The figure in gold and white turned to the one in black "then you shall face the trial we have prepared for you for so long" the person in black spoke and before Yoshika knew what was happening darkness surrounded her once more.
POV Olivia Jantzen on the outskirts of Hamburg:
Olivia had no idea why but for some reason she was flying towards Hamburg once a proud city before the neuroi destroyed it completely Olivia had not the slightest clue what was happening back in Berlin at the battle as all communication had been lost several hours ago.
Olivia noticed something that was floating in the river so she raised her mg to take a closer look at it with her scope however as soon as she got a good look at what it was she was already diving down from the clouds towards the water and just before she was going to crash into the water she slowed down and pulled up while holding someone in her arms.
Olivia noticed the neuroi immediately that were flying towards her so she dived away to the only intact building of the city that was the massive cathedral and once she was inside she laid down the still form of Yoshika Miyafuji but now that Olivia got a good look at her she noticed why Yoshika didn´t move her skin was as pale as a ghost and her chest wasn´t moving and once Olivia placed her fingers against the side of Yoshikas throat Olivia knew that Yoshika was dead.
"May you rest in peace we shall carry on in your steed" Olivia spoke with a bowed head before walking into the bell tower of the cathedral but the higher she got the more Olivia feared what had happened in Berlin after all Yoshika Miyafuji was the strongest witch Olivia had ever encountered in her life "what was strong enough to kill a witch like you?" Olivia mumbled as she arrived on the top of the bell tower.
Olivia looked around but other than the old bell and several partly destroyed clockwork pieces she found nothing "why am I even here?" Olivia mumbled but as she was about to go down the stairs again she felt it again almost as if someone was calling out to her so she stopped dead in her tracks.
Olivia looked at the bell of the tower although it was obvious that it was old and had seen a lot of abuse due to the weather over the years however the bell chimed twelve times before falling silent again "how can this bell even be working like this?" Olivia asked herself as she tried to get the ringing out of her ears.
Before Olivia knew what was happening she saw something that looked like a memory from a very long time ago it showed her someone that almost looked like her saying goodbye to someone who was wearing black and red clothes in a harbor before the person that almost looked like Olivia boarded a ship that sailed away but that was where the memory ended.
Just before it ended however Olivia heard someone say to her "take what I have left and return the one who can end this all" the voice sounded sad but yet encouraging at the same time for some reason [what does it mean take what they left and return with the one who can end it all?] Olivia asked herself as she looked over the destroyed landscape around the cathedral.
"Olivia Jantzen you already know what it is you need to take yet you still refuse" Olivia heard the voice of someone ask "what are you talking about and who are you anyway?" Olivia replied while looking around "you know who we are and that is all we are going to say" another voice said but now that Olivia took a closer look at the massive bell she found two animals engraved on its surface to be more precise a picture of a King cobra snake and a Siberian snow husky.
But as soon as Olivia tried to wipe away the dust to get a better look the entire world turned white for her only for Olivia to find herself lying in a field near a massive castle "you finally found your way here descendant of Orivia Atari" Olivia turned towards who had spoken to her only to find the same brown king cobra snake sitting before her "I shall tell you what you need to know Olivia before you can even try and help the one person who can end this" the Siberian snow Husky that Olivia knew was her familiar spoke and like that the two Familiars started to explain a few things to Olivia while also leaving out a few minor details.
By the time Olivia found herself on the highest level of the bell tower again the sun had started to set "now let´s see" Olivia mumbled as she placed both of her hands on the bell again and after she closed her eyes and activated her magic she felt as a weight settled into her hands together with a massive surge of her magical powers [this feels amazing] Olivia thought as she slowly opened her eyes again only to see that she was now holding two Fuso style blades one was a dark green blade with a brown handle and the other was a light gray blade with a white handle.
But before Olivia could marvel any longer at the two blades she felt as the entire cathedral seemed to start shaking "shit" Olivia cursed as she started to run down the stairs as fast as she could and once she was in the main hall she took Yoshikas body before running out of the now crumbling cathedral and once Olivia had set Yoshikas body down in a partly intact building she looked back only to see the once proud cathedral collapse completely.
[I better set up a small camp before I do anything else I don´t like the look of those clouds] Olivia thought as she rummaged through her bag pack and started to set a rather big tent as well as a few other things that she found in the destroyed city that she placed into the tent together with Yoshikas body.
And just like Olivia had thought just as she managed to move her striker unit into the tent it started to rain pretty heavily outside "now to get started on bringing you back" Olivia mumbled as she took hold of the two blades she got from the bell tower once more.
After Olivia created the symbol in the ground and placed Yoshika in the middle she sat down with her legs crossed and the two blades in her hands "I hope this works" Olivia sighed as she activated her magic and the symbol under Yoshika started to glow in a deep red with black smoke rising from it as well before Olivia passed out.
Yoshika had been walking through the village for a while now in search of some kind of clue on how she was supposed to get back but that's when she felt it a magical presence that felt familiar to her but yet it felt very old but before Yoshika was going to dwell on that she was going to find who had entered this plane as she started running on the rooftops towards where she felt the magical presence.
Olivia opened her eyes but where she was confused her as she was lying on a small wooden ship that was in the middle of a harbor that was in the middle of a small village "ok I guess that worked" Olivia mumbled as she got up and looked around "now I just have to" Olivia was interrupted by someone landing on the boat right behind her.
But before either Yoshika or Olivia could say a word they were both blinded by a bright red light and the last thing Olivia saw was that Yoshika was covered in pitch black smoke before her eyes closed as well.
Olivia opened her eyes a few seconds later to find that she was lying on her back in the middle of the tent but she felt as if she had used up almost all of her magic power for something and the reason for that she found as soon as she turned her head to the side where before the magic symbol had been with Yoshika Miyafujis body now laid a young woman on her side with long raven black hair with red strands in it.
Just like the hair of the young woman her outfit consisted of a black shirt with a pair of black shorts with knee socks and over that black shirt the girl was wearing a blood red jacket with a white silver wolf on the back the only thing Olivia was able to clearly see before she fell asleep was that this young woman was alive evident by the slight movement of her back as she breathed.
Yoshika had no clue what just happened one moment she was looking at a taller version of Erica Hartmann and now she felt as if someone had dropped a building on top of her as her eyes slowly opened only to see a dark brown ceiling.
She was in a tent, lying down, whilst in the distance the sun was climbing over the horizon "You have been passed out for almost two days you know" a person said, standing somewhere in the back of the tent. "Ok where am I and who are you? " Yoshika asked. "We are currently 300km North of Berlin and I am Olivia Jantzen, Captain of the Karlsland Luftwaffe", the person answered, now stepping into the light.
A girl that looked like a taller Erica Hartmann, wearing a gray swimsuit with a Karlsland Uniform over it, walked towards Yoshika, helping her up. "It's time to take back, what's ours" Olivia added.
After taking a look through the tent, Yoshika found two strikers, some supplies and two mysterious looking blades. "We better move soon if we want to get there before night falls" Olivia mumbled.
"You know, that I have more battle experience than you and also a higher rank!" Yoshika growled in response "I know, but I don't care at the moment, because at the moment, Xiulan can't pin-point your location Yoshika, so we have to move fast and undercover!" Olivia replied.
"Have I ever told you that you could call me by my first name?" Yoshika asked her voice holding a lot of anger "No you didn´t but..." Olivia managed to stutter out before Yoshika cut her off. "Why are you calling me by my first name then?" Yoshika asked yet again this time letting her anger seep into her words a bit more "My apologies, but have you ever heard of an Orivia Atari or as it would be properly pronounced Olivia Atari? She was the cousin of Kari Atari on her mother's side. Her mother and her left Fuso because they inherited a good piece of land in northern Karlsland, it's the reason they were not mentioned in the book of ancestors, but only in the Atari Clan Codex." Olivia explained as fast as she could.
Yoshika needed a moment to think about everything that Olivia had just told her "So what if you are a distant relevant of mine?" Yoshika replied crossing her arms over her chest "Well it would at least explain Ikono and Seziku" With these words azure blue smoke gathered by Olivia´s boots before revealing a gray Siberian snow husky and a green king cobra. "Hi thssere, Yoshika, I'm Seziku and this is Olivia´s other Familiar, Ikono" the snake explained.
The gray husky made a bowing gesture. "Look Yoshika I can use the smelling sense of a cobra, I know that this will not be our last battle against the neuroi. Didn't you ask yourself why the sun didn't shine as much since we got near the equator and Europe?" Olivia asked and Yoshika started to think about it for a bit.
"Then why is that?" Yoshika asked with a raised eyebrow "a lot of neuroi ships are currently orbiting the earth and even more are on standby behind the moon" Olivia explained "So the battle to win back Karlsland was a total failure after all or can we win back my sister?" Yoshika asked hopeful "Your sister is probably still in or in the vicinity of Berlin, so yes we can try to get back your Sister yet the most difficult thing will be removing the neuroi core." Olivia mumbled
Yoshika nodded at that "what´s the status of the united armies?" Yoshika asked but Olivia shook her head in response "I see leave my sister to me then" Yoshika sighed as she started to prepare herself to face Xiulan in one last battle [Karen everyone I hope I´m not too late] Yoshika thought as she watched the gray sky above her with a sad smile.
Not even ten minutes later both Olivia and Yoshika were in a striker standing before the tent with Olivia having her MG on her back together with her two new blades however Yoshika had nothing on her as of right now with whom she could have fought but before Olivia could question that Yoshika took off so Olivia was forced to follow her or be left behind.
The flight at about nine hundred kilometers per hour took them about twenty minutes to get from Hamburg to Berlin but what they saw was not encouraging sure there were no neuroi in the sky or on the ground but what was on the ground were the bodies of soldiers and witches numbering into the thousands if Yoshika had to guess but made no comment about it while Olivia had a hard time keeping her last meal down at the sight before her.
No matter where they looked they only found destroyed military vehicles, tanks and more dead bodies "seems I really was too late" Yoshika spoke her voice sounding almost hollow as she and Olivia landed in a field where a certain group of bodies was lying together with someone who simply stood in the middle of it all holding two orange moon like blades in her hands.
Yoshika got out of her striker but Olivia simply landed while Yoshika approached the figure that held the two orange moon like blades "seems you really lost yourself haven´t you Karen" Yoshika spoke her voice barely above a whisper and full of sadness but it seems that Karen had heard her.
Karen´s skin was now a silverish black silicone body like structure with twelve black wing like appendages on her back that have glowing golden lines going down the middle of each one.
She wears a silver black and golden white skintight bodysuit with a silver and golden neuroi core in the center and on her hands are also black gloves that each have a single whitish golden color marking on the palms of each hand, the gloves also have five small holes each at the top of the hands that were all too familiar to Yoshika.
Her hair has changed to a bright golden yellow with red and white streaks going down from the middle to the end tips of her hair. Alyssa eyes are now a deep golden red with two whitish silver crystals in the center of her eyes. In the center of her forehead is a multi-colored diamond with the colors blood red, silverish white, golden yellow, midnight black, emerald green and oceanic blue.
Olivia gasped as Yoshika simply walked towards Alyssa without hesitation but Alyssa responded by attacking with her two moon like blades but as soon as they were close to hitting Yoshika they crashed into the ground and Alyssa was unable to get them back into her hands with the chains no matter how hard she pulled on them "you have suffered enough Karen" Yoshika spoke her voice soft but full of concern "just sit right there and be silent" Yoshika added as the twelve wing like appendages started to fire golden white lasers at Yoshika who simply dodged every one of them.
Alyssa dropped the chains that were attached to the two orange moon like blades and started flying towards Yoshika but Yoshika simply blocked the strikes of the five large golden white claws with her magic shield while dodging the golden white lasers of the drones.
Olivia watched as Yoshika continued to make a fool of Alyssa by not attacking at all so it was a surprise to her that Yoshika picked up the two orange moon like blades after a while "I will not lose Karen and I´m sorry for never having noticed what has happened to you" Yoshikas words seemed to stop Alyssa dead in her tracks but Yoshika closed her eyes before placing her left hand with one blade over her right arm that was outstretched towards Karen.
"I am the drive that is my heart War is my life, and Death is my fate. I have fought an infinite amount of battles. Unknown to neither Future nor known to Past or Present. Have withstood many challenges and obstacles to create many weapons and destroy enemies. Yet, these hands will never know any bounds" Yoshika chanted as the ground under her feet was turning pitch black with an eerily red glow "Sensō no chi" Yoshika whispered the last part as she allowed the two orange moon like blades to fall into the pitch black mass under her feet.
The weapon disappeared immediately and instead two blades and a scythe were left behind instead once the black mass had disappeared from view the world changed the sky turned blood red with black stars and a black sun but no matter where you looked now the entire ground was full of weapons of different design and era as well as the remains of old armor and uniforms all of them looking as if they had just been in their last battle.
Yoshika for her part simply started walking towards Alyssa who seemed to slowly back away "for what I have failed to do in the past I shall pay for in the present" Yoshika spoke her voice even but as she continued to walk towards Alyssa both of the dragon marks on Yoshikas arms started glowing one in red and the other pitch black.
Yoshika stopped once Alyssa was about ten meters away from her "I will free you of this curse so you may fulfill your duty to this world as well Karen" at that moment both the Hakai no ha and the Sōzō no ha appeared in Yoshikas hands "Kurimuzon kaminari" Yoshika whispered as she started to move towards Alyssa again.
Alyssa was holding her scythe in a defensive position but the red black fire that started to cover Yoshika was unnerving as neither Karen or Xarax had ever seen or known about this power before now "it´s always the same isn´t it?" Alyssa hissed "you Kikyo everyone just ignores everything I do no matter what it is" Alyssa yelled before attacking Yoshika with her scythe.
Yoshika was pushed back a bit by the force of Alyssa´s attack but only moments later Yoshika countered as she redirected the scythe with the Hakai no ha while swinging the Sōzō no ha towards Alyssa´s midsection only for the blade to meet the pole of the scythe "don´t you dare underestimate me" Alyssa yelled before punching Yoshika in the face.
The force behind Alyssa´s fist was enough to send Yoshika flying for several meters before she rolled and landed on her feet "Karen you can still stop all of this" Yoshika yelled as the black red flames started to engulf both of her blades "the only path I can walk on from here on out is the one of destruction" Alyssa yelled getting ready to attack again.
Yoshika sighed sadly at that as she allowed the crimson flames to form two wings on her back "then I shall do everything in my power to save you from that fate as it is my own" Yoshika spoke with closed eyes but in the next instant she disappeared from view "I will never allow any of you to look down on me ever again" Alyssa yelled as her body was engulfed in orange lightning.
Yoshika used that moment to strike Alyssa with her full strength behind her blades only for one to get blocked by Alyssa´s scythe but the other sliced across Alyssa´s chest and the neuroi core that was there "oh no you don´t" Alyssa yelled jumping backwards so that Yoshikas blade only grazed the neuroi core.
Yoshika wasted no time she attacked again and this time Alyssa could do nothing but try and deflect Yoshikas blows or dodge them as they came to fast after another to stop them all but as Yoshika was about to knock Alyssa out for good she felt a searing pain on her left side of her arm so she gained some distance.
Yoshika looked at her left arm and the Sōzō no ha only to find that her arm had a long thin wound traveling down to her wrist and that the Sōzō no ha was covered in her blood already "never knew you had mastered that Imouto" Yoshika gave a small smile as the wound on her arm started to heal already.
Alyssa said nothing in response as she held two silver blades both of them a bit shorter than a normal Fuso style Katana but one of them had blood on it that Alyssa was whipping off at the moment "you have your secrets and I have mine sister" Alyssa simply replied as she raised both of her blades that seemed to become one long simple black staff "shall we continue then or do you give up?" Alyssa asked.
Yoshika attacked instead of responding to that and Alyssa was holding her own fairly well as she had more reach with the staff but no matter how Yoshika looked at it she didn´t see any way how it could become dangerous to her that is until Yoshika had to use both of her blades in a cross block as Alyssa swung her weapon from overhead downwards.
Yoshika managed to stop the weapon with her blades but Alyssa pushed it forward and something silver flashed from the tip so Yoshika moved her head to the side barely avoiding the small double edged blade that still was able to create a wound right above Yoshikas right eye "you sure fight dirty Imouto" Yoshika giggled as the right side of her face was getting covered in blood as the wound healed "then I won´t hold back any longer" Yoshika added before sending Alyssa flying back with a black red crimson flame attack.
Yoshika transformed her two blades into the two black red pistols with silver blades before she simply waited for Alyssa to emerge from the small sea of crimson and pitch black flames as the wound above her eye closed up [is this your true power Yoshika Miyafuji?] Olivia thought as she simply watched the battle between the two sisters from above.
Yoshika knew that she had pissed off Alyssa with that last attack after all Alyssa was running towards her with an orange long sword with a red handle while screaming her name and like that the two sister clashed weapons once more.
Alyssa seemed to have an advantage for a while but as soon as Yoshika started to use her wings and her transportation magic Alyssa could do nothing more than defend against everything that Yoshika threw at her which most of the time were crimson bullets that exploded on contact with either the ground or in a few cases Alyssa´s long sword.
But neither Kari nor Karen pushed the others openings if they allowed them as they clashed blades once more but it was clear that Yoshika held an advantage not only in pure skill but also in terms of strength as Yoshika was able to put more force behind her strikes.
After another twenty minutes of Yoshika and Alyssa fighting against each other Alyssa was barely able to stand upright anymore and had to use her blade as support to even be able to look towards Yoshika who simply stood waiting with her blades ready to defend or attack at any time "Karen please let me help you so we may carry out our duties once more" Yoshika begged lowering her blades a bit as Alyssa glared at her.
Alyssa slowly got up from the ground but the orange long sword transformed into the all too familiar scythe Alyssa had used during the battle against the neuroi witch hybrids "tell me one thing Kari how are you able to not get corrupted by the Hakai no ha?" Alyssa asked her face showing clearly just how exhausted she was.
Yoshika looked down at the black blade with the red hand guard in her right hand before looking towards Alyssa again "to tell you the truth Karen I do not know that either. However what I do know is that as long as I wield both the Hakai no ha and the Sōzō no ha I am able to suppress the curse of the Hakai no ha" Yoshika explained before returning both of her blades to the scabbards on her back.
Karen sighed at that "Kari no matter what you try to help me Xarax and her power are already a part of me for the rest of my time in this plane" Alyssa explained but Yoshika simply started walking as the black and red flames covering her body started to gather in her right hand "that is not a problem for me but what I can do is that you are two separate entities with you in control Karen" Yoshika replied as she was about arms length away from Alyssa all red and black flames had gathered in Yoshikas right hand.
Alyssa looked unsure from Yoshikas right hand to Yoshikas eyes "will I be able to use the neuroi powers of Xarax once you do this?" Karen asked sounding a bit afraid and Yoshika simply nodded at that "then its fine after all" Alyssa whispered as Yoshika extended her right hand and touched the neuroi core on Alyssa´s chest only for everything to get engulfed in a brilliant white silver light.
Alyssa slowly opened her eyes once more only to see that she was floating above the ground in a world devoid of any color and not too far away from her was her older sister Yoshika "Karen after you return to the world of the living you know what you have to do to atone for your sins. As for me I will always be watching over all of you from somewhere even if none of you will be able to see me" Yoshika spoke her voice holding true sadness and regret "for the things that happened in the past I´m sorry but the path of death, destruction and ruin is not the one that you are to follow Imouto" Yoshika added with a sad smile as Alyssa was unable to respond to that at all.
Alyssa slowly reached out her right hand towards Yoshika who placed her own left hand on Alyssa´s "go now Karen and fulfill the promise we made so long ago to our parents" Yoshika spoke before she started to fall apart into red white feathers that were blown away by the soundless wind.
Alyssa balled her right hand into a fist as she looked into the colorless sky "goodbye Kari but remember to come back as soon as you can otherwise I might just come and get you" Alyssa smiled but her eyes betrayed her as her tears started to fall even as the world slowly regained its color.
Alyssa stood in the field where everyone had died at her hands but now free of the curse of the Hakai no ha she truly regretted what she had done "Yamiyo hear my call" Alyssa yelled as she raised her scythe towards the sky and the dark clouds parted to reveal the pitch black dragon with skeletal bones around his body "what is It Karen Atari?" Yamiyo asked as he looked directly at Alyssa.
Alyssa had no words but Yamiyo understood what Karen wished to do "the price has already been paid by another so I shall do as you ask of me" Yamiyo spoke his voice even and his eyes closed as he started to gain some altitude before diving towards the ground again.
But Yamiyo wasn´t the only one who was flying around the field of dead as he was joined by Himura who flew after him while both of them glowed in their respective colors and after they both landed behind Alyssa again she opened her eyes "thank you Himura Yamiyo" Alyssa whispered before raising her scythe high into the air.
However her clothes started to change Alyssa now had golden long silver white hair with white and red ribbons going from the top to the end tips of her hair and both her eyes are now a violet-red with a black red dragon tattoo forming on her left arm and a golden silver white dragon tattoo forming on her right arm. Her robe had changed again and now it was golden silver with a white kimono jacket that has golden shrine maiden sleeves and red hakama trousers with a necklace around her neck that held a Tanzanite gem and a Blue Diamond along with golden knee socks stockings and silver padded sandals.
"Life has a start and an end however the time of you all has yet to come. As the master of the Dragon of death and the Phoenix of reincarnation I simply tell you one thing. Return for there is still your life to live" Alyssa chanted as her entire body started to glow a pitch black before being enveloped in a brilliant golden white light.
But once the light faded Alyssa looked around sadly "for what I have done now and in the past I will never be able to atone for so this is the last time I will see any of you" Alyssa mumbled before Yamiyos wings embraced her from behind with Himura sitting on her arm as she disappeared leaving no trace of her ever being there.
By the time Takami opened her eyes the sky had turned a bright orange glow "what happened?" Takami asked with a groan but no one answered her however until Takami noticed someone standing right beside her "the battle is over and Karen fulfilled her duty as did Kari" Olivia Jantzen explained as she kneeled down to help Takami to get up.
Takami sadly nodded at that as she knew what Olivia meant even as everyone else that had fought with her and her sisters against the neuroi witch hybrids got up as well and after everyone was able to listen Olivia told them about the battle between Kari and Karen and how it had all ended.
Takami held back her tears as something felt off not just because no one was celebrating that the neuroi had been defeated but anyone who had ears could easily hear the noises of the incoming army however what was their intention was the real question.
Well thats it before I ramble on here are two translations for the things I use from time to time ;)
Blood of War= Sensō no chi
Crimson Lightning= Kurimuzon kaminari
with that out of the way tell me what you think about this chapter in a review or write a PM to me if you have questions.
There will be another chapter but it will take some time I hope that all of you can wait until then
See yaa
DS