黒色のフォンセ!

Kokushoku no Foncé!

I do not own Konjiki no Gash! Or Konjiki no Gash Bell! Or Zatch Bell! They belong to Makoto Raiku, Shuukan Shounen Sunday, Shougakukan, VIZ Media, Touei Animation, and Cartoon Network.

Kage is property of Duskmon Kimura.

Arisha, Mikoro, and Dantes are property of Rahkshi500.

Level 36: ホアンオウ・アンヘイルガ対ラグナロキウム・バクサゴル

Level 36: Huang'ou Anheiruga Versus Ragnarökium Vaxagore

Oh my dearest Foncé, that was the most magnificent thing I have ever seen! I'm so glad she's alright. I sure was worried for a moment there!

She promises new adventure and danger. I'm not afraid—as long as she's by my side, as long as she holds my hand, I'm invulnerable! The future is ours now!

—from the Journal of Ishtar

"HUANG'OUUUUUUU!" the monstrous black phoenix wailed, its cry a twisted combination of hate and sorrow.

"Behold Ken! The true power of Huang'ou!" declared Foncé triumphantly. "A power of endless despair and torment!"

It had come back to Foncé when Serpenté woke up. Before Serpenté had entered the Devil Battle she found some phoenix eggs high in a mountain and, feeling mischievous, rolled them off the side to them shattering on some sharp rocks. Unfortunately for her, the mother phoenix chose that time to return to the nest and discovered that some malicious witch of a girl had destroyed its eggs. Enraged and grief-stricken, the phoenix fiercely attacked Serpenté with its claws and beak, but Serpenté managed to kill the poor creature with her power over darkness. But Serpenté wasn't content to just kill the phoenix; no, rather than allowing it the peace of eternal rest, Serpenté bound the phoenix to her phenomenal will, converting it into a spell of awesome dark power that she christened Huang'ou Anheiruga in a process that rarely happened in Foncé's time. It was easier to just inherit such spells from parents that to go out and kill powerful animals yourself, and the practice was frowned upon by the more politically correct types. It wasn't totally unknown for a Devil child to go out and create a new spell that way now though; a prodigy student named Wiseman saved the Devil Academy from a rampaging dragon, first by subduing it with his power over mental domination, then killing it and converting it into a spell he called Killdeathzoru.

Over time, as Serpenté died and resurrected, Huang'ou fell into a deep slumber along with its mistress, its power and grief diminished, becoming little more than just another spell to fling at enemies. But now Serpenté was awake once more, and with her Huang'ou. Foncé could feel the beast's poisonous hate for her, its despair for its lost young even after all this time.

"Foncé!" Ken cried, alarmed at the dark spirits crawling over him. "What's going on?"

"That's the evil it has accumulated over the years," Foncé grimly explained. "I've trained it to feed on sorrow and evil, and the excess power is rubbing off on us. Don't fight it Ken—soak it up. It will grant you even greater power!"

Ken looked up at the two monsters facing each other in mid air. "Greater power?" he inquired. "I'll endure anything for that."

After asking some directions, Jeeno and Dantes arrived at the most qualified place in Auseuil to take Mikoro to. Jeeno frantically pounded on the heavy door as Dantes held Mikoro. Please be there! Jeeno thought.

There was a clicking sound from the other side of the door, and it swung inward to reveal the kindly face of Father Caïn.

"Why hello my child," he greeted. "What troubles you today?"

"A friend of mine is hurt," said Jeeno, motioning to Mikoro. "Can you please help us?"

Caïn took a look at Mikoro and nodded his head. "Bring her in. I'll prepare a space for her."

"So that's Huang'ou Anheiruga!" Imité whispered, transfixed by the events unfolding across the magic screen.

Griffon stared at the image of Huang'ou, remembering it as Sabré's strongest spell, but this Huang'ou Anheiruga was much more evil looking than the one Sabré had used. Seeing it filled him with a strange new respect for Lady Serpenté, and he wondered what was running through Yadau's mind watching the battle play out.

So you're back to you true magnificence, Huang'ou, thought Yadau as he backed away from the two magical titans. This is going to get ugly.

Higure narrowed his eyes, wondering about just how many spells Foncé might have. If they won and that Yadau character came back down he was going to turn all of Kage's spells on him. It was clear to him that even though the winged freak had permitted them to fight on their own turf he had subtly tried to stack the odds against them by having the fight at night to give Foncé's spells more power. It was obvious to him that Foncé and Yadau were in cahoots by their brief interactions.

But now was not the time to think about such things.

Nii-san…

I know, otouto. The spirit book shone again. The dark fenghuang looked powerful, but Bahamut had the advantage of a distance attack.

"Mega Flare."

The king of dragons opened its mouth once more, its Mega Flare prepared much faster now. With a roar it expelled the blinding white ray at the black phoenix. It struck Huang'ou dead on in the chest, provoking a screech of anger from the mighty bird. Yet it continued forward, pushing relentlessly against the energy beam. The attack that effortlessly destroyed Anheiruga Cobra was only making Huang'ou mad.

Higure grimaced, and started pouring more of his dark spiritual energy into the spell. Mega Flare increased in size, but it was too late—Huang'ou reached Bahamut and bit into its neck. Then something began to happen. Thin beams of white light erupted from Huang'ou's body, and black fire curled from under Bahamut's scales. In only a few seconds, before the eyes of everyone left in the hemispherical barrier, the two magical creatures started to dissolve and run together like wet paint. Soon there was just a massive burning orb of swirling blacks and whites.

Yadau landed behind Foncé and Ken and folded his wings around them like a shield. "Quickly!" the An'uuto urged. "Face me and not the orb!"

"What's happening?" Higure asked, dumbfounded.

"Nii-san! Get down!" Kage called. Higure dropped to the pavement and lay flat. Kage leapt atop him and extended his wings protectively.

The orb of light burst, exploding outward with an eerily dull roar. A vast ring extended from the center and slammed into the sides of the barrier, shattering it in a hail of dissipating shards of green energy. The shock wave continued expanding, generating enough force to shatter the windows along Orchard Road and knock out the power throughout most of Singapore. A news helicopter circling the barrier was incinerated instantly. The ring left nothing but devastation and a howling wind in its wake.

The group in Château de Fouché stared in awe at the screen. They held their breath in anticipation.

Please come back Mistress Foncé, thought Ishtar, her eyes wide and frightened. Don't let this be the end of you.

Imité clutched the black silk ribbon Ishtar gave him earlier with a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. I was too busy with Aoi to see Foncé leave, he thought, remembering the glare Ishtar gave him as she thrust the ribbon into his hand and explained what happened. If she fails now I'll never forgive myself!

The technicians sat in silence, awaiting their master's decision. Muyau'uon had been silent the entire battle, content to simply observe and analyze.

Finally, the behemoth An'uuto rumbled, I have made my decision.

The wind began to die down, and only then did Yadau spread his wings apart. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

"Yes," Ken answered.

"I think so," said Foncé.

Yadau…Muyauwamu's voice rang in Yadau's head.

My lord? Yadau replied. You've reached a decision?

I've analyzed the data and confirmed beyond any doubt that it is her. Bring her to me when possible.

Yes my lord.

Kage slowly got off his surrogate brother and surveyed the damage done.

Otouto, did we get them? asked Higure.

No; Yadau protected them like I protected you.

Shit.

Higure got to his feet and glared at his opponents. Indeed, he could see that they looked perfectly fine. He clutched the spirit book tightly even though he had next to no energy left in him. Get ready otouto…

"The battle is over," Yadau stated.

Higure was taken aback. "What?" he demanded, not sure if he heard him correctly.

"The battle is over," Yadau repeated. "There's no need to fight any further. We've accomplished what we set out to do. We will leave you now."

"No," Foncé said. "Not yet."

Yadau was surprised. "Lady Serpenté, I—"

Foncé walked toward Kage and gestured widely to the destruction surrounding them. "Look what we did together, General Kage." she said, smiling softly. "Such a spectacular power you have…Think of how much more we can do together!"

Ken's jaw dropped. No! Not again!

Kage regarded her silently, then smiled slightly. "Perhaps," he said quietly. "Let's meet again sometime, Lady Ying. I want to fight you again when our powers have more fully developed."

Foncé nodded respectfully. "I see." She turned and walked back to Ken and Yadau. "Jusqu'à notre prochaine rencontre, Général Kage," she uttered.

She and Ken each took one of Yadau's hands. Yadau closed his eyes and sharply said, "Gaigai!" There was a flash of bright green light and the trio was gone.

To be continued...

Author's notes: I hope you think I protrayed you well Kimura.