Chapter 32: The Missus' Evolved Power
"Okay, okay, let me recap for a bit. So this crazy witch of one of the top officers of Grimoire Heart manage to snag an endless amount of ethernano, wearing what's almost sound like an invincible armor."
My words must have been like a blow to the chest. Heart swayed listlessly before her legs betrayed her as she fell to her ground. "It's over," she whimpered. Her eyes transfixed at the beauty of the blue light pilar, you wouldn't expect it to be the signal of something horrifying, "They've won, there's nothing we can do now, it's all...over."
That snapped Nick out of his reverie, and glared down to the blacksmith, "It's not over yet...it can't...they can't get away with this...not again...we can't let it go like this... we need to stop them."
Heart glared at back, hot tears welled up and broke through her eyes, "How? How are we supposed to do that? They have the strongest weapon in their hands, with hundreds of dark mage under their command! How are we, a group of meddling misfits, could compete with them? Please tell me because I honestly want to know," she demanded...or pleaded from the sound of her sob she failed to quell.
"That...that is…" Nick tried to think of a way, but there was nothing he manage to choke out, but nothing came out that could. His usual exuberant glint I always saw in his bright brown eyes dimmen in diminish. It's like the fire in him was squashed and he couldn't do anything but accept it.
A loud 'BAM!' made us tensed, and we swirled to the sword and we found Erza with a gold staff that has a heavy ornament on top, and managed to cracked the ground she hit.
"If you are finished jabbering about, can we focused toward the problem and worked out on how to handle it."
"Haven't you heard any word I said?"
"I heard, which is why I elected to ignore you," Erza answered with her arm crossed, and nodding to herself as if it was the most obvious thing to do. I had to smile that straightforward personality of hers, but Heart looked like she had been talked down as stupid.
"Na...wha…" If the situation wasn't so dire, I would have laughed at the dumbstruck expression she had.
"You claim that it's over, but you forget we're still here. We're still standing. Still fighting. I refused to believe there's absolutely nothing we could do. They may have won, but we haven't lost. Not yet, not until they take away our spirit to fight. We are not done."
Her passionate strike our hearts and lit the dim lighted fire into a roaring flame. The light in my companion's eyes were back, as well as Heart Kreuz, but her body still quivered and her head shaking, not willing to dare herself to hope.
"Again, how? How are you going to do that? You say pretty words but exactly how will we fight against them."
Instead of answering, Erza turned her gaze to me, "Captain...that's what you called yourself, why is that?"
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected question, but shrugged in answer, "It's a nickname my dear sister once called me and it stuck. Afterall, every ship needs a captain."
"Then do you have any idea how you're going to lead us through this storm, Captain?" she asked, and I couldn't help but grin that she managed to work out I'm not backing down without a fight.
"I'm so glad you ask."
Heart Kreuz caught on as well, switching between looking disbelievingly between Erza and me, "You're crazy, both of you are crazy. How can you be so calm when everything is about our life is about change right before our eyes?"
I frown at her question and had to concede that she has a point to be confused, "That's actually a good question Heart Kreuz. I'm surprised myself how well I'm taking this when I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown myself. Not that I'm not acknowledging things have gone bad to worst, the very opposite in fact. I can't say for Erza, but me? This isn't the first time I had face sheer and utter despair at the face of unimaginable power. To be at the end of your ropes with only the dark abyss at your grasp. I've faced that so many times, I have better grasp on my emotion than when something bad happens. Do you know why? Because it means, I have nothing else to lose. And I guarantee you there's nothing worse than to bring a desperate man that has nothing to lose in a fight."
My voice that had been neutral had turned grave and low. I coulda swore my eyes showed burning determination, along with cold calculation as I examined the resolve of each and every one of us here to fight with their lives on the line. However, I still need their confirmation.
"Where I'm taking you, I can't guarantee you'll survive. There'll surely be a lot of pain involve, and we are more likely to die than to succeed. Do you still want to follow me?"
Their smile and silent nod was all the answer I need. Only Kreuz shook her head, whispering his mad we all are, yet agreeing alongside with a sigh, of exasperation or defeat, I couldn't tell.
"Okay, here's the plan."
. . .
"This is insane, this is insane, this is insane!" Zeffik repeated said like a mantra, as if saying it many times would somehow change his situation or his mind. Neither seemed likely.
"You could have left with the other two groups you know," Nick grumbled, running the hallway of the vibrating ship that held the mark of his most despise guild, "I could have handled well alone."
"Not a chance," the Half-Giant man deadpanned, "First, I'm not stupid enough to go against Captain, and even I can tell you're not ready to be left alone."
"I'm not alone," he denied indignantly, "I've got Hope."
The small flying cat's ear beside them twitch, "Nyu...don' t drag me in this Nick, you're on your own."
"I thought you're on my side," he asked indignantly
"Because you're implying I could be any help when you're acting scary before."
"I'm not that scary...am I?"
Before any of them could answer, a lone guard of the Grimoire Heart while wearing the basic grunt clothing; purple robe and a white mask.
The grunt barely registered their presence before Nick was already upon him, chaining his limbs and mouth to the ceiling. The attack was swift and precise that there was no time for Zeffik or Hope to react, and was left into a senseless mind blinding numb.
Nick felt their awkward stare that he couldn't bring himself to turn, "Was that too much?" It was either because he was self aware, or his dragon enhanced senses managed to catch their nodding heads.
Zeffik looked back up in thought, "Wouldn't it be quicker to get him down and ask him where the engine room is?"
Nick shook his head, "Nah, no need for it. I could tell where the engine is from the source of their vibration."
"And then we sink the ship," Hope excitedly reminded them of the plan.
"Like the Titanic!" Nick agreed.
The big guy frown in confusion, "I'm sorry, Tita-what?"
"Sorry, just a story Aniki told me that story once as punishment. The ending was so painful. Poor Jack,poor Rose, they were suppose to have a future together, I had cried for a week."
Instead of asking further what he meant, he decided it was wiser to stay focused on their goal. Running through the intricate hallways of the ship, avoiding guards and surveillance camera, turning left and right numerous times until they forgot the course of the way from the entrance and back, but they did not bother to wonder how they were getting out as they recalled Captain's plan.
"Listen up, I admit that the situation is a whole fruibasket kind of bad that I don't need to elaborate more how fuck up we are."
"Language!"
"Shut up, I'm stressed over here! Where was I? Oh yeah, however, it doesn't change the fact there are three essential thing that needs to be done."
"Only three?"
"Yes," Captain raised three fingers as he explained, "Securing the Orb from the hands of Grimoire Heart, incapacitate Missus from using her magic, but most importantly cut off any exit route for them to go back to the outside world with said orb."
"Importantly? Shouldn't it be getting the Orb back?"
"There'd be no meaning in getting it back if this Missus felt she'd rather go back to the outside world and left us stranded here rather than fighting us, or worse, if she managed to defeat us and there is no one stopping her getting out of this island. Which is why it's more important than anything to not only cut off any route for her, but to make sure she can't contact any backup from her guild."
"Bu...but how are we going to do that?"
"Easy, Nick?" Captain snapped his finger and the Bind finally broke Nick free, "Look up, and I mean really look, and tell me if there's anything different about it."
Nick tried stretching his muscle, making sure it's not sprain, before squinting up with distaste at the hovering vehicle above them. The distaste was gone, replace uncertain realization, "Eh, is it me? Or does that ship looked smaller?"
Captain chuckled, "It's not just you, that one is probably one of their smaller ships used to deploy a smaller percentage of their guilds. Either the wormhole here isn't big enough to send their main ship or they think there was never a need for the big man himself to be here. Either way, we're making use of that knowledge so we could sink that ship down."
"Si...sinking the flying ship, that's absurd!"
"No, it's not. It's a ship, so they have an engine. Destroy the engine and the ship won't fly...it's what I want to say but that's not what we're going to do. Well, not the only thing we do anyway."
"""Eh?!"""
The two member of their party stopped when they reach the engine room, pipes were hanging and sticking through the walls and ceiling, the air was damp and heated from the blow of white hot steam coming from them. Multiple large engines were moving in a synch, the turbines moves, and the whole platform vibrated not just the room but the air itself alongside the grinding noises that followed.
In the middle of it all, was a large crystal lacrima hover between the many metal rods like putting a magnetic field surrounding it, and there were cabells connecting them and spread out all over the room. And the target of their mission.
"So this is...the power source of their ship...the heart...or is it lacrima?"
"Whichever it is, there's no denying the ship's moving from the looks of it. Nick do you have the-NO, NO, NO WAIT!"
Too late, Nick ignored him as he took out a device shaped like wand-size metal staff. Nick plunged the wand-like device below the giant lacrima, revealing the top into a satellite dish that has a black lacrima, producing a large magic circle enveloping the whole room.
Almost immediately, the whole ship vibrated more than normally before they felt it tilting to the side. They hover in the air as the force of gravity works it way, Zeffik took hold on to one of the pipes, ignoring the heat that barely could wound him, and held Nick and Hope to his side as the ship plummeted down. There was a sound of blaring alarms, but that didn't seem to help more than to assert more panic to the ship's crew. The mages were hasty in trying to come to grips with something or forced to pulled themselves to the ceiling. Some working in the helm tried hard to keep the ship stable, to the point they pushed any levers or buttons in random, but with the power source gone everything is all for naught.
Second felt like hours as the attending ship waited for the inevitable demise of the ship, and everyone braced themselves from the impact.
The ship hits the black ocean, but through the turbulence it managed to stay afloat. Gravity that had pulled them up now was pulling them down, and the two made an audible smack to the ground. Their hidden face muffled their groan, but didn't stop Nick from asking with a green face, "Is...is it over-HURK!" he got up quickly and puke at the corner of the room and Zeffik grimace at the sight and smell.
"I'm glad you didn't do that while we were running toward here, but forget about that. Nick! Didn't we discuss that we should have informed Captain when we arrived at the Engine Room?!"
Nick wiped his mouth of before turning back and shoot him a sheepish yet pain smile, "Uh...oops?"
Zeffik could only let his head fell to the palm of his hand, dreading the eventual scorn lecture they'll get from the young rune mage.
"I'm dizzy nyu~"
Zeffik snapped from his own thought. Proceed to get up on his feet and took both Nick and Hope on his back, at haste to get off this ship before anyone notice their involvement. However, the crew was in a state so disarray, they practically managed to barrel past them without so much of a resistance. Breaking through one window and climbing up the ship toward its roof.
"This was easier than expected nyu~ I wonder why Captain was so worried that we wouldn't get out fast enough?"
Nick was too green to respond properly, leaving Zeffik recalling his plan, "Uh...he said something about couldn't sense the crew above so we have to be caution."
"Well since we managed to sink this stinking ship, I'd say he's paranoid," Nick said between heavy breath, "Cone on Hope, let's get ready to blow off this jo-"
"Wa...WAIT!" The sudden unknown voice almost made them trip, they turned to the source. "So...so you...you're responsible for the falling of our ship-su."
Nick propped himself up on his feet, ready his stance at the new arrival of possible enemy. "Who are you?" The young Dragon Slayer demanded, glaring at the man with messy black hair reaching below his shoulder, his skin chalk white that looked so unnaturally, with sharp nose, slit eyes and jugular jaw that he was handsome, his body was slim and fit that showed his six pack. Despite that he was an objectively good looking man, he had a bad sense of fashion, wearing a large dark robe, brown straps criss-crossing his bare chest, and a black tight like a superhero-underwear.
The man though looked nervous though, fidgeting in place, and eyes darting sideways, "Should...shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking some...someone else's name-su?"
"Really? Sorry, that's rude of me," Nick smiled brightly in response, "In that case, my name is-EAT THIS!" He flicked his arms and barrage of crystals, larger than normal than his usually ones flew fast and hard at his target. Hitting him straight on and creating massive dust crystals from the attack.
"Nick!" He couldn't help his admonished tone.
"What? Now we can focus in getting out of-" he couldn't finish his words when he was shadowed by a presence to close to his liking. His body moved slower than his mind wanted to, his body towered him unlike any other adults and his hands was coming to grasp his head, at a pace he couldn't avoid.
Then Zeffik came in the nick of time to grasp his wrist, halting him from making further movement. There was a tense moment where the two stuck in a battle of will and strength.
They split by jumping apart, and the Dark Mage glared that was 180 degree contrast to his nervous behaviour before, "You're strong-su. You're not normal, aren't you-su?"
"You're one to talk." Cold sweat broke out at their assailant, it was the first time Zeffik and found anyone who could match him blow to blow, not at least without magic enchantment and he didn't seem to need that. "I'm Zeffik, and this is Nick by the way."
"Zeff! Why would you give our names for the likes of him?"
His subdue demeanor return, and gave a short polite bow, "Nice...nice to meet you, my...my name is Kain Hikaru, one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, and I'll be...be your executioner today." It was hard to take serious someone who was already shy at claiming something so bold, if it weren't for his previous attempt of attack, they wouldn't have think he was capable to follow through it.
"Psst, didn't Captain told us that in the miniscule change we were to meet one of the seven, we should consider ourselves doomed and turned our tail out of here?"
Nick scoffed, punching his fist to the palm of his hand, eyes burning in challenge, "Aniki also said that seeing through the plan to the bitter end is also part of our job. Besides, like hell I'll miss the chance of knocking seven kind of asses on them."
"I was afraid you'd say that," his head hung with a sigh of defeat.
"What...what are you two whispering about? Isn't it rude to...to ignore the other party-su," called out the handsome man irritably.
"Like we care what you th-umh," his words were muffled when too-large arms covered his face instead of his mouth. It's hold was firm by the tell-tale struggling Nick, as he tried squirming and wiggling off from his hand.
"Apologies, the boy's young so this one doesn't have much manner," Zeffik said placatingly, even when Nick's muffled indignant scream vibrated through his hand.
"Ah, then that's understandable-su," he nodded, accepting his words like it was natural. "However, I have to cut the chit-chat here and proceed to cut your life short instead."
Zeffik loosen his hold, and the two parties began their silent glaring. Two sides of will clashed between them. Eyes not missing the slightest of their limbs, the slightest twitch of their brows, or the slightest change of their air.
Suddenly, Kain's eyes widen and with long steps manage to get within their personal bounds as if he had just teleported.
""FAST!"" They both thought.
Kain pulled in both his arms and lunge a palm strike, the two prepared their own counter as they await what must be a strong attack of pure strength, "Take this, [Dodos-"
There was a sudden lurch on the ship, tilting it to the side and brought them to unbalance. Hope reacts fast and pulled Nick off his feet, keeping him from getting his transportation sickness. Kain on the other hand had to stopped mid-attack as gravity pulled him to the edge of the ship. He tried to keep his toes on the edge of the ship, going so far as running to keep his footing. Alas, not even the great mage could go against physics before he fell down toward the black pitch sea.
The flying cat, the dragon slayer, and the half-giant couldn't looked away from the comical sight after the high tension reigning on them.
"Did that just happen-nyu?"
Zeffik silently nodded at Hope's query.
"Man...so much for being a Grimoire Mage, that was pathetic," Nick bluntly told his opinion.
"Nevertheless, at least we have some breathing time before he somehow got back up here. In the meantime, we need to lay low and buy some more time."
Nick couldn't hold back the impatient huff, but he know it was impertinent for them to stay on the ship however long was possible. It was only thanks to Hope that he hasn't succumb to his sickness too badly by now.
"Anyway, you should contact Captain with our given Telepathy Line," Zeffik reminded. The young hotblooded boy nodded, putting two fingers on his temple but jumped in surprise when there was a loud thunder rumbling.
They turned to the source and gasped when they saw a thick thunderstorm gathering at one point where they were sure Captain was at.
. . .
Me and Spade were running where the source of the blue pillar light had shown. To tell the truth, among the three party I had ourselves split into. Mine has the most likely probability of us dying, hence is more akin to a suicide squad to buy time but with only two of us. Moreover, while I have a general idea how to combat with a charm speaker, it wouldn't help much because not only do I not know the extent of her ability, but how much does her major boost would change her magic, leaving me with blank scenario on how to tackle her.
In that case, how am I going to fight her without a single plan on mind.
Answer, improvise. My good ol' friend.
Which is why I didn't try to hide the ashen look I had as I kept running toward my possible doom. Sighing for the nth time throughout our enroute.
There was so much sighing that Spade could take before a tick mark finally showed, "Pardon my rudeness Captain, but I strongly suggest that you start keeping it together. We are facing what's likely to be our toughest battle yet."
"It'd be great if it doesn't come to that," another sigh escaped my lips, "besides, we still have some ways before arriving back to their base. I'd like to let loose all my despair before putting on a brave face so leave me alone on this."
"I will not," he bluntly rejected as if he had any right, "You seem to have forgotten that you are the leader of this operation and everything lies in your hand. If you do not get a grip then its best if you stay and lament all day long, the battlefield isn't made for someone who lack reso-"
"DO YOU THINK I DON'T FUCKING KNOW THAT?!"
My outburst had to be unexpected that he would stopped mid step and almost fell down, he looked, really looked, at me and should spot the lip I was biting enough to bleed, the hard grip I had on myself from trembling, and the anguish in my eyes.
"Don't you see? I'm scared. I've faced many monsters, villains, broken rulers, and a whole dark guilds. I was troubled for most of the time but never scared." Actually that was a lie, I've been scared before, but it was only because Lucy was there that I never considered running away and showed my weakness in front of her. "There were times I won, and times I lost, but I wasn't scared because I knew whatever the result, I could move on, I could strive better, that I had lived a better and worthy life." I paused to catch my breath, Spade didn't give any sign of interjecting, so I continued, "Right now though, with that accursed guild mark splattered arrogantly among the sky, I feel like being eleven years old all over again, in that village, feeling powerless as everything dies and burn around me, to watch the display of immeasurable power before with nothing to go against. Wanting to run far away without looking back. To hide in a hole, shut my eyes and ears and pretend nothing was wrong in the world."
"Then why don't you?" he asked unexpectedly softly.
"Don't you see? That's exactly why I can't. The moment I turn my back, I'm not sure I won't be able to stop running away. I'm afraid of becoming the kind of man that I know would regret but couldn't stop, despite it. I'm also afraid to see everything laid to waste and prove my own worthlessness. That's why...that's why I can't stop moving forward. Stopping would only fester doubt, and I can't have that. I can't let my own weakness stopped me from standing your ground and do what needs to be done."
I was huffing at the end like I had done a two mile run, there was a thick tension in the silence we were in. My eyes has wondered sideways and couldn't look back to watch Spade's reaction.
A curious sound finally made me turn, only to taken aback by the kneeling form he made.
"My apologies Master Jurenelle, I had forgotten about my own role and was imprudent to you."
"Spade, this isn't necessar-"
"No, this need to be said. As someone who swore a knight's oath to you, I have spoken out of turn. Please forgive this impudent knight for failing to see the burden you tried hard to hide. As your loyal servant, I implore you to share your pain and have me protect your back from not just your enemies, but yourself, so as to know I will never let have you turn your back on anyone."
"...I know you're trying to act honorable and all, but that's disgusting coming from you," I bluntly told with deadpanned eyes and all.
"...I forgot you could be a shitty brat sometimes."
We shared an insulted look before our lips twitch, and breathed out a shared laugh, "There's the Spade I know and hate."
"You flatter me Captain." He rose up to his feet, then strongly patted me on the back to emphasize his spoken words.
I tried to maintain my somber mood, but he managed to successfully crumble gave me an unintended quirk at the edge of my lips, "Well let's blow up this pity party and better face the wicked witch on the west...I still have to ask, are you sure about going through this plan?" We continued our fast pace walk, our target is almost within sight.
Spade grimace, but with resolute voice he said, "Didn't I say I'd swore my life to you? It means that I would follow anywhere, anywhen, in any way."
I shrugged, "Your funeral then."
After pushing through the thick purple bushes, we finally arrived back at the base and was frozen shook. The base was in rubles and there were bodies laid everywhere, even beneath giant rubble or hang on tree branches. I wasn't sure if they were alive, but since some were twitching and groaning, I could guess that some are.
A shrieking laughter gave me goosebumps, reminding me of nails scratching a chalkboard. There, floating within the sky, was the Valkyrie and its wearer. She had a demented smile while looking happily down at the orb on her hand.
At our arrival, her head whipped and locked on our presence with her mad hysterical eyes of hers. Yikes! Is this how people who get drunk in power looks like? Her smile thinned but there was a cruel edge to it, she even lick her upper lips as if she has been served with her favorite dessert.
"Well, well, well...are you the intruders the lot has been talking about, don't you know it's inappropriate to steal someone else's belonging?" she hauntingly preened while looking down on us from above. I would bet she thought us as ants to be crushed beneath her high heel feet and couldn't wait to do it.
Sadly, I'm going to have to disappoint her. Gulping, I made a step or two forward, "I'm here to speak with Grimoire heart's most dangerous and beautiful mage of the seven kin purgatory!"
Missus tilted her head, eyes glinted in interest as she began floating slowly down toward us. Not entirely high above us, but above us nonetheless. As if she needed to be firm of her position both literally and figuratively.
"Praise? Charming. I much appreciate it, but don't think that would be enough to spare you from my punishment I so graciously thought of for the two of you and the rest of your little friends."
"Hold up there Highness, we're here because we have only one thing, and one thing only to say for you!"
She curiously raised an eyebrow, silently giving me permission to proceed when I would have regardless. So I took a deep breath raise both my hands, and Spade followed suit.
""WE SURRENDER!""
.
.
.
.
"""Ha?!"""
It wasn't just Missus, even the conscious mages that was sprawled around had to lift their head to shoot their questioning gaze, seeking to see if I was josing.
Missus switched from gaping ludicrously, into a simmering rage, "Are you trying to make fun of me? You think I would believe anyone who came barging in and stole my property, only for you to conveniently give yourself up at the end?"
"Great Missus, you must understand that unlike the previous opponent you've face, we're facing against a top-notch S-class dark mage wielding an infinite source of mana in her hand. I'm sorry, but I'm not suicidal, so I figured...if you can't beat them join them, am I right?"
Missus tilted her head in thought before sneering, "A coward's way of thinking."
"Or a wise man's way of thinking," I countered.
The frown shifted into a saucy smirk, "True, and we could use wise man in our midst, god knows how many useless man we have here," she descend in front of me until we were nose to nose, "And you're quite the eye candy too, shame for the scar though it gives you a more manly vibe."
She gripped my chin. Tilting my head up since she was a head taller than me. I had to keep my face passive when she glided her shar nails from digging painfully on my chin to caressing the burned scar on my right-side forehead. Oh, she's beautiful, that's a fact. Shame, she's not my type and she's probably way older than she looks anyway.
"We would like offer our services by your side Your Grace would allow us, and we could assure you the skill we provide would be useful for you."
"Hmm, never met a man as bold as you, so this could be interesting, but how should I know you wouldn't stab me in the back?"
I held back clicking my tongue since that was exactly what I was going to do. Nevertheless, I didn't broke my polite smile as I answer, "Surely you jest, with your power being at its peak, who would dare enough crossing your way, much less daring to betray you under your own noses. That would take the same amount of steel guts to sink a ship belonged to the most powerful dark guild."
It was the kind of irony I wanted to make fun of her later on, but that irony stabbed me in the back when on cue, the sound of ringing metal was heard from above. Wrenching our eyes toward it, and watched agape as it sailed through the sky and fall down to the water, followed by a big splash that could easily be mistaken for a bomb.
What the Gandhi's freaking shit?! They weren't supposed to freaking sink it until I flipping told them. They had one job...okay, three, they had three jobs, but point being they failed to do their first one.
I gulped loudly, and had to forced myself meeting her cold gaze when she look back at me, "So...no chance of you believing me that I had nothing to do that?" her nails pressed further into my face that it drawn out blood, but she couldn't do anything further once she felt the cool blade on the back of her neck.
"Touch him further and you'll be out of a head," Spade growled behind her.
Some of the mage that managed to stand looked like they were ready to assist their Missus, but I wasn't going to let them. I teleported at every side, and knocked them out with a single rune spell. My speed and precision was good enough that barely anyone realize I was there before I was back on her side.
"So sorry Missus, but your henchmen are unavailable. Please kindly hand over the orb or we'll make sure you can never utter a single word for the rest of your life."
If my threat managed to perturbed her, she didn't show any sign. My senses were hyper aware for any ambushes that may come my way so she has no one to help her, and any slight movement from her would result with a blade through her throat. Frankly, I can't see this in any way other than checkmate.
Reality never does go as expectation.
I expected it wouldn't be this easy...but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
She lifted her long axe in her hand and swung it toward her back, ready to chop Spade in half. It was all reflex afterward when I managed to teleport him away from her line of attack with myself. I looked back down at the frozen figure around my hand. His face was one of struggle and I heard his moaning behind his tight locked lips. I had to bit back a curse at the sight. Great, the battle barely started and one man is already down.
"Okay, I'm curious. When did you use that charmspeak of yours?"
She cocked her hips to the side and twirled her axe around, "The moment you left my sight to deal with my "henchmen" as you said it, I had already whispered my words to your servant. Let me advise you to not only turn your back on me, but never cornered me from behind. You don't know when I'll say anything...unpleasant."
"I guess that leaves only us." I tried to sound flippant even as I glared deviantly at her, keeping the anger at the forefront on my expression, hiding my true feelings if summed in one word would be:
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!
The one scenario I tried to avoid at all cost was revealing when the battle hadn't even started! For god's sake, I was aiming for Spade doing all the battling, being the strongest out of us two, and for me to assist him by sealing off her voice. Anything but where I had to fight out front with an overpowered Mage.
In hindsight, I should have let Spade dealt with the mooks while I had a dagger on her.
No use of crying over spilt milk.
Another groan wrench my eyes down, and was faced with Spade frozen face, looking up at me with eyes shining apologetically.
"Hey, it's fine…" his gaze became disparaging, "...okay, so it's not fine, but I can handle it. Just...hold on till I figure something out."
I rested him aside, and stood ready to confront her when I was anything but. My mind felt like short-circuiting since it draws out blank plans. It's been a while since I had to play the part of not knowing what to do but act like it.
"If you're not going to be the first to greet me," Missus started, a cruel grin overtook her face as she raise her battle axe, "Allow me, Shockquake!" She raised it down to the ground, splitting it all the way as it shook toward me with crackling electricity followed before exploding bright light came from underneath me.
I jumped away and stayed hovering in the air to avoid it before willing my bracelet to become a giant broadsword, swinging it down with serious vigour at her. Dust clouded my view and didn't imagine for her to run over my sword as a bridge toward me. God, that chick is mental.
I quickly tried to retract it, but Missus jumped in time, swinging her crackling axe before me. Turning my sword into a shield at the last minute, I was saved from being fried but the force pushed me back hard to the ground.
It hurts, but I preserved. I put the shield aside to find her ready for her next volley of attack, [Pierce Axel!]
Before she could either charred or decapitate or both. I rolled my side but still caught sting of the lightning as it split the ground as if it was caused by a giant axe instead of such a small weapon. I looked down my arm and grimaced at the red burns, letting my adrenaline put aside the pain.
My shield turned into a whip, and I secretly thanked Lucy for helping me trained along with using it, my custom made whip had sharp spikes around it and aimed it at her, but she didn't even try moving as the whip only bounce off around her.
Damn, force field.
I didn't let it discourage and thought up the next battle plan. Having my equipment on me had enhance my strength, endurance, speed, defense, and agility so I should have no problem taking on what she could dish out (probably).
Missus attacked first by twirling her long axe above her head, a magic circle appearing as she summon a small tornado one hand. There was a slight opening I was too hasty to take, but failed spectacularly when she aimed to blow me away. Sweeping me off the ground while I endured the onslaught of whirlwind around me. Yet, I noticed how the whirlwind darkens, becoming thicker in density, and my hair stood from the sparks in the air.
Can't exactly teleport without knowing exactly my position, I turned my whip into a grappling hook and praise "hallelujah" that it managed to burst through the chaotic whirlwind. As expected of Heart Kreuz Brand.
It took me out just before Missus unleashed its attack, the sound of thunder close behind me gave me shiver. I collided into a branch and held on to it, hiding within the thick leaves of the trees, heaving a relief sigh from escaping Death's door.
Changing tactic, I had turned my grappling hook into a spear. Teleporting on her side, thrusting the spear to her head. Yet, she didn't need to use her forcefield before she softly spoke, "Miss," and my hand swerved to the side, missing marginally.
She smirked, even knowing she had a forcefield to protect her, she was playing me. She told me to "Kneel," and I was forced to do just that. She wasn't done wit that and continued with "Grovel," and I found myself kissing the ground before the words could fully sink in.
Okay, so close combat should obviously be bad idea.
Her leg was on my head, and she giving enough force to cracked my head if she wanted to.
"A grand display you've just made, honestly for someone so young and inexperienced you have a lot of nerve I can't help but respect. Sadly, I like to end this child's play now, I have a schedule to keep afterall."
"nyon...yer...eft…"
She lifted her leg and curiously peered down, "What was that?"
"I said, on your left," I growled.
Her brows furrowed in question before turning left to find nothing. She turned to ask what I was thinking only to find she was facing the tip point of a blade out of a hundreds I made surrounding her, pointing toward gaps from the armor she wasn't protected, branching off like a tree out to kill her from my sword.
She frown in disgust as we meet eyes. I was on my feet and gave a silent message that she'd be a porcupine if I see a single twitch of her lips.
"Now give me the orb or I'll put more holes on you than necessary."
My eyes never strayed from her, arm reaching out until it was inches from the orb. But then it began to glow, scratch that, her whole body was glowing!
Before I could react appropriately, she was becoming brighter enough for me to shut my eyes, flashing before my eyes and disappearing. A streak of light shifted from that point to another where she materialized. She looked curiously at her armor, somehow only just realized her newest found ability her armor gave.
And I was so close!
"This has gone far enough, stab yourself!" she ordered.
My body tensed and I couldn't hold back my arm as it holds the now knife-formed silver aimed at my heart. Then without preamble, lunged at myself.
Missus smirked before her lips fell from the lack of blood and scream coming from me, and I thank to any gods that exist that I'm wielding a malleable magic tool, or else I'd be dead.
Seeing that physical force won't do much, I had my weapon slithered through the grass and wrapped around one of her legs. She didn't have time to react before I brought her spinning, pulling her around at every point, giving her a rough ride plodding through the forest. Not even her force field could help her in this case.
Missus tried to cut it away, and found she was taken aback from how tough the flexible element it was. Yet it managed to loosen it for her to skid through the ground and eat dirt.
But I wasn't finished yet.
She lifted her head, a horrifying angry expression marred her beautiful face, and I repressed a shiver.
"You will pay for this," she snarled, regaining her footing back.
But I wasn't done yet.
She only had to bring the first step forward before the ground flashes beneath her and exploded beneath her. Her scream made my lips twitched into a satisfied smile.
"You're not the only one who could use words as weapons."
In the middle of turning her into a human fan, I realized that she had no defense on what would be "environment" instead of "attack". Surprisingly that small flaw Heart Kreuz made was all the key I need to know the rule of playing with her; don't attack directly. The rest became simpler.
Missus managed to swat some of the rubbles that someone as lean as her shouldn't have strength while she pulled herself out from the crater she was stuck in. Sheer fury blazed in her eyes that would have made ordinary man cower. She marched on further toward me, but I was relaxed in my own spot, arms crossed and a smug smile that further widen when her foot activated another explosion underneath her.
She must have noticed by now that the ground should be filled with landmines. Landmines I had the chance to put with words while I was running around attacking and getting attacked. Also, with my Magic Sense, there's an unlikely chance I would get into my own trap.
For my last trick, I teleported right in front of her angry form. Daring, I know. She could have have slice me half if I had given her a chance. Without preamble, I had my arm extend, hand beside her ear, the word "amplify" at the back of it, and snapped my finger.
Missus screeched in pain, stepping back and falling, pulling her helm away to cover her bleeding left ear. I'm surprised she's not unconscious, that moved was surprisingly powerful enough to categorized as a Trump Card. I was hesitant to strengthen the sound since it's possible to give her a cardiac arrest and killed her, but as expected as one of the top dogs of Grimoire Heart. I can't hold back with fatal attacks if I aim to win.
Missus didn't stop cringing in pain, lifting her axe to point at me, small light blue light concentrated at the tip and I knew I should run.
[Flash Target]
A beam shoot out and I teleported away, but even when I was couple feet away at the opposite side, it somehow changed direction and followed after me.
Oh great, such a cliche spell. I mean...it's useful, this kind of homing spell, but it's so damn annoying. With its scary speed, I barely dodged it everytime I teleported at some point. No time to even take a breather before jumping to another point. In the end, I pulled out my trusty notebook and sealed it inside, but was surprised that my notebook exploded, I yelped and was dismayed when I found my notebook was in ruin.
That was only the slight opening needed for her to sneak up from behind. Her voice known to be silky and smooth, I managed to spot her words forming at the corner of my eyes, whispered one word; "Freeze."
I froze. My body locked in place and became vulnerable with that one word.
Missus took a step or two back, to see if her magic works. Only to sigh, disappointment laced thickly on her frown, "How quintessential, to think you were this easy to defeat and I barely could test out what this marvelous armor could do." She made audible steps from behind me to facing me, her eyes showed nothing but scorn and dominance over me.
She raised her weapon hand and again the axe crackled electricity, only this time she began to concentrate it at the tip. "Let this be a lesson of your foolishness to ever think defying one of the Seven Kin Purgato-"
She never got to finished that word once I managed to punched her in the face with a metal gauntlet.
Missus staggered back, shocked evident in her face that words couldn't form properly because of it. I took advantage of her state and called out a barrier spell I prepared from three point seal while running around the place. Sealing her in a purple pyramid shaped barrier.
"King's Tomb Seal; It's a guaranteed barricade seal that keeps everything inside from coming out, including magic, your annoying voice, and air, so you'll have a few minutes before you'll pass out from lack of oxygen. Don't worry though, if I'm feeling for it, I might not let you die then."
Missus was still gaping at me, her mouth moved, seemingly to ask a question of how I managed to break through her ability. Not that I plan to tell her, that would be stupid. Though, I admit I didn't think it was 50-50 chance gamble that it would work.
You see, all I had to do was to perceive her words differently. When she said "Freeze" I didn't take it in as "Freeze indefinitely" and instead took it in as "Freeze for a moment."
Surprise, surprise, it worked!
I was looking smugly, my arms crossed and chest puffed high, even when there's still remain of rapid heartbeats and cold sweat from the close call I had.
However, Missus then smirked knowingly. Making me tensed. She raised her hand that held the orb that began to glow brighter, mouthed a word, and the pyramid-shaped barrier began dissolving like it was never there. Had me gaping at her in turn.
"What do you...how…" my eyes darted toward the three dagger made especially for the seal and find they were crushed by rocks that shouldn't have been there in the first place.
"It would seem there's more to my power now that I have the orb. Now, observe my full power. Ground, rise!"
Then to my shock, the earth around her began to rise as she instructed, towering over me and her surrounding. Comprehension washed over me and I paled in horror, "No…"
"Clouds, gather! Wind, blow! Lightning, come!"
I watched in awe as the scene unfold, clouds forming thickly together, thunder drumming loud, shaking the air, and lightning crackling before a large one strikethrough Missus. Making her less of a warrior from heaven and more of a Lightning Goddess.
But what horrify me most was the fact her charmspeak ability doesn't control just people, she controls reality in itself.
You've.
Got.
To.
Be.
KIDDIIIIIINNNNGG MEEEEEEE?!
What the hell Universe?! Are you trying to wreck canon before I do? Because this is straight up ridiculous.
I was about to move away from whatever attack she cooks up, but find myself blinded and my body binded with what I felt plant vines she must have "ordered" to keep me in place, the blinds so I wouldn't be able teleport.
"You have fought well, but sadly you're just out of league. For the crimes of humiliating let me give you a taste of my best attack yet, [Heaven's Temperament!]"
The crackling stopped and the air stalled in silence. The wind stopped blowing. The thunder stopped rumbling. For one shining moment, everything was at peace. For someone blinded like me, it was a discorting thing. Even with the blinds, I could imagined how the grey clouds began to shine a blinding white light. The smell of ozone permitted area and I knew I'm in a bit of a pickle.
And ear splitting rumble broke the air at the same time a giant lightning shoot down on me.
AN: Hello readers! I missed writing sooooo much but life had kept me busy but finally I get to post this. There isn't much to say other than i'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Oh, and if you're wondering if I might have hit my head to write Kain as an ikemen. Well...let's just say I found a past Kain being handsome but got fat in the future as amusing.
But ugh, why does this arc have to be so long, even I didn't imagine it for it to drag on, and there's stil one more arc before canon, but I can't giveup on it now! Not when it's reaching toward the point of climax!
Next chapter! Revealing where Erza and Kreuz was doing!
Please R&R as always