Chapter Sixteen - Enemy: Subdued
The churning of the park fountain mixes with the wind blowing through the trees. From in front of the watery monument, his claws prod and scrape against the asphalt as he makes his way toward the awkward alliance of fateful allies. The heavy odor of the green flames which had so promptly consumed the foolish fallen one still lingering in the air like the shadow of a swift death. His gaze is unmoving, unwavering; and no semblance of the once noble orator is to be found in the ophidian glare. Its sights set on them, it begins to inhale and prepare another blast. Forthwith, Yuuma raises her hands and produces a defensive field around everyone.
"This defensive field won't last forever and I don't know how many blasts it can take, so I need you all to listen and listen to me well," says Yuuma in a severe tone, her voice wearing the tension on the tip of her tongue. "We're looking at the worst-case scenario here."
"No thanks to her," interrupts an annoyed Aika, motioning to Rias with a gesture of her eyebrows.
"Now is not the time to play the blame game, do you understand?," she asks, pointing at Aika with a shaking hand that takes her aback with widened eyes. "We need to cooperate. Lives are at stake here. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone nods in unison, the first blast smashing against the defensive field and though the flames do not touch them, the heat is most definitely felt.
"Good. Now here's the mission. We must subdue the dragon, seal him, and whatever the cost, we must make absolutely sure that it does not leave this place. If for any reason it escapes and we're unable to stop it, it'll most likely go into hiding until it can attain its full power and then there'll be absolutely no stopping it. Now, what do any of you know about dragons?"
"Dey're reptiles… I fink? I'll shut up now," responds Daichi, his eyes trailing off in embarrassment.
"No, that's good. Keep going. If they're reptiles, that means they're…"
"Cold-blooded."
"Which means the most optimal way of subduing the dragon will be to lower its body temperature. From then on, we can finally focus on sealing it."
"But dat fing is literally spittin' flames at us! How are we s'pposed to get dat fing cold?" asks Seiji, the taste of sweat on his upper lip from the heat of the second blast.
"Glad you asked. The fountain right behind it is a perfect replica of the actual fountain from the real park. If we can get it cold, we should be able to use it to wear down the dragon."
"I… I think I can do us one better…," replies an unexpected voice. All eyes fall on Sona, her hands close to her chest as her gaze reflects the uncertainty of what she's about to say. She holds out her hand, and there, covering her palm.
"Icicles? No way," says Shiina as Sakaki and Daichi also huddle around him to see the icicles.
"My… My family specializes in w-water. Being the firstborn, I in-in-inherited my mother's ability to c-create ice. I could cool the water or maybe even…"
"Can you make weapons fo' us, Prez?" asks Sakaki, his eyes gleaming. "You could make like, uhh, a spear. Or a sword. Or, uhh, how 'bout a? Oh! I know! A giant snowball we could chuck at'im."
"I'm not so sure," she responds. "I'm still not that good at it, I'm afraid."
"What about magic?" asks Rias. Everyone's eyes turn to her as her eyes turn to Aika. "Earlier you were saying that humans can naturally channel magic. What if we have all the humans here use that to help Souna?"
They all look at each other. That could work!
"Listen," she says to Aika, "I know you don't want to believe me, but just listen. I already know what you're thinking, but I love him and I don't want to lose him; and I know you don't want to either. That means I'm counting on you, Shiina, and his friends to take that dragon down so we can save him. This isn't about money or about debts, okay? I just…," but her words are cut short by the tears flowing down the sides of her face. She bows her head as her hands wrap around Aika's wrists. Shaking, she can feel the regret in her grip as the third blast crashes against the defensive field.
What makes you think I know?! So what if she finds out you made that for her?! What? Is she really that special to you?! You've only ever seen her from afar and she's never even noticed you! Does she really mean that much to you?! Look at you! You're a sad little poet dedicating verses to a girl who couldn't give two shits about what happens to you! Nevermind the kindness I did to you by dragging you all the way here! But of course I don't get a word of thanks, do I?! No, you just want to go ahead and sulk over a stupid drawing, some stupid lyrics, that you dedicated to someone who will never...love you.
It all comes back to her as she sees reflected in her eyes the heartbreak of a lovestruck girl whose souls yearns for its companion.
"She really does love him," she thinks. "I guess it's true."
She looks over to the dragon preparing its fourth shot, back to Rias, and nods to everyone. "Then there's no time to waste. What do we need to do?"
"Everyone, hold hands with me," says Sona to the humans. "Focus on what you most desire right now to defeat the dragon and it should amplify my magic enough to give it to you."
Seiji takes her left hand, Aika her right, and Sakaki and Daichi stand in the center. A blue glow from under their feet gives way to the figure of a magic circle which grows in size till it encompasses them all. An icy wind blows, their desires mixing with her mystical inheritance; and a blinding flash emanates so brightly that even the dragon, who so determined was to break the defensive fied, had to stop to cover its eyes. Upon its dissipation, their eyes widen before the new sight of what lies before them.
Around Aika dance a flurry of sharpened icicles. Seiji holds over his hands two gauntlets of ice, a helmet over his head, and a suit of armor to withstand the heat. Daichi holds a giant shield. And Sakaki, a quiver over his shoulder, holds a crossbow. Equipped for their fight, there is but one problem.
"It's a bit too heavy," says Seiji. "I fink I went a little too overboard wit dis stuff."
Yuuma looks at them and finds even Sakaki and Daichi struggling with their weapons. Quickly, she produces from inside her uniform a single vial.
"I thought this might be of use."
"What is it?" asks Daichi.
"An elixir. It'll multiply the strength of whoever drinks it ten-fold for exactly two minutes. I'm not very good at making them so I'm afraid the effect won't last very long, but its potency is definitely nothing to scoff at. Aika's weapon doesn't weigh anything, but she can't go alone. She lacks defenses. One of you three who can cover for her will have to take it."
Everyone's gaze shifts to Daichi.
"I'm countin' on you, Daichi. Make me proud," replies Seiji.
"You can do it, Dai. You're da man o' da hour now."
He feels his legs grow weak as the weight of it all finally hits him.
We ain't always got all da answers, Daichi. But dat's okay, I fink. I fink, maybe dat's life, you know? You gotta discover it as you go along…
The words ring in his mind as he looks back at Seiji and Sakaki and nods his head. Vial in hand, he looks at the dragon, preparing the fourth and what may just be the shot that'll make the defensive field give way. He closes his eyes, tilts his head back and drinks it down to the final drop. His eyes water as the hot, acidic liquid makes its way down his throat, but not in vain. Immediately he feels an indescribable surge run through his body as a sensation of weightlessness comes over him. Everyone is taken aback as he lifts the enormous shield without so much as a grunt of effort.
Looking at Aika, he responds, "Let's get going."
Putting down the arm with which she was maintaining the field, it fades away from around them.
"Here it comes!" yells Seiji as the dragon's chest pushes inward to release the emerald flames once again. Digging his feet into the asphalt, he holds the shield out in front of him and braces himself for the impact. The glowing, green wave collides against his shield as the flames wrap around them, but something is different. The heat is consumed and gives way to a gentle breeze. And best of all,
"The shield held!" exclaims Sona, overjoyed with a smile on her face.
"I've only got two minutes," says Daichi as his gaze shifts to Aika. "Follow me."
His feet dug into the asphalt, he begins to lead a charge against the dragon.
Running at his side, she asks, "What's the plan?"
"We need to knock it out, right? Here's what I'm thinking. Its flames won't break the shield and it probably won't even try to attack it head on. The only way out it'll have is taking to the skies, which is where you come in. If you can keep it on the ground or even poke some holes in its wings, then we've already won this."
"You really thought this through, huh?"
"Not really," he says as they near the dragon. "It's just your basic, run-o'-the-mill, nerd shit."
Just as expected, seeing them near it, the dragon spreads its wings and prepares to take to the sky. The sounds of its flap blows the dust away from in front of it as even the leaves from the tree tops are blown in a single direction. Anticipating this, Aika launches her icicles toward the dragon, some barely graze its head as others dig themselves into the wings. A sharp screech of pain echoes through the park as the dragon is brought back down. With no time to lose, Daichi gives a huge bound and prepares to drive the shield into the drake; but it dodges to the side, taking refuge behind the trees. Water and marble splash and spread in every direction as the fountain is crushed under the weight of Daichi's shield, breaking the jet and forcing the water much more strongly and much more higher into the air, resulting in an artificial rainfall. Thinking quickly, he holds his shield over the water jet and aims the icy liquid toward the trees where the dragon hides.
"He's got nowhere to run. This fight is over!" exclaims Daichi victoriously.
But he finds it short-lived. Before he can even react, a flaming, tree trunk hurtling through the air collides against his shield and breaks into a mess of ash and wood dust, blinding them both and making them step back coughing, trying to clear their throats.
"Dey're blind out dere!" yells Seiji.
"LOOK OUT!"
A roar breaks out from above them as they see the dragon right over them, it's chest full, fit to burst, and the jewel over it's chest glowing. It's going to kill them.
"I need to make a defensive…" but Yuuma's words are cut short by the exhaustion in her arms. She falls down to her knees with bated breath. Sona is still. Consumed by her fear, she's benumbed. Stiff as a stone. Weighed down by their weapons, neither Seiji nor Sakaki can move.
"THIS IS THE END! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" yells Sona as her eyes grow watery from the anguish brewing inside her.
"No…" answers a calm voice. Their eyes turn to face Rias.
"This isn't over. Not if I can do anything about it."
"Can you make a defensive field?" asks Yuuma. But silence is the only answer she receives; and she knows what is meant by it.
In that moment, a crimson-black aura begins to whirl around Rias as a deep-seated energy begins to collect in the palms of her hands. Her tears begin to fly upwards as the pain in her heart grasps at her for what she knows she must do. She raises her arms into the air and, looking back up at the monstrous beast, she thinks back to their first kiss. The one she so happily shared with him on that fateful night. Giving one final glance into those reptilian eyes, she mouths those woeful words.
— Adeus, Issei Hyoudou. (Farewell, Issei Hyoudou.)
The flames explode from the drake's mouth as a wave of dark, crimson energy is unleashed from Rias' hands. Colliding in the atmosphere, the blast reverberates through the park. A blinding flash envelopes the sky as even the trees are blown back by the immense force of the aerial clash. The crackling sound of breaking asphalt and the scent of cement dust begins to roll up as she's driven into the concrete. Clenching her teeth, her corneas go completely red, consuming even her pupils. With one last burst of breath, she discharges her final technique.
"EXTINGUISHED STAR!" she announces at the top of her lungs as her rouge streak overtakes the viridian blaze.
Pushing with all its might, the dragon drives as much force as it can from out of its lungs; but is immediately impeded by the daunting limitations of its still fairly human body. Exerting with the last of its breath, the jewel on its chest cracks as the capacity of its human host is pushed past its breaking point. The bloody beam nearing ever closer, it flaps its wings to try and get out of the way; but dodging the bulk of its blast, its right wing is consumed and slams against the floor with a loud thud, the cement breaking under the full force of its weight. Her breath leaving her, Rias collapses onto her knees from exhaustion. Their enemy is subdued.
Please tell me this made for a compelling fight scene, or at least for a compelling action scene. I watched like five whole videos about what it takes to create a thrilling and satisfying fight scene, so if this doesn't cut it, I'm going to have to legit just give up any aspirations I have as a writer. I'm garbage. Straight up trash.
Anyways, tragic artist complex aside, what did you guys think? Before you ask. Yes, I pulled a Vegeta versus Goku moment with that beam struggle. What can I say? All work is derivative. I'm sorry if I misled any of you with that "Farewell, Issei Hyoudou" moment; but I can't just kill off the main character...yet.
Besides that, I'm so close to finishing this first arc that I can almost savor it. See you all in the next chapter!
