Well here is the next chapter, thank you to Aroneden for proof reading forty pages and making a ton of edits.
So if anything was missed its my fault for making it so damn long.
Anyway hope you all enjoy.
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(Ichigo's DreamScape)
They were afraid, the son could feel it in their souls, hear it in their voices, see it in their eyes. He took a moment to look around at what once had been the audience hall of their god, it had been remade, transformed into a so called symbol of equality. What a farce, a lie told to the people who toiled and died for their insane war.
To be fair to them, if they could have stopped it they would have, but the enemies, enemies made by the war they had started smelled blood in the water. Perhaps the only reason they still lived was that of the four factions facing them, three were infighting over who would get the spoils. More titles, a greater godhood, more souls to enter their realms and raise their power.
It made sense why the thunder god and the father of the Aesir strived for such a goal and why the sun fought with tooth and claw to keep her land. But his father had not found that terrifying, no what he found the most worrying was that the forces of the White God did not seem to want that. They fought only to win and nothing more, of all the deities in this world and every world connected to it, the White God had always been the most enigmatic. Father had said it was because he possessed the greatest almighty, though he had not told him what that meant.
"Your dereliction of duty to your people in this, the time of our greatest need." The son focused on the one speaking "Is a shame on your honor. Thousands have died to buy us time to find a solution to the danger that threatens our existence."
His father looked upon the old man with pity and contempt "So you have said many times with many, though your words, through your messengers and now from your own mouth." There was the barest flare of spiritual pressure, he spoke the next words to the room at large filled with the cowards who reached too far. "You killed our god, you killed my wife, you started this war." His dripped with the purest contempt "You started a war with not one, not two, not three but four pantheon's. On the basis that a thousand of us surely make up one god right, after all you killed one, how hard could it be?" His father shook his head. "I cannot do what you want me to, it is not how my power works, it is not what it does."
Murmuring rose around them. "Your power allows you to write your will on reality." The old man with the cane said, the one who had come to them when the boy was young.
"So long as it is within the plot and I have the power to do so. Soul," his father had to stop himself from adding it's true ending, "Society," he almost spat that title out, "Does not have the narrative influence or position to simply be written to victory. My power might be unique among our race, but most of the gods and goddesses we fight have some control over fate, and of course there is the almighty of the White God."
"We have ways of dealing with an Almighty." Someone said with far too much satisfaction.
"Yes, you can sacrifice more than a million souls to block an Almighty on the level of our God. There is not enough power in this world, or any others, to block the White God." His father hesitated as if that was not quite true, it only lasted for a microsecond, but the Son noticed it and wondered what his father was hiding.
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Odd, watching this Ichigo also knew that was not true, the beast of the End could do it, but that thing was essentially the collective power, will and knowledge of all old humanity. It was meant to be the end of the Gods. And if the being inside him knew how the creation of that thing had been accomplished he was not saying. Only that even with such a creature, the Almighty of the White God had powered though, when given enough time.
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"My fellow senators this man is a traitor, we all know it. For centuries he has been avoiding his duties and, given his power, he could be working against us."
His father laughed. "Why would I need to do that? Your leadership works against this Soul Society. It is only though the ruthless commanding of Yamamoto and the power of Ichibē that you still stand." His father's mouth quirked. "Of course, they do that by ignoring any and all orders you send them."
Silence filled the room, and the Son smiled, for not many of this Central 46 knew that fact. Knew that the war was being run without their input. "I have come here to make my stance clear before all of you, I have humored you by answering your questions and speaking my mind. I will never help you and yours, this place, this state, is a farce made by greedy men and women who wanted more. So leave me be, and I will leave you be, I will not help or hinder as I have done since the day you killed our God."
"That thing is not our god anymore!" Someone roared.
"That," His father said, "Is the only truth you have spoken this day."
"Arrest them," the speaker roared, "Take them both!"
At those words the father and the son simply dissolved into black ink.
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The father and the son woke up, they both knew the die had been cast. Their home would have to be sectioned off before they were attacked. They would rise above this conflict, and if the father managed to complete his story and the Soul Society still existed, then perhaps some might be saved.
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The spell was subtle, no loud alarm that he was used to. The month with Aizen had ended and the dream faded, he was awake. Sona's mostly naked body was pressed against him. He smiled as he looked down to see her messy hair matted with dried sweat. Her eyes still closed behind her fogged glasses, though she was just as awake as him.
His side felt like it was sticking to the gym mat reminding him just where they were. A windowless storage room just off the gym surrounded by equipment not in use. His eyes ran along her pale body, lingering on the curve of her butt before traveling down her legs, passing over her socks and tennis shoes which were still on her feet. His mouth twitched and a slight rumble of suppressed laughter.
"What?" Sona said without opening her eyes.
"Well, I just realized what a kinky girl you are." That got a response; he could feel her body heat up. "I mean we just played out a high school fantasy in your school."
"S-shut up." Her hands dug into his flesh, her cheeks on fire.
"What would the students think of their by-the-rules Kaichou getting her..." She pushed harder into his ribs and his words were cut off in a cough.
"I-I w-will," She stuttered, "I w-will..."
His hand slid down her back to take a firm grip on her butt. His other hand tilted her head back so that she was looking at him. "What will you do?" He asked.
Her eyes sparked with embarrassed anger. "You're impossible."
"This is your fault Sona, I would not have known how good sex was without this." He brushed a bit of hair out of her face. "I fully plan on doing that again with you, now, and in the future."
It took her a moment to fully grasp what he was saying; he declared that they would get through this. She had to blink a few times, as her mind fully engaged. The blush faded as a serious expression made its way across her face. She pushed her forehead back into his chest, letting out a shuddering breath. "I'll hold you too that."
She made a squeaking sound as he squeezed her other cheek in response. "We need to get cleaned up, before the rest wake up." She sounded worried. Probably that if he had his way they might be here for a bit longer.
"Ok," he agreed, "we have an hour and a half before the others should wake up, let's get that done."
It said something about how frazzled she was that Sona missed the mischief in his voice. Not that she tried real hard to stop him when he joined her in the locker room showers, or when he pinned her to the wall for one more quick round, after all, he had told her he was going to do that again.
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There was only heat and eat meals in the cafeteria, but both of them did their best to make sure it was as appetizing as possible. One good family meal, before the long night. Koneko and Tsubasa wandered in first, and half an hour early. Both girls gave them the stink eye as they joined in the effort. "So, Kaichou woke up early to sneak in more time." Tsubasa murmured.
Sona did not look at the two, seeming to find any excuse to not to look at them. That got her Rook frowning and Koneko narrowed her eyes looking from Sona to him. He did his best innocent look, which did not seem to help. Her cute little nose twitched as she sniffed the air between them. It took a moment before her eyes went wide and a look of pure jealousy flashed across her face. It was only there for a second before it seemed to just disappear. It wasn't pushed away; it just vanished as if it never existed. The emotion shifted to simple annoyance. "You twoooo," She drew out the last word, "That's not fair."
Tsubasa frowned for a moment, and then made an Ooh sound. "Oh, Kaichou?" Her grin was shit eating. "Did someone sneak away to have a little fun," She put her hand to her heart, "In school?" The fact that nearly all of Sona's pale skin was flushed red was a decent answer.
"No," Koneko was glaring at him fully now, "It's not like what happened with you and Serafall-sama," Left unsaid was the fact that her name was not among this and she was starting to get pissed, "They did more."
It was Ichigo's turn to look away and cough fighting to keep himself from blushing. Tsubasa's expression went from playful to serious. "Ohm" She did not sound mad, no it was much closer to focused. Ichigo fought back his sudden embarrassment and looked at her, "So that's on the table now?" She was dead serious.
He looked at both of the girls and, after a moment, nodded. Behind him Sona was being absolutely silent; perhaps two days ago she would have admonished them for talking about this at school. Of course, two days ago neither of them would have considered reenacting an AV movie in a gym closet.
"Well," Tsubasa said after a moment closing her eyes then glancing over at the clock, "Really rude of you to not give us a chance Kaichou."
"Sometimes I can be a very selfish woman," Sona replied. And not in a snarky way, or a smug way, just an honest statement of what she found to be a weakness. "I was not in the best state this morning. I needed a lot of things. Stress relief, closeness, and," she bowed her head, "I needed to do...that, before I might die."
"And we did not need those things, why?" Koneko growled.
"You might very well have, and I know I was wrong to keep him to myself."
"Fair is fair," Ichigo sighed, "I did not think of that either."
Both girls sighed and a solid thirty seconds of fuming passed. "Kaichou," Sona gulped, "I need to talk with you." It was more of a demand than a statement, but Sona walked over to her Rook. The girl leaned over to whisper in her ear, which left him with a very annoyed Neko glaring at him.
"Um..." He scratched the back of his head.
Her cheeks puffed out. "So everyone gets some, but me?"
"That's not it," His cheeks flushed, "It's uh, well, I've not been the one to start things, yet."
Her yellow eyes bored into him. "I did that too."
"Ya, that was back when we just started and we had school."
She reached up and hauled him down by his shirt so they were eye level. "After this is all over we are going to talk, Sempai." He just nodded. Koneko sighed and let him go, moving to help him set the tables.
Over with Sona and Tsubasa it looked like a much different conversation was going on. The Rook had a comforting hand on her King's shoulder. Despite the seeming anger on Tsubasa's part Ichigo thought their talk had probably started with. "Are you ok Kaichou?" Or no, they were closer now, "Are you ok Sona?"
He turned away to give them privacy, but could not help the feeling of pride in Tsubasa. Granted, he still expected her to demand something from Sona, because that was how the Rook worked. When a blushing Sona and a smug Tsubasa returned to help with breakfast that expectation was borne out.
He raised an eyebrow at the two of them, and Tsubasa just smirked, looking fully satisfied with herself. Sona, now as red as a beet, refused to meet anyone's gaze.
"What did you do?" He signed out.
"Magical girls." The Rook responded.
Well, that was not cryptic at all. "You ok, Sona?"
"F-fine." She meeped...Sona was not one to meep and that was worrying.
Footsteps sounded as it appeared the rest were awake and following the scent of pre- processed food. Ichigo noted that Issei, Ruruka and Momo entered at almost the same time, and all three did not look like they had just woken. Perhaps he would ask about that later, if he remembered. He did see the boy take his hand off Momo's shoulder. The action looked more to be an encouragement rather than something else. The fact that he did it without shivering showed just how far he had come past his trauma. Ruruka made a sound and her cheeks puffed out, Issei looked over to her frown and repeated the same gesture to her and this time Ichigo heard the words. "We are going to be fine, I promise. I don't have any plans on dying."
"Not before you at least touch a boob, right?" Momo murmured.
Issei grinned at the joke. "Why stop for that, I won't die tell I have my own harem and it's better than his." He flashed a smile at Ichigo. It was an effort for the former Shinigami not to roll his eyes. Progress was progress and who was he to be judging someone for wanting that, so he went with the flow and gave Issei a bring it on gesture.
Inoue, Asia and Akeno arrived next, the latter of the three fully dressed and ready. Inoue, however, still looked half asleep. She was clutching a soft, white pillow against her chest. He had to turn away before his eyes lingered on the small, and rather tight looking, sleep shorts which, combined with the view of her amazing legs, would have elicited a reaction.
The next thought that followed sent shivers of confused shame through his mind. A simple thought, one that even now, even after all his changes, he still could not bring himself to see as normal. 'Things would be easier if she was mine.' Before this, he had never considered even so much as a date with her. Not because he did not like her, he loved those who were his friends. But he worried that these shifts he felt in how he looked at her, the stray thoughts that crossed his mind, were not from him but his Devil nature.
She had always been so nervous around him growing up, looking back he could see how that seemingly constant state of tension in her had molded their friendship. He had started to think of her nerves as normal, just part of Orihime, but perhaps he had also sectioned her off as not a person who would want anything more with him.
Now, however, he had changed, his mind went in new and terrifying directions. His desires so carefully controlled could flare up at any moment. And he was not the only one, Inoue herself had shifted. She might not have noticed, but he did. No longer did she hold that nervous energy when talking to him, when being around him. "Morning Kurosaki-Kun." He turned around automatically.
She still looked tired, her pillow was on the table behind her, but now that it was gone her white tee-shirt looked very, very strained. So much so that it drew up the fabric enough to show part of her belly.
"Evening." He corrected gently, at the very least keeping his words calm and friendly.
"Oh, right." Inoue giggled and swayed ever so slightly.
"You look like you need caffeine." He mused.
"That would be nice Kurosaki-kun."
It only took a moment to find and hand her an ice-cold soda, she took it from him and hugged him tightly in thanks. Maou she felt good, soft and warm, her face rosy from sleep yet so cheerful, it took his mind a moment before he remembered to put his arm around her back. He let go of his confusing feelings and leaned against her forehead. "Here we go again." He murmured.
She made a sound of agreement. "I believe in you, we will win, I know it with all my heart." She let go and seemed more awake than she had been. "After all, you have done it before."
"Ara, Ara is that how we are playing it now?" Akeno sauntered in at the side of her King, Rias looked fully awake. Ready, even...eager. Her power boiled under her skin, ready to lash out at the merest effort of will. For her Queen's part, her power seemed more subdued. It had a quality of unsureness that did not at all match the girl herself. The other half of her power was still subded, pushed aside, locked under her will. In that moment he felt… disappointed, an unfair thought to be sure. Akeno Himejima had more than enough reason to hate that part of herself. But, he knew from experience the more you ignore the parts of you that you did not like, the more powerful and dangerous they become. Case and point his own status as a Devil, his greater desire, his wants, they were shiveringly strong. It was an effort both not to resist them and yet not given into them all the time.
Noting his gaze and perhaps misreading it Akeno came over his way. "I want a hug before battle too." She pouted. Well, that was odd, she was giving him a choice in the matter, then again there was that subdued nature to her right now. He smiled at her and held out his hands, her expression and voice as she gave a small laugh was all that of a succubus. But the hug itself was different, even though she attempted to press her enormous chest into him, it was half hearted, her hands felt a little cold and it felt, for a fleeting moment, like she was clinging to him. He encircled her with his arms, letting her get whatever she really needed out of this. Even then it only lasted a few moments, when she pulled away and gave a dark smile to Koneko, Tsubasa and Sona before sauntering away to join Inoue and Asia. Even then there was something off and wrong about it and he was not the only one who noticed, Koneko gave him a worried look. The girl had known her Queen the longest out of anyone in the group except Rias, no doubt she saw the same thing. But there was not much he could do, she was fighting her own demons right now and whoever won might just have an impact for better or worse on the battle to come. The Queen shoved Asia towards him, making the girl stumble but giving her the impetus to walk over and, in the cutest way, demand a hug of her own...which he was, of course, more than happy to give.
Tomoe, Reya and Kiba were the last to arrive and with everyone in the same room they shared a meal. It started out quiet and subdued, but that kind of tension had to break, and when Tomoe told a bad joke it did, with everyone erupting in laughter. Almost desperately they had fun, they talked, laughed, they sang, they boasted. At some point the two Exorcists arrived, Irina seemed confused at the sight, but at Issei's gesture she shrugged and walked over to sit with him.
Xenovia of all people seemed to get what was happening, she did not join in, but she understood. Perhaps she had been part of such a meal before, in fact, by her expression, Ichigo was sure of it. She went over to a place in the corner, and began to move through a ritual of prayer and preparation.
At some point, as things wound down, he noted Sona had moved to sit next to Inoue and was speaking in her ear. Her expression was urgent and serious, he watched as Inoue's face changed from consent, to embarrassment, to worry and then something else, something more serious. Sona seemed to be pushing on that, nodding when she saw her words were having an effect.
The meal concluded half an hour before the sun would set, at an unspoken agreement both Sona and Rias took charge and people began to move. Xenoiva took Irina off somewhere for their own preparations, and soon it was just himself, Sona and Inoue in the cafeteria. "You have fifteen minutes," Sona said quietly to the girl, "Make them count and be direct." With those odd words of advice she left the room.
Inoue glanced at him shyly, being up a memory of the time they had spent together. The emotion vanished, something of her Devil nature showing though. "What's wrong?" he asked
He did not expect the answer. "Me." She said. When he did not respond she smiled a little and continued. "I have had a problem with myself for years," her soft grey eyes met his; "I have hid it since I first got to truly know you. Hid it inside all the time we have been in school, every summer, every time you came over."
Oh shit, what had he done?
"I said something wrong with me," She must have seen something in his face; "The problem was me." Her right hand clenched in a fist through her soft expression did not change. Guess her new nature did not drive all of the nerves out of her. "Every time I look at you, every time I see you with other girls…."
That word, that word finally began to create cracks in his dense skull. "I might have given up in any other circumstances, you are happy here, happy with them, but..." She smiled for real, "You don't seem to mind taking in others. I knew you were like that when it came to protecting us, but to see it even apply to the way you forge a relationship with others. It makes me bold, it makes me want." She took a step forward. "I want to be very clear about this,"
Her eyes began to shimmer with moisture, "I love you." The words felt like a punch in his gut. "I have loved you for a long time, and I have stood around and done nothing. I had to make a deal with a Devil, to get that Devil to push me, to make me understand that I can't just wait anymore." She was very close now and his heart was pounding. His feelings towards her in flux, the idea of her as a friend, as someone to be protected so ingrained in his mind that the idea of simply shifting to something more was easy. So easy, it brought forth his doubts about his own intentions, that he was somehow at fault for their feelings.
"Inoue..."
"I'm not done," she stated, "I know you love the ones with you, I know you still love Rukia, even as far away as she is. I know all this, and the only thing it makes me do is want you even more. Want to be with you, to be part of what you have made." She took his hand "Can you see yourself feeling the same way about me?"
You know what, doubt he could deal with, doubt he could fight, doubt and worry were part of him, they made him who he was. And she had asked this of him, he could not see any future where he said no, not just because she had asked, but because he could see himself loving her as more.
"Even though you know me," He whispered, "Every part of me, you of all people have seen that, more than any other here." He took her other hand. "If that is what you want, I am more than willing to try."
Her first unclenched, it looked like the wind had been sucked out of her body. "Oh good," she almost fell, but he caught her, "Wow, that was so hard." She whispered nuzzinging his shirt. "Thank you."
What the hell was he supposed to say to that? He pulled her tight against him. "We can talk about this more after tonight, we both have work to do, we both have people to save."
"Yes," She sounded so happy, so relieved, somehow she summoned just a bit more spine, "Um, I know this is forward but," She looked up at him, "Can you kiss me, just in case?"
He gulped looking into her eyes, so this was Devilish Inoue...he bent his neck and pressed his lips on hers. He could tell at once she had never kissed anyone like this, and while compared to Serafall he was still a novice, he had learned a trick or two.
She made a sound of shock as his tongue gently slipped between her soft lips to caress hers, if this was her first kiss he wanted it to be a hell of a memory. Judging by her expression of bliss he was pretty sure he succeeded.
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The sun began to fall in the sky; the Watcher of the Stars gazed down on those before him. He felt his blood quicken with pride and excitement at the ones who had answered. Sure, it was a far cry from the thousands that had stood with him during the glorious age of war. Many had died, of those who hadn't some had drifted away; some had lost their lust for battle. Some had turned their will and effort to the flesh or riches; others had fallen for the philosophy of weakness.
But these men and women, over two hundred strong, maniacs, outcasts, fighters who had not abandoned the way of the warrior. Five hundred black wings, two hundred and fifty bloodthirsty faces. Pride he had long thought dead, swelled at the sight. Their race had not all forgotten their purpose, their will to fight.
At his side stood two far more worthy than the giggling mortal below him. Soon, soon, he would be able to rid himself of the irksome worm. Perhaps after he found a way to take control of that golem. The idea of a tough, loyal servant who could use the Excalibur to a high degree was tempting.
"Mirial, Zaphiel," He said gently, "Do you feel it?"
The woman to his right was a Fallen who had taken the Aspect of Beauty in form, but her taste for conflict had led to numerous scars across the whole of her body. Her Angelic blonde hair was cut short to just above her ears, four black wings tucked in close against her back. She wore a tight fitting body glove, over which a chain shirt and chain skirt had been fitted. It left her head the only part of her body uncovered, her perfect face marred by a long diagonal scar across her forehead and nose. A second longer scar went down the left side of her face over where her eye had been, now a simple eye patch covered the empty socket. "Oh yes," She whispered, with a full body shiver, "I can hear blood pumping, blood that soon will stain the air and ground." Her tongue flicked out over her lips. "I can taste fear, excitement, desire, we are ready, we have been ready for so long."
The man to his left did not show any reaction to her words. His eyes were set, burning with an inner rage just waiting to be unleashed. He was larger than Kokabiel, muscled in a way few were, large and bulky, his arms powerful, skin taunt and tan; criss crossed with scars across his bare chest, though none married his back a matter of pride for the prideful man Kokebel knew him to be. Zaphiel had never run in his life, the fact that he was still alive a testament to his strength. He had long brown hair that fell around his neck and back and wore only a loincloth with two extra pieces of fur draping down to his ankles, front and back.
If there ever was a creature who lived for battle, plunder, pillage and women it was this one. Despite his rampaging desires he knew when to keep himself in check and when not to. Both of them had been at his side in the Great War, all three of them had been less insane then, but times had changed. Besides, he questioned other peoples definition of sanity, he had been made for a War, a War that would have seen his God take his rightful place. But no, that was not possible any more, so why not him? There was nothing like war to spur one's growth to even greater heights. "Today is a good day," Zaphiel grunted, "There have been far too few of those these past few centuries."
"For me, my friend, it has been almost fifteen hundred years since I have had a good day."
The sun had just touched the horizon when there was a wave of Devil power, that set every Fallen present on edge. They looked up to watch as a hazy purple barrier formed, stretching to cover the sky and dome down to the edges of the city they stood above. "This is what I cannot stand about the lawful," Kokibel sighed, "Even now, when they face death, they take the time to try and keep the mortals out of it, even if it means trapping the rest in the city." He paused. "Then again, they could be hoping that we take our time playing with them." He laughed. "Any time we waste really only benefits them, after all."
"Is that why you gave them a whole day?" Mirael asked.
"Of course." He glanced down where the Devil spy hung from his throne, ribbons of light wrapped around his arms, legs and chest held him in place, though the calm expression the man had never changed.
As if sensing the look he spoke. "No messages have left and no one can leave by any means except walking." The Devil sounded just a hint smug. "Everything is as you want it Lord Kokabiel."
"No," The Fallen said, "Everything is as you want it."
"In this case your actions accomplish my goals and my actions help accomplish your goals. My masters have nothing against a good war. Nothing gives more opportunity, for…rank advancement and social change."
"That is something we agree on." The mighty Cadre turned his gaze away from the Devil and the man went silent, almost invisible he seemed so unimportant. A dangerous man that one, one that would have to be dealt with after this affair was over.
Leaving that thought for another time he looked on with approval at the entourages of both Fallen. Each warrior, better than the two hundred of his that had shown up. Mirael and Zaphiel had time to train those they had chosen, a task beneath one of his power. "Two hundred and fifty soldiers, fourteen elite, and myself, how long has it been since the world has seen even such a small force of my brethren marching to war?"
"It's more than we have had," Mirael whispered, "And the best part is we will get to see firsthand if they are worth our effort."
Kokebel laughed, as did Zaphiel. "Do you hear that my Angels of Death?" The laughter spread through the assembled. "You are the ones who are going to find out if they are worth it, fear not if they break you, those who survive can join the second assault and those who survive that can attack with me."
"And what if we get them all in one go?" A Fallen cried.
"Then give a splendid showing and bring me the heads of Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory." They all knew what that meant, it was a challenge. If they killed them with Light then there would be no body. "Now, my Angels of Death go forth and test our old enemy." His head tilted up and unseen by any old pain flashed across his eyes. "And if our Father is somehow watching, let's give him a good show." The pain vanished into an all consuming rage. "It was what he made us for, let us fulfill that purpose."
"Not in his name." Mirael whispered.
"Not for his sake." Zaphiel nodded.
"Indeed." He spoke the next words quietly. "After all, there is nothing left of him." Those two knew the truth, and he noted the Devil's ears perk up. The Archbishop behind him was not close enough to hear, and even if he was, the fat fool was still distracted watching his golem use the almost complete Excalibur. For a heartbeat, all three, himself and his trusted friends, felt the loss, felt the hole they had to fill with other things, but just as quickly it fled before the fact that they were Fallen Angels, they were creatures of desire just as much as Devils. Perhaps that, in a way, was why they hated them. Those that knew that knew the history of their race could see what they could become given enough time.
"All right," His words resounded across the whole city, "Your time is up, show me your claws, Devils, and let this battle be worthy of the first." He let out a breath. "The first battle of the new Grand War." It did his black heart good to see the panic set in among the mortals who did not understand what was going on. To watch them scurry and run, hide in their homes or run around with whatever silly weapon they could find.
With a small chortle at the pure pointlessness of his Father's creation he banished them from his attention. They were useful in making sure nothing would interrupt this battle and little more. What was much more interesting was the rush of wings as two hundred true warriors began to move forward. A small part of him was saddened to see them use none of the tactics that the Great War had brought to how the Angels fought and moved. But he could not blame them, nearly two thousand years of inactivity, and superiors far more interested in talking and other such weaknesses would take a toll on anyone's combat abilities.
He brought up his magic, bending the air so he could see his enemies. They had chosen...fairly well, a bit more imagination, such as leaving the school, would have been smarter. He could see the Peerage of the Sitri all supporting their King with the barrier. The Peerage of Gremory was set in a defensive posture, and, if he guessed correctly, they would keep close, take advantage of the impressive magical talent of the Gremory and her half-breed Queen. Perhaps, if he was lucky, the Thunder of Baraqiel would split the sky's.
"Well, little's Devils," He whispered, "Entertain me."
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"Here they come." Issei whispered.
Ichigo nodded. "Guess we should get ready."
Issei's aura gauntlet flared bright, fully charged. The boy drew on that power, feeding it to the Dragon inside him. "Welsh Dragon Armor: Green Thunder!" It howled. The Pawn's Sacred Gear began to expand, its red metal covering the boy's body. This was a bit different, however, the armor around the legs and arms were green and holographic projections of clawed hands and feet covered them. Dragon-like wings shot out of his back glowing with a hex pattern of green shapes.
Ichigo for his part let out a breath, he hoped to God this would work. So far, unless it was direct application of force, Spiritual power seemed to ignore Devil power and Angel power and vice versa. It was only his unique nature that made his power an exception in some ways. So, if he was correct, the barrier would not stop people from being able to sense him, like it might if he only had Devil power. That meant a chance, if he could make a big enough impact, someone on the outside might be able to sense it.
He had not dared to do this earlier, as that might have set off their enemy. He was strong, but killing what looked to be the better part of two hundred and fifty to three hundred soldiers scattered across the town would have taken time. Now they were focused, now it made sense for him to use his power. His body began to glow blue. He drew more and more on that and his power flowed out, the air began to ripple. Far below on the ground dirt and rocks began to rise as he pushed it harder, the movements of Fallen did not slow. As if they had seen things like it before, a power they could not sense had no terror for them, or perhaps from the bloodthirsty expressions on their faces they just did not care.
The pillar of blue light that shot skyward was harder to ignore, it reached up and, just like he hoped, passed through the barrier with nothing so much as a grunt from Sona. His eyes turned a bright blue as he started his release chant. "I shall become the Blade before which Fate and Reason Die," He whispered. Those words had always struck him as the most important part of his Shikai release phrase and now he cast them into the face of his enemy and when he spoke again his voice was a roar none could ignore. "I am the Guardian seeking domination and supremacy of the Self," It was not hubris that had him say this, the Fallen had slowed to watch and every second of time both allowed him to build up his power and for the rest of his fellow Peerage members to evacuate Kuoh. "I am That which rejects the Infinite, I am He who denies the Dream, I shall become the Blade before which Fate and Reason Die," He changed the last part, because the words themselves were not needed. "And take those I Love into a Shining Future!" His skin seemed to shift to a blue hue as the last words left his mouth, cracks were forming in the ground around the school, the air was vibrating so badly it was a visible, tangible force. "Bankai!" He howled.
There was a sound like a concussive bomb, a tornado of wind whipped up by the Awaking, it was wide enough to engulf the school in its center, unharmed and untouched. The Fallen too close were swept up and carried, battered by the wind and semi-solid spiritual power. Gale force winds buffeted all the Fallen present, sending that same wind screaming into the city. What came next was the shift in color as the blue energy became black with a bloody red outline.
Kokabiel reached out a hand and let one of the tendrils crash into his hand, he winced at the burn mark it left, and given how close the first assault group was they must have had it far worse. Slowly the wind died, the dust and debris falling like rain to reveal Ichigo Kurosaki. The black shirt open at the chest, the Shihakusho jacket, the grey coverings on his hands and feet the Quincy cross, Sitri symbol and the Gremory Rose fused into one and emblazoned on his back. In his hand was a black horned bow, gold string taunt as he pulled it back, crystalized arrow outlined drawn and filled with his Getsuga Tenshou.
The world was silent for a long moment, as the first wave of Fallen, burned and buffered by the wind, looked upon their enemy. It said something about them, that instead of fear a wicked joy, an almost rupture, came across their faces. Men and women, broken by war, in love with war, seeking war no matter the price. They were those who had broken in the opposite way to Serafall Leviathan, both were haunted by way, but where she filled that with love of those around her, the Fallen had filled that with love of what had hurt them.
Ichigo filed away this insight from the White God and took aim, it was time for his war to start again.
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There were many who felt the emanation of Spiritual Power, the ripples of the shockwave echoed across all of Japan, its force touching those sensitive as far away as China and Korea. Those close, within fifty miles, were simply flattened by it and further way, in a town only one hundred miles away, the force was unmistakable.
Isshin, Yuzu and Karin had just sat down to dinner, Yuzu was serving her sister and father when she watched both of them stiffen, almost as one motion their heads snapped around to look east. She wished she could know what they did, her heart hurt as they looked back at each other silent commutation passing between them.
"Go," Karin said, "I'll get us to the store."
"No," Her father said, "I will make sure you both get there, then I will have to run."
"What is going on?" Yuzu asked.
They both looked at her and she hated the way both seemed to consider how much they would tell a useless, normal girl like herself. "Ichigo might be in trouble," Karin said, "Dad needs to go and check on him, it's one of those ghost things."
It was an effort to suppress her anger at those words, what was wrong with simply telling her what was going on, even if she could not do anything about it, it would be better than being reminded again and again, that despite all she did for them, despite how much they loved her, she, Yuzu Kurosaki, was a mere burden when the important stuff began to happen.
"We need to go, now." Dad said and with all the control she had, Yuzu smiled, nodded and moved to get her backpack, Karin following to do likewise. On the way up and down the stairs she did her best to let go of her dark thoughts, it was not her fault, it was not their fault, just fate, or gods, or the universe. The only normal in a group of special people… and on that lovely note she slipped on her shoes and let her sister and father rush her to the car.
All at once she hated herself most of all for her selfish thoughts, Ichigo might be in trouble and all she thought about was herself, not like him, his first thoughts would have been for them, for others. It was what she tried to emulate and one of the many things she loved about him. So with that rock to hold onto in this storm she calmed down, let out a breath and banished the dark thoughts to the back of her mind. She would deal with them another time when things might not be as dire, and who knew, if they were all lucky he was not in trouble.
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Every member of the Urahara Shoten felt it, the shockwave of his power. Kisuke looked up from his book, Yourichi sleeping on the top of a shelf in cat form was up in a moment, tail raised and lashing. Tessai was calm about the whole thing and began to move about; setting up his kido defenses and the two little brats got their weapons ready, just in case. "That power flare seems excessive," He said, "Like it was done on purpose." Of course Yourichi was not listening; she always had a soft spot for her former pupil's, no matter who they were. She had vanished and he hoped she was stopping to put on clothing first before sprinting off into the distance. Well, he put up his book and nodded at Tessai. "It seems I am going on a quick business trip, watch the place until I get back." The large man nodded and the kids both gave their affirmative.
"I wonder what you have done this time, Kurosaki?" The man mused as he stepped outside his shop before leaping skyward.
Almost at once he saw two more figures moving, Uryu Ishida and Yasutora Sado, Kurosaki's friends. He smiled a little and moved to join them in their flight, safety was in numbers a lot of the time. Neither said anything as he slipped in between them, and far ahead he could hear the thunder of what could only be Yourichi's movements. Well, if that flare had been a cry for help, he was certainly getting it. Though if it was the case, it meant the boy was using his brain more and was not that a scary thought?
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The siren blared its noise into the control room; every single sensor Soul Society had placed in Japan had broken. People were running to various superiors spreading the word, they were now blind in the human world, save for the physical agents. What was worse is that the system recognized the power and identified the perpetrator as Ichigo Kurosaki, wild card, and supposed to be depowered. Now the event of that changing was not necessarily a bad thing, however, the origin of the power was. The map in the control room was frozen with a red flare making nearly the center of a forbidden zone. Currently there was a very real fear that somehow, someway, the Substitute Soul Reaper known as Ichigo Kurosaki had just poured oil on a war so cold it was ice, and then had thrown a burning meteor in after. So it was safe to say that the people on shift that day...were having a bad time.
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"Show off." Rais said with a grin.
Ichigo did not reply he simply took aim and fired, the arrow resounded like a gunshot blowing through three of the Fallen before detonating according to his will. Four more were consumed by the blast and he drew back another. This time it was made of only semi physical spiritual energy, after all the point was to draw the battle out with the chaff as long as possible. If that had not been the case he would have used a Cero and been done with it.
The living Fallen moved forward in a roar of wings and the battle cry of berserkers. A volley of Light spears shot forward like arrows only to clash against the shielding spells placed on the school. They blocked one volley then two and that was it, there was just too much power flying their way for such a hastily made barrier to do much more.
Before a third volley could follow Kiba, Issei and Koneko attacked. Ichigo's silver arrows shot past them knocking several more out of the sky. The Knight pulled ahead, Twilight in his hand, point extended at the oncoming horde. "Lead me to Dawn," Kiba whispered, "Twilight." His clothing shifted into the white toga and gold laurel wreath. He could feel his body get stronger, faster, feel his reformed blood pumping through his veins.
With a simple mental command his blade sectioned and, when he brought it about in a slash, the weapon stretched, the connecting pieces looking to be made of molten metal. The weapon sheared through Light and bodies with a terrible ease, carving three asunder and then he was among them, spinning in the air, bringing Twilight around in a series of attacks that looked akin to a web of steel. Fallen screamed in pain as the weapon savaged them. One got lucky and slipped in between two of the strikes to come in close. Twilight snapped back to a full sword. He parried the thrust of the Light spear, shoving it aside and on the return slash severed the Angel in two.
Koneko crashed into them like a freight train, her entire body glowing with blue patterns, each swirling and moving as if alive. It was an effort to keep her ears and tail from just popping out of her body. Even then she seemed to leak blue energy that looked like fur. Hurling herself at the enemy she could see them, see them more than she ever had. Tiny flickers of energy, small lines of Light, her forebrain did not know what to make of it. Her hindbrain, holding all her instincts as a Nekomata, simply processed and reacted.
She knew what they were going to do, she could see how they would move before they did. How it correlated between the shifting energy on their bodies and what it meant, she could not articulate.
However, as the first Fallen fell upon her, his Spear of Light arcing down, her fist was moving, meeting the attack, punching through the Light with not even a hint of pain. The Fallen whose chest got caved in by the blow, not so much. Four fell upon her with Light-forged swords and spears. She felt power ripple, her Devil power and her boyfriend's Spiritual Might mixing to a degree she had never experienced before. Her white hair shifted to the blue-white of his normal reiatsu. Just as she could see the flow of energy in her enemy she could feel the flow in her own body. She could feel it and she could direct it, her legs burned as blue lightning danced across and around her skin. The mark, the piece of Ichigo's soul within her, was evolving and Koneko was being dragged along for the ride. She felt her feet catch on the empty air like it was solid ground.
The Fallen only heard the crackle of electricity before a shockwave of force sent them flying, their wings helpless for a moment in the sudden gale force. Koneko came to a stop standing on the air, her feet glowing and looked back confused. Her legs burned a little, but with an effort of will she redirected the part of her life force she had forced into them back to the whole of her body.
"Koneko!" There was a sound of wind and the thump of impact, a Fallen Angel flew past her, one of Ichgio's arrows had ran him clean though. His words had rung out in her head, through the link Buchou had forged with them all. It was a sound of worry and anger at her lapse in judgment.
Blue lighting crackled across her right arm, she let go of everything except this battle and in doing so her ears, her real ears, pushed their way through her hair. A single white tail slipped out from under her skirt. Her senses redoubled, hearing, smell, sight, taste, everything became almost painfully clear. She twisted her body to avoid a Lance of Light, spinning to see a dozen more headed her way. The blue fire in her eyes left a trail as she weaved between each and every one. Then she struck, her enemies were at least thirty yards away but she struck anyway and the force of the shockwave crashed into the Fallen, the ones closest being flung from the sky others further away having to slow down and beat their wings against the wind force. She transferred power to her legs and when she moved, there was the sound of electricity followed by the boom of thunder. A large Fallen has his arm raised to throw his Light, but the Rook appeared right next to him. As small as she was, he could not counter in the split second he had.
Koneko redirected the energy of her charge to her both her arms and snarled out her defiance bringing her arms across in a chop. Those close to him died, the raw power twisting necks and breaking bones, the Fallen she had attacked was gone. Her ears detected the sound of movement and her eyes snapped to her side, her arm had been ready, but she pulled her attack. Issei Hyoudou shot by her and into the disorganized Fallen she had scattered. His glowing Aura Claws shredded through them like paper, it gave her a good moment to look around her. The Fallen had attacked in one large group. But when they had hit them, along with the support of their allies, the Angels had reacted badly.
Ribbons of pure ruin shot across the sky, they whipped and snapped at any who got to close, each curving up and down ready to attack. They were scary-looking things of pure blackness and, for all their danger, they had not actually killed anyone. Rias was bending her power to keep the attackers split and confused. They could not group up without one of the ribbons launching towards them. And with Koneko, Issei and Kiba moving freely, in, around, and through the ribbons, they were not able to pin them down in one spot.
There was a blur of movement, a blade of magma and darksteel spinning around the Knight in a dance of death. It was followed by a crystalline arrow that slid through the whirling steel and into a Fallen starting to cast a spell.
The moment was enough for her to get her bearings, she dug her feet into the seemingly solid air, bared her teeth and shot forward like a bullet, the sound of thunder echoing behind her. It was speed of a different kind, not the controlled speed of a Knight like Kiba, or the unfair power of a Sacred Gear like Issei. It was raw strength amplified by the mix of her Devil power and Ichigo's Soul. Her eyes trailed fire as she went under a group of six Fallen who had lined up and leveled their spears. She saw the power build in the weapons and by the time they fired she was no longer where they thought she would be. Coming up under them she drove her fist into the groin of one, they let out a feminine scream which she ignored, twisting as two spears struck at her body, the Light so close it burned up strips of her shirt. She forced power to her hand and punched to either side of her body. Her arm was far too short for the fist to connect, but the concussive force was more than enough to kill these low-level things. It also bowled their comrades over, allowing Issei and Kiba to move in and end them before they could recover. "Fall back." Buchou ordered, the ribbons of ruin coalescing around them. Several times they lashed out to devour blasts of Light, Koneko watched their enemy and was shocked by what she saw.
They looked happy, they looked overjoyed, even now they were gathering while flying forward, some were those that had been damaged and yet they came on. Their voices joined in some sort of song, they sang death and destruction to the world and as one unleashed a storm of Light. Rias's protection blocked most of them and Kiba his sword, reformed to its blade state, cut the rest out of the air. Behind them Akeno raised her hand, six spinning symbols of magic protecting Sona Sitri and her illusionary Peerage from the Light. The flock of Fallen redoubled their attacks at the sight, more and more Light flying into the air.
"Getsuga Tempesta!" Roared a voice.
A solid shaft of crystallized Reiryoku longer than her body shot past them. About half way towards the Fallen it exploded into thousands of small shards. To her eyes, the center shard, the one still on course to the target it had been fired at, seemed to shoot out thousands of strings, each tiny, that attached to every single one of the shards and, with a unified motion, flung them in the direction of the Fallen horde. Without her eyes it just looked like the weapon had exploded into blue light which curved forward to fly at the enemy. Inevitably some of the shards clashed against the Light and they exploded on contact. Rias, Akeno, and even Asia were forced to weather the storm of Light, raising shields as the roof they stood on was blasted with craters.
The Fallen were shredded, some killed outright, others had chunks of flesh, digits, and pieces of limbs, blown completely off.
Rias released the ribbons of Ruin, which flickered and faded. She raised both her hands, palm facing outward. To those who knew her it was a clear effort not to have them transformed into the Power of Destruction. Such a show of power, something that was only known to be done by her Brother, outside the Underworld would cause chaos. Even the Phenex family had kept it quiet on the request from the Maou himself.
Her aura flared its crimson darkness, tiny bits of Ruin leaking off into the air. Each bit was the size and shape of a drop of blood. To Rias Gremory it was now so much easier to use her Ruin than ever before, the vast power in her was being held calm by her… spirit daughter? No, Daughter would do just fine. A wicked part of her wondered at the reaction of the others when she told them Ichigo had impregnated her. She would have to wait to tell them that it was only in the mental and spiritual sense, not in actuality. It would be a quiet revenge for him making her desire him. She had a fantasy of how her life would go. Finding a husband for herself and only herself, that fantasy was gone now, but it would not die unavenged. Of course she would have to make it up to him, but that would be fun.
On that thought, her spell was complete. Two dozen small orbs of pure Ruin, she, by herself, could only really control half that number, but she had a second intelligence working with her for now. Each orb shot out like a bullet, small, almost unnoticeable, following on the heels of the damage Ichigo Kurosaki had wrought. Rias felt pride in her aim when all twelve of the ones she was controlling hit. For most of those that were struck, the orb released its power to suck in the small area around it before winking out. Two or three she hit close enough to something vital that they just died. The rest lost more parts of themselves, several falling from the sky with wrecked wings.
The twelve contorted by her daughter...were all headshots...show off.
"Attack!" Rias ordered.
The three in the vanguard exploded into motion keeping close together, holding the same speed. With that in mind Ichigo focused on the insane Fallen, trying to shoot anyone who seemed like they might be starting to organize. He aimed for the ones yelling at the others, the ones who pointed, pushed or whatever means they were using to establish a semblance of leadership.
He found himself in an odd state, kneeling with his bow drawn. His heart hardly seemed to beat, his eyes seemed sharper than they had ever been. He knew the range, speed, and power of his bow. In this one thing, in this one weapon form he felt as if he really was part Quincy. Everything Sensei taught was like pulling teeth, not once had he found anything that came naturally. Even his skill with Blut was apparently lacking, but this...Zangetsu in the form of a bow, he truly understood.
Every three seconds his bow hummed, an arrow of crystal or energy shot across the sky. Every shot was a kill, so long as he had the two seconds to aim. But there was more to it than just hitting a target. When he was still like this, watching not only his enemies, but allies as well. He who had trained them, taught them and, in his own way, learned from them, he knew their movements. He could see what they would do. In his mind's eye, it was like he was watching the battle a few seconds in the future.
The main problem was the sheer number of enemies. At first the attackers had seemed rusty. But the longer the fight went on, the more they seemed to work together. More and more there were leaders trying to organize those around them. Even now groups, seemingly on instinct, were trying to volley fire, his arrows and the fact that the vanguard targeted them first slowed things down, but sooner or later it would become too much.
"Rias," He said, "We have bought more time than we expected, but look," Twenty Angel's had charged the vanguard, hampering them, slowing them with their own lives and bodies. The rest of the host had formed into something resembling ranks, hands began to raise as centuries of inactivity began to fall away. Old, ancient memories, training that had been hammered into their very souls, starting to shake off the dust.
"Make one more attack then fall back to the roof." Rias ordered.
Her Knight, Pawn and Rook each reacted instantly, blue lighting started crackling around Koneko's right arm. Her blue white hair shone like a fire as she mimed a punch and the sheer force of the motion sent a blast of pure air pressure straight through the Fallen trying to slow them down and continued towards the ones forming ranks. Kiba's sword went molten as he reached up and touched the tip of it into the air blast. It was clear that the action almost tore his arm off and would have done so with his old body. The air blast was perfect fuel for the heat of his sword, with a little help from the Knight's Power of Imagination, the column of air ignited. The Fallen were forced to scatter, wings beating frantically, even so two dozen died or were injured by the blast.
Then Issei made it worse, he was between the Knight and the Rook and reached his arms around their waist pulling them close. The light on his feet, gathered into the sole of his foot, he threw himself back so he was parallel to the ground. "Double Dragon Shot!" He snarled. Two Dragon Shot's exploded from his feet, the force sent the three rocketing backward, while his legs had been spread apart enough for the blast's to be sent at the largest groupings of Fallen escaping Koneko and Kiba's combo blast. The blast stopped firing just as they were above the roof and he slammed into it back first, actually going through the roof to the floor below. Issei took the brunt of the damage and the Knight and Rook looked a little shaken, but fine. Issei on the other hand turned his body over to the side, his Dragon helmet pulling back to reveal his face.
He looked sickened, and by the way he vomited all over the floor, that was more than an observation. Though, considering he had just been in his first life or death battle where he was forced to tear enemy Fallen to shreds, there were less healthy reactions for such an action.
Ichigo could not spare more than a moment to worry over the boy's wellbeing… that would have to come after the battle. The Fallen had been reduced in number to around one hundred and twenty, that number of casualties seemed ridiculously in their favor and it was. It had been a blind rush into forces with powerful AOE, ranged and close support who were hoping for just such a tactic. Even then only Kiba's intervention and Koneko's sudden growth had kept it from being a lot worse.
There was a rain of ill-aimed Light headed their way, Fallen hurling it at them as they moved to get back into, this time, a loose formation where they could be effective and avoid blasts like what had just been thrown at them. However, there was one thing they were not doing, they were not stationary.
Ichigo let out a long breath and gently and drew back Zangetsu's bow, guess it was time to try this out.
1
"What do you mean Zanpakuto have types?"
Aizen nodded at his question, Ichigo had only asked it because he needed a distraction from Dream Rangiku nibbling on his ear and holding his arm between her breasts.
"The three types are Melee, Kido and Elemental, there is some overlap of course, especially between the Kido and Elemental. In times past there was no elemental-type classification as, in truth, Kido and Elemental are both the same. They were split because it made it easier to train, would you care to guess what your Zanpakuto type is Kurosaki?"
"Melee?"
Aizen tutted. "That is wrong, Rangiku if you would?"
Oh, Ichigo hated this man right now, at some point he had started punishing his wrong answers by having the dream fragments do things like take off clothing, or get really handsy. He tried not to watch, but as it always was no matter where his head was he could see in the corner of his eye, the busty figment leaned over her desk and worked slowly to slip off her thong.
"Melee type changes the weapon shape and function to increase power, Kido types transform reiryoku into a different substance on a word of command. Such as your Getsuga Tenshou." He nodded at the figment who dropped the offending piece of cloth on the ground and walked up to take a seat on the desk… it was more distracting than usual.
"Kido and melee types each have traits that can be used outside their normal powers. When one has a Kido type you can change some of the parameters, such as area, shape, timing, and," Aizen gave him a look, "Most importantly for you, range."
1
Aizen had drilled three Kido into his head, Kido all among the upper levels. His vast power and lacking control of it, which was admittedly getting better, meant that he had to use the more draining Kido to even have the spell function.
"King of the east, Judge of the west, Law in the north, Lord in the south; Behold your limits you who bear the name of man; Strike down those that seek the Absolute and Know the Order of all things! Bakudo number 90: Law of the restrained!"
His arrow hummed and he let it loose. The Kido was meant to be used at close range, with the caster at the center and the area of effect being several hundred yards. His Kido-type Zanpakuto, more specifically his bow form, allowed him to imbue the spell into the projectile and have it be the center point of the spell.
The Fallen made way just in case it decided to explode, and, in a way, it did. There was a small flare as the arrow broke releasing a small orb of blue light. From every surface of that light glowing blue chains shot out. So many that it would have made a tentacle monster blush. The chains shot out like bullets, each seeking the signature of a Fallen. That was an act only he could have done, for anyone else in the world could not have used it in this way. For any of them, the chains would not have been able to touch a Fallen, or much of anything for that matter. The divide between the two, spirit and physical, was absolute, all except for the mixed power of Ichigo Kurosaki.
Each chain had a point and when it hit a body it passed through it causing no damage. Once it had run the body through the tip would flower outward in four directions. Each of these petals were curved downward with shaped tips that did dig into flesh as to anchor the chain securely.
The Fallen furthest away had time to retreat or dodge, even then a few of the slower ones, or those injured, were snagged. Ninety seven chains were active, Ichigo knew that through his connection to the spell. He sent an effort of will and a flare of spiritual power into the construct. There was a dangerous hum and, with devastating speed, the chains jerked the Fallen they had pierced back to the center point of the spell. There was a crunch audible from where the Devils stood, the ones pulled in the fastest crushed to death by the weight of the others.
That was not even the worst part for them, upon seeing so many enemies helpless Xenovia took that moment to reveal herself. Gaining the school roof, a weapon of blue steel with a gleaming gold edge in her hand. It was not an Excalibur, but something near that level. The blade hummed in her hand and the power that filled the area was a violent destructive force. Xenovia's whole body glowed with gold aura. "Durandal!" The word was a command, challenge and plea all in one. A torrent of Light exploded from the edge of the blade howling across the open air like an oncoming train.
The Fallen still trapped in the Kido had no chance, they all vanished before the Holy Power of Durandal. Only twenty-three Fallen remained. Ichigo took aim and began to pick them off one by one.
1
Good deaths, one and all. The Cadre thought, a grand measure of their opponent's strategies and powers had been revealed. Of course not all, both of the Ultimate-Class Devils had not revealed their true power. But that was of little concern to him, the Soul Reaper, who he now judged was, at the very least, on the level of the enemy Captains. Feared, but seen as disposable by the true leaders of the Divisions. It had given them a proper mindset for how to use their powers, something this boy clearly lacked.
Still, it was annoying to not even be able to judge an opponent by sensation but only sight. "Priest." He said.
"Yes, my Lord?" Valper was quick to appear meek before him, perhaps under the mistaken impression it made his presence more tolerable.
"What did it feel like when the Soul Reaper unleashed his power?"
The old man made a pained expression. "It felt like the very air had become the bottom of a vast ocean." Kokabiel nodded, it was practically a given with the visuals and the pure effect of the environment. But illusions were most effective when you took things at face value.
"It seems this day might be more enjoyable than I thought, Priest, give me the weapon." The fat old man's expression flickered through anger, fear, annoyance and lastly fear. The man knew he could take it if he wanted. "Will you need such overkill, my lord?" Kokebiel's expression did not change, he just moved. One moment, sitting on this throne, the next he had the mortal's soft neck in one hand holding the hefty man up to his eye level. "I am growing sick of your questions, sick of your pathetic attempts to manipulate me. You could take lessons from our prisoner in that." The nondescript Devil waved his hand that was bound near his waist. "Bring me the weapon and I won't twist your head off like a bottle cap." He let go and the man fell, choking on his fear and bruised neck.
"You can't use it, master." The man gasped.
That brought a pained smile to Kokebiel's face. "Once upon a time, you would have been right. Now shut up and bring me Excalibur." He paused for a moment. "Mirial, Zaphiel do as you please." He noted their companions were gone, perhaps sent off in the chaos of the battle.
The woman shivered. "Is this the day I fall, oh how wonderful that would be." She licked her lips. "I feel it now, feel my fear, my excitement, oh, at last this glorious feeling." Zaphiel did not say anything, but his eyes were drawn as they always were, to the things and beings he wished to take and conquer. Whichever female he singled out for his attentions would not be in for a pleasant experience. Not that the Cadre actually cared.
"Well then, make me proud."
1
In the sky above the school, lines of light crossed the sky, bouncing from point to point until they formed a five pointed star. A curtain of Light fell about the school. Sona let out a cry and for a single heart stopping moment the scene behind the Cadre on his throne flickered.
It was a miracle, pure and simple, that not one of the enemies had been looking behind them. Judging from the burning in his chest, the feeling of his power being drained and channeled by something not him, Ichigo had a guess at the source of the good fortune.
Sona had to channel more of her power into the effort, but the illusion stabilized. Sweat began to appear on her brow. Then it started raining Light, a single glowing form in the middle of the circle had become luminessently bright.
At once Akeno raised a circle of protection above them, the red symbol spinning and shedding the Light like it was rain water. "This is not going to last long!" Akeno yelled.
Ichigo made a snap decision. "I'll shut it down." Rias looked for a moment like she would argue. "Trust me."
She gave a sharp nod, and he leapt out from the protection Akeno was giving them. His hand was raised manifesting a much smaller shield, one that, unlike the Devil power of Akeno, did not have a weakness to the Light of the Fallen. He shot up like a bullet, the falling Light spraying off his barrier. It stopped a moment before he arrived as its source, a scarred blond Fallen attempted to summon her spear for combat. He, however, was moving too fast and slammed into her, the forcefield above his hand acting like a battering ram.
The Fallen let out a pained grunt as she was knocked away, stunned by the force of the blow. He had a second to take stock of the situation, the woman was currently falling towards the ground, but that was not going to last long. Five Fallen, all dressed in armor, held their positions channeling light into the curtain. Two, however, were free of that duty and they were coming at him in a calm, but quick, manner. Both split up at the last second to attack him from two sides.
Zangetsu morphed into its twin blades form, both forty inches long and curved, the black blade with a gleaming white edge, the white blade with a gleaming black edge. Ichigo, deciding to steal the initiative, picked the one on his right and rushed him, both blades trailing flecks of the crimson darkness. The Fallen pulled in his wings and dove under the blow, abandoning his attack, Ichigo made as if to go after him before digging his heels into the air and spinning his body, bringing up his leg and foot up in a reverse kick. He timed it mostly right, the edge of the spear sparked off the wrappings on his leg. They flared with blue lines and made the sound heard when striking an Arrancar's Iron Skin. The heel of his foot crashed into the Fallen's hand and there was a cracking sound. The blow sent the Light flying from his hand, and half twisted the Fallen into a roll. There was no chance for defence, the twin blades of Zangetsu and White tore into him without mercy. The man fell groundward, his body dissolving into Light by the time he was halfway down. "Getsuga...'' Ichigo snarled before abandoning the attack. He had been about to send a wave of power at the Fallen below him, but if he missed it would have hit the school.
The Fallen weaved about in an unpredictable pattern, sending shards of Light up at him as more of a wild flailing than anything else. Ichigo made a snap decision and turned, his body vanishing in the speed of his Bankai boosted Flash Step. The hooded Fallen at one of the star's points did not so much as twitch when he blurred into sight. But as luck would have it for that Fallen someone was watching. The rain of light ceased, a figure moved, and his blades came up automatically as a Blade of Light came crashing down on him. It was a cold, white light, that matched the single eye that glared at him in pure joy.
She was physically strong, but not even close to him, something she did not seem to care about. "Boom." She whispered and the sword flashed with a light so bright and terrible that even as he shut his eyes, it was too late for him not to be blinded by the radiance. Zangetsu reformed into its Katana state, he synced with the being in his soul and despite the painful whiteness that was his world, there was the sound of metal on metal as he blocked a flurry of blows aimed at his neck, belly and groin. Trusting his and Zangetsu's senses, he wove a net of dark steel in defence and even so he felt the kiss of her Light on his cheek, leaving a slight scorch mark, but nothing more. That seemed to surprise his opponent as she stopped and he heard her beat her wings back a few feet. Considering that Light was supposed to be his bane, perhaps that was a little of an underreaction on his part...but then again, he had the remnants of the thing that made the Light inside of him.
His eyes blinked open, the world blurry with tears and it would have been a great moment for his enemy to attack, but she was unsure and it gave him the heartbeat he needed to wipe his eyes. She, of course, attacked in the moment his vision was obscured, but had only crossed half the space she needed to when he returned his hand to Zangetsu. Holding the blade in a two handed grip he was ready when she brought her blade around and the Light of it became agonizingly bright.
The weapon passed though the space he had been in, and her eyes and senses went every direction, searching for where he had gone. When she looked up he was thirty feet above her and Zangetsu had shifted back to its bow form. Her arm flashed in a blur of speed, colliding with the crystal arrow. There was an explosion that knocked her spinning, Ichigo turned and fired an arrow, not at her, but at the people holding the Curtain of Light. It was starting to glow brighter and while he did not quite know what it did, he had to assume the worse. The one closest to him died with an arrow in the back and he drew back his bow for another shot.
He was distracted from his efforts by a torrent of fire that roared up from below him, but he still fired and killed another of the ones holding the curtain before the inferno engulfed him. And wow did that hurt, even under Blut and Hierro his skin still reddened and would have begun to blister had he not flash steped out of the fire. He noted that while his clothing had burned, it had not been lit aflame, which was nice. He had to Flash Step away from another fireball, then a third though this one was smaller.
The woman gathered power to her hand, gold rune's glowing in the air above her forearm. Zangetsu shifted back to Katana form as she closed with him, one hand bringing the Blade of Light around in a practiced series of light thrusts. He gave way as she attempted to touch him with her rune covered hand, having to accept a burn on his chest to do so.
He spared a glance at the other Fallen, they looked worse for wear but the curtain still held and still grew brighter. It was time to stop holding back, buying time was essential, but whatever they were doing had to be stopped. He moved with his full speed when the Fallen came at him again, simply dodging the lighting quick thrusts with slight movements of his body. As her arm came up Zangetsu flashed in a blur of darkness, severing the offending limb. It fell about twenty feet before it exploded in a shockwave of Light.
"Getsuga," He said and the Fallen, who did not even make a sound at the loss of her arm, hurled herself backward. Ichigo smirked as he spun, his back now to her retreating form, "Tenshou."
1
To the people in the right spot, outside of the city of Kuoh they bore witness to an odd sight, out of nowhere a wide blast of crimson darkness simply appeared from thin air, rising across the night sky, causing powerful winds to be kicked up in its wake before it dissipated. It was the second oddity of the night, though, to be fair, most had fled when the pillar of darkness pierced the sky. It was going to be a long week for the Japanese government.
1
Rias watched as Ichigo shot skyward and helped Akeno hold her shield, she could feel a slightly greater drain on her power than she expected. Not something she had to worry about anymore, however not everyone here had her reserves. Below her, in the hole her Pawn had created with his body, Koneko was being tended to by Asia. Apparently even her tough body had not been ready for the strain her new power seemed to place on it. Nothing was broken, if anything that was one of the strongest parts of a Rook, but she had pulled a lot of muscles and even dislocated her arm. Kiba had set that and their Bishop was working on getting the girl back into fighting shape.
There was a worrying aspect to her power that Koneko had not realized she was almost tearing herself apart using it so wildly. It had been the moment she turned it off that the pain had all set in at once, her scream had not been pretty.
The Curtain of Light rippled in front of her, and eight figures burst through. "Akeno." She sent out the warning though communication. Her Queen's power flared in response, the woman reinforcing the shield as Rias withdrew her power from it. There was a rising sound in her ears as she called to her power, her body became shrouded in it, though she was careful not to let it start turning her body into it. That would have been like putting a beacon on her head saying, 'Super Devil here'.
Her eyes, however, they did change, yellow bled into them and there was a rising desire to hurl herself at the Fallen, engage them like she was some sort of up-close fighter. Her smile must have been terrifying right then, because all the Fallen slowed for just a moment. She unleashed a blast of Ruin, but as she did so the Curtain of Light pulsed. Akeno made a sound of pain as the barrier almost flickered. Her beam was weakened a bit, it only caught four in the blast instead of all of them.
The largest and quickest of the Fallen made a beeline for her, the Light in his hand formed something resembling an axe. It was as long as he was tall and the blade shape was kind of like a crescent moon that stretched across a good two-thirds of the construct. Three Fallen zipped passed her at the same time, aiming for Akeno and Sona, both holding up their spells.
Rias blocked the axe blow with a conjured shield and snarled. "Amaranth." Dozens of small magical circles materialized. Just some of the work they had been doing in the pre-battle prep. The traps exploded in varying degrees of wind, fire, lighting, water and, of course, Ruin. Two of the attackers were literally torn to pieces. The third reacted just fast enough, cloaking himself in a spell of protection. The traps did not have the power to pierce through though it.
The man let out a howl of joy as it seemed like he would get the first kill, that was before Xenovia intercepted him her Holy Blade sharing the Spear of Light he wielded in half. The Fallen slammed into her at full speed, but the girl had turned her shoulder into it, sliding back only a few feet. In a brutal, yet efficient, motion she slammed her head into the Fallen's face, cracking bones, sending him stumbling back and ending him with a slash that split him clean in two.
Rias faced her opponent, his breath seemed to fill the air with a fullness as she let him flail away on her barrier. He did not seem to register that it did little good. His burning eyes seemed to devour her. "Boss says to bring him your head."
"I am aware." She replied, snapping her fingers which caused the shield to ram into the Fallen and push him back. The barrier flickered again, but she put more of her vast power into the spell and it failed to do anything.
"Feisty, I like it." The man laughed, Rias unleashed a blast of Darkness and he counted with a blast of Light. The detonation caused the roof to tremble dangerously.
"If you like that," Rias grinned, "Then you're going to love this."
"Of that I have no doubt, but you should watch your wounded more." Rias blinked and her eyes flickered down, the Fallen attacked in that moment. There was a flash of real metal and she looked down to see a sword partially buried in her gut.
1
Below them Asia raced to help the Rook, it was going well and going about as fast as she could have expected. Issei stood with them, both a guard and using the chance to boost and restore his reserves to full power…he was also staring at Koneko's cat ears and tail. Now that the Rook could think straight it was really starting to bother her. A glare at him finally made him look away, Koneko chided herself for not noticing what she had been doing to herself. The power had been intense, the rush amazing, her every move filled with such power that she wondered if that was what being a Super Devil was like. So of course there would be a price.
She let out a few pained breaths and started to will her furry appendages away. But because they were out she heard, because she was like this she smelled it. Every hair stood on end, instinct honed and passed down from a millennia of dealing with yokai tricksters of the highest skill screamed in warning. Her yellow eyes flickered all around the room, the roof shook and Issei and Asia looked up, dust shook from the ceiling and Koneko locked onto where it settled above the ground.
The person hiding must have been watching her because he moved then, black wings unfurled, a Lance of Light held low, a blur of movement headed for Issei's exposed side. Koneko did not even hesitate for a moment. Her white hair turned blue, power crackled, when she moved the tile where she had been lying cracked. Her fist impacted the Fallen's body a heartbeat before the light would have found Issei's flesh. The force of the blow tore the attacker into grizzly chunks, as the whole wall in front of them was vaposed by the wind force of the blow. Koneko slammed the power off and crashed into the ground her right arm numb with pain. Above her the roof tilted sideways to a thirty degree angle. "Oops." She mumbled.
1
Rias let out a gasp of pain as the Rook shifted below her causing the wind to blow her skirt around like a flag. Her opponent let out a whistle of appreciation. "Black lace," He laughed as he strengthened his grip, brandishing his axe. "Perhaps if you beg, I get the boss to let you be our fucktoy instead of killing you. That would have to hurt your brother more than..." His words trailed off as the sword in Rias's gut disintegrated, Ichigo's unique Rook protection for his Peerage had made it so the blade had not slide in too deep. What little of the wound had been there vanished into glowing twisting darkness.
All humor fell away from the Fallen as Rias's yellow eyes seemed to burn with an inner darkness. The Fallen attacked, a blow aimed for her neck, a killing strike. Rias only moved her arm, catching the blow with her hand. A Devil caught hold of Light and stopped the blow.
This close Zaphiel could see her fingertips up close, see them made of Crimson Darkness. His eyes widened in terror. "Fucktoy?" Rias said quietly. Her fingers clamped down and the weapon of Light shattered into a thousand fragments. When she moved there was the sound of static and Zaphiel lost track of her body, only regaining it when her hand clamped down on his face, fingernails digging into his skin. "Like you would be man enough for me." His head vanished as Rias, her whole hand now manifest in the Power of Destruction, sent a blast of power that slammed into the Curtain of Light.
At the same moment the sky above was filled with the Getsuga Tenshou of Kurosaki Ichigo, the blast wiping the casters of the spell out of existence. The blast hurtled towards and passed through Sona's barrier. Both forces seemed to phase through each other and Rias could remember him talking about it. She had to wonder though, his power seemed to follow that rule when it was convenient, but ignore it if it was not. That spell he had cast had not been a direct attack, yet it had worked. But when it came to Sona's power his...Spiritual Power seemed to function as normal. Almost like he could turn it on and off at will.
Her eyes caught sight of sparks in the sky, she focused on the spot, catching sight of Ichigo dueling a Fallen, his weapon of black steel a stark contrast to the blazing Light in the woman's hand. Rias turned her gaze to Kokabiel, there was a heartstopping moment of panic when she noted he was not on his throne. But she caught sight of him a moment later and...and oh shit it was even worse. Though she had not seen the weapon before in this state, even from here her Devil body seemed to badly wish it could flinch away in fear.
It was a long longer blade now, holding a bit of each weapon that had been put into it. The wide base of Excalibur destruction, the saber-like tip of Mimic, the weapon that the Cadre had just taken into his hands was the nearly-reforged Excalibur. As she watched it reacted in the man's hand, covering the Fallen with a glowing aura. The weapon reformed to a shape that clearly suited the Fallen's wishes. The weapon was around thirty five inches long and five inches in width. The steel was almost a pearly white with Enochian letters running up the middle, inlaid in gold. The hilt was a simple matter, a crossguard of gold with a two handed grip.
The moment the blade stabilized any Devil near the Fallen would have been able to tell that threat had just gone up. "How?" Rias blinked, she had not noticed Xenovia approach her. "He is corrupted, he is not a true Angel, he is not a mortal, the Sword should be rejecting him. That has been the Will of God since the weapon was first given to man."
There was a scream of agony and ecstasy, both girls looked up to see the Fallen woman in the sky ran through by a black blade. Ichigo tore it out and it swept up to finish the job, Kokabiel vanished an image of him appearing for a moment beside the Fallen woman. He grabbed her and vanished again a heartbeat before the black blade could have ended her.
1
"That's not fair boss, it was a good death." Mirael mumbled, she had enough energy to cry out as the Cadre used his Light to burn her wounds closed.
"True, but I needed something to test this weapon's powers on." The Fallen laughed. "I feel like I could take down a mid-ranked God with this toy."
"Well, that's good for you boss, but how am I going to get back in the fight?"
"You will not." A portal appeared behind her. " Rest, get better and know how far you have to go." The Cadre laughed at her expression of mortification. "Oh don't give me that look, I need someone in my future army who can actually plan." Before she could say anything else he shoved her though and the portal closed.
"Handy that you can allow exceptions through your Sacred Gear." The spy just smiled.
"Hmph," The Cadre sighed, "You do know that I have figured you out, right?"
"Oh?"
"Like the fact that is not your real body." There was a flicker of surprise. "You have the stink of Beelzebub's magic." The Fallen shook his head. "You do know blood clones have many drawbacks such as stunting one's growth and power."
The Devil just shook his head. "Scary, and yes."
"Not many make a choice like that, to have less power in order to gain an advantage."
"I was never powerful my lord, I could only use what I had."
The Cadre turned the incomplete Excalibur in his hand and dismissed the Devil from his mind. "So, Father, this is one of those you kept from us, what would you think now?" He turned and noted the Soul Reaper descending to the school roof. A smile quirked his lips and good power hummed along his blade, then he channeled his power into the blade and it erupted like a sun. "Destruction." He whispered.
A blast of Light to eclipse the radiance of the sun shot out of the tip tearing across the night sky. Kokabiel felt a flash of worry in his black heart at seeing the raw power he had just thrown. Until this moment he had never truly understood how lucky mortals were to have these weapons and how much it was going to help that his Father was no longer around to keep his toys from his real children.
1
Ichigo did not have time to move or even think. Red power built between his horns and blasted out on pure instinct. The blast of crimson, the sound of a Hollow's Roar shook the landscape. The might of Cero clashed against the Light of Excalibur powered by Cadre of the Gregori. The world turned red, as the powers collided in a cataclysmic explosion. The barrier around the city shattered, the titanic energies involved cascading skyward in a mushrooming cloud of power that scattered the clouds of the night sky.
The people who fled Kuoh, broke from the fog their minds had been placed in. They had known they had to flee, but not why. Now looking at the explosion that whipped the wind around they could only be scared and ecstatic that they were alive. In the masses of humanity the lights of phone cameras sprang to life, a news crew who had been fleeing in a truck began to unlimber their gear.
1
"Get off the roof!" Rias ordered, simply picking up Koneko from where she was being healed with Akeno grabbing Asia. Both made it to the edge and jumped before the whole building collapsed. There was one last flicker as Sona landed beside them and the illusion was broken, where panic and riots had seemed to set in now stood rows of empty houses, dead streets, quiet shops. The Carde noted it and dismissed it as unimportant save for the fact that they cared about the mortal kind far more than he expected. Also, the great effort and skill with which they had executed such a play demanded his respect, even if it was for an objective that he could not understand. He glanced at the weapon in his hand, it pulsed with an unhappy rhythm, perhaps not liking the one who held it. Honestly, it was a gamble. If Michael would notice and activate whatever defenses were built into the sword he could have been injured. His allies had made a few distractions, and his contacts in the Church were making all kinds of noise about how well they were doing retrieving the Swords. The Cadre had set a lot into motion to mask what was happening from the Archangel, not even he was foolish enough to take on the Lord of Hosts on his own.
But nothing happened, he wondered if it had something to do with the Spatial Lock, but really it did not matter. His eyes went back to the ones arrayed below him and slowly he lowered himself to the ground. The Soul Reaper landed as well, both hands on his blade, yellow eyes locked on him, ready to react and move. It was commendable, such practiced awareness, it brought a sharp smile to his face as he let the weapon glow with its dangerous Light. "How can you use that?" He frowned at the Exorcists. "What have you done with the Holy Blade?" She sounded horrified.
"Oh this?" His full focus fell on her, so assured in her faith, holding a weapon of great power with her fangs bared at him. Faith was a funny thing, so strong, perhaps the strongest thing on Earth, yet so fragile if you knew the right places to poke. "There is no reason that I cannot anymore."
"What?"
The Soul Reaper narrowed his eyes. "Oh," He replied with a false sense of forgetfulness. "I forget, they did not tell the lower classes, too much of a chance they would break." The cadre tapped the ground with his weapon. "Excalibur Nightmare."
1
There was a pulse and Ichigo slammed his mental defenses into place, but the power of the Holy Sword was not aimed for him really. All of them, the Fallen Angel included, found the world shifted around them. They stood on the air and all looking onto a scene of war, whatever it had started as, it had become a melee. Demons, Fallen, Angels all fought with a primal ferocity that stole the breath away. There were bastions of order in the chaos. Below them a force of Fallen hurled themselves at a shattered group of Angels, only to be held back by a single man. He fought with blinding speed, deadly precision, a blade of light in one hand, the other in constant motion. There was a haze of heat around it and with each movement distortions of heat haze rippled out. To an outsider it looked as if he was both fighting a horde of creatures out for his blood, while defending the Angels around him and finding time to send what looked like small suns at those who did.
What caught the eye first was the man's expression, a deep, will-shattering sorrow that hung about him like armor. While Ichigo could not claim to feel the same, he could recognize a comrade in arms, a protector fighting for those he loved. The man's blonde hair whipped about him like liquid gold, green eyes as deep as the soul. They pierced the heart in a way that no mortal creature could.
"Two Cadre engaged him in Melee," Kokebiel said, "Three at range with magic, and two more Cadre who distracted him with attacks on the weaker Angels. Seven Cadre, seven bloodied but still functional hosts, Azazel himself at the head." There was a moment of silence as they took that in. "And they couldn't beat him." The people in close range fell back, four beams of raw light, three streams of magic and spells struck towards the shining man. His left hand moved and a horrendous heat rippled through the air, a sun the size of a house shimmered into existence and was hurled at the united power of seven Fallen Angels on the level of Lesser Gods. The powers collided and broke apart before the sun which hurtled through smashing into one of the Cadre and over seven hundred Fallen leaving nothing but black ashes. "Michael the Archangel, Prince of Heaven, Lord of Hosts, Champion of the Most High, the Fist of God, user of the Divine Grace ADIN." Oddly that last word did not translate even with the Devil power of language, all they knew was that it was a word was Enochian, the language of the Peerages loyal to God.
"They could not beat him." Kokebiel whispered. "No one came close the entire war. Both Cadre and Maou avoided pitched battle with him like the plague. The Cadre because they knew fighting him would result in at least some death, the Maou because they still remember fighting him all together and losing." Perhaps it was because Kokebiel had included himself in Excalibur Nightmare that he spoke so freely, so openly. "I was among those who thought a peace loving fool like him would have stagnated, grown weaker when there was no threat."
Ichigo felt a surge of pride not his own. "But I was wrong, he had only become more powerful, better skilled, and this was not his full power." The view shifted to the side, here they saw something that made Sona gasp. The Leviathan, the first Leviathan engaged with other Seraphim-level Angel's and among the carnage fought Serafall Sitri, dressed as all the other low-ranking Devils around her, but even now the beginnings of her power were starting to show.
"He held back the others," Kokebiel said, "He bought time for their grand plan and in the end it saved his life this day, to be so far from the main event." The view shifted upward, three blazing stars of Devil power arrayed before one faintly glowing light. "Behold your God, Exorcist."
From here it was hard to tell much, golden armor, a body size greater than the Devils arrayed against him. No head could be seen through the soul-piercing light that emanated from that area. "What I would have given to hear what they said." The Cadre mused. There was a sudden flash an expanding ball of blue fire racing away from the group, its hungry flames reached out to devour all in sight.
Time froze, not time in the memory, actual time, the people around him, both his Kings, Kokabiel, everyone. There was a burning in his Soul as a new vision replaced the current. He blinked as he stood among the four figures, he took them all in, knowing at that moment who they were. The Devil closest to him was a hideous sight, body modified by spell, by potion, by poison, skin reddened to a hard cracked shell, two sets of eyes, one slitted, the others round. Long arms ended in claws dripping with venom. There was a gaping maw on the belly filled with razor sharp teeth to match the Devil's mouth. Six spikes ended in tentacles looking more like thick cables swaying in the air. The Maou known as Beelbzub looked monstrous, yet a fierce intelligence burned on his eyes that made it clear he was not anywhere close to mindless.
At the farthest point stood the demon called Amadeus, it was perhaps just as shocking as his companion in how little he seemed to be wearing for a war zone. Tight fitting black pants, bare feet, a vest that could have belonged to any of the early rockers. He was quite handsome, even to one not attracted to him, kind of like Kiba, but slightly less. He had his hands in his pants pockets affecting a bored look, his eyes, however, burned with hate and shame as he looked upon his Creator.
The one in the middle… he felt evil, he looked evil, an old man, wrinkled skin stretched tight over a thin body. A torn black robe fluttered about as if part of his body was not there, eyes like pools of darkness, as black as the void bored into his Creator. "As it was said." The voice of Lucifer rasped. "You are weakened, you are diminished, Father." There was no answer. The first Maou's eye twitched. "How long have I waited for this day, from the moment you turned your back on us, from the moment my brother cast me from Heaven." Again no answer.
The first Maou looked down to where Michael battled the united force of the Grigori, an impenetrable blur of movement, heat and light. There was a flicker of fear in those empty eyes. "The memory of your brother brings you pain." Ichigo did not know what he expected from the voice of the White God. It was quiet, yet all could hear, vast, yet all could understand and as piercing as a ray of light in the darkness.
The first Maou snarled in sudden vicious hate. "After you, he is next."
"You cannot beat him, you could not then and you cannot now."
"Perhaps," Lucifer spat, "But I have an entire race to throw at him first, and then we will see what is left."
There was the sense of vast disappointment. "No, my child, you will die by his hand this day." There was a weight of absolute behind his words, the certainty only the Almighty of the White God could bring.
It struck the three hard, those who had once been his closest servants. Those who knew his power, they knew his foresight.
"No," The Maou said, "I stand above your sight, you did not see my rebellion." A bony hand reached up to finger some sort of amulet. "The Nephilim of Babel created this to fight you."
"They had tried, only their Godbeast had truly been beyond my sight and even then, as the countless years passed that had weakened."
"You lie." The Maou hissed.
Sadness and satisfaction, a chess move eons in the making. From the first moment he saw the rebellion to the moment of his death, the only path forward in which the world was saved. "You may have that protection," The creature called Beelzebub hissed, his mouth descending and drawing the words he spoke out, "But we do not."
"Ya," Asmodous spoke, "I have not deflowere every virgin yet, I can't die."
"Fools," The Maou hissed, "He does this to tear us apart, he lies or it would have never come to this." And that was the true trap, without his Grace the child could no longer conceive that his Father might not have his survival in mind. "Have I not given you protection, do you not remember what we have?" The hand moved within his robes and from its depths a small orb bound by gold glowed a bright blue. "Another treasure from Babel, do you know this one Father?" It was said with almost a cackle. "The Sphere of Abaddon?"
The weapon was one of mass destruction, built as one of many to fight the End War when the humans of Babel would take to the Heavens to wrest immortality and power from the God's. All were destroyed save this one. The weapon was great and terrible, it contained within it a fire that fed on mana, fed on life itself. When unleashed the fire would devour the mana in the air, growing bigger. If it caught any being in its flame they would be consumed and turned into mana. Feeding and feeding until there was nothing, but cold empty space to feed on and only then would it go out. The only defence against it was to create a space around you where there was no mana, the fire could not cross a void. All this the White God knew, yet he said nothing.
"Well, perhaps this will be a surprise; do you have any last words Father?"
There was a long moment, a pause that seemed to stretch for eternity. "I forgive you."
Those three words cut deeper than any blade, harsher than Light itself. The one who had been called the Morning Star almost choked on his hatred, the pity and love in the voice like poison in his ears. His howl shook the world and he dropped the Sphere of Abaddon. The weapon activated, the prime fire was unleashed, it spread though the battlefield, fed by the ambient mana such an event created. But before it could reach anyone the White God spoke. "No."
The expansion of the fire halted, bands of gold runes surrounding it, compressing it. Lucifer Morningstar launched himself at his Father, a sword of pure Hellfire in his hands. The White God did not move, the Fire of Abaddon shrank under his Divine Will, crushed into nonexistence. Then the blade pierced his chest, erupted out the back with a storm of fire, cooked blood and light.
The world seemed to stop, all creation holding its breath. The White God felt the pain, but it was unimportant. He let the fire burn him, this event was necessary, he sent the last of his Divine Power in two directions, one was a torrent of power. Hurling towards a distant threat, far away from this place where it slumbered under the wards he himself had placed. His Divine Power would keep them strong for as long as was necessary. In the other direction a small ember, a grand nothing in the schemes of most Gods, how often they forgot that an ember could one day be a fire.
The cries of ten thousand and more of his children reached him. That was the real pain, this was necessary for their future, but it did not make knowing the pain he had caused any easier. He looked at his son staring at him with triumph, that was when they all heard it, a cry louder than any other.
Lucifer grinned even wider recognizing the voice, his gaze turned down to snear upon his brother. It saved his life for the moment, fear replaced the joy. He drew back, pulling out his blade, but was not quite fast enough to escape unscathed.
He made a terrified scream as the Morningstar looked down the sizzling stumps he once had for arms. The White God smiled in his last moments, looking upon Michael, his son, his Archangel, at last coming into the fullness of his power. His body burned with Light and Heat like the heart of the Sun itself.
His child was not using light, he was light, he was not bearing the grace of ADIN, he was ADIN. He stood before his three brothers in the fullness of his power and the White God faded from light to dark, knowing that for all the future faults, for all the times when Michael would fail in his new duties, he would forever do them according to his Will.
Ichigo flinched when the gaze of the dying God turned and looked directly at him. "Hold him to account for the actions of the Church, but never think it was what he wanted. He can do better, give him that push."
The Soul Reaper blinked and looked one last time upon the creature called Michael. A being who could become the light, a connection was made, the opposite of a being who could become the dark. Yin and Yang, The Archangel Michael and the Maou Sirzech had a connection...
Satisfaction, Ichigo felt it deep within himself and apparently that was all the White God had wanted him to see. Time resumed and he was returned to the perspective of Kokabiel, they watched as far the explosion of blue fire was crushed out of existence, they watched as the First Maou killed the White God. There was only a glimpse of Michael starting to move when the grip of Excalibur Nightmare released them.
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Asia just collapsed, falling to her knees like a puppet with her stings cut. Xenovia had no better reaction, only her death grip on Durandal kept her upright. "But I feel His love," Asia whispered, "I felt it when I prayed, I saw miracles, how can that still happen if He is dead?"
Kokabiel laughed. "Michael has been holding his own, keeping humans and Angels together in God's stead." It seemed the last small flicker of hope faded. Asia truly collapsed, only her eyes closed, face pale. Akeno only just managed to catch her before she crashed into the dirt. Xenovia looked back, her face drawn, eyes haunted.
"Do you really think it is a coincidence that the number of believers had dropped, that the Church has been infiltrated and corrupt? I said Michael is holding his own, but only because he is doing a minor miracle just using the systems left behind. He was never meant to hold such a position." His eyes locked on Xenovia. "So Exorcist, now you know the truth, everything you knew is a lie, your life's work, your faith, your church and your God." His smile was utterly sadistic. "What do you say that that?"
Something broke inside the girl, perhaps it was her Faith, perhaps it was part of her mind, perhaps it was her Soul. But her body stopped shaking, her legs moved to a swordsman's stance. She held aloft the blade Durandal with both hands and faced down the creature so far above her that it was like an ant threatening a bear. "Only what I have left." She answered.
"Good," The Cadre whispered, "Now I will let you die." His smile was beatific. "And then you all die, and after that the War to End All Wars will begin and all will be set right." Xenovia had no chance, one of the strongest Angels in existence, fast, strong, and crushingly powerful. Armed with a weapon that expanded all those traits and more. He was too fast, too fast to track, too powerful to stop, Xenovia did not so much as twitch, she held her stance, but there was no passion to it, no emotion, nothing. It was simply the way she had decided to die, there was a glint of gold, the sound of steel and...no pain. No blade cutting flesh, no agony as her body was torn apart, there was a shockwave that blew the Devils back. Wings fluttered to regain balance, but Xenova had no such luck and just let her body fly away. She did not expect to hit something warm. "I got ya." She blinked up at Issei Hyoudou, his arm around her, his feet digging into the ground as they slid back. His eyes were not on her though, she would have not expected to feel so warm, to see his Sacred Gear held out before her in a protective stance.
Why would he do that? After what she had said, after what she had done, she was nothing now. No God to guide her, no justification for her existence, just a bitch who threatened to kill a girl with far more than even her. Yet when the boy's eyes drifted down to her they looked… concerned. Why did he look at her that way, why had he decided to care at this exact moment?
She followed his eyes and she saw what had saved her life. Somehow, moving just as fast as Kokabiel, the man called Ichigo Kurosaki had met the Fallen Angel head on and stopped him. They both held their stances, struggling against each other. She did note, however, Kokabiel was only holding the blade with one hand.
"Oh come on Devil, why are you doing this?" The Fallen chidded. "Do you have any reason at all?" There was a pause. "Is it her tits?" Holy Light flashed along the sword. The air warbled with mana shimming like heat haze.
She did not know what she expected him to say back, but when he spoke there was an odd sensation to his voice. "You were meant to be like me, you know."
"What?" The Fallen howled with laughter, putting his second hand on the blade and starting to push the Devil back. Shimming blue lines glowed, dark power hummed to life along his blade, he stopped moving. "You were made to protect Heaven from its enemies, a warrior and a teacher." And at his words Kokabiel flinched. There was a scream of metal and the Fallen disengaged, leaping back, his lips set in a tight line. "You were meant to stand with the Seraphim and, in time, become one of them. But you gave that all away for power, power that, in the end, is so much less that what you could have been given. But that was always the thing with you, was it not? You could not stand being given power. You had to take it, to earn or steal it, you had to envy those who had it. In choosing to Fall you cast aside the Grace that could have been yours and you stand here before me, as a pitiful shell of what you could have been." The world was silent as the Devil spoke.
"Nothing will fill that hole in your soul Kokabiel, for you will not let it. Even Fallen, with all the choices in the world, you still want war." Ichigo spoke the next words quietly, yet all could hear him. "You will never find what you seek, you destroyed it long ago." There was a long breath. "But I will not let you destroy what is mine, I will not let you destroy what is ours. This city, these people, my friends, my family, the women I love. It is for that reason I exist, for that reason I seek power, and for that reason I know when I need to stay my hand. I am a Guardian, I am what you should have been, I am what you can never be."
The Fallen's eyes were so wide they almost looked absolutely red. "You will never find what seek, for it is all a matter of the Soul." Ichigo Kurosaki dug his feet into the ground, preparing to surge forward. "And yours rotted long ago."
Xenovia felt something snap, there was no scream, no berserker fury, Kokabiel seemed to just dismiss everything in the world save Ichigo Kuroasaki. Excalibur glowed with a terrible Light, the wild radiance distorting the Fallen's shadow to some sort of hazy monster's outline. Both vanished at the same time, and the almighty Crack! that followed ,shook the earth as far above the town of Kuoh a Fallen Angel and a Devil went to War.
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Holy crap forty pages for part one of the the finale battle of the Arc, I hope you all enjoyed it and take a little breather before the next chapter. So much was going on and it's only going to get worse. There is one power that has not made his appearance yet but it will no doubt come at the worst time. Ichigo has managed to get Kokibel's attention all to himself for now. So Join us for the thrilling conclusion when I finish the next chapter and I hope you all have a good day
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Comments of the Week
Jdkem
I have just had a truly terrible week dealing with classes and medical bullshit. Then I found this beautiful story. This has to be one of the best fan fictions I have ever read! Truly amazing story! Your writing style is a wonder to read. I personally get heavily invested in characters and love character growth and change and you have given me it with this story. I get peaks all the time into how a character thinks, how a character became who they are, and how a character changes. It's amazing thank you!
"I try not to put too much stuff on here praising me cause I feel like that makes me a bad person, but this made me feel good inside so I am glad you enjoyed it,"
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Adalhard.9889
On the preparations for battle, Kokabiel took the idiot ball and ran with it, what class of villain goes to the hero and give him time to prepare for them? Let me answer, Villains that fall down on their face. Seriously the guy let his hard on for battle take their senses (that's not a complain to you or your writing, it's a complaint of the character itself in universe)
"While I might have exaggerated this part of Kokabiel's character a little bit, I do think that since he knew he would have an army by the next day this was not quite as bad as giving the hero's time to prepare in a vacuum. Of course when an insane blood knight is your general he to quote a very bloody space marine "Cares not from whence the blood flows only that it does"
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Kyubbi-Dono
This story is so damn cool. One thing though, I've been noticing, and maybe it's just me, but. Dialogue. You don't use contractions much. I feel like that would make things flow a little easier and feel like actual people are having actual conversations. They're and aren't and I'll are a lot smoother to process than the individual words every time. Maybe I'm just being picky. I'm sorry I don't mean to be. Just. Something that I've noticed.
P.S.
I'm a girl. You replied "Yes sir" to my comment, honored to have been included by the way, in the "Comment of the Week" section. Not that I mind too much, just. Putting it out there.
"To the first part you are correct, if have a way of seeing the conversions in my head and people are a lot more formal in it than in real life. I will try to do better on this."
"To the second part, my apologies malm I did not mean to insult, thank you for your observations to this fanfic,"
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Flamingp0tat0
Was that a dresden reference there?
"Given that it is my all time favorite book series yes that is most likely, I will often default to the dresden version of mythoulty and how the world works when there are no answers for certain things within the dxd and bleach verses.
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Vyspirez
Pretty good chapter. Only one complaint. The punishment comments at the beginning give the impression that Ichigo and the others were spanked or something similar. I have trouble buying that, first because I'm confused as to why them working with the two exorcists was so wrong. I am pretty sure that at least one of the Kings knew Ichigo was going to help Kiba, but I could be getting things confused.
"Sona told him to go do something but be ready for the consequences, and as we know Sona and Rias are fans of...physical discipline. Though honestly for someone like Ichigo who had been, stabbed, nearly cut in half, burned, had holes blown in his chest, lost enough blood to run the world blood supply need for a month and has had to deal with real emotional pain… the effect of the physical discipline was...pretty much nothing and a waste of everyone's time. At least that was the joke I was going for lol.
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Comment of the Week
Sparkysbro
Rias and Sona are cloistered in a classroom, planning for the upcoming battle. Their clothes spontaneously disintegrate. They take a moment to silently acknowledge that this just happened, and then they continue their conversation unabated.
"This scene is now canon"
