Hello, everyone! This is a new chapter! Chapter 69! I hope everyone will enjoy it and without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
In the forest, Aichi skidded back when an impact from the brass knuckles hit his sword as he breathed out a small gasp.
" That's strong, no doubt." Aichi said
" Aichi!"
" It's okay. I'll be fine." Aichi assured
However, while his head was turned to Naoki, Gred had appeared in front of him as a strong kick landed on his side and he was thrown back by it.
" What was that?!" Naoki exclaimed
" Aichi?!"
" Ow..." Aichi groaned as he checked on the injury, " This is nothing..."
Aichi constantly used his sword to block the brass knuckles as he tried to find an opening for a strike.
" I won't give you the time to attack." Gred said
Aichi ducked the attack as he sliced at the Lightning flames covering Gred's legs as they were torn apart in an instant.
" The Hardening factor isn't working?!" Gil exclaimed
" That sword is something else... Of course it is. It sliced off the metal armors of the army in an instant." Freddie said
" I can't keep the armor up if this continues!" Rath exclaimed as he reinforced the armor
Aichi continued dodging and slicing the armor as he finally found an opening. Swinging his sword, the blade cut at Fred's right thigh as he fell to the ground, wincing.
" Boss!"
" That should've cut through the muscles and nerves in that leg. You won't be able to stand for awhile." Aichi said
Gred held in another wince as he turned sharply and landed a hit on Aichi's waist. The Storm flames had also affected him as he felt several bones near the area breaking as he gasped out in pain and collapsed to the ground.
" Aichi!"
" We have to help him!" Misaki exclaimed
" ... Don't come...!" Aichi yelled
The two froze in their tracks as Aichi got up panting.
" I can't feel my legs... Did that attack hit a nerve somewhere...?! I have to hurry and heal it..." Aichi thought
" Freddie, do it now!" Vee exclaimed
" Confinement!"
The red cube trapped Aichi again as he hurriedly lifted up his sword again. That was when lightning struck the cage as he was electrocuted. Kai groaned and opened his eyes at that time as he had awoken to see Aichi inside the cube and screaming in pain from the lightning.
" Ai... chi...!"
" Kai!"
The lightning subsided as Aichi collapsed again and his body twitched from the pain. Gil and Rath ran towards Gred and helped him up.
" Boss!"
Gred looked at Aichi before glancing towards Naoki and the others.
" Leave them. We got what we came for. He's sufficient for now." Gred ordered
" Yes!"
" Wait...! You're not leaving with him!" Kai exclaimed as he stood up
" Sorry, but we are going to do just that. See ya." Rath said
" Aichi!"
Suddenly, a familiar combustion of flame energy resonated around the forest as they looked around.
" Not if I can do something about that." A voice said
Einella appeared in front of them as they gasped.
" Einella!"
" Pontifex!"
" But if you're here..." Kai exclaimed
" ... I left him with Taishi Miwa. Glad I made it in time." Einella said
" It's that chick!" Rath exclaimed
" Well, you are right about one thing. She's strong!" Gil exclaimed
" Yeah, we can sense that from her flame energy, genius!" Freddie exclaimed
" What do we do, Boss?" Vee ask
" ... Keep that one still. Make sure he doesn't try to escape." Gred ordered
" But you're injured!" Gil exclaimed
" I know. Freddie, you take him back to our base first. We need to ensure that we have him at least." Gred said
" ... Okay."
" No, Aichi!" Kai exclaimed
Aichi winced as he opened his eyes slightly and looked around.
" Kai... kun..."
Kai got out of Naoki and Misaki's grasps as he ran after Freddie, who was running deeper into the forest with Aichi still inside the cube.
" Kai!"
" Don't just stand there! Follow him! I'll handle them!" Einella said
" O-Okay!"
Naoki and Misaki ran past them as Einella shot out bolts of black lightning to block their path.
" You're not going to help your comrade. I'm going to be your opponent." Einella said
Meanwhile, Kai kept running as he finally caught up with Freddie and intercepted him from the front, readying a thundercloud in his hand.
" It wouldn't be good to do that." Freddie said as he moved the cube in front of him, " You'll be hurting him first."
Kai froze immediately as Aichi winced and tried to get up again, gripping his sword in his hand. Freddie took notice as he activated a tazer and put it on the cube as Aichi was electrocuted again, falling back onto the bottom of the cube.
" Stop!" Kai exclaimed
" Let me through then. Maybe I won't do it again." Freddie said
" No!"
Smirking, Freddie increased the output of the tazer as Aichi screamed in pain from the shock again.
" Aichi...!"
" Get away from there. Hurry up." Freddie warned as he got ready to turn the knob
Kai clenched his fist as he looked at Aichi, fairly weakened from the shocks and panting to catch his breath. He felt anger bubbling inside of him as the familiar sensation took over.
" Is this all? Aren't you my Vanguard? Yet, why are you showing such a cowardly appearance?" A voice bellowed
" You are..." Kai thought
" Remember, Toshiki Kai. The reason you chose me and thus became my Vanguard. Remember your anger from back then! The might and anger worthy of my Vanguard! Show it to them right here!" The voice bellowed
" ... Unforgivable...! How dare you...!" Kai exclaimed
" Are we still going to do this? Aren't you tired of watching him suffer?" Freddie ask
Suddenly, he felt a strong heat radiating around him as he looked around. He soon winced as the tazer in his hand melted and dropped to the ground.
" What?!"
" You people...! I will never forgive you all...!" Kai growled
" ... Kai... kun...?" Aichi muttered
Feeling the similar sensation, Aichi's eyes glowed with his PSYqualia's activation as Kai's eyes glowed as well. Kai growled loudly as Naoki and Misaki soon arrived and flinched at the heat.
" Hot!"
" This heat..." Misaki exclaimed
" Look, Boss Lady!" Naoki exclaimed
Not bothering to correct Naoki, Misaki looked at where he was pointing to as she spotted Kai's aura spilling out. Soon, his red Vanguard circle appeared below his feet as they gasped. A card flew out of Kai's pocket as it glowed and Kai's body began to grow and change as spiraling flames burst out from the ground.
" No way... This can't be..." Naoki exclaimed
" This is... impossible...!" Misaki exclaimed
" Ride the... Vanguard!" Kai declared as clawed hands and feets appeared from the spiraling flames and wings spread out of them, " ... Dragonic Overlord!"
The familiar red dragon appeared from the flames as he roared.
" ... It's really... Overlord..." Misaki exclaimed
" Kai rode Overlord...?!" Naoki exclaimed
With Einella and the others, their fight was still ongoing when the dragon's roar was heard as they looked up to see the form of Dragonic Overlord looming above the forest nearby.
" ... This can't be..." Einella exclaimed
" Boss! This looks bad! Freddie and little blue are right there!" Rath exclaimed
" ... Call Freddie back. We're leaving. This is no place for us right now, looking at the situation." Gred ordered
" Roger!"
" Wait right there!" Einella exclaimed
A smoke ball was thrown as Einella coughed before blowing the smoke away with wind. As soon as the smoke was blown away, she couldn't find them anymore as she clicked her tongue and soon focused on Overlord. She immediately ran towards the direction where the unit was.a
At the same time, Overlord spewed our flames everywhere as Freddie flinched from the heat and backed away. Soon, he received a communication.
" ... Fall back?! But what about little blue?! ... I understand! I'll be there soon!" Freddie exclaimed
He took one last look at the dragon before retreating as Misaki noticed him escaping and ran over to the cube with Naoki trailing behind her.
" Aichi!"
" This is bad, Boss Lady! He's gonna heat up in there if we don't do something!" Naoki exclaimed
" If he could just use his sword one more time...!" Misaki exclaimed
Aichi winced as he looked up at the dragon and gasped.
" Kai... kun...?"
" Aichi! Listen! At this rate, you're going to die from the heat! Use your sword and slice this thing apart! Hurry!" Misaki exclaimed
Aichi nodded and grabbed his sword, the heat also radiating off of it as he ignored the searing pain and made an opening with it. Naoki reached through the opening and dragged Aichi out of the cube.
" You alright?!" Naoki exclaimed
" Yes... But I can't move my legs..." Aichi said
" We need to stop Kai!" Misaki exclaimed
" Hey!"
They turned their heads to see Einella running towards them.
" What happened?!" Einella ask
" Kai suddenly turned into Overlord...!" Naoki exclaimed
" He was angry... I was hurt and he became like this..." Aichi said
" ... I guess it does make sense." Einella said
" Einella-san... Bring me up to him... He needs to see me..." Aichi said
" Hang on to me." Einella said
Aichi nodded as Einella supported him and they flew up towards Overlord and Aichi looked into his eyes, activating his PSYqualia.
" Kai-kun...! It's me...!" Aichi exclaimed
" ... Ai... chi..."
" I'm safe, so please go back to normal...! Otherwise, this whole forest will burn down...!" Aichi exclaimed
Slowly, the heat started to fade away as Kai turned back to normal and fell back.
" Kai!"
" Are you alright?!" Naoki ask
" Yeah... I'm sorry..." Kai muttered
Kai then got up as soon as he saw Aichi landing with Einella. Aichi reached his hand out to him as Kai supported him and carefully carried him up.
" I'm sorry..." Kai muttered
" It's okay..." Aichi said
" Let's head back first. You two should do the same. I'll be visiting in the morning." Einella said
" Okay..."
Kai got some clouds to transport them back to their homes as Einella opened the door to the apartment and Kai settled Aichi down on the bed.
" Kai! Aichi! You're safe!" Miwa exclaimed
" Miwa..."
" Aichi. Do you still have some strength? You need to heal yourself right now, or the damage will become permanent." Einella said
Aichi nodded as he summoned the green saber and activated its healing powers immediately.
" Are you still in pain?" Kai ask
" Yes, but it's better than before..." Aichi assured
" It'll take awhile for him to recover the bones that were broken by those Storm flames. Then I'll ask you right now. What happened back there?" Einella ask
" ... Well... I felt PSYqualia again." Kai replied
" 'Again'?"
" During Aichi's fight with that Estraneo Family member, I felt it activating again. I also felt the presence of Aichi's PSYqualia activating. And just now... I heard Overlord's voice." Kai explained
" By Overlord, you mean... That Dragonic Overlord?!" Miwa exclaimed
" And that was what cause the transformation?" Einella ask
" I think so... Before I knew it, I was taken over by the anger and blacked out for awhile. Until I heard Aichi's voice again..." Kai said
" What did Overlord say?" Einella ask
" He told me to remember why I had decided to choose him and remember my anger back then. When I first used Overlord, it was back when I was still being tossed around different households." Kai said
" And what was the reason you chose him?" Miwa ask
" ... I really liked his re-stand skill..." Kai replied, a small pink shading his cheeks
A moment of silence as Aichi soon let out a small giggle while Miwa laughed.
" That's so Kai-like!" Miwa laughed
Tasuku sniffled as he soon squirmed in his crib and whined. Miwa quickly covered his mouth and went to check on him.
" S-Sorry, little buddy...!" Miwa whispered
" ... And what else?" Einella ask
" Well... That's about all. Like I said, I blacked out when those emotions took over." Kai said
" I see. I guess it's a cause for concern. First, why is Cray interrupting now? And second, the Estraneo Family is still out there and are ready to strike at any time once their Boss recovers. It's just a matter of time now. Get some rest. If your bones still haven't recovered by tomorrow morning, don't go to school. If you try to go, you're just going to make it worse." Einella warned
" I understand..."
" I'll be taking my leave now and come back tomorrow morning." Einella said as she left
" I'll be leaving too after this little buddy falls back asleep!" Miwa whispered
Tasuku continued whining as Kai sighed and carried Tasuku from him.
" Just go. You already did whatever you could. I'll take over from here." Kai said
" ... Okay. Oh, Aichi? You take care of this guy, okay? He tends to not fall asleep sometimes when he has too much thoughts in his head." Miwa said
" Okay... Be careful while you're heading home, Miwa-san..." Aichi said
" I will. You focus on healing and don't exert yourself. Bye!" Miwa said
Miwa left after waving them off as Kai sat back down beside the bed with Tasuku still in his arms.
" Are you alright?" Kai ask
" Yeah..."
" I'm really sorry... I don't know what came over me." Kai said
" It's okay... But it really was a surprise... To think it was possible to ride Vanguard units here..." Aichi said
" But this never happened before. It was after..." Kai trailed off
" It's that castle... Ever since it appeared, PSYqualia seemed to be more and more active... It seemed like a warning or something..." Aichi said
" A warning?" Kai repeated
" Maybe it's warning us about the battle that's about to happen with whoever is the mastermind inside the castle... But we can't investigate it right now... Not until the Estraneo Family have been settled..." Aichi said
" Yeah."
" ... Can you tell me the story?" Aichi ask
" What story?" Kai ask
" About the time you chose Overlord... I know it isn't just because you liked his re-stand skill..." Aichi said
" You really want to listen to that...?" Kai ask, hiding a small blush
" Please..."
" ... Okay." Kai said as he slowly thought back to the past, " When I switched clans to Kagero, it was also the time my parents abandoned me. I was tossed around households, and all the other details you knew about. All I could think about that time was how much I wished I could engulf everything around me in crimson flames, especially the adults who lied to me through their teeth. I'm sure that was the reason..."
Kai stopped for a bit after noticing Aichi's hand reaching out to him as he carefully held his hand and continued.
" I had one other reason for wanting to win with Overlord. As I've said, I really liked his re-stand skill. I had been betrayed by lies over and over again. But seeing Overlord stand back up, I felt like he was saying to me, 'You too can rise up again, with your own strength'. That's how it seemed. 'Imagination will become your strength'. I remembered those words I said to you and imagined myself being strong too. You and Overlord were the strength that helped me stand back up again." Kai said
" Although... it's unimaginable that way..." Aichi said
" In what way?" Kai ask
" If Overlord really just wanted to support you, his words wouldn't be as harsh as to make you remember the horrible time you went through... Those words were what ignited your anger from that time..." Aichi said
" ... We wouldn't know. Maybe that is also what Overlord is like." Kai said
" Two years ago, it was the first time your PSYqualia manifested... Were those really the words Overlord or even your clan told you? I'm sure it wasn't... Your units were pushing you forward and encouraging you..." Aichi said
" But then... if that voice wasn't Overlord, then who or what could it be?" Kai ask
Suddenly, a flash of red light shone around the apartment as Kai shielded Tasuku's eyes. The light soon faded as they opened their eyes again to see Ren.
" Ren!"
" Hello!" Ren greeted as he looked around the apartment and at the two, " ... I haven't been around for a few days and you two have already gotten into so much trouble?"
" How did you return?" Kai ask
" I used the Akashic Book! I lied to Rekka Tatsunagi and asked her to send me here for awhile!" Ren said
" You'll get into trouble..." Aichi said
" I won't, don't worry! So, I knew something like that was happening though. Mind explaining?" Ren ask
Kai explained what had happened as Ren listened and thought about it.
" Hm... Those Estraneo Family members are a little tough, huh? ... As for Kai's problem, it could be that a Jammer seed tried to take over him." Ren said
" A Jammer seed?" Kai repeated
" Oh... Could that be... Remember? Those reversed J stickers on the Student Council members?" Aichi ask
" Those are called Jammers. They are trying to change history and erase Vanguard." Ren said
" Erase Vanguard?! Who would do such a thing?!" Kai exclaimed
" ... You two... haven't figured it out yet?" Ren ask
" No... We've been busy with the Estraneo Family..." Aichi replied
" Hm... Anyway, the Jammer seed must have sensed Kai's anger and tried to plant itself inside him. Using his PSYqualia, he rode Overlord and tried to burn everything down. But Aichi-kun's PSYqualia purged it out of his body and he turned back to normal." Ren said
" I guess it makes sense. Although it didn't give away that it was a Jammer since it didn't speak about hating Vanguard or trying to destroy it." Kai said
" Yeah..."
Ren nodded as he soon looked around and stood up.
" Well, I have to take my leave now! Take care of yourselves!" Ren said as the red light returned
" By the way, what's with that getup?" Kai ask
" Hehe! You'll see when the time comes! Bye bye!" Ren said as the red light engulfed him and he disappeared
" ... He's weird as usual..." Kai muttered as Aichi giggled
And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!
