"Shoot them!" Cried a Helsing soldier before a boot landed in his face. Recovering from her attack, Misaki breathed as she charged toward a trio of gunmen, who now fired their weapons at her. Quickly, Misaki wrapped the cloak Serenity had given her around her body. Hunter sigils glowed across the surface of the cloak, causing Misaki to vanish.
The gunmen blinked and looked around in confusion as Misaki struck kicking the back of one while slicing at the other two quickly. They cried out in pain as they crumpled to the ground, jerking violently. "Yeesh." Misaki blinked as she looked at the knife that was also arrayed with sigils. "That smith knows her stuff."
She had to contain her surprise the minute Serenity had given her the cloak and dagger. According to Serenity, the cloak was an experimental stealth outfit that was also tough as nails, able to survive even the claws of a Wretchling as she had stated. Finally, was the new dagger. The blade was equipped with various types of Hunter magic that even Misaki never knew was possible. With the flick of a switch, it could switch from a taser function like the Hunter sigils used by Cross Academy or to one where it would cut through a vampire like a hot knife through butter; aptly dubbed taser mode and melter mode respectively.
Footsteps sounded behind her. Misaki turned as more gunmen appeared, the guns blazing. Quickly she crouched low and draped the cloak over herself, the bullets bouncing off harmlessly. A swish sounded through the air as a chill went by. Soon enough, the shooting stopped and Misaki recovered to see Emi removing her sword from the frozen men.
"Done and done." Emi smiled as she sheathed her rapier and dusted her hands. "Now, where to next?"
"We should see if there are still others that need help evacuating." Misaki nodded. "We should ensure no one else got intercepted."
"True." Emi nodded as she resumed walking. "But I must admit, it is quite the sight. That Serenity does good work. The cloak and dagger truly go hand in hand this time."
"Geez, that pun…" Misaki chuckled. "Still, she did tell me she wanted to make some improvements based on the field tests. I just hope this is enough. She is a bit of a stickler for this sort of thing based on what Mr. Rodin said."
"Hey, you already kicked plenty of butt with those. I'd say you got plenty." Emi answered.
"I guess." Misaki frowned as she hefted the dagger. "But it's taser mode that did most of the work. I don't even know what melter mode is like, and honestly, I don't think I want to."
"Steel yourself Misaki." Emi said again. "When you said you wanted to do more, you ought to know this would be it. So don't wimp out on me now."
"Who said anything about wimping out!?" Misaki grumbled. "Anyways, we should get back to our jobs! We still need to cover-"
Misaki barely finished before a building behind them exploded. Emi quickly built a wall of ice to cover them against the haphazardly flung debris.
"Ahahahahahaha!" Came a familiar laugh. "Amazing! I can't remember such an entertaining fight!"
Oh no… Emi frowned as she lowered her ice wall and found herself staring at a familiar, scantily clad figure.
Celestine stalked out from the rubble of the building behind her, countless estocs floating around her. Facing her was Lady Ren, who had her sword drawn in one hand and Night Rose in the other, metallic vines coiling around her arm. Celestine now turned, and her eyebrows raised the minute she saw Emi.
"Oh! Emi Aidou! What fortuitous circumstances!" Celestine flashed her gleefully insane smile. "And who is the other one?"
"Sorry, but I don't like to associate with crazies." Misaki growled as she bent down and readied the dagger.
"Aww." Celestine pouted. "Party pooper."
"Is she who I think she is?" Misaki whispered.
"Yup." Emi affirmed. "Celestine, Executor number three."
"Well, I suppose I can't get too greedy." Celestine scratched at her forehead. "I mean, I already have such a wonderful playmate!"
"I'm not like your previous opponents Executor." Ren grunted. "If anything, you ought to be taking this more seriously."
"Ugh." Celestine growled. "You and Hagan are so alike. You're all killjoys." With a breath, Celestine put another smile on her face. "Oh well, now that I have two extra playmates, we can have a bit more fun!" Estocs now hovered around her, their blades pointing all around. "So, try not to break too easily, okay?"
At once, Celestine sent all her blades out. They pierced through stone and wood as they went for their targets. Emi and Misaki now scattered, avoiding as many of the swords as they could while Ren lengthened the vines on her arm, forming a protective barrier around her.
"Hahahaha!" Celestine laughed as she charged in, blade in her hand readying to stab at the knight Grandmaster. Ren merely swatted away the attacks before parrying with her own sword. She now pointed the gun at Celestine and pulled the trigger, bullets flying point blank at the Executor's face. Celestine quickly tilted her head, the bullets only leaving a slight scratch on her skin.
"Tch… Not bad." Celestine grumbled as she sent the storm of blades at Ren again.
Ren parried again with the metallic vines, however this time the swarm of blades moved faster than before, resulting in the knight grandmaster sustaining several cuts on her skin. Ren gritted her teeth as she fell to her knees, swords buzzing all around her defenses.
"C'mon, c'mon!" Celestine cheered giddily. "Keep fighting!"
As she prepared another swarm of blades to strike at Ren, it was countered immediately by another swarm of ice swords, easing the pressure off the knight grandmaster. Celestine smiled as she looked to their source. "I was wondering when you'd make your move."
Emi held her blade in both hands as she conjured more ice weapons, flinging them at the Executor. Celestine happily engaged, throwing her own blades at Emi and Ren. The respective salvos continued without end, which in turn made Celestine all the more excited.
"Yes, yes! More! More! More!" Celestine cheered as she continued to send swords at them both. "You two are helping me feel so alive! It's as if… as if… Hold on, wasn't there another?" As if suddenly remembering something important, Celestine's brow furrowed. Then, she felt something slam into her from behind.
Celestine toppled head over heels as Misaki moved in, her knife suddenly glowed red as she slashed at the Executor. Celestine felt the dagger graze her cheek, a searing hot pain spreading across Celestine's face. Misaki landed and rolled on the floor, coming to a stop at Emi''s feet as the vampire sent a torrent of ice blades at the Executor who was left open by Misaki's sneak attack. Ice blades crashed into Celestine and froze her solid. As a coup de grace, Emi now stabbed her rapier into the ground, icy stalagmites encasing Celestine's entire frame.
"So, did we get her?" Misaki frowned.
"I froze her a couple of times over." Emi huffed. "But I doubt it."
"Indeed." Ren breathed. "Stay sharp. She could certainly be about to…" As Ren said this, the ice exploded outwards, forcing the grandmaster to shield the two of them from the massive blocks.
"Haaah." Celestine breathed as she stepped from the wreckage, black lines running down from her forehead and crisscrossing her abdomen. Around her, the swords hovered, a single pulsating red 'eye' on each of their hilts. "How many years has it been since I've had to use this? You have my thanks dear Emi. You've definitely grown stronger since that day in Berlin…"
"Not sure if that's a good thing for us right now…" Emi grunted.
"Well, we never get good things." Misaki remarked sarcastically as they prepared to face the Third Executor in all her power.
Anju ducked as another of Giselle's tendrils blew apart the building behind her. She raised her scythe and sliced upwards to parry another clawed tendril. Spinning, she shook it off and took to the air as another burst out of the ground, missing her by inches.
"Take this!" Ichigo yelled as he fired both guns. Giselle simply deflected Wither's bullets, though Havoc's detonated as forced her to flinch.
"Haaah!" Anju cried as Shadow's wings flew her to Giselle and she struck with her scythe. However, Giselle was still fast enough, two of her claws now coming together and crushing Anju in between. Anju coughed up blood as she felt her ribs and spine crack before another claw lashed an uppercut, fracturing her jaw and causing her to crash into a building, where she lay and did not move.
"Anju!" Ichigo shouted as he fired again, only this time he was forced on the defensive with Giselle's rapid attacks.
"One… Down…" She whispered. "Now… You… Next…"
"Shut up you brat!" Ichigo growled as he threw a few grenades, the flashes of light blinding Giselle momentarily.
"Insults… Pointless…" Giselle sighed. "You… Nothing… Without… Girl…"
"Yeah keep talking shit kid!" Ichigo yelled as he got behind cover and reloaded. "Now hurry up and heal already you dummy!"
"Waiting… Useless… Incapacitated…" Giselle remarked, as if reading his thoughts. She now raised her claws, energy burning through them as she lashed out at his location.
"Shit!" Ichigo leaped away as her tendrils blasted apart anything in their way. Cover was completely useless, so Ichigo willed himself to run and fire at the same time.
"Useless…" Giselle now used the remaining claws to pick up large pieces of rubble and threw them at him as she simultaneously continued her previous attack. Whilst Ichigo did his best to dodge, Giselle decided to change her attacks, this time taking broken brick walls and crushing them into tinier fragments, forcibly throwing them at Ichigo. Ichigo was now forced to stop his attacks so as to avoid the spread of rubble being thrown at him. "See…" Giselle sighed as a few bricks struck his head, blood now running down.
"Suck it!" Ichigo growled as he aimed and fired. However, Giselle simply blocked the attacks with her shawl before backhanding him. Ichigo crashed into another building, spitting out blood as he recovered.
"Time… Wasted…" Giselle muttered. "You… Die… Then… I… Continue… On…" She now raised her claws, ready to strike at him as energy crackled between them.
Suddenly, two spears of shadow pierced through Giselle's abdomen, forcing the Executor to freeze in surprise as blood dripped from her mouth. Giselle turned as Ichigo looked slightly behind her, shock crossing both their faces.
The offending shadow spears had emerged from a strange red rose sigil that floated in the air. Quickly, the spears drew back and out of Giselle's body, causing the Executor to falter. They now looked up to see Anju stagger out from the rubble behind, blood still pooling out of her mouth as her regeneration kicked in. It seemed she was still having trouble standing since a dark clawed hand was supporting her off the floor.
"What the hell was that?" Ichigo blinked.
"Impossible…" Giselle gritted her teeth. "Power… Jerome's… How…?"
"Jerome's?" Anju panted as she looked to see the red sigil hovering over her head, two of Shadow's tendrils now emerging from it as it disappeared. Anju then suddenly remembered what Serenity had said, how it seemed her vampiric aspect had devoured Jerome's Bloodbane weapon. "Did I devour the power within it too?" In response, Shadow rippled. Anju frowned, wondering if in some way, Shadow had taken over the fight for a brief moment.
Her thoughts were cut short by the menacing aura that emerged from Giselle. She looked as the Executor advanced on her, her shawl claws now lashing at her. Anju quickly put up a shield from shadow and deflected them, though the force of the blows jarred her very bones.
"You… Too… Dangerous…" Giselle growled. "Now… Die…"
Anju twirled the scythe, breathing as she readied herself to fight again, though each breath was followed with a sharp stab of pain as her body healed. She could slowly feel the burn in her throat growing more intense. She knew she couldn't last much longer. If she wanted to end this, she had to do it now. But when? Such was the question.
Giselle now lashed out and Anju flew, deftly avoiding the claw as it buried itself in the pavement. More talons followed as Giselle attempted to corner Anju once again. However, as a claw was about to pierce Anju, a rose sigil appeared before her. The claw went through and appeared right above them, clawing at air.
Giselle gritted her teeth as she pulled back the claw and struck again. Anju dodged as quickly as she could while using the scythe to parry the strikes.
With her attention on Anju, Giselle left herself open to a few shots from Ichigo, Havoc's rounds detonating off her back. Giselle glared at him as she swatted him onto his back. Giselle now sent two claws his way only for them to get shifted away by rose sigils.
"That… Annoying…" Giselle growled as she ignored Ichigo and focused her attacks at Anju again. Anju dodged the attacks, but due to the amount of strength she has expended through the fight, she felt herself slow down. This left her open to a swat to her right side.
Anju crashed into another building, vomiting blood as she realized her ribs had cracked again. Slowly, she got up as Giselle advanced on her, the claws now darting toward her with energy crackling through them. Shadows instantly formed wings and shot Anju up into the air, but not fast enough as a claw struck her thigh, searing a chunk of her leg off.
"AAAAGGGGHH!" Anju screamed as the pain hit. She looked at the mangled mess that was her leg; a bit more and it likely would have been severed completely. Shadow bore her in the air as she breathed, staring down at the Executor that now thrust four claws at her.
Anju willed Shadow to now create four claws to parry, but Giselle instead grabbed hold of them all and, with a powerful twist, threw Anju down toward the ground, which she landed with a massive crash.
Anju coughed and sputtered blood as she attempted to recover. Right now, only Blood Drive would be enough to help, but she didn't know how she could do that with Giselle able to corner her each time.
Then, Shadow rippled, as if answering her. Slowly, Anju began to see images, feel stirrings of the newfound power within herself. Anju gritted her teeth as she desperately fended off the Executor's attacks, awaiting the chance she needed.
"Enough…" Giselle huffed as she drew the four claws back, energy trembling through them. There was no doubt in Anju's mind that she was readying a full powered attack meant to break through even her defences. If she wanted to take down the Executor, it was now. Shadow itself rippled, as if in agreement.
"Time… Finish… This…" Giselle now aimed all the claws straight at Anju, the four talons now combining to form a spear-like appendage that spiraled toward her, ready to skewer her into the earth.
Willing as much of the power from within her, Anju stretched out her left hand. Instantly, the rose sigil formed in front of her, absorbing Giselle's attack and directing it straight behind the Executor herself. With all of her focus into the blow, Giselle barely had time to react before she was impaled from behind and through the sternum by her own technique.
"EEEEEEEAAAAAAAAGGGGH!" Giselle screamed, vomiting blood as her dress was punctured completely as her body arched in pain. Seeing an opening, Anju focused into the power within, the heat spreading through her body. Giselle noticed as well, for she now moved to interrupt, her remaining two claws ready to strike as she removed her own talons from her body.
"I don't think so brat!" Ichigo yelled as he raised Havoc and fired rounds into the two talons. Sigils formed and exploded, stunning the Executor.
"Annoyance…!" Giselle growled as she attempted to strike at Ichigo. However, she was stopped short by a bat-shaped scythe now being flung at her, the blade impaling her through the stomach.
Both of them watched as Anju charged at the Executor, her dark clawed hands grasping the Executor tightly whilst the massive black wings reformed into tendrils that snared Giselle's remaining claws. Anju snarled as she drew her head back and crashed her forehead into Giselle's own with all the might she could muster. Disorientated, Giselle was unable to react as Anju now reached for the scythe's handle. The blade glowed as Anju removed it from the Executor's body.
Ichigo could now see that the Executor's dress was bleeding. With a quick flourish, Anju severed all of the tendrils of the Bloodbane weapon, red fluid now pouring out like a fountain from each severed claw as Giselle's face was frozen in a soundless scream. Grasping her head, Anju spun around as threw Giselle toward the ground. Ichigo barely had time to take cover as the Executor's lithe body crashed downward, cratering the ground below.
"Shit…" Ichigo gasped. "I was just there. You didn't hold back, did you?"
"You don't when it comes to me." Anju gasped as she reverted back to her usual form. "So consider that my payback to you…" Anju now swayed as she fell on one knee. Her hand flew to her throat as she felt the thirst come.
"Oh crap…" Ichigo quickly pulled out his blood tablet container and handed them to Anju. Anju opened it and chugged down, not caring that she would have needed them to be dissolved in water first.
"Yeah, I didn't really care before either." Ichigo said as soon as she stopped and handed it back to him. Anju breathed as for the moment, her thirst appeared sated. Still, it was best to get her back to the castle before engaging in another fight. Ichigo now looked down into the crater; at the motionless body of the Executor. Then he looked at the severed appendages that were bleeding profusely at their ends, disturbed by how they still seemed to writhe and squirm, as if rigor mortis was just setting in.
"Well, hopefully Serenity will be happy with this one." Ichigo said as he helped Anju to her feet.
"Hopefully." Anju nodded. "Good work by the way."
"It's me idiot." Ichigo said. "Of course it would be." He now walked over to the crater to sneak a peek at Giselle's body. "So is she still alive?"
"Most likely." Anju said. "Look, her wounds are healing up." Truly, Giselle's body was slowly stitching itself back together. But the loss of the Bloodbane weapon meant she required emergency medical help for survival.
"Alright then. Time to bag this morbid freak and get out of here." Ichigo said as he took out specially made cuffs meant to hold even an Executor. As he moved however, a surge of power from behind forced him to stop in his tracks.
Ichigo and Anju slowly turned around to see a man with long silver hair, dressed in pale grey robes adorned with white armour. He held a longsword in his arm as he walked toward them. "Impressive." He said. "I didn't think Giselle would actually lose. Pity, but I suppose war is as such."
"Who the hell are you?" Ichigo growled, realizing that this stranger made him wary.
"Ah, of course." The man now bowed. "First Executor of Helsing, Arthur Banel at your service."
In the grounds of the castle, Akira and Cliff clashed against each other. Akira charged in, sword raised for an overhead blow as Cliff raised his claws to block. Akira watched incredulously as the clash caused a shockwave of power to blast apart the pavement beneath the Executor. Cliff grunted as he pushed Akira off and charged in again. Akira quickly ducked at a speed that was unknown to him before landing a slash at the Executor's side.
"Graaagh!" Cliff cried out as Akira slammed a heel into his stomach, sending him tumbling across the cobblestone.
"Huh." Serenity frowned as she hoisted herself up. "Augments your physical abilities plus some resistance to Bloodbane weapon degeneration and rapid regeneration. Nice, but ideally I'd like to see more."
"Well, if you so insist." Akira smirked as he drew upon more of the power that coursed through him and charged at the Executor again.
"That's it! Enough playing around!" Cliff snarled as his claws lengthened and became more serrated while his visage became more monstrous, jagged teeth now lining his mouth.
"And I thought he was already ugly." Akira remarked as he raised his sword.
"Asshole's letting more of the vampiric blood take over!" Serenity yelled. "Son of a bitch is gonna put his life on the line just for this shit! Be careful!"
"yOU pIeceS of SHIT hAvE PiSSEd me Off fOR The LasT TimE!" Cliff snarled in a voice that sounded distorted, monstrous even. "I'M GoinG to SENd you To HeLL!"
Akira breathed as he faced the man turned monster before him, raising his sword for battle. He could still feel the thrum of power running through his blood from the weapon Serenity gave him, the red marks upon the blade glowing with a strange and pulsing energy.
"DIIIiIIiIIEEeeeEEEE!" Cliff roared as he charged at him, claws raking apart the pavement. Akira breathed, drawing all of his focus onto the raging being before him. He felt the power thrum within him as he prepared to direct it at his foe. Cliff charged in, claws outstretched to deal the final blow.
Akira now raised his sword, rushing toward the Executor. As he did, his cloak writhed and burst forth into two raven wings that glowed with a red aura. He felt his fangs lengthen and his eyes flashed scarlet. He swung the blade and felt it slice through Cliff's weapon along with his entire forearm. The Executor screamed as his arm split apart, blood spurting out violently. Akira merely raised his blade, poised for another strike.
"YOu Son OF A bITch!" Cliff snarled as he held his bleeding arm. "I'M GonnA SKiN you aLivE!"
"Heh. Not bad Kuran." Serenity pushed herself to her feet. "Not sure if you're hitting the gas yet, but you look mighty fine right now."
"It feels like I could do more." Akira remarked as he stared at the sword. "What is this weapon?"
"Answers later." Serenity said as she pulled out a cigarette. "Handle this asshat first."
"ShUT yOUR dAmn PiehOlES!" Cliff snarled. "I'll KiLL yOu! I'm GOIng to ShRed yoU to pIEceS and TeaR uP your InsiDES!" His body thrummed with more and more power. Akira braced himself for what seemed to be the final strike.
"Good grief, to think I'd have to listen to more of that horrid tone." Akira suddenly froze at the cold voice. "Though I suppose it was interesting to see all that has transpired thus far."
All of them looked up to see a man dressed in a long black coat and in a black vest with a silver tie. His silver hair blew slightly in the wind whilst his red eyes stared at them from above, his body kept aloft by huge dark wings. Akira instantly knew who this was.
"Mortis Kraven." Akira gritted his teeth.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me…" Serenity breathed.
"I'm glad you remember me Akira." Mortis smiled. "However, whilst I would love to stay and chat, I have more important business to attend to, more precisely, my dear granddaughter."
Before he could move, Cliff now jumped up, his uninjured hand raised to strike at him. "DIIIIIiIIIiiiiIIIIEEEeeeEEE." The Executor snarled as he plunged his claws straight into Mortis's sternum. To the surprise of all but Mortis, the claws didn't seem to do anything. In fact, Mortis merely raised an eyebrow, a look of annoyance and disappointment crossing his features.
"Was that supposed to kill me?" Mortis frowned as his face began to twitch. All of them watched as he transformed, his bat-like visage now appearing clear to all as his claws and talons grew while his skin darkened. With a single hand, he grasped and pulled Cliff's claw out before crushing the Executor's hand, the loud snap of bones breaking resounding through the air.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGH!" Cliff snarled as his arm was subsequently torn from his body. Mortis now grabbed his neck and pulled his head closer, his fangs clamping down on the Executor and savagely ripping him to pieces. Mortis was merciless, continuously butchering the eighth Executor and drinking on his blood. Akira and Serenity watched as Cliff's body was completely torn apart, the remains of his torso now being flung over the wall as loud roars sounded.
"Paragon beasts…" Akira blinked as Wretchlings came over the wall.
"Well then." Mortis breathed. "Let's put the final chapter of this little play into effect, shall we?"
Author's Note:
Well, a Happy Chinese New Year to all from where I am. Hope that this year goes well despite everything! As for me, I'm hoping to finally finish this story by year end! Here's to that happening!
Jdbl00d