It didn't take long to find the goal he set for himself. The goal in question being the Slavic Dragon that kept a safe distance from the village, a fact that did not make it any less dangerous nor any happier. Issei, in his intimidating and dragon like red armor, flew through the air in pursuit of his enemy. He didn't have to fear, after all, he didn't have the power to lose.
He, like a select number of humans, possessed a "Sacred Gear": a group of magical weapons and tools created by the Christian God, entrusted for the protection and defence of all of humanity. Many of these exist throughout the world, each with diverse abilities that intoxicate those who wake them up with power.
However, his was special.
Of the innumerable Sacred Gears, thirteen exist of which are especially dangerous. Formerly known as "God Slayer", "Sins of Father", or simply "Longinus" (In recognition of the soldier who pierced through the ribs of Christ at his crucifixion with a spear: Longinus), they were feared artifacts capable of equating the power of a human being with that of a Deity. It has always been wise to be careful in confronting those with divine power, names in history that have been carved at the mercy of blood and iron.
His Sacred Gear, a famous Longinus that went by the name of "Boosted Gear": the Gauntlet of Ddraig, "The Red Dragon Emperor" (That mythical Welsh beast who dared to face the world, only to end up condemned to being tied to humans), whose soul resided deep within the soul-bound artifact of the Hyōdō boy.
Thanks to that, Issei was capable of doubling his power as much as his body and will allow him to. Such was the reason why he was currently speeding through like a red comet.
Upon realizing how much closer he was, he could clearly see just what his opponent was. Three large heads and long necks like that of the ravenous Hydra, its massive body likely exceeding a thousand tons with its large pair of wings, replete with resplendent olive green wings. Its entire aesthetic was rough and hard to believe for a normal person, even those Magi who were reluctant to accept certain existences.
That had been the sight he encountered while it devoured several of the miserable monsters, those of which were most likely driven off their lands by its presence.
"Wow… That does look fucked up." Issei said, surprised.
"[Scared?]" The Welsh Dragon asked in a smug tone of voice.
"Don't insult me like that, Ddraig," Issei replied to the dragon inside him. "I may be young but even a High Class Dragon has nothing against me."
"[Don't be so quick to believe that, dwarf.]"
Issei shrugged at that with a smile.
"I'm just spitting facts."
"[As you say.]"
Hyōdō broke through the air at such an extreme speed that it surpassed the sound barrier. He was like a flashing arrow, a fleeting crimson thread. For those down below who managed to catch the sight, he was like a near imperceptible blur, others simply couldn't see him.
A boisterous echo two objects colliding was the first indication of an impact followed by a mighty gale force, such was its power that it managed to bring down the dragon easily. It was such a blessing that the red dragon warrior was wary of his physical power, as that show of strength could wreak havoc on land if he was careless.
To anyone bearing witness to this power and ignorant of its possibility, it was monstrous, unreal, impossible. Without a doubt, the red clad warrior had broken several ribs with superb ease; however, the Slavic Dragon wasted no time and quickly recovered, turning its large body sharply to drive off its opponent who readied himself.
ZOOOOM!
Swinging its tail in a vicious swipe, the beast found its appendage caught in the metal hands of its opponent as though it weren't even a problem; ironically enough, not even the noticeable difference in size could help the untamed dragon. One of its heads spat fire under the pressure of the situation, consuming everything in a blazing inferno, monsters included.
"You'll have to try better than that!"
In an effort to stop its fiery attack, Issei began to turn his body on the ground while holding the dragon by its tail. Little by little, the giant salamander found itself being raised from the ground, its expression akin to looking stunned, and rightfully so given the picturesque stage of battle. One could even hear the low whistle of wind if they listened carefully, a sign of the ease at which the red warrior was handling the magical beast.
Over time, the whistle became a howl.
"And away… we go!"
With one last swing he threw the dragon up into the winter night sky, the dark clouds being lit up by the flames from the raging dragon. With the help of thrusters built into the Scale Mail, Issei continued on the offensive as he shot up into the sky in pursuit of his quarry.
The battle on the ground was to take place in the air.
A tripartite flare was spat upon Issei as he ascended. But the crimson knight emerged unscathed, the gem on the right gauntlet shining for an instant before a powerful blow was delivered to the dragon's belly. It was at this moment that he made an oversight as the central head bit down on his left arm and began to shake him around angrily.
Meanwhile, Ddraig laughed at the humorous display that Issei was put through. But it didn't last long for in that precise moment, a weak flank on the left side of the head was targeted. The sound of bones being crushed into fragments was heard as the kick was accurately delivered.
The central head released Issei into the air as the head teetered in a bloodied daze. The armor's metal shining like a tireless sun in a new rush as Issei flew around his opponent, landing numerous blows throughout its whole body. Each attack crushed that which lay underneath the thick exterior as muscles were rendered and organs were crushed by fierce metallic knuckles, blood flowing to and fro the fingers while countless fragmented scales flew through the air and away from their source.
The next attack was delivered when, using the second Sacred Gear he had on hand - Blade Blacksmith - he summoned a holy sword on his fist and sliced off the dragon's right leg.
Being cornered by the red knight, the dragon's emotions ran rampant as the red armored insect pummeled away at it, beating it up with barely any difficulty…
That angered it, and each second that passed by was built upon by anger.
"Hi los dilon!"
"What?" Issei couldn't understand what the enemy had said, more than that though, the dragon just spoke. Inside Hyōdō's mind, he managed to hear a self-absorbed sigh from his partner.
"[I told you, now you're in trouble.]"
The overgrown lizard roared a profane hymn, its scales taking on an intimidating dark hue. A fiery aura bathed the sky, a dantesque nascent fire and at the same time, a destroyer of its own entrails. The dragon was now beginning its counterattack in "Indignation Mode".
The next thing he knew, Issei found himself thrown towards the stars as air rapidly left his lungs. He couldn't help but be surprised at the abrupt advantage the Slavic Dragon suddenly had.
"The Red Comet" paled before "The Slavic Supernova" who flew towards him, before proceeding to vengefully pierce through his stomach with thorns. The wings emitted a great blizzard as it descended several meters, giving it time to attack once more with the thorns from its wings.
"What's going on, Ddraig?" Issei asked in pain. "Why is it suddenly so strong…?"
"[It has entered a mode called 'Indignation'. Wow, you must have made him really mad.]"
"I-Indig… nation?"
"[This is the main reason why dragons are feared throughout the world. When it reaches such a state of great anger, the dragon gets carried away by the emotion, leading to an increase of power in exchange for its mental state,]" Ddraig paused for a moment. "[You have two options, either you finish it now or you're dead. That dragon has surpassed the level of a current Demon King, even you.]"
The words just made him even more nervous.
"You say that so calmly, I can really feel how much you love me," He stated sarcastically with a snort, stopping in midair as he cast spells that enveloped the entirety of his armor. "If you've magnified your attacks, I just need to make mine much stronger!"
Two infernal flames flew upward towards the Sekiryuutei, whose armor now sported navy blue highlights. A cold winter began to emanate from the mouth section - one akin to the northern lights - as it fired toward the fiery projectiles. The collision of opposites creating a powerful blast in the sky, a rush of hail being rained down upon on the earth, crushing between the ground and the houses.
The beast rushed through the smoke only to be staggered with spears of ice that punctured its body. Taking advantage of the distraction he launched himself towards one of the heads, shining three times as the orb on his gauntlet increased its power, before finally delivering a withering blow to its jaw.
Despite the triumph of the moment, the boy couldn't help but taste his own blood, along with feeling a terrible pain in the whole gastric bag.
"[Effective or not, you could be risking your life, partner.]"
After a roar brimming with evil, the dragon turned in the air and took a thrust with a beat of its wings. The magician chose to keep his distance, shooting at it with more of the ice spears. The ice element in this case proving to be a tactical advantage, allowing him to attack from a distance. Even so…
"Dragon Gatling!" Numerous green mana spheres as dense as rock were sculpted by the right gauntlet before being fired at the enemy.
The natural evolution of his signature attack, Dragon Shot. Even with everything he threw he tried to hold back long enough so as not to cause major damage around him, since a single shot could destroy a mountain even by mistake… and he didn't want something like that, and if it shot off in the wrong direction it would mean the end of the village below and his friends.
The salamander, in an incredible display of agility, evaded most of the spears but was hit by several of the green spheres as they reacted and ignited into a huge explosion that rumbled through the air.
Each impact was absorbed by its hard exterior, making it appear close to a boiling cauldron. The two heads without heavy wounds conceived new flames, and its body expelled several of its scales like projectiles at point-blank range. Cracks began showing on the metal frosted over by the cold while Issei evaded the attack, a frown coming over his face within the helmet. The stench of burning meat reaching his nose. He was starting to get desperate, he was literally turning his primary means of defence into one of attack.
Looking closely, he could see the ice spears piercing its body, consumed by its thirst for revenge in the face of a fatal offense. In this fight, not only were their lives at risk, but their pride as dragons as well.
Inadvertently, this has turned into a battle of attrition, they who still stood would be the winner. What would happen first? Would his body turn to ashes, or would he run out of magic and die on his way to free falling? Whatever happened, he had to find a way to save the Wiccan village and his friends, regardless of the cost.
He couldn't finish his internal spiel when he felt the tremendous slap of a tail his enemy had given him. Little by little the armor was repaired thanks to his dragon attribute, but his power was certainly being exhausted.
The fear he felt in losing was immense, intoxicating his mind as it affects his thinking. He still heard the screams of people who couldn't defend themselves, the fear of people when they see the Slavic Dragon enveloped in its own flames descending from the night sky as if it were a demon.
"Hmm…" He rolled his shoulders and craned his neck as he moaned in pain. To see such an imposing enemy still kicking was overwhelming, but he wouldn't give up for that reason, no. If so, he had no right to call himself the Sekiryūtei. "Here we go again…"
XXXXXX
The situation down below was not any better.
From the safety of the invisible cloak, hidden on one of the few terraces still intact, Alena ceaselessly fired countless arrows at the invaders. Ghostly spectres ran down the facades of the houses, leaping hungrily on unsuspecting victims.
Maned wolves, shiny as silver, tore at the fallen in a bloodthirsty manner. That wasn't even taking into account the tainted body of an innocent girl fallen in the midst of all this, dismembered alive by these monsters!
The land of the village welcomed an ocean of blood, as if it were a disastrous flood. It didn't matter how hard she would try to repay their deaths, it simply felt as though it weren't enough, that it was insufficient. On this night of death, she committed the worst offense: Remain alive.
It pained her to see what was once her beloved home since her infancy, consumed by tireless tongues of flame. Desecrated to its roots, hanging by a single thread as it was about to be destroyed, a great doubt came: Of what? What good would it be to drive these beasts out of these lands? Not only are they destroying the village, but also her people.
The arrow release from her white bow stopped that symphony of doubt, and a heavy sigh expelled her sorrow. How she was so wrong, that not all has reached the shelter safely. After all, there were always new faces… that now lay in limbo.
"If only I…"
"If only what?" Colin suddenly appeared beside her. If only you could have prevented them all from dying? Is that it? You lament for that trifle?"
"Don't ask me not to. Besides being magicians they are still people. Nobody deserves an ending like this."
"You may be right, but despite that, this sort of thing repeats over and over again out there. This world is insane, and the sane are branded as vile patients."
Only when she started crying did Colin realize the blatant mistake he made in saying that.
"This world is cruel, I know, I know that very well… I have experienced their evil firsthand…" The girls's voice broke before her memories, before that nightmare of being enslaved, before those shackle marks that remained in her heart. "That is precisely why this makes me feel sad, overwhelmed, useless. Although I have become more powerful, I am still unable to protect what matters to me."
Colin gave her a small smile.
"Oh Alena, you're wrong. Being powerful or strong doesn't mean to be almighty; it just means you pass your limits, not that they're inherent to you. We all have some limit, including that old man up there," He pointed his index finger up at the sky. "In case God was really omnipotent, those of my line would not have even existed."
He crossed his intense gaze with hers, and those beautiful eyes received hope again.
"Don't feel bad about the past, learn from it and build your future. Never pity the dead, but the living… and even more, to those who live without knowing the happiness of the eternal sepulcher."
She laughed happily, the sound as bright as a thousand emeralds.
"Thank you, Colin. I needed that. You may be irresponsible and childish at times, but you are a good person."
"That's what friends are for, no worries. For some reason, I don't like seeing you sad either." The blue haired warrior looked to the field, delighting in a new sight. "I came here to tell you that the monsters are retreating, the most troublesome ones are staying to fight. Stragglers with very bad luck."
"I understand, then the waves have to lower their intensity from now on." Alena returned to being Alena. So smart, analytical, insightful. So her.
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"Why do you say that?"
"Think a little, just a little, it would help you sometimes." Colin returned to his usual jokerster nature. "With a forest of that size, it wouldn't weird for a high-class monster to sneak in here, besides that dragon… although that things is already on another level."
A hint of surprise came over her face, so she inquired. "Do you have an idea?"
"Several actually, but one sticks out to me most." The Half Elf began to catch on. "The village has a series of legends around this whole area, "The Romanian Lady" was always one of my favorites when I was little: It was about a vampire turned by Count Dracula himself. Managing to escape from the Harker hunters, he settled in a rural area of Russia. Before the siege, Belmont was losing power and influence, hand in hand with his sanity. It is said that he ended up wandering in this vicinity, leaving those who dared cross paths with him dead or dying. Hence why so few travelers came."
"Sounds interesting, but it's only a legend."
"I'm talking with one of those 'legends' right now. If I believe in you, why not you in me? He commented innocently.
"…"
Colin abruptly turned, ready to leave. Concerned, Alena reached out for his shoulder intending to hold him back for an apology. He merely slapped it away, clearly offended.
"Sorry about that, I always forget that you hate them."
"Not just them, but me as well. His pestilence, blasphemy and curse run through my veins." There was an inordinate hatred seeping into his voice. "I'm a vampire, no longer a man."
Now Colin was surprised, Alena had caught him in a warm hug. He smiled and breathed in the pleasant air of the cold night, and her soft body poured a delicious perfume, one that made him embark on the furthest journey.
"You are not a human, but you are my friend, and I ask you to forgive me. The sins of others may be running on your shoulders, but you decide what you do with them. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
He smiled bitterly, a simple gesture was enough to make him change his mind. He closed his eyes for a moment, and he let himself be loved for just a moment.
However…
The rumbling of someone else's heart, as well as the flow of a circulatory system, put him through a dreamlike trance. His fangs, white as ivory, grew longer as they emerged from the corners of his mouth. His eyes shone with a crimson evil gleam as his grip on the lance tightened hurtfully, wishing with all his might to pierce her heart and drink her blood. His attention fell on her vulnerable and delicious neck; the delusional fantasy of making her his while sucking the life out of her drove him mad.
One, two, three… STOP!
Colin stopped his thoughts cold, seeking some clarity in the storm. He then remembered: he didn't take his daily dose of blood. The full moon was rising in the middle of the plain, hidden behind black clouds. It was almost midnight, and the room with his long-awaited panacea was no more than 30 kilometers away.
He couldn't resist, he really should drink some blood AND HE REALLY SHOULD DO IT NOW!
NOW!
The blue-haired vampire pushed his partner and bravely raised his trustworthy weapon, ready to separate himself as far as he could from her before he completely loses control.
Colin leapt from the terrace onto the battlefield.
The sole plates touched the ground, and in one fleeting movement Colin pierced the torso of an ogre. He broke away immediately, driving the spear right down the throat of an albino wolf. A giant scorpion approached, lashing out with its pincers in an attempt to cut him in half. The sinister claws were met by Gáe Bolg, which was pulled back with such force that the claws were simply ripped off.
The counteroffensive was repulsed by Alena, who nailed 3 accurate shots to the head, body and right legs. The elf started to follow Colin, surprised by his anomalous behavior. He bellowed angrily, and - to her embarrassment - slid between her lithe legs. The abomination on her flank succumbing to Colin's downward swing, splitting the creature in two.
What appeared to be a decayed walking raincoat slipped between his ankles, making him fall rather unexpectedly. Rising up in front of him, the skull-faced being took out 10 knives ready to bury them in his chest. Alena intervened again, smashing the whitish skull into a thousand pieces with an arrow.
Not wasting any time, the male rejoined the battle and threw his spear at a crocodilian man emerging from the nearby lake. The brown humanoid, bathed in slimy grime, was killed instantly by the spear traveling like a bullet. Magically, the crimson weapon changed its course, going through some birds of prey in flight, liquidating three ogres lined up perfectly, and exterminating a couple of rotting banshees behind Alena.
Gáe Bolg returned to his hand when a flock of insects rose against him, and each one fell dead without their heads.
Still in a warlike state, and seeking to silence his instincts in a lofty frenzy, Colin lunged at a group of retreating gorgons. Evading their sinister gazes, he aimed his weapon to where the human torso met with the snake body, and sliced them in half. Five escaped his withering cut and seized both hands with their tails. Colin pulled them towards him like they were mere rags. And used them as lassos to catch a belligerent group of mantises. He threw each gorgon against the motley walls of enemies, and he continued inveterate in his onslaught.
Alena fired six shots at her front, forcing the enemies to dodge. Three more were fired behind, they were eluded just as well.
For his part Colin launched Gae Bolg, brushing past her chiseled waist. The redhead stopped in her tracks, dismayed by the actions of her friend.
Her attacks were preventive, those of Colin were with a clear intention to kill. She had to concentrate, the spear was coming back.
Alena fired one of her arrows (tied to an opal thread) at the red weapon. When Colin threw Gae Bolg again, she was carried through the air as well. Flipping through the air, she fell a few meters away as she fired three arrows at will. As long as Colin tried something, Alena would stop him.
BLOOD… YOU NEED HER BLOOD!
Colin lunged from the earth and continued his fight. The half elf was hot on his heels, searching for an answer.
Up ahead a Golem was fighting against a pachyderm with glowing cracks in its skin, the creature trying with all its might to destroy the chiseled rocky arms that pummeled away at it.
'They need cover fire.' She quickly thought.
It wasn't long before more monsters were approaching again.
Alena show arrows in various directions, supporting the Golems who smashed the enemy relentlessly with maces, to the masters who gave a masterful display of their magic, and to her mother who gathered mana in her trembling hands.
"Mother Earth, stricken with pity, obey my command and unleash your power upon our enemy… TO DESTROY!"
A tremor rumbled through the ground, and the earth in front of Inna collapsed underneath itself, taking 20 monsters with it. Catching her breath, Inna conjured up golden rune spells that advanced in an arrow formation. The monsters hit by the runes soon found themselves melting.
It didn't take long for them to pounce on her, six maned serpents to be exact. The mother mage incinerated four just as they opened their jaws, courageous to eat a meal they thought would be easy pickings. Alena picking off the last one thanks to her arrows.
A "Son of Earth" was rammed by a giant boar, reduced to mere rocks now threatening to fall on her helpless mother.
"Defenseless? Is this how you see me, you filthy beast?" The sorceress whispered almost arrogantly against the mass of flesh, which now charged in her direction. She conjured two swirls of a wrathful wind in her hands, swatting some incoming stones out of the air with them. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but this Queen always has an ace under her sleeve."
The columns of air that rose up began to pick up the stone fragments that collected on the ground, now unified, swirling around Inna like a small cyclone. The swine threat was beset by the gale, cruelly stoned as its flesh was rendered and its guts strewn about. Inna dissolved her magic then, dropping the stone foundations on fifteen other monsters.
She barely felt Gae Bolg brush past her chest, or Alena's arrows kissing her soft cheeks.
Behind Inna, a banshee and a lush buffalo collapsed inert. Alena looked at her mother, who stood still with solemn expression of surprise. Slowly she started chuckling, then she laughed uproariously.
"It seems this Queen hasn't fought in a long time." Inna laughed. "Thank you."
Alena nooded, a terrible feeling welling up. The plants around them dying from something foreign, so the trees whispered. Her elven blood was warning her of something.
"There is something here." The young redhead muttered, incessantly looking everywhere.
"Something? Like what, my child?"
"Something in the environment changed."
Everyone was now alert to the true feeling of coldness. The remaining embers were extinguished as soon as the thin pernicious and frivolous click sounded, rumbling with the feeling of superiority and elegance as if royalty itself was closing in on them.
"A nice night, don't you think?" A wonderfully deceptive female voice warned of her arrival, there was something faded in that elegance. "It seems that my bloodlust managed to upset the sleeping dragon, you must excuse me for the chaos my carelessness caused… although I think this fetid town is fine as it is right now."
A beautiful and elegantly dressed woman in modern wintry clothing, with brown boots that caused the shuddering sound just now. The woman emits a very dense mist from her body, and soon the shadows around them closed in on the woman's own shadow.
Colin reached his limit at that moment. The abrasive aura his body contained, the vampiric aura, it rose up along with long, sharpening fangs ready to bite and drink blood.
"Hah… Hah…" In his eyes was a look lost in the madness of thirst and longing for blood. "You are mine, Romanian Lady, or whoever the hell you are!"
Slowly, a sordid smile formed on Colin's face. In a burst of speed his entire body became a flock of bats, addressing the woman with unstoppable fierceness.
"Fufufu…"
The lady vampire disappeared into the dense fog as her fine laughter echoed as if she were suddenly everywhere.
There was an indisputable truth, they were cornered and no one was able to see it.
"I can hear her footsteps." Alena whispered to her mother. The corpses of the creatures killed a moment ago were being lifted from the ground, and the smell of blood was increasing. 'This is too risky, I'll have to use heavy artillery.'
Inna raised her hands, erecting a barrier around them.
"This barrier allows things to leave but not enter, whatever you have in store, do it in a hurry."
Colin however…
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" His attempts to control himself were in vain. "DON'T BE AFRAID OF LEAVING PRECIOUS!"
Date a Live II OST: Hurricane.
The vampire woman struck from the cover of the fog with her nails, the elongated and sharpened claws being parried instantly by Colin who swung his spear sideways.
The impact generated a shock wave powerful enough to blow away the fog for a moment and realize that the vampire had used her Necromancy to create an army of the dead.
"You're too wild, young," She smiled. "Just my type."
She summoned some chains and skillfully caught Colin's leg as soon as she was out of sight, the blue-haired vampire tried to run towards his prey but she lifted him off the ground with the chains to smash him into the ground, another show of unreal strength.
The ground cracked and Colin screamed in pain.
Gáe Bolg glowed a bloodthirst crimson as Colin stood back up and began spinning the spear all around him, the swings eliminating several of the skeletons which moved to pile on him, splintering them into pieces.
The vampire flung the end of her chain toward Colin with lush fierceness in an attempt to catch him, he responded by evading and breaking part of it with the powerful edge of his weapon.
"You've given me a reason to try my new spear," Colin said, smiling ecstatically at her. Gáe Bolg disappeared from his hand and instead wore a glow as bright as the sun. "This spear is like a miniature sun, the Spear of Solar Blood, Sadif!"
From the small glow a sovereign heat and an orange light shone that illuminated the dark night. Unlike Gae Bolg with its straight edge and similarity to a sword, this was a lance with a slightly longer edge with a pair of extremely sharp side blades.
This was the weapon Colin had sought, the work of a French magic blacksmith. The weapon glowed incandescently and it seemed as though Colin couldn't quite manipulate the effect. The heat that that was now present began to make him sweat, he had to finish this quickly or he would face the consequences for a weapon he can't fully control.
Moving in a zig zag motion with all the strength he had left in his legs, he lashed out at every revived monster standing in his path.
"Finish him my slaves!"
All the monsters began to group up into one huge mass as they started bleeding from all sides, every moan they produced grew louder as their masses began to coalesce, forming an aberration with the body parts of each monster. Arms flailed about as the process finalized, and mouths roared in pain and anger.
A giant made of corpses…
Colin threw himself as him… or them? Regardless, he dashed forward like a maniac until he felt a hard slap on his cheek, enough power was behind it to send him tumbling to the ground.
"Pay attention idiot!" It was Alena who had slapped him. "Take care of the woman, this one is mine. Now hurry! This thing will regenerate with every dead thing it absorbs!"
The blow brought the descendant of Cú Chulainn back to the present. Confused, he looked at Sadif in his hands, he had lost consciousness up until now.
"Y-yeah!"
"Hurry up!"
Colin ignored the assembled monsters and headed directly for the Romanian Lady. Meanwhile Alena drew back her bowstring again and aimed at the crowd.
"Infusion, Blast of flames."
The tip of the magic arrow went up in flames. Alena narrowed her sapphire eyes and gazed indifferently at all her enemies.
"This is for all the people you murdered."
Alena's emotions soared and seemed to emanate from her like a buzz, a barrage of thousands of majestic arrows shot out mercilessly piercing through her enemies and burning everything in her path.
"This is the end." She smiled.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A chain explosion occurred, all enemies burning to ash, all except for one.
GRUUIIOOOU!
Alena's bow disappeared, her magic was about to be depleted so it was time to get physical. She pulled out of the holsters on her hips two curved daggers of a gleaming silver with Norse runes etched on them. Gifts from her father when she came of age.
Moon Daggers, with the power of ice and wind respectively.
She activated her spell "Mantle" before disappearing, the monster couldn't locate her until countless slashes were made across its deformed body by the invisible Alena. Periodically with every cut she made and every slash she caused, the giant's flesh began to lose its color as it froze.
Alena had to get away from the wrathful colossus, she was at her limit, her magic was already exhausted and the Mantle lost its effect, therefore she could no longer use her Sacred Gear. A bead of sweat ran down her temple, her breathing was heavier, those arrows consumed a lot of mana from her body.
'Hurry up, Colin.'
The bluenette was in a limbo state of control and frenzy, fighting the dangerous urge to muder everything in his path.
Before him, the vampire woman was actually out of breath and tired out from the difficulty Colin produced in fighting. Just a moment before, she thought that this crazy boy would be easy prey, how mistaken she was.
He drew out Sadif once more, waiting for the chains to be able to go on the direct counteroffensive. Alena's support was effective in eliminating almost all of the reanimated corpses and turning them to ash.
Once more, the lady threw her chains as she transformed into shadows, catching him off guard with the twin attack.
"Ah, damn… it." He was held up in the air by the shadows twisting around his neck.
The spear however did not fall from his hand.
'Not yet…'
A fleeting childhood memory came to his ravaged mind then and there. It was him and his brother Connla playing on the bank of a small river. Their parents were sitting under the shade of a lush tree in Spring. A happy memory.
'Even so…'
THE MEMORY that haunted him at all times struck him again.
Colin was dying on the floor, watching his mother take her life by drinking crimson blood from that man's arm. A young man dressed in an elegant suit with short straight platinum blonde hair slicked back, his blood red eyes staring at her as he stroked the woman's face.
Connla had escaped, only ten years old like his twin brother. Gáe Bolg had been nailed to the chest of their father who watched with the greatest impotence.
His father had managed to remove the spear which had been stabbed through his chest, entrusting it to him, who despite being bitten managed to retain himself. After that, the only thing he can truly remember is the vampire's name.
Vasile Vladi.
'Because of that man… I can't die.' Colin watched as the woman reformed and approached him, licking her lips and showing her fangs. 'Not now.'
When she was inches away from him, it happened.
The spear lit up as bright as the sun, releasing him from his shadowy prison and making room for action.
"I can't die here Miss!"
"No… get away!"
But it was too late, Colin had stabbed the spear through her chest. The weapon began to burn from within and the Romanian Lady could only accept her defeat, the Necromancy losing its effect as the dead that walked the earth were freed.
"A brat…!"
Colin shut her up with a kiss, licking the blood in the vampire's mouth. That surprised the woman, who tried to resist only to find she couldn't…
At least she would get a kiss before she died.
He drew away from her and with a simple jerk of the arm pulled the spear out. The woman smiled gloomily, it was time to die.
"An impulse, I no longer have the strength to do anything else." Colin fell backwards. "I'm sorry for the kiss, but you must die right now."
She didn't respond, her body crumbling into ash.
The night was finally over.
Alena walked over to Colin and sat down next to him.
"Finally," She started, looking up at the sky with a sigh, seeing bright lights shining. "What is that?"
Minutes before.
Each blow to the voluminous abdomen brought him closer to a long-awaited triumph. Without letting up, he had forced the dragon to stay up in the air (Slyly, he had sliced both of its legs with a vicious slash). They both flew idly in the air now, the insatiable attacker and the reptilian punching bag.
A fierce storm had arrived at this point, white lightning arcing past their bodies. Despite this, one of them could hardly move. The Slavic dragon's life was coming to an end.
But…
Despite everything, Issei had lost. With growing concern he noticed increasingly scarce reserves of magic. It doesn't take long for the Scale Mail to disappear.
["I warned you to be cautious, and you didn't listen to me."]
"Not now, Ddraig. I'm thinking about something."
["About what? How you could win the battle? How much more you have to lose before the war even starts?"]
Angry at the obviousness expressed by his resident, he snapped back, keeping his bloody brow furrowed.
"Of course not… I'm coming up with a plan on how to get out of this."
["Admit it dwarf, it's over."]
Although he refused to admit it, he was right. In a few minutes, he would simply fall to his death, without honor or glory. The gigantic corpse of his draconic enemy would follow soon after, possibly creating a tremor that would shake things up for a bit.
Trust didn't just compromise his own existence, but also that of the entire village, his friends, his family.
Why? Why then and there did he think of his parents? Maybe because it would not take long to join them. He missed them so much, even more so because they left him with only four short years of memories. He remembered less than he'd like, barely a little chestnut wandering alone in the dark streets of Kuoh. He knew something bad had happened, his mother and father would never have abandoned him! Yet in their absence, an intense hunger and the freezing cold were present.
In that time he was found by a mentor, raised and educated as if he were the son of that picturesque and kind gentleman. Without a doubt, the years in the company of Azazel were the best of his life, but…
Alena. Of course, had his second great loss not occurred, he would never have met Alena. Nor her mother and father, or Colin, or his hitherto unknown grandmother.
Issei's life, was framed by loss, but also by the unconditional affection by those around him.
Having given them so much, he couldn't allow them to die without giving less than anything!
His destiny was forged by his hands alone, in lofty flames of intense crimson brilliance, and luminous flashes from the green orb embedded in the gauntlet. His finishing move.
The helmet of the Scale Mail was stripped of its physical form, as it was unnecessary right now. His face had not a hint of doubt, a smile deciding what would be done.
["GUHAHAHAHA! YOU ARE IRREDEEMABLE PARTNER!"] The legend roared. ["If you come out of this alive you should definitely get stronger, show that arrogant child the true power of the Red Dragon Emperor!"]
"I'll definitely die if I do another magic attack, I don't have enough energy to move after this… I have no choice but to go straight to brute force even if it hurts me."
Fate Extra/Last Encore OST: Wild Hunt.
The grieves yielded to his meager power, and all his remaining power was accumulated in the central part of the armor, sizzling from the abrasive aura emanating from him. Redirecting his prana to his right fist at maximum output, the gauntlet that covered it began to crack, showing an incandescent glow of magma.
"I hope you die this time!"
At that loud cry, the dragon roared one last time, increasing the body heat around him one last time, taking him to the limit of what his shattered body could afford. Issei could feel in his own flesh that terrible and burning fire, he swallowed hard, this blow was going to hurt like hell.
"DIR!" Roared the dragon with his soul at its zenith.
Using his wings and the thrusters of his still active breastplate he ascended once more beyond the storm clouds, pursued by the larger dragon. The rays brushed past him, yet still with determination set he paid them no mind.
"Follow me, come on!"
Wrathful fire was spewed at Issei, stopping after a while as the creature caught up slowly.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
It was at that precise moment in the midst of pain, that his entire right arm shined so bright that for a moment it seemed to be daylight, such a dangerous accumulation of magic power left over would be enough to garner concern from the others.
With one last boost of the thrusters, his breastplate completely disappeared leaving only the Boosted Gear on his right arm shining imposingly before his red eyes.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He fell through the air fast and his wings helped in providing more velocity, the dragon simply surrendered to its inevitable fate and roared helplessly, yielding his life to a formidable opponent.
"Scorching Zenith!"
Everything around him burned with insane pyrokinetic force…
BRUUUUUM!
He broke the sky.
The storm clouds were repelled by the impact that echoed throughout the land below, one could see the stars and the moon lighting up the blood on the ground.
The dragon was blown apart into pieces, the head flying off to one side while larger chunks, including the entrails, rained down upon the unsuspecting village.
Issei was on the verge of unconsciousness while in free fall, his clothes were destroyed, although his pants were intact enough to cover his crotch fortunately. A shame about the shirt though…
"I'm cold…" Now he understood what the villagers meant, they really were in Winter, he could feel the cold.
Down below, all were open mouthed at the display.
"If that happened here, goodbye to this place!" Colin nervously exclaimed. "What the hell is wrong with that force?"
Alena scratched at her cheek, nervous at the situation.
"It's Ise I guess hehe…"
Inna approached them both keeping her gaze up.
"I appreciate that he took care of that…" She looked at the both of them. "Good job you two, without you I would surely be dead."
"Well, I expect a lot of food. I almost - Ngaa!" Alena nudged him and he looked at her with a pout. "I mean, you're welcome~!"
Alena smiled.
"That's much better."
"Fufufu."
Inna laughed at their interaction, having lightened up the somber atmosphere that had been formed. The wizards present who survived were either sitting atop rubble or just lying on the ground, it had been a horrible night for them all.
"Hey, it's not stopping."
Colin looked up at the sky with concern, he could see Issei plummeting fast and it didn't seem like he was making an effort to slow down.
Alena quickly got up and started running to the place where he might fall, she would save him from dying if it was the last thing she did. Her heart was pounding, he couldn't die! Could he…?
'Ise! Ise! Ise!'
She was about to jump to try and catch him from there, but she stopped when his descent was slowed by an upward gale of wind. She was confused at first, but then she saw two people standing off to the side.
Issei hit the ground with less kinetic speed this time and she ran to see him.
"Ise! Wake up, please! Please!" When he didn't react, she grew more fearful. "Wake up…"
Cough! Cough! Relief flooded her when he started coughing. "Ah… I feel like shit. Am I dead?"
Alena hugged him.
"I'm so glad you're okay!"
Issei raised his sore hand and brushed the back of his hands with each other, at least he knew he wasn't dead.
"Thank you for saving me."
Alena shook her head.
"It wasn't me…"
A voice interrupted her
"Pardon the interruption, young Hyōdō, I am Tokiomi Tohsaka. This is Rin, my daughter." The elegantly dressed man who stood off to the side introduced him and the girl who had her arms crossed. "The Mages Association urgently requests your presence."
One problem ends, and another one begins.
Well that's it for now, again I thank Kingpin for this translation, I hope you enjoyed it, see you soon!