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Chapter 4: A Grudge is Made

The hollow pointed it's sharp claws towards Takashi, who grunted as he swung his mace upwards, yelling out: "Tera no Batsu, lend me your power… Kowarenai Kabe!"

His strongest wall yet was erected as the ground made a thick barrier to shield it's master, Takashi. As the claw touched the barrier, for an instant Takashi felt hope. Hope that would be soon crushed.

Despite Takashi's valiant efforts, the hollow still cut through this with brute force easily, breaking the wall as it flew at Takashi.

Takashi cursed at the strength of the Adjucas, and his lack of own thereof. If only I was stronger. If only I was stronger so I could keep my reign… If only…

He yelled out "IF ONLY I WAS STRONGER!" as a large cage from the earth began encircling the Adjucas.

He screamed in indescribable phrases in agony, as the hollow broke the cage which Takashi had desperately built, Takashi yelled out: "DIE! Hōfuku no chikei!"

As the hollow broke through the cage and attempted to charge towards Takashi, spikes appeared from below and gutted it, not allowing it to escape.

The hollow could only squeal in agony, as it roared out: "I'll make you suffer, I'll eat you piece by piece!"

Blue blood came out from the holes the spikes had created from it's body, piercing through it's Hierro easily with the proximity and power the spikes had behind them.

Takashi wasted no time to continue his offensive, immediately using his trump card against the hollow.

It's now or nothing. I have to use this trump-card combination. I haven't even perfected the second phrase of Tera no karada, [Body of Terra, Split]. But I'll have to try for my survival. These kids better thank me later. Heh, I'll probably die in this fight, so why the fuck not?!

Takashi allowed himself a small grin, as the hollow noticed it, and questioned him in rage: "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SMILING AT?! MEALS DON'T DESERVE TO SMILE! I'LL EAT YOU, I SWEAR!"

Takashi smashed his mace down on the floor, as he yelled out: "Tera no karada, ken." Two fists once again appeared by Takashi, slamming towards the hollow at high speeds as it attempted to wiggle to break free of the spikes, with the spikes already slowly cracking.

The hollow from his mouth, began gathering a red flash of spirit energy, with Takashi immediately noticing. "Cero! Tch!"

A sphere of red flash appeared in the mouth of the hollow, gathering energy as Takashi said to the hollow arrogantly: "You, you die today! I will not lose to a mere hollow!"

The hollow taunted back at him, with the red cero still in his mouth, ready for release. "A mere Shinigami shall never slay me. We are on two different levels, do not try me!"

The red flash released from the hollow's mouth, with the beam heading straight for Takashi, colliding with the two hands going towards the hollow.

The earthly materials on the two hands kept on disintegrating as Takashi moved more and more rock to rebuild the hand as it and the beam clashed

The two opponents attempted to one up each other, to breakthrough the current stalemate. Takashi however was visibly sweating. This level of an attack was all he had, whilst the Adjucas had been not using his full reserves, noticeably from his calm demeanour.

However, the Adjucas roared out violently, as it's dark yellowish spirit energy began to embody itself, the power of the beam massively increased. As the power of the beam massively increased, Takashi too felt the increased pressure.

He roared out as he reached from within, finding the last vestiges of power within his very soul. Drawing out reserves that would damage his very being. Tch! What does it matter to have powers if I die in the process anyway! I might as well die if I can't defeat this piece of shit…

"I, Takashi Fijiwara… WILL NOT DIE TO SOME MERE HOLLOW! LET'S GO PARTNER, LET'S SHOW EM' THE TRUE POWER OF THE EARTH…!"

He murmured a whisper, inaudible to all. "And I won't break my promise to you… My beloved."

His Zanpakuto, his energy and attack reflected his words, as it grew stronger in response, to the point of where it slowly overpowering the hollow's attack.

Looks like it's the end of my career either way, if I pour more I'll lose my powers. If I keep like this, it'll kill me.

"With my power… Mine and Tera No Batsu's, I'll punish you for disobeying me!"

A greater surge of energy came within, focusing his power into one point: His own attack. A last ditch attempt to wipe the hollow out.

The hollow growled in powerlessness, as his two fists grew larger with the additional power pumped in, overpowering it's Cero.

As the flashy red beam grew shorter and shorter, the fists growing longer and longer, the distance between the attack Takashi had made and the Adjucas shortened.

The attack soon crashed, as a scream was heard from the Griffin Adjucas, a wild ferocious scream of fury, of terror and of fear. All together were these elements mixed in with the elements of the hollow.

The attack hits, with a massive shockwave causing the very earth to tremble with the power produced by the attack made by Takashi's very own soul.

A huge wave of dust was created from where the Griffin Adjucas was hit, as Takashi laughed at it: "Hahaha! It's over! I've WON! I've won… My beloved…"

Through observation, Kazuto, the only person conscious and capable of seeing what was going on clearly saw through what happened.

His spirit energy's relaxed and decreasing constantly. That must be what happens when you stretch your soul beyond your limit.

Falling to his knees and coughing out blood, Takashi cursed. "Dammit… This is my consequence for using too much power, isn't it?"

He dropped his Zanpakuto to the ground, as he stared at the dust, allowing himself a small grin, satisfied with his results.

However… That wasn't enough. Takashi's failed to realise, we're probably all going to die. The Adjucas's still alive.

Just as Takashi celebrated, a red beam of flash came out from the distance, from the dust and only scratches his face.

Takashi attempted to ready himself, however the shock left him vulnerable. His stance was messed up, filled with openings. How could it still be alive?!

The Adjucas emerged with a flash of sonido, heading towards Takashi's back side. Emerging through Takashi's back side, Kazuto yelled out: "It's coming at you from the back!"

Takashi looked back, as he saw the black claws of the Griffin Adjucas make a clean slash, offing him from his remaining arm.

His arm was slashed off clean, causing him to kneel down on the ground as he cursed: "DAMMIT! DAMMIT IT ALL!"

Tears came down from his eyes, as Kazuto too noticed that the man was crying. "Fijiwara…"

Crystal tears came down from his eyes, flowing down his blood stained face, as he cried out in hopes of redemption. "I… I was too weak to protect anyone! My wife… A woman I swore to protect… I was too weak to even keep my final promise to her… To protect even myself!"

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Flashback

In the distance, beyond the boundaries of District 77, a young, pale skinned brunette was surrounded by hollows.

The girl watched as she was about to be eaten by hollows, surrounded and unable to flee. She closed her eyes, tear stained and ready to submit to her fate.

As she opened her eyes, she saw the hollows disintegrating, with a single man standing in front of her.

She asked him curiously. "What's your name…? Who are you?"

The man grinned and sheathed his Zanpakuto. "Takashi Fijiwara."

She stared at him, as she smiled to him and replied: "Miyo, Miyo Chiyu."

Takashi stared at the girl, her beauty instantly making him recognise her and engrave her into his memory. The girl had pale white skin. a fitting ice blue eyes with silky long black hair and a thin stature, with a cherry red lips and a bright smile staring towards him.

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Flashback

Sitting on the mountains of the Rukongai, both Takashi and Miyo looked on at the dawning sun.

"It's beautiful… Like you, Miyo."

She smiled back to Takashi, with a faint red blush on her cheeks. "Thank you…"

He turned his face towards her, as he too had a faint pink blush. He presented a ring to her, as he asked her. "Miyo… Will you marry me?"

Tears of happiness came down her cheeks, as Miyo gave a happy nod to Takashi. "Yes…! I'll marry you. We'll never be separated."

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Flashback

As the hollow began running away, towards a dark black hole it had ripped out, Takashi ran towards the fallen woman, grasping her body in his arms.

"Don't cry… Fiji-kun. I'll… I'll always be there for you."

Takashi had her body in his hands, her body cleaved in half, with only her top half in his hands after a hollow had gotten her.

"I'm… I'm sorry! I was too weak to protect you!"

The dark haired woman gave a weak smile, as she smiled to him. "It's alright… I lived a happy life with you."

Takashi cried, his tears going down to her. "Please… Come back to me! Miyo!"

Miyo gave a warm smile to him, tears going down her cheeks as well, as the hollow behind them disintegrated. "Please! Miyo! You promised we'd never be separated!"

Miyo replied to him slowly, as she foretold to him. "I'm sure… I'm sure we'll meet again. After-all, all souls reincarnate right…? When I do… I'll come back and meet you, right here at District 77.

Takashi held her hand as he said to her, tears streaming down. "Yes… Anything you want… Miyo."

Miyo gave Takashi a last look as her soul began dispersing to nothingness. "Please… Promise me one more thing."

Takashi looked at her, struggling to maintain a smile. "Yes…?"

Miyo said to him, as her hand touched his cheeks. "Please… Promise me to live on to the happiest you can be, and live on… Be wealthy or something… Alright?"

Takashi kept his smile as tears streamed down his cheeks, flowing like an unstoppable river. "Yes… I will. I'll make sure to do whatever you say, Miyo."

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The Adjucas laughed, with a booming voice as it heard Takashi's despair. "Such despair… Despair more… Fill the hole of despair I have!"

It used sonido to head towards Takashi, and then grabbed him in it's hands, lifting his body up as it squeezed him, causing Takashi to cry out in pain.

As Takashi cried out in pain, the Griffin Adjucas narrated: "Such despair. Let me reward you… By giving you more time to live!"

The Adjucas squeezed him harder, as Takashi screamed more, causing more and more pain as tears came down Takashi's eyes.

"Just kill me… Please…"

The Adjucas laughed and shook his head: "Why would I do that? Your story, o' so touching. However, I'm sorry to say…. I already knew a part of that story."

Takashi opened his eyes despite the pain inflicted upon him, as he spat out: "What do you mean… You monster?!"

The Adjucas chuckled, as he replied to Takashi, throwing him onto the ground like a rag doll, causing Takashi to spit out blood once again.

"Back then when I was still a hollow… I was the one which killed her. I remember you, you were the one which came running there. I thought you'd be delicious, but you were too strong for me back then. I was… Pretty mad I couldn't consume both your souls. But now, now I can finally eat you."

Takashi attempted to stand up, as he growled: "You bastard…! You killed her… You killed Miyo!"

The Adjucas once again lifted him up, with it's tail this time, wrapping it all around Takashi, who fails to stand up due to a lack of arms, resorting to only crawling.

The Adjucas growled, as said to Takashi: "Annoying Shinigami. Be grateful I gave you time!" The Adjucas then punched him, right at the stomach, causing Takashi to spit out blood, once again.

Kazuto yelled out as he pounded on the ground: "Stop! Stop it!"

The Adjucas looked at Kazuto, as it said to him: "Do not worry boy, I have decided the order… And you shall be last. Your reiatsu, it will be tasty to devour. Those children shall be next… A tasty snack before the main course."

Kazuto yelled out: "Stop it… STOP IT PLEASE!"

The Adjucas chuckled out loudly, with malice. "Hahaha! You honestly think I'd stop? Look at your lack of power, you have no power to stop me child."

At that moment, it struck Kazuto. The powerlessness he had. There was no system to help him. He was no hero. He had lost to Takashi, and now… To this hollow. There was no stopping his doom, along with what he cared for… All destroyed.

In SAO… I had my knowledge from the Beta. In ALO, I had my stats transferred and Heathcliff's ID. In GGO… I had my reaction time trained from SAO and ALO. In the Underworld, I had my skills from Aincrad and my incarnation of the 'Duel Blades' Kirito. But here… What did I have? Was I really special?

Kazuto smashed the ground with one fist as he swore, causing the hollow to chuckle. "So you finally realise it, don't you boy. Your lack of power, the power you lack to even face me."

Kazuto smashed the ground in anger, too much in pain to move, as the Adjucas turned it's attention to Takashi.

Takashi looked at the Adjucas, as it asked him: "Any last words, Shinigami?"

Takashi looked at Kazuto, as he said to him with his last pleading breath: "Avenge… m…"

As he was about to say it, the Adjucas yawned, and popped Takashi into his mouth. "Boring. Too boring for your last words. But I guess, you were worth it. That tasted good… So much energy."

The Adjucas then looked towards the three children, who were conveniently tied up. He slowly walks towards them, licking his lips.

"The appetiser for my second lunch…. Mhm…"

Kazuto yelled from the depths of his throat. "NO! Don't! Please! I'm begging you… Spare them! Eat me first! Please, spare them!"

The Adjucas chuckled as it used sonido to get next to Kazuto, who was struggling to barely attempt to stand.

"Shut up, boy!"

Grabbing his body by it's tail, it flung Kazuto towards a wall with a throw using it's tail.

With pain throughout his body, whilst he spat out crimson red blood out from his mouth, his bones broken rendering him unable to even stand, Kazuto watched as the children screamed.

Basch spat at the hollow as he said to it: "I won't let you, I won't let you kill them before you get through me!"

The Adjucas chuckled, as it began to move it's tail, causing extreme anxiety on the children's faces. "Easily fixable."

The Adjucas wrapped it's tail around the children, as Kazuto yelled weakly with Asuna still unconscious: "No! Stop! Don't do it, please!"

Crystal blue tears streamed down his eyes as he shouted, however to the creature with no emotion but hunger, this was no use.

The remaining two children screamed, but were quickly silenced, as the Adjucas laughed and said to them: "No worries now… I'll treat you well in my belly! Once you become apart of me!"

They were eaten whole, as Kazuto screamed at the Adjucas. "Damn you…! Damn you! Fuck you! You bastard! I…I will… I WILL AVENGE THEM!"

The Adjucas used sonido and instantly arrived in front of Kazuto as it said to him, bored: "I'll have some fun with this one before I eat him."

He threw Kazuto towards Asuna, as Kazuto crawled towards Asuna, his entire body on the ground, blood seeping through everywhere. His hand reached for hers… However his body was too heavy, and he soon blacked out with his own thoughts now taking over.

Why… Why was I this useless? Why can't I have more power? How, how can I put fourth my rage?

Is power what you want then? If it is, all you have to do… is say yes to yourself.

Yes… Give me power. Give me the power to defeat the Adjucas… So I can at least protect Asuna, and avenge Yuna, Basch and Yuuto.

Then so it shall be… Like Asuna, once you activate me… There is no going back, do you understand?

Yes.

You have one minute to use my power, then… It will be up to you. This is all I can do for you, Kazuto Kirigaya… Or the 'Duel Blades, Kirito' Do you accept?

For Asuna, for the cries of the Yuuto, Yuna and Basch all of which I swore to protect… I accept.

Then go… My hero… Stay Cool.

Kazuto's mind then turned white, as he blacked out, now unconscious.

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As the Adjucas headed towards both Asuna and Kazuto, it suddenly felt something. A large burst of spiritual pressure… Coming from that direction.

What in Barragan's name is that?!

As it looked, a dark demonic like aura had surrounded Kazuto. His wounds miraculously fully healed as a white substance enveloped his entire body for a split second, his eyes now with dark iris. Seemingly lifeless, as he gripped his katana.

The Adjucas took a step back instinctively, backing away from the unknown from gut feeling. "You… You… What did you become?!"

There was no response, as Kazuto used flash step so quickly, that he had cut off the Griffin Adjucas's tail.

The Adjucas squealed out in pain as he felt his tail being cut out, causing him to growl out towards Kazuto: "You… You'll pay!"

It turned around to face him as it said that, and ran at Kazuto, who looked at him with a calm, collected and unfazed look.

"Kill."

The Griffin Adjucas was confused. Kill what?

Kazuto didn't finish, as the Griffin Adjucas had leapt towards him and used Sonido to boost it's speed and power for it's attack using it's claws.

Kazuto easily dodged the frontal attack, with a mere sidestep, and then slashed down at the arm of the Griffin Adjucas, causing it to go on the ground, as purple blood came out of his arm wound as well.

"Damn you… SHINIGAMI!"

Kazuto remained stoic as the Griffin Adjucas regenerated his limbs, as it laughed out: "Your attacks are of no use! I can regenerate!"

As the Griffin Adjucas laughed, Kazuto wasted no time in delivering a slash to the Adjucas's chest, causing more blood to flow out.

As the Adjucas tried to claw Kazuto, it cursed as it felt the pain the slash Kazuto had delivered onto his chest. "Darn Shinigami… I can regenerate and I shall soon crush you!"

Kazuto remained once again stoic, as he used another flash step to appear before the Griffin Adjucas, from it's back side severing one of it's arms in the process with a clean cut.

Kazuto appeared in front of the Griffin Adjucas as if taunting him, causing the Adjucas to rage out even more, as he regenerated his arm and began a flurry of attacks, attempting to impale Kazuto in the gut.

Kazuto however was far too nimble, as he easily parried or dodged all the strikes made by the Griffin Adjucas, causing much irritation for the Adjucas, as Kazuto counterattacked as his blade's impact with the Griffin Adjucas's claws caused it to fly up.

He delivered a heavy slash onto it's torso, and followed up with a series of slashes onto the body of the hollow, even causing a crack on it's mask, causing the Adjucas to leap back instinctively as one hand was on his mask as it growled out: "Damn you… Fuck you… My mask… It's cracked! Argh! I'll… I'll kill you!"

It punched towards Kazuto as it's long claws had a circular red glow. "Taste my… Bala!" As if punching the air again and again, red blasts headed towards Kazuto.

The response was immediate from Kazuto, as he only stuck one hand in front, deflecting all of the Bala's flung at him with ease, as he continued walking towards the Adjucas.

"You… You insolent brat!" Opening it's mouth wide, as a red sphere of energy appeared in it's mouth the Adjucas laughed. "Hahaha! You won't be able to dodge my Cero at point blank, die Shinigami!"

The Cero shot across the literal point blank distances from the Griffin Adjucas to Kazuto, producing a beam of bright red flash. Kazuto's face was once again emotionless unchanged from prior, as he merely gripped his sword, lifted it up…

And slashed the beam in half, causing it to split in two different directions, hitting two distant houses, causing massive explosions, as the hollow gaped at what Kazuto did.

"Splitting my beam… Impossibl-"

His speech was interrupted as Kazuto delivered a punch to his gut, as the hollow ducked down to use his arms to cover the pain as he recovered. However, Kazuto then simply delivered a kick onto the hollow, causing it to go flying.

As the hollow flew, Kazuto followed in high speeds, slashing down not only the legs, but the arms of the Griffin Adjucas as well.

It growled in pain, as it fell onto the ground, helpless as every time it attempted to regenerate, it's arms or legs were cut off by Kazuto within a flash.

Kazuto lifted up the Griffin Adjucas, as he threw him away towards another building, allowing it to truly open it's eyes as it saw Kazuto's finger pointing at it, as a spherical red energy ball surrounded the tip of his finger.

However, all of a sudden, Kazuto collapsed, unconscious as Asuna suddenly woke up to see her lover unconscious after battling the hollow to a near victory.

"Kirito-kun!"

Her words didn't reach him, as his iris's colour cleared, his sword dropped, his spiritual pressure now back to it's normal state.

His power was gone, and it was clear to the Griffin Adjucas as it regenerated it's body parts and laughed: "Hahaha! I knew you were too weak for me. That was your trump card, your last resort. Now that, that's even gone… I shall consume you whole!"

Asuna used flash step, as she yelled out: "Not if I can help it! I made a promise to protect Kirito-kun, and I swore upon my soul to do so!"

As she attempting to conduct a multi combo strike attack on the Griffin Adjucas from behind, it simply slapped her away, causing her to fly over several buildings.

"Quiet Shinigami! I have decided to change my order, with him first! The main course shall now truly come…!"

Asuna cried out tears as she yelled out, hopelessly, powerlessly. Forced to endure her lover being soon consumed by darkness.

I'm so powerless… And now… Kirito-kun is going to die because of me!

"Please! Don't kill Kirito-kun! I'll do anything, please don't kill him!"

Asuna pleaded the hollow, despite it ignoring her. It was useless, almost as if this was the natural order of things around here.

Crystal clear tears dropped onto the ground, as she saw the hollow pick up the unconscious body of Kazuto, licking it's lips.

"After all the trouble you caused me… Even a cracked mask. It's time to enjoy a meal."

Asuna yelled out: "NOOOOO!"

"Bakudo 30, Shtotsu Sansen. [Beak-Piercing Triple Beam]."

Three yellow beams of light slammed onto the torso of the Griffin Adjucas, as it growled. "What now?! Why must so much human insects appear before me?!"

As it looked over, it saw someone with a badge on their right arm, in a black Shinigami outfit, leading a team of 6 others.

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A/n:

Please review, favourite and follow. Also, power scalings right now if you want is that both Kazuto and Asuna would probably be 3rd seat or even low tier lieutenant in their 'forms' in combat ability. The only reason why it survived, was because Kazuto didn't aim for the head. (See what I did there?)

Please remember to go onto my profile to vote for what squad should Asuna and Kazuto join! The official debut of the division they'll join is in the next chapter.

Next chapter will be presumably out by next month.