Hello everyone! This is the start of a new chapter! Chapter 10! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
Takuto appeared in front of them to confront Leon.
" What are you doing?" Takuto questioned
" It's simple. You people aren't the leaders that Cray needs. That person is me alone, Leon Souryu!" Leon declared
" Leon-kun?"
" The wind doesn't blow on you. You're not taking one more step. The final stage ends here!" Leon announced
" Weren't you listening? The final stage is a fight to free Cray!" Kamui exclaimed
" Unfortunately, my true reason for participating in the Vanguard Fight Circuit was to thwart your plan. The Souryu people are going to regain their power and reign over tThe world. For that grand purpose, Royal Paladin, Kagero, and Shadow Paladin must be sacrificed, sealed away for eternity." Leon said
" You made a deal with them?" Takuto ask
" That's right. By drawing on their power, Aqua Force will come back." Leon said
" What does that mean?" Misaki ask
" Leon Souryu offered them Royal Paladin, Kagero, and Shadow Paladin in exchange for bringing back Aqua Force." Takuto explained
" Leon-kun sold Royal Paladin and the others to the enemy?" Aichi gasped
" Whether you did it to save your own clan or not, by selling off other clans, you've betrayed all clans... all fighters!" Takuto exclaimed
" How dare you?! You're the one who used all of us when it was convenient to you, Takuto Tatsunagi! I refuse to be your pawn!" Leon growled as black mist surrounded him
" Not only the return of Aqua Force, but your own body...!" Takuto exclaimed
" My ancient clan... resurrect Aqua Force. In order for the Souryu people to once more become the supreme rulers of the world, I'm willing to make any sacrifice." Leon continued
" I won't let you!" Takuto said and his Psyqualia glowed in his eyes
" It's wind is blowing on me. Don't for one minute think Cray's warriors can stop me when they've been stripped of their power!" Leon said
Black mist surrounded Takuto as he collapsed on the floor and they ran to help him.
" What just happened, Brother?!" Kamui asked
" I don't know..." Aichi said
" He must... be stopped..." Takuto grunted
Then, without warning, Aichi's head started to hurt as dark voices started pounding in his head while he gripped it.
" Brother!"
Kill him!
He's a nuisance!
Eliminate!
Rid him of this world!
Aichi barely got his eyes open during this as he saw black mist starting to form into sinister forms. In his shirt, the beads shook violently.
" ... Zenki! Goki!"
As soon as they were called, the Onis went into their Oversoul forms, blocking and slicing the incoming black mist before assuming guarding positions in front of them.
" W-What?!"
" What are they?!" Misaki exclaimed
" They can see them...?!" Kai exclaimed
" Kai?"
Kai was about to open his mouth again when Aichi suddenly started spewing out a familiar aura from his body.
" Aichi!"
He immediately ran over to him to hold him close before he could start screaming in pain, calming him down by cupping his hands over Aichi's ears again.
" For someone who can read the hearts and emotions of anyone and anything, this power must be painful." Leon smirked
" Leon Souryu...!"
" What did he say?" Ren questioned
" Those are strong spirits. I can see why he can control too. So... I'll have to eliminate him too." Leon said
Kai's eyes widened as black mist slithered through Zenki and Goki's defenses. In an immediate reaction to protect Aichi, Kai integrated Ophy in his pendant to use a snake arm to shield him from the black mist.
" No, you don't!" Kai yelled
" Brother!"
" You too?" Leon said
He nodded to Sharlene as she brought out a small radio in her pocket. Music started playing as they turned to it.
" What's that racket?!" Ali exclaimed
" Unpleasant!" Lee exclaimed
Kai gasped after looking down as he saw his Oversoul dissolving and looked up to see Ophy being ascended.
" Ophy!"
" Your spirit won't be able to fight anymore." Leon said
" Gh...! Zenki, save him...!" Aichi ordered
Zenki leaped up into the air and grabbed Ophy to stop him from ascending as Leon smirked. While Goki was preoccupied with knocking away black mist, a hand grabbed Aichi from Kai as he was thrown back.
" Kai!"
" Don't bother about me...!" Kai exclaimed
Their eyes widened again as they saw the hand being traced back to a giant water spirit behind Leon.
" Aichi!"
" What's that?!" Kamui exclaimed
" I'll make this quick. Poseidon, change to the fire element." Leon said as the water spirit started turning red, " Burn."
The others could only look on in shock as Aichi was burned up in flames. Upon releasing, his charred body fell limply to the ground as black mist picked up around them.
" I won't use this against non-Shaman. Enjoy whatever peace you have left and if you're smart enough, follow the wind of justice." Leon said
Before they knew it, they were blown away by the black mist. A few moments later, Kai opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by black mist. Misaki and Kamui were the next to rouse.
" ... Aichi...?!"
Kai immediately started looking around for him as he stood up to run to Aichi's charred body.
" Aichi! Aichi!"
" That Leon... to Brother..." Kamui exclaimed
" There's no hospital or doctor here... not in this space..." Misaki exclaimed
" This can't..."
Suddenly, Shamash turned into its Oversoul form as it used the book medium it had in its hands.
" Shamash?"
An iron maiden appeared before them as it opened up. Instead of spikes, vines were inside as the vines extended to grab Aichi and enclose him in the iron maiden.
" Shamash, just what are you...?!" Kai exclaimed before being stopped by Zenki and Goki, " Move!"
" Kai, just stop. Shamash is doing its work." Ophy said
" Ophy!"
" Well, you know Shamash's power, right? It can heal wounds. The kid's still alive, but was barely breathing. The proof is that Shamash was able to use its powers. It can't use them without its master's furyoku." Ophy said
" But..."
" You're a Shaman too, so you can sense another's furyoku. Concentrate and feel his furyoku." Ophy said
Kai looked at the iron maiden and closed his eyes, finally feeling Aichi's familiar warm furyoku flowing inside the iron maiden before opening his eyes in relief.
" But it's too early to celebrate. Once that guy finds out he's still alive, he'll come after him again. This will be a trying period for him. Zenki and Goki cannot risk getting their Oversouls destroyed or it'll drain his furyoku, so they are going to have to preserve their strength and fight carefully. So right now, only the both of us can fight off Leon Souryu and his spirit." Ophy said
" But our Oversoul... my current medium can't..." Kai said
" Kai. I know you've tried for a long time, but now is different. You have to think very carefully. Your parents did leave you with something, it was so important that you carry it around with you even when you are unaware. You're just blocking it out, but your body remembers it." Ophy said
" Toshiki. Ophy is your Guardian Spirit from now, so as congratulations, this is for you."" What is it?"" Wear this and when you grow up to have something you have to protect no matter what, it'll become useful to you."
The words of his late mother and father resounded in his memories as Kai looked down at the belt buckle he wore every day after getting into high school. He removed the design cover of the buckle and inspected it. Then he noticed it, a latch to a secret pocket of the buckle. He unlocked latch and it dropped out a small whistle. He clipped his belt buckle again as he inspected the whistle that had the snake pattern imbedded onto it.
" Ophy, is this...?"
" To tell the truth, I was passed onto some young lads from other generations and ended up with your parents. My original owner used this to play with me when I was still alive. This was the medium you needed, Kai. With the combined techniques of the Chou Senji Rakketsu you've learned, protect everything you have to protect." Ophy said
" ... Right."
The others started to rouse at that time as Kai tried to push the iron maiden towards them, but he couldn't as he was immediately blocked by Zenki's axe.
" What's your problem?!" Kai exclaimed
" I don't think he wants you to touch it." Ophy said
" Why?! And why is it only you that has a problem with me?!" Kai ask
" You really wanna ask...?" Ophy muttered
" What's wrong, Kai?" Ren ask, walking over to him
" Uh, well..."
" ... They're huge though... How did we not see them before this?" Ren wondered
" I would like to know that too." Kai said
" Must be this space. Cray is a planet where things that don't exist on Earth, exists. Us spirits must be the same so since we're in this border of space separating the two worlds, we become visible to humans." Ophy said
" Oh..."
" Oh, that's cool! A talking snake!" Ren exclaimed
" You're sure relaxed." Kai said
" Well, yeah. I was panicking before but knowing that Aichi-kun's safe, I'm relieved." Ren said
" How do you know that?" Kai ask
" Psyqualia does things, you know? I can sense Aichi-kun's Psyqualia, as strong as ever." Ren said
" I see..."
" So he's inside?" Ren ask
" Yeah. He'll be able to heal his wounds inside there." Kai replied
" ... Now, Takuto-kun wants to talk to us so let's head over. These two strong, big boys can handle this." Ren said
Kai sighed as they walked over to Takuto and stood in front of him.
" Explain what's happening." Kai said
" It seems that Leon's newfound power has destabilized this space and merged the two worlds of Cray and Earth." Takuto said
" You aren't the one who sealed away the three clans, are you?" Ren ask
" The thing that captured Royal Paladin and the others, that gave Leon power... Its name is Void. It's a nihilistic power." Takuto explained, grunting as he leaned on the rock behind him, " It's Cray's greatest enemy. It's said to have no physical form, existing only as a will. And its power is immeasurable. Void is what sealed Aqua Force long, long ago. But none of the clans have ever been able to help Aqua Force. And now Void has sealed away Royal Paladin and two other clans. "
" Is Void more powerful than before?" Misaki ask
" Yes. But so are the clans. The clans have any years of training, so if they join forces, they should be able to save Royal Paladin and the other clans. That's why... I manipulated all of your memories and switched Gold Paladin and Narukami with the clans that were sealed away. You see, a fighter's ability to lead a clan will be necessary for battling Void." Takuto continued
" Manipulated memories..."
" Fighter's ability...?"
" I gave you new clans, made you compete in the Vanguard Fight Circuit, even encouraged you to level up, all to free Cray." Takuto said
" You used us. You used us as pawns..." Chris said
" That's correct... But using all of you has led to this. Now the only thing I can do is put my trust in you. My power has been weakened because of Void. While I still have power, I'll restore all of your memories." Takuto said
His Psyqualia glowed in his eyes as their memories with the three clans were given back to them.
" That's right... Brother Aichi originally used Royal Paladin..." Kamui recalled
" I can't believe I'd forgotten all this time..." Misaki said
" You must hate me for manipulating your memories and using you as pawns." Takuto said
" No." A voice interjected as they turned to the iron maiden, " Just the opposite: I'm grateful to you."
" Grateful?" Takuto repeated
" You gave me a way to help Blaster Blade. And more than anything, you introduced to me Gold Paladin. With them, I'll free Cray and help Blaster Blade!" Aichi said
" Aichi! You should be resting!" Kai exclaimed
" I'm properly resting. Shamash allowed me to speak from my mind." Aichi said
" Properly resting means that you shouldn't even be speaking to us like that either!" Ren said
Aichi went silent at that as some of the others shook their heads before turning back to Takuto as he nodded to continue.
" Void... A fearsome power of emptiness... Right now, emptiness has invaded half of Cray's land... No sound can be heard there, no light reaches through... Nothing moves, and everything is enveloped in silence." Takuto explained
" That's Void..."
" The power of emptiness has begun to move from Cray to this space. And when the emptiness has filled this space, It'll be destroyed and the emptiness will move on to Earth!" Takuto exclaimed
" Earth?!" Kamui exclaimed
" The tragedy that once befell the Souryu people will happen to the entire Earth. The land will rot. The seas will dry up. All of Earth's blessings will be lost. All life will be robbed the will to live. Earth will become a planet of death." Takuto continued
" That'll happen to Earth...? We can't let it!" Lee said
" What should we do?" Misaki ask
" The only thing you can do to stop Void is to beat Leon Souryu... No one but the Vanguard Fight winners can exist in this space." Takuto said
" You mean if we win, it'll be possible to send Leon back to Earth?" Kai ask
" However, it works the opposite way, too. If you lose in a Vanguard Fight, you won't be able to stay in this space either." Takuto warned
" In other words, if we lose, Earth will..." Kamui trailed off
" Leon Souryu may think he's using Void, but its power is vast. He can't control it completely. And Leon's ambition has made him lose his cool-headed judgement. At this rate, everything will be controlled by Void... If he isn't stopped, both Cray and Earth will come to an end. Quickly, go to him..." Takuto said
" But how can we find him?" Misaki ask
" Psyqualia... You should be able to sense Leon's Psyqualia..." Takuto said
" Psyqualia..."
Ren and Chris concentrated as they soon turned into a similar direction and nodded to the others.
" Go. Cray is in your hands." Takuto said
" Right! Let's go, everyone!" Ren said
" Yeah!"
They started walking after that. Thankfully for Kai, he could start pushing the iron maiden Aichi was in with them.
" Brother, are you okay?" Kamui ask
" Yeah. My body is slowly recovering from the wounds." Aichi replied
" Don't you feel tired?" Ren ask
" My body, maybe. I'm just talking to everyone with my mind. My body is actually asleep, but I can still hear everyone." Aichi said
" I can't imagine being inside this cramped thing..." Kai said
" I read that the Shamash's original Shaman, Iron Maiden Jeanne actually enclosed herself in an iron maiden too, just that it was filled with spikes like the original device. This current iron maiden is just brought out by Shamash's powers, so it can change it however it likes." Aichi said
" What...?"
" Anyway, we need to hurry and get to Leon-kun. The space will fall apart if we continue to let him do this." Aichi said
" Right."
" Ren, how long more do we have before we arrive?" Kai ask
" Hm... Still a little ways away. Furthermore, the visibility is getting worse here." Ren replied
" Yeah..."
" It's okay. We'll make it, but that means we have to move faster. Let Zenki or Goki take over to push me, Kai-kun." Aichi said
" It won't make much difference." Kai said
" But we have to be able to move faster." Aichi said
" Maybe, but it's fine. I don't need them to take over." Kai said
Aichi just sighed as they continued walking, but soon stopped.
" ... Man, I lost the signal." Ren huffed
" Me too."
" Huh?! But we need to hurry and save Earth!" Kamui exclaimed
" I can try to locate him." Ophy said
" No. They almost forced you to ascend, that music is a chant that sends spirits to the other world." Kai said
" Right... We can't have Zenki and Goki leave his side either..." Ophy said
" ... Huh...?"
" Aichi?"
Suddenly, the sky shone in a single light as it floated down in front of Aichi and they gasped.
" Blaster Blade?!"
The light then shot out a beam in a direction before moving through and into the iron maiden.
" ... Blaster Blade is helping us. Let's follow the direction he pointed to." Aichi said
" Right!"
" Hm... Okay, I'm curious. Spirits and all that aside, what did Leon-kun mean by being able to read the heart and minds of others?" Ren ask
" Uh... Well..."
" ... From young, Aichi had been able to hear thoughts of other people and is sensitive to human emotions and desires. But it rarely happens to other Shamans..." Kai explained
" Ain't that cool?" Kamui ask
" Miwa said the same thing the first time." Kai said before shaking his head, " But it's not a good thing. Do you even know the condition that activates that power?"
" Uh... No?"
" It's when a Shaman is constantly in a state of loneliness and rejection. Negative emotions pile up because of this and it becomes the power Aichi has. Because of this, he mostly hears negative emotions of people around and the effect of this would summon powerful Onis that seek to destroy." Kai said
" O-Oh..."
" It had became better for quite awhile now. But Void is a power filled with negative emotions and thoughts, so it was worse than before." Aichi said
" Then the breakdown during Nationals..." Misaki exclaimed
" Yeah, it was due to this power too. So I get nervous around too many people, since I risk summoning something dangerous uncontrollably." Aichi said
" You guys would've never known anyway. The existence of Shamans are rarely known nowadays but there are still descendants of Shamans around. It's just that in this time period, we never need to fight." Kai said
After that, the walk was just silent as they continued down the path that they sense the nihilistic power's strongest signal is coming from.
" We're arriving." Chris informed
They got themselves ready as the black mist started parting away and they saw Leon and the twins beyond it.
" So, you're all here." Leon said
" Leon Souryu!"
Leon's eyes then landed on the iron maiden as he smirked.
" Oh? I thought he died from his wounds by now." Leon said
" You're not going to hurt Aichi again! I'll stop you this time!" Kai declared
" Bold of you to declare that. Your spirit will be sent to the other world again if you get careless." Leon said
" No, this time will be different. Let's see what your spirit can do against my Oversoul!" Kai said as he took out the whistle, " You ready, Ophy?"
" I should say the same thing to you." Ophy said
Kai smirked as Ophy went into spirit ball mode and Kai integrated him into the whistle. The sky started flashing as a giant black slithering body descended from it.
" That's..."
" Oversoul... Ophiuchus Hydra!" Kai called
Ophy's three heads emerged from the crowd as he hissed at Leon's spirit that had appeared as well.
" In such a short time?! An Oversoul like that..." Leon exclaimed
" I'll defeat you in one strike, Leon Souryu!" Kai declared
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!