Akira grasped his sword firmly as he faced his new opponent. "So, this is the reward Mortis has given you?"
"Merely one." Ridley smiled. "But more await my dutiful service."
"So your sanity wasn't enough, you traded in your very flesh as well?" Akira frowned.
"A worthy trade." Ridley smiled as his left fingers lengthened into claws. "And it suits me quite well, wouldn't you agree?"
"Revoltingly, I do." Akira nodded. "But I suppose it would make it simpler to kill you without remorse."
"And what makes you think it will be so easy?" Ridley raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
"As the saying goes…" Akira said as he readied his blade. "Nothing worth doing ever is."
Ridley grinned as he raised his own. "Touché."
"Ms. Serenity, please leave and take shelter in the underground bunker." Akira said.
"Sure thing." Serenity said as she opened the door. "Also, don't fucking die Kuran…"
"I don't plan on it." Akira nodded as shadows swirled around him, his raven wings writhing with power.
"Well, I suppose we ought not to waste any more time." Ridley smiled as his right hand now drew his own sword, his wings expanding as he brandished the claws on his left hand. At once, Akira charged at him, his sword swinging toward Ridley's head.
Ridley now lifted his blade, intercepting Akira's strike as he stabbed the claws forward. Akira's wings now folded in, blocking his strike. Immediately, Akira forced his wings open, pushing Ridley back.
"Impressive!" Ridley smiled as he skidded back. "You've grown so much more powerful in such a short time! Could it be that weapon you now hold?"
"You really believe I will answer?" Akira asked.
"Well, perhaps I shouldn't concern myself." Ridley nodded in agreement. "In war, one must pay heed to his duties, though perhaps I will indulge my master in finding out all about your newfound strength."
"You will not harm a single soul in this place." Akira growled as his eyes flashed a deeper red.
"Are you truly so certain you can stop him?" Ridley frowned. "Lord Mortis's power is so sublime. I doubt even your mother can stand against him at this rate." Akira merely gritted his teeth together as he charged again. Ridley sighed as he parried Akira's overhead slash, breaking the lock before spinning around to deliver a slash to the back of Akira's head.
Instantly, spears of darkness exploded from the wings, forcing Ridley to pull away. The spears now morphed into blades that fired out, with one nicking Ridley's cheek.
"You would be wise to not underestimate us Ridley." Akira glared as his body glowed with a slight red aura. "Least of all, do not underestimate my mother."
Vampire knights charged at him, yet they were slain with a few strikes. Those that lived long enough after the retaliatory swat only served as his food, his massive fangs draining the blood from their bodies instantly as soon as he tore into their throats. Soon, it became clear to him that the Kuran queen had ordered their withdrawal. Inevitable of course, seeing how he was currently unmatched.
Mortis strode through the devastated corridors of the castle, his Paragon form observing the carnage his Paragon beast escorts caused. While he couldn't understand the unintelligible growls and snarls from the dregs known as Wretchlings, at the very least he was glad for his control and coordination over them.
"Enough." He growled at a pair who were already starting to snarl over a dead vampire's body, their drool a sickly green colour as they slobbered like rabid dogs. "Find that idiot girl for me, now!" The Wretchlings growled as they bounded away, smashing apart all the doors and walls of the castle. Mortis groaned internally as he remembered the words Lestat had given him regarding these dregs, how he needed very specific orders to make sure they actually showed some form of intelligence.
"Check all the rooms." Mortis said to the Wretchlings. "And don't just wander off!" The Wretchlings snarled an affirmative, continuing to search every room. Any knight that stumbled upon them, they retaliated like rabid beasts.
"Now, where could you have gone?" Mortis growled as he searched in earnest. Suddenly, a screech of pain sounded. Mortis gazed down the corridor to see the entire pack of Wretchlings he brought with him lying dead on the floor. He growled as soon as he saw the assailant. "Ai Kuran."
Ai stared back with red eyes, butterfly wings sprouting from her back as she held her double-bladed scythe at bay. "So, it seems we meet face to face at last Mortis. I admit, I didn't expect you to behave so, civilized."
Mortis chuckled. "Despite my appearance, I still am a Pureblood. There needs to be some dignity in my conduct at the very least."
"Well, I suppose I shouldn't have expected less of anyone who fashions himself as the future monarch of the world." Ai glared.
"There's no need to be so snide my dear." Mortis replied. "After all, I am merely correcting the course of this world."
"And pray tell, what needs correcting?" Ai asked.
"Everything of course." Mortis smiled. "Surely you have seen it during these past centuries. This concept of coexistence and peace is naught but a delusion created by those too weak to see the true nature of this world. Millennia ago, we vampires were the pinnacle of power and strength. We were destined to rule this world, to own it."
"And that is where I must disagree." Ai said. "This country that I have lived in since my birth, this town that I call my home is a place where humans and vampires become near indistinguishable. It is proof that coexistence isn't a dream, that it can be possible so long as we give our all to it."
"And I will not hesitate to stand against all who oppose it." Ai now twirled the scythe as she crouched slightly. "I know not what powers you possess, but I will not go down without a fight!"
"Well then." Mortis chuckled. "It seems the time for talking is over." He lengthened out his claws as his wings stretched slightly.
After a brief moment, the two charged at each other instantly. Mortis swiped downward at Ai's head, only for his claws to meet a swarm of butterflies and instead slice through the floorboards. He turned as Ai reformed her body above him, her scythe blade swinging down and slicing through his cheek.
Ai frowned as she felt the impact. Despite scoring a hit, his black, leathery skin felt something akin to plate armour. Instantly, she twirled away, avoiding a slash from Mortis. Ai now gathered fire in her hands, the ethereal flames streaming toward her opponent and engulfing him. Mortis snarled as the fire burned his skin, though his hyper-regeneration prevented any further damage.
Seems like killing him won't be easy. Ai thought. As expected of Project Paragon… Instantly, she sprouted her wings and flew backwards. However, Mortis thrust his arms forward, and a burst of wind blasted forward. Ai gritted her teeth as the winds sliced right through her. She skidded backwards on her feet as her blood dripped onto the carpet.
"Almost fascinating." Mortis smiled as he looked at his own hands. "I haven't had any opportunity to test my new powers, far too many die before I can get to doing so. So dear Ai, indulge my curiosity, won't you?"
Ai watched as her wounds healed. The air around her trembled as she slowly let loose the restraints on the power she had been born with. She stood up, twirling her scythe as she once more gazed at Mortis's monstrous form. "Be careful of what you wish for."
Crap! Ichigo ducked as soon as he saw the flash of the sword. Rolling on the ground, he got to his feet before squeezing off two rounds. Arthur merely deflected the bullets, his movements appearing as but a blur to Ichigo.
"Nice moves." Ichigo remarked. "You seem more dangerous than any vampire I've met."
"I suppose I will accept that as a compliment." Arthur nodded as he dashed in, delivering a slash at Ichigo's head that the boy dodged narrowly. Ichigo fired Havoc rapidly, but Arthur blocked every shot expertly while still keeping up with Ichigo, pressuring him with a flurry of slashes.
Damn, this guy is tough! Ichigo thought. Guess he's not the First Executor for nothing. He mantled over a destroyed stone wall, tossing a grenade behind him as he did. The grenade exploded, smoke billowing everywhere. Ichigo ran through the rubble of the buildings, hoping at the very least it served a good distraction for the Executor.
"Shit…" Ichigo growled as he ran through the scenarios in his head. No matter what, he had no chance of beating Arthur at this point. "Guess I have no choice but to make this a game of cat and mouse, and I am the mouse. How funny." Ichigo now reloaded, gritting his teeth as he attempted to think of a plan.
"Ok. How the hell do I fight a guy that can deflect bullets like those stinking comic book characters?" He stayed silent for a moment before saying: "Why the hell did I even say that shit?"
"Damn it, focus." Ichigo breathed. "I have to at least keep him away from the castle until reinforcements get here. But how in the hell do I do that?"
"Are you intending to fight in any way?" Came a voice directly above him. Ichigo turned upward in time to see the gleam of a sword. Quickly, he kicked away as the sword flashed in his vision as his cheek felt a searing pain. He tumbled across the ground and put his feet under him, watching as two droplets of blood dripped to the ground.
Ichigo rubbed the blood from his cheek. As expected, his wound wasn't quite regenerating. "Okay, how the hell did he find me through that entire smokescreen?"
"Was that it?" Arthur asked. "Terribly disappointing."
"Well then, maybe try this on for size." Ichigo said as he tossed another grenade-like object. Expertly, he drew Havoc and fired. Arthur blocked every shot, but Ichigo wasn't aiming at him. The explosive round hit the blaze grenade, causing it to blow and engulf Arthur in fire.
"Alright. Time to put more distance between us." Ichigo huffed as he ran away from the burning figure of the First Executor. Hoping to lose him, he went through the wreckage of various buildings, expertly mantling over or sliding under the rubble and broken walls, dashing through different streets as fast as he could.
"Okay, hopefully I lost him." Ichigo said as he reloaded. "Now, how else do I make him stay here for just a while longer while staying alive at the same time? Guy looks tougher than-" Ichigo barely finished before the wall behind him exploded, flinging him a few metres across cobblestone.
"Oh you are kidding me right?" Ichigo groaned as he got up to his feet, huffing as he brushed the shards of stone from his face. Before him, Arthur walked forward, his entire form still unblemished despite all Ichigo did to him. "How in the hell do I hurt you?"
Akira gritted his teeth as a claw nicked his shoulder and a shadow spike struck his thigh. Despite Ridley's new monstrous capabilities, it seemed he was as strong as ever and he had definitely not neglected his training.
"How exciting Akira!" Ridley smiled despite the wounds he had gotten. "I never knew how exhilarating it would be to have you as my opponent! You truly deserve the titles bestowed upon you."
"Just keep smiling Ridley." Akira said. "I will rip your heart out and cast it into the flames of destruction, mark my words."
"How violent." Ridley sniggered. "Can't we simply converse like gentlemen?"
"Talk is wasted on you." Akira hissed as he summoned forth a swarm of shadow ravens. The creatures collided into Ridley, striking his flesh. Akira focused even more, the ravens now forming into barbed chains that wrapped around him.
Ridley grunted as the shadow constructs cut into him. However, his pained gasps gave way to laughter. "Well, I haven't been this pressed in a long time. Perhaps I should have engaged you in combat far sooner. I might have learned more then."
"A regret you won't be able to rectify any further." Akira said as he put more power into the chains.
"Oh." Ridley smiled. "I disagree." He now grunted, his voice becoming more guttural as his body trembled. Akira now watched as the wings sprouted out of his back and his face took on a more bat-like visage. His muscles bulged under his clothes as his fingers became talons and his teeth lengthened into fangs. With a grunt, he forced his arms out, breaking the chains Akira had summoned. "Now then, let us continue, shall we?"
"Bring it on." Akira said as he telekinetically started to lift the cobblestones and rubble all around. "I swear that you will die here and now." The air trembled as he poured forth more and more of his power, his sword now glowing with a faint red aura.
And then instantly, it vanished. What? Akira blinked as he fell to his knees, his power dissipating.
James blinked for a while before he gave a monstrous smile. "Well, it would appear I will be living for a while longer." Drawing his arm up, he slammed into the ground. Instantly, a bed of dark spikes struck Akira from below.
The corridors exploded as they clashed, Pureblood against Pureblood monster. Ai dreaded how much remodeling would be required when all this was over.
Still, she supposed such complaints will have to be saved for later. Mortis was no easy foe, and his stamina in facing her deserved praise. A blade of wind now lashed at her head, causing her to arch backwards to avoid it. Taking her body into a spin, she threw her weapon at him, Diana slicing through the walls as if they were paper. Mortis merely raised his hand, catching the weapon in his clawed fingers. However, Ai took that opportunity to unleash a massive amount of butterflies at him. Mortis grunted at the full force of her assault, swatting away the butterflies that bit into his face.
As soon as they were gone, he looked up to see Ai charge up to him and deal a powerful kick straight to his abdomen. Although he staggered from the blow, he reached out and grabbed her ankle, thereby proceeding to throw her over his shoulder. Ai smashed through the floorboards and down through to the floor below. As she tried to recover, Mortis pounced down on her, his claws slicing into her stomach.
"Ghh! Hhrrrrgh!" Ai grunted as her dress was further stained with blood. She looked to the door on her left and focused, using her memory and strength to reach out for the object within the room.
Through the wall, the grand piano crashed through and knocked Mortis off. While it wasn't enough to hurt him, it did work in removing his pin upon her. Ai now focused her telekinetic powers on Diana, and the scythe immediately floated up from above and down on Mortis, embedding itself into his neck.
Mortis howled as the sigils on the weapon immediately took effect, the energy within now directly attacking his body with some of the most powerful Hunter magic in existence. Ai clapped her hands together, drawing flames from them as she now reached up and clasped the tang of the scythe, the flames now spreading down toward the blade. Her nose wrinkled as she picked up the scent or Mortis's burning flesh and his roars became more guttural. The fire now spread across his whole body as Ai forcibly removed the blade, carving a deep gouge into his shoulder and causing his blood to spurt everywhere.
She now summoned hundreds of her shadow familiars around her, the butterflies coalescing into a clawed gauntlet on her hand. With as much strength as she could muster, she delivered a punch right into his face, smashing him through a few walls.
Ai stared ahead with red eyes as she observed the damage that had been done, convinced that Mortis was still alive, and most likely not as wounded as it seemed.
True to her expectations, she heard a cackle amidst the rubble as Mortis stood up, his wounds already healing. "You should know, I am invulnerable."
"I've seen plenty of things Mortis." Ai said. "But even vampires are not immune to death."
"Until now." Mortis smiled through his bestial face. "I have tested everything that could be considered lethal to vampires, even those annoying Hunter weapons. None have been able to harm me at all!" He now gestured to his shoulder that had already mended itself, as if nothing had happened. "Once, I was on death's door. But now, I truly am immortal! All in this world will submit to its true masters, and I will be the one to rule all!"
"A delusion of the most epic proportions." Ai growled. "We vampires were not meant to stand at the pinnacle of this world."
"Perhaps it is you who are living in a delusion." Mortis retorted. "The powers we vampires have defy human comprehension! And with Project Paragon, we now defy even death! None shall stop me!"
"Everyone has a weakness Mortis." Ai replied. "And I am certain that your Paragon body still possesses a chink in its armor. I will find it, and I will end you." She twirled her weapon again, poised to fight.
Mortis growled at her defiance as shadows swirled all around him. "Tell me Ai, has that worthless granddaughter of mine told you the title I was known by?"
Ai frowned as she recalled the words, watching as the shadows around him seemed to grow even larger.
"Perhaps now you should know, why I am known as the Death Lord." Mortis breathed.