Chapter seven: Heaven Against Hell

The lotus pond in Tenkai was now crowded. The Heavenly Army was cheering with their own routine. It even included a costume; everyone was stripped to the waist and wore boxer shorts with a roaring lion at the center. Kenren and Homura were the choreographers and danced like idiots while chanting, "Go Taishi, go Taishi, go!" Kanzeon bosatsu fell off her chair while laughing hysterically, and Jirou shin was shrieking for order. In Togenkyo, however, things were much more serious.

"Zerev.." Nataku muttered, staring at the demon with narrowed eyes.

"So he's Zerev," Lei murmured to herself.

She stood up and watched the two powerful beings eye each other. The real battle was only going to begin.

Nataku and Zerev assumed the exact same stance. Then, they attacked at the exact same time.

As soon as they clashed, Zerev swung his fist at Nataku. The fighting god ducked and brought his leg to Zerev's stomach. The demon caught Nataku's leg just in time, gripped it, and then swung Nataku around and around. When he let go, Nataku was thrown away and collided with a rock wall, breaking it down. The wall collapsed onto the fighting god.

"Nataku-sama!" Lei shrieked.

She flew at Zerev and hurled her fist at him. The demon avoided it, grabbed her arm, and broke it. Lei yelled in pain and Zerev kicked her away. She knocked into a tree and lost consciousness. Zerev turned to the collapsed wall. He knew the fighting god was still fit to fight. A couple of seconds later, the rocks began to shift, and Nataku dug his way out of the rock mound. He was al dirty and his white robes were now gray. He brushed the dust off his robes and resumed his stance as if nothing happened.

Zerev licked his lips and attacked. He flew at Nataku and hurled his fist at him. Nataku missed the punch by inches, Zerev's fist whistling by past his ear. Then, leaped away and released an energy ball, but Zerev avoided it. Then, the fighting god gave a series of kicks. The demon barely avoided each one. Then, he again caught Nataku's left leg.

"Oh, no you don't," muttered Nataku.

He spun around, twisted his left leg, and swung his right foot into Zerev's face.

Now released, Nataku attacked again.

The fight went on for hours. Nataku, having been weakened before the fight with Zerev, sustained more injuries. His left ankle was sprained, his forehead was bleeding, his side was in pain because of a broken rib, and only his right eye was open because of the swelling just above his brow.

Zerev had just hit Nataku in the stomach and threw Nataku away, sending him skidding across the ground.

Nataku remained standing, but sputtered a mouthful of blood.

The fighting god gritted his teeth. It would be a bleak chance if he could ever beat Zerev in his weakened and injured state. If only he thought of conserving his energy before… There was only one choice…

Lei moaned and opened her eyes. She was feeling a terrible pain on her back, and her arm was stinging.

She looked up and saw both Zerev and Nataku, hunched and breathing heavily as they stared at each other. Nataku heard her stir and took a quick glance at her. Then, a voice spoke in Lei's mind.

Lei, get the Heaven and Earth Sutras.

The voice sounded very familiar.

"Nataku-sama?" Lei muttered.

Nataku was communicating with her telepathically.

Yes, now listen. Go get the Sutras. They're the only things we can use against Zerev. I already taught you how to use them, right? I'll show you where they are.

Show me?

Before Lei could ask anymore, a vision entered her mind. It was of an opening to a cave, somewhere in the woods at the bottom of the mountain.

You shouldn't have any trouble. Hurry, I'll try to fight while I still can.

Lei stood up slowly by pulling herself up the tree on which she leaned on. Finding it difficult to walk, she floated low toward the cave, unnoticed by Zerev, who was still busy fighting with Nataku.

Zerev looked maliciously at the badly bleeding fighting god who could hardly stand in front of him. Nataku was now very weak and was loosing blood. A few more bows and he would probably be finished.

Zerev began to form an energy ball, but Nataku just smiled. He was looking at something behind the demon. Zerev turned around and gasped.

Lei was standing behind him, unrolling the Sutras.

"Now, Lei!" Nataku ordered.

Zerev became alarmed and started toward Lei. "Noo!"

Nataku leaped up from behind and fastened his arms around Zerev's neck. The demon tried to get to Lei, but Nataku wrestled him to the ground.

"Lei, do it now!" Nataku yelled.

Lei hesitated.

"But, you might-"

"Just do it!"

Lei worriedly nodded and read the incantation.

Zerev, however, started to raise his arm to form an energy ball, but Nataku wasn't about to let him.

"Spellbind!" yelled Nataku.

But Zerev still fought against the spell. He was still capable to move slightly. Nataku's type of spell binding wasn't powerful enough for such a demon.

But then, Lei's spell started to take effect. Zerev started slowing down. Nataku, though still held on to him and made sure that he couldn't stand nor raise and arm.

Lei started to worry and contacted him telepathically.

Nataku-sama, get off him!

"Not yet… just a little more…" Nataku muttered.

Zerev forced himself to move. He began to stand up and raise his arm, but Lei was already at the last part of the incantation.

Natku-sama! Lei yelled inside her head.

Just when she thought it was too late for him to get away, Nataku kicked himself away from Zerev just before Lei yelled, "Spellbind!"

As soon as Zerev was spellbound, Lei fell to her knees, completely exhausted. She looked up to the sky with a silent joy, hardly noticing Nataku limp toward her.

"It's over…" she muttered and fainted.