Vandread Fanfic - Slayer of God Duology Part 2: Together Forever
Chapter 11 - Realization
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi
Strike on, ride on, ride on my own
Hurry up and move into the streamin'
Strike on, ride on, ride on my own
Screamin' to the mountain high
Hurry up and move into beat
Strike and bang it down
Strike On by Move
Aya woke up from her sleep, gasping for breath. Her heart tells her something has happened. She uttered a name.
"Anton..."
She slipped out of the bed and left her room.
Aya entered the bridge where her father Rick was there with BC and Magno. Rick looked up at her.
"Aya? What's wrong?"
"Any news from Anton?"
"Unfortunately, no. It's been more than 12 hours. He should've returned by now." BC replied.
"Maybe he's gathering extra info on the enemy." Rick suggested, trying not to upset his daughter.
"We're receiving a transmission." One of the crew said.
"From where?" BC asked.
"An unknown signal. Probably the enemy."
Magno grinned.
"Interesting. Put it up on screen."
A shadowy figure appeared on the screen. His eyes were emitting a ghastly white glow.
"GREETINGS. I AM DEUS. RULER OF THE EARTH."
Rick was shocked to the core when he heard that name.
"What do you want?" Magno asked.
"THE SLAYER OF GOD. I WANT THE SLAYER OF GOD."
Rick stepped forward.
"I am The Slayer of God. What do you want from me?"
"YOU AND I ARE TO END THIS BATTLE ONCE AND FOR ALL."
"End this battle? Like, one on one?"
"THAT IS TRUE."
"What if I refuse?"
"THEN HE WILL DIE."
To everyone's shock, Anton appeared on the screen. Some tentacle creature tied both his hands and legs. He barely opened his eyes.
"Don't...it's...a...trap..."
"SLIENCE!"
Deus punched Anton in the chest repeatedly. Aya couldn't bear to watch the scene. She hugged his father tight. No longer stand the
beating, Rick shouted,
"DAMN YOU! I'LL ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE! AND I'LL BEAT YOU TO A PULP. YOU BASTARD!"
Deus stopped beating Anton after he heard Rick's reply.
"THAT'S IT. HEAD FOR EARTH AND YOU'LL FIND AN ASTEROID THAT'S BEEN MODIFIED INTO A BATTLE ARENA. THAT WILL BE OUR PLAYGROUND."
"Got it. In return, you'll set him free."
"HO. I PROMISE."
Then, the transmission ended. Aya looked at Rick.
"Dad..."
"I have to go, Aya. I'll free Anton even if it's a trap."
Meia searched for Rick everywhere. She finally found him at the hangar, meditating himself with his sword cradled in his lap. He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Meia?"
"Rick, is it true? Is it true that you're gonna help Anton?"
"Yeah. I have no choice. Deus wants me. And I want my daughter to be happy."
Meia started to cry and hugged him tight.
"What about me? You're leaving us?"
Rick smiled and kissed her head softly.
"Of course not. I'll be back after all this ends."
Meia looked up at him.
"Promise?"
"I promise. I promise you..."
Meia, Axel, Aya, Erick, Hibiki, Dita, Jura and Barnette were at the hangar to see Rick off for Earth. Aya approached his father.
"Dad, please don't go. It maybe a trap."
Rick smiled.
"What about Anton?"
"I...I..."
"Aya, a father will do everything in his power to make his daughter happy. Someday, you will realize it..."
"Dad..."
Aya cried on his chest.
"There, there...umm?"
Rick saw Axel approached him. He released Aya and kneeled before his son.
"I'll be going now. Take care, okay?"
Axel didn't respond. He wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to it.
"What's wrong?"
Meia smiled.
"I know. You want your father to hold you, isn't it?"
Axel nodded. Rick grinned.
"Is that so? Why don't you say it earlier? Come, let me hold you."
Rick picked him up and hugged him tight. Axel whispered in his ear,
"I forgive you, dad..."
Rick almost cried when he heard those words.
"Thank you, son. I know you're a strong person. Just like your mom."
"Dad, don't go. I don't want you to go."
"Axel, be strong. That's all I can say..."
Rick put down Axel and looked at everyone else. Dita was crying while Hibiki tried to console her. Erick just stood there, with his eyes closed with Barnette holding his hand. Jura was standing beside the couple, looking a bit jealous.
"I better be going now, everyone."
"You better get back here quickly." Hibiki said.
"Yeah. Will do, kid."
Rick was about to jumped into his Vanguard X when Erick called him.
"Hey, Rick."
"Yeah?"
Erick suddenly held Rick by his shoulder. Rick felt an energy surging inside him.
"What the hell..."
"Shut up. I'm giving all my powers to you. You can beat up Deus this way."
"Erick, if you do that, you'll..."
"I know. I'll lose all my powers. But it wasn't mine anyway. It was yours all along."
Erick released his grip and breathed heavily.
"You're okay?" Barnette asked.
"Yeah. I'll be fine."
Rick could feel his energy surging inside him, just waiting to be unleashed.
"Thanks, Erick."
"Shut up. Just get going, will ya?"
The time finally comes. Rick approached Earth and saw a huge arena that was made out from an asteroid. A few enemy fighters signaled him to follow them. He arrived at the asteroid and saw Anton's half-broken Vanguard. Stood behind it was a gigantic robot. Then, a dark figure with white hair appeared. It's Deus.
"STEP OUT OF THE VANGUARD, SLAYER OF GOD. THIS ARENA HAS OXYGEN AND WAS PROTECTED BY AN INVISIBLE BARRIER."
Reluctantly, Rick jumped out of Vanguard X.
"I'm here. Where's Anton?"
"HE'S IN THE VANGUARD. YOU MAY GET HIM OUT OF HERE."
Rick opened the hatch and saw Anton inside. He's incredibly weakened after his ordeal. He lifted his head up.
"Master Xero...don't..."
"Shut up. I'm getting you out."
Rick shouldered Anton and walked towards Vanguard X.
"It's a trap..."
"I know. That's why I should at least get you out."
"Why..?"
"I do it for my daughter. You do know that she likes you a lot, don't you?"
"I...yes, I do."
Rick put Anton inside Vanguard X and looked at him sadly and said,
"Don't you ever make her cry."
Anton knew what Rick intended to do but he was too weak to prevent it.
"No, Master Xero! Please don't!"
Rick smiled and said to Vanguard X.
"Okay, buddy. Take him back to Nirvana. I don't care how. Just make sure he's safe."
It hummed. Rick smiled.
"Yeah. You have the license to kill."
With that, the Vanguard activated itself and left the asteroid. Tears flowed from Anton's eyes.
"Master Xero..."
"Anton was confirmed inside the white Vanguard X." One of the bridge crew informed.
"Wait. There's a few more signals. It's the enemy. And they're attacking Anton!" Ezra exclaimed.
BC grinned.
"They've been planning this all along. With Rick out of the way, our strength is reduced by half."
Suddenly Erick appeared on the screen.
"Half? Is he THAT important? We still have a bunch of good fighters here. We're gonna win this one."
BC smiled.
"That's right. Go out there and show us what you have."
"Yes ma'am."
After Anton left in the Vanguard X, Rick turned to Deus. Deus grinned and signaled his minions to leave him.
"COME, SLAYER OF GOD. LET'S FINISH WHAT MY BROTHER STARTED."
Rick smiled and took of his coat.
"You've been waiting this moment for a long time, aren't you? Okay, let's end this."
He then unsheathed his sword and it radiates brightly, illuminating the entire area.
Deus smiled.
"THE SWORD OF THE SLAYER. I'LL USE DEUS EX THEN."
Suddenly, a black sword appeared in his hand. The blade generates a wispy black smoke and carved upon it was the word 'FROM GOD'.
Rick realized that this is not an ordinary weapon.
"PREPARE TO DIE BY MY SWORD, SLAYER OF GOD."
With that, Deus leapt at Rick, intending to land the first blow.
The white Vanguard X finally arrived at Nirvana and Erick helped Anton out of the cockpit. Aya ran towards Anton.
"Anton! You're okay?"
"Miss...Aya...your father..." he tried to reply. Then, he went unconscious.
Erick checked his breathing.
"Don't worry. He just needs some rest."
"My father. What about him?"
Erick was hesitant to reply and he finally said,
"Your father...he wants to sacrifice himself..."
Aya went on her knees when she heard Erick's words. She started to cry.
"No...no...dad..."
The white Vanguard X hummed loudly. It then launched itself into space. Erick smiled.
"Heh. It wants to help your dad. Well, I've gotta go to. Take care of him, okay?"
"Boss, Anton has returned safely. He's at the medical room right now." BC informed Magno after receiving the report from Duero.
"Hm. The battle is getting more intense, I see. But there are simply too many of them..."
Surprised, BC looked at Magno.
"Boss..."
"I know it's a negative thought. But we have to look at the facts."
BC gave a nod.
"But we'll never give up. That's for sure."
Magno smiled.
Suddenly, a bridge crew said,
"We're receiving a transmission."
"Who's it from?" BC asked.
"It's Varoa!"
"Varoa? Put her through."
Then, a short haired female appeared on the screen. She's wearing a Mejale military uniform. She's a former pilot of the well known 'Female Pirates'.
"Boss it's been a while."
Magno grinned.
"You've come to help?"
Varoa gave a nod.
"Yes. Other battle ships from Tarark and Mejale will arrive shortly."
"Ho...they decided to help us?"
"Yes. With the influence from both Grandma and Grandpa, both Tarark and Mejale reversed their decision and decided to help Nirvana."
Suddenly, Hibiki appeared on the screen.
"It's about time to! We're having a hard time here!"
Magno smiled.
"Heh. So be it. Varoa, assist them with all you can muster."
Varoa did a military salute.
"I will do my best!"
The battle was evenly matched after both Tarark and Mejale joined to help Nirvana. However, they still have to deal with more than a hundred of the enemy's mother ship.
"Shoot! At this rate, we'll never win! Hey, let's do it!" Hibiki shouted.
"Yes!" Dita replied.
"It's been a long time..." Jura muttered.
"Yeah. Let's form the Super Vandread." Meia said.
"Vandread Pyoro!" Pyoro shouted from Jura's lap.
"That's a very, very ugly name." Jura replied.
With that, the four broke free from their opponents and formed a white Vandread. Hibiki grinned.
"Heh. Now we'll see who'll get bashed."
"Hibiki-kun, we still have to be careful." said Dita who was sitting in his lap.
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
"Uh...how's the control works again?" Jura asked as she simply tapped the buttons on the screen.
"Hey! Don't just simply pushing around!" Pyoro, who was at the console complained.
Meia looked at the battle arena and saw Rick and Deus were still at each other. Suddenly, a worrisome thought crossed her mind.
"Rick..."
Suddenly Erick appeared on the screen. He's fending off more than a dozen enemies.
"Hey! What the hell are you guys doing? You want me to do all the dirty work?"
"Okay, okay. We're coming." Hibiki muttered.
Both Rick and Deus were evenly matched in a battle that will probably determine the fate of the universe. Both were thrown away after their blade connects each other. Deus grinned.
"YOU'RE MUCH BETTER THAN MY BROTHER. INTERESTING."
"Heh. Prepare to be beaten, Deus."
Deus laughed maniacally.
"HAHAHAHA. YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME? A GOD? IT IS YOU WHO WILL BE BEATEN."
Suddenly without warning, Deus vanished. Rick looked up and saw Deus coming down, with his sword aimed at his head. Instinctively, Rick blocked the attack with his sword. However, Deus twisted his blade and disarmed The Sword of The Slayer from Rick. Deus grinned and attempts to cleave Rick once more. Without his weapon, Rick can only move himself out of danger but the attack was so fast. Deus' blade hit Rick in the shoulder. Rick quickly utilized his powers to protect his body from being cut. Blood trickled from his mouth.
"Urghhh..."
"YOU'RE NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BEAT ME. LET ME END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!"
Deus suddenly threw his fist at his adversary. It hit his chest and was thrown far away. The attack sent Rick sprawling on the ground. He lied there, barely conscious. Deus approached him slowly.
"THE TIME HAS COME, SLAYER OF GOD."
Meia was watching the fight between Rick and Deus. She screamed when she saw Rick was beaten down by Deus.
"RIIICK!!"
"Leader, there's nothing we can do now. The least we can do now is to trust him." Dita said, consoling her.
"That's right. Meia, if you love him, you must trust him." Jura said.
"I don't like that guy at first. But after so many encounters together, I realized that he almost the same as me. Being all alone, doing his best not to let his friends down. So, I'm sure that he doesn't want us to let him down either." Hibiki explained.
"For the first time, you said something right." Pyoro teased.
"What did you say? I'll break your motivator after we're through!"
Meia smiled and nods.
(Rick, everyone trusted you. And I'll place mine as well...)
Erick was busy with more than a dozen enemies when Barnette warned him.
"Erick! Look out at the back!"
Erick turned and saw a fighter zooming in towards him. He avoided the attack and the fighter hit one it's own.
"Thanks a lot, cutie."
Barnette slightly blushed and replies,
"You're welcome."
Rick was totally beaten down by Deus. As he lied down there, looking at the space battle, he realized all is not lost.
(But what if I failed and they've won the battle? No, Deus will have them killed anyway.)
Suddenly, he saw a man standing before him. It was his father.
"Dad?"
"Rick, don't give up now. Everyone placed their trust in you. You shouldn't let it go."
"I wish I can, but I don't have the strength to carry on."
His father smiled.
"You're strong, Rick. You might not realize it, but everyone here thinks so."
"Every...one?"
Suddenly, his mother, his two sisters, Joe, Zach and Spyke appeared.
"Son, don't let everything went in vain." His mother said.
"Brother, please don't let anyone take you from your friends." His sister, Lynn said.
"Big brother, you don't want to leave your daughter all alone, aren't you?" Mary, his younger sister asked.
"Hey Rick. It's Joe." The old man said.
Rick smiled.
"Joe..."
"I don't have much to say here. But please don't screw up. God, I sucked at saying these things."
Zach and Spyke stepped put.
"Rick, it's been a long time." Zack said.
Rick looked at them.
"Zach, Spyke. I'm sorry. I couldn't do a thing back there..."
"Don't you start, man. Don't you start with that." Spyke interrupted.
"Rick, it's not your fault. We all know it's not yours." Zack said.
"But..."
"Stop there, son." His father interrupted.
"Brother, someone here to see you." Lynn said.
Then, before Rick's very eyes, Sara appeared.
"Sara..?"
Sara gave a nod.
"It's me, Rick."
"Sara, I..."
"Hush. Stop it. You've been living all these years blaming yourself. Everything that happened to us was not your fault. So please, don't give everything up."
"Sara..."
"If you're not doing it for me, please do it for your son and...Meia."
Rick looked at her in astonishment.
"I...I..."
Sara smiled.
"I know what happened. Don't worry about it."
"But still..."
Suddenly, Sara kissed him. Rick was caught off guard.
"Rick, we have to go for now."
"Sara..."
Sara's last words were,
(Don't give up everything, because it's not you who are to blame.)
With that, everyone vanished into the light. The warm light bathed him, giving him comfort and realization. He then stood up, much to the surprise of Deus.
"YOU...HOW CAN YOU STILL STAND AFTER ALL THE BEATING?"
Rick stared at him coldly.
"Deus, you have yet to witness the true power of The Slayer of God."
"YOU'LL USE THE FORBIDDEN POWER?" Deus asked, nervously.
"Yes. With it, I'll send you back to where you're from. Sword of The Slayer, come to me!"
Upon Rick's command, The Sword of The Slayer flew towards its master. Rick grabbed the hilt and cut the surface of his skin with the blade. His blood smeared the sword and slowly turned from red to green. Then, his hair turned into ghastly white. He then looked coldly
at Deus. Deus watched his transformation in astonishment.
"YOU'RE INSANE! NO ONE WILL LIVE ONCE THEY UNLEASHED THE POWER OF THE GOD!"
"Well, let's see if I live after I beat the crap out of you."
I fight with my fears
I will find them here!
If I clear my heart, I'll know the answer
Don't think I'm looking back
I know I'll fall behind
Check the path and let's keep walking
If I fail, the tears will overflow
I have the power to blow it all away
Understand and believe in me
If I (transliterated), Kiddy Grade promotional song.
