Previously in GVS2: Battle Revolution…
Lone Wolf NEO, having returned from the secret garden, is fighting the Chrono command Gear Mriya alongside Hikki, now awakened as the guardian dragon Nagalintar. Who is going to win the battle of truth and denial?
Meanwhile, Hibiki asks the people to pray, hoping that their voices will reach Lone Wolf's heart and help him in achieving victory. Will their prayers be granted, or will it be too late for them?
x-x-x-x-x
GVS2: Battle Revolution
Conceived By: Lone Wolf NEO
Written By: Lone Wolf NEO
Lone Wolf NEO does not own any of the games/animé/manga/magazine/whatsoever inside this story. He does, however, own all the original characters conceived in this story. So, don't 'play-play' with him and own them without his permission, ne?
It's almost there, the end…
Featured music: The Midnight Carnival (Guilty Gear XX), Pure Heart (Aerith's theme, Final Fantasy VII).
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Chapter 34: Awaken
Part 4: Final Showdown: The Midnight Carnival
There was nothing to see at the battlefield, except the sight of grasslands stretching as far as an eye can see. Indeed, the arena was a field far from the reach of any civilization. Located in a place unknown to people, its fate was clear, as bright as the full moon lighting the night sky.
At the middle of the battlefield, there was three fighters standing idle, panting breathlessly for air. Among them, Lone Wolf NEO was the most relaxed. He was able to maintain his pace along the duel, forcing Mriya to launch random and sometimes predictable attacks. His ally, Nagalintar already ran out of stamina and had to rest, due to the body of Hikki the guardian dragon was borrowing.
The author summoned a smile from his face, sarcastically laughing at his opponent. "Nice, but I don't think that you'll keep up with the pace." Mriya snapped in anger and launched a Chaos Spike at Lone Wolf. He still managed to break the spike with NEO Dagger, and could only breathe out as response. "See, I've told you so. You'll never beat me if you're still with that technique."
"Then what about this?" the woman spoke and activated her shoulder-mounted cannons. She aimed the weapons at the two fighters and had a very demonic smile upon her face. "What's wrong with you two? Surprised to witness an attack you never expect to face?"
Lone Wolf gasped. "That attack… it can't be! Perform the Fortress Block! That's her hidden move!"
"Too late! CHRONO CANNON!" The Gamma Laser-lookalike was launched from the cannon and hurled its way toward both Lone Wolf NEO and Nagalintar. It was too fast for them to defend with Fortress Block and had to endure the punishing blow of the secret overdrive. Nagalintar, however, could not keep the duration longer, and broke off his defence. The massively powerful overdrive engulfed the guardian dragon in its Chrono-generated and sent him flying off the ground.
"Nagalintar!" cried the lone wolf and snatched his body before he reached the earth. "Hey, dragon! Keep yourself together!"
"Lone Wolf…" the dragon called, his voice barely audible, "continues this battle without me…"
"Hey, are you crazy for letting me fight her alone?" Lone Wolf demanded.
"I am not crazy, Lone Wolf," the dragon spoke, coughing of blood, "however I have overused this child's body. I mustn't exceed its limit again, or I will have him dragged into this unnecessary battle."
Lone Wolf could only nod. "I understand. Leave everything to me."
"I… I'm counting on you," Nagalintar said. Lone Wolf put the guardian on the ground and turned around to face Mriya, again ready with the Chrono Cannon.
"You idiot! How could you attack your own brother?" he snarled.
"So what? It's not that I'm going to pity him in the first place," Mriya insisted. "After all, he's nothing but a hindrance."
"Damn… you're far too corrupted to realize your own mistake," the author sighed. "Very well. I'll cleanse you off the corruption." He withdrew NEO Dagger and proceeded with his battle stance. "Ikuze."
(Background music: The Midnight Carnival)
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Hibiki looked at the night sky. Everything at the site seemed to be normal, with most of the people already went for sleep. The only sight to see was the quartet of Gensoumaden Saiyuki, admiring the moon and the stars, along with their archrival. There was also sight of Robo Ky and Sumomo sitting on a boulder, seemingly staring at the clear sky in admire.
"Can't sleep, Hibiki-chan?" Hibiki looked at her left and saw Dizzy taking a seat beside her. "Oh, can I sit here?"
"Oh? Umm," she said and moved aside, giving the hybrid a space to seat. "I couldn't sleep, you see. I… I was thinking of him. That's why."
"You mean Mister Lone Wolf?" Dizzy asked. "Souka. You're worried at him, right? I can tell it from your face."
Hibiki blushed and quickly shrugged. "Ch-chigau!"
Dizzy giggled and playfully poked her blushing cheek. "Hora, you're blushing now. See? I knew you're worried at him. Ne?"
"Dizzy-chan, yamete!" she begged and pushed her hand away, cupping her flushing cheeks in embarrassment. "I… I…"
The Gear giggled at the response. "Aw, just admit it, Hibiki-chan. It's not that I'm going to play over your relationship, honest."
"Sou…" the iaijitsu woman replied. She breathed out and eased off, letting the rose colour to fade from her cheeks. For a while, she as silent before a verse came slipped her lips.
Nagaku tsuzuku kono michi no mukou ni
Shinjirareru mono ga kitto aru…
"Hibiki-chan, what are you singing?" asked the innocent Gear in curiosity.
Hibiki merely giggled. "Iie, just a song I used to sing whenever Lone Wolf-san is around."
"You have a sweet voice, Hibiki-chan," Dizzy praised. Again, Hibiki blushed and played with a string of her hair. "No wonder why Lone Wolf is so attached to you."
"You really think… so?" she asked, blushing again.
"Of course," Dizzy said. "Oh, I wish I could sing to him everyday. I really envy those who are more talented than I am."
Hibiki giggled again and sat close to Dizzy. "Ne, while we're at it, why don't sing the sing together?" she suggested.
Dizzy looked at the swordswoman in surprise. "Eh? But I don't sing well. I…"
She merely smiled at her. "Daijoobu. If you can't sing, just hum to its melody. Ne?" Dizzy stared at her for a moment before she nodded.
Kaze no naka no tabibito no you ni
Kita no sora wo mezashite ikeba…
Kiekaketa atsui omoi
Mou ichido mune no naka de
Kagayaki yureru…
"Just look at them," Gojyo said. "Singing together under the moonlight. Man, I envy those who get the chance to have them."
"Heh, sou desu, ne?" Hakkai spoke.
"Hah, whatever. I'll never get the chance to have gorgeous ladies anyway," Gojyo uttered and leaned against the boulder, watching the night sky. He looked to his right and noticed that Goku was admiring the song sung by the two women. "Oi, Goku. Why don't you go and sit with them instead? Sheesh, just looking at you make me sick." Goku ignored the red-haired demon and continued to listen to the song, swaying his body left and right. "Oh, please. I'm out of here." He stood up and took a quick sip of the cigarette, whilst the Saiyuki people watched at the sky.
"Looks like it's going to end," Hakkai said, "since Lone Wolf-san is facing the command Gear, let's hope that he'll win."
"Haii," Yaone responded.
x-x-x-x-x
The cry of the lone wolf and the roar of the command Gear erupted and collided in midair, as the two fighters dashed and landed their fatal blow against each other. The blade collided and cancelled each other's effect, and both of them jumped away from each other, and resumed their weapon clash. Lone Wolf NEO was quicker and, obviously, had more advantage from his opponent, as he delivered a quick series of slashes while keeping himself from being hit by Mriya's attacks.
"Don't! Think! That! You! Will! Win! With! The! Help! Of! The! Gear! Power! Mriya!" he shouted, as he landed the Thousand Leagues overdrive, words shouted in synchronize with each hit. "And! Why! You! Let! Yourself! To! Be! Corrupted! By! Your! Own! People! Tell! Me! Mriya!" He cancelled the overdrive and grabbed her neck, throwing her to the open air.
"Witness! Admire! Appreciate! Flight of the Bumblebee!"
The crisscross motion was executed in a speed much faster than before. Lone Wolf NEO emitted a battle cry and finished the overdrive with a
"Damn it, Mriya! I've told you I won't let you become a demon!" he shouted and executed another Thousand Leagues.
Demon?
A sudden flashback emerged in the woman's mind. A memory supposed to be forgotten after she became Gear…
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It was a peaceful morning at the garden. The two little siblings of Chrono and Zofeah were running around. The couple of Lone Wolf and Mriya were sitting under the mulberry tree, watching in awe as the little brothers tried to outrun each other.
"Lone Wolf…" called the woman.
"What is it, Mriya?" Lone Wolf asked and looked at her.
"I… I have been thinking of this for a long time," Mriya said, fondling with her fingers. "But I can't tell you."
Lone Wolf laughed. "Come on, you know me, right?"
"But… I'm afraid that I'd make you angry," Mriya said, frowning.
"Aw, how come?" Lone Wolf said and approached her, pulling her into his arms. "You can tell me, I don't have any reason to be mad at you," he whispered and kissed her scalp.
"Lone Wolf…" the woman spoke, "will you still accept me even… after I turn into a demon?"
Lone Wolf stared down at her in intrigue. "What do you mean, Mriya? Of course I'll always accept you no matter what."
"Chigau, that's what I mean," she answered. "I can feel this uneasy feeling inside of me. It's like… it wants me to surrender to the evil force and become one. What should I do, Lone Wolf?"
"Ahou." Mriya looked up and saw the uneasy sight coming from his eyes. "I'll make sure you don't become a demon or whatsoever." He took her hand and hooked his index finger to hers and stared into her ruby eyes. "I promise you, Mriya. I promise to protect you from all risks, though that means to face the risk myself."
"Lone Wolf, what… what are you doing?" she asked, blushing in surprise.
"I'm making a promise, don't you know?" he told her.
"No… at least, the people in the clan don't tell me anything about it," she spoke.
Lone Wolf smiled and covered the hooked fingers with his free hand. "I tell you what. If you're to become one, I'll make sure that won't happen. I swear."
"Will you, Lone Wolf?" she asked.
"I will."
x-x-x-x-x
Mriya suddenly released Psych Burst Counter, knocking Lone Wolf from his overdrive motion. She landed back on the ground, clutching her head and shivering. Her Gear instinct, the Chrono magic and her untainted soul began to mix up, fighting for dominance. She cried in pain and unleashed her power, enough to make Lone Wolf topple to the ground.
She regained her sense and glowered and Lone Wolf. "How dare you… how dare you toying with my feeling!"
"Your feeling?" he replied. "The feeling you have now is nothing but an illusion, created and exploited the dominant Chrono magic and the Gear power. Don't ask your current feeling, but ask your feeling of the past. Ask it." Mriya snapped in anger and fired tonnes of Chaos Drones at him. Again, he easily avoided all the drones.
"You have fallen into my trap!" the command Gear declared and summoned a Chaos Drill mine. Lone Wolf didn't see the attack coming at him and stepped on the mine and it exploded on contact, sending the author to the air. Mriya aimed her cannon at him and fired Chrono Cannon, launching him even further. She home-jumped toward Lone Wolf and delivered a fatal combo attacks, without giving him a slight chance of fighting back.
"OMAE WO KOROSU!" she shouted after returned to the ground and executed another Falken Sworden, fatally injuring Lone Wolf as he descended back. She didn't stop there; as soon as he was launched and again descended, she proceeded with Chrono Cannon and severely knocked him out.
She approached Lone Wolf who was laying immobile on the ground. She picked up his head and glowered at him. The author merely grinned, much to her annoyance. "Why are you still smiling!?" the Gear demanded.
"You attack… I can't feel it… I can't feel your attack…" Mriya felt insulted by the comment and channelled electric current into his head. He groaned in pain, trying to endure the electricity surging in his head. Yet he managed to carve a smile, as if he had felt nothing. "Even this… can't hurt me… you'll never…"
"URUSAI!" she screamed and slammed him back on the ground, slashing his torso with Falken Schneider. Lone Wolf cried in pain and held his injured midsection, whilst she kicked him to a distance. She, then, jumped backward and activated her instant kill. "This time… this time… this time I SHALL KILL YOU FOR GOOD!" she declared and charged toward him. Lone Wolf was unable to move due to the injury and could only lay on his back, staring at the sky and the moon.
"It's… it's the end…" he whispered, gasping for air. "Everyone… everyone… I'm very sorry… I can't fulfil my promise… please forgive me…"
.
"Promise me, Chosen One. You must stop the outcoming battle, no matter how harsh the obstacles you may have to face. Even you must know, Chosen One, that you are the Keeper, and you have the responsibility to keep everything in order. Now go, the world is crying to be saved by your hand."
.
"Baaka. Lone Wolf-san baaka…"
.
"Unfortunately, Mriya, you'll never kill me. And I will never kill you as well. It's a promise we had made."
.
"Lone Wolf. Ganbatte."
.
"I tell you what. If you're to become one, I'll make sure that won't happen. I swear."
.
Lone Wolf's eyes widened. In an instant, all flashbacks emerged in his memory, knocking every part of it. Then a prayer's song echoed in his ears, and he saw the vision of the woman who had always been with him. The woman, he saw, was smiling warmly at him.
Then the image of another woman took place, this time she was crying. He winced at the sight. He didn't want to see her crying, and he didn't want that to happen either.
Ignoring the worsening injury on his midsection, he got back on his feet and stared at the oncoming instant kill. Gasping for air, he was idle for a while before his eyes widened.
"I… I CAN'T SURRENDER NOW!"
The sound of metal clashing against each other echoed loudly in the air, followed by a violent shockwave released from the collision. The earth greatly trembled as the result of both fighters' power confronting and cancelling each other. Mriya emitted a loud battle cry and pressed the twin light blades against NEO Dagger, pushing Lone Wolf across the field. Her eyes were burning with anger and desire for total, absolute victory.
"Surrender at once!" she demanded and pushed the light blades against the dagger.
"Never!" replied the lone wolf and fought back, struggling to keep himself from being pushed further. "I won't surrender, and I won't die now! I still have promises to be fulfilled, and I can't afford to disappoint those who made the promises with me!" He kicked the command Gear on the midsection and landed an uppercut slash on her battlesuit. He quickly backed off and coughed of blood, putting a hand on his cut midsection.
"Kuso…" Mriya snarled, holding her damaged suit. "You shall pay for this!" Again, she pounced at Lone Wolf, desperate to finish the battle with her instant kill when a reversal caught it. "Y-you!?"
Lone Wolf looked forward and couldn't help himself but to gasp. "Na-Naga…?"
"Sorry for being late, sensei." The voice no longer belonged to Nagalintar.
"Hikki…!" the author spoke. "Damn it, you could've come and help me long time ago."
"Gomen," the Korean spoke, enduring the instant kill with the reversal, "but the guardian dragon borrowed my body for too long. Ask him later."
Lone Wolf merely grinned. "Stupid Hikki, always pretending to be a winner."
Hikki beamed at the comment and looked forward. "Gomen, oneesama. But I won't let you hurt Lone Wolf-sensei, even if I have to hurt you. TIME HALT!" The reversal counterattacked the Destroyer and brought the command Gear into a pause. He spun his arms and tossed her to the open air.
"Gomennasai, oneesama, but I've been forced to do this…"
Silence.
The time seemed to have stopped. All living things were brought into the haunting time halt, and could do nothing but to watch at the owner of the reversal who was standing far from Lone Wolf, his hands filled with dark gales. Idle as he was, he later stood up and lifted a hand to the air.
"Chrono."
And he brought its open palm into a fist.
"CROSS."
A blinding flash took place, followed by an intense metal-clashing sound in the background. Then everything returned to normal, and a sight no one would ever forget emerged after that: a giant cross standing erect on the ground, with the instant kill's victim crucified on it.
Hikki turned around and stared at Lone Wolf. "Gomen, sensei. But… I had no choice."
"Hikki…" Lone Wolf uttered. "You…"
"Don't worry, though," the teen said, giving out a low laugh, "I overheard you saying you wouldn't kill oneesama at all costs. Yeah, I had tries my best not to kill, though the Chrono Cross was supposed to be an instant kill. Gomen…"
"KISAMA!" Mriya roared and broke off the cross, crashing on the ground. Both Lone Wolf and Hikki looked at the command Gear who slowly stood up, having lost the battle suit and wore nothing but a black dominatrix suit. "Both of you… must die…"
"Forget that, Mriya," Lone Wolf insisted. "I won't die, and you're not going to die."
"SHUT UP!" However, she jolted before she could even move and fell onto her knees. She trembled uncontrollably and groaned, before she vomited blood and coughed. She was silent for a while before she murmured Lone Wolf's name and screamed in pain, unleashing a great amount of Gear and Chrono power. Again, she was silent before she screamed and unleashed the mixed up powers from her body. The shockwave produced caused the time space and continuum around to be greatly distorted. Lone Wolf, Nagalintar and Hikki weren't affected by the time distortion, however.
"Oneesama!" Hikki cried and rushed toward her.
"Hikki!" Lone Wolf called. "Don't come close to her. She's been consumed by her own power."
"What!?" Hikki exclaimed. "Then you must do something! Sensei!"
"There's one way," Lone Wolf said, "But it's too risky. Besides, one step wrong and-"
"I don't care! Just save her! Sensei!" Hikki insisted.
"Patience, my child." He was startled and looked around before he saw the apparition of Nagalintar in the open air. "What Lone Wolf NEO has said is true. There is one way to save Mriya, however, it involves the usage of-"
"Instant Kill." Lone Wolf said in unison with the dragon. "Look, Hikki. I know it sounds very hard to you, but this is the only way to save her."
"But still…" Hikki was shocked to her his name called from behind. He looked at Mriya and saw her reaching her at him. He quickly knelt beside her and took her hand. "Oneesama…"
"Chrono…" the woman whispered, her eyes swelling with tears. "Gomennasai…"
"Yamete, oneesama!" Hikki cried and embraced her. "Yamete… onegai…" Mriya was about to hug him when she jolted and cried of pain for the second time. "Oneesama! Oneesama!"
"Step aside, Hikki." He looked at Lone Wolf, by now opening a stance with NEO Dagger in his hand. He was reluctant to let Mriya go, and kept on embracing her. "Ahou! Do you want to see her suffer!?"
"My child, I know you love your sister very much, but at this rate…"
"I understand." He embraced Mriya tightly, as if he never let her go off his arms. "Gomen, oneesama, but I…" He pulled her off his body and stepped backward. Mriya tried to call him back before she frowned.
"Lone Wolf…" she called.
"Yes, Mriya?"
She looked at Lone Wolf and cried. "I… I've done so much sins… I even killed Yuu and Zofeah with my own hands… I'm so sorry…"
"I know."
"Lone Wolf…" she gasped, trying to gather her remaining strength to speak, "please… finish this…"
Lone Wolf NEO breathed out. He spun the hand holding NEO Dagger and spoke in unknown language before opened his eyes. "I understand."
In a speed faster than lightning, he dashed toward Mriya. As he approached the woman, he suddenly disappeared from sight, followed by a series of metallic streaks surrounding her. Slowly Mriya closed her eyes, surrendering herself to the instant kill.
.
"Mriya. Mriya." She was startled and opened her eyes. She saw the author kneeling in front of her, warmly smiling at her. "I've told you, I'll still accept you even after you turned into a demon."
"Then… then why did you fight me?" she asked, crying.
"Ahou. I was fighting you because I'm not letting you to become one. Remember?" he said, cupping her dampened cheek. "Silly Mriya. You shouldn't be to naïve all the time."
Unable to contain her emotion, Mriya seized his hand and nuzzled her against it. "Lone Wolf… gomennasai… I…" The author smiled again and kissed her forehead.
"It's okay, Mriya. I…"
."Have sent you," the author spoke after appeared behind Mriya. "Down with the sickness." Subsequent to that, the streaks combined into a silver cross and cut her body. Mriya screamed in pain and fell limbless, her body snatched by Hikki before she touched the ground. At the same time, the time distortion disappeared and everything returned to normal.
Lone Wolf NEO stood up and lifted his hand. "Gate open." The Abyssal Void portal opened beside him and he transferred the powers he trapped inside NEO Dagger when he landed the IK on the woman's body into the oblivion. "I shall seal this cursed power once and for all. Goodbye, Chrono magic," he spoke and closed the gate to the endless space. "Farewell, the Abyssal Void I once relied upon the most."
He later turned around and looked at Mriya. Slowly he approached her and stared at her, who then gawked at him. "Lone Wolf…"
"You've returned to your old self. Yokatta," he spoke, smiling. "Okaeri, Mriya."
Mriya broke into tears and weakly smiled at him in return. "Tadaima… Lone Wolf…" She lifted her hand, trying to reach him. "Lone Wolf, gomennasai…"
Lone Wolf seized her hand and held it firmly. "It's okay, Mriya. There's nothing to be sorry of."
"But I… I had betrayed you…" she wailed. "Honto ni, gomennasai…"
"Hush now," Lone Wolf told her, softly caressing her scalp. "You're in bad shape. You mustn't force yourself too much."
"You… you could've finished me off for good," Mriya spoke, whilst Hikki slowly rested her head on his lap. "Why… why didn't you… kill me?"
"Ahou." Mriya was startled and stared at him. "If I killed you, I'd have broken the promise I made. And besides, if Hikki… no, Chrono sees that, would he be happy to witness his precious oneesama's death again? Are you going to let him cry again like that time?"
"Sensei is right," Hikki added. "I… for this long time, I've always thought that I'd never get my life back. But oneesama, to see you again… it's the happiest thing I ever have."
Mriya stared at her little brother. "Chrono… you don't hate me, do you?"
"Or course I don't," he answered, tears flowing off his eyes. "Though you badly treated me that time and killed both Zofeah and Yuu… but honestly I don't hate you at all."
Mriya broke into tears and hugged him. "Chrono… my precious Chrono…"
"Children of Chrono," Nagalintar called, "and Lone Wolf NEO. I may be furious with human's attempt to exploit the Chrono magic to fulfil their greed. And I may also be furious at the sins they may have done. But you must also know," he said, eyeing at Mriya, "I also protect those gifted with the magic. Child of Chrono, Mriya, be grateful to be granted another opportunity of living."
Lone Wolf softly rubbed her bruised cheek. "I may not look like a certain swordsman who protects the weak with his non-killing sword. But believe me, Mriya; you mustn't waste the chance you've got."
Mriya stared at her ex-lover in awe. Then she laid aside, trying to hide her tears from him. "Lone Wolf hidoi…"
The lone wolf just smiled. "Guess I still can't make myself a good boyfriend of yours, ne?"
The woman chuckled. "Lone Wolf baaka…"
He breathed out in relief. "Then this matter's settled. I guess we all can go back…" and collapsed before he could finish his words. Both Hikki and Mriya gasped in shock. He had omitted his injury in the peak of the battle, and the wound on his midsection had gone worse.
"Lone Wolf! Lone Wolf!" both of them cried, frantically trying to wake him up. Yet he had been losing too much blood, and his condition brought worry to them. "Lone Wolf! Keep yourself together! Lone Wolf! LONE WOLF!