Strongest
Chapter 7: Alexander's Rage
Written By Illuminet
Disclaimer: The cast of character from Makai Kingdom : Chronicles Of The Sacred Tome do not belong to me, and are the rightful property of N.I.S (Nippon Ichi Software) America.
"..."-Indicate Speech
'...'-Indicate Thought
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Space Battleship Yoshitsuna
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'Good, Alex is finally here...but who's the brat that's with him? They look related...'
Zetta couldn't finish his thoughts as Alex closed the distance. Zetta's body reacted, jumping up into the air. Alex touched the edge of the battleship Zetta had been at seconds ago, before jumping up after the now airborne Overlord. He beat on his drums to send a lightning bolt towards Zetta, who narrowly evaded the attack before rushing towards Alex with blistering speed. The Overlord swung down with his blade, but Alex erected a barrier to defend from the strike, and the two flew past each other only to circle around quickly and attack once more.
"Wow...they're so fast..."
Al murmured softly to himself. It was one thing to hear about the battles his brother talked about having with Zetta, but it was a whole new experience to witness the real thing. Alex fought at a completely different level than Al ever experienced when the two of them would spar with each other. This was also the first time he had to take a look at the self proclaimed strongest Overlord. Zetta was quite a bit more imposing than Al actually thought, and something about him worried the young boy. The Zetta he was witnessing was not the arrogant loud mouth Overlord who's only redeeming quality was his tremendous level of Mana power as so many claimed him to be. This Zetta was calm, precise and had yet to say a single word or even yell out a battle cry when he attacked. His abilities were impossible for Al to deduce. After a long standstill battle, Alex had stopped and Zetta complied, wordless as ever and eyes betraying nothing. This was irritating the God of Destruction.
"What gives, Zetta? I thought I once told you that silence was for losers. You've always had a lot to say in the past, so why don't you say anything now? And Why the serious expression? Your hardly serious to begin with. Is something wrong?"
Alex asked. Zetta remained silent, earning a growl to leave his adversary's mouth.
"I asked you a fucking question! Answer me!"
Alex said darkly. Zetta did, though with his sword rather than words. He was upon Alex quicker than the God of Destruction anticipated, sword held in both hands. Alex barely had enough time to erected another barrier, but Zetta's attack was so powerful it destroyed the shield to leave Alex exposed. Alex was left with a long gash running diagonally across his torso. The force behind the Overlord's attack was enough to send Alex through the black clouds as well.
"BROTHER!"
Al soared through the clouds after Alex's body.
'That's the first time I've shattered that damn shield of Alex's in one strike near the early part of a fight in order to draw first blood, but then again this is a dream, so what was I expecting? And it would seem the little brat is his brother after all...although, he made just be another figment of my imagination. Hah! Who cares?'
Zetta thought to himself as his body began to descend through the clouds as well.
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Alexander's Netherworld, Outskirts of Spire Mountain
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Alex spiraled down head first at an amazing rate. Zetta's attack had been more brutal than he expected.
'What the...? Damn, that's never happened before. Were my sparring matches with Al and Raiden not enough to build up more power? What about those backwater planets I took under my control? I shouldn't be this weak...Zetta must have only recently gotten his body back as well if no word has got out about it...it shouldn't have even been possible with Trenia's prediction...Grrr, none of this is making sense! I know Zetta's the stronger one, but he shouldn't have gotten this much power in such a short time...could this be Salome's doing again? No, he wouldn't have allowed it to happen again once he knew. So..why? And what's up with his strange behavior? If this wasn't such a serious duel I'd be laughing my ass off.'
Alex finally brought himself up right.
"I've gotta retain my focus. Zetta's not fighting along with just raw emotions any longer, so neither can I. That's the most likely reason for my carelessness back there, but I won't let it happen again. I'm better than that..."
Alex's dark blue eyes shone with (literally) sparks of determination he looked to the dark clouds, knowing that down here, he had the advantage.
"I'm better than you, Zetta. I will prove I have what it takes to be the next Strongest Overlord."
Alex expected Zetta to come down first but it ended up being Al.
"Hey Alex! You Okay?"
Al asked. Alex sighed.
"You act as if this wound was serious. It's just a scratch, Al. Why? Is my little bro actually worried about my well being? I'm touched."
Alex said in a joking manner. Al growled as his cheeks went slight crimson.
"Shut up!"
The boy said, but it only made Alex chuckle.
"Keh...your still such a kid."
Alex said back. Before any more comments could be made, Zetta descended quickly, ripping through the clouds with enough force to make some disperse and allow the sun light to shine in on the muddy landscape for a brief moment before the clouds swallowed up the light once more and leaving the Overlord's hair and garments heavy and damp from the falling rain. Everyone who had retreated to the mountain stared in awe at Zetta's appearance, questions filling their heads as to why he came to Alex's Netherworld and why he had his original body again. Questions that had been in Alex's head prior when he met Zetta aboard the strange colossal Battleship hovering just above the clouds. Al looked back in surprise as Zetta stood just in front of him.
"Al, get out of the way! Your interfering with our duel."
Al heard Alex call up to him. The boy obliged, and would have flown back to the mountain of his own accord had the next incident not occurred. Al didn't even see as Zetta's arm reeled back, and was then greeted with complete darkness as Zetta backhanded him so hard, his body went flailing back towards the mountain. Everyone gasped in surprise, not believing they had just witnessed an Overlord hit a child with so much excessive force.
"No...!"
Raiden was able to snap out of his trance as he flew toward his young master, catching him in his massive arms before the mountain could. Raiden flew back to the top, depositing the boy on the slick ground. Blood was trickling from the side of Al's head.
"Master Alastor! MASTER ALASTOR!"
Raiden called out, but the boy did not answer him. A Healer came beside the boy and examined him.
"His breathing is shallow, but he'll live. If not for his intense sparring matches with you and Lord Alexander, he may not have had the power to survive such a blow to the side of the head. If he did survive, he might have been permanently brain damaged, but he'll be just fine...but how...? How can someone be so cruel...?"
The Healer looked to Raiden with such confusion in her gaze, and everyone there mirrored her gaze as they looked to Raiden as he was the only one who among them who fought Zetta personally and still lived. Raiden looked to Al.
"That...isn't the Zetta I fought...this Zetta is below a Demon...he is nothing but a mindless beast. But his power is undeniable...I know I've said plenty of times that I fear only for the young master, but here and now that is not the case...I now fear for Lord Alexander's safety as well. If he is in too much trouble at any moment, we must be ready to interfere, understand? Disregard any order he may give you otherwise."
Raiden said firmly as he looked into the eyes of his fellow soldiers and other comrades. He then turned to shout out to Alex that Al was okay, but Alex could not hear him. His mind was elsewhere as his eyes were trained on the still outstretched arm of Zetta.
"...Zetta...you..."
Alex's teeth were clenched tightly together, and his fists were closed so hard that his fingers bit into the flesh of his palms, drawing blood. Alex's eyes remained fixated on Zetta's hand, seeing the slight stain of blood on the knuckles that were being washed away with the rain. His brother's blood. Alex vision became filled with nothing but crimson, and the storm became more violent as if in tune with his emotions. His lust for destruction was welling up within him, that lust being aimed at ending Zetta's life.
"...SON OF A BITCH!"
Alex snarled viciously, his arms moving across the drums of his Angel Beat and making lightning resonate with his red hatred. Zetta turned towards the sky as light washed over him, seeing a massive lightning bolt descending on his location. The Overlord was engulfed in the destructive energy that sent him crashing into the ground and uplifting a geyser of mud and earth. Alex did not let up, and kept sending lightning bolt after lightning bolt to pound into Zetta's body. Zetta's mind never felt any of the pain as he was too shaken when he witnessed Al's near demise, the event triggering something he did not understand, as his world became black.
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Unknown
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'What...is this..feeling? When that brat was struck down I felt so...why? Why did my body do that? No Demon does that, nor do they even dream about it. That brat was just an innocent in my duel with Alex...what's this hollow pain that seems to be gnawing away at me...?'
Zetta's head felt like it exploded a few times too many while the rest of his body felt as if blades of ice were pierced through him. Only one sound greeted his ears. His own breathing.
"Where...?"
His voice was scratchy and dry, but oddly sounded like a child's voice at the same time. A vertical line of light pierced the darkness of his vision and expanded like an opening door.
'Who...?'
Zetta realized he was standing, but he felt so short for some reason. No one was at the door, but the light hurt his eyes yet would not close of their own accord. He automatically looked to his arms and was surprised to see them so stubby and short, lined with many wounds. He realized he was in the body of a child. A very dark skinned child.
'What the fuck...!'
Zetta seemed to be only be able to think. A shadow fell over his form and he looked up, seeing a Demon standing in the bright doorway. This demon looked somewhat like his adult form would, but the hair was different. It was a dark blue that was so dark it could pass off as almost being black, and even thought it was long, it lacked the wild fiery quality of his red hair. A mass of hair fell over the right side of the Demon's face, hiding one eye from view, while the other eye that was visible looked exactly like Zetta's own. It was devoid of a pupil and had the same black tattoo like marking cover around it. The Demon's skin was tanned a very dark brown like the child's own skin, and two large horn like protrusions extended out from the top of his shoulders. The clothing was near identical to Zetta's as well, except they were completely red save for the golden buckles of his leather straps. Zetta wasn't sure what to think right now. All he knew was that he was in a kid like body and covered in many wounds of different natures that reminded him of his pain tolerance tests, as well as that the strange Demon in front of him bore some resemblance to his adult self. Before Zetta could say anymore, the Demon spoke.
"Does it hurt, boy? Or are you finally showing some resilience to your injuries?"
The Demon asked, though his voice lacked any kind of caring in his voice.
"Why do I have to keep doing these things?"
His voice spoke out automatically, and it made Zetta ponder.
'Is this...a memory of mine? Of my childhood? No...can't be. I'd never forget a face or name once I've seen a person already, and this guy doesn't draw up any familiarity. Who the hell is he? And what is all this? I have no childhood to remember...plus I've never had such dark skin in my life. Who's memories are these?'
Zetta came back to attention as the Demon walked further into the pitch black room.
"Answer me. I was the one who asked the first question, and it is you who is to provide the first answer, not question me back."
The Demon's voice now became slightly stern. Zetta's voice spoke up again.
"It still hurts..."
He said. His voice was enough to make Zetta gag mentally.
'Could this...really be me? Damn, I sound like a complete weakling! No way...who the hell do these stupid memories belong to?'
Zetta saw nothing more than that except for the back of a hand that struck him across the face and sent him careening into the darkness. That Demon's hit had been exactly the same way his original body struck Al. He was left in such surprise, his mind went numb.
'What is this feeling? Is this...fear?'
Zetta could feel the overwhelming emotion that was completely foreign to him.
"You pathetic Demon. Where is your conviction? You do want to become the strongest don't you? Then you must hurry and become immune to the pain, a solid wall of powered flesh that can shrug off any attack at any moment. Until you've obtained it, your nothing more than a pathetic child. Are you not willing enough to become the strongest? To become the Almighty?"
Zetta heard the Demon say with growing fury in his tone. Zetta's own anger started to peak when he heard those words, and it overpowered the fear of the pathetic child's body he occupied.
'My convictions...? You...fucking idiot! I am already the strongest! I've proven my dedication years ago. I don't know what kind of stupid dream this is, but I ain't being fooled. This is complete and utter bullshit!'
Zetta growled deeply, wanting so badly to speak and blow that Demon to smithereens. He willed his eyes to open, and they did. Zetta found himself in space again, and in his book body. He was breathing in and out sharply.
"Fuck...what the hell is going on with me?"
He muttered to himself. It was so hard to perceive reality from fantasy and his mind felt slightly hazy, as if he had slept for a thousand years or so.
"What did you see?"
Zetta heard his own voice speak out to him, and he turned around, his eyes narrowing as he saw his imposter.
"You again...what the hell is going on with me?"
Book Zetta questioned. Demon Zetta looked smug.
"Oh? I though you didn't believe in me."
He spoke back. Book Zetta snarled.
"I don't...but you seem to have all the answers anyway. Now tell me what the hell is going on with me."
Book Zetta demanded quietly but sternly, wanting an answer. Demon Zetta turned away, looking at something Book Zetta could not see.
"That boy that was struck brought up a long dormant piece of your fragmented memory. I thought you would understand this by now after you witnessed what was done to you already, but you still remain adamant. Your memories are also starting to become a burden to our body's function. So unfortunately, you must sleep now."
Demon Zetta declared, making Book Zetta's fury flare up.
"I'll put YOU to sleep! You lying sack of shit!"
With that, Book Zetta used a Zetta Beam to strike his imposter in the back. Demon Zetta shattered into a million tiny fragments that soon faded away.
"Finally. I should have done that when he first showed himself."
Zetta said to himself, sighing in relief.
"Sleep now...unto the darkness of which you were born."
Zetta turned around, half expecting to have to blow his imposter to bits again, but he was wrong. It was the red clad Demon that looked disturbingly enough like him.
"You...!"
Zetta spat out, completely taken by surprise. The Demons empty eyes mirrored each other.
"Your time of destruction will come soon enough...but for now, just sleep..."
The Demon said.
"Piss off!"
Zetta said, his eyes glowing as he fired off another Zetta Beam. The attack passed right through the Demon, however. Zetta stiffened when he saw the Demon slowly become enshrouded in darkness from the feet upward, his form changing.
"Sleep..."
The giant black beast replaced the Demon, holding up a massive arm. It then fell over Zetta, who growled irritably.
"Bastard...who are you?"
Zetta shot another Zetta Beam, but it could not penetrate the darkness that was the beast's body. Soon Zetta was struck and surrounded in the darkness once more, mind being put into a deep and dreamless state.
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Alexander's Netherworld, Outskirts of Spire Mountain.
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What Zetta hadn't realized was that the fight had been continuing between his body and Alex. The God of Destruction suffered only some minor injuries to add along as the fight progressed, but the Overlord was being throughly shocked as Alex used the storm to amplify his already significantly powerful attacks. Zetta had fallen again, and tried to get up but could only achieve a kneeling position.
"Seems I finally got you Zetta. You shouldn't have held back so much power. Power that will soon belong to me."
Alex said softly as stood before the Overlord, kicking him on his back while his drums retrained the Overlord's limbs. Alex took the Genesis from Zetta's weak grasp, holding the giant blade in the air.
"You took my brother's life, and now I'm gonna take your's."
Alex aimed the blade at Zetta's chest, before preparing to plunge the weapon into the Overlord's body. Baal had taken the complete control again, however, and brought his hands up to halt the attack. Zetta-Baal smirked, knowing that Alex was in for a rude awakening when he realized just who he was really dealing with. A power that far surpassed the God of Destruction's own.
:ToBeContinued:
Note: Sorry about the late update. I wanted to have more of the Alex fight in this chapter, but the scene between Zetta and Baal was also very important to show more of the connection between them and could only happen in this scene when Al is struck down by Zetta's body. Unfortunately, their scene ended up being a bit longer than I originally anticipated, so I decided to hold the major fight in chapter eight instead. Sorry about that, but I feel if I put the fight in now, it'll make the chapter just way too long. Also sorry about how Alex and Raiden are still so out of character. If I could just get everything right, this chapter would be a whole lot better but I am unfortunately still just a lowly human who makes mistakes...oh well, that's just the way things are. Hopefully this small update is enjoyable for the time being, and I'll try to get the next chapter up when I can.