Chapter 87: The Unwanted ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ of Tartarus
{Flashback}
"No no no, Nami!" The woman shouted, slapping her own forearm a couple of times in a demonstrative fashion. "Again, you lead with your left! With your left! You're not putting any force into it! Feel the magic flow through your body, and out your palm!"
The woman shouting was none other than Nami's own mother, and before her, was Nami herself at the age of nine. Just a little girl, Nami was already practicing combating with light magic, taking lessons from her magicless mother. Exhausted, she fell to the ground, panting lightly as she wiped the sweat from her head. "Sorry, Mother. I'm tired. Can we take a break."
Reluctant but willing, she sighed before giving in to Namiyaka's request. "That's fine, but we're not done, so don't go anywhere."
That's when she whined. "Why am I the one training so hard anyways, mother?"
"Because." She responded. "You Nami, will be the one to protect us from the demons. Your light magic... it holds a special property within it. A property, that's really effective to defeat demons. You, my sweet Namiyaka, will take back from those demons, what they stole from this village. You will take back everything. Our home, our friends, your sister... they'll return it all once you defeat them!
{End Flashback}
"Back then, even back then, I knew my mother was being delusional...drunk on her own wants that she channeled through me. Defeating demons won't bring back what they stole from us. What she really wants is closure. She didn't have the heart to tell me everything Noboru just did, she just told me about the demons attacking, and how she was the lone survivor of it all. If that's what you want, mother...it looks like I'll have the opportunity to give it to you here... Taya and I both..we won't let you down!"
"Well?" Noboru asked, the ends of his jacket wavering in the wind as he stood proudly before the two girls. Just as Taya has shown plenty of times, dark vectors sprouted from his own spine as Tsunako stood next to him with a whitish aura wrapped around his sword. "Don't tell me you've gained cold feet!? This is what you've come for, correct Taya? Then make a move!"
"Shut up!" She shouted, simultaneously rushing towards her father with a single lunge forward. An array of vectors sprung from her spine just like the demon before her, rushing towards both Noboru and Tsunako with malicious intent. The continuous evasion from both males allowed them to remain unscathed by the incoming attack, but as Tsunako leapt away, gaining distance from his own father, the demon realized a little too late that he let his guard down long enough for Nami to score an opening strike โ a light magic infused kick to the top of his head. The pained groan was followed by Tsunako crashing into the ground yet revitalizing not even a second later by leaping towards Nami with the intention of evening the score. His blade, covered by that white aura of his, swung horizontally for Nami's frame. The brunette ducked, watching as a wave of light zoomed past her following the swing of his blade, slicing the random rubble behind her in half. Tsunako lunged forth for another attempt, but Nami would beat him to the punch; a right hand placed upon her left wrist as she fired off a ray of light magic, just for her brother to deflect it with his blade and sending it awry. Slowly loading the blade to reveal an enticed grin upon his features, Nami and Tsunako stared each other down once more just before lunging towards each other once more to restart their exchange.
On the other side, Taya and Noboru officially engaged. Tayakata sent vector after dark vector, aiming to pierce straight through Noboru with no remorse, only for the demon to shelter himself with his own vectors; creating a shell around him that caused Taya's own attack to simply bounce off of him. "You and your basic tricks, Taya. You're facing the real owner of that curse of yours!" He boasted, sliding past the rest of her vectors to appear just beneath her โ crouched with a right fist aimed for her abdomen. Not only did the punishing blow connect, just before Taya could be sent flying, two of Noboru's vectors sprung forth again, wrapping around her legs to slam her into the ground. A few more gave pursuit, attempting to impale her where she laid, but Taya was able to roll out of the way of each one before regaining her bearings. As she stood, Noboru charged again. This time, Taya slammed her palms into the ground, creating a moveset that allowed her vectors to travel beneath the surface before violently sprouting up again to attack her father. Again, he wasn't fazed.
"Hard of hearing?!" He shouted. "I said your tricks have no effect on me! Look deep inside that conscious of yours! I taught you these moves! You just don't remember!"
"Do you ever shut up!?" She cried out sending more and more vectors forward in a desperate attempt to take him out, even if just temporarily at this point. Noboru was skating right past them until he came face to face with Taya once more. Aiming a fist for her abdomen once more, something surprising to him came forth instead. Taya gave off a sly visage as she slid to her left to avoid the incoming punch, spinning her body to lead with her right foot as she then slammed the heel of that foot against the underside of her father's chin. Along with that, a bundle of vectors spiraled around her leg simultaneously to the kick, sky rocketing upwards and piercing into Noboru one by one. Astonishing indeed, and as the demon grabbed on to one of them with his hands as they launched him higher and higher, he called out.
"Don't get too cocky!" Upon his exclamation, Noboru pressed his hands together, and instead of appearing from his body, a multitude of black arrows appeared from thin air around him and even Taya. Each arrow faced a different direction, and with a mighty pull not only did Noboru free himself from Taya's vectors, he then used the arrows floating around him to take off, picking up speed at an alarming rate as he zoomed around her relentlessly. Tayakata could barely keep up, desperately trying to keep track of Noboru as he would charge right past her, throwing powerful punches each time. She could barely get her arms up to defend each high octane blow, leaving even her defenses in danger as Noboru kept up his act.
"Don't tell me you're stuck already, my daughter!?" Noboru shouted as he slammed a powerful haymaker to Taya's jaw. She stumbled, allowing blood to drop from her lips like a running faucet before finally wiping it clean. "Does his arrows work for anything?" She asked. There was only one way to find out, and as she ran towards the closest one, it illuminated before sending her high into the air like a rocket, just as the direction it pointed. arrow after arrow she began to pick up speed, just about to match Noboru's own until a harsh reality hit her.
"Fool." He spoke, holding out his right hand and twisting it to manipulate the next arrow she was flung to. That arrow sent her right back to the one she came from against her will, and with another twist of his hand, Noboru caused that arrow to point straight down, sending Tayakata crashing right into the ground painfully โ leaving a crater in her wake.
"Taya!" Nami shouted, disregarding Tsunako altogether for only a second. That was all the time he needed, disappearing in a flash of light just to appear directly before Nami with his blade pointed towards her. "Don't take your eyes off of me!" He shouted, jutting his blade forward multiple times to create slashes of light curse that pierced into Nami's flesh over and over again while she let out an agonizing scream of pain and terror.
Meanwhile, as Taya forced herself to her feet, wobbling, Noboru remained floating above, standing above one of his many arrows that kept him afloat. "Sorry my daughter. But this is where I must end it. You've failed your purpose here, so it's time to rid this world of your presence." As he spoke, a plethora of vectors sprouted from his back, using the arrows to their advantage as each vector would pick up speed whilst shooting in sporadic, separate directions. Each vector would ram directly into a fading Taya; cutting, slicing into her skin, and piercing through her flesh as she gave her best attempt to stay alive by sheltering her main vitals with merely just her limbs and vectors. A heinous laugh echoed from her father as she did so, watching the Vector Demon gradually succumb to this one sided fight. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you need that human of yours by your side that much, do you!? I really have failed you as a father, haven't I?! No matter. All will be erased soon! Good bye...Tayakata!"
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"Ruika!? Why now!?" Lucy asked as Ruika's spirit Orion took aim once more. "What kind of dumb question is that?" She barked back with an evil grin. "Because I want to crush all you goodie goodie key holders, that's why! Orion!"
"Yes princess!" The spirit shouted, firing off a plethora of arrows that would glow in a bright white light, rushing directly for Lucy. At the last second, Loke would step in front, using his Regulas light to swat them away and leave Lucy unscathed. The blonde turned back to the Tartarus outcast with an angered look of her own, but that look turned to caution as Ruika raised another key above her head. "Open, Gate of the Cave Dweller: Batto!"
Though, with the call of her spirit, nothing seemingly happened. Seconds went by with only Ruika and Orion grinning. Then suddenly, from beneath the waters, an enormous bat appeared โ expanding its wings to relieve himself of the water he appeared from. "It's been a while, woman." The beast of a spirit spoke. Orion immediately fired back. "That's princess Ruika to you! Or lady Ruika!"
"Shut up." Ruika added, causing Orion to clam it. She then pointed back to Lucy, and without saying a word, Batto inhaled the air around him. With his lungs expanded, Batto then released a powerful screech; so strong that the sound waves were visible as they traveled directly towards Lucy.
"Princess!" Virgo shouted, leaping towards the unready Heartfilia Just to cover her ears to the best of her ability. Unfortunately, that left Virgo exposed to the powerful screech โ doing her best to suffer through the painful earache without having to leave Lucy vulnerable.
"Virgo! Stop!" She yelled, but the spirit was unable to hear her, not that she would in the first place. Like, holding his own ears closed, took the initiative by leaping towards the bat spirit and swinging a powerful right kick towards its head. Batto evaded it, but at least the action caused him to cease his own. That's when Virgo stumbled back, nearly falling into the water before Lucy caught her. "Virgo! Close your gate!"
"Nuh uh!" Ruika teased with a wagging finger. "Look around you, Heartfilia. Thanks to Batto, this entire area is now distorted from his screams. That means no one is leaving this space!"
"Tch!" Lucy scowled before turning back to her dear friend Virgo who began pushing herself back to a full stance. "I'm okay, Princess. I can still fight as long as you need me to."
"Virgo..."
"How touching." Ruika mocked. "She should stay a while. Especially since it's the last time she'll ever see you."
"Don't forget about me, now!" Jackal shouted, appearing to Ruika's right and lounging in her direction with his right hand extended. Just before contact, Orion stepped in, revealing his shield from his back and using it to defend against Jackal, who caused an explosion from shield to hand impact. Orion went sliding back a great deal, right past Ruika who stepped out of the way โ looking at her own spirit in disgust. She then turned that energy towards Jackal as Torafusa reared his head from the waters once again. Launching himself right for Batto, the demon swung his bladed forearm towards the bat, hitting him right in the chest. A shout of pain resonating, Batto was sent flying into the ceiling before free falling towards the water.
"They're fighting each other.." Lucy pointed out. "It's hard to tell who is part of which group, but it seems there's two different Tartaros groups. So undoubted, Ruika isn't with these two..."
Before he could hit the water, Batto recovered, flipping back upright before turning his eyes back to an incoming Torafusa. Ruika then gained an angered look as Orion was forced to the defensive against Jackal once more โ keeping his master safe from yet another explosion. "You think you two can interrupt me like this? I'll just add to the numbers game, and with my Strongest spirit! I'll clear you both and Lucy out in one go! Open, Gate of the Hell Dragon! Draco!"
A powerful rumble occurred, causing the current to race and for waves to form from its magnitude.
"Three spirits!?" Virgo shouted in surprise. Loke on the other hand stood in shock, remembering the name Ruika called for. "Draco..." And just as his facial expression showed, Loke's fear came forth as a massive dragon, barely fitting within the cavern appeared. It's roar caused the cavern to shake uncontrollably, causing rocks to fall from the ceiling as it took a deep breath before unleashing am enormous torrent of flames that would sweep the entire area.
"Even the water is hot from the flames!?" Lucy thought to herself, submerged along with Virgo and Loke. "I have to do something...I might not be able to close Virgo's gate...but maybe I can..."
Lucy grabbed another key, holding it outward as she re-emerged from the raging waters. That key would glow brightly as the wielder then called forth.
"Aquarius!"
โโโโโ
"Goodbye...Tayakata!" Noboru shouted. The plethora of vectors were merely a distraction, for the real threat flew towards Taya from behind, aiming right for her spine. At the last second she realized, but as she turned around...
The dark arrow pierced right through her abdomen. Taya's eyes widened as she gagged from the painful blow. Two petite hands wrapped around the arrow's length as she held her ground. What came next was a blood curdling scream of her name...
"NAMI!" Tayakata shouted, noticing her sister directly in front of her with Noboru's arrow stabbed directly through her. Baring her teeth in an attempt to remain on her feet, Nami managed a smile as she turned back to Taya while the vector disappeared. "I...got it..don't worry. I'm fine..."
All three of them, Tsunako, Noboru, and Taya looked on as Nami eventually fell forward lifeless in her sister's arms. Raven colored locks shaded her eyes as Taya held her close, slowly dropping to her knees as she laid Nami down on the ground. Her jaw clenched tightly, but it was unseen by Tsunako who was grinning with his blade tightly gripped in his right hand, crouching. "I'll finish her for rather while she's distracted!" He said aloud to himself, darting towards Taya from behind.
"Tch. Tsunako you fool." Noboru spat, but as the demon closed in Taya, he was met with obsidian eyes, filled with an insidiously growing malice. Tears welled within those eyes, but the anger overpowered her sadness as she stood once more. Before Tsunako could swing his sword, he was met with a vector wrapped around his neck and squeezing tightly. Immediately he was turning shades of purple, dropping his weapon and gasping for air before Taya raised him high into the air, only to violently drop him into the ground.
"GACK" was the weird sound Tsunako made, simultaneously to the audio of bones cracking from an extremely high impact. Weakly, he reached for Taya as if begging for mercy, but Taya saw nothing but red as she swung Tsunako around once more, crash landing him into every piece of debris in the way, changing the landscape with Tsunako's body. Noboru watched quietly, but not in dismay, but with delight โ his grin growing and growing into a smile as he watched the enraged Tayakata. "That's right! That's the Tayakata I was looking for all along! Show me that strength you're hiding! Show me that rage!"
Screaming at the top of her lungs, Taya raised Tsunako into the air once more, this time releasing him and retracting that vector from his throat. Barely even conscious, Tsunako gave a weak smile as he remained hovered above. "It's finally over..." He thought, until Taya released an uncountable amount of vectors that continuously stabbed into Tsunako over and over again until it would literally rip him into shreds, leaving nothing but Etherious blood and dust as the demon cried out in agony one last time.
This time, even Noboru was surprised as he looked on speechless. Yet, he was still positive about the situation, unfazed by Tsunako's instant death. He was almost drooling at the mouth at this point. "My sweet, precious daughter! Finally you've awaken! And who would have thought that all it took was to kill your worthless sistโ"
Before he could finish that sentence, a strong right fist slammed into his jaw, sending the older male flying before he recaptured his bearings once more. Wiping his jaw, he then began to properly assess the situation at hand. "It seems she hasn't calmed down yet. She might not have her senses back yet...but this is the Tayakata I foresaw when creating her. I can't kill her. This is who we need to complete our goals. Daityas...she's here! I'll tame her, then we will take on Marde and Zeref. Then, demons will rule this world!"
That's when he stood up once more with open arms, this time ready for Tayakata. "Come to me, daughter! Let me show you the absolute potential of your abilities!"
โโโโ
"Aquarius!" She shouted, causing the waters behind her to rise. "Three spirits!?" Loke shouted in surprise along with Virgo who was now preoccupied with Lamy. "I don't care who you summon!" Jackal shouted, lunging towards Lucy, only for a torrent of water to push him away violently. "Back away." Her voice rung, Aquarius showing herself as the water fell back to its normal levels. "You came." The joy on Lucy's face was unmatched, though she was now too weak to move on her own, the magic in her body quickly leaving her thanks to the summoning of three spirits.
"Oh?" Ruika hummed. "Three as well? That's surprising for someone who runs off of magic. That's why I wanted to finish you first. But there's a difference between magic and curse power, as you know. Curse power never runs out! I can summon all of my keys if I wanted to! But Draco and Batto should be enough!"
"And me, Princess!" Orion shouted proudly, to which Ruika responded coldly, "Shut up."
"It's too bad none of that will matter!" Lamy rung out. From behind her, Torafusa sprung forth to pursue Ruika and her spirits. Orion stepped forth to defend his master, but with all eyes on the two, it was Batto that was actually in trouble. From behind, leaping just above him, Jackal appeared with his hand tightly gripped around Batto's neck. "Boom." He spoke, and following, a powerful explosion occurred right there. Through the smoke, all that could be seen was Batto, falling towards the water before turning into nothing.
All eyes were on the action, and because of that, Torafusa was able to dive back into the water nearly undetected. Aquarius noticed just in time to send her water flying his way, but Torafusa swam right through it without any issue.
"He can swim through my water?!" She questioned the obvious.
"Wait...Batto is gone! Lucy, close our gates beforeโ"
"You're not going anywhere." Jackal said, springing up from behind both Loke and Virgo. Two more explosions occurred, taking both Loke and Virgo out with a single blow. At the same time, Torafusa scored a devastating blow with his blade against Aquarius's shoulder.
"Stay away from my prey! Leave Lucy to me!" Ruika shouted, and Draco roared once again, creating another torrent of flames that would begin scorching Torafusa as he attempted to shield himself with his bare arms.
"One hit!?" Loke questioned as his and Virgo's gate forcibly closed after Jackal's assault. All that was left for Lucy was Aquarius, who was injured from Torafusa's attack.
And what came next, left the entire area in shock and awe.
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The fight between an enraged Tayakata and a very proud Noboru raged on โ vectors flying towards each other at a deadly pace and precision, only for the other to counter with their own. Neither side was breaking through, but Noboru had no plans to anyways. He kept that smile of his visible as Taya continued her angered strikes. "This is the best I've ever seen you, Taya! I'm so glad you've had it in you!"
"SHUT UP!" She yelled, creating a bunch of vectors in thin air just as Noboru did before. He looked around, highly impressed to the point he started blushing; nearly drooling like a wolf in front of its prey. "Look at you! Unlocking your curse's potential! More! More! Go to where I couldn't!"
She held out a single right hand, sending Noboru flying backwards, running into another vector that sent him high into the sky on a vertical burst. Using her own vectors for the same means of transportation, Taya was now above Noboru, aiming a bare heel to his skull. Able to see her at the last second, the demon braced himself with an opposing forearm. The power behind her kick still caused him to crash into the ground below, cushioning what he could from the initial strike. "This is all well and good, and she's almost there, I can feel it. But...I'm certain she might kill me before she reaches her true potential. Should I stop her, or risk it? With Daityas's help I can easily convince her to join our side once I subdue her, but I have to make a decision soon..."
He pondered for the second of breath he was allowed, but as Taya appeared before him again, attempting to stab him straight through his spine, that was enough for Noboru. He rolled out of the way, staying close enough to quickly use his vectors to wrap around Taya's frame. With the primary ones constricting Taya from moving her arms and legs, more a more would form from his back, slowly covering Taya's entire frame. She couldn't move no matter how much she tried, allowing Noboru a sigh of relief. "As fun as this experiment as been, Taya, we'll have to pick this up later. Welcome home, my daughter."
She struggled and grunted, desperately trying to free herself. As the vectors neared covering her completely, the last sight she saw was Nami laying on the ground, unmoving.
And what came next, left the entire area in shock and awe.
A straight line of devastation occurred, breaking through Noboru's vectors with ease as well as half of Plutogram, breaking it into pieces almost. Noboru fell backwards, losing his grip on his daughter as he tumbled away before finally regaining his bearings. "What the hell was that!?" He yelled, looking around. As he looked behind him, he saw, and looked on in shock. "Who the hell, should I say, is that!?"
Over the horizon, a crying Lucy and a large celestial being stood before the King of Hades, Marde Geer, and one Ruika stood off to the side with Orion after retracting Draco to his key. "What...? She summoned her Celestial King? What...what does it take to do that!? Does she think she's better than me!? How! I need to know how right now! Wait...let me recall what happened. That Jackal shit was about to get to her, but her spirit told her to..."
"Break her key." Orion finished, and Ruika looked his way. "If she can summon three or more spirits at a time, she had the power to summon her Celestial King."
Ruika looked on, still puzzled. "So, if you can summon more than two spirits, all you have to do is break a key?"
"Not just any key." Orion foolishly continued. "For her, it'd have to be one of the Zodiac keys. In terms, if you were to do it, Princess, it would have to be a cursed key like Draco, or Batto."
"Or you?" She asked, staring at Orion without any love loss. Orion's eyes slowly widened as Ruika raised his key forward. "Milady! Wait! That isn't necessaryโ"
"You've served me for far too long with your failures, Orion. Now come, open!
Gate of the Cursed King!"
