Chapter 140 - Okada Izou
In the distance, far from the area where all components had gathered, a lone masculine figure stood at the top of a mountain peak, overlooking the soon-to-be taking place battle between one man with a simple-looking sword, slowly drawn from it's sheath with one hand, against a group of girls. Each of them having their own unique abilities and fighting methods. The masculine however, released a deep, dark and distorted chuckle at the sight, what looked like some form of cloak or a coat flapping in the wind. Is eyes, cloaked in darkness, glowered down towards the females and males down below, a look of barely disguised condescendence about them.
"Those FOOLS… they do NOT understand… WHAT it IS they will FACE… there was a REASON… why I chose THIS particular SUMMON… a SUMMON from ONE… of MANY well RENOWNED… warriors of HISTORY… It is TRULY a PATHETIC WASTE, that these MORONS have FORGOTTEN… the tales of FANTASTIC warriors of OLD…"
The masculine figure sighed, crossing his arms under his chest although the darkness concealing him from view made it so this action would not be seen by anyone other than himself, and even then he would only feel the soft leathery feeling that came with the action. Though, if one could truly look at him, gaze into the abysses that were his eyes, then they would see that the man held little to no sense of any emotion his words may imply. As if he simply didn't care…
Which he didn't.
Not one bit honestly.
Humanity, Demons, Monsters. To him, they were all nothing but pathetic mongrels whom were the most useful as forms of entertainment. The men were best when they screamed and whimpered under the lash. The women were only useful as stress relivers, cum dumpsters, or whatever he so desired. The children, a bit of both, and this was the case for Monsters and Demons as well.
Nevertheless, as much as he looked down on these pathetic meat bags, he hoped that this next upcoming battle will provide him with SOME form of entertainment.
Maybe that faint sense of demonic power, one that would be rapidly approaching would make it more exciting. It wasn't on the level of even a low-class DPU, not to mention it wasn't that guy since it had a different feel to it…
One could only hope…
Even though that word utterly sickened him to the core.
Silence…
All was silent on the platform as both sides eyed each other, wary of their enemy. Well, one side was wary, whilst the other still had a cocky, arrogant-looking smirk on his face whilst he got in his combat stance. He held his sword in one hand whilst leaning forwards slightly, nothing else could be noted about his stance. It looked barley like a stance at all, as it left him unguarded on all sides. However, in spite of this, each girl plus Guts, Isaac and Stefan (whom told his men to stay back lest they get slaughtered. They would have protested against any other enemy, but against Okada they would comply without question) instantly noted that there was an ominous 'pressure' oozing out of him. A pressure that DARED them to try and attack him, to see how that would lead them. It… definitely set their instincts into overdrive, heightening their wariness of this man.
"You guys, I'll go in, you all follow suit." Black Heart stated, gripping Balmung with both hands as she prepared herself for her first strike. "Vert, it'd be best if you stick to using Gungnir at range for now, at least then he'll not be able to get close to you before you do it." she explained quickly, glancing to the aforementioned CPU. Thinking about it, Green Heart would be the one to stay as far away from the frontlines as possible, since her power was limited by Gungnir due to her circumstances. If she were to get in close and somehow (not sure if that would be possible though) she lost that divine Spear, then she'd also lose HDD and everything that came with it… not like she'd lose much though.
In Black Heart's mind, Green Heart looked to be like a CPU on life support. She never got the chance to think much about the way she'd manage to regain some of her powers, but in that moment, she couldn't help but make that comparison. When she was back up in Celestia, and now… to her, there was a world of difference in power between the two. It wasn't the good kind either, in fact if this situation were any different and Black Heart didn't have to focus on anything else like training, fighting Demons, other enemies or politics, then she would bitterly laugh at the difference. She felt sure that Leanbox's CPU was aware of it too, hence why the woman merely nodded as she floated backwards.
Okada just stood there, waiting for them to make the first move. It made no difference to him which one went in, they could even group up on him and it would still not make a difference. The smirk on his lips, and the mocking look in his eyes, spoke all of these thoughts clearly to the others.
Some found it reasonable…
Others, not so much.
Finally, with a war cry, Black Heart dashed forth, breaking into a mad flight path towards Okada with Balmung reared back for a spinning slash to his shoulder. A smirk spread across his lips when Okada lifted his sword and slashed, blocking the slash and creating a ripping shockwave through the air. Black Heart gritted her teeth, already startingto store her energy into the blade whilst se twisted into another slash from the opposite side, which also got blocked when Okada twisted his arm so that the sword's hilt pointed the blade of his sword downwards. Black Heart didn't let this get to her as she used the momentum to bring Balmung up for an overhead slash, one that Okada blocked as well.
All of that happened in a few seconds by the way, each strike from the man being accompanied by a loud FWOOM sound.
Gritting her teeth, Black Heart scowled as she quickly activated the Fafnir Armour, feeling the blood of an Abnormal flowing into her heart whilst the Armour formed and enhancing her combat abilities further. Her eyes quickly morphed into their draconic forms as well, her hair becoming wilder and increasingly savage-looking. The increase in strength however, did little to push back the simple sword impeding Balmung, much to Black Heart's annoyance whilst she poured energy into the blade. It's jewel slowly gaining an orange glow.
"Huh, that's interesting…" Okada mused, eyeing these changes whilst their weapons madly trembled and sparks violently flew between them. Even so, he remained with that cocky smirk of his that set Black Heart off more than she'd care to admit. Okada them, with a FWOOM sound, responded faster than Black Heart could react, quickly pushing their swords upwards before he shoulder-bashed her, and much too her surprise Black Heart fell to the ground, coughing up saliva from the unexpected attack on her person.
She quickly slammed her free hand into the ground and side flipped over another slash though, one she did NOT feel like getting hit by, her instincts screaming this at her. Turned out to be a good call, for that one slash created a huge gust of wind which tore through the space where she once lay. 'Holy…' the Lastation CPU had to think to herself, draconian eyes shrinking slightly at the sight before she pushed her hand, that still planted itself into the ground, upwards to launch herself away from the man.
What she did NOT expect though, was for him to suddenly appear in front of her whilst she was still in mid-flight, kicking her in the stomach with enough force to launch her flying into the side of a cliff. "Gah!"
"Noire!"
Purple Heart, Compa and IF were the ones who called out her name in unison as they saw her go down. The first called turned to look at Okada, who once again put his sword on his shoulder and let out a cocky grin, making the 'come' gesture much to her ire. "You…!" Purple Heart scowled, already dashing forth with IF hot on her heels, as they closed in on their opponent. IF came from the left and Purple Heart came from the right, all the while Compa encircled them from above, quickly activating BARD OF OVERDRIVE to enhance her friends' physical abilities. Unfortunately for her, Gabriel could only use one of it's powers at a time, so she had chosen to amplify her comrades for the time being. She wasn't as good as he would of liked to be at swordplay just yet, at least enough to work with the others and against this guy, her gut told her to keep herself at a distance.
Their opponent showed little care though, as Okada held his sword in front of him in a one-handed Kendo stance, and as Purple Heart, with Soul Calur in the form of dual Kodachi swords, swung at his neck to decapitate him, he parried it and the follow-up strike from the CPU that went for his face. "Wow, no honor here, huh? Targeting the face these days…" he remarked, ginning as he leaned back, sidestepped and vaulted around Purple Heart's attacks before jumping over a massive horizontal swing from IF (one that Purple Heart had to jump back to dodge because of the large reach of IF's blades).
IF quickly launched her Tendrils at her opponent, intending to spear him whilst he was in the air. In her mind, if he were in the air, he'd be defenceless against her attack…
"Hm, not bad I guess, for a lesser warrior. How about this?"
"?!"
A thought process that got smashed out of existence when she saw his sword arm become a blur of motion.
"Have some of my sword, why don't you?"
SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH, SLASH!
In that moment, all her Tendrils got sliced down to 3/4 of their original length, making IF curse under her breath whilst wincing behind her helmet from the sharp pains that came with losing so much of her Tendrils. Stumbling backwards, IF barely twisted herself out of the way in time, when Okada's sword came down on her shoulder. Just like before, his slash left a long, jagged fissure along the platform, though in a reverse horizontal sash Okada sliced through IF's torso armour faster than she could react, much to her shock.
'What?! How the fuck could he slice through reinforced armour?!' The brunette could only think as she jumped backwards, shifting her left blade into a shield merely out of self-reservation whilst her Armour regenerated. She glared at Okada, hate shining behind the eyepieces of her helmet as Purple Heart came down from above, Soul Calibur in it's default form as she made an overhead slam when Okada wasn't looking…
Only for him to suddenly vanish like a sonic boom.
"Wha-?!"
"Sorry (not really), but nope!"
SLASH!
IF gasped once again, when Okada appeared before her and dashed behind her, a slash appearing by her blade arm and completely severing it from her body in one fluid display of swordplay. Pain raced through her stump to the rest of her body, a pain that she quickly suppressed ion favour of turning around to try and morph her remaining arm into another weapon to counter him… only for dozens of slash marks to appear all over her body, spewing blood everywhere. "Guh!"
"Oh?" Okada's voice sounded as he materialized in front of her, about 10 steps away from the woman. The man's eyebrow arched as he cupped his chin, a look of almost childish curiosity about him. "I was sure that I cut al four of your limbs off with that one…" he muttered, all the while raising his sword to block Purple Heart's Soul Calibur in the form of a large two-handed sword similar to it's default form, only this one had a straight blade with a V shaped tip, protruding from a crystalline guard where Soul Calibur's core was embedded in the centre of. "I guess that little lady above you next to the green haired bombshell is responsible for that..." Okada mused as he glanced up towards Compa n the air, then to Green Heart who looked to be eyeing the battle intensely, looking for any sign of an opening. He then looked towards the sword he was blocking, and an interested expression formed on his features. "A sword which changes forms? And it combines good and evil, too…"
In a flash, Okada kicked Purple Heart away from him and hopped back, reflexively too, as he dodged a series of crystal spikes which surfaced where he used to stand. "Looks like it has other powers, too…" the man mused to himself, his signature smirk back on his face." He then repeated this action to avoid more spikes attacking him the moment he landed on solid earth, keeping him on the move…
Right into the path of a certain Black Swordsman.
"Whoa, a big guy huh?" the man exclaimed as he vaulted around a slam from Guts' Dragonslayer sword. "Armour doesn't look too shabby either, I guess." He remarked, swinging his sword at he back of Guts' neck in retaliation. Guts quickly ducked under it though, only losing a few hair strands thanks to the immense speed of Okada's counterattack, which he repaid in kind by twirling into a reverse swing, then a diagonal slash and finally a series of horizontal slashes, all in rapid succession. Okada managed to avoid all of them with ease though, much to Guts' frustration. Even so Okada couldn't help but let out a joyful laugh whilst the two exchanged a deadlock. "Fu, hahahaha! I am strong! I am a prodigy! I am unrivaled!" he bellowed, angling his blade so that Dragonslayer slid down it's edge before he used the rear of its's hilt to pommel smash Guts' face.
"Grr!"
Whilst Guts fell back, barely dodging 4 slashes at the same time thanks to the speed of Okada's sword arm, Okada flipped over a surprise attack made from Purple Heart, whose Soul Calibur reverted to it's default form. "Whoa there, steady now girl!" Okada playfully taunted, chuckling in amusement as he landed with one hand one the ground, sliding to a halt. "Your swordplay is decent I guess, but nothing too impressive." He stated, with that same look.
It made the blood of the CPU begin to boil.
"Well then, why don't you take this then! ATOMIC INFERNO-CALUBUR EDITION!" Purple Heart bellowed, swinging Soul Calibur and launching over 100 energy rays at her opponent. Each of them came at Okada from all angles, meaning that there would be no dodging this attack. That was what she thought he would do… but instead, Okada just raised his sword and simply cut through them, spinning about and becoming a blur of motion himself whilst slashing through every energy ray. Until they were all gone that is. "Wha… what the hell?!"
Okada grinned at her expression of disbelief, hefting his sword as he used it to block a Dragonslayer, organic Blade, and surprisingly a Balmung from behind him, all at once. "Never underestimate a superior swordsman girlie." He stated, before flicking his sword upwards and sending the owners of the ones he had been blocking backwards by a full 20 meters.
Several plasma rounds came at him from his right flank, and Okada reflexively slashed through all of them to look towards Isaac, whom had his plasma Cutter out. He then threw his hand out, catching Okada in a Stasis field which he then called out to the others. "Guys, if you have any big attacks ready, now's the time to use them!" he bellowed.
Several nods escaped them, and in response…
"BALMUNG – TWILIGHT WAVE!"
"GUNGNIR!"
Both Green Heart (who reverted to being Vert when it happened only for Compa to catch her) and the newly recovered Black Heart, each took this opportunity for themselves, the former by charging up and throwing Gungnir towards the captured Okada whilst Black Heart, whom had used the time away from the battle to store up he needed energy for her strongest attack, unleashed a TWILIGHT WAVE on him with both attacks slamming into Okada's position with lethal force and… explosive results.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Power, dust and smoke erupted from the point of impact, filling the air around the platform with its reach whilst everyone inside began coughing like hell when the smoke entered their windpipes. The heat and humidity of the attack also had been boosted by the two attacks bolstering each other to new heights, and anyone whom had been too close to the epicentre got blown backwards. Luckily, that wasn't anyone in the group though. But, in their minds, they felt that Okada would be a different story.
"#COUGH#, #COUGH# … G-Geez, those girls…" Stefan muttered whilst coughing, with a fist clenched over his mouth. His men also did the same thing, some even leaning onto each other for support during their coughing fits, others waving the smoke away with whatever weapons they possessed. "Th-They really don't know when to keep it on the downlow, huh…?"
Though, h couldn't blame them. any other opponent wouldn't be enough for them to resort to such large-scale attacks whilst in a mall area like this. However, Okada would be a prime exception to this rule, especially with the skills he had harnessed back In the early days of the Console War. 'Seriously, that guy… if that didn't do him in, then we will be in for a world of pain…' the man thought to himself. A twisted grimace escaped him whilst e suppressed the urge to curse his lungs out, since they were still burning whilst trying to intake some air.
"You think that did it…?" Stefan heard one of his men ask to his comrade whilst finishing up his coughing fit. His comrade didn't answer however, as he was still struggling with his own, something that Stefan could relate as he swung Ashbringer in their direction, dispersing the smoke for his men to finally regain the ability to breathe.
Unfortunately, he had to douse the small hope that blossomed within his men with a grim reminder of just who Okada really was. "If someone like Okada would be done iin by this, then we wouldn't remember him as the swordsman we know him as." He stated, getting their attention as he released a grim sigh. "Remember men, this is the man who, when holding his sword in two hands, took out an Abnormal that over 400 Spec Ops couldn't take down after a large battle… but for him, it took up to 4 minutes. Then he whipped it up into some sake afterwards, and back then he used two hands, not the one-handed sword style he's been using so far. This battle is FAR from over, count on it."
"…Is he serious…?" Black Heart questioned as she and Green Heart (Vert having re-transformed thanks to the appearance of her Spear) regrouped with the rest of them. Copa remained in the air however, wanting to wait until they were absolutely sure that their attack had gotten their target. They had just congratulated themselves, when they heard Stefan's story about Okada's skill with a blade. "He must be, that guy couldn't move thanks to Mr Clarke's stasis." She added on, pointing her thumb over to the said Spec Ops Agent whom had stood next to a panting Guts. "Stories are exaggerated all the time to make them more epic to their listers, after all." She added whilst pridefully placing hr hands on her hip and upturning her nose.
Purple Heart however, listened to his voice when he had spoken, and with what she heard the CPU felt it difficult to believe her companion's claim. "I'm not so sure, it didn't feel like he had been exaggerating when he did so, to me." She replied, caution filling her voice. That guy, he may have looked plain, but the strength of his blows definitely reached the realm of superhuman, maybe more. She knew this cause, when she looked down at her hands, especially the one holding Soul Calibur, she realized that they were trembling, trembling from the many collisions she had with that man's sword. Not to mention that he had definitely been holding back, her warrior's instincts told her so.
"Well, whatever the case may have been, there should be no way that he would have survived that strike… Gungnir would have made it so," Green Heart concluded, looking down at her Spear. One of its traits was that it always returned to her when thrown, and that only happened when it made contact with the enemy. No to mention that it bent space around it to make it so it couldn't be intercepted, therefore even with his supposed skill with a blade, Okada should have met his end by Gungnir's hand. If not by her weapon, then by Balmung's since it's attack power had been substantially more formidable.
That is…
Until a certain man's voice spoke up.
"Hate to burst your bubbles ladies, but honestly those attacks weren't all that much,"
Eyes shot open and a collective gasp tore through h their throats. Quickly turning around whilst raising their weapons (and Compa once again reapplying BARD OF OVERDRIVE), they all bore witness to a familiar sword dispersing the last of the smoke. That action, allowed them full view of the manslayer known as Okada himself, that prideful smirk on his face like normal whist he had… pretty much zero injuries on him.
"It wasn't actually a bad attempt, for amateurs I'd say. But sadly, for you all, I've dealt with many attacks like that in my time. Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me about that story gramps. I had honestly forgotten about that thing, was pretty easy if I do say so myself." He mused, reaching behind him and pulling out what looked like a small gourd. He uncapped it's lid and began taking a large swig of it's contents, releasing a satisfied sigh right after. "Ah, that's some good sake…" he muttered in bliss, before he got back into that one-handed stance once more. "Alright, now that I have had some refreshment, let's go."
Meanwhile, the Masculine figure overlooking this battle, previously with boredom…
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
… Currently bowed over, hands on his gut it seemed like, whilst laughing his ass off at the utterly dumbfounded looks on the brats' faces whilst they saw how their so called 'big attack' (he'd seen and dealt with MUCH bigger ones in his lifetime) got shrugged off like it's no big deal. A perverted part of him imagined Okada making to simply 'shake it off' like that one song made by that woman whose name began with an S and ended with an A. Even though he had been reduced to a laughing mess, the darkness around him made it so that he would not be heard even by someone with super-vulcan hearing.
Even if they COULD hear him, in this moment he wouldn't even care.
"A-And to THINK, he-he-he hasn't even BEGUN to SHOWCASE his POWER just YET! Ohohohohoho! OHH, this is just GLORIOUS!"
It took a while for him to calm down, and more than a few times the laughing fests resumed whenever he looked upon the shocked onlookers faces, even that purple haired woman's face on the opposite end looked absolutely dumbfounded! How comical! He just couldn't get enough of this! The looks on those dumb broads' faces is just priceless to him, that was pretty much all there was to it. Oh, how right he had been to resurrect that guy, even if he went on a killing spree against orders. He had made it so that guy could kill whoever he wanted, and so far, it seemed like he had only went against them at 10% of his power.
Looked like, according to his senses once he eventually DID calm down, that would be changing. It seemed like Okada would be upping the ante just a little…
Also, it looked like that demonic signature has been getting closer during this battle, no if anything it seemed to be trying to get here as fast as possible.
Well, no matter.
By the time it got here, the battle will have been truly over anyways.
Over at the platform…
"Okay, it's official, this guy's a complete nutjob!" Black Heart ranted to her comrades, coming VERY close to pulling her hair out with the frustration boiling in her gut. Not to mention it became worse thanks to the Abnormal blood flowing through her thanks to the Fafnir Armour. A furious grow ripped through her throat as her free hand twitched madly, her other one gripping Balmung's hilt. She'd put a large amount of her energy in that one attack and look what she had to show for it! Nothing!
Green Heart's eyes narrowed as she readied her Gungnir, which pulsated with golden energy in preparation for combat. "It seems that Mr Von Kessel did not exaggerate, if he is capable of surviving Gungnir like that, then he is indeed a formidable warrior. Is this what warriors in the past were like?" she couldn't help but wonder, shuddering. Leanbox WAS a Nation which specialized in Martial Arts, so it wouldn't be impossible for a warrior like this to have existed for a time. She couldn't help but imagine what the Spec Ops would be like if they were to have that kind of talent in their ranks.
"Of course," Stefan stated, holding Ashbringer at the ready with Isaac and Guts at his side, the former having stayed back a bit more so that he could be of better use. He WAS a ranged fighter after all. "This man is NOT to be trifled with, stay alert or you'll-" was all he could say before…
SLASH!
He barely jumped out the way of a slash in time, same as Guts did… although, one of them wasn't so lucky.
"Gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!"
A loud, pained scream ripped itself free from Isaacs 's lips behind his RIG's helmet, roaring into the atmosphere whilst blood splattered over the ground. Isaac's cries never listened as he fell to his knees, clutching his socket with his remaining hand whilst blood oozed out of it like a streaming waterfall, his head hanging over and whilst his expression remained hidden, one could tell it would not be a happy one. The cause: a familiar blade having gone through his arm's socket and cleaving right through with little resistance. The sword that did it belonging to Okada as he appeared behind the man, gently landing on the ground whilst swiping the blood off his sword.
"Whoopsie." Okada remorselessly commented, turning his head to look at the downed man as he swung at him once more. "Just got bored with all the chatter. Ego boosting sure but chatter nonetheless." His blade soon came down on his prey when he finished speaking, only for a familiar Dragonslayer to impede it's progress. Looking up into the furious eye of the Black Swordsman, Okada made to say something before he noticed the prosthetic hand at his face…
One that, upon guts pulling a strap with his teeth, opened up by the palm which flipped backwards, revealing a canon barrel.
Readers can guess what happened next, right?
BOOM!
A loud explosion rocketed the area once more when a large armcannon round go released from the cannon arm itself, as Guts used the recoil to slide back whilst grasping the screaming Isaac and hoisting him over his shoulder. Thankfully, it seemed that Okada didn't realize that his hand had a multitude of different weapons installed in it, one of them being a cannon with enough power to blast a demon's face off. He should know, he did it a few times. Once he slid to a halt, Guts tossed his comrade unceremoniously into the air, just high enough that Compa could catch him. "Take him and close the wound! Its quite bad!" he yelled.
"Y-Yessie!"
Compa quickly responded with an affirmative, quickly flying off to a safe area to try and heal the wounded man. She did her best to try and apply her BARD OF HEALING to the wound during the flight, as carrying an injured patient untreated could cause them to lose their life much quicker. Plus, she couldn't concentrate nearly as much since she had to do multiple things at once, splitting her focus. With her gone however, this meant that everyone would lose the effects of Compa's BARD OF OVERDRIVE, thus they each felt a sudden weight slam onto their shoulders though they didn't show it.
With that out of the way, Guts turned his attention back to where Okada had been… only to curse when he saw a sword descending on him when he wasn't looking, forcing him to bring up Dragonslayer and block it. The result, was a loud CLANG sound that almost resembled a gunshot. He quickly blocked several more slashes that came at him at almost supersonic speeds, ending up in a deadlock with the bony-looking swordsman whose face ended up inches before his own.
"Heh, not bad. Almost didn't expect that one. A second earlier and my face would be gone. You seem like the strongest one in the bunch, no doubt-"
Before he could finish, Guts headbutted Odaka and then made a wide swing towards his head. Okada however, managed to use the recoil and momentum of the headbutt to lean back, flipping into the air and landing in a crouch whilst holding his head. It brought… no small amount of satisfaction from Guts seeing the one whom had injured his comrade like that.
Heaving Dragonslayer with ease, Guts noticed several characters charging at Okada from his flanks, Purple Heart, Black Heart and Green Heart, though the swordsman blurred out of existence and dodged all of them.
"Tch, so close!"
"Don't fret Neptune, we can still-"
Black Heart began to say to her fellow CPU before she quickly flew upwards, her fellow CPU's doing the same to avoid the gust of wind generated by Odaka's sword slash. She then responded by activating ELECTRO CHARGE, amplifying her blade with white lightning as she launched a VACUUM SLASH towards her opponent, an attack which also got imbued with he lightning from her previous Skill. She repeated this process several times, resulting in 10 VACUUM SLASHES from 10 different angles. Much to her pride's dismay, she didn't expect any of them to land their mark on him, therefore when she saw how he easily swung with enough strength to manipulate the air currents around him through sheer swordplay alone (something any sword user would grow green with envy over), Black Heart flew in close and activated ZANDATSU, swinging at his head before he could bring his sword to bear once more…
Only, even in this state Okada countered so fast that she could barely perceive it.
Now, Black Heart felt like karma was kicking her ass for her previous remarks about this guy.
"Hoh, so you can alter your perception so as to increase your reflexes, that's what it looks like at first glance, but in reality, you're slowing your own perception of time. Therefore, you can strike faster or wilder whichever you so choose." Okada mused, a calculating glint in his eyes as he traded blows with the woman, using enough strength to rival a speeding truck colliding with a brick wall. The fact that this woman hadn't buckled under each stroke impressed him… somewhat. "Shame that won't work on me, lassie."
"How about THIS then?!"
Looking to the side, Okada witnessed the sight of Green Heart charging in with Gungnir crackling with energy, swinging towards the side of his face. However, Okada leaned back to avoid it, flipping backwards to kick Black Heart away from him whilst doing so. He then proceeded to swing over 30 times in one second towards Green Heart coming at her from many different angles. She of course, responded by parrying or blocking those strikes, though in her case it felt much more straining to do so. Thanks to not having much time to herself with all the politics going on, not to mention her lack of powers, Green Heart would be the weakest of the four.
Eventually, he saw an opening and slammed his shoulder into her chest, forcing her to strafe back. Then, the bony man ran at her and delivered several slashes to her shoulders and legs, slicing enough to draw blood though her HDD form helped make it so that he couldn't slice through them with the level of strength he displayed currently. "Hmmm, that form you're in is quite resilient, for the current me can't sever your limbs very easily. HOWEVER!" With that yell, Okada managed to sausage flip into a fierce knee to Green Heart's face, getting a loud scream out of her before he twisted again into a downward kick, slamming into the back of Green Heart's head and smashing her into the ground headfirst. "Not enough to challenge me. I'm a prodigy after all."
"Hey, prodigy."
Surprise formed on his face for a brief nanosecond, before he smirked and twirled around, blocking a sword slash from none other than Stefan Von Kessel himself. The blade known as Ashbringer fiercely duked it out with Odaka's nameless word, sparks constantly flying between them whilst the two held their faces close to each other. "Nice of you to warn me, buddy. Coulda just kept quiet, though it would have been useless either way." He remarked, smirking. He then glanced to this place's sole entrance and exit, finding that the men that Stefan had brought over had barred it with their bodies and had held their weapons ready. Looks of stone were on their faces, prompting him to laugh. "I see, you didn't want that woman…" he began, gesturing with his head towards Conversation whom was watching everything play out with baited breath. "Couldn't escape."
"Wouldn't forgive myself otherwise." Stefan replied coldly as the two broke off from each other, only to re-engage in multiple clashes in several seconds. Not to mention that after the second half, Stefan had activated his LIGHT DRIVE, thus becoming bathed in holy energy as well as wings of light emerging from his back, enhancing his speed and agility was well as Ashbringer. With this, he found it much easier to fight against this man, this warrior whom had reached legendary status. "We came to apprehend her for crimes against our Goddess after all. We will NOT let justice be ignored for all the lives tragically lost!"
"Whatever floats your boat, gramps."
After that, the two continuously traded blows, Ashbringer and the nameless sword fiercely and viciously colliding with each other like a pair of animals brawling over territory. Every second that passed, everything got more and more intense with one side's heart pounding faster and faster, even going faster than a Chaingun. Each strike rung loudly like the shot from a rail gun, ripping through the air and, if a normal person got within earshot, their eardrums would have burst from the sheer volume. Not to mention that they had to take small breaks since Guts, the three CPUs and IF took hotshots at Odaka with various Skills and weapon forms. Each one got either blocked, parried or deflected though.
All the while, Stefan himself during the mix of metal clashing against metal, the loud explosions, the mockery from Okada and the rage-filled responses from the girls (especially when Okada called Green Heart 'granny boobs' cause her breasts may start sagging thanks to her lack of Goddess powers), Stefan couldn't help but think about what he had said about what he had said about justice...
Stefan was no fool.
No fool would not see just how bad things were, not just in the Nation but between the people in it too. He recalled the moments where he had seen the Military families mock the Nobility for their childish and annoying behavior, completely ignoring the Nobles who actually tried to HELP the situation as few as they may be. Hell, some of these families didn't actually do that whilst others only did it when their peers forced them to join in lest they risk being humiliated by the rest of them. Peer pressure for the win everyone. He remembered how some of the Nobles did the same thing the Military families did to them, the mocking he meant, right back at them whilst a rarer few only did it because they themselves were trying to defend their names, to stop them from being dragged under the mud.
The man couldn't help but think their deteriorated relationship had only gotten worse during the years that Leanbox first started governing itself without a CPU, when Green Heart left for the Console War. He could imagine how everyone was so happy and psyched up for their Goddess, wishing her good luck and putting 100% of their faith in her, hell maybe even 1000% of it must have been placed... Whatever the case may have been, he felt sue that at the time the Console War seemed like an appealing idea. The times back then WERE not like these ones after all, one could say that those times were when the Nations each had been the most secure and stable they had ever been during their infancy.
That time, nobody must have realize just how BAD an idea that had been.
Whilst the effects of the Console War, for all four Nations, could still be felt to this day, Stefan felt like Leanbox had been impacted the worst out of the four Nations due to the lack of proper advantages over the other Nations that they had. He recalled that during the initial centuries that followed, faith began to decline as the hype settled down, and whilst he didn't know the specific, maybe it was something minor or trivial, but at some point the dissent began from there. The rift between the military families and the Nobles began to form, and it impacted the common populace in various ways. Those in power at the time should have seen this, but in their so called 'wisdom' they left it alone, they thought that the faith they had for Lady Green Heart would be enough to solve the problem. Their blind, fanatical faith which pushed away any other possibilities.
But, thinking at it from his personal perspective, Stefan had to wonder what kind of drugs they were smoking to allow that to happen.
He remembered seeing how Nobles would treat the common people like how animals would be treated, slave trading, abusing children, beating their own servants and treating them like they weren't even human. According to records however, the Nobility in the past had been WAY worse to these poor people, especially women. Children would be a secondary target,w with men being the least important unless it was for labor. Looking back on it Stefan believed that this unrest and anxiety born from the lack of their CPU would have largely been the cause for this, but if he truly believed that then Stefan would bean idiot. It was because of their human emotions, their human fears, that they began to decline, he believed. That because the one they 'believed in' wasn't here their own insecurities rose to the surface, resulting in these horrific atrocities.
The Military families, including the one whom he had been born into, weren't exempt either. No, not with their ancestors desires for war and combat spurring them to take action. How they would constantly fight to wage war against the other nations simply for the thrill of it. The thrill of dying on the battlefield as a means of honor. He recalled how brutal they fought killing anything and anyone whom dared stand in their way, monster or human. How they'd burn down entire villages that 'wouldn't support the war' or launch genocidal attacks on bystanders who couldn't meet their tax quotas, seeing them as 'no longer useful'. To them, violence was their way of life, their nature, and without the CPU to keep that nature in check, to make sure that combat aptitude was used for the betterment of Leanbox in the 'right' way, that nature went out of control. Thus, many raids throughout Leanbox's history were conducted, raids against the other Nations that either succeeded or failed.
No matter the result tough they were kept in secret from those in power, with any loose ends 'dealt with' so they could escape political repercussions. The CPU had made rules for them to follow before her departure thinking that would be enough, however she couldn't have been more wrong. The times grew tough, and once the military families had more power than the Nobility what could only be described as chaos followed. Chaos for the other Nations and Leanbox itself, the latter having it worse since the majority of the families stationed themselves within Leanbox soil. Heck, it was because of them that Okada Izou, among many famous warriors, came into being for their great and horrifying deeds on the battlefield. The blood they had shed.
In the end, both sides grew to despise each other. The Nobles despised the Military families for their barbaric and savage ways, treating them as ants to be squashed whenever they saw fit. Random beatings, blackmail, bullying in both the real and political sense, all of these and more were done against the Military Families whom they believed had become inferior to the 'greatness' that is nobility. As for the Military Families, well... sometimes, many influential and powerful families tended to just 'disappear with no trace of where they had went, usually in the night with next to nothing left of what they once called their possessions. Houses burned to the ground, unrecognizable charred corpses, corpses that were wither stomped on or buried depending on how the investigators felt like. Most of the times the blame was put onto monsters, but looking over the cases himself Stefan had his doubts about those claims. Especially since the proceeds those Noble families had would be 'divvied up' between the families whom would be affected by them, and a large amount of them were the Military ones. Even if someone looked into these shady dealings, they would either be bribed or 'silenced' as well.
Thus, their current relationship became what it is today.
Who was right? Who was wrong?
It would be impossible to answer those questions at this point. There just was no right answer.
Stefan could have sighed at these thoughts, but he was too busy engaging with Okada, then dodging by rolling to the side to let Guts swing his Dragonslayer to really do it. It truly sickened him nonetheless though, how much they had degraded themselves, how bad things had gotten. Not even when he rose to power through the ranks could Stefan even do anything to help improve the relations brought upon these two sides. Their hatred was too deeply embedded into their beings. Even so, he had tried his best, he had built up his reputation as a man with honor and dignity, he showed respect, he stood up for those who couldn't stand for themselves, he made sure that people liked him. Both the Nobility and the Military families. He set himself as someone to be respected and admired, making sure to remain courteous and dignified. At this point, Stefan often found himself: what was even the point anymore? Why should he, along with the other national leaders, try to stop what is pretty much the inevitable destruction of their entire Nation? A Nation filled with tyranny, deception, betrayal and death? If their actions only served to delay the inevitable, then why should they even bother? Those questions haunted him every day since the first time he thought about it.
But even so, he kept hoping, hoping to one day get the answer he achieved...
Starting with helping his CPU get her powers back.
And to do that, he needed to take down this warrior of legend...
Should be a cinch... not.
Finally, the two broke away as Stefan summoned up some of Ashbringer's power, and formed a HAMMER OF JUSTICE, which upon slashing at Odaka, it flew towards him spinning like a wheel to try and hit him on is head. However, Odaka swiftly slashed through the condensed holy attack, something Stefan honestly saw coming as he got in close, unleashing a JUDGEMENT Skill attack which involved him empowering Ashbringer with holy energy and delivering a wide slash to his target, or targets since it was also an AOE attack. Okada managed to block it again though, smirking all the while as Stefan followed up with a TEMPLAR'S VERDICT, which involved him rushing forth and thrusting Ashbringer forth with lightning fast speed, speed that Okada had ZERO trouble sidestepping and deflecting with his skill with the blade. Stefan didn't care, he just continued by twirling around and slashes diagonally, meeting with Okada's sword.
Behind him, the ground became a 6-foot-deep crater from the impact alone in the shape of an acute angle. LIGHT DRIVE allowed Stefan's eyes to glow brightly from the holy energy in them, something which Okada smirked at… before he abruptly vanished, letting Stefan stumble forward with those said eyes widening at the sudden movement. He almost fell into the hole itself that his own sword had made…
"Not bad gramps, you're definitely someone who trained like hell..."
SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!
"Guh!"
Just then, a shadow appeared behind him, causing Stefan's eyes to start trembling especially when he felt a whirlwind of motion happen at his rear. The shadow then whispered into his ear, each word like venom, while being filled with utmost mockery for his skill as a fighter. Even so, the cold, almost icy undertones made Stefan freeze up with all his mobility lost to him. For a moment, he remained there, not even twitching. The shadow then turned away from him, making a dramatic slashing motion at the space in front of the shadow…
But Stefan didn't move. He didn't dare move or counter attack. Or rather… he couldn't, he couldn't move one bit no matter how much his brain tried to order his body otherwise. For a moment, confusion filled him, confusion on why he couldn't move when he had been fine before.
Though, the answer soon came…
When his body fell into the hole… cut apart into many fine straps with blood spewing everywhere like many fountains at once, not a single word being able to escape Stefan's lips as Ashbringer fell to the ground with a heavy clutter, it's core becoming completely dim.
"But sadly for you, i'm a GENIUS, so game over for you."
"OH? It LOOKS like the FIRST domino has FALLEN..."
Once again, the masculine figure commented from his perch atop the vantage point he held, not sitting down whilst watching the show before him. Part of him wished he brought popcorn, just so he could properly enjoy the looks on their faces as they saw the demise of one of their own.
This was something that they should have been aware of. That even those that they were close to, those whom were admired or idolized according to what he had researched about that man, could fall if the foundations were destroyed. Stefan Von Kessel, back in Leanbox, was treated as the beacon of hope by the rest of the people. He himself, and the Ostermark Order by extension, had become well loved by the citizens To the point that many wished the other higher ranking officials of the Nation would be just as good as he had been. The man had the 'purest' record amongst his peers, and for once that wasn't something phony or fishy. He never actually indulged in any shady business like blackmail, extortion and those things.
In other words, he had been a goody two shoes who focused on pathetic shit like other people's problems instead of growing stronger through training. Even had a powerful weapon by the name of Ashbringer, and he STILL didn't train with it nearly as much as he should have. It didn't matter if his expectations were high, in his day, training to be stronger was everything. It utterly repulsed him that the world had 'relaxed' so much to the point that these pathetic Abnormals, monsters who couldn't even hold a tiny candle to the monsters he fought back in the glory days, could bring them trouble.
Serves him right for dying like a dog.
He would clap his hands for Okada for dealing such a waste of air such a fitting end as dying in a ditch. In fact, since he would be so well hidden, the figure did that anyways, just showing how much he LOATHED Stefan Von Kessel.
Now, if only the OTHER leaders could die in similar manners... Maybe then, this world would return to what it should be.
Time slowed itself to a craw, sound becoming non-existent as everyone witnessed the sight before them. In fact, it almost seemed like Black Heart's ZANDATSU had affected the entire area and not just her own perception, although in this case a cold, deathly chill accompanied it so it WASN'T anything like her ability. Eyes widened, pupils slowly shrink whilst breath caught itself in throats. For a moment, some of them thought that this was all a bad dream, an illusion that they would soon wake up from. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't, and that fact soon hammered itself into their minds the more seconds that passed. None of them moved, none of them dared to even speak either, their forms constantly trembling with increasing erratic mannerisms at the sight of such a death. Horror, dread, and terror filled everyone's beings at the brutal death that had just befallen one of their own, at the hands of a powerful enemy.
"This... this is...!"
The moment that Compa flew back to the scene from treating Isaac, though she had several things to report on that front, she made it JUST in time to see Stefan getting sliced to ribbons by that man's sword, which caused the color of her skin to rapidly drain from her body. "O-Oh my g-g-g-g-goddess...!" she spoke, barely above a whisper whilst covering her mouth with her gloved hands.
Down on the ground, each of the CPUs had similar reactions to her...
Though, Green Heart took it the worst as Stefan had been one of her people. The green haired woman trembled furiously, shock racing trough her system like a herd of rampaging animals. She couldn't move, she couldn't speak and her jaw hung open. Her gut clenched together tightly and uncomfortably as a fierce wave of terror raced down her spine.
Over on her side, IF could only gape at the cold, brutal way that Stefan just got murdered in, her eyes shrunken into dots behind her Armour form's helmet. Her eyes trembled and shook, her Blades mimicking those actions whilst shock and disbelief coursed through her system. 'Holy... freaking shit...!' those words constantly appeared an disappeared in her mind, like broken records being put on repeat for hours with no end in sight. She didn't know the guy very well, but she could definitely say she knew enough about him to say that he was a decent man. They'd talked whilst they had been captives after all, and the any fights they had when IF broke them out were something that helped her see his character. She remembered how he conducted himself in a manner befitting of a paladin, of how he showed honor and chivalry even in a sick, twisted world like this one. She also recalled how she had heard so many people praising the hell out of him when she came back from the Hellverse, praise and positive emotion that didn't let up until the last couple days before the Gala. It felt like the Avenir incident in Lastation all over again, just how many people would be affected by his death? Just how many will be impacted once they learn of his demise...?
On another side of the battle, Guts growled to himself, closing his one eye as he glared hatefully towards their foe. The only one who could actually express anger being the embodiment of it himself, makes sense. Guts held his sword in both hands, noticing how they trembled with the very familiar rage that coursed through his system. He may not like many people in this world, hell he could count the number of people he DID like on one hand, however those who did earn his trust he favored highly. As in, he'd swing his sword for them, and in Guts' world that would be classed as a major deal.
So... should he see one of those people get murdered in front of him...
'Should I use it...?'
The man glanced down towards his Armour for the shortest of seconds, wondering if he should use his Armour's secret to try and get his revenge for Stefan's demise. There was no way that he could think that the man would be alive after that attack, not when his form got sliced to pieces the way he had. Every fiber of his blood boiled at the way he had gotten killed, the warrior-like mentality he had inside of him demanding that Guts make the man suffer in the worst manner possible. Not to mention that he could feel his own dark desires being drawn out by his anger, anger that told him to go full nelson on this enemy, to show him just what it meant to piss a Berserker like him off.
Said enemy however, didn't notice any of this, too caught up in his own little world. Or perhaps he did and just didn't care, that seemed more likely. Instead, he just laughed joyously, spreading his arms into the air to show off several areas of his decaying body. "Hahahahaha! Oh now this is just GRAND! I've had a damn fine drink, i'm blessed with the sights of so many sexy, fine ass ladies, and i'm enjoying a great freaking fight! The only thing missing would be some snacks, otherwise this day would be PERFECT, AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Those words however, DID serve to bring the girls back to their senses, as all their shock faded away to be replaced with burning fury.
"Y-You...!"
"Hm?" Blinking when he heard a low growl, Okada looked towards the source with a dumb look on his face, to find that the source came from a FURIOUS Green Heart. The Leanbox CPU trembled with barely suppressed anger, Gungnir's form fiercely glowing golden with matching electricity arcing around it's tip. It actually surprised the undead-looking man whom tilted his head in curiosity of this new development. "Whoa, there. What's with that look? Ya look much better when you were giving me that pout-like look from before."
She didn't answer, instead she bent her legs and allowed Gungnir's aura to envelop her form, resulting in her wings glowing brightly from the influx of energy and releasing electricity from them. Violent winds picked up around her, swirling around her whilst stemming from Gungnir also. This lasted like, for a couple of seconds before Green Heart broke into a large burst of speed, flying straight towards Okada with nothing but bloody murder in her eyes. "YOU BASTARD!"
"Whoa, that's some fire ya got there, girl!"
Seeing her fellow CPU charge in like that snapped Black Heart out of her own shock, her eyes rapidly blinking as she regained her focus and clarity. Shaking her head a few times to clear the remnants, the white haired CPU scowled as she saw the brutalized remains of what had once been a man whom had done right by his people. Unlike Green Heart and IF, whom had known him personally, Black Heart had only met him once and that was at the Gala. So, she didn't feel quite as attached as she did to someone like Nico or some of her closer companions back in Lastation.
But, even so...
She had heard of his deeds, and all of them good.
Black Heart may not have known the guy personally, nor very well, but she indeed felt a little bad seeing him being killed the way he did. She could only imagine what kind of feelings went through her comrades who knew him better, like Green Heart and IF, as well as what his family would be going through once they learn the news.
Not to mention, how much his death will impact the Nation as a whole.
Even so, Black Heart forgot about some people whom had just witnessed this man's death, and that lack of attention would cost her...
"CAPTAIIIIIIN!"
Black Heart's eyes widened in shock, dread and realization when she recalled the soldiers whom had been ordered to guard the entrance, and quickly looked back at them fearing the worst. Her fears got proven to be reality, much to her dismay, when she saw how utterly horrified and pale the men looked beneath the gaps in their Armour. 'Oh no... now that their leader's gone, those guys are likely going to do something stupid...!' Black Heart thought to herself.
"DEATH TO THE ENEMY! FOR THE CAPTAIN! RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
"UUUUUUUWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
...
...
...
...
...
... Yup, it happened. True to her fears, before the Lastation CPU could do anything or say anything to snap them back to their senses, Each of the soldiers, their faces now red from furious rage, drew their weapons and broke into a loud charge, many clinking sounds coming from their Armour pieces as they almost rivaled a group carrying a battering ram. Each of them held their weapons ready for attacks, each of them beginning to activate a series of Skill attacks in the intent of avenging their leader.
Okada however, noticed them after he locked his blade with Green Heart's Gungnir. He then arched a brow at them, almost as if e had forgotten that they were even there in the first place. "Oh? We had more? Well then, that's fine I guess..." he began, before he smirked and delivered a kick to Green Heart's stomach, putting enough of his strength to send her flying into the cliff face. He then kicked his leg around whilst twisting on his sole balancing one, using the momentum to wind up for his next attack.
"But you guys don't look so strong, so would you kindly beat it already? Ya'll are interrupting my fight with these lovely beauties!"
SLASH!
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
In that one swift movement, he created a gust of wind large enough to cut through the entire path that led to the Dungeon. It's speed left little to no time for the soldiers to react, nor did they have any room do dodge either. The moment it erupted, they only had time to stop and cry out when the gust tore trough them, cutting through them and leaving them as many small pieces on the ground in a huge, gory mess.
Once again, the brutality of those deaths left the girls speechless. First, Isaac got wounded so he would have to stay out of the battle, then Stefan Von Kessal, and now those men that he lead. Death seemed to have a LOT of interest in this battle, they couldn't help but think as another fact hammered it's way home into their brains: This battle would likely be the most REAL battle they have had in a longass time.
In their previous battles, death had always been a constant companion, and the greater the opponent the greater the chance for death to take hold of those who fought alongside one another. This had been especially true for those among them who had fought an excessive amount of Demons like Purple Heart, Green Heart and IF, as more than a few times they had suffered injuries that brought them to the brink of death during their training (IF being a special case since 'fatal' injuries didn't matter to her as much thanks to her new body). Perhaps it was because of that, but thanks to them surviving so many battles with that possibility looming over them, they had forgotten what it was like to fear death.
However, this one would mark the FIRST time death had ever TRULY stopped to claim those that fought alongside them... once again showing them that death could STILL claim those closest to them.
"Wow, those guys were idiots."
Each of them looked to the source of that callous sentence, to find Conversation standing there with her arms crossed, a look of mocking derision on what could be seen of her face as she shook her head. "Though, I guess that's what those nuisances get for trying to involve themselves in affairs that are beyond them." she sneered, chuckling afterwards in dark amusement.
At this, Purple Heart growled in animalistic anger, fury blossoming in her chest as she gripped Soul Calibur tightly. How the hell could this woman have no regard for life at all?! Just what kind of person was she?! "How could-?"
"What the lady says is right ya know." Okada spoke in Conversation's place, cutting Purple Heart off as he leveled his sword in front of him. He stood between his summoner and the girls, his eyes shining with mockery and a matching smirk forming on his lips. "Battle's no place for the weak, those pussies should have known this. Even so, they just rushed to their deaths instead of thinking rationally. That sexy greenhead got away with it cause she's strong, but they're a different story. The strong survive, and the weak die. That's the law of this world, better get used to it." he explained, before chuckling as he got into a battle stance. "So, shall we dance more? Cause I'm having a blast. Even though my 'boss' is the one pulling the strings, i'm just enjoying this as much as possible, nothing's better than combat for me, the man-slayer, after all."
Chapter end
Alright, another chapter crossed off the list. A heavy one at that.
Originally I wanted this chapter to compress everyone fighting Okada into one big package, but the size exceeded my expectations so I'll be splitting it into two or so parts. After all, some pretty big things have happened already, so I feel this would be a good place to leave it for now.
Now, if those of you who like Stefan are sad or angry, hear me out. Stefan may be strong thanks to Ashbringer from WOW, but unlike the others, he is human and weaker than them. Therefore, in battles like these it would be guaranteed for someone like him to kick the bucket. The others could have backed him up, but everything happened too fast for them, and thus they couldn't react in time. Okada has shown himself to be WAY faster than they are, not to mention that he's been holding back too. Hasn't even used two hands yet.
Plus, death is a thing in this world. Either in the background or with the cast themselves, death does not discriminate. Therefore, with the death of Stefan Von Kessel, it will naturally impact not only the cast, but also the rest of the Nation since he was a symbol for them, he was literally their hope for a better future aside from the CPU, maybe even just as important. The strong survive and the weak die, it's been said already but it's never really been FELT as much as it has been right this chapter. One could only imagine just how much this would impact the future, in more ways than one could ever have expected.
Oh yeah, and if you look at my profile, you'll see the poll is still up. I doubt it'll be going away until I feel the need for a new poll, so please make sure to give it a shot if you can.
Without further ado,
Peace out!
