Heroes of the Arks

ESKK: Chapter 20 damn this story has come a long way and it's all thanks to you readers. Now let's get this chapter started shall we.

(Start Day of the Wave)

The Four Pactmakers and their allies old and new had about 5 minutes until the Wave began. Currently at the moment they and their new allies were all gathered outside of Erhards shop getting ready to head out with their gear and two wagons of equipment and medicine. One Wagon acted as a transport while the other was filled to the brim with medicine, weapons, and tools.

"It's almost that time." Erhard said as he looked over to the original four. "Along with the potions I threw in some left over weapons I had laying around." Erhard said as the group were ready to move out. "They'll make for decent backups." Erhard added and thus Raphtalia nodded.

"Thank you so much." Raphtalia said as she smiled to the Shop Owner.

"Still I'm impressed you can stock up on so much medicine in so little time." Erhard said and thus the group could agree if they weren't aware of Shiro's role as a support hero.

"Well that's our Shield Hero for you." Taiyo said with a grin as he wrapped his arm around Shiro's shoulder.

"It still might not be enough." Shiro began as he looked at the medicine while getting everyone's attention. "There's no telling what could happen during the Wave." James said as he looked to Erhard showing his concern for this.

"If your being that careful you won't have to worry at all." Erhard said grinning at the Pactmakers but he wasn't done. "Besides if worse comes to worse you guys can bust out those Knights of yours to tip the balance." Erhard said showing he was aware of the Incorruptus that made up the Knight's form.

But mentioning this Shiro was then reminded of something important. "Which reminds me." Shiro said before looking over to Raphtalia. "Hold out your hand Raphtalia." Shiro said as he looked to Raphtalia.

"Alright." Raphtalia said as she did as told only for Shiro to slip an arm band onto her wrist. "Um what's that?" Raphtalia asked as she looked at the item in question.

"It's got a spell to boost your mana generation." Shiro said as he looked to Raphtalia who gave the item a look over.

"Hell of a present for a lady." Erhard said as he scratched his head a bit.

"I'll say." Taiyo said as Demonicon nodded with his arms crossed in agreement.

"Boost my mana generation, will it really?" Raphtalia asked as she had a smile on her face over the gift. "I'm so happy thank you." She said showing her appreciation causing Erhard to look surprised by this response.

But like a child Filo began to throw a fit. "How come she's the only one who gets a present?" Filo asked as she looked to Shiro.

"Who says she's the only one." Shiro said as he reached into his person. "Check this out." Shiro said as he then pulled out a hair piece and put it onto Filo in her blond hair. "This thing will double up your speed and agility." Shiro said with a smirk showing pride in his work.

"It's cute Filo do you like it?" Raphtalia asked as she looked to Shiro.

"Do I like it are you kidding?!" Filo began as she had her arms up in joy. "Thank you, master!" Filo called out and cheered before she transformed into her Filolial form which showed the hairpin was still there.

"And as you can see the hairpin won't fall off when you transform." Shiro added and thus it was clear he thought of everything for Filo.

"So what's with the accessory making spree, some rich eccentric uncle leave you his fortune or what?" Erhard asked and thus Shiro blushed a bit.

"Just trying to look out for my party is all." Shiro said and thus Erhard smirked a bit.

"Right." Erhard said and thus Shiro regained himself.

"The time has come." The young Knight said and thus Shiro looked to the Knights and quickly had them registered as allies as he also saw they had less than 30 seconds before the Wave.

"Ok guys get yourselves together because you'll be teleported with me." Shiro said as he looked to the group knowing once they start the battle they better win it.

"Yes sir!" The young Knight called out showing he was ready and willing to head out as were the rest of his group.

"Ok its time." Shiro said as the clock counted down the final few seconds before the Wave. He was ready to move out as the final few seconds continued to tick away.

In turn the group all began to glow gold as they hit the 10 second mark as they steeled themselves for what came next. "Ok here we go!" Raphtalia called out ready to move.

"Be right back!" Filo called back showing she was ready as well.

"I'll be waiting in the shop you just come back alive!" Erhard called out as he was ready to go as well. In turn once the timer hit zero the heroes of the Knights Arks and their allies were off with their new support allies to where the Wave would hit.

(Scene Break during the Wave)

Once the group was Teleported to the area where the wave was at, they came upon the village that was under attack and in turn sprang into action. They were on the move as Tsubaki lead the magic casters alongside Conan and Ail while Shiro and Taiyo handled the evacuation efforts with Jun and her party soloing as much as they could.

Signs showed that the Wave had been going on for a while as Shiro and his group were running towards the sound of screaming, as a man was being chase down by some goblin like creature.

When the man trip, he yell out in fright as the goblin creature jump at him with its weapon about to end his life, until two swords came forth, stabs it in the chest dying as one of the two knights that join Shiro's party said, said, "The other Villagers have already evacuated! Get out of here now!"

"G-got it! Yes sir!" the man said as he gotten back to his feet and quickly get out of the village as fast as he could, with the two knights drop the goblin's corpse off their swords as the knight guy said, "That should do it for the evacuation. That took a while."

"We should get back and," the other knight guy began to say until a large shadow came over them with heavy foot step being heard behind them as they turn to see a large lizard man creature roar out at them and attack, but then Shiro appeared and blocked it with his sword.

"Go!" Shiro called out and thus Pete came in and duplexed the monster before Demonicon slid by and decapitated it after Pete jumped out of the way. As the monster fell Filo and Raphtalia joined in as Shiro's friends began to regroup while the two Knights stood there in shock.

"They took down a lizard man in a flash," the first knight said in shock as Shiro then turned towards them and said, "Stay alert. The wave is still active so that mean more monsters are still around."

"Unless you two wants to be monster chow, don't stay in one place," Taiyo said with a smirk on his face as the two said at the same time, "Right!"

Suddenly there was the sound of battle from across the way from them. In turn the Heroes went over to look and saw an old woman fighting off monsters with her bare hands with some amazing martial art of sort. As she took down three wolfmen by herself with ease she left the Ark Heroes a bit jaw drop to the site as Raphtalia said, "She killed them in one hit?!"

"I like her." Jun said with a smirk on her face before the woman turning towards the group and give a bow as she put her fist into an open palm of her other hand as she said, "Thank you very much for your help before, Shield Hero."

"Ah, something we should know Shiro?" Taiyo asked as he looked to his best friend in confusion on how he met such an awesome badass Granny. As Shiro looked at her as she did seem familiar to him, and thought back where she seen her before as it soon hit him as he said, "Oh you were that old woman I help heal with the medicine."

The old woman lower her hands, putting them to her hips, and stood up as she said, "Thanks to you, I'm all better now."

"WOW!" Filo and Ryuko both called out seeing the old woman putting a foot on top of a dead monsters she beaten herself said, "Small fry like these are no match for me. I swear on these fists, which fought many formidable foe back when I was an adventurer."

"What the hell did I give her steroids?" Shiro asked as he looked to the woman who seemed to have life put back into her.

Suddenly the knight teen began to approach Shiro before he came up and said, "Sir Hero! We've finished evacuating the villagers!"

"Good, now we can focus on keeping the enemy attention on us. We can't have them attacking the villagers," Shiro ordered as he soon look up into the sky and look at the time, as he notice they been fighting for a little over 3 hours, as he wonder what is going on with the other 3 heroes as he figure they would have taken down the Wave boss by now, but it seem they have yet too as he thought, "It's already been three whole hours. What are those idiots doing?"

Suddenly the teen knight said, "Please go, sir hero."

Everyone turn to him as they wonder what he said as he went on saying, "Putting an end to the wave as soon as possible will also help the village."

"You sure?" Shiro asked before the old woman slap the teen knight's back as she said, "Leave the village to old Gran here and these whippersnappers."

"Alright then," Shiro said as he then looked to his friends. "Ok guys we're out of here." Shiro ordered and thus they were all ready.

"Right!" They all called out save for Pete who simply nodded in agreement.

(Later)

The group of heroes were soon seen on the backs of Filo and Ryuko with Pete running and easily keeping up. Shiro, Raphtalia, Tsubaki and Conan were on Filo's back while Taiyo, Rino, and Conan were on Ryuko's back. Pete carried Jun and Demonicon as they continued to run where the major fighting was taking place.

"Shiro look!" Raphtalia said suddenly as she pointed to something and in turn saw a massive ship with what looked like a leviathan attached to it flying by and monster birds flying around.

"What a big ship!" Filo called out as she saw the ship in question.

Just then explosions were heard and thus the group saw Itsuki attacking the monster from the ground with his arrows. "Keep it up!" Itsuki called out as he led his party to battle while another member had a magical barrier set up. In turn the Pactmakers and their allies ran over to the cover and joined up with Itsuki to get the update.

"Where are the others?" Shiro asked as he expected the three to be working together somehow.

Itsuki seeing James went back to work as he fired more arrows at the ship. "They're on the ship." Itsuki began but it seems he felt he was in charge. "I told them targeting the figure head and spawning the Soul Eater came first but nope they won't listen to reason." Itsuki said before firing off another arrow.

"You are literally the last person to talk about seeing reason." Tsubaki countered as she glared at Itsuki in contempt.

"VERTO!" Tsubaki, Jun, and Taiyo all invoked all before Itsuki could retort hand thus e was blinded by a flash of light for a moment. In turn the Moon Maiden, Black Knight, and Dragon Knight all appeared and in turn flew up while carrying their partners. Shiro and Raphtalia rode on Filo's back as she flew up to the ship while Rino went upward on Ryuko's back.

(Later on the Ship)

The heroes arrive on the ship as the three active Knights hovered in the air for a bit looking over the battle bellow with Ryuko and Filo with their riders standing on the ships mass. Below they saw Ren and his party fighting the skeleton pirates while Itsuki and his cheerleader squad was fighting one of the serpent like monsters from the ship accomplishing nothing from it.

As they saw what was happening they soon saw Motoyasu and Ren bump into each other's back. "What are you doing Motoyasu we need to take out the Skeleton?!" Ren argued as he glared at Motoyasu as it was clear all three idiots wanted to spawn the Soul Eater.

"We're gonna have to take out the Kraken first or the Soul Eater wont spawn otherwise." Motoyasu said and in turn the two Heroes ended up glaring at each other as it was clear a confrontation was about to occur.

Acting fast Tsubaki fired her arrow and split the group apart before Shiro and the others descended down. The Three Knights reverted to their human forms and landed on the ground and glared at the group. "We are in the middle of a battle! What the Hell is wrong with you morons!" Shiro yelled as he glared at the group.

"Shiro." Ren said as he saw Shiro was here and clearly did not agree to this.

"Why don't you defend some village?" Motoyasu said as he saw Shiro was still useless here.

"I agree an incompetent hero who can't fight should just." Malty began only to yelp when Shiro socked Motoyasu in the face knocking him down.

"You're the incompetent ones!" Shiro countered as he glared at the group. "We're in the middle of a battle where lives are on the line!" Shiro scolded them as he glared at the morons and their parties. "This is no time to argue amongst yourselves." Shiro began only to block an attack from the Pirate Skeleton and once he pushed it back slashed at it with his sword ending it quickly. "Instead of working together you dumbasses just go about doing whatever it is you want." Shiro said as it was clear he was royally ticked off with these guys only to block another attack but this time Taiyo took the monster down with his spear. "Stop treating this like a damn game already and grow up!" Shiro yelled as he glared at his 'fellow heroes,' who had been nothing but useless this whole time.

"Now think you idiots clearly taking out the Kraken and the Skeletons did nothing so think outside the box and look!" Jun yelled as this got Shiro thinking as he looked to the Skeleton or more specifically its shadow. As Shiro saw the shadow didn't match up to the pirate and seeing as it didn't have any special parameters it all began to fall into place. "Wait a second shadow." Jun said as her power as the Black Knights pactmaker kicked in as she saw the shadow or in this case saw the Soul Eater hiding inside. "Found you." Jun said and thus she nodded to Shiro who also came to the same conclusion.

"Raphtalia we need light magic on the double!" Shiro called out confusing the Demihuman girl with such an order.

"What?" Raphtalia asked as she was confused by this.

"Just do it!" Jun added and thus Raphtalia nodded in agreement to the order.

"As source of thy power I order thee, decipher the laws of nature and illuminate my surroundings: fast light now!" Raphtalia called out and thus she sent a flash of light to the area above her. The result of it was the monsters shadows being revealed as unnatural as the shadows even growled in response to the light.

"Everyone hit the shadows at its feet now!" Shiro called out and thus everyone got moving. Raphtalia roared and stabbed her sword into the shadow, Taiyo went after another shadow as did Jun and Tsubaki.

The result was energy tendrils coming out and revealing that they didn't even have to spawn the Soul Eater after all how can you spawn something that was already here.

"Look!" Itsuki called out as he and his party came in much to Tsubaki's annoyance.

"The Soul Eaters had already spawned in long ago they were manipulating the monsters to act as decoys!" Tsubaki stepped in as she saw what was going on and in turn the energy formed up and from it the Soul Eater was formed and it roared with a savage snarl.

But before the battle could begin a new voice spoke up getting everyone's attention. "Heel Koro!" Came a voice and thus to everyone's shock the Soul Eater now named Koro backed off. From above a young man in a suit landed as he had spiked back ebony hair and topaz colored eyes. He seemingly appeared out of nowhere as he landed and began to pet the side of Koro with a smirk.

"Good boy, Koro." The young man said as he then looked to the group as his face made Itsuki go wide eyed. "Itsuki buddy pal I was starting to think you were NEVER going to come aboard." The young man said as he smiled at Itsuki.

"Wait you know him?" Motoyasu asked shocked to see this guy knew Itsuki.

"I." Itsuki began but the young man cut in.

"Oh Itsuki I'm hurt man you didn't tell them about me." The young man said as he laughed a bit to this.

"Hey buddy mind doing some introductions." Taiyo said as he looked to the mysterious young man.

"Ok my bad, the name is Shiba Hizashi nice to meet ya." Shiba greeted as he looked to the group.

"Shiba... how are you here?" Itsuki asked as he looked to Shiba hoping he didn't know about what he did or even remember.

"Oh you know went the long way." Shiba said only to vanish and appear before Itsuki with a glare of contempt upon him. "No thanks to you jackass." Shiba said only to kick Itsuki sending him flying and hitting the mass of the ship.

"Itsuki!" Came one of Itsuki's party members only to find herself held by her neck curtesy of Shiba.

"I'd keep your distance." Shiba said as he then tossed the girl aside. "The minute you prove better then him." Shiba warned as Itsuki began to get back up coughing from the blow. "He'll leave you for dead to make himself look better." Shiba said as he glared down upon Itsuki.

Everyone was shocked by this as Itsuki got back and looked at Shiba while in pain. "I'm sure you remember buddy back home how you were bullied and I was the first guy to stand up for you every single time." Shiba said as he glared at Itsuki. "I mean your brains my brawns we were a basic dynamic duo." Shiba said as he soon found a spear and sword pointed at him causing him to sigh in frustration to this. He then grabbed the arms of the ones holding the weapons and spun them around much to Ren and Motoyasu's shock before he proceeded to kick them once he let them go causing them to nearly fall off the boat.

"But you didn't like that did you Itsuki even after all the years I had your back you decided to stab me in mine." Shiba said and thus Itsuki fired off arrows at Shiba only for them to phase right through him.

"What?!" Itsuki asked shocked to see this as Shiba wasn't done.

"I get jumped by those bastards in my own house while I got you to head out back. I keep wondering how they figured out where I lived and how they even got in. My parents had some damn good security but it didn't go off." Shiba said as he glared at Itsuki and then began to fight his way through his party who tried to defend them. But Shiba easily dealt with them as he had his hands in his pocket and used powerful kicks to fight them off. "Then it hit me after that fatal blow... someone let them in and who do I find at my last moments but you Itsuki shaking hands with the bastard who always harassed you after a deal made and a job well done." Shiba said as he glared at Itsuki surprising the group who was shocked by this.

"You saw that?!" He asked aloud in shock and then saw everyone looking at Itsuki in shock over this.

"It was the last thing I saw before everything went black." Shiba said as he glared at Itsuki who was now horrified that Shiba basically came back from the grave for revenge. "Emperor Madoras then came and revived me from the dead as a spirit and in turn I became a Wraith after working my ass off so I can repay my debt to Madoras." Shiba said as the Soul Eater roamed around Shiba as it snarled at the foes before them. "You killed me because I was stronger then you and it gave you a chance to be free of those bastards but it backfired and they used the fact you helped them kill me so if they go to prison for it you're going down with them." Shiba said as he glared at Itsuki as he then pointed an accusing finger at Itsuki. "I've been given the chance to end you Itsuki my revenge you betrayed me and had me killed now... I'm going to return the favor 10 fold." Shiba said as he glared at Itsuki.

"Now then how shall we do this?" Shiba asked as he began to walk torts Itsuki.

"No... Get back!" Itsuki called out and began firing arrow after arrow at Itsuki only for said Arrows to pass through the reborn Wraith as he approached.

"I've waited a long time for this." Shiba said only to find Shiro with his shield up standing against him.

"Sorry I can't let you do that." Shiro said as he glared at Shiba.

"Oh Shield Hero?" Shiba said as he looked to Shiro. "Dude after all the shit he's done already you're going to defend him?" Shiba asked as he found this a bit funny.

"Not exactly but he needs to be alive to answer for his crimes, once he's done that then you can have him." Shiro said as he wanted to punish Itsuki for the crap he had already pulled in this world.

"Sorry Shield you're a nice guy I can tell and I know your heart is in the right place." Shiba said as he began to scratch his head a bit. "But thing is... I'm in no mood to wait my turn." Shiba said as he glared at Shiro as he respected the guy but respect won't save him here. "Now get out of my way or suffer for it." Shiba said and thus Shiro held his ground on this. "Fine don't say I didn't give you a chance." Shiba said and thus he charged at Shiro only to kick his shield but Shiro managed to stand his ground. He then pushed Shiba back and slashed at him with his sword only for Shiba to avoid it with a flip and then performed a spin kick against Shiro.

The battle went on as the two fought but Shiba was proving to be too fast for Shiro to handle properly. "Shield Prison!" Shiro called out hoping to restrain Shiba only for Shiba to avoid it with a flip and then kick the empty prison at Shiro. Shiro avoided it as he saw the Shield Prison vanish once that happened. The battle continued between them and in turn Taiyo jumped in with a roar. Taiyo spun his spear and attacked Shiba who blocked the attack with his left arm against the spears shaft.

He then pushed Taiyo back and in turn saw it was a two on one now. "Jeez looking at you guys I can't help but feel a bit jealous." Shiba admitted as he wished he had a better friend back then.

"It's not too late man just let go of that anger and move on, Itsuki will answer for what he's done." Taiyo promised and thus Shiba sighed to this.

"Sorry it's not that easy." Shiba said and thus he continued to fight the two pactmakers. Shiba then jumped back and snapped his fingers only for the Soul Eater to respond and go at Shiro.

Seeing this Taiyo went wide eyed to this and acted. "Shiro!" Taiyo asked and thus pushed Shiro out of the way only to be bit down upon by the Soul Eater causing Taiyo to cry out in pain to this.

"Taiyo!" Shiro called out as the Soul Eater swung its head around before tossing the now bloody Taiyo to the ground.

"Taiyo/papa!" Rino and Ryuko cried out as Taiyo hissed in pain as he held his new injuries.

"Taiyo..." Shiro gasped as Shiba heard this and sighed a bit.

"Sorry about that man Koro has trouble holding back." Shiba said and then noticed something was wrong here. "Huh?" Shiba asked as Koro began to ease away from Shiro as Shiro grew quiet to this as the red aura returned to Shiro's shield.

"You hurt him." Shiro began as he was oddly quiet. "You got my best friend hurt..." Shiro trailed off and then raised his head to show they now had a glow of violet and crimson. "YOU BASTARD!" Shiro roared out and thus his Knight Ark was equipped. "VERTO!" He invoked not even bothering with the chant and in turn in a blast of magic and light everyone was met with the White Knight.

The White Knight stood tall as it had a violet aura around him. "This power." Shiba said as he recognized it as Madoras power but that was impossible how can this kid have it? "Shiba you've made a very poor error in judgement and now you must pay!" Shiro roared out and thus his Knights eyes flashed with a violet light that only belonged to one form of the White Knight.

The power went wild as everyone was being blown by an invisible wind as the White Knights cap even fluttered about from it. Shiro meanwhile felt a dark presence form inside him as he glared at Shiba. This presence showed to him the hardships he was forced to endure and repeated them all in a cycle as Shiro's breath grew labored. The presence it became wild violent as he didn't even hear a chant needed for this. All that was needed was to unleash it all he needed to do was to let go.

The presence it spoke it repeated the same phrase to Shiro as the images went by faster. "Let go. Let Go. Let Go." It repeated within Shiro as his eyes began to turn red. "LET GO OF EVERYTHING!" The Image of the Demon Knight roared as it appeared before Shiro.

The White Knight started by lifting its left shield arm to the side and in turn the emerald gem on his shield turned red and thus the shield went up in flames. As it changed form, Shiro saw the statues screen change to match up with it. Soon the Shield transformed into a massive black shield with crimson markings on it. "From Wrath the Demon shall awaken." Shiro began as his voice was now mixed with that of Wizel's spirit and Madoras himself. When this happened his Knight began to transform as the armor grew demonic as it even began to sprout horns from its body. Its chest pulsed and son blasted open to a violet orb within releasing a violent energy from within. "My Wrath Shield shall burn you to ash." Shiro invoked as he glared at his foe before sending his right arm out. "From the Demon born of Wrath the sacred blade shall be tainted with innocence." Shiro invoked as the energy burst out before it took the form of the Knight Slaying sword, Talion much to everyone's shock.

"That sword it's..." Jun began as she recognized the weapon of the Giant Hero.

"Talion." Tsubaki said and thus went wide eyed as the chill they all felt from this, this wasn't a Dogma Drive this was something much worse.

Soon the White Knight roared out as the cape now tattered and demonic fluttered as the Knight gained a sinister maw that gave off the same violet glow of a dark power. The Demon Knight had finally appeared as it glared at Shiba who was shocked by this.

"Oh boy, Madoras is NOT going to like this." Shiba said and thus the Demon Knight charged in with a berserker like fury. The Shield Hero and his White Knight have become the Devil of the Shield and his Demon Knight and for all who saw this Shiro had completely went off the deep end. Shiba tried his best to avoid the Demon Knight but this savage warrior was overpowering him at every turn.

"Guess I don't have a choice." Shiba said as he then began to glow and thus went for his Soul Eater. "Koro attack!" Shiba ordered and thus Koro went for the Demon Knight intent on taking him down. It began to charge up its attack in its maw making everyone go wide eyed to this but before it could try The Demon Knight charged in and slammed the Wrath Shield into its maw causing the attack to not only go off but set the Soul Eater on fire with this shields hell fires. Moving its hand a bit the Demon Knight grabbed the Soul Eater by its neck and slammed it down to the ground before throwing it to where the others were.

With a cry of shock everyone moved out of the way and thus saw the Soul Eater was being slaughtered by the Demon Knight. The Demon Knight proceeded to stab the sword into its body and the Holy Energies within burned the monster further causing it even more pain. It then stood over the Soul Eater to which the Demon Knight then roared in its face causing the Soul Eater to in turn do the same in retaliation. It then tried to fire its attack point blank and managed to hit the Demon Knight and thus forced it off where it flew away a bit to get a larger range of battle. But alas its tail was grabbed by the Demon Knight who then flipped and slammed the Soul Eater onto the ground causing the ship to shake much like its previous attacks had done.

"What's wrong with that psycho!?" Motoyasu asked and thus Jun spoke up.

"He's awoken the Demon Knight a beast of pure primal instinct raw violence he can't control it hence why it's a weapon of absolute last resort." Jun said as she looked to Motoyasu. "If we can't pull him out of it, the damn thing may turn on us before it consumes him." Jun said as she and Taiyo both knew they may need to use their Dogma Drives to pull Shiro out of it.

"Right behind you." Taiyo said once Ail managed to seal up his wounds.

"I'll cover you guys." Tsubaki said as she was ready to help her friends as well.

"No if what Jun says is true we can't take any risks on this." Itsuki said before she took aim with his bow at Shiro and began to charge up his most powerful arrow. "I'll slay this monster in one fell swoop." Itsuki said and thus Jun panicked when she saw this.

"Itsuki don't!" Tsubaki cried out and in turn managed to make him point the attack upward but in doing so to everyone's shock her Knight's Ark met with the Cardinal Bow and in turn the two weapons had a reaction to each other. Both of them cried out as the weapons shocked them for a moment until Itsuki saw an alert appear on his statues and it was one refusing to be ignored.

"W-what?!" Itsuki asked and thus read the alert.

"Legendary Weapon Violation: Wielder has been noted of tampering with the Cardinal Bow as a Falsified Hero. Statues Magic privileges and any and all other privileges as the Cardinal Bow Hero have thus been terminated." The Alert read and thus Itsuki was wide eyed just before the Moon Maidens arrow slot opened up and thus the two were blinded by a flash of light.

(Location Unknown)

Itsuki and Tsubaki both began to come to as the two archers noted they were in some sort of lake or ocean yet could still breathe. Just then a new voice was heard from the void as Tsubaki instantly recognized it.

"Tsubaki... Itsuki." Came the voice of a woman before suddenly magical energy gathered together and in turn the two were met with the Moon Maiden and in her hands was the Cardinal Bow.

"Luthia... the Moon Maiden." Tsubaki gasped as she saw her Knight here.

Upon seeing the Cardinal Bow in her hands Itsuki looked upon his person and saw the Cardinal Bow as gone. "My bow!" Itsuki cried out and in turn Luthia showed a rare sight of rage upon Itsuki.

"This Bow is no longer thy property nor hath it ever been so." Luthia said as she glared at Itsuki promising him suffering should he try anything. She may be a pacifist by nature but she will stand and fight should she deem it a just cause or if she herself is attacked. "Thy hearts hath been weighed and Itsuki you have been found wanting." Luthia said as she glared at Itsuki. "Thy pride and arrogance blinds ye to the truth, through thy manipulative and cowardly ways thou had proven time and time again thyself unworthy of the Legendary Bow." Luthia scolded as she glared at Itsuki.

"Shut up I was chosen I am the Bow Hero!" Itsuki yelled but Luthia begged to differ.

"No thou are not thou had been a pawn in Madoras schemes." Luthia said as she glared at Itsuki. "Even now when the truth is presented to ye thou still refuses to accept it." Luthia said as she was watching them both through these tiring times.

"No your wrong your lying this isn't." Itsuki tried but Luthia had enough of his pestering.

"SILENCE!" She ordered and in turn the entire realm shook as even Tsubaki was shocked by this. Itsuki was forced to stay silent as Luthea then turned her attention to Tsubaki. "Tsubaki thy heart had also been weighed and despite all thou had seen all ye had suffered thin heart remained pure through it all." Luthia said as she calmed herself by speaking to her Pactmaker. "Thou had served thin friends and those ye had sworn to protect first and foremost the key virtues to wielding my power alone." Luthia said as she looked to Tsubaki. "As thy hath known the power we Knights possess is formidable and dangerous. It can twist a man heart and warp them beyond any recognition." Luthia said as she looked to Tsubaki as the Knight held the Cardinal Bow between her hands where it hovered.

"Does thou wish to save thy friends?" Luthia asked as she looked to Tsubaki who saw it as a no brainer.

"Yes always." Tsubaki responded and thus Luthia saw into her pactmakers soul.

"Then let thy prayers be answered." Luthia said and thus presented the Cardinal Bow to Tsubaki who saw it waiting for its true user to claim it at long last. "Master, to thee all my power I bequeath to thee I bequeath your bow oh Heroin of the Bow." Luthia said as her body turned into particles of light which then were absorbed into the Cardinal Bow which proceeded to float over to Tsubaki's waiting hands. When she touched it her Statues screen had an alert with something akin to a system update and in turn her screen looked much like how Shiro described his to look like.

"No don't. NO IT'S MINE!" Itsuki cried out but soon the two were blinded by power and dragged back into the real world.

(Real World)

Tsubaki and Itsuki blasted away from each other as Itsuki hissed in pain from it as did Tsubaki. But when Itsuki tried to use his bow to stand tall he saw it was gone. Looking at his hands he saw the Cardinal Bow was no longer on his person and in turn he looked to Tsubaki and was horrified over what he saw.

In Tsubaki's hands was the Cardinal Bow and with it the title as the Cardinal Bow Hero. As Tsubaki looked to her hand she saw that she had all of Itsuki's stats added to her own as well as the bows he had acquired and most of all his party was now her party adding Conan and Ail to it.

"Incredible." Conan said as he saw what had happened.

"I don't believe it." Itsuki's former party members said as they saw that Tsubaki was the bow hero now.

"Guys I know what to do." Tsubaki said as she then had her Cardinal Bow become the Moon Maidens Ark. "I need to use my Dogma Drive for this." Tsubaki announced as she knew while surprising everyone with this. In turn Tsubaki began to chant as she summoned forth the Moon Maiden's Ark. "O' Luthia, argent goddess and beacon in the ancient night; Grant me your power." Tsubaki began before she readied the bow and pulled the handle notching up an arrow. She pointed it to the full moon as a magenta energy formed around her. As she pulled the arrow an energy string of magic formed to help give the ark more of an appearance of a bow. "Verto!" Tsubaki invoked as the Crest where the Arrow is supposed to exit flashed before opening up. Once it was open Tsubaki let the arrow fly where it passed the still raging Demon Knight and thus hit the moon. When it did so the magic rained down starting off as a flower of sorts where it then went to Tsubaki.

Once it got to Tsubaki it formed a mystic circle before she did a bow of sort. Once she did so she stood back up with her left arm spread to the side with the Moon Maiden rising up behind her. As the Knight rose Tsubaki levitated into the air where she was in front of her Knights chest. Tsubaki began to glow with magic before both Tsubaki and the Moon Maiden melded into one.

One the merge was completed the Moon Maiden's eyes flashed to life as she stood tall with her bow in her left hand. But now her bow as different as it now had the gem from the Cardinal Bow on it. Furthermore with Tsubaki's now updated hub she now had new Bow forms based around the larger monsters she had defeated in the past which would be good to test out later down the line but first things first.

"Guys get back I can calm him down but I don't want you all getting hurt." Tsubaki said as Itsuki was on his knees desolate from all that was happening. Once everyone moved to safety she saw the Demon Knight finishing off the Soul Eater and knew she had little time to act. In turn the Moon Maiden's energy began to show as Tsubaki drew power from her Dogma Drive ready to awaken it. "I who is about to awaken." Tsubaki invoked as her voice was a mixture of her own voice, Luthia, and Yulies voice. In turn butterfly wings appeared on her back that released a rain of flower petals from above. "I am the Silver Goddess whose ardent light shines through the ancient night." She went on as the petals turned into a tornado around her as her form began to change within. "I long for an infinite peace and dream of a world without conflict." She continued as the armor changed within the tornado. "I shall awaken into the Lunar Princess and grant heavenly salvation to the tired and weary Dogma Drive!" Tsubaki invoked and thus her Knight's transformation was completed.

Unlike the other knights who shown signs of violence and rage the Lunar Princess showed purity and peace to all who saw her. Her form brought those who looked to peace as she looked like a goddess herself. Her armor had become sleeker as it now had a cloth around her waist that mixed with her armor giving it the look of a toga found upon a Greece Goddess. Her energy hair had unified and seemingly braided itself as upon her head was a crown to show her divinity to all. Even her cape had changed form as it now wrapped around her shoulders giving her a more Goddess like look to those who saw her. Her hips had what looked to be handles for a weapon of sort but as the Cardinal Bow said weapon would not allow Luthia to use them in normal situations.

All in all the Lunar Princess was here and thus she looked to the Demon Knight who took notice to her. In a berserker rage the Demon Knight charged only for the Lunar Princess to simply put an open palm to the Demon Knights chest stopping it but letting out a blast of air from the collision. "It's ok Shiro calm down don't lose yourself to this power." Tsubaki was heard as the Demon Knight stood there. "It's ok your friends are here." Tsubaki said as her Knights new form gave off a calming aura allowing the Demon Knight to calm itself as even the rage shield began to dull its fire.

"Ts... Tsubaki." Shiro spoke as his voice sounded beast like in nature.

"Shiro listen this is your power control it or it will control you." Tsubaki said but Shiro couldn't control it.

"I can't control it..." He spoke as he tried to control this wild power but with little results. He then looked at Shiba who saw the whole thing and looked worried over how Madoras would react. "But I can aim it." Shiro said and thus Shiba knew it was time for him to fight.

"Well since you killed my Koro, I guess I don't have a choice." Shiba said as the limb form of the Soul Eater laid nearby dead to the world.

In turn Shiba released his power just as the Demon Knight charged and swung Talion down on him. But instead Talion was met with the shaft of Shiba's scythe as he glared at Shiro now in his full Wraith form. The two then parted as Shiro continued to glare at Shiba through his Knight ready for battle.

"I won't let you hurt anyone else!" Shiro yelled because at first he felt bad for Shiba but when he hurt Taiyo Shiro had no problems unleashing on him.

"In that case it's a duel!" Shiba called out and thus the Lunar Princess got ready to step in if and when needed. The two began to do battle as Shiro's attacks were still wild but now they had a bit more control to them. They went at it like two warriors of hell seeking to rise to the top of the infernal hell scape.

"Holy Arrows Multi burst!" Tsubaki invoked and thus Shiba was wide eyed as he was hit by multiple Holy Arrows. Once that was done Shiro knew what to do next. "Shiro now!" Tsubaki called out and thus Shiro saw line of abilities to use for what came next.

"Shield Prison!" Shiro called out as soon Shiba cried out in shock when he was sealed inside the Shield Prison. Shiba of course tried to break out but he could not get the prison to budge for him. "Not so fast Chain Shield!" Shiro called out and thus went for the climax "WITHIN THIS VIRGIN OF COLD ORE!" Shiro began to invocation as he drew power from his Wrath Shield. "WE SHALL SWALLOW EVEN YOUR WICKED SCREAMS WITH HER EMBRACE! SUBMIT IN ANGUISH AS YOUR ENTIRE BODY AS YOUR ENTIRE BODY IS STABBED AND SKEWERED FOR YOUR SINFUL WAYS!" He continued to invoke as Shiro began to finish this off. "I CAST THE IRON MAIDEN!" Shiro finished the invocation and in turn the sky split open from the power of the Curse Series. From the stormy dark sky the Iron Maiden descended from above. Glass's prison was being brought into the Iron Maiden ready to end this once and for all. Soon the Demon Knight clenched its fist and in turn Shiba cried out as the Iron Maiden slammed shut on him and in turn the Iron Maiden's eyes flashed to life causing Shiba to fall while reverting to his human form.

Shiro then breathed in and sighed before kneeling down with his Demon Knight. First the Demon Knight reverted back into the White Knight and after that it reverted to Shiro with the Rage Shield still equipped and had added demonic black armor on his right arm and chest. "Finally it's over." Shiro said as he tried to catch his breath as his Wrath Shield then reverted into his Venom Shield.

Tsubaki then did the same as she reverted from the Lunar Princess to the Moon Maiden and after which back to her human form. "Shiro/Tsubaki." Raphtalia and Conan called out as they ran over to Shiro and Tsubaki as they looked them over.

"Are you alright?" Raphtalia asked as she was worried for the two.

"I'll live just need to catch my breath." Shiro said as he smiled to Raphtalia who smiled back to him.

"I'm just happy you're ok." Conan said as he looked to Tsubaki.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Tsubaki asked as she looked to Conan. "See my Dogma Drive has a calming affect it's why I was able to calm Shiro down as much as I did." Tsubaki said using instinctive knowledge of her Dogma Drive.

"Give it back." Itsuki was heard and thus Tsubaki looked and saw Itsuki stumbling torts him. "Give me back my Bow its mine." Itsuki said as he then fell to his knees as he grasped at Tsubaki's leg groveling to her. "I was chosen I'm the chosen hero meant to save this world." Itsuki said as he was grasping at straws for the Cardinal Bow. When Itsuki touched it, the bow in turn shocked him showing that it didn't want anything else to do with him anymore.

Just then Jun came in and to everyone's shock forced him up and kicked Itsuki back down to get him away from Tsubaki. "Get over yourself. The Bow was intended for Tsubaki as you were already told you weren't the actual hero so have some dignity and suck it up." Jun said as it was clear Itsuki didn't get the memo.

"Please it's all I have I'm nothing without that bow." Itsuki said as he looked completely desolate now as he looked to be begging for the bow back and this time it was Tsubaki who spoke up feeling sorry for Itsuki.

"If you're nothing without the Cardinal Bow then you shouldn't have it." Tsubaki said and thus Itsuki was left wide eyed over her words as it was the killing blow to him.

Meanwhile Ren and Motoyasu saw the entire event play out and were varying levels of impressed and jealous of them. "That's some power there." Motoyasu said as he glared at this.

"They basically and hacked the system." Ren said as he glared at the scene as well as he saw that Tsubaki had the bow now.

"It doesn't matter you can bet things will be different next time." Motoyasu said as he glared at them just as Filo reverted to her human form.

"Hey!" Filo called out as she ran over to Motoyasu. "Don't tell me you're a sore loser." Filo said just as Ryuko showed up next.

"That's not it Filo." Motoyasu said and in turn tried to defend himself verbally. "Come on Filo I could have easily one shot that thing If I gotten serious." Motoyasu said and thus Ryuko spoke up for this.

"Then why didn't you?" Ryuko taunted as she smirked at Motoyasu.

"I mean come on it was a no brainer." Motoyasu defended as the two terrors double teamed him.

"Oh really?" Filo asked as and in turn it was clear Motoyasu walked into this one.

But before anything else could be said the groups all felt a pulse go through them as they sensed something or someone powerful had just arrived. In turn they all looked and saw from the ship another Soul Eater show up.

"Another one?!" Taiyo gasped as he glared at it.

"If the leader is gone why did this one show up?" Ail asked as he was ready for battle as well.

But before any attacks could be done blades of light came down from above skewering the second Soul Eater killing it on the spot. "How very disappointing!" A new voice called out and in turn from above a woman in a Kimono came down and stomped down on the monster. "You actually have trouble with weaklings like these." The woman with ebony black hair said as she glared down upon the group. "Are you really the heroes holding the world's fate in their hands?" The woman asked as she taunted the group before she began to walk forth. "Though I can't deny your strength heroes but I question your choices in party members." The woman said as she began to walk torts Shiro, Tsubaki, Jun, and Taiyo. "Still chosen allies aside you four truly earned the title of heroes but only the Shield seems to have reliable allies." The woman said as she looked to the Four Pactmakers ignoring Motoyasu, and Ren. "And what are your names?" The woman asked as Shiro looked at the woman as the Four Pactmakers could tell she was trouble.

"Why not introduce yourself before asking our names." Jun said as she glared at the mysterious woman.

"Oh pardon me whatever happen to my manners?" She began before continuing. "I am called Glass that's all you need to know for now." Glass introduced herself as she looked to the Pactmakers while Jun's eyes widened at the name. That was the name Kizuna had called her friend but was this the same person or was it simply someone sharing the name. "Feel free to consider me your enemy." Glass added as the group heard this.

"Our enemy?" Taiyo asked as he glared at Glass taking a battle stance.

"I'm Shiro." Shiro introduced as he glared at Glass.

"Shiro and what of the rest of you?" She asked until Motoyasu spoke up.

"I'm Motoyasu." Motoyasu began but Glass heard him.

"I don't believe I was asking your names." Glass said as she glared at Motoyasu and the other three Cardinal Heroes. "I was asking the Cardinal Heroes names." She said gesturing to the Four Pactmakers.

"What?" Ren asked and thus it was clear Glass heard enough.

"So you were listening in then?" Tsubaki asked as she glared at Glass.

"That I did and I must confess its impressive someone managed to tamper with the summoning ritual." Glass said and thus it was clear they may be in trouble here. "No introductions if you will." Glass said as she looked to the nameless heroes.

"I'm Taiyo." Taiyo introduced as he took a battle stance.

"Tsubaki." Tsubaki added next as she looked at Glass as all her instincts told her she was strong.

"Jun." June introduced herself as she looked at Glass feeling a chill from her.

"Jun you say?" Glass asked as she heard Jun's name.

"Yeah what's wrong with that?" Jun asked as she glared at Glass.

"It's just that someone whom I despise has that same name." Glass said and thus Jun realized that this woman was in fact the same Glass Kizuna told her about.

"Since a fight is about to start." Jun said as she stepped up to the plate. "Mind answering me a question." Jun said as she glared at Glass who then raised a brow as to what Jun had to ask. "Does the name Kizuna mean anything to you?" Jun asked and thus Glass went wide eyed as she looked at Jun.

"I see... so it's not a case of sharing a name you are the one whom I despise." Glass said as she glared at Jun much to everyone's shock. "The one who tried to murder her own sister in cold blood." Glass said as Jun glared at Glass.

"And you're the one Kizuna claims is her friend and for me knows where she is." Jun countered as it was clear these two were about to duke it out. "So answer me where is Kizuna?" Jun demanded as she glared at Glass.

"Why would I tell you this knowing you'll just try to finish what you started?" Glass accused as Jun knew what she did and was not going to be allowed to live it down.

"Jun." Taiyo began but Jun countered.

"Stay out of this guys... this is a personal matter." Jun said as she glared at Glass as her eyes began to glow red and slit like with blood lust. "If you won't tell me willingly, Glass... then I'll just have to beat it out of you!" Jun almost yelled as she glared at Glass who glared back.

"If you wish to find her then you must get through me." Glass said as she sounded like she was trying to protect Kizuna and it was clear why these two were enemies. Kizuna no doubt told Glass what Jun did and Jun simply wants to find her sister to make right what she had done so long ago. Shiro, Tsubaki, and Taiyo all saw that Jun needed to do this on her own and thus began to back off and thus a battle was about to take place here. The Black Knight will now face the Raven Invader but the question in the end remained who will come out on top.

(TBC)

ESKK: Well another chapter done I hope you had all enjoyed it and will join later for more. Now then leave behind a review and as I always say ja-ne.