After a long walk through the seemingly endless ship, they began to see a breakthrough in light. The hall was definitely connecting to the other side of the ship. In fact, they could even hear the seagulls and crashing waves, combined with the smell of the salty air. "Look Gurin, we made it! It's the Baaaaaack of the ship", Kumadori shouted.
Gurin quickly shushed him by covering his mouth. "Kumadori, hush! If they hear us, they'll get the drop on us! This is going to be dangerous I imagine", she said. The sound of battling was already all over the ship. Everyone else must be already having run ins with the crewmates.
"We'll pull our weight! In fact, I hope we find the strooooonngest of the crew!"
An obvious sigh of frustration escaped Gurin's lips. As much as his enthusiasm was always welcomed, they were going to have to keep their heads for this. This was possibly the last hurdle in their adventure and they were going to give it everything they had. The walk to the glowing sign of freedom became surprisingly uncomfortable. It was as if someone was watching them. "Kumadori, you ever have the feeling we're being watched?"
"No! Maybe I'm used to being watched. From my fellow ex cp9 members to our dear friends from the Zero Island theater." That was true... but something definitely wasn't right. By the time they made it to the end of the hall their eyes were beginning to sting from the approaching rays of light after their extended walk through the darkness. "No door? How do they keep the bugs out?"
"Wait...I'm sensing something! There is someone here", Kumadori said. He quickly flinched, after saying it. Perhaps he sensed a power of some sort. "Be prepared! There! Up ahead", Kumadori said as he pointed past the doorway.
There was a tall figure leaning over the railing seemingly gazing out towards the sea. Her hair was in a long ponytail. She was wearing A Black suite of her own. The same kind of suite the cipher Pol wore. She wore a black dress instead of pants, but it was more flowing than the dress Kalifa wore at the tower of justice. It went down to her ankles, and appeared to be lacking in shoes, but still wearing stockings. Upon closer inspection, she was definitely one of the crewmates they saw back on the deck when they first got here. Just like they predicted, one of them was waiting for them at the stern. "Hello, children!"
She turned to them both! She looked to be on the older side. In fact, she looked like she was someone's grandmother. "Oh no! It feels wrong to fight an elder member of the government branch", Kumadori shouted in surprise.
"You have no problem training with Serenity...but I guess that's different. It does make me feel a bit bad", Gurin replied.
Their combatant chuckled and shook her head. "Such naïve little children! Are you meaning to tell me you're underestimating me already? If that's the case, I'll send you both to an endless slumber before you know it." Though she meant to sound intimidating, her facial expression never dropped its cheery state. Though perhaps that made it all the more unnerving. "Now that my prey has come to ME, I don't have to bother hunting you down." She took a step forward and spread her arms, as if she was ready to take off and fly. "Have you said your prayers?"
"Gurin, she is still our enemy I suppose! If we don't fight her, we'll bring great shame to our friends.
"Your right! No matter who you are we'll beat you! So, I hope YOUR ready", Gurin added.
"Oh, feisty ones! Well, isn't that lovely! Let me ask you something before we begin... I have what is known as a sixth sense about connections. I am aware of the so-called bonds that you both share with your teammates. "Do you two... LIKE each other?"
Gurin quickly blushed! That was a question that completely caught her off guard! "W-what does that have to do with anything!?"
"Of cooooouurse I like her! I like all my teammates." It would seem he didn't quite pick up on what the enemy was implying.
"Ohhoho! You silly Kabuki man. I meant are you two "together"?
Gurin once again cringed embarrassingly at the question, whilst Kumadori finally seemed to catch on. "Well... I would say she does feel like more than JUST a lovely friend. She's..."
Gurin quickly and lightly shoved him to make him stop. She wasn't at all displeased with hearing what he had to say, but right now there was business to take care of! "Kumadori please! We have work to do!"
"Oh, how cute! I'll be sure to put your bones in the same tomb", she said as her previously happy face turned into an evil smile. Right then and there, her body began to change! Her arms expanded...and grew brown feathers! Her face protruded and formed into a sharp brown beak! Even her suit shirt and dress expanded as feathers began to poke out, and her feet turned into sharp claws. She had just transformed!
"Wait...so basically you're an old buzzard", Gurin asked. She almost seemed to chuckle when she asked.
"Very funny! I am a Vulture! Though some may find it confusing, there are some differences. Not that it matters! Prepare to meet the wrath of Biddy!"
"I see! So, your name is Biddy! Well, Biddy, we...", Kumadori began to say before he was interrupted by Gurin laughing. "Gurin?"
"You're an old Biddy!? Ahahahahaha! I'm sorry, it's just so coincidental!" This may have also been payback for the earlier teasing.
Biddy shook her head and glared, which quickly made the other two combatants stand at attention. "Ok, you've had your fun... and now it's time for mine!" She kneeled down on one knee, and stared up at the sky, that seemed to almost be growing darker. Like a sudden strike of lightning, she sprung into the air! She actually managed to rock the boat when she took off. If she managed to rock such a huge boat so easily, her power spoke for itself, just like the rest of her companions! A wave of wind even emerged! "Hahaha! We're taking this battle to the skies if you don't mind!"
"I fight even better in the sky anyways, so that works for me", Gurin said as she transformed into her human dragoness form.
"And I have been trained to fight in the air as well. Let's go after her", Kumadori said as she used his moonwalk technique to take to the sky as well. "For the sake of my friends, I shall send you to your death! Your end will be most beautiful I assure you!"
"Put your Beli where your mouth is!" Biddy danced through the air almost as if she was taunting them. Though it might not be too far from the truth, it was infuriating. She swiped her right wing and created an air scythe. The scythes of air were long! In fact, even from so far up in the air, it nearly stretched down towards the ship, causing even Gurin to have to dodge! The scythe traveled through the top of the entrance they came through to get here.
"Woah! I didn't know someone could make air scythes that long!"
"Neither did I", Kumadori replied.
"I am a master of the wind! Some even call me the one who controls the sky! Because whenever I fight in the sky, I am guaranteed to win! I always have!"
"Well, there's a first time for everything", Gurin said as she flew into the sky as well! "I know this is pointless...but I should at least ask. Isn't there any way we can settle this without fighting?"
"Of course not! We're tasked with..."
"Killing us, we know. But whatever orders they gave you can't you..."
"Orders? Oh, you seem to be confused! We don't actually HAVE to kill you. Cannibal isn't ordering us to do that. We just WANT to", Biddy replied. The gleam in her eye offered sincerity in her words.
"Hm? So that means that you simply just want bloodshed then? Such a pointless endeavor! You don't even have a reason to do this other than that if no one is making you", Kumadori said. Perhaps that was one of the scariest things about them. Remorseless killing machines. At least most of cp9 had some sort of conscience, Kumadori included.
"I won't go into the whole hypocrisy thing, since I'm sure one of our silencers have already given that spiel to someone. Besides, that's not why we're here. Here I come!" Biddy spread her wings and flew straight forward.
Kumadori managed to avoid her impending attempt to tackle him... however, something strange happened. The second she flew by, he felt something else crash into his back! He could tell it wasn't Biddy, or eve an enemy. There was nothing there! "Ugh!"
"Kumadori! What happened!?"
"My powers over wind aren't just me bragging. The wind is my weapon, and not just for storm leg techniques! I'll rip you apart, like paper in a hurricane!" Biddy spread her wings and spun in the air like a top... with blades! A blue like light engulfed her wings as she ascended higher into the air. "MYRIAD BLEND!" The blue hue began to separate and turn into air scythes and flew towards the two."
"You think we can't dodge a few air slashed", Gurin asked.
"The most basic of abilities! We have trained to avoid these easily!" He and Gurin managed to dodge each of the air slashes thrown their way. It was easy since they often trained to combat the six powers techniques... however, an unfortunate beauty of the moves is that creativity can make it even deadlier. The wind slashes didn't just fly off into the distance however... the blades swirled way off course and began to circle around the three of them. "I say! What is this?"
Gurin's whiskers began to twitch. With her ability to pick up on the surrounding weather. From what she could feel, it was almost like the wind blades themselves were creating some sort of twister. "Is she manipulating the air? There's no way she should be able to do something so cumbersome!"
Biddy stopped spinning, and chuckled! "Welcome to my MYRIAD TWISTER! Hm! You'll never get out alive!" The wind around began to bow even harder than before! On top of that, the blades were circling back around again.
"Gurin! Dodge them!"
Kumadori and Gurin danced around the wind blades, but they almost seemed faster than they were before. They were sure that the slices had sped up in the wind force! "Kumadori... she's using the wind to make the slices faster!"
"Thats not all it does either! It also makes them stronger! Hehehehe!" The second she said that, the air scythes actually grew even brighter! When it flew past them, it almost carried them with it! Every force of wind she dished out was much stronger than what other cipher pol agents can do. "It's as I told you... I am the master of the sky! Now feel my wrath!" She flew higher into the air, and flapped her wings! As she rose, glowing feathers began to fall from her.
"That doesn't look good! Kumadori watch out!" She eyed Biddy zooming up towards Kumadori... but she was too distracted to see the falling feathers! At first, she only thought they were just harmless little feathers, but the second they got close enough they pointed downwards...and rained like daggers! Each feather stuck into her shoulders and drew blood! "Ah! Even her feathers", she yelled as she shook them off.
Kumadori quickly looked down after Gurin's shout caught his attention, but before he could do anything... *WHAM*! Biddy had crashed straight into him. Like a rocket rising into space, she tackled him with blunt force and beak, drawing blood from his stomach! "ACK!"
"Thats what happens when you let your guard down", Biddy said as she smiled and licked at the blood dropping down her face. Not as good as feeding on a dead corpse, but still not bad!"
"CEASE your feeding on my life force", Kumadori shouted as he grabbed onto her wings with both hands. He managed to hold her still whilst keeping himself airborne."
"Kumadori hold her still!" Gurin Flew upwards with her mouth agape intent on making sure the enemy doesn't escape. The first thing she was able to grab onto was Biddy's leg! Though thin it was in her vulture form, it was surprisingly strong. A normal bird obviously would have been ripped to shreds, but Biddy had a solid leg. Even without using the iron body technique the bite barely managed to draw blood. "Thish leg ish tuuf", Gurin managed to say."
"You wretch! Let go of my leg", Biddy said as she shook her leg. Despite her shaking Gurin hung on tightly."
"HA! You canth get rid of me thath easiy!"
"Now it is MY turn!" Kumadori took out his Khakkhara and spun it around rapidly! Instead of lighting it on fire however, it began to glow a powerfully dark pink color. "I call this... BLEEDING HEART THRUST!" After he stopped spinning the staff, it seemed to almost drip of dark pink energy. "SHIGAN CUE!" He stabbed her in the stomach with the staff. The pink hue almost looked as if were disappearing into her body. "Now the poisons shall seep into your very psyche, and corrupt your life force!"
"Oh! THATH attack!"
"P-poison!? Where did THAT come from", Biddy asked.
"Weeeeeeeeell! It's more of a corruption! The human psyche cannot tolerate tainted energy. Using the powers of my mind, I am able to...", his sentence was interrupted by Biddy's other claw digging into his chest!
"I don't care what weird mind games you're trying to pull, but poison isn't going to work against me!" She kicked him back down towards the ship! "And YOU! Should really learn to let go!" She turned her attention down towards Guri; whom was still clamped on her leg. She used her other leg and wrapped it around Gurin's neck. I'll get you to let go one way or another, child", she yelled as she squeezed!
Gurin focused on keeping her grip on the powerful vulture woman...but the crushing grip on her neck was like a vice clamp, and it kept getting tighter and tighter! If she didn't let go, she would end up suffocating! She released her grip and quickly flew backwards! "Very few can escape my bite when I latch on...", she said as she rubbed her scaly neck. Biddy managed to draw blood from her...but from the metallic taste in her mouth, she too was able to pierce Biddy. She began to feel somewhat queasy from the taste of blood however. "At least we managed to make some progress by injuring AND poisoning her."
"Poison, my buttocks! That attack of course was clever, but I'm afraid you're not aware of the abilities of a vulture!
Kumadori popped out from beneath the water's surface! "Oh! Wait a moment. Vultures are immune to poisons?"
"I know they're immune to food poisoning...but then again, these guys do have some odd abilities. And it was such a cool move, too!"
"Pardon me! We're in the middle of a battle you twits! Just for that I'm going to shred you to pieces! She spun around again but instead of glowing wings; the wind around began to blow harder again.
"She's stirring up another wind force! We won't fall for another blender attack!"
"You will! Because you already assume it's the same attack. This is my UPWHIRL POOL attack!"
"Upwhirl...pool? What is that", Kumadori asked. But the second he did, he felt the water around him begin to swirl. "Oh! Am I under attack by a sea king", he asked.
"Kumadori... I don't think that's it!" Gurin began to get an awful feeling. This one wasn't whether related however. It was more a sixth sense. "I'll stop her with my fire!" She opened her mouth, and blew out a green flame towards Biddy. The powerful green flame spread wide thanks to the wind blowing as well, but Biddy's rapid spinning redirected the flame into the air. "Ah! Of course, she must be spinning too fast!"
As she spun and spun, she ascended higher into the air! "I'm sure your well aware of one of the biggest weaknesses to a devil fruit user. Not just sea stone of course... I'll take you out in the easiest way possible!"
The disturbance in the water intensified and the swirling water shot into the air like a knock up stream! "She wouldn't! She'd end up hitting herself as well", Kumadori said as he quickly hopped out of the water. He attempted intercept the water before it got too high!
"I'll just avoid it", Gurin said as she flew out of the way from the incoming water spout! How do you like that!?"
The second the water spout got close to the still spinning Biddy... she slew out of the wat... and stopped. "Just like I expected you to do!" She began flapping her massive wings and somehow redirected the mound of water towards the flying dragoness!
"Wait! How is she...", the rush of water slammed into her almost as much as the earlier wind did! "Ack! You... what was that supposed to do? Moving water won't make me weak! She took a deep breath, and prepared to blast Biddy with another flame... but she didn't feel any heat building up! "Oh of course! I did swallow some of that seawater", she said as she coughed and gagged. "It's not like I need fire to fight you!" She meant to say it towards Biddy, but Biddy had vanished before her very eyes.
"I know that deary...just like I don't need seawater to kill you", Biddy's voice said. Upon closer inspection, it came from above Gurin. The second Gurin looked up, she was met by Biddy whom had her arms folded. "Goodbye!" She opened her wings and released a powerful gust of wind! The impact was sudden, and forceful, almost like being hit by a brick wall! It forced Gurin down before she was able to brace herself, and she plummeted...into the water!
She had flown down so fast, that Kumadori barely notice her submerge! "Huh!? Oh no! Gurin, hang on!" Kumadori took in a deep breath and dived deep into the water.
"Oh! I should have known he'd attempt to rescue her. No matter... I sent her too far down for him to save in time! She'll be water logged by the time he makes it to her", Biddy said as she danced in the air as if there wasn't a care in the world.
"I... let my guard down...", Gurin thought as she sunk to within the sea. She couldn't move any part of her body... even her tail went numb. "I... can't go out like this..."
"Gurin! Gurin, can you hear me? I'll save you! Just wait for me a bit longer", Gurin heard. It wasn't with her ears...it was with her mind. Was he communicating with her through psyche? It must have been, since it was barely audible. She was beginning to lose consciousness...all of the bright blue water around was starting to turn black. "Gu..n! Sta.. ..th me..." He kept swimming after her. Despite the fact the water should have been cushioning her speed, she still seemed to be descending as if there was no water! "Swim faster! Swim faster", Kumadori kept telling himself. He kept gaining speed as he tried to keep up with her. He had to save her in time! Even after he rescued her he'd have to get her back to the surface before she succumbed to lack of oxygen. "Almost... got...you!"
After waiting for what seemed like many minutes, they showed no signs of reemergence. Hm? If he's more concerned with saving her then he'll drown himself too. Bah... I hate waterlogged food. Oh well, maybe the others will share", Biddy said as she flew back towards the ship. "Hm...I wonder if the others have finished the mission yet." Suddenly, an abrupt rock in the ship caused her to stumble off of the rail she roosted on. "What in the hell was that?!" She looked behind her, to see that the SkyDancer was impaled through the side of the Blood Bath! "The battles are heating up it seems. What is that all about", I wonder."
"You have more important things to worry about", a voice said from nowhere.
"Hm? Oh...so you managed to make it to the surface in time", Biddy asked as she turned back towards the edge of the boat.
"I have! It would take more than that to defat US! I managed to remove the water from her body! Though her mind remains silent..." He hopped out of the water with Gurin cradled in his hair. She was back in her human form, unresponsive but seemingly still alive. She endured holding her breath even submerged so far under the sea, thanks to her diving training... but
"I knocked her waaaaay below the sea... you two must either be really lucky, or better than I thought you would be. She may be breathing thanks to you, but for all we know she could be in a coma"
"Silence! You have awakened my wrath", Kumadori shouted as he gently laid Gurin down onto the hull. "I won't hold back ANY of my power! It would be foolish to do so without leading to our deaths", he said as he looked over towards his downed friend. "If I had been serious from the star, I could have prevented this. I will NOT make the same mistake! You are to focus on ME from this moment on", Kumadori said as he walked up towards Biddy. The makeup on his face ran a bit thanks to the harsh seawater.
"Very well! After I kill you, I'll finish her off too!" Biddy spread her wings again, letting all her feathers glow! After which, they all shot forward towards Kumadori.
Kumadori simply stood still and focused. As if time itself had slowed down... he saw each of the feathers nearly stopped in midair. Kumadori gave life to his hair and caught all eight feathers. "Child's play!"
"You dare insult me Kabuki man? Wait a moment... now that I get a better look at you, you remind me of a lady I used to train with. What was her name", Biddy asked herself.
"Keep your attention on me! I hope you're prepared to face me at my peak performance! Now SHISHI YOROI! Right then and there, Kumadori's hair grew out again...but this time, instead of going towards his enemy it began to stretch around him.
"What in the world are you doing? Trying to change your look", Biddy asked.
"Why yes...but it's not just appearance that changes", Kumadori said. The hair that wrapped around his arms began to point, and form claws. The hair that wrapped around his feet also formed claws, and the hair that stretched down his back pointed out from behind him into a what looked to be a mace. Lastly, the hair around his head swirled around into a true main... and covered his face into an animal. It was clear to her; he had turned into a literal hairy lion. The only thing she could recognize from him other than his hair was his eyes... which were glowing a very deep pink.
"Bwahahahaha! You turned into a kitty cat! That real cute and all, but all that added hair constricting your body will not only make you slower, but make you a bigger target. You just made this battle so much easier!"
"Your earlier statement of underestimating the opponent... will come back to haunt you!" Kumadori vanished as if he wasn't there.
"What?! That was even too fast for me to see! This doesn't make any sense! Where did he go", Biddy asked as she frantically looked around. She couldn't see anything but the boat and downed Gurin. "Hm? Bold move leaving your comrade prone like this. Lucky for you I gave my word I wouldn't kill her ye.."
"You wouldn't be able to do it quick enough", Kumadori said! To Biddy's surprise, the lion Kumadori appeared in front of her! "Raion no fukushū!" A pink glow enveloped his right claw, and he swiped at Biddy's face!
The attack was enough to send her soaring across the water! She managed to stop herself before descending into the water. She stared at the boat in utter disbelief...and began to feel a burning sensation across her face. When she looked down into the water, she saw pink slashes running across her face. At first, she thought they were just scratched...but they burned intensely! As if her face was on fire! "What did you do to me?! And how did you move so fast?"
"You only believe that I am slower and weaker because of the hair surrounding me body...but you fail to realize that the hair IS my body. I have complete control over every single fiber! I am able to pump life throughout each strand and increase their power!"
"Oh... I get it. By pumping psyche through your hair, you can make them act as muscles. They're thin enough to allow you to move fast, but your able to pump enough energy into them to add to your strength. I have to say, that's quite clever! However, all you did was force me to have to use some of my actual strength! Now I hope you're ready!" Biddy zoomed back over towards the ship and landed on the rail. The second she did, the boat rocked again. "I'm going to rip off each and every one of those strands until you're bald! This time, her talons glowed, and she flew forward.
"And I shall pluck you of each feather", Kumadori yelled as he lunged as well. His claws latched on her wings, but her talons managed to dig into his neck! They were sharp and long enough to penetrate his body! "I will not give in!"
"Dont make this harder than it has to be Kumadori! I finally remember now! You're the son of Yamonbako!"
"Yes! That is my dear mother! She is watching me right now, from heaven, and I won't die in front of her, OR my muse!"
"Yamanbako died? Hm, that doesn't sound right... but as for your 'muse', you should have chosen a better one. She barely even helped you. Were you really willing to risk your life to protect someone so pathetic? You ex cp9 agents have gone so soft that you were willing to team up with utter filth!" She managed to free her wings, and pinned Kumadori down with them! "Ahhhhhahahaha! That BRAT will be your death!"
"Gurin...", Kumadori said.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"GURIN! HER NAME IS GURIN", he nearly roared. She is not just my comrade! She isn't just my teammate. She's, my SOULMATE! She is the one who gives me inspiration. It's because of her, I found my greatest calling outside of assassination. My creative spirit! And I won't let her or my other friends down!"
"Soulmate... that's what you were planning to say earlier wasn't it?" Gurin had finally come to. "I knew you'd say that, but I wasn't prepared to hear you say it", Gurin said as she sat up and smiled. She wiped the access water from her face...but to be honest she wasn't sure if it was water or tears of happiness.
"Of coooourse. If you had allowed me to finish, I would have told you, my dearest. The bond we have goes much deeper than I had at first realized. Gurin... you are most special to me! I am quite glad you have recovered!"
"Hm... I thought for sure she was finished", Biddy said as she looked over towards Gurin. Well, either way, your cheesy sentiment is touching but I'm about ready to wrap this up sometime this year, Biddy said as she used her powerful Talons to grab onto the Lion man's neck. Even through all the hair, she managed to dig her nails through! Even though he got stronger and faster, she still seemed to have quite the strength advantage!
Gurin wrung out the tail of her vest, and removed the hair from her eyes. "I couldn't agree more, Biddy. Kumadori-San ad I have a lot to talk about now! "I'm going to give you EVERYTHING I got!" This time, Gurin smiled, and changed into her full dragon form!... but something was different about the form. Her scales were much shinier, and she seemed to have a glow of confidence.
"Ooooooh, scary! I've seen bigger dragons", Biddy said sounding quite unimpressed.
"I may not be the biggest dragon, or the strongest... but my resolve is bigger than anything you'll EVER know. I'll show YOU!" A green flame emerged from her mouth... but it didn't shoot towards Biddy. Instead, the flame began to surround her own body! It traveled from her mouth, to her hair, and all the way down to the end of her tail, as she rose into the air. "GREEN HELLebore!"
"I can feel that flame from here... that must be a very strong fire! Keep THIS in mind however! I have yet to meet a flame I couldn't extinguish with my wind force", Biddy said as she let go of Kumadori and flew upwards! "TORNADO BULLET", she yelled as she flapped her wings and sent s force of wind at the dragoness. She was expecting the wind to extinguish the fire... but it didn't. In fact, the fire almost looked to burn even brighter! "What?! I guess I could have done better!" Biddy did the same again, but this time made a much stronger wave of air. Once again, it blew across the sky, and moved Gurin back a bit...but again the flame only grew! "What the hell?!"
"My resolve burns brighter than ANY wind trying to blow it out. Didn't anyone ever tell you that wind only makes fire stronger?"
"Not when I create it! So, my wind WON'T work on you, big whoop! I can still tear you to pieces!" Biddy shaved out of sight again!
Kumadori used his eyes to followed her easily, ever since he had increased the senses of his psyche. Even though he did, she was still moving quite fast! Gurin, to your right!"
By the time Gurin managed to react, Biddy had appeared, and slashed her on the face again... but to Biddy's surprise, the slash didn't pierce the scales. "Your Haki wasn't this strong before! Where is this power coming from?
"It's my flame. I can use it just like Haki, bit for me it's more reliable! Just like this!" She opened her mouth and spewed more flames! Biddy crossed her wings and tried to endure her attack. She managed to shake off the flame from her wings and prepared to counter attack... but she couldn't see anything but green! There were somehow green flames surrounding them her! The dragon managed to blend into the flames as if she were fire itself. She managed to wear it like a cloak! "Can you see me now?"
Biddy even tried to distinguish it using her Haki, but all she could see was fire! This is impossible! As long as you have a soul, I should be able to see you... but it all just looks the same!" She couldn't quite tell for certain, but it looked like the flames were speeding up! It was almost like they were making a tornado of its own. The heat from the green swirl was nearly suffocating her... it wasn't even from smoke, or panic. It was from the flames burning her body and almost her very lungs. She was on fire and she didn't even realize it because she was trying to. "You'll have to do better than THAT!" He body glowed that intense bronze color again, and she charged forward. At first, she herself actually thought she was just going to move out of the flames... but her beak made purchase with something hard! By the time she managed to shake herself out of the fiery trap, she realized it was Gurin's side she made contact with, and drew more blood. "Got you!"
"NO! I got YOU", Gurin thought as she wrapped her body around the now captive Biddy! The embers of green flame surrounded her and ignited each feather.
Biddy yelled and writhed in pain! The flames at first weren't as bad as she assumed they would be, but it seemed that the flames were getting hotter and hotter. Biddy's adrenaline began to rush, and she used her super strength to break free from the coils! She looked to be scorched, and her clothes were charred from the fire... but her eyes were ignited from pure anger. "That's it! No more misses nice birdie!" She crossed her wings again, and spun around three times, before opening them up again... but this time instead of JUST wind, air scythes popped out from nearly every direction.
"Ah! Damn it", Gurin shouted as some of the scythes managed to cut her! The pain of the scythes, and the overuse of her new power was beginning to take its toll on her, and she nearly began to plummet again. She managed to guide her way back towards the boat.
"I wont let you escape! You've caused far too much damage!" Despite said damage she was still standing. Her endurance was a thing to be feared. She still had enough strength left from what they could tell. "I'll dice you two into pieces with this next attack!" Biddy began to spin again... and this time her entire body glowed!
"Kumadori! We have to finish her before she destroys the ship, and us along with it! We've come too far to die like this!"
"Hm! I agree! She's building up an abnormal amount of power Now let us team up and take her down! I'll will need your power my dearest!"
"Wait... you mean..."
"Yes!"
"But what if I...I can't take the risk, you might...
Kumadori unwrapped the hair from his hands and placed both of his hands around her still fire engulfed muzzle. She was expecting him to pull his hands away from the pain and shock of being burned... but instead the green flame seemed to dance around his hands, as if it was welcoming them. "See? You have control of the flames. They only hurt those you mean them too. This is what it means to have complete control of your body! Now I need for you to trust me, and combine your abilities with mine", he said as he stared into her glowing eyes.
She could see the sincereness in his face. He trusted her with his life... and she trusted him with hers. Ergo his choice was obvious! "Let's do it!" Gurin extended her still fiery engulfed body and stared directly at the spinning Biddy. In fact, she was only a few feet away! "We only have one shot at this Kumadori! So, give it your all!"
Kumadori hopped onto Gurin's back, and stared off into the distance. He had a clear shot! A road that led straight to his goal, and that was taking down the enemy. He closed his eyes, and allowed the green flame of Gurin's back to engulf him. Just like the first time, they didn't burn him but this time he felt a little bit more power. "We shall show you the true horrors of hell!" He planted his feet firmly, and dashed along Gurin's back! As he ran, he picked up more and more of the flame igniting his own hair as he went! "This is for my friends! Herukyattodorago nrōdo!" The burning lion man hopped as soon as he reached the end of Gurin's head and spun in the air creating a circle! The inside of the circle was tinted pink, while the green flame on the outside spun around it!
Biddy could feel the flame even through the tornado she was preparing she had just whipped up. "Huh? That heat! What are they doing n...", she saw the ball of fire coming towards her! "I'll cancel it out!" She manipulated the mass of air and threw it out in front of her with the intent of blowing out the wind.
"You couldn't blow it out before, you wont blow it out this time either!" Kumadori kept going...but the mass of air actually halted his progress! In fact, the wind almost seemed to blow out the flames. "Oh...oh no!"
"See? There is NOTHING my abilities can't defend against."
"Its...not...OVER YET", Gurin shouted as she used the last of her strength to blow out another flame! It pushed Kumadori forward and THROUGH the wind force!
"What?! How did you manage to..."
"And with this... you shall FALL! Kumadori stretched out his clawed arms! With all his might, Kumadori allowed the fire to build up into his claws and slammed them down onto Biddy!
"Y-you...two...were stronger than I thought you'd be... Well done...dammit!" This time, Biddy was the one who plunged into the sea.
"Rest assured... our friends will send your teammates your way", Kumadori said. The second he did, his body momentarily gave out, and he too fell into the water.
"K-kumadori-San", Gurin yelled. She was about to try and act but she had slowed down after reverting back to her normal form. The cold wooden floor of the ship was all that met her as she tried to move. She wouldn't be able to do anything anyways since she couldn't swim...her fears were put to rest once she saw a familiar pink Kabuki man resurface. His makeup was really wearing thin now!
"D-don't look at me, my dear! I must not be seen in suuuuuch a state!" He frantically swam closer to the boat, with both the fire, and lion form completely doused away.
Gurin nearly burst into tears when she saw him trying to cover his face whilst swimming at the same time. "You idiot! THATS what you're worried about? Sheesh... I'm glad this part's over at least. But Kumadori-San! Before when you called me your soulmate", Gurin said as she grinned happily.
Kumadori clung to the edge of the ship with his hair still trying to stay out of sight. Though at first he was trying to hide his makeup less face, he now might have been trying to hide the blush running across it.