We now reached the end of the Deep Blood arc, it has been a wild ride, so now we look to the finale and the aftermath to follow, that may have far reaching affects later in the story.

Index and Fate belong to Kamachi and Nasu respectively. Onto the story.

Chapter 13: Long Live the Kings

Lucius stood up with a look of annoyance as he saw the hole in his chest left by Misaka's rail gun, Saber and the aforementioned electro master stood by in apprehension.

"That hurt." Lucius bluntly said.

He then brought his arm out and three magic circles appeared, all three fired beams at once against Misaka. Saber jumped between her and the attack blocking each beam.

"Don't let those hit you, your life will start draining automatically!!" She warned.

"Has that happened to you!?"

"I have magic resistance, but I've seen a poor soul fall to this power before."

Saber then brought her wind blade skyward and charged up her power before reeling an overhead slash, it sent a vertical blast towards the vampire who countered with one of his own, the resulting shockwave shook the entire area, they were thankful that if it wasn't for Aurelos's Ars Magna reversing the damages the fight would collapse the entire sky scraper.

"I'm done playing games, I'm gonna end this quickly!!" Lucius snarled.

"In quick succession he began pooling mana into himself and became engulfed by a black mass of energy swirling around him. His black long sword glowing an eerie glowing crimson at the blade edges.

"Damnit!! Misaka get back, it just became more dangerous!"

Saber dispelled the air hiding her weapon to reveal a shining blade that radiated light and the feeling of hope.

Buckingham Palace England:

"Your highness, what is happening to Curtana!?"

"Shh, do you not hear that Knight leader?"

"Hear what?"

"Curtana…it sings."

Misawa Prep School:

"Don't count me out, this is my fight TOO!!" Misaka screamed as she pushed the limits of her power, her right eye beginning to glow.

"Saten take this chance to bolt hurry!!"

Saten nodded and evacuated the building.

"Lets go!" Misaka shouted.

With that declaration the two sides charged each other.

"Meanwhile on the top floor despite the quakes, negotiations with Aurelos were quickly breaking down when Touma told Aurelos he didn't know what he was talking about, and Stiyl further added that the title of savior belongs to Touma Kamijou.

"Touma." Index cried in her sleep. "Touma."

"I'm here Index!" He responded.

"Touma."

Her stomach produced a loud rumble.

"I'm really hungry, can you and Tamamo make some food please?" She said rolling onto her side in her sleep.

"Perfect timing." Stiyl said as he laughed.

Touma broke into laughter himself. However a maniacal laughter joined them as they witnessed Aurelos become unhinged.

"You will fall to the floor intruder!!" Aurelos commanded.

Touma and Stiyl found themselves hitting the floor by some supernatural force.

"Touma!" A voice called out, one he recognized.

"Tamamo!?"

There stood the divine fox, spear in hand, and her Eight Folds Blessing mirror floating near her.

"If you think I'm just gonna sit back think again, you seem like the type to tackle insane problems on your own without asking for help and it would be that way if I wasn't around to set your ass straight, I'm only gonna say this once so listen good bub! You go off to fight, I'm fighting with you, you're not getting rid of me that easy, as your beloved faithful wife I will always be by your side, NOW AND FOREVER!!!"

Touma was speechless by Tamamo's declaration, he could not find words to speak, but settled on something simple.

"I wouldn't have it any other way Tama."

"What is this madness?! The monster lives." Aurelos sniped.

"Don't you dare call her a monster you crazy bastard!!" Touma yelled.

"You come in here and trample on my emotions, sneer at my prevail. Very well, I will make you pay for this humiliation, you will pay with your pathetic lives!"

"Stop now!" Himegami yelled as she stood between the Alchemist and the intruders.

"Himegami be careful!" Touma warned as he struggled to get up. He shifted his hand to his mouth and bit his thumb negating the Ars Magna, but Aurelos gave the order for Himegami to die. She fell limp and lifeless as Touma caught her trying to wake her up hoping she can still be saved.

"Her existence is no longer-"

He didn't finish as he narrowly dodged series of small explosive talismans from Tamamo.

"I'm gonna make you pay for humiliating ME!!!"

"She then launched her mirror at him spinning at high speeds.

"Your mirror breaks apart." Aurelos said.

However it kept coming and he had to move out of the way as it tore into the spot he stood in just a moment ago, and flew back to its wielder.

"How??!" He asked in disbelief.

"Your Ars Magna is very impressive bug, to manipulate the reality around you with just your words and bend it to your will, where I'm from no magus of the modern age can pull something like this off, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the closest thing this world has to a reality marble, however what you tried to manipulate was a divine construct. I didn't have it summoned the last time we crossed as I was to clouded in rage and false judgment, as well as the fact that you actually managed to harm me, then again the magic in your attacks is quite strong. But it's not enough to be the death of me."

While the confrontation went on Himegami gasped awake to the relief of Touma.

"What? You somehow negated my Ars Magna, her death was supposed to be irreversible, what sacred power do you posses in that hand of yours?!"

"Stop your deranged babbling!! You're clearly defeated. It's time to give up!!" Touma declared as he stood up with Himegami in his arms. "But if you insist on believing you can manipulate reality, then I'll just shatter that messed up illusion of yours!!"

Touma set Himegami off the side of the room, opposite of Stiyl who didn't bother to try and get up. He stood opposite of Aurelos, Tamamo came to his side at the ready to assist, he briefly petted her back making her tails swish and they both stared down the alchemist.

Tamamo was the first to charge, her spear at the ready. Aurelos took a needle and stabbed himself giving a command.

"You will choke."

Nothing happened as Tamamo spun her spear into an upward slash.

"What?! But I affected you last time!!" Aurelos shouted confused as he backed away quickly.

"You affected the area around me, you won't be able to affect me directly now die!!" Tamamo yelled as she took a talisman and threw it with her mirror lacing it with fire. Aurelos manipulated the reality around him to instantly move away from the flaming projectiles course.

"What are you!!"

He didn't notice Touma run up to him and sock him hard in the face, a left hook followed, then an uppercut, another right.

Aurelos responded with a knee to Touma's gut making him reel back, he took another needle and stabbed himself once more.

"Electrocute."

A wave of electricity surged at Touma who quickly brought up his right hand as Imagine Breaker dispelled the attack.

Tamamo rushed Aurelos on his other side and he once more switched places to evade a two front attack.

"Be crushed."

A car appeared above the duo and Touma brought his right hand up and the car shattered like a broken mirror.

It served to be distraction however as Aurelos summoned a gun and shot the spot on the roof above the duo, exploding in the process, large heaps of debris falling as Tamamo shoved Touma out of the way so she can take the full brunt of the collapse, which cracked the floor below her sending her under.

"TAMA!!!!" Touma Shouted in horror as his face contorted into rage.

"These bullets can travel faster than the human eye can see, the shooting will now commence."

Aurelos fired as the bullet zipped by Touma's head by a few millimeters as a massive crater.

"Did you really think I would let you die that easily, you're alone without your pet freak now, and I want to see you squirm a bit longer."

Touma gulped.

"Magnifying previous order, ten pistols with simultaneous fire!"

The single pistol expanded in to two sets of five connected to a single pistol, controlled by one trigger.

The pistols all fired at once, each one hitting its mark knocking Touma back. He coughed but luckily he wasn't even bruised, or had a bullet hole in his body.

"I told you I wasn't finished with you yet, that was practice,now you get to see what my gun can really do!"

"Well what do you know, you really can use your words to manipulate reality in whatever way you wish." Stiyl interrupted.

"Obviously, Ars Magna is the strongest power an alchemist can posses. I can do anything I-"

"Oh really, if so what would you need Deep Blood for? Why would you try to attract vampires to you, wouldn't you just create them with a thought without using her? All it would take is a few words from you right? So why couldn't you do it alchemist, why didn't you create vampires using your Ars Magna? For that matter why would you need them at all?!

"Into the air you meddling sorcerer!" Aurelos commanded.

Stiyl was then lifted high in the air for everyone to see.

"Stiyl no!!" Touma shouted.

"I'm wondering if there are any limitations to your power." Stiyl pressed ignoring what was happening.

"Your skin will be torn from your body!" The alchemist yelled.

Like that Stiyl's skin was ripped from his body, his muscle, bone, and blood vessels were visible, his heart was still beating meaning he was still alive. Touma wanted to vomit at the disgusting sight holding his mouth to stop it.

After a bit of thinking about the overall ability of Ars Magna it finally hit Touma that it could in fact be undermined. A new plan came to mind and he got up on his feet and faced Aurelos once more.

"I'm bored with this game, I think I'll switch weapons, I'll destroy you with a sword instead. Obviously the source of your self assurance is your right arm, which is your only weapon. It's my first course of action to chop off your right arm. For this last attack my spinning sword will sever your right arm!"

The ten pistols turned into a single pistol with a sword attached to the barrel. He took aim, the sword on command fired from the pistol and spun cutting through the air. It struck Kamijou's right shoulder severing it as blood splattered every direction.

Aurelos laughed as he felt that victory was assured. Then he heard a sound from behind him, turning around to see none other than Tamamo climbing from the hole caused by the collapsed roof above her.

"Still alive monster, you just don't know when to die don't you!"

"I'm gonna tear your limbs off when I reach you!!" Tamamo panted.

Before anything could happen they heard the sound of maniacal laughter, and it was coming from Touma.

"My love what's gotten into you! BY AMATERASU'S LIGHT YOUR ARM!!!!"

She got no response as Touma walked towards Aurelos.

The alchemist attempted to cut his head off but the blade curved and missed Touma completely. He tried the ten pistol combination, the results were the same, none of the blades scratched him. With one final attempt to end the boy he commanded forth infinite executioner's blades to dismember Touma, the blades suspended in mid air before falling upon him, only for the blades to be destroyed instantly, the sound of Imagine Breaker rang throughout.

"Hey I have a question alchemist." Touma said in a tone unlike him, even spooking Tamamo who just watched in confusion and a little fear, she sensed heavy pressure beginning to envelop the room, no, the whole building.

"Honestly did you think you were going to win, did you really think Imagine Breaker could be defeated by such a pathetic attack?"

Tamamo wanted to believe he was just acting, but knew clearly that he wasn't, it was like he was another entity.

"You can't work your alchemy without using those needles can you? You rely on them to keep any stray thoughts out from interfering. Is something wrong? Come on use your words! Why aren't you fighting? Can't you control me!!?"

"Stay back, don't come any closer!!" Aurelos begged as he ran and hid under a coffee table near the desk.

He then mustered up the courage to come out only to see a fully healed Stiyl with Index in his arms and the boy was just a few steps away from him.

"You're no match for me alchemist, I've figured it out. I know the secret of Ars Magna. Your power is not making your words into reality. Oh no your power is making what you believe a reality, and now that I know that I will crush you!! It will also be your punishment for HARMING MY QUEEN!!!!"

Tamamo only stared at the man that didn't act like her husband at all, however she heard a roar in her head to her confusion, she was then shocked by what she saw.

Where the shoulder stub would be a was a dragons' head, it was visible from the blood, it made the fox wonder about the sun dragon that appeared to her when she fought Kanzaki. Theories began to circulate in her head on a connection.

The dragon head roared which shook the room shocking everyone conscious enough to see it, and lunged at a screaming Aurelos who begged for his life, for a brief moment Tamamo got a look at Touma's eyes, they were glowing red,as the dragon swallows Aurelos whole clamping its powerful jaws.

The dragon let go as Aurelos fell to the floor like a corpse. Tamamo saw the dragon disappear and be replaced by a new arm as Touma began to collapse, she quickly ran and caught him before he hit the floor.

Tamamo gave Touma a long worried look as she caressed his face and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Suddenly the whole structure started rumbling as a result of a certain clash in the basement.

"We need to move now!!" Stiyl ordered.

Tamamo handed Touma to Himegami as she shape-shifted into a large two tailed fox, Himegami climbed aboard making sure not to let Touma's hand mess with the transformation. Stiyl would follow with Index in his arms, then went to pick up Aurelos's limp form bringing him on as well and held on tight as Tamamo dashed for the window jumping out as she magically stuck to the outer surface, running down the wall.

They reached the bottom as the building began to fall sideways, debris going everywhere as smoke started enveloping the area, thankfully they found Saten outside a good distance away waving at them, suddenly the ground burst with electricity as a figure laced with darkness was sent flying.

"What the hell!!" Stiyl gasped.

Following out of the rubble was Saber who flew out to strike the person but was blocked. Misaka was the next to come out as electricity surged from her, her right eye glowed.

Tamamo transformed back into her humanoid form once her passengers departed from her back.

"Saber, is that the vampire?!"

"Tamamo, I'm surprised you came! Yes that is the vampire."

Lucius was currently fighting with Misaka who had gotten faster, she ran in various directions shooting mass amounts of lightning, each blast getting stronger. He fired high density mana blasts from his open free hand which ripped up the ground with every impact. One almost hit but was blocked by a massive barrier of iron sand which then blasted out in an attempt to rip him apart.

Lucius took his long sword and swung it cutting into the fabric of reality to reveal a shadowy purple void which absorbed the iron sand.

"Misaka!! I'm gonna charge my noble phantasm! I need you to keep him in one spot!" Saber ordered.

"I'll try!" She responded.

"I've had enough, time to perish!" Lucius yelled as he pooled his power to his blade and fully charged it.

"Twilight Rending!!"

He slashed his sword creating a massive blast of crimson black energy. Misaka intercepted it with a strong stream of lightning blasting from her palms but was slowly getting pushed back.

"I can't hold out much longer."

Tamamo began pooling her mana as purple and blue light swirled around her in a transparent form, the air thickens with ether, the space around her distorted, the ground ripples at her feet like water. Sakura petals flowing around her as eight torii gates encircled her as she stood center.

"Don't expect me to help you out much you little runt." Called the voice of Amaterasu.

"Trust me when I say I'd rather not need it."

"Ha! Keep saying that."

A flicker of yellow-orange embers danced about under Tamamo's feet. She raised her mirror which became a torch of ethereal energies as it glowed a mass of light that she held up over her head. It was time to light up the sky.

"Eight Fold Blessings Amaterasu!!"

The energy condensed one more time before it burst out into an omnidirectional wave.

Misaka suddenly became more invigorated, her power felt a slight boost as AIM energy began to lightly envelop her whole body giving her a golden white appearance. Energy strings circle around her adorning spikes of some kind. Now she found herself pushing the crimson black energy back, becoming a dead even stand still.

Tamamo turned her head to Saber with a look of urgency.

"NOW…ARTORIA!!!!!

Artoria held her sword skyward, the 'Power of the World' responded as it rose from the surface in a blaze of golden light which congregated to the shing blade.

"The breath of the planet gathers, the torrent of life shines…….EX…CALIBUURRR!!!"

She swung Excalibur into an overhead strike sending a great blast of superheated holy light, Misaka flashed out of the way so the attack could meet Lucius's, the two forces colliding in an earthshaking rumble as the darker energy was being over powered.

"I curse you! The 'Cradle of Lilith' will be upon you, we will have the girl. She will die! I CURSE YOOUUUUU!!!"

That was all Lucius had left to say before being engulfed by the holy light of Excalibur.

"NNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

The light coalesces and then blasted high into the sky, until it finally it vanished leaving nothing but a crater of charred earth.

Misaka then powered down and fell unconscious but luckily was caught by none other than Kuroko.

"Sissy!"

Uiharu and Saten then followed up, their mouths hung open as they bore witness to the destruction before them, Stiyl and Himegami were no better, the entire place was a war zone.

A Certain Hospital:

Tamamo stood in front of a familiar hospital room with Index by her side holding her hand. After the 'battle of Misawa Prep School' as Saten proudly named it, the victorious party quickly evacuated the area before authorities would be on the scene.

It was believed that the destruction of the school and the surrounding area was the result of a terrorist attack by rogue level 4 espers. But people seemed to have a hard time believing an esper below level 5 could cause a giant explosion of towering light, the other girls save for Saten were in there own hospital room next door that Saten was currently visiting.

To Tamamo's shock Stiyl was already in there peeling an apple while Touma sat in the inclined hospital bed.

"Hey Tama, Index."

Stiyl spared them a glance but refocused on his apple though an annoyed look on his sprung up seeing Tamamo, who was forming a shit eating grin on her face, canines and all.

"I'm not trying to get all cozy or anything, merely checking up on the Imagine Breaker here."

"Well well, someone seems to have something of a soft side after all, but don't think this little display puts you in my good graces."

"As if I want to be."

"Please, can you two not do this again, we're in a hospital damnit!" Touma pleaded trying to quickly defuse another bomb from going off.

"I'm merely reaffirmed the boundaries my love." Tamamo said simply.

"I'd imagine your concerned with a certain incident from last night?"

Tamamo's eyes furrowed, before looking at a confused Index.

"Index, I need you to step out of the room for a bit ok sweetie."

"Ok." Index then stepped out.

"Smart move, I don't want her to have to find out about that, she's quick to worry." Stiyl replied.

"So you mean to talk about the dragon from last night, is that correct."

"It's nothing, just a manifestation of terror Aurelos felt at the time." Stiyl explained.

That made Tamamo raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Is that what he thinks?" She wondered in her head.

She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the dragon that came out of Touma's severed arm was not a mere manifestation.

"What of the alchemist?" Touma asked making his presence known.

"Well it seems he lost all his memories, as well as his magical abilities, I didn't want his death on my conscious, so I gave him a new identity and snuck him past the knights of the Roman Catholic Church, word of warning to all of you, they saw everything that happened after the building collapsed, you might have the Vatican coming after you now fox.

"You can't be serious about that right!?" Touma asked in avid worry.

"I'll be fine Touma, everything is going to be ok, I promise."

"With that said tell me Imagine Breaker what was up with you after your arm severed?" Stiyl asked.

"Oh that was just me acting in order to throw Aurelos off his game and make it to where his attacks negated themselves." Touma said scratching the back of his head.

"The pain must have put you in a state of shock, thanks to that you were able to do what needed to be done, much like Aurelos and his needles."

"Don't you dare compare him to that psychotic bug!!" Tamamo snapped.

Suddenly coming through the door was Index and Himegami.

"Oh hey Himegami, didn't expect to see you here." Touma greeted casually.

"I'm heading outside ok hun?" Tamamo said as she kissed Touma on the cheek before making her way out.

"She walked up to the roof to see Artoria waiting for her.

"Greetings Tamamo." She formally greeted.

"I knew I sensed you up here, I guess you wanted to talk about something."

"Yes, it's in regards to the vampire."

"I overheard him during the chaos, he yelled something about the Cradle of Lilith."

Artoria nodded.

"I ran into that group not long after I was pulled into this world, had a few scuffles with them before going after Lucius. Medusa and Hassan of Serenity are currently tracking them."

"So they're here to."

Artoria gave a light nod.

"They are acting independently with no master."

"Any idea where they are at the moment?"

"Last I heard from them they were tailing one of the factions envoys in Germany before heading south to North Africa."

"With the name Lilith in there I believe that's who the leader is. But who is she exactly?" Tamamo asked.

"Lilith, the first wife of Adam born from the same clay in the Old Testament, she left him when she refused to obey God's will of serving Adam who was then given Eve from his rib, she was eventually demonized and became the first succubus ."

"Index!" Tamamo shouted in surprise.

"I saw you heading up to the roof and followed, I'm sorry." Index said with a downcast look.

Tamamo then walked up to her and put her hands on Index's shoulders while giving her a warm smile.

"It's ok, and I heard what you said earlier, Lilith sounds like a real bitch…never say that word ok?" Tamamo said sternly.

Artoria walked up to the duo.

"If this is the same Lilith you speak of then what would she want with that Saten girl?"

"I talked with Ruiko earlier, she explained to me her experience under the vampire's custody, he said she looked like someone who knew her." Index explained.

"Someone she looked like who knew Lilith? But the only person who knew her besides Adam was Eve, what's the connection?" Artoria asked.

"I don't know, but someone needs to keep gaurd over Saten now." Tamamo replied.

"Don't worry, I have that covered." Artoria responded.

"You do?"

The King of Knights nodded as she looked over behind the duo.

"You can come out master, there is no reason to hide."

Out from behind the door to the stairwell came Saten who had her right hand to her chest, upon closer look Tamamo spotted a command seal adorned to it.

"I see, so that's how it is."

AN: And with that the deep blood arc comes to a close!! Woof, now that is out of the way the next chapter will involve our newly growing 'Kamijou Faction takes time to rest and relax from the battle of Misawa Prep School and Saten gets acquainted with her new partner. But now new looming dangers hang over their heads, give me your over all thoughts and be ready for more.

Next chapter: Cool Down Period