Oh, my. Look at that. longest chapter so far. This might be the longest chapter, period! I don't know if this is the best chaopter, but sure as hell is the longest, and it's just one event. Holy molly, I ws actually itching to write this chapter! But... I'm digress. Here it comes, I hope you all enjoyed the rideuntil here. Good read... I guess.
As always, dxd doesn't belong to me.
I unleashed hell, I destroyed my own standards, the whole world around me was destroyed the moment I snapped my fingers to unleash my until now inoffensive technique. I was planning to simply absorb their breasts and blast them away with a well charged [DRAGON SHOT!], but this came to ruin as the following happened...
Instead, I used senpai's signature stripping spell, and then hell unfolded in front of me: all of the pretty girls had their clothes ripped off like toilet paper, pulverized into the limbo while their uncovered breasts and nether areas were exposed for the world to see! What happened?! Why did my Boosted Gear chose that curse instead of [LEVEL ZERO]?! Why am I enjoying this?!
"Kyaaaaah~! Noooooo~!" They all screamed while landing on their knees on the floor and covering themselves!
"Thanks for the mea-... I mean, I'm sorry!" I said, feeling my face burn as I tried to seal my eyes with my hands, but failing because by some supernatural power was preventing me to fully cover my sight. Nice rack... No, stop! They'll think I'm some nasty creeper!
[BUST!]
"What...?" The gauntlet on my left hand suddenly shined, and like the last time I used [LEVEL ZERO], it announced [BUST!]. Boom, a quick surge of energy ran through all of my being, ten times even stronger than last time! My Boosted Gear continued to scream the command, until it finally stopped, as the aura around my body was clear and bright! So, I didn't just rip their clothes off, I've also absorbed the power of their breasts! "This is... The power of the one true Breasts Dragon emperor, the chichiryuutei! Oppai dragon!"
[HWAAAAAAAAH~! IT'S COMING ALL AGAIN!]
[C'mon, Ddraig, you got it worse before...]
This again? Sorry, Red Dragon...
"You'll pay, you creepy pervert!" I snapped back from my monologues as I lifted my head to see a bunch of naked ladies coming for me! Still covering their shames and trembling in either fear or anger, they charged with their weapons and claws alike against me! "We'll gorge your eyes out! PREPARE TO DIE!"
"Shoot!" I said, backing up a little as concentrating some energy on my gauntlet. Let's try this again! I formed a ball of demonic energy on my left arm, and when it was big enough, I punched with all of my might, as the Gauntlet announced [EXPLOSION!]. "[DRAGON SHOT!]"
"G-...!"
*DOOOOOOON!*
"Whoa!" The recoil itself was what caused me to be launched backwards as the explosion was even bigger than I was anticipating, the sheer force of that blast enough to jet me away as it engulfed those monsters away and make them be disqualified! I rolled in the sand for a while until I stopped, only to look upwards and see the massive destruction I've caused: there was a great rip on the edge of the arena! "Wow... Was that... My fault?"
I stood up and stretched myself a little. Wasn't that intense? This is probably from Lord Desmond's massage yesterday, and indeed, something feels great about me and my boosted Gear. The last time I used [LEVEL ZERO], I felt tired despite the energy boost, that's how Yagura took control over me that time(Yagura - Sowwy, I did it with good intentions...). Now, that bust energy is giving me a good chunk of power! That is probably because of that 'lock' he was talking about earlier! Maybe if I continue to pick breast energy, I might be able to finally reach Balance Breaker!
I'm so glad that I'm in a world those words make goddamn sense!
"Incoming message: Get down, Ichijou!" I couldn't resume my battles as suddenly I felt a two presences coming towards me! The first one tackled me to the ground, pushing me further there into a protective and jiggly embrace, while the second one came into a close shave, in a cutting flight! When I regained my balance, I've noticed that the first one was Sarah-san!
"Not bad, for a traitor, that is." I heard a familiar voice coming closer. A very familiar voice that destroyed the poor 1-D class and acted like it wasn't a big deal. I turned around, and as expected, a golden dragon armor was floating on the place, soon landing on the ground. The helmet then opened, revealing a too familiar face. "Long time no see also, Sekiryuutei Tsukino Ichijou."
"The Golden Dragon King, Miyama Rei." I said back, picking Rhongomiant once again and pointing it at him. Is he a foe or an ally, now? It'd be better if he doesn't do anything funny this time around. He was also carrying a neon-blue grandsword, supported on his left shoulder. "Wanting to part of Kuoh academy, I can see."
"The school seems nice enough. However, like we've discussed before, those external matters don't concern me in the slightest." He said, as his helmet was put back on, and shiny blue eyes turned to face me in a flash. "I'm here to find the one able to defeat the Ultimate Evil that lies inside the entrails of this school, born from the carcass of this new world, and Then discover the place where my father lies, for me to prepare a grave for him myself!"
"..." So, he knows. He knows that this world isn't the original one, before 666(Trihexa) destroy and The Dragon Deities reconstruct it with their powers. I gulped, he must have taken a shock for that. However, I entered [CRIMSON QUEEN GEAR DRIVE] to face the dragon armor.
"However, never thought that my dear sister Sarah, the oldest of us all, would betray us like that." He said, as he turned his eyes from me to the bluenette behind me. She also summoned her own sacred gear, that blue half-helmet thing, and was looking so concerned about his 'brother'.
"Emergency message: you can stop now, Rei-chan! The Devils from Kuoh are good! They'll help us!" She said, gulping down as a bright light was emanating from her own Dragon Gear. I gotta keep quiet, because apparently, that dragon inside her own Hate Ddraig's guts. Miyama, on the other hand, simply dismissed those pleas with a disdainful glare. That one... Pissed me off. "I know what we did is unforgivable, but please! Maybe if we stop and help them as well, we can repay them and receive a pardon! End of message."
"Sister, as much as you know I'd take any kind of help without thinking twice... The supernatural is the only faction I refuse any kind of help." He spoke, taking a step towards us, as I shielded Sarah-san and myself with my massive blade. "The sins we've committed to reach so far are unforgivable as you said. Giving up now would not only throw our hope into the mud, It'll also disrespect those who lost their lives and loved ones in our journey. You wouldn't like that, am I right?"
"What... What? Lives claimed? Sarah-san..." I slowly turned my shocked face to the transferred candidate by my side. She was with a disturbed expression printed on her pretty face, and trembling worst that I could ever imagine. Not just that, even her sacred gear began to malfunction, crumbling back to the nothingness of the hammer space.
"I... I know, brother..." She said, drying her tears away as she again adopted a more mature and determinate face, summoning again her sacred Gear. "But you... You know me! I'll avoid any more blood and tears in our hands! The least, the better! And I'll fight with those that, Unlike you, can discern justice from simple revenge!"
"I see. You're still dreaming in your wonderland, even though one of your possibilities was to come back to us again." He sighed, and I could see that he was genuinely upset about it. However, a second later, his glare became more ferocious, as he lifted his sword upwards. "No matter. If I have to destroy you in order to find the one that can destroy the ultimate evil, so be it! Kurumi, rip them apart!"
And so, with a swift swing from his blade, a massive slash of energy came from the tip of it's edge, destroying everything within it's way. I stepped back into the frontline and used Rhongomiant to summon a [DIVIDING WYVERN FAIRIES] slash! The two beams of energy collided and cancelled themselves. However, it was not over! In a second, we dashed towards each other and our blades clashed!
"You said that you want to protect this school, isn't that right, Sekiryuutei?" While we struggled with each other, he said under that golden helmet. I pushed him away and again tried to cut him down, but our swords again locked in a edge battle. "You think of me as your enemy, your rival and nemesis, ain't I right? Well, for me, YOU are the one in the way for me to put an end in all of that. If you can simply back off and let me do my job, maybe less corpses will be left when we leave!"
"But like Sarah-san said, your ways are the one which are harming the most!" I screamed back. Suddenly, a pair of angelic wings sprouted from his backs, and he backed off in a swing of them, taking a higher ground.
"Sacrifices are needed in order to come to an end! In order for one to succeed, others must fail! In order for one to be happy, others must be miserable!" He then snapped his fingers and summoned countless others golden runes, several swords and magical armaments coming from them. "In our case, in order to defeat the Ultimate Evil and our father, the ones who stayed and died in our way are nothing compared to what the death of those two will cause in the world!"
"What did you say?!"
[GOLDEN PLUTO ARC!]
*ZOOOM ZOOOM ZOOOM ZOOM!*
"Incoming message: But, brother, we can stop this now!" I was about to defend myself against that shower of holy and demonic armaments, but an azure armor with dragon wings and chilly aura stayed in our way and kicked all of those away. The voice from inside was from Sarah-san. He landed right in front of me, and extended a hand for him, as her voice was now a lot less robotic and more emotional. "It's true that we claimed lives and places, but maybe those were for us to find this place! Those people will help us, so we don't need to dirt our hands ever again! End of message."
"..." He simply went quiet, as the shower of treasures ceased, and the golden angelic dragon picked his again his Kurumi neon sword and charged against us. I pushed Sarah-san away from harm's way, and clashed again with him! We landed in one place and opened a crater there. "I understand. You rather walk the easier way and live with others judging your past actions instead of walking straight the way we choose despite the obvious consequences."
"People can Change, Miyama!" I said back, as he backed up and clashed again, now covering each other with a barrage of clashing slashes! "I really wanted to change you! Your sister is right! You can stop this madness and work with us!"
"..." We went quiet again, and in another loose cut, our blades clashed again. However, this time, it was too much for me, and so he launched me to the air, Rhongomiant escaping my hands as he continued. I changed my form to [SMASHER QUEEN], and countered his blows with my heavy-armored hand. Still, the armor there was already giving up, and the bruises were becoming more and more unbearable! In the end, he simply went kendo and hit me away with his blade. I landed on my feet for a nail. "I remember those words. I also remember that you said that the one who wins is the right, good and Correct one. I follow you into this one: the truth not always are in one same person. For one to keep being the truthful one, he must keep winning. But if this one is overcome, this means the one who stands tall is the right one. Isn't that right?"
"Tch...!" I tried to stand tall, but the sheer amount of pressure in my legs made me tremble a little. Crap.
"This means, this time, I'm the right on-..."
*DON!*
"Incoming message; no, you're not!" However, before he could finish his speech, my sword came down flying towards him, smashing part of his helmet and making the Miyama guy take space from the affected area. Jumping towards him, it was Sarah-san again, resuming her kick barrage against him. His armor soon was crumbling into pieces as each kick of her had the force of a earthquake! "You remember, don't you? My kicks have the force of a meteorite! Even with that armor, there's no way for you to defeat me! Therefore, I must be the righteous one, ain't I right?! End of message."
"Tch, what a joke. But apparently I still believe in your make-believe. You're despicable, sister." He said, as Kurumi went flying away from his hands and he could only defend with his armor like me. Soon, she crashed his gauntlets and footwear armor. But she couldn't finish, as then he picked one of her legs and pulled her to him, as from his hammer space he picked a golden massive gauntlet with some ancient words carved on it and punched her in the middle of the jewels in her Dragon Armor! That 'balance breaker' soon disappeared, and a bloody Sarah-san revealed herself! "Despicable, I say!"
"Sarah-San...!"
"Message for you, Ichijou-kun!" Sarah-san said, as she kicked my sword back for me. A flame burned inside of me seeing that last attempt of victory, so I picked that sword and leaped towards the golden dragon! Miyama was so concentrated about his sister, it was only too late for him to notice me! I clashed Rhongomiant against his chest armor, and then my Boosted Gear announced [EXPLOSION]. *BAM!*, the shock between the two forces launched him away, destroying the rest of his armor! He screamed in pain, as his body clashed on the floor, and his sacred gear, that golden knife known as [DOWN FALL DRAGON SPEAR], landed right by his side, indicating that he no longer is in his balance breaker form!
"Huh, so... The hero loses again. Well, at least I'm stronger now. What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. That's the law, anyway." He mumbled, picking his sacred Gear back and pointing at me. He... He really changed. Not only he's a lot more concentrated, his fighting style and personality also are shaper and darker. He indeed changed, but for the wors-... No, he changed, just that. "You're right, Sekiryuutei. The winner is the righteous, the loser is the unlawful. But in the world in which evil reigns, the wrong is right, and right is wrong. Maybe, in the end, I'm just the right one fighting against the Wrong one that dominates and distorts this world. A lone rogue, Like Kenshirou from Fist of the North Star, or the Night Raid from Akame Ga Kill. Ever wondered that?"
"..." I clenched the grip on my sword, as my boosted Gear announced [BOOST] again. He had change, yes, but his mentality of his... Hasn't. I really wanted him to change that and stop this, but apparently, this is impossible. Even if he's a human, he's a threat to the balance in this world. He must be stopped! "So... Until one of you prove me wrong, until one of you defeat me and show the 'true truth' that you so speak of, you'll be the evil one!"
"I'll be waiting."
"No, you won't. [DRAGON SLASH]!" I picked Rhongomiant and lifted it, only to make it come down and unleash a powerful red blast against him! As it came in his direction, the grow and grow, until it finally reached it's peak! A massive slash of demonic energy coming for him! Even with his power, without his armor, there's no way for him to defend himself against that! However, without even changing expressions, he simply lifted both his hands in a surrender gesture, and spoke.
"I, Miyama Rei, hereby forfeit this match against My mediator!"
Wait, what?
*BAAAAAM!*
*SHING!*
*BOOOOOM!*
"...!" Like I was expecting, that massive energy beam caused a great explosion when it hit it's target, lifting a dense curtain of smoke and dust as the shockwave resumed it's way towards everything around! In the end, however, when everything cleaned up, I looked back where Miyama originally was and, shock, he was completely unharmed! Worse: a golden light was protecting him! How's that possible?! "H-How...?"
"I've learned, Sekiryuutei." He said, as his body slowly was turning into light particles and disappearing. "This eliminatory trials... Are for us to know our place here and break our spirits. Today's trial wasn't about defeating you... But to know we can't defeat you."
"...?!" Was that the trial?! But Nemesis-san said that today someone might die. I even had this bracelet to keep me in touch and summon me back in case things turn for the worse! "What?!"
"This is... Today's trials. Asura and Animal trials, the trials that should teach us that we are simply part of an order of weak-strong, and even if we fight, there's no way for us to defeat the strong. Mind-breaking, like the others, but predictable, so easy even I could unfold it." He said, as his body disappeared, but his voice still echoed around. " as people would say, 'know your place'. Since I learned and accepted it, I can go to the next trial. So, so long, Sekiryuutei."
"Wait! This is cheating! Miyama! MIYAMAAAAAAAH...!" I was so close! That slash should be the one who would make him lose, and maybe be capture by nemesis-San, but instead... He discovered the secret of this trial even before me, and took this into advantage. Shit, he has grown, indeed. Why do I feel this sense of inferiority and despair? After all, even with that escape, I'm still stronger than him, right? Next time, there's no way for me to...
...
...
I am... I'm thinking like a villain. He escaped, and I'm crumbling little by little, doubting my forces and forcing myself to assure my own superiority. Knowing him, as little as it is, that's probably his plan. Crumble my spirit, let my guard down. I sighed. No, this isn't going to work on me. I just have to... Adapt.
"Oh, right. I need to check on Sarah-san!" I realized, leaving my monologue to another time while walking toward where Sarah-san landed. Fortunately, despite the crater she was in, she was actually alright, all of her limbs on place and chest not rip open. I'm glad. I reached for her and offered her an arm. "Hey, Sarah-San, are you okay?"
"Processing, damaged not really lasting. Lastly, I'm okay of a sorts. Thanks for asking, Ichijou-kun, end of message." If she can speak like that, it means she's alright. She stood up with my help, and dusted away the dirt in her uniform. We walked away from the crater, as I retrieved my Rhongomiant and looked around one more time. After all, the trial is still going.
"So... You all are really siblings. You may not look like, but I'm not the one to talk about it." I laugh-sighed, trying and failing in pinpointing a common trace between her, Miyama and Matsuoka-san. "Five siblings, eh?"
"Tururu~, yes, that is correct." She said. "We actually were adopted by our father, Miyama Enma, in order to become his experiments on Sacred Gears and other divine/demonic apparatus. Since brother Rei is the biological son of his, and thus knowing his since birth, it is possible that he was subject of the same treatments way earlier than us. End of message."
"..." This kind of information sent a chill down my spine. 'Experiments'... I never liked that word, and since she's speaking about the supernatural, I have a pretty decent idea of kinds of atrocities might have happened to them. Gremory told me about such, like the Holy Sword Project, the artificial innocence implants, and the several researches underground researches from the worst roots of the Grigoire institute. So... He's only of those. Yet... "Sorry, Sarah-san, but that doesn't excuse the things he had done."
"Tururu~, I know that pretty well, Ichijou-kun. An eye for an Eye leave the world blind, that's the philosophy I've adopted that ceased my craving for revenge." She sighed again, as she turned to me and looked at me deep in the eyes. "The things we caused for it... Are unspeakable. Serena-san was kind enough to accept me, but if she ever discovers it... She might want to kill me. But I'm willing to accept that, if this means stop them AND reach my goal without any more bodies. End of message."
"Don't be stupid, Sarah-san. Kaichou is the kind that rather have a cake and a chat with you even if she knows everything." I said to her, as she turned her curious look at me again. "I mean... She's not like that at all. I know her for only a while, but I'm sure that she's not that kind of extreme. Don't worries. I'm sure that she already told you she loves you, am I right?"
"..." And the bluenette blushed a little and turned around to avoid my eyes, smiling a little. Another precious smile. "Yes, she already did."
"There you have it." I said. "Still, I don't think that I can forgive Miyama just as easily. Until he learns his lesson, he's my enemy. And if he doesn't change his mind..."
"Tururu~, Ichijou-kun, can I request something from you?" She said out of the sudden, as I again snapped back to reality and turned to her. "Can I?"
"Huh... Sure, shoot."
"No matter what happens, no matter what he does to you... Rei is a good boy." She said with a final sigh of placed both of her hands on my shoulders, looking me deep in the eyes. Again, too close. I wonder if people from the supernatural are this clingy. This is really uncomfortable. Before I could do something about it, she finally spoke: "So... Even if you need to kill him... Just don't hate him. He's a good boy. A good boy. Please, Ichijou-kun."
"..."
"...?"
"Sigh." People change, right? I wonder if I'd be so merciful back when I first met Gremory. I don't know why, but I can't deny that I can't really hate Miyama. He's just as lost as me, at least for now, and maybe are those which are leading him stray from others. He's like Gremory, he's like... Me. I can't bring me to hate him, but seeing him does enrage me. My final answer was... "Okay. I won't hate on him. I can't, actually."
"I'm glad. This message will be forever stored. End of message." She smiled again, and touched foreheads with me, hugging me, making me blush a little. I'm a little uncomfortable, but yet again, this feels really nice. Finally, she let go of me, and so, we resumed our walk towards the next trials.
"Still, I can't believe he discovered the secret of today's trial." I sighed, annoyed. He discovered the true intention of the trials, but instead of fleeing, he's playing along. To think he threw a tantrum when we first met. Like me, he's adapting to the situation, and that might spam Nemesis-san's plan. "I wonder if the others Dragon Kings know it too by now. If so, this trial might have been a waste of time."
"Tururu~, Maybe, maybe not. Rei was always the second smartest of us all. He knows a lot of things." She spoke with a hint of pride in herself. Another cool big sister, how envious. "Besides, like I've said, the rest of us lost contact when we were adopted away from each other. He might or might not know about me and the others. End of message."
"Well, that part of the story is also kinda confusing for me, Sarah-san."
"Tururu~, what do you mean? End of message."
"I mean... Your story doesn't match with his. He said that you were indeed adopted by different families, but you keep talking about how you didn't know about him until now, while he..." I stopped mid-sentence as a shadow was casted upon me. I turned around, and from behind Sarah-san, I saw a massive green goo taking form of a massive claw with sharp and distorted nails! "Sarah-san, watch out!"
"Eh...? Doesn't compute that, Ichijou-k-...?" I tried to save her, but it was too late: that massive claw reached and clawed her down, five deep and violent slashes cutting her from behind! The power in there was enough to push her away, but before she could hit the floor, I picked her in my arms, and jumped away from that thing!
"Sarah-San! Sarah-San! Speak to me!"
"Defective... Interns. System shutting down." Was all she could say until the emergency rune activated and sent her away from here, turning her body in light particles in the air. I looked again to that formless blob of sick green light, as it soon took a more humanoid shape. Legs, arms, feminine body and metal feet, gauntlets and a helmet shaped like a dragon! Is that... Another one of the runaways!
"Yes! Mission complete!" It spoke in a feminine voice, as the now humanoid-shaped light with metal feet, gauntlets and helmet shined ever brighter, only to reveal underneath it a human girl with short and spiky dirt-green hair with a baseball back, fair skin with a few bandages all over, curvilious and well-endowed body and wearing the blue sailor uniform of Hijirigasaki high school! No doubt about it: she's one of the transferred candidates! She smiled innocently at me, giving a double thumb up! "Last bother eliminated! Commence operation Ragnarok!"
"How dare you! You're a Miyama runaway, right?!" I said to her, standing up and pointing her with my sword. She simply gave me a sweet smile with her tongue sticking out and a nod. So she's really one of the said runaways! How could she attack her own sister?! (I can't say a thing, but still.). Even Miyama was a little hesitant about it! Who's she to do that?! "How dare to attack your own sister?! Who are you?!"
"Gyaheheh~, the name's Kurisu Kurumi, and I'm the hostess of the Jade morphing dragon King, Yu-long. Pleased to meet you, Sekiryuutei." She said, still smiling and dancing on the place. Wait, Kurumi... And she said that she's the hostess of the morphing dragon... Don't tell me...
"Kurumi... Kurumi... You... You're that sword from before, aren't you?!"
"Pin-Pon-piiiin~! We have a winner!" She said, as suddenly a massive Jade axe appeared on her hand. However, a second after, it turned into a light-green blob to then take a shape of a shield. It shined again and turned again into a blob only to again take shape now of a sword, then a gun, then a arrow, until it stopped in a gauntlet shaped like a dragon claw. "Yep! This is my ability! To turn my sacred Gear based on Yu-long, [Meta-Morphing], into anything that I want. This goes for my body during balance Breaker as well. But enough of that, with Sarah out of here, we can finish this at last!"
"As if! I won't let you!" And without losing any momentum, I used my fastest form to reach for the greenette in a span of a few seconds. But before the contact could be made, she lifted both her hands and said.
"I, Kurisu Kurumi, hereby forfeit this match against my Mediator... Or something." And like before, a yellow shield covered her entire being, and when I clashed against it, an electric shock ran through my body, and finally pushed me away, also making Rhongomiant fly away from my hand.
Shit! Not this again! Still in midair, I made a turn and concentrated energy on my hand to blast one last [DRAGON SHOT]! I fired two, causing the recoil to pull me away from her, but in the end, it ultimately fail to harm her, as her body was turning into light particles inside the shield! Damn it! Don't tell me nemesis-San didn't think this through! I landed on my ass, as That Kurisu girl vanished from here, but not before look at her watch and say...
'All clear, Eiko. You can blast this place away.'
*ZING!*
And then, in a quick show of lights, she disappeared.
...
...
"WHOAAAAAAAH...!" I roared to the skies! Damn it! What the hell?! Who are those Miyama runaways?! Did they plan this from the start?! Or are they geniuses?! Still, there's no way for them to predict everything! What the hell?! What IN THE ACTUAL HELL?! I slammed my fist into the ground, causing a mini-crater to appear there, and roared once again. "Damn it... Damn it..."
This is... Frustrating! But, stop! Calm... Down. Calm down, Ichijou. This is... Not the end. You finally picked the image of Miyama Reinin your mind, and despite being defeated on the operation, Sarah-San still has his face on her memories. It wasn't all lost... You didn't win, but didn't lose all, at least. Calm down... Everything's gonna be... Everything's gonna be... Alright.
*BOOOM!*
"Eh...?" But as I finish my monologue, something caught me by surprise: the air became heavier, and the sky became ever darker. Is that a barrier?! But before I could extract more information out of it, a massive explosion resumed right on my back, and before I could turn around to see what was going on, a enormous sandstorm caught me by surprise and blew me away! I got lost in the merciless and uncontrollable force of that, and soon, everything turned black. I just remember that... It was hot, really hot.
...
...
...
"Gh... What happened?" When the wind finally stopped dead, I finally had forces to try to stand up again. Fortunately I still had energy to receive that much damage without giving up, which is a good sign. However, what was that about? I remember the explosion and the aftermath, but that in the world was that? Probably another Miyama, since that Kurisu chick gave an order right before that all happened. There must be it.
When I had my forces back to stand up, I looked around, only to find a bigger wasteland than before. No joke, the whole place was burned to the ground, the soil became burned and flat, and some of the edge of the arena burned down to a ashy black. This is something.
At a distance, I could see now five shadows, four against a fifth one, all looking tired and completely still. It took me a while to recognize one as Ludger, while the others were a pair of blue-haired swordsmen, a white-haired nekomata and a girl with midback-sized Grey hair and wearing Gekkoukan High's uniform of black jacket and skirt with white shirt and a blue bow tie, wearing some kind of bodysuit underneath it. Another candidate?!
"So... The little girl is full of tricks." The blue-haired male said under his breath, lifting his black rapier against the only suspicious looking girl there. She turned her head towards him, with a vibrating sound with it, and blinked once, twice. "But I'll tell you what, sister..."
"What?" The other bluenette asked, turning to him in confusion. He sighed. "Basara?"
"No, not you Xion. The girl over there." The young man named Basara said, turning back to the girl by the other side, who was looking around while making freaky gear sounds. "Anyway! Just because you think you're special, doesn't mean it'll be easy for you! I like pretty girls, but I like to fight more!"
"Data. A dragon-nekomata-devil hybrid, two devil-dragon hybrids. Unidentified devil." The girl from Gekkoukan said. However, she disappeared right in front of every one, and then, *VOOSH*, in another flash, she teleported right in front of me! Her bright Aqua-blue eyes shining at me in a rather supernatural way. "Subject of interest. Devil, dragon sacred gear. Quite handsome, too."
"What...?"
*BAM!*
"Attack avoided. Please, face me when you do anything harsh." She said as Xion-san tried to attack him from behind, using her own arm to defend herself from her own grandsword. The blue-haired swordswoman gasped in surprise. However, things went for the worse as that new girl turned her head a full 360° to face the other one. "Better."
"What is that?!"
"Dragon blast: activate." The grey-haired transferee said, as suddenly the palm of her hand began to emit a glow of energy. Instinctively I backed up, but Xion-San was stuck with her blade on that dragon.
*VOOSH!*
And then, from her palms, that girl blasted a massive beam of energy, that not only momentarily blinded me, but when my sight came back, I saw she vaporized a good chunk of ground! Such good and perfect cut it didn't even look like there was any earth there to begin with. Fortunately, Basara-San appeared right next to me with his... Sister? Nemesis-San said Quarta siblings, anyway.
"Phew, close shave, eh sister?" He panted, putting her down to pick his rapier again. That girl turned her body, not head, her body to our direction, and then her dislocated head to match with the direction. Only now the bluenettes noticed me. "Oh, hey. Ikkun, right? S'up. My name is Basara Quarta and I'm technically your great-grandnephew."
"Err... Tsukino Ichijou, but Ikkun is also acceptable." I said, now turning my attention to the other girl, my sword at hand. "Pleased to meet you, Basara-san and... Err..."
"Xion. Xion Quarta. I hope we get along." She said in a cutesy voice and a cutesy smile, which were, despite cute, unfitting for the situation. Uh, but that was cute, anyway. Soon, the said nekomata and Ludger joined us to face the new threat.
"You're late, Sekiryuutei." The Bael said, summoning a pair of spheres of power of destruction in her hands. "That girl... Something with the kinds of Onizuka Eiko, simply vanished the rest of the other participants in a flash, and since the beginning, we're fighting her."
"She's really strong, Nii-chan. Be careful, nyan!" And now, this nekomata with loli body but big boobs said next to me, adopting a defensive pose and hiding behind me. "Worst of all, she can negate my senjutsu like it was nothing, nyan! She's dangerous!"
"Indeed, Nashiro-chan." Xion-San said, tightening the grip on her grandsword. "It looks she can see anything around her. This is freaking me out."
"Sekiryuutei." Basara-San called for me, and like always, I turned to him and listened. "Don't you blink, don't you lose your focus against her. Don't even breath without looking at her a last time. That girl... She's not normal. She wiped the whole others without blinking an eye, and even with us... It's almost impossible to defeat her. That big explosion? It was her. And her alone."
No way. What... What kind of monster is she?! She looks just like a normal girl from here, but to cause so much destruction. If Miyama have the Golden dragon Fafnir, Matsuoka-San have the Prison Dragon Vritra, Sarah-san have the chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat and that Kurisu girl have the Jade Dragon Yu-long. So this means that girl... She have... The sleeping Dragon King of the end Midgardsormr. The dragon that suppose to announce the Ragnarok and the largest dragon in existence. So... She have a sacred gear with that within. No wonder she has been a formidable opponent.
All we can do is wait. She's not even moving, only observing us. Was is she planning now? Probably in a way to blast us away in one blow, while we're here just posing and waiting for... Something. Not a single sound, word, or step. If senjutsu doesn't work on her, we can only rely on brute force, but... Can we take on her?
...
...
...
*VOOP!*
"What?!" We all exclaimed, as she simply disappeared right in front of us in a flash. It was for just a second, less than that, it didn't even move a grain of sand, but startled everyone to no end! "She disappeared!"
"Gasp! Everynyan! Behind u-...!"
"[HYDRA GATLING GUN]!" Nashiro's warning came too late, as suddenly we turned around to receive a full barrage of fireballs coming from her fists. They were so hot, I had to back away to escape the burning sensation!
"Tch! What's that?! It's hot! How's that even possible!" Basara-San said, as red dragon wings emerged from his back for him and his sister to take flight, as Ludger, Nashiro and myself stayed on grounds. Eiko-san stopped and landed on the ground, now looking upwards against the Quarta siblings. She lifted both her hands and two massive blasts again emerged From her palms. "Little persistent, eh?"
"[D-BLAST: INCINARATE!]" announced the runaway, as she tried to take a piece away from the flying the Devils. Ludger soon called for my attention, as she prepared a blast of power of destruction!
"Ichijou-kun, with me." She said, pointing at Onizuka-san again. First she shot her own beam of power of destruction, and then I launched my own [DRAGON SHOT]. The two attacks merged together, and then an even bigger ball of destruction was coming for the said transferred candidate! She turned to us, but the blast was already too close of her-...!
*ZING!*
*BOOM!*
"What the...?!" Was I could say, as suddenly Onizuka blasted to a random direction and used to recoil of it to dodge our attack! Soon, she launched another blast against us! "Crap!"
"Don't underestimate the Bael name, lowly human." the Bael girl simply said, as she pointed both of her hands against that incoming blast and from them launched another ball of black energy. The two blasts collided, and after some struggle, she finally won. However, it cost her the palms of her hands, which ended up burned up. "Curses..."
"Hey, Ludger..." I tried to reach for her, but she just slapped my hand away from her.
"If you have energy to waste your time worrying about me, then attack her instead." She announced. That was something really rude to say, but she's right. After a while charging, I created another ball of demonic energy and then blasted it against the Miyama runaway. She launched her own attack, and the two nullified themselves in a second. She soon resumed her attacks against the Quarta siblings, which were too busy avoiding the several blasts to do anything.
When suddenly, *BAM!*, in another flash, the place became darker, and after a while, my vision began to blur. The only thing I could see now was a white flash passing right next to me, to the fighting girl on the ground. It happened so fast, the moment I blinked, I saw Nashiro now poking a specific spot on Onizuka's neck, more like somewhere in her nape. And after that, she stopped dead. No, she didn't even fall. She just stopped, standing tall on place.
Is it over? Nashiro smiled at us, giving the thumb up, while the pair on the air landed right next to the girl in the middle of the ground zero. Huh... Maybe it was really over? I shared some glares with Ludger, and she sighed. Maybe it's really over. Nashiro kept saying about chakra points, and that she just hit the right spot this time, even without her senjutsu.
Eh, I think this is the end for now. We found another of the Miyama runaways...
...
...
*Ziiiim~...*
"Emergency supply activate. Continue current mission." However, when I was about to take the first step to congratulate the little nekomata, that same shine again appeared in Onizuka's eyes, while even more power now! Before Nashiro could even turn around to say something, *BOOOM!*, she was blasted away with a single beam without any ceremony, transforming her into light dust. Seeing that freaky scene, everyone backed away from her. But she locked with the Quarta siblings, and a battle between them resumed.
What was that all about?! I thought that a master in senjutsu such as a descendant of Lady Koneko and senpai would have enough power to end this quick! No matter if she have the power of one of the dragon kings, she's still human! There's no way for them to lose!
"I can't stand this! Ludger, let's go!" I said, as for the nth time today, I gathered enough energy on my hand and blasted away with a [DRAGON SHOT] maximized with an [EXPLOSION] boost, making the wasteland even worse! Ludger accompanied we with it, shooting away Power of destruction! But it was proved in vain as Onizuka extended both arms against us and shot two pillars of grey flames out of her hands, completely cancelling both of our attacks.
"Brother, now!" I heard from somewhere into the air, as suddenly, *SLASH! SLASH!*, a gust of wind cut around her, and in a blink, both her exposed arms got slashed away. Not just that, several cuts appeared on her skin as well, and ripped a good chunk of her clothes! So fast! I took a scan around, and yes, the Quarta siblings were responsible for that, as both of them had an arm stuck on their blades.
"I'll be taking this, Girl." Basara-San said with a grin, balancing the arm stuck on his rapier as song-singing like a child.
"The next one shall be your head, Onizuka. Kidding." Xion-san said following, as the arm was stuck in half on her grandsword, completing her joke with a small smile of satisfaction. However, she turned sour later. "But no, seriously, we will destroy you."
"..." She said nothing, but a strange *BUZZ!* sound was echoing during our silent space of time. It took me a while to figure from where it was coming from: her arms. Or at least what was left of them. No blood or bones from there, but instead sparkles and wires coming out. Not just that, her bodiless arms were twitching in a abnormal way, also showering the place with lights and electricity. The grin on the Twins' faces faulted as they looked horrified by their catch.
"What the...?!"
"Activating partial self-destruction system."
"Huh...?"
*ZIIIIIM~!*
*BOOOOM!*
And now, the two arms lighted up in a flash, and after that, a massive explosion covered both of the Quarta twins. Onizuka didn't even blink, as the two suddenly fell to the ground, their bodies burned down, unconscious. The lights of the emergency rune taking them away and leaving us alone with that... Thing. From the fumes of that burning inferno, I saw two rockets flying all the way to her arms and attach them back to the rest of her arms. Don't tell me...
"Are you... Are you an android?" I asked, summoning again my boosted Gear against her. She blinked a few times.
"Incorrect. Correcting... The term should be 'cyborg'. Part human, part robot." She spoke. As the ripped parts of her uniform fell off to reveal her body.
She wasn't wearing a leotard at all! Her whole body was like that: a black-colored 'skin' that hides some mechanical-looking limbs and body. Her body was smooth and detailed in neon lights, as only things that were skin colored were her face and hands, as the shoes she was wearing were just to hide the fact that she has no feet! And in the middle of her artificial bust, there was a core jewel shaped like a heart, emitting a green light through all the neon linings on her body! I can't believe it, she's really a cyborg!
"Project demon-buster A-ko, model 666. A.K.A. Onizuka Eiko."
"What...?! What the hell?!" I screamed, confused as all hell. In a flash, she disappeared again, and soon, reappeared right in front of us! I tried to defend myself, but her Gatling punches were too much for me to handle! I was blown away by sheer force of the shockwave, and when Ludger tried to attack her from behind, the cyborg turned around and blaster her away with another light beam! "Damn you!"
"Recalculating." She spoke, her eyes shining again. I gripped my sword even tighter and again unleashed a demonic slash against her. And I didn't stop there: one after another, I tried my best to hit her with countless attacks of demonic energy, but to no use. She was even faster now, and dodged every since one of them effortlessly. "Power levels at medium-high peril. Proceed with caution. Boosted Gear user. Ten seconds until next boost-up."
[BOOST!]
My sacred gear announced yet again another boost of power, and again she vanished from my sight. The moment I blinked, the world went dark, but a force was pushing my face with the force of a truck! Before I knew it, she pushed me away with only one hand, and to complete it, she launched a blast against me in midair! *BOOM!*, I eased the impact with Rhongomiant, but the explosion was strong enough to still deal some serious damage and make me let go of my sword and destroy my bracelet away! I fell on my ass, and jumped on the ground like a ball until I kissed it again.
"D-Damn it... One after another... Getting stronger and stronger..." I said, standing up despite some burnmarks and scorched jacket. This girl... That cyborg is no joke. I still have energy to go on, but I don't know for how much I can stand against her. Even the bracelet is broken, this means I can't use the emergency rune, and I might die if I'm not careful. Shit... I put myself straight while looking at Onizuka, and without Rhongomiant, I can only make a battle pose. It took me a while to realize that Ludger was just beside me, sitting on her knees. Immobile. "Hey, Ludger, stand up. I'll not protect you if she blasts us again! Hey, Ludg-...!"
*DRIP! DRIP!*
"Eh...?" Now, I'm facing a deadly cyborg with the power of a nuclear reactor, I stripped naked a whole bunch of girls, and everything so far has been exploding into my face. However, even those don't top the shock from my current vision: Ludger Bael, the arrogant girl from the greatest clan in the underworld...
Was now crying, her face in a expression of utter hopelessness, and trembling all the way while looking horrified by the simple sight of the girl in front of her.
"O-Oe, Ludger...!" I tried to snap her out of it, but intead she stood up from the ground in a flash, her black bangs covering her ready eyes as her trembling became worse. "Oe!"
"This isn't happening..." I heard her mutter. Onizuka blinked a few times, still standing still in front of us, only to cock her head to a side in curiosity, making a gear sound as she did it.
"What isn't happening. [Question mark]" As stoic as a robot can be, she spoke, her first attempt of a conversation, her blue-digital-shower eyes(is that even a thing?) probably scanning us. "Fear. Despair. Confusion. My scanning sense the following within you, child of Bael. Not just that. Your body temperature suddenly rose, and the trembling from your systems indicates that-..."
"Shut up... SHUT UP!" She suddenly screamed. From there, Ludger covered herself in a miasma of black, heavy and nasty demonic power, as she face up to stare her teary, but vicious eyes back against the cyborg girl. This can't be good! "Shut up! I'm a Bael now! A BAEL! There's no way for me to simply be defeated like that! There isn't! I gave up on everything! My name, my personality, my friends and family only to follow the strongest root! After all of that, there no way a simple Human Machine can defeat! And I'll show you! I'LL SHOW EVERYONE THE POWER OF THE BAEL NAME!"
And then, she gathered all of that energy on both of her hands, only for her to mash it into a single, massive ball of power of destruction! Without a second trought, BOOM!, she launched it at high speed against the robot girl, leaving a path of destruction all the way!
"Danger levels at critical. Launch counterattack accordingly." The cyborg by the other side simply said, sharpening her once stoic eyes and bending her body for the imminent clash! She mashed her hands together, and from her knuckles, lights appeared and shined in a menacing way! BOOM!, her response was four beams of energy that merged midway into a single massive light missile! "[HEL BURNER!]"
(A/N: 'HEL' as in 'Hel, the Nordic underworld'. Pretty crazy, right? Now back to the scheduled program.)
And then, the two powers clashed! BAM! The two merged together, engulfed each other into a single ball of light, and then exploded right there! The shockwave it created was enough to cause a small earthquake, while the resulting lights blinded me for a few seconds, dying out right after it. While the shock blew us away, Ludger being launched away as well, but I was fast enough to run for her and catch her in midair as we both landed hard on the floor.
In the end, there was nothing there. Only me, Ludger and Onizuka. On my arms, Ludger was heavily painting, crying as her angry face was showing how frustrated she was. She tried to look tough, but I could feel that she was trembling a lot. By the other side, however, the robot lass was also faulting a little, as her ears were expelling smoke and some of her neon lights were blinking uncontrollably. However, after a while, her shine came back, and after a few stretches with gear sounds, she went back to normal.
"Systems turning on again. Senses returning, data updated. Program Onizuka Eiko is back." And then, she was back, her body no longer exhaling smoke and as good as before. This is bad, she still has energy for more. How's that possible?! What powers her?! Could it be the sleeping dragon of the End?! She lifted her hand again, and then pointed her palm blasted against Ludger. "Eliminate possible threat, now."
"Curse... Curse the Miyama runaways... Curse you!" The heiress on my arms screamed under her breath, trying her hard to stand, only to fault on her first step, while I supported her with my shoulder. She tried to do the same, but her hand was so weak and burned due to her massive shot she didn't have the forces to lift it up enough. In the end, she was left in a mess of crying slob, cursing under her breath. "Damn it.. Why... Why I'm still so weak even after I gave up everything..."
"Elimination beginning now." And by the other side, the cyborg spoke, as the lights returned to her palm, blinking a dangerous and ominous light little by little! "Final blast. This is the..."
"Wait a minute!"
"Eh. [question mark]" I lifted a hand. Before she could do anything harsh, I lifted a hand in a stop motion. Suddenly, the light on her palm blast stopped, as her stoic face changed again to a curious expression. "Do you have any last words to share, [Question mark]."
"Err... Yes, indeed I have!" I said. I'm lying, I have no idea what I'm doing, but I have an idea that might or might not work! "Don't move, Onizuka-san! I have... I have a secret weapon, that shall destroy you! If you don't want me to use it and destroy you, I suggest you to stand back and retreat!"
"Sekiryuutei, what are you doing?!" Screamed the Bael girl. I simply signed her to stay quiet, and back to the yellow grin, I turned back to the cyborg by the other side.
"A secret weapon, [question mark.]. Unthinkable. If you really had any of it hidden, you should have used it during any moment of our fight." Crap! She's recollecting events! I just forgot that she could so that! Her eyes shined again in data lights, and she blinked again. "My scans says that your body movements and levels of sweat and unquiet muscles, hinting that you're lying."
"Ahah... Ahahahahah! Don't doubt me! I have... I really have my ultimate, secret weapon right...!"
*BOING BOING!*
"Hyah...!"
"... Here!" And I did it! I lifted Ludger's shirt to reveal from within her bouncy, massive jugs(1) covered by a stripped bra(really? What's with Devils and childish undergarments?!). Again, the robot expression something from her usually stoic face, showing me surprise for my bold move. "That's right! So don't come near me! I have a pair of tits(2) with me and I'm not afraid to use them! So back off before I do it!"
"..."
"..."
...
"Really...?" And now she's looking at me with total disgust, as even an emotionless robot can't hide the fact that she's utterly disappointed at me. This is probably the second worst moment of my life, my hands on a girl's breasts(3) while I'm facing a devil-killing cyborg. Again, I'm glad that I'm in world where this shit can make sense.
"Sekiryuutei, dress me up this instant!" The Bael girl said with her face as red as tomato, trying but failing to cover herself again with her burned hand.
"This is a joke. Executing Eff-You-See-Kay-why-oh-you protocol. Open fire." And the cyborg blasted her palm beams against us! With my remaining forces, I forced myself to dodge that and land on another place!
"Okay, you asked for it! [LEVEL ZERO!]" and I really did it. I squeezed Ludger's milk-tanks(4) and sucked the energy out of them! My boosted gear Screamed [BUST!], as her knockers(5, how many breast names there are?!) shrank to give power to myself, all while her own clothes inexplicably also rip apart, leaving her with just smalls junks of cloth on herself! This is the plan, at least! Give me enough energy until somethings happen or someone come to rescue us. The burst of energy ran over my body again, and so I was ready to at least contain that robotic monster! "Okay, this is my trump card! Let's go, Boosted Gear!"
*Ziiiiiin~*
"Eh...?" Suddenly, all the lights coming from me and my sacred Gear vanished, and the only thing that was left was a dull-colored Crimson gauntlet in my arm. What the hell?! This is not the time to shut down! C'mon! "Oe! Hey, Ddraig, Yagura! You can't do this to me! What's happening?! Oe! This isn't funny! Oe!"
"It seems that you and your sacred gear reached it's limit." Before I could completely turn around to face her, *DOON!*, an energy blast was shot against us, missing me for a nail but separating me from Ludger and creating a crater there that could've been us If I didn't jump away from it. But it did make a mark on my leg, making me knee down in pain! Shit! Can't move like that, and if she do that again! *CLICK!* I heard a noise, and when I lifted my face, I came to face Onizuka and her hand blaster. "Any last words, [question mark.]"
"..." Damn it! Where are you, dragon?! Just when I need you the most! At least some energy to defeat her! I'll die! I know accepting this fate means I could've died several times, but at least not today, not now! I still have so much to do with the my friends now! I have so much to live for now!
I didn't even have my date with Kamiyama yet!
"Nothing[question mark.]. Then vanish."
Damn it!
...
*DOOOOON!*
I closed my eyes as tight as possible, waiting for the worst, but when I thought I was already dead, a blow of pure energy emerged from my left hand! Not just that, it blew the ground and Onizuka away, while I was engulfed in a pillar of pure Emerald energy! The lights from the jewels of my Boosted Gear came back, bright as never before, and soon, my whole body began to glow?! This energy... I have the impression I've already felt it... Could it be?!
[YOU DID IT, PARTNER!] I heard my Boosted Gear talk in that hoarse, powerful voice. [THAT RIDICULOUS LAST RESORT OF YOURS GAVE YOU THE NECESSARY ENERGY FOR THIS! I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD CRY IN PRIDE OR SHAME, BUT YOU FINALLY MANAGE IT! NOW, SHOW THIS ABOMINATION OF METAL AND FLESH THE TRUE POWER OF THE BOOBY... I MEAN, RED DRAGON EMPEROR!]
"This means... I finally..." I gasped. This can only mean one thing! I did it! I finally reached it! But I should put my congrats for later, I have a battle to win! "Hell yeah! let's do this, Ddraig!"
[WELSH DRAGON, OVER BOOSTER!], My gauntlet announced for the last time, and the armor in it began to run all over my arm, then form a chest armor with several emerald jeweled encrusted on it! My feet and hands became dragonic claws, Crimson armor covered every part of my body, and two scaled wings sprouted from my back!
In the end, I was fully protected by a dragon armor that shined in a powerful Shade of Crimson and green, emanating the power and pressure only the most powerful of supernatural creatures, the dragon, could produce! This is it! I finally did it! I've reached the ultimate form of my Boosted Gear!
"[BOOSTED GEAR, BALANCE BREAKER: SCALE MAIL!], I'VE REACHED THE PEAK OF MY SACRED GEAR'S POTENTIAL BY RIPPING GIRL'S CLOTHES AND SUCKING ON THEIR TITTIES!"
"What the hell, [countless question and exclamation marks.]."
.
~~X~~
.
"How many you're gonna makes us wait?! A hour already passed!" Nemesis said to a bunch of devils as we all gathered around the classroom where the trial should be taking on, trying to unseal it for us to enter the arena.
Basara and Xion-chan were barely conscious, but according to them, only Rudger and Ichijou were there, facing an enemy that they couldn't defeat. Worse of all, they had their bracelets broken, and due to the barrier there, we can't reach them fast enough!
"According to the runes in there, it's probably Nordic magic. It'll take a bigger while for us to reach them." Serena-chan said, as she also was trying to unlock every magic seal on the arena. For her eyes, she's extremely worried. Who wouldn't? Is her childhood friend and crush(?) in there. I was also ripping my skin off in nervousness, but Nemis was the one taking it worse: she was blasting her rage on the poor Devils trying to figure things out.
Rudger... Ichijou... Please be safe! I'm also trying my best.
*ZING!*
"Hyah...!" Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. What was that? It was... Familiar, yet strange at the same time? From where I felt that before? And it's coming... From inside of the arena, despite the seal on it? What is that? "Hey, Nemesis, did you feel that? I guess... I can feel something, but I don't know why."
"Maybe it's because you haven't cover yourself since morning, damn it!" She said, hitting me with a paper fan. Oh, right, I forgot to put clothes since the freaky accident this morning. Oops. "Put on some goddamn clothes, Aria!"
"First we save them, then I'll put some clothes!"
"You won't be seeing anyone if you don't cover yourself!"
.
~~X~~
.
"Data. The infamous Balance Breaker of the Longinus Boosted Gear, the scale Mail armor." As I landed on the ground with my new Power, the Scale Mail armor, The cyborg in front of me began to blink nonstop, all while her eyes were shining bright blue. "Not only protects it's user against heavier attacks, it can also doubles his or her powers without the ten-seconds countdown. [interested gasp], compared to the armors of the other five Dragon Kings, this one's really nasty."
"..." I said nothing. I might have the power to wield my sacred gear in this form, but it's still weighting on me like a true armor, not to mention, I can feel something clutching my heart really tightly. It reminds me the first time I used my Boosted Gear.
[PARTNER, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE POWER NOW, BUT EVEN WITH THE STOLEN ENERGY, YOU'RE NOT YET STRONG ENOUGH TO USE THE BALANCE BREAKER FORM FOR TOO LONG. MAKE IT QUICK BEFORE THE TIMES RUN OUT.]
I figured this feeling, already. Okay, here we go. I bend my body to try to leap towards her, and in a second, Onizuka indeed lifted one of her palms and was about to blast one of her laser beams, her neon lights shining even brighter than before!
However...
*ZOOM!*
*CRASH!*
"[Audible gasp]" even with her stoic expression, I could sense her surprise as I leaped towards her and, in a second, smashed her palm and arm together with a punch right into the barrel! Wow, even I wasn't expecting to become so fast! "Indeed, what a tough opponent."
"Take this...!" I tried to punch her once again, but she quickly blasted herself away with her other hand. But it wasn't to run away: when she had enough space, she resumed a barrage of punches with both her arms!
"[HYDRA GATLING GUN!]" She screamed. Instinctually, I crossed my arms in a 'X' to protect myself, but when it came down it, I noticed that those punches didn't have any effect on me now! Feeling confident, I pulled one arm away and then reached for one of her one fists!
*CRASH!* the two punches collided, but it was hers that broke with the impact, launching her away due to the shockwave it caused! She landed on her feet, with now two fists damaged beyond repair, the uncanny valley resemblance to real hands making me shiver a little. I'm still a bit human on those regards.
"I'm not done yet." She exclaimed, shaking her hands so that her hands were thrown away, and pointing her now laser barrel hands against me. From inside, a light came, and then, *DOOON!*, another flash of pure energy came towards me! "[HEL BURNER!]"
"Gah! Hot! Too hot!" I said as the flames reached me in a flash and made me back a few steps away! Crap! Even with armor, it doesn't mean I'm invulnerable to everything! Well, might as well strengthen things up! Boosted Gear!
[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]
"And now...!" And again another flame ablaze came for my direction, but this time, it didn't even itch! Hell yeah! This power is amazing! Again I pulled my arm out in a swift move, and then launched a [DRAGON SHOT!] against that wave of power! That blast overcame all the way to Onizuka, and then *BOOM!*, exploded her arms and part of her robotic torso, also blowing her away!
This power... Is even greater than I had imagine! So this is what Gremory wanted so bad! I can imagine why! I feel amazing! Even with the limits on it, I can feel the true power of my boosted gear on it! This is indeed the power of the Red Dragon emperor of Domination! This is Hyoodou Issei's legacy!
...
...still, for some reason...
'Ichijou-kun~!'
I'm not completely happy. Wonder why.
"Systems... Shutting down. Cannons... Unable to fire. Does not compute, does not compute." I snapped back to reality as the robot ground stood once again from the floor. However, even from here I can see the damages on her body: two missing arms, a damaged chest plate, sparkles coming out of her elbows and knees and her head twitching a fulminating. She's not... Okay. I wonder if she can feel pain, even with all those mechanical things on her. I'm pitying her.
"Hey, Onizuka-san." I called for her. Like an old machine, she twitched her head to lift it and face me. Wow, even her face is cracked open, where I can see some circuits from within. This is a mistake, but... I can't stand seeing her like that. "Please, withdraw."
"[surorised and curious hum.]. What are you planning, Sekiryuutei, [question mark]" She asked, blinking one of her eyes since the other one, also robotic, was hanging from a thing wire coming from inside her eye socket.
"I'm not planning anything." I said. "Just give up, please. The way you currently are, I might end up killing you. Please, don't force me so that. Your brother Miyama is already on my mark, don't make me do the same to you.
"..." Suddenly, all of her noises and sparks ceased, as she audibly gasped in surprise and wilded her eyes. And again, she managed to make an expression. And soon after, downed her head.
"I don't want to kill you. I really don't. Sure, there are sins that you can't escape of grief that you can't overcome... But I have you know that there are others ways to deal with those! Your sister and even him knows that! We can help you despite everything!"
"..." And she still quiet about it. I can't read minds, so I'm ready to whatever it comes. I wanted to dismiss my armor, but I must be prepared to face everything that it comes wth her final decision. After a while, she lifted her head, took a deep breath, and cleaning her voice to sound as human as possible, she finally said. "I refuse."
"I see." So, she's right. She rather stay and fights her own way instead of taking someone's help. I... Can't be mad at her. I can't. She's... Just like me. She may not know, but maybe me and the others Miyama runaways are not so different. I sighed under my armor, and gulping down my last drop of regret, put myself on a battle stance. "I can't hate you, Onizuka-san. I really can't. But be prepared, I won't show any mercy!"
"Challenge accepted." And then, all of the neon lights on the linings on her body began to blink, going faster each time. Apparently, she also has a trump card. Well, let's see how she can handle the power of the Sekiryuutei! "A piece of information, Sekiryuutei. You may or may not know, but we from the Miyama house are the hosts of artificial sacred Gears created by Miyama Enma, the scientist that earned our hate and transformed me into this mechanical abomination..."
"..."
"Well then, want to know what I host inside of this body, that is considered an artificial sacred gear by itself?" She said, her voice becoming more and more human, as suddenly her chest plate bursted open, revealing a even larger core globe, from where I could see a silhouette of a dragon biting it's own tail inside, glowing a right green. "I host the Sleeping Dragon of the End, Midgardsormr, the harbinger of the Nordic apocalypse. And now, I shall show you the power from within!"
"Huh..." I put myself again in a battle stance, my Boosted Gear ready for everything. "Bring it on!"
"Proceeding to perform Desperate maneuver." The grey-haired robot-girl said. Suddenly, her neon-lights became more intense, while her whole being was engulfed by a even brighter light. Not only that, but suddenly, all of the lights in her body died out while the one in her chest core grew brighter and brighter! "[INFINITE OUROBOROS LASER: RAGNAROK BLASTER!]"
And in the end, in a split second, her chest then blasted a gigantic laser beam against me! The shock was enough to cause an earthquake, and in it's way, everything was turned into dust! However, even with that, I stood strong and in place! This is it! Let's do this, Ddraig!
[UNDERSTOOD! CRUSH THEM, PARTNER!]
"HAAAAAAAAAAH...!" And then, gathering all the power I could muster at the time, I launched my fist forward, and clashed it with that beam of energy, punching the daylight out of It!
*DOOOOON!*, even with the power of the Scale Mail and the Boost-ups, I was taken a little back by the enormous power of it, as soon it almost engulfed me to destruction. But I stayed strong, pushing it a little! C'mon, Boosted Gear!
[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]
"WOOOOOOOOOH...!" Still not giving up, I stepped further into her blast, my fist standing tall as my heart was on the verge of being crush it! Not yet! Not yet!
"FEEL IT, SEKIRYUUTEI! FEEL THE POWER THAT SHOULD WITHSTAND THE END OF THE WAR-LOVING MYTHOLOGY! FEEL IT AND PERISH FOREVER FROM THIS REALM!"
[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]
"WOOOOOOOOH...!" And with the boost-ups, further and further I stepped inside the vortex of energy! I walked and walked, pushing even deeper into it.
"IN THE NAME OF THOSE WHO DIED BY THE WICKED HANDS OF MIYAMA ENMA, LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH TO ENDURANCE THIS TRIAL! GIVE ME POWEEEEER...!"
[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]
"I WILL... DEFEAT YOU! And destroy... Miyama Enma myself!" I said, my body finally crumbling down as even the armor was in the brink of destruction. However, before it could happen, I pulled my arm again, and gathering all of my remaining forces, I launched my fist forward and punched the HELL out of that blast. "But for now...!"
[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]
[EXPLOSION!]
"OUT OF MY WAAAAAAAAAAAY...!"
*PUNCH!*
*DOOOOOOOOOOON!*
*BOOOM!*
And then, it happened: I punched that blast of dragonic energy with all of my forces, all of the builded up boosts inside of me and my sacred Gear, and not only I vanished it away from existence, the shockwave was enough to reach Onizuka-san, and as expected, her body couldn't withstand all of that force, being completely destroyed. However, her head ejected itself away from the body before it could become dust like it, falling to the ground right next to me. The only thing that was left from the main boy was a small glass globe emanating a green light, probably where the dragon is stored.
And now, it's over.
And I won.
"I... I lost." She said. She didn't seem ashamed, or scared, or depressed, even with that and the fact that she no longer has a body. But then, something happened: a small tear escaped her good eye. "I'm sorry, Rei-kun. I couldn't... Maintain our promise."
"Onizuka..." I called for her. She quickly turned her eyes to me in surprise. "No, you didn't. Like I said, if you're willing to cooperate with us, maybe we can help you. You don't need to shred blood or do things that you're not proud of ever again. And if you need any help... Well, I can always give you a Han-... Nevermind."
"..." She gasped in surprise, wilding her eye in disbelief. Man, how come I turn to be so awkward at times like this. Maybe it's because she's a girl. But... I'll try. If she join us, I'll help her with her issues. After all, we share this common trail: we hate our old men. "Thank you... Thank you. Ichijou Tsukino."
"N-No problem, I guess."
[BURST!], and as soon as I finished, the armor around my body broke away and left me with pain all over it! Holy shit! What's that?! What is happening?! It's like a thousand Hwan Jin-Youngs punching me from all directions at the same time! It didn't take for my body to finally give up, so I landed on my back, immobile, still feeling that tingling sensation every time I breathed. This sucks!
[PARTNER, IT SEEMS THAT YOUR BODY CAN'T STAND THE PRESSURE FROM IT'S BALANCE BREAKER JUST YET.] A voice came from my Gauntlet. It was Ddraig, indeed. [THE BREAST ENERGY... Sigh, THAT YOU HAVE COLLECTED BEFOREHAND CAN HELP YOU REACH BALANCE BREAKER, BUT YOUR BODY IS NOT READY TO TAKE THE PRESSURE ON IT FOR TOO LONG. IT MIGHT HELP YOU BREAK THE BOUNDARIES AND LIMITS, BUT AS YOU CAN FEEL, IT ALL COMES BACK LATER.]
"Yeah... I noticed." I didn't catch half of the things he said, but the basic idea is: much bust, easy balance breaker, weak body, nerfed later. But still, as long as I continue to train, maybe I can withstand it all by the end of it.
[EXACTLY! HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL A long way to go.] His transmission began to bug, and soon his voice vanish from my head. Maybe he still needs some sleep after all of that. After all, working all this way after a coma? He deserves it. [You're looking... Like him... But... Yourself.]
"Thanks, Ddraig." I had an idea what he meant by the end, and maybe even a smile was drawn in my face as a result. Wow, what a day. A date with Kamiyama, and I finally reached balance breaker on my own... Okay, not much but the idea was all mine. It still counts! Somehow. But yeah, a good day for me, something I've been wishing for a long time. I turned my head to a side to have some rest, only to face the back of Ludger's head. Oh, I wonder if she's conscious by now. "Hey, Ludger..."
"Don't... Talk to me." He muttered, his voice giving that she feels really miserable right now. No surprise, after all, the Great Bael, the grand King, the ruler of all Devils, was defeated like a bitch, and then, Poof, the Sekiryuutei that she said it would never come to be came to save the day! I swear, I just want to poke her with this stick.
"What? Just because you great power of destruction didn't work this time? maybe Onizuka-san didn't know that the Bael were so great. Fortunately, the Sekiryuutei on the scale mail armor came to save you." I snickered, feeling like an ass for that, as I could hear a grunt by the other side. She's mad, isn't she? Huh, serves her right. "Nice stripped underwear, by the way. Maybe even a king wants to feel like a child once in a while."
"I said shut up. Don't you dare talk to me like that." She said again, more like whined, still not looking at me. This is... This is gold! I think... I can't hold myself any longer...!
"Pff... Ahah... Ahahahahah! Ahahahahahha! Ahahahahah!" Even I can't believe it! I'm laughing! And not in a sarcastic or awkward way! I'm genuinely having a good time. It might sound strange after all that happened, but... I'm proud of myself! I dunno why, I'm so... I could explode! My lungs even began to hurt, I dunno if it's because of my broken bones or just for the fact It has been a while since I last laughed like that, but I'm... Apparently, Ludger was surprised as well, as she turned to me with a surprised expression. "Ahahahah! I'm sorry! I'm just... I'm really...! I dunno why, I just am!"
"..." She was still surprised by my sudden show of positive emotions, and like always, for some reason, tears began to run down her pretty face, as she sighed and shifted her eyes to the black barrier skies. "Idiot... Shut up, Tsukino."
"Sorry, sorry." My laughter finally ceased, and like always, I painted a satisfied sigh. I can't move, my body still hurts like crap, but I'm really looking forward for other days. I'm... Relieved. How... Strange. "Yet... I think that I'm still dissatisfied."
"How so? Not that I mind much, of course." She managed to say, still looking at the sky, just like myself. I chuckled, even so I'm still a little sad.
"It's because... There's one person that I want to show my Balance Breaker." I gave myself a sad smile. Ludger turned to me and the asked.
"Who?"
"..." I turned to her, and making one last faint smile, I said: "Berolina Gremory. She wanted to see the most, I guess. One day, if, no, when she wakes up from her coma, I'll show her the full glory she always wanted to see. Even... Even if she doesn't see me as anything but a living relic of senpai."
"...!" Ludger then gave a surprised gasp.
"I'll show her... Then I'll show her how much She can trust me... As Tsukino Ichijou. As the heir of the Sekiryuutei." I said, only to give myself a faint laugh. Yeah, right. Wasn't that cheesy? Maybe it's not just senpai's pervertness that's rubbing on me. "Sorry about this. I don't think that you deserve to hear my outdated stuff, anywa-..."
"Sekiryuutei." And it was my time to look surprised: she wasn't laughing, she wasn't frowning, instead, she reached her hand for my own, and locked her fingers with my own, from my right hand. I wasn't understanding a thing, but I liked it. It's nice. Her teary face was now looking up the skies, just like me, as we shared warmth with that small touch. "I'm sorry."
"Huh... For what?"
"..." She went quiet, sighed, and repeated. "Just... I'm sorry."
"Okay... You're forgiven."
And we stayed like that until the rescue broke the barrier around and helped us get better. Today was... Something else, I must say.
For the first time in a long time, I'm...
Happy.
Yeah, it took him more than 40 chapter, but ichijou finally reACHED BALANCE BREAKER!Yeah, It won't be a recurrent thing for now, but But I'll promise that he'll reach the perfect form in no time! So... How was trhe chapter for you guys? Too rushed, too complicated and convoluted? Or maybe epic in a good way? Your feedback is important for my grown as an author ficwriter! Again, thanks for your read and stay golden. Have a nice day.
Also, next chapter... It shall be lemon. :3
P.S.: For the guest by the nickname of Dragon Rider asking about Berolina relationship with rias... Since Rina is Millicas' granddaughter, she's by all means Rias great-grandniece, or something. I hope it helped with your questions. Stay golden,