Kage is Kira

I'm using this chapter to also explain the ethnicity of some of the characters. I use wikia for the source. Thank you!

NOTE:

"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking

"Charge!": special case

'Darn!': thoughts

GWA HA HA HA! : Giant creature speech

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

Please… read and review

Chapter 16:

Soar in Your Throne between Heaven and Hell

The pulverized floor exploded to taters as Kage's blood drenched body fell with mundane finality. Thanks to the huge amount of blood, the exact severity of his wound isn't quite clear. But everyone can clearly saw the figure of Kage, lying lifeless in the pool of his own blood.

Veia looked at Kage's body, shook his head and turn around.

The other onlookers looked at the aftermath of the battle and in one swift outbreak, the Zaft soldiers cheered.

"He did it! Lord Veia killed the Black Devil! All hail Goud Veia! All hail the Immortal Abyss!" Yzak roared in triumph.

The other Zaft soldiers cheered the last two parts over and over again.

The cheer can be heard all the way back to the fortress. Tolle stared in denial upon hearing the declaration. "Oi… that Black Devil… did he mean Kir… Kage?" The German boy looked at Sai.

The Chinese bespectacled boy gazed through the binoculars at the bloody pulp that is Kage. With all that blood, Sai cursed himself for not being able to see how anyone can survive that sort of injury. He gritted his teeth when he uttered the word. "…Yes… It was Kage…"

Milly closed her mouth in horror while Tolle roared. "Are you fucking kidding me? Give me that!" Tolle grabbed the binoculars and pressed in on his bulging eyes, hard, to see with his own eyes.

All he saw was a barely recognizable black mass amidst a puddle of red. "That… that can't be… Kage… r… right…?"

But that figure was unmistakable. Tolle smashed his fist to the stone wall in anger again and again. They had lost Kuzzey and now they've lost Kira too. "Dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit, DAMMIT, DAMMIT ALL! AAAAAAAAAAAARGGH!" After the yell, Tolle knelt on the ground, his expression darkened.

Sai turned to the other cadets and roared. "READY CANNONS! Focus your fire on that ship!"

"But… Kage's…"

"We don't know whether he's alive or dead. His wounds are numerous but we may still be able to tend to them if we hurry!"

"Sai?" Tolle looked at the bespectacled boy.

"Even if Kage really did die… than the best we can do is honor his memory. Let's make sure his strategy succeed and win this battle." Sai wrestled Tolle's arm and brought him up. "Come on. The battle's not yet over."

Tolle closed his eyes and nodded in determination.

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Meanwhile, unknown to everyone, Kira was, in fact, still alive. But face down; numb with pain burning across his body, the boy could barely move. And judging by the amount of blood he's losing per second, he won't have long to live either.

With death staring in his face, the boy couldn't hope to think straight. And yet, the only thoughts coursing his mind was in the end, regret. 'Was it… too much for me? Am I… just being… in denial… all this time?' Kage was too injured to even cough and he could feel the coldness of death crept over him.

And just as he felt like he was about to depart, everything suddenly stopped. The cloud in the sky, the zooming arrows, the flickering fire, the flakes of snow… all stop dead. A figure appeared right next to him. Floating over Shiki, the child's long rainbow colored hair just barely touched the blade, soaked in his blood.

"Sh…"

The child looked at him. Coldness and pity mixed in the child's eyes.

"Tell me."

"?"

"What would you give to live through this?"

"…to live?"

The child nodded.

Kira looked weakly at the apparition before him. At first, he thought that all he wanted was for this excruciating pain to end. 'Just let it end.' He didn't have to fight anymore. 'Just let me die already.' He should've done more than enough. 'I want to die…'

…was I… a…ble… to be… use…ful… at… last?

Remembering Kuzzey's last words, all thoughts of dying vanished as Kira's eyes shot up. Then he remembered again all his friends: Sai, Tolle, Milly. "No."

The child blinked.

"I don't need to survive. I don't need my life." Instinctively, Kira stretch out his arm and grasped Shiki by its blade. "Give me the power to win this… to protect my friends! I won't ask it for free. TAKE MY LIFE!"

The child knelt before Kira's fallen body and whispered. "Alright."

And then suddenly, Kira woke up in a familiar place. The floor floating in the middle of the bright white sky, while there's still that pitch black darkness encompassing half of his so called world. He looked at himself: he's wearing the Kage outfit, minus the mask and the head plate.

He looked around. "Why am I here?"

"Oi."

Kira turned around and saw the child looking at him from a far off distance. "Catch." The child tossed something to him. Despite the distance, the object was hurled strong enough that Kira can caught it. It was a wooden sword.

"…wh… what am I supposed to do with this?"

The child pointed at his back, towards the darkness. Kira turned around and saw Shiki stuck on the floor. The boy was confused. "I know what you are… even though I can't say your name. But what exactly do you want?"

The child looked at him sadly.

Just then, someone appeared out of the darkness. The sound of his footsteps attracted Kira's attention and made him turned. Kira gasped.

A man in his thirties with somewhat disarrayed dark blue hair walked out of the darkness. He wore a long simple dark blue haori, with light blue clouds decorating the edges of the clothing. His left hand was tucked inside the clothing as if in a sling (AN: In case of you wondering, it's in the same manner with Auron from FF-X) while another was inside the haori, but enclosed in armor; with dragon design ornamented the said armor. A bottle is hanged on his waist. His eyes were the most unique feature. The right one is deep blue Human eye. The other is yellow dragon slit eye.

"You…"

The man unravel his left arm and grabbed Shiki, pulled it out with a snap, before suddenly blurred and appeared right in front of Kira. The teen was barely able to dodge the attack when the man smashed Shiki to his shoulder.

"Wha… who are you-?" The man grabbed his face with incredible force, slam it to the floor, yank it back up and hurl Kira's body like a crumpled dishrag.

The boy grinded to the floor for a few meters as he landed. Struggling to regain his bearings, Kira can still see the man jumped up and high. Kira quickly jumped away from the spot as the man landed, stabbing Shiki deep into the ground. Kira saw a chance, raised his wooden sword and made an attempt to hit the man's head. However, the man glared at him and something about his fierce and firm gaze stopped Kira dead in his tracks. The man scoffed and with one mighty stroke, scored a straight punch at Kira's face with his right fist. The punch sent the boy flying backwards, blood bursting from his aching head.

Kira coughed blood while his opponent pulled Shiki out of the floor and looked at him from the distance. "Oi… you want me to beat him… I get the message… but I only get a wooden sword against a real sword?"

"If that's how you see it…" For the first time, the man spoke. His tone was flat and emotionless.

"What?"

The man said something: "Slice the Heaven, Aoiro S-gcy-i!" The sword transformed into the blue, long bladeless handle while the man's left hand are now also covered in a blue gauntlet and shoulder armor. The man thrust the Blue Shiki forward, and the enormous chakra blade burst out from the initially bladeless socket hard and fast.

Kira rolled to the side as the giant immaterial blade cut through everything in its path. A giant, smooth and deep crevice can be seen just inches away from Kira's figure. Upon seeing the destruction a single attack had wrought, for a moment the boy lost all will to fight.

Noticing the disappearance of Kira's spirit, the man gritted his teeth in rage. The Chakra blade suddenly contracted at a rapid rate, and the Aoiro Shiki held by the man were pulled forward at rapid pace, immediately closing the distance between Kira and the man. Kira's gasp of surprise of seeing the giant sword used in such a manner was immediately cut off as the man grabbed him by a chokehold.

"What is this? Where was your determination just now? I thought you said you will give your life for the power to win?"

"Grrgh…"

"Are you going to whine that you're using a wooden sword?"

The man grabbed his head by the back and tossed him away. Kira landed on his face and felt a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. He looked around and saw the child still gazing at their battle. Kira quickly got up and looked at the man again. The two fighters were back to square one.

Kira looked at the Aoiro Shiki in the man's hand… and the wooden sword… in his hand. Kira frowned. "You… could you be…?"

The man's eyes twitched. "Now is not the time to ask questions!" Brandishing the staff the man charged again. During the charge, the enormous immaterial chakra blade shrunk and condensed. The giant oversized katana became a long solid glaive.

Kira grunted and looked at the child. '…that person… seriously… he really wanted me to fight this guy with a wooden sword?' He looked at the wooden sword in his hand. He looked back to the man bearing down on him. "Fine… have it your way." Kira roared and also charged head on.

The man brought down the glaive with an incredible force in a vertical swing, and an overwhelming aura enveloped its intended target. Kira, for a moment thought to back away, but instead, he rolled to the side, missing the glaive by an inch. At that exact moment, the man grunted, and the glaive changed direction at the last moment into a horizontal left sweep and head straight to Kira's chest. The boy instinctively brought up his wooden sword and blocked the glaive. The glaive was stopped midway, but already it began to cut its way through.

Kira reacted and bent his wooden sword at just the right angle, causing the glaive to be redirected upward while Kira bent downward, the blade only cut the upper bit of his spiky hair. With the glaive is still in mid sweep, the man's chest is practically left wide open. Taking his chance, Kira charged forward with a stab to the man's throat. The man brought up his gauntlet.

Blood splattered over Kira's shocked face as the wooden sword literally pierced through the man's armored arm and went through his intended target. Even more confusing was when Kira finally realized… He wasn't holding a wooden sword at all. He was wielding a Katana. Shiki. The same weapon that the man was using against him. "Wha… why… how…?"

The man snorted, ignoring the fact he had a sword stuck on his throat. "You have your eyes opened yet?"

"?"

Using his left hand, the man pushed Kira way, pulling the katana out of throat. To Kira's surprise, the severe injuries on the man's arm and throat disappeared in an instant. "All this time, we were both fighting with the same weapon, Kira-kun."

Kira looked at the man, still not understanding what this is all about.

"Your eyes perceive Shiki as a wooden sword, because it was blocked by fear. Your fear. Fear of hurting, fear of being hurt… but your experience in real combat, your acceptance… your desire to win no matter what… and your own ingenuity… all ease up this transition." As he said this, the huge Aoiro Shiki in the man's hand shrunk and turned into the normal Katana that it was. "But that was the easy part. Now we get to phase two."

Kira grabbed Shiki in his arm tighter. "Just… one question?"

"Yes?"

"Are you Aoiro S-dfg-i?"

The man's eyes widened and he smiled sarcastically and shook his head. He threw Shiki to the air as a green heavily armored gauntlet appeared on his right arm. "Shoot through Hell… Midori Shiki." When he caught the katana with his left hand, the Katana was no longer a Katana. Instead, a green bow with four blades, each pair paralleled one another and formed the limbs of the bow, with an Oni ornament decorating the base of the blades, placed on the upper and lower area of its handle.

Kira blinked. "Obviously not."

A green flame appeared on the Midori Shiki's green gauntlet and formed a thin long blade, with green veins littering the surface and a forked edge at the end of its short handle. The man blurred again but Kira is ready for another attack. He responded quickly as the man appeared at his flank. But what he did not expect, was when he saw the man was preparing to shoot Midori Shiki at point blank range.

"WHOAA!" Kira quickly rolled away. The green projectile of the bow Shiki punch a giant crater where it landed. The explosion which was massive enough to throw both Kira and the Man off the ground.

When Kira finally regained his footing, he realized the man was serious. The man landed, chased after him, and swings the Midori Shiki, using the blades that are the bow's limbs. Kira blocked it with his Shiki, sparks lit up as the two metal weapons grinded. The grinding stopped when Kira's Shiki reached the base of the man's Bow Shiki. The man generated another arrow, and while his weapon is still interlocked with Kira's, placed the arrow on the bow strings, aimed it at Kira's head, pull it, and fired at point blank. Kira bent his head backwards to avoid the arrow blow a hole through his head. The explosive burst of the arrow scratch his cheek, but it nearly, NEARLY tore his face off.

Kira quickly back away to make some distance.

The man sighed and prepare for a horizontal sweep motion.

Kira blinked at the awkward stance.

The man heaved and swing the Midori Shiki in a horizontal sweep – mid swing, it transformed into Aoiro Shiki and the Chakra blade extend, completely covering the distance. Kira gasped and jumped back just in time, but the giant blade scratched his vest.

The Man heaved and pull the huge katana back, his right arm pointing at Kira while his other hand held Aoiro Shiki at the back. With one swift thrust, the chakra blade emerge once again and in massive stream of blue energy, burst straight at Kira. A massive stab. Kira brought his Katana up, preparing to block, but at the last second, something clicks in.

'Stand your ground', is not an option. Fleetness and speed; those are your instruments. Hit and run, dodge, parry, redirect, that's your music. Block, deflect, that's a big no-no for you.

So instead, Kira sidestepped as the destructive stream of chakra blade roared past him by a paper thin margin. Using the chance while the blue blade is still extended, Kira charged forward towards the man.

The Man merely grunted and swung the enormous blade horizontally. Kira gaped as the giant chakra blade stream hit him by the side. On the other side of the blade, burst of chakra exploded, propelling the blade to the side. Thankfully, the chakra Blade's sides are not sharp, and Kira was merely slapped to a great distance.

"My Katana is not the only thing I got!" Kira quickly made a series of handseal while midair. 'Katon Gokyaku no Jutsu!"

A fireball went straight at the Man.

Upon seeing the Jutsu, the man roared in anger: "YOU FOOL!" In a heartbeat, the Man finished a handseal and cast: "Suiton, Suiryuudan!" A gigantic water dragon that made an ant out of Kira's fireball emerge out of nowhere, swallowed the said fireball with a gulp and head straight to Kira. The boy could only watch in horror as the water dragon swallowed him whole, twist him several times in its insides before finally slamming him back down to the floor with an earth shattering force.

Kira choked water out of his lungs, draining as much air to his lungs as possible as he gasp and pants.

"Foolish boy! Have you forgotten the purpose of you being here?" The Man scolded him angrily.

"What?"

"The purpose here is not to defeat me. Your enemy is NOT me."

Kira took some time to let the words went in. Then suddenly, he had a moment of epiphany. "I'm here… to master S-dfg-i."

The Man's anger subsided somewhat. "A much better reply, but not well thought off. You already mastered S-ght-i. S-ghj-i has chosen you, and no matter what your sentiments are, the fact that you are its master will not change."

Kira went quiet, trying to thought things through again. The Man's last few words start to click in. "Sentiments… my sentiments…" And with the dawning epiphany, Kira's eyes widened with the renewed understanding. Kira turned his attention to Shiki, gazing upon them, specifically towards Kira.

The Man sighed and readied himself. "We don't have much time. One last chance. Understand what we're trying to do here… or I will kill you with this next strike." The Aoiro Shiki transformed back into the normal Shiki. At the same time, an enormous energy burst out from the said Katana. So massive was the energy pressure, it pulverized the floor around it.

Kira ignored all this and continually gazed at the child. The child too, now made it clear that the attention is transfixed on Kira.

At that moment, the Man swing his Katana downward and sent a massive destructive white energy shockwave at Kira.

Tell me what you love so I can protect them

Tell me what you hate so I can smite them

Tell me what you desire so I can grant you to the best of my abilities

Tell me your strength so I can add to it

Tell me your weakness so I can strengthen it

"…Kira." The child uttered a single name.

And finally, at the last second just before the white shockwave engulf him, Kira was able to reply properly: "…I'll tell you… Shiki."

And the child, Shiki, smiled.

An enormous White Energy Shockwave engulfed the whole place.

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Outside, Veia had just turned around in disappointment… when suddenly; his keen ears caught the sound of a rustle. The Immortal Hero of Zaft turned around and saw a twitch in Kage's blood bathed body. After a moment, the body had yet to move again. "…nah… maybe just my imagination." Veia was about to leave, when suddenly, finally, Kage grabbed Shiki tightly. The sound of which reached Veia's ears.

The White Noble gasped in surprise. Slowly, but surely, Kage picked his bloodied battered self and, using Shiki as a support, managed to get back on his feet.

Every cheering Zaft soldier stopped short at the spectacle.

Kage felt his every wound is on fire. But miraculously, it stopped bleeding. And though the larger, more serious wounds remained, he could feel that some of the lesser and medium ones are disappearing. Wiping the blood off his face, Kage weakly glared at the enemy before him.

Veia gaped and utter a few words. "You too… immortal?"

Kage thought for a moment and shook his head. "No. I'm just… hard to kill."

"…well? What are you here for? Seeing how many times I had to beat the crap out of you until you really die?"

Kage frowned. Veia had lost his upbeat tone earlier. "No. I'm here to beat you." Kage pointed Shiki at the Hakutenkun. "Slice the Heaven: Aoiro Shiki."

Veia gasped in shock as all the sudden, a massive energy blade burst out towards him at blinding speed. The Hakutenkun brought his nodachi up just in time, as the giant blade pushed him backward to a great distance. The Hakutenkun futilely try to nail his footings to the ground, but the chakra blade continue to smash forward undeterred and drag Veia all across the wrecked battleships' deck. The blade finally stopped once it reached its maximum length, which is when it had pushed Veia by ¾ of the ship's length.

Kage shifted the Aoiro Shiki ever so slightly, and the blade contracts. Just like what he saw with the Man, the contracting blade pulled Kage forward at a rapid pace, right across the path of destruction the Katana had wrought, and head straight towards Veia.

Veia gasped at the unbelievable strength the stab he just blocked and was even more shocked when he saw Kage holding the Aoiro Shiki and was coming at him at great speed. Veia prepared his ice nodachi for a stab. Once the ninja was in range, the Hakutenkun lunge forward. But Kage quickly shunshin and reappeared right on top of Veia still carrying the momentum from the dash. The Hakutenkun turned and saw, to his horror, Kage was holding a different weapon.

The Hakutenkun reacted quickly. "The crossing of four rivers of Hell…"

"Shoot Through Hell…" Kage also chant at the same time.

"Hyomonken Mizunari Hebi!" Veia unleashed a giant water snake.

"Midori Shiki: Agni Kai!" Kage fired an arrow, midway, the arrow combust internally, a massive conflagration in shape of a roaring lion emerged.

The Lion and the serpent collided and for a moment, one can see there's a battle for dominance between the two elemental beasts. But finally, Kage's Agni Kai Lion consumed and tore apart Veia's Water Serpent and went straight towards the Hakutenkun.

Veia moved away to avoid the lion, alas, the green projectile pierced him on the side and nailed him to the ground. A moment later, the green projectile exploded in an even bigger explosion than the previous Karyuu Endan and Mizunari Hebi collision.

The explosion managed to propel Kage far above and the smoke quickly cleared. For a moment, Kage was able to see Veia, with his lower half completely blown off. All the sudden, the remains of the Hakutenkun disappeared into a mass of water, to Kage's surprise. A decoy.

The Hakutenkun swiftly reappeared on top of the ninja and brought his nodachi down to Kage's head. The Ninja realized he couldn't move midair. And so he improvised.

The Midori Shiki suddenly transformed into the Aoiro Shiki. Kage quickly aimed the tsuba of the bladeless katana towards the cliff. The blue chakra blade explosively burst out, and, just as Kage had hoped, propel him away from the danger spot. Veia's sword met with the diamond hard giant chakra blade. Kage was pushed towards the cliff, where he landed there and stick to it with Chakra. The chakra blade disappeared, and now it is Veia's turn to be stuck in midair. Kage placed the Aoiro Shiki over his head and brought it down. The instant just before the suddenly materializing chakra blade hit, the backside of the blade unleashed an explosive burst of chakra, increasing the blade's slashing speed and power.

Thinking fast, Veia resolve to tilt the way he blocked the fast approaching giant blade. The Nodachi held the giant blade for a very brief instant, and Veia parry the massive slash, albeit very slightly, to his side. But the force of the slash is also still strong enough to smash him away, sending him flying disoriented, a few meters off the spot. Meanwhile, the giant slash quickly landed on the Aquarius, and to the astonishment and horror of the spectators, the chakra blade cut through the frozen ships to two, clean from top to bottom.

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Tolle's eye sockets were hurting from pressing the binoculars too hard to his face. But he couldn't help it. His explicit good mood was evidently seen by other cadets.

"Tolle? What did you see?" Sai wondered what happened. They still can't see the ships very clearly, but a giant green lion of fire and a ship getting cut to two by a larger than life sword is hard to miss.

"Oi, guys! Kage's alive! And he's whoopin that Hakutenkun's ass to kingdom come!"

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Veia crash landed on the deck of his wrecked ship and look incredulously at the black spot on the cliff wall that is Kage.

Kage jumped and was about to land on the ship when Veia chant another technique: "Beatings from the depths of frozen Hell: Hyomonken, Tsurara Mai!" A second explosion of icicles of gargantuan scale occurred again, and it almost as if every inch of the upper deck are bursting with icicles, large and small. In an instant, Kage had no place to land without getting pierced by at least a dozen icicles.

"Slice through Heaven, Aoiro Shiki: Ao Wangetsuga (Blue Crescent Fang)!" the bladeless hilt of the Aoiro Shiki exploded as Kage brought a massive slash that completely engulf the incoming icicles. The slash formed the shape of a giant bright blue burning crescent moon. The slash also sent a crescent shaped energy shockwave that cuts forward and travel a relatively short distance. Veia side stepped to avoid the attack.

As the last traces of the energy blade dissipates, Kage landed safely of the recently cleared area, swinging the massive Aoiro Shiki, a moment later the giant blade revert to its original shape and size.

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Meanwhile, Raww almost forgot to breathe as he watched the titanic battle between Kage and his immortal colleague. But above all, he noticed how Kage, during the fight, was able to switch effortlessly between different weapon types as the situation calls it. '…we have failed to acquire the last, most outrageous weapon of all… and what could possibly be the most dangerous man alive is now in possession of it…'

Mwu, also ignoring his own duel, watched breathlessly as his student was fighting at such a gargantuan scale. 'What the… is he on steroids or something…? A moment ago he looked like he was about to die… and now…'

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Veia, for the first time throughout the fight, suddenly realized his heart beats with excitement again. "They say one grew wise with pain… did I helped you to achieve a breakthrough when I pushed you to the edge of death's cliff?"

Kage's breathing was fast paced, but still under control. The pain is still burning, but the energy constantly flowing into him dampens all that. "Yes. In a matter of speaking."

"What a pleasant surprise." And for a moment, Kage caught that noticeable upbeat tone in Veia's words. It looks like the Hakutenkun is starting to get back in the mood. He eyed Kage for a few moments, and then suddenly a massive amount of steam was amassed around the Hakutenkun's blade.

Recognizing and responding to the technique that nearly killed him, Kage held Shiki with both of his hands, gathering sparks of energy at the tip of the sword.

"Hyomonken: Zanmai!"

Kage swing down Shiki and released the technique he had learned during the duel in his head.

A massive stream of white energy shockwave exploded in the shape of a raging series of fangs and scattered the wave of steam blades.

The Shockwave of Fangs pulverized everything in its path and head straight towards Veia at an incredible pace. The Hakutenkun's eyes widened as the shockwave engulf him in an instant.

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Dearka gaped. "Hey I know that move… he used that to beat me!"

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Once the energy burst died down, one can see a massive long crater formed from where Kage's katana landed.

Veia appeared amidst the smoke, seemingly unscathed, but bits and pieces of his armor are a few shades darker and its edges cracked here and there. "What… was that?"

Kage frowned. "Truth is… I just find out until earlier. I've been using it subconsciously all this time."

Kage recall the first time he performed the technique, right in his mind.

Kage stared wide eyed at the giant crater forming between him and The Man, who now lay unconscious a few kilometers away with the Shiki he held shattered while Kage's remained strong.

"Now you understand. This technique… there was a time when you were able to use it subconsciously. But, between knowing and not knowing, there's a great difference of control that entails."

Kage looked at Shiki who smiled proudly.

"The name of this technique is:…"

"Tetsuga Tenshou. (Steel Fang Piercing the Heaven)"

"Piercing the Heaven… that is one fancy name." Veia chuckled. "But two can play the game."

"…you too…"

Veia showed Kage his ice covered Nodachi. "This sword, Hyomaen, is no ordinary sword. It is a mystical sword passed on from generation to generation, reserved to those who mastered the Hyomonken style. As you've noticed, each form has unique incantation. When chanted, it unleash the Hyomonken's techniques true power. The three main forms: Water form: Mizunari Hebi, Ice form: Tsurara Mai, and…"

"Steam Form: Zanmai."

"…no. I'm sorry I fooled you… but Zanmai is a sword branch of the Mizunari Hebi. It was meant to be used for the water branch." Veia bowed down as if asking for forgiveness for the tricks. "No. The true Steam Form… is one I'm about to show you. Rise, O soldier of the invisible sky…" Veia placed his nodachi horizontally before him while placing his other hand at the blade.

Kage's eyes widened and gripped Shiki tightly with both of his hands.

"Tenchu Shenshi! (Heaven Judgment Soldiers)" 12 pillars of steam burst from the icy arena, they circle Veia before they expand into a full blow steam tornado. The tornado, much to Kage's confusion, went straight to Veia's nodachi and went inside it, compressed. Veia charged at Kage and landed a vertical slash using both of his arms.

The Ninja managed to barely block the attack with Shiki, but the pressure of the two handed strike was such, Kage's feet sank to the ground. Veia was pleased that his enemy survived though, and all the sudden, steam burst out from the cracks that appeared on Veia's Hyomaen.

Kage gasped at the sudden event and was caught unprepared when Veia suddenly let go, and in a blink of an eye, sent an upward swing. Kage was able to block it, but the force was such, it sent him flying to the sky. Meanwhile, the 12 torrents of steam unleashed by Hyomaen had taken shape of Veia's immaterial copy made of steam.

The steam Veias circle around the Ninja. The real Veia on the ground began to slash his sword vertically. Following the movement of his sword, one of the steam clones lash out and strike Kage from his back. Veia slashed horizontally, another steam Veia followed. This time, it . The Hakutenkun rapidly slashed his nodachi, and following his movements, his clones also swiftly strike Kage. The ninja were helplessly blown away over and over again for another 10 consecutive times. The latest strike forced him to face downward, where Veia assumed a quickdraw stance. The 12 Veia clones suddenly move forward and pierced him in 12 spot, not injuring him, but for some reason, it locked Kage on the spot.

Veia dashed upward and in a blur went through Kage as he landed the final blow, simultaneously; all 12 Veia clones also slashed their immaterial weapons at Kage's form at the same time before dispersing to thin air. Kage lifelessly dropped to the floor while Veia momentarily floated midair to see what becomes of his prey from high above.

Yzak grinned in great confidence of his master. "A direct hit master! You've killed him for sure this time!" The silver haired Russian yelled at his master who was currently floating just slightly below him in height.

"No."

"I beg your pardon?"

"He's still alive." Veia could no longer contain his excitement.

"Wha-" Yzak looked at Kage's direction only to see a white energy fang burst suddenly exploded from where Kage was standing and completely engulf his master again.

The shockwave were cut to two and dispersed as quickly as Veia float midair, nigh injured but a scratch. "See?"

Down there, just as Veia had suspected, Kage gasped and pant, holding his smoking Shiki. He grasped his vest and felt something had been crushed beneath it. Mwu's weight acted as a shield that nullified some of Veia's attack. Had it hit him full, he won't be standing in one piece either. 'He's really incredible… as a swordsman… combined with that crazy ability to control water in all its form… his skill is borderline Godlike… I've heard of tales of Hakutenkun's strength myself but this is…'

"This is fun. Hehehe… I don't care if he can't kill me… this is the most fun I've had in years… let me enjoy it again, kiddo!" Veia dashed downward towards Kage.

The ninja realized, he won't be able to defeat the Hakutenkun, not even if he had 10 lives. Readying his stance, Kage hold his Katana in reverse, placing Shiki in front of him.

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Shiki float around the Man lying on the floor on his back, limbs outstretched, and a giant gash can be seen on his chest.

"Well, you pretty much were asking for this."

"So I did." The Man replied nonchalantly. All hostilities disappeared.

"Thank you. If it weren't for you pushing him to edge, he'll probably never gonna get over his hatred of me."

"He doesn't actually hate you. He simply needs someone to blame. I'm here to make him understand this that he can't be in denial forever."

"I was surprised really… he's my first master in years… and I found you… and… him." Shiki looked at the darkness. Something in there stared back. "…who… no… what is he?"

The Man get up and sit up on the floor. "Let's just say… the past has a way to catch up. My advice? Let sleeping dog lie."

"Okay…" Shiki turned back to The Man. "But seriously, I really thought you were going to kill him."

"My only conflict is whether I should give him that last chance threat early."

The spirit of the Sword's eyes widened. "You really are going to kill him? I thought you were here to protect him?" Shiki pouted. "You never do things the easy simple way, can you?"

"He's a fast healer, and I still gave him a nudge on that department, from time to time. That's as far as a protection I can give to him freely. But when it comes to power… in all its form… I'd rather have him earn it. So that he gain a greater understanding of when, how much, and why should he use that power. You might want to take a leaf out of my book, kiddo."

"…right now he's fighting that Goud Veia."

"He's losing. Even if he's capable of using you to its fullest, even if he's got 10 lifetimes to improve. The difference between the two is far too great. Kira is still alive because Veia is still interested in him. That is all."

"…if you lend him just a fraction of your strength, this battle will end in minutes."

"I'm not doing that. I've made a word to myself."

"Not even with the fact that if he dies, you'll die to?"

"I can deal with that."

Shiki sighed and shook. "…what are you going to do now?"

"I'm just going to watch. Nothing more."

Shiki turned its attention to the sky above.

0000000000000000000

Ne, Kira.

I like it here.

I like your mind.

It's so spacious. And the best part of it all, apart from that pitch black darkness; this magnificent white sky is just breath taking.

And believe me, in your mind, things will just get better and better. When you're happy or excited, the wind blows, it was strong and yet so gentle, just like your heart. My greatest wish is to meld with this wind and fly away.

I noticed, if I looked hard enough, I saw the faces of your friends forming up this wonderful sky of yours. You saw your friends like pieces of a seamless puzzle. A puzzle which, when gathered together, formed your world. Form this wonderful sky.

When your friend Kuzzey died… a piece of this world disappeared and the scream of your pain literally cracked the sky. And for a moment, from that crack, in that rage, your mind… your heart were completely engulfed in darkness flowing in from that crack.

It was cold. Still… and horrifying.

Can you imagine the horror of such solitude darkness?

I don't like it.

Ne, Kira.

I asked you before, what would you give to survive this.

You said you don't need to survive.

You said you want the power to win… to protect…

And you said you're willing to give me your life…

I'm here to tell you, all I need…

Is your trust.

Trust me, Kira.

Do that, and I tell you, I will do everything in my power…

Till there's not a single bit of life within me…

I won't let even a single tiny crack dot this wonderful sky of your heart.

So let me do it.

Let me became the wind.

Let me soar.

0000000000000000000

"Soar in Your Throne between Heaven and Hell: Kurenai Shiki."

Kage release Shiki and let the Katana dropped gently before him.

The Veia's eyes widened when everything seemingly stopped.

Shiki, ever so smoothly, fell to the ground like a droplet of dew on a calm lake. And the moment the tip of the katana touched the ground, the Katana scattered in an explosive whirlwind of bright crimson feathers. The gust from the whirlwind blew away Veia. The Hakutenkun landed on the floor.

Hundreds and thousands of crimson feathers engulfed Kage's form, completely closing him from view.

Harlbarton gasped when he saw the crimson tornado coming from the direction of Kage's battleground. The elder captain watched with pride. "To think… he had managed to get this far…"

Veia narrowed his eyes, trying to pierce through the crimson storm and saw what is going on in the middle of that storm. And… unless his eyes fooled him he saw… is that a woman?

In the middle of the storm, Kage gazed upward and saw a beautiful woman with a waist length red hair, wearing a crimson sleeveless long coat. Her eyes gleaming like fire and the edges of the coat split into 4 extensions, each looked a lot like a mass of wings merged together. And while her shoulders were left bare, two separate, crimson sleeves covered her arms from the upper arms, tied with a pair of black belts, just below the exposed shoulder. Her hands however, were completely wrapped in black belts over the sleeves, which seem to also tightly cover her fingers. Her undergarments were also composed of multiple belts of black color crisscrossing her feminine figure beneath the crimson vest. She stood calmly in midair, flying in the middle of the storm.

"Shiki?"

"Yes, Kira. And to be technically correct, it's Kurenai Shiki."

"You're a… girl?"

"You have a problem with this?"

"…nope. You're a girl. Fine with me." Kage chuckled. "And… if you can talk like this… mind if I ask you to address me as Kage while I'm like this?"

"As you wish, Master Kage." Kurenai Shiki flew around gracefully and landed just behind Kage. They looked at Veia through the crimson feather storm. "If we fight together… we can do this. We can win!"

"Yeah. I know. It's just… he's an immortal. Even if we can overpower his every technique… we'll have a hard time killing him."

"Yes… about that… I bring you a message… from 'him'."

"Him?"

"The Man. He gave you… I don't know… a riddle? The riddle is: who is the more unfortunate: one who lacks… or one who are in excess?"

Kage go through the riddle over and over again in his head. "…what was that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know. He never makes it easy. But he said that's the key to crack Veia's immortality."

"…" Kage gave the riddle some thought. "For now… let's concentrate on making sure Veia can't fight anymore. We can deal with all the riddles and immortality thing later."

"Understood, Master." And with that, Kurenai Shiki merged with Kage, and just like that, the ferocious whirlwind suddenly disappeared.

Veia's eyes widened as he saw the appearance of his foe.

Kage stood amidst a small torrent of crimson feathers. His garment had greatly changed. He's now wearing Kurenai Shiki's clothing, with the only difference being the black belts wrapped Kage's entire figure all the way up to just beneath his eyes.

Kage took a deep breath, and his new garment began to hum and glow like fire, releasing particles of light, which, upon closer observation, greatly resemble flakes of feathers which quickly disperse into small particles. The sight lasted only but a moment as abruptly Kage turned into a crimson stream of light.

Veia's gasp was cut short as the hardest uppercut he ever felt literally exploded on his chest. The Hakutenkun was pushed back to the sky by several meters. Disoriented, Veia quickly regained his bearings and quickly searched for his opponent, but streams of red light crisscrossing around him and sent another punch to his face. Veia saw the punch and noticed the edges of the red sleeve covering the said arm is glowing up. When Kage's fist connected to his cheek, the sleeve pulsated, sending a surge of energy to the Ninja's fist… and then it exploded upon contact to his face.

The explosion sent Veia back to the ship and crashed. A stream of red light criss-crossing towards him again before manifest itself as Kage, right on top of him, and immediately land another punch to his chest that sent the Hakutenkun crashing to the ground.

Kage was about to pull his fist back when he Veia pointed his nodachi right to his face. "Hyomonken: Tsurara branch: Hakuren!" A white concentrated wave of icicle and engulf Kage. But before the technique finished its job, a crimson beam burst out of the white wave and dance in the sky before going straight at Veia. The Hakutenkun brought his Nodachi up just as Kage's attack, which is a stab, collided with the nodachi. The Hakutenkun blocked the physical attack that is Kage's bare hand stab. But the energy shockwave that came afterwards hit him full.

The shockwave pushed him backwards by a few meters creating a distance between the two fighters, but the white noble is still standing. A crimson stream crashed into the ground, and from the small crater that arise, Kage walked out.

"…he… hehehehehehe…. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Veia laughed, almost maniacally.

"…" Kage remained silent.

"…heh… heh…" The Hakutenkun stopped laughing to catch his breath. "Ne… kiddo… I know your sword change forms following your command… but I've only heard of the normal form, the blue sword, and green bow. What is that… red form?"

"Personally I don't know." Kage closed his eyes. It felt weird talking in the middle of a fight like this. But even with the incredible power up this Kurenai Shiki given him, it is obvious that he had not come close of beating the Hakutenkun. He need all the time he can get to rest and recover. And so the talking. "Quite frankly… and I just noticed this myself, there are so many things I had yet to know about Shiki. This form is… shall we say… my first step on getting to know her better."

"…know your weapon better… I wish a certain hotheaded student of mine can hear this…" Veia closed his eyes serenely. "But… do you know what it does?"

"…yes and no." Kage grabbed his head. "Knowing and not knowing, there's a great difference in control that entails… kinda like how you said that incantations made your techniques stronger. As I understand Shiki, her abilities are better revealed to me."

"…Hyomaen… is a mystical sword… older than even me." Veia showed Kage his ice covered Nodachi. "It belonged, if the sources are to be believed, to the first ones… Yes. It was crafted by the Onis themselves."

Kage blinked.

"When we found Hyomaen, the sword also comes with the scroll pertaining to the details of Hyomonken. The techniques and the sword is one whole item by itself. What we know, was that the Hyomaen will only show its true power when used with Hyomonken, else it's just a very sturdy and long nodachi." Veia caress the nodachi gently.

Kage's eyes widened. Veia told him the secrets and the true nature of his weapon, so that the Hakutenkun can hear his without holding anything back.

"The reverse is also true. Even if the Hyomonken can be taught to other people, only with Hyomaen can the Hyomonken truly be mastered. Did the Hyomonken was created in response to the Hyomaen, or the Hyomaen was forged to complete the Hyomonken? We could not fathom what the Onis were thinking."

Kage nodded. Now He also got a good grasp of Hyomonken's scope of power. "Shiki's power… is compression and decompression."

"Could you explain?"

"Let's start with the Tetsuga Tenshou. The fangs are a concentrated form of my chakra, combined with Shikis… and then explosively released forward. Aoiro Shiki compressed energy and turned into the giant sword and partially decompresses it to use the released energy as propellant. Midori Shiki compresses my chakra into arrows which, as needed, will decompress uncontrollably into that explosion."

"Aaaah…" Veia nodded in understanding. "And that red form…"

"I haven't grasped the full understanding of it. But as I understand it all my chakra, all her chakra, combined together, compressed into a single physical form, regulated evenly into my entire physical being which can be decompressed at will at any time. I've manipulate it to act like a multi directional propellant, enabling me to change direction even midair… or augment my punches, releasing energy discharge upon contact."

"Excuse me? All your chakra… all… of hers?"

"Yes." Break time is over. "All of OUR chakra." Kage balled his fist, a massive aura burst out in a form of crimson gust. A blurry image of a woman in red appeared amidst it. "The third form, Kurenai Shiki… is when Shiki and I are ONE." There. With this, both sides get a good grasp of what their opponent's weapons capable of. Fair and square.

Veia nodded, pleased that his opponent also understand honor and fair play. "Very good. What you achieve today, many self proclaimed first class swordsman had ignored, even less tried and failed, and those who succeed are even rarer." The Hakutenkun held his sword before him. "You and I… we're the rare ones."

"'I'…?"

And just like that, similar with Kage, a massive aura also burst from Veia. The aura is blue, and an image of a dragon appeared and encircled Veia. At the same time, Kage can also feel his opponent's aura is boosted up considerably, even larger than his own.

'He's fighting together with his sword… just like us…Shiki?'

'I felt it too. The Hyomaen and Veia had reached a perfect level of understanding. Truthfully speaking, this level of resonance is beyond even ours.'

"Let's continue, Kage." Enveloped in that massive blue aura, Veia charged forward in a blur and closed the distance. Kage was barely able to react, and Veia's blade landed on his chest. A red shockwave occurred and Kage was thrown a great distance. 'Eh?' Veia blinked.

Kage rolled several times on the ground. 'He's… fast!' Kage hold his chest. The spot where Veia slashed him hurts like hell… but there's no wound.

Veia noticed this too. '…Hyomaen?'

A wild male growling sound echoed at the back of Veia's mind. 'It's weird. I definitely made contact. But… that… red cloth… it's… dense.'

"Aaaahh… of course… than you just have to be… a little sharper." Veia made preparation for a stabbing attack, pointing the nodachi at Kage.

'Master Kira! It hurts a hell! I can probably block a slash, but a straight stab will…'

'We'll block it. I got an idea. And we go offensive from this point.' Kage glared at Veia.

The Hakutenkun charged forward in a stab attack at great speed. The blue aura also focused to the tip of the sword, making a very sharp point. Kage roared and raised his arm, welcoming the stab with a left open palm, which is glowing brightly. A massive circular crimson shockwave occurred when the Hyomaen's tip collided with Kage's hand (in a matter of speaking) dead center. "AAAAAAAAAARGGH!" Kage felt like his arm is about ripped apart from its socket.

Kage screamed as he was pushed back, his feet carved the floor while Veia's stab continued to push forward, dragging him backward. "AAAAAAAAAHHWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS AMAZING!"

After a while, Kage finally managed to stop and Veia's thrust was also halted. Veia looked amazed at Kage's left palm… which is still intact, fingers and all, while the Hyomaen didn't even so much as to nick it. A few crimson feathers can be seen floating around where Kage's palm and Hyomaen's tip made contact before they disperse completely. "…you're the first person ever to block my stab barehanded."

"…you… and your sword… your… resonance… is stronger than ours…" Kage spoke in between his pants and gasps. "But… if I concentrate… all my chakra on a single point… we can overcome the difference, yeah?" As he said this, Kage grab hold of Hyomaen's blade. The Kurenai Shiki's coat protected his palm from injuring itself.

Veia tried to pull back his nodachi only to find the blade won't budge from Kage's grip. Then he noticed the crimson feathers seem to be gathering around Kage's left palm. "…so these feathers blocked my blade… and composed that red clothing you wear… a super condensed chakra that can be manipulated for defensive and offensive purposes… a powerful weapon indeed."

"…it can be used like this too." Kage's right palm opened, a flock of red feathers appeared out of nowhere and formed a bright glowing red katana.

Veia gasped. Kage swung the beam katana.

"Guren Shahadou! (Crimson Lotus Radiance surge)" A smooth, silent, bright and extremely sharp red shockwave went straight through Veia's right arm. The shockwave vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a trail of crimson feathers which quickly dispersed and a very deep crevice. The beam katana in Kage's hand had disappeared. Then the sound came, followed by a massive aftershock that sent Veia flying back to where he was standing a moment ago, except this time he landed violently on his back.

"Oi, oi…" 'A red… super compressed, super sharp… and super fast Tetsuga Tenshou, Guren Shahadou?' Veia looked, almost in disbelief, at his right arm… which is no longer there. His right arm, still holding on to Hyomaen, was stuck a few meters ahead of him, cut cleanly right on the shoulder.

An extension of Kage's Kurenai Shiki's center garment suddenly dispersed into a flock of feathers. "Veia… no, Lord Veia. I just had a solution in mind."

Veia looked at Kage.

"I may not be able to kill you." 'yet.' Kage added the last part at the back of his mind. "But the point in this battle is to make sure you can't fight. I really think this is a sick idea but I don't really have much of a choice… so I'm just going to cut your limbs apart until you can't do anything."

Now every top fighter atop both cliffs had their eyes glued on the scene. Veia embraced a moment of thought. He got up and looked at the Archangel's rear wall that is still hailing the ships with cannonballs. He turned his attention to his knights atop the cliffs and yelled. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? The plan is still in motion! Crush all the opposition on the cliff and overtake the Archangel Rear walls!"

For the first time, everyone in that battlefield realized they're still in the middle of an open battle. They've been so transfixed at the combat between the two warriors they forgot about their own. The two armies looked at each other and with a great cry, the battle begin again.

Yzak roared at the top of his lungs. "CHARGE! DESTROY THOSE NATURALS!"

"But, Yzak didn't you see that? That Kage guy cut a limb from lord Veia!"

"So what? Lord Veia is the immortal Hero of Zaft. You think a cut limb can tarnish that title?"

Kage frowned. It was already a good thing the warriors of both sides were drawn in by the spectacle of his duel, but now, they'll focus back on fighting the Alliance soldiers. At this rate, with the constant reinforcement from the Zaft fleet, it'll only be a matter of time until they managed to push through. And then… Kage tensely looked at the rear wall where his friends are stationed.

"You are mentally conflicted I see."

Kage looked back to Veia, and to his surprise, Veia already grabbed his arm. He reattached the said arm. A swirl of water appeared around the cut section, and a moment later, the Hakutenkun was already able to flex his arm as if it was never cut. "I must apologize to you for many-many things. First, you can't immobilize me by simple dismemberment. Many had tried that, many had failed." At this Veia groaned and hold his head, apparently in pain. "Second… I noticed there is someone important for you in that fortress. I apologize for causing you obvious distress. It is not right to fight when one's mind is conflicted, this Veia understand that. But I'm afraid… you must be prepared."

Kage tilted his head and frowned. He suddenly noticed Veia's breathing is heavy and elaborated. As if he was dying…

"I… cannot… contain him anymore… Kage… you've fought with honor… I respect that… but from this… point onward… it will be a battle for survival… a battle without… honOr…" Veia's tone on the last choked word underwent a dramatic change. And then he fell on his knees.

"Lord Veia!" Kage instinctively lowered his guard and took several steps forward, accidentally moving within Veia's sword reach.

Suddenly, Kage found himself stabbed on his unprotected shoulder. 'W…wha…' An iron clad grip suddenly found his neck and pushed him to the ground.

"Ku, ku, ku… KHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Veia laughed manically. He grabbed the object he used to stab Kage's shoulder, sink it deeper and then violently pulled it out, causing a spray of blood to burst. Kage let out a small yell of pain. Then he looked at the opponent's weapon. It's not Hyomaen. At first glance, it looked like an elaborate small stick with pointy edge. The edge was covered in his blood, dripping maliciously.

Veia lifted the bloodied weapon and let the blood drop to an opening on his helmet that is his mouth. He tasted one drop and laughed again, maniacally. "DelicIOuS… KHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Kage noticed an insane glint of Veia's eyes. It weren't there when they fought earlier.

"More… MoREeEe!" The now insane knight stabbed the instrument several times to his already wounded shoulder. Kage roared and in retaliation kicked the Hakutenkun away. But Veia still managed to get one last deep stab to his left shoulder.

Kage quickly back away, holding his shoulder, bleeding profusely.

The Hakutenkun didn't get back on his feet. Instead, he stood on all fours like a wicked monster and crawl towards a small puddle where Kage's blood gather.

"sHiheEhEeHeeheHehahAhaHaA! I GoT yoU…" The Hakutenkun dipped the instrument in his hand to Kage's blood. And as it has a life on its own, the blood converged into the object, and as Veia stood and pull it up, like unsheathing a sword from its hilt, a sword appeared. The thing the Hakutenkun had been holding on to earlier was a hilt to a sword… made of Kage's blood. Veia swing the new sword several times. He looked at Kage's wounded shoulder and danced around manically. "I gOt YoU, I goT yOu!"

"A blood sucking sword? I don't know you have two swords…" Kage grunted. Now the enemy has two weapons: the Hyomaen on his right, and that unknown blood sword on his left.

"Ooo… 'I don't know you have two swords'" Veia mock-copy Kage's speech. "ShieAhahaHahaHAhah!" And just like that, he suddenly stabbed both of his swords to the frozen floor. "TSURARAMAI!"

A chaotic barrage of icicles suddenly erupted beneath their legs. Kage had to jump again and again to dodge this rampant outburst. Worse still, even the icicle had other icicles bursting out of them, which further complicates the matter of dodging them a little bit. Unlike the previous Tsurara Mai which is ordered and controlled, this one doesn't seem to care where it struck.

One of the icicles burst dangerously close to 'Veia'.

…And it doesn't seem to care whether the user is in danger either.

The icicles were also powerful enough to completely obliterate the previous icicle construction, tilting and cracking the entire surface to pieces. As he dodged the icicles, Kage couldn't help but to notice this dramatic change in behavior. 'Shiki… what's going on?'

'I don't know either… his aura was calm and perfectly harmonized with Hyomaen a moment ago… and now… I can actually hear the guy screaming in pain…'

'Hyomaen did?'

'Not just Hyoamaen. That blood sword he made just now were also in conflict… this is not synchronizing… this is outright enslavement!'

"ZANMAI! ZANMAI!" While the Tsurara Mai is still in effect, Veia wildly swing around both swords sending wave after wave of razor sharp steam stream, each was unbelievably massive. One stream caught Kage, but using the Kurenai Shiki, he managed to block the attack. But the aftershock knocks him away.

"ComE to PaPA!" Straight to the now officially insane Veia's open arm. Veia welcomed Kage's landing with a punch to his face. "HEahAHAHAHAAA!" The Hakutenkun jumped and purposefully crashed, knee first, to Kage's still injured shoulder.

"GYAAAAAAAARGH!" Kage had to scream. The pain was too much.

"MoRE! mORe!" He began stabbing the blood sword at Kage again and again. The ninja crossed his arm before him to block the stabs. Amidst the barrage of stabs, Kage's arm extended out, and a flock of feathers merged to form another katana.

"Guren-"

But Hyomaen went through the said arm before Kage could finish the technique. "WHUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

"Oh choTtO… yOu riPpeD ThaT weAk ShiT VeiA's aRm wiTh that fAncY reD ligHt thInGy… and nOw YoU onLy have tWo ShoTS left."

"AAghh… Veia…? W… Who are you?" Kage gasped as another extension on Kurenai's coat dispersed.

"I'm Goud. YorOsHIku." He tilted his head insanely.

"G… Goud?"

"Ensui liked yOuR BloOd. Gimme more! GIMME MORE!" Goud's insane pleas were accompanied with furious barrage of stabs from the red sword, Ensui.

Kage was barely able to hold it together with just one arm. Fortunately for him, Kurenai Shiki's garment was able to hold out. "Y… You… GET OFF!" An energy katana quickly formed in Kage's hand, and instead of firing it, Kage slashed it at Goud. The insane Hakutenkun jumped away and landed on all fours. The ninja grunted as he tried to get back up. He took hold of Hyomaen, and while grunting in pain, pulled the nodachi out of his palm.

D… dan…na

"Eh?" For a moment there, Kage heard a whisper. But then the thought were blown away when the ice encapsulating Hyomaen scatter apart into tiny sparkling particles. "Gah!" Kage gasped as some of the ice particles get into his eyes and choked him. However, the sparkle did more than just choking or getting into his eyes.

Goud snapped his finger. "Hyomonken: Diamond Dust Rebellion."

"Nanni? WHUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" The ice particles rapidly ripped Kage in every spot, inside out. He fell to his knees and vomit a great amount of blood. Before Kage can react, Goud appeared in front of him again and kicked him on the chest sending him flying.

"Blood! More blood! AHAHAHAHAHAH!" Goud stabbed the Ensui on the blood Kage had just vomited and drained them all in a heartbeat.

'T… This guy… who on earth is he!'

"Motto… MottOOOO!" Veia swing ENsui several times, and lage balls made of blood appeared. "Hyomonken, HISAME!" The blood balls unleashed a hailstorm of thousands of hardened blood in from of a rain of swords.

Kage gasped. 'Wha… this is different than before!' Gripping both Hyomaen and Kurenai Shiki, Kage rapidly blocked the incoming storm of blades, repelling them to every direction. Unfortunately there are simply too many of them. Two more blood sword hit his right shoulder, three grazed his legs. Several collided and shattered against Shiki's garment.

D… Danna…

Now the voice is quite clear. Kage blinked. And for a moment, he felt weird: a part of him is still out there blocking the hailstorm of blades, while the other part was back to that place in his mind. He saw on his left, Kurenai Shiki appeared, concerned and she had been roughen up a bit. On his right, he saw the Dragon. Kage suddenly realized who it was. This is Hyomaen's Spirit of the Sword.

'Kage-danna…'

'Hyomaen?'

'Hyomaen?'

'Kage-danna… listen… you must escape… this is Goud. Veia-sama's worst half.'

'Worst half?'

'Veia-sama has a… horrible affliction. After ages of battle and death, a portion of Veia-sama's soul develop a horrible taste for blood and destruction. That part assumed the name Goud and he's a hundred times stronger than Veia-sama and has none of his principles or self restraint. He appeared every time Veia-sama's excitement in combat reached its peak.'

'Why are you telling me this? And why should I escape?'

'Ensui and I have no love for that sadistic, dishonorable part of Veia-sama. I beg you, Kage-danna! For decades Veia-sama had never enjoyed a fun and honorable fight such as the one you've given him! You have the potential… you have the power. You are still young. You can grew bigger and stronger! And who knows? Maybe one day you will be strong enough to grant Veia-sama's ultimate wish-!'

"The Crossing of four rivers of hell!"

"Ergh!" Kage was brought back to reality while he's still busy repelling the initial attack.

"MiZUNARI HEBI!" Half a dozen massive serpent several times bigger than even Veia's, made out of hardened blood plow through the hailstorm of blood swords. Kage gritted his teeth and smashed both Hyomaen and Kurenai Shiki at the incoming attack. The impact shattered the serpents, but blood also burst out from Kage's body. The left sleeve of the Shiki garment shattered having been damaged past its tolerance limit. Before he can take another breather, Goud, with his unbelievable speed suddenly appeared in front of him and grasped his face.

"tsk, tsk, tsk…" He swung his finger left and right. "ThoU shalT not… taKe whAt is noT yOurS." He grabbed Kage's right arm, which is holding Hyomaen and twist it like a dried up stick, purposefully dislocating Kage's bone.

The boy screamed, the man laughed.

Kage's dislocated arm let go of Hyomaen. Veia looked at the nodachi and kicked it away like it was garbage. "Hrng… Veia's FavOriTe. I'll deAl wIth yoU laTer. NoW… WhAT sHoulD I do wiTh yoU? WhAT's yer name? How maNy peOple you kill? Is it hoT under the mAsK? How maNy pEoPle you kilL? WhaT's with tHe outFit? How many people you kill? No really how many people you kill?"

"Sh…"

"Eh?"

"…p"

"Excuse me? Moshi-moshi?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Kage smashed Veia's face with his broken arm making him staggering back a bit and let go of the boy's face. A loud crack from Kage's arm can be heard. The ninja landed on his feet and flexed his right arm several times. That crack fixed his arm back to its place.

"You… CURR!" Goud exploded in rage and cast another one of his Techniques. "Hyomonken, Buri Zado Kyannon!" A hailstorm of ice burst sent Kage flying off to the sky like a ragdoll while earning a few more large cuts on his unprotected body parts. Goud disappear and reappear from his back, and for the next few seconds, the ninja were tossed around midair by the rapidly attacking Goud. Kage blocked all the attacks with great difficulty, what's with his enemy keep moving at such speed. But something seems off. His vision is getting blurry and he began to lose focus, his fingers gone unnaturally numb, which had nothing to do with the amount of pain he felt at the moment.

'Eh? What happened to me?'

"Nisheahahehehahe… You start feeling it?"

"!" Kage quickly realized what it was. 'Poison!'

"Thaaaaaats riiiiiiiight! Hyomonken! ZANMAI!" A massive pillar of steam quickly hammered Kage back down to the ground with a crash. Kage cough up so much blood. His every bone is shaking, his muscles felt like they're torn to shreds, and his head spinning from massive loss of blood.

"I've coated Ensui with nerve racking poison. And this sword, made from your blood, is laced in it." Goud laughed maniacally as he landed and then blurred an instant later. First he appeared on Kage's back before he can turn around. When the ninja did turn around, he reappeared on his side, and then disappeared again. Then three Goud appeared all at once, and then 7, and all the sudden, Kage was completely surrounded by hundreds of Goud's afterimages. The thing is, these afterimages attacked rapidly, and worse, Kage's attack went through them because they're just after image. But the worst part is the attacks are all real and they landed one after another in a furious speed.

Kage rapidly moved and blocked all that he could see while Kurenai Shiki's protection covered his blind spot. But the more he move, Kage realized, the faster the poison will circulate, and at the present it's playing havoc with his senses.

"ORAORAORAORAORAORA! HAHAHAHWEHEHEHAHEHWhA!" After another furious set of slashes, Goud crashed the Ensui on Kage's completely unprotected left arm and pierced it through. The blade headed straight to Kage's neck, but thankfully, Kurenai Shiki's garment halt the stab, though barely.

Kage only grunt.

"YEeeehahahehhehahaa! That's right… the more you block, the more of the poison you take!" Goud continue to push the Ensui deeper. Meanwhile, Kage can feel as the poison continue to drip in, more of his blood are being sucked out.

Groaning in obvious pain, Kage let go of his energy katana.

Goud squeal in victory. "Thaaat'S RIGHT! Just Die quieeeeeeetly!"

Kage glared at Goud and put his hands together. Holding his pain, he formed a set of seals lightning fast: "Katon, Goukyaku no jutsu!" A giant super condensed fireball erupted from Kage's mouth and completely engulfed Goud.

The insane half of the Hakutenkun was caught by surprise and jumped away. But both of his legs were consumed by the flame, completely vaporized. "GWAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Goud fell to his back. For the first time he was really scared. "No! No more! I didn't know you had a trick like that?"

Kage took the Ensui and pulled it out. The Kurenai Shiki on the ground dispersed and reappeared on Kage's hand. For the second time that day, Kage had his enemy's weapon on his hand.

Meanwhile, Goud scurried on the floor and shamelessly made a pleading stance. "Please! Please don't kill me! You're one heck of a guy alright! Who would've thought you could vaporize my being! That's the one thing I can't stand!"

Kage approached the shameless opponent, fighting the poison in him. Goud dragged himself to Kage's feet and began weeping and kneeling. "Please be merciful… I… I realy don't like to kill really… it's just… it's just all that killing get into my head? Have you ever tried killing a thousand souls for decades and NOT go CRAZY! It's maddening!"

For a moment, Kage seem to avert his gaze.

Then in an instant, Goud regenerated his leg and lunged at Kage. He grabbed both of his arms and crushed it. "SHEAHaHAHEHahAHAahAHAHAHAAhuE! Got You! GoT YoU! GoT- Eh?"

And then Goud realized he was grasping… a pile of rocks. The real Kage had already moved and grabbed Goud's other discarded weapon, the Hyomaen. Kage glared at Goud once more, and then, just like that, he threw both weapons at the Hakutenkun.

The weapons landed right in front of the mad man. "Ergh?"

"Use it."

"WhA?"

"As I recall… you use both of them. Now use it!" It's an order, not a suggestion.

"BAKA! BAKA! World's first class BAKA! With Hyomaen and Ensui in my hand I'm INVINCIBLE!" Without further ado, Goud took both swords and charged like a madman he is towards Kage.

Kage took a deep breath and release it. Then he assumed a stance that caught everyone's attention… or to be more precise, Harlbarton's.

'That… stance… the Guard of the Hawk?' Harlbarton's eyes widened while he dodged another attack from an equally insane fire knight.

But indeed it was the Guard of the Hawk. Kage held Shiki with both of his hands and put it on top of his head.

'Kira? What are you doing?'

'This is the only way. If I handle his attack like before, I'll just make the poison spread faster. I need to block him effectively with the least amount of movements. De la Posta de Falconi is the most effective way.'

'That maybe, but remember what Harlbarton said? This form is not for you!'

'Kurenai… didn't you noticed?'

'Huh?'

'He let go his weapons ever so easily. He kicked Hyomaen like it was a junk! Think about it!'

'…what do you need me?'

'The point of the Guard of the Hawk is instant reaction. My reaction's off, my aim is chaotic, the poison's racking my nervous system… but your senses is still sharp… heck you're a sword. I want you to be my eyes and ears… I'll provide the strength. You block his attack and tell me when there's an opening.'

'But…'

'I trust you, Kurenai Shiki!'

'Let go of your left arm… it's an extra burden and I need you to be flexible.'

Kage smiled and let go his left arm, leaving only his right holding the energy katana atop his head. Even more amazing, he closed his eyes. Goud get even more insane at this point. "DIE! FEEL MY FULL POWER!" Goud disappeared completely from view, but countless slashes and gashes covered the ground. The Hakutenkun was moving so fast, slashing everything he came in contact with, he couldn't even see what.

But Kage ignored all the noise. He couldn't see anything, his senses messed up. He trust only Kurenai Shiki's guidance. And then, one of Goud's rampant slashes went straight to Kage at eye blinding speed, Kage's arm flickered and in an instant, Kurenai Shiki's energy blade blocked Goud's stab. The sudden halt decelerate the mad Hakutenkun's advance slightly, forcing him to reveal himself.

"MADDA-MADDA! MADDA-MADDA!" Goud disappeared again and this time, hundreds and thousands of stabs and slashes came at Kage from every direction. With milliseconds of difference from each other. Kage's arm disappeared, and, guided by Kurenai Shiki's senses, move around at incredulous speed. So fast, Kage's one right arm multiplied and blocked all the incoming attacks flawlessly.

"DIEDIEDIEDIE! HYOMONKEN! All Around Buri Zado Kyannon!" Hundreds of masses of ice energy forming around Kage, enclosing him like a dome. "FIRE!" The ice mass burst out, sending a hailstorm of ice shard streams towards the target at the center, which is Kage.

At this point, Kage's right arm moved so fast, it disappeared leaving only multiple streams of red light that moved about around Kage's figure, blocking every single bit of ice shards at incredible speed.

Harlbarton gazed in awe. 'Kira Yamato… you…'

The maneuver lasted for several dozens of seconds until finally Goud stopped and landed a distance away from Kage. "Die! DIE! DIE! My POWER IS UNBEATABLE! UNBEATABLE! The crossing of four rivers of Hell, beatings from the depths of the Frozen Hell…"

Kage was alarmed, but he didn't open his eyes, still waiting for a signal from Kurenai Shiki.

"TSURARA HEBI!" A combination of Tsurara Mai and Mizunari Hebi, a frozen serpent of blood covered in spikes roared out as Goud sliced both of his mystical weapons.

'KIRA! NOW!'

Kage opened his eyes and beheld the giant serpent of blood before him. The ninja roared and caught the blood serpent with his hands by its jaws. The blood serpent pushed the Ninja several meters, but finally, with another loud yell, Kage rip the Tsurara Hebi apart. Just then, Goud appeared in front of him.

"GoT YoU again!" Sending a cross slash, Goud slammed both of his weapons at Kage. The weapons exploded, releasing another batch of icicles. "YeahEHeHEhEhaHEahHAE!"

"No. Got you!"

"HuH?"

Kage appeared right on Goud's flank and utter the first word. "Gurren…"

Goud recovered quickly over the fact he just frozen a pack of stones. "Oh no ya don't laddie! HYOMONKEN Buri Zado Kyanon! Goud furiously sliced to his side, sending a hailstorm of ice wave that blow Kage apart… and punch a hole through the cliff along with it.

But that Kage was just another decoy.

"Shahadou." The real Kage finished his chant from behind Goud and another burst of the soundless crimson stream of light exploded. In an instant, both of Goud's outstretched arms were cut, and Goud, surprised by this, quickly moved away. His severed arms landed and the blades they wield stabbed the ground. Kage landed to the floor as the third Shiki Sword dispersed, along with another extension of his coat. One extension left.

Kage looked at Goud and then to both of his weapons in front of him. Kage eyed them carefully and grabbed the two weapons after removing Goud's arms from their handle.

"HuH! You think JuSt beCauSE you have my weapons and my hands you got the upper hand? Watch this!" Goud groaned, and a swirl of water emerged from the stumps before finally formed a pair of hands. "HA! SEE? I'm IMMORTAL! And you only have one shot of that Gurren thing left Aren't ya! YoU Can't beat me! You can't even beat Veia!"

Kage shook his head. "Ensui. A water sword that also came along with Hyomaen. A pair. Ensui was to be used by the master, and Hyomaen was to be used by the pupil."

"That's right! I'm the true master of Hyomonken!"

"…Diamond Dust Rebellion, Blizzard Cannon, Tsurara Hebi… and the whole onslaught of super powerful fancy techniques… heh…" Kage looked at Goud, pity evident. "They're all useless."

"W… What DiDja say?"

"I'll have nothing to say of your insanity. But these two swords seem to think you're stronger than Veia. Well… I had to disagree!"

"Hee? Say That AgAiN?"

"You deaf? You heard me!"

Goud growled in anger.

Kage smiled confidently. "Goud! Bring Veia back out! Otherwise… it'll be sheer murder for you. Lord Veia… is a hell lot stronger than you!"

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Next chapter is the climax for the battle of Archangel Bay. Let's see if I can get it out fast enough.