[Sonic Advance 3 OST – Altar Emerald (Map Version)]
残り:四の影/ Remnant's Four Shadows
End of Remnant, Episode 19: Brave the Past
Morning came peacefully for some, but others had their first hangover. Some woke up in odd places. Or in Marinette's case, waking up to see she was drooling on top Adrien's chest. Thankfully, aside from snuggling each other…nothing else between them happened last night.
"Is that a hickey on her neck?" Plagg teased only for Tikki to smack him upside the head.
Both teens were quick to snatch their Kwami and find a bathroom to clean up separately. Spike Spiegel woke up in the arms of another. He looked down at the snoring Faye thoughtful for the moment. Slowly but surely, everyone else was getting up.
"The time is near." Noire remarked as Sanji was with those same volunteers making breakfast. "The time for us to go to battle…and Yuki's arrival to the battlefield. And soon, I will be free."
"Free?" Cael noted to himself.
"We should ready ourselves. We move out in time to make it by high noon." Noire remarked.
"The astral gates will be active. If they haven't got anyone monitoring them." Spike S. said.
"They would still have the people of Mars hostage, but with Alqadr running around…I believe their focus is on him." Noire said with a grin.
"Plus, I can simply portal all of us to Mars. However, the moment we do…Towa will realize we're right on top on them because I'll using Towa's little force field to take us to her." Chronoa said as Noire looked surprised. "Yes, I can keep things to the vest as well."
"Change of plans, we don't go in until Yuki gets there first. Oh it will be delicious to see the look at Griseo's face….he'll probably go, 'You and what army?'." Noire said cackling like a madman.
"That's so cliché." Pierce said.
"But it's a damn good one." Johnny Gat snarked.
[-]
[Cues: Super Smash Bros. 4 OST –Rest Area]
It was time. Yuki readied himself by performing one last weapon check. He began the walk to the floating platform. He stepped on it and was beamed up to the next floor which was a massive arena.
[Cues: Sonic Advance 3 OST – Altar Emerald (Map Version)]
It was ancient and he could feel the history on the cravings on the walls. Battles were had here, and the only sound was his feet on the arena but then he sensed the presence of another. Then a deep and aged voice came out into air.
"You have endured trial testing your heart and mind proving your worth, but there was the important aspect of combat. I never thought one would come, but here you are."
Down came a figure clad in ancient with his features hidden under his helmet. The armor had mounted wrist-blades, several tools, and the figure held an ikakalaka that's metal was glowing a fierce reddish silver. It even had markings on it of ancient text, but this was no time for Yuki to translate.
"You're not a guardian." Yuki said. "I sense an aura."
"Yes, I am not a guardian. I am…the Grimm Slayer of the past. For you to ascend, you must prove to be my equal or dare to surpass me. There is no turning back…" The Grimm Slayer said twirling his sword.
"I walk the path of a Silver Eyed Warrior rediscovering his roots." Yuki said drawing Frostbite. "I accept your challenge, old man."
There was no malice in that statement but a familial bout of respect. Unbeknownst to Yuki, worlds would bear witness as the arena fully lit up. Namely alternate Remnants.
[Cues: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate OST – Great Temple/Temple Theme]
CLANG! Blades clashed for the first strike.
"I suppose you do pack power for such a tiny sword." The Grimm Slayer said as they both pushed to dominate the other.
"It's a katana meant for precise and graceful strikes." Yuki said before backflipping for distance and to draw Wilt. "Trust me, you'll see what I mean."
Yuki took a stance to have his two swords horizontally above the shoulder, before preforming a circular swing that launches two air compressed aura projectiles.
"Armis Iai: Dual Crustae!"
The Slayer slashed through one and slammed the other one into the ground only for his Manifesta to kick in to parry the next few aerial sword swings from Yuki. CLANG! CLANG! CLACK! Focusing aura into his feet, he rapidly pelted his ancestor with a barrage of kicks to his face before able to send him back before landing on the ground.
"Magnam Impulsum!" The Slayer said making a short hop before slamming into his sword into the ground to make a shockwave of energy.
"Damn, he's built like a brickhouse. It's like I'm fighting Toriel and Cologne fused into one…" Yuki thought. "But I won't back down. If I can beat him, I can face them."
He sheathed his blades and cracked his knuckles.
"I will reveal a bit of lore from the modern era. I am of the last of a fighting style, to which I take charge of today, renaming it as Shinkueikyo Style. Fighting with a burning passion, never giving up with things are down. You do not just face me; you face its grandmaster: Yuki D. Azure!" Yuki said giving a fighting stance.
The renewed vigor in him had gotten a smile under the helm of the Slayer. The Silver Eyed Warrior did not have the feral drive of old, but still had the tenacity to survive which lead to a coming storm of blitzes and blades.
[-]
[With the 'Resistance']
"Holy shit, look at them go!" Jaune remarked. "I can barely keep track of them with how fast they're going."
"He made it to the top, but I assumed that as we're able to see this... that Yuki's not aware of this." Noire remarked. "But I guess my brother was always the showman."
"Your brother?!"
"Yes, the original Grimm Slayer was my brother and by extension…Yuki's direct descendant." Noire said with a grin. "The cat's out of the bag now. Happy, Cael?"
Cael rolled his eyes.
"That doesn't answer my question, I already figured that out." Cael remarked.
"So that's Yuki…well, is he like single?" Luan asked curiously.
"He is, but I'm pretty sure you're too young for him." Ivory remarked.
"Certainly, he looks like to around the 17-22 range. Clearly not yet at the prime…he's certainly strapping." Lisa said furiously writing notes.
Cael rolled his eyes to see several of Loud girls drooling over Yuki.
"So Griseo is your-"
"No, that's not Griseo. That's the Original Grimm Slayer. I mentioned Yuki would join us after his solo quest was complete. This is his quest…the final part of it at least before he can ascend to be the new Grimm Slayer. The God of the Grimm Slayers." Noire said upmost sternness in his tone. "Now shut it…this is what I had foreseen. I didn't know why…but now I do."
The Leonardoes were closely watching the fighting wanting to take mental notes on the fighting style. Most of the warriors there would agree that it took guts to call yourself the grandmaster.
"So, about that fighting style…he really is the last of them?" 2k3 Michelangelo asked.
"Technically no. Glynda and I are practitioners of the style as well. The style was fully invented by his mother who was also my teammate. She's no longer with us. By all means, it's his birthright to take the title. I didn't want it…and I sure as hell didn't want Glynda to take it considering what she did." Peach said as Glynda sighed.
"Damn it! It should be ME he's fighting!" Jase growled. "I've been chomping at the bit forever to fight him, but everyone gets in my way."
Chronoa normally was not smug about things, but she knew Towa could not properly peer into other universes without needing a lot of concentration. Thus, Chronoa was able to catch the 'broadcast' to allow her and the others to watch right under Towa's nose.
[-]
[Across the other worlds]
Reactions were quite mixed. It was not really every day that the sky breaks to show a high-speed battle in another dimension. Especially, one that grabbed attention.
At a version of Remnant that a bit close to its prime counterpart, the war between Ironwood, Team RWBY, and Salem was interrupted by the shockwaves of aura given off by the two of them were giving off.
On another version of Remnant drastically quite different, it was clear to the people that the two were from Remnant, not completely they were sure if it was theirs or not.
"Damn, look at him go!" Gio remarked watching Yuki elbow the Grimm Slayer in the face.
"I don't know why he looks eerily familiar." Kon remarked. "I'm getting a real case of déjà vu."
[-]
"I suppose we can conclude Round 1." Yuki said, taking a breath.
"But do you have the energy to go for more?" The Grimm Slayer said.
"Non sum iturus omnibus." Yuki remarked. (I was not going to go all out.)
"Noli mecum dolor, puer." GS spouted. (Don't get smart with me, child!)
"Could someone translate?" 2k3 Casey asked as both Yuki and GS were trading barbs.
"It's ancient speak of the world before Remnant." Noire remarked.
"So basically Latin?" A few of the smarter members of the 'Resistance' said.
"Basically, they're what you people call 'throwing shade' at each other." Lisa said adjusting her eyes.
"Satis loquere, verba tua hanc pugnam non vincent!" The Grimm Slayer boomed. (Enough talk, your words will not win you this fight!)
"Then it's time I stopped holding back." Yuki said as he deactivated the restraints on his limbs. "I was still using weighted bands."
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
"How much?" He asked.
"6,000." Yuki said as everyone was quiet. "Tons."
Jaws hit the ground and even the Grimm Slayer looked mortified considering the lower levers had 20 times normal gravity. Then the Grimm Slayer was laughing with fervent glee.
"Reticemus, non erimus." The Grimm Slayer said readying himself. (We will not hold back then.)
"S, da mihi asininum aliquem pulsare musicam!" Yuki said. (S, give me some ass-kicking music!)
[Cues: BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle OST - Night Walker (Linne's Theme)]
No words said, just action as both blitzed each other rapidly clashing blades and blows at speeds that made their previous clash look like a warm-up. He had switched Wilt out in favor of his new Umbral Dawn, a fitting time to break it in. Both slugged each other in the jaw sending shockwaves across the arena and both of them skidding back. It was clear that the Grimm Slayer was sent further back. Wordlessly, he channeled the Semblance of the Schnees.
"What Grimm is he going to summon against someone called the Grimm Slayer?" Winter asked.
He did not summon Grimm. Out from the glyph was two glowing people. Adam Tarsus and Cinder Fall who charged to attack the Grimm Slayer with Yuki.
[-]
[With the 'Resistance']
"So, the Schnee semblance can summon people you killed…" Jase said before turning to Winter. "So, Winter can you…"
SMACK! She slapped him.
"I understand Yuki is in the fight for his life but resorting to dragging the dead into this is…crossing a line!" Winter remarked, disturbed.
"I don't think they're from the dead. Given Yuki's semblance, and the nature the Schnee family semblance, they are most likely semi-independent mirrors with the move-sets pre-programmed into them. He knows their fighting styles and their semblances well. In theory, the Schnee could do the same, but it would require them to know the ins and outs of their defeated opponents fighting styles to be used most effectively. Something Yuki's mind is best suited for. Not really raising the dead, more of making mirrors of them to use in battle." Ivory said astutely to shock of many. "I may not have Yuki's technical skills or Kelly and Lapis's insane skillsets in biology, but I'm not exactly an airhead."
"I know, it's just…you don't apply yourself often." Shampoo said.
"If people knew I was had a genius level IQ like those three nerds, people would see me as a threat. Let the fools underestimate me." Ivory said. "A true tactician doesn't lay all the cards on the table."
"Wait, how did he kill the other me?" Cinder asked.
"Put a pillow over your others face and blew her brains out." Lapis said to the horror of the more innocent members of resistance. "And nothing of value was lost."
[-]
[With 'Canon' Remnant]
"Wait, the Schnees can only summon Grimm they killed!" Cinder said in stunned realization. "That bastard killed me!"
Cinder only saw that as the issue, not the fact that the Schnees could potentially summon the dead to fight for them. Ruby watched with a mix of horror and awe over the viciousness of the fight. Yes, they were just using blades, but there was the finesse to them.
[-]
[With the 'Other' Remnant]
Bleiss had seen Yuki summon them and immediately was making plans to figure out how to do the same. Winter would call it immoral, and Weiss was too much of a pussy to go for it. But Bleiss knew her thoughts on it were now vindicated!
[-]
The old Grimm Slayer was shocked by this development. He had seen a semblance of this nature in the past, ones who draw the Grimm they slain. But people? That was new. He had to assume he killed these people. Mirror Adam using Moonslice landing a glancing blow on the Grimm Slayer's chest only to get his head grabbed. He crushed the skull only for Mirror Adam to explode in the Grimm Slayer's face.
"Cheeky brat." Grimm Slayer said seeing the smoking fingers from Yuki.
Mirror Cinder lunged to get on top of the Grimm Slayer sinking superheated glass into him only for the weathered warrior to tear her off and split her in two causing her to dissipate. Yuki was not going to let him breathe as he used super speed to knock the blade off the Slayer's hands before assailing him with punches.
"Super speed too?" The Grimm Slayer thought as he fought back.
The Grimm Slayer caught Yuki before kneeing him repeatedly in the face before throwing Yuki behind him to kick with a sidekick before grabbing his foot to smash Yuki into the ground only for 'Yuki' to shatter like glass.
"Again?! Where is he?" The Slayer said, sensing around.
Yuki was here, but he could sense him and hear the flicker of flames. In a rush, Yuki shifted back into his normal form from the mosquito he was before while his hair was aflame with white hot flames, and his eyes were burning silver.
For a split second, the outline of Yang could be seen as Yuki shouted, "Ginryūken!"
He jumps up into the air giving the Slayer an uppercut that caused an eruption of a large geyser of white-hot flames around them viciously burning into the old Slayer.
"Remember the ground, let me acquaint you!" He said before a lasso of light to grab the Slayer's foot.
The Slayer was swung around before meeting the ground as the lasso fizzled out. The Grimm Slayer got up as his hands crackled with electricity.
[Cues: Final Fantasy VI OST – Decisive Battle]
"Hoc nunc finit." The Slayer said as his body crackled with bioelectricity. "Aura Dimittite!" (This ends here. Aura Discharge!)
Yuki found himself both trapped in an electric field and his aura being used to taser him as volts surged in his body getting screams out of him. The pain was all over his body as the Grimm Slayer stood tall as Yuki was on his knees.
"I will give you credit. I hate to resort to my semblance, but you gave me no further option." The Grimm Slayer said sternly. "It's over. I've hit you with the power of two bolts of lightning! You shouldn't be standing let alone breathing for much longer! Give it up!"
"Giving up to 400 million volts?" Yuki said getting up with a manic grin. "No. I don't think so."
[Abruptly Cues: Pokémon DPPt OST – Champion Cynthia Encounter Theme]
Several people's outlines flickered over Yuki before a harsh wind blew as he took out his blades. The tune grew ominous as Yuki glowed with magic….Serena's magic.
"Synchronization Eclipse!" Serena shouted as Yuki now appeared to have three heads and six arms.
The center head was Yuki, the right head was a more crazed version of Yuki, and left hand was Serena herself. To which they shattered the hold the Grimm Slayer had on Yuki.
"…Grimm Slayer." The Crossroad Killer said. "You fight a madman."
"Backed with the ultimate support." Serena said.
"And I will be the one to surpass you!" Yuki said before lunging at him.
[Music Ends]
Blades of aura materialized in the hands that did not have Wilt, Frostbite, or Umbral Dawn in them as the combined force readied to strike.
"For the road we walk, suffering litters the road of bloodshed!" Yuki said as the Slayer raised his own blade.
SLING! Both clashed as Yuki skidded to the ground. Heartbeats could only be through tense. Yuki's friends, his allies, and all those watching were feverishly watching before they heard a scream and Yuki shouting, "Armis Iai: Grand Slayer's Symphony!"
The victor was clear, and Noire had felt something explode in him. Something long buried within…hope.
(A/N: Making the choices for the music was hard, but at the time, I feel I made the best choices I could. A grand epic fight to cap off End of Remnant! But what about Griseo and Tora? Pfftt…oh don't worry about him…just not in the same way. For those curious, the second world is Sage the Ero Kami/ARandoSage's "The Epics of KHGM", an attempt to give a complete overhaul to the world of Remnant.)
(A/N (Update 7/24/22): By the time this chapter is updated: The Epics of KHGM came out. So go check that out. As for this chapter, dialogue was fixed and additions was made. Despite this, it's one of my favorite chapters, the battle between the OG Slayer and Yuki was a joy to write and an even bigger joy to improve.)
