Hi-Dilly-Doh guys! It's me, DevilsZack00, and we're back with the 14st chapter of Bleach DxD!
How are you guys? Are you all okay? I'm pretty good, I think. Work is fine and even in the family things work (Still no gf, but these are details). Are you ready for the next trailer for "Bleach TYBW" arriving on July 2nd? There is too much hype!
In short, this month has been a month like all the others, isn't it? We see...
STREET FIGHTER 6 - FINAL FANTASY 16 - FINAL FANTASY 7 REBIRTH - CRISIS CORE FF7 REUNION - New info for KH4 - DRAGON'S DOGMA 2 and so on...yeeeeaaaaah, too much hype.
Seriously, with this 20k word chapter we have concluded the "Excalibur of the Moonlit Schoolyard" arc ... ok, to be honest, the real epilogue will be with the next chapter which, at the same time, will start the next arc. I don't know if I said it in the previous chapter, but the next arc will not be the "Vampire of the Suspended Classroom"...or rather, it will partially adapt that arc (Gasper to be more precise) while the arc will be completely original, so I can't wait to start it! I warn that, as for this chapter, I will write chapter 15 back to back one more time and then return to focus on other stories.
Now enjoy the climax of the "Excalibur of the Moonlit Schoolyard" arc!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own BLEACH or Highschool DxD. Support the original creators and their works! For every single chapter, I use google translate since I am italian. Enjoy!
[BLUE] (Bleach OP 14)
By ViVID
*Instrumental*
(With the rhythm of the instruments, Ichigo's Zangetsu and Zero's katana cross, causing sparks)
Nagaretsuita are basho de hito wa nani or omou no darou
(As if there was a zoom out of the two weapons, the camera now shows the Kuoh Academy, the scene of the clash between the ORC and Kokabiel's group: Issei, aided by Akeno and Xenovia, is attacking the Cerberus; Yuuto and Kaito are fighting Freed; Rias is casting spells at Kokabiel)
Hirokute fukai unmei no naka shizumanai you ni
(Senna, meanwhile, finds herself stuck on some kind of cross of light, and the only thing she could do was see her friends fight as an explosion of black and red Reiatsu obscures the screen.)
(You cannot bust yourself, gimme a shout)
(To be yourself till death, assure yourself)
(You cannot bust yourself, gimme a shout)
(To be yourself till death, assure yourself)
(The scene changes: The screen goes black while the Bleach DxD logo appears and then fades)
Asu o ushinatte shimau ka mo shirenai kakegae no nai ima ni se o mukenai
Kono koe ga douka todoku you ni sakebitsuzukete'ta yo
(The scene changes: With the same effect as the original Opening, appear: Ichigo, Senna, the members of the ORC, Xenovia and Irina dressed in casual clothes)
Oikakeru tabi ni dandan tooku natte nigedashita totan mata chikaku natte
Sukitootte iru no ni mienai mukougawa te or nobashitsuzuketa
(The scene changes: With the same effect as the original Opening, appear: Kokabiel, Zero, Freed and Valpa)
Nakinagara warau [asannen] hibi to
(I take it on myself, I take it on myself)
Rinne no hate ni kono te or nobasu yo
(The scene changes: A child Yuuto is running in the dark until he stops when he sees Vampa and various Church members in front of him. Stuck in fear, Yuuto doesn't move as Vampa reaches out to him but, before he could touch it, a light appears behind Yuuto, changing scene)
Nagaretsuita are basho de hito wa nani or omou no darou
(The scene changes: The ORC begins to fight against Kokabiel and his group as at the beginning of the opening)
Hirokute fukai unmei no naka shizumanai you ni
(As the ORC fights, Vampa watches the Excalibur melt in the cross in front of him as Senna tries in vain to free herself from the cross of light)
Nejimagaru hikari or yurari yurari tadayoinagara abites
(The scene changes: On the roof of the Kuoh Academy, Zero and Ichigo are fighting wildly with each other, trying to kill each other until, with yet another attack, the two opponents backed away)
Barabara ni natta jibun no kakera hiroiatsume tobitatsu yo
(Ichigo, raising Zangetsu, activates the Bankai while Zero instead increases his own Reiatsu to excess. As they went back to fighting, a pillar of light appeared before them, enveloping them into its light...)
PoV: ?
Dark…
Everything was dark.
I'm too weak…
I can't open my eyes…
"Rise and shine, girl~"
A...A voice? Who is talking…? I can't recognize that voice with that strange echo in it...
Trying to open my eyes, my vision was all blurred as a strange light was hiding someone before me. The figure was holding my chin, as if he were inspecting an object…
"Mhh…" He spoke, until he let me go, chuckling as my eyelids felt heavy.
Trying to fight the urge to close my eyes, slowly my vision started to focus on the man in front of me and, above all, where I am. "T-The school…?" I murmured when I saw the school gate. I was...floating in the air? I tried to move my hands, but I couldn't feel them. No, to be fair, I can't feel my limbs either…
I'm so tired...
"Good, you're awake" The man spoke as I started to gaze at him, noticing his strange mask on his face. "How are you, Shinenju?"
"S-Shinenju…?" What is a Shinenju? I never heard about that…but, it's strangely familiar?
"Don't worry, you don't need to know—" The man started to speak, until I heard someone calling my name.
"SENNA!"
...I can't forget who's calling me. "Ichigo…?"
"—Tch, he's already here" The masked man cursed as he turned his head towards Ichigo's voice. Then, shifting his gaze to me, he spoke as he slowly put his hand on my face. "Looks like it's showtime, but this isn't a show for you. Sleep well, my dear Shinenju"
"Wait…" I tried to fight him, but my eyelids collapsed...
…
Everything is dark once again…
…
…
I'm scared…
…
Someone...please, help me…
...Ichigo…
"Are you awake, Shinenju?"
! As I heard the voice, I opened my eyes once again, finding myself in another place. I was lying down on a branch of a huge tree. Why did I say huge? Because the branch itself is at least as big as a street!
"Shinenju, rise and obey me"
Rising from the ground—I mean branch(?)...anyway, I saw a man with white hair who spoke to me. He has wears a white kimono undergarment underneath his dark green shihakusho, a blue obi belt sash wrapped around his waist, a dark green armored breastplate that is on his front chest that has gold outlining around the armored breastplate itself and curved gold arrows in the center.
"Very good" The man said with a strange smile on his face. "Now that you are awake, the time is finally come"
"G-Ganryu…?!" The name slipped out of my mouth. I-I never saw that man, yet...why do I know his name…?
"Oh, so you remember this man?" As he spoke, Garyu started to walk towards me, while I was trying to step back...but my legs did not want to move. Why? WHY?! Move, legs!
"You cannot run away, Shinenju" Ganryu said, now so close at the point I can feel his breath on my face… "You cannot run away from fear"
Fear…? Why...why do I fear him?!
"GO AWAY!" I shouted as he started to chuckle, like he was amused by my scream of terror as he put his hand on my face.
"Please, a thing like you, a fusion of memories of the deaths, cannot feel fear. And now the moment is at hand. No one is going to stop Sefirot!"
I released a scream of pure fear...help me...help me...helpmehelpmehelpmehelpmehelpmehelpme!
SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!
Kuoh City
"We're in danger! Please help us!" Someone screamed. It didn't take long before a swift trail of footsteps was heard from the corridor, headed for the living room. With a sudden stop, followed by the sound of feet crawling across the wooden floor, the shoji snapped open, revealing a young boy with short green hair, wearing a rdd cardboard armor that looks like a mecha from an old anime. This boy is Go Ichimonji.
"I came here to save youuuu!" Go said, assuming a super sentai pose, smiling at his parents...if only they were there. Without receiving an answer, Go observed around, noticing that there were clothes on the ground, but noy his parents.
"Mom…? Dad…?" The little Go asked as he looked around, trying to see his parents with little success. Taking off his cardboard helmet from his head, the boy began to walk around the house in complete silence, looking for his family. "Mommy? Daddy?" He called, but no one called him back once again…
Suddenly, a huge earthquake shook the foundations of the house. "Uwaaaaah!" Go cried as he ran to the door of the house, in time as it collapsed right after the boy came out.
"My house…sniff…" Holding back tears at the sight of his collapsed house, the child looked skyward until he saw a gargantuan tree of light from across the city rising into the sky. "A...A tree?" Go said. He had never seen anything like it here in Kuoh.
Go…
Unconsciously, the child walked over to where the tree seemed to come from, like a moth drawn into the light.
As he walked towards the tree, Go noticed that other buildings such as homes, shops and more collapsed just like an earthquake hit Japan...but he didn't stop. The tree was calling him. It was calling everyone.
Looking around, the boy saw that countless people were walking towards the tree too. Children, women, men and elders with no distinction. He was going to continue to walk before he felt something on his chest.
Looking down at his chest, Go saw a root protrude from where his heart was...but it didn't hurt.
"Go" Multiple voices called him. Turning his gaze to the voices, Go saw the silhouettes of his parents facing him. Even though he couldn't see their faces, he knew they were smiling at him.
"Mommy! Daddy!" He said, running towards them as they hugged him. The Ichimonji family were reunited…
...as the boy's clothes fell to the ground, since Go Ichimonji is no longer in this world, together with the people which were absorbed by the spell's roots one by one.
From above a roof, a young man was watching the scene. He has light silver hair kept in a particular hairstyle, and hazel eyes. He wears a dark green V-neck shirt with a high-collared black leather jacket over it, burgundy jeans with a silver chain drooping down over them, black leather chaps with three bands encircling his right calf, and black shoes with black buckles.
Sitting casually on the edge of the roof, the man analyzed the situation while, inside him, he prayed for the soul of that poor child who disappeared before his eyes.
"What a mess, right?"
Turning his head towards the voice, the man easily recognized the owner of the voice. "Azazel"
"Yo, Vali" The Fallen Angel smirked as he greeted the young man called Vali. "Thank you for be here"
"It's not a problem, and you know that" Rising to his feet, Vali watched the roots move across Kuoh. "I never saw that spell. Do you recognize it?"
"Well, of course I recognize it." Turning his head towards the tree of light, Azazel narrowed his eyes slightly. "Tree of Life: Sefirot, a spell capable of breaking the Dimensional Gap itself, bending space and time in order to fulfill the user's wishes in exchange of human souls. Honestly, I'm surprised that Kokabiel could have casted that spell"
"I see" Vali crossed his arms as he heard Azazel's explanation. "Human souls, huh?"
"Yup, aaand—" Leaning slightly, Azazel whistled as he surveyed the roots. "—We have about 10 minutes before it can fully activate if Gremory and her peerage fail for stop it, give or take"
"Bet" Cracking his neck, Vali grinned as he stepped towards the roof edge. "I'll put an end on this in just one minute"
"One minute? Wow, do you really want to stop Kaito from having a moment of glory?"
"...Kaito is there?!"
With a confused gaze, Azazel nodded. "Huh, yeah?"
"...And you told me he is there only now?!" He said, glaring at his foster father when he heard Kaito's name.
"I texted you when he returned here—"
"Maybe I don't own a mobile phone, that's why I didn't know?" Vali stated.
"—...Oh"
Sighing, Vali shook his head as a pair of light wings appeared on his back. "Anyway, now that I know he's here, I have one more reason to go stop that thing"
Before Vali could fly away, something destroyed part of the roof behind them, sending debris flying everywhere. Turning their heads towards the being, the Fallen Angel and the Sacred Gear user noticed that the culprit was…
"A Stray Devil?" Vali stated as both him and Azazel observed the being: The being is a large white man, sporting some kind of old samurai armor, towering over both of them. He is a fairly young looking man with spiky crimson hair swept backwards, with his fringe hanging in front of his left eye. Indeed, the energy he was producing was clearly demonic, and his control over his powers is beyond his capacities.
Raising his left arm and keeping his left arm on his chest, the man tried to walk towards the two as he pleaded. "P-Please...help me…" The Stray Devil asked and, judging by his demeanor, he definitely seemed to be in pain.
Glancing at Vali, the Fallen Angel and the Sacred Gear user nodded at the same time. Shifting his gaze towards the Stray Devil, Azazel spoke. "Tell us who your King were, and we can make a deal without killing you"
"N-No, I don't want that!" The man exclaimed as he stepped back a little, coughing as the pain in his chest doubled. "I just want to be saved!"
His reaction was surely curious, since Vali raised an eyebrow. "Hoi, you know the rules: If a Stray Devil is found, they are killed on the spot. Yet, we're giving you a chance to live, so why don't you wanna return?"
"B-Because if I return to him, that man will—GAAAAAH" Collapsing to the ground, the devil let out a cry of pain as black particles bursted out from his chest…revealing a hole.
"?!" Running towards the Stray Devil, Vali shouted. "Hoi, are you alright?!" He asked before Azazel grabbed hisnshoulder, stopping him. "What are you doing?!"
With a serious look in his eyes, Azazel just pointed at the Stray Devil being enveloped by the black particles. When the particles vanished, his body drastically changed, becoming something that resembled the classic oni from japanese culture, with red skin and toned muscles.
"Aaaah….ahhhh…" Bowing his head back, the Stray Devil let out a cry of pure pain as something white came out of his mouth, enveloping his entire head before taking the form of...a oni-ish white mask with red and black outlines around its mouth and its eyes. A Hollow is born.
"What?!" Vali stepped back as he assumed a battle stance. "What the hell is that thing?!"
Coldly glaring at the Hollow, Azazel remained silent.
Releasing a road, the newborn oni-ish Hollow jumped towards the two supernatural beings as his claws were ready to rip and tear its enemies.
"Tch, just a mindless beast" Vali spitted at the ground but, before he could activate his powers, the Hollow's head suddenly disappeared as a pillar of light disappeared behind its body. Turning his head towards Azazel, his right hand outside his pocket. "...Thanks"
"You're welcome~" He said, smirking.
"I want an explanation, Azazel" Vali said. "What the hell was that?!" He exclaimed as the Hollow's corpse started to vanish into nothingness.
"Something that should not exist here—" Narrowing his eyes as he saw the Hollow vanish, Azazel replied. "—An Hollow"
"Hollow?"
"Kaito explained them in his last report, assuming there was a connection regarding the disappearance of Stray Devils around the world" He revealed as he walked towards the edge of the roof. "And now, we have the proof"
"The proof?"
Turning his head towards Vali, Azazel spoke. "Before he transformed, that Devil asked us to save him from 'that man'...there is someone who's creating Hollows for their own purposes"
Then suddenly, thousands of Hollows appeared around them, roaring.
"We're surrounded!" Vali cursed as he assumed a battle stance. "So many of those beasts appeared without being detected by us?!"
"...I see now!" Azazel summoned a spear of light in his right hand as he spread his wings as a Fallen Angel. "They're blocking us here in order to never reach the school!"
"Then I'll teach them to fear me, the Vanishing Dragon!" Vali smirked as he fled towards the Hollows, activating his Sacred Gear's ability. "Divine Dividing!"
Chapter 14: Memories of Nobody
Yuuto and Xenovia...
"Oh, Sefirot…" Valpa smiled at the tree's mighty appearance and power. "Soon, you will realize my wish…"
"Valpa!" Two voices echoed behind him. Turning his head towards them, the former Archbishop glared at Gremory's knight and the exorcist. His attention then shifted on Xenovia's sword. It was...familiar. "
"The activation of Tree of Life: Sefirot is forbidden by the council of Heaven" Thrusting her sword in the ground, Xenovia raised a hand towards Valpa. "Hereby: Valpa Galilei, you are sentenced to death"
With his Light Erased in the right hand, Yuuto pointed the sword towards the archbishop. "You're gonna pay for what you did to me and my friends!"
"Death? Pay?" Chuckling, Valpa shook his head, amused by his foes' words. "It's too late for you" Suddenly, four small beacons of lights appeared behind him, revealing the fragments of Excaliburs stolen by Kokabiel and his team.
"The Excaliburs!" Both the teenagers shouted.
"Tree of Life: Sefirot can grant every wish of its user!" Valpa said, as he raised his hands in the sky. Suddenly, a beam of light started to revolve around the four Excaliburs, which started to melt. "I don't know or care about Kokabiel or Zero's wishes, I desire only one thing: Reunite the Excaliburs!"
"What?!" The two teenagers shouted as they saw the melted Excaliburs starting to merge into one.
"Come to me...EXCALIBUR!" Valpa said, as the melted Excaliburs released an incredible and divine light. Because of its brightness, Yuuto and Xenovia covered their faces with their hands.
FLASH
After the light disappeared, there was one golden holy-sword at the center of the field giving out a blue-white aura.
"T-The Excaliburs…now are fused?!"
"We don't have time to be shocked, Yuuto Kiba" Xenovia assumed a battle stance. "Let's destroy that abomination"
"Destroy?! I won't allow you to touch my magnus opera (masterpiece)!" Vampa glared as he snapped his fingers. "Freed! Show them what my Excalibur can do!"
"Jeez, my Boss sure uses people recklessly. But but! It's like I'm so honored to use the Excalibur-chan that has become super wonderful! Something like that? Hehehe! I will just chop some Devils now!" From behind him, someone jumped out from the darkness, landing behind the fused Excalibur. Recognizing the white haired man, Yuuto glared at him. "Freed!"
"Yo, are you okay shitty devil?" He said as he grabbed the Excalibur, licking the blade. "Ready to be slaughtered? Both you and that shitty woman?"
"You can wield the merged Excalibur…" Xenovia glared at him. "Yet I can feel darkness inside you. How can such an unholy man wield a sacred sword?!"
Freed put on a crazy smile as he touched his chest. "Of course I can, thanks to the boss' factor inside me~"
"Factor…?" Yuuto murmured, before his eyes widened in shock when the revelation hit him. "The project…?!"
"Kukuku…" Valpa chuckled as he gazed at Yuuto. "Oh, so you know about it?"
"Know?! You don't even remember who I am?! I am a survivor of the "Holy-sword Project". No. I am the one who was killed by you to be more precise. I have continued living by being reincarnated into a Devil—" Yuuto said as a flame of hatred burned inside his heart. "—only to kill you forever!"
"Fufufu...AHAHAH!" With a disgust laugh, both Freed and Valpa laughed as the latter spoke. "Ah, such bold words...Of course I remember you! How could I forget about you all...especially you, subject 34: Isaiah…my son, kukuh"
(Play "Bleach — Torn Apart")
"!" Yuuto stepped back when he heard that name...his original name, together with how he called him. "Y-You…"
"Isaiah…" Xenovia glanced at Yuuto's reaction as she glared at Vampa once again. "Your son, you said?!"
"Don't dare to call me your son, Vampa!" Yuuto shouted. "I can never believe such bullshit!"
"Oh please, why are you treating me like that, Isaiah?" Valper shook his head. "I treated you and all the other subjects like you were my own children, my flesh and blood!"
The answer that Vampa received was a sword thrown by Yuuto, aimed at his right cheek. Seeing the blood pouring from the small cut, Vampa sighed. "I knew it, you cannot understand" Vampa shook his head as he started to explain. "You see. I like Holy Swords. I like them so much that they come out in my dreams. Possibly because my heart has been fascinated by the legend of Excalibur since I was a child. That's why when I found out that I can't use Excalibur I went into despair"
"This is not a valid motivation to slaughter all my friends!" Yuuto shouted.
"Someone twisted like you will never wield an Excalibur!" Xenovia stated.
"Oh, I know. Yet, I held admiration for those who can wield it because I couldn't. That feeling became so powerful that I started an experiment to create those who can use them" Valpa resumed his speech. "The Holy Sword Project…a complete success!"
"What?!" Both Yuuto and Xenovia reacted with shock as the former spoke. "You threw us away like trash, saying that we were failures! You killed my friends, only because they couldn't surpass your expectations!"
Yet, Valpa shook his head. "I realized that there was an essential factor needed to wield holy-swords"
"An essential factor?" Xenovia asked back.
"Exactly. I used the numerical value of the "factors" to investigate its capability. Most of the test subjects had the "elements" but they didn't have the numerical value needed to wield the Excalibur" With a melancholic expression, Valpa started to reveal the truth. "Then I reached a conclusion. Is there a way to take out the elements and gather them?"
"Take out and gather…" Xenovia's eyes widened as she understood what he meant. Hatefully gritting her teeth, the exorcist glared at Valpa. "I see now...the thing that is put inside the holy-sword wielders when they received a blessing is—"
"That's right, Holy Sword wielder" Valpa raised a finger as he smiled, as if a teacher were complimenting his pupil. Then, he took out an orb from his pocket and threw it towards the duo, which was grabbed by Yuuto. It was a shiny orb which was releasing a holy aura from it.
"An orb…?" Yuuto murmured.
"The Holy Sword Project was a success...because it allowed the Church to extract and crystallize the "Holy Element" itself from the people...just like that"
(End "Bleach — Torn Apart" and play "Never Meant To Belong")
"?!" When he heard these words, time seemed to slow down around Yuuto as all the strength he had vanished, falling to his knees. As his hand letted go the demonic sword, which vanished into thin air, the survivor held the orb in both of his hands as he started to cry. His hands were shaking and there was an aura of anger coming out of his body. But still, he patted the orb sadly, lovingly, and dearly.
"Yuuto, stand up!" Xenovia said, trying to help him to rise up, but Valps had more surprises to reveal.
"Don't cry, Isaiah, because that girl is a victim as well" He said, capturing Xenovia's attention.
"What?!"
"With the orbs, the research on holy-sword wielders improved. Even so, those fools from the Church banished me for heresy and took away my reports on the research" He said before he gritted his teeth. "By looking at you, girl, I see that the project was succeeded by someone. That Michael. He made me look like a criminal and this is the result? Well it's that Angel we are talking about. Even if he takes the elements out from the test subjects, he wouldn't go as far as to kill them. That part only would make him more human than me"
Xenovia gritted her teeth. "So my ability to wield Holy Swords—"
"It's only thanks to my research!" Valpa exclaimed as he started to laugh. "This means only one thing: All of you Holy Sword users...are my children!"
"!" Xenovia spitted at the ground. "I can't believe this!"
"Oh please" Finally, Freed started to talk as he smiled. "Other guys besides me died because their bodies couldn't synchronize with the elements!" He said as he touched the Holy Sword like it was a woman. "Hmmmmm. If I think like that, that makes me special~!"
"Shut up!" Xenovia snapped as she pointed her sword towards the duo. "I will stop you before you could create more orbs!"
"Kukuku" Valpa laughed. "Sorry, but my research has reached the stage where it is possible to mass produce them, even without me. First of all, I will kill you before you could stop Sefirot. Next, I will gather the legendary holy-swords stored around the world. Then I will mass produce holy-sword wielders and start a war against Michael and the Vatican with the combined Excaliburs. I'm going to show the result of my research to those foolish Angels and their followers who have convicted me!"
As Valpa spoke, suddenly the tree of light started to emit beams of light while a certain someone fired energy slashes towards them and the tree.
"Kurosaki Ichigo…" Xenovia murmured when she saw the black energy slashes clash against the tree's beams.
"...Everyone…"
Turning her head to Yuuto, Xenovia's face conveyed pity and sadness towards the poor swordsman as he held the orb in his hands. "Yuuto Kiba…"
"I'm sorry…" As he patted the orb, Yuuto sadly spoke at the orb. "I'm so sorry...that I survived...without knowing that that monster continued the experiments...I cannot protect someone I love...I'm a failure" As he spoke, a tear fell on the orb. When the tear touched the orb, it started giving out shallow lights, shocking everyone.
"What?!" Freed exclaimed.
"This phenomenon…" Valpa murmured as he saw the scene.
"Such light…" Xenovia said as she looked around.
The lights started to spread and it eventually covered the whole magic field. From the ground there were lights coming out and it started to form a shape. Then it formed into a proper shape. It took the shape of people. There were boys and girls who were giving out blue-white lights and they were surrounding Yuuto, looking at him with a dear and sad expression.
"Everyone…!" Yuuto said, recognizing every single boy and girl. They were his friends...his family before Rias and the others. As he started to cry more, he spoke to them. "I have always…always thought about it. Was it all right that I was the only one that survived…There were those who had more dreams than me. There were those who wanted to live more than me. Is it alright that I am the only one to have a peaceful life…?!"
Xenovia was speechless. She never knew that Yuuto could hide such regret inside him. Then one girl's spirit smiled as she started to speak. «Don't worry about us any more. You are alive at least»
Recognizing the girl, Yuuto closed his eyes. "Sarah..." There were tears coming out from both of his eyes as the other spirits started to...humble something recognizable as a song.
[Der versiegelte Kaiser fand nach 900 Jahren seinen Herzschlag wieder…]
"A...song?" Xenovia murmured.
[...nach 90 Jahren seinen Intellekt...]
Freed raised an eyebrow as he heard the song. "...Deustch?" He said, recognizing the language. "Wasn't that shitty Devil from Italy?"
[...und nach 9 Jahren seine Macht zurück]
"...so he remembered it" Valpa said as he tried successfully to hide a smile, as he recognized the song. Indeed, it was a song that no one was supposed to know, but only a few people, Vampa included.
As he felt warmth on his skin, Yuuto started to humble together with the spirits, with innocent smiles on their faces...innocence that they lost during that painful and devilish experiment, yet the song was the only thing they obtained to keep their hopes and dreams. This song was the only support they had to continue living during their harsh life. As they continued to humble, the spirits started to glow with a bright blue and white light.
At the sight of this event, the former archbishop smiled. He wanted to know if something would surprise him more. "Freed, stop them and their song. Kill the boy!" He ordered as he faked shock.
"Aye aye Boss!" Raising the fused Excalibur, Freed jumped towards Yuuto, but Xenovia stood before Gremory's Knight. As she clashed her sword with Freed's Excalibur, the exorcist managed to send away Freed. "Shitty slut!" He cursed as he landed.
"Not on my watch" Xenovia said before she started an assault against Freed. "I don't know why you're scared about a song, but I won't let you end it!"
Parrying a slash, Freed smirked as his sword's blade color turned copper. "Here it comes~!" He shouted as he slammed the sword against the ground, releasing a wave of destruction towards Xenovia, with the latter jumping in order to dodge.
As she landed, Xenovia recognized what happened. "That was Destruction's ability!"
"Oh, so you noticed?" Freed smirked as the fused Excalibur's blade turned golden. "This fused Excalibur possesses the ability of every fragment it has inside!"
"Tch…" Clicking her tongue, Xenovia assumed her battle stance. "Then I'll just have to break the core!"
As Xenovia started to defend Yuuto, the knight saw the spirits of his friends stepping towards him. "Guys...you…"
«We were no good alone, Isaiah»
«We didn't have enough elements to wield the holy swords...but—»
«—It will be okay if we are together!»
As they spoke, the spirits started to float in the air. «You have to accept the Holy Sword»
"I can't!" Yuuto said as he raised his gaze towards them. "I...I'm scared! I'm scared to lose my new friends again!"
«It's not scary»
«Even if God is watching, remember, Isaiah...»
«Our hearts are always…»
«ONE!» All the spirits said, before they fused together into a beacon of light that fell down to Yuuto, which disappeared inside the beacon.
(End "Never Meant To Belong" and play "Tatsuya Kitani—Rapport")
Landing after a counterassault made by Freed, Xenovia turned her head towards the beacon. "Yuuto!"
[Garandou no mune ni oboeta iwakan sae]
"Tch, that shitty devil!" Cursing, Freed turned his head to Vampa. "Hoi Boss, the hell is that?!"
[Hitori kiri de wa gyoshikirenai]
"..." Vampa glared at the beacon, already understanding what was happening. "So, he obtained it"
[Kono me mo hana mo mimi mo, uchigawa no boku ni todokanai]
"Obtained…" When she understood what Vampa meant, Xenovia smirked. "I guess I didn't had to underestimate him back then"
"What the hell do you mean, bitch?!" Freed exclaimed as their swords clashed another time before he jumped back, turning his attention to Vampa. "Hoi, you old geezer, what the hell happened to that shitty Devil?!"
[Boubakutaru hai no umi de]
"You fool, you never studied Sacred Gear?" Vampa said to Freed as he started to explain. "Sacred Gears change and evolve while using the feelings of the possessors as a key. But there is a different territory to that. When the feelings and the wishes of the possessor do a dramatic change that changes the flow of this world, the Sacred Gear reaches it" Then, Vampa...suddenly started to laugh. "Yes, I can feel it! I'm sure that the power Isaiah right now is wielding is his…"
[Itami sae wasurete itan da]
When the light dissipated, Yuuto was standing alone. Even if physically he isn't changed, his heart and soul are more powerful than ever. The spirits disappeared, yet, their light—their wills now lives within him. Glaring at Freed and Vampa, Yuuto started to release a powerful aura: The left side of his body emitted a clear dark aura, just like a devil, but the right side emitted...a holy light, just like an angel.
"...Balance Breaker" The archbishop revealed.
"Holy and Demonic aura?!" Freed shouted, gritting his teeth. "Don't mess with me, shitty devil!"
[Sonna boku no me no mae ni arawareta anata ni]
As he opened his right hand which started to release bursts of dark and holy energy, Yuuto gazed at Vampa, showing pure determination in his eyes. "Balance...Breaker…" He spoke as Freed suddenly appeared behind him as the fused Excalibur assumed a blue color. "DIE CUTTED IN THOUSAND PIECES, SHITTY DEVIL!"
"Damnit, I can't make it in time!" Xenovia cursed as she tried to reach them in time. "Yuuto Kiba!"
Before his blade could reach Yuuto's head, the swordsman disappeared before his eyes, shocking him. "What?!" He exclaimed, before he heard Yuuto's voice behind him.
"Sword of Betrayer"
[Mienai mono wo mitan da
Anata to boku no aida ni atta ondo wo]
Turning their heads towards Yuuto, everyone was shocked when they saw the sword Yuuto was holding in his right hand: It was a black pitched two edged sword, with golden decorations around the black handle. At the center of the blade, there were red inscriptions written in an unknown language, at least for Xenovia and Freed. The blade was emitting both dark and holy aura from the edges.
[Boku no yowasa wo sukoshi azukete irareta]
"Let's end this, Vampa Galilei" Yuuto glared at him as he put the left hand on his chest. "The feelings of my comrades and friends...all our hatred and sadness...you shall receive the power of this sword that has both the power of light and demonic powers with your own body!"
[Anata no kotoba ga boku no kusari wo toite
Sora ga shirande iku you na]
"Holy and Devil combined into one sword…" With a devilish smirk, Vampa replied to his former failure...now became a real success. "Come at me, my son born in the light!"
[Kono te no naka no hikari ga]
With pure determination in his eyes, Yuuto runned towards Freed as their swords clashed together.
[Kokoro da to shittan da]
(End "Tatsuya Kitani—Rapport ")
Ichigo...
As everyone was trying to stop the culprits and the tree, Ichigo was standing in the air before the sacred tree. Holding Tensa Zangetsu in his right hand, the Shinigami inhaled before he summoned back his mask.
When the mask appeared on his face and his Reiatsu type changed, countless eyes appeared along the trunk and branches of the tree and then emitted rays of light that headed towards Ichigo.
Starting to fastly move around the tree with his shunpo, Ichigo started to avoid the beams thanks to his hyper speed, but everytime they missed him, the beams changed their trajectory to resume their chase.
"Tch!" Clicking his tongue as he used Tensa Zangetsu to deflect the beams, Ichigo analyzed the situation as the deflected beams resumed their chase too. "Even if I deflect them, those rays continue to follow me...alright, if they want to play, I'll play with them!"
Charging Tensa Zangetsu with spiritual energy, Ichigo continued to move around as the beams continued to follow him. Then, when he stopped to move, Ichigo smirked under his mask when he saw that the beams gathered into only one single yet massive beam.
Raising Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo swung the blade, releasing his signature attack. "GETSUGA TENSHO!" He shouted as the energy slash attack clashed with the tree's massive beam, splitting it in half as the power of the Getsuga was enough to pierce the tree. The clash didn't create an explosion, instead it tore the center of the trunk, allowing Ichigo to see what was inside.
"...!" Ichigo's eyes widened as he saw...souls. Countless souls were floating inside the tree, but something was off about them. Ichigo noticed that their chains of fate were wrapped around their necks—No, they were fused with their necks since they are pulsing just like veins. The skins of the souls are even starting to become fully pale as their heads are starting to assume pink pin-shaped heads.
"What the…?!" Ichigo never saw something like that happen, yet in his heart he was sure that he saw that kind of souls once. As he continued to stare at the souls, Ichigo noticed purple hair floating behind the countless souls, until he saw Senna, with a pure white shinigami's shihakusho, floating in a fetal position. "Senna!' Ichigo called her as he started to move towards the hole, but suddenly it started to regenerate.
"I'm gonna to save you, Senna! Just wait—" Releasing his spiritual energy, Ichigo used the Shunpo for dashing towards the Tree of Light, but he was quickly and painfully pushed against the ground from a ray of holy light produced by one of the eyes placed on its branches. "GAAH!" Smashed against the ground, the Shinigami spitted blood from his mouth as his wounds from Zero's fight opened up once again.
Trying to rise up, more rays rained down on Ichigo, crushing him against the ground countless times as he started to release a cry of pain until a last beam exploded, raising a cloud of dust as everything went silent.
When the cloud disappeared, it revealed a wounded Ichigo laying on the ground beneath a pool of his own blood. His Bankai attire was full of tears, rips and burns, while the entire left sleeve and upper left of the dress had completely vanished.
Coughing, Ichigo thrusted Tensa Zangetsu in the ground as he rose up from the ground. His body was full of burns and cuts, but he didn't want to give up. Putting his hand on his face, Ichigo was going to summon back his Hollow Mask until someone appeared beside him, putting his hand on Ichigo's shoulder.
[Ichigo…] Without turning his head, Ichigo knew the voice. After all, the one who appeared was the only one who is always together with him. "Tensa Zangetsu…" Ichigo murmured the name of his Bankai and the personification of said power.
[Ichigo] Tensa Zangetsu spoke. [Do you really wish to save that girl? Even if one day you will fall into despair? Even if one day she will vanish before your eyes?]
"With all my power" Ichigo declared. "I will save Senna, even if I have to use his whole power as well"
Gazing at the tree, the personification of the Bankai closed his eyes as he let out a sigh. 'This boy...he will never change' Thought Tensa Zangetsu as he spoke, hiding a little smile. [Ichigo, whatever happens: Don't fall into despair. I—]
"—Hate the rain" Ichigo finished Zangetsu's line as a small smile appeared on the Shinigami's face. "I know that, Zangetsu"
Closing his eyes, Tensa Zangetsu asked a last question. [Ichigo. Do you trust me?] He asked to his wielder. [Even if the things that you wish to protect are not the things that I want to protect, do you trust me?]
(Play "Bleach— Number One's One Else")
"..." Ichigo, without turning his head toward Zangetsu, answered with pure determination in his words. "With my whole life on the line, Zangetsu, I trust you"
Smiling for this answer, Tensa Zangetsu stepped back as he assumed a battle stance. Without knowing or watching Zangetsu, Ichigo assumed the same pose. [Do you hear her voice, Ichigo?] The personificated Bankai asked. [Can you hear the voice of the girl you wish to save? Can you see the girl you wish to save?]
Closing his eyes, the Shinigami concentrated as suddenly countless images appeared inside his mind. The spiritual energy inside that tree was so dense that Ichigo could 'see' and 'hear' every single soul inside the Sefirot. 'I'm sorry, all of you…' Ichigo thought as he continued to search for Senna. 'I couldn't stop this...but I will save you, I swear' With a promise made, Ichigo then 'saw' a ribbon. As he grabbed it, Ichigo heard and saw someone calling his name…Senna.
ICHIGO!
[Answer me, Ichigo!]
"There she is!" Opening his eyes, Ichigo's blade suddenly started to release Reiatsu as the Bankai personificated did the same. "I saw her, Tensa Zangetsu!"
[Then let's do it, Ichigo] Tensa Zangetsu said while he started to raise his sword form in the air as Ichigo followed his movements. Ichigo couldn't see that his wounds mysteriously and forcibly started to be sealed. [Abandon your fear. Look forward. Move forward and never stop. You'll age if you pull back. You'll die if you hesitate. I'll lend you whatever power you need! If you can trust me, I won't let one drop of rain fall from that sky!]
"I know" Ichigo replied. "I'm never alone in battle, 'cause you're always with me, Zangetsu!"
[Here they come!] As the beams were close to Ichigo, the personificated Bankai said the name of the attack as two pillars of black Reiatsu bursted out from the two blades. [Getsuga—]
"—Tensho!" Ichigo shouted as both him and Tensa Zangetsu swung the blades down. Ichigo knew that Tensa Zangetsu was immaterial when he appeared, thus even though Getsuga is not real, its power was transferred to his own Getsuga. That's why, when he swung the blade, Ichigo's Getsuga was at least twice more powerful than a Bankai powered Getsuga.
When the Getsuga clashed with the beams, the outcome was that the Getsuga Tensho managed to dissipate into nothingness the beams, for then pierce with no problems the trunk, creating a hole that is larger than the former.
[Now go, Ichigo!] Tensa Zangetsu said as he started to vanish into nothingness, ready to return inside Ichigo's inner world. [Don't waste this change!]
"Thank you, Zangetsu!" He shouted as he used the shunpo, dashing towards the hole. Watching his user dashing towards the hole, Tensa Zangetsu closed his eyes as behind him the white Hollow appeared. [He's stronger than before, you noticed it]
[...] Turning his head towards the Hollow, Tensa Zangetsu nodded. [I know…]
[Should he learn the truth then?] The Inner Hollow spoke as he rested his own Tensa Zangetsu on his shoulder. [The King must know about us...and himself as well. He's strong enough for do it]
[No] Tensa Zangetsu glared at the Hollow. [He's not ready for that…] Turning his gaze to Ichigo's back, Zangetsu smiled as he vanished. [I want to be proud of him for a little more…]
[...Alright, then I'll play the 'villain' for a little longer] Closing his eyes, the Inner Hollow stated as he vanished too, following Zangetsu in the Inner World.
(End "Bleach—Number One's One Else")
Rias, Issei and Ravel VS Kokabiel...
Kokabiel was smiling. Yes, he can feel himself alive only in a battle. 'Unfortunately, they are weaks' The Fallen Angel thought as he saw his three foes splitting in three directions: Issei keep to dash straight forwards towards him as he tried to punch him in the guts with his Boosted Gear while Rias and Ravel used their wings to fly at Kokabiel's sides before starting to fire magic spells at him.
Before each attack could even reach him, Kokabiel's wings moved with enough power to dispel the spells as he grabbed Issei's fist with his free hand before he slammed the low ranking devil against the ground.
Coughing blood, Issei got up in time before Kokabiel could pierce him with his spear. Raising on his feets, Issei wiped the drool of blood from his mouth with his right arm as Rias landed beside him.
"Ise!" Rias cried as she helped him to rise. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes" Issei replied as he wiped the drool of blood. "I'm okay…"
Jumping towards Kokabiel, Ravel concentrated her magical energy into her hands before she released a ball of flames towards the Fallen Angel as the latter deflected it with a light based sword.
"You cannot stop me, or even damage me!" Kokabiel declared as he raised his right fist up to the sky. "From here on out, I will start another war, and I will take your heads as a gift!"
"Don't mess around!" Issei slammed his right fist to the ground, raising once again as he glared at the Fallen Angel. "I can't let you destroy my town! My comrades! Buchou and Asia! Just for your selfish motives! And I'm going to become a Harem King! I would be troubled if you got in my way!"
"..." Kokabiel started to laugh. "Harem King? Is that what the Red Dragon desires? AHAHAHAHAH!" Then do you want to come with me? You can become a Harem King right away! I will snatch beauties as we walk past! You can make love to them as much as you want!"
"..." Gulping, Issei was staring at Kokabiel, speechless for a few seconds. "...I-I won't be deceived by sweet words like that!" He declared, without noticing the drool came from his mouth.
"..." Ravel glared at Issei as she comically shouted at him. "What was that pause just now, damned pervert!"
"Jeez, Ise!" Rias glared at Issei as she pouted. "Wipe your drool! Why are you like that even in a situation like this!?"
"S-Sorry!" Shooking his head, Issei wiped the drool with his right hand. "It seems like I'm really weak against the word "harem", eheh…"
"You could save that idiotic giggle!" The daughter of the Phoenix said.
"Mou…" Rias sighed as her face became red. "If you like girls that much, then I will do a lot of things for you after we return home alive!"
"Really?!" With an insane speed, Issei turned his head towards his master. "I can do everything I want?!"
"Yes!" Closing her eyes, Rias shouted. "If you can win against him, then it's a cheap bargain!"
FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!
"Fufufu…" Closing his hands into fists, Issei started to chuckle. "Suck. I can suck them... I can suck them!" Suddenly, the jewel of the Boosted Gear released an incredible light. "Right now, I can even punch a God! Yooooooooooooooooshaaaaaaaa! I'm going to beat you down, Kokabiel!'
'How being a pervert could give him so much power?!' With a shocked face, Ravel observed the intense glow from the Boosted Gear.
"Oh?" Noticing the intense glow, Kokabiel smirked. "You know, you should use the Red Dragon's ability now" Kokabiel said as he casually threw a spear towards them with enough speed that they couldn't react. Yet, the spear missed its targets…or to be fair, he wanted to miss them. As Kokabiel laughed loudly, he continued to speak. "Increase the power of the Red Dragon Emperor and transfer it to someone else"
'It was an order…?' Rias thought as she glanced at her pawn. '...No, we cannot waste the boosts!'
"Are you trying to give us a chance!? Don't mess around!" Issei shouted as he suddenly dashed towards Kokabiel, trying to hit him with a series of punches. "I'll do it by myself!"
"Wait, Ise!" Rias tried to stop him, but it was too late.
"Kukukukukuh…" Kokabiel started to chuckle as he started to easily dodge the Devil's' assault before his wings suddenly changed their shapes, becoming blades as they slashed Issei at the chest with a speed that the Pawn couldn't reach.
"?!" Falling to his knees, Issei cried of pain as he held his chest as the blood started to come out from the wound.
"You should know something, Issei Hyoudou: Yes, indeed you possess the power of the Red Dragon, but it's useless" Trying to raise his gaze, Issei was grabbed by Kokabiel. "You can have any kind of power, even the power of God himself, but you will never beat me, because you all lack what it takes to be a warrior! Bloodlust and experience, and I have both!" Suddenly, he got kicked away by the Fallen Angel, crashing against the small trees around them, smashing all of them. "I want to start a war because I seek battle! I desire to rip my enemies apart! That's what you lack, Devils!"
"Ise!" Rias runned towards Issei, trying to help him to rise up, but she noticed that he was unconscious. "Ise, open your eyes! Ise!"
"I told you, Gremory Rias" Suddenly, Kokabiel appeared before her, cruenly smiling at her. An enormous pillar of light was flying above him, and it was clear that he wanted to kill them both with one attack. "If you used the Red Dragon Emperor's powers, you could have a change—"
"Kokabiel!" A female voice shouted the Fallen Angel's name. Turning his head towards the voice, Kokabiel was hitted by a stream of flames fired by Ravel, but that wasn't enough since the Fallen Angel started to laugh as he dissipated the flames with just one hand.
"N-No way…he dissipated my flames with only one hand?!" Ravel said as she widened her eyes at the sight of Kokabiel's power.
"You should train for at least two thousand years to at least burn my hand, Daughter of Phenex" Kokabiel said before he started to chuckle. "Kukuh, but I'm surprised: I never thought that a Phenex had sided with the current Lucifer's sister" With a chuckle, Kokabiel turned his head towards Rias and Issei. "But she is Rias Gremory, after all! Her own Peerage is unique: The left-over of the Holy Sword Project, the Red Dragon Emperor himself and even the daughter of Barakiel!"
"Barakiel…?" Ravel said as she glanced at Rias for a second.
"How did you—" Rias widened her eyes as she heard Kokabiel's words.
"What? Do you really believe that I couldn't recognize her real identity?" Shooking his head, Kokabiel put his free hand in his pockets. "Indeed you have weird tastes, just like your brother!"
"I won't forgive you for insulting my brother…our Maou! More than that, the insults you made to my servants will require your life!"
Kokabiel laughed with his nose at Rias' anger as he said provokingly. "Then come and strike me down, Maou's sister! Phoenix's daughter! The one whom you are up against is someone who has been an arch enemy of the Devils since a long time ago! If you don't see this as a chance, then your reputation will be looked down on!"
"How you dare…" Gritting her teeth, Rias glanced at Ravel, which nodded. The younger girl understood what Rias wanted to do. Raising their hands towards the Fallen Angel, the two girls summoned all her powers for one last attack: Rias created an unstable sphere of destruction while Ravel created a more stable magic circle made of fire.
"PIERCE HIM/TAKE THIS!" The two girls shouted as they released their attacks which took the form of beams that traveled towards the Fallen Angel, hitting him while releasing an explosion of energy.
"Pant…" Ravel panted as she tried to stay awake. She used all her magical energy, and the same was for Rias. Trying to move forward, Ravel couldn't keep her eyes open. With a "thud", the gracious blonde haired girl fell on the ground. What she didn't know is that Rias too fell KO while Kokabiel was alive…and, most importantly, without any visible damage.
"Kukuh…the Phoenix' fire and the Gremory's destruction at the same time is surely a powerful attack, but that won't work on me" The Fallen Angel summoned two energy beams that traveled towards the girls. "I survived the Great War, you fools. I'm a true warrior instead of you ants. But I will give you a quick death. Rejoice!" He laughed as the beams exploded, creating a cloud of dust.
"Welsh Dragon…Over Booster"
"What?!"
As the cloud of dust disappeared, it revealed that a man was standing at the center of the hole, wearing a full body armor. It was the Boosted Gear's Balance Breaker…the Scale Mail. Holding the defeated Rias and Ravel on his shoulders, Issei glanced at the schoolfield under his feet before he threw the two girls.
"Have you lost your mind, Red Dragon Emperor?" Kokabiel said with a bit of shock in his voice before he regained his composure. "Or maybe…you decided to join my side?"
"..." Glancing at the jewel on his left hand, Issei thought. 'Ddraig, are you sure this will work?'
[Of course, partner. To be honest: I'm quite impressed] The soul of the dragon spoke to his mind. [Sacrificing one third of your organs in order to turn them into dragon organs, instead to use your limbs, to achieve the Balance Breaker once again with a time limit of two minutes…my former users never thought about this kind of sacrifice]
'Yeaah…at least I don't have to hide them, no?'
[Ahah! That's the spirit! Show him what the lungs and the heart of a Dragon can do, partner!]
"I'm waiting for an answer, Red Dragon Emperor!"
"...Are you crazy?" Issei replied as he glared at the Fallen Angel. "I'm not a mentally ill and bloodthirsty warmonger! I'm Hyoudou Issei, the Pawn of Rias Gremory: Future Harem King and Ultimate Pawn!" Clenching his right fist, Issei assumed a battle stance. "And I swore to my Master…and my friends that I will beat you!"
"Kukukuh…yes. This is very funny! Finally I can fight the Welsh Dragon with his full power!" Kokabiel started to speak, trying to hide a laugh before he disappeared from Issei's sight, reappearing behind him. "But now the question is: Can you keep up with me?"
Remaining silent, Issei replicated what Kokabiel did, shocking the Fallen Angel when he turned his head towards the Red Dragon. "I can keep up with you for just two minutes, but don't worry—" Issei's Scale Mail helmet visor flashed with emerald light. "—I'm gonna stop you in just one minute!"
Roots Killing Team...
"Come to me— Thunder Break!" Akeno lowered her finger toward the root she was attacking as powerful lightning bolts rained down from the sky. At the contact with the root, they created an explosion that ripped the root with several tears which were releasing blue particles.
"Nice job, Akeno senpai! EXE Beast—" Jumping behind her, Kaito raised his scythe which was releasing a trail of blood from its blade. "—Arbither Sign!" Revealing the name of the attack, Kaito swung the blade which created a magic circle above the root as it released an enormous head of the EXE Beast which chomped the root, leaving a huge hole in it.
At the ground, Koneko slammed her right fist against the ground, releasing demonic power as the image of a Rook Piece appeared in her mind while Asia was using her magical prowess to cast a strength-enhancement spell to the white haired girl. By tapping into the pure power of her Evil Piece and to the power-up spell, the muscles of Koneko's right arm hardened visibly before she slammed her fist against the root, releasing a shockwave which made the whole root tremble before it started to lose all its power.
Landing, the two Devils saw that the root started to 'bleed' holy energy as it released the strange blue particles before it started to lose its golden glow and become gray. "We did it! That was the last one!" Kaito raised a fist as he smirked.
Suddenly, a stream of holy beams from the higher branches of the tree rained down towards them. "Watch out!" Asia warned as Koneko grabbed her, running towards the ruins of the gym complex, using them as a shield as the beams started to rain down like a barrage fire. At least, Asia was fast enough to summon a barrier before them, but it couldn't keep it for too much time.
In the meantime, the Queen and the other Rook began to fly at high speed, snaking through the rays of sacred energy. "You're pretty good, Akeno-senpai!" Kaito complimented the young woman as he started to spin his scythe, deflecting a few beams.
"Fufu, what a flatterer" Surrounding her hands with lightning magic, Akeno waved in order to release a magic wall of lightning, blocking the frontal beams. "Do you want to join all the guys who are interested in me?"
"For what? Become just a simple 'one of many', huh?" With a laugh, Kaito shook his head as he grabbed his scythe with both hands, releasing a slash made of blood-like energy towards the beams. "No thanks, I prefer…" Glancing under him, Kaito noticed that his move managed to free the two girls from a barrage fire. "...Easier prey to catch"
"Prey?" Akeno raised an eyebrow as she saw Kaito suddenly flew away from her. "Wait, where are you going?"
"I'll—" Kaito suddenly stopped as an enormous pillar of black with red outline energy crashed against the trunk. At contact with the energy attack, all the beams stopped, disappearing. "—WOAH!"
"That was…" Akeno started to speak as Kaito finished her sentence.
"...Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho!" With a grin, the scythe user rested his weapon on his left shoulder. "That guy is stupidly strong—Mh?" Raising his gaze a little, Kaito's eyes widened when he saw two figures falling down from the sky. "Those girls…! RIAS!"
Yuuto and Xenovia — Pov Yuuto...
I will never forget that day…
That day, I just wanted to live. I escaped from the research laboratory by myself and that was the only thing I thought about while vomiting out blood and running. I got out of the forest and met a little girl, a high-class devil, while the light of my life was disappearing.
"What do you desire?" The crimson haired girl asked while she held me, who was on the verge of death. I just mumbled one word while my vision was blurring: "Help". My life. My friends. My future. My friends. My power. My talent. My…
CLASH!
The sound of iron against iron was loud as my holy demonic Sword of Betrayer clashed against Freed's holy Fused Excalibur. Focus, I can't forget that I'm in battle! Backdashing, in my mind appeared the Knight piece that Rias gave to me that day. My new holy demonic aura bursted out from my body as I ran towards Freed with my enhanced. My trait as a Knight is speed, after all.
The exiled priest tried to grasp my movement with his eyes, but I got out of his sight by doing a few feints. If my sensei was here, he would laugh.
Unfortunately, I was forgetting that his Excalibur possesses the abilities of the four fragments. When his blade turned blue, Freed blocked my strike thanks to his enhanced speed and reflexes. You are quite a skilled, exiled exorcist, but the holy aura that was covering his Excalibur was being erased by my sword.
"How could that sword surpass the originator of Holy Swords!?" He said in a shocked voice when he noticed my sword was erasing the Excalibur's aura.
With a smirk, I replied. "If that was the true Excalibur, then I could not have won against it. But that Excalibur cannot cut this blade made by my feelings!"
"Tch!" Freed clicked his tongue as he stepped back after he pushed me back. As I landed, I quickly dodged a downward slam from the copper coloured blade that destroyed the ground beside me. "!" I easily recognized that was the Excalibur Destruction's ability! Then, the blade assumed a blue color pattern too as Freed swung the blade with god-like speed.
He is capable of using more abilities at will?! Damnit, this is bad! If that sword will land a hit on me, it's over! Gritting my teeth, I started to dodge all of his strikes thanks to my enanched speed as a Knight. A few strikes were so close to me, but thankfully I know that my Sword of Betrayer is stronger than his Fused Excalibur, so I managed to block those attacks too.
Seeing that all of his clashes were parried or dodged is taking a toll on Freed's mind, since he shouted at me—
"Why!? Why isn't it hitting!? You are supposed to be the unrivaled Holy Sword-sama, aren't you!? Weren't you supposed to have lots of legends of being the ultimate sword!?"
…or to his sword? Yeah, definitively he was yelling at his own sword. With a smirk, I kicked him in the guts, pushing him away. "Sorry Freed, but that thing is not what you think it is"
"SHUT UP!" He yelled at me as he started to breathe intensely and rapidly. Oh boy, he's going to hyperventilate? "Then—Then I just have to add this!"
As he spoke, I saw that his sword's tip vanished into thin air. 'An invisible spell…?!' It was my thought as I saw the exiled priest run towards me and then wave his sword with the invisible blade.
Trying to not curse, I started to step back every time he was trying to pierce or cut me down, but an invisible blade is still an invisible blade, damnit! And it hurt when the blade pierced me with such destructive power that it tore my right side—teared right side?!
Closing my eyes, I let out a cry of pain when the explosion pushed me away. Holding my injured side with my free hand, I heard that bastard's laugh.
"Incredible! It's just incredible! AHAH! Freed laughed as he walked towards me. "More! More! Beg for your life, you shitty Devil! GYAHAH!"
Gritting my teeth, I cursed. How am I supposed to fight against a weapon that I cannot see?! …Wait…
"Cannot…see…" I murmured as my mind fell into the depth of my memories…right after Rias saved me that day, I learned the way of the sword from her brother's Knight…even his own technique.
"Mark this form into your mind, young Yuuto. Only in this stance is possible to release this technique. The technique's name is—"
(Play "Bleach— Pleasures of Combat")
Exhaling, I moved my free hand from my injured side to the handle of my Balance Breaker. Wielding it with both hands, I raised the blade as I placed it at the right side of my face as I kept my eyes closed. My sensei's battle stance: the Ko Gasumi No Kamae.
"Ah! Are you seriously trying to block my attacks with your eyes closed?!" Freed mocked me as he started an assault. "It's useless! Useless! Useless! Now die, SHITTY DEVIL!"
CLANG!
"?!" I can see his shocked face, even if my eyes are closed. Yes, I managed to parry all the invisible strikes. "How—You bastard!"
"Your killing instinct is revealing the position of the attacks" I revealed as I kept parrying the slashes, each clash produced sparkles. "That's why I can block them!"
"You shitty bastard!" Freed cursed, stepping back as Xenovia interrupted him.
"Yes. Keep him there like that, Yuuto Kiba!" Xenovia suddenly intruded. Holding the Holy Sword in her left hand, she put her right hand in the air, starting to create a magic circle that appeared around her sword. "Saint Peter. Saint Basil the Great. Saint Denis. Holy-mother Mary. Please hear my voice!"
She started to chant something. What was she trying to do? I was in doubt, but the space around her sword got distorted, and suddenly, its holy aura changed to the point it became almost divine!
"In the names of the saints whom reside within this blade, I will release it: It is time to awake, Durandal!" Durandal!? It's a sword that is so famous that it is on par with Excalibur. And I have it that, in terms of slashing, it is the ultimate sword. Why does she have it?!
It looks like I wasn't the only one shocked since both Freed and Vampa were surprised too.
"A Durandal?!" The exiled priest shouted.
"You were not the wielder of the Excalibur Destruction?!" Vampa said as he couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Wrong. I was originally the wielder of Durandal. I was also chosen as the holder of the Excalibur. That's all." The exorcist explained as she assumed her two wielding battle stance with the Durandal. Of course that's the explanation, after all everyone can wield two Holy Swords—
"Absurd! According to my research, we haven't reached the stage where someone can wield a Durandal!?" Vampa declared.
"Of course you can't. You created artificial Holy Swords wielders only for the Excalibur-type, from what I understood about your motivations" Xenovia glared at him. "That's why even in the Vatican, they haven't made someone who can wield Durandal artificially"
"Then why?!"
"Couldn't you understand with just a glance? You even made this your dream" Xenovia smirked as she dropped the bomb. "Because, unlike Irina or the other wielders, I'm not an artificial wielder: I'm a natural born wielder of Holy Swords. The same ones you admired, Vampa Galilei"
…that was a BOMB. All of us were speechless at her words. Unlike us, Xenovia was someone who was blessed to naturally wield a Holy Sword! As our minds were starting to accept the truth, Xenovia glanced at Freed and his Excalibur while her Durandsl started to shake…like it has its own mind.
"Durandal is a sword that ravages beyond what people can imagine. It cuts anything it touches. It doesn't even listen to me most of the time" As she started to explain, Xenovia adjusted her battle stance. "That's why I have to keep its real nature in another dimension, otherwise it would be dangerous. Even I, the holder, has a hard time with it. Now, Freed Sellzen. Thanks to you, we can have the decisive battle between Excalibur and Durandal" Glaring at him, Xenovia smirked. "Right now, I'm shaking with enjoyment. So…don't die in a single strike, okay? At least use the Excalibur to its fullest!"
Suddenly, the blade of the Durandal started to give out more Holy aura than the Excalibur Freed held. That aura! It had more power than my Holy Demonic Sword!
"Is that even allowed!?" Freed started to yell, like this was a game. "It became a situation like this! You shitty bitch! I don't need any of that for this setting!" Freed shouted as he moved his killing intent to Xenovia. I couldn't see with my eyes, but he probably slashed his transparent sword towards her.
GAKIIIN!
With a single side slash, the Excalibur shattered. Because of the pressure given by the swing of Durandal, there was a big hole in the school field. "So it's just a broken holy-sword, huh? It can't even compete with my Durandal" Xenovia made a sigh while looking bored. What an incredible power. It can't even be compared with her Excalibur Destruction! "And to think that your Fused Excalibur had my Destruction inside it…"
"Are you serious!? Are you really serious!? The legendary Excalibur-chan is shattered into pieces!? Horrible! This is really horrible!" Freed looked at the fragments of his Holy Sword with shock as he put his left hand on his face. "Kaaaa! Was it wrong to use something that was broken from the start? The shallowness of humans or the foolishness of the Church?! Kaaaa! I want to grow up while taking a glimpse of it!"
His killing intent became weak, and that was what I wanted! Still using the Ko Gasumi No Kamae stance, I concentrated all my energy inside my arms and legs. Recalling my sensei's lessons, I breathed as I closed my eyes.
[Remember, Yuuto, this move has only three thrusts. First Step, Second Step and Third Step. Your killing instinct must be craved in all and only in three steps]
Reopening my eyes, I allowed my killing instinct to come out as I went right at Freed! "One silent step…" I murmured as, using my speed, stepped towards him. "...Two steps infinite…" I closed the gap between our distance at the point he was half of a meter away from me."...Three steps, a sword absolute!"
Closing all the distance at the third step, I glared at Freed as I went for the kill. I saw the exiled priest try to block the attack with the remnants of his Excalibur…
"Mumyō Sandan-zuki (Lightless, Three-Stage Thrust)!"
Declaring the name of my attack, I surpassed him with a god-like speed, landing as I kept my sword lower. "See? Our powers surpassed your Excalibur" I said as I showed my back to my foe. I don't need to worry about anything now…since Freed's body releases a river of blood as it splits into three pieces and finally falls to the ground with a resounding thud. I know that, even without glancing at Xenovia and Vampa's faces, they were shocked by the attack I used.
(End "Bleach— Pleasures of Combat")
Nothing can block it, even the most powerful shield, because you can't block an attack that breaks the world. Rather than "almost simultaneously", the thrusts occur "all at the same time". For an instant, the unleashed First Thrust, Second Thrust and Third Thrust "exist at the same time" and at the "same position." Even if the First Thrust was blocked, the Second and Third Thrusts would be at the same position and break through. Such a contradiction is why I couldn't use it before…only a power such as the Balance Breaker could allow this move to be performed in the world, since its balance was "already broken"...and at the same time, even a world without God could be a reason for why I managed to fuse Holy and Demonic energy…
…But now a realization came…
I won…
We surpassed the Excalibur. I gripped the Holy Demonic Sword hard and looked up to the sky. Rather than an inexpressible feeling, the feeling of losing my aim was greater. It felt like the only reason I was living…the only reason I was allowed to live…disappeared.
"Kukukuh" I heard Vampa's voice as he started to clap. Turning my head towards him, I saw his amused face as he smirked towards us. "Such power…I knew it, you are my successful creation!"
"Yuuto Kiba" Xenovia stepped towards me as she took her battle stance beside me. "It's not over yet"
"...Yeah" That's right. It hasn't finished yet. As long as I don't defeat him, the tragedy will continue. We cannot allow other people to meet the same fate as us. As I pointed my sword towards Vampa, I declared. "Vampa Galilei. Prepare yourself, because you are going to die!"
"...Oh?" With the same smirk, Vampa raised his right hand towards us. "Then come and strike me down…Isaiah"
"UOAH!" With a battle cry, I dashed towards him at the point it was like I used some kind of teleport, but Xenovia managed to keep up with me! Raising our swords in the air, we were going to slash Vampa with just one swing—
BOOM
But an explosion hitted us as we were sent far away from the archbishop. As my body was smashed against the ground, I coughed blood as I heard footsteps. No…if he runs away…
Gritting my teeth, I managed to raise up just when I saw the owner of those footsteps: It was a figure that appeared beside Vampa. The figure couldn't have been taller than five feet, they were really a small figure. They wore a white, form-fitting, high-collared tunic with the inclusion of a hood on their head that couldn't let me see their face. At the center of their tunic, there was a blue cross motif.
"Who are you…?" I asked as I held my right arm which was still holding my Balance Breaker. At the same time, I saw Xenovia get up too as she used Durandal to help her to stand up. Her entire body was full of burns and wounds that were bleeding too much.
"...Are you okay, padre mio (My father)?" The figure spoke, letting me realize that they are a girl. As soon she spoke, Vampa nodded as he patted the girl's head.
"Yes, I am okay thanks to you" The archbishop said with a smile. "...My dear daughter" He said as he turned his head towards the Sefirot that started to lose its glow. 'So they cutted off its roots…' He thought.
"What?!" Both me and Xenovia said in shock.
Like we weren't here until now, the girl with the hood turned her head towards us. "...Ah" She said with an emotionless voice. "You're still alive. I'm sorry, this time…I will kill you" Declaring her intention, the girl started to walk towards us as she touched her neck…I couldn't notice that she was wearing a necklace too: a five-pointed cross, just like the alchemy—
"Stop" Vampa's voice came as an order for the girl as the latter nodded, stopping on the stop. Walking towards the girl, Vampa touched her shoulder. "Let's retire for now, my daughter. It's not time for the reunion…" Turning his head towards me, Vampa smiled cruelly. "—with your older brother"
"?!"
I started to feel the air go out of my lungs…he just called me…older brother? Grasping my chest with my left hand, my Balance Breaker fell to the ground since my right hand lost its grasp.
Turning my gaze to the hooded girl, the words came out from my mouth without me noticing. "...Bro…ther…?"
"...So you don't remember anything," Vampa said. What does he mean with that?!
The hooded girl stayed silent as she turned her back, facing Vampa. "...Let's retreat, padre mio" She said as her shadow got bigger and bigger, starting to sink them into it!
"No!" Xenovia started to run towards them, but her injuries couldn't allow her to run as she suddenly fell to her knees. "T-They're escaping!"
I know that! I tried to move, but what Vampa said shocked me. I…have a sister? But how? I was an orphan…
"Isaiah" With my gaze concentrated on Vampa, I listened to his words. "This is not the end…remember, revert your roots…just then, you can face me once and all…my son"
"...No!" Raising my hand towards them, I shouted to them. "Don't go, I have…I have to kill you! VAMPA GALILEI!"
But…my words fell on deaf ears, since Vampa and his so-called daughter…and my sister, for what he said, completely disappeared inside that shadow as it vanished into nothingness…
Ichigo…
When he managed to break inside the Sefirot, Ichigo widowed his eyes as he saw countless souls around him, together with feeling their Reiatsu. Yes, this was definitely Reiatsu. As he tried to move, Ichigo clicked his tongue. 'It's like I'm underwater…' He thought before his insincts acted. Turning behind, the Shinigami deflected an extended arm that tried to grab his head.
Lowering Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo saw the being that tried to attack him: it was a large, white ghosts with a red pin-shaped head, and red arms and hands. "What is that…?!" Ichigo said as he dodged another attack from his sides, revealing more ghosts like the first.
"Tch" Assuming a battle stance, Ichigo charged a Getsuga. "I don't have time for deal with you Blanks—!" Touching his mouth with the left hand, Ichigo's eyes widowed. 'Why I know their race name…?' Ichigo thought as he lowered his blade. "...I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to "save" you all"
When he said it, the creatures called Blanks lowered their arms as their heads became pink before they disappeared into thin air, like they understood Ichigo's words and feelings. "...I see now" Ichigo closed his eyes before he raised his head and shouted. "I'M COMING FOR SAVE YOU!"
"Save? Don't make me laugh" A voice came before him. Turning his head, Ichigo was suddenly grabbed on the face as he slammed against something. With a groan of pain, Ichigo successfully released his spiritual energy in order to free himself from the grab. Glaring at the mysterious foe, Ichigo's eyes widened as he said with shock. "Senna?!"
Indeed, it was Senna…but everything was off about her. Her untied hair is completely white instead of purple, and her shihakusho is completely dark green. With her new red eyes, Senna was coldly glaring at Ichigo. "Senna? Do you mean the Shinenju?" She said…but that wasn't Senna's voice, at least not only her. It was a voice that is made with multiple voices together with Senna's one. Standing at the top of a huge branch of a gargantuan gray tree, the girl gestured with her left hand. "Sorry, but Senna is no more here"
Looking around, Ichigo noticed that the scenario was changed as he suddenly found himself on another branch. 'What is happening? An illusion?' The Shinigami thought as he shifted his gaze to Senna. "What do you mean by that?"
"Can't you understand?" 'Senna' started to walk around the branch, leaving fall leaves with each footstep. "Senna is already gone"
"Don't joke with me" Glaring at the girl, Ichigo points his Tensa Zangetsu to 'Senna'. "That's her body. Release her, now"
"I can't do it, Shinigami" The girl said with her voice that contained multiple voices. "Because Senna…doesn't want to be saved"
"?!" Ichigo's eyes widened. "What do you mean with this?!"
Suddenly, disappearing in a burst of leaves and green-yellow Reiatsu, the girl appeared before the Shinigami, cruelly smiling at him. "Senna is gone forever" She stated as, from thin air, a sword appeared in her right hand to be suddenly used to slash Ichigo.
"!" Moving his hand, Ichigo held Tensa Zangetsu in a reverse grip as he parried the slash for then being kicked away by the girl with enough strength to pierce the branch.
Landing, the girl started to walk towards the hole she made before she backdashed when a wave of black Reiatsu with a red outline bursted out from the hole from which Ichigo came out, wearing his Hollow Mask. Glaring at the girl, Ichigo asked. "Who the hell are you?"
"Who am I? Can't you understand?" With a smile, the girl answered. "I'm the will of this tree, this spell! I'm the Sefirot itself"
"Don't mess with me!" Releasing his Reiatsu, Ichigo used the shunpo for dashing towards the so-called Sefirot. With a swing of the swords, the two clashed their weapons together, releasing sparks. "Why are you using Senna's body then?!"
"Why? She was the sacrificial offering, her body, memories and abilities are completely mine now!" With a laugh, Sefirot pushed Ichigo away before she raised her right hand, summoning beams from everywhere as they charged towards Ichigo. "You can't save her, since she doesn't want to be saved!"
Defletting the beams with Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo jumped as he released a Getsuga towards the branch, destroying it.
"You can't defeat me, Kurosaki Ichigo!" Sefirot's voice came above him. As Ichigo raised his head, he saw that Sefirot was coming out from an upper branch. "This tree is my original body, the body of the Sefirot! As long as I receive power, my power is beyond the infinite!"
"Then I'll just cut down your body until you disappear and free Senna!" Ichigo replied as he fired a Getsuga against the tree, but the attack didn't harm the tree, making Sefirot laugh.
"Ahahahahah!" Holding a hand on her face, Sefirot laughed. "Oh boy, why are you so stubborn, Kurosaki Ichigo? Why are you willing to save a girl that isn't even a living being?!"
"That's not true!"
"It's the truth, Kurosaki Ichigo!" Stomping on the branch, Sefirot's eyes glowed with a green-yellow light as the trunk released countless spikes towards the Shinigami. "This is just an useless struggle!"
"Call it 'useless' or 'desperate', but I will never give up Senna!" Ichigo declared as he cutted down the spikes.
"...Even if her existence will compromise this world and your original world too?" Sefirot asked, glaring at Ichigo.
"What do you mean…" Ichigo lowered Tensa Zangetsu a little. "How would Senna be a threat for my world too?! What do you know?!"
With a sigh, Sefirot shook her head as she sat down on the branch. "Everything, Kurosaki Ichigo. I know everything. I am a will, and a spell, created to realize every wish my user desires. I saw your world, Kurosaki Ichigo, and the existence of the Shinenju will only bring destruction!"
As Sefirot spoke, an enormous hole opened above the tree with a crack-like effect, shocking Ichigo when he saw what the hole was showing. "No…don't tell me—?!"
"Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking, Kurosaki Ichigo!" Sefirot exclaimed. "The portal for the Soul Society is starting to open! You cannot stop this, the only thing you can do…is give up!"
Ichigo couldn't believe that when the portal showed the cliff where Rukia was going to be executed that day. Lowering Tensa Zangetsu, the Shinigami gritted his teeth under the Hollow Mask. It was over…he couldn't save no one?! No one from this world or his original one?! Even Senna?!
…Ichigo…
Issei vs Kokabiel - PoV: Issei…
Clenching my right fist, I punched Kokabiel right in the face and then followed my attack with a kick right in his guts, pushing him away before I charged my left hand with enough magical power to release my Dragon Shot against him.
Yet, that chicken simply pushed away the beam of magical energy with just a hand. I hate this, come on! "Is this your power, Red Dragon?" He spoke, continuing to creepy smirk at me. Ugh, such a clichè to be honest…
"And what if the answer is no?"
"Kukuh…very well" Releasing light from his hands, Kokabiel shaped them into a pair of dual swords, pointing the blades towards me. Now probably…I'm in danger— "Let's test your reflexes, then!" He declared before he moved his wings, throwing several feathers towards me.
Narrowing my eyes under the visor, I decided to tank the feathers. I mean, they're feathers no?
[Dodge them, partner!] Ddraig's voice echoed in my mind. Trusting in my Sacred Gear's soul, I used the boosters of the Scale Mail armor to gain enough speed as I dodge the feathers.
"Oh? Then it seems you have enough intellect to understand that my feathers are sharper than a steel sword" Kokabiel…did he compliment me? Was that a compliment?
[Focus partner! This is not the time to pay attention to his words] Ddraig said as I assumed my battle stance once again. [This is a battle! If we lose, we die!]
"Sorry Ddraig" I nodded. Yeah, Ddraig was right. If I win, Buchou allows me to do wha—
[Are you seriously thinking about perverted things again?!]
Oh damn! I'm sorry Ddraig!
[You little…] Ddraig said as he sighed in frustration. [Look at the gauntlet. Your perversion managed to give you a boost once again…I can't believe I really said it…]
Gazing at my left hand, I noticed that he was right. The left gauntlet was emitting a bright emerald light as I started to feel my power being boosted!
"So it's true that the Boosted Gear could boost how many times it desires" Kokabiel said. "Kukukuh…"
With a grin hidden behind the Scale Mail, I raised my left hand as I faced Kokabiel. "Alright, bring it on, you chicken! I'm gonna kick your ass with my power!"
I don't know how arrogant Kokabiel is, but judging from the cold and deadly glare he gave to me, I guess the answer is: Pretty enough! Creating a chain made of light—Why a chain? Come on man!—the Fallen Angel spun it before he tried to whip me with the chain.
As I deflected the chain with my left arm, I had to raise the right one in order to block an uppercut as I moved to the left my head for dodge a blade wing. "Hey, that's unfair!"
"Unfair?" The Fallen Angel said as he kicked me away. "This is a battle, not a fist fight!"
Landing, I opened my left hand creating a red orb. "Dragon Shot!" Shouting the name of my attack, I released the beam towards Kokabiel, but the latter created a wall of light, blocking the beam.
Now I'm pissed! Come on, he's tanking everything!
[To be honest: You're still a…let's say newbie with your powers and status as a Devil. Kokabiel, on the other hand, is an expert in battle and he's powerful. It's like the difference between the day and the night]
Ddraig, I forgot to ask this the last time: Did the Scale Mail possess any kind of weapon?!
[Weapons? I don't need such uncivilized objects!]
Great…
[Did you forget that I am a Dragon and I turned your lungs into my kind's lungs almost half of a minute ago? And what we Dragons use that makes us specials?]
Huuuh….let me see…wings? Scails?
[The breath]
…Oooh—
[Follow my instructions, partner!]
Of course buddy! With a smirk (Wait…I have the helmet activated, so he couldn't see my face…hehheh^^), I started to follow Ddraig's instructions.
[Step one: Inhale. You need air in order to breathe fire.]
Sure thing—Huuu…why do I feel heat in my stomach?
[Because it's where a dragon produces flames…or the element they are associated with. It could be lighting, water and so on. Back to the lesson now! Step two: Use the Boost and Transfer for enhance the fire and the air]
Concentrating, I closed my eyes as I followed Ddraig's instructions. I could feel smoke coming out from the scales of the armor and flames inside my body!
[Remember, I am the only source of power you should rely on]
What do you—
[Nothing]
"What are you doing?!" Kokabiel shouted at me as I opened my eyes and glared at him. Oh yeah, we're in a battle!
"Take this, you fried chicken! Those are the flames—" I was smirking as I gathered the flames in my throat. Oh god, I'm so cool right n— "ACHOO!"
…
…Did…Did I sneeze…?
[...I forgot to say that the first time dragon's pups breathe out flames is during their first sneeze as dragons]
AND YOU TELL ME THAT RIGHT NOW?!
"Now you've done it, Red Dragon Emperor" I could feel pure hatred directed to me…glancing at my enemy, I saw that Kokabiel's upper clothes were completely burned, together with his skin! "You mocked me enough, and the price to pay is your life!"
"Uh oh" I said as I stepped back a little when a golden aura bursted out from his body. I can feel…an incredible pressure…Ddraig…what the hell is that monster?!
[That monster…is an enemy]
Whatever he means, I just gulped before I runned towards him with a battle cry…but I couldn't move. Looking at my legs, I saw them…shaking—No, my whole body was shaking, because I understood what Kokabiel is.
"That's right, none of you know true despair. It seems that I will have to show you what REAL despair is!"
Now I understand Zero's words…the Rating Game…the school's tests…bullies…nothing has prepared me to overcome such despair. Ddraig…if I sacrifice my whole body—
[If you had a lot of experience and, above all, power…then you could have beaten him without activating the Balance Breaker. But you'd became a Devil recently]
Is this the end then…? My legs…my arms…my fingers…I cannot move them…
"What? Already over?" The Fallen Angel said without hiding the delusion in his voice. "And I just released my power…oh well, this is boring now" Raising his left hand, Kokabiel created an enormous pillar of light in the sky.
[Partner, move!] Ddraig spoke inside my head. [If that spear hits you, then nothing—]
We cannot do anything to stop him! You saw his power, Ddraig! We're too weak…
[But…]
…We are weak…We…No…I am weak…you're strong Ddraig. But I am too weak.
[Partner, I don't want to lose another user—]
Sorry Ddraig, but this is the end I guess…
[#-€-#:] Whatever Ddraig said, my mind couldn't hear his voice anymore…
…power…I need power…enough power to protect my city…and my friends…
Power…power…power…
[-€(#$°¥!]
More…power…
I…need…more…power…please, someone give me power! I NEED POWER!
[-€(#$°¥!]
"I NEED POWER! MORE! POWER!" I released a cry of rage as I faced the spear of light coming towards me. Its bright light didn't make me turn my eyes away from it.
[-€(#$°¥!—...]
As I heard something comparable to a plug that is removed from the electrical outlet, everything went black—
…Ichigo…
"Senna?!" Suddenly, Ichigo turned his head towards Senna's real voice as he saw the gate of a temple. "...Wait, this is…" The real form of the Sefirot and the will that was possessing Senna's body disappeared, while the scenario was now an urban city…a city that he recognized. "Ka…Karakura?!"
(Play "Aqua Timez — Sen No Yoru Wo Koete")
Indeed, this was a local temple in Karakura he saw countless times when he was a kid. "This…this is not real" He murmured as he looked around, noticing that the temple was holding some kind of a festival, but no one was there. "I can't be back in Karakura"
"This is just a memory, Ichigo" A female voice came behind him. Turning his head, Ichigo saw Senna before his eyes. She wears a white shihakusho as her hair is untied. With a sad and melancholic smile, Senna greeted him. "Hi, Ichigo"
"Senna!" Ichigo stepped towards his friend. "You're okay?"
"..." Shifting her gaze to the sky, Senna replied. "Why are you worrying for me, Ichigo? I'm not the Senna you started to knew, after all"
"What?!"
As she started to walk towards the temple, Senna started to explain. "I'm the remnants of the Senna you met in Karakura, Ichigo, not the one you met in Kuoh…although, we are the same. But you can't remember that too, after all"
"I…"
"Ichigo. I am made of the Blanks' memories…I'm just a being made of collective memories" As Senna walked, a gentle breeze was carrying leaves around them. "When I disappeared, you were holding me, Ichigo. In that moment, a tiny piece of my identity as 'Senna' managed to stay within you"
Putting his hand on his chest, Ichigo stayed silent when he heard Senna's explanation.
"When you arrived in this world, the memories of the deaths were attracted to that piece within you, recreating the Shinenju—a new 'me', a new Senna" Stopping, Senna turned her head towards Ichigo. "This is why both you and my other self remember moments that originally you never lived. Those memories of nobody…you shouldn't remember them"
"But I don't understand why your existence could destroy this world and our world too!" Ichigo stepped towards Senna, grabbing her left hand. "Why don't you want to be saved, Senna?!"
"..." Lowering her head, Senna revealed. "My existence…will bring the gap between the worlds, the one you call Dangai, to collapse. This will cause the worlds to be drawn together in a collision, destroying everything"
"But there's a way to stop it, right?!"
"The only way is killing me, Ichigo!" Senna raised her head, revealing that she was crying all of this time. "My existence will erase everything, including you and the world where you live! I cannot bear it!"
"Senna…" Ichigo stepped back when he saw Senna's tantrum. Closing his eyes, the Shinigami touched Senna's cheeks, shocking her, as he started to clean the tears from her face.
"I…Ichigo?"
"No need to worry, because I'm here to save you"
Hearing those words just the situation worsened, at least on the feeling side, as Senna cried even more. "You idiot!"
"Probably I'm an idiot" Ichigo said as his gaze was filled with determination. "But even if my mind doesn't remember, my heart and my soul did. I will save you, and the worlds too. I swore that on my soul" He stated before he gave his hand towards Senna. "Say that word, Senna. I'm sure that you want to say that too"
"You…" Senna closed her eyes. That's right, Ichigo is that kind of guy, after all. Everytime he says that it's because he will and can do it. She knew…that's why, when she opened her eyes once again, she continued to shed tears as she smiled at him. "Please, save me…Ichigo!"
(End "Aqua Timez — Sen No Yoru Wo Koete")
'...!' Ichigo opened his eyes, finding himself against Sefirot once again. But something was different: He can feel Senna's presence inside his heart…even inside his Tensa Zangetsu too.
"Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking, Kurosaki Ichigo!" Sefirot exclaimed. "The portal for the Soul Society is starting to open! You cannot stop this, the only thing you can do…is give up!"
"...Give up?" Ichigo said before glaring at Sefirot with determination. "Sorry, but that's a word that is not in my vocabulary, 'Sefirot'" As he spoke, Ichigo fired a Getsuga towards her. "Cuz…I will never give up!"
Disappearing from the branch and reappearing on an upper one in order to dodge the Getsuga, Sefirot glared at Ichigo. "Why are you so determined, Kurosaki Ichigo?!"
Reaching the branch where Sefirot is, Ichigo assumed a battle stance. "Why, you said? Because I want to protect everyone"
"Such power is impossible to achieve!" Sefirot declared. "Especially for someone like you—" Before she could finish, a Getsuga exploded right behind her. "?!"
"Hope you're ready, Sefirot" With his Tensa Zangetsu pointed at her, Ichigo declared. "I will end this…with a single swing"
[So, you need power?]
….Ddraig? Is that you?
[Who I am is not important, Issei Hyoudou]
…What do you want from me?
[You asked for power, Issei. Here I am, to give you power…]
Power…yes…I…I want more power. But…who are you?
[I have known you for a long time now…now, you crave for power, but the power you need now is something that goes against fate]
Fate?
[Yes. The power I am offering to you is something that God himself banned]
…I don't care. God…Lucifer…Izanami too… if the power I need is something that will destroy all of them, then I DON'T CARE!
[...Ambition…Good. Very well, Issei Hyoudou. I will bestow you with power…...and now let me show you how a real battle is!]
Suddenly, a burst of dark energy came out from Issei, wrapping him completely and creating a dome around him.
"Another attack?" Kokabiek laughed. "Sorry but now…it's over for you, Red Dragon!" He shouted as he threw the enormous pillar of light towards him. With a second, Issei raised a hand when the spear was going to hit him.
"..." With no words or groans of fatigue, the boy…blocked the spear.
"What?!" Kokabiel shouted when he saw that the enormous spear of light was blocked by Issei with only the left hand. "With only one hand?! Impossible!"
"Impossible?" Issei spoke…but that wasn't Issei's voice. It was a more manly voice than Issei's teenager voice, mixed with a strange echo. "Do you mean…this?" Then Issei, aiming at the sky and with just a movement of his hand, threw the energy spear which exploded, illuminating the night for a single instant.
"!" Kokabiel's eyes widened when he saw the dome disappeared, watching that Issei's Scale Mail was drastically changed, although still possessing a dragon-ish appearance: The crimson color of the armor and the emerald orbs now are tinted from crimson and emerald into charcoal with dark purple ornaments for the scales and dark emerald for the gems. At the center of the chest appeared a dark emerald and purple orb that was 'beating', just like it was a heart.
Unlike the previous form, the Scale Mail now has a face with glowing purple eyes and a large grin lined with sharp teeth. His hands and feets now have large claws on the end of his fingers.
The tail of the Scale Mail had become thicker and, most importantly, sharper than before, acting like a blade. From the back of the head, the Scale Mail has back-long deep black hair. Throughout his body, large vibrant lines of dark emerald are present, extending from his ankles to the tips of his hair.
"What…" Kokabiel saw the new form of the Boosted Gear user with horror and shock. It didn't take a genius to understand how dangerous that…being was. "What the hell are you?!"
Opening his mouth, "Issei" breathed out before a chuckle came out from him. "Keh…keheheheh…" Raising his head, the wielder of the Boosted Gear started to laugh. "Such a lower being…want to know my name?"
"..." Kokabiel gritted his teeth as he heard that his foe called him lower being…but he didn't throw a tantrum like before, because he knew that his foe was right.
"Mph" Closing his eyes, the being assumed a feral battle stance, like he was a beast more than a man, as dark purple and emerald energy started to be emitted by his whole body. "Mark my words into thy mind, lower being…you are not worthy to hear MY name!"
'This bastard!' Kokabiel thought as he created two light based swords, assuming a proper battle stance for a dual blade wielder. 'I can't feel anything from his energy! No magic or other powers! But my instincts are telling me that he is a threat. Impossible…is that being…superior to me?!'
(Play "Blazblue— MUST DIE")
Suddenly, with a burst of the same energy that came out from his body, the being dashed towards Kokabiel with so much high speed that Kokabiel found him before his face in just a tenth of a second!
"That speed…!" Kokabiel moved back his head with enough speed to dodge the foe's claws. "What are you, Red Dragon Emperor?!" Backdashing, the Fallen Angel threw his sharp feathers towards his foe, following an assault with his swords.
Unfortunately, the 'Red Dragon Emperor' tanked all the feathers, shocking Kokabiel when he saw that his feathers broke in contact with their target. "Is this your capabilities, Kokabiel?" He said, mocking him as he blocked the blades with just two fingers of his hands.
Kokabiel's face contracted in horror as his enemy, with the twitch of his fingers, destroyed the blades of his swords. "With…his fingers…" The Fallen Angel said as he stepped back from the fear. 'This damned being…is mocking me…' Gritting his teeth, the Fallen Angel glared at him. "I can't accept this! I WILL NEVER ACCEPT THIS! NEVER!" Raising both of his hands to the air, Kokabiel channeled all his magical power, creating the biggest spear he could create. It was so big that its dimension could be compared with the entire school field. "NOW YOU DONE IT, RED DRAGON BRAT! I WILL CRUSH YOU, THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AND YOUR DREAM!"
"Crush me?" Breathing out energy from his mouth, the armored being laughed at Kokabiel. "Do not make me laugh, Fallen Angel! Your words are bold, and that's it. But I will give you a chance…if you fail, I will show you my power with my next attack"
"Chance…" Lowering his head, Kokabiel gritted his teeth with enough force that he broke one of them. "DIEEEEEEE, RED DRAGON EMPEROR!" Kokabiel shouted as he threw the energy construct towards his foe.
As Kokabiel's energy attack was before him, the figure clenched his left fist, starting to gather magical energy in it before a sphere of energy appeared before the fist. "Dragon…Shot" Whispering the name of the attack, the armored being punched the sphere of energy, releasing an enormous beam of energy that clashed with Kokabiel's attack until both attacks annulled each other, much with Kokabiel's shock.
"How…" He said as he kneeled. His last attack used too much power…and it was defeated by a simple beam. "That Dragon Shot…I defeated it many times before…how can the Boosted Gear power up its user so much…?!"
"Thy mind cannot understand such truth?" The armored being said before he clenched a fist. "Do not worry, I am not using the power of the Welsh Dragon yet"
"What?!"
Assuming a feral battle pose, the gem on his left hand glowed with dark emerald energy as it shouted 'boost'. "Mark this into thy soul, Hyoudou Issei, because this is how—" With a dash, the armored being was so fast that his movements were like a teleport, founding himself before the Fallen Angel. "—you should use the Balance Breaker!" Shouting the last part of the sentence, the armored being smashed his left fist into Kokabiel's face.
"?!" Kokabiel couldn't do anything as he heard his jaw being smashed by his foe's fist, but he did not finish.
Assuming a martial art stance, the 'Red Dragon Emperor' opened the left hand as he thrusted with the palm of the hand with enough force to create a shockwave, followed by a dark emerald energy projectile that smashed against Kokabiel's stomach.
Kneeling on the ground, Kokabiel held a hand on the pierced stomach as blood poured out from the wound. "Cough…"
"...I see now" The being started to speak as he, using his tail, grabbed Kokabiel by his neck. "So the power you showed before was just mere child's play"
"Child…play?!"
"I am so disappointed…" As Kokabiel tried to struggle to free himself from the tail grab, the armored being started to punch Kokabiel in the guts. And again. And again, just like the Fallen Angel was a punching bag.
"GAH!" Kokabiel coughed blood as the punches started to be more powerful.
"I cannot hear the weaks!" He said as he kept continuing to punch for a few seconds before he stopped, noticing that Kokabiel was hardly breathing. "..." In silence, the figure was still holding Kokabiel by the neck with his tail as he resumed to speak. "I thought you were more powerful, yet this is so disappointing…I will end this" As he spoke, the figure clenched his right fist as an immeasurable burst of energy came out from the scales of the armor. Then, he raised the fist, ready for attack.
"No…PLEASE, NO!"
"Ryu…ken! (Dragon Fist)" Revealing the name of the attack, the being released the attack: As he punched Kokabiel, the accumulated energy bursted out from the knuckles until it took the form of a material dragon's head made with energy, which bit the Fallen Angel.
"GAAAAH!" Shouting for the pain, the Fallen Angel held his right shoulder with his left hand. Glaring at his foe, Kokabiel shifted his gaze to his right side—"M-My arm…MY ARM!" With a scream of pain and fear, blood spurted out from the armless shoulder like it was a fountain.
Suddenly, his foe grabbed the Fallen Angel's face as he smashed him against the ground. Coughing blood, Kokabiel closed his eyes as he felt the bones of his chest being broken by the raw power. "You bastard…" Trying to get up, Kokabiel saw that his foe was towering above him.
"There is no escape" The armored being commented as he started to boost his power, channeling the energy into his arms. "Accept your fate…and perish"
'Monster…he's a monster…' Kokabiel thought as he saw the energy bursting out from the arms and elbows of the scales. 'I saw every kind of enemy on the battlefield…but this…this is a monster!' Raising his remaining hand, Kokabiel never noticed that he was shaking. "P-Please, I surrender!"
"..."
"I-I swear, I will surrender to Gregori! I will accept every kind of punishment!" The Fallen Angel spoke. "O-Oh, I can give to you everything I possess! What do you want? Money—No, I know what! You want women right! I'll turn you into a Harem King—No, not King…a Harem Emperor!" With a nervous smile, Kokabiel tried to reason with him. "So, do you accept—"
Without any word or warning, Kokabiel's sight shifted to the ground at his right side. "...Huh?" He murmured as he saw something fly away from his mouth. "My…tooth?" He said as he started to feel…pain. Glancing at his foe, Kokabiel saw that there was blood on his right fist.
"Surrender…" As he spoke, the armored being grinned as he opened his mouth, his long tongue coming out of him as he licked the blood on the left gauntlet. "I do not care, lower being…but I desire only one thing. Maybe you can give me what I desire?"
"I-I can give you what you desire! I swear!"
Suddenly, the being cruelly smiled. "Then…it is time to die, lower being" He stated as he started to punch Kokabiel on his face. Each fist was boosted every single time he punched Kokabiel, yet they were powerful enough to leave him still alive.
This continued for a whole minute until, grabbing Kokabiel's head, the armored being raised him with no efforts as he clenched his right fist as he released energy from the gem on the right hand. "Any last word?" He asked after the last punch as he charged enough energy for another Ryuken.
"Cough…" Coughing at the being's face, dirtying him with blood, Kokabiel tried to speak. "W-What are you…monster?"
"My name?" The being went silent for a few seconds. "Mph…fine, I will reveal my name" With a cruel smile, the being spoke. "I am…my name is $^¥°$£℅—?!" Suddenly, the being released Kokabiel from his grasp as he bringed his hands on his neck. "My…voice?!" He said, shocked. "Impossible!"
Landing, Kokabiel smirked as he created a dagger of light in his left hand. 'I don't care what is happening, but I can kill him!' He thought as he started to laugh. "AHAH! VICTORY IS MINE!" Shouting, the Fallen Angel suddenly stabbed his foe at the center of the pulsing gem at the center of the chest.
(End "Blazblue— MUST DIE")
"NO!" The armored and nameless being shouted as he saw the dagger pierce the gem which cracked, releasing a black blood-ish fluid until it exploded a few seconds later. Suddenly, the entire changed Scale Mail cracked and exploded, releasing a burst of dark emerald and purple energy until it disappeared, revealing the unconscious Issei falling to the ground.
With the remaining hand on the armless shoulder, Kokabiel gritted his teeth as he started to wall towards Issei. Whatever thing or power was that, now the Red Dragon Emperor was once again a low class Devil.
"That's it?" Smashing his right foot against Issei's back, Kokabiel spitted blood against the teenager. "Lower being here, lower being there! Then what?! Whatever kind of power you used before, you should remember that you're a low class Devil!"
Suddenly, the entire Sefirot started to glow. "What the hell?!" Turning his head around, Kokabiel cursed as the entire Sefirot flashed, releasing a burst of golden energy that shook the entire foundations of the realms…until it disappeared.
Engaging in another clash with the blades, Ichigo clicked his tongue when his mask broke after surpassing the time limit. Landing in order to dodge a slash aimed at his head, Ichigo gasped as his body was finally feeling the tool for using too much spiritual energy at once.
"Aaaw" With a smirk, Sefirot taunted Ichigo as she kept walking in the air. "Look at him, starting to feel tired?"
"Pant…" Glaring at his foe, Ichigo assumed his stance once again. "Wanna find out by yourself?"
"Mh…" Suddenly, Sefirot disappeared from his sight, appearing beside him with her sword raised, ready to strike Ichigo down. "Maybe yes! Ha!"
'Gh!' Ichigo gritted his teeth as he parried Sefirot's assault. Her speed was starting to overcome the Bankai's hyper speed. 'Her entire fighting style is too dangerous! I can't really wound her, otherwise I will harm Senna's body too! How can I save Senna and purge that Sefirot from her…?!'
"You…become a Shinigami!" Her words were filled with determination as she pointed her katana towards me.
"Wha…what are you saying?!" I was shocked by her proposal. As that Shinigami woman started to explain how to do it, I saw my little sister Yuzu pleading me to run… as the huge monster—The so-called Hollow— was rushing towards us.
…Damnit, that freak wants my soul so badly, huh?!
"Give me that sword, Shinigami" I said, my mind finally decided what I have to do. "Let's give your idea a try"
With a small smile, the girl pointed her katana called Zanpakutou towards my chest. "My name is not 'Shinigami'...it's Kuchiki Rukia"
Grabbing her sword, I gazed at her face with determination. "I am…Kurosaki Ichigo"
"...!" Ichigo's eyes widened when the revelation hit. The answer was before his eyes, after all. 'That's right! Just like Rukia did with me, I can transfer that piece of 'Senna' together with a bit of my powers from my soul to her body!' Deflecting the upcoming slash, Ichigo pushed Sefirot away, only with the result that his foe just returned to assault him with a storm of slashes. 'If only I can distract her!'
"It's useless, Kurosaki Ichigo! You cannot escape from my attacks!" Sefirot yelled. "Not even a miracle could save you from death!"
"Damnit!" Ichigo gritted his teeth as he started to be pushed back by her assault. "I can't continue to—" With a punch in the gust by Sefirot, Ichigo coughed blood as he was send away of a few meters as his foe rushed towards him as she raised her sword.
"You left an opening, Kurosaki!" Before her slash could reach the target, suddenly Sefirot stopped moving, wastening the attack, after something hit her in the back of the head. "What…?!" The object wasn't hard, in fact it was light like a feather. But the strange thing is that the object made a strange sound when it hitted her head. Turning her head suddenly, Sefirot didn't see anyone—
Regaining balance, Ichigo prayed to whatever deity allowed this miracle to happen. "THAT'S MY LINE!" Ichigo shouted as he suddenly charged towards Sefirot. When she saw Ichigo, Sefirot cursed as the Shinigami was going to thrust with his pitch jet-black blade, aiming at her chest. With such speed, Sefirot couldn't stop him. "YOU LEFT AN OPENING!"
"DAMN YOU—" Sefirot started to speak as the blade pierced her chest, straight to her heart. "AT LEAST, I'LL TAKE THE WOMAN WITH ME, KUROSAKI IC—" Before she could continue to speak, she felt something. First it was a sudden pain where she had the heart, but then all the body was sharing the same pain until—
SNAP
It all happened in an instant. In that instant, the body glowed white and then cast that white light away, revealing Senna's fully restored and unconscious body. As the girl was starting to fall, Ichigo grabbed her with his left hand before he put her on his left shoulder. "It worked…" With a smile, the Shinigami gazed at Senna's sleeping face. "I saved you, Senna" He said as his body released Reiatsu until Ichigo's shihakusho and Zanpakuto returned to their Shikai form.
"KUROSAKI ICHIGO"
(Play "Bleach— Number One TYBW ver.")
Turning his gaze towards the voice, Ichigo saw that the white light that came out from Senna started to shift and increased its form countless times until it became a grotesque skull. "I WON'T LET YOU RUN AWAY!"
"Ugh...I see what you are now" Narrowing his eyes, Ichigo glared at the skull. "The 'will of the spell itself' my ass! You're just a ugly monster!"
"Do not dare to call me a monster! I am the will of the Sefirot—"
"Oh shut up!" Ichigo said as he continued to hold Senna. "As a Shinigami, it is my duty to eradicate you creatures" Raising Zangetsu, Ichigo channeled his Reiatsu inside it. "Are you ready, monster?"
"Mh…" Senna murmured as she started to open her eyes. "...Ich…igo?"
"Yo" Lowering his gaze towards Senna, Ichigo smiled at her. "Weren't you a bit too quiet? Where'd all your usual energy go?"
"..." Closing her eyes, Senna smiled a little. "Aw…shut up"
"Are you ignoring me?!" The Will of the Sefirot shouted as Ichigo glared at it once again.
"Don't worry. I'll end this with a single swing" With a smirk, Ichigo glared at Sefirot. "Are you ready, monster?"
"Die one thousand times, Kurosaki!" From its teeth, countless sharped tentacles bursted from the skull, charging towards Ichigo.
"Getsuga…TENSHO!" Shouting the name of his technique, Ichigo swung his Zangetsu, firing the blue energy slash towards the skull. The attack was strong enough as it destroyed the tentacles without leaving any trace of them and then hit the skull, cutting it in two pieces.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" The skull said with shock as it started to vanish. "I CAN'T DISAPPEAR…I CAN'T!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"SILENCE, MORTAL! EVEN IF I DIE AS A WILL, MY BODY WILL NEVER DIE! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DISPEL THE TREE!"
"Clearly you didn't care about your precious body 'till now" Ichigo said, prompting the skull to gaze at the tree…only to find out that it had completely vanished.
"The tree…" The skull said, vanishing into nothingness forever. After it disappeared, the entire dimension flashed before a light blinded Ichigo which closed his eyes.
"It's finally over"
(End "Bleach— Number One TYBW ver")
When the wave of light finally vanished, Xenovia opened her eyes. " The Sefirot…has vanished!" She exclaimed. Indeed, the huge tree of light disappeared into nothing although the damage it caused remains.
"They did it, I knew it!" Yuuto said as he looked around, noticing his friends from the "Roots team" were coming towards him and the female exorcist. He was going to greet them until he saw that Kaito was carrying Rias on his shoulders while Koneko was doing the same thing with Ravel.
"Buchou!" Yuuto said as he runned towards his friends. "What happened?!"
"You could greet us, at least" Kaito rolled his eyes as he placed Rias on the ground, imitated by Koneko.
"This is not the time for a joke" The Knight said as he glared at the Rook.
"Don't worry Yuuto" Akeno said as she stepped between the two. "Asia is going to heal them"
Glancing at the former nun, Yuuto saw that she already started to use her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, on them.
"Someone is missing" Xenovia said as she put her free hand on her waist. "Where's the Boosted Gear user?"
"Don't know" Koneko said. "Where is Ichi-nii?"
"Yo"
Turning their heads towards the familiar voice, they saw the orange haired Shinigami hold Senna on his right shoulder.
"Ichigo! / Ichi-nii!" The ORC members said as Ichigo walked towards them.
"Glad to see that you're okay" Ichigo nodded as he gently placed Senna on the ground at Asia's feet, together with Rias and Ravel. "She's not visibly injured, but Asia: Could you use your powers on her?"
"But your wounds…" The former nun tried to speak, but the Shinigami shook his head.
"Please…"
"...Very well" Asia nodded before she placed her hands on the purple haired girl's chest, activating her healing powers as she heard Ichigo thanking her. Raising her gaze towards the Shinigami, she noticed that Ichigo, Kaito, Yuuto, Koneko and Xenovia were facing the school. "...Guys?"
Suddenly, a magic shield appeared before her. Turning her head to her right side, the Bishop saw Akeno with her hands raised before her. Her eyes widened for the shock. "Akeno-san?"
"Quick and heal them, Asia" Akeno said. "I don't know if they can push him back"
"Push…him?" With a glance towards the others, Asia gasped when she saw an injured and right armless Kokabiel walking towards them. He was holding an unconscious Issei by his head. "Ise…!"
"...Mh?" As he walked, Kokabiel noticed the five warriors were standing before him. All of them were visibly injured or tired or both. "I see, so you believe that you could defeat me after my Sefirot vanishes, am I wrong?"
Drawing their weapons, the literal last line of defense pointed them towards the Fallen Angel. "Release Issei, now" Yuuto demanded as he glared at Kokabiel.
"Oh, him? Of course" The treacherous Fallen Angel glared at the beated Red Dragon Emperor before he threw him towards his friend's feet, like he was trash.
"Ise!" Ichigo grabbed Issei as Kokabiel resumed to speak.
"Ah, such friendship…" Kokabiel smirked at his foes. "What a useless emotion. After all, friendship and love didn't helped him against me—"
"Fufufu. Interesting."
The sudden voice came from the sky. It was not from anyone here. The first one to realise it was Kaito as he suddenly looked up. The next one to realise it were Ichigo and Xenovia. Both of them looked up to the dark sky at the same time, finally followed by Koneko and Yuuto.
FLASH
It descended while cutting the abyss sky by sending out a white light. If it came down at that velocity, it would shake the ground and make a crater. It would spread dust for sure. But that didn't happen. There was a white thing in their sights. A white thing was glowing, which didn't even have a slight shadow in the dark night. It was floating off the ground by an inch…A white plated armor. There were blue jewels across various locations on the armor. It also had armor on the face, so that its opponents couldn't see the expression of this person. The eight wings of blue light growing from the back were giving out a divine glow in the dark night.
But the ORC members are familiar with the person covered in white armor. It had a different shape and color, but it was similar—no, it was identical to the "Boosted Gear: Scale Mail".
"You…!" Kaito said as he recognized the armor.
"…Vanishing Dragon...?!" Kokabiel said as he clicked his tongue, glaring at the armor.
"Vanishing…" Ichigo said. "What is that?"
"The one opposite to the "Welsh Dragon", the "Vanishing Dragon"...that's what he is" Xenovia explained. "But why is he here?"
"One of the Longinus: "Divine Dividing". If you are already in armor mode it means that it's in the Balance-Breaker state, the " Divine Dividing Scale Mail". Just like the Boosted Gear, it is truly an annoying thing!" The Fallen Angel said as the white armor was looking at Issei. Noticing it, Kokabiel smirked. "Oh, I see. So you were attracted to the "Red Emperor"...Vanishing Dragon! If you get in my wa—"
(Play "Bleach— Fade to Black_B07A")
Suddenly, the entire Peerage of Rias together with Ichigo saw Kokabiel shout for pain as half of his wings flew away from his body as his back started to spray blood from the holes.
"It's like the wing of a crow" The Vanishing Dragon said as he was flying before the Fallen Angel. In his left hand, he was holding the wings he ripped off from Kokabiel's back. "It has a disgusting color to it. Azazel's wing is much darker and has the color of everlasting darkness, you know?"
"I…I couldn't keep up with his speed…!" Yuuto murmured.
"Y-You!" Kokabiel glared at the Vanishing Dragon, but he started to laugh.
"It's a symbol that you have fallen. There's no need for wings for those who stooped down even below the earth, right? Are you still planning to fly?" He said, mocking the Fallen Angel which raised a hand on the sky, creating countless spears of light around the armored man.
"Very well! Tonight I'll kill both the Heavenly Dragons!" He said as a holy arua bursted out from his body. "DIE NOW, VANISHING DRAGON!" He shouted before the armored man moved a hand.
[DIVIDE!]
"My name…is Albion" He declared after his armor shouted the word "divide" as half of the spears in the sky, together with the aura that bursted out from Kokabiel, disappeared.
"What?!" Everyone shouted when they saw the scene.
"What kind of power was that?!" Ichigo said as Kaito glanced at the Vanishing Dragon's wings of light.
"Divine Dividing" The scythe user said, as the others glanced at him. "Or, to be fair, one of the abilities of the "Divine Dividing", Albion. It halves the power of those the user touches every 10 seconds, and that power becomes the user's power as well…"
"So it's the reverse power of the Welsh Dragon…"
"It's not a simple palette swap then" Ichigo commented as he returned to look at the fight. Kokabiel, with his remaining wings, flew towards Albion with the intention to strike him down with a sword of light, but Albion swung his right arm to his right side, vaporizing the blade as the Sacred Gear shouted [DIVIDE] once again.
"Damn you!" Kokabiel shouted, but it wasn't over. Not yet.
[DIVIDE!]
After a few sounds, the Fallen Angel's movements were so slow that even a low class Devil could take him down.
"Already the power of a middle-level Fallen Angel, huh? Boring. I thought I could have a bit more fun" Albion said as he disappeared from Kokabiel's sight, reappearing in front of him, leaving tracks of blue light from his back. With the same speed, Albion thrusted his right fist into his foe's stomach.
"Cough" As he coughed blood which fell on the Vanishing Dragon's white armor, Kokabiel tried to speak. "I…Impossible…!"
"What? You said a common phrase of a grunt" Albion laughed. "Let me guess…" Impossible? Me?" What's after that? "This can't be?" Is it?"
"H-How…"
"I was told by Azazel to take you back even if by force. You acted a bit too much" He revealed before he punched the Fallen Angel in the face. As the sovrannatural being fell unconscious to the ground, Albion grabbed and put him on his left shoulder.
(End "Bleach— Fade to Black_B07A")
"Incredible…" Koneko murmured.
"...Oh" Albion said when he saw Freed's corpse lying on the ground. "I can't bring a dead to Azrael…oh well" With a shrug, Albion started to walk.
"Hoi hoi, leaving already?" Kaito stepped towards the Vanishing Dragon. "You finally returned, after all"
Stopping and turning his head towards the Devil, Albion looked at him. "The same goes to you, Kaikai"
"Kaikai…?" Xenovia looked with confusion between the two.
"Let me guess: Childhood-type relation?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, kinda…" The scythe user said.
[Are you ignoring me, white one, huh?]
Suddenly, another voice came. Turning their heads to the voice, they saw the jewel on the Boosted Gear glow.
"...The Boosted Gear can speak now?" Yuuto asked as Albion's jewels glowed too.
[So you were awake, red one]
[We finally met, but in a situation like this.]
[That's all right. It's our destiny to fight one day. Things like this happen.]
[But white one. I can't feel hostility from you like before.]
[Red one. Your hostility is incredibly low as well.]
As the two Sacred Gear were speaking, Kaito glanced at Ichigo. "...Your sword can't do it, right?"
"Actually…" The shinigami rolled his eyes. "Zangetsu and the other guy speak with me too many times"
[Looks like both of us have things that interest us more than fighting.]
[That's how it is. We should be having fun by ourselves for a while. It's not bad like this sometimes, right? Let's meet again, Ddraig.]
[That would also be fun. See you then, Albion.]
As the two Gears' jewels finished to glow, the Vanishing Dragon glanced at the unconscious Issei. "So that's my rival? I'm quite…disappointed"
"Hoi, I don't know who you are, but you won't touch Issei" Ichigo glared at him.
"I'll leave him alone for now, don't worry" The Vanishing Dragon said as his wings appeared from his back. "I still have a few things to do, after all"
"So what, are you flying away like nothing happened?" Xenovia asked.
"That's the plan" Albion said as he started to float into the air. "Heal your wounds, all of you…get strong. Only then, we can meet again. But for now, this is a goodbye, Rias Gremory's Peerage!" Then, just as he appeared, he vanished into the sky thanks to his high speed. And, just like this whole incident started, it is also finished. No one could even know that these events, which will be recognized as the "Ancient Fallen Angel Rebellion", have shaken the foundations of the world itself…
[Sakura Biyori] (Bleach ED10)
By Mai Hoshimura
*Instrumental*
(The screen is black until cherry blossoms begin to flutter until Ichigo appeared in the middle of them)
Juuroku de kimi to ai
Hyakunen no koi wo shite ne
Hirahira to mai ochiru
sakura no hanabira no shita de
(With the same effect as in the original ending, Ichigo becomes transparent and images appear on it: all his friends and relatives in his original world)
Aitakute kakunekuta hi no
ataru kyuu na sakamichi ya
(The scene changes as other cherry blossoms flutter, making Ichigo disappear: Senna, in her Shinigami outfit, finds herself sitting under a tree, intent on observing Kuoh Town with a happy but at the same time slightly melancholy gaze.)
Kouen no sumi futari no kage wa
iwa no kawaranu mama
(The scene changes: ORC members are all seated together in a simple classroom, intent on observing something outside the window)
Kimi to boku to sakura biyori
kaze ni yurete mai modoru
(The cherry petals, this time purple, fluttered again, changing the scene: Ichigo, with Tensa Zangetsu active and with the sword resting on his shoulder, observes the cloudy sky from a hill. With the same effect, Ichigo disappear as Zero appear)
Mada miru mirai wo mune ni daite
miageta saki wa momoiro no sora
(The cherry petals, normal again now, change the scene one last time: Ichigo is on the same hill but, this time not only is he in his casual clothes, but the sky is clear. While observing the sky, Ichigo turns and notices that he is being joined by Senna and the ORC members. Ichigo smiles and then joins them in turn as petals fell to the ground, revealing the Shinigami-Daigo Badge beneath them...)
Soooooo what do you think? Maybe something was described or it happened too hastily, but I had to balance things, especially with the revelations. I can't wait to know if you guess who the girl in white is...
And yes, I edited the "Excalibur of the Moonlit Schoolyard" arc a lot compared to the canon: Vampa will return accompanied by Yuuto's mysterious "sister". And yes, Isaiah is Yuuto's real name for those who don't know. Furthermore, Sandan-zuki is a technique that Yuuto knows canonically thanks to his master, so it seemed right to include it to kill Freed. So no, Freed won't be back in this story (we already have Zero as a crazy maniac, nay?). Another elephant in the room is the "Deus Ex Machina" who saved Issei in the fight with Kokabiel. It will all make sense later...for now consider it as a kind of Hollow for Issei?
I think we know which girl Ichigo's love interest will be, come on. I'm sorry Orihime ... but for you-
*Get shot by Issei*
DAMN-
Seriously, maybe Senna won't be the only one...I can say this: Probably it will be a Love Triangle. Anyway, don't think that I will follow the canon for everyone because, especially after a certain arc (Not the next), I WON'T FOLLOW IT! Sorry for be so harsh, but from the next chapter you will understand why I said this. Now, I guess it's time for say goodbye. See ya guys, and remember: LOVE AND PEACE!
PREVIEW:
In the following days — Tokyo…
Standing at the top of the Tokyo Tower, the man was observing all the citizens walking and driving through the streets. With a slightly evil smile, the man turned in order to face ten figures standing before him.
"My brothers…my sisters…the time has come. Kokabiel has failed, and our enemies are celebrating the victory against him! After thousand years of exile, we are going to declare war against the entire sovrannatural world!"
London…
Walking towards the Big Ben, Sona Sitri glanced at the enormous clock tower as she is followed by her loyal Peerage. "Remember guys, Leviathan of the Four Great Satans is expecting great results from us!"
At the same time in an alley on the other side of the city, with his left hand on the alleyway wall, a man coughed blood. "Dammit…" He cursed, walking towards a main street. "This' ain't a place where I can die…as long I carry the name of…Kenpachi!"
?
With a sigh, the girl opened her eyes, revealing a pair of beautiful orange orbs that were staring at the starry night. "The moon…is still here"
…so prepare yourselves: Blood will fall from the sky as rain, the streets will be tinged with crimson red and the undeads will rise!
They are returned only for vengeance, seeking for an endless night! Their name...is erased from history!
What is Sonia's task, why she is in London and who is "Kenpachi"?
The girl is awake, and she long for a night without the moon!
After the rebellions, will always follow the Chaos and its creatures, after all…
The "Excalibur of the Moonlit Schoolyard" arc is over! Thanks for your great support! The next arc: "The Exiled Clan and the forgotted Princess", will start with chapter 15!