Of Legends

Ah Baraqiel, you are still beyond my ability to kill, but it matters not. I've already won the war.

Olran Valefar, disgraced and disowned son of the now extinct Valefar family smiled derisively towards his relentless foe. His once crimson dapper clothes were burned and marred, his blue hair dishevelled with countless cuts and burns covering his body. His foe, Baraqiel on the other hand was faring far worse. His face was pale, and his body was drenched in sweat as poison wreaked havoc upon his body.

This however, did little to subtract from the majesty of his aura. It was an imposing figure, hovering just above the ground with 10 ebony wings at this back, the burned corpses of countless devils and youkai struck down by his divine lightning sprawling out before him.

Hah, Baraqiel is the same as always, destroying armies upon armies that stands between him and his target. It would seem once more I failed to kill him, but once more I'll escape. All I need is just need one opportunity, one distraction…

"I hope you are ready to die Olran. Your barriers will hold me back no longer."

"Ah, my dear Baraqiel, I beg to differ. You may escape me once more, but don't worry, I'm a patient man. I can always kill you on a later date."

"Me escaping you? Hah! You are on your last dregs devil. You have but two bouts left coward."

"Is that so?"

Baraqiel, nonplussed by his foe's unusual confidence shifted his stance once more, preparing multiple spears of light to skewer his foe, only to see multiple spears of light bombard Olran from behind.

"What the hell!?"

Jumping aside, Olran fired his signature purple bolts of poisoned magic towards his attackers, only to neglect Baraqiel.

A costly mistake.

A bolt divine lightning bisected him from the waist, shock adorning Olran's face as his newly divided body fell to the ground.

Walking forward, Baraqiel stood before his weakened adversary and prepared one final spear of light before a panicked shout stole his attention.

"Baraqiel, we need to retreat, immediately!"

Baraqiel raised his brow in confusion at his ally's call.

"What's wrong Hinata? Are their numbers even greater than we expected from an ambush?"

"Yes, but more importantly we need to return home! We just received a messenger bird from our families, the conservatives allowed a force of Devils to cross their territory unopposed. Our homes are in danger!"

"Suou, you petty bastard."

"We can address his treachery later Baraqiel, for now we need get out of here! Most of our companions are pinned down near the entrance of the fort, we need to break out now before it is too late!"

Heh, and with that I'm safe.

Olran's body faded into the shadows beneath him, melding into the darkness that lined the halls of the besieged fortress. His baritone chuckling alerting the distracted Baraqiel that he missed his opportunity to slay his old foe.

"It would seem I win again Baraqiel. I wonder if your wife and daughters are enjoying the tender embrace of my son. Perhaps they will gift me with grandchildren?"

In his fury, Baraqiel launched countless spears of light and bolts of divine lightning throughout the fortress, slaughtering countless yokai as the roofs collapsed in on their heads. But it did little to silence Olran's chuckling as it faded into the distance.

"I need to leave, now."

"I understand Baraqiel. Can you blast a path forward for our surviving comrades to escape from as you fly?"

"Yes."

"I'll inform the others, GO! We can take care of ourselves!"

Nodding, Baraqiel tapped into his reserves, and unleashed a wave of purging light, utterly annihilating all before him. Then, as he took to the air, the flung more bolts of lightning upon any foolish enough to stand before his sight. In the wake of the devastation, the surviving practitioners charged their disoriented foes, carrying their wounded and dying comrades to safety. Their enemies, weakened and disoriented at the unexpected power of their invaders, could do little to oppose them. The few that could, quickly found themselves cut down under a barrage of the Himejima arts and spears of light.

The progressive Himejima escaped with their lives, but they found little joy in their survival. Two thirds of comrades were slain or wounded, and fear for their families spurred them on without rest. All the while, the Oniyama-kai watched their foes flee before them, but they too found little reason to cheer. Despite ambushing their invaders, they lost half of their men, and all of their devil allies. Their fortress lay in ruins, and their leadership ravaged. They were vulnerable, and they knew it.

Away from the burning fortress, a dark bulge drifted between the shadows of the trees. Olran's intangible form shuddered in pleasure as he fled through the darkness.

Hehehehehehe! Baraqiel you idiot. I'm going to relish your suffering. I wonder if his anguish will be enough for him to go berserk and attack the underworld? Having a new war start so soon would please my 'comrades'. Maybe I could get a promotion among the loyalists? Even if he doesn't start a war, striking a blow against the Fallen filth is always a plus. Now all I ha-

Olran's chain of thought ended as he ironically found himself chained in a barrier.

"Ho? Is that Olran? I must say you really are predictable. Fleeing into darkness once your scheme has been discovered. You were a perfect tool for our use."

"Tsk, release me cowards! Or feel the wrath of a Valefar!"

"Your threats mean little to us, schemer. You lured our traitors into a trap and weakened them for us, all the while thinking that it was your plot, your genius. What foolishness. A schemer must always realize that he himself can fall into another's scheme."

"I see. Himejima Minato, a member of the orthodox faction of the Himejima clan. What? Did you expect Baraqiel to fall by my hand? Hah! You morons! He lives, and soon he will come for you."

There we go! I've found a flaw in their trap. All I have to do is find a moment when they are distracted and I will be free once more.

"Hardly, perhaps he suspects there is a traitor, but he'll fight beside us in a crusade to kill you idiotic devils."

"And who is the idiot now? Baraqiel fled as soon as he heard from the progressives on how you let my son through. You can't blame a single traitor if the entire territory of your rivals allows the enemy to sack your home."

"What?!"

"It would seem you were more careless than you thought, a messenger bird from the progressives made its way into the battle. You 'treacherous' kin are on their way back to defend their homes. I wonder who is the better plotter now?"

"You lie!"

"Do I?"

After a moment of tension, the practitioner binding Olran looked down, his brow furrowed in thought.

Here's my chance!

Forcing what was left of his energy through the flaw, the chains binding him to a sealing barrier shattered. Olran dived forward, eager to re-enter the shadows. Only for him to be swallowed by light once he reached the shadow. Screaming in pain, he slowly disintegrated as the purification worked its way through his wounds.

"Idiot, like our seals would have such obvious flaws. You truly are predictable."

Unconcerned, Minato motioned to his hidden compatriots.

"Come brothers and sisters, today the Oniyama-kai falls! Let us finish what our heretical brothers could not!"

Cheering, the force of nearly 200 hundred practitioners advanced to the burning mountain fortress.

The devil must have been lying. No messenger birds entered the airspace of the Oniyama-kai nor does Baraqiel's home border any of other progressive households. The devils should have entered only through orthodox territory, so no heretical eyes could have found out about their attack until after the fact.

Shaking his head, Minato focused his attention to the burning fortress.

No matter, killing these upstart youkai is more important now anyways. Father has already arrested that fool Souta, so he can deal with all this political garbage later.

"I have done what you asked devil, now put my daughter down!"

"Hah, are you really in a position to make demands bitch? But then again, you are finally being cooperative, so I suppose I should reward it. Be thankful for my mercy."

Callously, Begmal threw Ritsuka to the side, slamming her into the wall. Ignoring Ritsuka's yelp of pain, he menacingly stepped forward towards Shuri, licking his lips as it formed a malicious grin.

"You truly are a fine thing. Baraqiel does have some fine taste, doesn't he?"

Smiling Shuri closed her eyes and raised her right hand, as if in prayer.

"Indeed he does. But I must say, you truly are a fool."

"Hoh? And what makes you say that?"

"This."

Shuri's gohei, which she threw to Begmal's feet earlier, glowed in power as a seal erupted beneath the devil's foot. Chains reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis burst forth from portals that appeared from all around him, binding his limbs. All the while Begmal's eyes widened in shock before quickly morphing into annoyance.

Is that all? A barrier of this strength I can break through in a matter of moments. Ugh, this bitch doesn't know when to quit.

His aura flared, and the chains that bound him slowly corroded away. But Shuri was unconcerned as she pulled out a hidden talisman from her sleeve. Running to close the distance, she slammed it into Begmal's left eye before firing it.

Screaming pain, he fell to the ground grasping his face before Shuri fired a final shot into his torso. Watching him fall limp, she turned around and limped her way towards Ritsuka. Kneeling, she tentatively petted her daughter's hair.

"Everything is going to be alright…"

MASTER! The devil is still alive!

In horror, Ritsuka turned her head towards Begmal and saw him slowly rise from the ground.

"Mom!"

Seeing Ritsuka's fear, Shuri instinctively grabbed her and rolled to the side, barely avoiding a purple bolt of magic that effortlessly punctured through the wall. Turning around, she saw a battered, bloodied Begmal hovering in the air, his bat like wings appearing behind him. His one remaining eye looked down on her in utter contempt.

"Dumb whore. You should have aimed inwards towards the brain instead of outwards. I was going to keep you alive for a bit, but a warm body should suffice."

"Ritsuka, run. I'll slow him down."

"But Mom!"

"Do as I say! Hurry!"

Without hesitation or waiting for her daughter's response, Shuri bolted towards her enemy, utterly uncaring as two purple bolts of magic struck her leg and lower torso. Then, right as she stepped into striking distance, he disappeared from her sight, only to land a brutal blow to her stomach. Staggering, she could offer no resistance before he grabbed her head and slammed her into the ground.

Noticing that she fell limp, Begmal pulled her hair to raise her head high enough to grab her throat. Then, lifting her up, he slowly began to squeeze.

"This is how it ends, bitch. Don't worry, I'll tell your husband you said mine was bigger and better than his after I'm done."

Barely opening her eyes, Shuri glared in defiance. Then, when she saw his eyes drifting away from her and towards her daughter, she flicked her wrist and revealed a final talisman hidden in her sleeve. It was the original flawed prototype Azazel showed her a week ago. Using what little remained of her strength, she swung her arm into the shoulder of her hated enemy and filtered the last dregs of her power into it.

The resulting explosion blasted the two apart.

Master, we need to run! Don't let Shuri's sacrifice be in vain! The devil is still alive!

Ignoring the spirit's advice, a horrified Ritsuka ran to her fallen mother's side. Shuri's face and right arm was covered in burns, and purple veins started bulging where Begmal struck her earlier. Her face was pale and her breaths were shallow.

"Now only if MY peerage was worth half of that woman…!"

Ritsuka froze in fear before slowly turning towards the bitter voice.

Begmal once more stood victorious over his enemy, but the cost was evident. His body was riddled with burns and holes. His clothes tattered and destroyed. His left eye and his right arm were missing. With his remaining arm, a massive magic formula appeared.

"I don't care anymore. You, your mother, and your home shall burn. Then, I'll find your siblings and have my way with them every day for the rest of their lives. After what your family has done to me, you owe me this much. Valefor shall rise again."

Raising his remaining arm, the raw power of an a high class devil was on display as the air rushed to feed the growing purple flames.

No, no, NO! I will not let this happen. Is there something, anything that I can do to save mom?!

Panicking, Ritsuka protectively stood between her mother and Begmal, unaware of a brief flash of light flickering from her right hand.

Master, you- No, this is fine. If it's for you…

Jeanne Alter sighed as a familiar sensation washed over her...

What are legends?

Legends are tales known by many, passed down for generations to come, as feats to emulate.

But what of Ritsuka? The girl who saved humanity from incineration? Her feats are worthy of such a title, yet it shall never be known by those she risked her life to save.

And yet, she is still a Legend. For those who fought by her side, by all those who reside in the throne of heroes. Her tale, her struggles were engraved into their hearts, to be forever remembered.

Ritsuka is a legend.

A legend known only by Legends.

Noble Phantasms...

Representations of a legend's keystones.

Sometimes it is a weapon. Sometimes it is an item. Other times it is a location or ability.

But it is always related to a feat, unique to that legend.

So, what of Ritsuka? A magus who fought in the singularities? Providing mana to servants is not unique. Fighting beside legends of old is noteworthy, but not unique.

No, for she who fought to save humanity, there is only one feat truly her own.

The day she stood alone, facing Goeta, the demon that incinerated humanity. All of her allies had fallen, the world and time itself burning around her. Picking up the noble phantasm of her most beloved friend, a stalwart shield, she stood alone against the demon and defeated him in single combat, undoing the incineration of Humanity, at great personal cost.

So once more, she stands alone. A child of fallen blood, facing a descendant of the demons that once incinerated the Human Order, surviving only by the sacrifices of others, her foe weakened by the decision of the eldest.

Instinctively, with only a shadow of a memory spurring her on, Ritsuka reached forward, her hands opened expectantly.

The devil watched on, smirking at what he perceived to be the delusions of a dying child.

Once more, the noble phantasm of a beloved servant entered her hands. But it was not a shield from a young servant who stood by her side since the beginning.

No, in this life that right was reserved for one, who sacrificed everything for her.

A flagpole bearing the motif of a dragon answered the call, poised to avenge the woes of its master.

Begmal furrowed his brow in confusion at the sudden appearance of the banner.

A final magical weapon developed by Azazel? No matter, I'll just collect it after the child dies. It is not as if something as weak and pathetic as that could do anything with it.

Smirking, Begmal raised himself higher in the air. And then, flippitantly he swung his arm down, a purple torrent of poison, magic and malefic fire descending down upon the pair, threatening to consume them and the surrounding area.

Confident in his victory, Begmal's mind wandered to other concerns.

How do I play off this disgrace? My father will never let me live this down if I don't have a compelling enough excuse. Maybe highlight the fact that it was a secret weapons facility for Azazel and say I lost my peerage and gained these injuries from the resulting explosion? Could work, but I need more….

Ritsuka briefly stared at the banner in her hands, before a loud familiar voice yelled at her from within.

Master! Stop gawking and hold the flagpole vertically in front of you!

Jeanne?

No time Master! Do as I say NOW!

Flinching at the intensity of her voice, Ritsuka obeyed and raised the banner before her, its flag motiff fluttering in the wind of the oncoming firestorm.

Now pour your emotions, your feelings, your magic into it!

Feelings?

Yes, your anger, your hate, and all of your sorrow! Think about the devil that ruined your home! Remember the suffering of your mother that loved and cherished you to the point she was broken and bleeding on the ground defending you. Focus on the pain you yourself have endured at his hands!

Let the pain be the power for your victory! Let this bastard feel your coming vengeance!

But I… ok… but can you help me Jeanne?

Of course master. Focus on what I've told you, I'll guide your hands this time.

Closing her eyes, Ritsuka reflected upon everything that had happened. Her falling from the sky, her home being ruined, her sisters going missing, her father who had yet to return, and her own mother being struck down before her. Tears began to fall from her eyes as her emotions overflowed,with the bitterness and misery taking hold.

The banner began to hum with power. It drank the negative emotions of its master. It drank the despair and pain of the mother. It drank the rage of a servant forced to sacrifice so much. All of it a deluge of suffering, consumed and converted to to raw power.

As the devil's flames and magic slammed into it, Ritsuka was pushed back. But trusting in her friend, she kept her eyes closed and focused more and more upon her bitterness and sorrow. Confused, Begmal watched as the banner was somehow stalling his attack.

What in Satan's name is going on? Bah! I'll just throw more power into it. Azazel's creation or not, the child could not possibly endure so much magic bearing down upon her.

Opening his palm, Begmal willed more energy to flow into his growing firestorm, utterly unaware that the banner was devouring the power of his attack.

Jeanne Alter smirked at her foe's foolishness. Her noble phantasm found a new source of negativity to tap into. An enemy of an enemy is a friend.

Would a peerage of devils view the King that abused and betrayed them as an enemy or a friend?

Their resentment and despair flowed into the banner, humming and throbbing in power as the sheer weight of the negativity around them threatened to spill over and engulf the area in vengeful fire.

Master, it is time. I'll guide your hands, just be sure to say the words I impart to you of your own will.

Ok Jeanne, I trust you.

Thank you, Master.

Bitterly smiling, Ritsuka swung the banner, dispersing the wave of purple fire before its remnants were also sucked into it. With a flourish, she ignored the indignant gasps and shouts of Begmal and opened her eyes, her bronze irises replaced by the purest of gold. Lifting the banner high, she spoke softly, uttering a phrase nearly inaudible to the heightened senses of the devil.

But it was one that would eternally engraved upon his wretched soul in the final moments of his fleeting, miserable life.

"La Grondement Du Haine."

Author's notes

Heya Peeps!

Remember when I said I was going to write a Heroic Reality next? Well for some reason I couldn't write anything good because I lacked inspiration. So instead of releasing a subpar chapter I decided to write another chapter in this story so maybe I could get it out of my system and work on my other stories. The next chapter or so should be the last of this childhood arc before the proper start of the DXD story.

Oh and right now I'm fighting with the state because they want me to do jury duty even though I'm in school, specifically practicum I to be a teacher. That's right, I'm in school to be a teacher. Piss me off and I'll give you guys detention and homework.

Or in words my editor would appreciate:

Your king decided that his Shackle subjects deserves more chapters for being so polite and deserving! -Gilgamesh level laughing-

Do not worry Heroic Reality subjects, despite your unsavory fascination with that lowly faker, your king has not forgotten you! Your concerns shall be addressed on your King's prerogative, after he has satisfied the droll ministers in their pointless endeavours to force a king to exercise restraint.

Editor's Notes:

So, uh, this chapter has been the most satisfying thing this year. More satisfying than winning a 1v2 as a support Leona. I was reading this while listening to some swaggin' music by Masaru Yokohama on loop (because I'm that guy), and when I was reading the part where (hopefully none of you read these first, so spoiler alert, I'll give you five periods to look away….. oooof) Ritsuka was pouring her misery into Jeanne's banner, and the first climax synced perfectly with the lines. Fun times, almost nutted profoundly.

Regardless, hope you all enjoyed and the fans that are waiting for the next chapter of "A Certain Heroic Reality", be prepared to relish in my suffering because apparently the next one is gonna be somewhat… long.

Stay true my dudes. Ryousuke… going back into Soul Calibur to create more characters (fml),

Author's response

Pst… you guys should challenge him to make characters in the reviews after you comment on the chapter! xD

(Totally shouldn't tell him to look up his name for a Sonic OC and ask him to recreate it.)

Editor's response:

Heccin' bet boiiiiiii

(And I already did part one of that bs. Never again.)

Response to the Response:

Do not worry my loyal subject, your king shall undertake this task for you once more and deliver the results to you via discord. Thank me for my graciousness.