Makoto: Well…last time was one hell of a hit.
Ragna: Yeah…
Jin: …
Rachel: Let us finish this and move on.
Hakumen: Yes. That serpent has made his move.
Noel: Yeah.
Saya: And right now Noel is with that creep Terumi. Along with Tsubaki.
Terumi: These triangles make circles...
Jin: What the hell is he muttering?
Terumi: All these circles make triangles...
Tsubaki: What's wrong with him?
Relius: Forgive him. He just dropped a gallon of LSD.
Ragna: A gallon!?
Akahana: Yes a gallon. Like a literal milk jug.
Relius: We do not know where he got it from though. He doesn't leave very often.
Terumi: Relius! Akahana! I need you to tell me I can leave whenever I want and I can do whatever I want to do when I want!
Relius: Terumi you ca-
Terumi: BITCH DON'T TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK TO DO!
Rachel: How long has this been going on?
Akahana: A few days now.
Kagura: Wow... Where the hell did he even get all that from.
Kokonoe: Do you really want to know?
Kagura: Good point.
Lambda: Mental state... Unresponsive...
Nu: Haha! He shaking so much he looks like a rabbid!
Makoto: A what?
Kagura: Ok Makoto, we need to have a talk now...
Jin: Even I know what that is. Question is...how does she know?
Nu: Nu saw them one time and they were funny!
Noel: That's...kinda vague don't you think?
Nu: Nu knows what she saw.
Saya: Well if he stays like this it just makes our job easier.
Rachel: True that.
Celica: Does anyone else smell that?
Valkenhayn: Yes... I do believe that smells like gasoline.
Ragna: What!?
*looks to see the room behind the door was sizzling*
Jin: Holy...
Makoto: Shit.
Izanami: That is quite annoying. Who did that?
Terumi: I saw a fire!
Rachel: That answers that question.
Celia: More importantly shouldn't we be getting the fuck out of here?
Jin: Yeah, but the review is almost over so the fire will probably just go out on its own.
Celia: Talk about shattering the fourth wall...
Hakumen: His logic is sound. I see no problem so let us begin
Celica: Start the chapter!
Chapter 18: Mu 12
Celica sat on a small stool beside a sleeping Ragna, both hands caressing his one to calm her fraying nerves. The clock at Ragna's bedside table read 2:30. So it's been twenty minutes now, Celica thought to herself. She took her gaze from Ragna to out the window, her eyes fixed on the cumbersome sky above. A few minutes ago, the cloudless sky changed to an orange red. Beautiful, some might call it. However, it was nothing but a bad omen to Celica. She knew exactly what this was, what was going on. And all she could do was sit and hope for the best. Noel was in trouble and she couldn't do anything. The feeling of helplessness that settled within her assaulted her. Fear and anxiety threatened to send her over the edge. What kept her from balling was Ragna's warm hands.
Soft...comforting hands. Sometimes she never wanted to let him go.
Thankfully his wounds healed, nothing fatal thank god. Yet, he should've woken up by now. Celica couldn't help but wonder if there was something else wrong she didn't know about. She checked him over several times and he seemed just fine. Maybe it wasn't something to do with his body itself... Yes... It was that. Celica didn't want to believe that Jin would do something so horrid—something so inhuman. That wasn't the Jin she, Tsubaki, Saya, Ragna, or anyone else knew. Sure, Jin wasn't the most social or talkative, but he wasn't some psychopathic murderer. Though, coming from both Jin and Makoto, it wasn't like she could do much about it. What followed now depended solely on Ragna. But that might've been what frightened her the most. Just what was Ragna going to do when he and Jin meet once more?
Would Ragna want revenge?
Her lips curled in fear. From the very moment Ragna heard of Terumi's whereabouts, the look in his eyes were...different. Celica could see the hatred upon the mere mention of that mans terrible name. Not like she could blame him after everything he's been through but... To see him like that... It scared her. She squeezed his hand tighter and pleaded for him to wake up.
"Ragna... Please, wake up... Jin... Saya... Noel... Ms. Rachel... We all need you to wake up." Celica had no idea why she was talking like he was awake, but maybe he could hear her. All she wanted him to do was open his eyes so she could see those emerald and ruby eyes of his once more. Everyone was fighting to get Noel back and Celica knew how despicable Terumi was—how sinister he could be. That man didn't care who he hurt or what he had to do. Even attacking Noel, Tsubaki, Makoto in broad daylight. Celica laid her head on Ragna's chest as she could hear his beating heart and feel his chest going up and down as he breathed. She took a fist full of his shirt into her hands and clenched her eyes squeezing tears out like a sponge. "Please... Wake up..."
"U-Ugh..."
As if summoned at her beckon call, Ragna began to awaken. Celica sprang up and watched Ragna's closed lids reveal his mismatched eyes. Tears of joy dripped down her chin onto his face as a smile followed. He was awake... He was finally awake.
"Ragna..."
"Celica... You're crying..."
"O-Oh!" Celica didn't even realize it herself really. She quickly used the back of her sleeve to wipe the falling tears away. "I-I'm sorry. I'm just...so happy you're ok."
"Was I out for long?" Ragna asked, his voice still a bit groggy and much deeper.
"A half hour," Celica sniffled.
"A half hour and you're cryin' over me? Jeez... Idiot." Ragna smiled. That smile soon faded, however, into a much sterner form. His eye lids fell over his mismatched eyes with a heavy sigh and his brow stiffened. The tense air that formed around Ragna was the stark opposite of what she felt from him mere seconds ago.
No...! He isn't...!
"Ragna, what's the mat—?"
"Where's Jin?" He cut her off.
Celica swallowed a heavy lump that took away her ability to speak. "He...ran off to the branch ahead of everyone else."
"I see..." Ragna rose from the mattress to climb out the bed and went towards the window. The sky was an odd orange red. He took a quick glance at the time to see it was a quarter to three so it shouldn't be like this. He closed his eyes as his body pulsed like a heartbeat. A drop of sweat trickled down his face as he placed a hand on his grimoire and bit his bottom lip. "Damn it...!"
"Ragna? You aren't...thinking of going are you?" Celica asked, frightful. The mage took a single step towards him. She knew the answer and it scared her. Her hands slowly cupped his right, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Sorry... I need to go."
"No!" Celica erupted. "Don't go yet!"
"I have too, Celica. You know that."
"Then take me with you!" Celica pleaded.
"It's too dangerous. I promise I'll bring Kokonoe and Nine back to you."
"That's not it! Tsubaki and Noel are in danger! I can't let go by yourself knowing just how dangerous it is! What if you get hurt? I know I can't fight, but I can't stay here knowing you and everyone else is fighting so hard to get her back. You keep getting hurt and I can't stop it! Ragna I just—!" Celica's rambling ceased when she was uncharacteristically pulled in by Ragna. The abrupt interruption left Celica completely still, which allowed her to realize that she had used all the oxygen in her lungs from her rant. She blinked a few times, embarrassed how close she was to him and how tight he held her. It was always her that would insinuate a hug—never the reverse. But...this wasn't so bad. "Ragna...your hurting me..."
"Sorry..." Ragna spoke softly.
"It's ok... It doesn't hurt that much." She responded in a tone just as soft.
"Celica... Thank you," a hand moved up her back to the back of her head, gaining a blush from Celica. "For always lookin' out for me. Even though I'm always in these conditions you're always the first to run to me. I've never shown you any type of gratitude besides a thank you. Maybe this can make up for all the times I was such an unappreciative ass..." In the blink of an eye, Celica's hands bound him. Her hold even stronger than Ragna's. The shorter mage shivered in his arms as his shirt became damper. "I can't count a number of times you've healed me... Helped me. Remember when I climbed that tree for your doll and fell all the way down?"
"Of course..." Celica breathed out with a sob. "Of course I remember... Every single moment I've spent with you—I've never forgotten. Happy ones... And," she gnawed at her bottom lip and cracked the last words from her throat. "When I saw you die."
"Celica..."
"I could never stop thinking about it. I had no idea what I would do if you just left me like that... I don't want that to happen... I just feel so helpless sometimes when I see you like that. I want to know that when the time comes I can protect all of you... I don't want to be a hindrance, Ragna."
"You aren't you idiot. Don't push yourself. Fighting is my thing so just hang back and let me take care of that ok? If I can't protect you then...what good am I?" The teary eyed Celica picked her head up from his chest for her eyes to meet his. "So, this...is the only way I can keep you safe."
"Keep me...safe?" She repeated with a sniffle.
"Celica..."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry." Before Celica could ask what he meant something struck her from behind, knocking her out. Ragna held her limb body so she wouldn't fall and took her over to the bed. He laid the unconscious girl down and when he tried to walk away, her hand grabbed his.
"Ragna..."
Ragna said nothing and slid his hand from her grasp, placing it on her chest. A single tear ran down her cheek and onto the pillow as she called his name one more time. With a solemn sigh, he threw on his jacket, sheathed his sword on his waist. and with one more quick glance outside he turned and faced the door.
"Are you ready, Ragna?"
"Yeah. Let's rock."
"Why the hell...is he so strong!?" Kagura took heavy breaths in order to regain himself. Saya stood by him, panting herself. They knew Relius wasn't going to be easy, but this was something else. They haven't been able to put a scratch on the man yet. Every time they advanced that damn automaton intercepted them and he used that chance to strike. They knew the doll needed to be taken out first. If not, there was no way they'd be able to get any ground on Relius. The man merely stood there, stroking his beard and watching them like lab rats. It made them sick. Tsubaki and Noel's lives were in danger and they couldn't get passed, one perverted man!? Kagura made it a point of duty to make sure he kept calm, but he found himself succumbing to anger. Saya was the same. Noel... Her family—her sister was in the hands of some mad man and she couldn't get passed one man to save her. She'd rather die than let some psychopaths take advantage of her little sister.
"Relius Clover...! Give me back my sister!" Saya said as she rushed in.
"That is not really possible as I do not have her. Ignis." Relius snapped his fingers as the automaton swatted Saya away with her massive claws. She didn't go far and kicked the ground, taking to the air with her blades held high. She came down hard, swinging both blades with all her might. The immense blow knocked Ignis off her balance and Saya wasn't going to let this chance pass her. A light aura formed around her body and blades. "Heavenly—!" Saya's strikes flew at alarming speeds, her body spinning with her swords like she was dancing. "Dance!" With the final swing, she swung both her light covered blades down, sending Ignis bouncing on the ground. Using this chance she advanced towards Relius, but Ignis swiftly rushed back to her. Before the doll could get any closer Kagura soared in with a kick that sent the doll away.
"I got the doll!"
"Thank you!" Saya continued towards her target and ran low. Once before him, she launched a series of slashing strikes and kicks. Relius nimbly dodged each one, humming and mumbling gibberish to himself. The lack of care in his voice only served to anger Saya even more. All this was nothing more than an experiment to him. Saya planted her feet firmly on the ground and used her strong footing as a boost to rush Relius, a blade thrusted forward to pierce him.
"I see you have matured since the last time I laid eyes on you," Relius shifted to the right to avoid the fatal strike. "More data is needed..." Before Saya could face him, a massive green fist sent her spiraling up to the ceiling. She managed to get herself back in control and kicked off the ceiling, coming down with her blades crossed.
"Soaring Brilliance!"
Relius leapt out the way as the descending Saya crashed into the ground. The dust and debris created from the impact quickly dissipated to unveil a rising Saya. She faced Relius and pointed her blade at him, eyes narrowed. "Mmm... Yes, you may turn out be quite interesting. Given the time... Ignis." The puppeteer snapped his fingers as Ignis broke away from Kagura to jump beside her husband's side. Kagura quickly ran beside Saya and dropped into a stance. "It would seem as if our time is up."
"What?" Kagura tilted his head in confusion from the man's odd claim. Time? What's he talking about?
"The altar is now fully active..." Right when Relius finished his sentence the room began to shift.
"What is this!?" Saya gasped, her head spinning in all different directions.
"I dunno," Kagura said, his head doing the same. "But I don't like it... We have to move or—!" Suddenly Kagura became immobile and looked down to see himself being dragged into the floor. "What the hell is this!? I can't break free!"
"Kagura!" Saya tried to give him her hand but immediately found herself being pulled under as well. She tried to wiggle out but it only made her sink faster. "I can't break free!"
"S-Saya! God...damn it!" Kagura roared, trying to wiggle out.
"Relius...Clover...! What are you planning to do!?"
"Well, that is none of your concern number ten. Ignis, we depart." On his command, Ignis takes him in her arms and jumps off, leaving the squirming two alone to their fates.
"N-No! I can't...!" Saya gave it her all but to no avail. "Noel! Tsubaki!" She cried out. Her descent only fastened the more she struggled.
All Kagura could do was listen to her cries as her face slowly faded. "Damn it!" Kagura reached his hand out to the ceiling as his entire body finally submerged. The man now drifted into the nothingness. He could feel nothing, see nothing, hear nothing as his mind slowly became nothing. No strength in his limbs, he couldn't even lift a finger. "Noel... Tsubaki... I'm sorry." With his final words, his eyes shut, drifting off into slumber. An endless slumber which he would not wake from.
An eternity of darkness.
Makoto, still engaged with Yasha, suddenly halted as she felt her heart stop. A slow hand came over her breast, worry filling her. "What!? What is this feeling!?"
"Hah. Looks like a couple of your friends just kicked the bucket. Sucks to be them, but it saves them the trouble of watching what I'm gonna do to you. Haha—!" A solid cross to the jaw shut the laughing woman up and dazed her. Following the cross came a right hook and two swift kicks to her ribs before she was sent flying into the wall by a straight punch to the chest. The hacking dark haired woman stood up for her eyes to meet an enraged, walking Makoto.
"You don't know...what you're talking about!" With a roar, Makoto charged at Yasha and threw a fist that slammed into her scythe. A fury of powerful punches flew from the squirrel, each one blocked, ducked, or weaved. "You don't know what you're talking about you bitch!"
"I think I do!" Yasha pivoted on her right foot and step-kicked Makoto right in her ribs, pushing the heel of her boot into the wide eyed beastkin before sending her off into a pillar. "You all were walking corpses the moment you all stepped in here. But hey, can't live life without making a few mistakes."
"Go to hell..." Makoto swiped the blood off her lip with her finger. "You're the one who's gonna become a corpse when I'm done with you."
"Guess talking shit's all you're good for beastkin. It's been fun..."
"!" Makoto looked around to see shadows creeping up on her from all directions. "What is this!?"
"But all good things must come to an end." With a snap of her fingers, the shadow sprang up and wrapped around Makoto. Yasha rose her hand up as the shadow picked her up. She swung her hand to the right as the shadow slammed Makoto into a pillar, erupting a scream from her. Makoto was treated like a pinball, thrown up, down—left, right. "Time to send you to the netherworld where you belong." Yasha closed her fist as Makoto was thrown up into the air and the shadow morphed into a massive monster with bright red eyes. It opened its jaws and ensnared the screaming Makoto, bringing her down to the ground with a massive explosion that encased the hallway in a dust cloud. All that was heard in the now silent hallway were falling rocks from the impact. Yasha made her way over to where Makoto landed and found the blood covered beastkin on her stomach twitching. With an uncaring kick, she moved Makoto onto her back. "Can't believe you're still alive... Guess you're tougher than I thought."
"N-Noel... T-Tsu...ba...ki..." Blood gushed out from her mouth and ran down both sides of her mouth. "I'm," she breathed in. "On my way..."
"Yeah, I don't think so..." Yasha itched her scythe on Makoto's jaw a few times before raising it above her head. "Now die—!" Before she could land the finishing blow, a wave of seithr carried her into a pillar and smashed her right into it.
"What...?" Makoto heard the ruckus and grudgingly opened her eyes to find Yasha on the ground. Footsteps came beside her and the blurred image of a figure with a red jacket sheathing a massive blade. Slowly, her blurred vision faded so her eyes could clearly point out the man next to her. "Ragna...?"
"G'ah... Damn..." Yasha rose up to a knee and picked her head up for her eyes to meet her attacker. "Nice hit platinum..." She wiped the blood from the side of her lip and smirked. "Those eyes of yours... I think I like them. Hah," she got back up on both feet. "As much as I'd love to stay here and play with you," her body glowed as she began to fade away along with her voice. "Looks like my times up. That attacked wiped out the last of my energy. A shame really... Looks like things were finally gonna start getting interesting. But...there's always next time," she winked. "I'll see you then." With those being her final words her body dissipates into balls of light that float up into the air before disappearing altogether.
"So...she was a fake?" Makoto asked, confused.
"Guess so," Ragna looked down at her. "So," he knelt down beside her. "I'm guessing you can't walk?"
"Can't even feel my legs. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be fine."
"We don't have the luxury of time and I can't leave you here. Sorry about this." Ragna slid his arms underneath her, one behind her back and the other under her legs, and picked her up.
"Hey! What do you think your doing!?" Makoto blushed
"Just shut up... You can't walk and I don't think flailing around is gonna do you any good." Ragna groaned.
"Well, you don't have to sound like an ass you know..." Crimson lit up her cheeks as her head laid on his chest. Ragna took her more relaxed approach as a sign to go. It was deathly silent, the clicking of boots resonating around the marble walls kept the hallways from becoming completely barren. The atmosphere grew a little uncomfortable for Makoto, so she decided to start a conversation. It was better than quietly letting him carry her. That by itself threatened to knock her out. "So, Ragna, where's Celica."
"I left her back home," he sighed.
"I see..."
"Don't worry, if you're uncomfortable it won't last much longer. I'll put you down soon." Ragna told her.
"N-No, that's not it actually! I don't...really mind you holding me like this. It's...comfortable." Makoto's voice softened as she spoke, volume no louder than a whisper. Suddenly, Ragna came to halt as she pried her head from his chest to look up at his concerned expression. "Why did you stop? What's wrong?"
"This is as far as you can go. Look." Ragna motioned his head for Makoto to look ahead. She did so and saw what seemed to be some kind of wall bending.
"What is this...?"
"Space is shifting..." Ragna said.
"Shifting?" Makoto echoed, turned her head back to Ragna. "What's that mean? None of this is making sense. Is everyone else beyond this point?"
"Most likely," Ragna carried her over to the wall next to him, set her down slowly to lean against it, then turned to the shifting space. "Stay here. Not like you can move anyway..."
"Where are you going?" Makoto asked weakly.
"I'm going to finish this," he turned back to her and showed her a smile. "Just hang tight. I'll bring Noel and Tsubaki back to you, I promise."
"I-Idiot..." A smile formed across her lips with a light blush, her eyes flickering and ready to close. "You better bring them back to me...or else..." Threatening him with her last words her eyes closed.
"Honestly," he chuckled. "What hopeless idiot..."
"It's not like you have room to talk, Ragna." Azure giggled.
"Whatever," he rolled his eyes to his grimoires teasing. Ragna's expression tensed, his brow lowered and his lips straightened. "He's close by..." Beyond this point, Ragna felt two presences; one he didn't know and the other he knew very well. "There he is..."
"Is that all you can muster, Power of Order?" Setsuko's icy glared stared Jin down.
Jin was on one knee, huffing and puffing. Covered in bruises, slashes, and ice from head to toe. His blade still wouldn't listen to him, leaving him at a heavy disadvantage. He may have been able to hold his own, but his strength fleeted by the second. In this state, he wasn't going to last much longer. "Silence...!" Jin grunted back onto his feet, wobbling a bit before he got a proper balance of himself. "I am...not finished yet..."
"A tenacious boy you are... I'm impressed you're even able to stand with those injuries."
"I am going to save, Tsubaki...! I won't allow you to forge the sword!"
"Won't allow...? Funny," Setusko chuckled. "Are you sure that's it? Come on now, we both know why you're here. It's only natural that you want to show your big brother how well you can handle such a situation," his eyes narrowed. "Given what you did to him."
"Shut up!" Jin took his aching body and ran full speed at Setsuko, eyes widened with rage. The man merely sighed at his flailing and summoned a sword made of a brilliant ice that formed a blade similar to Jin's, but a bit wider. With a wide swing, icicles spring up from the ground, rushing Jin. Jin countered by summoning his own barrage of icicles that shattered the coming ones. With the way cleared Jin continued his rush, meeting the man in close combat. Jin may not have been able to draw his sword, but being as close as he cold was better than attacking from a distance. He swung his sheathed, following them up with kicks and blasts of ice. None of his attacks hit their mark as they were parried, dodged, or deflected.
"Pathetic." Setsuko swung his blade down as hard as he could, knocking Jin off balance, then ramming the hilt into his chest. "If this is the best you can do, running in here like an angered child wasn't the best option for you."
"Shut your mouth..." Jin grabbed his arm and pulled him in. The next thing Setusko knew, Jin's knuckles had sunk into his cheek and all he could see was white. Next, Jin shoved his boot right into his abdomen and sent him bouncing away. It took Setsuko less than a second to rise back up to his feet and wipe the minuscule amount of blood from his lip.
"You still have some fight left in you I see. As much as I would like to stay," suddenly Setsuko began to glow and his voice became distant. "My time is up. The boundary is a rather annoying thing... We will meet at a later date. For now, you have your own concerns." With that, his body vanished, becoming balls of light before disappearing into thin air before his eyes. Jin's guard never wavered, waiting to see if this was some trap, but it wasn't. It was no more than a shadow—the real body was somewhere else. He spat out some blood that accumulated in his mouth and wiped his lips with his finger. Unnsatisfaction and anger crossed on his face, filling his heart. Throughout that battle, Jin couldn't help but be distracted by something else... Someone else.
His brother.
Maybe now he couldn't even call that. Fear, guilt, anxiety... All these emotions plagued his mind from the mere thought of facing him. After what he did—who would blame Ragna for driving his blade through his chest. His hand clenched around his sheath, shaking the metal. Sure, he may save Tsubaki... Who knows if he could even do that in the state he was in now. But after all this... What then? Jin hung his head in solemn thought. His body going cold that matched the temperature of his blade.
"Jin. I found you..." A gruff voice said.
Jin gasped from the familiarity of the voice. He turned to face it and found Ragna standing a good distance away from him. Was he so caught up in his thoughts he could notice his approach? It didn't seem like he tried to hide. That expression said it all. "Brother..."
"So, you come running here... For what? Trying to run away from me, Jin?" Ragna started over to him, mismatched eyes glaring sharply at Jin. Jin stood in place, eyes shifting from his brother's gaze. The platinum stopped right in front of him, eyes narrowed. "Look at me, Jin," Jin said nothing, merely turned back to face him. "You did it?" Ragna asked simply. A long silence took up the two brothers before it was broken by Jin.
"Yes..."
"...Good to know." Ragna clenched his fist tight and reeled it back before slamming it into Jin's stomach. The powerful punch forced Jin's eyes to stretch and spit to cough out his mouth, rolling down his chin. Jin's legs gave up on him as he began to fall to his knees. Before he could, Ragna grabbed his collar and forced his eyes to meet his. "So you come running here, huh!? Not even gonna face me you damn coward!?" Ragna's teeth clenched, then slammed Jin into a pillar as his eyes turn feral. "Do you have any idea what the hell's going through my head right now!? I've got quite a few reasons to knock your ass out and smash your head against the goddamn pavement! You come here, knowing what's at stake—like THIS!?"
"Kuh!"
"Answer me you damn brat!"
"I... I didn't mean for this...!" Jin's teeth ground together as he tried his best to hold back an explosion of emotion. "I didn't mean for this to happen...! I didn't want...! I don't know! I don't know anymore!" Jin erupted in a surge of suppressed emotion, letting tears he'd show to no one flow down his cheeks. "I didn't want of this to happen!" He screamed. There was a time in his life when he was all alone. The only thing he had was the four walls to stare at. But, that all changed one day. "When I went to Wadatsumi and stayed with you, I'd never felt so happy! For once in my life, I saw what it meant to have a family! I didn't want that to end! Please believe me, I never wanted this to happen!"
"Jin...! You little...!"
The rage and ferocity that filled Ragna's eyes were beyond convincing. Jin saw no point in talking any longer and closed his eyes. "Bro—no... Ragna. If you wish to kill me... Then do it. If my death can set you at peace somewhat, my life is yours to take. Maybe in death, I can repay you for...showing me what it's like to be a family."
"You bastard...! Don't you dare say that to me!" Ragna reeled his fist back and smashed a crater into the pillar. "How dare you say that to me now! You don't have the fucking right to tell me that! You think you can just throw your goddamn life away and expect me to be happy!?" His fist began to shake as his bangs created a shadow that blocked her eyes from view. "It wouldn't damn it... It wouldn't make me happy at all... I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I lost another brother."
"Another...brother?" Jin felt Ragna's grip eased as his collar slipped through his fingers. "But... I...!"
"Shut up! Don't you dare say another word to me! I don't want to hear any bullshit excuses!" Ragna gnawed on his bottom lip, drawing a bit of blood. "Why...? Why the hell do you assholes make it so fucking hard to be angry at you? Goddamn it..."
"Brother..."
"Jin... Never do ANYTHING like this again. Do you hear me? I don't want to lose anybody else." Ragna turned his back to face Jin. The expression he held on his face was one he didn't want anyone to see. "You can't draw your sword...can you?"
"No..."
"Let me tell you something. It wasn't 'you' who killed my brother. It was the will of that sword taking control of you..."
"What?" Jin gasped and turned to his sword. "I don't...understand..."
"A nox nyctores... They've got minds of their own, Jin. You know that don't you? The reason why that sword chose you, in particular, was because you wield the Power of Order or whatever it's called. So, to put it simply: that sword was made specifically to kill the 'Black Beast'. In other words...me. Whether or not you realize it, those weapons are dangerous. Every wielder has had something taken away from them, however, nothing has been taken from you. Now, tell me, what have you lost?"
"What...have I—? G'uh!" A sudden ringing sound split his head, forcing him on a knee. "What is this!?"
"So, she was right..." Ragna muttered.
"Brother...what's going on!? What is this!?"
"Murderous intent," he answered simply and turned back to him. "Directed at me. Even if it isn't your intention... You want to kill me. Even now...you want me in a pill of blood at your feet."
"No! I don't!" Jin wobbled back up to his feet. "I don't want to kill you!"
"And that's why you can't draw Yukianesa."
"What?"
"Don't you get it, idiot? You're not using it—it's using you. Now, that you've outlived your usefulness, it won't let you draw." Ragna's eyes ran down to the sword, narrowed. "Hey! Yukianesa! I don't know how much you hate me and to be honest—I don't really give a damn! But you better watch out! My little brother here's pretty damn strong and if you had an ass I'm sure he'd kick it! So watch it. He isn't so weak that he'd let some piece of scrap metal tell him what to do!"
"Brother..."
"Jin," Ragna looked back to him. "That thing shouldn't be telling you what it is you want to do. So make that sword your own. I know you can do it," a smile formed on his lips as he winked. "A big brother's gotta have some faith in their stupid little brother right?"
"Brother..."
"Oh, and um... Mind...cooling it with the water works?" Ragna turned around and itched the back of his head. "Don't know how long I can stand it before I keel over from the guilt..."
"Yes..." Jin sniffled and wiped the tears away with his sleeve.
"Unbelievable..." Ragna sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Anyway, I need you to do something. It's important."
"What is it?"
"I need you to head down to the cauldron, just in case I can't stop the smelting process. After you save, Tsubaki that is."
"After...huh." Jin's eyes fell to his boots as he sighed. "After this, I don't think you will see me again. Once Tsubaki is safe and the smelting is over, I planned on leaving and—"
"You ain't going anywhere, so don't start with that bullshit." Ragna turned back to him. "If you even try, I'll beat your ass down and drag you back. So throw that idea out unless you think you can get away from me." He walked over to him and tapped his chest with a fist. "You save Tsubaki, we stop the smelting process, kick Terumi's ass, and go home. That's how it's gonna work out. So stop bruting and let's go." Jin's brows rose as his widened eyes shimmered in shock. Go...home? Together? Jin couldn't help but crack a small smile at the thought. Never in his life did he ever wish for the company of another. That he could get through life alone like he was forced to. But now he couldn't imagine himself like that... Not anymore.
"Yes... Together."
"God...you got me sayin' all this mushy mushy crap... Don't ever do this again," Ragna groaned. "This is freaking embarrassing..." His gaze shifted to the darkness of the ends of the hall. "Someone's watching us and I think you know who."
"I do."
"Save her, Jin."
"You do not need to ask me that. That was the plan." With that said, Jin blazed a trail down the halls, leaving Ragna alone. He felt her presence—her eyes. She was waiting for him and it didn't take long for Jin to find her. Tsubaki stood in the middle of the hallway with a rather odd get up on. It belonged to the Zero Squadron, but the color was jet black instead of a creamy white. Not only that, but her eyes were crimson instead of its usual azure blue. He stopped a few feet away from her, narrowing his eyes as his gaze met her cold, malicious one. This...thing. This wasn't Tsubaki. There's no way something so desolate could be Tsubaki. The Tsubaki he knew had eyes filled with life and vigor. This was a mere shadow of her—if he even dared call her Tsubaki.
"Jin Kisaragi. You have come."
"Why are you wearing that?" Jin asked.
"I thought it would be appropriate. The Zero Squadron cleans up trash like you that haunt this world. Only fitting that I wear it since I'll be killing you," Tsubaki rose her dagger up, the sharp end pointed at Jin. "Jin Kisaragi," darkness surrounded them in the blink of an eye, replacing the halls. "Your life ends here."
"Tsubaki... I swear, no matter what it takes and no matter how far I have to reach," Jin broke down into a stance. "I will free you! Just hang on!"
"I swear to god... I'm gonna kill...whoever made these damn stairs..."
"It wasn't even that much of a run."
A tired Ragna stood at the top of the NOL building before the stairs leading up, cursing at the person who thought making these stairs was a brilliant idea and vowed to kill them after this. But he could worry about the possible murder of a very unlucky idiot later; something else had to be done first. His eyes narrowed once they met a massive altar that stood in the middle of the empty top. Terumi was nowhere to be seen, but he could worry about him later; he knew where Noel was and that's all that mattered. He bolted for the altar, intending to take Noel from within the cocoon at the top.
However.
"!" Instinctively, Ragna spun around on his pivot, quickly unslinging his blade from his waist to parry a snake chain. His eyes followed the snake back to its wielder as he pointed the tip of his massive blade at him and roared his name. "Terumi!"
"Don't you know it, stumpy! I'm surprised you managed to make it up here with all the interference going on down there. I'd tip my hat off to you, but I lost it!"
"Let Noel go right now!" Ragna demanded.
"Let her go? Now, why in the HELL would I do that? I'd be wasting the souls of SO MANY people. You wouldn't want that, would you Rags?"
"You sadistic son of a bitch!" Ragna kicked the ground and came down hard, intending to cut the man before him clean in half. Terumi leapt back as his blade slammed into the ground. Intending to give him no space, Ragna quickly rushed Terumi and brought his blade down on him. In the blink of an eye, two knives intercepted his sword before they could hit their mark.
"Whoa! Someone's antsy."
"You used the soldiers as sacrifices!?"
"Ah, that... Well, they were more or less cannon fodder, to begin with. Might as well take advantage of them. Besides, we've got a shit load more of them so no worries right?" Terumi said casually.
"For a guy who works for intelligence, you are one SICK son of a bitch," Ragna growled.
"Please, flattery will get you nothing besides a knife in the gut. But tell me, cause I'm interested," Terumi's eyes narrowed. "How in the hell did you make it here? I know YOU'RE not smart enough to see the mirages within the shifting space down there. Your brother maybe, but... Hehe." A dark chuckle left his lips as it curled into a smirk. "Maybe it wasn't you... Guess the bitch is still kickin' inside that grimoire of yours."
"Quit runnin' your mouth already!" Ragna swung his sword to push the snickering man off of him. "Let Noel go! Now!"
"And where's the fun in that?" Terumi replied with a grin.
"Guess I'll have to take her by force then! I'd rather kick your ass to the curve anyway!" Ragna held his right arm to his face as the shell opened to reveal a red light. Seithr swirled around his arm, slowly coating his blade in a dark aura.
"Ah, the old Blazblue. Love that thing, don't you?" A grin formed on his lips, stretching ear to ear. A green aura came around Terumi as it swirled upwards. "The Power of the Azure..."
"Bastard...!" A vortex of seithr swirled upwards around Ragna as well, his body surrounding in the same darkness. "I'm takin' Noel back with me."
"Oh? And how are ya gonna do that Ragna when you can't even land a single hit on me?"
"It ain't gonna be like last time." Ragna snarled.
"You're right. It won't..." A green wave pulsated off Terumi and flew through Ragna. Slowly Ragna felt his power waning as the grimoire grew weaker and weaker until finally, he could no longer feel its power. The darkness that swirled around him dissipated and the seithr that covered his blade vanished.
"What!?"
"It's gonna be a hell of a lot worse..." Terumi snickered darkly, his tone darkening as he chanted. "Restriction 666 released... Dimensional interface field deployed," a green sigil appeared under him as a smirk grew on his lips, showing his teeth. "Code S.O.L. Blazblue... Activate!" Once the last word left his lips, a rush of power shot up like a geyser. Gale force winds threatened to send Ragna flying, but he managed to hold his ground.
"The hell is this!?"
"It's time I give you a taste of real power boy! You wave that grimoire around like a pussy compared to me!" Terumi laughed. "Nothing more than a little piss ant! A paper tiger in front of a storm! A mere human before a god."
"G'uh!" The Azure Grimoire was completely dark. Azure's presence was gone, he couldn't even hear her voice. Ars Magus was no longer available to him now. Shit, Ragna cursed internally. Options were limited and this situation didn't brighten it up at all. He clicked his teeth and gave Terumi a sharp glare before readying himself. The sharp end of his blade pointed towards the smirking man with both hands on the hilt, his eyes narrowed, sending him a message.
"Are you still gonna fight me? Wow, and people call ME crazy..."
"Like I care what the hell you think," Ragna growled.
"Heh... Hehehe! H'yahahaha! Unbelievable," Terumi face palmed and threw his head back in sadistic laughter. "You really want to fight me! This is great! If you wanna kick my ass then fine! Come on! I'll feed your soul to the AZURE!" Terumi laughed as he took off in a burst of speed towards Ragna.
"Bring it asshole!" Ragna roared as he took off and met Terumi halfway.
"What was that?" Izanami felt a sudden surge of malicious power erupt from the top of the branch.
"Ah, so it's finally starting," Akahana looked up. "The smelting process...will soon be complete."
"Then you will get out of my way." Izanami rushed the mage with a burst of speed, bringing her foot down for a drop kick. Akahana blocked the devastating kick by crossing her hands and sent a kick of her own, pushing her heels into her stomach. Izanami made sure not to go far. Faster than Akahana could blink, the violet slammed her palm into her stomach, following up with a few swift kick with the last one sending the mage away. Right when she was ready to move off, a massive red magic circle appeared beneath her. Flames burst out like a rising tornado and ensnared the death goddess in its heat. Akahana watched the flames disperse into embers to reveal Izanami what looked like a purple ribcage around her. The rib cage slowly shattered like shriveled bones as Izanami fell to a knee.
"It seems like the space is affecting you too now. Took long enough."
"The boundary... So you truly intend to smelt the sword." Izanami said with a heavy breath.
"With it smelted, that hunk of junk will be in pieces before you know it," Akahana said.
"You seem to be alright with the world being destroyed." Izanami rose back up to her feet. "A shame really since your precious sisters will perish as well."
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. First things first though..." Yellow lights scattered in her palms, crackling more and more until it formed streams of electricity. "If not for this space weakening you, I wouldn't have been able to defeat you like this. Gods truly are powerful beings." Akahana spoke in a cold tone, her eyes darkened with murderous intent. "Begone." Simultaneously when she said that, the massive sparks scattered, and like jaws, came down on Izanami. The streams struck and left her charred, smoke steaming off her. She stood there for a couple seconds before falling forward with a thud. After a few seconds of silence, Akahana fell to a knee, her breathing heavy with bags under her eyes. "Fighting my sister then you... She doesn't know when to give me a break. Well," she forced herself up and gave her back to Izanami. "Not like it matters now... All that's left is—" A sudden blow to her stomach robbed her of all her oxygen, the contents of her stomach welled up as her vision grew blurry. Her head moved down like crank to see a palm thrust into her gut.
"It is not wise and rather rude to turn your back to me..."
"Izanami... How are—!?"
"Silence." Izanami rose her hand up, creating a shadow claw. The claw ripped up, leaving three bloody lacerations going up Akahana's body. She followed up with a split kick that sent the mage flying into a pillar, creating a crater and came down to the ground with a thud. "Annoying mage," she held her right arm and winced. "I wasted too much time... I need to move." Izanami whipped around and began off, but halted when a heavy pressure forced her still. Simultaneously, a large white magic circle appeared underneath followed by several black chains. "Wha—!? These chains...! This spell is—!"
"I'm not out yet..."
Izanami turned her head around to face a downed, panting Akahana. "You insolent...!"
"Try as you might, in the state you're in you can't escape, even you." Blood gushed out her mouth as she chuckled. "Enjoy your stay in hell..."
"This what you were after all along..." Izanami was slowly being brought down into the seal. She tried to break free of her binding, but it was useless. She felt no power to draw from and her vision was fleeting fast. "I must say, for a human you are indeed impressive. To immobilize me and place me in such a situation. I will admit...this is a first. It would seem I have no choice, but to bet on 'him'... A mere possibility..." Weary words being her last the goddesses body vanished into the seal, leaving the half conscious mage alone. A chuckle left her as Izanami's words echoed in her.
"To bet on the catalyst of calamity... Gods really are...mysterious things," another burst of crimson forced its way up her throat, landing with a splat in front of her. "Talk about a hell of a gamble... I look forward," her eyes flicker until they finally close and her last words lead her into unconsciousness. "To the possibilities..."
"Talk about a pain in the ass..." Kokonoe stood before an unconscious Litchi, victorious. The battle wasn't anything hard, mostly odd. The strange presence that oozed off her felt abnormal—like the space that surrounded her. Was she drawing power from it like some kind of excess power source or was it something else? Whatever the case may be, she was taken care of and it wasn't her problem. Before she started off, a chilling presence took hold of her. Damn, she clicked her teeth and turned to the source of the nerve racking presence. "Relius Clover..."
"The daughter of Konoe and Jubei... Greetings."
"Where the hell are Saya and Kagura?" Kokonoe took out a drill hammer and stood on guard. "What did you do to them?"
"I didn't really do anything. This space is just being absorbed into the boundary and well... I think you are smart enough to guess the rest."
"You son of a...!" Kokonoe kicked the ground and soared through the air. She reeled her hammer back like a baseball back and swung down with the intent of smashing the pupeeters head to chunks along the clean marble floor. Her ears tingled as she quickly maneuvered her body to avoid a massive arm. Now, before Relius stood a purple automaton. Kokonoe tried to strike the doll but ended up getting knocked back by the weight of its arms. "Damn you!"
"Why hold back? You have so much potential coursing through you... Potential worth studying."
"I ain't your lab rat freak! Fuck off!"
"Hmph. But you are a nuisance." Relius slammed his hands down on the floor as a purple magic circle appeared underneath Kokonoe.
"Wha!?" Kokonoe gasped as she found her body fading, becoming transparent. "You're a mage!? Impossible!"
"I prefer scientist, Kokonoe."
"Y-You...!" Kokonoe tried to move her legs but found them no longer there as the sigil had moved halfway up her body. "S-Shit! What is this!?"
"I don't think you will ever see the light of day again. Farwell." Relius said simply as Kokonoe disappeared. The man stood with his wife in the silent hallway, eyes fixed on the spot Kokonoe once stood. The silence that took up the hallway was released by a chuckle from Relius. "Soon...it will all come to pass," his lips curled into a smile as he looked up. "Let the sword be forged."
Clangs, boom, and grunts echoed darkness. Sparks flew from clashing metal, lighting up the void. Jin still had his blade sheathed, unable to draw. Still, that did not deter him, though, the odd were not in his favor. Several times Tsubaki was a mere hairs breath away from ending his life, each strike intended to send him to the other world. Jin, though a valiant effort, found himself overwhelmed by her merciless strikes. Her movement showed no falter and neither did her swordsmanship. Her deathly gaze spoke volumes within her silence and what it said made his stomach twist. Those red lifeless eyes left a wretched taste in his mouth, laying a hand on her just made it worse.
With a loud clang, the two gain some distance between each other, Jin seemingly the only one breaking a sweat while Tsubaki's cold gaze remained unfaltered and her breathing maintained. Tsubaki rose her dagger to Jin and narrowed her eyes. "You cannot draw her, can you? Or...do you fear for my safety? Or is it that you are a coward?"
Jin bit his lip and summoned forth several blades of ice. He flung them all one by one at Tsubaki, which she shattered with ease. The redhead rushed Jin with a burst of speed, launching a mix of slash strikes and kicks. Bit by bit, her dagger began to find its mark, tearing up his clothes like paper. Thinking quickly, Jin blasted her with a massive wave of ice that clouded the space in an icy mist. The cool fog from his attack slowly cleared and a few feet away from him stood Tsubaki, shield half was frozen but her body unharmed. The odds truly are not in his favor...
Damn it, Tsubaki...! What will it take to break you from this? Just what they do to you...
"A pitiful man. You can not draw your sword, yet you challenge me? While I respect your courage, I do question your sanity. Give you allow the weapon to steal your heart, I can guess where your sanity lies. How truly pathetic..." A bright aura surrounded Tsubaki as the atmosphere stiffened, turning cumbersome. Jin placed himself on guard, preparing himself for what to come. Without warning, Tsubaki flew at him at blinding speeds. By sheer luck was Jin able to lift his sheath up and block her dagger before it came down. Before he could counter attack, Tsubaki shoved her boot right into his abdomen, depriving him of all his oxygen. In his dazed state, she slashed him right down the middle, leaving an open wound along his chest. Jin held the wound and took a few shaky steps back. The palm of his white glove turned crimson along with his white tunic, the clean white now stained with a deep red.
Bags of bleach accumulated underneath Jin's wavering eyes. There was no way he could stay on his feet for long—let alone retain his consciousness. "Tsubaki..."
"Weak... You are unfit to bear the moniker of order. A man who cannot even bear the burden of his crimes has no right to even draw his blade. Yukianesa seems to feel the same."
"Hah." An abrupt chuckle left Jin's lips which furrowed Tsubaki's.
"Something that's amusing?"
"Yes. It is quite funny actually... Here is something you don't seem to understand. I care not for my moniker over order..." Snow formed a vortex underneath him before rising up, swirling around his entire body. "I bear the sins of none, but my own. If I share the same sins as this blasted order then so be it. But, the sin I committed... A grave sin—was forgiven by a man that showed me what he meant to have a brother. I was no longer alone..." A powerful wave blasted off Jin, pushing Tsubaki back a few paces. Slowly, Jin spread his legs and broke down into a stance, hand gripping the hilt of his blade. Several blue seals appeared one by one down the blade, four in total. "I have succumbed to the will of another... The will of a mere weapon." The seal on the other end shattered like glass upon his last word, the next one cracking. "I am the one who swings this sword, no one else...!" The second seal shattered next with the third one a finger width below the hilt cracked. "I...am the cold steel... I am the arbiter of balance an order..."
"What is this!?"
"I am the one who swings this blade!" Jin screamed at the top of his lungs, shattering the third seal, leaving the last one at the hilt cracking. "Yukianesa! Activate!" The final seal shattered as his blade unsheathed and howled a massive gust of snow, forcing Tsubaki to shield herself from the gale force winds. Jin's sheath slowly vanished as he took his blade with both hands and swung down at nothing. Silence filled the space once more until it was lifted by a small crack, which turned to several.
"No!" Tsubaki gasped as she watched the black space crumble until it finally shattered, placing them in the hallways once more. "You...cut through the space...with just one strike?"
"Fabrications mean absolutely nothing to me... The world the Izayoi create is nothing but an illusion, however," Jin's eyes were covered by the shadow of his bangs. Slowly the shadow left, revealing his now glowing emerald eyes. "My world is that of 'truth'. I will not be bested by a simple parlor trick. The darkness had swallowed me once and it shall not do so a second time."
"This power is...a drive!? Impossible!"
"It matters not who you are," Jin got down into an odd stance and for just one instant, his form was replaced by Hakumens. "You will release Tsubaki. Now, prepare yourself," his eyes narrow. "For your end has come."
Tsubaki felt her legs shiver like she was out in the cold. She couldn't stop it. It felt like her legs could be broken by the slightest gust of wind. "You... You are not Jin Kisaragi. How are you?"
"Do not be misguided by your own fear. I am me. And this is your end" Jin took off like a swallow with a heavy gust of wind behind him. Tsubaki swiftly put her shield up as Jin's blade slammed down onto it, sending off gusts of ice upon impact. The mist created from the attack cleared and Tsubaki gasped at their surroundings. Her feet were covered in ice along with her shield and the hallways. She clicked her teeth and jumped back, growling his name. With the distance between them adequate, she formed a bow an arrow of light and took aim. Jin stood in the same spot, eyes fixed on her with contentment. This only served to piss her off even more as the light grew brighter along with the arrow.
"Die!" Tsubaki bellowed as she let it fly.
"...Stubborn idiot." Was all Jin said before he drew a line with his blade, shattering the arrow of light into tiny specs of light. Tsubaki stood wide eyed at the feat she just witnessed, her arms and legs shaking in disbelief. Jin said nothing and slowly moved his arms in an archery position. Mist gathered itself around Jin as it solidified into an ice bow. The ice was glorious, almost like diamond. He reeled the arrow back as Tsubaki quickly put her shield up for defense. "It's over," Jin muttered before he let the arrow fly, slamming right onto Tsubaki shield. A cool icy mist blew past Jin, dancing in his. The wind ceased and the mist cleared for Jin to behold an unconscious Tsubaki, weapons fallen beside her. With slow steps, Jin made his way over to her and knelt down beside her. The black that stained the normally creamy uniform vanished before his eyes as he took Tsubaki's head into his arms. With his part done, he had to leave everything up to one man.
"Brother... The rest is up to you."
At the top of the NOL branch, a twitching Ragna laid on the floor with a hand on his sword with a smiling Terumi down. Blood running down his head with cuts, scrapes, and lacerations everywhere. His clothes seemed like they were thrown in a woodchipper with how badly they were torn. Ragna still hadn't been able to get one hit in yet and worse, nowhere near the altar. Having his grimiore practically useless to him now didn't make the situation any better. Unlike Ragna, however, Terumi was grinning and snickering away.
"Face down with another man beating your ass. Is it Monday already stumpy?"
"Shut up!" Ragna got up and rushed Terumi. He swung with the intent on beheading him as a snickering Terumi playfully leaned back to avoid the beheading. Ragna then brought his blade down for a body splitting slash, which was avoided as Terumi spun on his pivot foot. Terumi then jumped over Ragna as he tried to go for a straight punch and kicked his back, making him stumble a bit. Ragna quickly retained his footing and whipped his body around, using his momentum to swing his blade. However, he sliced nothing but air as Terumi was nowhere to be found. Before he knew it, a snake chain had wrapped itself around him. He cursed, trying to break free of the binding, but alas it proved futile as he was brought high into the air.
"Man, aren't you high up there," a waving Terumi said below. "How's the view?"
"You son a bitch! Get me down from here!"
"As you wish." Terumi shrugged casually. He snapped his fingers as the snake chain slammed him down to the ground, drawing back and leaving him in a crater. It didn't take long for Ragna to stand back up again and give Terumi his usually hard glare. "You're more like a cockroach than anything Rags. Maybe I need to buy some bug spray to keep you away?"
"Keep yappin'... It just makes tearing that smirk off your ugly mug all the more satisfying—" A pulse robbed Ragna of his speech as his head to the source; the altar. That odd sensation... It felt like a heartbeat almost. But it wasn't just any heartbeat. It belonged to... "You're insane... Are you actually trying to create a Black Beast!?"
"Black Bea—? Are you high? 'Cause I'd love whatever the hell you're smoking right now. Why in the HELL would I want that failure back into my life!? Do you have ANY idea the bullshit I went through because of that thing!? Which is ironic, given to who I'm talking too... You'd know better than most."
"Talkin' about shit I don't know... That figures..."
"Ah, guess the shitty vampire didn't fill you in huh? Guess you'll never know then..." Terumi snickered.
"What the hell does that mean? What did you do to Rachel!? Where the hell is Saya and everyone else!?"
"Aw~ You worried about that adorable little sister of yours? Girls got a real thing for you, you know. Sucks that it won't go anywhere now that she had that perverted friend of yours are takin' a trip into the depths of the boundary... I wonder what they're doing in the darkness?"
"Saya...and Kagura too!?"
"You know the messed up thing is, you didn't have to think when I said, perverted friend." Terumi deadpanned.
"Where the fuck is Nine!? Tsubaki! Rachel! Kokonoe!"
"Ah, Nine and her dirty beastkin of a daughter are taking a little...nap. Tsubaki is my little bitch, but I'm sure she and your little brother are having the time of their lives down there. I'm sure she'll be fine, but your little vampire groupie..." Terumi's voice darkened as a sadistic smile formed across his devilish features. "I promise you, you won't ever see that little bitch ever again."
"What... What did you do to her?" Ragna said, out of breath and wide eyed. Afraid to know the answer.
"Stuck in a cell made of magic for the rest of eternity. But don't worry, I'll make sure she's not alone," Terumi's eyes widen as said with chilling malicious tone. "I'll make sure to torture that bitch for all of eternity. So I'll put her to good use for you..."
"You son of a...! I'M GONNA TEAR YOU IN HALF!" Ragna shouted with indescribable rage, yelling like a madman towards the green haired man. Above them away from view, Lambda watched the battle, her eyes focused on Ragna.
This unsettling feeling in her heart made it tighten. Her body shook with each blow he took, every scream and injury he sustained. "I... I need to..."
"Lambda, stay right there," Celia commanded through her communicator. "We only have one shot and you can't blow it. Do...and we all die."
"Roger." Lambda nodded as her fists involuntarily clenched. She didn't know why but watching Ragna like this infuriated her. Her teeth ground behind her lips as her nails pierced her skin, drawing blood. It dripped down her hands like raindrops, her nails threatening to rip her skin. The sound of Ragna's screams and yells left a bad taste in her mouth and she felt a surge of emotion begin to build within her like a bomb. Yet, she didn't know why she felt this way. She knew nothing about him besides his name. Yet that name always made her so happy. "Rag...na..."
"Gah!" Ragna was struck by the head of Terumi's snake chain and knocked to the ground, coughing up dried blood from his throat.
"Come on, is that really the best you got? Guess all hat no cattle."
"Screw you...! I ain't...done yet!" Grudgingly he rose to his feet. Again, he felt a pulse and this time Terumi smiled.
"Yes...you feel that?"
"That feels like...the Azure..."
"Well, duh! It IS the Azure after all... And with this, I'm so close to obtaining it...!" Terumi thrusts both hands into the air and yells, "The Azure Flame Grimoire will be mine! Soon! I'll obtain my 'freedom'! And I'll force my sword right down her throat! Hahahaha!"
"Azure Flame...Grimoire?"
"Oh, yeah. Forgot you were here. Well," Terumi looked toward the cocoon above the altar and smirked. "I guess I could drop some knowledge on your ass while we wait. I've got time to kill." He shrugged.
"The hell are you talking about?"
"Just listen dumbass. I'm about to give you some very crucial information. No thanks necessary, your screams were more than enough," Terumi snickered and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "The Azure: creation and destruction intertwined. The power at the root of everything in this shitty world. The 'true' Azure."
"The...'true'...?" Ragna echoed.
"Yes... These babies we got are nothing but knock of grimoires. But, even with a sliver of the power I stole, you can still kick a lot of ass with things that are nothing but knock offs. And by you, of course, I mean me."
"What the hell does this Azure Flame whatever have to do with Noel?"
"She is the Successor to the Azure." Terumi snickered. "It would've taken me much longer to get what I needed, but this bitch already had the Azure in her already! It's freakin' hilarious!" He face palmed and threw his head back. "That whiny little whore turned out to be EXACTLY what I was looking for!"
"...What the hell are you?"
Through his laughter, Terumi caught his mutter and immediately stopped. "Oh? What do you mean by that, stumpy?"
"This Azure Flame Grimoire... You setting the Black Beast free... Stealing the Azure's power to make these grimoires. What the hell—no." Ragna's eyes narrowed. "Just who the hell are you..."
"That's rather personal, Ragna... But I'll answer. You're the only one to ask who... All anyone asks me is...why?" Terumi smirked. "Be grateful that I'm even telling you this...human."
"Human?" Ragna echoed. Human... Ragna recalled Terumi saying something similar at their previous encounter. He looked down at him like he was some higher class—aome higher being. What was with this 'human' business? Something didn't add up. Just what the hell was he? What Terumi told him made his eyes widen in disbelief and turn to rage.
"What if I said you stood before a 'true' god. What would you say?"
"Bullshit!" Ragna charged at Terumi and swung his blade down in fury. His blade was countered by a snake chain that quickly circled him.
"Is someone not a believer? A shame." Terumi said nonchalantly.
"Cut the crap! There's no way you're some god!" Ragna yelled.
"Fine. Then I'm the easter bunny." Terumi said facetiously. "But I guess I need to prove it to you..." A dark green aura formed an odd type of armor around his arm, springing a sword that extended far more than Ragna's. His danger sense telling to retreat, Ragna leapt back a few paces.
"What the hell is this!?"
"My 'existence' is slowly coming back together, Ragna..." Terumi rose the blade high over his head. Ragna put his blade over his head to guard as Terumi brought the massive sword down. An explosion engulfed the entire rough, nothing but dust blocking the two from view. Once it cleared, a snickering Terumi was staring down at a flat Ragna, blade before him. "So...do you believe now?"
"D-Damn it...!"
"Well," The aura that encased his arm vanished along with his blade as he walked over to the altar. "That's enough ass whopping for now. I've got work to do." He stopped before the massive structure and rose his hands up to the sky with widened eyes. "Now Murakumo! Time to awaken!" Upon his words, the altar began to glow. "This world is made of lies, lies, lies, LIES! But don't worry... I'll show you the truth... The truth called DESPAIR! In the name of Susano'o I command you to awaken Murakumo! No... Kusanagi! The sword! The Godslayer! Your blade will cut away the lies that cover this world! Now summon your righteous blade and lay waste to EVERYTHING!" A bright beam of light shot up from the cocoon into the sky, breaching the clouds. Ragna slowly picked his head up as he cursed.
"Shit... Noel... I'm sorry." He watched as the light faded and a figure descended from the cocoon. Ragna squinted his eyes to look at the figure, to see Noel now with azure blue eyes, a white cloak exposing her stomach and tight high toeless socks. She landed lightly on the ground with a gust of wind, eyes barren. "Noel..." No... This was different. There was no trace of Noel in those eyes. A name popped up in his head and he screamed it out. "Mu!" Shockingly, that name made her flinch as she turned to him.
"Ragna..." Her voice was robotic and lifeless, monotone like her expression.
"It really is you," Ragna fought the pain and stood up, using his blade as a stand to maintain himself. "Mu..."
"Well, isn't that precious? Gonna make me hurl," Terumi rolled his eyes and turned to Mu. "Now, you know what to do right? If you wanna save little old Ragna; the Master units gotta go bye bye." A blue seal appeared under Mu as the Murakumo slowly made its descent.
"N-No! Damn it wait!" Ragna trudged up off the ground and by the time he rose to his feet Mu was already gone. He shook with a mix of pain and rage, both emotions crossed on his contorted expression.
"Man this is just EATING you up inside, isn't it!? You came here to stop me and you haven't saved one person yet," Terumi said with his usual sadistic grin. "No matter how hard you try, you'll always end up flat on your ass. Guess mommy and daddy forgot to teach not to butt into other peoples business. Oh wait, was that a little too personal?"
"I'LL MURDER YOU!" Ragna roared as he charged at Terumi.
"You'll die trying," Terumi smirked as he sidestepped around a head splitting downward strike. He then caught a straight punch from Ragna, startling him. Ragna could let out nothing but a gasp before Terumi brought him in for a knee in the gut. A green energy built up around his other foot and brought it up to Ragna chest, sending the platinum spiraling up into the air. He swiftly continued his onslaught by sending an ouroboros chain to bind Ragna and slammed him back down into the ground. Blood gushed out Ragna's mouth once his body was embedded into the floor. He tried to get up, but a foot was brought down into his chest, keeping him on the ground.
"Te...rumi...!" Ragna hacked as he stared his tormentor in the eyes. Terumi's foot was brought down harder as ear wrenching cracks came from Ragna's chest. He screamed at the top of his lungs, his breathing turning erratic as Terumi's foot dug into his chest.
"That's not good enough for me Rags! Sing! I wanna hear you sing for me you little BITCH!" Terumi mercilessly stomped on his chest, drawing blood each time, some even landing on his face. With one more stomp, he faked a tired breath and wiped his brow. "Oh man, now THAT was a workout. REALLY got the good old blood pumping am I right? I mean your blood is all over the place." Terumi picked Ragna up by his hair and kicked him across the altar. He bounced a few times before stopping a couple feet away from the altar. "How does it feel Ragna? To know you're about to die like a dog. But," he rose a finger. "If you start begging for your life I might reconsider maiming you."
"Screw that..." Ragna growled the best he could muster. "I can still fight...!" He said through bloody, gritted teeth. Ragna took himself back to his feet, blade hanging heavily in his right hand, bringing it down. "I made a promise... That I'd defy this damn destiny of mine! There is now way in hell I'm breaking that promise! So," a weak grin formed on his lips. "It's time to play Terumi. Or are you just some weak little pussy how can't finish the job. Hah. Some 'god' you turned out to be."
"Ouroboros!" Terumi roared as he sent a snake chain to Ragna. Ragna quickly swung to try and deflect it, but the chain swerved around at the last second and bit him right in the shoulder. "You pick the perfect time to grow a goddamn pair!" He sent another, this time in his other shoulder as the two snake heads bit down into his flesh, drawing blood. "I don't think you understand how this shit works! So let uncle Terumi teach you who wears the pants in this relationship!" The chains reeled back Ragna into Terumi. "Serpent's Infernal Rapture!" The blow sent Ragna high in the sky, his limp body spinning out of control. "Not done yet, boy!" Terumi sent another chain that grabbed him out of mid air and brought him back onto the ground. Ragna's back sprang up as he grunted and painfully spat up blood. Slowly, an ouroboros chain wrapped around his neck and brought his limp body up for display. "Ain't talking shit now are ya..." He stuffed his hands into his pockets and took in the torn body. He was quite fond of his work and gave himself a proud nod. "How's the weather up there!?"
"Go to hell...!" Ragna hacked.
"Oh," a green aura built around his chains as they swirled around him. "You first."
"No..." Lambda's body started to quiver in fear. She could sense his malicious intent from where she floated. She couldn't stay here anymore... "Ragna... I'm coming..."
"Die Ragna! Forever!" Terumi swung his arm as his snake chain, now covered in a dark green, flung itself at Ragna with the intention of taking off his head. Ragna closed his eyes and braced himself for the blow, only to hear a few clangs and this odd warmth wrapped around him. Once he opened his eyes he found himself free from his binding and in the arms of Lambda as the Murakumo brought him safely to the ground and laid him down.
"What...? You... You're from the other day..."
"Ragna... I finally remembered why that name made me so happy..." Lambda smiled.
"Then...you really are...!"
"Oh god, another one? Hey, Celia! I know this is your doing! The hell's with you cock blocking me for!?" Terumi shouted up to the clouds.
"You stay here, Ragna," Lambda turned to his tormentor as her blades spread like wings. "I won't let him hurt you anymore. I'll protect you this time."
"Lambda no! Damn it all!" Celia cursed through the communicator. "You can't beat him now! Get out of there! That's an order!"
"L-Lambda...get away from here...!" Ragna couldn't move from where he laid. His legs were unresponsive and he could barely lift his head, pain, and agony from his abused muscles keeping him down.
"Come here to save little Rags~? Hope you're still awake over there Raggy. I'm gonna destroy this doll, just like I did to your dear family. Aren't you lucky?"
"Lambda don't—!" Ragna's breath was taken away once he spotted a long bloody slash on her back. The gash was deep, blood running out like a waterfall. Lambda was shaking, most likely from the amount of blood lost from her wound. If she fought now, Ragna knew she wouldn't survive—he had to stop her. But it was far too late, the Murakumo took off to Terumi.
Terumi simply smiled at the coming Murakumo. Lambda opened a portal as a few swords went soaring to him. With ease, he deflected them all with his knives and rose his arm up to block her spinning kick. Using her close range, Lambda opened a portal from behind him as a blade flung out to his back. Terumi smirked as he quickly grabbed Lambda's leg and swung her around, using her as a meat shield as her blade lodged itself into her wound. She screamed in agony but worked through the pain and tried another kick. Terumi simply jumped away and sent four chains at Lambda. The Murakumo gave chase, weaving back and forth to avoid the deadly chains, firing her pedals at Terumi in retaliation. He weaved around them and flung himself at the soaring Murakumo. Not prepared for him, Lambda took a hard knee to the face that broke her mask and was reeled back in as his snake chains grabbed her and threw her up.
Ragna saw the malicious green aura build around him. "No... No, don't do it! STOP!"
"Don't worry Ragna! There's enough death to go around!" Four snakes in dark green aura's sprouted from behind him as his eyes locked onto the descending Lambda.
"Lambda no!" Celia cried.
"Better get those legs ready because this ain't the only pussy I'm gonna destroy!" All four flung to Lambda and ran right through her body, each snake lodging into her with blood gushing squelches. Ragna's eyes grew wide as the limp Lambda hung in the air. Crimson flowed down the snakes as her pedals fell one by one. Next, her armor cracked and the snakes pulled out from her. Ragna ignored the pain and ran over to the quickly descending Lambda as he slid, allowing her to land in his arms.
"Lambda!" Ragna called out to her hastily as he set her head into his hand and sat on his lap. "Come on, come on—come on!" His lips curled in disgust to the wounds inflicted on her. A steady pool of blood from underneath them, soaking his hakama, but he didn't care. "Open your eyes damn it! Come on!"
"Rag...na..." Lambda's eyes flickered until her eye lids revealed her crimson orbs.
"Why the hell did you come here!? You shouldn't have—!"
"It really is you..." Lambda's quivering lips formed a smile as her bloody hand moved onto his cheek. "I finally remembered you... It took some time, but..."
"Don't say anything else!" Ragna spotted what seemed to be an ear piece in the pool of crimson and took it up. "Hey, Celia! I know you're on the other end and you better fucking answer! Get Lambda out of here now! Hurry up before it's too late!"
"It's already too late," Celia said with a sigh. "The damage she's received has reached the stage where I can no longer fix her. She had about a minute...maybe less."
"You're supposed to be a fucking genius right!? Think of something!"
"It's ok..." Lambda said weakly. "This is fine, Ragna... I got to see you again. That's all that matters..."
"No, don't say that! You'll be good as new I promise!"
"Ragna...save her... My sister... She's in...so much pain," blood ran down Lambda's mouth as tears accumulated in her eyes. "Please save her..." Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as her voice cracked. "I'm begging you..."
"We both will! We'll save her!"
"No," Lambda shook her head and brought her other hand to cup his other cheek. "I can't... So, please do this for me..." With all her strength, Lambda moved her head up to his and rested her lips on his for a few seconds before drawing back and smiling. "Promise me... If you do that...I know you'll...save her..." Her voice weakened as her eyes closed and she fell back down into his lap.
"No! Open your eyes damn it! OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES!" Ragna screamed, shaking her in desperation.
"...That's enough Ragna," Celia's voice cut in, stopping in desperate shaking. "She's gone."
"No..." Ragna's body began to shake as a tear fell onto Lambda's face. "Not again..."
"Wow... Talk about a heartbreaker," Terumi feigned sorrow and wiped a false tear. "I feel so sorry for you, Ragna. To be reunited with some old friends just to lose them... It brings a tear to my eye. But don't worry... I'll make sure both Mu and Nu meet even more gruesome fates than hers. Next, is your brother and sister... I'm gonna make sure you watch as I slaughter them all... And for last... I'll torture that little vampire bitch until she screams for mercy then gut her like a fish." His voice dripped with a deadly poison, his eyes just as venomous.
"Again... It happened again...!" Ragna clutched the lifeless body of Lambda close to his shivering body. A shadow of sadness covered his eyes as his clenched teeth shook in rage.
"Are you upset? You can't be upset right Rags? You gotta know you can't beat me right? But don't worry, you'll join her soon enough." Venom dripped off his tone as his snake chains turned dark green once more. "That was a fun little side drama. Better than half the shit I've seen on TV that's for damn sure." Ragna remained silent as Terumi's shoulders slumped. "So, you gonna say anything or are you just gonna wallow and cry like a little bitch over some dead doll?" Once again, Ragna kept silent. "I'm right here whenever you feel like being a man again!" Terumi tried to taunt but failed as he got the same result. "So, stumpy are you—ok you know what? I'm just gonna kill you and get it over with. I got better shit to do." His snakes combined and morphed into one massive snake with red glowing eyes and sharp fangs.
"Ragna! You idiot! Run!" Celia screamed.
Terumi put his arm out as the massive snake spirit soared through the air to Ragna. Before it hit them, what seemed like a shield appeared around the two that repelled the snake spirit, turning it into dust. "Ok... That's new."
A bright, blue aura appeared around Ragna as a yellow one followed around Lambda. The light grew brighter and brighter until Terumi had no choice but to shield his eyes, lest he became blind from the radiance. Celia could no longer see anything through her monitor beside a bright yellow which forced her o shield her eyes as well. The scientist heard an odd noise beside her and turned to see just what it was. Amazed at what she beheld, her eyes widened in pure shock. They were Lambda's vital signs that were moments ago disconnected... Were now back online... But how could that be? Just what the hell was going on down there.
"HEY!" Terumi yelled. "Quit it with the goddamn light show! What kind of shit is this!?" Gradually, the bright light vanished as Terumi uncovered his eyes. Before him stood Ragna and behind him, Lambda laid unconscious and...breathing!? "I just killed her! Since when did she get a—!?" Terumi's words were robbed as he looked to Ragna's right arm to see a dark aura surrounding. Was the grimoire working again? Did he miss something?
Celia couldn't believe it either, but what made it more unbelievable were the signatures she got from it. "The...Idea Engine... He...absorbed it?" 'He must have rebooted Lambda with it... Bastard plucked her soul right out of the boundary, but...that shouldn't be possible on this scale.' "Ragna...what the hell did you do?"
Ragna, still silent, slowly reached down and picked up his blade that laid beside Lambda. "Azure...you with me?"
"Of course... Let's make this bastard pay for what he did."
"Make me pay? Wow, cliche much? No matter what happens you won't beat me!" Terumi summoned his Ouroboros and sent it after Ragna, intending to take off his head. Before it reached, however, Ragna caught the chain with his bare hands right before it reached him. "Wha!? Hey! Let go damn it!"
"This time... This time you've gone way too far..."
"Tch!" Terumi quickly retracted his snake chain and threw a few knives at Ragna. Again, Ragna caught the blades in between the cracks of his fingers. Terumi watched as his blades eroded before his eyes before disappearing into the atmosphere. Seithr slowly started to become visible as it drew into Ragna's grimoire like a vacuum.
"Restriction 666 released... Dimensional Interance Field deployed..." The seithr erupted up like a geyser as a blue sigil appeared beneath his feet.
"Wait a minute! Whoa whoa! I don't remember putting that there!"
"I'll show you... The TRUE power of the AZURE!" The shadow that blocked his eyes vanished, revealing that both his eyes were now the same color; crimson. He crossed his left with his right as the shell on his left hand opened, revealing a yellow light. "Now engaging the Idea Engine! BlazBlue ACTIVATE!" Gale force winds threatened to knock Terumi right off the altar. Not wanting to end up like his dearly missed hat, Terumi used his snake chains to ground himself. However, he was sent flying anyways as Ragna's fight smashed right into his face. Terumi bounced a few times on the ground. He used his momentum to jump back up and face Ragna, but the moment he did, a knee met his chin and sent him spiraling up into the air.
"I ain't done with you." Pure rage filled Ragna's eyes and a deadly poison filled his voice. With a strong, ground shattering kick Ragna jumped after Terumi, passing him with ease as his murderous eyes stared down at Terumi. "This...!" Ragna clenched his fist tight and brought it down into his stomach with a yell. "This is for Noel, Mu, Nu, and Lambda!" Shattering bones mixed with Terumi's screams as the green haired man came crashing down to the ground. He cursed and leapt out the way, dodging a plummeting Ragna ready to drive his sword right through him. Not lagging behind, Ragna immediately gave chase. Terumi launched a few snake chains to get him away, but they were easily shattered like glass. With quick thinking, Terumi blocked Ragna's downward strike with his knives but was knocked back by the recoil and his knives were reduced to nothing but pieces.
Before Terumi could even look back he was struck by a right kick right across the face that dazed him. "Gauntlet—!" A claw formed around Ragna's other foot as he spun around and dropped kicked him with enough force to crack the ground. "HADES!" Immediately afterward Ragna sprang his hand up in an arc, summoning seithr up that engulfed the screaming Terumi. "Hell's—!" Darkness built around his arm like a vortex until it completely engulfed his entire right arm. Terumi fell right in front of him and before he could touch the ground, Ragna imprinted his knucked into Terumi's cheek. "FANG!" Terumi grunted, and coughed up an absurd amount of blood. The blow sent him tearing through the floor until he came to a complete stop.
"First off," he got back on a knee. "WHAT!? Second..." Terumi got back on two feet. "The FUCK!?"
"This ends!" Once again seithr ensnaredd his right arm, but this time it grew darker, a hellish dark and if Terumi's ears wasn't busted—he heard a rather familiar growl come from it.
Uh-oh.
"There's no way I'm losing to YOU!" Terumi roared as a massive green portal oppened up behind him. Snake spirts flew out in the hundreds straight at Ragna.
"This is the end...!" Ragna started to walk through the bevy of snakes, some biting him while others hit the ground by him. Gradually he picked up speed until he ran full speed through the wild spirits. The snakes bit into him, but he didn't care, he didn't stop. Rage fulled his insentive, driving him to kill the bastard before him. Slowly, the seithr that surrounded his arm grew bigger. Red eyes appeared with large fangs as the seithr took the form of the Black Beast's head. "And this...!"
Terumi saw he couldn't stop him anymore and now stared into his murderous red eyes.
"Yep. I'm fucked."
"IS FOR MY WHOLE FUCKING FAMILY!" Ragna brought his fist all the way up, right into his gut as the beast around his arm took the screaming Terumi away and rammed him into the altar, reducing it to rubble. As the altar fell, a massive dust cloud ensnared their surroundings. Silence took up the dusty area and it soon cleared, revealing Terumi in a bloody heap on the ground and Ragna glaring at him in disgust from afar. The orange clouds slowly vanished as the sun shined its light back down from the azure sky.
"He did it..." Celia gasped, wide eyes shimmering in disbelief. "He won."
"G'ah! Damn..." Terumi coughed up crimson and looked up to find Ragna towering over him, his blade inches away. "Come on, Ragna... Do it. Shove that blade into daddy like the good little bitch you are. That's wha you always wanted right? Well, now's your chance."
"No..."
"What?"
"I've still got questions for you. So just lay there and suffer for me you pathetic little worm," Ragna gave Terumi his back and sheathed his blade back on his waist with a click. "A little bitch like you isn't worth my time... Some god you are. How does it feel to get your ass kicked by some human? Bet it feels REAL good, doesn't it?"
"Hehehehe... You're just...chicken."
Ragna said nothing more to Terumi and walked back over to Lambda. He knelt down to her and picked her head up in his arms. Sadness and self loathing crossed on his face. "It was all my fault... I'm sorry, Lambda." He took the ear piece and spoke into it with a powerful venom. "Get her out of here, now. When I find you, we're gonna have a long talk, you hear me bitch?"
"Hmph." Was all Celia said before Lambda vanished from his arms. Ragna clicked his teeth and crushed the communicator in his palms before letting the pieces fall to the ground.
"Let's go...Azure."
"You ok?" She asked.
"Just a bit startled. There's no time to worry about me now. I've got a promise to keep." With that, Ragna took off, leaving Terumi a bloody heap on the ground.
"Well, this sucks. Now who am I gonna talk too. I know you're not gonna get chummy with me Relius." Terumi barely managed to turn his head and find Relius standing beside him with Ignis.
"I warned you didn't I?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever mom. Just do what you gotta do already. That little pussy didn't finish the job."
"You are the last person who should be saying that, Terumi." A feminine voice cut in. Appearing beside Relius was a woman with long platinum hair, red eyes and a rather revealing purple kimono that showed off her large clevage.
"I didn't think you'd come visit me." Terumi joked with a wheeze.
"I would not miss this for the world. Relius, if you please."
"Gladly, Imperator. Ignis..." On his command, Ignis picked the torn body of Terumi up and with cold, desolate eyes shoved her claws right into his gut, tearing up his insides. She then hanked it out and threw his limp body on the ground as blood dripped off her cold robotic claws.
"Now, we wait." The Imperator said.
"I do not see the reason too. You could end this without a second thought. So why let him do it?" Relius asked.
"I want to see if he can or not. If he can't I'll step in, but," she turned to the debris that was once the altar and smiled. "I don't think I have too."
"Intriguing to say the least," Relius' eyes averted to the debris as well. "I shan't say I am not a bit curious..."
"Hehe. Do not dissapoint me, Ragna... Soon...we will meet face to face once more."
That puts an end to this chapter. I probably should have said this earlier but I want give my thanks to B.B. Wolf123 for reading and reviewing this. Helped me correct my mistakes and I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day and thank you for this if you're reading this. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and the many…many more to come. So I'm just gonna say this now. This story is gonna be pretty long. So without further a do, hope you all stick around for it all. See ya next chapter. Here's the preview for the next chapter.
Hakumen: You are indeed a worthy foe Kusanagi.
Tsubaki: Something off! That's...not Noel! Who are you!?
Jin: Stay out of this Hakumen. This is not your fight.
Mu: Power of Order.
Ragna: I swear I'll save you.
Izanami: Oh?
Rachel: That's…!
Next Chapter 19: Power of Azure
Re-wrote this entire chapter on 8/30/17