AN: Hey everybody. The Homeless King is back from his Memorial Day fun, and is here to drop off the next chapter.
With my viewing of the new film Brightburn, I got pretty inspired again after being in a bit of writer's block. So I hopefully can get back on track with this momentum.
Arc 7 is already in the planning stages, so rest assured it'll be a fun one!
Thanks for all the support and comments, they feed my cosmic lifeforce; besides beer that is.
Ahem now, ladies, gentleman, sewer gators; please, ENJOY.
Arc Six: The One Day
Chapter 35: Arch Enemies
Everything happens in a relative motion, time constantly moves forward, unchallenged.
And within such rules, there is the fact, that the world's vastness results in so many actions, reactions and nullifying steps within a set moment. More or less, within a span of time, countless events can unfold; big, small, important, or meaningless. Regardless...they can happen simultaneously.
And one would be stunned, to see how in their home, their country, continent, or even their planet, that such a staggering amount of incidents can transpire. An hour, a minute, or even just a second, too many situations would be there to be seen, or unseen.
Thusly, no one would be surprised, how many happenings might occur, in just ONE DAY.
Two years ago, in an underground lair, there was an evil existence that lost its power.
These people, these malicious individuals, walked through their well made tunnels. Complete with cupboards, flower vases, even high quality lamps...as the entire place was shaking. Up above, they knew that the war was coming to an end.
Which still meant as a loss to them.
For you see, this was The Coterie of Rose, also known as the Assassination Organization that hailed in Gusteko, the very same that employed Elsa Granhiert and Meili Portroute. Infamous for their willingness to do any job for the right price, and to work for any kind of job. From assassinating political figures, to making heirs to inheritance disappear...even if they were children. Nothing was below their pay grade. But ever since the day they lost those two ladies, their power has slowly crumbled away. Made even worse, when their enigmatic leader Capella, returned in a badly deformed manner due to the loss of her Authority.
Now, they hid away, deep underground, where the soldiers of this losing kingdom would dare not go. Only the previous baron of this kingdom and the Great Spirit of this territory even knew about it...and neither had survived this destructive conflict.
Capella was completely frustrated, she was quickly losing control of her precious iron fisted power, her Assassination Organization was losing money, some of her minions were being killed, and the Witch's Cult was destroyed. The job offers dried up, too fearful of being caught by the Red Lantern Corps., and their original mountainside base was destroyed in a skirmish, truly annoying.
"Fuck, fuck. Those shitbags, those complete meat clumps, everything that was supposed to be mine...it's all falling apart."
Sitting in her desk, with her large claw arm, crushed a tin mug easily. Completely stuck in this amalgamated form, though the human aspects of it were her favorite, it did nothing for the long tails, the giant wings, nor the giant claw.
Fuming mad, she looked over at her people, at least those that didn't die.
Usually, her Authority of Lust, would've made everyone there too fearful to step up to her, but even now, she had a collection of Metia that somewhat made up for her lack of power.
She threw the crushed tin mug onto the ground, as Maira and a green haired man looked to each other, a little wary of her frustration. Then the green haired man's jade eyes, pinpointed a figure. This figure stood with another, so Maira formed claws and the green haired man made two hook swords appear, ready to fight.
"Please, I didn't come here to fight."
Capella snarled as all her people got weapons, techniques and magic ready to attack. But once the figures walked forward, and better in view, they could see the green haired woman, and the helmeted man enter.
"The hell do you want bitch?!"
"I have merely come for an audience with you, Capella Emerada Lugnica."
"So what if ya know who I am, tell me what you came for, before my servants chop you to pieces."
"I'll cut to the chase then."
Punching herself with pride, she smiled.
"My name is Crusch, I have no surname as of the moment, but simply Crusch will suffice."
"Alright slut, like I care, what do you and that sperm filled lummox want with me?"
"Ah, I see. Myself and Aldebaran are here to speak of a joint alliance."
"Alliance?"
"Quite right, we are forming a secret order, to combat the growing hysteria, the mounting perversion, and all consuming terror, that is the Red Lantern Corps."
Raising her brows, Capella was curious.
"Oh? And what do you call yourselves?"
With a lick of her lips, and a smile so hollow that teeth could not be seen, and light completely deficient in her eyes, Crusch answered.
"Exogenesis."
"Exogenesis?"
"Yes, apparently my ally here, has described it as meaning 'all-seed', of which our intentions are similar. To plant the seeds into this world, to restart the life that once was and shall continue to be. All the while, destroying and dismantling Natsuki Subaru's Lanterns."
"Ohhhh, you literally wanna go to war, with Emilia's legacy."
With a smile even more fearsome, more un-ladylike, Crusch answered.
"I want to crush it, underneath my boots."
"Dahahaha! I love it, I love it! I want the same thing! I wanna stomp that bitch's head right the fuck in, and laugh as Pride's Lanterns are all destroyed!"
"Pride?"
"Nothing important really, but I feel like I need to know...other than that satisfaction...what do I get?"
Crusch nodded.
"I will give you the Dragon's Blood."
Completely shocked, she could tell Crusch was serious and intended to have herself cured of her nasty form completely.
Capella, smiled, and Crusch tilted her head eerily.
"So? Do we have an agreement?"
Capella puckered her lips, blew some air and-
"Hey, I think that went pretty well, boss!"
"True, at least they didn't attack us all."
"Right? Haha."
Crusch and Al were being escorted out of the hidden base, all the while conversing about the recent meeting.
"I'm surprised I ran into you though, Crusch."
"Sadly, you still don't remember me."
"Forgive me, even I am not immune to Authority effects."
Al waved his hand around in a playful manner, making Crusch sour her mood.
"Sorry, guess I'm still not that funny."
"No, I should apologize, it seems these two years have truly taken their toll on me."
Crusch brushed back her long hair as she peeked up at Al.
"Maybe with this, I can make it work out."
"No doubt Crusch-san, I'm just glad I can be apart of this."
"...It was indeed a surprise when I found you. Hidden away, in a makeshift house near the Augria Sand Dunes."
"Glad you did, I was so bored there, barely making ends meet."
"And in running into you, I was able to find a mutual connection, another soul whose entirety was ruined by 'them'."
Both went quiet as they continued walking. The steps they took the only sounds that could be heard in that cold place.
Crusch licked her lips.
"This will work."
"I'm sure it will."
"No, it has to, I have to make it work. Nothing else matters but this."
"My home is gone. My existence is erased. My family has tossed me aside. Everything, is gone. But I'm still here, put things right of which has since gone horribly wrong."
Crusch vividly remembered the turmoil she faced when she escaped the Battle of Priestella. Taking a carriage out of there, she was able to make it to her father's estate. Banging on the gates, screaming for him to come out...he did...and immediately asked his guards to escort the mad, rambling lunatic out of his premises.
They did, she kicked and screamed, crying that she was his daughter. He looked at her, just as he was about to turn around to head home...as he muttered.
"I have no daughter...poor girl, I wish nothing but the best for her."
As he sadly turned away, Crusch screamed in a fit, as the guards tossed her down the road. They left her, as she gripped her chest, howling as she truly had nothing left. Nothing...but…
"I will make it work Al, it's all I have left."
They soon exited the underground hideout, and stood now on a icy plateau, watching as the armies of Lugnica and the Rebels were marching towards the final battle of the World War, to the stage known as Kararagi.
"Time to find more strength, in those who wish to plant the seeds."
Natsuki Subaru charged down the hall straight at Crusch...only for a black tendril to whack him to the floor.
"SUBARU!"
Emilia screamed as she fired ice spears from her palm, only for two more black tendrils to smack them away. Emerging behind Crusch was Al, whose black tendrils formed back into a steel like arm. He now had two arms, one a regular, while the other was a Metia. Crusch then swung her sword, which blasted a green flame slice, only for Emilia to stomp the ground and the icy shockwave blasted it through several walls in the mansion. Subaru got back up and fired beams from his Red Ring, of which Crusch used a earring she had on, to create a barrier that protected her. Al kicked off the wall and had summoned an Earth Spike that Subaru blocked with a sword construct. Then Al made it to him, and using his trademark sword, he began trading strikes with Subaru.
Crusch backflipped away, dodging ice javelins that rained down. Straight through the flames, Crusch landed on her feet, and used another earring to palm thrust a wind attack at Emilia, to make up for the loss of her magic attributes.
Emilia nearly lost her footing from the attack, but kept up her pace, and went into the fire. She used an icy burst from herself, which put out the fires around her, letting her meet face to face with Crusch.
Crusch swung downward, but Emilia stepped to the side, landing a palm thrust to her chest. Quickly, she brought her hand back, dodging a sword slice, but Crusch kicked her ankle, making her buckle. Crusch headbutted her, and attempted to stab into her, but Emilia made ice wrap around her hands, catching the blade. In revenge, Emilia landed a powerful knee to her stomach, making her hurl a bit. Crusch headbutted her, again. Crusch let go of the sword, and landed a powerful hook to the side of Emilia's head, and then grabbed her head, forcing her face into a flying knee. Emilia broke free and used her thumb to try and jab into Crusch's eye, but only stabbed at the flesh just below.
The attack made Crusch back off, but not before masterfully kicking the sword back up into her hands. She swung it, but Emilia had ice cover her leg and blocked the blade.
Continuing to strike and attack, Emilia had to block and parry the attacks, but soon got through it all and punched Crusch.
Crusch had to fire another fire blast, which somewhat burned Emilia's guarding forearms, but she spun around it, firing an ice spear, which only nicked her cheek. Crusch had raised her sword but let go, letting a spinning kick rattle Emilia's brain, and proceeded to catch the blade and slice down on the target.
Emilia's chest and abdomen burst open with blood...but only on closer inspection, it was shown that ice intermingled again, saving her organs from any harm, it also helped stopped any heavy blood loss. Yanking the sword out, Crusch tried to do something about it, but a bent wrist strike to her lower jaw made her brain shake, then Emilia elbowed her cheek, then grabbed her. Her arm, her chestplate; with a powerful swinging motion, Emilia judo tossed her down to the ground, then followed by a stomp to the face. Crusch retaliated with a wind palm strike, which shut Emilia's right eye closed. Backflipping back up, she sliced blindly...and the tip of Emilia's left ear fell off. Kicking the half elf in the chest, Emilia riled in pain and Crusch swung her sword with immense intensity, her eyes turning white.
But when she swung...Emilia was gone. So, Crusch looked down.
Emilia was low to the ground, on all fours, glaring up at her like a predator does the next meal. Her pristine eyes, while lovely and mystical beyond words, now appeared as terrifying as a phantom that lurks in the corner of one's eye.
Crusch tried to react by firing another fire blast...but Emilia hopped back up, on one foot. Stepped back a few, then rushed. Then with the momentum, she twirled hard and fast...her eyes now also white, and landed a devastating superkick, the kind of crescent kick that legendary wrestler Shawn Michaels was famous for. The sound it let out, was like a punching bag being hit with a bamboo stick.
It was disgusting.
But mesmerizing as well.
For 5.47 seconds, Crusch Karsten was unconscious.
And as Emilia went to use her thumb to strike her windpipe...Crusch snapped back into consciousness, and had swung her sword. Emilia went wide eyed as her thumb was barely hanging on to her hand, chopped to a disgusting point.
Emilia then kicked her on the side, then a masterful enzuigiri, making Crusch cough blood.
The blade aimed at Emilia and fired flames out of it, smashing Emilia through a wall. Getting back on her feet, Emilia smiled at Crusch, who only got pissed off by it.
"Why the hell don't you use your magic Emilia?!"
"Aw, cause I've been training so much with Kong-shisho! I don't want those practices to go to waste, ya know?"
Emilia's smile was hollow and ghostly, making Crusch bite her bleeding lips.
"Another victim, gone mad by HIS influence. I will save you by taking you to the afterlife."
Crusch once again swung fire out of her sword, but Emilia ran...no, basically crawled under the attack. Making it back to her, Crusch used her barrier again, but Emilia palm striked it, making ice spikes destroy it. Making it past a three slice attack, Emilia used her damaged hand to prepare.
A technique that her martial arts teacher instructed her about, putting her fingers, minus her thumb, pressed tightly together, she struck and relished in it.
It was known in the karate practiced as, Nukite, or simply, the Penetrating Hand.
Her fingers stabbed into side, past a weakness in Crusch's chestplate, breaking two ribs. Crusch tried to impale Emilia with her sword, but Emilia had her foot covered in spiked ice, axe kick it to the ground. Both shoved each other back, but something broke through the wall and got their attention. It was the giant samurai, with Ram atop of him. She sneered at him, and stomped his neck in, killing him.
"Ram!"
"Emilia-sama?!"
Crusch launched a projectile fire slice, but Ram used wind magic to collide with it. The resulting shockwave made dust and smoke fly everywhere. The oni made it over to Emilia and checked on her, seeing clearly how Emilia was exhausted and heavily injured. But a wind slice flew at them from the smoke, and Ram responded by sending her own.
"FULA!"
The two wind attacks collision cleared away the smoke and smashed a ton of windows. There Crusch was with the green haired man, who had the two hook swords at the ready. And both Emilia, Ram and the soul of Rem were stunned by what they were saying.
Rem muttered the truth.
"He...has horns."
Two glowing reddish hued horns stuck out of his forehead...proving he was an Oni.
"Hey, you, babe with pink hair!"
"What?"
"You're an Oni too, right?"
"...And what if I am?"
He licked his teeth, grinning at her nastily.
"Hey, I'm just sayin'. Y'know, Oni gotta stick together, well, what I mean is...we gotta preserve our proud race."
"Deplorable."
"Well, unless you have a sis-"
Ram fumed with violent anger as he body glimmered with the crimson power within her Red Ring.
"-SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH."
"Oops, guess I hit a nerve."
But as he smirked, he looked up and saw a massive amount of spear constructs rain down on them, he grabbed Crusch and leaped back. Ram and Emilia turned around and saw Subaru barreling towards them, appearing so enraged, so malicious, so beautiful and wild, that he scared the both of them.
He flew past them, just as Crusch escaped the young oni's grasp and charged as well.
"CRUSCH KARSTEN!"
"NATSUKI SUBARU!"
They charged towards one another, both with bloody intentions, they clashed, strike against strike. Emilia, Ram and the Oni, could only watch as these two tried with everything to kill one another. Both got struck in the chin making them stumble back. Both fixed themselves to try and face the other, streaks of light representing bloodlust, flowing out of their eyes.
"This was between you and me Crusch!"
"It all changed when you took everything from me, now I will take it all from you!"
Their words spoke volumes of how they wanted the other to die.
And like that, with a single strike from each, as the ground gave in, the walls crumbled around them, and their fates were cemented.
Genau tried yet again to slice down with a projectile claw strike, but Al used his metal metia arm to smack it away. Genau stopped on the ground sending a ground spike at him, which Al countered with his own. The rubble broke apart and the two vicious beings continued battling.
Nijino dodged a diving dropkick, then blocked her incoming bicycle kicks, aided by her dragon wings. Maira then breathed fire, only for Nijino use a bo staff construct to crack her skull, straight through the flames. Disoriented she was unable to block being clotheslined down, before Nijino hurled napalm blood all over her face, killing her for good.
Ovidius blocked swirling magical beams with his constructs. Capella stuck her tongue out at him.
"I heard you were a bitchin' Metia Craftsman, but it won't do any good, worthless meat sac."
"Well, excuse me for being brunt, but you'll find I am more than enough for filth like you!"
Capella slammed her staff on the ground, making purple light streams slice apart the ground, forcing Ovidius to fly up and launch beams down at her with his ring. She flew around them,and the two battled above ground.
Wilhelm struck and swiped away the insectoids appendages...focusing, waiting amongst the rapid fire attacks...until his chance came. With lightning speed, he sliced her head clean off with his sword. But to make sure he did the job, he created a flat hammer construct and smashed her writhing body to mush.
He took a breath and heard the fighting still going on, rushing off to help his allies.
Beatrice had purple spears of magic rain down on enemies trying to pop out of trees, taking them out through the windows. Before a female ninja tried to take her out, but she smacked the ground, releasing a dark purple shockwave that crushed her to the ground. Before she could stand up, she quickly tossed shurikens at her, Beatrice using a magical shield to get them stuck. Beatrice waved her palm at her, shooting out a projectile air burst that shot through her eye, taking care of the assassin. Dissipating her shield, the shurikens fell dismally to the floor.
A man with swirling eyebrows ran through the halls, a battleaxe in hand. He made it around the corner, when something smashed through the wall. The man tried to swing his axe, but it ducked under his attack, easily getting to penetrate fingers into his chest. He could see who it was, and regretted having swung so slowly, or at least, who he swung against. Using the strength in the arms to lift him up...Frederica roared as she tossed him through a window, making fall head first onto the grassy floor with a loud snap.
The golden haired warrior then faced a wolf demihuman, only to kick his windpipe in, and proceeded to snap his lower jaw off with her bare hands, using the lower jaw to stab his head.
Punching his corpse away, she flipped in the air, landing into a powerful kickboxing stance. The flames sputtered and flared around her.
Mimi walked on the grass, completely soaked in blood, the rain falling on her barely cleaning her at all. Nor the bodies of the victims she slaughtered, as she was stumbling back to the mansion.
All she could do, was continue muttering.
"Punish. Punish. Punish."
Subaru used his Shiroyama attack to try and get her head cut off. His chainsaw constructs spun on each end, but Crusch masterfully dodged. Even if it was evident that fatigue was getting the better of her. Subaru created a blood portal, which he reached his hand through and tried to stab, which opened next to her head. Hopping down she leaped forward and sliced upwards, almost getting Subaru. She activated her earring, which slammed Subaru with a shield, then swung fire at him, used a metia bracelet to have whips made of magic stab him to the ground. Subaru hurled napalm blood to free himself, and then kicked Cursch as she tried to impale him. He hopped back up and tried to knee her face, but she cut off his leg.
He smiled from her mistake.
And she realized she only cut off the prosthetic leg he had, a result from his fight with Halibel years ago.
But Crusch used a necklace she had, using it to release a sonic scream that crushed him to the ground. As she raised her sword, she noticed a claw mark construct rocketing at her, using her barrier to block it. But the two attacks broke apart, simply sending pieces of the construct to cut her face. Looking as if a beast slashed her face.
Blood sprayed out, but as Al jumped to her, grabbing her away from Genau who chased after him. He clicked a tooth, and a dimensional crack appeared in front of him, knocking Genau back. But both Red Lanterns got back up, as they saw the three staring at them.
Resulting from this, Capella and several of her goons, the elves who betrayed Emilia, and a few others arrived behind them.
Subaru was snarling, blood and saliva pouring out...as the rest of his Founding Lanterns arrived.
The two factions glared at one another, even Ram, Beatrice and Emilia joined in the contest of auras. But as if to perplex all that was about to happen...Crusch spoke up instead.
"We're finished."
Her people, though confused at first, quickly nodded their heads.
Crusch, in her injured bloody state, spat blood.
"Natsuki Subaru, remember this day. Today was the moment the Red Lanterns failed to stop such a tragedy, failed to suppress our resistance, and failed miserably to kill me! See? You are not unbeatable!"
"YOU BITCH!"
"Now...you will come to regret it won't you?"
Her smile, countered his sharp glare.
"Come to regret, that moment, you let me live."
He did in fact. He let her survive the Battle of Priestella, that War should have been the moment he got rid of her. But his rage preoccupied him, clouded his judgment and resulted in this grave disaster.
Their day off, became a ghastly reminder of Natsuki Subaru's biggest blunder.
A magical vortex opened around the Exogenesis members as they were quickly being pulled in.
All the Red Lanterns rushed quickly, trying to stop them...only to catch a glimpse of Crusch mockingly smirk at them.
"We'll meet again, I'm assure of it. Dread it, until then."
"CRUUUSSSSCCCCCHHHH!"
Too late, the vortex closed shut and they all escaped.
They all floated there a bit, as Subaru was the first to have his feet touch the ground.
And with a loud gurgle, he puked a humongous amount of napalm blood onto the ground, completely taken by his anger. After he was done, and all they could do was watch, as Subaru punched the ground. Cursing his failure.
The day had turned to pure night.
As did Wilhelm have Stride Vollachia.
As did every hero have a villain.
As did every yin had a yang.
An unstoppable force encounters the immovable object.
That was they were.
For the rest of whatever remained of their lives...Natsuki Subaru and Crusch Karsten, were now arch enemies.
Jolokia was supervising clean up operations, all the while Linnea was helping to hand out water and food to the injured. Juel rushed through the crowd and found Moussaka, she hugged him tightly, and he did the same.
Callaloo ran up a wall and could see how several buildings had burned to the ground. Bordeaux, was running through the streets before he tripped, and was stepped on. When he painfully looked up, he saw it was Felt, along with Petra and Poco. The giant spider hissed at him, as he knew what was coming.
"We'd like to ask you some questions."
Felt asked this, as veins of anger protruded on her forehead.
...Vollachian civilians woke up in the middle of the night. Some refugees who still found themselves in Lugnican territory, were being rounded up by angry mobs. A rumor was spread like cancer that Vollachians were in cahoots with the terrorists. Luckily, Red Lanterns were sent to quell the anger, before it broke out into something much worse. Only a few injuries were reported.
In the smoldering sections of the De La Soul Estate, Beatrice, Wilhelm and Genau searched around for any clues, Emilia did so, but to be fair, she did so uninterested. Because, even with Emilia being hurt by the betrayal of her fellow kin and being unable to finish off Crusch herself...she was more preoccupied, worrying about something else.
"Subaru…"
Subaru sat in the Library, which luckily was unscathed in the fighting. Beatrice tried to touch him, but felt it wasn't right, and she walked off. Subaru sat there, with a leg construct making up for his lost prosthetic...and only glanced in the corner of his eye.
Julius was leaning on the wall, nodding at him.
Subaru looked away.
"Maybe I should, just do it already."
With a knock to the door, Subaru watched as Ovidius and Nijino entered. After shutting the door closed behind them, Subaru raised a brow. He peeked over, and noticed Julius was gone.
"Hey."
"Hello there Natsuki-san."
"...How's Mimi?"
"Hmm, she's asleep, it took us a long time to get her under."
Subaru grabbed his own face, as if in pain over the situation.
"What are we going to do with her? Anastasia, Tivey-kun and Hetaro-kun...they were the only things keeping her sane."
"I have an idea that might work, I'll try and implement it tomorrow."
"And-"
"-But that's not what we came to discuss."
"Huh?"
Ovidius pulled up a chair, sitting down. Nijino did the same…
"What, please leave out all the bad news, I am too pissed to handle anymore."
"You have to hear this, it can't wait."
"Hmm?"
"This is very important, at least, I wish under different circumstances this could've been handled. But it has be done."
"Hey, you're making me nervous here-"
"-Natsuki-san."
Subaru sat up straight, as Nijino looked away sadly and Ovidius kept his eyes square on him. Subaru could only see himself in the lenses of Ovidius' goggles.
Maybe, because the world would seem to leave him bare and alone, from what he heard next.
"Natsuki-san, this has to do with you...and Anastasia-san."
Al patted Crusch on the shoulder and headed back inside their illusionary headquarters, located in Volcanica's underground lair...gazing at the stars, grinning with a splendorous, prideful brilliance.
Emilia walked through the halls, luckily not affected by the battle. She was covered in bandages as Puck was on her shoulder, helping to heal her. They then noticed Subaru stumble out of the door, but before Emilia could even call his name...they saw his face.
Tears flooding down his cheeks, his eyes rolled to the back of his head.
Crusch saw a shooting star, as her tired amber eyes glistened in joy.
Subaru fell to his knees, grabbing his head.
Crusch sat down on the ground, hugging her knees.
Subaru screamed in complete agony.
"UUUUUWWWAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHH!"
Crusch exhaled a soft rejoice.
"I win this time."
And so she did. And the two Arch Enemies, finished up the last hours, as the sun began to rise.
Time would move forward, again.
TO BE CONTINUED...
AN: That's that, Arc 6 is over. Yup.
Next chapter will be another an intermission chapter, much like Ch.15 and 21 were. Meaning it will elaborate and/or finish off some details here and there, while leading into what Arc 7 will be about.
I hope you guys liked how I did this one, if not...sorry.
But! Next time, Ch.36, "A Promise to You", see you then.