Hello, this is your author in-progress speaking. It is been a long time since I have updated this story and I am really regretting that fact from time to time. The sad truth is my priority now is not writing unfortunately. Do not worry! I write from time to time. Although I'm experiencing writer's block because it is been a long time since I've been thinking about continuing the story. So I hope you will be patient enough.
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 59: Heroes Faction Vs Occult Research Club!
Hotel Room
"Oh, whatever happens to your partner in crime? The little sister of Arthur? Isn't she supposed to be with you? Did you ditch her somewhere just to get here?"
Lying on the soft surface of the mattress and facing the direction of the voice, Kuroka voices.
"Oh? I didn't nothing of the sort to ditch her. I thoroughly explained my reasoning about leaving her. —She's somewhere on her own in Kyoto. I told her to enjoy herself whilst I attended my own business." Kuroka absentmindedly answered whilst laying her chin on her folded arms at the edge of the mattress. After spending a pleasurable time with her blonde lover which resulted in satisfying her urges, Kuroka was fully dressed as did he, and therefore was ready to go. The only thing she was waiting for was her lover. Her line of sight was currently focused onto her lover prepping his belongings into one duffle bag. "She didn't look too upset with it, though she did voiced out her worries." She smiles through her sentence without worry.
"Which you Ignored?"
"I already told her not to worry too much. —Anyway, I left with a good reason which benefits both of us in the long run." Kuroka graces the blonde with an amused smile.
"I can't argue with that. Though it appears to have benefited you the most." Smirking at the innocent smile across her face, the blonde finally put on the pair of headphones gifted to him on top of his head which fits snugly. The pair of cat ears that recently formed on the headphones had already disappeared back into its place, lengthening the headphone to fit his head size. Having finished putting the pair of headphones, the blonde looks towards Kuroka. "…Let's go."
"What about your belongings?" Kuroka pointed out as Izayoi picks up his duffle bag he left on the desk next to him and shoulders it.
"We'll drop them off somewhere else before we go."
"Where?" Kuroka tilted her head slightly in curiosity.
"I got something in mind."
Meanwhile elsewhere in Kyoto...
"Weird…"
"What is the matter?" Michael asked turning his head to look at Azazel holding his phone. An alarmed look was evident on his face as he held it in front of him.
"I lost contact with the Gremory group." Azazel answered before sighing deeply. "It must be because of the dimension we're in…" He scanned the area around.
"It appears we are at the same location as we once did. However…"
"Yeah, there is nobody within the streets. Not one single soul walking through them." Azazel pointed out.
"Yes, but to create a dimension that clearly mirrors that of Kyoto…" Michael held a disturbing expression.
"It is powerful to say this type of power…" As Michael finishes, he glances to Azazel. "Can you contact the forces scattered throughout Kyoto?"
Azazel look at him before attempting to summon a communicating magic circle to communicate the allied forces stationed around Kyoto. While he was preoccupied, Michael looks out across the empty streets. The place where they are stationed by themselves without any help whatsoever. Just as he spend his time looking around the empty yet ominous area, Azazel's voice spoke up behind him.
"I am able to contact the others around Kyoto. They're in standby."
Michael nodded at this before he and Azazel turned looking at the road in front of them.
"Azazel-sama! Enemy forces are approaching!" A voice spoke out of the communicating magic circle next to Azazel's ear. "Th-They're large in numbers!"
"…So Cao Cao sent him to take care of us…" Azazel murmured. "This'll be something…" He said to himself.
"Who is he?"
Michael asked before he and Azazel heard stomping noises resounded across them. Both Angel and Fallen Angel looked at the big antimonsters appearing in their sight, stomping towards them before smaller antimonsters charges through the legs of the big ones, making their presences well-known.
"Is this it's powers…? Creating monsters?" Michael wondered as he walked a few steps forward, sensing something far out across the road he was looking.
"With just his imagination, if you want a direct answer. That's what makes the Sacred Gear a top-tier Longinus."
"So what is stopping the user from unleashing its full potential?" Michael voices out after projecting the question in his mind.
"We might be lucky on that assumption. The user isn't fully grown to achieve its Sacred Gear's full potential. It's still in its undermine form however the ability one's possessed can be overwhelming." Azazel pointed out as Michael look towards the charging antimonsters that appeared to be countless. The former Archangel extended his left hand forward.
"I have faith in others' ability to battle these creatures."
"Heh, me too." Azazel added a chuckle by the end before he extended his right hand forward. "Hope they're not too overwhelming for them." He chuckled.
Both former Archangel and Fallen Angel Governer focus their attentions towards their enemies—before a magic circle appears in front of both of them courtesy of Azazel. Following after that summon, a multitude of spears, swords and rapiers appeared all around the giant magic circle.
"Disappear with this blinding judgement!"
"Heh!"
Instantly, a shower of light illuminates the whole area.
Another Dimension
Kyoto Subway Station Platform
"Why me?" Issei thought in slight anxiety at his current predicament. "It'll be much safer for Kunou to be with the others than me." He said as he did not anticipate the presence of the Dimension Lost which had transported them to a different dimension however retained the same background of Kyoto. In all honesty, he did not mind to take Kunou but the timing and the fact that he was very much alone, got him apprehensive. Shaking his head, the brunette looks around his surroundings. The two of them were standing upon the entrance of the subway station platform. "We've been transferred to this place…" He mindfully voiced out in his head. Looking at the quiet atmosphere surrounding the area.
"...Isn't this the subway station platform?"
Kunou spoke standing besides Issei, her eyes wandering around, lost in the strange yet familiar area.
"Looks like what happened during the day happened to us again." Issei stated as Kunou glances up at him before realization sets in her.
"T-Then, this is the alternate dimension created as the replica of Kyoto?"
"And it must be the same person with the glasses who did this…" At the brunette's statement, Kunou recalled about the imagery of the bespectacled teen.
"Issei-san, where are we exactly? Our destination is to head to Nijou Castle, am I right?" Kunou voiced out as Issei glances at her for a second before he had a realizing thought. The brunette kneels down and takes out a map from his pocket, laying it down across the tiles of the platform. Issei did not fret that the other servants would have lost their way since all of them carried the same map, which thankfully he did not forget to bring. Examining the layout of the map and finding their exact location, he concluded. "W-We're at Kyoto Imperial Palace…northeast of Nijou Castle!"
Kunou only look on at their location.
"Wait, can this dimension be that vast?" At his startling realization, Issei felt vibrations through the right side of his pants and he immediately pull out his phone. "Kiba?" He called out to the other side of the phone.
"Issei. Are you alright? We've got separated."
"I noticed. I'm with Kunou right now."
"I'm with Saji-kun." Kiba answered.
"Kiba. This dimension, can it be that vast? It happens to be comparable to the size of this map which is centred around Nijou Castle?"
"Yes, this dimension has recreated Kyoto's vast streets with Nijou Castle at its centre. Though one wouldn't be surprised at the battlegrounds of the Rating Game which are equally vast, it looks like the spellcaster has researched in depth the game fields of the Rating Game." At Kiba's explanation, Issei can only look on in surprise at the display of power wielded by the spellcaster before asking his next question.
"Kiba, do you know where the others might have gone to? Are they with you perhaps?"
"No, they aren't. But they can't be too far away. There lots of ways leading to our destination. We're taking one of them right now. How about you, Issei?"
"And we another." Issei stated.
"Keep Kunou-sama safe, Issei. Enemies might be lurking around near us when we least expected it. So do be careful. For yourself and hers."
"I get it. We'll see both you and Saji there." Issei said before ending the call after the blonde said a quick goodbye.
"Are the others…?"
Issei looked at Kunou who asked the question. Her eyes peering up at him with slight worry.
"You don't have to worry. Everyone will be safe wherever they are." Issei enlightened her with a smile. "I sure hope so." He ended the thought. After ending his thought, he turns to Kunou. "We should probably go right now."
"Yes." Nodding her head accordingly, Kunou begin following Issei. The two walk through the empty and ominous subway station platform. No sooner as they begin their walk, Kiba had called them and begun explaining that he had contacted the others successfully without any interruptions however he cannot contact Azazel. That being said, Rossweisse had contacted through Kiba to them that the dimension had a special barrier or spell preventing communications from outside. Issei did not ponder much about it but it was mind-boggling to say the least of the enemies' intentions. Both Issei and Kunou continue their trail along the subway line towards Nijou Castle.
Elsewhere in the subway line towards Nijou Castle...
"Are the others alright?"
Saji asked running alongside Kiba on their way towards the subway station in front of Nijou Castle. The two of them were separated from the group after the mist had mysteriously teleported them to another place.
"Issei's with Kunou-sama. I already contacted Asia. She's with Xenovia and Irina." Kiba stated as Saji sighed in relief of hearing Asia being alongside Xenovia and Irina, knowing the fact as the others that leaving Asia alone would be disastrous. With the others paired up, that leaves Rossweisse to fend for herself." He said before he deliberately stopped followed by Saji.
The two of them readied their fighting stances as they looked upon the man wearing the Heroes Faction uniform.
The said man looked up at their presences before he lifted up his right hand and conjured up a bow made of blue light. He then pointed the bow towards Saji and Kiba as multiple arrows instantly appears at the will of his hand stretching back from the bow.
"You will not go any further beyond this point." The man stated with a serious frown.
"Then we will trudge our way past you." Kiba said as he glances at Saji who caught his glance and nodded in response. Immediately, the two of them race towards the opponent as the man releases the arrows straight towards them. But the arrows were successfully destroyed by Kiba's slashes once the arrows were appropriately close to them.
The man frowned once again before he shoots off arrows made of blue light towards them, endlessly shooting.
At the endless arrows coming towards them, Kiba stabs his holy demon sword into the ground, causing a barrage of swords to appear to the surface from the ground and blocked the arrows swiftly.
"We should not underestimate our enemy from this point." Kiba said as Saji nodded. The two of them stared at the man readying his stance to shoot before the two charges once again.
Meanwhile…
"Irina." Xenovia called as Irina looked at her. "Let me handle this."
"…Alright." Irina answered with a nod as she stood next to Asia while Xenovia steps forward to look at the man wielding a bow made of green light while he stretches his fingers back from the bow string. Multiple arrows made of green light immediately appear at his fingertips as the man stared at Xenovia.
"Do not think you will be victorious in this battle. Cao Cao-sama will prevail." The man stated indignantly as Xenovia stared at him before she slightly pulls back the cloth around her sword, revealing it. Looking at the sword with a surprise look to his face, the man hardens his face before he immediately lets go of the arrows to fly towards Xenovia. After that, he immediately conjures up numerous arrows at his fingertips and shoots them forth before repeating the cycle.
"We will be victorious in this battle. There is no denying it." Xenovia spoke looking at the approaching arrows. Without a word to speak of next, she charges forth towards the barrage of arrows.
Elsewhere…
"I do hope everyone is alright…" Rossweisse said herself whilst journeying towards the subway station to Nijou Castle. She recounted the weird event of being separated from the others once everyone was enveloped by the mist. Then she found herself standing in a subway station with no one and noted the short distance between the station she was on and the subway station in front of Nijou Castle. With that, she ventured forth the direction to Nijou Castle.
As she continued to wander deep into the subway station, she was met by a presence and she looks in front to see her opponent clad in the uniform worn by the Hero Faction members. "They must be fighting their own enemies elsewhere…" She thought silently while observing her opponent.
The said opponent stared at her before multiple shadows appeared next to her and Rossweisse watches multiple people adorned the Heroes Faction appeared by the girl's sides.
"I hope the others do not have to deal with these many at the start." Rossweisse thought in slight worry before she raises her hand as multiple magic circles appears before her. In a split second, she immediately begins shooting forth multiple magic attacks ranging from fire, lightning and light.
Walking through the long ominous trail of the subway line, Issei together along with Kunou carefully tread forward while looking around. They begun walking for a considerate amount of distance than where they started. His pace slowed, Issei stopped as Kunou followed his action. Pulling out the map folded within his pocket, Issei looked at the detailing subway line route on the map where they have taken.
"It's not too far…" Issei voiced out as Kunou nodded at him before he folded the map and pocketed it. As they were ought to continue their pace towards their destination, a unknown voice made its appearance.
"Good evening, Red Dragon Emperor."
Taking note of the man across them, Issei immediately adorned his Scale Mail. His gaze fell to the uniform bearing significant familiarity to the ones Cao Cao and his group of followers wore. The brunette extended his hand protectively in front of Kunou who stood next to him and looked at the man with a frown.
"I can't get her to safety." Issei thought glancing downwards to Kunou standing behind him. "Why does this have to happen now? Well, I can't back out. I have to fight."
"No talk? I guess you would not mind if I start." Just as he ended, the man's shadow begin to move as if it had a mind of its own."—Balance Breaker."
"Right off the bat?" Issei thought in surprise.
The presence given off by the man strengthened, and all the shadows from the surroundings gathered together to his side, surrounding his body. The shadows wrapped themselves around the man's entire body... And then, gradually, those shadows took form, becoming something shaped like armour over the man's body.
"—Similar to your own Balance Breaker. Isn't that what you are thinking?" The man whispered joyfully as Issei grit his teeth, fully noting Asia's presence will not give him any promotion and he would be fighting on his own without any sort of promotion.
"Kunou, can you stay back?" Issei requested as Kunou looked up at him and nodded.
"Okay."
Having heard her response, Issei focused his attention towards the enemy before he ran forward. As he ran, his back boosters shoots out magical power, accelerating him as he charged towards the enemy.
Elsewhere in Kyoto…
"So, Annihilation Maker user is readying himself pretty much to face us." Azazel exclaimed smiling as he stood in front of endless quantity of antimonsters. The antimonsters were crawling and lurking in the streets of Kyoto. Currently, Azazel and Michael were present and standing side by side. "Although it is quite troublesome he created a lot of these and practically hide himself away." He said before chuckling. But then he stopped his chuckle as he glances at Michael. "But I question why you of all people is my company? Is there not another one of you Seraphim on the sight? Honestly, I'd much rather be with one of them than with you." He ended his sentence with a grin.
"There is. While I appreciate your honest, we should pushed aside our rivalries for this vexing task. Would you not say? The Athletics Day has already passed with the Angels winning." Michael stated with a friendly smile as Azazel's eye twitches.
"Yeah right. You have the herculean of a human with you. That's why you managed to win. If it weren't for him, I would be the one crossing the finish line."
"No need to mention it. It is all in the past, Azazel-dono." Michael waved off the topic as Azazel's hand twitches and he suppressed the urge to summon a light spear to pierce the Angel. "Now we should focus onto the task at hand. We cannot let these monsters get the best of us and let them feed on our forces."
"…Unfortunately, you're right on the subject." Azazel ended with a sigh before focusing his gaze at the antimonsters gazing at them. Summoning a large light spear within his hand, he pointed the tip at the antimonsters and swiftly throws it.
A large explosion detonated immediately after that as a majority of antimonsters were vaporized by the light. But some remained alive with them being far from the range of the explosion. But at the same time, the alive antimonsters instantly focused onto Azazel before they charged at him, baring their fangs and releasing the shrieking sounds of a warcry.
"But we can have a little sports event of our own, right?" Azazel asked with a smirk directed at Michael before he sprouted his dark wings and ascended to the skies with a light spear in his hand.
"There is no fault in that. But I recommend that I will not hold back." Michael stated as he followed Azazel to the skies and had grasped light spears in his hand while light spears appear around him, levitating in mid-air.
"Who says there is a limit to that?" Azazel chuck a bout full of laughter before he throws another large spear of light, detonating an explosion as soon as it hits the antimonsters, killing a group of them. After that, multiple light spears descended upon the streets of Kyoto and small explosions were quickly detonating, killing antimonsters that were leftovers.
Meanwhile at the far right side of Kyoto…
"Katsura River. This is a lovely place." Gabriel commented with a smile looking around the beautiful sceneries surrounding Togetsukyou. But then a small frown made its way on her face as she sees a large quantity appearing around the shore of Togetsukyou and Katsura River. The antimonsters were growling at her, their sharp fangs protruding from their mouth, ready to maul whoever stands in their way. Without any response, the antimonsters charge at Gabriel.
Summoning a spear of light in a flash with a flick of her wrist, Gabriel throws the light spear just in front of the charging antimonsters and the earth beneath them was instantly detonated into an explosion, killing the antimonsters. But some agile antimonsters had evaded the explosion and charges at Gabriel who summons over a hundred of swords made of light which levitated in mid-air.
She then raises her hand and twisted it, causing hundreds of swords to form a tornado in front of her and flies towards the antimonsters. When the tornado of light swords nears the antimonsters, one by one, the light sword separate from the tornado formation and struck one antimonster each, killing them instantly.
Watching the light swords striking the remnants of the antimonsters, Gabriel glances up,silently praying that the others were safe in their own battles.
Meanwhile…
"Take this!" Serafall shouted as she struck a pose while adorning a kimono and pointed her magical stick to the charging antimonsters, causing a wall of ice to appear beneath the earth and blocked the antimonsters from advancing. "Now!" She commanded to the forces behind her before she watched multiple spells of light and devilry magic to strike the wall of ice. "Now then, release!" Serafall waves her magical stick as the wall of ice dissipated instantly and the antimonsters were instantly strike by the multitude of magical attacks thrown at them. "Now that's what I call bullseye!" She nodded to herself before she cast a glance towards her far left, smiling as she saw a red metallic giant killing large quantities of antimonsters left and right by swinging its fists by its master's command, Asuka.
Behind the red metallic giant were a few Angels helping out the giant by exterminating the antimonsters that got too close to Asuka by attempting to climb onto the giant. Aside from that, they helped killing off the large quantities of antimonsters on the prowl.
Nodding, Serafall looks in front of her to see dozens of antimonsters approaching as well as members of the Hero Faction. Serafall waves her magical stick in a circular motion before she pointed it forward and shouted.
"Attack!" Instantly, barrages of magical attacks flew past her as it head straight towards the charging antimonsters.
Time Skip
Flying through the subway rail line, Issei glides over the air while Kunou sat on his back. Eventually the two arrived at the subway station in front of Nijou Castle with slight resistance along the way. The brunette leads Kunou up the stairs as they reached the outdoors.
As they reached the eastern gates, the two of them sees that everyone had been gathered, much to the brunette's relief of seeing everyone.
"Sorry, I'm late." Issei apologised to them as Kiba turned towards him and walks to him.
"It's great that you guys are fine." Issei nods before voicing out.
"Well, we met with some enemies along the way."
"Do not worry, we encounter some too, Hyoudou." Saji answered as Issei looks at the minor rips of his uniform before looking at the others, noticing minor clothing damage but no injuries were seen. "It wasn't too difficult lest we managed to be careless, which we didn't." He commented with Kiba nodding in confirmation.
"Asia, are you okay?" Issei asked as Asia nodded with an assuring smile.
"Yes, thanks to Xenovia and Irina protecting me, the assassins were defeated."
"Leave it to me!"
"Well it's because having a healer gave us better odds."
Xenovia and Irina answered much to Issei's relief.
"They really want to stop our advances with any means necessary." Rossweisse stated to everyone as she made to stand in front of them. "But to see everyone accomplished till this far, I am relieved." Everyone gave their nods of approval.
"Though some packed power, but we're still able to make it with no less than scratches." Xenovia answered as the others nodded.
"Good—"
Interrupting was the Great Eastern Gates opening, giving off a heavy sound as it opens. Everyone looks at the eastern gates simultaneously. Suspicion rose in their minds at the eerie atmosphere surrounding the eastern gates.
"It looks like they are waiting for us, and the performance is about to start." Kiba stated after laughing wryly as Issei slightly frowned while the others looked on beyond the gates. Then, everyone ventured through the gates leading them to Nijou Castle. As they walked a bit further, Kiba speaks up.
"Before he fell, the assassin I defeated said that Cao Cao was waiting for us at Honmaru Palace."
"Honmaru Palace?" Issei thought before nodding as the group continued walking deep into Nijou Castle. Within the compound of Nijou castle, they walked past the gardens of Ninomaru Palace. They then passed through the yaguramon gate that connected to Honmaru Palace. As they gotten closer towards their destination, they heard a voice speaking to them. Immediately, it captured everyone's attention.
"I see you have defeated the Balance Breaker-using assassins. Though they only count as low or mid class Sacred Gear possessors, they do have Balance Breakers after all. It is surprising that you all were able to defeat them." A voice spoke up as everyone looked to the front, catching the sight of Cao Cao's figure standing in the garden. Behind him, there were also many other members all around the buildings. All of them were wearing the same old uniform as before.
"Okaa-sama!"
Kunou cried out, running past everyone before stopping to stand in front of everyone, catching everyone's attention.
Following her gaze, Issei and the others found a beautiful woman in a kimono standing beside a few Hero Faction members. Everyone could see fox ears on her head, as well as the entitled nine fox tails flowing behind her back. The same similarities which Kunou shared with her mother. Everyone concluded that their target had been found; it was the leader of the Youkais, Yasaka.
Everyone did not spoke up, each finding the situation odd as it was. And instead they focused their sights on Kunou.
"Okaa-sama! I am Kunou! Please wake up." Kunou cried out to her mother, waiting on her response. –No responses were made. "Okaa-sama! Please!"
Shouting at the top of her lungs, Kunou tried to get her mother's attention however no matter how much she cried out, Yasaka-san remained unresponsive. Beneath the darkness in her eyes was a completely expressionless pit.
"Okaa-sama…" Kunou murmured, her lips quivering as unshed tears started forming on her eyes. Kunou angrily glared at Cao Cao and his group. "W-What have you done with Okaa-sama!"
"Didn't I explain already? We hope to have your mother cooperate during this time for a little experiment, little princess. At the beginning, we encountered slight resistance but we have already solved it...She has given us her utmost cooperation as of this late." Cao Cao explained before tapping the ground with his spear. In that instant—
"Oooh... ooh... ah...!"
Yasaka-san began to cry painfully as her hands went up to both sides of her head.
"Okaa-sama!" Kunou cried out seeing her mother in pain before she watches in horror as her mother's appearance began changing dramatically! Yasaka's body began to shine and her form gradually transformed before it expands constantly while the nine fox tails behind her back also began to blow up in size!
"Roar!"
Everyone looked upon the giant golden beast roaring through the night skies. Before their eyes, a massive fox had appeared! The giant golden fox was at least ten metres tall, overtowering everyone occupant in the area and her tails looked menacingly, swishing freely in the skies. Overall, she looked even bigger than Fenrir ever was to compare her with.
"Is she being controlled?" Issei asked as he and the others looked at the pupils which appear dilated and held no emotions whatsoever. "Can we be able to persuade her? Do we have no choice but to fight Yasaka-san in her current state?" The brunette asked in thought before he turns towards Cao Cao. "Cao Cao! Making this replica Kyoto and controlling the Kyuubi leader, what kind of conspiracy are you planning!?"
Cao Cao tapped the shaft of the spear against his shoulder audibly as he answered.
"The existence of Kyoto itself is actually a large scale magical device surrounded by powerful ley lines. The various places known as famous sights are the power spots, abundant in spiritual, youkai and demonic power. The ancient yin yang masters hoped to mould the city itself into a kind of massive 'power.' Well, precisely because of that, all sorts of existences have been attracted to this place... Our current pseudo space is located in the dimensional gap, both infinitesimally close to and infinitely far away from Kyoto at the same time. The power of the leylines is now flowing here. As the strongest level of existence amongst youkai, the Nine-Tailed fox is said to be on the level of the Dragon Kings in power. The relationship between Kyoto and the Nine-Tailed fox is also intricately linked in a variety of ways. That is why our plan must be carried out here."
Exhaling, Cao Cao continued with shocking words.
"—Using Kyoto and the power of the Nine-Nailed fox, the plan is to summon Great Red to this place. This would normally require a Dragon Gate as well as multiple Dragon Kings, but gathering several of them by force is virtually impossible even for god and Buddha—So Kyoto and the power of the Kyuubi will have to do as substitutes to summon Great Red."
"...W-What are you saying...?" Issei thought in surprise as the others looked surprised at Cao Cao's declaration. "Great Red? Why do you want to summon that massive dragon?"
"I understand that dragon has nothing to do but wander around in the dimension gap and it is essentially harmless. –But to our boss his existence is an obstruction. It makes going home very troublesome." Cao Cao replied.
"—Ophis?" Issei thought instantly about the young girl he met a while back after his rampage in the incomplete of his Juggernaut Drive. "...So you are going to summon Great Red and kill it?"
Cao Cao shook his head at Issei's question.
"Well, maybe we won't go that far. Anyway, we will catch it first before we decide what to do. There are so many unknowns with its existence, and there is so much to be learned. For example, what effect the Dragon Eater will have on the Apocalypse Dragon. Anyway, no matter what, it's just an experiment to see if we can summon a powerful existence."
"—The dragon eater?" Issei asked under his breath, hearing that term for the first time. Then the brunette shakes his head to compose himself before he looks at Cao Cao. "...I don't understand these things, but I am sure bad things will occur after you capture that gigantic dragon. Also, the Kyuubi leader must be returned."
"Roar!"
"What's that sound?" Serafall asked looking up at the skies towards the loud roar. "Where did it come from?" She looked towards the allied forces she led, seeing the surprise expression on everyone's faces over the loud roar that shook the ground.
"Everyone, do not lose focus!" She shouted to everyone that quickly snapped them into reality before they continue fighting the antimonsters. Quickly turning to the approaching wave of antimonsters, Serafall raises her wand before swiping it downwards; forming a burst of ice spikes across the streets and instantly decimated many of the antimonsters in one go.
"What made that sound…?" Asuka asked in mind as she stood over Deen's shoulder, overseeing the antimonsters being destroyed left and right. "It can't be good…Even if I want to help…these are extremely persistent!" She exclaimed in frustration, looking at the countless numbers of antimonsters appearing over her sights.
"The ferocity behind the roar…"
"This is not good…" Azazel and Michael both looked up at the startling sound of the intense roar resonating throughout the whole dimension, shaking the inhabitants. "If my guess is right, that would be the kidnapped Nine-Tailed Youkai Leader." He claimed. "So they're the culprits behind her disappearance…" He frowned at the power wielded by the Heroes Faction.
"Yes, however…I doubt that roar does not hold any meaning out of the blue. Something must have happened."
"And probably not a good one at that…" Azazel replied. "To be able to kidnap a powerful being...and willed it to make her fight against them…They're no ordinary faction that's for sure."
"Azazel-dono, we cannot possibly be wasting our time with preoccupying ourselves with this task. We must help them."
"Yeah…but it'll be hard to pinpoint where the user is with these ones masking his presence by their countless numbers. Even if we manage to find out where he is, by then it would be too late to lend them a helping hand they deserve. In the meantime, we have to put our trust in them."
"But against a being such as the Nine-Tailed Fox? Surely, they will face difficulties." Michael said. The Angel had lent his trust to the young Devils and his Ace to finish the task but he cannot hide the worry to help them now.
"Yes, they will face. But they will nevertheless learn from it and overcome it. This is all part of them growing up, you know? Let's just trust in them to finish the job. At worse, they will sustained heavy damage but they won't be killed."
"How do you know?"
"...I hope it wouldn't come to that scenario at least for now."
"Saji…" Issei murmured. Before him was Saji—covered entirely with black snakes, a large black serpent also appeared under Saji's feet. The massive serpent presented itself next to Saji and formed a coil, its whole body emitting black flames. Saji's left eye turned red and resembled a snake's eye.
Eyes wide, Issei eyed Saji's transformation with awe and surprise. Disbelief could be seen in his pupils as he noted the many changes he saw of Saji's power. The current Saji which he saw now was completely different from the time during the Rating Game where he last saw him using his power.
"...Vritra, I'm sorry but please lend me your strength. Hyoudou, please support me from the side. Today we will fight to our hearts' content!" As Saji muttered, huge black flames appeared all around.
Suddenly, the huge serpent began to speak in a deep voice beneath Saji's feet.
"Ah my other self. Where is the prey? Is it that holy spear? Or that fox? Either is fine. It's been so long since I last appeared, I feel great right now." He expressed before continuing. "…How about this…no matter who, let me just consume everything with my black flames."
"Wow... what a scary speech, this snake of flame." Issei said mentally. "By the way, its consciousness recovered to the level of acquiring speech, eh? So this is part of the dragon king. A completely different feeling of pressure compared to Tannin-ossan." He explained to himself. "It's a bit scary and terrifying though…" He added.
Wooooosh!
Then, the sound of Xenovia raising Durandal to the heavens catches everyone's attention and a massive aura could be seen gushing forth from the blade! Expanding to over fifteen metres tall in an instant, the blade of holy aura appeared before everyone!
Before, the Durandal plus Ascalon combination also produced a great aura. At the time, there was a pulse of spiritual energy like a pillar of light, but it's nothing compared to the current spectacle everyone was witnessing. The differential spiritual energy between before and now, is noticeably more powerful! But then this time, the offensive aura was not diffused or spreading around like before, because most of its power was concentrated together.
"—Strike first and end the battle. Taste my sword!"
Without any word of protest from the others, Xenovia smashed her massive sword of holy light and aura down upon the heads of the Hero faction.
Crash!
A massive aura pulse engulfed buildings, structures and the entire scenery. As ground split into two, the resulting tremor caused everyone to fall to their knees.
"Hang on!" Xenovia yelled to everyone to endure.
After the attack, the entire area—was a total mess. The massive aura attack had also crossed over Nijou Castle's moat and even destroyed outside buildings and roads further beyond, leaving nothing behind!
Everyone expresses their surprise as they look over the destruction left behind.
"Hoo..." Xenovia took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off her forehead with her hand as Durandal returned to its sheathed state once again.
"Hey Xenovia! Isn't that going overboard for a first attack?" Issei asked with a small frown but Xenovia simply made a victory sign with her hand.
"The opening always requires such a strike." She said confidently as Issei gawked at her before slumping his shoulders.
"Talking to her was useless!" He concluded as Xenovia looked at him before explaining.
"It looks like she has acquired a different form of Durandal..." Kiba commented with a small smile. "To produce such an aura and with it, holy light to cause a spectacle like this…"
"Relax. Despite what it looks like, I did adjust the power. If I felt like it I could have swept everything clean. My goal is actually to achieve something like your full powered Dragon Shot, but it doesn't seem to be that simple. Yes, your kind of power type is exactly the ideal battle style that I seek."
"Don't just go 'yes' and be done with it! I'm not some kind of destruction freak!" Issei retorted as Xenovia smiles and tapped the new Durandal.
Xenovia looks down at the new Durandal. "This new Durandal is the result of combining with Excalibur using alchemy."
"Really?" Issei asked in shock as the others looked at the new Durandal before Irina began to explain.
"Let me explain. Basically, they used all the Excalibur pieces possessed by the Church to create a sheath to cover Durandal's blade. Excalibur's power allowed Durandal's offensive aura to be contained. In addition, Excalibur's power can attack at the same time as Durandal's, allowing their powers to amplify each other... and thus producing deadly destructive power!"
Irina pointed at the destroyed wasteland.
"I see, so Excalibur not only restrains Durandal's aura, it and Durandal also amplified each other's power. So by combining the two holy swords into one was how such a strong attacking power was produced." Kiba retorted as Irina nodded.
"Yes. The fact that Durandal's aura could be applied to other holy swords, Heaven has already started related research on that."
"So, during the match in summer, Xenovia kept Durandal in an alternate dimension, but could still wrap its aura around Ascalon." Issei said before continuing. "When we went to save Asia, she used the mutual amplification effect with Ascalon to raise the power of both their auras."
"Yes and yes. The Heaven faction came up with the idea of a new Durandal starting from that time." Irina spoke as she nodded.
"—Ex Durandal. This is the new name I give this sword." Xenovia raised her sword and muttered to herself. But then she shifted her gaze forward. "Well, if they could be beaten in one hit then we'd have a much easier time but we cannot underestimate our newfound enemies, right?" As she spoke, everyone looks towards the destroyed wasteland.
From out of the rubble in the wasteland—he surface of the ground, an arm rose up. A piece of earth was lifted, and out emerged many members of the Heroes Faction whilst covered by a thin mist.
All of them looked a bit dirty—but completely unharmed. Perplexed, everyone wondered if the mist was the cause of their safety.
The huge man whose arm was the first to appear, was roughly two metres tall, and was flexing his neck loudly. Behind him, Cao Cao tapped his spear audibly on his own shoulder. They were unaffected by Xenovia's attack.
Rubbing his chin, Cao Cao laughed.
"Ah, not bad at all."
It was a joyful tone that came from the depths of one's heart.
"You guys can already hold your own without disadvantage against the bulk of the upper class devils —no, the top servants of the upper class devils. Sister of the Maou, you sure have gathered a group of excellent servants." Cao Cao commented to the absent Rias Gremory before he went on. "Once you start participating officially in the Rating Game, you should obtain a double digit ranking in no time—and reach the top in a few decades? What a bright and glorious future. Shalba Beelzebub really underestimated you guys. That guy was a complete fool."
Siegfried smiled wryly at Cao Cao's words.
"Being bound by anachronistic pride, they couldn't see the new generation rising up to replace the old. That's how I'd put it. This is why Vali did not lend his assistance, and let the Old Maou faction to perish. —Anyway, how should we proceed? After taking that attack just now, my excitement feels a little bit funny?"
"Oh right. Then let's start the experiment."
Cao Cao tapped the ground with his spear—the Kyuubi began to glow!
"Focus power into the force nodes of the Nine-Tailed fox and prepare to summon Great Red. Georg!"
"Understood."
On Cao Cao's orders, the youth wearing a mage-style robe over his uniform—Georg reached out with his right hand. In an instant, an endless number of magic circles appeared around him! Magical script and numbers began to spin rapidly within the circles! The number of magic circles he'd summoned could be compared to match Rossweisse's.
"...From a rough glance at those magic circles, I can see Norse, Demonic, Fallen Angel style, black magic, white magic, fairy magic...Quite a diverse array of spells..." Rossweisse narrowed her eyes and spoke softly. The silver haired Valkyrie felt an irking feeling that the youth was only demonstrating part of his power. "Not only he is the user of the Dimension Lost, but he's also quite the magician…" She commented before she and the rest watches a massive magic circle appeared underneath Yasaka!
Roar…
As she roared, Yasaka's pupils dilated, her eyes gave off a dangerous light and her golden fur stood on end!
Everyone looked up at the gigantic fox as Georg, the mist user spoke.
"The magic circle and the sacrifice for summoning Great Red are ready. The next step is to see if Great Red gets interested in the power of the city and takes the bait. Luckily, we happen to have a Dragon King and a Heavenly Dragon present as bonus. My apologies, Cao Cao, but I will be occupied with operating the magic circle. It is a very taxing thing."
Cao Cao waved his hand at the mage's words in acknowledgement.
"Got it. What's next then? Annihilation Maker Leonardo and the rest are battling the allied forces outside. I wonder how much time they can buy? Reports say that not only the Fallen Angel Governor and Maou Leviathan, but even members of the Seraphim have arrived." He stated before glancing to a few members at his left. "—Jeanne, Heracles."
"Yes yes."
"Oh!"
Stepping forward in response to Cao Cao's call, was a blonde foreign lady wielding a slender sword and the giant man which had lifted a segment of the earth before.
"They are the ones who have inherited the will—the spirit of the heroes Jeanne d'Arc and Heracles." Cao Cao explained before turning to Siegfried. "Siegfried, who do you want to fight?" At Cao Cao's question, Siegfried drew a sword and pointed with the sharp tip of the blade—Kiba and Xenovia.
Watching this scene unfold, the lady called Jeanne and the giant named Heracles laughed.
"Then, I'll take Angel-chan. She's pretty cute."
"I will pick the silver-haired lady then."
"That leaves me the Red Dragon Emperor. How about Vritra-kun over there?" Cao Cao looked at Saji. Saji strengthened his flames as a response but Issei spoke up to him.
"...Saji, your opponent is the Kyuubi. You have to find a way to release her." Looking at the brunette in question, Saji nodded.
"So I get the monster battle... Understood. Hyoudou, don't die!"
"You have to do your best too not to die."
"No matter what, I already promoted to Queen before I came. I am full of battle spirit from the start!" Saji declared before his body was surrounded by tall black flames and then the flames began to spread outward before increasing bigger in size. "Vritra Promotion!" At his announcement, the flames reached up into the sky! The jet black flames gradually shaped into a body, forming a long serpentine oriental dragon.
Roar!
The massive black dragon roared—Facing the Kyuubi leader, Saji had successfully transformed into the Dragon King. The black flames arranged themselves into a magic circle and began releasing a dark cloudy aura.
"Asia, watch over Kunou." Issei looked over his shoulder at Asia, who nodded at him.
"Yes."
"Kunou, can I leave Asia in your protection?" Issei turns to Kunou.
"Leave it to me! But—"
"Ah I understand. Leave your mother to me—we will save her!" The brunette made a thumbs up at her before he face forward, adorning his Scale Mail and spread his dragon wings on his back. Turning to the front, Issei looks over at his opponent—Cao Cao, the leader of the Heroes Faction. The man holding the ultimate Longinus.
Gulping down the liquid in his throat, Issei realized this would be the third time he is to fight a boss straight up. The first was Diadora and followed right after it, Shalba Beelzebub. Although the latter left a bitter taste seeing he was not fully conscious whilst battling the member of the Old Satan Faction. Looking up at Cao Cao, he adopted a determined look, knowing full well his blonde senior was not here to fight the battle for him or the others. At this point, he would be the one to aid the others on winning the current battle.
"Do not worry, Red Dragon Emperor. Think of me as a substitute for your rival, White Dragon Emperor."
"Are...are you stronger than Vali?" Issei asked, knowing he had to ask beforehand. He knew his curiosity got the best of him when he encountered new enemies, especially the one before him. He practically cannot voice it out silently after recalling the fight between him and Azazel before.
Cao Cao happily smirked and shrugged.
"Who knows. But for sure, I'm not weaker than him, though I am a frail human after all."
"Don't joke around. Anyone who can face Azazel-sensei cannot be weak. You'd know that."
"Hahahaha, that's true. But isn't that Sensei super strong? I think I'm still slightly inferior, Oppai Dragon." After that, there was an instant of silence before—
Howl!
Roar!
Saji and the Kyuubi had begun the monster battle!
The black flames danced as they surrounded Yasaka. The flames suddenly shook violently as the Kyuubi released an aura from all over her. Though, the release seemed to be causing her great pain.
Glancing at the monster battle between the two beings, Issei thought Saji would be winning but his thoughts were broken as he watched the Kyuubi suddenly spat out large amounts of fire from her mouth!
In retaliation, Vritra-form Saji also spat out black flames and the two massive fireballs collided in mid air above Honmaru Palace, causing a huge explosion! At the same time, the black flames immobilising Yasaka also vanished.
Yasaka's Castle
Shiroyasha was sitting in the middle of Yasaka's room and was watching the moon amidst the night skies, through the opened sliding outdoors. She was sipping on her pipe before she set it down onto the small ash bowl next to her. A moment of silence overcome the room as Shiroyasha watched the moon, knowing the battle had begun. Though she could simply join in, but she knew she have to stay guard over the Youkai world, seeing as she uphold the highest position under Yasaka who had appointed her before Yasaka's kidnapping.
Gazing at the bright moon, Shiroyasha did not bat an eye as she gazes. But then, a smile spread across her face as she closes her eyes, sensing his presence.
"—So you have come. I hope you're ready to head into battle at this moment."
"You don't think? I ain't gonna miss this out for myself." Shiroyasha looks up at the amusing voice's owner and the black haired nekoshou next to him.
"Shiroyasha, nya! Long time no see, nya!"
"She's waiting for you over a long time, you know? Shiroyasha stated exchanging eyes with the blonde as he puts down the duffle bag and released it.
"—I know."
"What are you standing here for anyway? You best show them what you've been bottling up since day one."
"Hah. They'll know when they're messing with the wrong person. And what do you mean bottling up? I've decided they wouldn't get any mercy from day one already." Shiroyasha smiles over his playful nonchalant voice before she closes her eyes and looks down.
"Then you best be away then. Bring her back with your daughter. It seems she's with the others to save her mother. Is it not a job of the father to save both the mother and daughter in distress?"
"Supposedly."
"We'll see you later, Shiroyasha, nya!"
With that, Shiroyasha opens her eyes to see nothing but an empty room. An amused smile then appeared on her face as she thought about the change of battle, knowing exactly it would instantly change from the his arrival.
"Oya…this will be entertaining…But It is quite shame I can't watch." A frustrating frown came on her face.
Time Skip
Kyoto
Two lone individuals stood atop a tall building amongst others, in the heart of Kyoto. The city was bustling with activity in the night ranging from people walking on the streets, crossing roads and various vehicles driving back and forth to each of their own destination. —All of them were completely aware of the normalcy of their daily lives however are oblivious to the danger happening right underneath their noses.
"—I don't get it. Where's everyone, Kuroka?" Out of the two, the blonde spoke, sounding peeved by the sight in front of him. "If there was a battle happening…shouldn't—there supposed to be a battle somewhere…? With the way I'm seeing now, the people down below wouldn't be walking out in the open."
"This is weird for me too, nya." Kuroka voiced out, frowning as she crosses her arms underneath her voluptuous breasts. "There's supposed to be a battle going on right now. We're near enough Nijou Castle, so what is the big deal, nya…?" She complained to herself, expressing her discomfort.
"What is going on…?" Izayoi said to himself, narrowing his eyes in scrutiny. His mind trying to decipher the whole bizarre situation on its own however he cannot make any use of his knowledge since he lacks the information. Though he tried to make use of the odd situation in various ways to somehow relate their own, he found himself meeting a dead end. There was nothing he could think about that would likely be the culprit of their findings. He was starting to feel frustrated as time ticks away carelessly. Looking away from his gaze over the people of Kyoto, he looks at Kuroka looking down thoughtfully. Just then, he realises. "Kuroka…"
"Hm, nya?"
"Does Le Fay said anything about the enemies? She already had involved herself with them once right?"
"…She said there was someone odd in their ranks…A top-rank Magician if she could guess, nya." Kuroka said her cat ears moving thoughtful as she tried recollecting her memories over her conversation with Le Fay earlier. Just as she recounted, Kuroka's expression gradually changes into that of realization! Kuroka looks over the area before she meets her eyes with the blonde and she immediately closes her eyes. An octagonal magic sigil appeared beneath her.
Time Skip
Kyoto
Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, Izayoi watches the spectacle unfold before him. He had known about the term of Senjutsu, which revolves around everything about the user on detecting energy invisible to the naked eye. However to wield its power as such has its cost. The blonde stood his ground as he witnesses Kuroka amassing energy to potentially solve their trouble. He had no qualms to intervene since he already known she would not be consumed by the negative life energy around her, whenever he was near.
Suddenly, he noticed the ground beneath him glowed. Glancing down upon the incantation hexagon below his feet, he changes his view to look at Kuroka briefly just before the two of them disappeared! Leaving behind a gust of wind to blow on top of the building.
Opening his eyes, he looks around—only to find that he was standing on the same building he was a second ago.
"Huh?" He voiced out his confusion over the odd matter before he look upon Kuroka looking at him back. Confusion written over her face. All of a sudden, he heard it.
BOOOOOM!
Upon hearing the multitude of explosions bombarding behind him, Izayoi turns his body only to find—destruction in its wake. The matching and solid tall buildings that he laid his eyes upon moments ago; were laid sieged. Crumbling debris littered the destroyed buildings all around him. However, as much destruction that were spread throughout the area, the blonde did not spot any civilians running amok or rather screams which accompanied them.
"Where are we, Izayoi-kun, nya…?" Kuroka questioned as she walk over to stand next to the blonde and peers over to the sight of the ruined buildings in comparison to the buildings moments ago. "Isn't this the same place we've been—" Kuroka stopped as Izayoi put his left arm in front of her, shushing her to stop. Glancing at him from the corner of her eye briefly, she shifted her gaze towards the direction of his gaze. Her eyes soon display surprise over the appearance of an antimonster perching itself on top of a building, a few blocks away from them. "What is that…?" She whispered quietly before her eyes widen, catching the sight of multiple antimonsters beings ranging from size, appearing with the lone antimonster.
"…Kuroka, what did you do? Did something happened along the way?" Izayoi asked the black haired Nekoshou.
"No. All I sensed in the air a moment ago was a shroud of energy being used. I don't know whose but it wasn't good. I tried tracing it to where it originated by bringing us there, nya."
"—We're must be in another dimension that exactly resembles Kyoto as a whole."
"Huh?" Kuroka turned to Izayoi's conclusion. "We're in another dimension, nya?"
"I don't know how it is created unless the enemy has someone of that calibre. Which you can guess might of been that odd Magician in their ranks. Anyway, you led us to the other dimension by tracing back the energy used by the user."
"I thought it smells fishy in the air." Kuroka added with a definite nod before adopting a curious expression. "But what do we do now, Izayoi-kun, nya?"
"…We—" He was cut off by an explosion erupting far out in the west. The explosion attracted the attention of the antimonsters that had gathered and they went straight towards it, without noticing the presence of the two. Looking off into the west, the blonde had to let out a smirk. "So Ojou-sama's here too?" Kuroka looks at him before she turns her gaze towards the west, finding the large Deen appearing over the smoke, an aftermath of the explosion. She squint her eyes to see Asuka standing on top of Deen, commanding every single movement of the summon. "If she's summoned Deen, she's taken it seriously." Izayoi said in observation before turning towards the strange presence he felt at the east once the antimonsters appeared one after another earlier. "Kuroka, can you sense this?" The blonde asked as Kuroka perked up to him and she Immediately senses the negative energy coming from their east.
"Yeah…" She agreed as she senses the small but clear presence of negative energy. As she focuses onto it with Senjutsu, she immediately notices the energy released; it was powerful and it was coming off In waves. It was disturbing to say the least for her. The ordinary Devils, Angels and Fallen Angels alike may not be able to sense it clearly however she, with the use of Senjutsu can pinpoint it clearly. "Whoever they are, they're strong. It seems like they're releasing those creatures in countless quantity instantaneously, nya."
"And I am guessing, it's annoyingly keeping everyone busy for a while now." Izayoi added, watching as countless antimonsters appearing from the east and charging towards the west. A smirk crosses his face as Kuroka looks at it, immediately knowing.
"So we're putting a stop to it, right, nya?" Izayoi smirks at her.
"Since we're here, we should get involved." He stated. "Anyway, I get the feeling the ones who kidnapped Yasaka are here." Izayoi looked towards the far north, where the Castle was. "…Have you heard anything about them, Kuroka?"
Kuroka heard the unexpected question before answering without hesitation.
"All I heard that they're no pushover, nya. They're also annoying. Though one thing that's annoying about them is; the faction is entirely made out of humans." Kuroka frowned a bit.
"Humans, eh?" The blonde voices out. "The cause of all this is nothing but humans? That's ironic as it can get." He stifle a laugh. "Frankly, humans were the deciding benefactors ever since…Why wouldn't I be as surprised…?" He stated to himself as Kuroka stares at him.
She watches him turning his head to the west.
"It'd appears we're not the only ones trying to find the cause of this masses." Kuroka immediately senses the spiritual energy of both the Governer General of Fallen Angels and Leader of the Angels and Seraphs. The two of them were close to their whereabouts, and ironically were close to the location of the reproducing cause of the antimonsters roaming out and about. "Though they might be stuck on finding the culprit."
"They're trying to find it, nya."
"Yes, but I doubt they could. So, since we're the only ones available and capable to find whoever is the culprit. We might as well start searching, right?" He asked towards Kuroka who smiled at him. The blonde readily looked towards the mass of antimonsters roaming through the streets and such. "Whoever it is…They're no pushover, huh? If those creatures were anything to go by, we'd must be dealing with one of their own." A sly smirk appeared across his lips at the thought of fighting against strong opponents again. "—We shouldn't be wasting anymore time now. We should get to him before Azazel and Michael get him first." Izayoi said before he spontaneously jumps down the building and landed on the road, creating a crater in the process.
However just as he landed, a horde of antimonsters had perked up at the sound and turned to his direction. Their attention were now focused on the blonde.
"You're coming?" The blonde did not look up and merely glances to his left.
"I said I'm going with you right? Do I have to repeat it, nya?" Kuroka teleported to his side with a smirk.
"I heard it clearly the first time. So, no you don't." Izayoi responded sarcastically before the two of them look towards the horde of antimonsters in front of them. The quantity now had doubled compare to before. The antimonsters focuses their eyes towards the two with ragged breaths before—immediately charging towards them. Smirking at the countless enemies, the blonde glances at his partner. "If you're going with me—Are you sure you can keep up?"
"Do you know who you're speaking to, nya?" Kuroka asked. Suddenly, a magic shaped hexagon appeared behind her back. The symbols that were circled around the hexagon started glimmering with light.
"Issei and the others might be fighting them right now, so that leaves us to take care of the rest. If it's no trouble, we might just take them all." Izayoi smirked as he looked forward.
A horde of antimonsters, roughly the size of himself and larger, charging towards them. Their mindless thoughts were occupied by the thoughts of the user who controls them, wanting to bared anyone from interfering. Adding to their horrifying faces with ferocious bare fangs leaves nothing to the imagination that they were indeed wanting to kill anyone in their paths.
"—Just so I don't have to tell you this myself...—You'd better be careful. You're carrying way more value now than ever. You know?"
Hearing his voice clearly, Kuroka turned towards Izayoi. The blonde did not look at her and instead opted to speak whilst looking forward. His action did not made her upset. Instead, her heart swell with affection at his caring words as she lets out a smile.
"Yes, I already know. You don't have to worry too much about me, Izayoi-kun nya~"
"I had to remind you. Anyway, it's already my duty." The blonde nonchalantly stated before bending his knees. He made eye contact with Kuroka. "Right?" With that, he disappears.
Kuroka immediately turned her attention towards the blonde appearing in her sights, digging his feet across the left-sided buildings that were intact. His feet blew off chunks of cement and shards of glasses as he traveled.
The horde of antimonsters stopped their movement to look at the blonde approaching them over the buildings. The antimonsters let out multiple roars and promptly charge towards the blonde whilst some were lenient to charge towards Kuroka.
Seeing this, Kuroka raises her right hand to deal with the finishing strike.
A smirk plastered across his face as Izayoi notices the approaching antimonsters whilst he sprint across the side of the buildings. Suddenly, he leaps downwards, driving his fist into one unfortunate antimonster into the road pavement, where the whole area—exploded! Underneath the crushing force of his fist, it instantaneously killed off the rest of the antimonsters when they were engulfed by the terrifying explosion.
Standing far away from the explosion, Kuroka smiled at the blonde's enthusiasm for fighting. Though she also admired his strength yet she fears it all the same. The same could be said with the other girls and everyone who knew him. For which they all knew that Sakamaki Izayoi was different. A human that could trample both the weak and the strong. A human that was never thought to have existed. Yet, he was here.
Casting a smile towards her tummy, Kuroka looks out towards the residing smoke before catching the silhouette form of her lover. —Kuroka also knew that whenever he was around, she would never get bored. He was most likely the other half she had wanted all along. She had found out about that fact a long time ago. After all, she loves him and he gives her fulfillment in her life which she never have gotten before. Smiling at the blonde standing upon the bare wasteland of the area, she headed towards him. Seeing the show of strength of her lover, she smirks. "This will be interesting. I wonder if they would run with their tails behind their back?" She questioned of the Hero Faction encountering an angry Sakamaki Izayoi, which might not be too soon.
"What in the world...?" Azazel murmured under his breath as he recoiled his body against the powerful tremors appearing out of nowhere. Luckily there were no enemies around to strike at him and even if they did, they would recoiled backwards by the appearance of the strong gust of wind billowing throughout the area after the tremors. Suddenly, Azazel had gotten notified by his forces retelling about the violent tremors evident mere seconds ago and started bombarding him questions of the cause, whether he had known about it or not. Sadly, he had declined to tell them anything since he did not know anything and he merely stated to them to continue their duties. Sighing as he disconnected with another informant, Azazel disabled the connection circle above his ear and look towards Michael. The former Seraph was looking at the direction where the strong gust of wind came from.
"Any ideas?" Azazel spoke up to him. "It wouldn't be nothing if it ain't distracting the others."
"Though the impact was powerful however it only occurred once. And by the direction it came from, I'd believe whoever is near. We didn't meet the full force of the impact but we can assume that we met the majority in comparison with the others."
"—Come to think of it, they were coming from that direction." Azazel pointed out as the antimonsters they face came from the same direction as the gust of wind. "And there are no forces nearby us. We're by ourselves here. So, the question is, are they friend or foe?" Azazel asked. "Although...I might have a hunch..."
"Hm?"
"And I'm not pointing out if it is true...but if he is here, we already won."
"Whoever he is, do you mean...?"
"It's a possibility I'm willing to go by."
Murmurs begin spreading out throughout the allied forces under Serafall's lead. The appearance of the tremors had unknowingly caused the allied forces to be under a state of confusion. However they did not dwindle about the topic as long before they were called to battle against the never ending waves of enemies at their wake.
Standing in the front lines, Serafall had slaughtered hundreds if not thousands of the enemies easily. They were not a match for the Satan. Throughout the fight, Serafall encountered the tremors just like everybody else and she began to question possible enemies' reinforcements if the wide radius of the tremors and gust of wind were things to ignore. She had also heard the allied forces' state of perplexity to question about it, whether they should ignore it as such and continue whilst being ignorant about a potential enemy?
With the state of confusion in the midst of her forces, Serafall tried to find the answer to the cause. First of all, she watches the ground tremble horrendously for the first time before it reoccurs for the second and third time in a row. She felt the immense force of each tremble and after effects it causes. What with the parts of the buildings around them started to collapse unstably. Parts of the pavements around the buildings started caving in. Serafall adopted a thoughtful look and started looking towards the direction where the powerful tremble originated and pulses which made the reoccurring tremble all the way to their area and others if supposedly the other forces' reports were anything to go by. Steering clear of the other forces, the only known other forces that would be the closest to the tremble were—Azazel and Michael. But she doubted that both of them would resort to such a display of power before anyone. The only one that would have think to display their powers so frivolously would none other be—
"...—Is it you—?"
Serafall let out a wide smile at the thought of his appearance on the battlefield. Without a second thought, she immediately tried sensing his whereabouts at where the heart of the reoccurring trembles resonated from. Her eyes widen and her smile brighten at finding him, accompanying by another. At the other presence, she knew that she felt joy at the prospect of being able to meet her again.
"If she's with him, she must be helping him." She nodded furiously. "All that's left is for Rias-tan, and then we're all here!" She thought happily, silently hoping her crimson red headed friend would appear. At the moment, she focused at the newly arrival duo. Knowing what the blonde intent to do here when he is here, brought her to high spirits.
Dramatically spinning to address her forces, Serafall voices out loudly.
"Do not worry, everything is fine!"
At her statement, everyone appeared to be confused and perplexed.
"I detect confusion amongst all of you. However you don't have to fret because the one making the series of earthquakes is one of ours. So you do not have to worry since he is someone very dear to me!" Serafall smiled at her proclamation as a wave of understanding begin to spread amongst her forces. Although some question the identity of the figure who is very close to Serafall Leviathan. Some female devils hazzard a definite guess and they will nevertheless explained to the confused others about it after the battle.
Nodding at her forces which had regained their composure and confidence, Serafall twirled her staff around with her right hand before she turns around and pointed it upwards.
"Onwards! There's still a lot of the enemy forces on the prowl!" After that, her magic wand shines bright before she waves it in front of her.
The horde of antimonsters who were approaching ignore the dozens of forming snowflakes through the streets. But as one of them charges through one of the snowflakes, the entire area shimmers before streams of white exploded forth! The entire horde of antimonsters were frozen along with the streets except the buildings around them that remained untouched by the shimmering ice.
"Go get them, Izayoi-kun! Kuroka-chan!"
Serafall directed her smile at the direction where he and a certain Nekoshou were.
"There's no end to this! Will we have to fight them through and through?" Asuka asked as sweat made visible on her forehead. "Will we be able to withstand long enough? —I sure hope so!" She swipes her hand across just as she sighted the incoming antimonsters coming in waves after waves. "Deen!"
"DEEEEEEN!"
Deen immediately change its footing and pull back its iron fist before punching forward, extending it forth. The iron fist soared through the air and destroyed many of the antimonsters in one blow. However, the remaining antimonsters that had escaped or were far from the punching range—immediately latches themselves onto the iron fist. When they latched on, they immediately crawled towards the lengthy metallic arm.
Seeing the danger, Asuka was about to retort to Deen to swipe away its fist into a nearby building but she stopped when she saw the antimonsters destroyed by dozens of light rays piercing them from above and thus killing them. Asuka smiles before looking up to register the smiling female Angel flying just above her.
"Thank you."
"It is my duty and ours." The female Angel replied before she descended down to land in front of Deen and then a few Angels came up flying to her sides. "Please do not forget, Asuka-dono."
"I will. Though this is my first time fighting side by side with all of you but I am honoured to join in this battle nonetheless."
"We are too." The female Angel smiles at her before registering towards her comrades. "We've been given our task by Michael-sama and Serafall-sama. We cannot disobey their orders at any has their own part and we have our own."She said to her comrades before turning to the approaching enemies as Deen pulled back on its fist. "Our sole task; to protect Asuka-dono."
"And I will protect all of you in return."Just as Asuka exclaimed, she extended her hand forth. "DEEN! Protect!"
In an instant, Deen summoned forth a large shield made of light as large as him with a spread of its palms. No sooner than the shield was erected, the antimonsters knocked against the solid barrier.
"Huh?" The female Angel expressed her surprise, turning her head to look at her briefly.
"I insist. It's the least I could do." Asuka stated as she gripped upon the base of the flute.
The female Angels shared smiles with her group.
"I understand. Please do, Asuka-dono."
Asuka watches the group of Angels stationed themselves in a circular formation before they prepared numerous of magic circles in front of them. All of them deadly to destroy their enemies into oblivion.
"I wonder how the others are fairing…If one of them can conjure these many creatures, what of the others…?" Asuka thought, feeling worried for the others that were occupying Nijou Castle to face the rest of the Hero Faction. If she and the others stationed outside of Nijou Castle were only dealing with a single Hero Faction member, she cannot fathom facing the rest of their enemies would be. She could tell this battle will not be easily won. She then recalled to the loud roar she heard originating from Nijou Castle and she knew it was not one of their own. She could only hope that the others would be able to emerge victorious in this arduous battle. "Anyway...what was that large scale explosion earlier? It brought a streak of earthquakes one after another...What could it be…" Asuka thought back to the large explosion that rocked the entire area of Kyoto, including hers which she was tasked to occupy. Just as she tried thinking any further about the matter, her attention was immediately drawn to the array of light illuminating her eyes. Grasping her situation in time, Asuka put the discerning matter at the back of her mind before focusing on the battle in front of her. —However, she could only come up with one answer which might be the cause of large-scale explosion and the recurring earthquakes affecting the whole city of Kyoto.
The corner of her lips lifted upwards as she thought about the single person capable of producing such natural disaster.
"This battle might be near to end if he's here…" She chuckled silently by herself before looking forward, smirking.
To Be Continued...
Alright. That is the end of the newest addition of A Problem Devil, Born~ I apologize if I had been TOO LATE to update considering I have been in hiatus for a considerable amount of time...8 MONTHS, right? I would like to express my sincere apologies for all of you who were waiting for a update...I will not make any excuses for my wrongdoing so I hope all of you will once again take interest to read A Problem Devil, Born~ again. For those of you waited for EIGHT MONTHS, I hope you are still able to read the story also. You were all waiting for a long time, I know…
Summary: Continuing from the last chapter, we found Kuroka and Izayoi readied themselves to go to Kyoto. Their location was Nijou Castle as mentioned in the last chapter. Next, we are introduced by Azazel and Michael encountering the antimonsters. The two banter with each other in account of Azazel's discomfort of partnering with the Seraph. Then, the ORC group consisting of the Second-Year students plus Rossweisse and Kunou pace towards Nijou Castle, encountering numerous members of Hero Faction before meeting the main members of the faction, who was holding Yasaka as custody and had taken control over her mind. Meanwhile, outside of Nijou Castle we got to see the forces stationed all over Kyoto and was battling the antimonsters. Furthermore, both Izayoi and Kuroka had taken a quick trip to meet Shiroyasha before they went to Kyoto and discovering the other dimension which resembled Kyoto by the use of Kuroka's Senjutsu. (Hope this makes sense because I haven't thought of any other way than this) Anyway, every forces stationed on Kyoto were alarmed by a sudden explosion which took them by surprise before they calmed however some people had already guessed the identity of the said newcomer...—I hope all of you are satisfied by this chapter because I haven't written for a long time and this is likely the result of it…
Leave a Review in the Review Box down below to tell me what you think of the overall chapter. I appreciate if you have any tips or advice to give me to improve. Other than that, I am grateful that I am able to get back at writing this story. I really missed writing…
Anyway, I will see all of you later!
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!