Clear to cloudy

Target 53: Grand Finale: Challenges

Kotsu has just revealed that after Zaccaria cut his fork in two he's managed to make them into two smaller forks. "Now then… I think we've all gotten to know each other… so what do you say we finish this Zaccaria?" He says the tips of his fork lighting up with cloud flame. He swings it around a little standing with one fork-half on each side. Faust and Kagetora both come running towards Zaccaria in order to hand over their rings, however the moment they get anywhere near and Zaccaria turns his gaze Kotsu blasts off with both forks, before winding one of them up for a strike. Zaccaria tries blocking with his sword, however right as the two connect, Kotsu spins in the air striking with the second fork making Zaccaria slightly lose balance and in that moment Kotsu moves the first fork behind him firing it, pushing him towards Zaccaria who fully loses balance landing on the floor with Kotsu with a foot on top of him. Faust and Kagetora both attempt to attack him, however Kotsu jumps avoiding their attacks, kicking down at both of them, and as they block he crosses his forks blasting them both with a beam of cloud flame pushing them away from Zaccaria who's gotten up in the short moment. Zaccaria leaps into the air after him, swinging his sword at Kotsu, who dodges with a quick blast of his forks, using one for speed and the other for steering, having much more midair control than he usually has.

Zaccaria lands on the ground again, Kotsu blasting in with maximum speed, however right as Zaccaria swings at him again, he dodges under his swing and flies straight past him towards Kagetora, slamming him in the stomach with one fork, knocking him back and into the wall, flying towards him and again kicking him straight through the wall and it's safe to say he's out of the fight. Kotsu instantly changes direction back towards Faust and Zaccaria before the former can hand over his thunder ring. "Give it up Zaccaria. Fighting without trying to beat me won't get you anywhere and you know it,"

-NII-

Tsugemora runs through the mall frantically. "Dammit… why'd I have to run into HIM!?" He tries spinning around pointing his wiregun at the person flying after him.

"Eliminate," NM-5 declares firing a few small blasts of cloud flames at Tsugemora. Instead of dodging out of the way, Tsugemora simply makes sure it doesn't hit any vitals firing the gun and NM-5 spins out of the way landing right in front of the young boy. He palms Tsugemora right in the stomach pushing him back, however as Tsugemora lands he retracts the wire pulling on it and NM-5 realizes that he's been bound in the wire around his feet. He blasts himself off the ground, using the rockets in his feet. Tsugemora tries holding him down, but even with all his physical training he's no match for NM-5's powerful thrusters. However right as Tsugemora is pulled off the ground, he activates the electric flow sending it directly into NM-5, shocking his circuits, making his thrusters go out for a brief moment and before he can reactivate them Tsugemora pulls him in and kicks him in the head, however it does more harm to Tsugemora than good. "My skin is a titanium-iron alloy. A measly punch from a child will not dent me," The robot declares before shooting into the air again grinding Tsugemora against the ceiling, but Tsugemora gives a little smirk. Wrapping NM-5's neck in his wire.

"In that case! You must conduct electricity really well!" he pushes them off the ceiling and grabbing NM-5's hair, which he isn't really sure why he has shoving the hook of his wire gun down his throat before activating it sending shocks all the way through the robots body and the two crash into the ground. Tsugemora quickly manages to get a hold of NM-5's ring, but when he pulls on his wire to run off, while NM-5 is still down he feels that he can't. NM-5 stands up with gritted teeth, Tsugemora's wire stuck in his teeth.

"I will not allow you to get away… Tsugemora Gagliardi…" He says and his eyes briefly blink red, making Tsugemora slightly afraid.

-NII-

Reishiro is standing in the toy shop still, looking at all the cool toys. "Hey mister… what's this one…?" He asks Pietro before turning around, his Vendetta being activated and doesn't realize that the whole front of the store has been blasted off. "Ah! That's right… he left…" he says to himself walking around Pietro's unconscious body, not realizing it's him. He looks at Pietro's mist ring he's acquired. "Why do I have two now…? What was I supposed to do again…?" He says to himself suddenly feeling something warm near his neck.

"You're Tsugemora's friend… I don't want to harm you… so hand over the ring… it is meant for Ywan, not you," Gerald says holding his energy sword close to Reishiro's neck.

"Tsugemora…? Ah! Ren's little friend…" He says holding out the ring. "Here…" he just says and right as Gerald is about to take it someone else steps into the store

"Do not fall for his tricks Gerald! He is an illusionist. And he is the son of Rokudo Mukuro," Ywan says swinging his knife about and Gerald jumps back, and Reishiro takes a little step forward.

"Ah!? You didn't want it…" he says putting the ring in his pocket. He holds out the toy in his hand. "You think I can buy this…?" he says and the two elder men both prepare a battle stance.

"On my signal Gerald…" Ywan says Reishiro not understanding a single thing.

"Yessir…" Gerald says still not really comfortable attacking someone who's so young and clearly unfit for the battlefield, but looking at Pietro who was completely destroyed by the looks of it Reishiro shouldn't be underestimated.

"Now!" Ywan declares and Gerald sets forth towards the young boy, setting aside his morals as he knows they have the greatest medics in the Vongola family ready in case Reishiro is about to die. Ywan also doesn't hesitate and swings his knife creating tons of knives of sky flames that all blast around Gerald, towards the young boy while he himself swings his energy sword straight at Reishiro's head. He finishes the slash and confidently lets out a sigh of relief.

"Ah! You want it anyway…?" Reishiro simply says holding Pietro's mist ring towards him.

"W-what!?" They both say and Ywan grits his teeth.

"As I thought… He absorbs our flames before they hit him. My sky flame knives as well as your thunder flame sword…" He says and Gerald looks a little afraid at the young boy.

Reishiro's horned eye glows a little. "Excuse me mister… but do you want the ring or not…?" he says looking incredibly creepy given his calm nonchalant voice and glowing eye added to his already scary appearance.

-NII-

Ren and Marco are standing outside in the parking lot, with Rinoka and Cotton hiding behind one of the cars set up by the Cervello. Antonio jumps off his Phoenix and it charges at the two young boys. Ren gets in front of Marco and gulps, gathering all his will not to bolt out of the way, grabbing hold of the phoenix's beak, getting some nasty burns, but he's now realized he heals his injuries automatically. Slowly. But automatically. "This thing… i-it's so strong!" He tries as he sees Riccardo come jumping over it, going in for a straight punch now that Ren is undefended due to using his arms.

"Riccardo! Above you!" Antonio yells and Riccardo looks up seeing Marco in his dying will state right behind him. The young boy rams his fist into the sun user sending him straight into the ground, hitting the bird on the way down. Ren lets go and the two of them run forward towards Antonio. Antonio grits his teeth. "RETURN!" He yells and the phoenix is instantly in the air again, charging at them from behind and Marco stops as Ren continues towards Ywan's storm guardian. "I've seen the way you act boy. You cannot fool me. You don't have it in you to hurt me," He says as Ren spins for a kick but Antonio doesn't move an inch and Ren forces his leg to a complete stop right before he hits Antonio in the side of the head. The man smirks pushing Ren's leg away kicking him back himself.

"T-that may be true… but in that case I'll just stop you from reentering the fight!" Ren tries but Antonio just laughs.

"I do not need to do battle boy. My box weapon is my weapon. And it is fighting your friend just fine all by itself," He says laughing and Ren quickly glances behind himself seeing Marco pinned blocking a strike from Riccardo and the phoenix at the same time, having quite a bit of trouble doing so.

"T-that's…" He tries before gritting his teeth. "I… I…"

Meanwhile behind the car Rinoka is sitting and holding onto Cotton. "Rinoka! Let Cotton-heika go! She will take care of the bullies who're attacking Marco! He is my most precious minion!"

"N-n-n-no Cotton… y-you can't… i-it's best to leave this to the boys," Rinoka tries as Cotton fights to get free.

"But Cotton-heika must help them! They'll lose!" She tries and Rinoka looks out from behind the car.

"I-I know… B-but we can't get away… a-and Marco-san is stronger than both of us…"

"He is not! I AM the strongest!"

Suddenly Marco comes flying past the car crashing into another. He doesn't look hurt due to his dying will mode protecting him. Suddenly the car is kicked to the side by Riccardo. "Hand over your rings and I won't hurt you," He simply says. The giant phoenix is looming over his shoulder as Ren has still been unable to move due to fear and his own morals.

"No you big bully! Cotton-heika will destroy you! HIAAAAA!" She yells jumping at the large man! "COTTON-HEIKA SUPER SPECIAL ATTACK: MEGATON KICK!" She yells but Riccardo simply grabs her out of the air tossing her aside. Rinoka holds her hand out towards her.

"Cotton!" She tries before looking up at Riccardo. Ren stands frozen looking at the ground. 'This isn't right…' Marco runs to check up on Cotton. "I… I can't…g-give it to you…" She says taking out her own box weapon. 'I-I should be there for them…' "I-I promised K-Kotsu-san! T-that I'd try to be useful!" She says and right as she's about to insert her ring she fumbles and drops it just like she did against Ricci. 'Just like Kotsu!'

Riccardo raises his fist. "I won't ask again. Give it now!" When Rinoka holds her fist close to her Riccardo grits his teeth. 'I-I always said he should be helpful!' Ren continues before suddenly turning stomping his foot down, his shoes glowing yellow. 'I WON'T stand by watching people I care about get hurt!' the next thing Riccardo knows something comes flying at him at incredible speed. "TAIYOFU!" Riccardo is flung across the entire parking lot slamming against a car, coming to a halt.

Ren leans down in front of Rinoka smiling his signature smile. "Are you okay… Rinoka?" He asks and helps her up with a smile.

"Y-y-y-yes… w-what about you…?" Ren turns around seeing Antonio with his phoenix again.

"I'm fine… I think this has made me realize something… Being hardcore and cold… isn't really my style…" He says smiling happy as always. "I'm more… the kind of guy who smiles and helps those in need… and right now… I'm helping my little brother win this battle," He says and everyone looks a little surprised as he begins stepping back and forth like he did against Faust.

"Heh… you think just a different mentality will help you overcome your own hate for battle!? You're a fool!" Antonio yells ordering his phoenix to fly forward. It shoots some of its feathers at the two of them and Ren just stands completely still as Marco comes in from the side deflecting them all with his bare hands. Ren jumps forward, spinning as he knocks the phoenix in the head sending it flying to the side.

Ren shakes a little as he sets his foot down. "It's still… uncomfortable to hit something with the intent of hurting it… but it's even more uncomfortable knowing I could prevent it from hurting someone else…" He leans his head back a little casually pointing to Antonio. "So that's my answer… from this point forward… I won't be the one holding back my team…"