Life 5. The Strongest Youth
Part 1
I, María Hernández, congratulate Xie as soon as she comes back with us. As a fellow Rook, I feel proud of her.
"I should go now."
Ram goes to roll the dices once again. The results are-
{Ram Phenex rolled 5, while Silverage Lucifuge rolled 3, so it is a total value of 8.}
When Ram comes back, Jin asserts something.
"It's pretty obvious who should go, right fellas?"
"Yes. Haruka and María, you're going."
Since Xie isn't allowed to fight, Ram can only send Jin, Haruka and I. Since keeping Jin until late is key, only Haruka and I can go, and because an 8 was rolled, we can go together.
"Are you ready, Haruka?"
"Yes, I want to test the weapon Governor Azazel gave to me."
With that, we headed towards the magic circle to be transported to the battlefield.
{From Ram Phenex's side, Rook María Hernández and Knight Haruka Sorami; from Silverage Lucifuge's side, Knight Spadaccino Nero.}
The one in front of us is Nero-san! I expected to fight him since the beginning, but having him, my master, as my opponents feels uncanny.
"María and Haruka, both of you were Exorcists just like me, for said reason you should understand my standards. María, I wish Virgilio could watch this, he would be happy to see your growth…"
I remember that name. He and Nero-san were great friends during their stay at the Vatican, and he often came to help with my training. If I remember correctly, he's a reincarnated Angel now.
"Yes, Dist would be happy too."
Dist is the name of Virgilio's student, who was a close friend of mine. He's also an Angel now.
"Sigh, if only my comrades were alive…"
I feel bad for Haruka. According to himself, after he perfected his Holy Demonic Sword, a Devil appeared and killed his comrades for yet unknown reasons. That Devil even sent a message to the Vatican saying Haruka killed them. However, if it wasn't for that, we wouldn't have met, so I'm not really angry with that Devil.
{The fifth match starts now.}
Nero-san creates waves of holy energy with Durandal, so Haruka and I dodge them.
"[Balance Break]!"
My knights appear and attack Nero-san. In that moment, Haruka says something.
"I'll do as Governor Azazel told me, even if it is somewhat ridiculous."
Haruka then takes out the weapon given to him by the Governor General. It is a sword with light and darkness.
"Behold! Azazel's ultimate creation! The strongest Artificial [Sacred Gear], [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade]!"
… Seriously? That Governor General could only afford this stupid sword?
[Well done, Haruka! Show them; show the power of [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade]!]
"This is stupid…"
I just shared my honest feeling towards this absurd creation!
[What the…?]
[This Governor General, what the hell happens to him?!]
[I have had to take care of these Maya Hero Twins, but even I think this is beyond ridiculous.]
[You won't change, right Azazel…]
[No comments.]
Kurama, Price, Lucifer-sama, Kukulkahn and Indra say that! I'm pretty sure only the people at Grigori think [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade] is a good idea!
[Ah! Ungrateful bastards! Wait until you see the power of its [Counter Balance]! Haruka! Active- what's happening?]
Haruka is crying on the ground! Maybe we were a little bit too harsh with him.
"I thought this could work as a replacement for Darkness Knight Fang… why do you have to ruin this…?"
And with that, he retires! This is bad! Now I'm alone with Nero!
[María! [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade] is still there! Active [Counter Balance] and you'll win!]
I take the sword I just complained about.
"Ram, do I really need to do this?"
[Since Haruka retired because of your fault, yes, there's no other way.]
Sigh… these people, why do they always mess me with their weird stuff?!
"[Counter Balance]."
With that, the sword turns into particles of light.
[Wait Azazel. This girl already actived [Balance Breaker], what would happen if she actives [Counter Balance] like that?]
[I don't know Shemhazai, but I want to see it!]
No one knows what would happen if I take the last step to active [Counter Balance] while on [Balance Breaker]. However, since my opponent is Nero-san, I have no choice but to try.
"… [Balance Adjust]."
The light covers my knights, and their armour changes to a design that matches [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade]. Also, their swords are now perfect copies of [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade].
[This is… beyond my expectations! By activating [Balance Breaker] and [Counter Balance], this girl created a state that combines both of them! This reminds of the [Dual Balance Breaker] created by the wielder of 2 [Sacred Gears]!]
So [Dual Balance Breaker], but with [Counter Balance]…
"In that case, I'll call this the [Dual Balance] of [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade]: [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade Knight Mass]"
Nero-san launches waves of holy energy, but my knights null it by using the darkness on their sword. Meanwhile, other knights use light against him and deal great damage (light is poisonous to Devils after all).
Nullify light and deal great damage to Devils… now I understand why this is called the ultimate [Sacred Gear] against Angels and Devils.
My knights and I charge towards Nero-san, attacking him in all directions. While he's able to destroy some of them with Durandal, we have outnumbered him.
"María, congratulations. Having this strength, I never imagined you would be defeating me like this."
"Neither had I done, Nero-san. You were my master, but I never expected to surpass you. Now, with the help of Haruka and the Governor General, I'm able to face you like this."
After some minutes of exchanging slashes, Nero-san finally managed to destroy all the knights. However, his stamina pretty much ran out already, so I'm winning.
"Your power is to be respected, Nero-san. I only became a Devil because you did it, and I even thought I would regret it; however, Ram and the others are such characters, they're people I never imagined I would met, and now they're my best friends whom I have shared many memories. And now, this battle with you, my master, is the culmination of everything I have done."
I lift [Blazer Shining Aura Darkness Blade] towards the sky and yell!
"I'll show you the fruits of all my efforts!"
Nero-san stands up once again and looks at me with eyes filled with determination.
"In that case, let's end this like it started!"
Nero-san creates a huge pillar of light! He's going to do the same he did with Greed!
I go towards him while charging my sword with as much darkness as I can! If I can't hit him before he launches that wave, then I'll lose, but if I hit, then I'll win!
Both of us unlash our attacks at the same time… I close my eyes, and wait for best…
{Combatant Silverage Lucifuge's Knight and Ram Phenex's Knight, retire.}
Part 2
When I, Jin Lance, saw María returning with us, I saw she's fucked all over the place. While she can continue fighting, she's so damaged that she won't do much.
For said reason, I'm going to take care of this game along with these hot lasses.
Ram goes for the dices, and alongside Silverage, they roll.
{Ram Phenex rolled 4, while Silverage Lucifuge rolled 5, so it is a total value of 9.}
When Ram goes back with us, I'm honest to her.
"Cat-girl is going."
"I'm conscious of that, after all, she's the only member of Silverage's peerage aside from Silverage himself now."
"So I'm going to show her my boom and kapow."
"As you say, Jin. However, since she can go too, Xie is going with you."
"No problemo. Hey Xie, we going, ya'know?"
"Roger, Jin-kun."
"Why so serious, don't you wanna be with Jin? Wait, gotcha, you hear all I say as "jabber jabber", am I right?"
"Please Jin, try to be more serious."
"Kuh, these Japanese, an American cannot have fun now…"
After that chitchat, me and Xie go to the magic circle to be on the field.
{From Ram Phenex's side, Rook Xie Xie and Pawn Jin Lance; from Silverage Lucifuge's side, Bishop Kaihaku.}
Woo hoo, those boobs! She hot!
"Such a hot cat-girl. Hey, thanks for exposing so much skin!"
"Nya! Sukebe!"
"I don't get what that word means but ok!"
{The sixth match starts now.}
Storm appears on my side and flies above my head as I get ready to do the secret technique created by the legendary Familiar Master Satoshi.
"Come forth, fifth prince of the Spriggan race, symbol of magic. Obey my words and let me fly, [Fusion]!"
As I enter [Spriggan Mode], Xie is covered by the light that came out of her dagger.
"[Balance Adjust]."
And she turned into [Down Fall Dragon Another Armour]. So now I only need to use Promotion and my attacks can start!
"Promotion, Queen!"
As soon as I say that, I create many explosions using Fairy magic! Yeah, that's the boom!
When the explosions disappear, I see something that confuses me.
"What the fuck is going?"
The place is covered in some kind of purple mist, and there many Kaikaku in many different place?!
"You fell in my spell, nya. The power of Youjutsu isn't something you can underestimate, nya."
The different Kaihaku start throwing gray wheels towards us! Xie gets in the way and blocks them, but from the smoke coming out of her armour, she isn't unharmed.
"Ara, it looks like my Kasha were critical to you, nya. Well, they run on the power of purification by using my Senjutsu, so it is only logical a Devil would be this damaged by it, nya."
Fuck! I don't understand what the hell Senjutsu, Youjutsu and Kasha mean, but it's clear they give her advantage.
"Damn you!"
I create more explosions, but the cat-girls just disappear and reappear in another site! Xie charge right at her, but when she hits them, they just turn into mist and regenerate at another place!
"Nyahahaha, you won't be able to win like that."
I hate her! It doesn't matter she's sexy as hell, she's a bitch!
More of her appeared around Xie, and while they just move their hands in the air, they're clearly dealing damage to her!
"Jin-kun, 3 metres from your back!"
Meters. I'm American; I don't understand that stupid metric system. Use feet and inches, goddamn it!
Cough! I vomit a bit of blood after feeling a wave from my back. When I turn around, one Kaihaku is behind me! So this is what Xie meant!
"You, bitch! Stop using your fucking tricks! Come at me fair and square!"
"As you wish, nya."
She focuses two different powers in her hands, at throw them right at me! Damn you!
"Jin-kun!"
Xie gets in the way and blocks the attack for me. Her armour has many cracks, so it's clear the power of this cat-girl is dealing a huge damage.
"Nya? You are taking the combined power of my Senjutsu and Youjutsu to protect that boy, nya. In that case, I'll make you feel my power!"
By just moving her hands in opposite directions, she made Xie's armour dispel! She didn't launch any attack! What the hell was that?
"By altering the flow in your ki, I made that cute armour of yours disappear, nya."
She isn't even attacking us! She's using those weird Japanese powers to do as she pleases!
"Jin-kun, I'm sorry for failing you."
"Don't worry about that Xie. Leave her to me."
After I say that, Xie retires.
"That girl protected me. But, I'm a man! I have to show that! And the duty of man is to protect a woman! For that, I'm going to show you my most powerful technique!"
The field gets filled with my Familiars: Hydra, Sprite Dragon, Undine, and the others. Let's show him our true power!
"Manifest, violent beasts which devour the gods' flesh and blood. Let me cut the cloudy heavens, [Fusion]!"
An intense red aura covers me as body grows in size. My skin turns red with yellow marks and my teeth become fangs. My hair turns yellow and it grows along a bear on face.
This is my powerful technique-
"[Ultra Beast Mode]!"
I charge towards her with my new speed! I focus all my power in a single punch!
"This is for Xie! Oryaaaah!"
I punch her with all my power and create huge shockwaves with the sheer power of the impact!
She is sent flying towards a border of the ring, hitting the ground, and just as the light of retirement cover her, I can hear her last word which is filled with confusion.
"Nya…?"
{Combatant Silverage Lucifuge's Bishop and Ram Phenex's Rook, retire.}
Part 3
As I, Ram Phenex, see Jin coming back with us, everyone claps at him.
[That kid defeated Kaihaku in just one punch…? Now way… she was said to be against the strongest Yokai in Kyoto…]
[Kah! That boy is interesting. Since he has only been a Devil for a few days, I want to test his power once I unlash war against the Christian faction!]
[Yo, red eyes, that was amazing! Did you see that, Hunahpu?]
[Yes, Xbalanque.]
[I want to show this kid to the Heart of Heaven!]
"That is the title of an important Mayan god."
María explains that to Jin. Well, since she is Guatemalan, I can understand why she knows about the Mayan faction.
{Combatant Silverage Lucifuge, you're the last remaining member of your peerage, which means you'll have to face these three opponents, Ram and her pieces Jin and María, in a 1-on-3 battle.}
"Perfect."
Silverage, as the battle maniac he is, accepts the conditions in no time.
"It seems like he's actually enjoying this outcome."
"I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."
I say that to María. Silverage expecting this outcome doesn't sound farfetched at all, but I doubt he forced it.
"Jin, can you do what you did to Kaihaku to him too?"
"Weeeeell… my [Ultra Beast Mode] consumes a lot of my stamina; I don't think I'll be able to pull it off again."
Sigh… this people are getting power ups, but they either can't use them for long, didn't tell me about them, or both in Ham and Mint's case. Only Xie was totally honest about her new powers.
With Jin being unable to use his secret ace, and María being considerably damaged, the result of this battle will depend on me. But for me to defeat Silverage…
The four of us move towards the magic circle, and get teleported to the battlefield.
Part 4
As my three opponents appear, I, Silverage Lucifuge, put on a fighting stance.
"I'm going to end this as fast as I can. Hurting my dear fiancée is going to be hard, but if I have no other choice, then I'm going to do it as fast as possible."
The Dog God emerges from my shadow and takes some distance.
"Silverage, you know I love you, but I'm willing to win this game."
Ram declares that to me.
"I love you too, but your victory is impossible."
{The final match starts now.}
The Dog God runs towards me and leaps over my head as I declare the key to my victory.
"[Balance Break]!"
The Dog God turns into shadows that cover my body. This slowly takes the shape of black as night armour. I summon my big [Dragon Slayer] sword and declare the name of my [Balance Breaker].
"This is the Demonic Armour of the Glowing Night Sky, [Lucifuge Night Celestial Armour]."
With my [Balance Breaker], I cover the place in shadows. As they aren't able to see me, I move towards Jin, slashing him right in the front.
"Agh!"
I can see the blood coming out of him, so I end his suffering by summoning two blades from the floor that stabs him in opposite directions.
"This power… how can this be…?"
He hasn't retired yet, so I just change my target.
I charge towards María and stab her in the abdomen just like Nero did.
"Cough!"
Blood comes out of her mouth, so I finish her off with kick in the head.
She wasn't defeated, but she won't move anymore.
I create countless swords around Ram and jump towards her.
"I'm sorry for doing this, but I have no choice."
I take her head and throw it towards the swords. I summon even more swords to stab her body at the same time.
I create a single 10 metres long sword that stabs Ram and cuts her right in the middle. I take one sword and cut one of her halves, while the other one is cut by a 3 metres long sword I summoned.
To finish the game, I'll summon swords to cover the entire space of the field.
"Victory is mine."
As I declare that, the swords appear and pierce them from every direction.
{Ram Phenex loses. She retires. This is the end of the game. This is Silverage Lucifuge's peerage victory.}
Winner
I'm currently being congratulated by Lucifer-sama and the other VIPs for defeating Ram. The game itself was extremely hard, however, the key to this victory was pretty easy to attain.
Ram didn't believe she was going to win. For said reason, showing her a desperate situation would make her lose her will to fight, and with that, her regeneration would be gone. That was all I needed to do to win.
The Strongest Youth. That is how I'm called on the Underworld. Because of my immense power, I'm said to be unrivalled between the young Devils. However, being undefeated is boring.
I want a challenge, someone who can go up against me. Akai, Ham, Mint, the people around me are becoming stronger every time. However, there is one person I'm interested in: Rito Yuma.
You aren't as strong as me now. You may not be even close. However, once you're able to unleash your full potential, you'll be able to be my greatest opponent.
And I'll wait for that day to come.
