Chapter Thirty

Well, it's been soooo long since I've been on here! Hope everyone can forgive me for being inactive for a long time! This is the second to last chapter. I promise the final chapter will be published in a few weeks! Enjoy!

"I must admit, you've grown from being that helpless little girl I took hostage all those years ago." Asura continued to play mind games with Misao, as the two stared each other down. "That look of determination mixed with your fear…is very amusing."

"You're right about one thing, Asura: I'm not a helpless little girl anymore. I'm a strong, powerful meister with a strong weapon at my side." Misao clenched Blood's hand with determination. Blood transformed into a weapon. "Together…we will take your soul!"

Asura snickered. "Your father could barely stand against me at my normal strength. Now you two think you can survive, when I have the orb's power to fuel me?"

"I'll do my best…to finish what you started!" Misao took a step back, pushed off the ground and thrusted herself towards Asura with everything she had.

The moment she did, Asura coughed up his weapon, and fired a laser directly at Misao, who couldn't dodge it in time. Bracing herself, she used Blood to block the attack, but she was still thrown back a bit.

Misao landed on the ground with a massive thud. "Damn it. That was too close."

"Misao, look out!" Blood shouted just as four of Asura's bandages began to fly towards them.

Dodging them, Misao used the axe end of her weapon to cut them to pieces.

"I'm actually impressed." Asura whispered from behind Misao.

She gasped and tried to retreat, but before she could go anywhere, Asura landed a severe punch in Misao's side. She was hurled into the air, gasping as a large amount of Asura's wavelength was thrusted into her. Misao coughed up a large portion of blood as she landed on the ground.

"You were able to react quickly to my first attacks." He said, still wearing a sadistic smile. "How does it feel to be hit with my enhanced power?"

"Misao! Misao…can you still fight?"

Misao could hardly speak, due to the blood that had swelled up in her throat and mouth; not to mention the shock of being hit by such a destructive blow.

"I've barely warmed up." Asura mocked as he slowly walked towards the duo. "Your father put up more of a fight than you are right now, Misao. Could it be…that your fear is beginning to get the best of you? The thought of having to fight me while I have the orb enhancing my abilities…you know you won't be able to win against me. Everyone you've ever loved and held close to you, will never see justice."

"shut…up…" Misao was able to faintly say.

"Hmm? What was that?"

"I said…shut up." Misao managed to get back on her feet and wipe the blood from her mouth. "Play all the mind games you want. I won't let you get the best of me anymore." She let out another cough, spitting up a little more blood. "Nothing you say…will distract me from my one true goal: killing you and avenging my friends and family!" She stared down at Blood, who shared the same thought as she. The two nodded at one another, as Misao took hold of Blood's bandages, and began to slowly rip them. "I don't give a damn about you having the orb. I refuse to be killed by a corrupted soul like you. Blood and I will end you…right here." She ripped off Blood's bandages, revealing his mark, which began to glow.

Their energy swirled around them, revealing Misao's soul character for all to see. Misao's grip on her weapon grew tighter as her energy and Blood's energy mixed together. "Misao, can you handle this?"

"I'm fine! We can't fail! Give it everything you have!"

"Alright!"

Misao had reached her limit. Her blood boiled with energy. She didn't feel like a human anymore; she felt like something greater than herself.

"Let's go: SOUL RESSONANCE!"

With that declaration, the pair had pulled off Soul Resonance. Blood had transformed into a giant lance, with pincers protruding from different sides. "This is the end, Asura." Misao declared. "Your soul is mine!" With one swift motion, Misao flew head-on towards Asura. Her movements were quick and graceful as she tried to strike Asura. She got in a few good blows, but Asura had managed to dodge or block some of her more powerful attacks.

During the battle, Asura continued laughing and mocking Misao. "Yes! I see it! I can see the rage in your eyes; the same rage your father had! Give me more! Entertain me! Let me see your rage mixed with fear!" Asura jumped back from Misao's range, coughed up his laser weapon and began charging it. As he did, his body began glowing a light blue color, which went straight to the beam.

"Misao, that's the orb's power!" Blood exclaimed. "We can't block that! Get out of the way!"

Asura fired the beam, which hardly gave Misao any room to dodge. The beam hit the ground, causing a massive explosion, blowing Misao into the air. She was able to save herself from landing on the ground, by sticking her lance in the ground and making a safe landing.

"Damn it!"

"Misao, look out!"

Before Misao could react, she was grabbed from the ankle, by one of Asura's bandages. She was hoisted into the air, swinging upside down and being tossed everywhere.

"You're gonna have to do better than that, you bastard!" Misao cut herself free, then went for Asura again. This time, she managed to get behind Asura and smack him around in the air, before slamming him into the ground. His body left a large hole in the pavement. Misao was on top of Asura, who had blocked Misao's lance from piercing him, holding the tip with his bare hands.

Asura smiled at Misao, who was struggling to break Asura's grip and kill him once and for all. "It's been fun playing with you. But let's stop the childish behavior, shall we?" With no effort, Asura shattered the lance, breaking the Soul Resonance form, and throwing Misao and Blood a few feet away. Blood was forced back into his human form. His mouth was filled with blood, and he could hardly move. Asura stood up and approached Blood. He grabbed Blood by the hair and lifted him to his facial level. "I must admit, you're a fascinating man. You come from a clan of weapons, trained to use their full potential without a meister. You would've made an excellent soldier for me."

"I'd rather die than ever be your damned pawn." Blood gritted his teeth, barely able to simply turn his hand into a spearhead.

"What a shame."

Misao lifted her head from the ground, just as Asura had pierced Blood with several of his bandages. Her eyes practically bulged out of her head at the horrific scene taking place before her. "Blood. No…no…"

"Such a waste of potential. But, nothing can be done about it." Asura tossed Blood's body in front of Misao.

There was blood everywhere. Blood was practically lifeless. "Blood? Blood! No! Blood, wake up! Please!" Misao frantically crawled towards her weapon to check his condition. She placed his head in her lap, trying to wake him up. Her tears hit him in the face and trickled down his cheek. They fell like heavy rain. "You promised…you promised you wouldn't leave me. I won't let you break that promise! Open your eyes, Blood! I'm ordering you! Open your eyes!" Her crying and pleas were met with stone silence.

Asura slowly approached Misao. "There's no need to cry over him, my dear. You'll be joining him very soon." He raised his bandages and prepared to strike Misao where she was. Misao didn't move an inch, as if she was ready to give up.

"Misao! Get out of the way!" Stein prepared to rush in and block Asura's attack. He was almost there, until Asura's attack was stopped before they hit Misao. Stein froze where he was and stared in shock.

Asura stepped back with widened eyes. "What…What just happened!?" The bandages were burned to the point where the ends of them practically disintegrated. He looked down at Misao, and saw that her soul character had manifested and protected her from the attack. Not only that, there was a strong aura coming from Misao that was familiar to Asura. "This power…it can't be!"

Misao, feeling the same energy as Asura, looked around her. 'Is this…?'

The orb magnifies one's powers, good or evil. But…the orb is more than a rare artifact…

"It's like a living being." She whispered to herself. Remembering the story her father told her as a child, Misao looked down at Blood and stroked his face. "I'll end this, Blood. For you…and my father." She gently rested Blood's head on the ground, stroking his bangs back before slowly rising to her feet and staring Asura dead in the face. Tears continued rolling down her eyes, tracing the stains on her cheeks left behind by old tears. "You may have the orb, Asura. Your power may be beyond your limits, as well as ours. But you do not…and will not control the orb itself."

Those words, caused a reaction within Asura. His chest began to glow a bright, luminescent blue. He stepped back, looking down at his chest. "What is this? What's happening!?"

"The orb is rejecting your madness." Misao explained. All of the fear she felt just moments ago, wash away from her. Her heart raced within her chest as she gained the strength and confidence to continue on. "It has gained enough consciousness and power to know how pure evil and ruthless you are. It will no longer allow you to abuse its power."

"No! This…This is impossible!" Asura continued screaming and writhing in agony. "This light…this…power…!"

"That power you feel…is all of the emotion and anger I've stored up for so long. My father's love…the support of my people…you took everything away from me."Misao began to walk towards Asura with tears of rage. Her body went numb, almost like she wasn't in control of her body. But she didn't care. Her instincts were what drove her to approach the demon. "I've suffered from your nightmares for years. I was afraid to close my eyes because of you." Her speed increased, as well as the aura from her soul.

The closer Misao got towards Asura, the more he began to tremble. It was the first time he felt fear from another being. "S…Stay away!" He flung his bandages at Misao, but she dodged them with ease.

"All of that is about to end right now!" Misao's fist gathered all of the energy she released. Her soul reached maximum power as she made heavy contact with Asura. Her fist went straight through Asura's stomach, covered with his tainted blood.

He coughed up a large quantity of blood, leaning over Misao's shoulder as he slowly blacked out. "This…power. You…harnessed it…without…the orb…?"

"It's the power of love; the love I have for my father, my people…for Blood. As well as their love for me."

Asura wheezed out a small chuckle. "You say that…but…the fear of madness….will…always…live within…you." Asura vanished in a flash of light, leaving behind millions of souls he had devoured.

The madness lifted from the air, releasing the tension the city was under. Misao held the orb within her hand, as she looked up at the sky. 'It's…over. Father…Blood…'

Thanks for reading! Please R&R ^_^