Chapter 20: Elite Guardian of the Senshi, The Prince of Tritus
Energy. The unstable hurricane within his soul had calmed, now as tame as a dog; a dog that would destroy everything in its path once released from its leash. His mind raced as new powers re-awakened within, memories of the ancient past coming back, though he did his best to push these out of his thoughts. At least for now.
The new blade in his hand shook, its mysterious aura fluctuating as if it were actually alive, breathing in the tension and devastation in the air. Looking at it, Koaru remembered the sword; six feet long, in the shape of a crescent moon, the outer edge sharp as a razor, and a single handle set inside the inner curve, three quarters of the way down its length. Jigen Wangetsu, the Dimensional Crescent Blade. A sword that no one had ever mastered; a cursed blade said to devour any unworthy to use its powers; it was also the Royal Heirloom of the Tritus Royal Family. Tearing his mind from the weapon, Koaru cast a glance across the rooftop, taking in all that he had missed. The Scouts were now free, Jupiter was wounded and unable to move, Kameharu had changed its form, Shiro had a few new wounds on his body, and currently Koaru was the only one left on the roof with enough power to even stand against the psychotic teen. Smiling, Koaru locked his eyes on Shiro, tightening his grip on Jigen Wangetsu as he dug his foot into the floor.
"I'm coming for ya," he said, his own maniacal grin spread across his face.
Shiro summoned his powers around his body as he stared at the Guardian, waiting for him to make his move. He involuntarily blinked at the dryness in his eyes and froze; Koaru no longer anywhere in his sights. Panicking, Shiro whipped around and launched his gathered energy out behind him, expecting to catch Koaru's ambush. Instead he hit nothing but air. His ears pricked up as he heard the sound of boots crunching across the debris covered rooftop. Turning slowly he saw Koaru standing over Sailor Jupiter, smiling down at her as he offered her his hand hand.
"What?" Shiro asked, baffled.
"What are you doing?" Lita asked as she took Koaru's hand, allowing herself to be pulled to her feet.
"Simple," Koaru said as he watched her sway uneasily on her feet, "I said I was coming for you." he smiled, scooping the girl up in his arms and turning back to the rest of the group. "You seriously think I'd say that to a kid like him?"
Lita remained silent as Koaru leapt forward, the speed of his movement greatly increased as they appeared before the rest of the group almost instantly. She slowly dropped from Koaru's arms, forcing herself to stand beside him as he watched Sailor Mercury help Tenshi over to the group.
"Lita," Koaru said, causing her to look at him. He turned his head to face her, his eyes solemn. "When this is all over, let's go out for supper. My treat."
Lita smiled at his words, though she heard the message hidden behind them; 'We need to talk'. Still she nodded and set her hand on his shoulder.
"Just go and kick his ass. We can make plans later." she said, shoving him. Koaru chuckled before leaping forward once again, vanishing from sight. Lita watched him reappear before Shiro, the black blade instantly slashing at the boy, who leapt back and countered with his unseen psychic bursts. The strength in her legs finally gave out, and Lita dropped to the floor, watching the battle as tears streamed from her eyes and flowed down her cheeks; tears she didn't even knew were being shed.
Koaru was amazed; he could see the rippled in the air released from Shiro's powers. They were not as clear as he would have liked, but it was enough to allow him to dodge the bursts, though even then it was just barely. Diving to the right in order to avoid a new blast, Koaru planted his free left hand on the ground and pressed off, vaulting across the rooftop, angling himself above Shiro, his new weapon held behind him, its black edge gleaming in the crimson sunlight.
"Crescent Shower!" Koaru shouted as he swung the weapon, releasing a rain of black arcs of energy down at Shiro, who vanished under the barrage. Dropping the ground, Koaru stared at the smoking area, tapping his foot in impatience. "Come on!" he shouted, resting Jigen Wangetsu on his shoulder. "I know that you didn't die from just that!"
As though to answer his call, dozens of stone spears shot out from the dust. Koaru smiled as he began to leap away, though his heart skipped as he suddenly realized that he couldn't move. Looking down he saw that his legs were shackled to the ground up to his knees.
"Damn it," he muttered as the spears came closer. Tightening his grip on Jigen Koaru swung the blade, deflecting the spears as best he could, though several managed to hit their mark, though luckily the wounds were minor to his arms and legs. Inverting his grip on his blade Koaru struck the stone shackles on his legs, breaking himself free as Shiro launched more geo spears at him. Charging energy into his blade Koaru slashed forward with Jigen.
"Crescent Wave!" he shouted, releasing a giant golden energy crescent at Shiro that shattered the spears in their path.
Shiro smirked, watching the attack near him. Extending his hand forward, he lightly flicked his fingers, causing a hole to be blasted through the center of Koaru's attack.
"Please, your new tricks are the exact same as your old ones." he said with a bored tone.
"Yeah they are."
Shiro whipped around, eyes wide in shock as Koaru' voice faded from behind him. Turning, he found the space behind him to be empty.
"What-?" he asked before sensing it; heat. Turning to face forward, his pupils dilated as he saw Koaru charging forward, not even six feet away; his left arm covered in black flames.
"Blaze of Shadows," Koaru muttered, his eyes burning red as his fist rocketed into Shiro gut, exploding the wind from his lungs and lifting him clean off the ground, "Infernal FireStorm!"
Shiro vanished as the flames covering Koaru's arm launched forward, carrying Shiro up into air and holding in their midst like a screaming tornado of black flames.
"Not yet," Koaru muttered, sheathing Jigen Wangetsu and slamming his hands on the ground, his body glowing with a dark blue aura. "Tritus Sapphire Prison!"
The flames surrounding Shiro flashed white for a moment, then faded to reveal the entire tornado to now be trapped inside a giant sapphire obelisk. Snapping his fingers, Koaru extended his hand out to the side as Kameharu flew from the ground and into his hand. Upon touching its master the sword immediately returned to its original form, blade pointing straight at Shiro.
"Tenshi!" Koaru shouted, looking over his shoulder at the knight. "Let's finish this!"
Amy listened to Koaru's words and looked to Tenshi; out of breath, leaning on her just to remain on his feet, his sword just barely remaining in his hand, his eyes glazed from fatigue. And the blood. He was covered in blood from the battle, so much that she was amazed that the knight was still conscious. How Koaru expected him to continue fighting was absurd. Turning her eyes to the guardian, her narrowed her vision and shouted.
"How can he help you finish the battle? He can barely stand! You're more than capable of winning by yourself, so just do it!"
"You're wrong, Amy."
Sailor Mercury turned to see Sailor Pluto standing behind her, staring out at Koaru with concern. "He is far from capable of winning on his own."
"What are you talking about?" Amy asked. "Look at him! His powers are incredible. He has Shiro beat, he just has to deliver the final blow!"
"No," Pluto cut her off, narrowing her eyes, "Koaru's body was strained when he received the Shadow Sapphire. Right now the power is too much for him to handle; it is causing him more harm than Shiro."
"That's wrong," Amy said, looking back to Koaru, "he's perfectly-" she stopped talking as Koaru opened his mouth and coughed, resulting in a thick stream of blood launching forward, covering the ground in front of him and running down his mouth onto his clothes, "... fine." Amy finished, her voice shaking in fear.
"Amy," Tenshi said weakly, pulling away from her, "she's right. He's right. We have t finish this now while we have this chance... cause even with all that we've done," Tenshi paused to catch his breath, "Shiro is barely injured."