AN: Well, this happened. The reason, I think, why I paused on Contact is because I'm not really good with transition chapters, which Contact is. Anyways, working on Monmusu Quest also took up some time, and I've been tired lately. Like, lethargic. Anywho, here's to the next chapter!
W
Lord Death stood in his Death Room. Maka, Black Star, Soul, and Tsubaki were present as well. A cloud drifted between them. "So you say this Kishin Egg had an interaction with this Witch?"
"Yes, Lord Death sir." Maka replied. "The Kishin Egg implied it was enhanced in some way by the Witch, and the Witch implied he performed some experiment on it."
"Whatever happened to it, it started eating other Kishin Eggs, and it got super strong. It even regenerated an arm we cut off." Black Star finished.
"Hm… " Lord Death fell silent, pondering. "To be honest, I've never heard of a Kishin Egg hunting other Eggs to eat. Something to think on, definitely. Then again, it may be a side effect of whatever that Witch did to the egg. Did you happen to eat it, or keep it as a piece of evidence?"
Soul's expression turned dark. "There's no way in hell you could ever get me to eat that thing. I don't care if it's a short-cut to becoming a Death Scythe, that Kishin Egg freaked me out. Totally uncool." He groaned as Maka extended the glowing Egg.
"The appearance looks like that of a regular Egg, only slightly larger, probably due to the amount of souls it digested." Lord Death Commented. "Anyways, that Witch's name, what was it?"
"His name was Elapidae. He was a Witch, but he was also a man." Soul stated. "Even though he denied it, I thought he might be like Free, the Immortal who worked for Medusa."
Lord Death shook his head. "No, no, Immortals are truly a rarity in this day and age. I find the odds of stumbling upon an Immortal much less killing it as well in such short of time are as preposterous as having Medusa knock on my door."
Soul looked down. "I never thought of that. After all the damage we did to Free, he still stood up and his wounds healed immediately."
"Elapidae's wounds didn't heal. He was recoiling from Maka's Witch Hunter's attack, along with Black Star's direct Soul-Wavelength attack." Tsubaki reminded.
Lord Death scratched his head. "You know, male Witches are not unheard of. Genetically, they're rarer than an Immortal, but they do exist. I know of one male Witch from the past, but…" He paused. "Let me tell you a small story. All this happened centuries before you were born.
"Back during the first few decades of Death Weapon Meister Academy, our process of student selection was… Eh, unrefined. Anywho, one year we had a new, different student, a student named Henry. Relatively plain in background, or what he told us. He was a noble youth from a shrinking family in England. He seemed to fit in pretty well, and had his own clique.
"Very manipulative, implicitly, though. Never had a problem with getting what he wanted, even going so far as to take a couple downfalls to end up on top. Excellent fighter, and was able to become a Two Star Meister within four months. He was diligent, and took mission after mission. Eventually, he became a Three Star Meister, and was promoted to Spartoi. But then… Things changed for the worst.
"You see, he had quite a league of power in his following. He made advances in even hunting Witches that only made sense when you applied hindsight to the matter. One day, a group of Witches appeared in Death City. They caused utter chaos. To top it all off, it was Henry, or Elapidae as he revealed, that allowed them in to destroy the DMWA. What made problems worse was that the significant following he had was demoralized by his revelation. So many were killed. But I, alongside the staff of the past Death Academy, managed to destroy the Witches that appeared. I even dealt the final blow to Elapidae myself, and destroyed his soul completely." Lord Death concluded.
"I've never heard that story before, Father." Kid had entered the room, and it seemed as if he had been present for quite some time.
Lord Death sighed. "It's not a story I'm quite fond of. I lost many friends and students that day."
Black Star raised his hand. Without waiting for any reaction, he spoke. "So wait, you never heard of anything relating to this Elapidae guy after that again?"
Lord Death tilted his head. "I'm afraid not guys. After half a century of relatively normal happenings, I thought, and had good reason to assume, he was gone for good."
"So if this Elapidae Witch is really back… That's a pretty obvious clue that he never died to begin with," Maka thought aloud. She looked at Lord Death. "Which means it's probably safe to assume that he didn't die when we took him out before."
Soul took a step forward. "Wait a sec, Maka. His soul literally exploded."
Maka nodded. "I know. But… Lord Death destroyed Elapidae's soul himself."
"Could this be someone who inherited magical powers from a Witch?" Tsubaki asked. "You know. Free stole the Grand Witch's eye and he gained the ability to use magic. Maybe this Elapidae is similar. He gained something from a witch, and is masquerading around as the Witch who nearly brought Death City to its knees."
"Quite an assumption, Tsubaki." Lord Death commented. "But it's plausible. If that's the case, he has quite a shadow to live under at this rate. Oh Spirit! Wherever are you?" He called out.
Spirit walked into the room from behind one of the crosses in the background. "I've been here, listening." He turned his full attention to Lord Death. "What are we going to do?"
"We'll begin with full student lists. Any suspects we'll note, and while we're compiling the list, we'll be going over student records." Lord Death continued a list of actions he planned to take. Eventually, the five realized that their presence was no longer necessary, and Kid waved them to the exit.
"So what does that mean the next few weeks will be like?" Maka wondered aloud.
Kid shrugged. "Like I said before, Father has never mentioned this story before. But he seems serious right now, so I can't really say. We should know by this evening."
"Good thing we're exempt from classes then. Gives me just enough time to relax and train." Black Star stretched.
"I have no doubt Professor Stein will know of our encounter with this Elapidae Masquerader. It'll be interesting to see his take on the situation." Kid commented.
Maka tilted her head as the group walked down the steps of Death Academy. "Well… He might even have a few suspicions of his own."
"What if this guy isn't trying to infiltrate DWMA?" Tsubaki asked. "I mean, it's the first thing we're looking at. It's like the Law of Assassins."
Black Star nodded. "Right now, that totally makes sense. Right now, we're assuming he's going to do the same thing he did before. If the last time, he opened a window or opened the back door and snuck inside, then all we're doing is looking to see if the windows and doors are locked."
"You're saying that we shouldn't bother with searching the student and staff body for this guy?" Kid asked.
Tsubaki interjected. "What he means is, if I may, is that we're doing the obvious choices first. He's not, and this is my own assumption, going to do the same thing twice. We're checking the student body because his predecessor broke in that way. He's going to do something different. He'd be a fool to try that technique when it's the first thing we've thought of." She explained.
"Will it even be a stealthy approach?" Black Star asked. "He's trying to be a legendary figure. Sort of like a star, I guess, but insignificant compared to someone as legendary as me."
Kid smiled. "What? You think instead of sneaking in, he'll knock on the door and kick it down?" He visualized a cartoon-ized scenario in his head and chuckled.
"If we stick to the house analogy, why not?" Maka thought. "He snuck in, and let his friends in to start a party. He was kicked out, so now his admirer wants to make things right, and wants to throw a party at the same place."
"Whatever it is, he won't be doing it soon. I think we have time, maybe lifetimes, before we actually have to worry about this fake doing anything. Come one, we're almost at our place." Soul urged the rest of the group on.
Later that night, the group discovered that all Extracurricular ad Supplementary class activities had been canceled, and that regular classes would be put on hold for a few days. The notice was vague, but it explained that a student body search was underway, and that these would make it easier on both the staff and students alike.
Kid left for a short while in between, but returned shortly with Patti and Liz, all dressed in their informal attire. The entire group convened at Maka's apartment, as per usual, and invited Natsumi in as well.
She wore a yellow and green tie-dye shirt and blue jeans, but her three bangles remained on her arm. She noted Kid's loose shirt, and thought that he truly had a class about him.
After catching everyone up on their thoughts about the scenario, and telling Death's story of Elapidae, the group settled down. Natsumi paused her role in the group festivities, and retreated to her room. At first, her presence wasn't noticed until a few minutes later. However, just as Maka was about to check on Natsumi, she returned with a game console in hand.
"Oi, isn't that-?" Black Star paused, looking at the sleek console. "You mean you've had one all this time!? I can't wait to test it out!"
The game console was set up, and as Soul and Black Star started playing a few games that Natsumi had brought along as well. Minutes passed to hours as the group took turns exchanging controllers.
Eventually, after many hours of playing, only Black Star and Natsumi remained awake. On the screen of Maka's television, two warriors dashed around the screen, cooperatively attacking a large enemy on the screen. Eventually, Natsumi yawned and gave up on consciousness, and Black Star shrugged. With dawn still a few hours away, Black Star decided he too would sleep, and end the day on a positive note, defeating the boss of the game moments after.
A powerful pulse of energy split the sky of Death Academy. The power immediately jolted the group from their slumber, shock etched on all of their faces.
"What the hell?" Soul exclaimed, flailing his arms as he woke.
"Th-this is!?" Kid gasped.
Maka nodded. "It's a soul… But…"
Black Star shuddered. "This feeling… It's… Different, but I've felt something like this before."
"Guys, we've got to get on this!" Liz directed, fixing her appearance. "This presence doesn't feel like that Witch's, but it's worrisome of how vague its intentions are!"
"Liz is right." Kid nodded. "Whatever it is, it's coming straight for Death Academy. Let's go people."
"Right." Tsubaki agreed.
Within minutes, the group of eight were out on the streets of Death City, racing through alleyways to beat the invader. Maka's eyes were closed as she led the group on a direct path to the invader, but it soon became unnecessary as they arrived to one of the main, larger streets of Death City.
It seemed as if most of the population had been startled by the presence of the invader, retreating to a safe place until the situation had resolved itself, and it gave the eight a clear view of the invader. They tensed as shadows revealed the figure of a masked man draped completely in white, with horns skewed to his front on his head. His robes were trimmed in green where the cloth folded on itself, and line ran up his fingers centered on the bones up to his wrist, but his outfit maintained a shell-like appearance, no breaks or multiple pieces of cloth were apparent. A single, thicker stripe of dark green bisected his robe-like shell vertically, disappearing just under the horned, blank white mask he wore.
"Woah, what a freaky looking guy." Black Star commented, looking over the man.
Tsubaki, Liz, Patti, and Soul all took on their Weapon forms, wielded by their respective partners. "Don't get distracted by his appearance, Kid." Liz warned.
However, her warning came too late. "Woah." Kid moaned. "He's… Symmetrical!" He exclaimed, looking at the mysterious man in two halves. "Someone so symmetrical can only be an ally!"
"Kid! Now's not the time for that!" Liz yelled, in pistol form.
Kid was about to ogle over the symmetrical patterns of the man, but a pulse of soul-wavelengths caught the group off guard. "I suppose that can wait until we access the situation."
"Who are you?" Maka asked, brandishing Soul's scythe form at the invader.
Undeterred by the group's appearance, the man continued walking towards the group, almost as if he didn't even recognize them. His eyes glowed emerald as he walked past the group, the eight slowly backing as he passed them.
"Hey! Don't ignore me you freak! I'm the star! I'm the main character! You've got to pay me my respects!" Black Star yelled, jumping back in front of him.
The rest of the group moved in front of the man, forcing him to stop. "You've got some answers for us. Tell us who you are." Kid ordered.
A pulse of soul-wavelengths passed through the group. 'I have no business with you currently.' The group stood still, uncertain what they had just heard.
"What was that?" Natsumi asked, taking a step back.
"That voice… Where did it come from?" Maka asked, looking in multiple directions before resettling her eyes on the masked man.
"Feel closely, Maka." Kid started. "It was him. Pay attention to the voice." Kid said, narrowing his eyes as Maka closed hers.
'Remove yourself from my path. I have no necessary interactions with you at this time.' The masked man stated again.
"Like hell you don't." Black Star shouted, drawing Tsubaki's blades close to him. "No one as strong as you suddenly appears out of nowhere having nothing to do with Death Academy."
'My business is with Death Weapons Meister's Academy, more specifically, it's administrator.' The man stood still, no noise emanating from him.
"I get it now." Maka said, slowly opening her eyes. "That's his 'voice' we're hearing? And what do you mean the administrator of Death Academy? Do you mean Lord Death?"
'That is correct.' The buzzing pulse rang in their ears. 'Now, I have urgent business.'
"I'm Death the Kid." Said Meister announced, taking over Black Star's position in the center. "My father would send word of someone like you arriving if what you speak is the truth."
'I come with warnings in this letter, addressed to Death.' The masked man explained, his skinny fingers wrapping around a note of paper. 'If you have direct connections with Death, bring me to him now.' He ordered.
"There's no need to detain our guest any further." A familiar voice stated, revealing Stein as he walked out of a shadow.
Barely moving his eyes, the masked man addressed Stein. 'Do you have direct connections with Death?'
Cranking the cog in his head, Stein nodded. "Lord Death wishes to speak with you."
"Wait, what?" Soul asked, his reflection appearing on his scythe. "Who is this guy?"
Stein shrugged. "I have no idea. But Lord Death sent me to fetch him." He returned his attention to the man. "Well? This way." He beckoned, walking towards Death Academy.
Several minutes passed as the group followed the two to Death Academy. Finally reaching the Death Room, Stein stood outside as the man entered.
"It'd probably be best if we waited outside. I haven't seen Lord Death seem so serious in a while these days." Stein stated, looking at their curious faces.
Kid shook his head. "The last time something as important as this seems happened, it involved the Kishin." He folded his arms. "I want to know what has my father so agitated with this guy."
Inside the Death Room, the man stood at a distance from Death. Silence was palpable as the man took out the scroll of paper, handing it to Death. He read intently, then sighed.
"I knew your soul felt familiar." Death observed. "Semantics wrote this, Murcielago?" He said, phrasing himself. "He's rather pessimistic, isn't he?"
'…' Murcielago simply stood in front of Death, not unlike a statue.
"Anywho, you'll be surprised to know that we've already began preparations, not for something like this though." Death admitted. Murcielago's only physical reaction was a slight shift in his weight. "Don't worry. Death City stood up to Asura after all. I think we can handle a couple of rogue Weapons."
At this, Murcielago lurched forward by a few inches. 'These are no Weapons.' He pulsed. 'The gravity of the situ-'
"I know. But you've already met some of my best students on your way here." Death interrupted.
'I had been anticipating… Differently.' Murcielago commented, his blank emerald eyes unceasingly boring at Death.
At that moment, Kid entered the room, shortly followed by the rest of the waiting group outside.
"Not everyone is as they seem, Murcielago." Death commented, as the group stood by the side of the conversation. "For instance, you know what I am capable of, yet I look like this. It's not particularly frightening, I'd hope."
'…'
"Albarn, there, was the one who dealt the final blow to the Kishin Asura." Death stated, while pointing an over-sized finger at Maka. "Is that not worthy of regard? Kid is a Grim Reaper too, and quite formidable. Black Star is one of our greatest Meisters as well."
'I did not mean impudence.' Murcielago stated. 'The Forge has installed much higher estimates when I see something.'
"Hey!" Black Star roared. "Were you just saying that I looked weak!?" He went to throttle Murcielago's neck, but a sharp shock from a statuesque Murcielago sent Black Star back. "What the hell?"
'I apologize.' He declared. 'I am not used to humans.'
"Humans?" Soul asked, looking Murcielago over.
"I am a Demon Weapon." Murcielago stated. "Tell me, I know that some of my caliber live in this world. For instance, Excalibur resides in this world." At this, an immediate reaction occurred on all of the faces of those present, save for the masked two.
"No way… You're related to Excalibur?" Black Star gagged, as if the name itself would summon him.
"In a way." Murcielago stated. "I am similar in composition and form, but I would be inferior to Excalibur in brute strength and abilities, considering everything."
"Anyways, it seems as if we still haven't had proper introductions!" Lord Death said cheerily. "You've already met each other, but why not introduce yourselves? He'll be staying for a while, from the looks of it."
'I am the Godsbane Blade, Murcielago.' A resonation filled the air as he introduced himself. A few minutes passed as they exchanged names to the Weapon.
"I've been wondering this for a while now…." Tsubaki wondered. "But when you talk, you're not really talking, are you?"
Maka nodded. "I think we've all noticed that. What's with your voice?"
'I am physically mute.' Murcielago stated. 'I rely on vibrations created by my soul wavelengths to carry my thoughts. It's a form of telepathy.'
Lord Death swayed in place as Murcielago was questioned. "I'm afraid that I need Murcielago." Lord Death interjected. "If you're really interested, you'll have to find separate time. We have more matters to discuss, in terms of preparing Death City." Relieved of their presence, Death and Murcielago stood face to face. "I assume that you've heard of Avalon?"
'I have. What purpose is there in bringing that up?'
"I could tell that you thought our defenses were lackluster." Death stated. "Don't worry. As painfully neutral as you can be, I'm not blind." He laughed. "So I was thinking… If we must fight against another Kishin, then it would make sense to prepare."
'You aim to seek their numbers to fortify each other?'
"That is correct."
'Alchemy is an uncanny ability to wield.' He stated.
"That it is. But it's also uncanny for an opponent to read. Do you not like the idea?" Death asked.
'…' Murcielago's emerald eyes simply stared at the holes in Death's mask. 'I am only a weapon to be used. Do as you see fit.'
"Excellent. I'll arrange a contact for Avalon." Death said happily. "Ah… But…" Death suddenly fell from the high. "If Semantics is right, and we do have a fight on our hands, do you not have a Meister to wield you?"
The Godsbane Blade shook his head. 'Only those seeking to end their lives should ever wield this power.'