...okay, so I missed the Monday update...*insert sad face here* allow me to apologize formally: I'm very sorry. School has currently been taking over my life so I haven't had the chance to write anything till now, since it is the weekend. I hope you all forgive me and I hope you enjoy this epic chapter!
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Chapter 39: Against the Earl
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Nova's POV
As I slid on to my knees in front of Sam, Cross and Allen flew past me for the Earl. Turning Sam's body over, I panted as I patted the side of his face, trying to see if he'd wake. He has to wake up. Otherwise he'll get bashed around here in the battlefield. Pulling him into a sitting position, I slung one of his arms over my shoulder and prepared myself. Hissing through my teeth at the pain, I pulled myself up on to my feet, hauling Sam next to me.
"Come on Sam, wake up!" I muttered next to him as I furrowed my eyebrows at the numbing sensation in my mid section. Sam's fluffy brown hair fell in front of his face as I began dragging him back to the wall of the room where Victoria was. I wasn't about to allow the both of them to get hurt because of me. Hearing the clashing of weapons all around me, my ears rang at the sound as I made it at the halfway mark to the wall.
I could already tell that my right eye was in an even worse condition than I had imagined. My fight with Avon had pushed it to its maximum limit.
"Block her off!" I stiffened when I heard General Klaud's voice pierce the air. I could already sense the malicious intent in the air that was headed for me. About to summon a weapon in my hand, I stopped when I heard someone skid up behind me.
"I've got it!" Kanda's gruff voice yelled behind me, Mugen's blade blocking off the sharp candles that had been shot at me. Without another word, I continued on my fast pace trek to the wall to set Sam down.
As I set him down hurriedly against the wall, he grunted in pain for a moment, his face contorting in pain. I froze as I watched his expression relax again, becoming more natural. Glancing over at Victoria, she was also unconscious and showed no signs of waking up just yet. Maybe the mental stress exhausted her. Straightening up on to my feet, I summoned my katanas as I spun on my heel, my sights only on the Earl. He seemed like he didn't have a problem holding off Cross and Allen with one sword and a hand full of black shadows. Gritting my teeth, I tensed up as I gripped the hilts of my weapons tighter and dashed off of the ground.
Dodging the several candles that flew my way, I leaped into the air just as General Cross and Allen pulled away from the Millenium Earl. Catching his yellow eyed gaze, I stared him down as we both clashed weapons, sparks flying. As he gave me a wide grin, I reciprocated with a deep scowl. I needed to keep my emotions in check. I can't allow them to burst like a balloon.
"So the last remaining Krest is begging to be killed by my hands?" the Earl growled as he shoved me back, floating high into the air. I glared up at him, trying to let my anger simmer down as he chuckled down at me. He wants me to lose myself. I can't do that.
"Like I would die at your hands!" I spat back when my right eye suddenly flaring in pain. Unable to keep back my strangled cry, I let go of one of my katanas as I pulled a hand up to my eye in pain.
"Ohoho, you may not die by my hands, but I sure do know what will kill you." He retorted as he observed the scene before him. Still not tearing my eyes away from him, I clenched my fists as I heard approaching footsteps.
"Nova!" Allen exclaimed concernedly as he took a look at the blood red bandage. I shook him off as I took in small breaths, the numbness in my torso moving up to my neck.
"You need to calm down," Cross quietly said beside me, his red eyes staring into my own. I looked at the both of them in silence, the sounds of battle echoing around the room. Right when I was about to say something, a yellow rope made of skulls suddenly appeared and wrapped around Allen's entire body. He tried to struggle but it was all in vain, the rope only tightening around him. Immediately recognizing it, I widened my eye before glancing up at the Earl who was hovering above us.
"What're you planning, bastard?!" I yelled as I saw Allen stay still from the corner of my eye. The Millennium Earl simply let his grin grow wider, irritating me even further.
"I plan to kill you first." He replied as he pointed his sword at me. The menacing glint in his yellow eyes turned cold as he continued to stare down at me. A hand landed on my shoulder, drawing me out of my murderous phase.
"Get the brat out of that thing ASAP. I'll do what I can with this guy." Cross muttered in my ear quickly before pulling away to move in front of me. Before I could protest, he raised his Innocence Judgement and narrowed his eye at the Earl, ready to take him on.
"Nova, think you can get me out of here?" Allen weakly inquired, sounding strangled. I turned to him and gave him a quick nod, approaching him. Wrapping my hand around the rope, I didn't expect to recieve a numbing shock go up my arm and leave me disoriented for a moment. Recovering myself quickly, I met Allen's concerned gaze before letting out a sharp breath.
It would take the Destroyer of Time and the unknown exorcist to defeat the Earl. If that's so...
Bracing myself for whatever happened, I summoned my scythe from the shadows, my other hand pulling away the bandages from my eye. Not opening it just yet, I fell into an offensive stance as I aimed for the rope wrapped around Allen. As I moved forward to make the slice, I knew that I was prepared to do anything to finally end this.
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Lavi's POV
Damn this girl was such a score. Too bad we have to fight her. I sulked at these thoughts as I swung my flaming hammer at the Noah of Lust. She was prowling towards us, her yellow eyes glinting in anger. I frowned when she extended a hand and stopped my attack with sheer strength. Lulubell narrowed her eyes at Kanda and I, a small frown appearing on her face.
"Man! What is she?" I exclaimed out loud as I pulled my Innocence back. Kanda shrugged from beside me as he ran up for an attack.
I watched as his attacks were blocked by the Noah's swiftness, his slashes missing each time. I darted forward as Kanda pulled away, this time using the staff of my hammer as a weapon. Slamming it into the Noah's arms, she gripped the staff tightly, the look on her face dead serious. Wrestling each other between strength, we stood on par, glaring into each other's eyes.
As we pulled away from each other, I glanced over to Kanda to see him wide eyed as he stared off at another battle. I took a split second to glanced over at Nova who was activated in her scythe form. I was speechless to even describe in words what her right eye looked like. That was what Kanda was probably staring at in shock. Nova's right eye didn't even seem like an eye anymore. Black shadows were covering her eyelid itself, blood trailing down the side of her face as if a tear. Why was she doing this? She knows that what she's doing could kill her!
Facing the Noah again, I came to a conclusion as I stretched a hand out to tap Kanda's shoulder. He needed to come back to the battle at hand. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to help Nova out.
She's ready to take whatever comes at her. Even at the cost of her own life.
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Allen's POV
"Y-you're eye! It's-!" I stuttered as I gaped at her right eye in horror. It had lost its form, only a cluster of shadows now. I was a bit anxious to see what it looked like open. Nova had freed me from the rope but that caused her to go into the one state that would cause her harm. I eyed the hand that was clutching the scythe, seeing wisps of black shadows creeping out from the staff to crawl up the side of her arm. She stood next to me, trying not to let the look of pain pass over her face. I however, could see through the whole thing. She was hurting beyond belief.
"I know, Allen. Which is why we have to end this quickly. Otherwise..." Nova trailed off, her voice trailing off to a whisper as she let the sentence linger in the air. I nodded in agreement, activating my arm.
"I don't know how we're going to do this, Nova. The prophecy only involves us two. No one else. That means my Master won't be with us." I stated as we both stood before the battle in front of us, watching General Cross aim and shoot dozens of bullets at the Millennium Earl.
"You're right, it's just us isn't it?" Nova quietly said as she closed her other eye for a moment. "Whatever happens...we're going to finish this here. I won't let you die Allen." She stated firmly as she opened her left eye and met my gaze determinedly.
"I won't let you either." I replied within a heartbeat, nodding. She gazed at me seriously before breaking out into her usual bright grin, that radiant shine appearing on her pretty face for a second before disappearing.
"Alright then. Let's give the Earl all we have." She said in a low voice as she tensed up and moved into another form. I followed suit, intent on ending this whole thing here.
"We'll work as one," I started as I met Nova's gaze one more time. She nodded and set her lips in a firm line.
"And end this!" We both exclaimed in unison, launching ourselves off of the ground in a burst of air.
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Cross's POV
I had to place my trust into the two of them. They are the ones who can finish this long awaited battle. Only them. No one else. The rest of us will have to watch from the sides as they possibly face the most dangerous enemy on this planet. Nova and Allen: both of my pupils. Who I both came to actually enjoy teaching. I clenched my jaw as I felt the two of them approaching at a fast pace. Staring at the Earl as he floated down across from me, I let a smirk appear on my lips as Nova and Allen rushed past me, only a blur. They would be able to do it.
I thought that Nova had been wise enough to not use her scythe form however when I saw the wisps of shadows wrap around higher up her arm, I cursed to myself. She was in an even worse shape than I had imagined. If she fought the Earl like this, there was no guarantee that she would make it out alive. I made a move to catch up to Nova when I saw her flip through the air and meet the blade of the Earl. As she was shoved away from him, she simply got back up to her feet and pushed forward. Stopping myself, I gave them a small smile.
She wasn't going to die. By the way she picks herself up and fights, she isn't ready to give in to death just yet.
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Nova's POV
Together! We're going to finish him! I thought as I pulled away so Allen could thrust his arm forward towards the Earl. I fell into an defensive stance as I saw the Earl clearly beginning to get agitated by the pattern we created. The shadows that were wrapped around my arm become a smoky black, emitting from the staff of the second form of my scythe. Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath as I created the black armor from the shadows, covering my arms and legs as well as my head. Gripping the hilt of my scythe tightly, I tensed up as I saw Allen get shoved away by the Earl. Soon he would be here for me. I kept my gaze on him, watching intently...
When he appeared in front of me in the blink of an eye. I jolted in shock when I felt the palm of his hand strike my torso. Immediately knowing what was coming, I widened my eye, bracing myself. With numbing sparks, the black mass he used to form a ball was shoved into me, affecting my entire body and rendering me immobilized. My mouth open in pain, I could only take the blows that the Earl was giving me with his sword. The side of his blade dug into my torso, tossing me into the air as I felt something break inside of me. The black shadows laying dormant inside of me stirred.
The armor around my head shattered away as I fell back down from the air. Before I knew it, Allen's huge arm wrapped around my body and pulled me towards him quickly. Pressing a hand against my torso, I let out a shuddering breath as I suppressed the urge to cry in pain. The Earl was stronger than I could have ever imagined. How? How could we beat him?! Allen pushed himself into battle as I stayed behind to come up with an idea.
The Earl was still strong even with one arm. He could wield his blade with his other one. He could float into the air, move at supersonic speed, and read our attacks. C'mon there's gotta be a loophole there somewhere! Anything! Anything!
Memories of my time with General Cross appeared in my mind. Of times when I was still coming up with forms for my Innocence. One stuck out in particular.
The third and Final form of my scythe. The power to control the shadows at my command, to fold into them and disappear within a second.
That was the key to finishing the Earl.
"Allen!" I called out as he was sent crashing into the ground towards me. He slid to a stop and got back up to his feet, coughing. He gasped as he met my gaze, wondering what I had planned.
"It's just us, remember? No one can help us with this fight. I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to allow you to use the shadows to your advantage. It will help you move faster when you fight." I explained as I put a shadowed enveloped hand up to his cursed eye. He seemed a bit anxious but agreed after a few seconds.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Move around the Earl as much as you can. Don't let him come near me. I need to prepare for something; the blow that will kill him. If we both enter our Final forms, I'm sure we'll be able to do it." I continued as the shadows from my hand passed over to his cursed eye, becoming a flame of black fire.
"Alright, for me it doesn't take long to get into my Final form, so just tell me when you're ready." Allen replied as he clenched and unclenched his fist, as if testing to measure the amount of power I had just handed him. I nodded and took a step away from him, letting my scythe disappear. The silver haired boy in front of me met my gaze steadily, one filled with complete trust, before turning and running off to head towards the Earl.
Gazing around me, I spotted Lenalee, General Klaud and General Cross going on beyond match with Road while Kanda and Lavi were doing the same with Lulubell. They all seemed to be working as fast as they could to get to Allen and I. Trusting myself that I would return from this alive, I took a deep breath and opened my right eye slowly. Immediately, the darkness in every location of the room crawled towards me, drawn in by the black shadows squirming inside of me. They formed a large circle around me and when I stretched my palms out, they enclosed around me into a black ball.
This wouldn't take long. With my right eye still open, I summoned my scythe in both of my hands and felt the thrum of living Innocence pulsing underneath my hands. Knowing what I had to do, I wrapped my fingers around the staff of the scythe. I'm sorry, Innocence. If this is the last time I'm alongside you. I'm thankful for everything you've done for me. I just need you to do one last thing for me. Full Invocation: Final Form.
Even without looking I could feel the form of my scythe change. The entire weapon itself would become enveloped in shadows, the blade of the scythe growing sharp and jagged with purple flames licking the the entire blade. The armor covering my arms would also be covered in shadows, providing me with ultimate cover.
Swinging my scythe to the side, I swiped away the smoky shadows and stood in the clearing while everyone else was still fighting.
"Allen!" Opening both of my eyes, I called out as I caught him constantly shifting around the Earl, disappearing and reappearing from the shadows. His attacks landed hit and after hit. Allen stopped when he heard my voice, already activating his Innocence to go to his Final form.
"Millennium Earl, prepare to die!" I exclaimed as I could feel the numbness from the pain inside me escalate to everywhere on my body. I could no longer feel anything. Allen's Final form had changed into a huge sword that seemed identical to the Earl's, just reversed colors. Once he was ready, he met my gaze and nodded.
"Go!" We both yelled as we charged forth, determined beyond anything imagined that we would finish it here.
"Go Nova! Allen!" Lenalee cheered from the top of her voice.
"Get him!" Kanda growled, his gaze solely placed on Nova.
"Do it!" Lavi chimed in, as did the two other Generals.
Allen and I both extended our arms, the darkness underneath the Earl's feet shimmering. Without a second thought, they shot straight from the floor and wrapped around the Earl's limbs, keeping him still maybe for even a few moments. His yellow eyes glared at us viciously, his sharp teeth bare, resembling a pissed off dog. Weapons drawn and ready to finish this, Allen and I both yelled at the top of our lungs as we swung our weapons at the Millennium Earl, a bright white light emitting upon contact with his sword.
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Okay, I know. Cliffhanger. xD I'm sorry, guys but I really wanted to get this chapter posted. :D Hope you enjoyed the many POV's shown in this chapter! Again, I apologize for not sticking to the regular update. School recently took me away from my beloved writing. So, yeah. I guess I'll see you...whenever!
Leave a review for me! Thanks a lot guys.
FallenWing21