Chapter 18: Contempt
Before Tsukune and his friends, were many, many man-eating hanabake plants; basically, a sea of carnivorous plants was what Tsukune could see.
"Master, please don't be angry…" Ruby strained as she spoke through blood and tears.
"Ever since I met with Tsukune-san and his friends, I've sensed that there is a possibility for us to coexist with the humans. If you destroy them with the city, that possibility will be shattered forever."
However, Ruby's master did not take kindly to this as her eyes narrowed in anger.
"Ruby, what has happened to you? You seem to have forgotten that I took care of you like my own child…" the master said with her eyes closed.
"Why? Why would you help the same humans that have cause us so much suffering?! You're a disgrace!" she shouted as the plants sprung to attack.
"Alright, unless we want an early funeral, we better defend ourselves," Tsukune commanded as he shot one of the plants with his sniper, leaving a 'headless' plant.
"Seems like fighting is the only option left now…" Tsukune sighed.
A few other plants were left in pieces as Kurumu sliced through them like butter with her sharp, long nails. To his front, he could see Ruby's master's face contort into further anger as she began to shout.
"What?! Why is an ayashi helping a human?! Kill her anyway, whoever gets in my way must be killed!"
Yukari also jumped in as the pair of them took out many of the plants, while Tsukune stayed still for the time being. Hmm… I probably shouldn't just jump in- let's here what this particular witch has to say… Tsukune thought with a pause.
"Given up already? No matter how many of these things you have, you can't defeat us!" Kurumu stated, although one could tell that she was starting to tire.
"Why are you helping the humans? Seems like your group still do not understand anything at all…" she commented as bright light burst before their eyes.
It was no longer a sunflower-covered field; it was now a decaying piece of land, filled with trash, with polluting smoke coming from the horizon.
"Do you understand now? The 'thing' that the humans are trying to build on my ranch… they are trying to build a trash site here," she said as everyone looked to the tall chimneys behind her.
"Do you understand my pain, and how it has turned into anger and hatred? In the hundred years I have been alive, this place was once untouched by the humans, a last paradise for many of us…"
Tsukune saw the sad look in her eyes; he could tell they were the eyes of someone who'd seen a lot through their years, and could no longer change what had happened already.
"These humans that came after us, they destroyed the forest and killed creatures right in front of us. Then after that, they want to turn this site into a trash site?! Do not mock us!" she shouted, her voice filled with hostility.
Feeling shaken and guilty, Tsukune started to get on his knees, bowing in forgiveness. Sometimes, I forget that we are the evil ones… he thought with a sigh.
"What is this? You're asking for forgiveness?! You fool, begging for forgiveness is going to change nothing!" she shouted with contempt.
"Please forgive us…" Tsukune said with is head bowed, and then he looked up.
"I was naïve because all of my friends here were nice to me… but I did not realise that humans were hated this much… I have been oblivious… if we can make up for it, I'll do anything for this ranch," Tsukune declared with a sad look in his eyes.
Without warning however, vines wrapped around Moka and hoisted her to where Ruby's master was.
"What are you doing to Moka-san?! This is between humans and witches…" Tsukune cried out in surprise.
"Being naïve also means that you deserve punishment right? Then let's test it out… foolish human. For your crimes, you must be punished, so kill her first!" she shouted as Moka struggled in her strong grip.
"Don't try to stand up! Watch as I finish her… I'll let you have a taste of what it's like to lose someone important!"
Damn, what am I meant to do now? Either ways, there is going to be innocent people harmed… especially my friends- I can't let that happen! Tsukune thought with determination.
"Tsukune, no matter what kind of history you have, it's always better to live together peacefully. All of us, even Ruby-san, learnt that from you… so you are not wrong, and I'll believe in you no matter what," Moka said with a strained smile.
"Curse this woman… I was going to choose one that valued their life more… then as a request, die!" Ruby's master shouted mercilessly.
"Noo! That isn't going to happen!" Tsukune shouted as he unsheathed his katana and began to run at a quickening speed.
"Hmpf… you came after all, this is why humans are so untrustworthy," she stated with scorn as the hanabake plants faced Tsukune and attacked.
Charging into the middle like this is a bit dangerous… just don't get yourself killed… yeah, I know, but I'm not going to let my friends die, Tsukune said in his mind as his inner voice spoke. He shoved a few of the plants away with his shoulders, and stabbed one right in one of its 'eyes'. Next, he jumped over and approaching one and used its head as a springboard.
"Even after begging for forgiveness, you will turn against us in desperate situations… you are no different from trash!" Ruby's master shouted with fury.
"No, you're wrong…" Tsukune stated as he cut one of the plants in half.
"I am the one you want to harm, so please let Moka-san go… for the sake of those I hold dear, I will bear the weight…" he declared as one of the plants bit into his arm.
"Make him quiet. Devour him until there is nothing!" the master commanded as more hanabake started to jump in.
Moka also jumped in amongst the chaos as she tried to find Tsukune; he on the other hand, punched out of the throat of the plant that had bitten him, and now was sending cutting motions throughout the sea of hanabake. He managed to find Moka close by.
"Fools, even if you took your punishment, did you really think I'd forgive you? I will destroy the humans, and take back what is rightfully ours!" she declared as she turned away from the scene. She did not realise that Tsukune was still alive in the hanabake crowd.
"Moka-san, if we are to survive, then we have to call upon your other side- it's the only way everyone's going to be able to survive," Tsukune stated as he had his hand wrapped around Moka's rosary; with her nod, he pulled the rosary off.
Strong supernatural energy flowed around them as an awakened Moka stood next to Tsukune, the air literally crackling with energy. Lady Oyakata (A/N: I decided to put in Ruby's master's name because it's easier) turned around in surprise as her eyes narrowed.
"It seems like you're still alive- my army won't be enough to kill you off then. You bunch are becoming more and more of an eyesore. Stop getting in my way!" she shouted as vines rushed to where Moka was standing. But it never reached her as in a blink of an eye, Oyakata was thrown onto the floor by one of Moka's kicks.
"Too bad I'm not as forgiving as the others- more blood rather than an explanation; this is what you desired, right?" Moka looked at her eyes with cold eyes.
"Do not take me lightly little girl…" Oyakata smiled as she grabbed her spell book.
"Oh no master! My master is using that magic!" Ruby shouted with worry as everyone became anxious.
Before their eyes, they saw all the hanabake plants jump to around Oyakata, coalescing into a large, grotesque mass…
"No! I beg you master, please don't use this spell!" Ruby cried out desperately but it was too late as the transformation was already done. Standing at twenty, thirty metres, the morphed Oyakata dominated the landscape.
"Wow, she actually merged with all of them! We better get out of the way, she's huge!" Kurumu warned as they started to run out of the way.
"Hehe, impressive isn't it? Suddenly, you don't look so good anymore… this is the result of a century's worth of experience and power… and I shall use it to cleanse this world of the human pestilence!" Oyakata shouted as they all looked onto the creature with at least some trepidation.
This is seriously not good… even Moka will have trouble with this thing… Tsukune thought in worry.
Another chapter guys! I'd like to apologise because I mistakenly said that this was the final chapter for the arc, as it turns out, there is one more for this Witch's Ranch Arc. Sorry about that. Please review if you can, and thanks for reading. Next chapter will be tomorrow.