Hello guys, finally, Chapter 10 is complete. An announcement to make is that I have posted a Teaser fanfic called The Invisible Wars, the meaning of this name will be revealed.

Arashi will not be dead in that fanfic, he just gone missing. Like I have said, it is a more wizard centric fanfic, and thus a new OC, Spectre will take the main character mantle. Shido and the rest will still be in the story. And by cultisit remnants, yes, the hunters will still be living by the end of this story. With bounty placed by DEM on their leader Nanoka.

Chapter 10: Nanoka's Conspiracy

Tokyo Time 1:00am, On board Fraxinus, Kurumi's ward

One hour has passed since the assault, Kurumi, Kyouhei and Reine has awaken. Kotori, Kyouhei and Reine are questioning Kurumi. She is still placed on watch due to the fear of her escaping.

"You didn't tell us that Nanaya's enemy is still around."

"How would I know? He is their high profile target, I believe you guys have already seen it, he will lose to the devil and kill all of us." Kurumi nonchalantly replied

"We won't know until we try it."

"Is too risky, it will be better off for him to kill himself." she repied.

"You forgot that he has a sister."

Kurumi is tired of explaining it to Kotori on how bad is it to save the Nanaya twins.

"To him, all he have done so far is to protect his sister. I have seen his past. The day he took the oath is also the day that he and his cousins threw away their own life, they are ready to die for any cause so long their loved ones are safe. They protected us to death from the cultist's hunters, not only to protect their friends, but also their loved ones."

Upon hearing that, Kotori is immediately frustrated. The goal for the organization is to seal both Yuki and Arashi, which took a complicated turn after the revelations of hell's invasion. Yuki's emotion stability is linked to Arashi, she cares for him vice versa. If one has to die, the other will go inverse due to the trauma.

"Tsch..."

"Commander, Tobiichi Origami has been safely sent home." Reine reported.

"Good. Well... I'm going somewhere else, Kannazuki, check on Yoshino and Miku. Reine, check on Yuki and Arashi."

"Alright." Both of them responded.

Just as the two of them leave, the doctor comes to Kotori.

"Commander, I have some report on Assailant's status."

The doctor hands over the data on Arashi.

"He has very bad mana fluctuation, due to the fact that there is something taking over him whenever he is unconscious. This explains why brainwashing is very powerful and potential deadly to both him and the user. His consciousness is what keeps that thing in check. If he really has been in that state for 3 years, it is safe to say that he probably hasn't slept well as well. Also, judging from the footage of his combat. His mental health is quite bad, distorted moral values throughout his lifetime as an assassin has caused that. And also, his stats are absolute insane."

Kotori flips over the data and carefully examine them.

"Alright, thank you doc."

Tohka's ward

"Uh..."

The girl in purple hair wakes up and find herself in bed. She is lethargic as she is weak. She can't remember what had exactly happened.

Flashback

"Huh? Where am I? Shido..."

She finds herself in a dark world, devoid of light, and then she find Mana by her side.

"Mana!"

She wakes her up, the girl slowly open her eyes.

"Tohka... Where are we?"

"I don't know..."

Suddenly, a blue stream of light appears from the two of them. Both streams heads towards a direction in the dark and ends when they join together. It reveals the young man who had taken their soul. He is laying flat and constantly in pain and agony as he grabs his head.

"Nanaya!"

"You guys are finally saved…"

The voice surprised the two, and they look at the source of the voice. They see a young man who has the exact same look as Arashi. He is sitting down, and in his hands are the pair of dark blades known as the Abyssal Requiem.

The girls are puzzled as they see two Nanaya.

"I was able to assume some control over that weakling, and thus snatching your soul away from Amon."

"Just who are you? Where's Shido?"

"Itsuka Shido? He is alive I suppose… I can't know when the devil has controlled my body…"

"Just who are you? We are asking you again…"

"...Satsujinki is what he and his clan called me… I am Nevermore..."

"Nevermore? Nanaya's angel…"

"I'm neither an angel nor devil… I was born with him, I am shaped by his actions… I am a monster that his family creates, his inverse!"

"His inverse!?"

"I see the demon has awaken within you as well… Yatogami Tohka…"

She is surprised that the young man knows about her inversion.

"You know tapping that power will not do anything good for you. Keep it that way… If you're like him, who tapped it so many times and now trying to withdraw it. You will be wasting your effort…"

"Just what you have done to him?"

"I merely limit his power usage, he deny my need for souls. I took control of him before you even came. And take their souls…"

"You monster…"

"He wants power… He is not like what you have seen… He enjoys killing, he loves to listen to his enemies' cries even in their death. But yet, to get stronger is to kill… He is rejecting the fact that he likes to kill. And yet tap the power he condemns."

The young man's tone has little to no empathy. Seeming want to make Arashi suffer as much as possible.

"How could you…"

"Now… Be quiet… And rest well, it will be quite a while before you guys can return to your body…"

Her vision soon fades as the young man's eyes glows again.

Back to reality

She starts to look around and she sees Shido by her side. At the same time, Shido wakes up, feeling something.

"To...Tohka!"

"Shido!"

The two of them hugged each other tightly with tears flowing out of their eyes. They don't want to let go each other.

"Shido…"

"Tohka…"

The two of them then look at each other. Shido starts to lean forward with his eyes closed, Tohka understands what he is doing and opens her lips. They kiss, their tongue entangle with each other. Shido can feel her soft lips, it is sweet, both of them are enjoying the kiss. Their lips are locked until both of them are out of breath.

"I love you…" he whispered.

"I love you too…" she whispered as well.

Their foreheads are touching, Shido is relieved that Tohka is safe.

"Mu... Shido, I was scared."

Shido strokes her hair and comfort her.

"Is okay, you are safe now."

She then recounts on her meeting with the fallen angel.

Mana and I met a guy, he look exactly like Arashi."

"What?"

"He says he is Nevermore, and what he called clan, called him Satsujinki. He said that he saved us, is it? And what is a clan?"

Shido is bombarded with her questions, he thought.

"Arashi... You're not evil at all. I have to save you from all this madness."

He then answer all the questions the girl has.

"A clan is a family, but a much bigger one. And yes, he saved you guys from his own devil."

"But why did he do that?"

"Well... You'll have to ask him."

In other ward

"Huh..."

Mana slowly opens her eyes, she can see a blurry image at her side.

"Mana, are you alright?"

She can hear a girl's voice, her appearance becomes even clearer to Mana as her vision now clears.

"Kotori..."

"You're still weak. Just rest."

"I have a really crazy nightmare... How's everything going? I felt that we just had a war or something."

"Yeah, a war did happen. Nanaya's enemies, the cultists are now actively hunting for Arashi. You are now on this ship because the hospital we were at got attacked."

"What!? Then the rests?"

"Safe, but it nearly cost of Arashi's life."

"Was he trying to protect everyone by trying to separate himself from us?"

"Maybe yes. I don't know yet."

"How's Oni-chan and Tohka?"

"They are safe, if you are awaken, then she should be awaken too."

"Well... You should rest. I shall go to the bridge already."

At the quarantine

Yuki keeps vigil on Arashi, fearing Amon would takeover him again. As she watches him, she remembers the fallen angel she had communed with.

Flashback

"Satsujinki!"

"It's Nevermore! You have been staying in my body for days already!"

"You…"

The two immediately glares at each other.

"Just what do you want from Arashi?"

"What I want? I want him to accept himself."

"What?"

"You should be well aware that the eyes are still evolving… From lines on living things and inanimate object, to both lines and points, and finally, lines and points on air and water. He will become a full fledged guardian like our grandfather and the uncles who died in the Second Spirit Wars."

"And your point?"

"Just accept the fact that he has a dark side. You should know about the oath he and Kyo has taken. He uses his powers because he wants to protect you and your soul's purity. He did that not only for you, and also everyone else that has entered his life. And you are condemning him!"

"Then just why did you even let him to use the powers?"

"Because of his guilt in his failure, in fact, the result of his failure is already right at his face!"

"..."

She remains silent as she believes the young man is blaming her for all the suffering he takes.

"Just do him and Kyo one last favour will you? Don't let their sacrifices crumble. It is too late for him to turn back because of your decision."

"Yuki!"

"Kaguya-chan!"

Kaguya walk towards Yuki and sits on a chair near her. She places her hand on Arashi's cheek.

"Yuki, just what happened to Arashi back there? Did he really did all those stuffs?"

"Yes… He did all that to protect me, our parents and everyone else too…"

"But why? Did he had a choice?"

"I don't know?... It is now coming back…"

Before she can finish, a sound comes out from Arashi.

"Uhhh…"

"Arashi!"

The two of them exclaimed and they look at him. His shut eyes are seemingly vibrating as he struggles to open them. Slowly, his eyelids moves up and reveals his eyes. His vision at first is blur and slowly turn back into clear again. The sighting of both Yuki and Kaguya has confused him, Yuki supposed to be dead, and he is supposed to be dead too. This seems to be a dream, in fact too real and too perfect to be one.

"Where am I?"

"Fraxinus, Ratatoskr's airship."

"Am I alive, Yuki?"

"My silly brother, you are still alive. And so do I."

Arashi forces himself to sit right up. Looking at them disbelieved, he reaches out both of his hands trying to touch them and at the same time activate his deadly vision again. There are lines and points on both of them and the surrounding. The girls are aware of what he is trying to do, they grab his hands. He finally realizes they are not illusion, he turn and look at Yuki. He is happy to see her come back alive he rushes up and hugs her.

"I thought you were dead!... I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you…"

Yuki pats his back comforting him as much has happened after all, they love each other as twins.

"Is okay… Everything is fine now…"

Kaguya smiles at them as she is happy that the twins can finally reunite.

The twin then release each other. Yuki looks at the two and decides to leave the two alone to talk.

Arashi and Kaguya look at each other with an awkward silence. For the first time since he is awaken, the two are alone with each other. In fact, it is not the ignorant and passive Aokaze Arashi is with Kaguya, but rather a Spirit all-knowing and aggressive Nanaya Arashi.

Arashi keeps looking at her, seemingly remember something from the past. Strangely, he seems to know her when he was around 7. Images keep flashing violently within his mind, just who is she? Why is she so familiar to him? In fact, it is not only she is familiar, even Yuzuru is familiar in his memory. And then, a blurry image of a woman with two little girls who were the same age as him enters his mind. The next image in line is that he and Kyo are playing with them when they are young. Next, it is the harrowing image of the woman and the girls are laying on the dark floor with a pool of blood. And finally, both he and Kyo took the oath that made them into guardians of Spirits.

He realizes what Kaguya and Yuzuru really were. They are one of the reasons on why Kyo and him took the oath that sealed their fate to the endless bloodshed. Upon realizing this, his heart rate spiked for a split second, it is a second chance for him to protect them again from any harm. But he is aware that their biggest enemy is none other than himself.

"Are you alright?" she asks in concern.

"I'm fine… What about you?"

"I'm fine too, you gave all of us quite a fright."

She hugs him tightly and touches the spot where his long wound was. He knows that his near death incident has scared everyone. But this is not what he expected, instead it is his evil side that everyone should be scared of.

"...I'm messed up isn't it?..." he lamented

"No you are not."

"I used to run away from killing… And now I take lives of those that I deemed guilty… What about next? Take the lives of those who are innocent that stands in the way of those who are guilty?"

It appears that he is blaming himself for everything that had happened. Kaguya continues to comfort him.

"No… Stop it will you?"

His demeanor changes, he seems to be more serious than he was. He thought of this carefully, he does love her, but he can't afford to hurt her at all. With both the devil and the inverse un-check, he decides it will be the best for her safety if he leaves her.

"Kaguya… I think we are through…" he said.

"What!?"

It shocks Kaguya as she can't believe it. Knowing that she is shocked, Arashi holds her shoulder.

"Look at me… I am not the same person who you know of… That Arashi you knew is already dead. I don't know even know who or what am I anymore..."

"Arashi…"

"I am already a fallen spirit. I can protect and everyone else now, but I can't do it for a longer run. I still can't tame my powers from taking over me."

Yuki dissipates the field and looks at Arashi.

"Arashi… Why all of a sudden..."

"We took that oath so early because they took our friends away. They took away our only friends... That is why we kill them… It is for both duty and for vengeance…" he confessed his purpose.

"But…"

"Being close with you will only hurt you… I don't want to see anyone of you get hurt… I lost my parents, my friends, my brother and nearly lost my sister… I couldn't protect them. At least now while I can, I can't afford to lose anyone else anymore…"

He hugs Kaguya tightly, she can tell he is crying. He takes off his ring necklace and put it on Kaguya's neck.

"This is my promise, it meant a lot to me… This is my promise as a guardian that I will fight to protect all of you till my soul dies out." he said it with determination.

"You can be saved, you idiot!"

Tears start to flow out from Kaguya's eyes too.

"Save? My actions are condemned by heaven and feared by hell. I can't go anywhere but to remain in this world even if I die normally. I would rather get a clean death along with my soul…"

A ghostly voice now echoing in his head.

"Finally admit it eh Arashi? I'm sorry to put you through this."

He realizes that he is communing with Azrael, the angel that resides within his darkness.

"If doing that will protect them, I have no choices. I now not just need your powers Azrael, I also need mine… After all, you and my powers, only when the two combine then there is Nevermore."

"You do realize the price to pay is heavy right?" the angel now asks again.

"Yeah… But I can't ask for more, I can die… But I can't let Yuki's hands get stained because of me. If Yuki can't kill me, then I will have to kill myself. Just like what Kyo had said, we can't run away from what we are born for, we just have to make every move that count so that we can die without regrets. That is, to protect out loved ones and friends by protecting the Spirits from harm."

Back to reality

"You idiot…" Kaguya tells him.

She puts her hands on his cheek and kisses him in the lips. Her actions stunned him, he nonetheless closes his eyes. They kiss until they are out of breath and they part their lips.

"You're not going anywhere, you are still the Arashi we know of, nothing more and nothing less. No matter how hard you deny yourself, even after giving up your morality, you still have the empathy and kindness. Most importantly, you still have a heart that keeps you in check. The angel is inside you "

Tears roll off his eyes, his desire to be rescued has always been bleak and the truth is he wants to live normally as well… Their forehead are touching each other as he closes his eyes.

London Time 6pm : Ivory Bar, Hunters' Hall

Nanoka eyes are shut as he meditates to sense the Spirits. His powers as a hunter is surprising for a high school student. Able to amass such large number of hunters.

"I see… So there you are… Arashi, Yuki, and the other Spirits."

As he is sensing the Spirits, he senses something weird among them. He recognizes the twins, remembers his days back at the mansion.

"Yuzuru and Kaguya, you guys have been reborn… So this is the reason on why you are still fighting, Arashi."

He continues his scan, he is surprised to find a human with multiple angel souls.

"What in the?..."

He rescan it again and there is no mistake, the souls are in Shido.

"I see, so you are protecting the catalyst…"

He communicates with the hunters in Japan via telepathy.

"My lord what are your orders?"

"Kill the spirits… I'm sending all of you to the ship where they are at. Kill everyone on board too and capture Arashi and a human with multiple angel souls, you won't miss it."

"Yes, my lord."

The young man now focus all of his energy to teleport the hunters to Fraxinus. The hunters turn invisible and activate their eyes to see souls. Adrenaline floods their system as they are aware that the man who killed their leader is onboard.

In just a moment, 12 hunters are on board of Fraxinus without making a sound. The hunters can sense all Spirits on the entire ship. Without navigations, they decide to split up, hunting for the Spirits relying only their senses.

The young man breaks his meditation and calls Wescott.

"Mr Wescott, send your wizards in Japan to Ratatoskr's airship. My men are hunting them down while you support them."

The call surprises Wescott as he never expect the hunters would attack so quickly.

"This is too hasty you know?"

"Is okay, I just need you to keep them busy while my men kill the crew and capture the Spirits."

The call is ended and he is approached by his man.

"My lord, why aren't we joining them?"

"Nobuhiko is a failure to our lords. The overlord has passed judgement, Nobuhiko and his team must die. And, it won't harm us by shaving away more wizards."

The young man stealthily smiled as he continues his schemes.

DEM Office Building

"Can we really trust these guys?"

"Relax Ellen, there is a saying that an enemy of an enemy is my friend. There is only one Nanaya remain, even if he has any godlike powers, there is no way he can protect every Spirit let alone himself. But still, attacking all of a sudden... dispatch the Bandersnatches and all of our remaining wizards in Japan."

"... Alright..."

Ellen has a feeling that this is not right, but still dispatch the wizards nonetheless.

Fraxinus

"Look a human!"

A hunter signaled, and in their sight is Reine, who is tasked to talk to Arashi.

"Kill her?"

The same hunter signaled to the others.

"No, let her lead us to them, kill the Spirits first. There are three of them very close by."

The other hunter signaled back and the team of three tails Reine who is oblivious of their presence.

Reine enters the room where the quarantine is at. Arashi is immediately alerted by her presence.

"Did I interrupted something?"

"..."

Arashi remain silent as he sense a shift in the air. They are not the only one in the room.

"Yuki… You feel that?" he asked.

Sensing the same thing, she answered.

"Yeah… What is it?"

The hunters now prepares to kill Reine, they summon their weapons as they approach, a mistake for them as the guardian can sense any source of mana.

Arashi senses the summoning and activate his eyes. Unseen by the rest of them, there three moving lines and points together with the red souls. Seeing that, he immediately unsheathes his switchblade just as the hunter swings his cursed sword at Reine.

"GET DOWN!"

Reine seems to have sense that and immediately runs away. Arashi surprised everyone in the room, he sprints and teleports outside of the quarantine right above Reine upside down. The hunter's sword is immediately shattered by Arashi's will, surprising the hunters. He grabs the hunter's head and slices his throat. Blood gushes out immediately and the invisibility is dispelled, revealing the invisible danger. This shocks everyone in the room and the bridge as they can see the room via surveillance camera. The fatal wound brings the hunter to his knee with his hands trying to cover the gushing wound. His eyes are wide open as the death is imminent. Arashi's left arm turns demonic, impales his arm into his victim. As the arm exits, the soul of the hunter is being ripped out and he crushes the soul to increase his powers, leaving a shadowless body behind.

The danger is not over as Arashi barely able to recover in mid-air. The other hunter who is also invisible, sprints up and proceed to swing his sword at Reine.

"Shit…"

Arashi watches helplessly as it happens too fast. Yuki channels her mana and heighten her focus and summons her angel.

"Abaddon!"

The dark rapier manifest into her hand and she proceeds to use her powers.

"Swap!"

Her shadow extends and joins up to Reine's shadow. Just as the blade is going to land at Reine, their position are swapped. The hunter is surprised as he is immediately parried away by Yuki in just a blink of an eye. He dispels his invisibility and attempts to swing his weapon on Yuki again, his sword is immediately shattered into pieces like a broken glass. It surprises him as he cannot comprehend on what is going on. Without warning, he is consumed by a hellish blast of shadow vortex that burst through the floor.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…"

The bluish dark flame burns not only the body and also the soul of the victim. The hunter is in pain and agony as it burns him alive. Shortly, the hunter falls to the ground and disappeared, not even leaving any ashes.

The last hunter in the room swings his blade at his back. But before the blade can reach it, just like the others, it shatters to pieces. This surprises the hunter as the young man immediately grabs the hunter's arm and using his shoulder as a pivot, snaps the bone in his arm in half. The pain staggers the hunter as he moves back with his invisibility dispelled. Seizing this chance, Arashi's demonic left arm runs up the hunter's body and crushes his soul.

From the bridge

"What the hell is that?" Kotori exclaimed.

She sounded the emergency alarm. The siren roars in the ship as it signals that all crew members are to gather at the bridge. The medical team scramble to help Mana, Tohka and Shido out to the bridge. The hunters know that they are being detected and scatter to look for lone Spirits on board.

Back at the room

The alarm is sounded and it surprises all of them.

"Intruder alarm… We must get to the bridge." Reine commanded.

"Lead the way, I'll keep a look out."

Reine leads them to the bridge while Arashi and Yuki keep an eye out of their way. Shortly, they reach the bridge.

"Reine-san, you alright?"

"Yes."

"And Yuki and Arashi…"

The two keep quiet, Arashi's hands and face have traces of blood. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out that he has killed again.

"Guess you guys are alright."

"Commander! Miku and Yoshino are not here yet. Oh, and Kannazuki too."

"What!?"

Upon hearing that Arashi immediately volunteered.

"I'll go look for them, I can sense where they are."

"Be careful, Arashi."

He pats Kaguya's head to calm her down as he proceed to the exit of the bridge.

"Yuki, link my shadow. In case any of the cultist is here, bring me back here."

"Alright, be careful."

Before he can go, another sharp pain hits his head.

"AAAARRRGGGHHH…"

The unbearable pain forces Arashi onto the ground. The voices from the dead souls are haunting his ears.

"The end... is... near... You are doomed..."

The words keep echoing within his mind as he holds his head in pain.

"Arashi!"

Yuki and Kaguya rushes to his side.

"Stay… back…"

He tells them to stay back as the pain faded shortly, leaving the young man sweating profusely and panting heavily.

"No, it is not a good idea for you to go." Kotori said.

"Let me go and find them. It is my duty as a guardian..."

Kotori remains silent as he approach the door, but before he can leave, she stopped him.

"Hey Arashi, put this on."

She passes the earpiece to Arashi and he puts it into his ear.

"Alright, I'll let you know where are they through cameras."

"I'm on it…"

He exits the bridge and turns invisible, relying his senses to sense the hunters and the Spirits.

"Please, get them back here safely." she silently prayed.

Just as the door closes, the guardian's demeanor changes drastically.

"Alright… Where are you guys? I want to kill you all so badly… Hehehehahaha..."

He stealthily smiled as Satsujinki takes over again. Despite his enjoyment to kill the hunters, he knows his first priority is to rescue the Spirits. He can sense them and heads towards their direction.

When the alarm is sounded

"What… What is that?"

"Intruder alarm. We have to go to the bridge."

The trio gets out of the room into the corridor, but before they can move further on, a hunter appears before them.

"Who are you?"

"..."

Kyouhei immediately be on guard as the hooded man is not friendly looking at all and he is armed with a sword. With the Spirits within his blade length, he raises his sword and hacks down on the unsuspecting Miku. But to his surprise, Kyouhei immediately grabs his arm, restraining the hunter from hurting them.

"Run back!"

Realizing the danger, Miku and Yoshino run away from Kyouhei. The two men continue their scuffle, just as Kyouhei thought they are safe, 4 more hunters appear to give chase to the two Spirits.

"Shit…"

He pushes the hunter back and rushes up to the Spirits too. In the mean time, Arashi begins his search for the lost sheeps.

"Arashi, the cams are all blocked out. They are last seen further up your north. Hurry, there are being chased." Kotori urged.

"Alright… I can sense them, I'm close."

On his way, he saw the hunter in front of him alone chasing something.

"So there you are…"

He stealthily smiled as he sprintss up to the hunter. Unsuspecting of anything, the hunter immediately find himself grabbed and stabbed through his chest. He died instantly before he can make a sound, as his point is stabbed. Arashi can sense the danger that the Spirits are in, and immediate picks up his pace and search for them.

Yoshino and Miku keeps running aimlessly away from the hunters, until they reach a dead end. The 4 hunters approaches them with their eyes completely devoid of mercy. Miku and Yoshino are literally hugging each other as their heartbeat races like crazy from the fear that the hunters are there to kill them. One hunter approaches them. As they are desperate, their powers return to them.

The hunter seems to have noticed that so do the two of them.

"Yoshino! Miku!"

Kyouhei rushes up to them, the other three hunters immediate be on guard as they raise their swords prepare to cut down Kyouhei.

But something is amiss, there is a morbid aura from him. Without warning, a silver stream of light shoots pass Kyouhei's right ear. When it is close to the hunter at the centre, the light suddenly distorts and two hellish blast of shadow erupts from the ground in front of the other two hunters, sending them in air.

Time slows down in everyone's vision, a shadowy figure with blue blazing light appears out of nowhere with it catching the silver light in air and it impales the hunter, killing him immediately as he falls to the ground. Kyouhei seize this chance and sprints even faster passes the hunters.

"Nevermore, Abyssal Requiem!"

The shadow around distorts and forms into a pair of swords, the dark being easily sinks his blades into the body of the hunters. With deadly proficiency, the two hunters in air are ripped into pieces. The remaining hunter immediately press his fingers to the neck of both Spirit. The spirits are immediately knocked out cold. The hunter then immediately grab Kyouhei and lock him with his biceps with his sword on his neck as Arashi approaches.

"Now!"

The hunter signals the remaining hunters, a field is raised at the bridge, separating the link between Arashi and Yuki's shadow.

"Tsch!"

Back at the bridge

As the magical barrier is raised, Yuki realizes her shadow is no longer connected to Arashi's. Kotori immediately realize something is off as soon as she lost radio contact from him too. Suddenly, four hunters appears in the bridge.

"Abaddon!"

Yuki immediately draws her rapier of darkness and be on guard. The hunters can recognize her, and also, they can tell who are the Spirits. But Shido has caught their eyes too, as they are told to kill him.

"Nanaya Yuki... Avatar of Abaddon, your brother can't save you all, neither you all can save him from our lord's grasp. That kid with divine souls is doomed when your dear brother is lost to Lord Amon."

The hunter says with a cold tone, Yuki only smiled and talks back.

"I don't need my brother's protection anymore, after all, it is time for me the elder sister to protect my brother and our friends too."

Tohka knows that they are here to kill them, she tries to summon Sandalphon, but she is stopped by Yuki.

"No, Tohka-chan... You are still too weak."

"But..."

Yamai twins summon their angels too.

"Come forth, Raphael - El Reem!"

"Summon. Raphael - El Nahash!"

The gigantic lance and the long pendulum of Raphael are summoned as part of their astral dress appear.

"We will have to protect you, my kinsman."

They action shocked Yuki.

"Kaguya-chan and Yuzuru-chan... What are you guys doing!?"

"Camael!"

Kotori's powers are returned as she summons the axe of Camael.

"Ratatoskr's duty is to protect all Spirits, I know we are threading onto the unknown. But, we won't give up until there is really no solution. Yuki, raise the barrier around them."

Though reluctantly, she raises a dark barrier, covering the crew members including Shido and Mana.

"You guys!..."

"Shido, you just sit tight and watch."

"Tsch..."

With their powers returned, Shido can barely do anything at all but to wait.

"GET THEM!"

The hunters now engage the Spirits, with their insane agility, the Spirits can't really keep up for long.

"They're fast..."

Back on Arashi

"Now... Stay back... "

Arashi looks at Miku and Yoshino, he can see that there is a large surge of mana concentrating between them. He realizes what is wrong here, the hunter has turned both of them into bombs.

He is aware that the bridge is in danger. But there are 3 people in danger right in front of him too.

"Hehehe... so choose... Save them, and let him die or let everyone die..."

"Do you want to save them?"

"Of course I want to!"

"Then... Embrace your power!"

"...Alright…"

A dark demonic arm suddenly grabs his head in his vision. Darkness engulfed him for a few seconds before his vision returns to normal.

"Ughh…"

As he holds his head, the air shifts. Without warning, the young man let out a cold laugh, stunning the hunter.

"Hehehe… Hehehahaha…"

"Impossible… Lord Nobuhiko took so long to force it out…"

Arashi release his hand, his eyes are covered by his hair, but his dangerous looking smile is visible to everyone.

"You… You have never killed, have you?" he asked.

"What in the?"

The hunter is stunned as the young man reveals a truth about him.

"I can't sense the dead around you. If you have, you should have their scent already…"

The hunter's heart races as he has only been into mock fights, rather than carrying out actual assassinations.

"Don't fuck with me!"

Kyouhei can tell the switch within Arashi, and started to ask him.

"So… Nanaya Arashi? Or it is Satsujinki?"

"Shut up!" the hunter roared.

"We two are one, I am the true form…" Arashi answered.

Kyouhei smiled, he knows Kotori and the rest are in danger. He decision shocks everyone.

"Do what you have to do, even if it means you have to kill me, but they must not die!" Kyouhei declared.

The hunter is shocked as Kyouhei does not display any fear of death. It surprises even Arashi himself, he asks again to confirm.

"...Are you sure?..."

"Yeah I am, please. Take care of commander, and... Don't die, I would love to see from heaven on DEM's reaction when Nanaya is with us."

Kyouhei said it with a grin. The hunter bolsters his courage and roared again.

"Shut up will you?"

Arashi let out a devilish smile and said it with a cold voice.

"Very well… That is all I need to hear…"

The young man walks up to the hunter.

"Stand back!" the hunter shouted in fear.

Suddenly, darkness engulfs everyone's vision. The Spirits can see that he is walking to the hunter. Their heart are beating like crazy, being frozen in fear as the young man unleashes his power of darkness.

"You... Who don't understand death, what makes you have the right to kill? Let me show you... what is the end of a life..."

Unrestrained by the fact that Kyouhei is willing to sacrifice himself, the ripper now changes his swords.

"Nevermore, Harvester!"

The dark blades now turn into a pair of dark ethereal blades.

"STOP IT!"

The hunter now desperately trying to stop Arashi from killing him. Both Spirits are watching at them in fear as the young man will kill Kyouhei.

Both Kyouhei and the hunter is now in his blade range. His left arm retracts to right, and swings it with the blade tip enters Kyouhei's body. There is no blood, there is no incision on his body either.

"Fuel my powers…"

"Argh!" Kyouhei grunted.

Blue aura emits from the sword, circling the sword and enters the hand. Kyouhei's eyes open widely with his pupils expanded. His body is lifeless and he is blank staring at Arashi. A very morbid and chilling aura is emitted from Arashi, his heart is peaceful, his devilish smile suggest that there is no remorse in taking Kyouhei's soul away. The Spirits watches in shock and the hunter is stunned at his action, as he takes innocent life without any remorse.

"What in the…" they all gasped.

Arashi then pulls out the sword from Kyouhei's body, and then...

"ARGH!" the hunter screamed

Arashi effortlessly destroys the sword with a poke of his switchblade. In just a flash, the hunter's arm is severed, freeing Kyouhei. Arashi's left arm then turn demonic and grabs Kyouhei and toss him aside.

After that, the ethereal blade on his right impales the hunter's body. With that, Arashi tells the hunter.

"This is… the world between life and death… Now… Feel the pain…"

A surge of mana enters the hunter's body from his sword, the hunter immediately feels pain as if he is being burned. Moments later, his body is engulfed in the dark blue flame, the dark soul fire of Nevermore.

"Wha… What have you done to me?" he cried in pain.

"What have I done? You're joining your dear Lord Nobuhiko. Wait… You're not… His existence is killed, he can't exist in this world. Your soul is now being burned, I am the reaper of your judgement, burn away your soul and your sanity, bound to the hell worse than hell, be the reiryoku that sustain Nevermore…"

"No… NO!"

With that, Arashi lets out another surge of mana into the hunter's body. Shortly, his body is now disappeared, not before letting out another cry.

"YOU WILL DESCEND TO THE DEEPEST HELL WHEN YOU DIE!"

Arashi takes a step back and sneers at the statement.

"Hell? Heaven condemns us, hell hates and fears us… I'm going neither… I will be the lone ghost that will kill and kill until my soul is burned. HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHA!"

He laughs maniacally, rendering the Spirit literally frozen in fear.

"Huh?"

Arashi suddenly gets a grip of himself. He can remember on what have happened, he is shocked to realize he has taken Kyouhei's soul.

"Shit…"

He approaches the Spirits first as they will explode anytime soon. The Spirits tried to avoid him, but they can't move. They are surprised that Arashi has been distorted with the silhouette of Nevermore holding them.

"Bear with it for a short while. I'm undoing the seal."

Arashi aims his ethereal blades on the point of the concentration of mana. He stabs the blades and draws it out quickly as the spell is being killed, returning both of them to normal. He then inserts his sword into Kyouhei's body.

"Come on, Nevermore, you wouldn't swallow a soul that is being consumed less than 5 minutes to your stomach, wouldn't you?"

His sword emits a blue aura which travels into Kyouhei's body. With his eyes, he can see the soul being restored into Kyouhei's body as his eyes slowly shut.

"You two, take care of him. I'm going to the bridge."

The Spirits couldn't talk to him at all as they have yet to recover from the shock.

"Come on… Hang in there!" he thought to himself.

While he is running, the shadow fiend commune to him again with a ghostly voice.

"You want more... You want more to kill the hell..."

"Of course I want more... It is only me to stop them..."

"Very well... You will get what you want."

Back on the bridge

"We can't hold for much longer."

The hunters relentless wears down all of them as they tried to defend these insanely fast people. Just as a hunter swings his cursed blade on Kotori, a hunter runs passed Yuki.

"Oh no you don't..."

She swings the rapier on the hunter, but it is immediately parried away and unceremoniously beaten in the head by the sword pommel.

"Ugh..."

The pain throws off her focus to sustain the barrier and it immediately cracked. The hunter sees this and immediately swings his sword with all his strength and shatter the dark barrier like a shattered glass. Yuki passes out immediately as soon as it cracks.

"YUKI!"

Kotori and Yamai twins shouted. The hunter then rushes toward Shido. Desperate, Shido unconsciously summoned Sandalphon while the rest of them just run. The hunter immediately swings his blade and it is parried by Shido, but with the hunter's experience, he made a quick work by parrying away Sandalphon which is immediately shattered into million particles of light.

"Shit..."

As if they are all synchronized, the hunters immediately disappear and appear on the lone hunter's side and they all jump on Shido immediately. Yuki struggles to get herself right back up and watches the hunters pounce on Shido.

"SHIDO!"

They all shouted in fear. Shido knows he can't run anywhere as he is surrounded, he only closes his eyes and prays for a miracle.

*Glass shatter sound*

The barrier surround the bridge has been shattered, with Arashi appears from it. He also spots Shido in a tight pinch.

"Shit, Itsuka!"

Everything slows down withing his vision has his glowing blue eyes now glows even brighter to the point of blazing. However something is off, his personality has a drastic turn again, this time he is aware of it. Oddly, he can see the point of death which is joint by other lines suspended in air. With that, he let out a chilling smile.

"So... That is the zone eh. That is the power huh."

A shadow blade is formed in air and sends it flying to the point.

"I-ke!(Let's go) REAPER AWAITS!"

But just as the blade is sent flying, he get a grip on himself again. He realizes on what he had done, to his horror, Shido is within the death network in air while everyone is cleared.

"What the hell have I done!?"

He immediately focuses his mind and teleports to Shido's side in midair before the blade can reach it. Shido looks surprised by his presence.

"BEAR WITH IT!" he said

With that, he immediately position both of his legs which result in a kick on Shido's chest and abdomen area.

"UUUUGGGGGGAAAAAAHHHH!"

Shido is sent flying by the unholy strength Arashi, he lands a distance away from the network.

"I don't know what that does..."

Arashi heighten his focus again and jumps out of the network. Just as the blade pierces the point in midair.

"BANG!"

A loud sound is heard and the air around the area gathers like a mini typhoon but stops for a short while. The network disappeared, along with it is the air. Air is killed in that area, turning it into vacuum instantly.

"AAAAAAARRRRGGHHHHH!"

The hunters screamed in pain. The air particles are forcefully torn out of his lungs, pain is like a razor blade cutting into their lungs. The escape of air has ravaged and rupture the lungs, filling it with blood. The pain has forced everyone to their knees, coughing blood. Arashi undo's the death in the area and allows air to exist again. It doesn't help at all as the hunters remove their mask and keep coughing, each cough only spews more blood to but they slowly stop coughing and lies down on the floor, they all died as they cannot breathe anymore. Doing what he usually does with cultist hunters, Arashi's shadow distorts and Nevermore is summoned. The fallen angel of death now takes away the souls of the hunters from the entire Fraxinus and set their body a blaze in dark fire.

"What in the world, explosive decompression!?" A crew member exclaimed in surprise.

The scene shocks everyone even Arashi himself. No one is certain of what is going on except Yuki.

"Arashi... Your eyes... has evolved, you can kill air now."

Everyone is surprised at her statement. Arashi looks very troubled.

"I don't even know what have I done, I... I almost killed Itsuka..."

Shido looks puzzled as it was Arashi who saved him.

"But, you saved me."

Arashi corrects him immediately.

"I... I wanted to kill them so badly for no reason... And when you are still in the area, I still kill the air, you could have been killed. You have seen what happened to them."

Shido knows that he is in a state of shock, and calms him down.

"Is alright now, what matter the most is that you wake yourself up in time."

"..."

He is speechless as he is very lost about this new found deadly power.

"It is going to be alright. You have to trust Shido." Tohka assured.

"Yeah, Nii-sama will be able to save you." Mana added.

"..."

Arashi remains silent as being saved is his last priority, he would rather them to protect Yuki for him while he handles unfinished business. Then, Miku and Yoshino comes into the bridge, helping the unconscious Kyouhei into the bridge.

"It is clear huh?" Kotori asks.

"Can't sense them anymore, all dead." Arashi replied.

Miku just spoke.

"Everyone watch out! He killed Kannazuki-san!"

"What!?"

Arashi furiously talks back.

"I HAVE TO! And please get your facts right, you could have died back there. He willingly died so that I can get everything intact, and also, I did put his soul back..."

Both of them are glaring at each other, since the last time they met, it is evident enough that both of them won't get along well at all.

"Cut it out you two."

Shido steps in to stop both of them. But suddenly the ship's alarm is sounded again.

"WARNING WARNING, INCOMING ENEMY UNITS. 20 DEM registered wizards, 100 DEM registered Bandersnatches."

"What, attack at this timing!? Kyouhei isn't even awake yet. We don't not turn on stealth mode at this timings."

Mana immediately gets to the realizer terminal, determined to fight even at her weakened state. Kotori tries to stop her.

"No, you are still weak. I know you are stronger than him, but you are still too weak to handle all of them."

Mana countered back.

"If I don't who else can man this?"

"..."

"Where are they?" Arashi asked.

"20 km away!"

Arashi can see through the large window with the green trail that the CR-Units leaves when they are flying. There are many of them, he can see all of them within his peripheral vision.

"Very well, it is still eclipse right?"

"Yes." Mana asked.

"Alright, is there any small oxygen tanks around?" he asked again.

Bad Marriage Kawagoe passes him one that is as small as a hairspray can with mask attached.

"Thanks. Relax, it is just a few sec work."

He wears the mask and turn on the tank. He smiled and he walks towards the large cockpit window. His body disperse and he appears outside of Fraxinus with his dark tendril wings manifested.

At the wizards

"A Spirit has appeared, and that is... RIPPER!" a wizard reported.

They are all surprised, but the leader is calm and assured them.

"RIPPER!? He can't do much with us this far away. Missile barrage to blast him into pulp!"

"Missiles launch!"

All wizards' CR-Unit and Bandersnatches launches their missiles towards Fraxinus. But Arashi just watches, as more and more trails of light can be seen. He closes his eyes.

"You all... Are just the pawn for them... But sadly, I have to kill you all... Rest in peace..."

Arashi's eyes glows even brighter with a piercing blue light emitted towards the wizard. In just and instant, missiles are cut up, Bandersnatches are severed into pieces, the CR-Units are shattered.

"Im... IMPOSSIBLEEEEEEEEE!"

The leader screamed her unit explodes. All missiles along with the wizards and Bandersnatches are destroyed, lighting up the night sky with a very large fireball. With that, Arashi teleports right back into Fraxinus.

"Done..."

Everyone is stunned at what he had done.

"Their parachutes should be intact, as long as it is out of my vision..."

It is a blatant lie that he made up to ease them. But Kurumi is slow clapping.

"So long as it is out of your vision... Your power heightens only in eclipse, but so is your killing power. You are not the only killer here, Nanaya Arashi."

"..."

I realizes that I did not put the twins' stats, and so I shall put them in this chapter.

Nanaya Arashi

Risk Factor: SSS (Originally S as Aokaze Arashi, escalated after the annihilation on AST and identified as Nanaya)

Spacequake: A

Astral Raiment: AA

Angel: SSS

Strength: 200

Consistency: 200

Spiritual Power: 30 (Satsujinki: 80, estimated another 170 being used to suppress Amon)

Agility: 300 (Satsujinki: 350)

Intelligence: 250

Nanaya Yuki

Risk Factor: S (Still thought to be deceased, thus no status change)

Spacequake: A

Astral Dress: AA

Angel: AA

Strength: 180

Consistency 200

Spiritual Power: 200

Agility: 280

Intelligence: 250

Alright, that's all for Chapter 10. I'm less than 4 chapters to complete the whole story. Please give feedback so that I can improve on the story. Thank you.