~ 16 ~
This turned out about as expected. Kiba and I are standing at the place where we practiced for the ball tournament. He was a few feet away from me. Irina and Xenovia were in front of us. Encasing the field and surroundings was a barrier of red aura. The other members were spectating from the outside.
"Then let's start."
Irina and Xenovia took off the white robes they wore and underneath were black battle purpose clothes designed by the church. Something about the way they designed it bugged me. It wasn't showing any skin, but it definitely form fitting. If they designed that for the males, I would object the idea of that. Xenovia pulls the cloth from her weapon and reveal Excalibur Destruction. Irina tugs off a rope on her arm and it changes shape into a katana. Mimic.
"Even if it's just a match, be cautious of the holy-swords!" Rias warning me.
No need to remind me. I give her a thumbs up in acknowledgment of the advice. Seeing the two swords gave me jitters. Any devil coming into contact with a holy-sword effectively vanish without a trace. I ready Invictus into its sword form. No need to go all out since it's a match. Kiba on the other hand had activated his Sacred Gear and demonic-swords pushed out of the ground around him. He was laughing.
"The thing I wanted to defeat and destroy appeared right in front of me. I'm happy." chuckling slightly. "I had even heard that by being close to a devil and a dragon, 'powers' would gather. But for me to encounter it this early."
He's right. As a being with a dragon's soul, it's natural for me to attract power. I'm surprised at how I haven't attracted more since acquiring two. Does it work that way? Or is it the quantity vs quality debate?
"...Sword Birth, huh. The possessor can create any demonic-sword they imagine in their head. It's unique among the demonic-sword related Sacred Gears... I heard that there was a 'subject' that avoided from being disposed by the 'Holy-sword Project'... Is that you?"
Kiba only answered with directing his killing intent towards her. This could get out of hand. Not only is he fighting with a clouded head, he's doing it with the intent to kill. That will just lead to his defeat.
"Mugetsu Takeo-kun." While Kiba take on Xenovia, I'm having a dance with Irina. Hard to believe she used to look like a boy last I remember. "I'm...I'm sorry for the reaction I gave you when you told me you were a devil those years before." saddened for her behavior to a childhood friend.
"Think nothing of it. But I'm disappointed in what you two said to Asia." swinging the blade in an arc, twirling it and pointing it at her. "Other than that it's nice seeing an old friend again."
"What a trick destiny played on us! I went to England because I found out that can use holy-swords, and I thought that I could be a representative of God! This also must be a trial that God has given me! The land that I haven't been back in for so long! A harsh destiny where my childhood friend is a devil! The way time moves is harsh! But by moving forward, I will turn into someone with the true belief towards God! Now Takeo-kun! I will give judgment to you with this Excalibur! Amen!" announcing while shedding tears and pointing her sword at me. Sigh. Sometimes I wonder about people like this.
"Well then, Irina. I hope you can put up a fight!"
Dashing towards her and driving a stinger strike where she stood. Irina blocks the attack, and I switch into a reverse grip for a spinning slash to her legs. Dodging up out of the way, she slashes down. I parry off the attack, and swipe upward. She narrowly dodges the blade coming for her, and rolls out of the way.
Keeping awareness of my surroundings, Kiba slashed wildly towards Xenovia with a pair of demonic-swords.
"Burn and freeze! Flare Brand and Freeze Mist!" one sword creating a tempest of flames while the other had a cold air and frost surrounding it. He was doing a good job, but Xenovia was evading his attacks that were coming from different directions.
"The Knight's swift move. And demonic-swords of flame and ice. But you are too naive!" Clang! A simple swing of Excalibur Destruction reduced Kiba's swords to dust. He stood there shocked at the sight of his swords destroyed at a single strike. "My sword is a mass of destruction. There's nothing it can't destroy." she swirls the sword around and thrusts downward into the ground.
True to its name, the ground I'm standing on began to rumble. Then a giant cloud of dust erupts from where Xenovia stood. When it settled, a crater took its place where Xenovia rammed her sword in the ground.
"This is my Excalibur. It can destroy anything that comes in its way. It's not called 'Excalibur' for nothing."
"Excalibur Destruction... Such a destructive power when it isn't a real Excalibur. So destroying all seven swords will be a difficult path." yet he didn't lose his hatred in his eyes.
"Geez! I'm all covered in dirt because of you destroyed the ground, Xenovia!" Irina wiping the muck off while complaining.
"What's the matter Irina? Afraid to get a little dirty?" jesting while wiping some of the dirt off myself, and throwing away the dress shirt. Leaving me in a black with white thorn design tank top. She blushed at the sight. Ways to screw with the enemy. Throw jokes, do unexpected things, and always have fun.
"Geez, Takeo. I guess I wasn't the only one that grew considerably..." I grin back like a wolf at the comment.
I focus back on the battle and weave side to side, getting into her blind spot. I prep a stance for a driving slash. Irina blocks the attack barely and staggers back from the force. She didn't take any damage, though the ground behind her ripped from the power in the attack. I keep up the assault to whittle her defenses down. Irina slips up when losing her guard to a sideswipe strike, knocking the blade out of the way a few yards away. She breaks into a run for the sword, she reaches it and turns around to bring her guard back up.
CLANG!
The sword flies out of her hand into the sky when I teleported next to her. As the sword comes down to land, I catch it by the handle. Shocking everyone who saw.
"Takeo!" Rias shouts while the others stood terrified at what could happen from a Devil touching a holy sword.
...
I was expecting searing pain, but nothing happened. Looking at the sword, it wasn't doing anything. Waving it around, hoping something would happen. Nothing. Eyeing the sword cautiously, I hand it back to Irina. Who had a wide eyed expression. Everyone had a similar expression as I look around. Kiba in particular was stunned speechless; there was still killing intent, but confusion was mixed in also.
"I think your sword is broken Irina." she gawked at the quip. "I could keep this up all day, but nobody as time for it." dismissing Invictus. "And I'll have to pick up where my comrade left off." pointing at Kiba and Xenovia who went back into it again.
"I guess I wasn't a match for you?" she bobs her head to the side, I raise an eyebrow at the question. We transition into a laugh for a short moment, which was interrupted by Kiba's yell. We turn to see him wield a demonic-sword emitting an ominous aura and that is too big for any regular being to handle.
"The destructive power of that holy-sword or the destructive power of my demonic-sword! Let's see which one is stronger!" he swings the blade down at Xenovia, who just stood and sighed. This is going nowhere, so I run for the space between the two.
"It's a shame. You made the wrong decision." she makes a motion to swing as well.
Readying Rebellion in left, and Force Edge in right. I make it in between them fast enough to block off Kiba's demonic-sword with my left sword's cross guard resting behind me, and Destruction with my right sword in a reverse grip.
"Enough! This fight's becoming pointless!"
" "Out of our way!" "
That's it! I spin on my heel into a twister of slashes. Kiba's sword ended up in half right next to him, and he skidded a few feet. Xenovia still held onto her's, but staggered backwards from the force. When they were far away from each other enough, I raise both blades at them.
"Kiba, you're a Knight! Fight like one and don't waste power in something ridiculous as a massive sword that doesn't play to your strengths!" the criticism hits hard at his pride. I turn to Xenovia. "And I still have a bone to pick with you!" a cloud of swords appeared around her; sparking electricity, set ablaze, and chilled to zero.
"So you do. Do you intend to do the same mistake as him?" readying her Excalibur at me. I smirk. The summoned swords still hovering. Stashing away Rebellion and Force Edge for Yamato. The katana appears in my left hand. "You think a simple katana could handle Destruction?" insulting my sword.
"Don't cry over losing your precious Excalibur to a simple katana if it does." biting back. I ready in the Iaido stance. "Doesn't pride come before the fall? I thought the Church would teach things like that." she sneers at me and raises her sword. We didn't get an inch to each other when Noctis yells out.
[Noctis]: "Takeo! Something's at the barrier! Nine o' clock skyward!" Looking at what would direct my attention from the match was...what was that? I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking at. A blinding light came in that direction so the image was obscured. Slowly, something comes into focus.
Its shape looked humanoid, but the head, hands, and feet appeared avian with a red mask. Primarily white with gold detailing. Other features were the staves they carried, wings similar to an angels...and a halo? Some of the others had blue cloths for clothes. One in particular looked mean as hell; clad in red armor with gold trimming, a shield on its left, and a serrated sword in his right. All of them had a common theme going for them. Avian features on a humanoid body, halos over their heads, and wings with wing designs on their body. They look sort of like...wait...
No. They couldn't be angels. I've seen Michael and Gabriel, they didn't look like those. Another thing was bugging me about them. The feeling associated with meeting an angel is there, yet it felt tainted. Corrupted in its essence. They clearly weren't with Xenovia and Irina by their expressions of these so called angels.
"Assume hostile." a hand ready to draw Yamato. Xenovia and Irina look at me appalled.
"How can you say that?! Don't you see they're angels!?" Irina furious at me already against them.
"What makes you so sure they are hostile?" Xenovia skeptical of my assumption.
"Have you seen an actual angel?" shooting back at them. They both shake their heads. "Typical. I worked freelancing for a while, and I met a few myself. Nice people." everyone's reaction wasn't a surprise to me. I did say I worked as a sort of sell-sword, but I didn't say who I sold my services to. Though I'm holding the fact those Angels happened to be Michael and Gabriel. Along with my works with the Fallen Angel Governor Azazel, and Sirzechs Lucifer.
"You said you were a born devil, right?" I nod at Irina's question. "Then why didn't they know that about you? If they were Angels from the lord, then they wouldn't have hired you." I sighed.
"I hid the fact that I was born part Devil well from my employers. They assumed I was human. The only reason you knew recently was because I wasn't hiding it. The last thing I was expecting was my childhood friend showing up in my neighborhood who happens to be an Excalibur wielder from the Church."
"Hehe... Well, when you put it that way..." Irina smiling and laughing sheepishly.
The barrier around us begins to crack. Lines travel around the dome, indicating it's taking damage. At this rate it's going to...
BREAK!
Pieces begin to fall down and fade away into nothing. Whatever they were, the smaller grunts charged down at us with staves ready to kill. Don't know who their aiming for, but better to direct their attention away from them.
"Divine Dividing!" radiating white, a pair of dragon wings with blue feathers appear. Irina and Xenovia were shocked after seeing it with their own eyes.
"...Longinus."
"Divine Dividing? I never thought that I would meet the person possessed by the Vanishing Dragon in a far eastern country like this..." guess they haven't heard the word yet. Time to screw with them.
"Boosted Gear!" my left arm glowed red, and the gauntlet appears. I smirk back at the two; who needed to pick up their jaw from the floor. "Guess you never thought you'd meet the person possessed by the Welsh Dragon in that far eastern country either."
I leave them in the dust. Roughly twenty or so of whatever they were. Good thing I reserved those swords. I push my hand back to where they were still hovering and shot it up to the mass of them. The swords followed me up, but I was way ahead of them. Two of the small grunts came for me first on both sides. Drawing Yamato, I cut through their attack and separated them from their torso. Three of the ones in the blue cloths charged. They slash down together, but I block them with the gauntlet carrying the scabbard. Letting me cut through them in one swipe. My summoned swords came dangerously close to me and the group here. I teleport a short distance out of the cross fire to enjoy the carnage. Flying magic steel of fire, ice, and lightning tore through like a shredder. Decimating a chunk of them, leaving about seven of the grunts.
Didn't think I would miss. I fly into the thick of it and lash out with my sword indiscriminately. Reducing them into ribbons as they burst into light and fade away. I look down and notice that one red armored 'pseudo-angel' was on the ground fighting with Irina and Xenovia. The both of them were doing okay, but since this is a first encounter their not sure what to do. The other members of the ORC were fighting off the grunts. They have it under control, now about that red one.
{Boost! X5} I switch out Yamato for Rebellion. Focusing demonic-energy in the blade, and slashing down to split the red one in half. The two that were fighting it notice me and move out of the way for the strike. Their opponent unaware of me baring down on him until it was too late.
SLASH!
By the time he looked up, the deed was done. I get up from kneeling after the attack and swirl the sword around as the being behind me falls apart. Looking at the others, they already finish with theirs. Dismissing my weapons, I check the damage caused to the surrounding. Thankfully most of the kills were up top where I flew to them.
"'they are angels' you said. Sure they have wings, halos, and a sort of holy aura to them. Let's call them angels." berating the two who were disbelieving of my precaution. "What do they do to you? Servants of your lord, wielders of Excalibur. First thing they do is attack you."
"I think we've got the point, Takeo." Irina dejected and embarrassed at me scolding her while Xenovia just stood silent.
"Well maybe next time you two will try to assess your opponents carefully." I walk off to pick up my shirt. "Whoever or whatever they are, they probably have some connection to what's going on with Kokabiel, or are a completely different scenario we just churned up." dusting it off and throwing it on, I continue talking to myself and the others. "No who, no what, nor why. A troublesome new player in the territory. Better make sure wherever you're going to stay in is safe."
"Don't worry about us, we can take care of ourselves." Xenovia defending herself and Irina.
"Well with that out of the way. I'm heading home for some shut eye." stretching my arms as I yawn, and walk off.
"You don't want to finish up that match?"
"You just see me take down one of the heavier enemies in a single strike, tear a hole through our opponents, and reveal the fact that I actually have two Heavenly Dragons. You of all people want to pick up that round?" I turn back to glare. They stiffen up after realizing that. "If you want, go ahead. Though your chances are zero at best."
Xenovia scoffs and walks off to pick up her cloak and wrapping for her sword.
"Wait for me Xenovia. Then it's like that Takeo-kun. Tell me whenever you want to get judged by me."
"Only if you don't mind getting dirty with me again." she flusters from the innuendo and takes off. What was suppose to be a simple match ended up an ambush. Dragons seem to have a habit of getting into trouble, much like myself.
"Hold on! Yuuto!" it was Rias sounding enraged at Kiba. I look to see him trying to leave without saying a word. I can tell he's pissed about me interrupting the match, but that's probably number two on the list. "I won't forgive you if you leave me! You are my Knight of the Gremory group. I will also be troubled if you turn into an 'exiled'." Kiba still doesn't listen and tries to get away. "Wait this instant!"
"...I was able to run away from there, thanks to my comrades. That's why I have to put their regrets into my demonic-swords..." after saying that, he leaves.
"Yuuto...why...?" her face saddened at seeing her friend go. That same sadness took over me also.
~ Narrator's POV ~
Just outside of where the battle of Lumen Angels, Devils, and Excalibur wielders has just ended, a woman stood on the roof of the building.
Tall and slender in figure, wearing a skin tight black suit emphasizing the curves of her bust, waist, and hips. Dark gray high heels bringing out the finer points of her legs. Black as night hair tied in a bee-hive style. Gray eyes wearing a pair of glasses with a butterfly wing design near the frame. A beauty mark at the bottom of her left cheek near luscious red lips. One other quality to note is the weapons she's carrying; four derringer pistols scaled up to fire large caliber rounds. Two were by her side, while the others were behind her heel strangely enough. Most would assume it would be impractical to have them there. That's before they've seen her in action.
She eyes the child intriguingly at the sight of him eradicating a group of Lumen Angels on his own and one of the tougher soldier of the grunts. Clearly he isn't human, Devil most likely, also noticing the Dragon characteristics in him. Though something about him had the woman even more curious. He's holding back. Not just in power, but another part of him entirely. She couldn't put her finger on it, but the feeling felt familiar.
"My, oh my. A young pup with a bite worse than anyone in his pack. Even if he doesn't acknowledge it, he's clearly the alpha of the group." musing to herself. "I hope we have the chance to meet, little wolf." After sating her curiosity of the boy, she walks off and disappears into a cloud of butterflies.
~ Time Skip: Weekend ~
A day's rest, contemplating ways to help Kiba, and school later. I called Saji; Kaichou's pawn to meet me in front of the train station. He came looking listless.
"Hey Saji. Glad you could make it." greeting him.
"Nice to see you too. So what's the reason for calling me?" asking why the sudden request.
"...He's right. What were you two trying to do?" the person who asked while holding onto my shirt was Koneko. I was on my way to meet Saji by the station when we crossed paths by chance. I wasn't sure to throw her into the mix of my shenanigans, but she ended up following me along anyways. Reason why Saji is here?
"I'm going to ask Irina and Xenovia to allow me to destroy the holy-sword Excaliburs."
Both Saji and Koneko were shocked at my reason with wide eyes.