Chapter 16 – Storming the Fortress

Pre-chapter Author's note:

If this chapter took a while to get uploaded, it's probably because I had to do a little bit more research on a few things before writing it. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy.

Violet's in Akitsu-ko! Probably in the Branch building that stands there. Stay put, I've already sent Tager on his way to transport you there.

"Wait a minute, Kokonoe. What do you mean by 'transport'?" Jacky asked, getting a bad feeling. As if from nowhere, Tager appeared and tapped his shoulder. The Beastkin boy nearly jumped out of his skin. "Damn it, Tager, don't scare me like that!"
"I apologize, Mr. Ray, for frightening you, but I am here now to teleport you to Akitsu-ko. Unfortunately, I will only be able to get you as far as the front gates of the Branch building and I won't be coming with you, as I am needed elsewhere." Tager readied the teleportation device and prepared to transport them. Jacky had to mentally prepare himself for the trip, but he was already starting to feel queasy from the thought of it.

Remember, everyone, there will definitely be obstacles when you get there. Everything about this screams out, "Trap", but I need to get Violet back.

"We understand, Professor Kokonoe," Noel said. The group prepared their weapons before Tager teleported them and they appeared in the snow-covered city of Akitsu-ko. "Looks like the weather is still out of whack since you busted up the cauldron, Ragna," Jacky said. "Yeah, I didn't expect this to happen. I just did what came natural to me," he replied.

The group looked on at the Akitsu-ko NOL Branch Building. Ragna had completely destroyed it months ago, but it has been fully repaired since then. "I guess they're still working on repairing the weather control in the city," Noel muttered. They were just about to enter when a particularly long staff came forward and bashed Ragna in the chest.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you in," Litchi said as she came out of hiding. "Should I take this?" Jacky asked. Ragna blocked Jacky's path with his arm and stepped forward. "No, she started this fight by whacking me with that damn staff of hers. She's mine!" He drew Blood Scythe and Litchi's staff returned to her side. "Sorry, Doc, but I'm going to have to beat you into the ground!"
Ragna charged forward and swung his sword down, only for Litchi to block the attack with Matenbo. Ragna's arm pulsated with a dark energy and he leapt back and he charged back forward even faster than before, delivering a hard punch to the center of her torso.
"Hell's…"

The dark energy looked almost like a beast as he delivered an even more powerful uppercut.

"…Fang!"

The dark energy burst upon contact and sent Litchi back quite a distance. She managed to recover from the blow, but not quick enough, as Ragna was already close enough to hit her with his sword. She barely managed to block his strike as he swung Blood Scythe upwards. Still, the force of his strike sent her up into the air and Ragna jumped up and kicked her back down to the ground.
Before Litchi could get back on her feet, Ragna placed his foot on top of her, keeping her pinned. "Stop working for these assholes, Doc, it isn't worth it."
"I highly doubt that she will listen to you, Brother."
Everyone turned their attention to Jin as he stepped forward. "What the hell are you doing here, Jin?" Ragna demanded. "I'm making sure that you don't die before I have the chance to kill you, Brother," he replied, "But more importantly, what exactly are you doing here?"
Jacky spoke up. "We're trying to rescue a friend of ours. Apparently the Imperator and her lackeys thought they could ambush us."
"A friend of yours?" Jin questioned.

"A loved one," he replied. Jin gave Jacky a good long look and gave out a grunt before walking past Ragna and opening the doors to the Branch building. "Hey Jin, where the hell do you think you're going?" Ragna shouted. "I'm going to give you a hand. You always need help, Brother, so I thought I might as well do you a favor before I kill you." Jin said that as if he were talking to Ragna, but his eyes were directed towards Jacky. "Is that a problem?"
Jacky smiled at Jin appreciatively and shook his head. "No, it's no problem at all, Jin." As Jin looked away, Jacky could have sworn he saw him smirk. "Then let's go."

Ragna begrudgingly ran after Jin to catch up with him, while Jacky and Noel trailed behind. "So, I suppose we'll be fighting a lot in here, huh?" Noel asked. "Yeah, there's going to be a lot of fighting, but we'll do what we can to free them," Jacky replied.
"You'll certainly try!" Ignis burst from the shadows and swung its claws at Jin, catching him by surprise, but Noel fired Bolverk at it and deflected its strike. "Get going, guys! I'll take care of Colonel Relius!"

"I'll help you, Noel," Ragna said, "There's no telling what this bastard will do!"
"Very well, in exchange for the opportunity to fight No. 12 and Ragna the Bloodedge, I will allow the rest of you to pass. Should they lose, I will come after you."
"How gentlemanly, Colonel Relius," Jacky said before running with Jin past him and Ignis. "Alright Noel, let's kick this guy's ass quick!"
"Right!"
Jin and Jacky made their way to the main hall and had their advance once again interrupted by two figures. "Well, the guests of honor have arrived. It's about time, wouldn't you say, Major Tsubaki Yayoi?" The two figures were Tsubaki and Yuki Terumi, or rather, Captain Hazama at the moment.
"Please try to take the situation seriously, Captain. Major Jin Kisaragi and Lieutenant Jacky Ray, you are both charged with treason against the NOL and the Imperator as well as attempting to liberate prisoners and acting as accomplices to Ragna the Bloodedge. You are hereby under arrest. Accept your punishment and perhaps your sentence will be lightened."
Hazama laughed and said, "They have quite a hefty charge on their shoulders, Major, I think their punishment should be much more severe."
"If you resist arrest, then the two of you will be executed," Tsubaki continued, ignoring Hazama.
"Sorry, Tsubaki, but we're not leaving," Jacky called out, "I'm not going to leave Violet or Scarlet to rot in prison. I'm sorry, but you and I are going to fight, whether either of us like it or not!"
"I must agree with the filthy lizard. There is someone in this building that I, too, wish to free. I refuse to leave until I do! Tsubaki, I will free you from the Imperator's influence!" He drew Yukianesa from its sheath and charged forward, swinging his weapon down at her. She blocked it with her book and countered with a swing of her spear.
She immediately followed up with a quick upward strike. "Benedictus Rex!"

Jin avoided the blow and slammed his elbow into her chest before kicking her back.
Jacky, meanwhile was busy with Hazama. The green-haired Captain of the NOL was blocking all of his strikes with little effort with his butterfly knives. "Hah, is that all you've got, kid?"

"Not even close, Captain!"

Restraint Levels One through Three,

Release!
Dragon Scales,

Deployed!

Ethereal Wings,

Deployed!

Wings and Scales that cut through the earth and sky,

Rip through the air and destroy my obstacles as they obstruct my path to the future!

"Ah yes, the power of the Drakos, it's been years since I last witnessed it! To be honest, I kind of missed the old weapon. I did create the Drakos, after all." Jacky launched a dragon scale at Terumi, but he leaped over it. He immediately rushed Jacky upon landing and managed to cut his arm across a nerve, disabling his left arm. "Hahah, you can't beat me with only the first three restraints released. You would need to release restraints from One all the way to Ten at least, but I don't see you doing jack shit, Jacky!" The lizard Beastkin smiled confidently and jumped back, distancing himself from him.

"Thanks for the estimates, Captain Hazama! You're still giving me advice, even during battle!"
"Wait, what are you talking about?"
Jacky ignored Hazama's last question.

Restraint Levels Four through Ten,

Release!

Dragon Armor,

Deployed!
Talons,

Deployed!
Disengaging Power Limiter No. Six!

Heavy red and black armor materialized on his person and covered his torso, shoulders, legs, and arms. His fingertips grew long and sharp ivory claws. "I'm coming for you!" He charged forward with incredible speed and elbowed Hazama in the chest, following up the attack by slamming his tail into his face and sending him flying across the room.
"Well this is a surprise. I didn't think you'd actually be able to release the restraints all the way to Level Ten," he said removing himself from the wall.
Hazama removed his hat let his hair spike up. "This will be fun," Terumi said with a laugh, "Come on, give me all you've got!"

Author's Note:

Time for the final battle, eh? This fanfic is drawing closer to its inevitable end. Sad, right? Anyways, I've got nothing to say this time. Thanks for reading and remember, reviews are always appreciated.

Reploid7,

Signing off!