Shadow of the Colossus
Scarlet hummed through the white capped water gigantic ripples wriggling out from the center. Then, like a monster from a movie a white frame burst through the surface hundreds of gallons of water pouring off of it.
Sanageyama and the other Elite Four members took a step back in awe at at the giant creatures." I-is that a COVER?" the blind warrior asked sensing the ominous present of the multi-story tall monster.
'Yes, it is a battle-form COVER,' Inumuta's voice rang in their headset, he was down below working with Iori but he too saw the beast breach the surface. It was troublesome to see something of that caliber so close with limited protection
"How do we beat it?" Sanageyama asked hoping to get a firm and positive answer from the tech nerd that was situated in the pseudo-safety of the lower decks of the ship. Instead he got the sound of a keyboard tapping and the reflection of data points on a screen.
'Like any other COVER. Remove the power supply,' Hoka responded still typing away at the keyboard. This entity was one of the utmost terror and dealing with it accordingly was something of ridiculous proportions.
Closer look by those on the ship that could see proved just how frightening the monster was. Hundreds of life-less and drained faces appeared along the shoulders of the beast and in every hole along its hulking frame. The cries of those inside seemed to echo out in a massive cry of decibels as the creature used their energy to move, the creature was very, very intimidating.
"Because that'll be easy," Jakuzure sighed into the com-link. Her wit was something that seemed endless and even with this threat looming she managed to prove that point.
Its hand came and pressed down upon the ship's front sending a massive shake through it and a spray of water up from behind. Those there braced for impact as its second hand came and smacked down against the ship almost ready to pick it up.
"We need to turn back!" Ryuko shouted looking at the behemoth assailing the gigantic vessel. It was too dangerous and inhumane to leave those aboard without proper protection.
"Damn it. Ragyo knew we were coming for her," Shinko growled ready to turn around. The monster was going to destroy their hope and the hope of humanity, it seemed so wrong to just let that happen.
Back on the ship a silver wardrobe burst seemingly out of nowhere slamming between the Elite Four and the Titan COVER that was overlooking the vessel down below. It shook and rattled before popping open with an explosion of rainbow colored stars, a female figure within appearing very confidently.
"No, Ryuko! Go and beat Ragyo! I can handle things here!" Mako's voice cut out as her frame appeared clothed in the Two Star Goku Uniform that had been made for the Fight Club leader. Her arms were crossed over her chest and a piece of grass hung from her mouth, she was more than ready to go.
'Mako, thank you so much,' Ryuko commented through their earpiece connection everyone hearing it.
'You heard Mako. Let's go girls we have a world to save,' Shinko's voice came through their com-link and like that the triad of Kamui wearers once more headed off towards the looming Original Life Fiber and Ragyo Kiryuin.
"Makanshoku? What are you doing?" Gamagori shouted noticing the Goku Uniform in. Mako went through rather flashy poses to get her point across of getting the fighting done.
"Slacker why are you in a Goku Uniform!" Jakuzure far from pleased with the sight shouted. Even in the face of the gigantic threat such as this it was clear Nonon did not shed her standards as a superior.
"What the hell Iori!" Sanageyama barked through the headset trying to get a solid answer. Why Mako of all people she was no where near as adaquete as any of them when it came to combat.
'Makanshoku has the greatest disparity in power between wearing and not wearing a Goku Uniform,' Shiro responded still producing the uniforms at an insane rate. Inumuta's constant tacking on the keyboard continued after the words it was clear they were both working hard.
'In other words it was a simple choice. Now if you pardon we have more work to do. 'Bye!' Inumuta said obviously in a rush. How many Goku Uniforms were they producing anyway?
"What you stupid mutt! Where are our Uniforms!" peeved Nonon shouted loudly. There was no response except for that of her colleges grabbing their ears, they were the only ones on that feed.
Tsumugu's DTR approached from the side its mechanical parts whirring as the two guns loaded themselves." Until now you have all been nude. Dangle clothing in front of you and you begin to act like spoiled children. And you are calling yourself Nudist!" the mowhawked warrior remarked with disgust readying to fire out rounds of jamming needles.
"I would never be someone so...colorful," Sanageyama looked away snobbishly. Mako on the other hand was looking towards the behemoth with a smile plain on her face.
"That does not matter Sanageyama! We need to help Makanshoku!" Gamagori remarked spinning around a Removal Device never minding its heft. He positioned himself and braced ready to stare down the giant COVER.
"I hate it when you are right. You know that Gamagori?" Uzu remarked somewhat perturbed before wielding the device himself.
Mako's frame suddenly appeared with dozens of Removal Devices attached as she charged through the air they all began to whir. The giant COVER monstrosity would never have known what happened to it as a blow with the sound of deep thunder echoed out. All of the devices began to hum as huge chunks of the monster were drawn into them.
"Nine hundred ninety nine Rescue Device!" one trigger pull followed the near heavenly shout of Mako. The turbine-shaped weapons spun around and around in a gale of hot wind." Vroom! Vroom!" she touted out loudly as the devices ripped free over one hundred people from the behemoth.
Their frames came rolling down to the deck hitting it and sliding. Mako's family instantly went to work preserving them with bandages like that a mummy would be bound in.
The fight though was just beginning. Mako landed on the ship and so did about ten COVERs surrounding her as the biggest threat by a wide margin, all of them were told to do so.
About the same time the three Kamui wearers were coming upon the Primal Life Fiber and that accursed woman that was standing atop it. Their resolves turned even stronger as they took forward towards this enemy.
Hundreds of ruby-orange rockets began to shoot out in the hundreds heading towards the teenagers as they got closer. Slashes filled the air with massive explosions as they plowed ahead anyway. Each of them approached the situation differently though the fiery blast that came after their strikes showed that their ends were the same.
'I found the reason Harime's arms did not regenerate when Matoi's Scissors struck them,' Hoka informed as they began to fly through a lot less hostile air.
"And what is that?" Ryuko asked now within five hundred yards of the Original Life Fiber. The three of them were too tuned in to really care but the talking was going to fill the void of empty air.
'More durable Life Fibers like those that are within Matoi's and Ragyo's bodies are able to regenerate at an accelerated rate. They even begin so before they are fully severed,' Inumuta spoke as they got closer, their speed narrowing the time frame.' This regeneration though is negated almost entirely by the cross slash or scissoring motion,' the teal haired teenager spoke as fast as he could.
"So in theory Satsuki's two Bakuzan swords would function the same way," Shinko noted as they approached the flying vessel of humanity ending proportions. His right hand tightening the hilt of the blade that was resting within his palm, a small star sparkling down it.
'Yes, that is correct. So there is something to thank Ragyo for after all,' Inumuta responded quickly. They were within twenty yards of the giant Life Fiber structure.
"Not Ragyo. You four deserve all of the credit, it was your ingenuity to reforge the Bakuzan," Satsuki responded as they drew nearer the white haired woman atop not paying them any mind.
'Oh? Compliments, how unlike you Lady Satsuki,' the tech master responded with his typical dry humor.
"On the eve of victory even the stalwart are willing to lighten their hearts but keep their resolves," she responded thrusters blaring.
"We have two targets. The center of this thing and Ragyo herself right?" Shinko asked now within almost reaching distance to the floating Life Fibers.
"Yes," Satsuki answered as Shinko tensed his grip on the sword.
"Deal with our loving mom first. This thing will be far less dangerous without a pilot," Ryuko said wisely shooting up to where her mother resided. The old ruby glare casting their way.
Shinko and Satsuki both nodded rocketing up as well blades all drawn at the same time.
"Ragyo! How dare you force me to dress in clothes I would not be caught dead in!" Ryuko roared to her loudest firing up the thrusters even more." I am going to tear those clothes from your back!" the gleaming teenager shouted firing towards Ragyo, who was surprisingly unflinching even in the fact of an angry daughter.
"Tsk, tsk, that is no way for a seventeen year old lady to speak," chiding Ragyo spoke totally serene leading up to the moments of impact. The flames trailing from her child's body were nearly there and yet she kept both eyes closed and a smile on her face.
Inches away Ryuko swung both blades in only two find two silver blades reaching out to stop her offense entirely. Long trailing silver frames that ended in a super sharp point, Ragyo was a very dangerous foe especially now.
"What the-" Ryuko shouted pushing down but finding all of her force restrained. Ragyo was on a totally difference level then anything she had gone against up until this point.' This can't be-' she growled to herself as Ragyo leaned in closer to her.
"When I remake you girls I will start with the dress patterns on up!" Ragyo said with a wily grin while looking up at her daughter's grit face. That lack of care for her daughters or their personalities seemed as if the white haired CEO had no heart in her body at all.
Two blackened blades rammed forward with a white mass behind them. With a large clacking sound Satsuki appeared, the Bakuzan's halves meeting something that seemed impossible. Ryuko was being held off to the left while Satsuki's entire force was repelled to the left, it was like a child holding two dolls off to either side.
Pressing with all of her weight the older of the two siblings came eye to eye with the gleaming sword that was holding her back. Ragyo's laughed provided all of the assurance she needed." Impossible! Those are-" Satsuki stammered looking as stars began to trail down the rapier restricting her motion.
"Yes, ulta-hardened Life Fibers. These swords were the basis for both the Secret Sword Bakuzan and unsurprisingly Soichiro's Scissor Swords as well," Ragyo answered back as if the two girls were not in their Kamui and pushing with their might. She giggled slightly keeping that arrogant vibe around her." It is astounding how everything begins and ends with this the Original Life Fiber," she began to laugh until a third sword came crashing in through the center.
"Bullshit! My father's sword is proof of that!" Shinko's overhead swing came racing down. The air seemed to glow as his sword cut through it, Ragyo though glared him down unimpressed at the oncoming display of weaponry.
A white heeled foot blasted into the center of his body just before the sharpened end of the sword came upon her hair. Shinko's entire body began to shake as the force ripped out the back of his body in a whooshing sound, and a white field of compressed air. Then a second later he too was fired away in a push of air that seemed even more violent than that which escaped him moments prior.
"Kurosaki?" Satsuki looked to see his frame continuing away. Their third man had been dealt one strikingly fearsome blow, Ragyo's face though show no exertion or emotion it was one that she held back on.
"Satsuki he'll be fine! Come on!" Ryuko roared swinging her swords again against the lone blade that she was faced with. In the meantime the fearsome woman was placing her lifted right foot back onto the napkin that was sitting atop the Original Life Fiber.
In agreement her sister nodded, with primal shouts both began to strike down with their top speed. The Bakuzan and Scissor Swords swung in a tornado of clinging and sparks as they met the solid weapons which Ragyo held almost lazily in her hands. No matter what angle they brought them down upon though was even remotely enough to budge the swords, which kept up with every movement attempted..
This went on for at least a dozen if not two dozen seconds with Ragyo's arms swinging at speed that made her daughter's strikes seem slow. How could one middle aged woman be so strong?
At the end of the vicious array of blade works and slashes Satsuki's Kamui kicked out around her the blue stars fading away, the flight-based form had stalled for a moment. The issue with this is that the azure-highlighted Kamui's touched the floating set of Life Fibers, the boots touched the floating set of Life Fibers.
Ryuko was slapped backwards by a left wrist flick at the time Satsuki's first heel touched the Original Life Fiber. Ragyo then darted over with an angry glare in her crimson eyes, the target her firstborn daughter. A leg sweep threw said daughter into the air her body unable to even try and defend it. Ragyo then spun and delivered a crushing kick to the chest of her daughter sending, much like with Shinko, a narrow pressure wave out from the back of her child.
"How dare you place your filthy feet on this sacred place!" Ragyo remarked as the napkin was moved out to accommodate the placement of her kicked out foot. A scoff left her mouth as Ryuko recovered off to the side, she was unimpressed by this too.
The difference when Satsuki was fired away her left arm was grabbed by another white glove, the force being wasted by the tight grasp of a young man." If you hand yourselves over to clothing mind, body, and soul," she glared at Shinko with narrowed eyes before turning back to Ryuko." You could even do something like this," her white cloaked frame hovered off of the surface shimmering brightly as it did so.
A few tenths of a second later she vanished. A rainbow then slashed through the air taking the attention away from the large target and towards her, as she headed backwards.
"She's trying to drag us away from this," Shinko remarked keeping himself hovering over the Original Life Fiber. Satsuki pulled herself from his grasp and looked over towards the clouds where Ragyo disappeared behind.
"We know that Kurosaki. But like Ryuko said the Original Life Fiber would be a far easier for to destroy without Ragyo," Satsuki said transforming back into the flight beneficial form that Junketsu provided.
'Shinko we need to keep an eye on Ragyo at all times. One slip-up and suddenly our two allies could be turned against us,' his Kamui informed. The garment knew too well that even on someone like Ryuko Mental Refitting would take time to snap from.
"Okay," Shinko sighed kicking up and jetting away. In front of him were Ryuko and Satsuki both firing out to attempt to beat Ragyo at aerial combat as somewhat ludicrous as that sounded.
When they did bust through the cloud level their slashes were all repelled by the lightning-like movement of Ragyo's blades." Keeping up with me are you how cute," Ragyo mused batting the three of them away like gnats.
"Shippu Senjin!" Ryuko roared flipping back towards her mother. Blades of crimson hue grew from the Kamui morphing into the hybrid 'blade gale' form that Satsuki had created.
"Senpu Zankan!" Satsuki remarked kicking back the thruster. Spikes of snowy white emerged from Junketsu's frame edging it like a razor as Satsuki glared at her mother, this too was a hybrid state, one that showed off Satsuki's ingenuity at its best.
"Sento? We don't have transformations do we?" Shinko asked as the other two transformed before his very eyes. It would have been cool to have one but their talk in Tokyo before going to fight Ryuko on the Naked Sun may have proved that transformations were not part of the plan.
'I am afraid not. Though we do potentially have an opening,' Sentokitsu commented as the two girl's storrmed towards Ragyo in glowing disk of flame and Life Fiber weapons.
The sound of swords slashing one another rang out as did sparks as both 'Kiryuin' sisters spun their Kamui's against Ragyo's blades. In itself it was an amazing thing to watch in a brutal primal way. Screams and sparks at to the beauty of the combat even though it seemed near impossible that any of it meant anything.
Shinko tensed grabbing his blade and waiting for the most oppurtune moment to strike.' Come on girls open her up I only need a small gap. Just a little more, ' he thought the gleaming light of a pale moon ringing off of the silver sword that was within his grasp.
Meanwhile on the inside of the dazzling saw display things were almost intent on destruction. Both girls had their faces whiz by their mother's several dozen of not hundred times as they turned their Kamuis into saw blades. The problem with this mass rotation was that it seemingly did nothing, Ragyo was gritting her teeth but laughing through them as if she was barely exerted. In a loud clashing sound they were flashed away.
Ragyo laughed as her daughters were cast away." The bitch is really tough," Ryuko hissed as she and Satsuki fell through the air. This was of course was lull to get their heads on straight.
"So be it we can not fall here," Satsuki said through grit teeth until a white shape blitzed towards Ragyo taking advantage of her laughing stupor.
"That's Kurosaki," the younger of the two gasped in shock as Shinko's frame crunched the sound barrier and began to swing.
'CLANG!' the noise almost synonimous with a bell echoed out as his massive broad blade met the twin silver rapiers within the woman's hands. The force sparked out in an explosive star, Shinko tensed slightly as his foe did not even move.
"Very interesting boy that you continue this fruitless struggle," Ragyo remarked between the two of them as te blades continued to dance together in a sparkling array.
"What? This isn't fruitless. Not with Ryuko by my side for sure!" he verbally shot back making Ragyo's eyebrow raise.
"Ah, is that it? Trying to impress my daughter? Ha what a stupid boy you are," Ragyo threw him back but like a magnet his sword met again with hers. Stall tactics were obviously his goal here, even though his blushing features answered her question." Your persistence is telling me the answer as is that blush. When I remodel them I will make you Ryuko's doormat," Ragyo raged before swiping him away.
Down below Satsuki and Ryuko recovered slightly, they were preparing to fly back up." You never intended to best me here did you girls?" Ragyo remarked once again repeling Shinko's body with a backhanded slash." Your group down below are going to Honnoji aren't they. To destroy the transmitter too," the REVOCs leader cackled as they all looked at the Original Life Fibers frame below.
"As if I would make it that easy," Ragyo smirked as the orange structure began to glow sending a massive teether of red thread out followed by hundreds of coils out from itself. All of which were packed and ready to detonate.
"Its heading towards the ship," Shinko growled looking at Ragyo almost angrily.
"Here Mako," Misses Makanshoku said feeding a Croquette to her with a pair of chopsticks.
"Thanks, mom!" Mako commented through blushing full cheeks. She poured a bowl of rice into her mouth for good measure before chewing and swallowing it down. Her eyes lit back up with fire and she sprung up from the ground a broad grin on her face.
"All right! Croquette charging complete!" she shouted before doing a few poses in her stances. She finished by puffing her chest out and chewing the edge of the leaf that was in her mouth.
Her first punch blew a COVER away at the seams. Red threads flailed through the air as a nude person was dropped from its body down to the deck of the ship. The Two Star Uniform she was wearing had some real power behind it and she was taking full advantage of that to be sure.
Then after another mouthful of deep fried goodness Mako was surrounded by several coils of thread all which detonated in series revealing their contents as others hammered into the water around the ship. Dozens of COVERs emerged quickly surrounding Mako and leaving everyone else in utter shock at the sudden targeting. Hundreds of the suits were now on board lurching towards their threat: Mako Makanshoku.
"Here you can have it too!" her right fist as it had prior shattered the first COVER she drilled. When she tried to chain the impact though a heavy handed punch threw her body down in a skid where another one of the Life Fiber constructs decided to kick her in the back. A scream and a crack rang out as a third charged and threw her into the air.
Viciously two of them batted her way, her body ringing against the solid ramp where the DTRs were launched. Rolling down it almost comically like a domino the Fight Club 'captain' ended up laying on top of Kinagase's DTR barely able to move.
"Come on Makanshoku!" Kinagase grit unloading the guns on either side of his latest DTR. Several of the COVERs were destroyed by the rest were approaching in a slow lurch zombie-like in their mission to destroy the humans." Damn it too many!" flashes kept exiting his barrel, not fast enough as more rounds rocked the ship and others released more COVERs.
Mako rolled off of his back and to the ground where her parent's swiftly did their thing. The issue? She was bound in layer upon layer of bandages all of which were not very flexible leaving her unable to budge.
"You tied her too tight!" Mataro complained seeing his sister's frame leave their medical cot with a lazy stumble. Mako was only able to waddle it was not going to do much against the horde of COVERs.
"W-well what else was I s'posed to do?" the head of the family said to his son as one such bundle of Life Fibers crashed behind them. Luckily it hit with enough for to throw the bandaged away and give Mako a fighting chance.
Kinagase saw this and continued to fire before turning back to the teenager." You did enough already Makanshoku! Fall back and recover!" the gattling gun on either side of his DTR unleashed the reserves, it was an attempt of epic proportions. Still though there were just too many approaching.
"No, no, no," her bushed voice rang out as she shook her head. The fading sounds of an angelic chorus of 'Hallelujah' sung out as she held both arms up in a cross above her head." Ryuko told me that this ship was her heartland! If I let it fall now Ryuko will be crushed spiritually and physically! Laying down is not an option!" Mako said before doing exactly that, laying on a portable mat.
"Matoi said no such thing!" Kinagase barked noticing the circle approaching even faster.
"The Ryuko in my head told me so!" Mako commented rolling back over looking towards a 'ghost' that only she could see. It was a waving Ryuko drawing her towards some unseen white light." Just now she told me to go towards the light with her."
A bead of sweat rolled down the commando's head before he leaned over the downed girl." You are seriously messed up you know that?" he said with raised brow.
Those words though sparked her in her quest to get up." Spare me you opinions! I can't let Ryuko down! She cares about everyone here too much!" Mako shed her bedding and quickly ran forward.
Before she could reach the first COVER though. Wardrobes appeared out of nowhere shooting her back with their landing forward and forming a rough barrier between COVERs and humans.
"You did good Makanshoku," Gamagori's voice commented as he emerged from the second wardrobe. Clad in a black and gold variant of a Three Star Goku Uniform he towered on the front lines staring over even the most giant of COVER." Rest up."
"An 'A' for effort slacker. But we can take it from here," Jakuzure appeared atop another wardrobe cockily. She too was in the Three Star Uniform that matched Gamagori's.
"Enough talking. I do believe it is time to show off Iori's new and final Three Star Goku Uniforms," Inumuta popped up fixing his blue glasses.
At the top of the ship things were going no where near as hopeful. Mikisugi, though guiding the ship manually, was finding it hard to keep the gigantic vehicle balanced as more rockets continued to hammer into the waves around the vessel.
"The Original Life Fiber is coming right for us," he growled as it pierced the front of the ship. Before him one behemoth of a structure emerged through the cloud layer, its front opened up ready to gorge on those there.
The battles are heading towards an impending climax! With the Naked Sun on the ropes and those fighting Ragyo reeling as well does humanity have a shot? If they do not give up anything is possible...
Thanks for reading,
~Herodan3