Hello readers. I know, I know, it has been a while. I promise that this story will not be abandoned and will eventually reach its conclusion, although I am not sure when that will be. I hope you enjoy.
Kamito was relaxing in his tent when a few of the spirits protecting the boundary of the stronghold alerted everyone of a breech. Coming out of his tent quickly, he found a dark spirit skirting the shadows heading in his direction. Upon reaching him, it produced a scroll before melting back into the shadows.
"What's that?" Fianna asked having seen the spirit deliver its message.
Kamito finished reading the message then looked up to see his whole team watching him. "It's from Team Shadow Stalkers. They are wanting to meet to discuss an alliance."
"It could be a trap." Velsaria warned.
"Yes, I've considered that." Kamito agreed. "They said they have some information to use as a bargaining chip."
"We could set an ambush of our own, just in case it is a trap." Velsaria suggested. "I think we should at least find out what they think is important enough to coax us into an alliance."
"I agree. They specified a location and time to meet. I'll send a reply that we agree to meet with them. Velsaria, you and Ellis leave out early and scout the area. Then find cover and wait for any signs of trouble. Your long range attacks can support us if needed. Claire and I will attend the meeting. Fianna, watch over the stronghold in case they try to attack while we are occupied." Kamito directed.
The girls accepted their roles and the group broke up to go to their respective tents to rest for the coming day.
In the predawn darkness, Velsaria and Ellis slipped silently out of the camp. Their movements were not completely unobserved though. A whiff of smoke dissipated as a shadow familiar returned to its master to alert her of the activity.
Inside the dark armor of Nepenthes Lore, Jio waited for word that Kamito was on the move. He was not surprised when the shadows stirred and Haruka appeared. Vacant eyes stared at the ground as she knelt before the dark knight. "Velsaria and Ellis Fahrengart have been spotted leaving their stronghold in route to the site. No movement from the others yet."
"Very well. Watch those two and prevent them from interfering when I attack that fake Demon King. If you perform well, I may just have to keep you around." Jio laughed as he leered at the young girl. He already had plans for what he would do with these young women after they had served their purpose.
Haruka nodded and quietly departed to watch the Fahrengart sisters.
"So, you don't even trust those from your precious school, huh? Oh well, just gives me more pawns to play with."
Velsaria and Ellis quickly found the clearing that the leader from Team Shadow Stalkers had designated. "Seems quiet, but don't let your guard down."
"Of course, big sister." After inspecting the perimeter, Velsaria used her earth magic to search for hidden dangers while Ellis communicated with wind spirits to alert them of anyone approaching. Satisfied that the area was safe, Velsaria directed Ellis to a thicket not far from the meeting spot while she hid in the tree canopy where she could have a clear shot with Dreadnaught's cannons if worse came to worse.
Deciding that Velsaria was the greater threat, Haruka took up surveillance on the Silent Fortress from the shadows. She had informed Misty that the two sisters were taking up positions near the clearing. It was a few hours after sunrise when Kamito and Claire departed for the meeting, leaving Fianna to defend the camp. Misty directed Kristina to attack Fianna while the rest of the team accompanied her to confront Kamito. Something in the back of her mind was screaming that this was wrong, but the control of the Otherworldly Darkness was too strong for her to overcome.
Jio's plan was fairly simple, he knew that this team was not capable of defeating Kamito, but he would have to expend a fair amount of divine power to defeat them without harming them. While he was recovering, Jio would make his move and defeat Kamito himself. Kamito's defeat would be beneficial in more ways than one. The Otherworldly Darkness was well aware that Ren Ashbell was actually the Calamity Queen, Rubia Elstein. Kamito's death would mean the disqualification of Team Inferno, effectively removing Rubia's chances of gaining an audience with the Elemental Lords.
Kamito and Claire were approaching the clearing when he saw movement ahead. Standing in the middle of the clearing was Misty Lochardt, but something felt off. She was smiling, but her eyes seemed vacant. Suddenly a snap drew their attention to their rear. Jacqueline "Jack" Mallory stepped out of the trees holding a pair of dueling pistols. Her eyes had the same hollow look to them as she approached.
"Get ready, Claire." Kamito whispered as his hand rested on Est's pummel. "Est, can you sense anyone else?"
"Yes, Kamito. One is near Velsaria and the other is in the trees behind us. Ellis is unconscious in the brush behind Misty. Their power is tainted. I think that they are being controlled by the Otherworldly Darkness." Est informed Kamito.
Kamito nodded, he had thought as much. So they knocked Ellis out, but have not taken her magic stone yet seeing as though she has not vanished from the battlefield yet. "Can you free them from the control?"
"Yes, but I have to be in contact with them for it to work." Est confirmed.
'Easier said than done.' Kamito grimaced. He knew that this would not be an easy fight.
"We are here, Darkness. What do you want?" Kamito called out to Misty. Claire looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about, Kamito? Who is this Darkness?" The Darkness asked innocently through Misty.
"Cut the crap, I could sense your energy from half a league away. Why did you posses these girls?"
*zazazazaza* "Hehehe." A black miasma coalesced from the shadows taking the form that Kamito had seen earlier on the airship. "My my, how observant we have become. This was actually not my idea, but that of my servant. He thought that it would make a rather convenient trap. I think I'll just watch and see how things play out."
As the shadowy figure faded from view, Kamito readied himself for the coming conflict. Suddenly Kamito shoved Claire to the side as a bolt of compressed lightning passed where she was just standing. Using the distraction, Misty summoned her shadow legion spirit and disappeared into the darkness. A commotion in the tree tops drew everyone's attention as Dreadnaught burst into sight as Velsaria dodged an attack from Haruka who had struck from the shadows. Arianna took careful aim and fired at the Silent Fortress, but her shot merely ricocheted off Velsaria's armor.
Kamito drew Est and started dispatching the shadow spirits summoned by Misty while Arianna was currently leaping from branch to branch avoiding cannon blasts from Dreadnaught who was hovering well about the battlefield. Haruka leapt from the branch she was on wrapping the chain of her kusari gama around one of the legs of Dreadnaught causing the massive spirit to drop just low enough that the Misty's shadow spirits could grab the chain, grounding Velsaria. She could feel her divine power being sapped away until the spirits were cut apart by Claire's whip, flametongue.
"Thanks." Velsaria said quickly as she blasted Jack with one of her cannons, launching the elementalist into the woods. Kamito leapt off Velsaria's shoulder, intercepting Haruka's attack. Haruka slipped back into the shadows to flank Kamito's team again. Claire, distracted by the multitude of shadow spirit, she didn't see the bolt of electricity that struck her in the knee.
"Kyaa!" Claire cried out as she dropped to her knees. She quickly rolled out of the way of a shadow spirit that popped up near her. Claire's yelp of pain roused Ellis who had been knocked out by a well placed shot from Arianna's waffe before Kamito and Claire had arrived. Quickly gaining her bearing Ellis called forth her waffe, Ray Hawk.
"Est, have you located Jio yet?" Kamito asked the sword spirit. He hoped that if he took out the dark knight that his hold over the girls would be broken.
"Yes, he is northwest of here not too far." Est confirmed after a moment.
"Let's go." Kamito said to Est. "Velsaria, you girls handle things here! I'm going to take care of the one pulling their strings!" Kamito shouted before running after Jio.
"Got it!" Velsaria responded.
"Evil winds, go and rampage!" Ellis called out launching blades of wind causing Arianna to leap from her hiding spot. Taking advantage of her exposure, Velsaria was able to score a direct hit on Arianna, taking her out of the fight.
Haruka sprang from a shadow from behind Ellis and slashed her across the back. While painful, it was not enough to disable Ellis, but Haruka was able to disappear back into the shadows before Ellis could counter.
Ellis had to roll aside to avoid a fireball fired by Jack who had recovered from the blast she had been hit with. Velsaria took aim on Jack again, but her aim was thrown off when Haruka wrapped the chain of her kusari gama around a cannon and pulled hard.
"Evil winds, go and rampage!" Ellis cut the chain with her wind blades. Claire swung flametongue, dispelling another swath of shadow spirits.
Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, Claire raised her hand. "Devour, oh crimson searing fireball!" Claire intercepted Jack's attack with a fireball of her own. Claire winced in pain as a blade struck her in the shoulder. Haruka stepped from a shadow ready to give the finishing blow but was interrupted.
"Oh wind, sweep away mine enemies - Wind mines!" Ellis launched several spheres at Haruka. The spheres exploded all around Haruka, buffeting her in a maelstrom of wind magic. Haruka barely managed to slip into the protection of the shadows. Disoriented, she had to spend a few moments out of the fray. Claire, still on the ground was suddenly besieged by many shadow spirits, she could feel her divine power being drained away until Ellis was able to drive them away. Velsaria was firing at Jack who just danced around the cannon blasts. Her attacks amounted to nothing against Dreadnaught's heavy armor.
Velsaria could feel her own power diminishing bit by bit with each shadow that managed to get past her defenses. This was turning into a battle of attrition. "Claire, get up! Ellis, cover her!"
Claire was dazed. Her vision swam and sounds slurred together. Suddenly a voice reached her ears. "Master, you need to get up." Claire looked for the voice. It was not a voice she had heard before, but one that she instinctively knew. "Master, please…." Through the muddled colors, a small red cat became visible. "Call my name and I will serve you." Claire was confused. What was Scarlet talking about? And since when could she talk? Suddenly a name tickled her mind.
"Or-Ortlinde…." Claire weakly whispered. The battle raging around them suddenly stilled. A red flash temporarily blinded everyone, the shadow spirits being washed away. The light faded and standing next to Claire stood a feminine figure cloaked in a short red dress that appeared to be composed of flames. Out of her flaming red hair stood a pair of cat ears. Her tail flicked back and forth in agitation.
"Sc-Scarlet?" Claire asked with half lidded eyes.
"Master, thank you for all the care you have shown me. Allow me to protect you now." Ortlinde held out her hand and a heavy scythe appeared. With a burst of speed, she vanished only to reappear behind Jack. With a quick slash, Jack was knocked out and her magic stone dislodged from where it was tucked into her belt.
Ellis watched on in awe as the neko danced among the shadow spirits, her scythe spinning almost with a life of its own. This was a blade dance almost equal to that of Ren Ashbell. Velsaria had similar thoughts, but would not allow herself be distracted. Between the blasts from Velsaria's cannons and Ortlinde's scythe the shadow spirits were quickly overwhelmed.
Misty felt the tide of the battle sway against her. Her muddled mind raced for a way to overcome this new development. Haruka appeared next to her. They exchanged looks and silently agreed that it was time to withdraw. Taking ahold of Misty's arm, they slipped into the shadows to join up with the black knight. As soon as they departed the battlefield the legion of shadows melted back into the darkness.
Claire had managed to get back to her feet as the battle ended. Ortlinde padded up to Claire with a content smile on her face, her tail swaying slowly. "Scarlet? But-but how?"
"Master, this is my true form. You are the first to hear my voice in generations." Ortlinde answered.
"Thank you….umm….what should I call you now?" Claire asked unsure.
"You can call me what you want to." The catgirl said.
"Okay, thank you….Scarlet." Claire scratched Ortlinde on the top of the head receiving a happy purr.
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Kamito raced through the forest and found his quarry waiting for him in a clearing that ended in a tall cliff. "Jio…." Kamito spat.
"Hello again, false demon king." Jio sneered removing his helm. "Was it wise to leave your precious team behind to their demise?"
"They can handle themselves just fine. You should be more worried about yourself." Kamito retorted.
"I have no worries, I will claim my rightful place as the successor of King Solomon. With this new power, I am unstoppable!" Jio declared as he replaced his helm.
"We'll just have to see about that." Kamito smirked. 'Est, are you ready?'
"Of course, Kamito. I am your sword." Est's blade shone brightly. Kamito charged in quickly, slashing at Jio's right arm. He just as quickly jumped back to create some distance when he felt no resistance.
"Kamito, I do not understand. Somehow he absorbed the attack." Est said confused. Kamito was equally confused. When Est cut into his arm, it was as though she .
He raised his empty hand and a ball of blue energy formed in his palm. "Sokatsui!" Jio's body seemed to emit an inky darkness that the energy blast entered, but there was no detonation.
"Hahahahaha! Now it's time for you to die!" Jio drew his sword and charged at Kamito. Kamito parried the attack and struck at Jio with Est's pummel, hitting him in the mask of his helm. The impact knocked Jio back a few steps.
'Hmm, so he can be hit.' Kamito observed.
Not wasting the time to talk, Jio charged again. This time when Kamito blocked, Jio struck him in the ribs with his left hand. Kamito winced in pain and slashed at Jio, which he blocked with his sword.
The black aura that seeped from the armor spread across the ground under Kamito's feet. Kamito leapt straight up as Jio shouted. "Black Hole!"
"Bakudo 37: Tsuriboshi!" A large flexible platform appeared under Kamito as it attached to several trees surrounding the clearing. Kamito watched as undergrowth and debris was sucked into the darkness.
Jio looked up at where Kamito was perched and shouted. "Liberation!" The darkness expanded around jio and all the debris that was pulled into the darkness was released into the air towards Kamito. He had to return to the ground as the projectiles tore apart his platform.
As Kamito landed, Jio extended his left hand. "Kurouzu!"
Kamito felt an unseen force drawing him toward Jio. 'Shit! Can't stop myself!' The moment he came into contact with Jio's hand Kamito could feel his divine power being quickly drained from him. Est's blade stopped shining. Jio's right fist connected with Kamito's jaw and sent him flying.
"Are you okay, Est?" Kamito asked while standing up. He spit out a bit of blood from a split lip.
"I am fine, Kamito. He drained a lot of my power." She responded.
"I think it's time we took this seriously." Kamito closed his eyes. 'Release!' His eyes shot open, in his mind he shouted. "I am the Demon King!" The force of his divine power being released blew away all debris for a hundred feet around him and threatened to topple some nearby trees. Kamito channeled his power into Est. "Twin Fangs!" Est shone brighter than ever as she reformed into two kodachi. The brightness that she shone with obliterated all shadows in the vicinity exposing Misty and Haruka who had just arrived from their defeat against Kamito's team. Before either could react Kamito had stabbed a glowing blade into each girl. "Est, expel the darkness from them!"
"Yes, Kamito." Both girls screamed as the darkness that had possessed them was forcibly expelled from their minds. They collapsed once the process was finished. Kamito quickly retrieved their magic stones so that they would be teleported to safety.
Kamito then turned his attention back to Jio. It was apparent from Jio's posture that he was amused at the display of power. "Hado 11: Tsuzuri Raiden!" Both of Est's blades crackled with electricity. "Absolute Blade Arts, First Form Revised: Violet Lightning, Dual Wielding!"
Jio was barely able to summon the darkness to absorb the attack, but not before Kamito was able to put two deep cuts through his armor. Jio slammed his fist into the ground breaking the ground into large chunks and quickly spreading a large pool of darkness. "Black Hole!" Jio shouted drawing in shattered ground and causing Kamito to leap off the ground again. He extended his left hand and yelled. "Kurouzu!" He started drawing Kamito in when he shouted. "Liberation!" Darkness formed a cloud behind Jio and he launched the chunks of broken earth at Kamito.
Kamito swiped his arm down in a chopping motion. "Ura Hado: Sannodou Teppuusatsu!" The visage is a dragon's head appeared in front of Kamito. When it opened its great maw it unleashed a powerful gale that knocked aside the boulders and blasted Jio through one tree into another, cracking his armor.
Jio was just regaining his equilibrium when he saw Kamito looking at him apathetically. "Don't look down on me! I WILL defeat you and take my rightful place as king!" Jio screamed in fury. Raising his arms over his head, Jio formed a sphere of darkness that started growing in size.
Kamito raised an arm and held it out stretched. "Hado 99:" The ground around him shattered as energy was released. "Goryuu Tenmetsu!" From the fissures in the ground erupted geysers of flame that joined together to form a massive dragon that could be seen for miles all around.
"You can't beat me! I am the rightful Demon King!" Jio shouted in defiance as his sphere of darkness grew ever larger.
Kamito swiped his arm down, sending the dragon to attack Jio. It opened its massive jaws and easily swallowed first the ball of dark energy followed by Jio himself. The instant its jaws snapped shut a pillar of fire shot skyward and incinerated everything within its range. As the flames dissipated a lone figure could be seen standing among the ashes. His armor was almost completely vaporized and most of his skin was charred beyond recognition, but there stood Jio still breathing. He tried to take a step forward but fell to his knees panting. Suddenly a blazing cross sprouted from Jio's back followed quickly by one from his chest. Soon dozens of crosses sprang from all over Jio's body each starting to combine into a single star shaped tomb.
Unable to move, Jio could only ask. "What the hell did you do to me?"
"I planted this spell on you when I struck you with the Absolute Blade Art. It activated when you were at your weakest. You shall forever be entombed inside Kyuujuurokkei Kakafuumetsu. I am not killing you, so this will not disqualify us from the finals of the blade dance. Goodbye forever, false Demon King." Kamito stated dispassionately.
Several miles away a figure was watching the battle between the two when a young woman dressed in a dark dress with wings of black feathers on her back approached.
"It would seem that he is almost ready." Restia said looking Kamito longingly.
"Yes, it should not take much more to push him over the edge. I hope you are ready to do your part." The other person said without looking at the darkness spirit.
"Of course. It has always been the duty of the will to be the catalyst for change." Restia acknowledged solemnly.
"Good. This world has been corrupted for too long. It is time that the tides of change sweep away the current order. Only then can the people truly be free." The figure turned abruptly and strode away.
"I'm sorry, Kamito." A tear rolled down Restia's cheek.
Elsewhere another figure watched the conclusion of the match with great interest. It mattered not that its agent had been defeated, it was worth the valuable information that it gained. As the figure melted back into the shadows, it planned on the best way to utilize what it had learned.
Finally finished. I had to rewrite a large chunk of this chapter because I was mistaken as to how the yami-yami no mi worked. I thought as a logia it would make him intangible. The reason for his change in powers is because he died in Gato only to be resurrected by the Otherworldly Darkness for the blade dance. As such, he lost his other abilities and gained the abilities of darkness instead.