I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
The flames spread around while taking the shape of burning birds that flew around at speeds that surpass those of any modern human weapon while attacking everything that moved. Suou was beyond saving at this point as his mind was focused on only one action.
"Kill them all. Burn them down!"
His flames were out of control and anyone found on the path was faced with a high chance of being killed. The small birds kept chasing after Baraqiel and the rest before getting close enough to them before blowing up like any bomb.
Baraqiel and Tobio had a hard time with these birds due to their lack of immunity to fire.
"Hey, Baraqiel? These birds are pretty annoying! Do you know any way of taking care of them?" Tobio asks while running and evading the group that was after him. He was sweating like crazy while pushing his body to higher speeds as he ran and evaded the kamikaze attacks. He had magic to fly but he needed to save that same magic if he wanted to keep his transformation until the end of the fight. He lacked the opportunity of getting closer to Suou and taking the bastard's life at the moment.
There was no room for him to stop moving as one single stop was going to put his life at risk. It didn't help that the floor was covered in fire and certain spots would burst into geysers of flames at unexpected moments.
"I have no idea. Just keep running and evade them. We'll get our chance or Ddraig will be the one to take his life." Baraqiel said as he flew around the area while being chased by his own group of flaming birds. "All this fire takes me back to the war but is far from being enough to kill me."
The fallen angel was giving his all even if the power that Suou possess was far from that of a god. His wings were keeping him away from the explosive birds. As he flew around his eyes darted towards Suou and Ddraig which were exchanging attacks in the hottest part of the area. Their bodies were barely visible as they were engulfed within a tornado of kamikaze birds that kept blowing up one after the other.
"Come on Ddraig. Damage him enough. There has to be a limit." Baraqiel wanted Suou's head but that regeneration ability was an annoying one to deal with.
They needed to take care of it before getting the chance of ending Suou's life.
Issei's point of view.
The others were having a hard time due to the flames but his case was far different. His body moved with ease through the flames and explosions as his body wasn't affected at all.
The birds kept hitting his body and exploding right next to him but he was completely unaffected as his body kept moving through them like Suou was doing.
His eyes were shining with an incredible bloodlust as the assault against Suou continued.
The old man had become a bit faster since the start of the fight and he was becoming faster and even capable of evading a few of his attacks but a few didn't mean that much if out of 100 attacks he was only able to evade 2 without a chance to do any damage to his opponent. The armor of the Welsh Dragon was tougher than his claws and there was no way in which he would obtain the strength that Shiva who was able to damage it had.
Issei's claws continue to pierce and cut the body of his enemy with no problems but Suou's regeneration kept him alive even after so much damage. It was almost instant and it was annoying even for Issei.
"Faster, sharper, push even farther." The broken voice of Lyn, the creator of the formless style kept ringing in his mind. "Become a weapon that surpasses every other weapon. Become a beast that can't be matched by any opponent! Kill the prey before you."
Her excitement was noticeable as she was getting the chance to see her creation reaching new heights. The formless style was focused on making the user into a weapon that could face any challenge with or without weapons at hand. A fighting style that encompasses ferocity, speed, raw strength, the power that the boosted gear used to offer the user, and fake techniques that couldn't be matched that easily.
There are limits for the human body and even the strongest previous users including her couldn't break through those limits. Yet a body such as the one that the current Welsh Dragon possesses was capable of enduring the strain of the style and surpassing the limits of its creator.
The Welsh Dragon knew that he needed to use this opportunity to go all out. His body was burning with the desire to kill the enemy before him.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The remaining husks that lived inside his mind were chanting like a chorus of mad people. They were usually quiet but when it came to fighting that silence went away. They were cursed by the boosted gear and even now after regaining some sense of their previous humanity they were still husks attached to the anger and rage of the Welsh Dragon. A reminder of his sins that won't go away for the rest of his existence.
"I hear you loud and clear. Then let's go beyond once more."
"Infinity!"
The robotic voice is heard by Suou. His eyes widen as the jewel in the center of Issei's body starts to shine brighter. "What is this?"
His body shakes begin to shake to his core after feeling the increase in power.
Issei was already a mountain before him. From the beginning, he felt scared but now after the activation of the ability, the difference was even more visible than before.
His senses started going off as they screamed at him to get away. To escape from this place and yet his pride as a human prevented him from backing away even with no chances of winning.
"Welsh- "His voice is cut short as his face receives a kick that lifts him up into the sky. "What- "
His body doesn't have time to process as he is then hit by a series of attacks that he is unable to track down.
"Left? Right? How? Why is he faster than before?" Suou asks himself while looking for Issei.
The Welsh Dragon was moving at a speed that was too fast for Suou. After images surrounded him as Issei moved around. His body was being attacked from all sides. His internal organs bleed and shake violently as each area of his body was hit with monstrous strength that was far higher than before.
His lungs started to lack air.
His heart was having a hard time pumping blood.
His brain was almost incapable of giving orders to the rest of his body.
Then he started to feel that something wrong was happening with his body. His injuries weren't healing as fast as before. The rate started to decrease at an alarming rate. The constant barrage of attacks was finally affecting his ability to regenerate.
His right arm was then cut clean off by Issei before it fell to the floor.
"No, no, no." Suou's mind connects the dots as he realizes that he has lost the only thing keeping him alive.
"Oh, what is this?"
Suou is kicked to the ground.
"Your arm fell off, did you hit your limit?"
Issei cuts the distance between both of them and continues to put pressure on the old man. "I'm going to make sure you suffer until your last moments! This is the end."
Issei continues his attack while his right arm starts to accumulate a dangerous amount of draconic power. His whole was becoming brighter with each second and the chanting of the voices in his mind had increased as the husks waited patiently for the end of this fight.
The distress on Suou's face quickly translates into the flames that covered the area as well. One by one, the kamikaze birds start to disappear while the flames start to die down thus leaving a clear path for the remaining members of the trio.
"About time!" Tobio says.
"Don't waste any second and let's finish this." Baraqiel orders before they join Issei on the assault.
The assault continues as Suou is demolished by the trio. His body hits every spot possible within the barrier that is surrounding them.
The angels watched with no expressions on their faces as they awaited the end of this execution.
"All sins will be paid at some point. All actions have consequences. Suou Himejima, tonight the enforcer will end your life."
The hands of the angel United and each one starts to pray for the soul of Suou.
The voices of the angels resonate with each other as Suou's life gets closer to its end.
Each attack is worse than the one before.
Each breath is harder to take.
His body is unable to block, evade or even fight back.
"No, no, I can't die here. I'm Suou Himejima, I need to push back!" Suou told himself as he held onto his pride and determination as a human. "Fire Stance, final- "
"No, you don't. This is your end." Tobio stops right before Suou's body. His hands stretch out forward before the head of a black hound takes shape. Jin is nowhere to be seen while this attack is charging. "Here is my final gift, Black Hound Cannon: Shadow Bullet."
Tobio's transformation dissolves and the only thing that remains is the cannon around his arms. A black projectile starts to take shape. An impressive amount of energy is accumulated within seconds that no human would be able to control under normal circumstances.
"Uriel, bring the barrier down!" Baraqiel screams. He knew what was about to happen. "Let's see how much power you have Tobio Ikuse. Show him your best."
Uriel quickly reacts after hearing the voice of Baraqiel. "Lower the barrier down."
The barrier comes down and then it happens.
Suou has no time to think as his whole body is engulfed in a black sphere that is shot into the night sky. The black sphere slowly transforms into a hound that keeps running while making its way towards the cold and empty void of space.
The attack continues to rise higher and higher until it disappears into the highest level of the atmosphere before an explosion occurs.
All eyes focus on the explosion. Uriel seems extremely impressed by the attack of Tobio since not many humans are capable of such actions.
"Father, our siblings, the humans are becoming far stronger than what we initially expect. The age of myths might come back faster than we expected. If Tobio was capable of reaching such heights there will be others that do the same even without the need of a Longinus. We need to be careful." Uriel thinks while thinking about what he saw.
Tobio keeps looking into the sky while breathing with difficulty. "Take that, you bastard." The wielder of the Canis Lykaon falls to his knees and smiles. "Shit, that took a lot from me."
Jin reappears next to his master and starts to lick his face.
"Is alright Jin. I guess my body has hit its limit. I'm drained after that attack." Tobio says.
Lavinia and Akeno approach the trio. Lavinia lets go of Akeno and rushes in to hug Tobio. "You did good but you need to remember the limitations of your body. We're humans, not angels or other supernatural beings."
"I know." Tobio's eyes turn towards Baraqiel and Issei. Both had their eyes focus on the direction of the explosion. "… He's alive isn't he?"
"….. Yes.. the bastard barely survived. I can still feel the power of the Vermillion Bird. We need to finish it." Issei replies before he turns his sight towards Baraqiel. "I'm ready when you are. My arm is ready to finish him."
Baraqiel smirks. "So is mine. Let's finish the job." Baraqiel turns to look at his daughter. "Keep your eyes on me, Akeno. This is my true power and with a lot of training you might reach it one day." The lighting around his left arm becomes stronger and brighter. The shape of his whole arm becomes wider and bigger thus symbolizing his past as the left hand of God. "This hand is the one that judges, this hand is the one that executes the will of the Father. It no longer hears the voice of the lord but its power still exists within me. Let's do this, Ddraig."
Akeno watches as both men stand next to each other. The left hand of God is bright as the sun and the right hand of the Welsh dragon which burns hotter than any star.
Both men spread their wings and flew head-on towards the area in which Suou was still holding onto life.
"Dad, Issei-san….." Young Akeno kept her eyes on the pair as they flew towards the end of this fight.
Suou's point of view.
Everything looked so small from this place. The exosphere was cold and devoid of air. A place that most humans wouldn't reach due to the limitations of human technology at this point. No human could survive in this place without a spacesuit, oxygen, and spaceship but Suou was a different case.
His body wasn't that of a human at this point due to the power of Vermillion Bird but all that power wasn't enough to defeat the trio. Tobio was the weakest one of the three and yet he had left him in such a miserable state. His whole body was filled with many cuts and the explosion had taken his wings and legs. His only arm was barely attached to his torso.
"Is cold…. So cold. I can't move. Is too painful." Suou tried but his body wasn't responding. "Is this really my end? Left alone in the emptiness of space while waiting until my heart stops beating? Has Susanoo-sama forsaken me and the clan?"
As he laid there, he started to reflect on his life. The actions he had taken throughout his whole life, the sacrifices, the cruel decisions, the happy times, every single one of those memories came rushing in as he awaited the end.
But then his eyes notice two lights approaching his position with incredible speed.
"So, you came to finish the job… hahaha even now in my decrepit state you consider me a worthy enemy of your attention." Suou smiles and pushes himself once more. "I feel no shame about my actions, bastards. My clan will continue even after my death. I am Suou Himejima and I will face you until the end."
Suou raises his arm and starts to accumulate his remaining energy into one attack.
Both men increase their speeds and continue to approach their target.
"Die!" Suou shoots his final attacks towards them. A massive fire birth flies towards the pair ready to erase them from existence.
"No, you don't. Baraqiel, behind me now." Issei faces the bird head-on. His body is then engulfed in pure draconic energy before extending itself towards Baraqiel.
"Do it Ddraig!" Baraqiel screams before placing himself behind Issei.
Suou watches as the bird engulfs the pair before blowing itself up. Seconds go by but instead of two dead bodies, he watches as both come out unscratched from the explosion.
"Suou!!" Both men prepare their final attacks. Their punches are ready to end the job.
Suou laughs as his adversaries close the distance and finally reach him. Both punches pierced Suou's chest.
"Formless style, Secret technique number 1: Deep Point Zero, Eastern Draconic Legion." The energy accumulated inside Issei's arm transfers itself to the inside of Suou before it goes rampant. Several eastern dragons start to come out from all parts of Suou's body while devouring everything on their path. The dragons have a blast while consuming their prey.
"God's Lighting Judgement." Suou's body is electrocuted and impaled by several Lightning staffs, spears, and swords.
Both men pull their fists out and back away from Suou as his body is continuously devoured and punished until nothing remains. His screams were loud and erratic but after some time they died out.
After a few moments, nothing except for a small soul remains. Suou was finally dead.
"This is it. Is finally over." Baraqiel tries to approach the soul but he is stopped by Issei.
"That is no longer our problem." Issei feels the presence of a reaper nearby and before both of their eyes, a small dark figure appears and takes the soul of Suou. Its whole body is covered by a black suit and mask that prevents anyone from finding out its true appearance.
"Thanks for the soul. I'll see you at another time, Sir Welsh." Says the figure with a feminine voice.
Both watches as the figure disappears within instants.
"Do you know her?" Baraqiel asks.
"No, but she might be that daughter that Orcus keeps talking about. Her scent was similar to his after all. Let's go back, we need to finish this tonight."
"Right after you," Baraqiel says before following after the dragon.
The fight was finally over.
Meanwhile, Suzaku Himejima.
Suzaku was calmly discussing the conditions that each side wanted on the treaty when her arms started to burn. Several tattoos appeared all over them as the power of the Vermillion Bird moved on into her. Suzaku bites her lips as the pain becomes almost completely unbearable.
After a few moments passed before she was able to move them after the pain died down.
"Is that the same power that Suou has?" Ajuka asks.
"Had… The Vermillion Bird is inherited after the passing of its previous user. The clan looks for the next user amongst its members and trains them. I had a great affinity with the bird but Suou didn't want me to be trained since I didn't match his expectations. It Is going to be a long time before I'm able to use all that power and, even then, I doubt that I will get the chance. There's a high chance that they will take this power away after what we're about to do." Suzaku admits.
"You have to do what is necessary for your clan. Compromising and finding new allies is what we all need to do in this age after so many conflicts. We all need to change for the sake of the future." Ajuka says.
"Yes. We do." Suzaku looked at her fellow clan members and she could see the sadness in their eyes. They had lost Suou. Although she didn't feel anything towards the man, the rest of the clan was a different case. They were going to be angry and sad for a long time but she had hope for them changing and supporting her actions.
"Suzaku." The voice of Tobio attracts her attention. "It's finally over."
"It is, Tobio." Suzaku watched as Tobio came into view with Lavinia and Akeno. "You don't have to worry about being hunted down anymore."
Tobio smiles. It had been a long time but he was finally free and that meant that Akeno and her mother were also free of this as well.
The conversations are cut short with the appearance of the remaining members of the alliance. Issei and Baraqiel start to descend to the area while the eyes of all of those present focus on them.
"Dad!" Akeno runs towards Baraqiel.
"Come here." Baraqiel extends his arms and hugs her. "It is over my child. I can finally say that you and your mother are going to be fine."
Akeno buries her face on her father's chest while some tears roll down her face.
Issei seems happy with this but his happiness stops right there as soon as his eyes connect with those of a certain queen of death. Memories come rushing in as soon as their eyes meet. "Ereshkigal….. she has finally come."
The sins of the Welsh Dragon were many and while he was alive during the war many had fallen victims to his claws. Many who he had forgotten due to the destruction of their pantheons but he still remembers a particular Sumerian god. A god whose mother didn't join the war. A goddess that wasn't known for her forgiveness.
Many legends and myths surrounded Ereshkigal. From her possible consorts to her children. The human myths and records were filled with inconsistencies but Ddraig knew the true legend of Ereshkigal.
Ereshkigal, daughter of Nanna and Ningal. Queen of the death and goddess in charge of the soul of many supernatural beings. A goddess that has many abilities concerning death and souls. A goddess who had only one husband who was once slain by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
The legends surrounding the king of Uruk tell many things but not a single one talks about what really happened to both friends after Ereshkigal learned about what they did.
Ereshkigal doesn't forgive that easily, and all of those involved in the death of Gungalana paid a hefty price.
Even Gungalana itself was punished by Ereshkigal after she got a hold of his soul.
Then there was Nergal who tried to have his way with her and ended up losing more than what he hoped. He never visited the realm of the dead after Ereshkigal punished his actions for one whole year. Nergal wasn't the same man after that year.
And finally, there was him, the Welsh Dragon, the dragon that killed her only son, Ninazu.
This confrontation was going to happen no matter what and now that Ddraig wasn't just a passenger inside a human body, Ereshkigal did not need holding back.
"Welsh Dragon, come and take a seat. Is time to take care of business." Ereshkigal said as her eyes came back to her. There was rage on those burning eyes and the Welsh Dragon had no way out of this situation.
*Notes from the author: And we're finally back after so long. Sorry for those that were waiting so long for this one but I have been busy with my job at a laboratory. I have also been lacking inspiration but I was finally able to come back and write. So, we have finally reached Ereshkigal's meeting with the Welsh Dragon. I want to explore the sins of the war a bit more as the story moves on. She won't be the only one with a grudge against the Welsh Dragon. Editor, I leave any other comments to you. See you next week if everything goes well. *
*Editor here just wanted to let you guys know I was just as excited to edit this and get it out to you guys as you probably are getting the update. Now this next week it's kind of a busy one for me with midterms and what not so there might be a delay in any updates that may or may not happen in the coming weeks.*